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Alms for the Dying; Collected Short Stories: 1991-1992
Alms for the Dying; Collected Short Stories: 1991-1992
Chapter 1:
Run
A terrifying, war-wept beach. A horrified young man. And a choice.
Page 1:
"Sergeant Wright looked at his corporal. The young..."
Page 2: ""I don't know, I just heard it said before. Somew..."
Page 3: "Somebody called out, "Yeah, but in which direction..."
Page 4: "The corporal shook his head, no. He was watching ..."
Page 5: ""He said it don't work so well with bullets. But ..."
Page 6: ""When he was suddenly somewhere else. As if nothi..."
Page 7: "He survived all the way to the beach. It was a mi..."
Page 8: "A shell fell on the beach, just ahead of him. Tay..."
Page 9: "It took a while. By the time he was clawing his w..."
Page 10: "Just then he heard it. Sarge was wrong. Falling ..."
Page 11: "And the shell, screaming, fell... .
"... go..."
Page 12: "But when he reached the top, all bets were off. S..."
Page 13: "Bobby set his frogs in their box, then turned back..."
Page 14: "Andy ran up, cupping his hands to catch the liquid..."
Page 15: "... gotta run like HELL boy. You gotta run like H..."
Page 16: ""But what did you bring us, Daddy? What do we get..."
Page 17: "Dad smiled after his running son. Then he looked ..."
Page 18: "The sky to the north was blue and white, the sun s..."
Page 19: ""Dying?" asked little Andy Taylor.
"Yeah. ..."
Page 20: ""I'm not?"
"No. You belong to somebody els..."
Page 21: "... you gotta run like HELL boy. You gotta run li..."
Page 22: ""There's one thing you have to know, Andrew. It's..."
Page 23: "Andy's eyes were big and brown and innocent. The ..."
Page 24: "Suddenly Andrew jumped off the stump and charged i..."
Page 2: ""I don't know, I just heard it said before. Somew..."
Page 3: "Somebody called out, "Yeah, but in which direction..."
Page 4: "The corporal shook his head, no. He was watching ..."
Page 5: ""He said it don't work so well with bullets. But ..."
Page 6: ""When he was suddenly somewhere else. As if nothi..."
Page 7: "He survived all the way to the beach. It was a mi..."
Page 8: "A shell fell on the beach, just ahead of him. Tay..."
Page 9: "It took a while. By the time he was clawing his w..."
Page 10: "Just then he heard it. Sarge was wrong. Falling ..."
Page 11: "And the shell, screaming, fell... .
"... go..."
Page 12: "But when he reached the top, all bets were off. S..."
Page 13: "Bobby set his frogs in their box, then turned back..."
Page 14: "Andy ran up, cupping his hands to catch the liquid..."
Page 15: "... gotta run like HELL boy. You gotta run like H..."
Page 16: ""But what did you bring us, Daddy? What do we get..."
Page 17: "Dad smiled after his running son. Then he looked ..."
Page 18: "The sky to the north was blue and white, the sun s..."
Page 19: ""Dying?" asked little Andy Taylor.
"Yeah. ..."
Page 20: ""I'm not?"
"No. You belong to somebody els..."
Page 21: "... you gotta run like HELL boy. You gotta run li..."
Page 22: ""There's one thing you have to know, Andrew. It's..."
Page 23: "Andy's eyes were big and brown and innocent. The ..."
Page 24: "Suddenly Andrew jumped off the stump and charged i..."
Chapter 5:
A Friendly Visit
Two buddies swilling beer and fishing. Along came a stranger…
Page 1:
"Dark was setting fast. The sun was a big, red, an..."
Page 2: ""Hey," said Ron seriously. "Fire up the lanterns...."
Page 3: ""Okay. There was this old Irish man dying one day..."
Page 4: "A light fizzed and sizzled across the pond, reflec..."
Page 5: "He looked but he couldn't see anything in the tree..."
Page 6: ". . . shit, he cursed in a whisper, it IS coming s..."
Page 7: "Then Mike was there with the truck, its engine rev..."
Page 8: "They plunged through the drainage ditch lining the..."
Page 9: ""What is it? What is it? What is it?" Ron was mo..."
Page 10: ""Well, are we?" asked Mike. He truly wasn't certa..."
Page 11: ""A UFO? You're damned right it's a UFO! An Unide..."
Page 12: "Mike geared for four wheel drive. He floored the ..."
Page 13: "While Mike was cursing and kicking the dust like a..."
Page 14: ""And who taught you to shoot, bonehead? I did, th..."
Page 15: ""Who's gonna believe us? Who?" Mike turned back ..."
Page 16: "For five full minutes they fought their way back o..."
Page 17: "For a single second, everything was still. Ron co..."
Page 18: "Ron looked up, but the third man-form was gone. T..."
Page 19: "Ron didn't answer. He was gazing back over the wo..."
Page 20: "Christ, what a mess. Ron couldn't take his eyes o..."
Page 21: ""Yeah," said Ron, "But look back there. They have..."
Page 22: "The two men were silent, digesting Ron's thoughts...."
Page 23: "Ron smiled. Seething, Mike followed him back down..."
Page 24: "The humans waited for several minutes. Nothing ha..."
Page 25: "That stopped Mike dead in his tracks, "Oh, no. Uh..."
Page 26: "So he stood cautiously, seating another round in t..."
Page 27: "Ron stepped fully into the pool of green light tha..."
Page 28: "Everything was bathed in the odd, green light. He..."
Page 29: "With horror, he watched the Earth drop away at an ..."
Page 30: "Ron never came back. Mike cut the wire off his ax..."
Page 2: ""Hey," said Ron seriously. "Fire up the lanterns...."
Page 3: ""Okay. There was this old Irish man dying one day..."
Page 4: "A light fizzed and sizzled across the pond, reflec..."
Page 5: "He looked but he couldn't see anything in the tree..."
Page 6: ". . . shit, he cursed in a whisper, it IS coming s..."
Page 7: "Then Mike was there with the truck, its engine rev..."
Page 8: "They plunged through the drainage ditch lining the..."
Page 9: ""What is it? What is it? What is it?" Ron was mo..."
Page 10: ""Well, are we?" asked Mike. He truly wasn't certa..."
Page 11: ""A UFO? You're damned right it's a UFO! An Unide..."
Page 12: "Mike geared for four wheel drive. He floored the ..."
Page 13: "While Mike was cursing and kicking the dust like a..."
Page 14: ""And who taught you to shoot, bonehead? I did, th..."
Page 15: ""Who's gonna believe us? Who?" Mike turned back ..."
Page 16: "For five full minutes they fought their way back o..."
Page 17: "For a single second, everything was still. Ron co..."
Page 18: "Ron looked up, but the third man-form was gone. T..."
Page 19: "Ron didn't answer. He was gazing back over the wo..."
Page 20: "Christ, what a mess. Ron couldn't take his eyes o..."
Page 21: ""Yeah," said Ron, "But look back there. They have..."
Page 22: "The two men were silent, digesting Ron's thoughts...."
Page 23: "Ron smiled. Seething, Mike followed him back down..."
Page 24: "The humans waited for several minutes. Nothing ha..."
Page 25: "That stopped Mike dead in his tracks, "Oh, no. Uh..."
Page 26: "So he stood cautiously, seating another round in t..."
