An Occurrence in Crazy Bear Valley

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Authors: Brian Keene
toward its brothers. As it did, Stephens saw an opening, raised the shot-gun, and blasted it in the head. His horse grew frenzied, spinning in a circle and lashing out at anything within reach of its hooves. It kicked both the crazy bear and Stephens. Both fell to the floor, Crystal narrowly sidestepped a kick and shot one of the new intruders. A second later, Johnson’s gun roared in accompaniment.
    “It’s getting a might crowded in here,” Stephens shouted. “We need to do something, boss!”
    Hairy corpses littered the ground outside the window, but with only Gunderson and Morgan to cover it, the creatures were gaining ground. As both men stopped to reload, the beasts rushed them again, racing forward with a collective howl.
    “Shit.” Morgan hurried to reload. “Shit, shit, shit, shit, shit…”
    “Get back, boss.” Gunderson jumped to his feet and pulled Morgan away from the open window, spitting tobacco juice as he did. Then he picked up the splintered remains of the table and shoved it against the hole. He glanced around hurriedly. “Find me something to hold it up with.”
    Nodding, Morgan clambered to his feet, not even bothering to comment on the fact that Gunderson was now giving orders.
    More creatures rushed through the open door and the hole in the wall. Another bounded down through the space in the roof. Johnson and Crystal held them at bay while Gunderson and Morgan barricaded the window. Five more crazy bears fell dead. The panicked horse neighed and kicked. Stephens lay in the corner, unmoving. The shotgun lay by his side.
    “I reckon Stephens was right,” Gunderson said. “It is getting crowded in here.”
    “I’m empty,” Johnson hollered. “Somebody give me some more bullets.”
    Crystal backed away, moving toward the center of the room. “I’m empty, too.”
    “Form a circle,” Morgan commanded. “Everybody stand back to back.”
    The bunkhouse began to tremble and shake as more of the creatures converged on it from every side. Sod and stones tumbled from the ceiling. The walls buckled. The crazy bears poured into the shack, leering and hooting with glee. Gunderson, Morgan, Crystal and Johnson formed a circle and faced them down.
    “I need more ammunition,” Johnson repeated. “Anybody got some?”
    “Use your knife,” Morgan told him. “We ain’t got time to find more for you now. Gut the fuckers instead.”
    The beasts approached them cautiously. One lashed out at the horse, swatting at it with an oversized, clawed hand. The horse reared up on its hind legs and struck back. The crazy bear leaped aside, and the horse turned and charged toward the wall. It crashed through the weakened structure and ran into the darkness. Immediately, a dozen furry forms flung themselves at it, crushing the poor animal to the ground as they clawed and bit and tore.
    “Run for it,” Johnson yelled. “It’s our only chance. Everybody skin out.”
    “No,” Morgan hollered. “You won’t make it ten feet if you—”
    Above them, the roof groaned. The bunkhouse shuddered as if a tremor had passed beneath their feet. Even the marauding beasts slowed, glancing upward in sudden confusion.
    “Oh, hell,” Gunderson whispered. “Boss, I think Johnson might be right. I reckon we out to go.”
    Morgan opened his mouth to respond, and then, with a thunderous crack, the roof collapsed on them, burying man and beast alike. They didn’t even have time to scream.
     
     
     
    SEVEN
     
     
    When Crystal opened her eyes, she didn’t realize it at first. She couldn’t see anything. Alarmed, she wondered if she’d been struck blind. Then she wondered where the others were. She listened, but it was quiet. She heard something far away that might be a bird, but no frightened voices or groans of the injured. No growls or roars, either.
    “H-hello?” Her voice was hoarse, her mouth dry. It came out more like a rasp than a shout. Working up some spit, Crystal tried again. “Hello? Is anybody

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