Some of the kids were on an old couch and in some chairs, with a few on the floor also. I quickly investigated the other two rooms, but there was nothing in them except a couple of old mattresses. The house was a place to drink, get high, and have sex.
Doc Gant had made her way inside by the time I finished. The place brought forth in her the same reaction that the rest of us had already experienced. She greeted Sheriff Head and turned to me with a much less friendly look. I knew what was coming before her mouth even opened.
“Jedediah Woods, that bobcat of yours had better mind her manners! The last time she took ten years off my life, and I damn near had to change my britches! I will tan your hide and skin hers for a pair of mittens if that happens again!” She emphasized her tirade with a harrumph at the end.
I meekly replied, “Yes’m, I do apologize for that. I don’t think she liked your tuna fish sandwich much.”
“Don’t you sass me, boy! I didn’t ask that critter to help herself to my lunch.” She said this with a small grin. I knew that she liked Elowehi despite all the bluster.
Doc Gant was pushing sixty, I would guess. I remember when she first came to Marion County and opened her small practice. She had bright red hair and only stood about five feet tall, and she was as thin as a pond reed. That little lady didn’t back down from anyone or anything. She had spirit and a caring heart everyone respected.
Sheriff Head spoke up while trying to suppress his laughter. “Doc, have you seen or heard of anything like this before?”
“Now, don’t you be rushing me either, young man! You already know I will not guess before I fully examine this whole scene and run all the lab work,” she stated clearly. “I suggest we get a rush from the lab on those ziplock bags, although I don’t think alcohol had a thing to do with this tragedy.”
Sheriff Head meekly said, “Yes, ma’am.” He thought that this woman was a force of nature just like we all did.
“Sheriff, you mind if I take a closer look at the baggies?” I asked, and he handed me a pair of gloves as a sign of approval. I carefully lifted the bag to my nose and caught the scent of dark magic. I closed the bag back up, not sure what had changed this weed.
“Tell the State boys to handle this with care and get their magical consultant on it as soon as possible. I smell dark magic on it, but I don’t know what it is,” I directed. “In the meantime, I am going to head back outside and see if Elowehi has found anything. I’ll let you know what turns up.”
I carefully slipped a sample I had snitched from the bag into my pocket, figuring I would check it out with my personal consultant. That is, if Stacey would do it. She was about as stubborn as Elo. Well, maybe more so if I’m honest. Females leave us men confused and chasing our tails most of the time, but I enjoyed mysteries even if they often left me befuddled.
Chapter Four
As I was leaving the house, I noticed a stubby tail jumping out the window of the sheriff’s Bronco. Whatever Elo did is not going to be good, I thought, wishing that the sheriff had put his windows up. I sent out my displeasure to Elo. I must admit the scolding was combined with amusement as I wondered if she found anything that I had missed.
Suddenly I felt a sharp prick in the back of my calf. The little hussy had stuck her claw in me! I could feel her disdain for my judgment about her behavior but hadn’t realized she was that close. Guess I was still a little rattled by the scene. Elo looked up at me for a moment, then walked away. After a few steps she looked back, and I could feel her impatience that I hadn’t followed my better, or at least, that was the way she looked at it.
I picked up my pace as Elo cut off to the right side of the house and around the front. There sat a jacked-up blue Chevy 4 x 4 Sierra and a small red Toyota Camry—the kids’ vehicles, I assumed. Next to the door was a track I recognized immediately, along with a pungent scent. It was light enough that a normal wouldn’t catch it, but overpowering to Elo and me. Pukes, I thought in disgust. “Pukwudgies” was what the Delaware Native Americans called them, along with a few other tribes, but I found “Pukes” a very fitting name.
Pukes were a form of goblin two or three feet tall, gray-skinned, with large ugly pointed noses and ears. Those ugly bastards looked like a small person with a bad case of rickets, sharp teeth, and pointed ears had starved to death. They could change into large porcupines, and I had heard it said they could control the soul of any human they killed, but I have never seen evidence to back that up. I considered them an infestation that I wanted to eradicate.
