So Much Blood I was all groggy, my head was pounding, which I was actually getting used to having been waking up with headaches for almost a week now. I could also feel motion of some kind. There was also an irritating whipping sound.
"Ah, back with the living I see," said a husky voice I was all too familiar with.
"Whaaaafh..." I tried to speak, but it came out all wrong, as if my tongue had swollen to fill my mouth.
"Now Jacob, don"t go trying to speak. You"re going to be fine."
Ms. Cuddy?
My eyes opened slowly. I was sat in the back of my truck. Ms. Cuddy"s large body filling the s.p.a.ce beside me. Her hand squeezing mine in a rea.s.suring manner, clamped down like a vice. Used to hugging and holding dogs not humans.
I must have had a confused look on my face, because Ms. Cuddy went into an explanation of events. "I was talking to you one minute and the next... poof." She motioned with her hand, with her jumper sleeves all rolled up, regardless of the temperature. "You were flat out on your back." The movement caused all the cellulite on her arms to jiggle like a big pink jelly.
I had fainted again. What a wimp.
"Not to worry, Mr. Cain, Dr. Greatman had a quick look at you and said you"re simply overtired." The driver looked in the rear view mirror at me.
"Been over doing it lately have you?" Officer Kemp asked. Officer Kemp was the local policeman in charge of the area. He was now driving my truck with me in the back with my number one fan, obviously taking me home. I strained my neck. Yes, one of his police cars was following us, to take Kemp and Cuddy back once I had been safely dropped off.
He asked the same question. "Been over doing it?"
Talking with the Devil. Burying dead bodies in my garden. Mysterious happening I couldn"t explain. Blood all over me when I wake up. Vomiting veins and pink raw flesh. Had I been over doing it? f.u.c.k yes, with a capital Y.
"Sorry still a little groggy," I finally answered. "I have a deadline I have to meet, just been over working that"s all."
Officer Kemp kept his brown-eyed stare fixed on me in the rearview mirror, regardless of the road ahead. He was a natural policeman he didn"t trust anyone. As the saying goes, he"s always on the job. Being a policeman was a twenty-four hour profession, he never went off duty. He was the sort that would arrest his own son on suspicion of being related to him.
He was almost as big as Ms. Cuddy, could have been her son, if it wasn"t for the full head of ginger hair that stuck out in every direction, as well as his freckle covered pale face, the sort that would turn bright red and burn if the sun ever came out. He also had an oversized, fat rubbery always wet looking lower lip. But apart from his unruly hair and balloon lip, he was always perfectly groomed, taking great care to always look the part. Thinking about it, I don"t think I had ever seen him without his uniform on. Ginger t.o.s.s.e.r.
"A new book, Jacob?" Ms. Cuddy couldn"t resist asking excitedly.
"Yes," I simply said, while trying to ignore Kemp"s judging round faced stare. "But I can"t say too much about it."
She shook her big head, placing a fat finger on her swollen lips. "Mum"s the word," she whispered, giving me a quick sideway glance, as if she was half expecting me to pull the thick ma.n.u.script out from the thin air and pop it down on her big lap. She stank of her wet dogs. Blonde golden retriever hair now covered my back seat, which only hours ago was saturated with dry blood.
"I see one of your windows has been broken...?" Kemp left the question open. I felt like my truck had been turned into an interrogation room. I had been married three times, I was a fast liar.
"While cutting up wood for the fire a chunk ricocheted hitting the widow."
"You cut wood beside your truck?"
"Not any more." I smiled. "Never make that same mistake twice." I then gave a strained laugh, which probably sounded as fake as if felt.
We were coming up to Hay-Tor, pa.s.sing it on our right. Now just a dark silhouette against a slightly lighter purple background.
The black plastic bags, which were covering the gap of the broken window, were flapping and crackling like they were in a tempest. The sound wasn"t helping my headache. I must have cracked the back of my head when I fainted.