Page 27: "Ron stepped fully into the pool of green light tha..."
Page 28: "Everything was bathed in the odd, green light. He..."
Page 29: "With horror, he watched the Earth drop away at an ..."
Page 30: "Ron never came back. Mike cut the wire off his ax..."
Chapter 9:
The End of All Roads
A lonely place where the mediocre go to be forgotten.
Page 1:
"The dull brute sat at the kitchen table in his und..."
Page 2: "That thought made him smile. It was sweet to thin..."
Page 3: "One by one cigarette butts piled up in the overflo..."
Page 4: "Outside, dusk settled over the countryside, filled..."
Page 5: "To the west of the house, an untended field stretc..."
Page 6: "Another crescendo of thunder rattled the window pa..."
Page 7: "The brute didn't notice. His sense of smell had b..."
Page 8: "SHHHHH whispered the television to him. Wait. Th..."
Page 9: "The traveling salesman came to the last bend in th..."
Page 10: "Charlie, the traveling Bible salesman, knew all ab..."
Page 11: "Now he knew he would have to turn around and go al..."
Page 12: "Maybe somebody had died during the night. Maybe w..."
Page 13: "The traveling salesman opened his eyes again and t..."
Page 14: "Thinking it was probably the END of all roads, if ..."
Page 15: "He would soon find out. The brute grunted by way ..."
Page 16: "It was as if he was about to witness the most grue..."
Page 17: "Then the realization dawned on his mind like a pal..."
Page 18: ""Come to me, loverrrrr." The final syllable was d..."
Page 19: "Light shone through the open doorway, and cut into..."
Page 20: "Charlie sensed a wet, slapping sound of feet on a ..."
Page 21: ""You've found your home now, lover," she whispered..."
Page 22: "Later, as Charlie lay dying a slow, indefinite dea..."
Page 23: ""This is the end of the road. The end of all road..."
Page 24: "But she had said nobody would blame him here. She..."
Page 25: "SHHHHH, whispered the television. It soothed him...."
Page 26: "With shaking hands he sorted through a pile of rub..."
Page 27: ""You were born of the darkness, Charlie. There is..."
Page 28: "By removing his fears and his guilt, had she strip..."
Page 29: "Charlie had suspected as much. What else had he e..."
Page 30: ""Tell me what it means to you."
Charlie hel..."
Page 31: ""Can you ever love me again?" she asked suddenly. ..."
Page 32: "Now the witch was truly seething. Violence was a ..."
Page 33: "The old woman never returned. He was left alone t..."
Page 34: "And he was waiting. For the next traveler. The n..."
Page 2: "That thought made him smile. It was sweet to thin..."
Page 3: "One by one cigarette butts piled up in the overflo..."
Page 4: "Outside, dusk settled over the countryside, filled..."
Page 5: "To the west of the house, an untended field stretc..."
Page 6: "Another crescendo of thunder rattled the window pa..."
Page 7: "The brute didn't notice. His sense of smell had b..."
Page 8: "SHHHHH whispered the television to him. Wait. Th..."
Page 9: "The traveling salesman came to the last bend in th..."
Page 10: "Charlie, the traveling Bible salesman, knew all ab..."
Page 11: "Now he knew he would have to turn around and go al..."
Page 12: "Maybe somebody had died during the night. Maybe w..."
Page 13: "The traveling salesman opened his eyes again and t..."
Page 14: "Thinking it was probably the END of all roads, if ..."
Page 15: "He would soon find out. The brute grunted by way ..."
Page 16: "It was as if he was about to witness the most grue..."
Page 17: "Then the realization dawned on his mind like a pal..."
Page 18: ""Come to me, loverrrrr." The final syllable was d..."
Page 19: "Light shone through the open doorway, and cut into..."
Page 20: "Charlie sensed a wet, slapping sound of feet on a ..."
Page 21: ""You've found your home now, lover," she whispered..."
Page 22: "Later, as Charlie lay dying a slow, indefinite dea..."
Page 23: ""This is the end of the road. The end of all road..."
Page 24: "But she had said nobody would blame him here. She..."
Page 25: "SHHHHH, whispered the television. It soothed him...."
Page 26: "With shaking hands he sorted through a pile of rub..."
Page 27: ""You were born of the darkness, Charlie. There is..."
Page 28: "By removing his fears and his guilt, had she strip..."
Page 29: "Charlie had suspected as much. What else had he e..."
Page 30: ""Tell me what it means to you."
Charlie hel..."
Page 31: ""Can you ever love me again?" she asked suddenly. ..."
Page 32: "Now the witch was truly seething. Violence was a ..."
Page 33: "The old woman never returned. He was left alone t..."
Page 34: "And he was waiting. For the next traveler. The n..."
Chapter 13:
Madam Death
The demands of motherhood are rigorous and unforgiving.
Page 1:
"Mogadishu, Somalia
1992
Tinsa stoppe..."
Page 2: "There was no honor among her people, any longer. ..."
Page 3: "To Tinsa, there was a single consoling factor in a..."
Page 4: "The sun was hot and unrelenting, it beat down on h..."
Page 5: "But those that did survive were the most ruthless,..."
Page 6: "One by one, the children in the neighborhood succu..."
Page 7: "And if a soul had been REALLY evil in that previou..."
Page 8: "Always, after she made a kill, the clan posted a g..."
Page 9: "Only now did she draw her weapons, a pair of unmat..."
Page 10: "She expertly checked the man's pockets for anythin..."
Page 11: "She dragged the bloody cord and blades through the..."
1992
Tinsa stoppe..."
Page 2: "There was no honor among her people, any longer. ..."
Page 3: "To Tinsa, there was a single consoling factor in a..."
Page 4: "The sun was hot and unrelenting, it beat down on h..."
Page 5: "But those that did survive were the most ruthless,..."
Page 6: "One by one, the children in the neighborhood succu..."
Page 7: "And if a soul had been REALLY evil in that previou..."
Page 8: "Always, after she made a kill, the clan posted a g..."
Page 9: "Only now did she draw her weapons, a pair of unmat..."
Page 10: "She expertly checked the man's pockets for anythin..."
Page 11: "She dragged the bloody cord and blades through the..."
Chapter 2:
Party People
Life is an endless party. That should be fun. Shouldn't it?
Page 1:
""How long have we been here, dear?" she asked brig..."
Page 2: ""Always?"
"Forever, darling." Her mate smi..."
Page 3: ""I don't know, I'm quite sure." He added gaily, "..."
Page 4: "Her name was Rebecca, she knew that much. At leas..."
Page 5: ""Excuse me, madam," said a voice behind her. She ..."
Page 6: ""Gone to fetch you another drink," he finished. "..."
Page 7: ""Nothing," said the fat man.
"Am I beautifu..."
Page 8: ""Always?" Her heart trembled. Her feet threatene..."
Page 9: ""Who am I?" she asked. He didn't pause. They wea..."
Page 10: ""Rebecca? My name is really Rebecca?"
"Of ..."
Page 11: ""Sure. I'm a rich, powerful man. And you're a be..."
Page 12: ""What do I normally have?" she asked, confused. S..."
Page 13: ""Very well." The waiter turned to the fat man, wh..."
Page 14: ""Of course it's an odd name! What ELSE would it b..."
Page 15: ""Okay, Mr. Fatman."
