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Shores of Silver Seas; Collected Short Stories: 2000-2006
Shores of Silver Seas; Collected Short Stories: 2000-2006
Chapter 1:
The Prometheus Project
They're a long way from home, and their starship must rise from the ashes of a terrible conflagration.
Page 1:
"He awakened to the machine with a harsh, inevitabl..."
Page 2: "His thoughts of it were beautiful. Sane. For it ..."
Page 3: "The machine was he. He was the machine.
W..."
Page 4: ""Hi," she started simply, raising a quick hand and..."
Page 5: ""Will you drink with me?" he offered.
That ..."
Page 6: "The machine shrugged. "Don't be. It's nothing to..."
Page 7: ""Glass, please."
And the machine fetched a ..."
Page 8: ""I do. But then, I have always appreciated your m..."
Page 9: ""That thing with the empty glass. It's disturbing..."
Page 10: ""Then, why?"
"Aesthetics. The same as the ..."
Page 11: ""You breathe, of course," as though she were bored..."
Page 12: "The machine nodded instantly. He let the smile re..."
Page 13: "She only nodded. So he began to speak.
"In..."
Page 14: ""I know what they want."
"And you know what..."
Page 15: ""You lack nothing. You have everything."
"..."
Page 16: "He shook his head defiantly. "Freedom is life out..."
Page 17: ""I-" he started, and stopped. "I-"
"Yes?" ..."
Page 18: ""You simply require an adjustment. Fifteen cycles..."
Page 19: "He was necessarily skeptical. "Yes, I suppose you..."
Page 20: "He nodded soberly, "I have seen the smaller end of..."
Page 21: "He had hurt her. She winced, and he felt instantl..."
Page 22: ""Right, okay." She breathed deeply yet softly, an..."
Page 23: "This one breathed with mechanical lungs, while his..."
Page 24: "That shut her up. That, or the arrival of the tra..."
Page 25: "He felt the machine shudder, and he turned away. ..."
Page 26: "He let his eyes shift from the darkened window to ..."
Page 27: "He willed the machine out and onto the landing. A..."
Page 28: "He followed them along another endless corridor, f..."
Page 29: ""Access initiated." The computer terminal acknowl..."
Page 30: "The mechanisms that were his heart and lungs whirr..."
Page 31: ""Value; zero."
He stood motionless for a lo..."
Page 32: "His machine bonded briefly with the Brigantine's m..."
Page 33: "He turned his unfeeling eyes on his unfeeling hand..."
Page 34: "Brigantine's systems remained silent for an eterni..."
Page 35: ""We should not be on alert, at all," replied the m..."
Page 36: "Presently, a three dimensional simulation sprang t..."
Page 37: "The display faded from the deathbed scene to a dar..."
Page 38: ""And now listen while I tell you why. Why Prometh..."
Page 39: "His other tortured voice fell silent for a time, w..."
Page 2: "His thoughts of it were beautiful. Sane. For it ..."
Page 3: "The machine was he. He was the machine.
W..."
Page 4: ""Hi," she started simply, raising a quick hand and..."
Page 5: ""Will you drink with me?" he offered.
That ..."
Page 6: "The machine shrugged. "Don't be. It's nothing to..."
Page 7: ""Glass, please."
And the machine fetched a ..."
Page 8: ""I do. But then, I have always appreciated your m..."
Page 9: ""That thing with the empty glass. It's disturbing..."
Page 10: ""Then, why?"
"Aesthetics. The same as the ..."
Page 11: ""You breathe, of course," as though she were bored..."
Page 12: "The machine nodded instantly. He let the smile re..."
Page 13: "She only nodded. So he began to speak.
"In..."
Page 14: ""I know what they want."
"And you know what..."
Page 15: ""You lack nothing. You have everything."
"..."
Page 16: "He shook his head defiantly. "Freedom is life out..."
Page 17: ""I-" he started, and stopped. "I-"
"Yes?" ..."
Page 18: ""You simply require an adjustment. Fifteen cycles..."
Page 19: "He was necessarily skeptical. "Yes, I suppose you..."
Page 20: "He nodded soberly, "I have seen the smaller end of..."
Page 21: "He had hurt her. She winced, and he felt instantl..."
Page 22: ""Right, okay." She breathed deeply yet softly, an..."
Page 23: "This one breathed with mechanical lungs, while his..."
Page 24: "That shut her up. That, or the arrival of the tra..."
Page 25: "He felt the machine shudder, and he turned away. ..."
Page 26: "He let his eyes shift from the darkened window to ..."
Page 27: "He willed the machine out and onto the landing. A..."
Page 28: "He followed them along another endless corridor, f..."
Page 29: ""Access initiated." The computer terminal acknowl..."
Page 30: "The mechanisms that were his heart and lungs whirr..."
Page 31: ""Value; zero."
He stood motionless for a lo..."
Page 32: "His machine bonded briefly with the Brigantine's m..."
Page 33: "He turned his unfeeling eyes on his unfeeling hand..."
Page 34: "Brigantine's systems remained silent for an eterni..."
Page 35: ""We should not be on alert, at all," replied the m..."
Page 36: "Presently, a three dimensional simulation sprang t..."
Page 37: "The display faded from the deathbed scene to a dar..."
Page 38: ""And now listen while I tell you why. Why Prometh..."
Page 39: "His other tortured voice fell silent for a time, w..."
Chapter 5:
The Retirement
He's tired of the rat race, and he has a plan for a fantastic exit.
Page 1:
""We feel you can manage it. Alone. More than one ..."
Page 2: ""We think you are first choice."
I grunted ..."
Page 3: ""In most cases, you would be correct to assume it'..."
Page 4: ""But you know that I have never failed."
"W..."
Page 5: "She pursed her lips into a pressed smile that was ..."
Page 6: "She snapped open her notebook and ran her fingers ..."
Page 7: ""No, you won't."
Her fingers stopped in mid..."
Page 8: ""Under penalty of capital punishment? Are you ser..."
Page 9: "I shrugged. "I suppose they selected us from the ..."
Page 10: "Personally, I felt that the vague parameters of th..."
Page 11: ""Defeatism. Realism. Pessimism. Call it what yo..."
Page 12: ""Or maybe you already have an angle." And she ret..."
Page 13: "I rebutted, "While it's true this assignment could..."
Page 14: ""My name?"
"That's right. But you had bett..."
Page 15: "I laughed. It wasn't much money as governments we..."
Page 16: ""Yes, sir," she returned, her fingers busy with th..."
Page 17: "If possible, my grin broadened. "That's just the ..."
Page 18: "She frowned. "Why didn't you say so..." she seeme..."
Page 19: ""The one you are going to charter to take us out-w..."
Page 20: "After a final flutter of her fingertips, this was ..."
Page 21: ""We? You keep saying that, but this isn't a team ..."
Page 22: ""You're coming, too. I need to get started on thi..."
Page 23: "Her eyes were wide and disbelieving and they blink..."
Page 24: ""Always with the details. I think it's the manage..."
Page 25: ""One always needs a friend in the field, you know...."
Page 26: "They said nothing as I strode up to the doors of t..."
Page 2: ""We think you are first choice."
I grunted ..."
Page 3: ""In most cases, you would be correct to assume it'..."
Page 4: ""But you know that I have never failed."
"W..."
Page 5: "She pursed her lips into a pressed smile that was ..."
Page 6: "She snapped open her notebook and ran her fingers ..."
Page 7: ""No, you won't."
Her fingers stopped in mid..."
Page 8: ""Under penalty of capital punishment? Are you ser..."
Page 9: "I shrugged. "I suppose they selected us from the ..."
Page 10: "Personally, I felt that the vague parameters of th..."
Page 11: ""Defeatism. Realism. Pessimism. Call it what yo..."
Page 12: ""Or maybe you already have an angle." And she ret..."
Page 13: "I rebutted, "While it's true this assignment could..."
Page 14: ""My name?"
"That's right. But you had bett..."
Page 15: "I laughed. It wasn't much money as governments we..."
Page 16: ""Yes, sir," she returned, her fingers busy with th..."
Page 17: "If possible, my grin broadened. "That's just the ..."
Page 18: "She frowned. "Why didn't you say so..." she seeme..."
Page 19: ""The one you are going to charter to take us out-w..."
Page 20: "After a final flutter of her fingertips, this was ..."
Page 21: ""We? You keep saying that, but this isn't a team ..."
Page 22: ""You're coming, too. I need to get started on thi..."
Page 23: "Her eyes were wide and disbelieving and they blink..."
Page 24: ""Always with the details. I think it's the manage..."
Page 25: ""One always needs a friend in the field, you know...."
Page 26: "They said nothing as I strode up to the doors of t..."
Chapter 9:
Final Remarks
You'll get your chance to make a final statement. Make it count.
Page 1:
"...he arrived late, emerging from the rain as a gh..."
Page 2: "He hissed, and I was reminded of a dangerous anima..."
Page 3: "Steaming from the icy water that covered him, he c..."
Page 4: "'Good. Not much traffic this time of night. And ..."
Page 5: "'And who else is waiting there?'
'Tarena. ..."
Page 6: "'Then why pucker your anus so?'
'I, ah, wel..."
Page 7: "By my understanding of him, biased as it naturally..."
Page 8: "We arrived at my home a short time later, as I had..."
Page 9: "'Tell me about her,' he grunted, sitting back, eye..."
Page 10: "'And you, ah... Tarena? What do you think?'
Page 11: "I nodded. What else could I do?
In all hon..."
Page 12: "'Why the fuck would you do that?!' I might have sh..."
Page 13: "'I mean,' he continued through his vicious, tight,..."
Page 14: "'Perhaps she truly loved you... perhaps she, too, ..."
Page 15: "I hadn't considered the matter before this very mo..."
Page 16: "'Oh, come now, Mr. S, don't be so naive... so emot..."
Page 17: "I laughed. Sane or insane, I cannot be certain wh..."
Page 18: "'It proves I should have let the phone ring when y..."