I peered out the window, mainly so I couldn"t make eye contact with either of the other truck occupants. I then noticed the same red Ford still in the car park. The only car around, apart from the police car flowing behind.
Kemp pulled his eyes away from the rearview mirror and noticed the small red car. He got on to his two-way radio, asking the car behind to check it out. We pulled over to the edge of the road, waiting for a response.
Can"t even leave young lovers alone, I thought. Just trying to find somewhere quite to have a little harmless fun. He"s probably a raving pervert. His sort always is. I had heard his wife had left him a long time ago. He"s probably got a stack of p.o.r.nography that could fill a wardrobe, and a collection of different types of oil so his hand doesn"t get too chapped.
The three of us watched quietly as the police car rolled slowly up to the parked car. We could hear the gravel crunching from where we sat.
I broke the silence. "Thanks for everything, but I feel fine now, I can drive myself home." Visions of the mounds in my back garden sprang up into my minds eye. The last thing I needed was Kemp looking around my property.
"Now, now, Jacob, Dr. Greatman said it would be best if you could be driven home. I myself can"t drive, as you well know, but Officer Kemp agreed to take you." There was a big smirk on her face as if she had done me a huge favour.
I could imagine being asked a favour by Ms. Cuddy. She has probably known Kemp all his life and she likes to remind him of that fact. Used to bounce you on my knee and all that rubbish.
So it was entirely the fat b.i.t.c.h"s fault that I was in this predicament.
"No problem, Mr. Cain. Only to pleased to be of a.s.sistance," he said while looking in the mirror again. But his eyes said different.
Bet he didn"t even trust his own mother than one. If he hadn"t already arrested her for something.
The radio on Kemp"s lapel blared to life.
"Holy Mary. Jesus H. Christ." Then there came a gagging sound, as the officer on the other end emptied out his supper, while still holding onto the b.u.t.ton.
I wonder what the H. stood for, I found myself thinking, even at a time like that. Holy?
"Pete! Pete! Come in Pete..."
"You better get over here. f.u.c.k, this is bad," Pete whispered into his two-way radio.
Even Ms. Cuddy realized something important was happening. She didn"t even mention the fact that the young man had cussed and had also taken the Holy Mother and Jesus names in vain. She was now sat as far forward as her large frame would allow, trying to get a better view of the red car. She had pulled a big silver crucifix out from under her jumper and was stroking it absentmindedly.
Kemp reversed the truck, pulling in right behind the police car, mumbling all the while, stating that if Pete was wasting his time he would get zebra crossing duty. Kemp got out, but not after telling Ms. Cuddy and I to remain where we were. He slammed the door harder than was necessary and then walked over to the young officer, while trying to pull his trousers up his belt had so many accessories on it, it was a losing battle.
All I could see was Officer Pete leaning over, his hand resting on the bonnet of the police car, sick down his police jacket. He straightened up and spoke to Kemp, his face all ashen, pointing to the open door of the red car.
Ms. Cuddy always the busybody and not wanting to miss out on some possible gossip clambered out the truck (with a lot of side shuffling involved) stating she would see what the fuss was all about. I looked on as her plump body wobbled over to, then past the two policemen. Then whatever she saw turned her hysterical. She screamed wildly, her arms flying up in the air, pulling at her hair. She took several steps back before tripping herself up and falling backwards into a screaming heap.
Kemp rushed over from talking with his officer, and started helping her to her feet, then pulling her back to my truck.
"I told you both to stay in the vehicle," he said while helping the hysterical Ms. Cuddy up and into the pa.s.senger front seat. Giving me one of his stares as if it was my fault, and I had sent her over to investigate.
"Mr. Cain, do you think you"re capable of driving yourself and, Ms. Cuddy home?"
"Of course," I was relieved that he wouldn"t be going anywhere near my house. "Why, what"s the problem?" I asked with genuine interest, trying to stop my face reddening. He always made you feel guilty, as if everything was the fault of the person standing in front of him. Or it might simply be the fact that I had been dragging dead bodies around over the last several days, and I felt like he could read that on my features.
