Shadow Games

by Doug Welch

  Chapter 23

  Back to the Farm

  During the early morning, while still dark, we got in the squad car and headed toward the farm.

  Dan drove and about a half mile from the house, he let us out along the road.

  The full moon provided ample light so we didn't need flashlights.

  We moved as silently as possible through a stand of woods adjoining our neighbor's house. We knew from experience that the neighbor had some noisy dogs, and they would start barking if they heard us or smelled us, so we distanced ourselves from the house and traveled deep through the woods.

  The detour added about a quarter-mile to our trip. We’d planned for that, but what we hadn't planned for was a new, electrified cow fence strung across our path.

  We both knew from painful experience a cow fence delivered a nasty shock.

  I knew one way to defeat the fence was to lift it, or push it down, so that someone could crawl under it, or step over it.

  I preferred crawling because Alex had slipped once, and the wire had caught me on the scrotum, a sensation I didn't want to repeat again, ever.

  I motioned for Alex to look for a good stick, and I removed my t-shirt. She came back with a leafless, dry tree branch that had a fork near its end.

  I wrapped the shirt around the end of the branch to insulate it and caught the wire with the forked end propping the wire on the limb.

  I shoved the end in the dirt, and we had our crawl space.

  I motioned for Alex to go first. She crawled through, and as soon as she was clear, I followed her.

  About half way through, the branch broke, and the wire slapped across my back. I saw flashes in my vision and felt every muscle in my back spasm as I sprawled face down in the dirt.

  I looked up at Alex. She tried hard to not giggle. Invariably, I was the one who always got jolted from the damn things.

  When I recovered sufficiently, I finished crawling through, hugging the dirt, in a rifleman's carry.

  As we advanced across the cow pasture, another obstacle barred our way.

  During the day, cows wandered through the field in search of succulent clumps of fodder to fill their bellies. As they eliminated the results of their ruminations, organic land mines, commonly called cow-pies, were deposited in random profusion.

  In the daylight, you could avoid stepping in the slimy mess, but at night, even with a full moon, slip-ups were inevitable.

  Alex possessed a sixth sense when it came to cow-pies, whereas I seemed to step in all of them. I reached the end of the pasture, dirty, smelly, and thoroughly disgusted.

  Once across the field, we faced another problem, as in how to get out of it.

  Proper cow-fence sneaking procedure was to have a good stick with you, so you could use it on the other side of the fenced field. We'd learned that as kids. Unfortunately, our stick had broken.

  After a few shocks on my part and giggles on Alex's part, we finally found our way out and moved to the farmhouse.

  Until this moment, our trip had felt like a slapstick comedy, but upon approaching the house our mood became somber.

  At the limit of the house's Shadow barrier, several human forms could be observed, hovering as silent sentinels; guarding the approach to the building. I judged they must be Shadows, because they kept their distance from the house.

  We’d formed a plan that now seemed too optimistic. Shadows surrounding our goal hadn’t been a part of it. It was time to think.

  As preteens, we’d developed many clandestine exit and entry points, to and from the house.

  We’d planned to use one of these routes to enter the building, but now the presence of the Shadows had demolished our plans.

  It required some creative thinking. Dan could only distract the cop guarding the house for a limited time.

  We had to find a way in before the officer resumed sweeps of the property.

  I motioned to Alex to join me, and we moved back into the woods, out of the Shadow’s hearing.

  “We can't get in,” she whispered to me.

  “There might be a way,” I whispered back.

  “No. You can't be thinking of...”

  “It's the only route left.”

  “Paris, you almost fell the first time and you were a kid then.”

  “Do you know of any other way?”

  “No. But this is dangerous. If the limb breaks...”

  I shrugged. “It breaks. So what? We need to enter that house.”

  We moved around the house to a large oak tree that hovered over the building. I knew if I was able to gain the roof I could enter the attic through one of the louvered portals. At least, I’d done it as a kid. As an adult? Maybe.

  One of the tree's branches jutted over the house. As a kid, I had been able to skin along it and then jump to the slanting surface. No longer an adolescent, I was seventy pounds heavier.

  I eyed the tall oak tree, and marveled that I’d ever been able to climb it.

