Call Me Martin

Ari contemplated calling out for Charlene or Wilson but sensed it would not be wise. Martin was right behind him, matching his foot falls. The road rose up just a bit, forcing Ari to slow down. His heart pounded loud in his chest. His breathing rate increased. Not good, he thought, reaching down to make sure he had not lost his rescue inhaler. “Thank God,” he muttered.

Martin caught up to him.

“I used to have asthma too.”

“’Used’ to?” Ari asked.

“I outgrew it. Lifestyle changes.”

“Give me your secret,” Ari said, pausing to catch his breath.

Martin still wore his sunglasses. He had not taken them off, thought Ari.

Just as they approached the red gas pumps, Ari halted. Something dark was in the tall grass on the side of the gas station.

“I just saw…”

“Me too,” Martin said.

Ari trotted towards the dark shape. The tall grass was flattened in several places. He grimaced when he looked down at a pair of blood-soaked sneakers. A pair of black rubber cleats was nearby.

“Oh, My God,” Ari said, grabbing a handful of his hair and shaking his head.

Martin knelt down and examined a shoe. He tossed it aside and picked up a mangled floor lamp that had been fashioned into a spear.

Ari took off his glasses and rubbed his eyes.

“I tried to warn them. I really tried.”

Martin stood up.

’Yes, you did. But most human beings rarely heed warnings.” Martin paused. “Hmmm.”

“What is it?”

“Two pairs of sneakers, both men’s. I heard Charlene say last night that she was wearing sneakers. Do you see them?”

“No.”

“She may still be alive.”

“You mean, they took her?” Ari asked.

Martin folded his arms.

“Yeah. Didn’t you say something about the legendary Gargoyles taking human women as their concubines?”

Ari grimaced.

“God help her.”

Martin’s head pivoted in both directions.

“We should head back, tell Sherman what happened, but not Amber. She doesn’t need to hear the details.” Martin pointed to a set of impressions in the grass. “Five sets of hoof prints.”

“They’re five of them?” Ari asked.

“Most likely,” Martin answered. “The one that attacked us last night was probably a scout. This is the rest of the pack. Five creatures who can rip a man’s head off like a bottle cap.”

Ari looked down at the blood-soaked grass.

“They should have waited, given us time to figure things out.”

Martin nodded.

“You don’t go after something unless you know what you’re dealing with. You study it, learn the way it operates and learn its strengths.” Martin nodded. “Now we know how many of these things there are.”

“Can they be killed?” Ari asked.

Martin looked up at the sky.

“We’ll find out.”

Ari looked back down the road at the Inn and hardware store.

“They gave us enough food to last a week.”

“Maybe that’s the plan,” Martin said. “Feed your cattle before the slaughter.”

Ari grimaced.

“I don’t want to think of myself as a fucking cow. I want to get the hell out of here.”

Martin glanced back at the gas station and the long, narrow road beyond.

“That may not be possible, at least at this time.”

Ari and Martin hurried back to the inn. They found Sherman and little Amber waiting impatiently by the door. Ari walked in first, holding the door open for Martin but not looking back the way they had come.

“What happened?” Sherman asked.

Ari exchanged glances with Martin and headed towards the kitchen.

“Sherman, I have to show you something.”

“What, the mess I left in the sink?” Sherman asked.

“Let me show you.”

Ari waited for Sherman to swagger into the kitchen before telling him what he and Martin had found.

Sherman shut his eyes and shook his head. He turned away and suddenly slammed his hand against a cabinet door. Dishes rattled inside as Sherman hit the door again.

Ari backed away, allowing Sherman to be alone. Martin and little Amber were seated on the couch. The sound of sobs came from the kitchen. Would Sherman be okay? Ari thought. The boy had lost his brother and his best friend in less than 12 hours.

Ari walked over to the window and carefully parted the curtains. The midday sun painted the street yellow. The hardware store, with its shattered front window beckoned. He wiped his glasses with a Kleenex.

“I wonder if there’s anything useful in the hardware store?”

“Something that hasn’t been stripped?” Martin asked.

The sobbing in the kitchen stopped. Sherman emerged a minute later, sniffling. He looked at Martin and Ari.

“I want to kill these things.”

Ari nodded.

“I hear you. And there might be a way.”

“The hardware store?” Sherman asked.

Ari smiled.

“I don’t expect to find a stick of dynamite, but let’s see.”

Sherman shook his head.

“I ain’t going anywhere right now.”

Ari turned to Sherman.

“Can you look after Amber until we get back?”

Sherman rubbed his eyes. “Yeah, I’m cool.”