Ron nodded. “Dr. Wilson didn’t want me talking about it to you. He figured it might upset you.”
Connie smiled. “I’m a big girl now. I can handle it.”
Ron looked up at the clock on the wall. It was already nearly eight. They’d been working for over twelve hours straight. Enough was enough. “How about dinner tonight?” he asked. “We’ve got to get away from all of this, at least for a few hours. I’m buying.”
“I think I’ll take you up on that one,” she replied, a smile on her face. “This whole thing is getting to me in a major way.”
“Let me drop this paperwork off with Dr. Wilson and I’ll be ready to go,” promised Ron.
It was only a short walk down one hall and then another that brought Ron to Dr. Wilson’s office and the data to his hands. Dr. Wilson went over the report carefully. Then he set it down and looked straight into Ron’s eyes. Ron was shocked to see the tears in the doctor’s eyes. It was then that he noted the transcript of Debbie’s interview on the doctor’s desk.
“I wonder if it was this way for Samantha,” muttered Wilson.
“Sir?” said Ron. “You’re talking about your daughter, right?”
“Yes,” confirmed Wilson, “my daughter. She was a victim of the drells, I know that now. I tried but I couldn’t save her. She was over there, a slave in their tunnels and I couldn’t save her.”
Ron was almost at a loss for words. “You don’t know that for certain. Her condition might have been something else entirely.”
“It wasn’t,” replied Wilson. “I know that she died over there, a slave of the drells. It is too late to save her but we will save the others. We need to get ready. I’ve had some of the pharmacology guys working on a serum containing iridium and osmium. Its effects will be similar to those of chemotherapy, a bit less severe perhaps. It will be safe. I’m sure of it. They’ll have the serum here by the end of the week. We’ll use it on Debbie first, in conjunction with FENS. If we’re successful, then we’ll use it on every child I know stricken with this terrible affliction. There are seventeen in all. Now we’re going to bring them back, free them. Some of them might be able to help us find the others I don’t know about.”
Ron nodded. He didn’t like the way Dr. Wilson sounded. He was tired and overworked. He wasn’t all that sure that the doctor was thinking all that clearly.
“Connie and I were heading out to dinner. We’ll be back in an hour or so.”
“No, no, you kids head on home after that,” said Wilson. “There’s nothing more for you to accomplish here tonight. You’ve been putting in so much extra time.”
Ron nodded and made his way toward the door. “You need to get some rest, sir.”
“Oh I will,” assured Wilson. “I’m almost done here. You two have a good time. I’ll see you in the morning.”
Ron hesitated and then departed. If he wasn’t worried about the doctor before he was now. He had a really bad feeling about him. He wasn’t well, he was sure of it. After dinner he’d make it a point to come back and check up on him. He doubted that Wilson would be heading home anytime soon.
For a time, the atmosphere of Wong’s Chinese Restaurant carried the minds of the two young researchers far from the problems of recent days. They spoke of their childhood, and their love for science. Ron had known Connie Cox for months now, yet this was the first time they’d sat down outside of the laboratory and had a real conversation. The subtle lighting here in the restaurant played across her long brown hair. Her green eyes literally sparkled. He’d never really noticed these things before. Yet it was not long before the topic of conversation turned once more to their research and the strange events that surrounded them.
“So you believe Miss Langmuir’s incredible story?” deduced Connie.
Ron nodded.
“I think you know something about it you’re not telling me,” Connie continued. “As I told you, I’m not a child. I think I have the right to know.”
That was question for which Ron was unprepared. “As I said in the lab I believed every word of it,” he replied, after a moment’s hesitation. “I realize that you’re going to think that I’ve lost it, but I’ve got to warn you, we’re in real danger.”
“Do you think that this guy who killed Karl will come after us?” asked Connie.
“It wasn’t a guy, it wasn’t even a human being, it was a drell, and yes he will.” There, he had blurted it out.
“A drell?” she asked, a smile of amusement coming to her lips. Yet it quickly evaporated when she viewed Ron’s somber expression. “You were serious. You really believe. Out with it Ron, tell me the whole story.”
