A Crying Shame Read online

  Nonsense?” He chuckled. Really? I rather enjoyed it. Besides, I should have thought you’d have forgotten all about that little . . . tete-a-tete ...”

  Her eyes widened at his use of that particular term to describe their only hours together sexually.

  ... at Berwick-upon-Tweed,” he finished.

  Forget? Hardly, love. If you’ll recall, I had difficulty walking the next day.”

  Regrets?”

  Not a one, Jon.” She patted his muscular arm. But as we’ve both said before: it was fun, but we’re no good for each other. One of us would have to dominate, and that would spoil it.”

  They both paused, standing just outside the circle of illumination, in the small pocket of darkness created by the man-made light. They looked at one another, each remembering that afternoon and night in the northernmost of English towns. It was before Debbie had become Doctor Lewis’ traveling companion, and it had been quite steamy for almost twenty-four hours. The two of them had sampled and tasted sex in every imaginable position, until finally all thoughts of love-making had left them and they were engaged in pure animal fucking.

  Jon had later introduced her to Walter, and the rest was history.

  I did enjoy it, Jon.” She smiled up at him.

  As did I. Aren’t memories delicious things?”

  Quite.” She studied him more closely. Ah . . . who is she, Jon?”

  His reply was a lifting of his heavy shoulders.

  She winked at him. The mighty Jon Badon . . . could it be . . . ? No! But wait . . . have you been smitten, darling? ’Fess up, now.”

  Don’t be absurd!”

  When I see her, I’ll know; I promise you that.”

  Do carry on, Debra, before your babblings reach the point of asininity.”

  She laughed and stepped back into the full, harsh light, walking to the old servants’ quarters. She was softly singing, Once I had a secret love. . . .”

  Jon could only smile.

  From a window, Linda watched the pair, knowing with a woman’s intuition they had once been lovers. It was the way they walked and talked and lightly touched. But she sensed that the woman presented no danger to her now . . . for they were friends only.

  Linda smiled and shook her head at her thoughts on first seeing the woman, when she had felt her a threat. After all, there had been no promises made between Jon and herself. No whispered words of love everlasting—only passion. But she felt he did care for her. No, more than that; she knew he cared for her. But the next move was up to him . . . had to be. For she sensed he was a man who would balk at any pushing.

  She turned away from the window.

  Did you see that big dude?” Tammy was at her side, peering intently out the window. Big as a Mack truck.”

  Linda laughed openly at her. Come on, let’s see about dinner.”

  Von Pappen was sputtering and spouting German in such a rush of words Jon was hard-pressed to keep up. He finally waved Karl silent. Calm down,” he urged him.

  Jon . . . we must have one or two of these alive!” Karl said, speaking as though he were addressing troops on a parade field. On a windy day. For study. Sofort!”

  Right away is a bit soon, Karl. But I promise you, before I destroy them, I’ll take a couple alive.”

  Both scientists paled at that. Debbie gasped, one hand flying to her mouth. Von Pappen roared, Destroy them! The hell you will.” He sputtered and flapped his mouth and waved his arms. Was ist diese mit—?”

  Jon literally shouted him down before Karl could get wound up and raging. I have been paid to destroy them. Now before you all fall over from apoplexy, let me tell you the entire story.”

  You will not destroy them!” Karl roared.

  Tell us while we work,” Doctor Lewis suggested. Maybe then this Kraut will be silent. And help us unload what equipment we brought. Debbie, do be a dear and ring up for the rest of our supplies; have them air-freighted in by jet, please.” She left the small quarters, walking to the house. Walter said, Let’s get this beast up on that table.” He pointed. Open him up. I want to see the brain. Photos all the way, Karl.”

  Smelly bugger,” Jon bitched.

  Oh, don’t be so priggish, Jon,” Lewis said. It isn’t like you. You’ve changed, old man. Do I detect a woman’s touch in your changing?”

  Grab his fucking feet, Karl,” Jon said, moving to the freezer. Let’s get this ugly bastard up on the table.”

  Karl smiled. The beast or Walter?” he asked innocently.