"NOT Fatman, likes it's..."
Page 16: ""The party!" she said instantly. It brightened he..."
Page 17: ""Who's party is it?" she wondered to conceal her d..."
Page 18: "But she couldn't. Such things weren't proper.
..."
Page 19: ""How soon?"
Fat Man Tangerine suddenly lean..."
Page 20: ""Certainly not!" he hissed. "Where do you get suc..."
Page 21: "He said nothing. Fat's manner was hedging, elusiv..."
Page 22: "The thought thrilled her, filled her body with tin..."
Page 23: ""I'm so sorry, waiter. I'll have some later," Fat..."
Page 24: "The waiter smiled and nodded, then handed her a cr..."
Page 25: ""Yes," she answered.
And once again they we..."
Page 26: ""Certainly," Fat Man nearly fell when a woman exte..."
Page 27: ""No. I don't remember anything at all," she said...."
Page 28: ""What is your business, beyond the party?" questio..."
Page 29: ""No, Sergeant at Arms, I'll get another later."
Page 30: "What was this place? Who were all these strange, ..."
Page 31: "They were dark things. Things to be hidden behind..."
Page 32: "Next he looped his thumbs underneath his suspender..."
Page 33: "Fat Man turned, his beefy neck brimming over the c..."
Page 34: ""Let's do the thing with our mouths first, shall w..."
Page 35: ""Oh, well, if you put it that way, I'd have to say..."
Page 36: ""A tie?"
"Yes, a neck tie . . . red, silk."..."
Page 37: "He did as he had been told. Slowly, with reluctan..."
Page 38: "He tried not to look at the red, hairy place expos..."
Page 39: "Hesitating, he stood in the doorway. "Well?" she ..."
Page 40: "His eyes darted there and back, there and back. F..."
Page 41: "Then he was up, off the bed, bolting across the ro..."
Page 42: "Fat Man didn't wait for her. He hurried ahead, as..."
Page 43: ""Rebecca!" She turned to meet the greeting, "What..."
Page 44: "There was only a sign. It read, "Maintenance", an..."
Page 45: "Before her stretched uncounted shelves of human bo..."
Page 46: ""Yeah, I guess so," Pete helped the man in the tux..."
Page 47: ""It's a shame, you know," said the man in the tuxe..."
Page 48: ""I know what you mean, Mr. Yellow. She's a fine p..."
Page 49: "Mr. Yellow considered. "Maybe you're right, Pete...."
Page 2: ""Always?"
"Forever, darling." Her mate smi..."
Page 3: ""I don't know, I'm quite sure." He added gaily, "..."
Page 4: "Her name was Rebecca, she knew that much. At leas..."
Page 5: ""Excuse me, madam," said a voice behind her. She ..."
Page 6: ""Gone to fetch you another drink," he finished. "..."
Page 7: ""Nothing," said the fat man.
"Am I beautifu..."
Page 8: ""Always?" Her heart trembled. Her feet threatene..."
Page 9: ""Who am I?" she asked. He didn't pause. They wea..."
Page 10: ""Rebecca? My name is really Rebecca?"
"Of ..."
Page 11: ""Sure. I'm a rich, powerful man. And you're a be..."
Page 12: ""What do I normally have?" she asked, confused. S..."
Page 13: ""Very well." The waiter turned to the fat man, wh..."
Page 14: ""Of course it's an odd name! What ELSE would it b..."
Page 15: ""Okay, Mr. Fatman."
"NOT Fatman, likes it's..."
Page 16: ""The party!" she said instantly. It brightened he..."
Page 17: ""Who's party is it?" she wondered to conceal her d..."
Page 18: "But she couldn't. Such things weren't proper.
..."
Page 19: ""How soon?"
Fat Man Tangerine suddenly lean..."
Page 20: ""Certainly not!" he hissed. "Where do you get suc..."
Page 21: "He said nothing. Fat's manner was hedging, elusiv..."
Page 22: "The thought thrilled her, filled her body with tin..."
Page 23: ""I'm so sorry, waiter. I'll have some later," Fat..."
Page 24: "The waiter smiled and nodded, then handed her a cr..."
Page 25: ""Yes," she answered.
And once again they we..."
Page 26: ""Certainly," Fat Man nearly fell when a woman exte..."
Page 27: ""No. I don't remember anything at all," she said...."
Page 28: ""What is your business, beyond the party?" questio..."
Page 29: ""No, Sergeant at Arms, I'll get another later."
Page 30: "What was this place? Who were all these strange, ..."
Page 31: "They were dark things. Things to be hidden behind..."
Page 32: "Next he looped his thumbs underneath his suspender..."
Page 33: "Fat Man turned, his beefy neck brimming over the c..."
Page 34: ""Let's do the thing with our mouths first, shall w..."
Page 35: ""Oh, well, if you put it that way, I'd have to say..."
Page 36: ""A tie?"
"Yes, a neck tie . . . red, silk."..."
Page 37: "He did as he had been told. Slowly, with reluctan..."
Page 38: "He tried not to look at the red, hairy place expos..."
Page 39: "Hesitating, he stood in the doorway. "Well?" she ..."
Page 40: "His eyes darted there and back, there and back. F..."
Page 41: "Then he was up, off the bed, bolting across the ro..."
Page 42: "Fat Man didn't wait for her. He hurried ahead, as..."
Page 43: ""Rebecca!" She turned to meet the greeting, "What..."
Page 44: "There was only a sign. It read, "Maintenance", an..."
Page 45: "Before her stretched uncounted shelves of human bo..."
Page 46: ""Yeah, I guess so," Pete helped the man in the tux..."
Page 47: ""It's a shame, you know," said the man in the tuxe..."
Page 48: ""I know what you mean, Mr. Yellow. She's a fine p..."
Page 49: "Mr. Yellow considered. "Maybe you're right, Pete...."
Chapter 6:
Feeding Frenzy
She is beautiful, irresistibly so. He wants her. Or believes he does.
Page 1:
""C'mon," she said, smiling. Her lips were red on ..."
Page 2: ""Not any more," she laughed. Still I hesitated, r..."
Page 3: ""Have you ever done it in the woods before?" she q..."
Page 4: "Pushing her away, I wiped at my face, revolted. "..."
Page 5: "She hooked her arms around my neck and once more a..."
Page 6: "My head started to swim. A slow, dull tingling se..."
Page 7: "I couldn't nod, though I tried. She continued, "B..."
Page 8: "And I dreamt, but they were restless visions . . ...."
Page 9: ""It will be that way for a time, love. Just a lit..."
Page 10: ""I don't care," I answered dispassionately. My dr..."
Page 11: "I don't know what disgusted me more, the fact that..."
Page 12: "Oh that. "A pair of young ones. The age you once..."
Page 13: "I had said it, alright. But, my God, who could ha..."
Page 14: "I was at war with myself. Half of me was glad the..."
Page 15: "My pulse was up. My mind was racing, my flanks he..."
Page 16: "And I knew my soul mate was out there in the night..."
Page 17: ""I don't know. Wherever we can watch the night sk..."
Page 18: "Turning to her, I asked, "Do you want to live fore..."
Page 19: "She gasped and jerked her hand out of mine, sucked..."
Page 20: ""How did it go?" asked my soul mate of me as we be..."
