'i hurried towards the back of the property , thinking to leave unobserved through a back way this meant a short rush along a flagstone path , a climb of two steps to the patio around the swimming pool , and then i spied the side alley to the gate 'even through the dense rain i could see that it was open , and see beyond it the wet gleaming cobblestones of the street the thunder rolled over the rooftops , and the lightning laid bare the whole garden hideously in an instant , with its balustrades and towering camellias , and beach towels draped over so many skeletal black iron chairs everything was helplessly thrashing in the wind .