Heroic Measures (continued)

It recovered, stared down at Walter for a moment, and then leapt for the roof. Walter ran forward, trying to fire off another bolt, but assorted bits of metalwork and masonry got in the way. By the time he found a clear shot, all he saw was the figure’s legs as it disappeared onto the roof.

Finding himself pretty much in the exact center of the alleyway, he glanced at the openings at each end, trying to decide which one to use. Based on no rational reason he could explain, he chose the one opposite from the entrance he had used and darted off to follow the creature. As he reached the street, he saw it glide across to the rooftop on the other side. It was gone before he could raise his arm to aim, but he had a good idea now which way it was headed. He considered calling in his sighting of the creature—he could certainly use the help tracking it down—but he was afraid that by even slowing down to do so might allow the creature the time it needed to escape him.

He run down the street, turning left onto Sycamore. If he remembered correctly, there were almost no buildings taller than two stories in the direction the creature was heading. He wondered if the creature knew it as well.

It took him a moment to spot it. At first, he was afraid that it might have managed to outrun him, or decided to remain out of sight on one of the rooftops until it had a better chance of escape. That might even work, Walter thought, even with air reconnaissance, as the creature seemed small enough to be able to find refuge in the shadows of any large rooftop equipment. Only a thorough building-to-building search might locate it, but that would take a lot of time.

He dashed toward the next building. The sign above it read: Delaney’s Donuts. Being several miles from his house, Walter had never been there, but knew it by reputation. It was a family-owned pastry shop, rumored to have the best donuts in this part of the city. Getting its hands—claws, he corrected himself—on the best crullers in the neighborhood did not seem to be on the creature’s agenda. It darted across the roof and then glided to the next building.

It seemed to be slowing, Walter thought. Even with the power of flight, it did not seem to possess unlimited stamina. Neither did he, Walter realized, but he hoped his would outlast the fleeing creature.