Read Online The Winter People by Bret Tallent - Free Book Online Page A

car.
    On the back rear
quarter panel above the wheel well, was a scratch.  Four deep grooves about two
inches apart ran up the side from the wheel well to the side window frame.  Not
just gouges either, Hayden thought.  They literally ripped the metal, parted it
like a large nail split old dried wood.  Hayden trembled in a wave that lasted
only seconds, but he would feel cold for a long time.
    Hayden had seen
enough, and though he was certain he knew what had happened here, it didn't
make him feel any better.  Somehow, he knew it wasn't over.  He knew, in fact,
that this was only the beginning.  At least that's what his gut was telling him,
and he'd learned to listen to it in the last sixty years.  He turned and headed
back to the Suburban.
    On his way there,
Hayden noticed the sky.  The front was nearly upon them and he could actually
feel the wall of snow that connected the clouds to the land, out before him. 
Though it was too dark to see detail, he knew that it was there.  And the
clouds were somehow different as well, preternatural.  He could feel something
in the storm that was moving to envelope them, malevolence.  It was evil.
    He looked up at
the surreal darkness that was blotting out the sky and the stars and all that
was rational, and he shivered.  Hayden didn't have the slightest idea why, but
he was afraid.  This storm would be like no other he had ever seen.  This would
be a storm he would not forget.  He jogged back to the Suburban and climbed
inside, risking one last glance at the sky before he closed the door.  Evil.
     
    ***
    Nick and Mike
watched the sheriff intently.  He had found something in the Jeep that had made
him excited but they couldn't see what it was.  Then he looked like he was
going to be sick.  Next, he had slipped something into his pocket.  He had just
stayed there for a long time and Nick had nearly gotten out.  But the thought
of seeing that scene again prevented him from doing anything.  He simply looked
at Mike, who was looking back at him.
    Finally the
sheriff had finished with his investigation and headed back to where they were
waiting.  On the way he paused to look at the sky.  This in turn, caused Nick
and Mike to look out the windows as well.
    "Jesus Nick! 
Would you look at that?  That's a hell of a storm coming in, isn't it?"
Mike's eyes widened as he looked up at the dark mass in the heavens.
    Nick felt that it
was more than a storm, he could sense it.  "Yeah," his voice was barely
a squeak.  His throat was dry and his tongue felt thick and heavy. 
"Yeah," he repeated.
    The driver door
opened and they were assaulted by a biting gale.  They jerked around,
startled.  Climbing into the cab was Hayden, fighting to close the door against
the pull of the wind.  Nick instantly noticed the small bulge in his coat
pocket and could stand it no longer.  But Mike had beaten him to it.
    "What'd you
find?!" Mike blurted out.
    Hayden ignored the
question with a question of his own.  Pulling down his hood he asked, "Did
either of your two friends own a gun?"  He could see that both men were
taken aback.
    "What gun?"
Mike asked, puzzled.
    "Yeah,
Marty's got a couple…a shotgun, a rifle, and a hand gun.  Why?" Nick
offered.
    Hayden pulled the
gun from his pocket and showed it to them, "Is this the hand gun?"
    Neither on said
anything, Nick only nodded.  Their eyes focused on the weapon.  After a moment
Hayden put it back in his pocket.  He could see that they were visibly shaken
and said no more so that they could accept what was happening.  He released the
Velcro of his face mask and pulled it off.  His face was flushed and wet where
the mask had been.  He unzipped his coat as well, Hayden was beginning to
sweat.
    He turned the key
in the ignition and the truck's engine turned over reluctantly, slowed by the
cold.  It finally caught and grumbled to life.  Hayden began to turn the car
around when Mike repeated his question, nearly yelling this