by D. Sallen
There not being any good cover between the bunkhouse and the barn, Clint stretched out prone in the grass and watched for any movement. Got to give Tommy points for guts, zero for brains…could have waited for more support…but…what the hell, he’s Tommy on the spot. The deputy moved with more caution this time, pausing to listen, ready to drop to the ground if he saw any movement. When he got to the door he stopped and hollered, “Fritz, Fritz, if you’re in there, come on out. It’s me, Tommy Kearns.”
Fritz didn’t answer. Waiting for a minute or so, Tommy hollered. “Fritz, hold your fire. I’m coming in.”
As soon as the Deputy disappeared, Clint jumped up and raced towards the door. Tommy came out before Clint got there. Tommy gasped, “Don’t go in there.” He jerked his thumb at the barn behind him, bent over and wretched.
Clint grabbed the deputy’s arm to support him. “Tommy, what in hell?” Tommy straitened up, tried to catch his breath. When Clint started to open the door, the Deputy just shook his head, but didn’t bar Clint. The airmen watching from the house raced toward the barn. They clustered behind Clint as he opened the door.
Inside the barn, the smell of blood almost overwhelmed the barn smells. Clint about lost his own cookies. A nude man hung from his tied hands, to a rope thrown over a rafter, his feet off the floor…a wound along the side of his head…mouth agape in a final feral scream…eyes exploding…A few streams of blood dripped from the man’s crotch to a red lake on the floor. Just beyond the lake…where the Basil Tree could see them before he died… resting next to a nasty-looking rusty knife…a penis and a bag of testicles.
Recovering his balance and control, Clint ordered the sickened airmen back to the ranch house. Then Tommy and Clint searched the entire barn and surrounding area. Tommy said, “Only thing I can figure is, Fritz must have rode off on a horse while we tried to find him.”
“Where could he go?”
“Probably to wild country up north from here…bad lands, rockier, some streams, small wood lands…places he might be familiar with…from hunting…may have a camp up in there.”
Tommy told the airmen to wait in the house until the authorities arrived from Glasgow. Finding a yellow writing pad on a desk, he handed out sheets to them. “Might as well start writing. They’ll damn sure want a statement from each of us.”
Much as they despised Fritz and Basil, the airmen didn’t wish this retribution on them. Remembering how Fritz butchered Basil turned all of their stomachs. Even Clint, who tried to find something amusing about any event, had nothing to say. The others silently worked on their statements.
The coroner’s wagon, two cars full of state police, and the county sheriff’s vehicles streamed into the parking area beside the house. While the coroner and police took care of their business, the sheriff and Tommy studied a map of Valley County. “That’s some rugged country back in there,” Sheriff Tomlinson said.
“That’s true,” Tommy said. “If we don’t find him right away…or any sign of him, he could even make it to Canada to hide out.”
“Yeah, except he’s probably on horseback. You sure he didn’t have any other vehicles around here?”
“We sure didn’t hear one. And he shot Mrs. Deutsh after we got here. Had to make some fast tracks for us not to see him at all.”
“Planned an escape route in advance, maybe. I’m going back into Glasgow to round up some guys with Jeeps and horses…a tracker…someone that’s hunted back there with Fritz.”
Hearing Tomlinson’s plan, Clint said, “We’d be glad to help anyway we can, Sheriff.”
“That’s decent of you Sergeant, but that carryall ain’t much use back there, and you guys don’t know the county at all. I suggest you go back to your duties. If I need you, I’ll call on you.”
The airmen couldn’t leave until both the coroner and State Police Captain reviewed their statements and questioned them. The coroner said, “May have to subpoena you to testify at an inquest, so don’t leave the area without notifying me.” Later the state police would connect the thirty-o-six they found under Tree’s bunk with the murder of airman Donkin. Clint never got his gun back.
A subdued crew of airmen rode back to West Layover. Lance commented. “Y’know what? Because of all the excitement, we missed chow again.”
“I’m not hungry,” Peter Jewel said. “I can still smell all that bloody mess.” For fucking me in the ass, Tree sure got what he deserved. Just sorry I didn’t help… Damn!…The Sonovabitch!
