Forever never ends

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Tamara turned up the old dirt road and started to climb the winding grade. The Toyota's engine whined in protest as she downshifted. The steep slopes of Bear Claw rose before her, taunting her, solid and ancient. The car juddered as it fought over the ruts and granite humps.

This was the mountain in her dream. And she trusted her dream. If she didn't trust her dream, something bad might happen. Or something bad might happen no matter what she did.

The Gloomies are up there somewhere, not in my head this time. They're real. They're here.

She considered turning back, running away from the thing that had haunted her for the past few days, the feelings that had gripped her heart, the unease that lingered in the base of her skull like a hibernating snake. But she knew these Gloomies were different. They wouldn't let her hide. They had secret spy lights.

They wouldn't be satisfied until they had her. And she wouldn't be satisfied until she had faced the enemy.

Because, in the dream, it had taken her family.

The Gloomies had already taken her father.

No way in hell would she lose anyone else.

Chester leaned against a locust tree and waited for DeWalt to catch up. DeWalt was slowing him down plenty, even more than the age and arthritis and fear that had leadened his legs. Twenty years ago, Chester would have covered twice as much territory in the last hour. But, twenty years ago, he hadn't been looking for neon-eyed freaks or strange green lights.

He glanced up at the treetops as he fumbled for a refresher hunk of Beechnut. The trees looked like October witches, with long arms and sharp elbows and dark skirts. He could hear himself wheezing through his nose. He was glad he had never taken up smoking. Maybe that was what was causing his Yankee sidekick's ass dragging.

Chester looked down the slope at DeWalt, whose face was plum colored and whose jawbone was hanging like an over-chased fox's. DeWalt's eyes were fixed on the ground as he stepped over stumps and fallen logs, shuffling over the brown carpet of leaves as if his high-dollar boots were filled with mud.

A lonely crow swooped over, landing in the top of an old sycamore tree. The bird cawed a couple of times, and the sound was swallowed by the sickly blooming treetops. Chester worked his fresh tobacco into the old, enjoying the sting of nicotine against his gums. The moonshine jar in his pocket was half empty. He thought about taking a swig but decided against it.

Hell, must be getting religion or something. Next thing you know, I'll be blaming the devil for what happened to old Don Oscar. Maybe the easy answer is the best. Then at least it would all be God’s fault and the rest of us could go on home.

He swiveled his head, looking around the ridge. They were getting close to Don Oscar's property. If there were green lights, they should be able to see them from this rise. The sun was just now falling into the fingers of the trees and would soon crawl behind the mountains and die for the day. Chester was reconsidering his newfound abstinence when he first saw the opening.

"Well, I'll be dee-double-dipped in dog shit," he muttered. Then, loud enough for DeWalt to hear, he called through the trees.

"What's that… Chester? Did you… say something?" DeWalt yelled, between gasps.

"Get your flatlander ass up here and pinch me. Just so's I can be sure I'm not dreaming."

"Coming… you flannel-wearing… bastard," DeWalt said, breaking into a tortured trot. "Don't.. let your long johns… ride up your rump.”

Chester's thumb trembled on the twin hammers of the twenty-gauge. Not that buckshot would do a whole hell of a lot against that.

Then DeWalt was at his side, saying "Good God" in a hoarse, weak voice.

"It ain't nothing to do with God,” Chester said. “More like the garden gate to hell, if you ask me."

Below them, in an outcrop of mossy granite boulders, the light radiated green, fuzzy, and dismal. Chester thought it looked like the bonus light on that pinball machine down at the GasNGo over on Caney Fork. You had to knock a ball into the caved-out belly button of a painted Vegas showgirl to get the bonus. But this light looked like the jackpot for a game that had no score.

There must have been a springhead in the rocks, because a sluggish trickle of fluid roped down the gully. But it was no clean, pure mountain stream. It sparkled like rancid grapes, as if only part of the light were reflected, and the rest was swallowed and absorbed into the oozing green tongue that wound its way through the trees toward Stony Creek. The mud of the gully banks was veined with stringy white roots, as if a thousand giant spiders had spun sick webs.