Elo let out a menacing hiss in agreement with the emotion rolling off me. The damn creatures were nothing but servants; delivery boys most likely glamoured to appear human. Hopefully, they would give me a lead to the person running this shit show, though I had a prime suspect in mind and the hunt was on!
Chapter Five
I sent an image of home to Elo. She would know to meet there. It was time to gear up for the coming fight. Cutting across the woods brought me to my cabin. It had started as one-room, but over the last few hundred years, I had added on to give myself plenty of room and modern comforts. I was off the grid and self-sufficient, the way I liked to live. I didn’t rough it by any means. I liked my satellite dish and internet connection. Being able to research and stay in touch were essential tools for bounty hunting. Plus, I didn’t want to miss an episode of Forged in Fire.
Few people had seen the inside of my place in the last couple of decades, but the ones who had were usually surprised at my comfort level. I grabbed a Guinness from the fridge as I headed for my weapons room.
Long life had brought many changes in weapons over the years. I have seen guns develop from the Kentucky Long Rifle to automatics. I was going with a 9mm Taurus 24/7 G2 pistol. They could take a beating and held seventeen rounds. For blades, I grabbed a tactical tomahawk to offset my Bowie/Kukri hybrid, both made in my home forge. I had found early in life I was a natural at blacksmithing, and it helped pay the bills. Last was a Wilson short-barrel AR9 full auto and a Stubby 9mm AR15 so all the ammo would be interchangeable. This hunt would lead me into tight areas, and the Stubby would allow me to maneuver easily. Filling a pack with extra ammo, water, and venison jerky rounded out my supplies—no need to overload. The phrase, “Ounces equal pounds and pounds equal pain” that I had picked up from the military ran through my mind. The backup I always carried was a Taurus Judge. I had a personal fondness for the 45 LC, and it could chamber 410 shotgun shells. I snatched some C4 plastic explosive and a crossbow at the last second. Nothing like explosives and silent death to make it a party.
It was getting late in the afternoon; time to head back to town. By now Stacey would be at the bar and could hopefully shed some light on the sample I had taken from the crime scene. I headed for the garage where I kept my 1 1⁄4-ton 4×4 Jeep M715. She was a classic and in great shape.
An overgrown path that ran for a couple of miles helped keep people out of my area. Once the tires hit the gravel road, I picked up speed, arriving in town about forty-five minutes later. Knowing the front door wasn’t open at the 5th Wheel yet, I went to the rear, let myself in, and called loudly to Stacey. I didn’t want to surprise her and end up on the wrong side of her temper. I had learned in the past that could be painful.
“Up front, Jed.” I heard her call as I wove my way through the stacks of beer and other liquor in the back.
Stacey looked good as I entered the main bar room. She was wearing short shorts, a tight t-shirt, and cowboy boots, making my thoughts scatter for a minute until her laugh snapped me back to the present. That damn woman knew exactly how to maximize her assets.
“Distracted by something, big man?” she purred.
“You know it, darlin’.’” I grinned. “Only thing is, I need some help—but not that kind of help—at the moment.”
“You’re no fun this afternoon,” she stated with a fake pout.
“Sorry, but it has to do with those kids that they found this morning,” I apologized.
&nbs
p; Stacey went from playful to serious instantly as she waited for me to continue. I placed the sample from my pocket on the bar. It had the basic look of weed. She was an expert on plants and herbs from Earth and Oriceran. If anyone could help solve this mystery, it was her.
She looked intently at the sample before picking it up and rolling it through her fingers, then she raised it to her nose and inhaled its earthy scent. Striking a match to the sample, a bit of smoke wafted up. After inhaling a little, she began to lose her balance. I caught her before she could fall.
“Is this what it takes to get those arms around me?”
“What just happened?” I inquired, worry in my tone.
“It’s ok, Jed. I know what you’ve got there, and it’s not good for anyone” she informed me. “Some jackass has mixed local weed and Oriceran nightshade. Get ahold of Doc Gant immediately. Those kids might not be dead!”
