A Crying Shame (113 page)

What'd he say?” Mike asked Jon.

Forget it,” the mercenary urged him, tossing Karl a dark look.

Mike said,
We got troubles, buddy.”

Karl stirred at the term
buddy,” but kept his mouth closed.

Oh?” Jon arched an eyebrow.

Joe just quit me.”

Jon shrugged.
So?”

You don't understand, Jon. Joe is a deeply religious man—a fanatic about it. He left a note on my desk saying he had to spread the word about the devil's beasts being in this parish. You know what that means?”

Oh ... crap!” Jon spat the word.

Something to be thankful for,” Karl muttered.
You didn't say shit.”

Mike ignored him.
Jon ... Joe's got pictures of the dead Links to show around. He'll get people of this parish so worked up ... they'll be shooting at everything that moves, snarls, growls, or looks funny. Or even looks like it might. I pity any hippie-looking person who travels through here at night after Joe gets through working everybody up into a panic.”

And your plan?” Jon inquired.

Plan! Hell, what plan? I thought maybe we could buy a little time, so you could clean out those nasty-looking. . . fuckers! But now? God, man—who knows what's going to happen?”