The Highway of Death by JS MacEachern

Author:JS MacEachern [MacEachern, JS]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Pilwilla Publishing
Published: 2021-08-18T22:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

Stewart did not seem surprised to see Erica on his doorstep unannounced.

“Why Ms. Couture, it is a pleasure to see you.”

She had thought over what she would say, how she would introduce the topic, ease him into the idea that she had seen something out along route 101, something that defied her understanding of the natural order. Instead what came out was: “I saw it. I fucking saw it. Whatever the hell is out there.”

Stewart didn’t say anything in response. He nodded and grimaced, his teeth - stained a light brown from years of use and clearly not dentures, a detail Erica had somehow missed in her prior meetings with him - showing for a moment between his thin lips.

“What the fuck is it?”

“I wish I could tell you that Ms. Couture, I really do. It is something I have been puzzling over for years. Please, come inside.”

Erica followed him into the gloom of the house. The front door opened into a carpeted living room. The brown carpet was stained a deeper shade in a few areas. The room was otherwise spotless, the single couch holding only a blanket on one end, while a recliner was pushed against the far wall across from the television set on the near wall. A few pictures hung behind the recliner; Erica could tell they were family portraits. All of the shades were draw down in an effort to block the summer light and heat. Stewart motioned for Erica to sit on the couch as he hobbled towards the recliner. He sighed as he lowered himself into the chair.

“Can I get you anything?” Stewart asked. He began to lean forward to get back out of the chair.

“No!” Erica said. She realized her tone was sharp, her voice curt, and she considered apologizing but instead said: “Have you seen it?”

Stewart leaned back into the chair and shook his head slowly. “No, I have not. Years ago, I spent a fair amount of time out on the highway and the surrounding area. There were moments that were… charged, shall I say, but I never saw what is out there.”

“What do you think it is?”

“I can only speculate,” Stewart answered. “But I believe it is directly connected to the Incident and thus something that was on whatever craft appeared in the sky that night. Perhaps some type of Soviet experiment, some sort of biological test or biological weapon, or, though it is unlikely, something from another world.”

“That’s ridiculous…” Erica said. “I… fuck.”

“Yes.” Stewart nodded.

“Who else have you told? Who knows about it?”

“I have not told many. I spoke of it with a friend of mine. I brought it up with a state senator and the Chief of Police in Derryfield. I do not think they believed me. I tried with Pease as well and they were… less than pleased about my inquiries. Besides those,” Stewart continued, “Rebecca Corville, as you know. Nora Wilson. A few of the regulars - at least back in my day - up at the Hilltop.

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