The trees that bordered the outcrop were stunted and gnarled, darkened as if lightning-struck. Chester had the fleeting notion that they had grown heads and had bent low to eat their own trunks. No animals stirred in the heavy, still air of the ridge slope. It was almost as if the source of the green light had swallowed the atoms of the atmosphere.

Swallowed was the word that came to mind, because the thing definitely gave Chester the impression of a mouth. It was a grotto, a jagged opening under the rocks. Soil was spilled around the edge of the opening as if around a woodchuck's hole. Chester could clearly see inside the grotto because the fluorescence was coming from somewhere within the earthen throat.

Along the walls of the cave, which angled downward toward the base of the mountain, yellowish tendrils and umbels dangled like tiny slick stalactites, as long as arms. They writhed and curled like eyeless maggots searching for dead food.

The mouth of the grotto was large enough to hold a dozen people. Paste-colored stones huddled inside like teeth that were impatient for something to grind. In the throat, ribbed bands of unnatural color shimmered in chartreuse, electric lemon, and cadmium yellow, greasy glow-in-the-dark colors. Deeper inside, leathery pedicels quivered like thirsty taproots.

"Is that your government conspiracy?" Chester said, after they'd both seen more than enough. They had reflexively crouched behind the locust, as if the cave-thing had eyes and would spot them.

"What in heaven's name is it?" DeWalt said, still struggling to catch his breath.

Chester almost said, "Oh, just one of those Earth Mouths you hear about, like the ones in those old folk stories. No big deal. Hills are covered with them."

Because he was afraid that he was becoming used to the idea of mushbrained people and a world where the unreal was commonplace.

Instead, he took a serious bite into his chaw and said, "You're the man with the book-learning, why don't you tell me?"

"You can only be taught what is already known. And I don't think this falls into the category of ‘natural phenomena.’"

"What the hell do we do now? We've hunted down the bastard-and pardon me for giving it credence by calling it an ‘it’-but it ain't the kind of thing you shoot between the eyes and field dress and carry back home to the dinner table."

Chester was relieved to see that DeWalt's color had faded from beet red back to pink. Maybe the Yankee wouldn’t up and die on him just yet.

"That creek might explain the green rain I saw," DeWalt said. "It's like that cave is spewing the stuff out. Those roots are spreading out, whatever it is. And the mouth-"

Chester looked over his shoulder and met DeWalt's eyes. There, DeWalt said it first.

"Yeah, the mouth," DeWalt repeated. "The mouth goes into the mountain, but it feeds here. Can't you feel it?"

Chester nodded. He supposed he'd always had what DeWalt called a "kinship with nature," but he didn't want to be kin to whatever this thing was. He had enough fucked-up kin already, with his worthless sons Sylvester and Johnny Mack. Not to mention that liquor-pinching grandson of his, Junior. Now this mouth had squatted on his land, just crawled into the belly of Bear Claw and made itself at home with no respect for property lines.

"I can sure feel something, DeWalt. Like when you're standing under one of those transfer stations with all the electric cables crisscrossed over your head. Something invisible but strong enough to make the hair stand up on the back of your neck and make your innards tingle. And if you listen close," Chester said, realizing for the first time that they had been whispering, as if the knotholes of the tainted trees were ears, "you can hear a little murmur inside the mouth. Almost like an ass-backward birdsong with a hard wind thrown in for good measure."

"Yes, I hear it. Sort of like music. The orchestra of the oubliette."

"Talk plain, you cufflink-wearing Yankee. I'm getting left far enough behind as it is."

"Something that sounds wrong. And looks wrong. But there it is. We can see it with our own eyes."

"But what are we going to do about it?" Chester's knees ached from stooping. "I don't think a shovel would do much good, even if we'd have brought one."

"Time to plan our next step, I suppose."

