The Best of Robert Bloch by Robert Bloch Read Free Book Online Page A

against a velveteen skull. Ronnie hesitated a moment, gauging the glitter of claws, the glare of agate eyes. But the gang was watching—
    "Scat!" he shouted. He advanced, waving his arms. The cat sidled backwards. Ronnie feinted with his hand and scooped up the catnip ball.
    "See? I got it, you guys. I got—"
    "Put that down!"
    He didn't see the door open. He didn't see her walk down the steps. But suddenly she was there. Leaning on her cane, wearing a black dress that fitted tightly over her tiny frame, she seemed hardly any bigger than the cat which crouched at her side. Her hair was grey and wrinkled and dead, her face was grey and wrinkled and dead, but her eyes—
    They were agate eyes, like the cat's. They glowed. And when she talked, she spit the way the cat did.
    "Put that down, young man!"
    Ronnie began to shake. It was only a chill, everybody gets chills now and then, and could he help it if he shook so hard the catnip just fell out of his hand?
    He wasn't scared. He had to show the gang he wasn't scared of this skinny little dried-up old woman. It was hard to breathe, he was shaking so, but he managed. He filled his lungs and opened his mouth.
    "You—you old witch!" he yelled.
    The agate eyes widened. They were bigger than she was. All he could see were the eyes. Witch eyes. Now that he said it, he knew it was true. Witch. She was a witch.
    "You insolent puppy. I've a good mind to cut out your lying tongue!"
    Geez, she wasn't kidding!
    Now she was coming closer, and the cat was inching up on him, and then she raised the cane in the air, she was going to hit him, the witch was after him, oh Ma, no, don't, oh—
    Ronnie ran.
     
     
    3
    Could he help it? Geez, the guys ran too. They'd run before he did, even. He had to run, the old bat was crazy, anybody could see that. Besides, if he'd stayed she'd of tried to hit him and maybe he'd let her have it. He was only trying to keep out of trouble. That was all.
    Ronnie told it to himself over and over at supper time. But that didn't do any good, telling it to himself. It was the guys he had to tell it to, and fast. He had to explain it before election tomorrow—
    "Ronnie. What's the matter? You sick?"
    "No, Ma."
    "Then why don't you answer a person? I declare, you haven't said ten words since you came in the house. And you aren't eating your supper."
    "Not hungry."
    "Something bothering you, son?"
    "No. Leave me alone."
    "It's that election tomorrow, isn't it?"
    "Leave me alone." Ronnie rose. "I'm goin' out."
    "Ronnie!"
    "I got to see Joe. Important."
    "Back by nine, remember."
    "Yeah. Sure."
    He went outside. The night was cool. Windy for this time of year. Ronnie shivered a little as he turned the corner. Maybe a cigarette—
    He lit a match and a shower of sparks spiraled to the sky. Ronnie began to walk, puffing nervously. He had to see Joe and the others and explain. Yeah, right now, too. If they told anybody else—
    It was dark. The light on the corner was out, and the Ogdens weren't home. That made it darker, because Mrs. Mingle never showed a light in her cottage.
    Mrs. Mingle. Her cottage was up ahead. He'd better cross the street.
    What was the matter with him? Was he getting chicken? Afraid of that damned old woman, that old witch! He puffed, gulped, expanded his chest. Just let her try anything. Just let her be hiding under the trees waiting to grab out at him with her big claws and hiss—what was he talking about, anyway? That was the cat. Nuts to her cat, and her too. He'd show them!
    Ronnie walked past the dark shadow where Mrs. Mingle dwelt. He whistled defiance, and emphasized it by shooting his cigarette butt across the fence. Sparks flew and were swallowed by the mouth of the night.
    Ronnie paused and peered over the fence. Everything was black and still. There was nothing to be afraid of. Everything was black—
    Everything except that flicker. It came from up the path, under the porch. He could see the porch now because there was a light. Not a