"Nothing to worry yourself over. We will see to the situation." His eyes staring and giving nothing away. Fat rubber lip bouncing.
I clambered into the front seat, as the ginger t.o.s.s.e.r started making his way back to the incident, not even giving a backwards glance, but pulling his radio from its shoulder lapel and talking into it. Possibly calling for back up.
Ms. Cuddy was now crying softly into her hands, her face a smeared mess of make-up and straggly hair that had fallen loose from her bun. She was now blowing her nose into a tablecloth-sized blue hankie. I knew she wasn"t easily shaken, having been through much in her lifetime. She now held tightly to the silver cross that she had ripped from her neck, breaking the chain. She was holding it so hard, and changing it from hand to hand, that I could see red welts where she had gripped it. Several times while muttering something I couldn"t hear she raised it to her lips to kiss.
I wanted to know what she had seen, but I knew she would offer that information as I drove her home, even in the state she was, she wouldn"t be able to help herself. A perpetual gossip.
I reversed slowly. I could already hear more police sirens walling in the distance, or it was possibly an ambulance. I could never tell the difference between the two.
"Poor souls. Poor, poor souls," Ms. Cuddy was now saying over and over, like it was some sort of soothing mantra.
I pulled away, giving the area one last look in my rearview mirror. Both red car doors were now open, but I couldn"t see inside.
"Poor, poor souls." She was crying softly now, sobs shaking her obese body. "So young. So, so very young."
I drove in silence, a part from a few vague remarks from Ms. Cuddy, which broke up her crying. Until I had to ask the question that was burning on the edge of my tongue.
"What happened?" I tried to use my most understanding voice.
She started crying even harder, her body shaking even more violently. Her huge woollen jumper bobbing about on top of her huge frame. Always the same kind of jumper, I noticed myself thinking, a large patterned top that was always to big and baggy, even for some one as large as her, along with a pair of riding slacks, even though I had never heard her mention anything about owning a horse or ever ridding one. And the ever-present Wellington boots. And hair that"s always got a mind of its own, normally tied up into an untidy bun. They"re a breed all to themselves dog and horse breeders, and of course nannies.
For f.u.c.k sake, you fat b.i.t.c.h, tell me, I wanted to scream at her. But instead I placed one hand on top of her shaking shoulder, in what I presumed was a rea.s.suring manner. She s.n.a.t.c.hed my hand up with one of her own, squeezing it like a sponge or a dog lead.
"So terrible. So, so violent," she wailed.
What? I wanted to scream at the blubbering woman. Jesus, this was harder than trying to get a straight answer out of a politician "All twisted. So much blood. So much blood." She carried on crying all the way to her bungalow.
I didn"t want to go in, even to hear the story. Dogs aren"t my favourite animals and the last thing I needed was to be covered in dog hairs and their dribbling saliva. I would find out soon enough via the radio.
So I dropped her off. Ms. Cuddy lived right at the far end of Bovey Tracey; how she got into the town centre I don"t know. Possibly her sister could drive.
As I was thinking that her even fatter sister was making her way out of the bungalow to meet her. News travels fast in small villages. The fact her sister already seemed to know what had happened before I even arrived there didn"t surprise me at all. Small towns and villages have communication networks that even the CIA would envy.
The two fat ladies disappeared into the bungalow; arms wrapped tightly around each other"s wide frames. The door shut, accompanied by the welcoming barking of many dogs.
On the way home I turned on the radio, flicking through the local stations until I hit upon what I was looking for. Palm 105.5 FM was running the story.
" The scene of the carnage was fallen upon by Constable Peter Aaron Perkins, who is now being treated for shock.
"The officer in change of the scene, Officer Kemp, said it looked like some sort of large animal attack. But it"s being looked into. Anyone who was in the area around Hay-Tors two car parks, between one and seven P.M. has been asked to step forwards as possible witnesses "
I turned the radio off. Animal attack indeed! I didn"t know of any animal large enough to attack two people inside their car and then shut the doors before it wandered off.