Page 21: ""And what kind of life is it, anyway? Running fro..."
Page 22: ""No," I answered simply.
That brightened he..."
Page 23: ""Okay, we'll stop here and get gas. Maybe we can ..."
Page 24: "The gas tank was full. I replaced the pump handle..."
Page 25: ""Listen," I hedged, "I'm kind of lost. Do you thi..."
Page 26: ""W-what?" he stammered, suddenly frightened. Taki..."
Page 27: "Now it was my turn. With a prayer for divine forg..."
Page 28: "I wiped blood from my chin. Neither of us could r..."
Page 29: ""Y-you know who we are?" I asked incredulously, "W..."
Page 30: "My head was swimming twice as fast now. What in h..."
Page 31: ""You still follow the ancient Law of the Were?" T..."
Page 32: ""Don't let him get me, darling!" she whispered fie..."
Page 33: "The vampiress turned to face Zeke, said, "Look, le..."
Page 34: "He reached for me a second time, but again I jumpe..."
Page 35: "I didn't look back, felt no regret, and lived to f..."
Page 2: ""Not any more," she laughed. Still I hesitated, r..."
Page 3: ""Have you ever done it in the woods before?" she q..."
Page 4: "Pushing her away, I wiped at my face, revolted. "..."
Page 5: "She hooked her arms around my neck and once more a..."
Page 6: "My head started to swim. A slow, dull tingling se..."
Page 7: "I couldn't nod, though I tried. She continued, "B..."
Page 8: "And I dreamt, but they were restless visions . . ...."
Page 9: ""It will be that way for a time, love. Just a lit..."
Page 10: ""I don't care," I answered dispassionately. My dr..."
Page 11: "I don't know what disgusted me more, the fact that..."
Page 12: "Oh that. "A pair of young ones. The age you once..."
Page 13: "I had said it, alright. But, my God, who could ha..."
Page 14: "I was at war with myself. Half of me was glad the..."
Page 15: "My pulse was up. My mind was racing, my flanks he..."
Page 16: "And I knew my soul mate was out there in the night..."
Page 17: ""I don't know. Wherever we can watch the night sk..."
Page 18: "Turning to her, I asked, "Do you want to live fore..."
Page 19: "She gasped and jerked her hand out of mine, sucked..."
Page 20: ""How did it go?" asked my soul mate of me as we be..."
Page 21: ""And what kind of life is it, anyway? Running fro..."
Page 22: ""No," I answered simply.
That brightened he..."
Page 23: ""Okay, we'll stop here and get gas. Maybe we can ..."
Page 24: "The gas tank was full. I replaced the pump handle..."
Page 25: ""Listen," I hedged, "I'm kind of lost. Do you thi..."
Page 26: ""W-what?" he stammered, suddenly frightened. Taki..."
Page 27: "Now it was my turn. With a prayer for divine forg..."
Page 28: "I wiped blood from my chin. Neither of us could r..."
Page 29: ""Y-you know who we are?" I asked incredulously, "W..."
Page 30: "My head was swimming twice as fast now. What in h..."
Page 31: ""You still follow the ancient Law of the Were?" T..."
Page 32: ""Don't let him get me, darling!" she whispered fie..."
Page 33: "The vampiress turned to face Zeke, said, "Look, le..."
Page 34: "He reached for me a second time, but again I jumpe..."
Page 35: "I didn't look back, felt no regret, and lived to f..."
Chapter 10:
The First Shot
He's desperate and now he controls the airplane. One bullet makes the difference.
Page 1:
"One brief moment I was caught in the open. A host..."
Page 2: "I had expected it.
I had expected a great m..."
Page 3: "I was just a simple man on the make. I had come u..."
Page 4: "I flipped the note over. On the back it read, 'Th..."
Page 5: "Why had they missed the shot? I couldn't say, cou..."
Page 6: "For I felt the same today as I had yesterday. And..."
Page 7: "From behind the pitiless glare of my sunglasses, I..."
Page 8: "Not that the war had warped me. I was sane. Or I..."
Page 9: "Only, in the real world, the three piece suit wear..."
Page 10: "Hold a gun to somebody's head and PROMISE you're g..."
Page 11: "I had come home in one piece, damn it! It wasn't ..."
Page 12: "At any rate, I had handed her the first note. It ..."
Page 13: "It wouldn't happen again.
Soon, I was sitti..."
Page 14: "As soon as we were on the ground, before we had co..."
Page 15: "The FBI had tried several times to speak with me p..."
Page 16: "How many of my buddies had I zipped into giant san..."
Page 17: "THEIR rules were gray shading to grayer. Their ru..."
Page 18: "Now was the time. If they were going to try to st..."
Page 19: "The time had come to give her my fourth note. It ..."
Page 20: "Afterward, she shut the hatch and dragged everythi..."
Page 21: "Those three piece suit wearing jerks! Let 'em fly..."
Page 22: "From my vantage point at the front of the aircraft..."
Page 23: "She would sit in my lap until the plane was airbor..."
Page 24: "They were weak, they had not taken their first sho..."
Page 25: "She did so through the intercom. There was a corr..."
Page 26: "The 'chutes I had requested were just decoys, anyw..."
Page 27: "In minutes, complete darkness would rule, and we w..."
Page 28: "After flight was level, I showed the brunette the ..."
Page 29: "Of course, it would be easy for the FBI to spot me..."
Page 30: "I was vindicated in my expectation they would use ..."
Page 31: "I moved away from the open doorway, and prepared t..."
Page 32: "A final glance behind, and I jumped. The rest is ..."
Page 33: "... "Man, that was SOME shot! Did you see that sh..."
Page 34: ""Post-traumatic syndrome?"
"Negative. At l..."
Page 35: ""Not that it matters, now." Lou turned his gaze o..."
Page 2: "I had expected it.
I had expected a great m..."
Page 3: "I was just a simple man on the make. I had come u..."
Page 4: "I flipped the note over. On the back it read, 'Th..."
Page 5: "Why had they missed the shot? I couldn't say, cou..."
Page 6: "For I felt the same today as I had yesterday. And..."
Page 7: "From behind the pitiless glare of my sunglasses, I..."
Page 8: "Not that the war had warped me. I was sane. Or I..."
Page 9: "Only, in the real world, the three piece suit wear..."
Page 10: "Hold a gun to somebody's head and PROMISE you're g..."
Page 11: "I had come home in one piece, damn it! It wasn't ..."
Page 12: "At any rate, I had handed her the first note. It ..."
Page 13: "It wouldn't happen again.
Soon, I was sitti..."
Page 14: "As soon as we were on the ground, before we had co..."
Page 15: "The FBI had tried several times to speak with me p..."
Page 16: "How many of my buddies had I zipped into giant san..."
Page 17: "THEIR rules were gray shading to grayer. Their ru..."
Page 18: "Now was the time. If they were going to try to st..."
Page 19: "The time had come to give her my fourth note. It ..."
Page 20: "Afterward, she shut the hatch and dragged everythi..."
Page 21: "Those three piece suit wearing jerks! Let 'em fly..."
Page 22: "From my vantage point at the front of the aircraft..."
Page 23: "She would sit in my lap until the plane was airbor..."
Page 24: "They were weak, they had not taken their first sho..."
Page 25: "She did so through the intercom. There was a corr..."
Page 26: "The 'chutes I had requested were just decoys, anyw..."