  It had grown. It seemed more intimidating.

  I knew the way up and began using remembered branches as handholds and perches.

  After a while, I arrived at the particular limb that extended over the roof.

  This was the tricky part. The appendage grew slimmer as you approached the end. My weight would bend it, but how far?

  There was only one way to find out. I had to try.

  I slithered along the limb, hugging it and crawling along, negotiating leafy obstacles in my path, as I neared the end.

  The limb swayed and drooped. I sweated and strained with the effort. Handholds became smaller and more fragile.

  The ground below seemed further than I’d remembered. It started to look like a bad idea, but once committed, there was no going back.

  The branch groaned under my weight. The house didn't seem to get any closer.

  Still I inched along and prayed that it’d hold. The closer to my goal I advanced, the more the branch dipped. It seemed about to drop below the level of the roof and if I moved out any further, I wouldn’t be able to reach it.

  I considered my few options. If I tried to go back, more than my life was at risk. If I went forward, the chances were slim, but at least they existed.

  I moved carefully, inching my legs forward and under my body. My muscles trembled from the effort to maintain my balance and I slid my feet on the branch.

  It swayed, threatening to topple me to the ground. I only had one more effort in me. I had to make it count.

  I tensed. By now, I had no doubt that some of the Shadows were watching me from the ground in the moonlight, because I’d caused a cascade of leaves and twigs to fall from the tree.

  I straightened my legs, abruptly stood on the branch and using it as a springboard, leaped for the roof.

  I heard the limb break as I lunged toward the house.

  My upper chest and arms slammed on the tiles, and immediately I began to slide off the side.

  If I’d managed to avoid attention before, I felt sure now that everyone had heard the crack of the branch and me crashing against the roof.

  My legs and most of my body dangled over the edge, and a flash of light came from the front of the house. Nearly out of reserves, my strength failing, I swung my leg up to the gutter at the edge of the roof. My foot caught in the trough, and I paused to gather enough energy for one more effort. Using the leg in the gutter as leverage, I swung my other leg up and rolled onto the tiles.

  As I lay there thinking about how close I’d come to dying, I heard voices below and the beam of a flashlight outlined the broken tree branch.

  “Just a limb on the tree breaking, Pike. Nothing to worry about.”

  “I'm going to check the house and grounds anyway, Dan.”

  “Suit yourself. I’m heading back to the station to sign the roster.”

  “Thanks for the coffee, Dan.”

  I lay on the roof recovering, for a long time. The sky began to brighten, and I knew I had to help Alex a
void the Shadows and Officers before daylight.

  I didn't know if Pike was still inside the house, but I had to chance it.

  The shuttered ports which gave access to the attic were difficult to open and I didn't have any tools. Several broken fingernails later, I had one of the entrances open and stepped into the attic.

  I crept slowly down the attic stairs, careful not to step on something that might make noise, and opened the attic door. The house was dark. I made my way downstairs, listening for the sounds of anyone moving.

  The house was silent. It’d grown brighter outside and I didn't have much time.

  I moved to the living room and removed the log lighter from the fireplace, then back to the kitchen where I briefly lit the lighter in front of the kitchen window.

  Through the window, I saw Alex burst from the hide I’d constructed for her.

  I rushed to the door and opened it.

  Several of the Shadows moved from their positions and angled toward her. Alex ran faster than I had ever seen her run before. The Shadows raced, meaning to cut her off. Her legs pumped harder. As she neared the house, one of the men reached for her, and then fell like a stunned bull. The others soon joined him, and they all crawled back beyond the invisible barrier.

  Alex skidded to a halt inside the kitchen door, and collapsed on the floor.

  Kirk had given us our medallions when we left the police station. The keys were still in them. I had counted on the Shadows not being able to touch the lockets to keep them safe. We ran to the basement, opened the wine cellar and huddled in the hidden room behind the cellar’s wall.

  After a while, we could hear the sounds of people moving through the house and the basement. The presence of the wine cellar would be discovered eventually if they continued to search, but I hoped that the room behind it would stay secret, because everything depended upon it.

  We wanted to use the bathrooms. Both of us were thirsty and dirty.