“You will want to eat, eventually,” Clint said. “Look guys, we’ve just seen real horror. Something none of us could have imagined. On the bright side, we should be able to get on with the job now…no more trouble from those two.”
“Yeah, I wonder if Fritz could have guessed he’d make us feel good.” Patton said.
In town Clint pulled up in front of the sheriff’s office. “Got to tell him why Tommy hasn’t come back here with us.”
Standing at the window, Radecker saw Clint head his way. After he entered the door, Radecker said, “Now what?”
“Might want to sit down, Sheriff. This news will floor you.”
“Baloney. Get on with it.” After Clint’s capsule story, the sheriff did sit down. He closed his gaping mouth and said, “I’ll be damned…Glasgow people haven’t put out any word yet.”
Clint started out the door. “Call us, if you need us.”
To the guys in the vehicle, he said, “Let’s see if Lorena can rustle up some grub.” He could see Lance walking toward Chet’s. “On the other hand, we can use a beer to wash down the smell of all that blood.”
Only two locals sat at the bar when the airmen entered. On hearing what happened, both left to spread the word around town. After Lilith heard the news, she looked down the street to see the carryall still parked in front of the Sheriff’s. So Clint’s not back up to Gilman’s yet. Believe I’ll bring the news to Dorris. Wonder how I can drop a subtle hint that I’m having Clint? She rushed across the street to the restaurant.
In a loud excited voice she said, “Lorena, where’s your mother? Clint brought back some horrible news.”
Close enough to hear Lilith, Dorris entered the restaurant. “What on earth is going on, Lilith?”
“Clint and his men went to have a talk with Fritz Deutsh.” She didn’t hesitate because Lorena listened. “When they got there, Fritz had shot his mother, and Herman…and he strung Basil Tree up…and let him bleed to death…from cutting off his private parts.”
Both Dorris and Lorena gasped and sat down. The cook came out and said, “Ain’t that sompin’ else.”
Enjoying the site of the stricken Gilman girls, Lilith said, “I’ve got to get back, I thought you’d want to know.”
Lorena cried. Dorris felt sick to her stomach. I wonder why he told her first? Are they that close?
At the saloon, Chet said, “Well, Jewel, seems like you can fuck Marie-Elena all you want now…without fear of losing your nuts to Fritz.”
“Don’t be too sure of that Peter. Fritz is still out there somewhere,” Kline said. “What if he comes back here looking for revenge?”
“Yeah, Peter.” Chet said. “Once you’ve cut someone’s nuts off…maybe you get hung up on doing it. Kind of a blood lust.”
Kline said, “Yeah…hung up…is right. Better stay out of barns, Jewel.”
“Aw go to hell. I don’t care where he is, he doesn’t scare me.”
“Okay, you guys,” Clint said. “Considering the agony that man suffered, it’s not too funny. Anyway…anyone else for chow now?”
All of them piled back into the carryall for the short ride to Gilman’s. Red-eyed Lorena was the only person in the restaurant. Still snuffling over the horror of the deaths at the ranch, silently she walked into the kitchen for sandwich fixings. She brought bread, lettuce, cheese and meat out to the c
ounter. “I hope you guys don’t mind helping yourselves. “I’m not feeling too good.” She headed for the door to the hotel.
“What’s the matter with her,” Kline said,
Dorris had come to the door. She looked at Clint. “Lilith said you told her about those horrible deaths at Fritz’s ranch.”
Clint looked puzzled. “I haven’t seen Lilith to tell her anything. We came straight here from Chet’s.”
Patton said, “There was a couple of geezers drinking in there when we told Chet. They didn’t stay long, and I can bet everyone in this town knows about it now.”
“Yeah,” Kline said. “Who needs a radio in a small town. News flows through the air on it’s own.”
Watching Dorris, Clint thought she relaxed after hearing the men. I wonder if Lilith’s trying to cause problems between Dorris and me. Maybe I ought to move out to Q-1. Jeez, I’ve even fucked Lilith before I’ve screwed Dorris. Cripes, doesn’t Ollie keep an eye on his wife at all? Before he fixed a sandwich, He walked over to Dorris and hugged her. “I’m beginning to wonder what’s going on with Lilith.”