"I want all my steps to be backward, away from this damn dirt Mouth that looks like it's ready to suck something in."

They had scarcely noticed that darkness was settling around them like black ink. The fluorescence from the mouth was so bright that it lit up the pocket of woods like a used car lot. The sound of distant crickets warned Chester that night was pitching its tent. “I see enough. Too much. Let’s get the hell out of here.”

"I'm game," said DeWalt.

"Don't say that, especially when that Mouth looks like it's ready to do some hunting of its own."

He led DeWalt back toward the farmhouse, hoping his directional memory and woodsman's instinct held true. They reached the ridge overlooking the farm just as the sky turned from pink to violet. Chester was leading the way down one of his old hunting trails when he heard a twig snap. He spun, lowering his shotgun to waist level and pointing it toward the sound.

"Uh, pardon me, folks," the man said, stepping from behind a laurel thicket. "I got myself lost here."

"Stop where you are and open your eyes," Chester said.

"They are open."

No green lights. Chester exhaled and let the gun dip. His trigger finger relaxed, but only slightly.

"What in bluefuck blazes are you doing out in my woods this time of an evening? Trying to break your fool neck?" Chester hoped the man didn't realize how close he'd come to getting himself a new blowhole. He could feel DeWalt at his back, peering over his shoulder.

"Just out looking, sir," the man said.

"Trespassing ain't looked on too kindly around here. Ever damn thing and its brother’s took up residence on my property." Chester didn't like the smell of the stranger's cologne. Smelled like sissy stuff. But at least his eyes weren't glowing green and he wasn’t dribbling mush from his face.

"I apologize, sir,” said the smooth-talking man. “You wouldn't happen to be Chester Mull, by any chance?"

"Depends on who's asking."

"Emerland. Kyle Emerland." The stranger stepped out of the shadows and extended his right hand. DeWalt muttered under his breath.

"That's fine and dandy, Mr. Emerland,” Chester said, ignoring the offered hand. “Can't say as I'm glad to make your acquaintance. You still ain't said why you're out here, and you don't look like a midnight poacher in that fancy suit of yours."

"I'll be blunt then, sir. You seem like a man who appreciates honesty. I'm here to make a business proposition."

"I'm not in no business. What have I got that you want?"

"About four hundred acres of mountaintop, for one thing," DeWalt interrupted. "You're pointing a gun at the man responsible for the development of the Sugarfoot resort. I'll turn my head if you want to shoot him without any witnesses."

"Herbert DeWalt, is that you?" the stranger said cheerfully. A little too cheerfully, in Chester's opinion. Slick, like. Maybe he’s in on this Earth Mouth deal somehow. Maybe it’s some sort of high-dollar pollution. Or a secret government test of some kind.

"Yes, it’s me, Emerland,” DeWalt said. “I’m sure you’ve done your homework, so let’s not play games. You're just wasting your time. Chester's not interested in selling."

"Come now, let's be reasonable. Let Mister Mull decide for himself."

"Hold on, hold on,” said Chester, irritated. His mind had been forced to make too many leaps already today. He was just coming to grips with a strange unworldly visitation, and now a stranger wanted to talk real estate. "Anybody mind clueing me in, seeing as how I seem to be the bone that the dogs are tugging at?"

"At least hear me out, Mister Mull,” Emerland said. “Let's sit down and put it all on the table. I think you'll find my offer's extremely generous."

"Do what?"

"He wants to buy you out, Chester,” DeWalt said. “He wants Bear Claw so he can fill it in with concrete and steel, shiny glass and ski lifts, and the finest tourists that New Jersey and Florida have to offer.”

"Come on, DeWalt,” Emerland said. “You know I'm a fair man. And I’m not a cheapskate.”

“He’s got a bulldozer in place of a heart,” DeWalt said to Chester.

Chester squinted at the stranger's face. “A little earth moving might not be a bad idea, if this here Emerland’s got a big enough shovel for the job.”

