Mason Dixon - The Wampus of Reeds Spring: A New Templars Novella (Mason Dixon, Monster Hunter Book 2) by Asher Eric

Author:Asher, Eric [Asher, Eric]
Language: eng
Format: azw3, epub
Publisher: Falstaff Books
Published: 2017-07-15T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Ten

We dragged the boat up onto the narrow rocky shore of the creek. Larry trailed a thin rope to tie it off, and we plunged into the woods.

“Lights,” Emma said, putting her phone away and gesturing at the deeper woods. The trees grew sparser, and some sort of artificial light glowed nearby.

“Could be the workers,” I said. I stepped over a thick tree root and glanced at Larry. “Are you sure you don’t want to wait for the squids at the creek?”

He shook his head. “We need to make sure that leak is locked down. There’s enough oil in that creek to make me think it’s still bleeding like a stuck pig.”

“And what are we going to do about it?” Emma asked. “Mason and I sure as hell don’t know anything about pipeline leaks.”

“Reckon that’s why I’m here,” Larry said with a smile. He pushed forward, ducking a tree branch and leading the way into the nearby thicket. “You young folks don’t have no sense when it comes to mechanical things.”

“Tree stand,” Emma said before she punctuated it with two fake coughs.

“Shut up,” I said, holding back a small smile.

“Shit,” Larry said, coming to a dead stop when we cleared the edge of the thicket.

It was easy to see the pipe that had been blown out, or torn out, just beyond the two valves behind the secured steel fence crowned with spirals of barbed wire. At least, that’s what it used to be. Now the gate was torn from its hinges, and a tangled mess of barbed wire led away into the woods.

Emma leaned closer to the carnage. “That’s even more torn up than it was earlier today.” She ran her finger along a strip of mangled metal. “Something with claws did this. Big claws.”

Larry shook his head, and we all started toward the enclosure. The shutoff valve looked old, aged to fine rusted patina. A slow trickle of oil ran from the destroyed pipe, but someone had managed to shut it off.

“Pass me the flashlight,” I said, holding my hand out.

Emma did, and I flipped it on, cursing when the tracks showed plainly on the bare earth near the enclosure, vanishing into the grasses.

“Gally-wampus tracks,” Emma said, crouching down to look at the mixture of oil and blood footprints.

“Someone opened the gate with a key,” I said, pointing to the unlocked chain on the ground. “Then what? Tried to lock themselves inside this cage, only to have something rip the door off?”

“No wampus cat is that strong,” Larry said.

“Noah said there are sasquatches in the area,” Emma said. “Could they?”

That gave Larry pause. He grimaced and leaned closer to the mangled metal. “I don’t know. That’s steel. And it’s been twisted around like it ain’t no tougher than a coat hanger.”

I traced the gally-wampus tracks back into the enclosure. “There’s a pipe wrench in there.” I paused and frowned. “A gigantic pipe wrench.”

Larry didn’t hesitate. “Good. Let’s shut that off the rest of the way. Then the linemen can take their sweet time.

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