Page:Restless Earth.djvu/109

in the valley immediately below, a dull red glow threw the scattered clouds into relief.

Napier and Hastings were burning!

Harley shuddered.

“Ashes! Black ashes, smooth to the touch! Horrible!”

The words broke from his white lips in a groan. He covered his face with his hands and leaned forward.

Roy glanced at him quickly, reached out and extinguished the light on the dash.

“Want all the light on the road now,” he explained.

The others were silent.

The car was passing through Waipawa when the driver spoke again.

The principal street of the small town bore evidence of the severity of the shake. Splintered glass and tumbled wreckage, which yesterday morning were neat shop-fronts, littered the roadway and imposed caution and low speed.

“We won’t be in Hastings before daylight, at this rate,” he growled. “Look at that!” he added in awe.

The extensive concrete parapet of a building lay shattered in the roadway. A group of men stood regarding it in silence. They stood with their hands in their pockets, for the morning breeze was chill, and seemed to wait for something. They did not look up as the car passed.

Many people stood in the roadway in groups; men, women and children, moving reluctantly or resentfully to allow the travellers passage. All seemed silent; even the sleepy children who clung to the hands of their parents. The whole town was awake, desirous of sleep, but lacking the courage