"Sure, thanks. Good luck."

He got out of the car and Tierney swung around, hitting the lights and the siren.

Steve gave him a wave then started down the road. As he approached the new sign by the entrance, he saw a Jeep parked at the side of the road. Someone was standing beside it, aiming a flashlight at him. He squinted against its glare and shaded his eyes.

"Hello? Who is that?"

He approached the figure, trying to make out who it was.

"Oh, Hi," he said, smiling with recognition. The knife blade flashed briefly in the light and then plunged deep into his stomach. He felt it as a blow, as if he had been punched hard in the stomach and the wind whistled out of him. His first reaction was utter disbelief and then he felt the first sharp piercing pain as the knife was withdrawn and then plunged in again.

His hands flew up in a futile gesture to protect himself but his knees were already buckling. The knife flashed down again and again, slashing repeatedly and as he fell, unable to scream, the full realization of what was happening to him sunk in.

In the brief moment before he collapsed, he suddenly knew what had happened to those two young counselors back in 1958.

He knew who had set the fires.

He knew who had poisoned the water.

He also knew the reason why, but the knowledge came too late. Far too late. And as he fell, dying, he remembered what Tierney had said about Friday the 13th and the full moon. His last agonized thought was that there was nothing he could do to save those poor kids at the camp. Nothing at all.

Chapter 8

Chapter 8

As the rain stopped and the winds started to die down, all the lights suddenly went out. In the darkness of the cabin, Alice gasped and reached out quickly, grabbing Bill's arm and squeezing it convulsively.

"It's all right," Bill said, putting his arm around her and giving her a squeeze.

"It's all right. Don't worry, I'll get the lamps."

He left her standing in the main room of the cabin and went into the kitchen to get a couple of kerosene lamps. He brought them in and set them on a table, then struck a match and lit a candle so he could see what he was doing.

Alice stood, holding herself tensely while he lit the lamps.

"What do you think happened?" she said in a small voice.

"I don't know," said Bill, "The generator's probably out of gas. I'll go check it."

"You want me to come with you?" she asked, anxiously, afraid of going outside but more afraid of being left alone.

He shook his head and led her to the couch.

"Why don't you stay here and try to get some sleep? I'll be right back."