“Humphn. I thought she was doing us a favor offering you a room. But rumor has it that you’re getting more tender-loving-care than is necessary.”
“You don’t know the half of it.”
“Oh?” Dorris drew away from him, her face tight. “How should I take that? Have you and Lilith…Have you…” She couldn’t express her fear.
“No, no. We…haven’t done anything…together,” he lied. Not my fault…Lilith raped me. I never encouraged her. “Her flirting is all one-sided. And there’s not many sides she hasn’t touched me with.”
“I suppose you enjoy that.”
No way, I can tell her what I enjoyed, even though I didn’t ask for it. Too late when Lilith already had me in her. “C’mon. I’m not interested in her. I don’t know why Ollie doesn’t rein her in a bit.”
“You didn’t answer my question.”
“Oh stop it. So, I’m a little flattered by her attentions. They don’t lead anywhere. I’m not some callow youth who’s taken in by her touching.”
“Ummm. I’ll bet you never slap her hand though.”
“Well, it’s seldom her hands doing the touching. I could hardly slap her on the chest.”
“Oh…well. Now I feel like slapping her!”
“Look, let’s forget about Lilith. She’s no big deal.” His arm around her again, he pulled her into the hotel lobby out of sight of the grinning troops. “Don’t you know you are the only woman I want to feel?”
He cupped her breast. She started to pull away, but stopped. Then she pressed her hand over his and snuggled back into his arms. “That’s good. Because you’re the only guy I want to feel me.” When they kissed, Lorena happened to be walking up to the door from the hall way. She stepped back, and for the first time that day felt really good.
Back in the restaurant, Clint said, “After what we’ve been through, we’ll take the rest of the day off. Anyway, I’m still so shook up from today’s events, I can’t think about anything we need to do right now.”
Lorena approached her mother. “Well. I see you and Clint are really good friends again.”
“Oh? Why do you think that?”
“Oh, I just thought that was a pretty handy kiss he just gave you.”
“Smart Alice. Have you been spying on me?”
“No, but I live here too, and if you two are going to play kissy-feely just when I walk in, I can’t help but notice.”
Dorris blushed. “Maybe you should wear blinders then. You can probably get a set over at McCunes.”
“You’re not funny. I’m not going to wear a horses gear.”
Dorris laughed. “No, I was just kidding. But, I don’t want you to get all embarrassed and ‘bent out of shape’ as Clint might say.”
“Oh poo. Now would be a good time to ask him to go to church with you, wouldn’t it?”
Dorris had to stop and think. “I don’t know…he’s never brought the subject up.”
“Don’t you want to know is he’s a Christian or not?”
“Maybe not as much as you do.”
“Mom. Are you afraid to find out?”
Dorris had to think again. “Yesss. No. I won’t push it yet. Let’s drop it.” I do want him so much, will it matter to me if he’s not Lutheran…or is Catholic…or something else…or nothing at all?
Dorris hoped Clint would stay in after supper, but he said, “Considering what they’ve been through today, I need to stay close to the troops until I know they’re okay. There’s not many places for them to relax. That means going to Chet’s.”
Dorris didn’t get a chance to ask him about church, and Sunday morning she didn’t see him until she was ready to leave. She started to ask him but faltered; there wasn’t time for him to get dressed up. He’d have to go back to Lilith’s to get ready. She and many of the parishioners were surprised and delighted that five of the airmen did show up for services in their uniforms. Clint wasn’t among them. Dorris looked around to make sure Lilith was in the church.
Far to the North, Fritz Deutsh knew he was insane, but he didn’t care. I need to get that damn Greybull too. None of this other shit woulda happened if he didn’t start it around here. Frequently he reined his horse still so he could listen for sounds of pursuit. Well into the wild area north of his ranch, he abruptly turned east. As much as he could, Fritz rode through wooded areas. Out in the open, he tried to keep any high ground between him and pursuers from the south. It’ll take ‘em a while to get started. They’ll probably think I’ll head for Canada to escape. When he came across a creek flowing east, he continued until the sky turned so dark he couldn’t see. Then not wanting to take a chance on his horse stumbling, Fritz camped in a thicket near the stream.
