The Black Death by Aric Davis Read Free Book Online Page B

still got business to take care of.”
    Matt nodded at that, finished the bottle of beer, and tossed it onto the trailer’s poorly constructed porch before walking to the van and sliding the rear door open, then hopping in and shutting it after him.
    “No hard feelings about that tussle back there, all right, Matt?” Free asked him in a way that assumed there was nothing wrong with stranding him weaponless to battle against a dope fiend turned monster, and in response, Matt shook his head and placed his duffel back in his lap.
    “Same here,” said Danimal, who Matt could see had tears running down his cheeks. “Randy was like a brother to me, but I’m not sore that you had to put him down.”
    “All that aside, Matt,” said Free, “I hope you can see why we had you do that. We didn’t want to kill him on our own. He’s a good friend, after all, and besides, we needed to know you could cover your own ass. We got to go backcountry next, and it just gets worse. It’ll be nice knowing you can watch your own back.”
    “Where are we headed?”
    “Well, not that the names will mean much to you,” said Free, grinning at Matt in the darkness. “We got to go pick up some more of the black skag from where we get it, and then we got to go drop it off at Sally’s. It’s a whore—”
    “I know what Sally’s is,” said Matt. “Kenny filled me in on some of the details.”
    “Well, old Kenny should know better than to be flapping gums at strangers, but it worked out okay this time. So what we’re going to do is pick up some dope and then drop it off.”
    “Sounds simple,” said Matt.
    “It’s not,” said Danimal as he put the van in reverse and began to pull away from the trailer.

CHAPTER EIGHT
    Matt watched again for landmarks and gave up almost immediately. Free and Danimal had their windows rolled down, and the air was almost sickly sweet smelling, making Matt feel as though he were breathing in the stink from Free’s slowly rotting neck. As much as he normally hated the smell, it was almost a relief when Danimal lit a cigarette. At least it covered the other stench.
    “We going to Bucky’s?” Danimal said it as if he already knew the answer but wanted to be talking anyway, and he looked almost offended by Free’s response.
    “You want to bring a new fish to Bucky’s? Are you crazy? There’d be three new holes in them woods, and the three of us would be what was filling them up. No offense, Matt. Danny here is speaking a bit out of turn, not that it’s any of your business, of course, but we ain’t going to see Bucky. He isn’t much for new people on a good day, and these haven’t been his best days.”
    “So where we headed?” Danimal asked, and Free gave him a smile before turning back to Matt, the swampy rot of his neck glistening in the moonlight.
    “We’re going to Luther’s.”
    “Aw, Free, you serious?”
    The tone in Danimal’s voice had the hair on Matt’s neck at attention almost immediately. Danimal hadn’t been scared pulling into Randy’s, but whoever Luther was, he apparently commanded more respect than a psychopathic hophead.
    “Should I be worried?” Matt asked in a tone that sounded as if he really was a little concerned, but he was as happy as could be to hear Danimal concerned. If the man kept sputtering off names, tonight could be the end of it. The phone and a who’s who list could go a long way for Sheriff Frank, as long as Matt kept his wits about him.
    “Nah,” said Free, “nothing much to worry about from Luther. Danimal here’s just a might bit superstitious. Fact of the matter is, old Luther’s spot is where we always ought to be picking up the flake, especially in the sort of quantities them whores need. It’s a little bit out of the way, even for here. You want another beer?”
    “Sure,” said Matt, not wanting one at all, “keep them coming. Like you said, it’s going to be a long night.”
    “Damn straight,” said Free, opening a bottle for