Droplets darted across the pools of illumination cast by the streetlamps in serried ranks like swarms of migrating insects. Night fell early, here in the tropics. Terri Gilkes pulled up her collar, hunched her shoulders, and tried to walk faster without lifting her eyes from the section of sidewalk immediately in front of her feet. On the whole, Terri didn't mind the rain. Prior to this deluge the air conditioning might have protected her from the afternoon's oppressive humidity but she'd still known it was there. She could feel it bearing down on her when she ventured outside at lunchtime, as if some giant hand were pressing all the moisture out of the sky. No, rain was fine by her - it held the promise of relief, of cooler, fresher air to come. But why, with all the day to choose from, did the rain have to fall now, when she was walking home? She was tired, damp, too warm, pissed off, and thinking of applying for another job. Oh, she knew she'd never match the current salary, but there were more important things in life than money.
