I decided to go into the kitchen to cook something for the night, hardly had I entered the kitchen when I felt a kind of stench pervading the room.I felt suffocated and I ran out like a madman.

Once outside, on the narrow track that led to the main road about 300 yards away, I breathed deeply and held my breath for a while.Aimlessly, I began to move towards the road.It was getting dark and no living soul could be seen on the road.The lights from the distant cottages on the hill seemed to be ghostly apparition of the fear.I did not realise that my heart was palpitating.The countenence of the man in the dark coat, who had visited me a few minutes before, was dancing in my memory.

I did not realise that I had covered more than a mile in my 20 minutes of walk, which was definitely between walking and running. Now, it was almost dark.suddenly, I heard a shriek from the left.I turned my head but nothing was visible in the darkness.

Fortunately, I had a small flashlight in my pocket. I switched on the light and , more out of curiosity than the sense of benevolence to help the victim, moved into the direction whence the shriek had emanated.

       ......to be continued.............