“Oh, my God,” Robert said. He rolled his eyes, and sat back in his seat.
Johann started the car, and they proceeded to their appointment. Along the way, they passed the scene of their encounter the previous night. Their skid marks were still visible on the road, and all the glass, metal, and plastic pieces were still on the ground. The two men spotted a police car with its emergency lights on and a police officer, who was investigating the scene.
The officer was walking along the path of destruction. He was wearing blue latex gloves, and picking up pieces and placing them in small zip lock bags. He marked the bag, making it obvious he was collecting evidence. They decided the best course of action was not to make eye contact with him as they drove by.
Robert took note the officer seemed to study them as they passed, and the coroner realized he and the officer were well acquainted.
“That's Officer Garvey,” Robert said.
“You know him,” Johann asked.
“Yes, very well. And what's worse, he knows my Clara and me very well.”
“ 'Clara,' ” Johann said, making a facial gesture.
“That's what I call my minivan,” the coroner answered. “Glad I didn't park her in front of the house last night.”
“We should come up with a story,” Johann said, “In case he finds 'Clara' and starts asking questions.”
“That would be a good idea,” Robert said.
As they passed through the scene, Johann kept his eyes on the road in front of them, and examined it.
“What are you looking for,” asked Robert.
“Haven't you noticed,” replied Johann, “We've only seen one set of skid marks so far. That car really must be a phantom or something,” he glanced at the coroner, “No skid marks, no pieces, no nothing. Almost as if the other car was never here,” then almost as though to himself, “Yet, the other day I saw the thing leave marks. Interesting.” Robert glanced at him, puzzled.
“I think it would be best if we avoid contact with the police altogether,” Robert said.
While they drove to the woman's house, they started to come up with their plan.
“So, even if this woman agrees, we still have to find a way to summon the demon there and keep it from escaping while we make the charm,” Johann said.
“Yes,” said Robert, as he stroked his moustache again, “Summoning the demon will be easy. All we'll have to do is call her.” This caused Johann to glance at him, puzzled. “The demon is Doctor Zou,” the coroner said, “I have it on good knowledge she is this woman's Doctor.”
“Okay. So, she calls Doctor Zou and tells her she thinks she is going into labor, right,” Johann said. “I think the best way to keep her in place is a demon trap painted on the ceiling above where the woman in labor is.”
“On the ceiling,” the coroner asked.
“She most likely won't see it up there. Then, once she's trapped, we circle her with salt to make sure she doesn't escape. After she's stuck, it'll simply be a matter of writing Raphael's name on the sheet of papyrus, and she's gone.”
“Theoretically,” Robert said, trying not to be overconfident.
“Right,” Johann said, “Theoretically.”
“We'll have to come up with a way to make sure our 'bait' is safe. We don't want anything to happen to her,” Robert said.
“We will, Bob,” Johann replied.
Something in his rear-view mirror grabbed Johann's attention. It appeared to be a dark-colored car and it was approaching them at a high rate of speed.
“The son of a bitch is back, Bob,” Johann said, as he tightened his grip on the steering wheel.
Robert turned and peered back at the oncoming car. He glanced at Johann, unsure if what they were seeing was truly the black Challenger which threatened them last night.
“Are you sure,” Robert asked, “Are you sure that's the same car?”
Johann glanced in the mirror again and studied the oncoming vehicle for a moment.
“Yeah,” he said, “I'm sure it is. As a matter of fact, I'm almost positive it is.”
He downshifted a gear and pressed hard on the gas pedal. The tires let out a squeal as the car lurched forward, and threw the occupants back in their seats. He checked his speedometer as the speed increased. Glancing in his mirror one more time, he was surprised the chasing vehicle was not only staying with him but gaining.
“What the Hell? I can't shake him,” Johann said, surprised.
The car drew closer and closer. Finally, it was almost on Johann's bumper.
“I think it's gonna ram us,” Johann said. Robert pushed back in his seat to keep from hitting the dashboard if there were an impact.
