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Wee, Wicked Whispers; Collected Short Stories: 2007-2008
Wee, Wicked Whispers; Collected Short Stories: 2007-2008
Chapter 1:
The Violent Kind
He's bound to snap, the violent kind. Sometimes goodness spoils the bad.
Page 1:
"As a child, they told me I could do anything. I c..."
Page 2: "It's the end of being born. It's the beginning of..."
Page 3: "From one perspective, this certainty comforts me. ..."
Page 4: "Had they the patience and I the inclination, we co..."
Page 5: "Most look at me strangely, disturbed, and find som..."
Page 6: "Soon, I tire of their blank stares and 'we-shall-s..."
Page 7: "With enough money, I can have most anything, but I..."
Page 8: "As I begin to pull my right hand from the volumino..."
Page 9: "Confused, I cock my head. Is he reciting from the..."
Page 10: "Intent on smashing my face, his gaze shifts focus ..."
Page 11: "Surprised by impact, the gunwoman jerks into a stu..."
Page 12: "Now he stumbles at the curb and falls to the groun..."
Page 13: "Thrust through the shattered front windshield from..."
Page 14: " I hadn't the strength to rack the chamber. My gr..."
Page 2: "It's the end of being born. It's the beginning of..."
Page 3: "From one perspective, this certainty comforts me. ..."
Page 4: "Had they the patience and I the inclination, we co..."
Page 5: "Most look at me strangely, disturbed, and find som..."
Page 6: "Soon, I tire of their blank stares and 'we-shall-s..."
Page 7: "With enough money, I can have most anything, but I..."
Page 8: "As I begin to pull my right hand from the volumino..."
Page 9: "Confused, I cock my head. Is he reciting from the..."
Page 10: "Intent on smashing my face, his gaze shifts focus ..."
Page 11: "Surprised by impact, the gunwoman jerks into a stu..."
Page 12: "Now he stumbles at the curb and falls to the groun..."
Page 13: "Thrust through the shattered front windshield from..."
Page 14: " I hadn't the strength to rack the chamber. My gr..."
Chapter 5:
Hunted Is The Hunter
She's worth a life and the price of a bullet.
Page 1:
"The hunter's heart must be hard. The hunter's wil..."
Page 2: "Himself, he situates carefully, feeling the earth ..."
Page 3: "A thousand steps he had walked to crouch there in ..."
Page 4: "As it must, driven by its nature, the stag moves t..."
Page 5: "The night looms less than an hour distant, and the..."
Page 6: "Footfall before footfall, he watches his prey stal..."
Page 7: "Through the magnified perspective of his sights, t..."
Page 8: "She is not his wife, but the other's wife. Yet, s..."
Page 2: "Himself, he situates carefully, feeling the earth ..."
Page 3: "A thousand steps he had walked to crouch there in ..."
Page 4: "As it must, driven by its nature, the stag moves t..."
Page 5: "The night looms less than an hour distant, and the..."
Page 6: "Footfall before footfall, he watches his prey stal..."
Page 7: "Through the magnified perspective of his sights, t..."
Page 8: "She is not his wife, but the other's wife. Yet, s..."
Chapter 9:
Scraps
This really happened. It didn't have to happen, but it really, really did.
Page 1:
"A train station dominated the center of town. It ..."
Page 2: "Each train that passed through town rattled the wi..."
Page 3: "The following morning, he dressed warmly and waddl..."
Page 4: "Cautiously, he turned his head to both sides, find..."
Page 5: "At once, the voices inside the cattle car fell sil..."
Page 6: "Herman chuckled softly, placating the man with mot..."
Page 7: "Though he remained skeptical, the soldier nodded a..."
Page 8: ""You are a loyal soldier. You serve your nation w..."
Page 9: ""It is a wicked game, I must admit," confided the ..."
Page 10: ""It is more of a sport than a game, really. We re..."
Page 11: ""Yet, this thing you do… gathering these notes… th..."
Page 12: ""I have always believed so," conceded the soldier...."
Page 13: "The old man's gentle smile faded subtly, and his e..."
Page 14: ""Much as I would like to go, I cannot abandon my p..."
Page 15: "He walked the long walk home, his face wrinkled be..."
Page 2: "Each train that passed through town rattled the wi..."
Page 3: "The following morning, he dressed warmly and waddl..."
Page 4: "Cautiously, he turned his head to both sides, find..."
Page 5: "At once, the voices inside the cattle car fell sil..."
Page 6: "Herman chuckled softly, placating the man with mot..."
Page 7: "Though he remained skeptical, the soldier nodded a..."
Page 8: ""You are a loyal soldier. You serve your nation w..."
Page 9: ""It is a wicked game, I must admit," confided the ..."
Page 10: ""It is more of a sport than a game, really. We re..."
Page 11: ""Yet, this thing you do… gathering these notes… th..."
Page 12: ""I have always believed so," conceded the soldier...."
Page 13: "The old man's gentle smile faded subtly, and his e..."
Page 14: ""Much as I would like to go, I cannot abandon my p..."
Page 15: "He walked the long walk home, his face wrinkled be..."
Chapter 13:
The Disturbing Case Of Rain
He comes with rain, sleek as shadows and deadly as a swirling draw.
Page 1:
""It rains a lot here. We get at least one heavy s..."
Page 2: ""Well, I have to admit that much, at least," conce..."
Page 3: "Tom chewed his tongue for a thoughtful moment, bef..."
Page 4: "Tom tipped his head, partially conceding the point..."
Page 5: ""So?" Mason read the form with rapidly scanning m..."
Page 6: "…without glancing further at the clock, Mason sat ..."
Page 7: ""Probably a yes. The kid might have slipped throu..."
Page 8: ""I understand, Mason. Tell Alex and the kids I sa..."
Page 9: "The children knew it, too, for they appeared in th..."
Page 10: "Stopping his car to one side of the road, he activ..."
Page 11: "Before he could decide what, if anything, he shoul..."
Page 12: "Calming himself professionally, Tom fetched his ma..."
Page 13: "Then, using his best professional technique, he fo..."
Page 14: "Casually, he walked along the sidewalk and then mo..."
Page 15: "Curiously, it was both the scarecrow's obsession a..."
Page 16: ""Can I use it?"
"No, not directly, but it w..."
Page 2: ""Well, I have to admit that much, at least," conce..."
Page 3: "Tom chewed his tongue for a thoughtful moment, bef..."
Page 4: "Tom tipped his head, partially conceding the point..."
Page 5: ""So?" Mason read the form with rapidly scanning m..."
Page 6: "…without glancing further at the clock, Mason sat ..."
Page 7: ""Probably a yes. The kid might have slipped throu..."
Page 8: ""I understand, Mason. Tell Alex and the kids I sa..."
Page 9: "The children knew it, too, for they appeared in th..."
Page 10: "Stopping his car to one side of the road, he activ..."
Page 11: "Before he could decide what, if anything, he shoul..."
Page 12: "Calming himself professionally, Tom fetched his ma..."
Page 13: "Then, using his best professional technique, he fo..."
Page 14: "Casually, he walked along the sidewalk and then mo..."
Page 15: "Curiously, it was both the scarecrow's obsession a..."
Page 16: ""Can I use it?"
"No, not directly, but it w..."
Chapter 17:
Forever Comes The Storm
The bloodiest war of the bloodiest century in human history - for some, it never ends.
Page 1:
""What becomes of all the blood spilled in this war..."
Page 2: ""Do you remember Randy?"
The sergeant's pea..."
Page 3: "Max sighed impatiently. Occasionally, he question..."
Page 4: ""I never did thank him."
Max grunted. "You..."
Page 5: "Nevertheless, Randy came to him, crawling on his b..."
Page 6: "Max breathed easy. Though his expression scarcely..."
Page 7: "Sighing once more, and rolling over to indicate he..."
Page 8: "The youth patted his body all over to check for wo..."
Page 9: ""My God!" shouted the sentry, once the forceless i..."
Page 10: "Down into one fresh shell hole and up its far side..."
Page 11: "Knuckle bones and kneecaps rained down on his head..."
Page 12: "He ran forward, laughing and waving his hands. No..."
Page 13: "It happened. He fell immediately. Strange, he th..."
Page 14: "It soaked into the earth around him. Like Max sai..."
Page 2: ""Do you remember Randy?"
The sergeant's pea..."
Page 3: "Max sighed impatiently. Occasionally, he question..."
Page 4: ""I never did thank him."
Max grunted. "You..."
Page 5: "Nevertheless, Randy came to him, crawling on his b..."
Page 6: "Max breathed easy. Though his expression scarcely..."
Page 7: "Sighing once more, and rolling over to indicate he..."
Page 8: "The youth patted his body all over to check for wo..."
Page 9: ""My God!" shouted the sentry, once the forceless i..."
Page 10: "Down into one fresh shell hole and up its far side..."
Page 11: "Knuckle bones and kneecaps rained down on his head..."
Page 12: "He ran forward, laughing and waving his hands. No..."
