***
They got to Rim Village as the monster was finishing up and evening was claiming the day. In the remnants of the light they could see it had decimated over half the buildings in the small community. The restaurant and several of the shops had been destroyed and it had ripped apart most of what was left. Water was running somewhere from broken pipes, and a few of the structures were haloed in electrical sparks, which faintly lit up the area.
Henry stood at the edge of the forest and took in the damage. It crossed his mind: Had the creature been so vindictively destructive because they’d retaliated? Shot at it? Because they’d angered it? Henry believed that to be true, but no one else would. Well, maybe Justin would.
There weren’t any fatalities, though, thank God. The smashed buildings had been empty. Pure luck.
“It’s a good thing we evacuated days ago,” Kiley panted. “We already have one bloodbath back at headquarters.”
“Yes, good thing.” Henry was surveying the mess. One of the buildings was on fire.
He asked Cummings to return to headquarters and have someone call into Klamath Falls on a car phone, if they couldn’t get a cell phone to work, for firefighting equipment. He was sure Greer had already put in a call for medical assistance.
The pre-historic encroacher was nowhere in sight, but they could hear its bellowing voice as it moved away through the park. The air was filled by the snapping of trees and foliage crushed beneath giant feet.
“Where do you think it’s heading now, Henry?” Kiley stood propped up against a tree, his face and clothes filthy. His head hung hopelessly in the fading light, as if he were so weary he couldn’t hold it up.
“Back to the lake, I pray to god, and good riddance, and not towards another populated area, like a town. We’d have a real problem if it decides to leave the park.”
“Wouldn’t we? I don’t even want to think about that possibility.”
“Me, neither.” Yet Henry had already thought about it and it filled him with despair. If that happened he’d have to call the local law enforcement authorities, the Feds and the media. The public had to be warned.
Walking towards the shattered buildings that had once been Rim Village, he gestured for the others to follow. “Anyone have another flashlight?” Though he had his, he wanted more light for their search.
The other two men switched theirs on and they advanced on the ghost village with the beams leading the way. There was only the sound of settling wood and leaking water pipes, the crackle of the fire. If anyone had been in any of the buildings, they were gone now, escaped into the forest or hiding somewhere. Henry prayed they wouldn’t find any bodies buried in the rubble.
“Before we leave, let’s check everything out. Make sure there’s nobody trapped in any of these buildings. Nobody in need of help or medical attention.”
The rangers trailed after him in the gloom as they shifted through the wreckage, their eyes nervous, their movements jerky, as if they were poised to run any second. Henry didn’t blame them for being frightened. They’d seen what the creature could do. But Henry had to be sure there wasn’t anyone who needed help before he and his men could leave.
Later, finding no one, they returned to headquarters and joined the others.
“Come on, Ann,” Henry murmured when he found her sitting, dazed in the dark, on what was left of headquarters’ steps. Those left behind had been afraid to call attention to themselves with lights. “I’ll take you back to Zeke’s.”
He pulled her to her feet and brushed the dirt off her jeans and shirt. He didn’t say a word about George; didn’t question her on why she’d been in the park in the first place. He’d noticed the camera but hadn’t said anything. She was feeling bad enough the way it was. They’d talk about everything later when she could handle it better. He was more concerned about the present whereabouts of the creature and what destruction it was wreaking at the moment.
Ann didn’t inquire about Rim Village, too overwhelmed with what had happened earlier. And helping with the wounded had numbed her the rest of the way.
He’d sent one of his rangers to update Greer, so he didn’t seek him out. All he had to do was get Ann someplace safe, someplace where she could rest and begin recovering from her ordeal. He’d never seen her in the state she was in. Her eyes were darkened with torment over what she’d seen that day and guilt over George’s death.
She inclined her head, and followed him, silently; clutching her camera and her purse like a security blanket. She wouldn’t meet his gaze. There was dried blood on her face, blood in her short hair. George’s blood. Henry pulled her into his arms and rocked her, but still the tears refused to come.
Men were moving around, searching for their missing friends or partners, checking the damage and the dead; shuffling around like zombies.
Dr. Harris was nowhere to be found. Probably still hiding somewhere, plotting ways to capture and cage the monster. Maybe he was chasing it through the woods, like a hound dog on a rabbit, so he wouldn’t lose sight of it.
As they were leaving, Henry saw Greer over a mangled body. He glanced up, recognized Henry, and signaled him to come over.
Ann insisted on coming with him and they walked over. Henry had overheard Patterson that morning talking about how Greer was a decorated Marine veteran. How he’d served three tours of duty overseas and had been a crack-shot sniper. Greer’s long white hair was wild, his face and suit dirty. A bent and smashed MP5K clutched in one hand. He threw the broken weapon against a tree.