The black vehicle reached the bumper of Johann's car, swerved to the left and drew up even with Johann. As the car kept pace with Johann and Robert, Father Gunter glanced over at the imposing vehicle.
The passenger window began to roll down. This didn't seem right to Johann, and he kept an eye on the retracting piece of glass. Finally, the window was down, and it revealed a young man with long hair and a scruffy little beard sitting behind the wheel.
“Come on, buddy,” the young man yelled to Johann, “Drive that damned Mustang like ya stole it,” His smile, which revealed several missing teeth, was broad. With that, the young man pushed hard on his accelerator. The powerful, obviously re-worked motor of the black car picked up revs, the tires let out a little chirp, and the vehicle took off like a bullet away from Johann and Robert.
As the vehicle raced away from them, Johann relaxed from the tension. He let out the breath he had been holding for the last minute or two, and glanced over at Robert.
“I told you I didn't think that was the car,” the coroner said, who sounded like a father telling his son, “I told you so.” Johann wiped some sweat from his forehead, and gazed forward, relieved, because, what could have been another demonic encounter turned out to be some kid out joy riding.
A short time later, they found themselves driving up the short dirt road which served as the driveway at Cindy's family farm. In the field, Cindy's husband Kenneth was in the combine harvesting the corn crop. The fragrance of the freshly cut plants was in the air, mingling with the odor of the dung from the livestock a short distance away. Johann parked next to an older pickup truck under a prominent oak tree, and the two walked to the door of the big farmhouse, books in hand.
Robert knocked on the old wooden door, and the two men surveyed the area. The farm was relatively large, and the main road could be seen in the distance, about a half mile away from the house.
“Big Farm,” Johann said, making small talk while they waited for someone to answer the door.
“All the farms around here are,” said Robert.
A few minutes later, an obviously pregnant Cindy opened the door. She was a young woman in her late twenties. She stood a mere four feet ten inches tall, and was dwarfed by Johann and Robert. She brushed her long brown hair back and tucked it behind her ears as she smiled, warmly, at Robert.
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“Uncle Bob,” Cindy squealed, apparently jubilant her favorite uncle was here. She reached up to put her arms around his neck to hug him. Johann raised his eyebrows in surprise.
“And, how is my favorite niece,” Robert asked as he gave her a warm hug.
She led them into the house.
“ 'Uncle Bob,' ” Johann whispered to Robert, “You didn't tell me we were coming to visit your niece.”
“Oh,” said Bob, “Did I leave that part out? Yes, Johnny and I have a sister. Cindy is her daughter.”
“You're just full of surprises, aren't you,” replied Johann.
The two men followed Cindy into the living room and sat on the couch. Robert placed the books on the coffee table in front of them.
“Would you like coffee,” she asked.
“No, thank you,” Robert answered.
“No, ma'am,” Johann said, while shaking his head.
Cindy took a seat in a worn, but comfo
rtable looking, chair to the side of the couch where the two men were sitting.
“So, how are things at the hospital,” Cindy asked, clasping her hands together.
“Uh,” Robert said, “Not bad.” He glanced at Johann briefly, trying to cover up that he was lying.
“I've been told there have been a lot of infant deaths lately,” she said, solemnly.
“Yes,” Robert said, “Actually, that's why we're here, Cindy.”
“Oh,” she glanced down at the bulge where her baby is, “You don't think -”
“No,” Robert quickly said, reaching for her hand to comfort her, “Nothing like that.” He glanced at Johann. “This is my friend,” he said, gesturing to Johann, “Uh… Johann Gunter.”
“Pleased to meet you, Mister Gunther,” Cindy said, as she extended her hand. Johann fought off the urge to correct her pronunciation of his name. He shook the hand Cindy had offered to him.
“Likewise,” he said.
“Cindy,” Robert said, slowly, “Johann and I believe that we have discovered the reason for all the infant deaths in this town and, frankly, we need your help.”
“My help? What can I possibly do to help?”
