A Crying Shame (156 page)

A bunch of big-game hunters from Texas are flying in. Be here tomorrow. Say they're going in and get a Link or two. They'll show us how to do it.”

Loud-mouthed bastards!”

Will Garett's wife, Helen, just staggered into a National Guard camp. Will's dead; she's been raped. She's being transported to a hospital.”

The phones kept ringing.

Mike rubbed his tired eyes.
Jesus Christ! When is it going to end?”

Telephone, Sheriff. It's Lieutenant Governor Pennypacker.”

Oh, shit!”

 

The beauty and beast made it to the lights before they were challenged.

Hold it right there!” a man's voice called, hard and commanding.

Flashbulbs popped and lit the night; cameras rolled. Uniforned men held back the press.

The sentry looked at the mismatched pair, shook his head, blinked rapidly, swallowed hard.
Jesus Christ!” he said.
Sergeant!” he called to a Special Forces man.
Come over here. I got one of the damned things. Well ... one of us has got the other. Miss, you get away from that ... God! what do you call that ugly-looking bastard? Excuse me, miss.”

I call him Freddie,” Jean calmly replied. She patted the Link on his muscular arm.

Fru-die.” The Link grinned.

The men stepped back at the grimace.

Jun.” The Link pointed at Jean. He whacked himself on the chest.
Fru-die.”