“How about Rim Village?” he asked Henry.
Henry slid a glance at Ann, her eyes closed as she leaned against him. He never was one to lie, so told the truth. “Demolished. The beast leveled practically everything. Just like here.”
“Anyone else hurt?”
“Not that we could find. We checked the ruins. No one. Maybe some ran off. I hope so. Good thing we made everyone who could leave, evacuate days ago.”
“Lucky for them.” Greer rubbed his jaw with a shaking hand. He studied Henry. “Thanks to you. Park authorities wouldn’t have pushed the park evacuation at all. But you went over their heads and did it anyway.” The ex-agent paused, his shoulders falling. “There were enough deaths and injuries here.”
Henry was surprised at the emotion he sensed in the man. Greer had feelings after all. And by the way he was behaving; he now had a quest as well.
“You were right, Chief Ranger, in one way,” Greer added with determination in his eyes. “That monster needs to be dead. That’s all. Not brought in alive. Not put in a cage like some tamed zoo animal.
“But in another way, you’re wrong. You don’t believe that creature is evil. And, maybe, it isn’t really all evil. But as far as I’m concerned, if it keeps on killing–and I believe it will, until someone stops it–that’s my definition of evil, whether it’s intentional evil or not, human or animal. So damn the world and the creature’s right to live in it because it’s one of a kind. Damn Harris and his wealthy friends. Damn the Governor.
“We have to track the S.O.B. down and exterminate it as soon as possible.”
Henry smiled at the man, and remembered the story he’d recounted about that serial killer. The man believed in retribution. “My way of thinking exactly, Greer.”
He looked down at the woman huddled in his arms. “You seem to have everything in control and before anything else happens, I’m taking my wife to town so she’ll be safe. When I return we can discuss what we’re going to do next. I have some ideas I need to pass by you.”
“I’ll be here.” Greer was staring around at the wounded that had been gathered. The dead. Some were covered, some weren’t. Henry couldn’t bear to look at them any longer. They’d been friends. There were at least four dead, three rangers, including George, and one maintenance man who’d been in headquarters that day repairing the plumbing, and two wounded, whose groans filled the evening. There was only one dead body, though, because the creature had completely consumed G
eorge and two others of its victims.
“I’m sorry about your friend, George,” Greer whispered. “I saw the whole thing. He was a courageous man.”
A lump caught in Henry’s throat, but he managed to answer, “That he was.”
“Get your wife out of here.” Greer’s voice was normal again. “She looks like she needs a quiet place to recuperate.”
“How will we get to Zeke’s?” Ann said, suddenly seeming to be back with them. “My car was destroyed. It’s up the road a ways.”
Henry glanced at the smashed vehicle he’d been using the last few days. The beast had danced on it, too.
Greer was looking at the same thing.
“Here.” He handed Henry a set of keys. “Use my car. The black Chevy over there. It’s in one piece and I won’t be needing it for a while.”
“Thanks.” Henry took the keys. “I’ll return it after I’ve dropped Ann off in town. I won’t be gone long. I just want her someplace safe.”
“Don’t worry, Ranger, I’ll hold down the fort here until you get back. I don’t think our visitor from a horror film will return tonight, but I’m not sure, and we have to get these wounded out of here in case it does.”
“And we still don’t have those bigger weapons.”
“About the weapons, I’ll be making a call to someone concerning that soon as the ambulance picks our wounded up. I’m tired of waiting for what we’ve ordered through proper channels. I have a special friend, who I’m sure will help us–without questions and right away.”
“Great. That takes one worry off my mind.”
Henry steered Ann towards the car, helped her in, got in himself, and drove into the dark. He fought the desperation, the fear, in his gut, aware that his headlights could be seen for a long distance, and tried not to speed too much. It was hard. He wanted to be back with Greer and the others. There was work to do and they might not have much time before another assault came.
He and Ann talked little on the way. She was so sorry she hadn’t listened to him and came back into the park. So sorry George was dead. But she couldn’t bear to really talk about it yet, as if by not talking about him would change what had happened. She cried. Henry consoled her, driving one-handed, fighting his own grief, as well. He couldn’t afford tears or they’d end up in a ditch somewhere. Not a good idea. He had no clue where the monster was.
But during the drive all he could think about was when the creature would reappear. Where? Who would it butcher next? And how in the world were they going to stop it, before Harris brought in reinforcements to protect the damn thing?
For it was a certainty that if Harris wasn’t dead, he was off somewhere bending someone’s ear, trying to safe guard the monster.
Over my dead body, Henry swore. And meant every word.