My piece of blog fiction continues...
_______________________________
DARKENING
STURGEONS
Chapter Twenty-Four
By John L. Harmon
“Gone.”
One
word. One deep, deliberate word slams
against Sheriff Benjamin Straker like a cannonball, but he takes a cue from its
speaker, keeping the painful reaction hidden deep inside. Deep inside, where he already knows the
answer to his next question, but he must be certain.
“Gone
where?”
“Lester
Lawrence has joined Bob Kinney, the perverted Schroder boy, and many other
residents of Sturgeons in oblivion.” For
a microscopic moment, the matter-of-fact expression of Eugene Raymond Stickler
twitches into delight.
Ben
registers this delight, but, while keeping his gun aimed, refrains from pulling
the trigger. No matter how tempting it
is. Instead he fires yet another
question. A question he has a visual
answer to, but not a verbal explanation.
“How?”
“My
collection.”
“Your
what?” fires Christine, as her attention is drawn away from the surrounding
scientific technology.
“Gnats,”
Eugene Raymond Stickler answers simply, with a proud, nearly fatherly glint in
his eyes. “Genetically and
cybernetically altered gnats that can swim, swarm and devour at my command, to
be precise.”
“But…”
Samuel joins the conversation, struggling to find words after such a massively
bizarre explanation, “…our readings indicate natural energy, atmospheric even, but
cybernetics would…”
Before Sam
can continue, a wide, knowing smile creeps across the face of Eugene Raymond
Stickler, sufficiently stifling his voice.
It becomes obvious to those paying attention that there is more going on
than what is being said.
Questions
develop in this moment of silent stillness.
Scientific queries occur to Christine and Sam, while only one word forms
in Ben’s mind. One word born of
emotion…why…but before it can be asked, Clyde inadvertently answers it with
barely a whisper.
“Ben, look
at this.”
The
television monitor, which Clyde has been entranced with since entering this
laboratory, becomes the center of attention, causing the Sheriff to turn away
from Stickler and lower his gun. On the
flat, wide screen, images of buildings from various positions and angles flash
before their astonished eyes.
It is
disturbing enough for Ben to realize that Stickler has the whole town wired,
but then the truth becomes far worse. He
sees the darkness—Stickler’s so-called collection—enveloping and laying waste
to Sturgeons.
“I have
always hated this town,” Eugene Raymond Stickler states dispassionately.
Sheriff
Benjamin Straker steadily turns, aims and fires his gun until all that remains
is empty clicking.
_________________________
JLH
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