Laws of Nature -2 by Christopher Golden Read Free Book Online Page B

became too painful for Molly.
    The only other vehicle parked behind the pub that day was Bill's enormous Oldsmobile. Bill bent over the open trunk of the Olds, hair matted to his head by the rain, which dripped in a steady flow from his beard.
    Courtney stood just outside the open kitchen door of the pub with a huge black umbrella over her head. The umbrella and the grim expression on her face caused her to resemble a woman standing vigil at a graveside. Jack dumped his bags into the Jeep and walked back to her, ducking his head under the umbrella so that they were only inches from each other.
    "Hey," he said, voice low, his words meant just for her. "It isn't a funeral."
    Courtney blinked, her mouth dropping open in shock. "That was in really bad taste," she chided him. "I know it isn't a funeral, little brother. I'm just worried about you. About both of you."
    The wind swept the heavy rain down at an angle; the buildings provided none of the protection they might have if it had been just a light shower. It was not. It was a storm, the sky low and dark, roiling like an ocean, pregnant with the promise of more rain. With her umbrella cocked at an angle to keep her as dry as possible and leaning on her cane, Courtney looked small and frail to her brother. For a long moment, he hesitated.
    "I don't wanna go," he said at last.
    She looked stricken. "Then don't go. Let somebody else fight them." Courtney's eyes, usually filled with such life, had none of their familiar sparkle. "We've done our share against these animals, Jack. Nobody's gonna think less of you if you and Molly just stay home. And I . . . if I lose you, little brother . . . you're all I have."
    Her voice was so plaintive that Jack almost could not respond. Finally he smiled softly and stepped forward to hold his sister.
    "Court, you've got it wrong," he said. "I don't want to go 'cause I don't want to leave you here. Me and Molly, we'll be all right. We find something, or even suspect something, you and Bill will get a call. We'll figure out what to do from there. I'm just . . . I don't want to leave you with the pub to run, and the possibility that . . . there might be more where Tanzer came from."
    Mouth set in a firm line, Courtney nodded once. "I'll be fine. Not that you're not a full partner these days, Jack, but you weren't much help back when you were nine. I can handle it. As for the . . . as for them, I'll be careful. And I've got Bill."
    Jack narrowed his eyes. Courtney noticed, and seemed pained by his expression.
    "You don't trust him?" she whispered.
    He barely heard her above the rain. "It isn't that. I mean, he's still Bill. We'd probably be dead without him. I guess I just . . . I don't know if I can ever put aside knowing that he's one of them."
    Courtney bristled. "He isn't one of them. Same species, that's all. But so are you and Hitler and Jeffrey Dahmer. Doesn't make you one of them."
    Jack took a long breath. He glanced at Bill, who was down the alley, still fussing with something in his trunk, and wondered how good his hearing was. Then he turned back to Courtney and nodded.
    "We've been through this. I know you're right. He's the closest thing to an uncle or whatever I've ever had. The closest thing to family we've had since Mom died. But it's hard not to hold something back, y'know? I mean, they're a whole race of Hitlers and Dahmers, and the decent ones are the exception. But I know you'll be safe with him. He cares about you."
    There was a bit of extra weight to Jack's last words, an emphasis that Courtney caught immediately. She smiled and rolled her eyes.
    "Bill is staying here while you're gone, but he's sleeping in your room, Jack."
    "You're a big girl," Jack replied nonchalantly. "You run your life the way you want to. None of my business. All I ask is that you stay alive."

    Courtney grew suddenly serious again. Her gaze caught his, and they locked eyes. "Same here," she said.
    A moment later Molly appeared inside the open door with