Page 13: "It happened. He fell immediately. Strange, he th..."
Page 14: "It soaked into the earth around him. Like Max sai..."
Chapter 21:
Vengeance Is Mine
He picked the wrong child and the wrong mother. Never piss her off.
Page 1:
"Theirs had been a frantic search through the night..."
Page 2: "Bara's response came immediate and forceful. "I d..."
Page 3: ""Ma'am," soothed the chaplain, "if you'll just ret..."
Page 4: ""It is, Ms. Flaherty," returned the chaplain, his ..."
Page 5: "Her own husband drew her away from her sister's ri..."
Page 6: "Bara tossed back her head, and opened her throat t..."
Page 7: "Later, when he failed in his mission, he followed ..."
Page 8: "At that moment, as she had throughout the morning,..."
Page 9: "Michael's heart throbbed painfully. His stomach b..."
Page 10: "Abandoning her own posh home on the better side of..."
Page 11: "As she expected, as the text books told her it mus..."
Page 12: "She trundled him into a large wooden box that she ..."
Page 13: "Upon hearing that, the monster sagged from his res..."
Page 2: "Bara's response came immediate and forceful. "I d..."
Page 3: ""Ma'am," soothed the chaplain, "if you'll just ret..."
Page 4: ""It is, Ms. Flaherty," returned the chaplain, his ..."
Page 5: "Her own husband drew her away from her sister's ri..."
Page 6: "Bara tossed back her head, and opened her throat t..."
Page 7: "Later, when he failed in his mission, he followed ..."
Page 8: "At that moment, as she had throughout the morning,..."
Page 9: "Michael's heart throbbed painfully. His stomach b..."
Page 10: "Abandoning her own posh home on the better side of..."
Page 11: "As she expected, as the text books told her it mus..."
Page 12: "She trundled him into a large wooden box that she ..."
Page 13: "Upon hearing that, the monster sagged from his res..."
Chapter 25:
Human Resources
We're all consumers. Cogs in a vast machine. Let's hope we remain a vital, integral part of it all.
Page 1:
"I can see them now, the guts, squirming, wet and g..."
Page 2: "The machine that makes them knows the answers to t..."
Page 3: "In between it all, as I well knew from experience,..."
Page 4: "Coming in the opposite direction along these broad..."
Page 5: "Somehow, I find myself fallen into one of the mass..."
Page 6: ""Voice print confirmed," intone the mystical gods ..."
Page 7: "While my fellow cohorts of human components march ..."
Page 8: "The rest of my peers, I soon learn, all died from ..."
Page 9: "At my feet, I startle to find an incredible pile o..."
Page 10: "Turning away from the wall and its attendant piles..."
Page 11: "The mountain of dead, ancient and new, speaks only..."
Page 2: "The machine that makes them knows the answers to t..."
Page 3: "In between it all, as I well knew from experience,..."
Page 4: "Coming in the opposite direction along these broad..."
Page 5: "Somehow, I find myself fallen into one of the mass..."
Page 6: ""Voice print confirmed," intone the mystical gods ..."
Page 7: "While my fellow cohorts of human components march ..."
Page 8: "The rest of my peers, I soon learn, all died from ..."
Page 9: "At my feet, I startle to find an incredible pile o..."
Page 10: "Turning away from the wall and its attendant piles..."
Page 11: "The mountain of dead, ancient and new, speaks only..."
Chapter 2:
The House Next Door
He keeps the lawn and the landscaping at no charge. Wouldn't you like to have this neighbor?
Page 1:
"The house next door to Herb's stood long empty, a ..."
Page 2: "Long they threatened, and long was the process. O..."
Page 3: "Due to the periodic concealed deposits of fish, be..."
Page 4: "Herb asked, "So, how did the old place hold up? I..."
Page 5: ""No," wondered a bemused Herb? "And why is that?"..."
Page 6: ""You poor thing," cooed Naomi. "You must have suf..."
Page 7: ""You won't be staying the night, then, either?"
Page 8: "Herb cracked a thin smile, which he quickly presse..."
Page 9: "By dusk, the occupants of the house next door had ..."
Page 10: "That morning, a Saturday morning, he drove across ..."
Page 11: ""It looked like a big rat," offered Naomi, her ton..."
Page 12: "Robert stepped up his assaults the next day with t..."
Page 13: "Nearly one hour later, it began 'gnawing' on the s..."
Page 14: "When the couple arrived on Saturday morning, they ..."
Page 15: ""I asked you repeatedly to turn down that awful po..."
Page 2: "Long they threatened, and long was the process. O..."
Page 3: "Due to the periodic concealed deposits of fish, be..."
Page 4: "Herb asked, "So, how did the old place hold up? I..."
Page 5: ""No," wondered a bemused Herb? "And why is that?"..."
Page 6: ""You poor thing," cooed Naomi. "You must have suf..."
Page 7: ""You won't be staying the night, then, either?"
Page 8: "Herb cracked a thin smile, which he quickly presse..."
Page 9: "By dusk, the occupants of the house next door had ..."
Page 10: "That morning, a Saturday morning, he drove across ..."
Page 11: ""It looked like a big rat," offered Naomi, her ton..."
Page 12: "Robert stepped up his assaults the next day with t..."
Page 13: "Nearly one hour later, it began 'gnawing' on the s..."
Page 14: "When the couple arrived on Saturday morning, they ..."
Page 15: ""I asked you repeatedly to turn down that awful po..."
Chapter 6:
Emerald Planet
Fun and games in the depths of a hostile rain forest.
Page 1:
""The insanity of nature," she whispered, her voice..."
Page 2: ""I hate it," she spat acidly! The forest heard, f..."
Page 3: "Despite himself, he smiled, and replied hoarsely, ..."
Page 4: "Meanwhile, the forest grew insidiously into the fo..."
Page 5: "Through the night, the pilot pondered every sound ..."
Page 6: "She pressed her face deeper into the shelter of hi..."
Page 7: ""I need water," she groaned pathetically. "I need..."
Page 8: "The pilot dug into the depths of his trouser pocke..."
Page 9: "After a time, they rose, their faces smeared with ..."
Page 10: "Excited beyond reason, the pilot tried to sop the ..."
Page 11: ""Five hundred meters," he groaned, finally totteri..."
Page 12: ""I've been breaking the trail for three days strai..."
Page 13: ""Five hundred meters," she repeated after every te..."
Page 14: "Inside the dome, they found fresh water, preserved..."
Page 15: "The pilot rolled his eyes, groaned, and then crawl..."
Page 16: "Refocusing her gaze to the surface of the window, ..."
Page 2: ""I hate it," she spat acidly! The forest heard, f..."
Page 3: "Despite himself, he smiled, and replied hoarsely, ..."
Page 4: "Meanwhile, the forest grew insidiously into the fo..."
Page 5: "Through the night, the pilot pondered every sound ..."
Page 6: "She pressed her face deeper into the shelter of hi..."
Page 7: ""I need water," she groaned pathetically. "I need..."
Page 8: "The pilot dug into the depths of his trouser pocke..."
Page 9: "After a time, they rose, their faces smeared with ..."
Page 10: "Excited beyond reason, the pilot tried to sop the ..."
Page 11: ""Five hundred meters," he groaned, finally totteri..."
Page 12: ""I've been breaking the trail for three days strai..."
Page 13: ""Five hundred meters," she repeated after every te..."
Page 14: "Inside the dome, they found fresh water, preserved..."
Page 15: "The pilot rolled his eyes, groaned, and then crawl..."
Page 16: "Refocusing her gaze to the surface of the window, ..."
Chapter 10:
Ed Is That You
Ed stepped out onto the web, naked as pure energy. It's a better way of life.
Page 1:
"When Drori awakened that first morning of the New ..."
Page 2: ""Sector," he corrected immediately, replying to he..."
Page 3: ""A thousand times."
"I'm busy, you know. W..."
Page 4: "Manipulating the rubber mask of his face, Drori ca..."
Page 5: ""So, take more drugs. In fact, take a booster, po..."
Page 6: ""You just don't like to leave your building," he t..."
Page 7: ""I like to know what you're thinking."
"Wha..."
Page 8: ""Bang-O!"
"I can do that, I suppose," she o..."
Page 9: "She was unspeakably beautiful, but they all were. ..."
Page 10: "At the top of the list, the only item of unfinishe..."
Page 11: ""It's some kind of pile-up, I guess," remarked Dro..."
Page 12: ""Please clarify the vernacular clause, 'screwed th..."
Page 13: "Drori frowned. After five consecutive error alarm..."
Page 14: "Only silence returned through the linkage. He tri..."
Page 15: "Curious, now, he examined the core of the last err..."
Page 16: "Another packet arrived, and he traced this one, to..."
Page 17: "Into the link, Drori asked, "Why can't you speak?"..."
Page 18: "Immediately, the spike driven between Drori's eyes..."
Page 19: "The other said, "Ed."
"Ed? That's it?"
..."
