Thomas H. Cook by Taken

Author:Taken
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Published: 2011-06-14T19:48:42+00:00

Chapter Three

WISCONSIN STATE HIGHWAY 23, NOVEMBER 6, 1980

It had all happened so fast, and even now, as Jesse sat in the passenger seat, watching the unfamiliar landscape, he could scarcely comprehend the series of events. First Dr. Traub had told him that his deposit was not disintegrating as quickly as he’d hoped. Then he’d introduced a Dr. Patterson from the Brazel Clinic, the place Traub said he had to go in order to have the tumor removed. Patterson had given him only enough time to call home, speak to Charlie and hear the frantic voice of a young boy who missed his father terribly.

Big country, the driver said. He was tall and very thin and wore a wrinkled sweatshirt, which seemed strange for a guy who claimed to be a doctor.

Yeah, Jesse answered dully.

We’ll take care of that thing in your head, the driver assured him. And once that’s done, no more little gray men.

I’m ready, Jesse said wearily.

They drove on in silence for a few moments. Jesse once again went over the last few days, the accident, the lights, the way he’d told Amelia everything, how she’d taken him to Dr. Traub, the whole story of his c

He stopped. Little gray men? He’d never told Dr. Traub anything about gray men.

He turned to the driver. Little gray men? I never said anything to Traub about little gray men.

The man shrugged. Educated guess.

Jesse nodded, steeled himself for what he had to do, and then did it.

The blow came hard and fierce and the man’s head slammed into the side window, his sweatshirt flapping up to reveal the forty-five tucked in his belt.

Jesse grabbed the pistol, wheeled the car around in a wrenching turn and headed back toward Missouri, thinking only of Charlie now, determined to get back to his son, before his son was c taken.

Charlie stood before his class, reciting proudly. That’s one small step for mankind c I mean for man c one giant step for mankind. He looked out over the other children in his class, his eyes on the empty chair where he imagined his father sitting, beaming proudly.

Then the door opened, and he was there. His father.

I can’t believe you came, Charlie said excitedly. He rushed down the aisle and leaped into Jesse’s arms.

We have to go now, his father said, lowering him to the ground, then tugging him swiftly out of the classroom, down the corridor and finally into the car.

Where are we going? Charlie asked.

His father didn’t answer, but only pressed down hard on the accelerator, the car now hurtling down the highway until it reached a place Charlie recognized from pictures in the paper, the place where the accident had happened, and where his father suddenly pulled the car over, slammed on the brakes, and brought the car to a screeching halt.

Dad? Charlie asked. Why are we stopping here?

His father took his hand and quickly urged him out of the car and toward the adjoining field, a wall of wheat undulating weirdly in the distance, his father moving fast now, as if under some invisible lash.

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