The Bulb People Page 10

  I desperately need an antidote myself, so does Mom. I’ve recently seen her drinking on the sly when she thought nobody was watching. She really hit the bottle hard when Dad left, but tapered off as she adjusted to the shock. By the time Bob came along, she was back to being just a moderate social drinker. Now she’s upping her alcohol intake again.

  Where is it going to stop? I realize that I love Mom more than anyone in the world. She is my greatest friend, even through she’s gone off the rails this past year. I don’t want to be mad at her anymore. I wish I had a magic wand to make everything better.

  Why am I so inadequate?

  Mom must have felt inadequate too – trying to hold things together on her own, blaming herself for Dad’s actions, struggling to protect me. But she’s become stubborn and condescending, ignoring my real concerns, convincing herself that she knows best – all the time, about everything. She’s become Super Mom who can’t admit she’s made a mistake.

  Everybody needs to grow up here. We need to hit the reset button. Above all, we have to get out of this hole.

  30: An Eerie Departure

  When the time seems right, I creep partway down the stairs and peer into the first floor. Bob is still at the dining room table and, worse yet, Katie is sitting in the living room watching television. She glances toward the stairs, and I jerk back.

  Then she gets up. I pray that she won’t see me crouching in the shadows, but she walks right past the stairs and into the kitchen. I hear the freezer door open.

  Tense moments pass, then:

  “Dad,” Katie calls. “This ice cream is too hard for me to scoop. Can you help?”

  Bob mutters something irritable and follows Katie into the kitchen.

  I can’t believe my luck! As quietly as possible, I slink across the living room and out the front door. TV noise covers my escape.

  Outside, the final sun rays slant through Bridgestock, bathing everything in a hard, golden glow. I hope that I haven’t waited around too long.

  My thinking is that Billy and Morton will enter Melody Acres while there is still some sunshine. They’ll want as much light as possible in order to locate the Bulb People, but they’ll also want darkness to provide cover against any witnesses who might happen along. They’ll be operating in the Twilight Zone, so to speak.

  Of course, it they’d bothered to ask me, I could have told them it’s easy to find the monsters. They just need to follow their noses and their fear. But they didn’t ask me, did they? Well, they’ll just have to figure out on their own when to use their ‘antidote’ sprayers.

  But I’ll be there to help!

  The thought fills me with excitement – and extreme anger, as well. Those creatures tried to kill me, and I owe them a big time pay back! Not only that, but the trauma of watching Larry getting devoured will stay with me forever.

  Twenty years from now, when I’ve got kids of my own to be responsible for, I’ll still be having nightmares about it. My kids will think I’m some kind of weirdo, waking them up with my screams.

  Funny, I haven’t been angry at all until now; I’ve just been happy to be still alive.

  But as I walk the deserted streets my anger starts to cool, and I have an eerie sensation of being observed. By the time I reach the town square, I can almost feel eyes boring into my back. I stop by a park bench and glance around.

  Nobody.

  The courthouse bulks like Castle Dracula in the gathering dusk. Its discolored marble throws off a dull, unearthly gleam. Music drifts from the open door of the Yookey Lake Tavern, along with the sounds of a fist fight. On the other side of the square, Ruthie’s Kraut House Café looks almost inviting with the soft glow coming through the windows.

  A huge crow, or raven or something, lands on the back of the bench, right beside me. It’s the big granddaddy of the one I’d seen Sunday morning in the park.

  “Ugh!”

  I cringe away.

  The horrible bird carries wire-rimmed glasses in its beak – the sort Mrs. Thromp used to wear. It jerks its head my direction, running its black eye over me, as if it’s sizing me up for a coffin.

  “Nice birdie.”

  I edge farther away.

  I think of running, but fear that it will fly after me. So, I flick open my knife and jab it at the bird instead.

  “Go on, get out of here!”

  The crow flies off.

  “Good riddance.”

  I leave the square, too. But my satisfaction at this little victory doesn’t last long.

  As I move into the residential area, I feel a constant presence creeping behind me. I spin around and think I see a figure slip behind a tree. No, that really isn’t anybody ... is it? My feeling of adventure is long gone, replaced by fear and dread.