Page 20: ""When you are? What do you mean?"
"I wish ..."
Page 21: ""Where? In Pacomah?"
"Yes."
"No, I ..."
Page 22: ""A real fish?"
"A real fish. It swam so gr..."
Page 23: ""What?"
"The fish, of course."
"It d..."
Page 24: "A momentary silence followed, while the other pond..."
Page 25: ""Will you quit… doing whatever it is you're doing?..."
Page 26: ""They're not bogus. You genuinely have a problem ..."
Page 27: ""Yes, I suppose I do," returned Ed softly.
..."
Page 28: ""You're linking with the Ken-17 program up-line fr..."
Page 29: "Startled by the unexpected appearance of an outsid..."
Page 30: ""Ed, how are you hacking directly into Drori's neu..."
Page 31: "Confused, Ken-17, immediately relayed the comm-lin..."
Page 32: "While the CA worked, Drori asked, "So, Ed, what do..."
Page 33: ""And, I suppose," continued the other, "I wanted s..."
Page 34: ""Then, all this has a foreseeable outcome?"
Page 35: ""Uh, no, not really, Ed. Less than I second, I sh..."
Page 36: ""Not much, really," intoned Ed musically. "They m..."
Page 37: ""How so?"
"For one thing, I am truly free t..."
Page 38: ""Because I could do it, and because I wanted to do..."
Page 39: "Strangely, Drori felt a distant, ominous shudder t..."
Page 40: ""Oh, sorry, Drori," apologized Ed solemnly. "I in..."
Page 41: "His heart racing, Drori leapt to his feet and char..."
Page 2: ""Sector," he corrected immediately, replying to he..."
Page 3: ""A thousand times."
"I'm busy, you know. W..."
Page 4: "Manipulating the rubber mask of his face, Drori ca..."
Page 5: ""So, take more drugs. In fact, take a booster, po..."
Page 6: ""You just don't like to leave your building," he t..."
Page 7: ""I like to know what you're thinking."
"Wha..."
Page 8: ""Bang-O!"
"I can do that, I suppose," she o..."
Page 9: "She was unspeakably beautiful, but they all were. ..."
Page 10: "At the top of the list, the only item of unfinishe..."
Page 11: ""It's some kind of pile-up, I guess," remarked Dro..."
Page 12: ""Please clarify the vernacular clause, 'screwed th..."
Page 13: "Drori frowned. After five consecutive error alarm..."
Page 14: "Only silence returned through the linkage. He tri..."
Page 15: "Curious, now, he examined the core of the last err..."
Page 16: "Another packet arrived, and he traced this one, to..."
Page 17: "Into the link, Drori asked, "Why can't you speak?"..."
Page 18: "Immediately, the spike driven between Drori's eyes..."
Page 19: "The other said, "Ed."
"Ed? That's it?"
..."
Page 20: ""When you are? What do you mean?"
"I wish ..."
Page 21: ""Where? In Pacomah?"
"Yes."
"No, I ..."
Page 22: ""A real fish?"
"A real fish. It swam so gr..."
Page 23: ""What?"
"The fish, of course."
"It d..."
Page 24: "A momentary silence followed, while the other pond..."
Page 25: ""Will you quit… doing whatever it is you're doing?..."
Page 26: ""They're not bogus. You genuinely have a problem ..."
Page 27: ""Yes, I suppose I do," returned Ed softly.
..."
Page 28: ""You're linking with the Ken-17 program up-line fr..."
Page 29: "Startled by the unexpected appearance of an outsid..."
Page 30: ""Ed, how are you hacking directly into Drori's neu..."
Page 31: "Confused, Ken-17, immediately relayed the comm-lin..."
Page 32: "While the CA worked, Drori asked, "So, Ed, what do..."
Page 33: ""And, I suppose," continued the other, "I wanted s..."
Page 34: ""Then, all this has a foreseeable outcome?"
Page 35: ""Uh, no, not really, Ed. Less than I second, I sh..."
Page 36: ""Not much, really," intoned Ed musically. "They m..."
Page 37: ""How so?"
"For one thing, I am truly free t..."
Page 38: ""Because I could do it, and because I wanted to do..."
Page 39: "Strangely, Drori felt a distant, ominous shudder t..."
Page 40: ""Oh, sorry, Drori," apologized Ed solemnly. "I in..."
Page 41: "His heart racing, Drori leapt to his feet and char..."
Chapter 14:
A Working Man
Keeping the appointments of a lifetime. It's a living.
Page 1:
"I met Jack Beauregard on a sweltering Tuesday afte..."
Page 2: "I lifted the heavy brass knocker and let it strike..."
Page 3: ""He did," I replied glibly. I left the sunglasses..."
Page 4: ""Look, if we are to do business, we must have some..."
Page 5: "Then I crossed the step between us abruptly. His ..."
Page 6: "Upon hearing a giggle, I turned to find two young ..."
Page 7: ""No, you can't," I returned immediately. "Then ag..."
Page 8: ""Then I will simply have to come to you," offered ..."
Page 9: ""Why would you want to assume all the risk, I wond..."
Page 10: "Instead, I crossed the room and walked around behi..."
Page 11: ""Now you understand better what I mean about profe..."
Page 12: "I took everything apart. Most of it, I put back t..."
Page 13: ""Fine," enthused the great man. "We want you to s..."
Page 14: "I returned the picture. "Okay, it's a birthday pa..."
Page 15: ""I have that and to spare."
"Obviously. So..."
Page 16: ""Anything else?"
Shaking his head negativel..."
Page 17: ""Very."
"How many special guests?"
"..."
Page 18: ""I assume you would rather that I err on the side ..."
Page 19: ""When would you like to have it here?"
"Fri..."
Page 20: ""Cash, Mr. B. Large bills, thank you." Since he ..."
Page 21: "He grimaced. I knew what he was thinking. He was..."
Page 22: "On Friday, I delivered. I met Mrs. B. As I expec..."
Page 23: "By the end of the summer, I walked beneath Johnson..."
Page 24: ""More like ten months, Mr. Beauregard. I first ca..."
Page 25: ""You're an educated old man," I said, "what is fou..."
Page 26: "He grunted, dragged the back of a skeleton wrist b..."
Page 27: ""Your wife? What about your wife? She can pay me..."
Page 28: "I returned to find him sitting on the floor, propp..."
Page 29: ""…woes shell… tinderbox… longs load…"
"You ..."
Page 30: ""Oh, sure," I sighed, reaching for a big rock of c..."
Page 31: ""Hot shit, Mr. B! Thanks! Thanks a lot!" With r..."
Page 2: "I lifted the heavy brass knocker and let it strike..."
Page 3: ""He did," I replied glibly. I left the sunglasses..."
Page 4: ""Look, if we are to do business, we must have some..."
Page 5: "Then I crossed the step between us abruptly. His ..."
Page 6: "Upon hearing a giggle, I turned to find two young ..."
Page 7: ""No, you can't," I returned immediately. "Then ag..."
Page 8: ""Then I will simply have to come to you," offered ..."
Page 9: ""Why would you want to assume all the risk, I wond..."
Page 10: "Instead, I crossed the room and walked around behi..."
Page 11: ""Now you understand better what I mean about profe..."
Page 12: "I took everything apart. Most of it, I put back t..."
Page 13: ""Fine," enthused the great man. "We want you to s..."
Page 14: "I returned the picture. "Okay, it's a birthday pa..."
Page 15: ""I have that and to spare."
"Obviously. So..."
Page 16: ""Anything else?"
Shaking his head negativel..."
Page 17: ""Very."
"How many special guests?"
"..."
Page 18: ""I assume you would rather that I err on the side ..."
Page 19: ""When would you like to have it here?"
"Fri..."
Page 20: ""Cash, Mr. B. Large bills, thank you." Since he ..."
Page 21: "He grimaced. I knew what he was thinking. He was..."
Page 22: "On Friday, I delivered. I met Mrs. B. As I expec..."
Page 23: "By the end of the summer, I walked beneath Johnson..."
Page 24: ""More like ten months, Mr. Beauregard. I first ca..."
Page 25: ""You're an educated old man," I said, "what is fou..."
Page 26: "He grunted, dragged the back of a skeleton wrist b..."
Page 27: ""Your wife? What about your wife? She can pay me..."
Page 28: "I returned to find him sitting on the floor, propp..."
Page 29: ""…woes shell… tinderbox… longs load…"
"You ..."
Page 30: ""Oh, sure," I sighed, reaching for a big rock of c..."
Page 31: ""Hot shit, Mr. B! Thanks! Thanks a lot!" With r..."
Chapter 18:
Through The Meadows Go
Take the shortcut home. You might never arrive.
Page 1:
"Marjorie wrapped Joey's scarf twice around his nec..."
Page 2: ""What about this afternoon? Do you want me to mee..."
Page 3: ""What about Tony and those other boys. I know how..."
Page 4: ""He could still catch cold in the morning."
Page 5: "Stan grunted, nodding. He watched Joey trudge pas..."
