A Crying Shame (121 page)

 

Doug Cooper met Booger at the east edge of the Crying Swamp. Both men were armed. Cooper said,
You can't be serious. You're not going to help those things, Booger.”

They're family, Doug. My family and your family. We owe it to them.”

We owe them nothing. We've got a right to live normal lives. That's what I've been doing and plan to keep right on doing.”

You better get your ass out of my way, Cousin. I mean it.”

Doug raised his shotgun, his eyes meeting Booger's yellow-tinted eyes.

Hold it!” A voice spoke from behind them. Light reflected off the .357 on his hip and off the sheriff's department shoulder patch. The man walked to the now-silent cousins. The three of them stood chatting for a moment.

You really want to do this thing, Doug?” the lawman asked.

Only to the ones who have gone crazy and turned to killing. Lord! You know I wouldn't harm our . . . parents.”

Booger grinned.
You have trouble with the word ‘parent,' Cousin. What's the matter? Are you ashamed of our natural parents?”

I didn't say that!”

No, that's right.” The lawman put his hand on the man's shoulder.
You sure didn't. Booger, you go on home; your wife's in a stew worryin' 'bout you. Go on. I'll talk to Doug. See you around.”

After Booger had faded into the darkness, the men stood silent until his pickup turned over and he was gone. Then Doug said,
He don't know ‘bout our plan for in the mornin'.”

No. I picked only the ones I knew were pure, and would keep their mouths shut.”