The story’s alliteration, or repetition of initial consonant sounds, intensifies its sense of foreboding and its pacing. Using many words with the same consonant sound allows the reader’s eyes to move over them more quickly, mimicking the train wheels’ spinning. This is evident in the following passage:

Side by side, they retraced their steps down the platform, ascertained the schedule from the sleepy chopper, and, as by some tacit consent, started slowly back again. But, before they had gone very far, the woman all at once stopped short and, with a white face, leaned against the wall (564).

The repetition of the “s” sound accelerates and propels the reading forward; the pace grinds to a halt, much like a stopping train, as the repetition ends. Harrison also draws attention to important physical characteristics with alliteration, such as “big bold blue eyes. And that terrible long chin of hers. They do say she can change the color of her eyes” (563). His use of repetition makes these traits more memorable.