  They had worked for several hours, before Linda called from the house, telling them if they did not stop, take a bath, and come have dinner, she would throw it all way. Something in her voice told each man she meant it. They reluctantly left the Links, showered, and sat down to eat, Tammy and Linda wondering how they could possibly eat after having looked at the insides of one of those creatures.

  I never met a real German before.” Tammy gushed all over Karl, body English telling it all, speaking volumes of sexuality. Tammy had shifted affections. She was in heat again.

  Karl rolled his eyes and said sarcastically, Nehmen sie Reiseschecken?”

  Oohhh,” Tammy said, glancing at Jon. What’d he say—what’d he say?”

  He asked you, dear, if you accepted traveler’s checks. Something quite lovely and highly complimentary, Tammy. But I’m afraid it loses something in translation.”

  Karl looked at him as if Jon were a fool.

  They were in the den, after dinner, enjoying a brandy.

  Oohh!” Tammy said.

  Jon hid a smile, thinking, you’re going to be saying more than Oohh” when that Kraut puts the meat to you, honey. He glanced at Karl. So you see, I hope, why they have to be destroyed.”

  No.” The doctor slammed one big fist into an open palm. I most certainly do not see it. At all. There must be some way of determining those who are mad from those who are merely attempting to survive—as they obviously have been doing for thousands of years. If that cannot be, then the area should be cordoned off and made into a . . . a national study park, or whatever you primitive people call it over here in the wilderness.”

  Walter chuckled, as did Linda. Debbie looked bored. Tammy crossed her legs.

  When the news of these Links breaks, Karl,” Jon told him, I’m afraid the people of this area won’t look at it—them, the Links—quite as scientifically as you. And the news will break, I assure you. Probably quite soon. Which is why I have to start moving . . . quickly.” He shrugged. I may be out of time as it is.”

  I agree with you, Jon.” Karl smiled hugely. You’re out of time. So we should immediately form plans other than attempting to destroy them.”

  Doctor Lewis tapped a pencil on the coffee table. Wait now, both of you. I would like to read those journals. I . . . think there is much more to this than meets the eyes at first glance. A quick examination of the Links’s brain revealed . . . well . . . that more study is needed.” He lamely let that die.

  Why, Jon, for example, did Paul Breaux want these . . . Links, we’ll call them . . . destroyed? He spent . . . how long? Two to three years studying them? At least that long. So why destroy them? What did he find that alarmed him so? Interesting questions, what? Then, too, obviously the man knew of the danger they represented to the people of this area, but he remained silent as to their existence. Why?” He looked at Linda. Do you have any ideas, Miss Breaux?”

  She shook her head. No. None at all.”

  Ummm,” Doctor Lewis said.

  I have the photocopy Paul sent me,” Jon said. In my room. I’ll get it; read it at your leisure.”

  Linda felt eyes on her and, turning her head, gazed into the cold blue eyes of the German. I . . . why do I get the feeling I’m being viewed like a bug under a microscope? What’s going on around here?”

  Von Pappen shrugged noncommittally. His eyes touched Walter’s, holding for a brief second.

  Jon picked up on the unspoken messages between the scientists. Level with her, gentlemen,” he
said, speaking softly but with a touch of menace in his voice.

  Don’t growl so, Jon,” Doctor Lewis said. Very well, Miss Breaux. You’re an adult. Obviously healthy. Seemingly normal—”

  Seemingly normal!” Linda blurted the words. Then the impact of what was being implied struck her. She paled, the blood rushing from her face. She jumped to her feet. Oh, now, you wait just a minute!”

  It’s only a theory, Miss Breaux.” Karl attempted to soothe her. And an untested one, at that. Yes, Walter discussed it briefly with me. Perhaps it has some merit. With your permission, I would like to run some tests on you.”

  You think—” she said, her eyes wide. She placed a hand on the edge of a table. I mean . . . you believe Paul . . . my family. I don’t . . .” Her words came out in a meaningless jumble. She took a deep breath. You think I’m related to those ... beasts?”

  I certainly think it’s worth investigating,” Walter Lewis said calmly.

