The Externals: Hints, Allegations & Things Left Undead.
It was just past nightfall in Sanctity, the streets starting to clear as stores closed and people returned to their homes for dinner and the primetime lineup on their favorite television networks.
A lone figure huddled in the shadows in the alleyway between Johnson’s Hardware store and the 99 Cent Supersave. Ragged, dirty clothes and skin and long ( Read more... )
“Do what?”
“Go t’ school an’ pretend you’s just normal kids an’ also do what ya do to stop You Know Who.”
“Voldemort?” Leslie (Lee only to her closest friends, which comprised the people in that alley) asked, feigning confusion.
Sarah shot her an exasperated look but could barely hide a smile. Calvin just looked confused.
The younger of the two boys pushed his way forward between Sarah and Leslie.
“Despite my friends’ nonchalance,” he paused to shoot the two girls an accusing glance. “we really do care about your well-being, Calvin. It looks like you didn’t sustain any serious injuries, am I right?”
Calvin couldn’t help but smile again. Barry was only 11, the second youngest of the four, yet spoke and acted four times his age. “Yeah, just a couple bumps an’ bruises.”
“Good, then we should get down to business. Sarah?”
Sarah composed herself. “Barry’s right. Even though he could have made his point a little less pompously.” Barry shrugged, unfazed by the remark. “Michael, recon to make sure there’re no more goons, two or four-legged, nearby.”
“On it, boss,” Michael gave a jaunty salute and flew up into the air, disappearing over the buildings.
Turning back to Calvin, the sense of carefree youthfulness Sarah had displayed a minute ago was now completely gone, her eyes showing a mixture of strength, wisdom and weariness that belied her 14 years. “I’m hoping to the killer zombie dogs trying to kill you means you got close enough to find out something useful.”
“Yeah, I did. He’s tryin’ t’ get into the Tanhauser shaft, just like ya figured. An’ word is he’s close t’ figurin’ out how.”
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“No, but his guys been workin’ overtime on it. Has the whole area aroun’ the mine guarded. Not that anyone in town’s dumb enough t’ go up there.”
”Who is he using to do the work up there?”
“Don’t know. Didn’t recognize any of ‘em. By the look of ‘em, though, I’d say they was transients, which worked in my favor; I was able t’ look around without callin’ attention t’ myself.”
“Makes sense,” Barry interjected. ”If he’s paying them, he could do it in cash and not have to worry about any sort of paper trail. And if he’s forcing them, there’s no one they can turn to for help, no family or friends. And no one to miss them if they die from exposure.”
“That’s so sad,” Leslie commented, upset at the thought of people, even strangers, dying with no one left behind to mourn them or ask why.
“It’s a fact of life, Lee.” Sometimes, Barry’s tone and expression made it impossible to tell how he felt.
“Doesn’t make it any less sad, does it?”
“Focus, you two,” Sarah said.
Just then, Michael returned. “All clear as far as I can tell,” he reported.
“Good. We should finish this up quickly, anyway, though.” She turned to Calvin. “Before we go, can you shed any light on the whole zombie wolves thing?”
“Yeah, he’s usin’ the local wildlife t’ test the ‘sposure levels in the mine. Only sends his workers in when he has ta, and even then they’s suited up. Bunch of animals’ve died and the bigger predators he brings back and uses t’ guard the place. Guess I wasn’t sneaky as I thought and them two followed me.”
Sarah didn’t need to look at Michael to know he was seething. He was Ute Indian and had been taught from a very young age to respect all of nature’s creatures (he was an avid vegetarian). He usually found the harming of animals more upsetting than that of humans.
“Is there anything else you can tell us?”
“No, sorry. He keeps things on a need-t’-know basis an’ apparently them guys don’t need t’ know much. I can go back up there an’ see what else I can find out.”
“No, I think it’s better if you make yourself scarce for awhi-“ A huge explosion cut Sarah off. It shook the ground and broke several nearby windows. A orange and yellow glow illuminated the night sky east of the alley.
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