Page 27: "In minutes, complete darkness would rule, and we w..."
Page 28: "After flight was level, I showed the brunette the ..."
Page 29: "Of course, it would be easy for the FBI to spot me..."
Page 30: "I was vindicated in my expectation they would use ..."
Page 31: "I moved away from the open doorway, and prepared t..."
Page 32: "A final glance behind, and I jumped. The rest is ..."
Page 33: "... "Man, that was SOME shot! Did you see that sh..."
Page 34: ""Post-traumatic syndrome?"
"Negative. At l..."
Page 35: ""Not that it matters, now." Lou turned his gaze o..."
Chapter 14:
Yours and Mine
One hand washes the other when bathing in blood.
Page 1:
"The first thing he noticed about the letter was it..."
Page 2: "He threw the letter away and tried to forget it. ..."
Page 3: "A third correspondence was made just days later. ..."
Page 4: "He knew he must live to appease the demons. Nothi..."
Page 5: "Where had he made the fatal error? Where had he e..."
Page 6: "Blood welled up from a deep hole in his gut, fille..."
Page 7: "Little Boy Peter ran from his special demon, ran f..."
Page 8: "Peter snapped awake at once, gasping, trembling. ..."
Page 9: "Peter really had them guessing, every one. The po..."
Page 10: "Where before lost, now he had found root. Now his..."
Page 11: "Somebody was holding a knife to his throat. They ..."
Page 12: ""Nothing, man," said the shadow, now faintly annoy..."
Page 13: "The prey's manner changed. He had caught a whiff ..."
Page 14: "His instincts had not led him astray in the past. ..."
Page 15: "Predators are the only individuals. Their prey ha..."
Page 16: ""Who are you?! What do you want?"
Peter ma..."
Page 17: ""You gonna kill me? Why? What did I do to you? ..."
Page 18: "Only centimeters divided the two, predator and pre..."
Page 19: "Stooping to his knees, Peter doubled over a hot, s..."
Page 20: "Murder.
And sudden laughter at his back!
Page 21: "Narrowing, the killer's eyes determined the situat..."
Page 22: "Peter took a step toward the sound of the voice. ..."
Page 23: "Peter dared take two more, larger steps. He force..."
Page 24: ""Oh! So you can talk. How nice. Things will mov..."
Page 25: "Beckoning to Peter, the letter-writer opened the g..."
Page 26: "The shadow was standing on a small elevator, the k..."
Page 27: "Peter did as he was told. Now they could talk qui..."
Page 28: ""You've been going through my trash?" asked Peter,..."
Page 29: "He chuckled. "My wife."
"Then you're Mr. T..."
Page 30: ""For mine, no. For yours, yes."
"Mine and ..."
Page 31: ""There's more to it than that, my friend!" he crie..."
Page 32: ""Sorry. I get ahead of myself sometimes, especial..."
Page 33: ""Of course. You're not my type."
"I'm not ..."
Page 34: "Mr. Taylor handed Peter the control box for the el..."
Page 35: "In a social room, seated about a large wet bar, be..."
Page 36: "At the sound of the door lock, Peter asked, "What ..."
Page 37: ""Not too great?" gasped Peter incredulously. "Bur..."
Page 38: ""To pontificate, I was working in our office in Ra..."
Page 39: ""My dear Peter," Taylor's tone became condescendin..."
Page 40: ""What more need I say?" he asked in an aristocrati..."
Page 2: "He threw the letter away and tried to forget it. ..."
Page 3: "A third correspondence was made just days later. ..."
Page 4: "He knew he must live to appease the demons. Nothi..."
Page 5: "Where had he made the fatal error? Where had he e..."
Page 6: "Blood welled up from a deep hole in his gut, fille..."
Page 7: "Little Boy Peter ran from his special demon, ran f..."
Page 8: "Peter snapped awake at once, gasping, trembling. ..."
Page 9: "Peter really had them guessing, every one. The po..."
Page 10: "Where before lost, now he had found root. Now his..."
Page 11: "Somebody was holding a knife to his throat. They ..."
Page 12: ""Nothing, man," said the shadow, now faintly annoy..."
Page 13: "The prey's manner changed. He had caught a whiff ..."
Page 14: "His instincts had not led him astray in the past. ..."
Page 15: "Predators are the only individuals. Their prey ha..."
Page 16: ""Who are you?! What do you want?"
Peter ma..."
Page 17: ""You gonna kill me? Why? What did I do to you? ..."
Page 18: "Only centimeters divided the two, predator and pre..."
Page 19: "Stooping to his knees, Peter doubled over a hot, s..."
Page 20: "Murder.
And sudden laughter at his back!
Page 21: "Narrowing, the killer's eyes determined the situat..."
Page 22: "Peter took a step toward the sound of the voice. ..."
Page 23: "Peter dared take two more, larger steps. He force..."
Page 24: ""Oh! So you can talk. How nice. Things will mov..."
Page 25: "Beckoning to Peter, the letter-writer opened the g..."
Page 26: "The shadow was standing on a small elevator, the k..."
Page 27: "Peter did as he was told. Now they could talk qui..."
Page 28: ""You've been going through my trash?" asked Peter,..."
Page 29: "He chuckled. "My wife."
"Then you're Mr. T..."
Page 30: ""For mine, no. For yours, yes."
"Mine and ..."
Page 31: ""There's more to it than that, my friend!" he crie..."
Page 32: ""Sorry. I get ahead of myself sometimes, especial..."
Page 33: ""Of course. You're not my type."
"I'm not ..."
Page 34: "Mr. Taylor handed Peter the control box for the el..."
Page 35: "In a social room, seated about a large wet bar, be..."
Page 36: "At the sound of the door lock, Peter asked, "What ..."
Page 37: ""Not too great?" gasped Peter incredulously. "Bur..."
Page 38: ""To pontificate, I was working in our office in Ra..."
Page 39: ""My dear Peter," Taylor's tone became condescendin..."
Page 40: ""What more need I say?" he asked in an aristocrati..."
Chapter 3:
VOX
The gift for the guy who has nothing.
Page 1:
"'Good Morning, Robert' his computer greeted him. ..."
Page 2: "He read his modem mail:
THE COMPUDUDES
<..."
Page 3: ""So that's where you are, is it? At that God awfu..."
Page 4: "A condemned prisoner at the gallows, Robert mounte..."
Page 5: ""What have you done to yourself now?" She moved a..."
Page 6: "We don't have any friends because your obnoxious s..."
Page 7: "On him again as soon as he struggled to his feet, ..."
Page 8: "Now he was fumbling with the cellophane wrappings ..."
Page 9: "Carefully, deliberately, he loaded the diskettes w..."
Page 10: "Then he leaned forward and keyed the command to re..."
Page 11: "Robert thought about it a moment. "No." The comp..."
Page 12: "After several minutes the analysis was complete. ..."
Page 13: "VOX smiled. She actually smiled at him! "Very we..."
Page 14: ""Yes," he replied.
"Which application will ..."
Page 15: "But he disengaged the keyboard, nonetheless. VOX ..."
Page 16: ""Speak clearly, and I will do the typing for you,"..."
Page 17: ""Is that the answer?" he asked. "Have you logical..."
Page 18: ""How would we do it?" he asked VOX. "Should I sho..."