  After a while the house grew quiet and then we heard someone whistling the tune from a popular musical. It was the signal we’d been waiting for.

  We emerged from the basement and greeted Dan in the study.

  “Can we use the bathroom?” I said.

  He grinned. “Sorry about that. I guess you two have had quite a time, judging from your appearance. Paris, you smell like a cow.”

  “Don't ask.”

  “Go ahead. I've got the duty on the house. I don't think anyone will interfere.” Dan said.

  We gratefully left and rushed for the bathrooms.

  After a while, we returned to the study, clean and freshly dressed.

  “What about the dirty clothes?” I said and displayed the bundle I carried.

  “Put them in a plastic bag. I'll take it with me when I leave. We need to conceal your presence in the house as much as possible.”

  “The Shadows know. They saw us enter,” Alex said.

  “That's too bad. – But they can't force the judge to revoke your bail without cause. That would make too many people suspicious. Hopefully, they'll be content just to bottle you up in the house. They may also think you've escaped. The Chief’s being controlled by them. He's been letting the Normals search the house. It's illegal, but apparently, they couldn't find you. – Want to tell me why?”

  I hesitated. I looked at Alex. She nodded. “We were hiding in the wine cellar.”

  “Wine cellar? There's a wine cellar in the house?”

  “Yes, it’s well concealed and locked.”

  “Care to show me?”

  I didn't reply immediately.

  “Paris, I can understand that you don't trust anyone now. I suppose I'd feel the same. Your mother was like a sister to me even though we were only cousins. When all this shit started happening, she asked me to come to Kentucky. That was two years ago. I've been watching over the farm and all of you, ever since. The Shadows don't know I'm like you. They just think I'm a clueless cop. They won't suspect that I'm helping you. You need someone to trust. – Trust me.”

  I considered it. How could I trust him, when I couldn't trust myself? I’d failed to protect everyone I loved. I hadn't been there for Mom and Dad. I'd led Alex into danger and I'd lost the only other people we cared about. Accustomed to controlling my life, I felt helpless.

  “Listen, I know something about what your father invented,” Dan said. “I know he keyed the shield surrounding this house to allow entrance to only you two, your father, and Jenny. For any Shadow or half Shadow to enter it without pain, they’d have to be blood related.” He waited.

  I winced. I had to trust him. “It's in the basement.”

  “Show me.”

  We led him to the basement and I opened the door to the wine cellar.

  Dan looked surprised. “Both of you hid in this?”

  “It's a tight fit. You really have to like the one you're with,” Alex said.

  “If they're allowed to continue searching, they'll find it sooner or later,” Dan said. “I think I'm going to talk to some people. They might be able to stop it. The police can only bar your entry for a specific time without a court order. Once they let you back in, they need a warrant to search it again.”

  He chuckled. “I also think you should get a better lawyer.”

  “I think we've fired our attorney, though I didn't get a chance to pound him like he deserved. We only need a few days.”

  “What are you planning, Paris?” Dan said.

  “I don't know – yet.” I looked at Alex. “We'll think of something.”

  “Go get some rest. I'll wake you before I leave,” Dan said.

  “One other thing. Did the police keep the guns?” I said.

  “They've been run through analysis and they came out clean. They had no reason to keep them, so they should be here. Don't kill anyone though. You'll land back in jail.” He left.

  Alex and I stayed in the basement.

  “I noticed you stopped short of showing Dan the room,” Alex said.

  “Sis, I think we can I trust him,” I said, “but only so far. He’s a member of a Shadow group, so his loyalties may be divided regardless of how he feels about Mom. I don't care how enlightened his Association is, when it comes to what’s in this basement, they'll all kill to get it.”

  “I feel like a criminal,” Alex said. “I have to hide from the police in my own home, while the real criminals parade around openly. It seems so hopeless. They've got the law in their pockets, and we’re short on allies.”

  “They haven't won yet. I've come up with an idea. It was something Dan said. It all hinges on me cracking the stuff that Dad left. But I must master it and I need to get the Shadows to talk to me. That's why we’re here, Alex, and we don’t leave until I’ve conquered it or died trying.”