It took a long time to relate all of the specifics to Connie, yet Ron couldn’t allow his inaction be the cause of her demise. He wouldn’t have her end up like Karl, or even worse, like Debbie and Leslie. He spoke of his Saturday meeting with his aunt and Director Martin, he told her all that he had discovered. He was surprised to discover that Dr. Wilson hadn’t shared any of the information he had gathered with Connie.
“I don’t know what to believe,” admitted Connie, when the story was through. “It seems crazy, yet there are so many coincidences that your story explains. What could we do to protect ourselves?”
“I don’t think that the drells will try to take us during the day, I think they’ll do exactly what they did to poor Karl, attack when we’re alone, at night. I’ve drawn a magic circle around my bed at home with the special chalk made of iridium and osmium. I don’t think a drell can cross it.”
“How can some kind of circle drawn on the floor protect you from something like that?” she objected.
“I don’t know, but believe me, we’d both be a lot safer if we spent the night together within the circle at my place.”
A smile suddenly came to Connie. “Ron, I’ve been propositioned more than once in my life, but I must admit, that’s the most original line I’ve ever heard. I’ve got to congratulate you. You had me going for a while. Please, don’t think it’s not tempting, but I’m afraid I’ll have to pass on this one.”
“I’m serious,” insisted Ron, looking deep into Connie’s eyes. “At least let me draw a magic circle around your bed at home.”
“Why not give it a rest for tonight,” suggested Connie, glancing at her watch. “Would you mind dropping me by the clinic for a few minutes, I’d like to pick up a few schematics to study at home. You can even walk me home if you insist. The duplex I rent is only three blocks from the clinic. If you really want to draw a circle around my bed with that chalk go ahead. I’ll let you.”
“Sure, thanks, I will,” replied Ron, convinced that he had made a total fool of himself. “I’m sorry if I seemed a bit forward.”
“No, you were great,” insisted Connie, smiling broadly. “I think I needed something like this. It cast a strange surrealistic light over the whole matter. You’ve been a lot of fun tonight. I’m glad you invited me out.”
Dr. Wilson sat alone in his office going over Debbie’s medical reports again when he heard footsteps in the hallway. He glanced at his watch to discover that it was nearly ten. “It’s probably Ron,” he grumbled, “I told him to go home.”
There was a knock at the door.
“Yes, come in,” bid Dr. Wilson.
The dark hooded figure entered the office with hardly a sound.
“Yes, what is it?” asked the doctor, without so much as looking up from the report.
“Good evening Dr. Thomas Wilson,” said the specter, in a deep voice.
The doctor looked up to behold the strange apparition before him. Beneath its hood, orange segmented eyes reflected the desk lamp like a thousand curved mirrors, and its sharp teeth glistened beneath the slightest of smiles.
“What is the meaning of this, who are you?” asked the doctor, fumbling to put his reading glasses aside.
“My name is Lex Ton,” replied the figure, “may I sit down?”
The doctor was nearly in a state of shock as he motioned to th
e chair across the desk. Lex Ton sat down without a word.
“You’re a drell aren’t you?” asked Wilson, recovering his wits.
“You are correct,” replied Lex Ton. “Very good, doctor.”
“You’re the one Nurse West encountered in Debbie’s room last night,” deduced Wilson.
“That too is correct,” said Lex Ton.
“What have you done to her?” asked Wilson.
“Why I am surprised, doctor,” replied Lex Ton. “I thought you were insightful enough to have deduced that by now. Very well. I took her soul. I had questions that needed answered and I wished to take her to a place where we would not be interrupted. Let us say that her terror made her most helpful. She told me all that I needed to know and more.”
“And it was you who murdered Karl Lund?” deduced Wilson.
“The same,” replied Lex Ton. “As I said, Claudia West was most helpful.” “How could you have done such a horrible thing? Who sent you?” asked Wilson.
“Who sent me?” continued Lex Ton. “Why it was you who sent me.”
“Me?” asked the doctor, a look of amazement on his face.
