Xenia did not scream, she only knew a fear that made her reach out with her hands to hold onto something and find it was not there.
Then she was hurled sideways and lost consciousness –
*
Xenia came slowly back to reality to hear a noise that was almost indescribable beating in her ears and realised that she was lying on the ground.
She was vaguely aware that somebody lifted her and carried her a little way and put her down on the grass.
Without opening her eyes she could hear shouts and screams mingled with the shrill hiss of escaping steam, which made all other sounds indistinguishable.
Then she felt herself being picked up again and, because she was dazed and still only half-conscious, she did not make any effort to show that she was aware of what was happening.
It slowly percola
