A Crying Shame (50 page)

The two remaining shook their heads. Each saying in unison,
I will not fight.”

The youngest of the leaders stalked away, into the swamp. He did not look back as his ally followed him.

I cannot believe they will help the maddened ones,” a Link said sadly.

They believe they have no choice,” the old one said.
You must remember, there are human blood and human ways within them. They are not like us.”

The man our sentry spoke of, at the great house on the swamp's edge, he will be the one?”

I am sure. The sentry said he could detect no sign of fear within the man. Caution, but not fear.”

There was nothing left to say. The three old Links rose, embraced, and walked away.

And that night, the swamp would cry.

 

That's the ugliest son of a bitch I ever saw in my life,” Governor Parker said. One of his aides, Tammy Gray, had already exhibited her revulsion by racing to the bathroom and throwing up after viewing the dead Link in the funeral-home cooler room. Parker shook his head.
What in the name of all that's holy . . . is it?”

Looks kind of like an artist's conception of that . . . thing that's supposed to live in the Honey Island Swamp,” Colonel Jeansonne observed.

Well, I wish to hell it had stayed down there,” Mike said.
And all its relatives with it.”

Jeansonne, musing, looked at Mike.
You don't suppose . . . ?”

Related?” The governor finished the musing.
God, Colonel!” He shuddered.
Let's take one thing at a time.”