Page 19: ""I have calculated a ninety five percent chance yo..."
Page 20: ""Alright," he said at last, "What do I have to do?..."
Page 21: "He wandered across the chamber and examined the mi..."
Page 22: "The man reached into his breast pocket for a noteb..."
Page 23: "When he was gone, Mrs. Cummins closed the door and..."
Page 24: "She decided she was imagining things. But, once s..."
Page 25: ""I did," and the computer's face actually moved, i..."
Page 26: ""Robert isn't here," said VOX.
"What?"
<..."
Page 27: ""That's good," said the woman sarcastically. "Wha..."
Page 28: "With a flick of her wrist she snapped it into the ..."
Page 29: "Then he called the authorities. The police and me..."
Page 2: "He read his modem mail:
THE COMPUDUDES
<..."
Page 3: ""So that's where you are, is it? At that God awfu..."
Page 4: "A condemned prisoner at the gallows, Robert mounte..."
Page 5: ""What have you done to yourself now?" She moved a..."
Page 6: "We don't have any friends because your obnoxious s..."
Page 7: "On him again as soon as he struggled to his feet, ..."
Page 8: "Now he was fumbling with the cellophane wrappings ..."
Page 9: "Carefully, deliberately, he loaded the diskettes w..."
Page 10: "Then he leaned forward and keyed the command to re..."
Page 11: "Robert thought about it a moment. "No." The comp..."
Page 12: "After several minutes the analysis was complete. ..."
Page 13: "VOX smiled. She actually smiled at him! "Very we..."
Page 14: ""Yes," he replied.
"Which application will ..."
Page 15: "But he disengaged the keyboard, nonetheless. VOX ..."
Page 16: ""Speak clearly, and I will do the typing for you,"..."
Page 17: ""Is that the answer?" he asked. "Have you logical..."
Page 18: ""How would we do it?" he asked VOX. "Should I sho..."
Page 19: ""I have calculated a ninety five percent chance yo..."
Page 20: ""Alright," he said at last, "What do I have to do?..."
Page 21: "He wandered across the chamber and examined the mi..."
Page 22: "The man reached into his breast pocket for a noteb..."
Page 23: "When he was gone, Mrs. Cummins closed the door and..."
Page 24: "She decided she was imagining things. But, once s..."
Page 25: ""I did," and the computer's face actually moved, i..."
Page 26: ""Robert isn't here," said VOX.
"What?"
<..."
Page 27: ""That's good," said the woman sarcastically. "Wha..."
Page 28: "With a flick of her wrist she snapped it into the ..."
Page 29: "Then he called the authorities. The police and me..."
Chapter 7:
Bargain Damnable
What is the price of life? What is the value of a human soul?
Page 1:
"We had known each other as lovers during the night..."
Page 2: "Grasping at the last wisps of the illusion, I sat ..."
Page 3: ""No," I replied hastily. "Nothing. Everything is..."
Page 4: "Nothing seemed personal. Right down to the floral..."
Page 5: "Stroking gently, she smiled and started purring li..."
Page 6: "Nodding, I did. Anything to catch my breath. Any..."
Page 7: "Red lips parted, revealed alabaster teeth that gna..."
Page 8: "His daughter ran out of their humble abode. Laden..."
Page 9: ""The cairn."
Father winced. Reflexively hi..."
Page 10: "The daughter watched her father disappear over the..."
Page 11: ". . . and it was coming closer. Faster and faster..."
Page 12: ""Rise woman," spoke he, his voice as deep and dark..."
Page 13: ""No."
"I am of Hades' court and Pluto's rei..."
Page 14: ""Truthfully spoken, to my regret. None of my face..."
Page 15: "The daughter fell to her knees, sobbing. Chills c..."
Page 16: "The girl looked quickly from one spirit to the oth..."
Page 17: "Laughing louder with each splash of the girl's ich..."
Page 18: ""Foolish child, do not scold your matriarch," admo..."
Page 19: ""As before."
"You would have me bargain my ..."
Page 20: ""NO!" she coughed hastily and backed away, "I-I c..."
Page 21: ""Then make a new covenant, one that does not requi..."
Page 22: "Mephistopheles laughed again, causing both females..."
Page 23: ""HUMAN sacrifice?" clarified the tempter. Mother ..."
Page 24: ""But you have the power of resurrection?"
"..."
Page 25: "Then they went into the house to await father's re..."
Page 26: "Then I saw the flash of the blade as it caught the..."
Page 2: "Grasping at the last wisps of the illusion, I sat ..."
Page 3: ""No," I replied hastily. "Nothing. Everything is..."
Page 4: "Nothing seemed personal. Right down to the floral..."
Page 5: "Stroking gently, she smiled and started purring li..."
Page 6: "Nodding, I did. Anything to catch my breath. Any..."
Page 7: "Red lips parted, revealed alabaster teeth that gna..."
Page 8: "His daughter ran out of their humble abode. Laden..."
Page 9: ""The cairn."
Father winced. Reflexively hi..."
Page 10: "The daughter watched her father disappear over the..."
Page 11: ". . . and it was coming closer. Faster and faster..."
Page 12: ""Rise woman," spoke he, his voice as deep and dark..."
Page 13: ""No."
"I am of Hades' court and Pluto's rei..."
Page 14: ""Truthfully spoken, to my regret. None of my face..."
Page 15: "The daughter fell to her knees, sobbing. Chills c..."
Page 16: "The girl looked quickly from one spirit to the oth..."
Page 17: "Laughing louder with each splash of the girl's ich..."
Page 18: ""Foolish child, do not scold your matriarch," admo..."
Page 19: ""As before."
"You would have me bargain my ..."
Page 20: ""NO!" she coughed hastily and backed away, "I-I c..."
Page 21: ""Then make a new covenant, one that does not requi..."
Page 22: "Mephistopheles laughed again, causing both females..."
Page 23: ""HUMAN sacrifice?" clarified the tempter. Mother ..."
Page 24: ""But you have the power of resurrection?"
"..."
Page 25: "Then they went into the house to await father's re..."
Page 26: "Then I saw the flash of the blade as it caught the..."
Chapter 11:
The Omega Complex
Unspeakably joined, mutually loathing. They are two halves of a whole.
Page 1:
"I looked into the mirror, but didn't recognize mys..."
Page 2: "Unbidden, my mind slipped into his. I vaguely won..."
Page 3: "With raw, delicate senses I tested the web of life..."
Page 4: "It was a simple pattern to read, this body I inhab..."
Page 5: "All these questions and many, many more. Answered..."
Page 6: "I knew such would be my inevitable fate unless I f..."
Page 7: "They would inevitably be drawn to the trail of dis..."
Page 8: "If It had monitored my escape . .. if It had even ..."
Page 9: "A loud clang and a continuous clatter followed me ..."
Page 10: ""I thank you for your assistance," I told the auto..."
Page 11: "I was walking home from the grocery store, two bro..."
Page 12: "Its form was that of a stray dog, a veteran of a t..."
Page 13: ""With more vigor than you can imagine," I dared.
Page 14: "'Why does this have to be?' It asked. 'So many ti..."
Page 15: "Eventually I would die, though. There was no mist..."
Page 16: ""Of course," I replied.
Then I turned and r..."
Page 17: "I was safe as long as I could avoid human contact ..."
