Coleman, Christopher - They Came With the Snow 01 - They Came With the Snow by Coleman Christopher

Author:Coleman, Christopher [Coleman, Christopher]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Amazon: B06XPL2Q4L
Publisher: Christopher Coleman
Published: 2017-03-22T00:00:00+00:00

THERE ARE FOUR OF US standing on the sidewalk outside of Thai Palace. Alvaro has his forehead against the glass storefront; his hands are cupped around his eyes as he peers inside, fighting the glare, struggling to see through the gap of the curtain to the kitchen and restrooms at the back of the restaurant. Alvaro was the first volunteer to accompany me to this potential danger zone, followed by Terry and Danielle. Stella seemed willing, but Tom decided four should be the number. He made some pretense of strategy, but I think he was opposed to including both women on the mission and was afraid of being called a chauvinist. Tom is a good man. Besides, if it all goes to shit, I suppose we’ll need survivors to carry on the species.

“You catching any movement in there, Alvaro?”

“I can’t see shit, man. It’s too bright out here.”

“What about through the other window, over here?” I point to the front window on the opposite side of the door.

“You got no angle to the back from this window. All you can see is the front counter and that stupid fish tank.”

“All right, we’ll take it real slow then. I don’t expect to find anything, but we’ll take it real slow.”

The restaurant has a classic knob-style door, rustic and opaque, with ornate bordering around the frame, presenting the customers with a certain old-world, oriental charm. I realize now that were the door of the free-swinging push/pull variety that most commercial establishments have, the crabs would have freed themselves long ago.

“I’ll go first,” Danielle offers. “I’ve worked in this shopping center longer than Alvaro; I’ve eaten here a thousand times. And you two don’t know the place at all.”

“What does that have to do with anything?” I retort.

“I know where the restrooms are. That’s what we’re all thinking, right? That the driver was in the restroom at the time.”

I had thought it.

“Oh shit!” Alvaro apparently has not.

“I think that’s the idea.” It’s Terry, and his joke gets a disapproving glare from Danielle, who then closes her eyes and shakes her head sighing.

“Okay, fine,” I say, “you go first, but I’m coming too. The two of us will go in together. This is my idea, so I’m at least going to be one-A through the door. Alvaro and Terry can each take a side of the dining room and follow behind us.”

Danielle gives a whatever shrug, less eager to argue than to get inside.

I turn the knob and pull the door toward me, at once anticipating both nothing and a flood of crabs to pile upon us. But there’s only the musty smell of damp carpeting and grease, and of the rotting bass or carp in the fish tank framing the lobby entrance. Danielle and I pause for a moment before moving forward to let Alvaro and Terry inside. Terry eases the spring loaded door back to the jamb gently, and then we all stand stock still, listening.

“What do they eat?” Alvaro asks, a propos of nothing.

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