Amaranthine and Other Stories by Erik Hofstatter Read Free Book Online Page A

pause.
    “No problem, ya guys! Give ma best to ya friend, eh?” he replied, clicking his pen.

    The shift ended and Mike yawned, feeling extremely tired. It seemed the factory's recent tragic event had stripped him of vitality. He bumped into Andy outside, smoking and leaning against a wall.
    “Can I bum one?”
    Andy removed a pack of smokes from his pocket and passed it to Mike.
    “That was one shitty shift,” Andy said, the fumes exploding from his nostrils.
    A spotless black Mercedes rolled out of the car park, stopping beside the two men. The electric window slid down.
    “Ya got a second, friend?” Imamu said, but his features remained hidden in shadow.
    Mike glanced at Andy and approached the car, reluctant. He levelled with the window and found Imamu's murky eyes.
    “Just to make ya guys aware, da overtime will be available from tomorrow night. Ya know, if ya or Andy are interested?”
    Mike listened, his eyes touring the interior and resting on the swinging doll. His pupils dilated and the black man chuckled.
    “Give John ma best wishes, eh? Hope to see him real soon!” With that, he stepped on the accelerator and shot off—knocking Mike off balance.
    Transfixed, Mike gazed at the fast disappearing automobile. Andy stubbed out the fag, burning his fingers on the falling ash. He joined Mike and slapped his shoulder.
    “Oh! I almost forgot to tell you! I visited John in the hospital this morning, questioning the letter. Well, he claimed he never wrote one. Typical John, huh?”
    Still puzzled, Mike blinked—his mind vacant.
    “What did Imamu want?”
    “The doll had a pin in its left arm…” Mike whispered to himself.
    Andy bit into his knuckle, a vain attempt to calm the fury that raged within. “That son of a bitch.”
    “You know what this means, don't you?”
    “Yeah, you were right—that coon was behind it all along. Poor John! We gotta avenge him! Hey, fancy a game of cricket tonight?” Andy said.
    “You bet.”

    The cherry red bonnet of Mike's Nissan reflected the luminous satellite. In the reflection, it almost looked stained, as if fused with blood. They arrived early, hoping to ambush Imamu in the car park like silent assassins, lurking in the shadows. Speed was essential. A swarm of ample blows, that's all. In and out.
    Andy leaned against the door, lighting a cigarette. Mike tapped his fingers on the steering wheel, eying up the cricket bat on the seat next to him. Perspiration trickled down his armpits.
    “Hey! Turn off the fucking lights! I think that's him!” Andy hissed, crouching and exhaling smoke.
    The shiny Mercedes pulled into a bay, two rows in front. They waited, hearts pumping with adrenaline. The door swung open and Imamu stepped out, stashing something into the pockets of his raincoat.
    “Ready?” Mike whispered.
    Andy nodded, retrieving his bat from the Nissan. Mike glanced around the car park one last time. No one in sight. They creeped towards the dark figure.
    “Is this ya plan then? A few blows widda wooden stick? Iz that all ya friend is worth to ya?” Imamu chuckled, his back not yet turned.
    They froze. How did he see them? How did he
know
?
    Andy gathered his wits. “That's right, coon. You gonna pay for what you did to John with your mumbo-jumbo.”
    “Careful, boy! What I did to ya friend waz just a beginning!” Imamu said, pulling out another doll from his pocket.
    Mike whimpered at the sight of it. It resembled Andy.
    “Ya think ya little stick can harm me?” Imamu continued.
    Andy clenched his jaw. “We'll find out, won't we?”
    He swiped at Imamu, but the bat never reached its target. Andy yelled in pain and crumbled to the ground, cradling his broken leg.
    The weapon slipped from Mike's clammy grasp. His eyes rested on the doll and its twisted leg. How it connected to Andy's body he did not know.
    “You goddamn ape! You'll pay for this!” Andy cried.
    Imamu stared in silence. Then he snapped the doll's neck and Andy spoke no more.
    A warm