Big Dark Hole by Jeffrey Ford

Author:Jeffrey Ford
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Small Beer Press
Published: 2021-05-14T14:50:25+00:00

Not Without Mercy

The snow angled down fiercely out of the west, filling the parking lot and road and fields beyond. Amy stood at the office window and peered into the storm, trying to spot the headlights of Harry’s old truck coming up Sossey Road. She shut off the lamps and signs out by the pumps in order to see better. Her boss, Fareed, had called earlier and told her not to shut down the gas in case someone traveling through the storm might need fuel. “Cash, they’re out of luck,” he’d said. “But a debit card, yes. Travelers in need.” He’d laughed and so had she, but now she was worried. It was a ten-mile drive from the edge of town out to the gas station and it looked to her like there was already eight inches on the ground, no sign of letup. Drifts were forming in the road.

She took out her cell phone and dialed Harry. Three rings later, he answered. “Have you left yet?” she asked. “I was just thinking I could stay here on the cot and you could come out tomorrow morning and get me. It looks really shitty out there.”

“Too late,” said Harry. “I’m here.”

She peered again and now saw the headlights and the silhouette of falling snow they cast. “OK,” she said and hung up.

Harry pulled into the darkened parking lot. Amy put her coat on and locked the garage and office doors. She left the office light on as a gesture to lonely passersby. He stayed in the truck and rolled his window down as she approached.

“How’s Sossey?” she asked.

“Bad. We’ll have to take it slow and hope we don’t get stuck.”

She walked around to the passenger side of the truck, clasping closed the top of her coat with her right hand. The door of the truck squealed miserably and she shook her head. “How old is this rolling pile?”

“Shhh,” he said, patted the dashboard, and then lit the two cigarettes he held between his lips. She got situated in the seat, shut the door, and he handed her one.

“How are the kids?” she asked and took a long drag, closing her eyes like she was praying.

“They’re in bed, asleep. Your old man is listening for them.”

“Good,” she said, and he put the truck in gear and crept out of the parking lot.

Amy tapped the pocket of her coat on the left side. “Oh, I thought I’d left it in the office.”

“What?” He opened the window a slit to flick his ash.

“Fareed’s wife, Susan, brought by that necklace this morning that I paid her to make for Becky. It’s beautiful. Fake diamonds and a real sapphire.”

“Shit, that’s right, her birthday’s next week.”

“She’s gonna be fourteen.”

“Ain’t that a kick in the head,” said Harry, and a deafening roar pounced from above. The truck vibrated and swerved across the road. He did everything he could to keep it from going into the drainage ditch.

“What the—” said Amy, and her words were cut off by the appearance from over the truck roof of something on fire, whistling down against the storm.

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