Page 19: "After some time, he arched his brow, and checked h..."
Page 20: "'This place is dirty, of course,' he intoned, reac..."
Page 21: "Had I really thought him to be an old man? He was..."
Page 22: "Being a modest man, I could not meet his eyes. 'I..."
Page 23: "Yet he smiled and would not answer. In fact, he s..."
Page 24: "Once he was certain we had sanitized our contact w..."
Page 25: "'Return to 1155. Clean up. Sanitize the place. ..."
Page 26: "I found 1155 without incident. His key fit the lo..."
Page 27: "As I was trained, I went back through the suite ag..."
Page 28: "I rode the crowd out the front doors, into the str..."
Page 29: "Since I was keenly aware that he could easily shoo..."
Page 30: "'But I won't. You see, Mr. S, though you have fai..."
Page 31: "Well, let's get on with it, shall we? I'm tired o..."
Page 2: "He hissed, and I was reminded of a dangerous anima..."
Page 3: "Steaming from the icy water that covered him, he c..."
Page 4: "'Good. Not much traffic this time of night. And ..."
Page 5: "'And who else is waiting there?'
'Tarena. ..."
Page 6: "'Then why pucker your anus so?'
'I, ah, wel..."
Page 7: "By my understanding of him, biased as it naturally..."
Page 8: "We arrived at my home a short time later, as I had..."
Page 9: "'Tell me about her,' he grunted, sitting back, eye..."
Page 10: "'And you, ah... Tarena? What do you think?'
Page 11: "I nodded. What else could I do?
In all hon..."
Page 12: "'Why the fuck would you do that?!' I might have sh..."
Page 13: "'I mean,' he continued through his vicious, tight,..."
Page 14: "'Perhaps she truly loved you... perhaps she, too, ..."
Page 15: "I hadn't considered the matter before this very mo..."
Page 16: "'Oh, come now, Mr. S, don't be so naive... so emot..."
Page 17: "I laughed. Sane or insane, I cannot be certain wh..."
Page 18: "'It proves I should have let the phone ring when y..."
Page 19: "After some time, he arched his brow, and checked h..."
Page 20: "'This place is dirty, of course,' he intoned, reac..."
Page 21: "Had I really thought him to be an old man? He was..."
Page 22: "Being a modest man, I could not meet his eyes. 'I..."
Page 23: "Yet he smiled and would not answer. In fact, he s..."
Page 24: "Once he was certain we had sanitized our contact w..."
Page 25: "'Return to 1155. Clean up. Sanitize the place. ..."
Page 26: "I found 1155 without incident. His key fit the lo..."
Page 27: "As I was trained, I went back through the suite ag..."
Page 28: "I rode the crowd out the front doors, into the str..."
Page 29: "Since I was keenly aware that he could easily shoo..."
Page 30: "'But I won't. You see, Mr. S, though you have fai..."
Page 31: "Well, let's get on with it, shall we? I'm tired o..."
Chapter 13:
The Road to Texas
Ever been to Texas?
Page 1:
""What are you looking at, Wilson?" Jerry Stienmeul..."
Page 2: ""New Jersey, Stan, that's what's out there. Say....."
Page 3: "Stanley jumped and dropped his lunch box. Retriev..."
Page 4: "Stanley sighed leadenly, and leaned forward to cro..."
Page 5: ""I dunno, Stan. I guess I go inside to watch the ..."
Page 6: ""Hey, me and John D. Rockefeller," he joked, makin..."
Page 7: "Later that day, he dialed order entry to discuss a..."
Page 8: ""Tamitha? That you?"
"Yeah, that you Stan?..."
Page 9: ""Got a rich uncle, do you?" she was bored. "What ..."
Page 10: "Stanley sighed, and glanced at the second phone li..."
Page 11: "He hung up with a finger. Then he called Al, the ..."
Page 12: ""Yeah, Stan. What's on your mind?"
"Have y..."
Page 13: ""I bet it's just something they made up in the mov..."
Page 14: "God, Stanley knew, watched over them in their wild..."
Page 15: "Jerry stood at the bus stop, his paper tucked bene..."
Page 16: ""Stanley Wilson," intoned Mr. Drecker formally, "T..."
Page 17: ""Twenty?" repeated Stanley dreamily. His right ha..."
Page 18: ""I'm sorry to hear about that, Mr. Wilson," return..."
Page 19: ""Vacation time?"
He checked, frowning. "Yo..."
Page 20: "Mr. Drecker and Ms. Greene exchanged puzzled glanc..."
Page 21: ""What's the area code for Houston, Texas? Oh, I d..."
Page 22: ""I'm from New Hampshire, originally. We came down..."
Page 23: ""Yes, and we're still mowing our lawns, too. It's..."
Page 24: ""Yes, sir. Personal. It couldn't wait."
H..."
Page 25: "Stanley shrugged. "I don't smoke."
"Right...."
Page 26: ""They say," he added, as the guard led him by the ..."
Page 27: "As he returned to his seat, the door opened. A pr..."
Page 28: "Drugs, wondered Stanley? What sort of drugs?
<..."
Page 29: "But Stanley didn't respond. He stood at the corne..."
Page 30: ""Si. Es Tejas!"
"Yeah," grinned Stanley, s..."
Page 2: ""New Jersey, Stan, that's what's out there. Say....."
Page 3: "Stanley jumped and dropped his lunch box. Retriev..."
Page 4: "Stanley sighed leadenly, and leaned forward to cro..."
Page 5: ""I dunno, Stan. I guess I go inside to watch the ..."
Page 6: ""Hey, me and John D. Rockefeller," he joked, makin..."
Page 7: "Later that day, he dialed order entry to discuss a..."
Page 8: ""Tamitha? That you?"
"Yeah, that you Stan?..."
Page 9: ""Got a rich uncle, do you?" she was bored. "What ..."
Page 10: "Stanley sighed, and glanced at the second phone li..."
Page 11: "He hung up with a finger. Then he called Al, the ..."
Page 12: ""Yeah, Stan. What's on your mind?"
"Have y..."
Page 13: ""I bet it's just something they made up in the mov..."
Page 14: "God, Stanley knew, watched over them in their wild..."
Page 15: "Jerry stood at the bus stop, his paper tucked bene..."
Page 16: ""Stanley Wilson," intoned Mr. Drecker formally, "T..."
Page 17: ""Twenty?" repeated Stanley dreamily. His right ha..."
Page 18: ""I'm sorry to hear about that, Mr. Wilson," return..."
Page 19: ""Vacation time?"
He checked, frowning. "Yo..."
Page 20: "Mr. Drecker and Ms. Greene exchanged puzzled glanc..."
Page 21: ""What's the area code for Houston, Texas? Oh, I d..."
Page 22: ""I'm from New Hampshire, originally. We came down..."
Page 23: ""Yes, and we're still mowing our lawns, too. It's..."
Page 24: ""Yes, sir. Personal. It couldn't wait."
H..."
Page 25: "Stanley shrugged. "I don't smoke."
"Right...."
Page 26: ""They say," he added, as the guard led him by the ..."
Page 27: "As he returned to his seat, the door opened. A pr..."
Page 28: "Drugs, wondered Stanley? What sort of drugs?
<..."
Page 29: "But Stanley didn't respond. He stood at the corne..."
Page 30: ""Si. Es Tejas!"
"Yeah," grinned Stanley, s..."
Chapter 17:
The Corporal Would Survive
He should have died a thousand times, but nobody could kill him save himself.
Page 1:
""He cannot hear me, any longer," sighed Runner, hi..."
Page 2: ""This man," said Runner, dipping his head toward t..."
Page 3: "Runner tossed the tags after the head, and the sol..."
Page 4: "The corporal was quick to surge forward and block ..."
Page 5: "A terrible hush fell upon them, which was shattere..."
Page 6: ""I am, perhaps, the greatest coward of all."
Page 7: "Each of the young replacements turned their heads ..."
Page 8: ""Yes, Private. They would listen to your pleas fo..."
Page 9: ""I would happily die for the Fatherland."
"..."
Page 10: "Runner's voice returned with a bit of smile. "You..."
Page 11: ""I don't understand. How can it be both?"
..."
Page 12: ""What will you do?" Some of them wondered if it w..."
Page 13: "They waited, breathless, for the senior officer am..."
Page 14: "They could not guess at the nature of his oath, fo..."
Page 15: "Still, Runner ignored them. He was lost in a hide..."
Page 2: ""This man," said Runner, dipping his head toward t..."
Page 3: "Runner tossed the tags after the head, and the sol..."
Page 4: "The corporal was quick to surge forward and block ..."
Page 5: "A terrible hush fell upon them, which was shattere..."
Page 6: ""I am, perhaps, the greatest coward of all."
Page 7: "Each of the young replacements turned their heads ..."
Page 8: ""Yes, Private. They would listen to your pleas fo..."
Page 9: ""I would happily die for the Fatherland."
"..."
Page 10: "Runner's voice returned with a bit of smile. "You..."
Page 11: ""I don't understand. How can it be both?"
..."
Page 12: ""What will you do?" Some of them wondered if it w..."
Page 13: "They waited, breathless, for the senior officer am..."
Page 14: "They could not guess at the nature of his oath, fo..."
Page 15: "Still, Runner ignored them. He was lost in a hide..."
Chapter 21:
The Lawn Boy
It's a terrible debt to repay. He's choking up every last cent.
Page 1:
"As he did every Saturday morning at 11:00 AM, Mart..."
Page 2: "He fixed a grim mask onto his face, as he stooped ..."
Page 3: "First, Papa Lorne's door swung open with a solid, ..."
Page 4: "Martin respectfully altered his gaze from his snea..."
Page 5: ""Megan," barked Mrs. Lorne from the front porch, "..."
Page 6: "Before he twisted his key to start the little truc..."
Page 7: "Most Saturdays, the Lornes kept to themselves. He..."
Page 8: "That fall, he pruned their trees and scrubbed thei..."
Page 9: "Eventually, the lawn boy spoke, saying, "Yes, Mist..."