  Why am I being such an idiot?

  Back in the safety my room, fighting the Bulb People had seemed like a wonderful idea. Sweet revenge. For the first time in my life I’d be a hero. But out here, alone on these creepy streets – with somebody stalking me – I am rapidly coming to my senses.

  Face it, Ryan. You’re no hero.

  I imagine the Lottery crowd sneaking up behind me with fistfuls of rocks – or maybe it’s the pod aliens. I feel the powerful tendrils of the Bulb People gripping my toes as they drag me into a hellish pit.

  It’s all becoming too much for me. Maybe I should head back to the house. But first, I have to shake off whoever is following me.

  I turn a corner and conceal myself behind a lawn hedge. I wait among the prickly branches for what seems a long time, but it’s probably only a minute. Across the lawn from me, the house is dark and silent, as if nobody has lived there for a century. A clunky rhythm floats on the breeze, like the sound of wind chimes made from human bones.

  You’re being paranoid, Ryan, I tell myself. Who’d waste their time following you?

  I am about to slip away when I hear footsteps turning the corner. I crouch back down. The steps move right past my hiding place. They are quiet, but heavy and firm – like those of some large, dangerous person. Then they halt.

  My heart seems to stop with them. I grip my flashlight hard. It might work as a sort of club. My jack knife? No, I’d probably cut off my own fingers if I try to use it. Finally, I can bear the suspense no longer, and I peek through the branches out to the sidewalk.

  It’s Katie!

  I’m so surprised that I nearly cry out. As perverted as it sounds, I am almost glad to see her. She stands perfectly still, hands on her hips, her head rotating as she scans the area like an owl looking for mice. She sniffs the air, just as Larry did.

  Then she takes off – pock-pocking along the sidewalk in her Leopard Girl shoes. Straight for Melody Acres.

  31: Pursuit

  This is just great! Unless I can stop her, Katie will ruin everything. It will be all my fault, too! Billy and Morton will never forgive me. All thoughts of turning back blow out of my head like a panicked bat. I leave my hiding place and dash after her.

  We run an absurd race through the darkening streets – Katie moving farther ahead, me stomping along behind in my hiking boots. She could easily detect me if she looks back, but she’s running under the Melody Acres spell and nothing else matters to her.

  By the time we reach the dirt road on the outskirts of town, I’ve given up any hope of catching her. But then Katie suddenly loses her footing on some loose stones. She falls sprawling.

  “Ooof!”

  She’s back on her feet, examining her skinned elbow, when I catch up. I’m too winded to move another step.

  “Katie,” I gasp, “what are you doing out here?”

  She glances away from her elbow toward an item of lesser interest.

  “What am I doing here?” she snaps. “I could ask you the same thing, twerp!”

  “Uh ... well ...”

  My voice drains away. I have no cover story prepared.

  “You’re up to no good, that’s for sure,” Katie says.

&nb
sp; “I am not!”

  “Yes you are,” Katie says. “I heard you talking to that guy on the phone.”

  “What guy?”

  Katie places her hands on hips and gives me a hard look, Mrs. Thromp style.

  “The one who said you were going out tonight to do something,” she says. “Thought you were pretty smart hanging up, eh? ‘Gotta go, big test tomorrow.’”

  “How much did you overhear?”

  “Not much, but I’ll find out what’s going on.”

  “Nothing’s going on,” I say.

  “Yeah, right!”

  Katie barks a laugh, a sound a hyena might make on a bad day.

  “Did you think I called Dad into the kitchen by accident?” she says. “I knew you were hiding on the stairs waiting for a chance to get away.”

  Man, have I ever been faked out! When it comes to underhanded maneuvers, Katie is way out of my league.

  “Well, I’m going back home now,” I say. “So you can just forget about everything.”

  “Fine, I’ll go on alone, then.”

  She points toward Melody Acres.

  “You’ve got something planned out there, don’t you?”

  I don’t reply.

  “Don’t worry, I’ll find out what it is,” Katie says.

