The Howling

contents unknown.

'Wonder where the proprietor is,' Roy murmured.

A soft green curtain covering a doorway at the rear of the shop moved, and Karyn and Roy looked that way. The curtain parted in the center, sliding along the rod on silent rings, and a young woman stepped through.

The woman's hair was raven black, and soft with glinting highlights. Her eyes slanted just barely, and were a pale green that seemed lit from within. She wore a loose satiny garment that covered her from throat to ankles. When she moved it touched her in a way that revealed the lithe body underneath.

'Hello,' the woman said in a smoky voice. 'I wondered when you would be in.' Her pale-green eyes were trained full on Roy, ignoring Karyn.

'Well, hello,' Roy said in a tone Karyn barely recognized. 'Were you expecting us?'

'I saw you in the village yesterday. I knew you would be here soon. How may I serve you?'

An old grandfather's clock behind the counter ticked four times before Roy answered. 'Candles,' he blurted. Then, more composed, 'We wanted to buy some candles. We've moved into what I guess is called the old Fenno house.'

'Yes, I know,' said the black-haired woman. Noting Karyn's quizzical look she added, 'In a small town there are few secrets. My name is Marcia Lura.'

'I'm Roy Beatty, and this is my wife, Karyn.'

'You do have candles?' Karyn said. It came out more sharply than she intended, but the other woman did not seem to notice.

'Oh, yes, Mrs. Beatty, I have candles of all kinds.' Marcia Laura turned to face Karyn. In the way she moved and the sharp contrast of pale-green eyes and midnight hair there could be a powerful attraction for a man. Was there also a challenge? Karyn wondered.

'We don't need anything elaborate,' Roy said. 'Just something for the dinner table. Something romantic.' He gave Karyn a quick grin, but his gaze quickly returned to Marcia Lura.

'I understand,' Marcia said with a slow smile. 'I'm sure I have something that will please you.'

Karyn kept her smile in place, but behind it she ground her teeth. Never had she considered herself a jealous woman, but now it infuriated her the way this woman directed her conversation to Roy, and seemed to put double meanings on everything she said. Maybe, Karyn thought, the double meanings were in her own mind. In any case, she did not intend to be upstaged.

'Do you live here in Drago?' Karyn asked, moving a step closer to her husband and touching his arm possessively.

'Yes, I have rooms right here behind the shop. There's not much space, but being alone, I don't need much,' Marcia said with a smile. Her mouth was wide and full, a pale-pink shade that might or might not have been achieved with lipstick. 'If you will step over this way I'll show you what I have in candles.'

They settled for half a dozen slim green candles with a pair of plain glass holders. Not until Roy was paying the woman did Karyn notice that the candles matched the color of her eyes. When they left the shop Karyn felt a vast relief at being back in the fresh air. She reached down and absently scratched Lady behind the ear.

'Striking woman, wasn't she,' Karyn said as casually as possible.

'Who? Oh, yes, I suppose you could say she was.'

'You didn't notice, I suppose.'

Roy snaked an arm around Karyn's waist and pulled her close to him. 'Hell, yes, I noticed. Want to make something of it?'

Karyn smiled, happy to have her husband's full attention once again. 'Maybe,' she said. 'Once we get home and get those romantic candles lit.'

'Do we need any groceries?' Roy asked.

'I don't think so. You did a pretty good job of shopping yesterday. We could use bread and some milk.'

'We can pick that up down at the Jolivets'. He doesn't say much, but she's a character. Anyway, I want you to know where the telephone is.'

Karyn stopped suddenly and looked at him. 'What telephone?'

'Our telephone. Didn't you notice that there isn't one in the house?'

'No, as a matter of fact, I didn't.'

'There are no wires strung out there. Anytime we have to make a call we use the phone at Jolivet's store.'

'When we go rural, we don't mess around,' Karyn said.

They walked on up the street to a false-front wooden building with a faded sign reading Jolivet's General Merchandise. Inside, the store seemed to be stocked indiscriminately with hardware, clothes, and groceries. It had probably looked the same for the last forty years.

Standing at an ancient cash register was a round-faced little woman with a snub nose, rimless glasses, and a bright smile. 'Hi, Roy,' she said with easy familiarity. 'I see the little woman got in all right.'

'That's right,' Roy said. 'This is my wife, Karyn. Oriole Jolivet.'

'My, you're pretty as a picture,' said Oriole, coming around the counter and taking Karyn's hands. 'I just knew a handsome devil like Roy would have a looker for a wife.'

'Well, thank you,' Karyn said, a little embarrassed, but flattered as well.

'That's my husband, Etienne, over there by the meat case,' Oriole said.

A long-faced man looked up from the tray of chops he was arranging and gave Karyn a sad smile.

'You're the first new folks to move into Drago in quite a spell,' Oriole told them. 'Hope we'll be seein' you around from time to time.'

'I'm sure you will,' Karyn said.

'No need to wait till you have to buy something, just come on by anytime you feel like chewin' the fat.'

'I'll do that,' Karyn said.

'Good, good. Do you like coffee?'

'I love coffee.'

Oriole's smile got even brighter. 'That's the kind of talk I like to hear. Yes, indeed, you and me are goin' to get along fine, Karyn. Now you wait right there and I'll go out back and pour us all a cup.'

'I don't want you to go to any trouble — '

'No trouble at all, honey. Be back in a jiffy.'

Oriole bustled out and returned in a moment carrying a tray laden with cups of dark, rich coffee and thick slices of cinnamon-sprinkled coffee cake. Karyn sipped the coffee and chatted with Oriole while Roy prowled around the store. For the first time since arriving in Drago she felt at ease.

When they had finished the last of the coffee and cake, Roy bought a loaf of bread and two quarts of milk. He put the candles in the bag with the groceries and they left the Jolivets' store.

Lady, who seemed to sense that they were going home now, bounded off down the street. Watching the dog, Karyn touched Roy's arm and pointed toward one of the old houses. There a boy and girl of about twelve stood motionless in the front yard watching them. Their faces were grave, their eyes shadowed. A woman came out onto the porch and said something. The children turned silently and went inside.

'You know,' Karyn said, 'those are the first children I've seen in this town.'

'The rest of them are probably in school.'

'Where? I haven't seen anything in Drago that looks like a school.'

'Maybe they go over to Pinyon,' Roy said. 'Does it matter?'

'I guess not,' Karyn said, 'but it does seem odd.'

Chapter Five

That night in bed Karyn gave the finest acting performance of her life. She twisted and moaned under her husband; she dug her nails into his back. She caressed him with her hands and with her mouth. She heaved her body to meet his thrusts and clamped her legs around his waist. She cried out words of passion as she felt his climax burst inside her.