These footsteps were slow, and they were placed, and they stopped twice.

The second one was at the bottom of the stairs, and it lasted about four seconds, and I understand now that he was listening for the furnace.

He came up.

I got down onto my stomach and put my face to the slots.

There is a window at the end of that landing and there was a moon that night, and I could see him from the knees up as he came onto the boards.

He was wearing a dark knit hat.