“Yes, by your attempted theft of the soul of one Debra Langmuir, a soul lawfully claimed by my people, the drells, I was called to this world.” With his gaunt boney hands, Lex Ton pulled back his hood to reveal his nonhuman facial features. “It was a serious offence, a breach of the Pact of Twilight.”
“We are not signatories of your Pact of Twilight,” replied Wilson. “And you have no rights to the souls of human children; not Debbie’s, not Leslie’s and not my daughter’s.”
Lex Ton was seldom impressed, but this was one of those times. “So, you know that it was we who took your daughter’s soul.”
“I’ve known that for some time,” replied Wilson. “I can’t allow that to continue.”
“I commend your ability of deductive reasoning. I hardly thought it possible that one of your kind would ever discover our work. I even believe that I recall her, this daughter of yours. She was an excellent worker. She lasted longer than most. If it means anything, she didn’t suffer long after she outlived her usefulness to us. Her execution was swift and relatively painless.”
“It’s monstrous!” exclaimed Wilson. “How can any intelligent being do such a thing?”
“Out of necessity, out of survival,” retorted Lex Ton. “We claim only the souls of youth, the souls guaranteed us by the Pact of Twilight, the souls we need to survive. We are as much within our rights to consume their flesh and drink their blood as you are to slaughter your swine or cattle. It is not for the prey to judge the motives of the predator.”
“We’re not animals for the slaughter we’re humans and we’re going to stop you,” said Wilson.
“You’re going to do nothing of the sort,” said Lex Ton. “I’m only here because I wanted you to understand the crime you have committed against my people. I wanted you to know why you must die. Look at me.”
“No,” said Wilson, who could already feel the drell’s ancient mind weaving its way into his consciousness. He looked away from the beast, tried to compel himself to flee, yet his muscles were like jelly.
“Look at me, Dr. Tom Wilson,” repeated Lex Ton.
It was fear, and the fervent hope of buying some time, that compelled Dr. Wilson to gaze into the eyes of the drell, and having done so, he became lost in their infinite depths.
“There is a task needing done,” continued Lex Ton, “simple yet most unpleasant. Once done, you will find peace, peace from the pain that racks you even now. Actually, it is you yourself who has determined the method of your demise. As a scholar of medicine, your mind was able to formulate a far more painful and fitting means of execution than any I might have devised; clean, efficient, agonizing, but not so swift. I compliment you on your choice.”
What?” asked Wilson, unable to look away.
“In but a moment you will leave this office and obtain a syringe and a bottle of sulfuric acid,” continued Lex Ton. “You’ll draw up a full load of the deadly acid and plunge its contents into a vein in your arm. Then we shall watch as you die.”
Dr. Wilson concentrated, fought to oppose this demonic being. He thought of his dear Samantha. He pictured this drell, not the drells in general but this drell as her killer. He thought of his life’s mission. He summoned up all of the will power within him, all the hate and anger he could find. He knew there was an option. “Not tonight,” he whispered.
Lex Ton seemed puzzled as Wilson’s hand moved toward the top drawer of his desk. He didn’t at first recognize the small metal device that the doctor withdrew. Only when he had once more probed his adversary’s mind did he understand. “A weapon? You would seek to destroy me?”
“I’ll determine if you bleed, drell,” vowed Wilson, struggling to aim the thirty-eight special in the direction of Lex Ton. Wilson fought to pull back on the hammer, to will his thumb to move, yet he had forgotten how.
“You don’t want to kill me, Dr. Tom Wilson,” said Lex Ton in a calm voice. “You want to kill yourself. I think this weapon will do nicely. Thank you for the suggestion.”
The weapon wavered as the doctor fought to challenge the will of this ancient being. His life hung in the balance.
“Drop the pistol, doctor,” came a voice from behind Lex Ton. “I think I can handle things from here.”
Immediately the pistol fell to the desk. Lex Ton swung around to see a well-dressed bearded middle aged man standing at the door. Wilson recognized him immediately, though he was the last person he had expected to see about now.
Mr. Aberdeen stepped into the room. His calm demeanor seemed so very incongruous. “Well, well, who do we have here? Why I do believe it is Lex Ton of the drells. You’ve no business here, spawn of Lilith.”
