A Crying Shame (195 page)

Yes, that's why I suggested that time frame.” Karl held out a piece of paper.

Jon took it, looking at it. A map had been drawn, an X marking a location. The printing was neat. HERE, it read. IF IT MUST BE, LET IT BE YOU.

Jon's look was skeptical.
A Link brought this?”

No,” Karl said softly.
Sheriff Saucier did.”

An old male stood on the bank of the small knoll of ground watching Jon and Karl motor up to it. The old guard offered no resistance as Jon beached his boat and climbed onto land. Then he pointed toward the center of the small island and Jon waved him forward with the muzzle of his M-10. The old Link grunted and complied, walking ahead of the humans.

Neither Karl nor Jon was prepared for the sight that greeted them.

My God!” Karl said.

Sheriff Saucier stood by an old female, her paw in his hand.
My mother,” he said.

The sheriff of Fountain Parish was weaponless.

About twenty Links were all that were left. Most of them were young, four or five years old, Jon guessed. They were in various stages of human development. Two were almost pure human. The sight of those was disturbing enough. It was the other sight that churned his guts with unfamiliar emotions.

Three white women, one black woman, all with babies in their arms. Two sets of twins. Human. The others were pure Link. Animals. Beasts.

The women's hair was matted and dirty, and what clothing they wore was made from vines woven into loincloths and bras.

It's amazing!” Karl whispered.

We are waiting for you to kill us,” Mike said.
There is no need to be alarmed. This is not a trap. My people are nonviolent. My mother told me if we are to die, she would like for it to be done by you, for you are a warrior—a hunter—and you would do it quickly, without pain and torture as the others have done.”

You can communicate with them?” Jon asked.

Of course. I'm one of them. So was Joe, although we never discussed it. Lots of descendants around the three-parish area.”

We found a ... clan of Links and humans dead this morning,” Karl said.
It looked as though they had taken part in a mass suicide. If so, why?”

The infection spread to them. Your coming had nothing to do with their decision to die.”

Jon sighed. A question he had to ask.
What if this clan is infected?”

It isn't,” a woman said.
We know all the signs of the infection.”