Like his dream.
The head swung toward him, a gaping mouth lined with teeth like ivory daggers.
The whole white body emerged, bigger than a bull bison.
It roared, deafening as a cannon blast. It reared up on its hind legs, filling the tunnel like a white avalanche. After the roar, it rumbled steadily, deep in its chest. Though it was more than ten feet away, he could smell its rotten-meat breath.
He squeezed the trigger. His rifle thundered, echoes slamming the sides of his head. Smoke obscured the vast white body. His ears jangled.
He felt a sudden terror that the shot might start a cave-in.
But it didn't.
It didn't stop the bear either. It came on, padded feet scraping on the tunnel floor, swinging claws like rows of sickles.
I couldn't have missed. Oh Jesus, oh God, I couldn't have.
He threw the rifle down, snatched his pistol out of his holster and fired again.