Page 6: ""It's not ghosts," snapped Stanley, and Marge reco..."
Page 7: ""Some of them carry knives, you know," intoned Mar..."
Page 8: "Nevertheless, she decided to tell the boy he could..."
Page 9: "Cursing softly, she hurried to cover the distance...."
Page 10: "Curiously, she paused to read the inscriptions and..."
Page 11: "Thinking once more of her son, Marge continued thr..."
Page 12: "Now Marge passed around the large family plot that..."
Page 13: "Now she heard Joey again. To her left! She turne..."
Page 14: "She could hear Joey clearly now, and she knew he m..."
Page 15: "Joey clapped his hands once loudly, and she heard ..."
Page 16: ""Joey!" She called his name repeatedly, calmly at..."
Page 17: "…three months later, Joey had not been found. He ..."
Page 18: "Now she ducked her head to press through the tangl..."
Page 19: "…on the anniversary of Joey's disappearance, Stan ..."
Page 20: "Due to the rarity of such works, collectors could ..."
Page 2: ""What about this afternoon? Do you want me to mee..."
Page 3: ""What about Tony and those other boys. I know how..."
Page 4: ""He could still catch cold in the morning."
Page 5: "Stan grunted, nodding. He watched Joey trudge pas..."
Page 6: ""It's not ghosts," snapped Stanley, and Marge reco..."
Page 7: ""Some of them carry knives, you know," intoned Mar..."
Page 8: "Nevertheless, she decided to tell the boy he could..."
Page 9: "Cursing softly, she hurried to cover the distance...."
Page 10: "Curiously, she paused to read the inscriptions and..."
Page 11: "Thinking once more of her son, Marge continued thr..."
Page 12: "Now Marge passed around the large family plot that..."
Page 13: "Now she heard Joey again. To her left! She turne..."
Page 14: "She could hear Joey clearly now, and she knew he m..."
Page 15: "Joey clapped his hands once loudly, and she heard ..."
Page 16: ""Joey!" She called his name repeatedly, calmly at..."
Page 17: "…three months later, Joey had not been found. He ..."
Page 18: "Now she ducked her head to press through the tangl..."
Page 19: "…on the anniversary of Joey's disappearance, Stan ..."
Page 20: "Due to the rarity of such works, collectors could ..."
Chapter 22:
Bugs Bugs Bugs
They could easily dominate the planet. Why not?
Page 1:
""Mmm hmm," intoned Big Ed Lieberman, "it's been a ..."
Page 2: "Now the lawman raised his gaze to examine the clou..."
Page 3: ""Mmm hmm," agreed Big Ed laconically, spitting to ..."
Page 4: "Sheriff Bauer grunted and shook his head. "I didn..."
Page 5: "Big Ed extended one beefy, grimy paw, palm up, for..."
Page 6: ""'cause," returned the big man, spitting and smili..."
Page 7: "The two men stopped near their vehicles, and the s..."
Page 8: "Later that same evening, Big Ed sat on the dilapid..."
Page 9: "Ed laughed and puffed and sipped, almost all at on..."
Page 10: ""Well, now, you can't blame her for that, Bubba. ..."
Page 11: ""Shhhhh!" Big Ed hissed and cocked an ear. "You ..."
Page 12: ""That's where I hear it, too." She also sat her g..."
Page 13: "Instead, he barked an instruction to Sissy, orderi..."
Page 14: "At the rear corner of their house, he and Sissy st..."
Page 15: "Sissy stooped to push the overgrowth back away fro..."
Page 16: "Ed knocked the heavy flashlight atop the wrought i..."
Page 17: "Sissy had become a similar mass of squirming, skit..."
Page 18: "Deputy Benjamin Rawlings leaned against the right ..."
Page 19: ""I called Mr. Langfort," announced the sheriff, "a..."
Page 20: ""But, Christ, what eats a body down to the bones i..."
Page 21: "Static replied. The lawman climbed out of the pro..."
Page 22: "When she refused to answer, the sheriff tossed the..."
Page 23: "The sheriff cursed his own foolishness, and he sta..."
Page 24: "Joe screamed shrilly, ashamed to hear himself soun..."
Page 2: "Now the lawman raised his gaze to examine the clou..."
Page 3: ""Mmm hmm," agreed Big Ed laconically, spitting to ..."
Page 4: "Sheriff Bauer grunted and shook his head. "I didn..."
Page 5: "Big Ed extended one beefy, grimy paw, palm up, for..."
Page 6: ""'cause," returned the big man, spitting and smili..."
Page 7: "The two men stopped near their vehicles, and the s..."
Page 8: "Later that same evening, Big Ed sat on the dilapid..."
Page 9: "Ed laughed and puffed and sipped, almost all at on..."
Page 10: ""Well, now, you can't blame her for that, Bubba. ..."
Page 11: ""Shhhhh!" Big Ed hissed and cocked an ear. "You ..."
Page 12: ""That's where I hear it, too." She also sat her g..."
Page 13: "Instead, he barked an instruction to Sissy, orderi..."
Page 14: "At the rear corner of their house, he and Sissy st..."
Page 15: "Sissy stooped to push the overgrowth back away fro..."
Page 16: "Ed knocked the heavy flashlight atop the wrought i..."
Page 17: "Sissy had become a similar mass of squirming, skit..."
Page 18: "Deputy Benjamin Rawlings leaned against the right ..."
Page 19: ""I called Mr. Langfort," announced the sheriff, "a..."
Page 20: ""But, Christ, what eats a body down to the bones i..."
Page 21: "Static replied. The lawman climbed out of the pro..."
Page 22: "When she refused to answer, the sheriff tossed the..."
Page 23: "The sheriff cursed his own foolishness, and he sta..."
Page 24: "Joe screamed shrilly, ashamed to hear himself soun..."
Chapter 26:
Paw Paw Conjures
With the right words at the right time, magic is possible. Paw paw knows.
Page 1:
""'Das what him tol' me," Wilfred Cowl spat into th..."
Page 2: ""Like a lon' walk on a sho't day,
Got dem g..."
Page 3: "Smiling toothlessly, the old man answered, "I like..."
Page 4: ""Why aren't you filthy rich, Paw-Paw?" Joline hud..."
Page 5: "Joline smiled despite the gnawing anxiety of her d..."
Page 6: ""Go?" Joline's heart raced. The mention of leavi..."
Page 7: "At fiften years old, she knew little of the world ..."
Page 8: ""See, I'm all used up. I'm all spent out. Eight ..."
Page 9: "He said, "Das dem now, comin' through da woods. I..."
Page 10: ""Right now, ain't nothin' in dat book dat makes an..."
Page 11: "Tears welled in Joline's eyes, and she gripped the..."
Page 12: "The old man hobbled around the fire, straightening..."
Page 13: "After a few minutes of audible turmoil, she heard ..."
Page 14: "Nevertheless, as the sound of hooves neared closer..."
Page 15: "Joline sat beside the fire, eating warm, buttered ..."
Page 2: ""Like a lon' walk on a sho't day,
Got dem g..."
Page 3: "Smiling toothlessly, the old man answered, "I like..."
Page 4: ""Why aren't you filthy rich, Paw-Paw?" Joline hud..."
Page 5: "Joline smiled despite the gnawing anxiety of her d..."
Page 6: ""Go?" Joline's heart raced. The mention of leavi..."
Page 7: "At fiften years old, she knew little of the world ..."
Page 8: ""See, I'm all used up. I'm all spent out. Eight ..."
Page 9: "He said, "Das dem now, comin' through da woods. I..."
Page 10: ""Right now, ain't nothin' in dat book dat makes an..."
Page 11: "Tears welled in Joline's eyes, and she gripped the..."
Page 12: "The old man hobbled around the fire, straightening..."
Page 13: "After a few minutes of audible turmoil, she heard ..."
Page 14: "Nevertheless, as the sound of hooves neared closer..."
Page 15: "Joline sat beside the fire, eating warm, buttered ..."
Chapter 3:
Toltaca
Within the depths of a heart of darkness, human kind builds a city of stone.
Chapter 7:
The Hole
The last survivor. And he's pissed!
Page 1:
"It was just what he wanted at the moment, a dark, ..."
Page 2: "His hiding space stretched the length of a city bl..."
Page 3: ""Crawling? With who?" he demanded obtusely, holdi..."
Page 4: "He licked his lips, and felt his slack pulse throb..."
Page 5: "She interrupted with a wet, dismissive noise from ..."
Page 6: ""Them's mighty fine duds, Mister Six-One-Nine. I ..."
Page 7: ""That's okay," he groaned, "I couldn't eat it, any..."
Page 8: "`619 shook his head. "No. No, I'm not."
"..."
Page 9: ""I'm just sayin', is all," returned Det, his tooth..."
Page 10: ""I'm- I'm sorry about your friend," offered the so..."
Page 11: "All fell silent to cock their heads. Indeed, they..."
Page 12: ""If it wasn't for my kind, your kind wouldn't be h..."
