Free Darkly The Thunder by William W. Johnstone Page B

asked it. It answers in nursery rhymes and riddles and singing.” All songs that are at least thirty years old, that thought suddenly come to Gordie. That’s got to mean something. But what?
    Clearly, the doctor thought the sheriff was nuts.
    Although he didn’t say it, his eyes spoke loudly enough.
    Watts picked up on the man’s feelings. “If it was just one or two of us who heard it, Craig, you’d be right in thinking us a bit loony. But we’ve all heard the thing.”
    Mack called out, “Sheriff, Blanco Five reports a group of young people, college age, coming down on the ghost town road. They’re about a mile from Ed’s cafe. Four boys and four girls. They’re all bloody as a butcher and pretty well shook up. He’s requesting two more units to help bring them in.”
    â€œAll right, roll them. Bring the kids here. How’d they get bloody? An accident?”
    â€œNo.” Mack chose his words carefully, in this day of scanners and people listening to every word the cops say. “The same thing that’s been giving us a little trouble.”
    â€œThat’s interesting.”
    â€œNow what?” Judy asked.
    â€œWe’ll soon find out.” Gordie turned to his chief deputy. “Lee, get that meeting with the mayor and city council set up. Right now. I want them here in ten minutes. Go.” He turned to Dr. Anderson. “You stay for this, too, Craig. You can check out the young people as we bring them in.”
    â€œAll right. I’ll get my bag out of the car, and call for a nurse to meet me here.”
    OH, GOODY! MORE PUSSY ON THE WAY.
    That stopped the doctor cold. He looked back at Gordie. The sheriff spread his hands in an I-told-you-so gesture.
    Gordie looked around for Howie and Angel. He found them sitting together in a corner of the room. He smiled at Angel and winked at Howie.
    They both grinned at him.
    I DO HOPE THE DOCTOR IS CALLING FOR THAT GOOD-LOOKING NURSE AND NOT THAT OLD BAT. HE’S GOT ONE OVER THERE THAT WOULD STOP A P-38 IN A POWER DIVE.
    Howie jerked his head up at that, his eyes narrowing. Gordie watched the boy, wondering why the sudden interest.
    DID YOU LIKE MY LITTLE SURPRISE, GREASEBALL?
    â€œIf you’re speaking of the destruction, yes, it got my attention.”
    GOOD. THEN I TRUST YOU WILL DO NOTHING MORE ABOUT YOUR ABSURD PLAN TO EVACUATE THE TOWN?
    â€œWe have no plans to do so at the moment.”
    GOOD. VERY GOOD. WELL, TA-TA, ALL. I MUST BE OFF TO SPREAD MORE GOOD CHEER.
    Craig sat down heavily in a chair. His tanned face was shiny with sweat. When he spoke, his voice was shaky. “Any chance that it’s being done by human hands? You know what I mean.”
    â€œI think you know the answer to that as well as I do, Craig.”
    â€œYeah. Unfortunately, I do.”
    â€œCars coming in with the kids, Sheriff,” Mack said, standing up behind the console. “They look like they’ve had a bad time of it.”
    â€œTake their statements, Rich.” He walked over to Howie and Angel. “Howie, you seemed awfully interested in what the voice had to say.”
    â€œOh, not really,” the boy said with a smile. He held up a piece of paper. He had written: Nothing important to be said aloud, Sheriff.
    Gordie grinned and patted the boy on the shoulder. He took the note and handed it to Watts, who read it, shook his head in agreement, and began passing it around.
    The others read the note and grinned at Howie.
    â€œNow he’s a star,” Angel said. “I always knew you’d make it, Howie. Just remember me when you’re rich and famous.”
    Gordie laughed and then sobered as he looked at the gang of young men and women walking wearily through the front door. They did indeed appear to have had a rough time of it. He checked his watch, wishing the mayor and the town council would get their butts in gear.
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    Events were flying past