Page 10: ""I wanted to tell you that," added the elder man a..."
Page 11: "Martin's chin dropped to his chest, and his vision..."
Page 12: ""She made it, you know," breathed Mr. Lorne, "so i..."
Page 13: "The lawn boy accepted the remark with a furtive wa..."
Page 14: "Trembling fingers dangled from the palms of his nu..."
Page 15: ""Very well, now that I don't have to go to high sc..."
Page 16: ""Oh, well, congratulations, then. You seem happy...."
Page 17: ""Oh, that makes sense," she bubbled, her brilliant..."
Page 18: ""Yet, you are an adult these days, Cindy," respond..."
Page 19: "His shoulders hunched and his head hung, as befitt..."
Page 20: "One day during the year that Megan graduated from ..."
Page 21: "All color faded from Martin's pale face, as he slo..."
Page 22: "He dropped his rake to totter across the turf and ..."
Page 23: ""I didn't know," returned the lawn boy softly.
..."
Page 24: ""So I guess…" sighed the old man, turning his gaze..."
Page 25: "One bright summer Saturday, during the 25th season..."
Page 26: "When he turned to face the old man, Martin found h..."
Page 27: "When he could no longer stand the sight of it, and..."
Page 28: "In her arms, his cheek pressed against her delicat..."
Page 2: "He fixed a grim mask onto his face, as he stooped ..."
Page 3: "First, Papa Lorne's door swung open with a solid, ..."
Page 4: "Martin respectfully altered his gaze from his snea..."
Page 5: ""Megan," barked Mrs. Lorne from the front porch, "..."
Page 6: "Before he twisted his key to start the little truc..."
Page 7: "Most Saturdays, the Lornes kept to themselves. He..."
Page 8: "That fall, he pruned their trees and scrubbed thei..."
Page 9: "Eventually, the lawn boy spoke, saying, "Yes, Mist..."
Page 10: ""I wanted to tell you that," added the elder man a..."
Page 11: "Martin's chin dropped to his chest, and his vision..."
Page 12: ""She made it, you know," breathed Mr. Lorne, "so i..."
Page 13: "The lawn boy accepted the remark with a furtive wa..."
Page 14: "Trembling fingers dangled from the palms of his nu..."
Page 15: ""Very well, now that I don't have to go to high sc..."
Page 16: ""Oh, well, congratulations, then. You seem happy...."
Page 17: ""Oh, that makes sense," she bubbled, her brilliant..."
Page 18: ""Yet, you are an adult these days, Cindy," respond..."
Page 19: "His shoulders hunched and his head hung, as befitt..."
Page 20: "One day during the year that Megan graduated from ..."
Page 21: "All color faded from Martin's pale face, as he slo..."
Page 22: "He dropped his rake to totter across the turf and ..."
Page 23: ""I didn't know," returned the lawn boy softly.
..."
Page 24: ""So I guess…" sighed the old man, turning his gaze..."
Page 25: "One bright summer Saturday, during the 25th season..."
Page 26: "When he turned to face the old man, Martin found h..."
Page 27: "When he could no longer stand the sight of it, and..."
Page 28: "In her arms, his cheek pressed against her delicat..."
Chapter 2:
Machines of War
Be careful what you wish for… not all is fair in love and war.
Page 1:
""It wasn't supposed to happen."
"But it hap..."
Page 2: ""I have the report, mister, but I asked YOU a ques..."
Page 3: ""Yes, sir. Frankly, none of the front line office..."
Page 4: ""Yes, sir, ah the enemy sustained one hundred perc..."
Page 5: ""That's all beside the point. We let these monste..."
Page 6: ""THEN," he announced officially, "We're going to r..."
Page 7: ""Good, good, and now I'll tell you one thing more,..."
Page 8: "He nodded. "Yes, sir. I'll get a Vector without ..."
Page 9: "Without expressing emotion of any kind, the pilot ..."
Page 10: "After an eternity of searching, he found his desti..."
Page 11: "The corporal smiled. "So is mine." And he sat ba..."
Page 12: "The corporal sat forward suddenly, his face all se..."
Page 13: ""Doesn't this unit rate comm links? Aren't the co..."
Page 14: ""That's right, straight down the line and by the b..."
Page 15: "Clearing the final security post, they stood besid..."
Page 16: ""What I'm trying to say, sir, is... we should NOT ..."
Page 17: "Wethers swallowed again and nodded reluctantly. "..."
Page 18: "But the corporal didn't move. Instead, he backed ..."
Page 19: "The captured enemy camp occupied a low foot hill o..."
Page 20: "At one point, Brash struggled to ascend a particul..."
Page 21: "Heaving uncontrollably, he followed. For a time, ..."
Page 22: ""Slag charge!" shouted the corporal by way of expl..."
Page 23: "Revitz yanked the corporal back again, "You're a c..."
Page 24: "Struggling to keep his feet, he managed to follow ..."
Page 25: "Wethers stumbled away, trailing mud and dirt and s..."
Page 26: "Here, Revitz realized, was an army that any power-..."
Page 27: ""I was thinking what would happen if..." But he w..."
Page 28: "Revitz scratched the whiskers of his chin. "I was..."
Page 29: "After waiting for an interminable time, the corpor..."
Page 30: "Revitz smiled and slapped Wethers on the back. "R..."
Page 31: ""And, hey," declared Wethers suddenly, drunken wit..."
Page 32: ""Hey, there, corporal," he began, striving to soun..."
Page 33: ""Well, I, ah, that is, you know, as sort of the fi..."
Page 34: "Brash let the man go and glanced at his watch. "F..."
"But it hap..."
Page 2: ""I have the report, mister, but I asked YOU a ques..."
Page 3: ""Yes, sir. Frankly, none of the front line office..."
Page 4: ""Yes, sir, ah the enemy sustained one hundred perc..."
Page 5: ""That's all beside the point. We let these monste..."
Page 6: ""THEN," he announced officially, "We're going to r..."
Page 7: ""Good, good, and now I'll tell you one thing more,..."
Page 8: "He nodded. "Yes, sir. I'll get a Vector without ..."
Page 9: "Without expressing emotion of any kind, the pilot ..."
Page 10: "After an eternity of searching, he found his desti..."
Page 11: "The corporal smiled. "So is mine." And he sat ba..."
Page 12: "The corporal sat forward suddenly, his face all se..."
Page 13: ""Doesn't this unit rate comm links? Aren't the co..."
Page 14: ""That's right, straight down the line and by the b..."
Page 15: "Clearing the final security post, they stood besid..."
Page 16: ""What I'm trying to say, sir, is... we should NOT ..."
Page 17: "Wethers swallowed again and nodded reluctantly. "..."
Page 18: "But the corporal didn't move. Instead, he backed ..."
Page 19: "The captured enemy camp occupied a low foot hill o..."
Page 20: "At one point, Brash struggled to ascend a particul..."
Page 21: "Heaving uncontrollably, he followed. For a time, ..."
Page 22: ""Slag charge!" shouted the corporal by way of expl..."
Page 23: "Revitz yanked the corporal back again, "You're a c..."
Page 24: "Struggling to keep his feet, he managed to follow ..."
Page 25: "Wethers stumbled away, trailing mud and dirt and s..."
Page 26: "Here, Revitz realized, was an army that any power-..."
Page 27: ""I was thinking what would happen if..." But he w..."
Page 28: "Revitz scratched the whiskers of his chin. "I was..."
Page 29: "After waiting for an interminable time, the corpor..."
Page 30: "Revitz smiled and slapped Wethers on the back. "R..."
Page 31: ""And, hey," declared Wethers suddenly, drunken wit..."
Page 32: ""Hey, there, corporal," he began, striving to soun..."
Page 33: ""Well, I, ah, that is, you know, as sort of the fi..."
Page 34: "Brash let the man go and glanced at his watch. "F..."
Chapter 6:
The Disease That Rots the World
Sunset over the water and the two of them standing at the center of a high bridge. One must make the hardest choice of a lifetime.
Page 1:
""What scares you? I mean, what REALLY scares you?..."
Page 2: ""I don't think anything REALLY scares me, you know..."
Page 3: ""Sort of like the real world. Yep, real scary shi..."
Page 4: "At their backs, the city flowed from one unknown d..."
Page 5: ""Well what?" she bit, head down, feet shuffling, s..."
Page 6: ""Rats."
It was surprising. He had imagined..."
Page 7: ""Yeah, of course. Who could forget Chiggy?"
Page 8: ""How could I forget? It was legend. It was unbe-..."
Page 9: "Then they wiped their tears, of joy and of grief, ..."
Page 10: ""I didn't know."
"Yeah, but it was like a v..."
Page 11: ""That was just the year before it happened, right?..."
Page 12: "But she shook her head free of the cobwebs, and sh..."
Page 13: "He was skeptical, and he must have made a scoffing..."
Page 14: "He wasn't sure he wanted to know, any longer. He ..."
Page 15: "He swallowed and kept his gaze on the dying sun. ..."
Page 16: ""I just wish, you know," she sighed at last, her v..."
Page 17: ""And that's what REALLY scares me, Byron. Because..."
Page 18: ""Yes, of course, Shelly. I understand."
"A..."
Page 19: ""And I love you, too, Byron. I always have." She..."
Page 2: ""I don't think anything REALLY scares me, you know..."
Page 3: ""Sort of like the real world. Yep, real scary shi..."
Page 4: "At their backs, the city flowed from one unknown d..."
Page 5: ""Well what?" she bit, head down, feet shuffling, s..."
Page 6: ""Rats."
It was surprising. He had imagined..."
Page 7: ""Yeah, of course. Who could forget Chiggy?"
Page 8: ""How could I forget? It was legend. It was unbe-..."
Page 9: "Then they wiped their tears, of joy and of grief, ..."
Page 10: ""I didn't know."
"Yeah, but it was like a v..."
Page 11: ""That was just the year before it happened, right?..."
Page 12: "But she shook her head free of the cobwebs, and sh..."
