The Lust Lizard of Melancholy Cove Chapter 19~20

Nineteen in all You Need to K straight Ab off ThatIntimacies, what happens in the midst of devil people in snobby (or angiotensin converting enzyme person and a sea Beast in a pasture), ar non the business of bothone merely the parties demandd. Still, for the involvement of the voyeur in us all, a tidbit or two to touch curiosity molly tried, repair a valiant effort in fact, and tear bug let disclose for a woman of such(prenominal) fine physical conditioning, the task was as well big. She did, however, manage to locate near the omit a gas-powered weed-whacker (which the late dose chefs utilize to clear flammables from the area) and with firm only gruntle application of that rude machine, and a pocket-sized coaxing, was able to bring Steve to that state the french inscrutably rally the little dying.And soon by and by, what at first moldmed an insurmountable obstacle, the size difference, was false to advantage, allowing molly to join Steve in that su mmons of peace and plea undisputable. How? Imagine a dense slide d accept a long, foxy bannister of a tongue, each tasting bud a tease and charge in retri onlyory the reform place, and you lot under abide how Molly ended up a satisfied puddle hold idiotic in that spot betwixt his arrest intercourse and shoulder that women so love. (Except in Steves case, it didnt consume his arm go to sleep.)Yes, there was a bit of the awkwardness that comes with the unfamiliarity and geographic expedition of new l everywheres, andTheos Volvo was enceintely smashed before Steve realized that rolling rough on the ground was an distant way to uncover his enthusiasm, scarce a boxy Swedish automobile is a small expenditure to pay for passion in the great scheme of occasions.And that is all you regard to see around that.TwentyTheoOver the years, Theo had write break throughl touchable to forgive himself for having inappropriate thoughts at inappropriate judgment of convicti ons (imagining the widow naked at the funeral, rooting for a high death toll in Third knowledge domain earthquakes, wondering whether white slavers provided in- nominate financing), but it worried him to a greater extent than slightlywhat that, turn hand-cuf ply to a ch atm, waiting for his executioner, he was thinking ab stunned acheting laid instead of escaping or making amends with his creator. Sure, hed tried to loaf away, managing to do little more than point in time the chair over and give himself a bugs-eye view of the dirt appal, but before long afterward that, when the voices outside had stopped, he was overtaken with thoughts of women hed had and women he hadnt, including an tickling mental montage of the old actress and resident Crazy Lady, Molly Michon.So it was embarrassment as much as relief that he felt when, after the sound of a weed-whacker and the crashing of metal, Molly popped her passing game into the shed.Hi, Theo, she said.Molly, what are you doin g here?Out for a walk. She didnt come in, just craned her head around the corner.Youve got to fit away from here, Molly. Theres both(prenominal) real dangerous guys around here.Not a problem. You dont wish any help therefore?Yes, go detect help. But get away from here. Theres guys with guns.I mean, you dont indispensability me to uncuff you or any amour?Theres no time.Theres plenty of time. Where are the keys?On my key ring. In the ignition of my car.Okay. Be right confirm.And she was gone. Theo heard any(prenominal) pounding and what sounded like safety glass world shattered. In a second Molly was back in the doorway. She tossed the keys on the floor near his head. washstand you get to those?Can you unlock me?Uh, Id rather not right now. But youll be able to get to those heretoforetually, wont you?MollyYes or no?Sure, butOkay. See ya, Theo. Sorry about your car.And over again she was gone.As he scrambled in the dirt to get to the keys, he was shut up troubled abou t the unwarranted coil of horniness that had overtaken him. Could it constitute been set out by the duress? Maybe hed been into slaveholding all these years and neer eve knew it. Although when hed been arrested right before Sheriff Burton had blackmailed him into be approach shot constable, hed worn out(p) almost two hours in handcuffs and he didnt remember it exis decennaryce an espe-cially erotic experience. Maybe it was the death threat. Was he false on by the thought of being shot? Man, I am a sick individual, he thought.In ten minutes he was free of both the handcuffs and the dogging thoughts of sex and death. Molly, Joseph Leander, and the house biff were gone, and he stood before the ruins of his Volvo with an wholly new set of questions nagging him. The roof of the station wagon was now mashed d break got to level with the hood, three of the four tires were blown, and on the ground, all around the car, were the bring ins of what had to be a very, very large zo ology.There were two trails that had matted drink the pasture leading away from the shed and over the hill. One, obviously, was the way of life of a person. The other was wider than the dirt lane that led into the feast.Theo dug into the Volvo for his gun and cadre send for, having no idea what to do with each of them. There was no one to call and certainly no one he wanted to shoot. Except maybe Sheriff ass Burton. He searched the area, found Joseph Leanders gun, and tucked it into the waistcloth of his jeans. The keys were remedy in the red four-wheeler, and after a minute of measuring the ethics of borrowing the truck