  “What about your dad?” I say. “He won’t like this.”

  “How’s he gonna know? He thinks I’m at a friend’s house.”

  Katie rolls her hand into a fist and takes a threatening step toward me.

  “I won’t tell him anything different, will you?”

  “Well ... it could be very dangerous,” I say.

  “Dangerous?” Katie laughs again. “I doubt that anybody you’d hang out with is very dangerous.”

  I am beaten and know it. Whatever happens tonight will include Katie, whether I like it or not. She prepares to start jogging again.

  “Coming, twerp?” she says.

  “Stop calling me that.”

  “Okay. Coming, dweeb?”

  She takes off. I clunk along behind – what choice do I have?

  Before long, Katie passes the billboard and moves into the open fields. It’s getting pretty dim now, and the ground is rough, so Katie can’t keep up her full Leopard Girl pace. I manage to stay within a few yards of her.

  Then she stops abruptly.

  “Over there.” She points ahead. “I see them!”

  I see them, as well. Two figures walking in the last of the daylight, each one pulling a wheeled contraption behind him – Billy and Morton.

  Katie stoops to pick up a rock. In her other hand she hefts a pointed object that looks like an iron railroad spike.

  “You won’t need that,” I say.

  “Probably not,” Katie says, “but it never hurts to bring a conversation piece.”

  I can imagine what sort of ‘conversation’ she has in mind.

  Things have been happening so fast that I’ve scarcely noticed where I am. But now, grim reality is sinking in fast. The terror I’ve felt out here before is returning with a vengeance. Fear vibrates up into me from out of the ground.

  Katie has no such problems. She acts very casual, as if she’s taking a stroll in some delightful park.

  “Are you coming with me, dork, or are you gonna chicken out?” she says.

  All my anxieties suddenly evaporate, and truly wicked ideas enter my mind. Well ... I tried to keep her away, didn’t I? No objective person can say that I haven’t given it my best shot. So, if something unfortunate should happen to her out here, it won’t be my fault.

  Toxic thoughts of revenge gurgle in my brain. Now that I’m thinking in tune with the surroundings, I no longer feel afraid.

  “All right, Katie, let’s go,” I say. “Family should stick together, right?”

  Katie grunts sarcastically.

  We move deeper into Melody Acres. Toward the Bulb People.

  32: The Avengers

  Katie slows her pace over the uneven ground, moving low and quiet in her best Leopard Girl style.

  “Get down!” she commands.

  I crouch and sidle along behind her as close as possible. If she intends to throw that rock at my friends, I need to grab her fast. Ahead of us, Billy and Morton walk very grim and stiff, like they’re marching in a funeral procession, dragging their deadly machines behind them.

  The devices appear to be weed sprayers with hosed nozzles, motors, and big tanks of liquid. The lawn service guys used similar things in our old neighborhood. In his free hand, Billy carries his ‘good luck piece’ metal pipe.

  We are very close before Morton spots us. He jerks with surprise, nearly upending his machine. I stand up and move from behind Katie.

  “It’s me – Ryan,” I say.

  Morton takes a few steps our direction.

  “Ryan!” he says. “Wh ... how did you find out?”

  Leopard Girl lunges forward.

  “What are you doing here?” she cries. “You’re trespassing!”

  She stands sideways to Morton, the rock gripped in her hidden throwing hand, ready to brain him. I prepare to jump her from behind. Then Billy approaches, holding up his empty hands to show that he means no harm.

  “It’s all my fault,” he says. “I told Ryan about tonight, but I didn’t ask him to come.”

  Katie’s attitude changes instantly. The rock slips from her fingers and thuds to the ground. She steps over to Billy, brushing right up against him.

  “Hi!” she says. “You’re not from around here, are you? My name’s Katie Warwick, what’s yours?”

  Billy steps back, his eyes wide with surprise. I’m surprised, too. Then again, Billy does have that ‘tough’ look Katie favors – though he’s nothing like the jerks she usually goes for.

  “Not gonna tell me your name?” Katie says. “You’d rather be a ‘mystery man,’ huh? I like that.”