Page 13: "He was skeptical, and he must have made a scoffing..."
Page 14: "He wasn't sure he wanted to know, any longer. He ..."
Page 15: "He swallowed and kept his gaze on the dying sun. ..."
Page 16: ""I just wish, you know," she sighed at last, her v..."
Page 17: ""And that's what REALLY scares me, Byron. Because..."
Page 18: ""Yes, of course, Shelly. I understand."
"A..."
Page 19: ""And I love you, too, Byron. I always have." She..."
Chapter 10:
The Immaculate
The house is as ancient as the evil that inhabits it.
Page 1:
""Built in 1850 by the McShean family, a devout Iri..."
Page 2: "Drawing on the natural suspense of this moment, Dr..."
Page 3: "After a few seconds of silence, they returned to a..."
Page 4: "Drandon hurried to continue, "By the time his son ..."
Page 5: "Drandon smiled. "Indeed. I imagine it was quite ..."
Page 6: ""Three hundred seventy six. Roughly."
"Rou..."
Page 7: ""So that's..." calculated Danse, "About one hundre..."
Page 8: ""I see it!" spouted Danse.
The professor wa..."
Page 9: "As they strolled along, examining the artifacts, t..."
Page 10: "Dr. Greer inserted, "Apathy or avarice."
"Q..."
Page 11: "Drandon turned to face this man as he spoke, and n..."
Page 12: "He turned to face her to better hear. "Please, ca..."
Page 13: ""Quite right, my young friend. Though it was a bi..."
Page 14: ""As you might guess, they married and started a fa..."
Page 15: "Her husband added, "We have eight children, oursel..."
Page 16: ""Another hospital?"
"No, not exactly, Ms. L..."
Page 17: ""The crash," responded Dr. Greer. "Right, Mr. Mas..."
Page 18: ""Though the McSheans, I'm sure, did not. Correct,..."
Page 19: "Drandon smiled and sipped his tea. "No, Doctor Gr..."
Page 20: ""And you, Drandon? Have you no children of your o..."
Page 21: ""You mean, after I pass? It will be maintained by..."
Page 22: ""Oh, I hope not!" inserted a forlorn Mrs. Ashe. "..."
Page 23: ""I did not say they were evil, Dr. Greer, nor did ..."
Page 24: ""Now, Doctor, I simply prefer not to ponder the qu..."
Page 25: ""This interest is most understandable and human in..."
Page 26: ""Finally, I remind you all that each of you has pa..."
Page 2: "Drawing on the natural suspense of this moment, Dr..."
Page 3: "After a few seconds of silence, they returned to a..."
Page 4: "Drandon hurried to continue, "By the time his son ..."
Page 5: "Drandon smiled. "Indeed. I imagine it was quite ..."
Page 6: ""Three hundred seventy six. Roughly."
"Rou..."
Page 7: ""So that's..." calculated Danse, "About one hundre..."
Page 8: ""I see it!" spouted Danse.
The professor wa..."
Page 9: "As they strolled along, examining the artifacts, t..."
Page 10: "Dr. Greer inserted, "Apathy or avarice."
"Q..."
Page 11: "Drandon turned to face this man as he spoke, and n..."
Page 12: "He turned to face her to better hear. "Please, ca..."
Page 13: ""Quite right, my young friend. Though it was a bi..."
Page 14: ""As you might guess, they married and started a fa..."
Page 15: "Her husband added, "We have eight children, oursel..."
Page 16: ""Another hospital?"
"No, not exactly, Ms. L..."
Page 17: ""The crash," responded Dr. Greer. "Right, Mr. Mas..."
Page 18: ""Though the McSheans, I'm sure, did not. Correct,..."
Page 19: "Drandon smiled and sipped his tea. "No, Doctor Gr..."
Page 20: ""And you, Drandon? Have you no children of your o..."
Page 21: ""You mean, after I pass? It will be maintained by..."
Page 22: ""Oh, I hope not!" inserted a forlorn Mrs. Ashe. "..."
Page 23: ""I did not say they were evil, Dr. Greer, nor did ..."
Page 24: ""Now, Doctor, I simply prefer not to ponder the qu..."
Page 25: ""This interest is most understandable and human in..."
Page 26: ""Finally, I remind you all that each of you has pa..."
Chapter 14:
To Shovel Sandy Beaches
Something strange to ponder.
Chapter 18:
This Little Patch of Grass That Is Mine
The start doesn't always dictate the end, but the end is certain, nonetheless.
Page 1:
"Yeah, that's me stretched out on the coroner's sla..."
Page 2: "…well, now my brother is another subject, entirely..."
Page 3: "I thought at the time that he came back because he..."
Page 4: "The trouble with this scheme is the nature of the ..."
Page 5: "On the Friday preceding the day we found him, I ha..."
Page 6: "After I took that bullet to the head, myself, you ..."
Page 7: "As I ponder it all with a thought, I immediately c..."
Page 8: "'But you do it!' I shouted at him, during those ti..."
Page 9: "I am unnaturally pale, save for pools of lividity ..."
Page 10: "The weeds must inevitably grow tall and neglected ..."
Page 11: "So be it, I think now, lingering near my cold, sti..."
Page 12: "Three miles along the banks, I found Roland. He l..."
Page 13: "Why, I wondered? For what? I knew enough about t..."
Page 14: "…of his once burning eyes, that so often beamed in..."
Page 2: "…well, now my brother is another subject, entirely..."
Page 3: "I thought at the time that he came back because he..."
Page 4: "The trouble with this scheme is the nature of the ..."
Page 5: "On the Friday preceding the day we found him, I ha..."
Page 6: "After I took that bullet to the head, myself, you ..."
Page 7: "As I ponder it all with a thought, I immediately c..."
Page 8: "'But you do it!' I shouted at him, during those ti..."
Page 9: "I am unnaturally pale, save for pools of lividity ..."
Page 10: "The weeds must inevitably grow tall and neglected ..."
Page 11: "So be it, I think now, lingering near my cold, sti..."
Page 12: "Three miles along the banks, I found Roland. He l..."
Page 13: "Why, I wondered? For what? I knew enough about t..."
Page 14: "…of his once burning eyes, that so often beamed in..."
Chapter 22:
A Needle Awaits
The road to hell is paved with the best of intentions. Well, not always.
Page 1:
"In the beginning, I believed it to be a dream. In..."
Page 2: "The police arrested my mother shortly after my bir..."
Page 3: "Daily beatings with extension cords rendered my sa..."
Page 4: "At the least, this way I kept my dignity. By the ..."
Page 5: "Once her 'health' returned, she went back to busin..."
Page 6: "A seven year old boy on his own in the heart of a ..."
Page 7: "I spent most of my time in places that attract chi..."
Page 8: "Then I would say, "I don't have a daddy, and my mo..."
Page 9: "I learned to play the part of the ingénue, to touc..."
Page 10: "These words broach another matter, which begs the ..."
Page 11: "I knew a dope-crew in the old neighborhood that wa..."
Page 12: "I liked things quiet and easy. I preferred drug o..."
Page 13: "I preferred prostitution, anyway, since it often r..."
Page 14: "When the bell sounded, indicating the arrival of a..."
Page 15: "Comically, I started laughing as I fled for my lif..."
Page 16: "I felt a sensation of a violent strum of every ner..."
Page 17: "I took another pellet of buck shot in the meaty po..."
Page 18: "I purposely shot him in the groin. Blood and tiss..."
Page 19: "I might have lingered to carve him up, a message t..."
Page 20: "Even though they surprised me, I almost blasted my..."
Page 2: "The police arrested my mother shortly after my bir..."
Page 3: "Daily beatings with extension cords rendered my sa..."
Page 4: "At the least, this way I kept my dignity. By the ..."
Page 5: "Once her 'health' returned, she went back to busin..."
Page 6: "A seven year old boy on his own in the heart of a ..."
Page 7: "I spent most of my time in places that attract chi..."
Page 8: "Then I would say, "I don't have a daddy, and my mo..."
Page 9: "I learned to play the part of the ingénue, to touc..."
Page 10: "These words broach another matter, which begs the ..."
Page 11: "I knew a dope-crew in the old neighborhood that wa..."
Page 12: "I liked things quiet and easy. I preferred drug o..."
Page 13: "I preferred prostitution, anyway, since it often r..."
Page 14: "When the bell sounded, indicating the arrival of a..."
Page 15: "Comically, I started laughing as I fled for my lif..."
Page 16: "I felt a sensation of a violent strum of every ner..."
Page 17: "I took another pellet of buck shot in the meaty po..."
Page 18: "I purposely shot him in the groin. Blood and tiss..."
Page 19: "I might have lingered to carve him up, a message t..."
Page 20: "Even though they surprised me, I almost blasted my..."
Chapter 3:
Fucking the Devil
He's as loving and caring as a cactus. Be careful who you choose for a friend.
Page 1:
""How far do you want to go?" his eyes were a deep ..."
Page 2: "When he didn't seem obliged to finish, I stopped i..."
Page 3: "They joined his laughter, though their scared, con..."
Page 4: "It would not be the last. That day alone I killed..."
Page 5: "He growled, "Fuck you, little prick, don't talk ba..."
Page 6: "Minutes later, we stopped in a janitor's closet to..."
Page 7: "I could feel the devil sitting beside me, sniggeri..."
Page 8: "We flew first class to Miami. He managed to meet ..."
Page 9: "When I was finished with her, I left her on the be..."
Page 10: "But I held my gorge, even as I held my hand behind..."
Page 11: "Then I placed the muzzle of the weapon to her temp..."
Page 12: "Scratching myself obscenely, and stumbling not a l..."
Page 13: "I opened the door again, mumbling something about ..."
Page 14: "The older one gulped and nodded. And the younger ..."
Page 15: ""Well, that's that," he announced happily, stickin..."
Page 16: "That made him laugh, and he coughed on a stream of..."
Page 17: "I loved him for it. For his careless abandon. Fo..."
Page 18: "He leaned close, and let one gloved hand about a m..."
Page 19: "Carefully, struggling to still my giggles, I cut a..."
Page 20: ""Oh, Harry," she moaned repeatedly. "Oh, Harry, f..."
Page 21: "He pulled out of her for the last time, and smacke..."
Page 22: "He breathed heavily as he watched her die, and I t..."
Page 23: "We drew our weapons, and stalked cautiously around..."
Page 24: "Either way, I was happy to be back on the freeway,..."
Page 25: ""Yeah, I guess."
He lit the half-burned but..."
Page 26: ""So, what do you think? One of us could get on do..."
Page 27: ""She was sweet and tender. Young. I like 'em tha..."
Page 28: "I grunted. "It might pick up. Nothing like a fuc..."
Page 29: "With that, he was up on his feet and dashing acros..."
Page 30: "When I did so, I was shocked by the flash of lampl..."
Page 31: "He showed her his weapon, and advanced a step. "I..."
Page 32: ""Yes, you have the guns," she returned coolly, her..."
Page 33: ""I'll tell you what I admire most about these mome..."
Page 34: "I watched without moving, as she let herself up cl..."
Page 35: ""Darling," she hissed, as I knew she must. "Don't..."
Page 2: "When he didn't seem obliged to finish, I stopped i..."
Page 3: "They joined his laughter, though their scared, con..."
Page 4: "It would not be the last. That day alone I killed..."
Page 5: "He growled, "Fuck you, little prick, don't talk ba..."
Page 6: "Minutes later, we stopped in a janitor's closet to..."
Page 7: "I could feel the devil sitting beside me, sniggeri..."
Page 8: "We flew first class to Miami. He managed to meet ..."
Page 9: "When I was finished with her, I left her on the be..."
Page 10: "But I held my gorge, even as I held my hand behind..."
Page 11: "Then I placed the muzzle of the weapon to her temp..."
Page 12: "Scratching myself obscenely, and stumbling not a l..."
Page 13: "I opened the door again, mumbling something about ..."
Page 14: "The older one gulped and nodded. And the younger ..."
Page 15: ""Well, that's that," he announced happily, stickin..."
Page 16: "That made him laugh, and he coughed on a stream of..."
Page 17: "I loved him for it. For his careless abandon. Fo..."
Page 18: "He leaned close, and let one gloved hand about a m..."
Page 19: "Carefully, struggling to still my giggles, I cut a..."
Page 20: ""Oh, Harry," she moaned repeatedly. "Oh, Harry, f..."
Page 21: "He pulled out of her for the last time, and smacke..."
Page 22: "He breathed heavily as he watched her die, and I t..."
Page 23: "We drew our weapons, and stalked cautiously around..."
Page 24: "Either way, I was happy to be back on the freeway,..."
Page 25: ""Yeah, I guess."
He lit the half-burned but..."
Page 26: ""So, what do you think? One of us could get on do..."
Page 27: ""She was sweet and tender. Young. I like 'em tha..."
Page 28: "I grunted. "It might pick up. Nothing like a fuc..."
Page 29: "With that, he was up on his feet and dashing acros..."
Page 30: "When I did so, I was shocked by the flash of lampl..."
Page 31: "He showed her his weapon, and advanced a step. "I..."
Page 32: ""Yes, you have the guns," she returned coolly, her..."
Page 33: ""I'll tell you what I admire most about these mome..."
Page 34: "I watched without moving, as she let herself up cl..."
Page 35: ""Darling," she hissed, as I knew she must. "Don't..."
Chapter 7:
At the Very Far Away Ends of It All
He did a bad thing and then he wished himself away. Be careful what you wish for.
Page 1:
"I was ten weeks on the road. Going nowhere. I ha..."
Page 2: "Regardless of my silent penance, the sun rose on t..."
Page 3: "Almost, I felt I could catch the sparkle of its di..."
Page 4: "It was an ephemeral sigh, coming and going. It wa..."
Page 5: "I thought I might stop, and turn, and stand at the..."
Page 6: "That town. And its monstrous forest.
I wal..."
Page 7: "When I turned, he was gone, though the overgrowth ..."
Page 8: "It was a dog. Just a dog. Sleeping in the weeds ..."
Page 9: "They all turned to stare me to the register. The ..."
Page 10: ""Well, then, I guess you can have some water. No ..."
Page 11: ""What the hell got into him?" I demanded of the ol..."
Page 12: ""No," I lied. "I'm on a diet. Nothing fried, you..."
Page 13: ""Was a time, boy, when I might have laid you out o..."
Page 14: "She backed up, turned her head, and spat to the fl..."
Page 15: ""My step-father, I mean."
"Yeah, that's bet..."
Page 16: ""You'll keep your tongue, friend. Bonnie don't me..."
Page 17: ""About?"
"Everything. Bonnie's got this wa..."
Page 18: ""No, it's more than that. But it's not all. She ..."
Page 19: "But I shook my head free of these thoughts. Nonse..."
Page 20: ""Here's your cheese sandwich, you little faggot. ..."
Page 21: "With that, she shook herself free of that clinging..."
Page 22: "Curious, I swallowed the last bite of my sandwich,..."
Page 23: "If ever a man was, I was that man. Ten weeks on t..."
Page 24: "My strange companion turned a sharp eye on me in a..."
Page 25: ""What the hell does that mean?"
"What I mea..."
Page 26: "When he fell silent, I prodded. "Then what?'
<..."
Page 27: ""Does he do foreign cars?"
"Foreign? I don..."
Page 28: ""Fucking nut," I breathed under my breath.
..."
Page 29: ""Hey, mister," he called, his words cast in my dir..."
Page 30: "I smiled. Maybe my luck was turning, after all. ..."
Page 31: ""Done? Done? You haven't done anything but the v..."
Page 32: "A door sounded open and shut from the far back of ..."
Page 33: "I nodded and said that I did. "I must have left m..."
Page 34: ""As far as we're concerned, you're an innocent bab..."
Page 35: ""First off, there ain't no denyin' what you done. ..."
Page 36: ""And, boy?" He grinned a mesh of stained, pointed..."
Page 2: "Regardless of my silent penance, the sun rose on t..."
Page 3: "Almost, I felt I could catch the sparkle of its di..."
Page 4: "It was an ephemeral sigh, coming and going. It wa..."
Page 5: "I thought I might stop, and turn, and stand at the..."
Page 6: "That town. And its monstrous forest.
I wal..."
Page 7: "When I turned, he was gone, though the overgrowth ..."
Page 8: "It was a dog. Just a dog. Sleeping in the weeds ..."
Page 9: "They all turned to stare me to the register. The ..."
Page 10: ""Well, then, I guess you can have some water. No ..."
Page 11: ""What the hell got into him?" I demanded of the ol..."
Page 12: ""No," I lied. "I'm on a diet. Nothing fried, you..."
Page 13: ""Was a time, boy, when I might have laid you out o..."
Page 14: "She backed up, turned her head, and spat to the fl..."
Page 15: ""My step-father, I mean."
"Yeah, that's bet..."
Page 16: ""You'll keep your tongue, friend. Bonnie don't me..."
Page 17: ""About?"
"Everything. Bonnie's got this wa..."
Page 18: ""No, it's more than that. But it's not all. She ..."
Page 19: "But I shook my head free of these thoughts. Nonse..."
Page 20: ""Here's your cheese sandwich, you little faggot. ..."
Page 21: "With that, she shook herself free of that clinging..."
Page 22: "Curious, I swallowed the last bite of my sandwich,..."
Page 23: "If ever a man was, I was that man. Ten weeks on t..."
Page 24: "My strange companion turned a sharp eye on me in a..."
Page 25: ""What the hell does that mean?"
"What I mea..."
Page 26: "When he fell silent, I prodded. "Then what?'
<..."
Page 27: ""Does he do foreign cars?"
"Foreign? I don..."
Page 28: ""Fucking nut," I breathed under my breath.
..."
Page 29: ""Hey, mister," he called, his words cast in my dir..."
Page 30: "I smiled. Maybe my luck was turning, after all. ..."
Page 31: ""Done? Done? You haven't done anything but the v..."
Page 32: "A door sounded open and shut from the far back of ..."
Page 33: "I nodded and said that I did. "I must have left m..."
Page 34: ""As far as we're concerned, you're an innocent bab..."
Page 35: ""First off, there ain't no denyin' what you done. ..."
Page 36: ""And, boy?" He grinned a mesh of stained, pointed..."
Chapter 11:
The Mountains Keep Their Dead
When they put out the 'TIRE CHAINS' signs, beware. It's not just the ice, it's the snow, too.
Page 1:
"The sign read, "LAST STOP THIS SIDE OF THE GREAT D..."
Page 2: ""Heya there, young feller," grunted the old clerk...."
Page 3: "Cigarillo shook his head and clucked his tongue an..."
Page 4: "The old guys laughed together cantankerously. Tad..."
Page 5: "Cigarillo laughed, and finally stood to get a look..."
Page 6: "Tad opened the door with a fiery gaze, and was gon..."
Page 7: "They laughed. All save Tad.
"Mitch! He me..."
Page 8: ""Knock it off, Mitch," breathed Amanda, rubbing a ..."
Page 9: ""Hey, maybe Mitch should drive the rest of the way..."
Page 10: "Tad shrugged and started forward. The tires spun ..."
Page 11: ""How much further?" wondered Chandra, sobering a b..."
Page 12: "He raised his hands and shrugged his shoulders and..."
Page 13: ""That's right, ladies. It goes to one hundred deg..."
Page 14: ""That's it, guys! That's it! See?" gloated Mitch..."
Page 15: "Tad obliged, and dropped to first. Slower now, th..."
Page 16: ""You have rifles up there?" asked Tad.
"Yea..."
Page 17: ""What the hell is this, Mitch, a fucking wildernes..."
Page 18: ""Think?" demanded Chandra harshly. "You think or ..."
Page 19: ""It looks like dirt to me," agreed Chandra.
