Read Online Temporary Monsters by Craig Shaw Gardner - Free Book Online Page B

the group’s destination. Lenny tugged on the Baron’s cape.
    â€œCan I ask a question?”
    The vampire waved at the rats. “Whatever you want. My creatures are at your service. What do you need?”
    Need? Lenny hadn’t actually thought that far ahead. Perhaps he should ask the most important question of all.
    He cleared his throat. “Please tell me—uh—creatures: What do I have to do with all of this?”
    And the rats sang again:
    There once was a young man named Lenny
    Who came here with nary a penny.
    Before this has passed
    He’ll look back to his past
    And find that his problems were many.
    Lenny stared down at the mass of vermin. “That isn’t helpful at all.”
    â€œI referred to them as informative,” the Baron replied brusquely. “Never did I suggest they might actually be helpful.”
    Lenny shook his head in disbelief. “And—the rats speak in limericks?”
    Lenore nodded. “The ways of the supernatural are beyond our understanding.”
    The Baron stepped forward. “I should lead the way now. Pits are not so deadly to those who can sprout wings.”
    Somebody else would lead the way? Really? Lenny remembered to breathe again. The four of them moved forward slowly, staying close together. The corridor ended up ahead. He half expected to see an elevator, but instead the hall reached a T-junction, with more hallway leading in either direction. They paused just before the junction.
    As far as Lenny could tell, the two corridors looked exactly alike. Now would be a good time for whatever “talent” he had to speak up and tell them which way to go.
    â€œLook!” Lenore pointed above another of those brass light fixtures. There, written in white chalk, were the words BAD GUYS THIS WAY! and an arrow pointing left.
    Lenore frowned. “Either Lenny’s powers manifest themselves in even more surprising ways—”
    â€œâ€”or we have guide,” Karnowski finished her sentence.
    â€œThe man who has eaten onions,” the Baron concluded.
    Lenny realized his team had stopped walking.
    â€œPerhaps he wishes to help us,” Lenore suggested.
    â€œPerhaps is trap,” Karnowski countered.
    â€œVampires are not afraid of traps.”
    â€œThat’s good,” Lenny replied with more conviction than he felt. He turned to the left. “Because this is the way we’re going.” It was only after he started walking that Lenny realized he was leading the group once more.
    His foot hit something hard. Lenny yelped as he fell forward on the carpet.
    â€œWait!” Lenore announced with authority.
    Nobody moved.
    â€œIs another trap?”
    The Baron let his hands turn to mist. “There is a pressure plate hidden beneath the carpet.”
    Lenore nodded. “If one of us stepped on it, it would have released dozens of knives, spring-loaded behind the walls to either side. Lucky for us, Lenny tripped over it instead.”
    â€œThe plate is flush with the floor,” the Baron said as his hands rematerialized before him. “How could anybody trip?”
    â€œLuck has nothing to do with it,” Lenore replied.
    â€œIs Lenny,” Karnowski agreed.
    â€œPerhaps.” The Baron still looked skeptical. “But what now?”
    Lenny cautiously got to his feet on the far side of the trap. “We walk around it.”
    The others stepped carefully past the trap as they continued down the hall.
    â€œNo more ghosts,” Karnowski commented as they walked. “At least, no new ghosts.”
    â€œNo other threats that I can smell,” the Baron added.
    Lenore extended both her hands, palms outward, as though she was feeling the air. “The signs are becoming more uncertain. There is danger in the distance.” She shook her head. “I know no more.”
    Karnowski nodded. “Hopefully is in distance we are not going.”
    Lenny frowned. Didn’t evil