  Linda fainted.

  Chapter Nine

  The next hour at Despair Plantation was spent reviving Linda and attempting to calm her, something which proved no mean feat to accomplish. Her voice echoed in and around every corner of the huge house. So did the sounds of various breakable objects crashing as they struck the wall. Linda finally allowed Karl to give her a sedative; Jon to put her to bed. She was sleeping in ten minutes.

  For a woman of such obvious breeding and charm,” Walter said, as Jon reentered the den, the lady certainly possesses quite an extensive vocabulary of four-letter words.”

  All of them directed at you, too,” Von Pappen gloated. And none at me. Obviously she recognizes the class distinction separating us.”

  Von Pappen lit a cigarette and leaned back in his chair, chuckling.

  Lewis looked at him. Insufferable bloody ass!”

  Are they going to fight?” Tammy questioned.

  Heavens no, my dear,” Walter said. If we didn’t insult one another several times each hour . . . only then could you anticipate any display of martial arts. And I, with my vast knowledge of judo—learned, I must add, in the British Royal Marines—would then proceed to give that great hulking oaf the thrashing he so richly deserves.”

  Tammy peered at him. You talk funny; you know that?”

  He also lies,” Karl said. Never on his best day could that wimp physically beat me.”

  Walter ignored his colleague’s remark. I take issue to your statement, young lady. I do not talk funny. I speak English very well.”

  Well . . . so do I,” Tammy said.

  Walter smiled, then gently contradicted her. No, dear, you speak Southern American. And that is quite a different language altogether. Almost as mind-boggling as the grunts and snorts of his”—he glanced at Karl—mothertongue.”

  Oh,” Tammy said.

  Hochnasig Esel,” Karl insulted him with a smile.

  I don’t even want to know what that means,” Tammy said.

  It means supercilious ass,” Jon said, glancing at his watch. It was almost four o’clock in the morning. You people get some sleep,” he told them. I’ll stand watch here in the den. Tomorrow . . . or rather, today, we’ll assign watch shifts among us.”

  You are thinking the Links might return this night?” Lewis asked.

  The mercenary smiled. They’ve been prowling around the edges of the estate for hours. You just didn’t know what to listen for.”

  Don’t gloat so, Jon,” the Englishman said. It isn’t becoming at all.”

  Gloat all you wish, Jon,” the German said. Pudding-Pie there”—he jerked a massive, hamlike hand at Walter—owes you his life twenty times over. You’ve earned the right to boast.”

  Walter sighed. Debbie laughed and took him by the hand. Come along, dear.” She led him from the room, but not swiftly enough to prevent Walter from getting in a final shot at his colleague.

  Did you know, Miss Gray, that Karl’s real name is Hans Poopen?”

  Lugner!” Karl shouted, calling him a liar.

  Is your name really Poopen?” Tammy asked.

  Karl sighed.

  Dawn rose hot and bubbly over Fountain Parish. By nine o’clock, any person, who had spent much time outside, felt as if he had been slapped in the face with a hot, steaming towel. Several times. By eleven o’clock, the temperature was one hundred and the humidity only a few percentage points less.

  As Colonel Jeansonne’s hand-picked troopers were racing to get into position in the surrounding parishes, and the Special Forces unit was gearing up in their armory, events were occurring in Fountain Parish and Baton Rouge that would drastically spin the hands of the clock and alter forever, in many cases, the lives of hundreds of persons.

  In his small country church, Chief Deputy Joe Ratliff was kneeling in very fervent prayer, praying for guidance as to what he should do. He had worked himself into a state of religious frenzy; sweat poured from the man. He rose from his kneeling, his aching knees a sign of his atonement. Joe, in his agitated state of mind, really thought he had been spoken to ... by Him. The big sheriff in the sky.

  I hear You!” Joe shouted, rattling the rafters. I do hear You. Oh, Lord, your wish is my command. Your humble servant will obey.”

  What Joe heard was old Clyde Perkins’ red-bone hound chasing a bitch in heat back in the woods, baying mournfully, but no one could ever convince Joe of that.

