Night Of The Beast by Harry Shannon Read Free Book Online

the present, in the dying town known as Two Trees, Nevada, Jason Smith thought grimly : He is gone, and here I am still searching in yet another place. He checked the hotel closet for anything he might have forgotten. No, his books were packed; so were his notes, extra shirts and jeans. He stepped out into the hall and closed the door to room sixty-six behind him.
    Hi Polson waited at the front desk, his normally cherubic face lined and haggard. Hi had not been sleeping well. His crippled wife Louise was acting more like a shrew than a former evangelist. Hiram was glad this little stranger was checking out. The man seemed to sneeze trouble, and the Polsons kept catching the flu.
    Sheriff Glen Bates suddenly filled the doorway. Hi Polson breathed a sigh of relief. Bates always made him feel safe. Hell, when the man walked you could hear his balls clank. He was a decorated veteran and a career peace officer. The town was lucky to have him, especially with so many folks packing to leave.
    Including, Polson thought with a shake of his head, Doc Tyler. Now, ain't that a bitch?
    "Mornin', Hiram," Bates said curtly. "Gladys Pierson called. She told me Doc left during the night. You know anything about that?"
    Hiram shrugged. "We was drinkin' a bit, Glenn. He gave me and Jake his usual speech about finding a place where there were more people to kick the bucket. I guess this time he meant it."
    "Why?"
    "Beats the hell out of me."
    Bates blew on his badge, polished it. He was so weathered he almost squeaked like a holster when he moved. The sheriff looked around. "Where's the little guy?"
    The elevator doors slid open and Bates turned. Jason Smith stood quietly, suitcase in hand, staring at him. With that fading scar half in shadow he looked oriental, almost VC. Bates shook the thought away, his skin crawling. That's all behind you now. Discipline.
    He nodded. "Jase."
    "Sheriff," Jason said. "You've heard the news, I suppose. Would you like to see the note Doc left me?"
    Bates accepted the folded piece of paper. It didn't say much. Tyler'd had himself a belly-full of working in a dying town. He declared Jason Smith qualified to take over as mortician, then closed with a cheerful goodbye to his drinking buddies Jake, Hiram and Spats.
    Glenn returned the note to Smith. For some damned reason he couldn't look the little fart in the eye. He needed a drink.
    "Guess you got yourself a job," Bates said. He scratched his head. "I reckon it's for the city, since Two Trees owns the mortuary. Pay won't be much. How you figure to eat?"
    "Between jobs, you mean?" Smith was joking, of course. "Don't worry, I've got a little something put away."
    The sheriff, uncomfortable as hell, turned to go. "You'll be moving into Doc's quarters, back of the parlor?"
    "That's correct."
    "Fine."
    Bates stepped out into the blistering sunlight, glad to be back on his rounds. Jason paid his bill and followed, lugging his battered brown suitcase. Polson wondered: What's he got in there that's so damned heavy?
    "Hiram?"
    Louise. Upstairs, rolling around in her wheelchair. Hi Polson sighed. "Yes, dear," he called. "What is it this time?"
    "Why don't you wheel me into the kitchen, sweetie? I'll fix us a nice lunch. It's such a beautiful day."
    Well, I'll be damned , Hiram thought. Sounds like she's in a pretty good mood, all of a sudden.
    "I'll be up in a few minutes, honey."
    He began dusting and straightening up the lobby. Within minutes, he found himself whistling. Louise was absolutely right. It was a beautiful day.
    Out on the cracked sidewalk, Jason Smith literally bumped into young Beth Reiss. Her pert, pointed breasts nudged the front of his shirt. She excited him. Jason had seen Beth dozens of times, and she still reminded him of Karen. He badly wanted to fuck her while she lay dying.
    "Excuse me," he said quietly.
    Beth was off-balance and supporting her blind father, so Jason stole a few extra seconds before stepping out of the way. Meanwhile, Elmo Reiss