“Do you remember when you were a child and your Uncle Johnny and I would tell you stories about Angels and Demons?”
“Oh, yes,” she answered, “The fairy tales.”
“Well,” Robert said, while gazing into her eyes, “Those weren't fairy tales.”
“I don't understand,” Cindy said, the smile slowly disappeared from her face.
Robert opened the book and laid it down on the coffee table. Cindy studied the page with the picture and description of Abyzou. She placed a hand on her breast and caught her breath as she read the words on the paper. She peered up at Robert with terror in her eyes.
“Don't ask me how I know,” Robert said, “Just trust me when I tell you, this is what is causing all the death and heartache.”
She sat back in her chair for a moment to gather her thoughts, then glanced at Robert and Johann.
“What can I do to help,” she asked.
“Well -” Robert said.
“Here's the deal,” Johann said, as he interrupted his friend, “We know who, and what, this thing is and how to get rid of it. How close are you to delivering your baby?”
“What,” Cindy asked, not knowing why she was being asked a question like that.
“Johann, please,” Robert said, “Allow me.” He turned to Cindy.
“Here's the deal,” the coroner said, “We know who, and what, this thing is and how to get rid of it -”
“I just said that,” Johann said. Robert put his hand up in a gesture to silence him. He then turned his attention back to Cindy, who by now was not only terrified but also very confused.
“Abyzou is a real demon, and this thing is here in our town, killing all the children that it can. However, the monster can be vanquished rather easily. The way to defeat this demon is someone has to write the name of Raphael the Archangel on a piece of papyrus while a woman goes into labor. Doing so will cause the demon to flee.”
“And you want me to be the woman in labor,” Cindy said, as she caught on to what they were asking of her.
“Yes,” said Robert, “You will be perfectly safe. Johann and I guarantee your safety.”
“But,” she said, “Uncle Bob, I'm not due for a few more days.”
“That's okay,” Bob said, “We will need time to prepare your room, and ourselves, so a few days will be perfect. We will need to paint what's called a 'Demon Trap' on your ceiling above your bed. We will also need to tend to little things like hiding all your crosses and such.”
“My crosses,” she asked, “Why?”
“We want to make it as easy as possible for the demon to come to you so we can destroy the vile creature,” Johann said. “You see, the demon trap will hold the beast in place while one of us writes the name of the Archangel Raphael on a piece of papyrus and shows it to her, which will -,”
“You ain't usin' my wife and kid for bait,” A man's voice said, loudly, from somewhere in the room.
Surprise caught the three, and they turned, almost in unison, to face the young man who stood in the entrance-way to the living room. It was Kenneth, Cindy's husband. No one heard the young, muscular farmer when he came into the house. He walked over, while brushing the dust from his faded blue jeans and pushing his short red colored hair from his face. He stood next to Cindy.
“No way in hell,” he said, sternly, “am I gonna stand by while the two of you use my wife and my unborn kid as bait in your little scheme, Uncle Bob.”
“Kenny,” Cindy pleaded, looking up at her husband and taking his hand, “Please calm down, honey, and listen to them. They're trying to protect everyone, and stop what's been going on around this town.” Kenny glanced at her, then back to the two men.
“I dunno, Cindy. They're talkin' about bringin' a demon into this house,” the farmer said, “I don't think that's a good idea.”
“She'll be perfectly safe,” Robert said, “We're going to use a demon trap. Demons can't escape from those.”
“And what if this one does,” said Kenny, as he snarled and stepped closer to Robert.
“No need for that,” Johann said, as he tried to intervene and come between the two men.
“Look. All we're trying to do is put a stop to all the infant deaths in this town. We happen to know what's causing it, and whether you believe in that stuff or not, it's true. There's a demon on the loose, and if something isn't done, and done soon, it will kill all the children in this town,” he stepped away from between the two men and peered at Cindy, “All of them.”
“You threatenin' us,” Kenny said. He clenched his fists as though preparing for a fight.
“I'm not threatening anyone,” Johann said. He glanced for a moment at the clenched fists. He could feel anger welling up inside him. How could these people he was trying to help be so blind to what was going on?
“We're just giving you the facts,” Johann said, as he stepped a little closer to the threatening farmer, “You can either believe us or not, that's up to you. It doesn't matter to me. We're going to get rid of this thing, whether we have your help, or not. It'll just be a lot easier, and save more lives with your help.” Johann could see Kenny relaxing his fists, so he did the same.
“I heard it on the news,” said Kenny, “That fella from that CDC place said it's Sudden Infant Death somethin' or other. Not no demon.”
“Sudden Infant Death Syndrome,” Robert said, “That's right, it is. And, who do you think is causing this to happen? You think it's normal for a town to have an outbreak of this out of nowhere, and for no apparent reason?”
Robert picked up the book from the coffee table and opened to the page they were looking at with Cindy. He showed the page to Kenny.
“This,” Robert said, angrily, “This is what's causing all the death, and if we don't stop it, this thing is going to kill all the children it can,” he glanced at Cindy. “Even yours,” he said. “If you don't want to believe us, call Johnny.”
Kenny took the book from Robert and studied the picture. He read what the text said about the demon. He was not a stupid man, by any means, and soon could understand the coroner and the stranger might be right.
He walked over to a table where a telephone sat, picked up the receiver, and dialed a number. Johann glanced at Robert. “He's going to call Johnny. He'll believe what Johnny tells him,” Robert said.
“Uncle Johnny, this is Kenny. Uncle Bob and some guy are here. They're tryin' to tell Cindy 'n' me that there's this thing killin' all the babies in town.” He paused a moment, then looked at the picture in the book “I don't know. Something called a Aby Zow or somethin' like that.” He paused again. “Yeah. It's spelled A-B-Y-Z-O-U. They want Cindy to help them. I don't know if that's the right thing to do or not. I don't want nothin' to happen to my wife 'n' kid. I know that besides bein' my uncle, you're the priest in my church,
so I'll do what you tell me.” After a few more moments, the call ended and he walked back to his wife's side.
“It even has the same name as your doctor, honey,” he said, putting his arm around Cindy. “But, boy, is this thing ugly.” He handed the book back to Robert.
“Okay,” Kenny said, “Uncle Johnny told me about this thing. He told me to trust you two. What can I do to help?”
“You can help us prepare the room,” Robert said.
Robert opened the book again to a page which showed a picture of a demon trap. It appeared to be a circle with a pentagram in the middle. Each point of the pentagram attached to the ring with a short line. In each space created by the connecting of the pentagram to the circle, is a different sign that almost resembled some ancient foreign language.
“We'll need to make one of these on the ceiling,” said Robert, “Large enough to cover an area about three feet in diameter. To make sure Cindy is safe, I suggest we put the bed outside the trap parameters. The demon won't be able to reach outside the parameters, so even if the bed is only a foot or so away, Cindy will be perfectly safe.”
“I got some paint in the barn,” Kenny said, “Does it need to be any particular color? All I got is red.”
“Red's fine,” Johann said, “As long as your ceiling isn't red, that is.”
“Nope. Ceiling's white.”
“Good,” said Robert, “We'll start right away. Can you show us to the bedroom?”
Kenny and Cindy led the two demon fighters up to their room. As soon as Johann and Robert were in the room, they immediately saw a problem. The room was small, and would not allow for a lot of space between the bed and the perimeter of the demon trap. He looked around the bedroom, and Johann discovered a second door on the wall opposite the foot of the bed.
“Where does that door go,” asked Johann.
“To the other bedroom,” Cindy answered, “That's going to be the nursery.”
Johann opened the door and peered inside. He was relieved to find this room also had a door that opened to the hallway.
“This is perfect,” he said as he closed the door.
“I'll go get the paint,” Kenny said. He exited the room.
The Bucktown Babies (Father Gunter, Demon Hunter Book 1) Page 11