  In Laclede, Les Blackwell was fuming, boiling mad. He knew something terrible had happened to Craig, and he felt the sheriff’s department was, as usual, dragging their feet in the investigation. Something . . . strange was going on in the parish. And by God, Blackwell was going to find out what it was. He stormed out of his office.

  In Baton Rouge, Governor Parker felt lousy. His lieutenant governor, Maurice Pennypacker, a total idiot if God ever put one on the face of the earth, was pestering him as to what was going on. Why so much secrecy? What happened to those troopers that went into the swamp?

  Parker tried very hard to avoid his lieutenant governor even on good days. The man absolutely did not possess the common sense to pour piss out of a boot before putting his foot in it.

  Parker checked his blood pressure with the monitor he kept in a desk drawer. Too high. Way too high. And his head hurt like demons were pounding to be released. He took several aspirins and gently rubbed his temples. Didn’t seem to help much. God! he felt lousy. And what was Badon doing about the . . . creatures? Had the mercenary taken him for a ride? Right now, he really didn’t care. He just wanted his head to stop hurting.

  His secretary buzzed. The lieutenant governor to see you, sir,” she said.

  Oh ... fuck!” Parker swore.

  Booger Brady was packing up food and clothing to take with him. Alma was crying, yelling, shouting, asking him what in the hell was the matter? What the hell was he doing? What had she done? He shoved her rudely out of his way and walked out the front door, striding toward his old pickup truck. Right past his son with the funny yellow eyes. Boy was five years old; couldn’t speak a word of English. Just a strange series of grunts.

  And two teen-age girls were bicycling out toward Despair Plantation. Their transistor radios hung on the handlebars, playing rock and roll music—loudly.

  From their hiding places on the dank edges of the swamp, several young Links watched the girls draw closer.

  Closer.

  Where in the hell is Sheriff Saucier?” Blackwell demanded. He stood in the outer office, his hands on his hips. And I want to know what the hell is being done about the disappearance of Craig Gardner?”

  We’re working on the Gardner case,” a deputy told him. And I don’t know where Sheriff Saucier is. Out on patrol, probably.”

  Has the FBI been called in to help? God knows, the Boy Scouts would be an improvement over you people.”

  The deputy held his temper. Not yet, sir. We don’t know what happened to your Mr. Gardner. We have no proof that any violence has occurred. No sign at all. Maybe he’s shacked up somewhere. There is no evidence of any stru
ggle; there are no signs of blood anywhere near the jeep. No ransom note. What would you have us tell the FBI?”

  That’s your business, Deputy.”

  That’s right, Mr. Blackwell. That’s sure right. And we’re doing the best we can on it.”

  I’m sure you are,” Blackwell said snottily. He wheeled about and stalked out of the room, slamming the door.

  The deputy let out a long, slow breath. He thought when he got off this afternoon he’d maybe drive out to the swamp and sit in his car, watching the dark waters. It always made him feel better just being close to the old mysterious swamp. He looked up as the door opened, and, with his strange yellow eyes, watched a man enter.

  I feel kind of . . . I don’t know,” the teen-ager said to her friend. Funny, I guess.”

  How do you mean?” Christy asked.

  Like I’m being looked at, or something. You know?”

  No, not really. But I tell you what. My legs are kind of tired, so let’s take a rest. All that other stuff is probably your imagination.”

  Maybe so.” She did not sound convinced. So where do we rest?”

  Right over there by the fence.” Christy pointed to the edge of the swamp. That big old oak tree on the other side of the fence is really shady. Just kick around for snakes before you sit down, though.” She smiled, showing off for the city girl just moved to the country. And look for funny-looking mounds of earth, too. Sometimes they’re not very big.”

  What are they?”

  Fire ants.”

  Jean had just moved to the country from New Orleans. She had quite a lot to learn about rural life. But her education in other matters would soon take priority . . . very quickly.

  Christy would be a bit more fortunate . . . in a manner of speaking.

  From their hiding places, the Links watched the girls, becoming more aroused, sensing females, new mates. They liked to hear their victims’ screams; for them it only heightened the sex act.