Gary Brandner - The Howling

Again Volkmann took his time in answering. "I have lived here in Drago for ten years. I have lived quietly, and have had ample opportunity to observe the town and its people. During those ten years I have noted a number of strange occurrences. Some of them, Miss Polk, were those that you mentioned. People have died and disappeared in this valley with no reasonable explanation ever given. I must confess that I closed my eyes to a number of… irregularities that I might have questioned had I been a more involved man. But I was wrapped up in my own affairs. It is, of course, possible that there is something fearfully wrong here."

Inez spoke up. "And what do you think, Doctor, of the idea that it is a werewolf?"

Volkmann's expression remained grave. "As a man of science I am not willing to admit to the existence of something so far outside the laws of nature. However, as a man who has seen more than the normal share of inexplicable happenings, I cannot deny the possibility. Yes, Miss Polk, there may be a werewolf."

"Thank God you believe us," Karyn said.

Volkmann held up a cautioning hand. "This does not mean I am ready to join you in an all-out hunt for the alleged werewolf. I still have serious reservations. I will do what I can, though, to assist you in gathering information. You may call on me at any time."

"Thank you, Doctor," said Inez. "I can't tell you how much it means to have someone else on our side."

Dr. Volkmann walked them to the door. "Have you spoken to anyone else about this?" he asked.

"No," Karyn said. "Only you."

"I think it would be wise to keep it that way. At least until we have something more to go on."

"That's the way we felt too," Karyn said.

"Let me know if anything else happens. And one other thing, ladies…"

"Yes?"

"Be careful."

Karyn and Inez assured the doctor they would be most careful, and walked back to where they had left the car.

They got in, went through the ritual of buckling the seat belts and started home. As Inez reached Karyn's road, Karyn put a hand on her arm.

"Wait a minute. Can you drive back up the street the way we came?"

"Why?"

"I want you to take a look at the man standing back there under the theater marquee."

"The one with the hat?"

"Yes."

Inez backed around and drove slowly up the street. "Who is it?" she said as they approached the figure standing in the shadow of the marquee.

"Anton Gadak," Karyn said.

As they rolled past they could see a fresh white bandage covering the left side of Gadak's head.

Inez started to wheel the car around.

"Where are you going?" Karyn said.

"Back to the doctor's house. We should tell him about this."

"Let's wait," Karyn said.

"But why?"

"Who do you suppose applied that bandage?"

Inez braked the car to a stop in front of Karyn's house. She left the engine idling, and the women sat for a minute without speaking.

"I'm going to tell Roy," Karyn said. "I've got to."

"Yes, I suppose you do."

"It isn't going to be easy. He's always so level-headed and practical. I've got to try, though."

"I understand," Inez said.

Karyn smiled and gave the other woman's hand a squeeze. She left Inez waiting in the car and ran across the clearing to the house. She found Roy inside at the table. He was bent over a manuscript, making corrections with a red pencil.

"Roy, can I talk to you?"

"Is it important? I really want to finish these books tonight."

"It's important."

With a sigh Roy laid the pencil aside and shifted the chair around so he was facing her. "All right."

Karyn hesitated. Now that she had Roy's full attention, she felt foolish. She did not know where to start, how to convince him that she was deadly serious. She decided that to plunge right in was as good a way as any.

"Roy, do you know what a werewolf is?"

"Did you say werewolf?"

"Yes."

"A guy who turns into a wolf when the moon is full and runs around growling and eating people. Right?"

"Close."

"So what's the point?"

Karyn drew a deep breath. "I believe there is a werewolf in Drago."

"Oh, uh-huh. And this was important enough to interrupt my work?"

"I'm serious, damn you."

"All right, Karyn, let's hear the rest of it."

"I believe there is a werewolf in Drago. I believe the werewolf killed our dog, killed the two kids who came hiking through here the other day, and killed God knows how many others."

Roy was watching her, his face carefully expressionless.

"I believe the werewolf is Anton Gadak."

"Ah, Jesus, Karyn…"

"Listen to me. Last night I shot that huge wolf out in front of the house. You saw the blood, you found a piece of its ear. Today I saw Anton Gadak in town. He has a fresh bandage covering the left side of his head."

Roy stared incredulously. "And on the basis of that you have decided that Anton Gadak is a… a werewolf?"

"It's not only that, Roy. Through the years there have been lots of strange disappearances and unexplained deaths around Drago. Who would be in a better position to cover up what really happened than Gadak?"

"Wait a minute. What's all this about strange deaths and disappearances? You make this sound like the Bermuda Triangle."

"It's true. Inez Polk has clippings from local newspapers."

"I might have known."

"Roy, don't you hear what I'm telling you? Anton Gadak is a werewolf."

Roy jumped out of the chair and spread his arms. "What the hell do you want me to do? Go into town and drive a stake through his heart?"

"I want you to believe me, that's all."

"Those pills you've been taking…"

"I haven't had a pill in two days."

Roy searched her eyes, as though looking for signs of madness. Finally he said, "All right, Karyn, I'll tell you what we're going to do. We're going to get the hell out of here and go back to Los Angeles. That ought to satisfy you."

"Roy, I didn't mean — "

"You can start packing now. We'll leave tomorrow and move into a motel or something in L.A. until I can make other arrangements." He started out the door.

"Where are you going?"

"Into town to settle our bills. I want to get away as soon as possible."

Karyn stood in the center of the room feeling stunned as Roy slammed out of the house. She had handled it badly, but there was no justification for Roy's sudden anger. She had not expected him to instantly accept the idea, but she had counted on being able to discuss it with him. The thought of running back to Los Angeles now seemed wrong. It left an unpaid debt to Neal Edwards and Pam Sealander. And to nameless others who would follow.

Feeling numb and defeated, Karyn left the house and walked slowly across the small clearing to where Inez waited standing beside the car.

"I guess it didn't go too well," said Inez.

"It went badly," Karyn said.

"He didn't believe you?"

"He wouldn't even listen to me. He thinks I'm hallucinating. Could he be right, Inez? Is it possible there is something wrong with my mind?"

"There's nothing wrong with you, Karyn. If you're crazy, so am I."

"Roy might agree with that too."

"Very possibly. He didn't even look at me when he stormed out of the house. Where was he going, anyway?"

"Into town to pay our bills. We're going back to Los Angeles tomorrow."

"Oh?"

"I feel that I'm running out on you."

"Don't be silly. It might be the best thing for you."

For a moment the two women faced each other, then Inez put her arms around Karyn. They clung together like sisters.

"Take care of yourself," Inez said.

"You too."

A little self-consciously they moved apart. Inez put her hand on the car door handle.

"Well… goodbye," said Inez.