Lex Ton’s grip on Wilson’s mind slipped and the doctor collapsed to the desk. Then Lex Ton turned to Aberdeen. “I do not know who you are or how you know me but you are in the wrong place at the wrong time.”
Aberdeen seemed totally unaffected. “Is that a fact? You are full of threats aren’t you? You’re real brave when you’re facing a helpless human child. Let us see how brave you are when you’re facing me.”
“And who are you?” asked Lex Ton.
“Ah, the sixty-four-thousand-dollar question,” replied Aberdeen. “Let me put it this way; I am someone who can send you back into the nothingness from which you came, but not just yet. Take the words I speak back to your master Dre Kon. Tell him that I’m on my way, and that his reign of terror is at an end. He has been weighed in the balance by a higher authority and found wanting. If he wishes to make any preparations for his inevitable demise, he should do so now. He might not have tomorrow.”
Lex Ton stared at Aberdeen in what looked to be stunned amazement. Considering the nonhuman arrangement of his facial features it was difficult to tell. “What magic is this? I cannot see into your being. I cannot read your thoughts.”
“And you can’t dominate me so don’t even bother to try,” said Aberdeen. “You have one option and I advise you to take it; run.”
Lex Ton extended his bony hand toward Aberdeen. In but a fraction of a second, long sharp claws had emerged from the tips of the bony digits. They swept toward Aberdeen’s chest. Yet they had moved but a few inches before Aberdeen had reached out and grasped Lex Ton about his wrist. He twisted that wrist eliciting a gasp of pain from the inhuman being. Then Aberdeen pushed Lex Ton forcefully into the wall as if he were as light as a child. Into the wall was literally correct. When Lex Ton turned there was a good two-inch-deep indentation in the plaster. Lex Ton seemed stunned.
“What are you?” he gasped. “You are surely not human.”
“You’re not as stupid as you look,” noted Aberdeen. “Some call me the destroyer, others the angel of the pit, but you can call me sir.”
Lex Ton seemed in a rage. He had taken but a step toward Aberdeen when a sound of thunder filled the room. Lex Ton turned to Wilson to see
the pistol he wielded, a pistol that was still pointed at him. Then he felt the burning pain like a hot poker had been thrust into his chest. It was a new sensation for him. He looked down. A thick green fluid was oozing from a gash in his cape. “This is impossible!” he raged. “Your human made weapon cannot hurt me.”
“It can if its bullets are made of an iridium osmium alloy,” said Wilson.
“This isn’t over,” said Lex Ton, even as he faded into a cloud of mist. Wilson looked on in amazement. “He’s gone.”
“Indeed,” said Aberdeen.
“Thank you, Mr. Aberdeen. I don’t know what I’d have done if you hadn’t come along.”
Aberdeen nodded. “You are quite welcome. You have a heart for the suffering of humanity. You are well worthy of being saved.” Aberdeen watched the last of the mists fade in the wake of Lex Ton’s departure. “I seriously doubt that he will return anytime soon, you dealt him an indeed serious blow.” Then he turned back to Wilson. “Iridium osmium alloy bullets, I truly didn’t see that coming. Well played, doctor.”
“Who are you?” asked Wilson. “And don’t tell me that you’re a representative of a group of investors interested in my project.”
“I seriously doubt that you would believe me if I insisted upon pursuing that charade further,” replied Aberdeen. He paused when he heard approaching footsteps beyond the door.
A few seconds later a security guard arrived at the door. “I heard a gunshot.”
“So did we,” confirmed Wilson. “It sounded like it came from further down the hall.”
The security guard continued on, leaving Wilson and Aberdeen behind.
“Deception,” noted Aberdeen.
“I didn’t much care to try and explain what transpired here tonight,” said Wilson. “It would be, well, complicated.”
“Agreed,” said Aberdeen.
“But you knew that creature,” replied Wilson.
“Not personally I assure you,” said Aberdeen. “I know him by his reputation, such as it is. He is a pompous ass even by drell standards.”
“And you threatened him,” noted Wilson.
The Realm of the Drells Page 14