Keene Brian - A Gathering of Crows

“About how you’d expect,” Donny said. “Jean Sullivan’sbeen crying a lot. Her son seems okay, though. Kids adapt quick, you know? Paul has been pretty quiet. I think he’s still in shock. He’s outside, surveying the damage.”

“His dogs?”

Donny shook his head. “They didn’t make it. That was the first place he went. He came back here, after. He didn’t say much, other than that they were dead. I got the impression that whatever happened to them, it wasn’t pretty.”

“No,” Levi said, “I don’t imagine it was.”

“We locked Gus in one of the bedrooms,” Donny continued. “He’s not violent or anything, but obviously, he’s not right in the head. We didn’t want him running off into the woods or anything.”

“I checked on him a little bit ago,” Marsha said.

“He was drawing mazes on a notepad. But at least he was calm.”

“And Mr. Perry?”

“He’s taking a nap downstairs on Esther’s sofa,” Donny said. “I think this experience wore him out.”

Levi nodded. “I think it wore us all out.”

“I want to do what you do,” Randy said, stepping forward. “I mean, the way you took care of those fuckers… I can do that, too, right?”

Levi glanced at Donny and Marsha, and then back to Randy.

“Is it true?” Randy persisted. “Can you teach me to do what you do?”

“No,” Levi lied, thinking back to when he was Randy’s age. “I can’t teach you. I was wrong.”

“But… but all that stuff you said about my aura and shit? I thought I was special.”

“I was mistaken. I was under a lot of stress. The truth is, you’re normal, Randy. You’re not magic. You don’t have the ability. You’re just normal. And trust me, that’s a very good thing to be. Don’t despair over it.”

Randy’s expression turned to confusion and disappointment. Levi hated that he’d lied to the teen, and hated even worse the pain he saw in Randy’s eyes. But that pain was much better than the pain a life like Levi’s would bring him. He glanced at Marsha and Donny again. Both nodded at him in silent understanding.

“You’re sure?” Randy asked. “You’re sure that I’m not like you?”

Levi nodded. “I’ve never been more sure of anything in my life.”

Dee whinnied happily as Levi fastened her harness.

“I’m glad to see you, too, girl. You missed all the fun.”

The horse stomped her foot and snorted.

“Oh, don’t start that. Trust me, you were much better off down by the riverside. You lucked out this time.”

“She’s beautiful.”

Levi turned. Marsha and Donny were crossing

Esther’s yard. Marsha gazed at Dee lovingly.

“Can I pet her?”

“Of course,” Levi said. “I think she’d like that.”

Marsha stroked the horse’s flank, and Dee swished her tail and nodded her head.

“No traffic yet,” Donny said, looking down the street. “But they’ll be coming through soon—folks from other towns, passing through here on their way to work, and long-haul truckers on their way north or south.”

“Yes,” Levi said. “Are the phones or electric working again?”

“The power is still out. So are the land lines. But cell-phone service is back up again. Spotty as ever, but it was like that before they came.”

“Have any of you called the authorities yet?”

“No.” Donny ran a hand across his crew cut. “To be honest, Levi, we’re not sure just who the hell to call. I mean, who do you report something like this to? You got any ideas?”

Levi shrugged. “Start with the local authorities. It doesn’t matter, really. Once word gets out—and it will get out—everyone will descend upon this place. The state police. The National Guard. The FBI. Black Lodge. The cover-up will begin almost immediately. They’ll blame the events here on terrorists or something similar. Perhaps a biological incident. They’ll attempt to buy your silence and complicity. If they can’t do that, then they’ll discredit you.”

Donny raised his eyebrows. “Black Lodge? Those guys really exist?”

Levi shrugged again. “So I’m told. I’m surprised you know of them.”

“I heard some stuff when I was in the army.”

“Well, just be careful. If you’re still inclined to leave, Donny, I’d do it this morning, before word of what’s happened here gets out. I imagine the next few weeks will be very trying for everyone involved.”

Marsha stopped petting Dee and moved to Donny’s side. He put his arm around her and hugged her tight.

“I’m not leaving, Levi. I’ve decided to stick around. The town needs a defender, now that you’re moving on.”

Levi smiled. “That’s excellent, my friend. It sounds to me like you’ve come home for good.”

Donny kissed Marsha’s head. “Yes, as a matter of fact, I think I have.”

Still smiling, Levi climbed up into the wagon and reached out a hand. Donny shook it. His grip was still firm and strong.

“I hope,” he said, “that you can do the same one day, too, Levi. I hope you can go home for good.”

“Thank you, Donny. That would be nice, but I’m afraid I walk a different path, and I must go where it takes me.”

“Take care, Levi.”

“You, too, my friends. Good luck to you both.”

He took Dee’s reins in his hands and flicked them.

She began to trot, and the wagon rolled slowly behind her. The sun cleared the treetops, climbing into the sky. In the distance, Levi heard the sound of motors. He glanced back once as they rounded a corner. Marsha and Donny stood with their arms around each other, watching him leave. Levi raised his hand and waved. They returned the gesture. It occurred to him as he watched the young couple fade from view that maybe Brinkley Springs would live again. Maybe they were the seed that would spark new growth. Maybe the town would get a second chance at life.

His smile faded as he remembered Donny’s final words.

I hope you can go home for good.

“I hope so, too,” Levi whispered. “But I don’t know that I’m ready yet.”

Dee whinnied and tossed her head.

“Come on, girl.” He flicked the reins again. “We’ve still got a long way to travel before we even consider going home.”

BRIAN KEENE is the author of over twenty-five books, including Darkness on the Edge of Town, Urban Gothic, Castaways , Kill Whitey , Dark Hollow , Dead Sea, Ghoul and The Rising . He also writes comic books such as The Last Zombie, Doom Patrol and Dead of Night: Devil Slayer . His work has been translated into German, Spanish, Polish, Italian, French and Taiwanese. Several of his novels and stories have been optioned for film, one of which, The Ties That Bind , premiered on DVD in 2009 as a critically-acclaimed independent short. Keene’s work has been praised in such diverse places as The New York Times , The History Channel, The Howard Stern Show, CNN.com, Publisher’s Weekly, Fangoria Magazine , and Rue Morgue Magazine . Keene lives in Central Pennsylvania. You can communicate with him online at www.BrianKeene.com, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/pages/Brian-Keene/189077221397or on Twitter at www.twitter.com/BrianKeene

Urban Gothic

Jack’s Magic Beans

Clickers II (with J. F. Gonzalez)

Take The Long Way Home

A Gathering of Crows