Page 20: ""I think you took a wrong turn somewhere."
..."
Page 21: ""You d-drive, Mitch," Tad chattered, but his frien..."
Page 22: ""So let's get back to Denver and find a cheap mote..."
Page 23: "As if in mockery of their plight, they passed a si..."
Page 24: "Distracted by a quick glance out of Mitch's side o..."
Page 25: ""Fuck you, asshole."
Tad lifted the bottle ..."
Page 26: "Amanda hissed and made a cat's claw of her right h..."
Page 27: "Their breath steamed in the cabin, despite the roa..."
Page 28: ""It's on full blast," replied Mitch dismally. "We..."
Page 29: ""It's the truth, Chandra! Face it! The sooner yo..."
Page 30: "Tad found Chandra's line of reasoning to be surpri..."
Page 31: "All dressed as best they could, and having gathere..."
Page 32: "Chandra shouted, "You have to make it! None of us..."
Page 33: ""I'm freezing!" shouted Amanda. "Fuck this! I'll..."
Page 34: "At the end of the drive, the cabin brooded in the ..."
Page 35: ""What?" demanded Amanda in a squeak. "Does this m..."
Page 36: ""Where's the fire wood?" from Chandra, ever the pr..."
Page 37: "Tad held the match upside down, so the flame licke..."
Page 38: "They all huddled close together in the near dark, ..."
Page 39: ""Well, we can't just s-sit here in this m-mess!" w..."
Page 40: ""W-what about th-the truck?" wondered Amanda. "We..."
Page 41: "Mitch turned his morbid gaze on her and struggled ..."
Page 42: "None of them knew when the sun rose the following ..."
Page 43: "Jim slapped him awake. Tad's eyes fluttered open,..."
Page 2: ""Heya there, young feller," grunted the old clerk...."
Page 3: "Cigarillo shook his head and clucked his tongue an..."
Page 4: "The old guys laughed together cantankerously. Tad..."
Page 5: "Cigarillo laughed, and finally stood to get a look..."
Page 6: "Tad opened the door with a fiery gaze, and was gon..."
Page 7: "They laughed. All save Tad.
"Mitch! He me..."
Page 8: ""Knock it off, Mitch," breathed Amanda, rubbing a ..."
Page 9: ""Hey, maybe Mitch should drive the rest of the way..."
Page 10: "Tad shrugged and started forward. The tires spun ..."
Page 11: ""How much further?" wondered Chandra, sobering a b..."
Page 12: "He raised his hands and shrugged his shoulders and..."
Page 13: ""That's right, ladies. It goes to one hundred deg..."
Page 14: ""That's it, guys! That's it! See?" gloated Mitch..."
Page 15: "Tad obliged, and dropped to first. Slower now, th..."
Page 16: ""You have rifles up there?" asked Tad.
"Yea..."
Page 17: ""What the hell is this, Mitch, a fucking wildernes..."
Page 18: ""Think?" demanded Chandra harshly. "You think or ..."
Page 19: ""It looks like dirt to me," agreed Chandra.
Page 20: ""I think you took a wrong turn somewhere."
..."
Page 21: ""You d-drive, Mitch," Tad chattered, but his frien..."
Page 22: ""So let's get back to Denver and find a cheap mote..."
Page 23: "As if in mockery of their plight, they passed a si..."
Page 24: "Distracted by a quick glance out of Mitch's side o..."
Page 25: ""Fuck you, asshole."
Tad lifted the bottle ..."
Page 26: "Amanda hissed and made a cat's claw of her right h..."
Page 27: "Their breath steamed in the cabin, despite the roa..."
Page 28: ""It's on full blast," replied Mitch dismally. "We..."
Page 29: ""It's the truth, Chandra! Face it! The sooner yo..."
Page 30: "Tad found Chandra's line of reasoning to be surpri..."
Page 31: "All dressed as best they could, and having gathere..."
Page 32: "Chandra shouted, "You have to make it! None of us..."
Page 33: ""I'm freezing!" shouted Amanda. "Fuck this! I'll..."
Page 34: "At the end of the drive, the cabin brooded in the ..."
Page 35: ""What?" demanded Amanda in a squeak. "Does this m..."
Page 36: ""Where's the fire wood?" from Chandra, ever the pr..."
Page 37: "Tad held the match upside down, so the flame licke..."
Page 38: "They all huddled close together in the near dark, ..."
Page 39: ""Well, we can't just s-sit here in this m-mess!" w..."
Page 40: ""W-what about th-the truck?" wondered Amanda. "We..."
Page 41: "Mitch turned his morbid gaze on her and struggled ..."
Page 42: "None of them knew when the sun rose the following ..."
Page 43: "Jim slapped him awake. Tad's eyes fluttered open,..."
Chapter 15:
Punching God
That's it! God just made the list!
Page 1:
"He stifled himself quiet, though his face burned r..."
Page 2: "The grocery clerk stuffed a tray of chops into a s..."
Page 3: ""No 'Y'? You can't spell that name without a 'Y'...."
Page 4: ""But why? What did I do?"
"That! Right th..."
Page 5: ""Mr. Davidson. You want me to spell it?"
"..."
Page 6: "He pushed the basket out to the lot and loaded the..."
Page 7: ""I bet it's the manager's fault, entirely. He's t..."
Page 8: ""I'm getting too old for this kind of aggravation...."
Page 9: "He slowed to a final stop. Someone honked, but he..."
Page 10: ""Somebody with a list for everything. And a check..."
Page 11: ""God damned secured access retired living communit..."
Page 12: ""What did you say, old man? I don't have to take ..."
Page 13: "Pausing at the front door after the last load, he ..."
Page 14: ""I never even heard of it, that's what! Never eve..."
Page 15: ""And now, according to this letter, I'm 'a confron..."
Page 16: "Indeed, his head was suddenly swimming and poundin..."
Page 17: ""Hot damn son-of-a-bitch!" and he hopped about, to..."
Page 18: "First, he flipped to the "THINGS TO DO" section, a..."
Page 19: "Then he came to an entry made during the last few ..."
Page 20: "Raising his voice again, he finished, "It's just t..."
Page 21: ""I guess You do, at that." He reached for his omni..."
Page 2: "The grocery clerk stuffed a tray of chops into a s..."
Page 3: ""No 'Y'? You can't spell that name without a 'Y'...."
Page 4: ""But why? What did I do?"
"That! Right th..."
Page 5: ""Mr. Davidson. You want me to spell it?"
"..."
Page 6: "He pushed the basket out to the lot and loaded the..."
Page 7: ""I bet it's the manager's fault, entirely. He's t..."
Page 8: ""I'm getting too old for this kind of aggravation...."
Page 9: "He slowed to a final stop. Someone honked, but he..."
Page 10: ""Somebody with a list for everything. And a check..."
Page 11: ""God damned secured access retired living communit..."
Page 12: ""What did you say, old man? I don't have to take ..."
Page 13: "Pausing at the front door after the last load, he ..."
Page 14: ""I never even heard of it, that's what! Never eve..."
Page 15: ""And now, according to this letter, I'm 'a confron..."
Page 16: "Indeed, his head was suddenly swimming and poundin..."
Page 17: ""Hot damn son-of-a-bitch!" and he hopped about, to..."
Page 18: "First, he flipped to the "THINGS TO DO" section, a..."
Page 19: "Then he came to an entry made during the last few ..."
Page 20: "Raising his voice again, he finished, "It's just t..."
Page 21: ""I guess You do, at that." He reached for his omni..."
Chapter 19:
Down In The Dark Where The Devil Dwells
Black as coal? Yeah, maybe. So what?
Page 1:
"Before I begin, I, the writer, must tell you, the ..."
Page 2: "Yet, I suppose America needs that kind, like it ne..."
Page 3: ""Baltimore, Billy," corrected the boss. "He's fro..."
Page 4: "I learned to spell Laroix's name later, incidental..."
Page 5: ""'L-little-e-big-R-o-y,' she wrote, and Laroix, he..."
Page 6: "Though he couldn't see me for the inky pitch, the ..."
Page 7: ""So, anyway, we all know Laroix and Prucella had f..."
Page 8: ""Laroix turned, like I said, and then, slow like a..."
Page 9: ""That's how I can tell you what Laroix done, even ..."
Page 10: ""We first learned of it when the flames burnt out ..."
Page 11: ""See, up above, like I said, everybody ran off and..."
Page 12: "After a time, that big, burly man continued, sayin..."
Page 13: ""And we did. We crawled right past that burning d..."
Page 14: "Then we emerged into the glorious sunshine, there ..."
Page 2: "Yet, I suppose America needs that kind, like it ne..."
Page 3: ""Baltimore, Billy," corrected the boss. "He's fro..."
Page 4: "I learned to spell Laroix's name later, incidental..."
Page 5: ""'L-little-e-big-R-o-y,' she wrote, and Laroix, he..."
Page 6: "Though he couldn't see me for the inky pitch, the ..."
Page 7: ""So, anyway, we all know Laroix and Prucella had f..."
Page 8: ""Laroix turned, like I said, and then, slow like a..."
Page 9: ""That's how I can tell you what Laroix done, even ..."
Page 10: ""We first learned of it when the flames burnt out ..."
Page 11: ""See, up above, like I said, everybody ran off and..."
Page 12: "After a time, that big, burly man continued, sayin..."
Page 13: ""And we did. We crawled right past that burning d..."
Page 14: "Then we emerged into the glorious sunshine, there ..."
Chapter 23:
Whispers
Listen to that tiny voice inside your head. Sometimes, the dead speak.
Page 1:
"This tale must be heard in whispers, with the soun..."
Page 2: "I sought to keep him warm with my slight presence...."
Page 3: "Instantly transformed by the accident, I found mys..."
Page 4: "A stir of madly articulate shadows, I fussed about..."
Page 5: "Yet, I also suspected that I was not entirely with..."
Page 6: "Indeed, as time passed, I felt myself drawn away w..."
Page 7: "All these things, as smaller parts of a larger who..."