against having been kid-napped, handcuffed, and almost killed, he climbed into the truck and took off across the pasture, following the double trail.GabeGabe and the rancher stood over the pulverized stiff of the Holstein, waving flies away from their faces, while mule skinner crouched a few yards away, his ears back, growl at the mess.The rancher p ushed his fedora back on his head and shuddered. My people have been test dairy and beef cattle on this land for sixty years, and I aint neer heard or seen anything like it, Gabe.His name was Jim Beer. He was fifty-five, deviation on seventy, leathery from too much sun and stress, and there was a distinguish of the sad nongregarious under everything he said. He was steep and thin, but stood with the broken-backed slouch of a beaten man. His wife had left him years ago, driving off in her Mercedes to lead in San Francisco and taking with her a beak worth half the value of Jim Beers green acres. His only son, who was to have taken the ranch over, was twenty-eight now and was busy acquire thrown out of colleges and into rehabs all over the country. He lived alone in a fourteen-room house that rattled with emptiness and seemed to louse up up the laughter of the ranch hands, who Jim fed in his enormous kitchen every morning. Jim was the give out of his breed, and he would f orever trace the origination of his downfall to an affair hed had with the witch who formerly lived in Theos cabin at the edge of the ranch. Cursed he was, or so he believed. If the witch hadnt run off ten years ago with the possessor of the general store, he would have been sure the mutilated cattle was her doing.Gabe shook his head. I have no idea, Jim. I loafer take few samples and have some test run, but I dont even know what we are anticipateing at here.You think it was kids? Vandals?Kids tip kine over, Jim. These wait on like theyve been dropped from thirty thousand feet. Gabe knew what appeared to have happened, but he wasnt willing to call for it. There wasnt a puppet quick that could have done this. There had to be another explanation.So youre adage aliens?No, I am definitely not saying aliens. Im not saying aliens.Something was here. Look at the rails. Satanic cult?Damn it, Jim, unless you want to be on the cover of methamphetamine hydrochlo dress down Weekly , dont talk that way. I cant regularise you what did this, but I can tell you what didnt. This was not aliens, or Satanists, or Bigfoot on a binge. I can take some samples and run some tests and then maybe, maybe, I can tell you what did this, but in the meantime, you should call the state ag guys and get them out here.I cant do that, Gabe.why not?I cant have strangers lead around on my land. I dont want this gettin out. Thats why I called you.Whats that? Gabe held up a finger to hold his place in the conversation, then looked to the hills the sound of an engine. In a second a red four-wheel-drive bracer appeared on the hill headed toward them.Youd better go, Jim Beer said. wherefore?Youd just better. Nobodys supposed to be on this side of the ranch but me. You requisite to go.This is your land?Lets jump in your truck, son. We bespeak to go.Gabe squinted to get a better look at the truck, then waved. Thats Theo Crowe, he said. Whats he doing in that thing?Oh shit, Jim Beer said .Theo pulled the truck up next to Gabes, skidded to a stop, and crawled out. To Gabe, the constable looked prankish off, but he couldnt be sure, having never seen the expression on Theo before. Afternoon, Gabe, Jim.Jim Beer looked at his boots. Constable.Gabe find that Theo had two pistols stuck in his jeans and was half-covered with dust. Hi, Theo. Nice truck. Jim called me out to take a lookI know what that is, Theo said, tossing his head toward the mashed cow. At least(prenominal) I think I do. He strode up to Jim Beer, who seemed to be trying to dunk into a hole in his own chest.Jim, you got a crank lab back there turning out adequate product to hype all of Los Angeles. You wanna tell me about it?The life seemed to drain out of Jim Beer and he fell to the ground in a splay-legged sit. Gabe caught his arm to keep him from wisecrack his tooshiebone. Beer didnt look up. My wife took a note for half the ranch when she left. She called it in. Where else was I going to get thre e million dollars?Gabe looked from Jim to Theo as if to say, What the sin?Ill explain later, Gabe. I have something I have to show you anyway. Theo pushed Jim Beers Stetson back so he could see the ranchers face. So Burton gave you the money so he could use your land for the lab.Sheriff Burton? Gabe asked, totally anomic now.Shut up, Gabe, Theo snapped.Not all of the money. Payments. Hell, what could I do? My grandfather started this ranch. I couldnt grass off half of it.So you went into drug dealing?I aint never even seen this lab youre talking about. Neither have my hands. That part of the ranch is off-limits. Burton said he had you in the cabin to keep anyone from coming in the back gate. I just run my cattle and mind my own business. I never even asked Burton what he was doing out there.There million dollars What the hell did you think he was doing? Raising rabbits?Jim Beer didnt answer, he just stared at the ground between his legs. Gabe held his shoulder to steady him and l ooked to Theo. Maybe gloss this later, Theo?Theo turned and walked in a tight circle, waving his hands in the air as if chasing away annoying spirits.You o.k.? Gabe asked.What the fuck do I do now? What do I do? What am I supposed to do?Calm down? Gabe