by Greg Ballan
* * *
Madame's Restaurant
Monday Morning
Erik awoke early, he showered and changed quickly. He walked to his office and accessed his computer. The database queries he ran from the Smithsonian Historical Archives last night revealed no mention of any type of phenomenon remotely related to what was occurring now in Hopedale, or in the town's history. Erik figured these creatures just didn't magically appear. He felt that they had always been here but were dormant. Something triggered them, but he had no idea what. Again, the answers were up on the mountainside, not down here in the small town of Hopedale.
The detective picked up the lab report and glanced over the chemical breakdown of the blue liquid. Sulfur base with trace elements of salt, copper, and other substances that were unknown. The lab report really didn't tell them much of anything. It only confirmed what they had already surmised. These were two very unique creatures that probably didn't originate on this planet. How they got here, and more importantly, why they were here, were questions that needed to be answered. He realized they were questions that were going to be answered by somebody else. Erik wondered how the government officials were going to hush this up. The widespread panic that could ensue if this information was leaked to the public would be disastrous.
He wouldn't be a major player in the events occurring today, but somehow that no longer bothered him. Jeff and Shanda made him realize he had bigger responsibilities. He stared at the gun holster containing his twin 45 autos hanging inside his closet, and then reached for the Ruger P-89. He tucked the 9mm pistol in its small holster and placed it carefully on the back of his pants, and then let the tail of his jersey cover the weapon. He knew he wouldn't need the weapon. The only danger he'd be facing in the Command-and-Control Van would be the possibility of getting a paper cut. Still, Erik was a creature of habit, and this particular habit had been drilled into him for many years.
* * *
He finished his first cup of coffee when Alissa escorted Nelson and Belechek to his booth.
"Good morning, gentlemen," Erik greeted them as they sat themselves in the spacious booth.
"Good morning, Erik," Nelson replied.
Belechek grunted as he motioned for Alissa to pour him a cup of coffee.
"Belechek is not much of a morning person, as you can tell," Nelson remarked, covering for his associate's lack of grace.
"Who is, really?" Erik drained the last bit of cranberry juice from his glass.
"Did you get a chance to read over the lab reports?" Nelson inquired.
"Yes," Erik answered. "I studied them last night. There really isn't much there to draw conclusions upon. Sulfur-based organic compounds, unrecognizable DNA pattern, with only six pairs of chromosomes: It's almost as if these things are a genetically engineered combination from some nightmare. Without resorting to the little green men from Mars theory, I would say what we have is a non-terran life-form. How it got here, I have no idea. I'd also venture to guess that they've been dormant for a number of years, or else there would have been reports of such things within the history of this town. There isn't, of that much I'm sure." Erik paused, sipping from his coffee cup. "I'm going to assume these things have been dormant for several decades. I've run a database check into the earlier history of this town, back to Native American folklore, and nothing came up to match what we've experienced this past week. I'll keep looking. Maybe there are Indian legends or myths that may be similar. I'll also cross reference and index my search on a wider base, just in case this kind of thing is happening someplace else we don't know about."
"How do you have access to that kind of information so quickly?" Belechek asked.
Erik grinned. "My clients in Boston have access to several data sources. They have been kind enough to give me access to those sources whether I'm in their employ or not."
Nelson laughed as Belechek rolled his eyes upward. "Keep us up to date on whatever turns up. We'll be sending the Reynolds a bill for services rendered, and then the firm will cut you a check. You should have it by the middle of next week," the elder detective said with a note of finality.
"Fair enough." Erik glanced at his watch. "We've got 30 minutes before they go in. We may as well head to the vans and get set up."
Nelson nodded in agreement and the three men departed.
* * *
Monday morning 9:15 a.m.
The normally quiet road outside the Hopedale Park gate buzzed with activity. Three police officers and six men with automatic rifles were studying topographic maps laid out on the hood of a squad car. Erik, Nelson, and Belechek approached the men after a quick consultation inside the Halls mobile base of operations.
"Gentlemen," one soldier began, "I'm Captain Robinson. I'll be leading today's expedition into the target area."
The captain was a wiry man with a thin mustache. He stood just slightly under six feet, but had the typical military demeanor that made him appear to be at least six feet four inches or taller. The captain quickly made introductions to the other party members and began to outline his plan.
"We've highlighted the spots where the targets have been sighted earlier on the map here." The officer gestured toward three red circles on the map. "We'll move through these areas using a three-meter spread. I want the local officers on point with one of my men. They're carrying the heavy firepower, so stick with them, close. We have the benefit of a command-and-control van, synch up our frequencies with them and we'll each pick up a tracking chip, they'll be able to track each man electronically in case the worst occurs." Robinson looked up at Nelson. "Will somebody from your group be coming along?" Everyone glanced over at Erik.
"No, we'll let you gentlemen handle this one," Nelson answered for him.
Robinson nodded. "All right, ten minutes, people. Let's get set up and loaded."
The group dispersed, the reservists huddled in one group, the police in another, and Erik with the Halls investigators. Erik was quick to note that Steve was among the officers heading back up the mountain. He made his way over to his friend.