We were in luck; the authorities were still waiting for enough transportation to move the kids. I quickly filled in Doc Gant on what Stacey had told me.
“We’re on our way to you as soon as Stacey grabs her kit,” I said.
“Swing by my greenhouse on the way, Jed. I need something fresh to reverse the effects,” Stacey requested as we jumped in my Jeep. Racing down the street, I hung a right on Stacey’s road and swung around to the back, where she kept a small greenhouse to raise the plants she used in her potions.
Stacey emerged moments later from the greenhouse holding a large leaf that looked very close to an aloe spear but was deep purple.
I got us moving toward the crime scene. Stacey settled back into her seat and reached into her bag to pull out a mortar and pestle. She turned the large leaf into purple paste, then added other items to the mixture.
Arriving at the scene, we rushed into the front room and Stacey began rubbing the mixture on each kid’s forehead. Once treated, she took out her wand and began to speak.
“Evigilationem Significasse,” she intoned loudly.
I could see the kids beginning to breathe normally and the eyes start to flutter on all but one of them. I knew then that it had been too long for young Scottie. He wasn’t an outlaw kid, but he could be a little wild. He didn’t deserve death for being an idiot. I vowed to myself that I would find the person behind this crime.
Medical personnel were working on the kids as they came awake with loud moans and groans.
“They will have a massive hangover, but they will all be ok except the Wiseman kid,” Stacey said, her voice cracking with a mixture of anger and grief.
“Gotta look at the good part. You managed to bring most of ‘em back from the brink,” Doc Gant lectured Stacey. “We will know what to do going forward.”
“I don’t know who is behind this crap, but they are using Pukes as delivery boys. I’m heading into the woods from here to hunt the pack down. Doc, can you give Stacey a ride back into town?” I asked.
“No problem, Jed. Go do your job,” Doc answered.
Stacey and I headed outside so I could find the trail and start hunting before sundown. Stacey is tough as nails, but at the same time, she has a good heart. Not being able to save them all had hurt, but I knew she would be ok after some time to work through it. I felt sorry for the crowd tonight at the bar if anyone did the wrong thing. All that anger would make someone’s night miserable.
“When you finish taking care of business, come find me tonight, no matter how late.” Her tone left no doubt this was an order, not a request.
“You know I will. We can drink, mourn, and celebrate,” I replied seriously.
“Be smart and come back in one piece or you will wish you had!” she quipped, walking over to the doc’s vehicle with an extra swing in her hips.
Chapter Six
I moved silently through the forest as the shadows got longer with the setting sun. Elo set a brisk pace as we followed their trail. I suspected they would be in one of the many limestone caves scattered across the area, with some up in the trees as lookouts for the den.
About seven miles into the forest, I smelled their stink strongly on the breeze. Time to slow down and be on alert. Nothing could fuck up the day more than a giant pincushion dropping on your head. I figured they would be in porcupine form in the trees and goblin in the cave. Night had not fallen yet, and Puke eyesight was much poorer during the day since they were nocturnal creatures.
Cocking and loading the crossbow, I began scanning the trees in search of the lookouts. Moving slow and letting my natural abilities help me blend into the forest, I covered about a half mile before spotting the first one in the nook of an old oak tree, rolled up into a ball with its beady eyes darting around the area.
The sniveling little cowards never did anything alone; there had to be at least two of them on watch. I kept scanning the trees but was unable to locate the second until I glanced at the rock wall farther up and off to the right. The other was in the shadows on an outcropping above a jagged opening into a limestone wall. There would be more in the cave, so it was time to come up with a plan.
I moved laterally through the undergrowth to draw a bead with the crossbow on the ledge and sent Elo an image of the one in the tree, so she would know her target. I got back disdain from her; she knew her job. Damn feline, I thought. Maybe she should have made the plan.
Now, I sent to Elo as the bolt flew silently from the crossbow. The only noise from the trees was a slight rustling of leaves as I verified a clean hit through the eye on my target. Looking back at Elo’s target, I could see the throat ripped out through my optics. Two down, unknown number in the cave.
