The Woods are Dark by Richard Laymon

Author:Richard Laymon
Language: eng
Format: mobi
ISBN: 9780843957501
Publisher: Leisure Books
Published: 2008-06-09T23:00:00+00:00

Chapter Sixteen

Neala sat under a candle, her back against a wall, and watched Johnny search the cabin.

He checked the walls, first. They were hung with deerskins, probably to keep the winds out. He lifted each pelt, and looked beneath it.

When he finished the walls, he stepped to the fireplace. A black pot hung over the dead coals. He swung it out, took off the lid, and sniffed. Gagging, he jammed the lid into place.

Sherri, asleep on her pile of furs, groaned and rolled onto her side.

“What is it?” Neala whispered to Johnny.

“Spoiled.”

He returned the pot to its hook. He pushed his hand into the ashes beneath it. “Cold,” he said. Brushing off his hand, he stood. He hefted a metal fireplace poker. It looked solid and heavy, to Neala. He swung it a few times as if testing its weight, then put it back. For a few moments, he inspected the sooty billows, a broom, a stool with a wicker seat. Then he turned away.

He wandered the cabin floor, his feet silent on the thick layers of fur that covered it.

“What’re you looking for?” Neala asked.

“Anything we can use.” He shook his head. “The place is bare. Except for that.” He nodded toward the covered pot.

“What do we need?”

“Food and water. A couple of guns would be nice.”

From the corner came Sherri’s voice. “While you’re dreaming, how about a chopper to haul us the fuck outa here?”

“Maybe there’s another room,” Neala suggested.

“I already checked. No other doors.”

“Another shack? Out back, maybe?”

“I’ll take a look.” He went to the door, picked up his rifle, and raised the latch. He pulled the door open.

His body was a black, strong shape against the pale darkness outside. He looked alert and dangerous, peering into the night. Then he glanced back. “See you later,” he said, and Neala heard in his voice the bravery of a frightened boy.

He reached in to pull the door shut.

“Just a second,” Neala said.

He waited while she got to her feet and joined him outside.

Her eyes wandered over the dozens of frail crosses and heads. She saw the path Johnny had battered through them.

“Let’s go around back,” Johnny said.

They walked close to the cabin. At its corner, Neala saw more crosses, more heads. At the rear, still more. But no other buildings. The small, square cabin stood alone.

They completed the circle, and stopped by the door.

“I’ll stay out for a while,” Johnny said. “You go on in, and get some sleep.”

Neala hesitated. Maybe the man wanted time by himself. More likely, though, he was just trying to be nice, offering to stand guard while she slept.

“I want to stay with you,” she said.

“Well…”

“If you want to be alone…”

“No, it’s all right.” He grinned. “You think I want to be alone with all this?” He eyed the field of heads. “What if they start talking to me?”

“Do you think they might?”

“Not if we keep the conversation up.”

“Can we sit down?”

They sat on the ground. Neala crossed her legs, and leaned back against the logs of the cabin.

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