Woman From Another Planet Episode 3 (audiobook)

She came in with a sobbing gasp, her hair disheveled, her eyes so wide

with fright it gave her a staring, almost China-doll aspect. She was

startlingly pale and hadn't bothered to cover up her pallor with lipstick and

rouge.

For an instant the machinery of Loring's mind was barely able to function.

It moved slowly, as if ice-clogged, with one dread thought uppermost.

Village streets were likely to be deserted in the early hours of the morning

and a scream could be quickly smothered. Had she been fleeing from

someone who wouldn't have let her failure to use lipstick discourage him?

A brutish someone who cared only that she was a woman?

She was trembling violently and her voice was so agitated that he had to

strain to catch the words which tumbled from her lips as she clung to him,

her eyes still China-doll wide, her fingers tightening on his wrists.

"Darling, darling, hold me tight. Just keep your arms around me for a

moment, and I'll be able to tell you what happened. Right now I can't seem

to think straight."

Loring stood for a moment without moving, holding her close, his temples

throbbing. "What is it?" he urged, trying to keep his voice calm but not

succeeding very well. "Tell me. I've got to know."

"There was a man in my room when I woke up this morning. A complete

stranger. I'd never seen him before."

Loring's heart skipped a beat and for an instant he couldn't seem to

breathe. "A man—"

"Yes. The door was locked and I don't see how he could have gotten in. I

never forget to lock the door when I go to bed. I'm very careful about it.

The windows were locked too. I'm sure of it. I—I was terribly frightened.

He just stood there looking at me. I don't think he was a burglar or

anything like that. He was tall, dark and very good looking. Young, about

twenty-seven. Just about your age. I don't think I've ever seen a more

attractive looking man. If I'd met him at a party before I met you—I don't

know. I just don't know."

"You don't know. You mean you'd have gone overboard for him at first

glance, without knowing a thing about him?"

"I might have. I'm being completely honest, because the experience was so

terrifying that I have to get it straightened out in my mind. And I want you

to understand too, darling. I thought of you, and something deep inside me

protected me, so that I didn't really feel that way about him at all. But I

almost did. I had to struggle against it, before I overcame it. If he'd moved

forward and taken me into his arms I'm quite sure I would have screamed.

But before I thought of you I might have—"

"Janice! For God's sake."

"I know, darling. The thought torments you. In a way, that makes me happy,

because I love you so very much. So very, very much. And the torment

you're experiencing proves that you love me. But it's cruel of me to feel that

way—but all women do. There's something very primitive in us that makes

us want to be fought over. If the man you love will fight for you, to the

death, if necessary, it brings him closer to you."

 "If he's dead that won't give him any pleasure at all."

"I know, darling, I know. I hardly know what I'm saying. Forgive me, be

patient with me."

"I'm trying to. But don't you see what you're doing to me? You've told me

nothing so far. Or very little. I mean, did he try to make love to you? Did he

—touch you?"