I moved up close to the cave entrance, staying out of the line of sight. I didn’t want to blow the entrance yet since I wanted a backup in case of a tactical retreat, but I placed enough C4 with a remote detonator to close the opening in case I needed it. I stashed my pack, crossbow, and AR15 in the brush because some of the cave might be a tight space. Bullets wouldn’t be safe in there; ricochets could make it a really bad day for me. Even with my healing ability, I wouldn’t come back from one in the brain. I loaded the Judge with 410 shotgun shells for close work; they had less chance of a ricochet. The tomahawk and Bowie would be the best tools.
The sun had just dropped behind the tree line on top of the knobs, as the locals called the wooded hills in this area. It was time to enter the cave since now I could go in without the light behind me. My eyesight was exceptional even in the dark, so I didn’t require night vision equipment.
Moving into the opening low and slow, I adjusted to the gloom. The opening was rough and narrow, causing me to turn sideways as I inched my way inside. After fifteen feet, the passage opened into a large chamber. Stopping, I scanned the area. I counted four of the little goblin bastards. They were stripping the weed from drying racks and putting it in plastic bags, and there was enough of the crap to cause an epidemic. Only two ways to destroy the magicked dope, fire or explosives, and I was all out of matches. This place was going to go boom.
Elo brushed against my leg. I could feel her anger at the Pukes for having invaded her territory. They were working in pairs, and I sent Elo to the farthest from me. She could move in the shadows unseen.
The air in the cave was acrid, the smell like a combination of rotten eggs and sulfur. The stench burned my eyes and stung my nose.
As quietly as leaves falling from a tree, I reached striking distance. The tomahawk flew from my arm straight to the target. Moving swiftly with the Bowie in my other hand, I headed for the second one. The other goblin’s face held a look of confusion as I barreled into it. Hearing the thunk of the ‘hawk as it buried itself deep in the first target, I slid my blade through the rib cage into the heart of the second Puke.
Elo’s scream of attack reverberated in the cave, and I headed toward the next pair. I could see her launch into the face of one. Her razor-sharp claws sliced through her first target’s eyeball, causing the creature excruciating pain. Pushing off the first one with her muscled back legs, Elo propel
led herself forward, sinking her teeth into the throat of her second target.
I quickly covered the distance, slamming my knee into the chest of the last one still breathing. Pinning it to the ground while placing my knife across its throat, I held back my instinct to kill it. A trickle of sick yellow looking blood ran down its neck when I applied pressure to the blade.
“Tell me who is your master if you want this to end quickly,” I growled, but it stayed silent.
This creature knew it was already dead for what it had done, so it was not about to cooperate. Pulling my 9mm, I put a bullet into its right shoulder with precision. The Puke thrashed in severe pain as I kept it pinned to the floor.
“Tell me your master's name or the other shoulder is next,” I shouted.
“The dark man, the dark man,” it howled.
“Give me his name and I will stop the pain,” I replied.
“Baron. The master's name is Baron,” it whimpered.
I readjusted my aim and pulled the trigger, sealing its fate. I had suspected the Baron was behind it after seeing him at the bar, so that confirmed my theory. That cleanup would require planning and information gathering. Now was the time to finish this place off.
I made a circuit around the cavern, placing the rest of my C4 charges in strategic spots, and retrieved my tomahawk. Elo was already outside. I took four pics with my phone, then a couple more after I made my way outside to submit for the bounties. Pukes didn’t pay much, but any money is good money. I moved off a safe distance before flipping the switch cover on my detonator and mashed the button in satisfaction.
The ground rumbled under my feet, and rock and dust filled the air. As things began to clear, I could see the cliff had collapsed, sealing the entrance effectively. I was sure the C4 had destroyed everything inside, so it was time to head home.
Tales from the Oriceran Universe: Fans Write For The Fans: Volume 1 (Oriceran Fans Write For the Fans) Page 7