Page 13: "The old woman flapped her arm and emitted a shocki..."
Page 14: "The agent shrugged his shoulders and tipped his he..."
Page 15: ""Right," grunted 619, his right arm moving stiffly..."
Page 16: "Det cackled and ribbed his friend, Tarl. "A body ..."
Page 17: ""Well?" demanded the other eventually. "Don't you..."
Page 18: "619 shrugged and the motion scarcely transferred t..."
Page 19: ""Give me the remote sensor," offered the agent, ex..."
Page 20: "When next he woke, he found himself much healed; e..."
Page 21: "619 reflected on the slaughter he had witnessed tw..."
Page 22: "Without speaking further, 619 snapped a remote sen..."
Page 23: "His wounded pride overcoming his better senses, th..."
Page 24: "619 busily re-charged his pistols without speaking..."
Page 25: "Behind him, the agent demanded, "What about us? W..."
Page 2: "His hiding space stretched the length of a city bl..."
Page 3: ""Crawling? With who?" he demanded obtusely, holdi..."
Page 4: "He licked his lips, and felt his slack pulse throb..."
Page 5: "She interrupted with a wet, dismissive noise from ..."
Page 6: ""Them's mighty fine duds, Mister Six-One-Nine. I ..."
Page 7: ""That's okay," he groaned, "I couldn't eat it, any..."
Page 8: "`619 shook his head. "No. No, I'm not."
"..."
Page 9: ""I'm just sayin', is all," returned Det, his tooth..."
Page 10: ""I'm- I'm sorry about your friend," offered the so..."
Page 11: "All fell silent to cock their heads. Indeed, they..."
Page 12: ""If it wasn't for my kind, your kind wouldn't be h..."
Page 13: "The old woman flapped her arm and emitted a shocki..."
Page 14: "The agent shrugged his shoulders and tipped his he..."
Page 15: ""Right," grunted 619, his right arm moving stiffly..."
Page 16: "Det cackled and ribbed his friend, Tarl. "A body ..."
Page 17: ""Well?" demanded the other eventually. "Don't you..."
Page 18: "619 shrugged and the motion scarcely transferred t..."
Page 19: ""Give me the remote sensor," offered the agent, ex..."
Page 20: "When next he woke, he found himself much healed; e..."
Page 21: "619 reflected on the slaughter he had witnessed tw..."
Page 22: "Without speaking further, 619 snapped a remote sen..."
Page 23: "His wounded pride overcoming his better senses, th..."
Page 24: "619 busily re-charged his pistols without speaking..."
Page 25: "Behind him, the agent demanded, "What about us? W..."
Chapter 11:
Mortimers Last Race
He's retired and has nothing better to do. Run, daddy, run!
Page 1:
"Mortimer Fortenbury retired in May. By July, his ..."
Page 2: "The next day, Mortimer rose early and drove to the..."
Page 3: "One day during lunch, as he idled between his long..."
Page 4: ""For a while, darling," returned Mortimer, smiling..."
Page 5: ""How much would it cost, all that travel and the f..."
Page 6: "Most of their fellow passengers expressed surprise..."
Page 7: ""You're going to win big, grandpa," growled one of..."
Page 8: ""Yes," she agreed, pressing her cheek to the thin,..."
Page 9: ""I hope you've still got it, when you're sixty-thr..."
Page 10: ""Yeah. Shhhh, what is it?"
They listened f..."
Page 11: "The wild woman broke into a hysterical run through..."
Page 12: "Now he cut across a swath of landscaping, leaping ..."
Page 13: ""No," panted Mortimer! "No! Not- yet! Not- YET!..."
Page 14: "At the same moment, Mortimer flung his body agains..."
Page 15: "Opening his eyes through the blood curtain that fl..."
Page 16: "Many minutes later, he heard a shuffle of familiar..."
Page 17: ""It doesn't hurt much," responded grandpa. "The s..."
Page 2: "The next day, Mortimer rose early and drove to the..."
Page 3: "One day during lunch, as he idled between his long..."
Page 4: ""For a while, darling," returned Mortimer, smiling..."
Page 5: ""How much would it cost, all that travel and the f..."
Page 6: "Most of their fellow passengers expressed surprise..."
Page 7: ""You're going to win big, grandpa," growled one of..."
Page 8: ""Yes," she agreed, pressing her cheek to the thin,..."
Page 9: ""I hope you've still got it, when you're sixty-thr..."
Page 10: ""Yeah. Shhhh, what is it?"
They listened f..."
Page 11: "The wild woman broke into a hysterical run through..."
Page 12: "Now he cut across a swath of landscaping, leaping ..."
Page 13: ""No," panted Mortimer! "No! Not- yet! Not- YET!..."
Page 14: "At the same moment, Mortimer flung his body agains..."
Page 15: "Opening his eyes through the blood curtain that fl..."
Page 16: "Many minutes later, he heard a shuffle of familiar..."
Page 17: ""It doesn't hurt much," responded grandpa. "The s..."
Chapter 15:
Long Is The Journey Short Is The Sojourn
They are many and they are hungry. You never needed a cat so badly!
Page 1:
""I am in hunger come," it hissed from beyond the b..."
Page 2: "Just to respond with something more than a human v..."
Page 3: "I might live three days this way. Maybe. If I pl..."
Page 4: "Except, I had to find and seal every possible croo..."
Page 5: "I heard it hiss, "You should come to me now."
<..."
Page 6: "I screamed in terror! A monster loomed close, lea..."
Page 7: "Starting toward this latest problem, I instead dec..."
Page 8: "Finally, exasperated and weary, I sat cross-legged..."
Page 9: ""Why resist? I hunger. I come. I must feed. I ..."
Page 10: "In the back bedroom, the sound grew louder, and no..."
Page 11: ""I know you're hungry, dude," I quipped, massaging..."
Page 12: ""I am your certain fate. Time alone separates you..."
Page 13: "Fortunately, I was alone in this world. Attachmen..."
Page 14: ""Earlier," it hissed, pausing its unnerving effort..."
Page 15: ""We are many. The many are all. The all is one. ..."
Page 16: "Despite my hopes, however, the thing returned to t..."
Page 17: "I hastily stuck the pistol into my front pocket, a..."
Page 18: "By the time I finished loading, everything fell si..."
Page 19: "I heard a thing whisper, "I am in hunger come. My..."
Page 20: "When the cat seemed confident that we could, I smi..."
Page 2: "Just to respond with something more than a human v..."
Page 3: "I might live three days this way. Maybe. If I pl..."
Page 4: "Except, I had to find and seal every possible croo..."
Page 5: "I heard it hiss, "You should come to me now."
<..."
Page 6: "I screamed in terror! A monster loomed close, lea..."
Page 7: "Starting toward this latest problem, I instead dec..."
Page 8: "Finally, exasperated and weary, I sat cross-legged..."
Page 9: ""Why resist? I hunger. I come. I must feed. I ..."
Page 10: "In the back bedroom, the sound grew louder, and no..."
Page 11: ""I know you're hungry, dude," I quipped, massaging..."
Page 12: ""I am your certain fate. Time alone separates you..."
Page 13: "Fortunately, I was alone in this world. Attachmen..."
Page 14: ""Earlier," it hissed, pausing its unnerving effort..."
Page 15: ""We are many. The many are all. The all is one. ..."
Page 16: "Despite my hopes, however, the thing returned to t..."
Page 17: "I hastily stuck the pistol into my front pocket, a..."
Page 18: "By the time I finished loading, everything fell si..."
Page 19: "I heard a thing whisper, "I am in hunger come. My..."
Page 20: "When the cat seemed confident that we could, I smi..."
Chapter 19:
Jo-Jos Big Day
In a smile, a frown. In laughter, sorrow.
Page 1:
"Principle McAlvey finished scanning Joseph "Jo-Jo"..."
Page 2: ""Yes, sir." Jo-Jo smiled genuinely.
"But y..."
Page 3: ""Fashion, huh? What sort of fashion is it?"
Page 4: "Jo-Jo hung his head and watched his fingers fidget..."
Page 5: ""Okay, Jo-Jo," returned the educator respectfully,..."
Page 6: ""I never disrupted class, sir." Now the boy raise..."
Page 7: "McAlvey read the page, and his face changed unhapp..."
Page 8: ""It doesn't adhere to those rules, Mr. McAlvey."
Page 9: "McAlvey returned the pamphlet to the drawer and th..."
Page 10: "The principal pursed his lips and pondered the sit..."
Page 11: ""I think so, sir."
"Okay, then, I'll assume..."
Page 12: "McAlvey nodded and blew a long, weary breath. He ..."
Page 13: "McAlvey pressed a thin, forced smile onto his lips..."
Page 14: ""Not much. He said they would leave me alone. Fo..."
Page 15: "Martin nodded and followed his friend toward the c..."
Page 16: ""I know," returned the lanky youth, his shoulders ..."
Page 17: "Though he tried to pry the corners of his lips upw..."