"Good morning."
"And to you," Steve replied as he finished up his equipment check. "I see you're skipping out on the fun this time around. I really can't say I blame you."
"And what about you?" Erik replied. "You have two kids, a mortgage, car payments. Is this a risk you really want to take?" he asked quietly.
"No, it's not, but I chose to wear this badge, and I have to take everything that comes with it, both good and bad. I don't have to tell you, I know you understand that."
Erik felt a sharp pang of guilt, like he was abandoning his friend. Steve instantly read it on his face.
"Look, you did more than anyone can expect. You're not in the military anymore and you're not a cop. You don't even have to be here now. Erik, you've got more cuts and bruises on your body than any man should have. Let's face it, you're not up for another confrontation with these things. I won't lie to you though. I'd feel a hell of a lot better if you were up there covering my ass. You seem to be able to sniff these things out before they can get close. That would be a real asset," Steve commented.
"Be sensitive to noise, or the lack of it, and the temperature. If it starts to get cold, you know you're getting close," Erik advised his friend.
"How does that happen, how can they make the temperature drop?" Steve asked.
"Your guess is as good as mine, Steve. Just be careful," Erik cautioned.
"Don't worry, I plan to make it home this afternoon," Steve answered in a lighter tone. Both men clasped hands in a firm handshake and walked toward the small command post.
The group had assembled, all the equipment was dispersed, and all radio frequencies checked and calibrated with the Halls control van. Erik watched with mixed emotion as Steve and the others dispersed into the Hopedale Parklands.
Erik studied the nine electronic blips superimposed on the large computerized satellite map of the Hopedale Parklands. Each blip represented one of the
team members. He carefully marked and noted each section of parkland that the team covered, holding his breath as each report came in. He could hear the occasional radio chatter between each man as the group went beyond the marked park trails into the vast, unmarked forest.
"Base to Steve," Erik began utilizing Steve's unique radio frequency.
"Go ahead, Erik. Over," Steve replied.
"How does it look out there?" he questioned his friend.
* * *
Steve paused as he looked up at the forest canopy and heard the endless chatter of birds, squirrels, and insects. "It looks normal. We still have plenty of signs of wildlife, so I'm reasonably confident they're not in the immediate area. We're proceeding due west to the area where we had our last encounter. Over." Steve took one more look around, then paused to stare at the heavily armed man next to him. The M-60 he was carrying with the long feed clip of three-inch shells made the officer feel more confident about being out here than before.
The party continued to move due west, covering an eighteen-meter swatch of woods as they proceeded. Each police officer was paired with a more heavily armed reservist.
"Sir?" the reservist beside Steve began. "What were these things like, really?"
Steve studied his younger escort. He quickly noted that his companion was barely over nineteen years old, twenty-one maybe. His youthful face was unmarked by the lines and creases that affected his own features not too many years ago. Steve nodded and began to describe the creatures as best he could.
"It's a little difficult to say, the one I'm most familiar with is about seven feet tall, completely black, like the ink from a black marker. Its eyes are red, a dark, almost blood-red. I don't think it had any eyelids, because the whole time I was looking at it, it never blinked, not even a single time. But there was something in those eyes – wisdom, hatred, and a hunger that seemed to just burn right through me. It's incredibly strong, stronger than any man. It picked me up with one hand and held me immobile, and I weigh in around 210 pounds. I remember Erik was shooting at it continuously. I shot at it with my forty-four, and it still lived. I'll never forget the icy grip of its claws around my neck. I've never felt anything so blood-curdling in all my life. If we find it, I hope we send them both to Hell.
"My friend fought it, hand to hand, both in here and at the playground. Erik is probably the deadliest fighter I've ever known, and he barely escaped with his life. He could tell you more about them than me. The freakiest thing is, you can't really see them until they're right on top of you; and the cold – it gets so damn cold whenever they're near." Steve shuddered.
"Boo!" a nearby voice shouted, causing Steve and the young reservist to jump a good two feet.
The other men shared a good laugh at their expense as they proceeded toward the foothills of the Hopedale Mountain.
"All right, people, can it. This ain't no picnic. Close it up now, we can't afford to get our asses jumped by these things out here. I want a two-by-two pattern," Robinson barked amidst the laughter.
"Kaulfax," Robinson barked to one of his men.
"Sir!" the soldier responded crisply.
"You and Billy go ahead and do a 150-meter sweep. Keep your radio keyed at all times. If you so much as see a fucking mosquito flying the way it shouldn't, you let out a holler! Am I clear, soldier?"
"Clear, sir," Kaulfax replied.
The group waited until the two soldiers took a lead 150 meters ahead. There was visible tension among the men until Kaulfax radioed the all clear fifteen minutes later. The group proceeded ahead carefully to rendezvous with the scouting party.
The men proceeded this way for another two hours, working their way through the woods and foothills, 150 meters at a time, with Kaulfax and Billy running a search sweep, then providing long-range cover as the rest of the group traversed the distance. It was not the most efficient way to travel, but it was the safest. Robinson knew Kaulfax felt at home in any kind of wilderness area, and Billy had spent two years in the South American jungles doing covert anti-drug operations. They were the two most experienced men, and seemed naturals to scout ahead for anything unusual.
