A Crying Shame (193 page)

They shook hands and then embraced, as true men are not ashamed or embarrassed to do in any emotional moment. Karl stepped back, and looked more closely at the line of dead.

A moment,” he said. He removed his leather gloves from his back pocket and slipped them on. He walked to the boat and got a small medical bag. He took out a cotton swab and carefully peeled back the lips of a dead Link, taking a sample of drool from behind the lips.

He rose, looking at Jon.
Perhaps you were right all along, Jon.”

What do you mean?”

It appears the madness has spread.” He took another swab and took a sample from a human female. The same drool. He held out the stinking end of the cotton-tipped swab.
Perhaps it is only in this clan. I hope so. But I'll wager they are all infected here.”

That's why they killed themselves?”

We'll never know for sure, but keep that thought in your mind, old friend.”

I shall.” He looked around.
I wonder where the babies are?”

A rock whistled past Karl's head. A small boulder. Had it struck the German, it would have killed him.

Jon spun, the M-10 at combat-ready.

A young Link stood beside a huge old tree. He howled at the men and beat on his chest like an ape. He picked up another rock and hurled it at Jon, the missile barely missing the man.

The Link was gone before Jon could get off a shot.

There can't be more than a half-dozen of the young maddened ones left,” Karl said.
Go, warrior,” he urged.
Satisfy yourself that you are still the man you once were. The Link has offered you a challenge. Take it. Let the beast go out as you would want to go—fighting. I will be here, inspecting the dead.”

Jon grinned and ran to the boat, slipping into his combat harness, buckling and strapping himself in.
Keep the home fires burning, Mother!” he said to Karl.