Read Online Suspended In Dusk by Ramsey Campbell, John Everson, Wendy Hammer - Free Book Online

I only live seven double-wides down from them. I woulda taken them for the night,” Mabel said. “Any of us would have.”
    I knew that was a lie. I didn’t need to look at anyone else in the place to know they were glancing away from Mabel now. And she was one to talk. She’d be the first to come up with an excuse not to take them brats in. OK, maybe the second here to do it.
    Chuck scooped his scrambled eggs into his mouth and shrugged before walking out. We all watched him as he sped away in the police cruiser, lights and sirens blazing as if he had just gotten a call.
    But I knew there would be hell to pay soon enough. Chuck was going to hold a grudge like his daddy and his daddy before had, and I decided I might skip the diner tomorrow morning.
     
    * * *
     
    I decided to stay inside tonight and maybe they’d find someone else to do their dirty work. I was done and frankly I was exhausted. After the altercation with Chuck I got nothing done all day except kick around the trailer and watch the woods.
    The missus didn’t never miss a thing with me and she glanced at the screen door and frowned. “You feeling alright?”
    “Yep.” I sat in my worn armchair in the living room and stared out the window. “I’m fine. You?”
    “Why ain’t you on the porch? Your hand is shaking. You forgot to buy tobacco? I can go next door to Clint’s and see if he has a pinch for ya.”
    “That won’t be necessary. I’m just not really in the mood tonight is all.” I wasn’t, true enough. I’d barely eaten my supper and she’d made pork chops, which is my favorite. Besides, about two hours ago, I’d already gone over to Clint and bummed some from his stash. Clint and I rarely talked but we did share the common love of pipes.
    “Suit yourself. If you’re not going outside to smoke, you can help me with the dishes.”
    “Ahh, woman, can’t you see I’m not up to anything tonight?” I asked a bit forcefully, even for me. I knew immediately I’d hurt her feelings. “Now, now, don’t go tearing up on me. I’m sorry. I don’t know what’s gotten into me.”
    I stood on my shaky legs and went to her as fast as my old body would take me.
    “I was joshing, you know,” Sandra said quietly. I hugged her. Even after all these years I can still manage to say something boneheaded and asinine to my wife. I guess some things will never change. “You going to call your boy?”
    “I will when I get time,” I told Sandra. I was trying to keep Junior out of my thoughts as much as possible. I didn’t want to accidentally have a loved one in my head in case them things went looking inside my skull for a name.
    “What’s the matter?” she asked, feeling me stiffen as I had my arms wrapped around her.
    “Nothing,” I mumbled and pushed away from her. “I… nothing…”
    They were right on the porch now. I could feel them. There were at least four of them in my head, asking me for names, asking me to give up my neighbors so they could go about their business.
    “No,” I whispered. “I can’t.”
    “Are you alright?” my wife asked me, putting a hand on my face.
    I couldn’t put her into my head like I’d done them kids or their mama. I wouldn’t let them take her in the night. “Clint,” I said loudly.
    “What about him?”
    I know my eyes got wide then. “He’s next. He’s going to die tonight.”
    But they weren’t done. No. They demanded more.
    Last night I’d inadvertently given them those two brats. Now that was the new deal. Now they were expecting two.
    “What are you talking about?” my wife asked. “Clint?”
    I nodded. “And his wife Susie.”
     
    * * *
     
    “You need to go talk to the sheriff,” she said to me. She’d wanted to warn Clint and Susie but I told her it was too late. These creatures don’t mess around. I knew she didn’t believe me.
    “Look what happened to Heffer and her brats,” I said. “And they’re going to ask me for two more names tomorrow night.”
    “Not