Steve studied the area intently. He recognized a particular tree as the spot where Erik collapsed after his first battle with the creature. He walked over to the tree and could see traces of blood staining the bark.
"We were here," Steve pointed out. "Our first encounter was a half mile or so due west, up the mountain." He gestured up the gradually sloping incline.
Robinson studied the area carefully then motioned Steve to follow him. Both men walked a small distance from the others who were either drinking from their canteens or adjusting various belts and buckles on their gear.
"Can you take us to the spot where you two squared off with these things?" Robinson asked.
"I believe so. It's almost perfectly due west up the mountain. If we continue in a reasonably straight line, we should end up there in a little under thirty minutes or so," Steve answered.
He had to admit, deep down, that he really didn't want to go back up there. The horrors of that encounter were still too fresh in his mind. Robinson informed the command-and-control van of their intentions.
"Command Control, come in," Robinson said into his portable radio.
"Go ahead," Nelson answered.
"We're heading toward the hot spot up here. Do you have a positive fix on us?"
There were several seconds of silence before Nelson answered. "Affirmative, we have you all locked in." Nelson released an audible sigh. "Be damn careful up there, Captain."
"Roger that. Robinson out." He tucked his radio in his belt pouch and walked back toward his men. Steve followed quietly behind.
"Okay, men, here's where it gets interesting. We're a scant half mile from the hot spot, everyone keep your eyes open. Billy, unlock the safety on that M-60. You see anything at all out of the ordinary, a dark shadow, a funny shape, unload at your discretion," Robinson instructed.
Billy nodded, quickly unlatched the safety from the large automatic rifle, and double-checked the bullet feed from the pouch on his back. "All hot, sir." he reported crisply.
Next to Billy, the remaining soldiers were getting themselves ready, going over their weapons one last time. Steve nervously checked the cylinder of his forty-four magnum, which seemed to pale in significance with the other heavy weaponry in his company. He spun the cylinder and quickly assured himself that each chamber had a good round. He flipped the cylinder back into the large pistol frame, placed the weapon back in its holster, and deliberately did not set the thumb break snap. If something happened, he would need every precious second. Steve glanced down at his left hip, assuring himself that the four Bianchi speed loaders were still on his equipment belt. He was as ready as he would ever be.
"Let's get to it," Robinson bellowed, causing the reservists to quickly fall in.
Steve watched apprehensively as Kaulfax and Billy melted into the woods for their next 150-meter scouting trip. Steve marveled at how the two men were able to move through the dense forest with barely a sound.
* * *
Phil Kaulfax stepped carefully around some briar patches, his eyes peeled for any unusual motion or phenomenon. He quickly glanced over at Billy, and gestured for him to proceed forward. Billy cautiously moved himself forward another twenty-five meters, scanning for any unusual disturbances. He found nothing. Billy motioned for Kaulfax to move forward to cover the next section. He would then follow to that point, which would finish the next twenty-five meters. He saw Kaulfax, moving like a forest ghost, making his way up and beyond his point. After they had completed 150 meters, they would radio back to Robinson, and the rest of the group would proceed forward while the two front men provided cover.
Kaulfax reached his position and suddenly froze. Billy watched, stunned, as a patch of darkness, darker than the deepest night, descended upon his partner from the trees above. The patch of darkness was nearly impenetrable and all consuming, covering everything as it
fell from the treetops. Billy shouted out a warning as the spreading patch of inky-black darkness was swallowing up his partner.
Kaulfax raised his automatic rifle into the blackness and fired off several rounds. Billy screamed as he ran toward his partner, that was when he saw the giant feline head reach down from behind the cloud of darkness, and with a quick snap of its jaws, remove Kaulfax's rifle and both arms from his body. Kaulfax's shriek of pain and terror rang through the forest, which had suddenly become deathly silent. Billy took aim with his M-60 and unleashed an armor-piercing hailstorm upon the monstrosity inside the black. The M-60's muzzle spit fire and bullets, tearing into the creature, causing it to roar with distress and disappear back into the darkness. Billy continued firing into the inky blackness as he closed on Kaulfax's position.
When Billy arrived seconds later, the blackness was gone, along with his friend's weapon and upper limbs. Kaulfax's body was hemorrhaging blood, and he was already in shock. Billy screamed for assistance as he tried in vain to stop his friend from bleeding to death.
"Hang on, man, hang on," Billy whispered to his partner.
"Not like this," Kaulfax whimpered. "I don't want to go out like this."
* * *
The sound of heavy arms fire caused Robinson and the rest of his group to move forward quickly. He saw one of the soldiers firing his weapon into the forest, but he was too far away to make out the target. All he could see was the fiery muzzle flash from the M-60 as it sprayed hundreds of bullets into the forest. It took the group 30 seconds to traverse the fifty yards. No one was prepared for the sight. Billy was sitting on the forest floor, covered in blood, holding the now dead body of Kaulfax, rocking the corpse back and forth.