I had seen the car earlier, after talking with the old deaf ice-cream man. I was parked about thirty meters way. I hadn"t heard a thing.
I didn"t want to even think about any other possibilities.
"So much blood," Ms. Cuddy had kept repeating over and over. I woke up with no blood on me. I was still holding onto the cold cup of coffee.
I pushed the thought from my mind, as I pulled into my long overgrown driveway. My outside light was already shining brightly. And there, standing at my door, was another visitor waiting for me.
14.
The Tower of Babel I pulled up under the cover of my garage. I walked off; hitting the alarm on my trucks key-fob causing the front indicators to flash twice, while emitting a loud double beep.
Some how I knew he would be waiting for me. How long? I didn"t know or care.
As I headed towards him all I could see in the dull light was smoke trailing off from around his face. But what I first thought was a young man was in fact a young woman, possibly around twenty-five or so. The hazy light having distorted her outline.
She stood about my height; thin, but not sickly looking. Long lank black hair that fell flat against her back, it looked greasy or possibly wet from having recently been washed. She was wearing nothing but a light blue dirty nightgown, just like the old lady from four nights ago. Her feet were naked and dirty, also being covered in hundreds of small thin cuts.
The main disturbing thing about her was the large blossoming red mark that was originating from somewhere around her stomach area, with dribbles of blood running down the inside of both her naked thighs. But luckily the robe was pulled tight together.
She didn"t say a thing as I approached, simply continued to smoke, long plumes streaming from each nostril. She stood aside as I opened the door and walked in.
All the lights were on. I couldn"t remember if I had left them on or not. The fire still burned steadily. The house was warm and welcoming. It had done me some good to get out, even with what had happened.
She took her normal seat without a single word. Her bare feet slapped against the wooden floor, until she reached the rug.
I went to put my keys in the small bowl, but remembered it had broken a few nights ago. I simply dropped them to the table surface with a loud clatter, which seemed to echo throughout the silent farmhouse.
She was watching me intently; staring so hard it looked like she was trying to read my genetic code.
I removed my jacket, tossing it onto the back of the couch, and took the seat opposite her.
We both sat in silence for a few minutes. The only sound coming from her puffing on the cigarette. She cleared her throat to speak. A small dribble of blood issued from the corner of her mouth.
"You decided to answer tonight then?" Her voice was all strained as if being all stressed, cracking, rising and falling quickly like a drug addict, who was going through Cold Turkey.
I didn"t bother answering the obvious. This didn"t affect her in anyway.
"Got some colour back in your cheeks I see. Have you been eating properly at last?"
I didn"t know what she meant by that. But then I realized I hadn"t eaten all day, but I wasn"t in the least bit hungry. Bloated even.
The wicked Cheshire cat smile spread across her unnaturally white face, twisting the corners of her mouth upward. Another dribble of blood issued from the other side of her mouth, running down her neck, smudging on the top of her robe. Bubbles of blood rose and popped on her lips.
"Nimrod, I believe we were up to? Nimrod meaning Let Us Rebel." She pulled hard on her cigarette, covering the end in bright red blood. She went back to her story, not bothering to mention anything else that had happened with my nephew.
"He was the first great leader of mankind, now there was none of our powerful sons left upon the surface of the earth. He rallied the people together. He " she looked upwards " wanted the people to spread out, fill the earth, as was His original plan for mankind.
"But Nimrod wanted all the people in one place, so he could rule over them." She removed the cigarette, coughing once, spraying droplets of blood all over the carpet, just landing short of hitting me.
"They knew what had happened to their ancestors, what with the flood and all. So Nimrod decided to build a great tower, so if He decided to end mankind again, then they could all simply climb to its pinnacle and be out of the reach of the waters. Naive I know. I said he was a great leader of men, but I didn"t say he was intelligent.
"We could no longer appear in the flesh, but we had different, more subtle means to steer humanity towards our wicked ways.