Page 18: "Softly, her voice a tortured whisper, Sarah asked,..."
Page 19: "Only his mother waited for him inside, alone, and ..."
Page 20: ""Yes," he returned softly. When she grunted and c..."
Page 21: "To himself, he declared, "I have to do something t..."
Page 22: "During lunchtime, when they invariably asked what ..."
Page 23: "Before he could really decide what these devices m..."
Page 24: "Policemen and Special Weapons and Tactics officers..."
Page 25: "Before he could speak, however, McAlvey saw the li..."
Page 26: "The muzzle of the captain's pistol rose in slow mo..."
Page 27: "Jo-Jo's hand twitched, as he collapsed to the floo..."
Page 28: "The screaming ceased, and all noise ended, save fo..."
Page 2: ""Yes, sir." Jo-Jo smiled genuinely.
"But y..."
Page 3: ""Fashion, huh? What sort of fashion is it?"
Page 4: "Jo-Jo hung his head and watched his fingers fidget..."
Page 5: ""Okay, Jo-Jo," returned the educator respectfully,..."
Page 6: ""I never disrupted class, sir." Now the boy raise..."
Page 7: "McAlvey read the page, and his face changed unhapp..."
Page 8: ""It doesn't adhere to those rules, Mr. McAlvey."
Page 9: "McAlvey returned the pamphlet to the drawer and th..."
Page 10: "The principal pursed his lips and pondered the sit..."
Page 11: ""I think so, sir."
"Okay, then, I'll assume..."
Page 12: "McAlvey nodded and blew a long, weary breath. He ..."
Page 13: "McAlvey pressed a thin, forced smile onto his lips..."
Page 14: ""Not much. He said they would leave me alone. Fo..."
Page 15: "Martin nodded and followed his friend toward the c..."
Page 16: ""I know," returned the lanky youth, his shoulders ..."
Page 17: "Though he tried to pry the corners of his lips upw..."
Page 18: "Softly, her voice a tortured whisper, Sarah asked,..."
Page 19: "Only his mother waited for him inside, alone, and ..."
Page 20: ""Yes," he returned softly. When she grunted and c..."
Page 21: "To himself, he declared, "I have to do something t..."
Page 22: "During lunchtime, when they invariably asked what ..."
Page 23: "Before he could really decide what these devices m..."
Page 24: "Policemen and Special Weapons and Tactics officers..."
Page 25: "Before he could speak, however, McAlvey saw the li..."
Page 26: "The muzzle of the captain's pistol rose in slow mo..."
Page 27: "Jo-Jo's hand twitched, as he collapsed to the floo..."
Page 28: "The screaming ceased, and all noise ended, save fo..."
Chapter 23:
Black River
The Black River Valley runs through the center of Pecan Groves, Texas. Lately, it floats.
Page 1:
"Jim Stevenson sat bolt upright in bed, gasping for..."
Page 2: ""I've been. They never help me."
"Maybe yo..."
Page 3: ""Nothing, Jim. I worry, though. You know how I w..."
Page 4: ""I know, darling, thank you. It means so much." ..."
Page 5: "It was the sound of tiny paws scratching, scratchi..."
Page 6: "Jim shook his head and returned to the house, pull..."
Page 7: "Whatever had been scratching at the door had not b..."
Page 8: ""It happened again last night, didn't it." This w..."
Page 9: ""Something, I guess," he returned anxiously. "Jus..."
Page 10: "When his voice trailed off and he seemed incapable..."
Page 11: "That evening, he listened to the news, exhausted f..."
Page 12: "As her vision swam and she teetered on the brink o..."
Page 13: "Recovering from her own sense of terror, Karen str..."
Page 14: "He placed his hand on the knob, but he refused to ..."
Page 15: "Back in his recliner, he tried to focus on the mov..."
Page 16: "He turned to face her, confused. "What do you mea..."
Page 17: ""No, I don't, Karen," he snapped meanly, marching ..."
Page 18: "Jim decided to treat himself with over-the-counter..."
Page 19: "When he heard that familiar scratching at his back..."
Page 20: ""Hey," he called after the unknown key keeper! "H..."
Page 21: ""Mr. Stevenson?" The tall, thin man with a swarth..."
Page 22: ""Oh, come on," urged the detective, gathering the ..."
Page 23: ""I didn't do any of that," protested Jim Stevenson..."
Page 24: ""That's right," said the detective sarcastically, ..."
Page 25: "Jim dropped his hands to his lap and sat back in t..."
Page 2: ""I've been. They never help me."
"Maybe yo..."
Page 3: ""Nothing, Jim. I worry, though. You know how I w..."
Page 4: ""I know, darling, thank you. It means so much." ..."
Page 5: "It was the sound of tiny paws scratching, scratchi..."
Page 6: "Jim shook his head and returned to the house, pull..."
Page 7: "Whatever had been scratching at the door had not b..."
Page 8: ""It happened again last night, didn't it." This w..."
Page 9: ""Something, I guess," he returned anxiously. "Jus..."
Page 10: "When his voice trailed off and he seemed incapable..."
Page 11: "That evening, he listened to the news, exhausted f..."
Page 12: "As her vision swam and she teetered on the brink o..."
Page 13: "Recovering from her own sense of terror, Karen str..."
Page 14: "He placed his hand on the knob, but he refused to ..."
Page 15: "Back in his recliner, he tried to focus on the mov..."
Page 16: "He turned to face her, confused. "What do you mea..."
Page 17: ""No, I don't, Karen," he snapped meanly, marching ..."
Page 18: "Jim decided to treat himself with over-the-counter..."
Page 19: "When he heard that familiar scratching at his back..."
Page 20: ""Hey," he called after the unknown key keeper! "H..."
Page 21: ""Mr. Stevenson?" The tall, thin man with a swarth..."
Page 22: ""Oh, come on," urged the detective, gathering the ..."
Page 23: ""I didn't do any of that," protested Jim Stevenson..."
Page 24: ""That's right," said the detective sarcastically, ..."
Page 25: "Jim dropped his hands to his lap and sat back in t..."
Chapter 27:
She Comes the Devil
Theirs is a lust to outlast the ages. It's a hell of a ride!
Page 1:
""Paw," the oldest boy called through a dusk-litter..."
Page 2: ""How's that, Paw?" When his father refused to cla..."
Page 3: "Albert turned to the shadow-strewn corner where hi..."
Page 4: ""We need you to say them words again, Mr. Feathers..."
Page 5: "Mister Feathers struggled to tilt his shell-like s..."
Page 6: "The shell-like skull nodded once more. "She… wait..."
Page 7: "Though dread spilled into his gut like an overflow..."
Page 8: "A hundred miles distant, the first gusts and gales..."
Page 9: ""Shhhh," hissed his eldest boy, "I think he's doin..."
Page 10: "He exhaled the words with his last breath, secretl..."
Page 11: "Breathing the cloying stink of the farmer's armpit..."
Page 12: "Rising above Mister Feather's prostrate form, a gr..."
Page 13: "Before Albert could scream or clutch his terrified..."
Page 14: "By its boardwalk seams and its rafter beams, the '..."
Page 15: "Mister Feathers and his lover stomped further alon..."
Page 16: "When he began to struggle for an upright position,..."
Page 17: ""Mister-," he started and stopped. His voice croa..."
Page 18: "The old man paused for a moment to think sincerely..."
Page 19: "Mister Feather smiled. He outstretched an immacul..."
Page 20: ""Pecan Groves, I now know, is an abode of evil. I..."
Page 21: "With these final cryptic words, Mister Feathers di..."
Page 2: ""How's that, Paw?" When his father refused to cla..."
Page 3: "Albert turned to the shadow-strewn corner where hi..."
Page 4: ""We need you to say them words again, Mr. Feathers..."
Page 5: "Mister Feathers struggled to tilt his shell-like s..."
Page 6: "The shell-like skull nodded once more. "She… wait..."
Page 7: "Though dread spilled into his gut like an overflow..."
Page 8: "A hundred miles distant, the first gusts and gales..."
Page 9: ""Shhhh," hissed his eldest boy, "I think he's doin..."
Page 10: "He exhaled the words with his last breath, secretl..."
Page 11: "Breathing the cloying stink of the farmer's armpit..."
Page 12: "Rising above Mister Feather's prostrate form, a gr..."
Page 13: "Before Albert could scream or clutch his terrified..."
Page 14: "By its boardwalk seams and its rafter beams, the '..."
Page 15: "Mister Feathers and his lover stomped further alon..."
Page 16: "When he began to struggle for an upright position,..."
Page 17: ""Mister-," he started and stopped. His voice croa..."
Page 18: "The old man paused for a moment to think sincerely..."
Page 19: "Mister Feather smiled. He outstretched an immacul..."
Page 20: ""Pecan Groves, I now know, is an abode of evil. I..."
Page 21: "With these final cryptic words, Mister Feathers di..."
Chapter 4:
Eidetic
His memory is photographic. It's his greatest talent. It's his detested curse.