Lying down under the trees, unconcerned about traveling now, his memories of killing three people made him throw up the jerky he ate. “Damn! Damn! Damn! I really must be crazy!” he shouted to the sky. “But what else could I do?” he muttered to himself. “Herman ruined by Basil. Dumb stupid drunkin’ Ma…not looking after Herman. God, I hope Basil suffered. Wish I could have seen his face when he came to, and saw his balls in the dirt. Well, what I did can only mean my life is over. I want to take that sonovabitch Greybull with me on the way. That smart-alec bastard. What business did he have screwing up things around here for us? I’ll get ‘em, I’ll get ‘em.”
With first light, Fritz set off again. He continued to follow the creek east. The waterway became a small stream in a deeper valley. Midmorning he heard an airplane. He halted. Turning slowly, he saw a small private plane way to the west of him, headed north. He moved into a willow thicket along the bank, and remained there until he saw the plane return, closer now, but headed south. He urged his horse into a faster pace. Not familiar with this stream, but it must run into the Possum. During the afternoon he heard an airplane again, but too far away to see. Don’t believe they’re on my trail yet.
Fritz spent Sunday night in another waterside copse. When he started out in the morning he was sure the valley sides were high enough to conceal him from anyone on ground level. Two hours later he saw a small boat beached on the far shore. Up till now he had only a hazy idea of where he was going, except to escape…and attack Sergeant Greybull. Hmmm. What about this? He rode through the stream to have a closer look at the boat. Huh? I believe that’s some kind of dugout canoe. Around here?
Fritz dismounted and turned the craft over to take another look. Underneath lay a paddle and a pole. He stood up when he heard a voice say, “Hey, what you want with my canoe?” Efrain Trovato scowled at him over the barrel of his shotgun.
“Hey, Efrain, good morning to you too. I was just studying your canoe. Never saw one like that before.”
“Yah, is good little boat. Snags in water n
ot break it.”
“Must have it all over a canoe in that respect. What you use it for?”
“Sometimes fish. Sometimes cross Possum. Trade with Indians.”
“Say, have those Air Force people given you a hard time about bombing this place?”
“Yah. I run them off twice.”
“Causing me problems too. Bet he’d like this horse and gear better than that boat. “They want my cattle grazing land too. I’ve been out here scouting around the area that they think they can take. Didn’t know I’d run into you so soon.”
“Yah, I’m not moving. They can bomb somewhere else.”
“I’m heading down their way… to talk some sense into the top dog. Didn’t realize how far north I was. Now I’m in a hurry. Maybe we can work a deal. I could get down to West Layover a lot quicker on the Possum River…than on this horse. How about loaning me your canoe? I’ll leave my horse and gear with you. That way, if I don’t bring your canoe back, you can keep my stuff.”
Fritz thought he could see gray cells churning through Efrain’s eyes. “Ha. That very nice horse, I think. Not much use to me. Can not get new canoe. Not like that around here.”
“That is a strange one. Where did you get it?”
“Long time ago. I find in sand. Work on it. Make it good.”
“Well, I’ll take good care of it. I’ll probably hire someone to ride it back up river. Meantime, you got my best horse. Do you think I want to lose it?”
Efrain shrugged. “No more than I want to lose canoe. Maybe you just ride horse south. Trade not good to me.”
What’s one more when I’ve already killed my family? Efrain still carried his shotgun in the crook of his arm, pointed at the ground. Fritz jerked out his revolver. “Drop that shotgun, Efrain! You don’t know what a hurry I’m in.”
Efrain took his time about setting the gun on the sand. When he stood up, he said, “I think you gone crazy. I think you gone…He whistled.”
The Corsican’s dog shot from the brush. It leaped for Fritz’s throat. Not quick enough to shoot it, Fritz managed to slam the dog away with his gun hand. He aimed at the dog before it could leap again. “Don’t shoot my dog!” Efrain screamed. For emphasis his shotgun covered Fritz again.