  “Never mind,” Morton says. “Please leave now, Katie, and take Ryan along. You shouldn’t be out here.”

  “Oh yeah?” Katie turns threatening again. “My Dad owns all this property. I’ve got a lot more right to be here than you do!”

  She is brandishing her railroad spike, ready to slug it into Morton’s gut. It’s his turn to do the wide-eyed surprise routine.

  “Hold on a minute, Katie.” Billy takes her arm. “Can’t we talk this over?”

  She melts at Billy’s touch.

  “Sure we can talk,” she says. “Let’s get away from these losers. Do you have a car?”

  “Yeah,” Billy says. “Why don’t you go wait there for me while we take care of business out here.”

  “What business?” She points to the sprayers. “You gonna have a dandelion killing party?”

  “Something like that,” Billy says, slipping an arm around her waist. “You know, Katie, I didn’t realize there were any cute girls in Bridgestock until now.”

  “Really?” Katie says.

  “Yeah,” Billy says.

  “The guys here are all duds, too – totally boring,” Katie says. “So ... tell me something about yourself.”

  “Sure, Katie,” Billy says, “let’s get to know each other real good.”

  He starts leading her back toward the road, smooth talking her every step of the way. It’s getting pretty dark now, and he flicks on his flashlight to guide them along.

  The Bulb People are close now, I sense, very close. The fear of them barges into my mind. And we’re wasting time with this nonsense!

  A rotten smell drifts in the breeze as darkness grabs Melody Acres in an iron hand. I shine my flashlight into the distance. I think I see something twitching on the ground ahead of us!

  “Oh!”

  My knees start to buckle, and I barely manage to keep standing upright. More than anything, I want to take off after Billy. Just keep running until I am far away from this cursed place. I twist myself around until I face the road. My feet take a few steps.

  “Keep going, Ryan,” Morton says. br />
  He is badly scared, judging by the quiver in his voice. Yet he’s willing to stay out here by himself, just so I can be safe. I turn back toward him and say the hardest thing of my entire life.

  “No.”

  Katie’s shrill laughter pierces the gloom.

  “Not so fast, big boy,” she cries. “I’m not that kind of girl – yet!”

  Still laughing, she breaks away from Billy and runs back toward us, waving a flashlight beam playfully around. Billy chases after her.

  “What are you doing, Katie?” Morton says. “Go back.”

  “Your friend is quite a guy,” Katie says. “Not like those cheese weenies in town!”

  She suddenly grabs the nozzle of Morton’s machine.

  “What’s this for?”

  “Put that down,” Morton says, “it’s dangerous!”

  “Yeah, right,” Katie says. “My old boyfriend had one of these. We used to attack stray dogs with it.”

  Before anybody can stop her, she turns on the motor.

  “Hey, be careful!” Billy cries.

  He tries to approach, but Katie points the nozzle directly at him and freezes him in his tracks.

  “Just take it easy, all right?” Billy says.

  Katie laughs. “Oh come on, let’s have some fun!”

  She aims the nozzle toward the dark center of Melody Acres and lets fly with a jet of poisonous liquid. A powerful chemical odor burns my nose.

  “Wow,” Katie yells, “what a blast! This must be the supercharged model.”

  An unearthly screeching erupts – not tremendously loud, but ear-splitting on a psychic level. Like it’s coming from inside your head. The ground shakes, and choking dust fills the air.

  “What did I do?” Katie gasps.

  33: Combat

  Things happen incredibly fast.

  A semi-circle of grotesque shapes rips itself out of the ground not ten yards away. At first they are only dark outlines, but then they start to flare with a sick glow, like Christmas trees from hell.

  They begin moving toward us.

  Katie stands frozen in place, gripping the hose nozzle so tightly that Morton cannot wrench it away from her. Billy fires up the second machine.

  “Come on, Morton,” he cries, “let’s use this one!”

  They advance together, Morton wielding the sprayer, Billy armed with his steel pipe. The circle of glowing monsters closes in on them – all except one which lumbers toward me and Katie. The things are lumpy and bulb-shaped, like walking garlic bunches – but their stench is far more powerful.