Ghouls (64 page)
Authors: Edward Lee
Kurt, Sanders, and Vicky stood off the access road, looking up the hill.
“Believe me, ASA will be very cool about this,” Sanders remarked. “No one will ever know what happened.”
“But what about the two ghala in the pen?” Vicky asked.
“The Army will find a way to safely contain them,” Sanders told her. “I’m sure that’s what they’re working on now. Then they’ll transport them to the proper research facilities, probably the FRL at Fort Gordon, Georgia.”
“And they’ll
snowjob
the press and the police,” Kurt added.
“You can count on that,” Sanders said. “That’s why I called ASA. No loose lips in that bunch.”
At least two dozen county police officers had amassed at the bottom of the hill; they stood stalled and clustered before the armed sentry post. Bard and Lieutenant Choate were trying to bully their way in. They were arguing, unsuccessfully, with a black ASA captain in hard-starched fatigues.
Bard’s face was puckered. “Don’t you understand English! I said there have been
murders
on this property!”
The ASA captain stood feet apart, hands on hips. “I understand English quite well,
Mister
Bard. And as for your obvious inability to control crime—that’s not my problem.”
“This is a potential crime scene in my authorized jurisdiction!” Choate barked. “Maryland law entitles me to enter any potential crime scene in my sector of responsibility!”
The captain’s head stiffened back an inch. His cap visor hid his eyes. “I don’t live in Maryland, thank the Lord. And I don’t give two whorehouse hoots about Maryland law.”
“Goddamn it!” Choate yelled. “I have a right to know what’s happening in my jurisdiction!”
The captain gave a short laugh. “It’s not your jurisdiction any more,” and he jabbed his thumb into his own chest. “It’s mine. And if you try to set one foot past my guards, I’ll arrest you for trespassing on a military outpost. I’ll arrest any of you civilian types who try to compromise my security perimeter.”
“Smart-ass grunt,” Bard said, pointing a finger. “This is my town. You can’t tell
me
what to do in
my town.”
“Sure I can, Slim,” the captain came back. “And if you’re smart you’ll get out of my face before you wind up with a size eleven
bootprint
on your fat ass.”
“Now see here, Captain,” Choate began.
The captain turned his head. “Sergeant of the Guard!”
“Yes, sir!” a shout came back.
“These two civilians are obstructing the efficiency of this security point! Prepare to arrest them on my order!”
“Yes, sir!” A tall, rock-hard staff sergeant stepped away from the sentry post. In his huge hands he held two pairs of subdued
milspec
handcuffs. Two privates with rifles followed him up.
Bard and Choate backed down. Choate disgustedly ordered his men back to their cruisers. Bard turned away, enraged.
“These guys don’t fool around,” Sanders said.
But Kurt was howling laughter. Bard waddled up, absolutely red in the face. “What’s so funny, Morris?”
“Nothing, Chief,” Kurt wheezed. “I just loved the way you told that guy off. You really know how to show them who’s boss around here.”
“Don’t waste your time,” Sanders said to Bard. “When ASA says no, they mean no.”
Bard squinted at him. “Who the hell are you?”
“Oh, I’m sorry, Chief,” Kurt said. “This is Jim Smith, an old Army buddy.”
“You weren’t in the Army,” Bard said.
“I meant old high school buddy.”
Bard glared. “He’s ten years older than you, at least.”
“Actually Chief, this is my long lost Uncle Dick.”
“Uncle Dick my ass,” Bard muttered. He looked at Kurt hard. “You’re acting mighty funny today. I’d swear you know something I don’t.”
“Oh, come on, Chief. What makes you say that?”
“I
dunno
. Just a feeling I got in my gut.”
Must be a big feeling.
“Honest, Chief. I have no idea what’s going on here. How could I?”
“You sure about that?”
“Scout’s honor.”
Bard gave them all his best scowl, then stomped away for his Thunderbird.
“Cool guy,” Sanders commented.
“Don’t mind him,” Vicky said. “He was born sitting on a
thornbush
.”
Sanders took a last look around. He seemed impressed by the ASA operation. “I’ll be heading home now.”
“Why not hang around a few more days?” Kurt said.
“Like to, but I can’t.” He took a fearful glance at his station wagon. “Got a little business to take care of up this way. Then it’s back to Florida.”
Kurt and Sanders shook hands. They shared secret smiles. There was no need for words.
Vicky kissed Sanders on the cheek. “Thanks for bringing him back in one piece,” she said.
“Thank
him
for keeping
me
in one piece.” Sanders grinned at Kurt. “You all take care now. I’ll keep in touch.”
Moments later, Sanders was driving off.
Kurt knew he’d miss Sanders.
Goddamned maniac,
he thought.
Hate to see him go.
Somehow, though, he knew he’d see Sanders again. Someday.
Kurt had his arm around Vicky. He held her tight, leaning against the front of the Ford. Together they watched what was happening on the hill.
He hadn’t told her about the money, but he knew he would have to soon. Little bits at a time he would deposit it into various accounts. Half would remain untouched for Melissa’s education. The other half would be for them, for their future together.
Vicky held her gaze to the hill. “Last night you said that you loved me.”
“I know,” he said.
“I hope you meant it.”
“I did.”
“Don’t pull my cord, Morris. You better never say that unless you mean it.”
“I’ll always mean it. Always.”
He had big plans.
He knew it would take time for her to get over all that had happened. And it would take time for her to love him as completely as he loved her. But he had plenty of time; he’d give her all she needed.
“I love you, too,” she said. She was looking into the field.
He knew it would work. He knew it in his heart. He had a life now, a life with her, and to him that seemed the only thing in the world that mattered.
Big plans,
he thought.
Big plans.
He couldn’t wait to start looking for engagement rings.
««—»»
Spec 4’s and sergeants were loading big aluminum boxes onto the gamma goat. There were two boxes, and they were buckled down to the back by steel cable and lever-
graps
. The goat was then ground-guided back. It turned and drove down the hill, off the road, into the hollow.
Thunder buffeted out of the clouds. An SFC riding shotgun in the goat tossed two can-shaped signal grenades into the field. Red and yellow ribbons of smoke swirled upward as a CH-46 cargo helicopter appeared rising over the ridge. On its side was a crest—black lightning bolts grasped in the claws of an eagle. The giant twin-propped machine circled tightly several times, then touched down in the center of the field.
Doors jerked open. Men in service utilities jumped out. The boxes, and what they contained, were cabled up and hoisted aboard. At the house, the ASA detachment began closing down their point.
Cargo doors slid shut, like traps. The gamma goat drove away. The CH lifted off.
Twenty minutes later, the Army was gone, as if they’d never been there at all.
THE END
— | — | —
EDWARD LEE has had more than 40 books published in the horror and suspense field, including CITY INFERNAL, THE GOLEM, and BLACK TRAIN. His movie, HEADER was released on DVD by Synapse Films, in June, 2009. Recent releases include the stories, “You Are My Everything” and “The
Cyesologniac
,” the
Lovecraftian
novella “Trolley No. 1852,” and the hardcore novel HAUNTER OF THE THRESHOLD. Currently, Lee is working on HEADER 3. Lee lives on Florida’s St. Pete Beach. Visit him online at: