A Crying Shame (155 page)

He pointed at himself, then whacked himself on the chest. A blow that would have felled an ordinary man.
Fru-die,” he said, then pointed at her.

She laughed, despite her soreness and embarrassment at her half-clothed body; she had to laugh. And the great beast giggled childlike. Her laughter was perhaps from relief, fatigue, or perhaps from realizing she owed this great ugly beast her life.
Jean,” she told him.

He pointed at her.
Jun,” he said.

Yeah. Right. That's close enough, Freddie. Jun, it is.”

Jun,” he repeated, then pointed toward the distant lights. He gestured for her to go.

Aren't you coming with me?”

He looked at her.

She put her small hand in his and gently squeezed. She felt the huge powerful fingers close softly and return the gentle gesture of friendship. She had found a companion in a place that up to now had offered only pain and brute rape. She tugged at him.
Come on, Freddie.”

He smiled that awful smile and looked down at the teen-ager. He grunted and walked down the path, toward the lights, his paw resting lightly on her hand.

 

The sheriff's office was a human sea of confusion and noise. They were receiving more calls than they could possibly handle. More were placed on hold. Sheriff Saucier had called in all the reserve people he felt could cope with the situation.

Looks like Jenny Lou Tipton was one of them. Pulled off all her clothes and ran into . . .”

Mack Atkins is dead. Glenn found him on the ground outside the Parley home. Jack Parley was inside. Dead and been eaten on. Looks like Betsy did it. She . . .”

Old man Broussard's adopted boy just tried to kill Deputy Harrison. Leaped on him, snarling like a dog. Harrison shot him in the head. They . . .”

There's a bunch of reporters gathering on the north edge of the swamp. They've been tryin' to rent boats. Get someone to take them into the swamp.”

Good,” Mike said.
Maybe the bastards won't come out.”