Part 48

Darkness swallowed them when they stepped outside. The world swayed around David as his father carried him down the slight hill toward the-

-toward where the house used to be.

It was gone now. It had been gone for years. The ghosts had taken their house with them when they'd departed, leaving only a patch of singed grass that still smelled of smoke.

David caught only the glimpse of the house's absence before Lowell turned, heading toward two figures standing in the grass to one side.

"GOT 'IM!" Lowell called.

The shout so near his hears cleared David's head a little. Memories scattered by the back of his father's hand began to reassemble themselves.

"...pu... me down..." David tried to put force behind the words, but they still emerged as a moan.

"Quiet," Lowell barked.

David tried to free himself, but he only earned more attention from Lowell.

"What? What are you- STOP SQUIRMIN!"

The side of David's head rang with a solid blow. The world spun... then spun the other direction... then tilted deep to one side.

It was all to much for David's stomach, which emptied every bite of his considerable dinner down the front of Lowell Vern's shirt.

"AAAGGH" Lowell howled and David fell to the ground at his feet. "DAMN YOU!"

Oscar caught Lowell's fist before it could lash out.

"I'm thinkin' you hit the boy too much, Vern"

"Well it don't matter NOW, now does it!?"

"Now is what I'm talkin' about," said Oscar. "We don't want 'im dead. Not after all this."

Lowell grunted. He tried to wipe the chunks of David's dinner off of his shirt, but only ended up smearing the mess over his clothes and hands. Finally he took the shirt off and flung it to the ground beside David.

"BAH!"

David looked up at his father. Other faces joined Lowell's, looking down at him. Their expressions were all different; but none of them were good. Except one.

"Uncle Derris? said David.

David's jovial uncle winced at his own name. He looked away, then moved back, muttering.

"...two in a row..." David heard him say.

"Uncle Derris what are they gonna do?"

"We're going to make everything all right," Derris said in a reluctant, but comforting voice. He stopped moving back, but didn't look at David when he spoke. "Just you wait."

"But... but the boy in the barn..."

"Enough of that!" said Lowell suddenly. "Any of you think ta bring any rope?"

"Did you see any of us carrying rope when we cam out here?" Fenton snapped.

"Thought you were supposed to be watching that mage... or whatever he was."

"What he IS is dead. STILL dead. And we've all got things to do now that we've got the boy. The whole town's still out lookin." Fenton nodded at David. "We need to gather 'em up. Send out word; get this thing done. We'll take care of the dead after."

Fenton disappeared. David heard him walk away, then turn back to shout:

"Tie him up and LET'S GO!"

"Funny how he takes charge once all the works done" said Lowell. He reached down, snatched up his shirt, and began tearing it into strips.