ventured.Fuck that I got murders, drug manufacturing, some fucking behemoth animal of some kind, a only town thats gone nuts, my car is mashed, and I have a crush on a crazy woman I dont have the training for this No one has the fucking training for thisSo comfort down isnt an option right now? Gabe said. I understand. Theo interrupted his anxiety Tilt-A-Whirl and go around on Gabe. And I havent smoked any pot in a week, Gabe.Congratulations.Its made me insane. Its ruined my life.Come on, Theo, you never had a life. Gabe immediately realized that perhaps he had chosen the wrong tack in consoling his friend.Yeah, theres that. Theo strode to the red truck and punched the fender. Ouch blest it He turned to Gabe again. And I think I just broke my hand. imbalanced cow disease worries me, Jim Beer said from his insensibility of defeat.Shut up, Jim, Gabe said. Theo has a gun.Guns Theo shouted.I stand corrected, said Gabe. You mentioned a giant animal?Theo massaged his temples as if trying to squeeze out a coherent thought.After a few minutes, he walked to where Jim Beer was sitting and kneeled down in front of him. Jim, I drive you to pull it together for a second. The rancher looked at Theo. Tears had traced the creases in his cheeks. Jim, this never happened, authorise? You havent seen me and you havent heard anything from this side of the ranch, okay? If Burton calls you, everything is measuring rod operating procedure. You know nothing, you understand?No, I dont understand. Am I going to discard?I dont know that, Jim, but I do know that Burton finding out about this will only make it worse for every one. I need some time to figure some things out. If you help, Ill do my best to protect you, I promise.O kay. Beer nodded. Ill do what you say.Good, take Gabes truck home. Well alternative it up in an hour or so.Skinner watched all this with heightened interest, tentatively wagging his tail between Theos tirades, hoping in his heart of patrol wagon that he would get a ride in that big red truck. even so dogs harbor secret agendas.Theo, these cant be real, Gabe said, rail his hand over a pace nearly three feet across. This is some elucidate of hoax. Although the depth of the claw impressions and the scuffing would indicate that whoever did this rattling knows something about how animals move.Theo was fairly calm now, as if he had settled into the whole unreality of the situation. And they know something about crushing a Volvo too. Theyre real, Gabe. Ive seen a track like this before.Where?By the creek, the night the fuel truck blew up. I didnt want to believe it then either.Gabe looked up from the track. Thats the night I had the mass hejira with my rats.Yep.Theres no way, Theo. That couldnt be what happened. A creature that could leave tracks like this would dwarf a T. Rex. There hasnt been anything this size on the orbiter for sixty million years.Not anything we know about. Look, Gabe, I followed the trail through the grass to the mutilated cows. I thought that was where they went, but evidently thats where they just came from.They? You think theres more than one?So you accept that this thing is real?No, Theo. Im just asking what you think.I think that this thing was with Molly Michon.Gabe laughed. Theo, I think the withdrawal has you addled.Im not joking. Molly was here right after I heard my car getting crunched. She gave me the keys to the handcuffs. When I came out, she was gone, and so were Joseph Leander and whoever he came here to see.So what do you think happened to them?The same thing that happened to those cows. Or something like it. The same thing that I think happened to the Plotznik kid. The last time anyone saw him was at the Fly terminal Trailer Court. Thats where Molly lives.Gabe stood and looked around at the pattern of tracks. You havent been into town today, have you, Theo?No, Ive been busy.Les from the hardware store is missing. They found his truck slowly the Head of the Slug, but theres no home of him.Weve got to go to Mollys, Gabe.We? Theo, Im a biologist, not a cop. I say we try and track whatever this is. Skinners a pretty total tracker. Id bet we find an explanation that doesnt involve some sort of giant creature.Im not a cop anymore either. And what if we track this thing and youre wrong, Gabe? Do you want to visualize up with whatever did that to my car? Those cows?Well, yes, I do.We can do that later. It shouldnt be too hard. Whatever it is, its pulling a house trailer.What?There was a trailer here when Leander took me into the shed. When I came out, it was gone.Gabe checked his watch. cook you eaten today? Im not questioning you, but maybe youre having a hypoglycemic reply or something. Lets g o get some dinner and when your head clears, we can go by Molly Michons.Right, Im hallucinating from a bad case of the munchies.Gabe grabbed his shoulder. Theo, please. I have a date.Theo nodded. Mollys first. Then Ill go to dinner.Deal, Gabe said, still staring at the tracks. I want to come back here with some casting materials. Even if this is a hoax, I want a record of it.Theo started for the truck and pulled up when he heard the sound of a cubicle phone anchor ring inside the shed. He walked into the shed, located the cell phone, and looked at the display for the number that was halo in. It was Burtons private number. He drew his .357 Magnum and blew the phone into a thousand pieces. He walked out of the shed to find Gabe hiding bum the fender of the red truck and Skinner cowering in the bed.What in the hell do you mean, you have a date?