Whack Job by Mike Baron

Author:Mike Baron [Baron, Mike]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction, Horror
ISBN: 9781484010648
Google: ciaVmwEACAAJ
Amazon: 1481843427
Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform
Published: 2012-12-25T05:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER FORTY-NINE

“Blood Oath”

Monday afternoon.

There was a road, if you could call it that, up the backside of the mountain. You could wrest a 4X4 to within two klicks of the top. The two employees said nothing as they led their chastened guests grimly down the back slope, rocks skittering with every step, to their bashed ancient Toyota Land Cruiser.

“Put on those seatbelts, gentlemen,” Casey said. “It’s a matter of liability. You should understand that, Mr. Winner.”

“I’m very sorry,” the actor said hanging his head.

“There’s a reason we have rules, gentlemen,” Casey said pedantically. Otto braced himself for a lecture but Casey fell into silence.

The road had a forty degree grade in places. Casey proceeded at a dead crawl. Several times Otto feared the old SUV would tip over.

Below the timberline the rutted path gave way to a gravel road that wound through the forest. It took a half hour to work its way back to where the pavement ended, by Otto’s and Winner’s cabin. The parking lot was now more than half full and men were heading toward the lodge trailing rolling suitcases or hefting backpacks. Casey pulled up beneath the log porte-cochere. “Mr. Witherspoon is waiting for you in his office. Arthur, would you show them the way?”

The lumberjack got out and led them into the lobby, which contained a dozen men waiting to check in. They looked distinguished, semi-famous. Otto spotted a popular radio talk show host. The lumberjack hustled the boys through the lobby, walked down the hall and motioned with a ham-like hand to Witherspoon’s open door.

Witherspoon waited primly behind his desk, hands folded before him. He gestured for Otto and Winner to sit in captain’s chairs. The lumberjack quietly but firmly shut the door. Otto felt like a schoolboy called before the principal.

Witherspoon reached into his pocket and put on a pair of pince nez, resembling Uncle Creepy more than ever. “Gentlemen, there’s a reason we have rules. It’s a matter of liability. Did you read the by-laws as I requested?”

“We’re very sorry,” Winner said with genuine contrition.

“Several men have lost their lives attempting to scale those peaks.”

“I understand. It won’t happen again.”

“I hope not, Mr. Winner. It took some persuasion to get certain board members to approve your visit. The last actor we invited to the Grove was Ronald Reagan.”

Otto had been looking at Witherspoon the whole time. “I’m sorry too.”

“Look,” Winner said. “If you’re worried we’ll talk about what we saw up there, don’t.”

Witherspoon shifted his gaze back to Winner. “What did you see?”

“That red sphere buried in the rock. Come on. That’s why you don’t want people going up there. Let’s not pretend it’s not there.”

Witherspoon clasped his hands again and leaned back, weighing his words carefully. “Gentlemen, that sphere is believed to be an Anasazi artifact dating back six thousand years. It wasn’t discovered until after Pawnee Grove was established. We are an institution that puts a high premium on privacy. We choose not to make that artifact known to the

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.