Aaron as he moved through the sunken cemetery, their alabaster skulls grinning as if the scavengers feeding on their trailing flesh tickled.
Aaron noticed a plastic name tag stuck between the ribs of one of the corpses. It read BANK MANAGER.
Hanging nearby (with no apparent means of support), Aaron found a rope macrame hammock, and suddenly he grew very tired. He climbed into it and fell deeply asleep.
Chapter 43
Ashley lay across the bed in Room 107, staring at the TV. The local station's weather man looked if he had been through the dry cleaners along with his suit. His forecast was for rain and high winds throughout the night.
NEWS FLASH:
A hostage was reported killed today during an armed robbery at the downtown branch of Community Plaza Bank. The murder took place at approximately 9:30 this morning. Witnesses said the gunmen wore the same brightly painted ski masks and carried assault rifles similar to the ones used in a series of robberies that took place in the city yesterday. Police have initiated a citywide manhunt.
Ashley took no notice of the report. She checked her watch. 6 p.m. She stood and turned off the TV, slipped the gun into her purse, grabbed her car keys, and stepped outside.
– She paused on the sidewalk for a moment, scanning the parking lot as leaves and bits of trash bounced by on a wind gearing up for a heavy storm. Darkness was approaching and a light rain had begun to fall — and it was very cold. Ashley buttoned her light jacket, pulled up her collar, and turned to lock the door.
Suddenly a voice said, 'Going somewhere?'
Ashley whirled around, expecting Death himself, but it was only the pint-sized proprietor of the Sands Motel: Doolin Mars, in his print pajamas.
' Doolin! ' she cried, staggering back a step. 'Damn you! Don't do that!'
She moved toward her Nova, favoring her ankle as she leaned into the wind, each step hurting. She could feel the loathsome creep following her.
'Can't talk now, Doolin,' she said over her shoulder. 'I'm in a hurry…'
Doolin called after her into the wind. 'I was hoping you'd have dinner with me tonight, Arlene.'
My God, she thought, this guy's unbelievable. 'Can't tonight… I really have to go.'
With a surprising burst of speed, Doolin ran around her and blocked her path. 'I worked real hard preparing a special dinner for you,' he said, breathless from the effort. 'I expect you to show me the courtesy of — '
'Screw you, Doolin, you freaking weirdo. You're insane! Get out of my way.'
Doolin stood firm, looking at Ashley with a puzzled expression on his face, as if surprised by her attitude.
Ashley shoved him aside. 'I said move, you little fly!'
Doolin grabbed her arm with a grip that would leave a bruise, but Ashley twisted free. She fell back a step and pulled her gun, gripping it with both hands, aiming at Doolin's crotch.
'Keep your filthy paws off me, you slimy little bastard!' she screamed. ' Or I swear — I'll blow your fucking balls off! '
Doolin stumbled backward, hands in the air. 'Okay, okay,' he said, 'I get it. It's cool. I get it.'
Ashley sighted on him as he moved away from her. 'And stay away, you maggot! Leave me the fuck alone!'
She jumped in her Chevy, tossed the gun on the passenger seat, and started the engine. Then she slammed it in gear and floored it out of the parking lot — swearing never to return.
Chapter 44
Aaron jolted awake, terrified: One of the pirate skeletons had leaned over him and was shaking him by the shoulder with an osseous hand.
' Aaron…' it hissed through gnashing teeth. ' Aaron, wake up…'
A cold, deep-ocean current moved through the ship like a limpid sea monster, rocking Aaron's hammock and sending a shiver through him. He cried out, delirious, clawing desperately at the hand on his shoulder.
'Aaron,' the voice repeated, but sounding different. 'Wake up. It's Willy. It's time to go.'
Aaron gave a deep shuddering sigh and opened his eyes. Willy's familiar face emerged.
'Oh, man…' Aaron said, looking around to get his bearings. 'You wouldn't believe the weird dream I had.' More like the fantasies of a lunatic, he thought.
Willy was torn between relief and anger; it hadn't been easy for him either. 'It was weird, all right,' he said. 'I thought you were OD-ing or something. You were flying all over the couch, waffling on and on, and I couldn't understand a bloody thing you were saying. You really put the willies up me, mate.'
He walked over to the sink and splashed some cold water on his face, then returned with some damp paper towels and used them to cool Aaron's forehead.
'We need to go,' he said. 'The morphine should help for a few hours. Can you walk?'
Aaron pulled back the blanket and slowly sat up. 'There's one way to find out,' he said confidently. Then he carefully swung his feet out onto the floor.
He stood, pausing with his hand on the arm of the sofa, waiting for a wave of dizziness to pass. The table with the medical supplies was a few steps away, and he marked it as a goal. Then, with considerable effort, he shuffled to it and leaned on it for support as another wave of dizziness came and went.
His tongue was puffy and sticking to the roof of his mouth. 'Can you get me some water?' he asked. 'My mouth tastes like a handful of dried cat turds.'
Willy laughed, happy to hear Aaron's humor returning. He poured him another glass. 'Are you gonna be okay, mate?'
Aaron took several delicious sips of water, with short breaths between. Though still in considerable pain, and in spite of his dizziness, he was thinking clearly, now, and he knew what had to be done. 'I have to be,' he replied.
Willy found a black wool overcoat draped over a chair and picked it up; it hung thick and heavy in his hands. He carried it over and showed it to Aaron.
'Look what I found,' he said. 'Try it on for size.' He held the coat for Aaron as he slid an arm into one sleeve.
'It's warm,' Aaron said, running a hand over the thick weave. The coat draped nearly to his ankles. 'Thanks, Willy.'
Willy rolled up the bulky sleeves for him and straightened the lapels. 'I should say, old chap,' he remarked. 'You look rather dapper.'
He shoved the bottle of morphine tablets into his pocket and picked up the lantern. 'Are you ready?' he asked.
'Ready,' Aaron replied bravely. 'But there's some stuff we need to do on the way out.'
'No problem,' Willy said. 'Lead the way.'