Page 1:
"To those without one, a photographic memory might ..."
Page 2: "At last turning his head, he scanned the length of..."
Page 3: "There, Franklin watched the individual races of wi..."
Page 4: "Through the snow and ice, uncertain as it seemed, ..."
Page 5: "He stood in the diffuse snow shadow of the bus-sto..."
Page 6: "Speaking in a language other than English, the str..."
Page 7: "The other forcibly lifted Franklin's inert hand an..."
Page 8: "His fingers trembling and his reach uncertain, Fra..."
Page 9: "Alongside former images of these people collected ..."
Page 2: "At last turning his head, he scanned the length of..."
Page 3: "There, Franklin watched the individual races of wi..."
Page 4: "Through the snow and ice, uncertain as it seemed, ..."
Page 5: "He stood in the diffuse snow shadow of the bus-sto..."
Page 6: "Speaking in a language other than English, the str..."
Page 7: "The other forcibly lifted Franklin's inert hand an..."
Page 8: "His fingers trembling and his reach uncertain, Fra..."
Page 9: "Alongside former images of these people collected ..."
Chapter 8:
The Machine's Manifesto
Time to go to school… with a pair of matched pistols.
Chapter 12:
Shit
Sometimes the brain gets cross-wired. What happens when everything smells really, really… bad?
Page 1:
"On a Tuesday afternoon at two o'clock, Shad Branso..."
Page 2: "Once more, that foul odor wafted across Shad's nos..."
Page 3: ""Are you on a diet, too?" asked one of the vendors..."
Page 4: "Siskel or Ebert smiled thinly. "Twenty points get..."
Page 5: "Cautiously, the junior tech leaned closer to the s..."
Page 6: "Now he lifted the plate again, and offered it for ..."
Page 7: ""It's not the Parmesan!" Shad thumped his fist ag..."
Page 8: "All three shook their heads. One of the Everly Br..."
Page 9: "Over his shoulder, his nose wrinkled and working t..."
Page 10: "Two miles down the street and accelerating, Shad a..."
Page 11: ""Well, that's what happened. It made me sick. I ..."
Page 12: ""Right. Most anybody could. So maybe you're comi..."
Page 13: "Shad's pulse raced faster. Really, he wondered? ..."
Page 14: ""Really. We're not running a sweatshop, here, Sha..."
Page 15: ""Nope, nobody. Everybody is dead or long gone ove..."
Page 16: "She laughed. "Honestly, Shad, I never heard anybo..."
Page 17: ""Oh, no," he groaned. He suspected the mayo had g..."
Page 18: "Concerned that his entire store of food had someho..."
Page 19: "Tentatively, he turned and removed his arm from hi..."
Page 20: "Disgusted afterward, he popped a pair of sleeping ..."
Page 21: "Catching his meager meal in the back of his throat..."
Page 22: "Eventually, he parked in one lot of one restaurant..."
Page 23: "The next day repeated the day before, and the one ..."
Page 24: "Shad stood uncertainly before his inquisitor, his ..."
Page 25: ""Beg pardon?"
"I smell like shit," added Sh..."
Page 26: ""STOP POIS-ON-ING THESE PEOP-LE," raged Shad, stri..."
Page 27: "The guard raised his hands over his skull to prote..."
Page 28: "Slowly, he rose gain, pushing his spine up against..."
Page 29: "Shad pointed an accusing finger at the clerk's swo..."
Page 30: "As he stooped to slash open the clerk's belly, a p..."
Page 31: "BLAM! The first slug struck Shad squarely in the ..."
Page 32: ""What do you think it is," wondered the first offi..."
Page 2: "Once more, that foul odor wafted across Shad's nos..."
Page 3: ""Are you on a diet, too?" asked one of the vendors..."
Page 4: "Siskel or Ebert smiled thinly. "Twenty points get..."
Page 5: "Cautiously, the junior tech leaned closer to the s..."
Page 6: "Now he lifted the plate again, and offered it for ..."
Page 7: ""It's not the Parmesan!" Shad thumped his fist ag..."
Page 8: "All three shook their heads. One of the Everly Br..."
Page 9: "Over his shoulder, his nose wrinkled and working t..."
Page 10: "Two miles down the street and accelerating, Shad a..."
Page 11: ""Well, that's what happened. It made me sick. I ..."
Page 12: ""Right. Most anybody could. So maybe you're comi..."
Page 13: "Shad's pulse raced faster. Really, he wondered? ..."
Page 14: ""Really. We're not running a sweatshop, here, Sha..."
Page 15: ""Nope, nobody. Everybody is dead or long gone ove..."
Page 16: "She laughed. "Honestly, Shad, I never heard anybo..."
Page 17: ""Oh, no," he groaned. He suspected the mayo had g..."
Page 18: "Concerned that his entire store of food had someho..."
Page 19: "Tentatively, he turned and removed his arm from hi..."
Page 20: "Disgusted afterward, he popped a pair of sleeping ..."
Page 21: "Catching his meager meal in the back of his throat..."
Page 22: "Eventually, he parked in one lot of one restaurant..."
Page 23: "The next day repeated the day before, and the one ..."
Page 24: "Shad stood uncertainly before his inquisitor, his ..."
Page 25: ""Beg pardon?"
"I smell like shit," added Sh..."
Page 26: ""STOP POIS-ON-ING THESE PEOP-LE," raged Shad, stri..."
Page 27: "The guard raised his hands over his skull to prote..."
Page 28: "Slowly, he rose gain, pushing his spine up against..."
Page 29: "Shad pointed an accusing finger at the clerk's swo..."
Page 30: "As he stooped to slash open the clerk's belly, a p..."
Page 31: "BLAM! The first slug struck Shad squarely in the ..."
Page 32: ""What do you think it is," wondered the first offi..."
Chapter 16:
The Wrong Side Of Backwards
Everybody knows how mirrors reflect everything backwards. Right?
Page 1:
""What the hell?" Jake McGee scrutinized himself i..."
Page 2: ""I see it! I see it!" She grew bored of his game..."
Page 3: ""Come on, baby. I would do it for you."
Sh..."
Page 4: ""Nothing beyond my husband, who has too much time ..."
Page 5: "Accordingly, he exited his bathroom and crossed th..."
Page 6: ""And I know," he growled, suddenly angry, "that a ..."
Page 7: "Jake raised and lowered his right hand again. "Ei..."
Page 8: "Stooping to a crouch, careful to avoid the sharp e..."
Page 9: ""Because I asked," returned Jake softly, his tone ..."
Page 10: "Berle grunted. "Mmm, hmm. Why not drop it with S..."
Page 11: "Jake shrugged his shoulders. "I don't know. Can ..."
Page 12: "Along the way, he confronted his own displaced ref..."
Page 13: "Jake stood before the windward side of one of the ..."
Page 14: ""You're taking up the entire space. It's the only..."
Page 15: ""I-," he hesitated, for a moment forgetting all th..."
Page 16: "Jake's heart thrilled for a moment, and he offered..."
Page 17: "Now she turned her head to examine her form and hi..."
Page 18: "She frowned. "It's always backwards. Everybody k..."
Page 19: "How certain was he, that once the mirror had told ..."
Page 20: "Impulsively, he leaned forward in his chair, angri..."
Page 21: ""Your rank?"
"Captain, IOS Contraband Patro..."
Page 22: ""What's wrong, doc?" He tried to sound flippant a..."
Page 23: "Presently, he retrieved a menacing device, and the..."
Page 24: "Apparently terminating the communication link, sui..."
Page 25: "Jake rolled his eyes from suit's face to the monit..."
Page 26: ""And if I asked you whether you preferred art to s..."
Page 27: ""Something happened to you out there, Captain. Yo..."
Page 28: ""The way I remember it, the reflection raised its ..."
Page 29: "Suit grimaced. "Exactly." Now he approached and ..."
Page 30: "His gaze aloof and dispassionate, suit momentarily..."
Page 31: ""I'm still a human being," he bellowed, enraged an..."
Page 2: ""I see it! I see it!" She grew bored of his game..."
Page 3: ""Come on, baby. I would do it for you."
Sh..."
Page 4: ""Nothing beyond my husband, who has too much time ..."
Page 5: "Accordingly, he exited his bathroom and crossed th..."
Page 6: ""And I know," he growled, suddenly angry, "that a ..."
Page 7: "Jake raised and lowered his right hand again. "Ei..."
Page 8: "Stooping to a crouch, careful to avoid the sharp e..."
Page 9: ""Because I asked," returned Jake softly, his tone ..."
Page 10: "Berle grunted. "Mmm, hmm. Why not drop it with S..."
Page 11: "Jake shrugged his shoulders. "I don't know. Can ..."
Page 12: "Along the way, he confronted his own displaced ref..."
Page 13: "Jake stood before the windward side of one of the ..."
Page 14: ""You're taking up the entire space. It's the only..."
Page 15: ""I-," he hesitated, for a moment forgetting all th..."