Page 18: "A tight crowd of revelers was milling around in fr..."
Page 19: "Knowing there was nothing else to do, I stopped ru..."
Page 20: ""On the contrary, time has been most kind."
Page 21: "For a long minute we said nothing. The sounds of ..."
Page 22: ""Why should I?"
It started to Its feet, but..."
Page 23: "I thought about what the Nihilist had said. I loo..."
Page 24: "Then came the Reversal. And the Nihilist was forg..."
Page 25: ""When you were forged, we were much more naive as ..."
Page 26: ""Yes, we did."
'No. You simply called me f..."
Page 27: "I could instantly sense Its rage. The web of life..."
Page 28: "It was naked now. It couldn't touch me inside my ..."
Page 29: "Now Its energies swelled up in front of me. Its m..."
Page 30: "But It was gone. It would no longer be distracted..."
Page 31: "I spun in place when I heard the crinkle of scatte..."
Page 32: "'I agree.' It moved closer, staggering despite It..."
Page 33: "The Nihilist moved closer, within striking distanc..."
Page 34: "It produced a syringe already loaded with a milky ..."
Page 35: "Its physical form toppled and fell with a dull, we..."
Page 36: "My last ties to the human condition snapped taut a..."
Page 2: "Unbidden, my mind slipped into his. I vaguely won..."
Page 3: "With raw, delicate senses I tested the web of life..."
Page 4: "It was a simple pattern to read, this body I inhab..."
Page 5: "All these questions and many, many more. Answered..."
Page 6: "I knew such would be my inevitable fate unless I f..."
Page 7: "They would inevitably be drawn to the trail of dis..."
Page 8: "If It had monitored my escape . .. if It had even ..."
Page 9: "A loud clang and a continuous clatter followed me ..."
Page 10: ""I thank you for your assistance," I told the auto..."
Page 11: "I was walking home from the grocery store, two bro..."
Page 12: "Its form was that of a stray dog, a veteran of a t..."
Page 13: ""With more vigor than you can imagine," I dared.
Page 14: "'Why does this have to be?' It asked. 'So many ti..."
Page 15: "Eventually I would die, though. There was no mist..."
Page 16: ""Of course," I replied.
Then I turned and r..."
Page 17: "I was safe as long as I could avoid human contact ..."
Page 18: "A tight crowd of revelers was milling around in fr..."
Page 19: "Knowing there was nothing else to do, I stopped ru..."
Page 20: ""On the contrary, time has been most kind."
Page 21: "For a long minute we said nothing. The sounds of ..."
Page 22: ""Why should I?"
It started to Its feet, but..."
Page 23: "I thought about what the Nihilist had said. I loo..."
Page 24: "Then came the Reversal. And the Nihilist was forg..."
Page 25: ""When you were forged, we were much more naive as ..."
Page 26: ""Yes, we did."
'No. You simply called me f..."
Page 27: "I could instantly sense Its rage. The web of life..."
Page 28: "It was naked now. It couldn't touch me inside my ..."
Page 29: "Now Its energies swelled up in front of me. Its m..."
Page 30: "But It was gone. It would no longer be distracted..."
Page 31: "I spun in place when I heard the crinkle of scatte..."
Page 32: "'I agree.' It moved closer, staggering despite It..."
Page 33: "The Nihilist moved closer, within striking distanc..."
Page 34: "It produced a syringe already loaded with a milky ..."
Page 35: "Its physical form toppled and fell with a dull, we..."
Page 36: "My last ties to the human condition snapped taut a..."
Chapter 15:
Fate
Two missionaries lost in the jungle. Can you smell that?
Chapter 4:
The Wake of Chronicles
This celestial traveler is a story teller. Sit and listen.
Page 1:
"He kicked down the dusty road, stopping often to a..."
Page 2: "He had a long, long way to go.
With slanted..."
Page 3: "A huge cloud of dust followed the vehicle down the..."
Page 4: "Squinting against the harsh sunlight and the swirl..."
Page 5: "After several minutes a tattered, rusted screen do..."
Page 6: ""Well come on up, then."
With that the old ..."
Page 7: ""Yes," Sam smiled and pulled the flimsy door open...."
Page 8: "The drunk took it, held it up to a bolt of light s..."
Page 9: ""Maybe you don't understand," Sam tried again, "I ..."
Page 10: ""I'll give you ten dollars."
"Twen'y."
<..."
Page 11: "Smiling for the first time, the disgusting man cou..."
Page 12: ""Hell," he cackled again, "I ain't Elisiah. Elisi..."
Page 13: "Jake seemed genuinely disappointed. "It ain't oft..."
Page 14: "For a moment they seemed to glimmer in the sunligh..."
Page 15: "When tied to a straight shaft of strong wood and s..."
Page 16: ". . . I am he, whose touch formed this stone as yo..."
Page 17: ""Yes," the primitive man mused. "But you must hav..."
Page 18: "How good the land was to him and his family. How ..."
Page 19: ""But we are hungry." As always the woman goaded h..."
Page 20: ""You are a woman. You do not understand the ways ..."
Page 21: "His first son appeared on the run. "Yes, father?"..."
Page 22: "After an involved search, he settled for the dried..."
Page 23: "Completed, it was a thing of fine beauty. It radi..."
Page 24: "An hour later, when everything was tight and harde..."
Page 25: "A man had to become an animal to hunt deer. They ..."
Page 26: "The sun was setting angrily in the sky. The storm..."
Page 27: "His every sense was alert to the slightest movemen..."
Page 28: "But the third had no young he could see. It was f..."
Page 29: ". . . there the tale ends," finished the painted a..."
Page 30: ""May I go now?"
"To what will you return?" ..."
Page 31: "By noon the next day, Sam dug up something entirel..."
Page 32: "...I am he, whose touch formed this musket ball as..."
Page 33: ""Very well," complied the Conquistador. "I am Don..."
Page 34: "There was purpose of empire afoot. He and his men..."
Page 35: "So there was not only personal pride and lust at s..."
Page 36: "The rest had all perished in battle or illness, mo..."
Page 37: "Don Pedro checked the load of his two flint lock p..."
Page 38: "Callously vain and self assured, he gouged the fla..."
Page 39: "Then he turned to behead a female, who seemed inte..."
Page 40: "When their pitiful loot was gathered and sorted, t..."
Page 41: "With a final grunt, the heathen was flung, mortall..."
Page 42: "The Spaniard only stared blankly ahead. "May I go..."
Page 43: "It was a hot day in west Texas. Even the mesquite..."
Page 2: "He had a long, long way to go.
With slanted..."
Page 3: "A huge cloud of dust followed the vehicle down the..."
Page 4: "Squinting against the harsh sunlight and the swirl..."
Page 5: "After several minutes a tattered, rusted screen do..."
Page 6: ""Well come on up, then."
With that the old ..."
Page 7: ""Yes," Sam smiled and pulled the flimsy door open...."
Page 8: "The drunk took it, held it up to a bolt of light s..."
Page 9: ""Maybe you don't understand," Sam tried again, "I ..."
Page 10: ""I'll give you ten dollars."
"Twen'y."
<..."
Page 11: "Smiling for the first time, the disgusting man cou..."
Page 12: ""Hell," he cackled again, "I ain't Elisiah. Elisi..."
