Seed of Evil by David Thompson Read Free Book Online Page B

me so much? I’ve never done anything to you. Iresent that Geist deceived me, but I’ve gone along with what you’ve demanded of me, haven’t I?”
    “You don’t have a choice. You go along or you die.”
    “There’s that,” Toad admitted. “So why do you hate me?”
    “Three reasons,” Petrie said. “First, you’re about the ugliest son of a bitch I’ve ever set eyes on. Looking at you, I want to puke.”
    Toad winced. “I was born this way. You can’t blame a man for that.”
    “Care to bet?” Petrie rejoined, and then said, “Second, your last name is Levi .”
    “So you’re one of those.”
    “Third,” Petrie said, ignoring the interruption, “and this is the most important, I hate most everybody. People are worthless and stupid and good for nothing and better off dead. Except Neil.”
    “You go around killing people just for that?”
    “I do it all the time. Back in the States, I’m wanted for more murders than you have fingers. Neil too.”
    “Good God.”
    “There ain’t one, you simpleton. There’s just us.”
    “Wait. Geist is like you? He kills people just because he despises them?”
    “No. He always has a reason.” Petrie’s mouth curled in a vicious smirk. “Sometimes it’s because they’re no longer of any use to us.” He gestured. “Now move your fat ass. He’s waiting.”
    Several Crows were examining the knife display. A Nez Perce was fingering blankets.
    Geist was behind the counter, a glass of whiskey at his elbow. “About damn time.”
    “You said I could rest,” Toad reminded him.
    “I aim to please,” Geist said, his tone suggesting the opposite.
    “What is it you wanted to see me about?”
    “I’ve decided to change our business arrangement.”
    “Is that what you call it when you hold a gun to a man’s head and demand he take you in as a partner, or else?”
    Geist emptied his glass and turned to the shelf for a bottle. “I haven’t pulled the trigger yet, have I?”
    Petrie chuckled.
    Geist refilled his glass and leaned on the counter. He cast an eye at the Crows, who were several shelves away, then fixed his gazed on Toad. “I didn’t like your little flare-up in the whorehouse. It hit me that you still don’t understand. So I’ll make it as plain as plain can be.” He paused to take another sip. “When I saw your advertisement in the St. Louis newspaper, I knew you were just the cover I needed. The law was hot on my trail and I had to get out of the States. So me and my men signed on to help you get your goods across the prairie and start up this mercantile. Halfway here I took over and now you work for me. I can get rid of you any time I want.”
    “Why don’t you, then?” Toad asked sullenly. “Why do you toy with me like a cat with a mouse?”
    “You don’t know anything, do you?”
    “I know I hate being forced to do your bidding. I hate living in constant fear.”
    Petrie said to Geist, “At least he has the brains to be scared.”
    “So long as you serve a purpose, you get to go on living,” Geist said.
    “What purpose is that, might I ask?”
    “Weren’t you listening? You’re my cover, Levi. Iwouldn’t put it past the law to send someone this far. So I pretend to work for you, while the whole time I really run things. But if you become too much of a nuisance, you’ll disappear.”
    “By disappear, you mean die.”
    “Everything has to be spelled out for you, doesn’t it? Petrie here will take you off into the hills and dispose of you. Anyone asks, we’ll say you got attacked by a bear or bit by a rattler.”
    “One less Levi in the world,” Petrie said.
    “Now are we clear?” Geist said. “No more talking back. Do exactly as I say when I say it.” He reached across the counter and gripped the front of Toad’s shirt. “Let me hear the words.”
    Toad flushed, and swallowed. “From here on out you won’t hear a peep of protest out of me.”
    “Good.” Geist let go and smoothed the man’s shirt. “Now