Page 16: "Jake's heart thrilled for a moment, and he offered..."
Page 17: "Now she turned her head to examine her form and hi..."
Page 18: "She frowned. "It's always backwards. Everybody k..."
Page 19: "How certain was he, that once the mirror had told ..."
Page 20: "Impulsively, he leaned forward in his chair, angri..."
Page 21: ""Your rank?"
"Captain, IOS Contraband Patro..."
Page 22: ""What's wrong, doc?" He tried to sound flippant a..."
Page 23: "Presently, he retrieved a menacing device, and the..."
Page 24: "Apparently terminating the communication link, sui..."
Page 25: "Jake rolled his eyes from suit's face to the monit..."
Page 26: ""And if I asked you whether you preferred art to s..."
Page 27: ""Something happened to you out there, Captain. Yo..."
Page 28: ""The way I remember it, the reflection raised its ..."
Page 29: "Suit grimaced. "Exactly." Now he approached and ..."
Page 30: "His gaze aloof and dispassionate, suit momentarily..."
Page 31: ""I'm still a human being," he bellowed, enraged an..."
Chapter 20:
Zuzus Petals
The smallest things count in large amounts, given sufficient time.
Page 1:
""It's unauthorized contraband, Mr. Varrick," inton..."
Page 2: ""It is, sir." Chas Varrick stood stiffly at atten..."
Page 3: ""My eight year old daughter, sir. It's a nickname..."
Page 4: "Jons shook his head. He sighed, and tossed the ti..."
Page 5: "Varrick said nothing. He struggled to breathe dee..."
Page 6: "A cocky marine stood guard near the portal. He br..."
Page 7: "Many of their faces paled. A sage veteran among t..."
Page 8: ""Still," whispered the junior officer named Roland..."
Page 9: "With nearly blinding speed, the Time Clipper and h..."
Page 10: "On hundred million years earlier and halfway acros..."
Page 11: "Millions of klicks distant, he examined the state ..."
Page 12: ""Yes, sir," responded Zedra enthusiastically.
<..."
Page 13: "Jons cursed. "I want to lay waste to every living..."
Page 14: "Again, the captain cursed. He turned to address C..."
Page 15: "Zuzu burned the planet's continents to molten, glo..."
Page 16: ""Sir," called their early detection officer! "Sir..."
Page 17: "All their stomachs rolled. They knew the enemy co..."
Page 18: "Chas staggered and retched. He vomited the crool ..."
Page 19: "Then somebody glanced out of a porthole. Varrick ..."
Page 20: "Varrick thrust his hand into his pocket. Dolly's ..."
Page 21: ""We wiped them out, too, remember?" Varrick's ton..."
Page 22: ""Can you really live like this? Will you sacrific..."
Page 23: "He remembered his name. Then he remembered his ran..."
Page 24: "Varrick sighed, and thought of the consequences of..."
Page 25: ""Zuzu," he instructed, "take me home to Dolly."
Page 2: ""It is, sir." Chas Varrick stood stiffly at atten..."
Page 3: ""My eight year old daughter, sir. It's a nickname..."
Page 4: "Jons shook his head. He sighed, and tossed the ti..."
Page 5: "Varrick said nothing. He struggled to breathe dee..."
Page 6: "A cocky marine stood guard near the portal. He br..."
Page 7: "Many of their faces paled. A sage veteran among t..."
Page 8: ""Still," whispered the junior officer named Roland..."
Page 9: "With nearly blinding speed, the Time Clipper and h..."
Page 10: "On hundred million years earlier and halfway acros..."
Page 11: "Millions of klicks distant, he examined the state ..."
Page 12: ""Yes, sir," responded Zedra enthusiastically.
<..."
Page 13: "Jons cursed. "I want to lay waste to every living..."
Page 14: "Again, the captain cursed. He turned to address C..."
Page 15: "Zuzu burned the planet's continents to molten, glo..."
Page 16: ""Sir," called their early detection officer! "Sir..."
Page 17: "All their stomachs rolled. They knew the enemy co..."
Page 18: "Chas staggered and retched. He vomited the crool ..."
Page 19: "Then somebody glanced out of a porthole. Varrick ..."
Page 20: "Varrick thrust his hand into his pocket. Dolly's ..."
Page 21: ""We wiped them out, too, remember?" Varrick's ton..."
Page 22: ""Can you really live like this? Will you sacrific..."
Page 23: "He remembered his name. Then he remembered his ran..."
Page 24: "Varrick sighed, and thought of the consequences of..."
Page 25: ""Zuzu," he instructed, "take me home to Dolly."
Chapter 24:
We Are For Texas
Oh, he's a bad, bad man. Now he has a mind to go to Texas.
Page 1:
"Read this, my confession, and know me, the beast. ..."
Page 2: "Of course, my father immediately replaced the old ..."
Page 3: "Left alone briefly by our mentors, I murdered one ..."
Page 4: "After he 'left' the campus, the school hired anoth..."
Page 5: "Shall I describe to you all the things I did to th..."
Page 6: "We landed on the docks, and I had my men hand me u..."
Page 7: "This, I knew, would bother that thing, of all the ..."
Page 8: ""Sir, we must go."
"Why? I want to stay," ..."
Page 9: "That enraged me to the point that I fully recovere..."
Page 10: "Later, I whipped the crew individually for their t..."
Page 11: "Taking the scrap from his hand, I kicked him savag..."
Page 12: ""Such as?" I breathed the hot, moist sea breeze as..."
Page 13: ""Thank you, sir," he replied, his face twitching o..."
Page 2: "Of course, my father immediately replaced the old ..."
Page 3: "Left alone briefly by our mentors, I murdered one ..."
Page 4: "After he 'left' the campus, the school hired anoth..."
Page 5: "Shall I describe to you all the things I did to th..."
Page 6: "We landed on the docks, and I had my men hand me u..."
Page 7: "This, I knew, would bother that thing, of all the ..."
Page 8: ""Sir, we must go."
"Why? I want to stay," ..."
Page 9: "That enraged me to the point that I fully recovere..."
Page 10: "Later, I whipped the crew individually for their t..."
Page 11: "Taking the scrap from his hand, I kicked him savag..."
Page 12: ""Such as?" I breathed the hot, moist sea breeze as..."
Page 13: ""Thank you, sir," he replied, his face twitching o..."
Chapter 28:
Ravenous Is the Void
Ever the calm, cool professional, he feels nothing. He is nothing.
Page 1:
"Breathing softly in the darkness, alone, I am a cy..."
Page 2: "When the sun shines more completely into the room,..."
Page 3: "I walk through rooms drawn from catalogs. I admir..."
Page 4: "Nevertheless, I know a studious review of their co..."
Page 5: "Slow and ponderous, we roll the drive around the s..."
Page 6: "I climb the stairs without a backward glance and t..."
Page 7: "I float in a gelatinous soup of my fellows, all bo..."
Page 8: "At the foot of the stairway, three grim men await ..."
Page 9: "The second hound reports on capacities and statist..."
Page 10: "Once, I saw a crazed jackal chew off its own foot...."
Page 11: "After a harrowing ascent, we fly at treetop level,..."
Page 12: "Beyond the flimsy windshields of the helicopter's ..."
Page 13: "After number one details the layout of the problem..."
Page 14: "I ask when. Mr. Handshake says now.
The he..."
Page 15: "They will never fly. The sweets are a cruelty wit..."
Page 16: "Mr. Handshake gushes liquid and obscene. He speak..."
Page 17: "I leave them at the foot of the jet's gangway. Wh..."
Page 18: "I hear the jet's gear rise. The starboard wing di..."
Page 19: "Then, as if called on cue, the virginal night erup..."
Page 20: "I muster a vast cadre with Shaka Zulu and together..."
Page 2: "When the sun shines more completely into the room,..."
Page 3: "I walk through rooms drawn from catalogs. I admir..."
Page 4: "Nevertheless, I know a studious review of their co..."
Page 5: "Slow and ponderous, we roll the drive around the s..."
Page 6: "I climb the stairs without a backward glance and t..."
Page 7: "I float in a gelatinous soup of my fellows, all bo..."
Page 8: "At the foot of the stairway, three grim men await ..."
Page 9: "The second hound reports on capacities and statist..."
Page 10: "Once, I saw a crazed jackal chew off its own foot...."
Page 11: "After a harrowing ascent, we fly at treetop level,..."
Page 12: "Beyond the flimsy windshields of the helicopter's ..."
Page 13: "After number one details the layout of the problem..."
Page 14: "I ask when. Mr. Handshake says now.
The he..."
Page 15: "They will never fly. The sweets are a cruelty wit..."
Page 16: "Mr. Handshake gushes liquid and obscene. He speak..."
Page 17: "I leave them at the foot of the jet's gangway. Wh..."
Page 18: "I hear the jet's gear rise. The starboard wing di..."
Page 19: "Then, as if called on cue, the virginal night erup..."
Page 20: "I muster a vast cadre with Shaka Zulu and together..."
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