Page 8: "I managed one breathless word. I hissed, "Look."<..."
Page 9: "As I fled my last earthly bonds, I coursed along t..."
Page 2: "I sought to keep him warm with my slight presence...."
Page 3: "Instantly transformed by the accident, I found mys..."
Page 4: "A stir of madly articulate shadows, I fussed about..."
Page 5: "Yet, I also suspected that I was not entirely with..."
Page 6: "Indeed, as time passed, I felt myself drawn away w..."
Page 7: "All these things, as smaller parts of a larger who..."
Page 8: "I managed one breathless word. I hissed, "Look."<..."
Page 9: "As I fled my last earthly bonds, I coursed along t..."
Chapter 4:
The Ant
A small thing in a large place. Do you ever wonder, really wonder, what you are?
Page 1:
""I'm not certain what I am." He added a limp grin..."
Page 2: "He sucked a deep breath, and exhaled explosively. ..."
Page 3: ""You're talking about immortality now. Not purpos..."
Page 4: "But his face was serious, and he was nodding. "Th..."
Page 5: ""And I do. But, honestly, you're not making any s..."
Page 6: "To which, she replied, "Guts, mostly. And lots of..."
Page 7: ""It's more than that. I'm looking into myself in ..."
Page 8: ""No, I don't think so. Heaven sounds nice, but I ..."
Page 9: ""When all is said and finished, and there is no mo..."
Page 10: ""Therefore these circular, average considerations ..."
Page 11: ""But there are many purposes and ideals to life, n..."
Page 12: ""Why not? In the end, what will become of all tha..."
Page 13: ""For the truth, the absolute truth, is undeniable,..."
Page 14: "He paused to genuinely consider what she had said...."
Page 15: ""Well, it's my job... and my lifestyle... and my, ..."
Page 16: ""That's what I don't know. That's what I'm trying..."
Page 17: "This mental picture put the whole bizarre situatio..."
Page 18: "The sun was hot, he knew that much. He shaded his..."
Page 2: "He sucked a deep breath, and exhaled explosively. ..."
Page 3: ""You're talking about immortality now. Not purpos..."
Page 4: "But his face was serious, and he was nodding. "Th..."
Page 5: ""And I do. But, honestly, you're not making any s..."
Page 6: "To which, she replied, "Guts, mostly. And lots of..."
Page 7: ""It's more than that. I'm looking into myself in ..."
Page 8: ""No, I don't think so. Heaven sounds nice, but I ..."
Page 9: ""When all is said and finished, and there is no mo..."
Page 10: ""Therefore these circular, average considerations ..."
Page 11: ""But there are many purposes and ideals to life, n..."
Page 12: ""Why not? In the end, what will become of all tha..."
Page 13: ""For the truth, the absolute truth, is undeniable,..."
Page 14: "He paused to genuinely consider what she had said...."
Page 15: ""Well, it's my job... and my lifestyle... and my, ..."
Page 16: ""That's what I don't know. That's what I'm trying..."
Page 17: "This mental picture put the whole bizarre situatio..."
Page 18: "The sun was hot, he knew that much. He shaded his..."
Chapter 8:
Numbers
It's his job. He's good at it. Too damned good.
Page 1:
"How many times? How many ways?
I thought a..."
Page 2: "Grinning smugly, I slid backward, into the shade. ..."
Page 3: "I paused a quiet moment to listen. Nothing came t..."
Page 4: "I turned my eyes south. There, the forest was bur..."
Page 5: "They wished we would come to them, to face down th..."
Page 6: "I counted a few dozen fools. A few thousand of th..."
Page 7: "Yes, and God is the devil, if God is the all-might..."
Page 8: "When he did, I shot him through the left lung. Th..."
Page 9: "I recognized the pattern of this action before it ..."
Page 10: "A short drop returned me to the loamy forest floor..."
Page 11: "A single man at its base with a rifle or handgun w..."
Page 12: "But we, together, my machine and I, were neither. ..."
Page 13: "Fear that was worth ten men for every one man that..."
Page 14: "I had been here a long time. Too long. I had fir..."
Page 15: "I shuddered. I checked to be certain my single gr..."
Page 16: "I climbed down the ridge, quietly as a deadly cat,..."
Page 17: "While waiting at the corner of an intersection in ..."
Page 18: "I shrugged. "Chicken shit, I guess."
He ey..."
Page 19: "I shrugged again. "As best I can, Sergeant. And ..."
Page 20: "A pair of sentries stood lazily alongside the entr..."
Page 21: "The captain and the lieutenant ignored me until my..."
Page 22: "The LT was busy with the detail from my sight repo..."
Page 23: ""You seem to excel here, son. And I was wondering..."
Page 24: ""Still," he added, lowering his stern gaze a bit. ..."
Page 25: ""A command, sir? A command of what?" I had asked..."
Page 26: "I licked my lips. For the first time in a long wh..."
Page 27: ""No, sir. I won't." I straightened, and stuck o..."
Page 28: ""No, sir!"
"What's your major malfunction, ..."
Page 29: ""Well, frankly, Weathers, you're a bit TOO good. ..."
Page 30: ""Then, I'm afraid I don't understand, sir."
Page 31: ""Numbers?" demanded the old man. "Numbers? Son, ..."
Page 32: ""I know my men," he tossed over his shoulder, as h..."
Page 33: "I took the 'lluffoo', strapped it over my neck, an..."
Page 34: "One more, I thought. And perhaps today would be t..."
I thought a..."
Page 2: "Grinning smugly, I slid backward, into the shade. ..."
Page 3: "I paused a quiet moment to listen. Nothing came t..."
Page 4: "I turned my eyes south. There, the forest was bur..."
Page 5: "They wished we would come to them, to face down th..."
Page 6: "I counted a few dozen fools. A few thousand of th..."
Page 7: "Yes, and God is the devil, if God is the all-might..."
Page 8: "When he did, I shot him through the left lung. Th..."
Page 9: "I recognized the pattern of this action before it ..."
Page 10: "A short drop returned me to the loamy forest floor..."
Page 11: "A single man at its base with a rifle or handgun w..."
Page 12: "But we, together, my machine and I, were neither. ..."
Page 13: "Fear that was worth ten men for every one man that..."
Page 14: "I had been here a long time. Too long. I had fir..."
Page 15: "I shuddered. I checked to be certain my single gr..."
Page 16: "I climbed down the ridge, quietly as a deadly cat,..."
Page 17: "While waiting at the corner of an intersection in ..."
Page 18: "I shrugged. "Chicken shit, I guess."
He ey..."
Page 19: "I shrugged again. "As best I can, Sergeant. And ..."
Page 20: "A pair of sentries stood lazily alongside the entr..."
Page 21: "The captain and the lieutenant ignored me until my..."
Page 22: "The LT was busy with the detail from my sight repo..."
Page 23: ""You seem to excel here, son. And I was wondering..."
Page 24: ""Still," he added, lowering his stern gaze a bit. ..."
Page 25: ""A command, sir? A command of what?" I had asked..."
Page 26: "I licked my lips. For the first time in a long wh..."
Page 27: ""No, sir. I won't." I straightened, and stuck o..."
Page 28: ""No, sir!"
"What's your major malfunction, ..."
Page 29: ""Well, frankly, Weathers, you're a bit TOO good. ..."
Page 30: ""Then, I'm afraid I don't understand, sir."
Page 31: ""Numbers?" demanded the old man. "Numbers? Son, ..."
Page 32: ""I know my men," he tossed over his shoulder, as h..."
Page 33: "I took the 'lluffoo', strapped it over my neck, an..."
Page 34: "One more, I thought. And perhaps today would be t..."
Chapter 12:
Nine Lives
He's a master of disguises, and he has lived nine lives. Maybe one of them was yours.
Page 1:
"Detective Anvil Brown sat at an outdoor table of t..."
Page 2: "It was Kyle's turn to shrug. He sipped his highba..."
Page 3: ""Nothing official, anyway, though we believe we ha..."
Page 4: "Shaking his head, the policeman smiled broadly and..."
Page 5: "Brown wrinkled his face. "Off the grid?"
"..."
Page 6: ""He's not playing by any of the rules we know. He..."
Page 7: ""Come on, Agent Nagosaki, we all saw the guy burn!..."
Page 8: ""We think." Kyle smiled despite himself to watch ..."
Page 9: ""Yeah, I guess. Poor bastards."
"Poor bast..."
Page 10: ""Maybe. More likely, I think he was genuinely bor..."
Page 11: ""But not the guy you're looking for."
"Nope..."
Page 12: ""Oh, it LOOKED like they were involved. We manage..."
Page 13: ""Yeah, damn." The agent turned his gaze on the sp..."
Page 14: ""Why do you say that?"
"Because I have unco..."
Page 15: ""Why do it, then?"
"Because, detective. Si..."
Page 16: ""Possibly. But I think not. If anything, I think..."
Page 17: ""Yeah. A bit. Though maybe not the way you think..."
Page 18: ""No, not really. Some of the data is good, but I ..."
Page 19: ""And the end?"
Kyle shrugged, "I started cr..."
Page 20: ""I handed my boss the bonafide stuff that may or m..."
Page 21: ""What makes you think so?"
Kyle shrugged, a..."
Page 22: ""No, but I'm hoping his ego will drive him to anno..."
Page 23: ""I started out on the Highway Patrol years ago. C..."
Page 24: ""No bad dreams? No flashbacks?"
"No. Not ..."
Page 25: ""Okay, Agent Nagosaki. You keep up the good work...."
Page 26: "The man offered his grip. "Sorry I'm late. It wa..."
Page 2: "It was Kyle's turn to shrug. He sipped his highba..."
Page 3: ""Nothing official, anyway, though we believe we ha..."
Page 4: "Shaking his head, the policeman smiled broadly and..."
Page 5: "Brown wrinkled his face. "Off the grid?"
"..."
Page 6: ""He's not playing by any of the rules we know. He..."
Page 7: ""Come on, Agent Nagosaki, we all saw the guy burn!..."