Page 13: "Jake seemed genuinely disappointed. "It ain't oft..."
Page 14: "For a moment they seemed to glimmer in the sunligh..."
Page 15: "When tied to a straight shaft of strong wood and s..."
Page 16: ". . . I am he, whose touch formed this stone as yo..."
Page 17: ""Yes," the primitive man mused. "But you must hav..."
Page 18: "How good the land was to him and his family. How ..."
Page 19: ""But we are hungry." As always the woman goaded h..."
Page 20: ""You are a woman. You do not understand the ways ..."
Page 21: "His first son appeared on the run. "Yes, father?"..."
Page 22: "After an involved search, he settled for the dried..."
Page 23: "Completed, it was a thing of fine beauty. It radi..."
Page 24: "An hour later, when everything was tight and harde..."
Page 25: "A man had to become an animal to hunt deer. They ..."
Page 26: "The sun was setting angrily in the sky. The storm..."
Page 27: "His every sense was alert to the slightest movemen..."
Page 28: "But the third had no young he could see. It was f..."
Page 29: ". . . there the tale ends," finished the painted a..."
Page 30: ""May I go now?"
"To what will you return?" ..."
Page 31: "By noon the next day, Sam dug up something entirel..."
Page 32: "...I am he, whose touch formed this musket ball as..."
Page 33: ""Very well," complied the Conquistador. "I am Don..."
Page 34: "There was purpose of empire afoot. He and his men..."
Page 35: "So there was not only personal pride and lust at s..."
Page 36: "The rest had all perished in battle or illness, mo..."
Page 37: "Don Pedro checked the load of his two flint lock p..."
Page 38: "Callously vain and self assured, he gouged the fla..."
Page 39: "Then he turned to behead a female, who seemed inte..."
Page 40: "When their pitiful loot was gathered and sorted, t..."
Page 41: "With a final grunt, the heathen was flung, mortall..."
Page 42: "The Spaniard only stared blankly ahead. "May I go..."
Page 43: "It was a hot day in west Texas. Even the mesquite..."
Chapter 8:
The Hammer
He hates his job. Today, he's going to do something about it.
Page 1:
"I just couldn't take it any more.
How many ..."
Page 2: "Nobody would forget me. Could forget me.
I..."
Page 3: "I could feel it even now, a slow, burning sensatio..."
Page 4: "BBRRRRRRRRRRPPPPPP
My right hand lashed out..."
Page 5: "I forced my heart to sink back to its proper place..."
Page 6: "With the sounds and smells of a steaming shower fi..."
Page 7: "Swallowing an animal urge to smash his face bloody..."
Page 8: "Men and women drifted past me, all wearing the fac..."
Page 9: "Was that the thump-thump-thump of the bolt? Or wa..."
Page 10: "I was Changed. I was no longer just another pig.<..."
Page 11: "I removed my gaze from the sterile tile of the wal..."
Page 12: ""What's that?" called a disembodied male voice fro..."
Page 13: "Flushing the toilet, I turned and began zipping my..."
Page 14: "Who were these pig men around me? Did they care? ..."
Page 15: "The pigs around me could never guess what I had fo..."
Page 16: "With a whipcord snap, the locker room surrounded m..."
Page 17: "Smiling, I used a special key to remove my service..."
Page 18: ""Hey, pig! Pig man! Wanna little ass?!" yelled t..."
Page 19: "Control. Practice control.
Now was not the..."
Page 20: "Even as I chased the question about within the sil..."
Page 21: "I parked the squad car beneath the raised highway ..."
Page 22: "So I slowly raised my nine millimeter automatic an..."
Page 23: "The pigs stopped squealing, one by one. They lay ..."
Page 24: "And I wept to think of the emptiness ahead, a dark..."
Page 25: "Damned straight it would be. Everything was going..."
How many ..."
Page 2: "Nobody would forget me. Could forget me.
I..."
Page 3: "I could feel it even now, a slow, burning sensatio..."
Page 4: "BBRRRRRRRRRRPPPPPP
My right hand lashed out..."
Page 5: "I forced my heart to sink back to its proper place..."
Page 6: "With the sounds and smells of a steaming shower fi..."
Page 7: "Swallowing an animal urge to smash his face bloody..."
Page 8: "Men and women drifted past me, all wearing the fac..."
Page 9: "Was that the thump-thump-thump of the bolt? Or wa..."
Page 10: "I was Changed. I was no longer just another pig.<..."
Page 11: "I removed my gaze from the sterile tile of the wal..."
Page 12: ""What's that?" called a disembodied male voice fro..."
Page 13: "Flushing the toilet, I turned and began zipping my..."
Page 14: "Who were these pig men around me? Did they care? ..."
Page 15: "The pigs around me could never guess what I had fo..."
Page 16: "With a whipcord snap, the locker room surrounded m..."
Page 17: "Smiling, I used a special key to remove my service..."
Page 18: ""Hey, pig! Pig man! Wanna little ass?!" yelled t..."
Page 19: "Control. Practice control.
Now was not the..."
Page 20: "Even as I chased the question about within the sil..."
Page 21: "I parked the squad car beneath the raised highway ..."
Page 22: "So I slowly raised my nine millimeter automatic an..."
Page 23: "The pigs stopped squealing, one by one. They lay ..."
Page 24: "And I wept to think of the emptiness ahead, a dark..."
Page 25: "Damned straight it would be. Everything was going..."
Chapter 12:
Paranoia
They're out to get him. Even the dog is wired for sound.
Page 1:
"I knew all about THEM. THEY were responsible for ..."
Page 2: "That was when the first flash bulbs popped, the fi..."
Page 3: "Things had regressed to the point, standing there ..."
Page 4: "Now I can guess. They are the F.B.I., the C.I.A.,..."
Page 5: "I knew then they were seriously out to get me.
..."
Page 6: "Finally it came down to me and the dog. I noticed..."
Page 7: "Ingeniously, I fabricated a story to justify denyi..."
Page 8: "After soaking the dog meat in a particularly dread..."
Page 9: "I thought for sure that was the end. The hit man ..."
Page 10: "The officer didn't seem to believe me. So I asked..."
Page 11: "Searching the house, they found nothing out of the..."
Page 12: "Even though I had tried to prevent such a thing fr..."
Page 13: "I knew what THAT meant. I had broken their code.<..."
Page 14: "On a sudden inspiration I burned the house down. ..."
Page 15: "I caught a freight train bound west outside town. ..."
Page 2: "That was when the first flash bulbs popped, the fi..."
Page 3: "Things had regressed to the point, standing there ..."
Page 4: "Now I can guess. They are the F.B.I., the C.I.A.,..."
Page 5: "I knew then they were seriously out to get me.
..."
Page 6: "Finally it came down to me and the dog. I noticed..."
Page 7: "Ingeniously, I fabricated a story to justify denyi..."
Page 8: "After soaking the dog meat in a particularly dread..."
Page 9: "I thought for sure that was the end. The hit man ..."
Page 10: "The officer didn't seem to believe me. So I asked..."
Page 11: "Searching the house, they found nothing out of the..."
Page 12: "Even though I had tried to prevent such a thing fr..."
Page 13: "I knew what THAT meant. I had broken their code.<..."
Page 14: "On a sudden inspiration I burned the house down. ..."
Page 15: "I caught a freight train bound west outside town. ..."
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