Page 8: ""We think." Kyle smiled despite himself to watch ..."
Page 9: ""Yeah, I guess. Poor bastards."
"Poor bast..."
Page 10: ""Maybe. More likely, I think he was genuinely bor..."
Page 11: ""But not the guy you're looking for."
"Nope..."
Page 12: ""Oh, it LOOKED like they were involved. We manage..."
Page 13: ""Yeah, damn." The agent turned his gaze on the sp..."
Page 14: ""Why do you say that?"
"Because I have unco..."
Page 15: ""Why do it, then?"
"Because, detective. Si..."
Page 16: ""Possibly. But I think not. If anything, I think..."
Page 17: ""Yeah. A bit. Though maybe not the way you think..."
Page 18: ""No, not really. Some of the data is good, but I ..."
Page 19: ""And the end?"
Kyle shrugged, "I started cr..."
Page 20: ""I handed my boss the bonafide stuff that may or m..."
Page 21: ""What makes you think so?"
Kyle shrugged, a..."
Page 22: ""No, but I'm hoping his ego will drive him to anno..."
Page 23: ""I started out on the Highway Patrol years ago. C..."
Page 24: ""No bad dreams? No flashbacks?"
"No. Not ..."
Page 25: ""Okay, Agent Nagosaki. You keep up the good work...."
Page 26: "The man offered his grip. "Sorry I'm late. It wa..."
Chapter 16:
An Abiding Silence
Something black and terrifying is crossing the rows, bound for your porch lamp in the darkness.
Page 1:
"It's late September. I'm sitting on my screened p..."
Page 2: "But I know. I didn't have a choice. Not really.<..."
Page 3: "A gravel walk leads away from my front stairs and ..."
Page 4: "Another lid sails across the porch. The beer is g..."
Page 5: "I shut my eyes and will it to come. The waiting i..."
Page 6: ""Yeah," I gush, suddenly crushed beneath an unsupp..."
Page 7: "The cigarillo burns forgotten between my fingers. ..."
Page 8: "When I return my gaze to the lawn, I expect the sp..."
Page 9: "This, the game we play together of an evening. So..."
Page 10: "Always gone before it comes into reach. I curse i..."
Page 11: ""Let me speak a while in your ear, impart to you s..."
Page 12: ""I am come. At long, weary last, I am come."
<..."
Page 13: "He waits, watching. As ever. As always.
"..."
Page 14: "When my eyes rise again, he is gone from the front..."
Page 2: "But I know. I didn't have a choice. Not really.<..."
Page 3: "A gravel walk leads away from my front stairs and ..."
Page 4: "Another lid sails across the porch. The beer is g..."
Page 5: "I shut my eyes and will it to come. The waiting i..."
Page 6: ""Yeah," I gush, suddenly crushed beneath an unsupp..."
Page 7: "The cigarillo burns forgotten between my fingers. ..."
Page 8: "When I return my gaze to the lawn, I expect the sp..."
Page 9: "This, the game we play together of an evening. So..."
Page 10: "Always gone before it comes into reach. I curse i..."
Page 11: ""Let me speak a while in your ear, impart to you s..."
Page 12: ""I am come. At long, weary last, I am come."
<..."
Page 13: "He waits, watching. As ever. As always.
"..."
Page 14: "When my eyes rise again, he is gone from the front..."
Chapter 20:
It Happened In The Groves
Introducing Pecan Groves, Texas. Oh, the mischief that transpires in that sleepy little town!
Page 1:
"Perhaps I should start this story with one of thos..."
Page 2: "Second after me, because he always tried hard to t..."
Page 3: "Finally, I want to introduce you to Becky Jane Par..."
Page 4: "When Peckerwood noticed that a later generation ha..."
Page 5: "It started with Raz Hooty, I guess, since he was t..."
Page 6: "By the time my vision cleared, I saw a mysterious ..."
Page 7: "Indeed, somebody had climbed the tree, and, indeed..."
Page 8: "Halfway home along Whiskey Street, I passed the ho..."
Page 9: "Smiling, embarrassed for my intrusion on this, per..."
Page 10: "I turned to hurry back in that direction, hopping ..."
Page 11: "Looking back on things from the vantage of hindsig..."
Page 12: "Shrugging my shoulders, I continued on my way. Ma..."
Page 13: ""Mr. Wells? Are you okay, sir?" The door hung op..."
Page 14: "Since I had nothing planned for Friday, no school ..."
Page 15: ""Dude," I groaned, returning my attention to the m..."
Page 16: ""So, where are your folks?"
He shrugged aga..."
Page 17: "We drove over, and, as predicted, Raz's sister, Fa..."
Page 18: ""Oh," wondered Peckerwood? "Why do you say that?"..."
Page 19: "At the time, I wondered if he was talking about th..."
Page 20: "This was no surprise to any of us. "What did she ..."
Page 21: ""I never had anything like that when I was old eno..."
Page 22: ""I don't know anybody so tall in the 'Groves," reb..."
Page 23: ""Busy collecting candy, probably," from Noel.
<..."
Page 24: "I pondered the question for a time, as we stumbled..."
Page 25: "Then all attention returned to Raz's antics on sta..."
Page 26: "Fishing in a backpack he had loaded with the mater..."
Page 27: ""Oh, my God," screamed Sarah, leaping to her feet!..."
Page 28: "It was Halloween night, sure, and the moon was ful..."
Page 29: ""Eating people," returned Peckerwood. "I think."<..."
Page 30: "As we turned our stricken eyes in that direction a..."
Page 31: ""What the hell are those things?" wondered a bewil..."
Page 32: "I stopped myself on the centerline, my mouth agape..."
Page 33: "Fortunately for us, one of the dispatch officers o..."
Page 2: "Second after me, because he always tried hard to t..."
Page 3: "Finally, I want to introduce you to Becky Jane Par..."
Page 4: "When Peckerwood noticed that a later generation ha..."
Page 5: "It started with Raz Hooty, I guess, since he was t..."
Page 6: "By the time my vision cleared, I saw a mysterious ..."
Page 7: "Indeed, somebody had climbed the tree, and, indeed..."
Page 8: "Halfway home along Whiskey Street, I passed the ho..."
Page 9: "Smiling, embarrassed for my intrusion on this, per..."
Page 10: "I turned to hurry back in that direction, hopping ..."
Page 11: "Looking back on things from the vantage of hindsig..."
Page 12: "Shrugging my shoulders, I continued on my way. Ma..."
Page 13: ""Mr. Wells? Are you okay, sir?" The door hung op..."
Page 14: "Since I had nothing planned for Friday, no school ..."
Page 15: ""Dude," I groaned, returning my attention to the m..."
Page 16: ""So, where are your folks?"
He shrugged aga..."
Page 17: "We drove over, and, as predicted, Raz's sister, Fa..."
Page 18: ""Oh," wondered Peckerwood? "Why do you say that?"..."
Page 19: "At the time, I wondered if he was talking about th..."
Page 20: "This was no surprise to any of us. "What did she ..."
Page 21: ""I never had anything like that when I was old eno..."
Page 22: ""I don't know anybody so tall in the 'Groves," reb..."
Page 23: ""Busy collecting candy, probably," from Noel.
<..."
Page 24: "I pondered the question for a time, as we stumbled..."
Page 25: "Then all attention returned to Raz's antics on sta..."
Page 26: "Fishing in a backpack he had loaded with the mater..."
Page 27: ""Oh, my God," screamed Sarah, leaping to her feet!..."
Page 28: "It was Halloween night, sure, and the moon was ful..."
Page 29: ""Eating people," returned Peckerwood. "I think."<..."
Page 30: "As we turned our stricken eyes in that direction a..."
Page 31: ""What the hell are those things?" wondered a bewil..."
Page 32: "I stopped myself on the centerline, my mouth agape..."
Page 33: "Fortunately for us, one of the dispatch officers o..."
Chapter 24:
Good-bye Thaddeus
Hello mother. Hello father. Good-bye, Thaddeus.
Page 1:
"Red Townley and his wife, Margaret, prepared to dr..."
Page 2: ""Well, hurry up! We're going to be late again!"
Page 3: "Margaret tilted her head curiously, assumed she ha..."
Page 4: ""What the hell is going on here?" he roared, upon ..."
Page 5: "When Margaret leaned around the edge of the door c..."
Page 6: ""The name is wrong," insisted Margaret, "and that ..."
Page 7: "Tad smiled, "You will. You have. I am."
"..."
Page 8: ""It's not a game, Mr. Townley."
"What are y..."
Page 9: ""Your mission?" Red's eyes narrowed further, expr..."
Page 10: "Exhibiting practiced, expert skill, the stranger g..."
Page 11: ""We've never been held at gunpoint before now, if ..."
Page 12: ""Calm down, and I'll try to explain. If you give ..."
Page 13: ""Why," wondered Red obtusely?
Tad smiled an..."
Page 14: ""It's the oldest question in the books, mom. Abou..."
Page 15: ""Is he saying he's going to kill us, Red?"
..."
Page 2: ""Well, hurry up! We're going to be late again!"
Page 3: "Margaret tilted her head curiously, assumed she ha..."
Page 4: ""What the hell is going on here?" he roared, upon ..."
Page 5: "When Margaret leaned around the edge of the door c..."
Page 6: ""The name is wrong," insisted Margaret, "and that ..."
Page 7: "Tad smiled, "You will. You have. I am."
"..."
Page 8: ""It's not a game, Mr. Townley."
"What are y..."
Page 9: ""Your mission?" Red's eyes narrowed further, expr..."
Page 10: "Exhibiting practiced, expert skill, the stranger g..."
Page 11: ""We've never been held at gunpoint before now, if ..."
Page 12: ""Calm down, and I'll try to explain. If you give ..."
Page 13: ""Why," wondered Red obtusely?
Tad smiled an..."
Page 14: ""It's the oldest question in the books, mom. Abou..."
Page 15: ""Is he saying he's going to kill us, Red?"
..."
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