An early moon had arisen, a crisp wide ball that looked like it would drip milk if squeezed. Chester was uncomfortable standing out here at night, with a forest full of mushbrains and Earth Mouths and Lord only knew what else.

"Why don't we take this little powwow down to the house?" Chester said. “I don’t trust these woods this time of night. Never know what you might run into.”

DeWalt was looking at Emerland as if watching a rattlesnake that might decide to strike. Chester headed down the trail, glad he'd shut the flatlanders up enough so he could listen to the trees.

Because the trees were whispering, and the language was soft and slushy and strange. He picked up speed as he headed downhill, leaving the two men to make their own way back. But they must have experienced the same uneasiness, because they stayed at Chester’s boot heels until the trio reached the forest’s edge.

Chester breathed a sigh of relief when they stepped out from the canopy of the woods into a meadow. He looked at his farm spread out below, at the dark buildings and the barbed-wire stitching that marked off the fields. Under the stars, it was a beautiful, peaceful place. Except for its unwanted visitors.

The evening dew soaked into Chester's boots, making his feet heavy. He dug into the pocket of his overalls for his moonshine. DeWalt stepped beside him, breathing hard.

"Let me warn you about him, Chester," he said, low enough so that the trailing Emerland couldn't hear.

"Shoot, pardner." Chester screwed the lid off the jar. He hoped DeWalt didn't launch into his tree-hugger bit. He glanced back at the mountain. He could just make out the green glow in a pocket between two ripples of black land.

"You know that song ‘This Land is Your Land?’"

"Sure. Learned it in third grade. My last year of schooling."

"Well, there's a new version. It goes”-DeWalt drew in a breath and sang in an off-key bass-"This land was your land, this land was my land, now it belongs to… that bastard Emerland…"

Chester chuckled. "You couldn't carry a tune in a galvanized washtub. But I get your drift."

"What's that, gentlemen?" Emerland called.

Chester stopped and lifted the moonshine jar to his lips. “Oh, just talking about you behind your back, is all.”

“Don’t believe everything DeWalt says. He’s only protecting his own interests. We’ll top his offer by twenty percent.”

“Don’t matter none,” Chester said. “I ain’t selling. And I got other problems at the moment.”

“Mister Mull, we’re talking a high six figures here,” Emerland said. “Maybe bumping seven. And our development will be ergonomically designed to fit the environment and protect the viewshed. The impact on the natural beauty will be minimal. My architects-”

“You can shelve the twenty-dollar words, Emerland,” Chester said. “Won’t make no difference.”

“Chester, his idea of ‘low impact’ is a truckload of dynamite,” DeWalt said.

Chester had lifted the jar for another sip but stopped with the jar inches from his lips. “What’s that?”

“Emerland likes things that go boom.”

Chester took the delayed swallow, wiped his mouth with his sleeve, and said, “Dyn-ee-fucking-mite.”

“Are you thinking what I’m thinking?” DeWalt said.

“Yeah, but probably in plainer words.”

“Blow the fucker back to hell?”

“Can’t get no plainer than that.”

Emerland's eyes shifted back and forth.

Probably wondering how he ended up with such a pair of fruitcakes on a cool Appalachian mountain under a grinning moon. Chester grinned.

"Hey,” Chester said to him. “You got some dynamite over there at the construction site, don't you?"

"Huh?" Emerland's clean-shaven jaw dropped.

"Ka-blooey stuff. TNT. Instant avalanche."

"You're insane." Emerland raised his palms in protest. "That stuff is seriously regulated. It has to be double locked and every damned piece has to be accounted for-"

"Locked, huh? And I reckon you got the keys, Mister Big Britches?" Chester let his few teeth catch the moon in what he hoped was a crazed grimace. He pointed the shotgun at Emerland to complete the lunatic image. He was pleased to see Emerland gulp frantically.

"You can't do this. Why, this is… it's against the law."

Chester cackled. He’d discovered that pretending to be insane wasn't much of a character stretch. "There's a new law in town, stranger. And it ain't wrote by the likes of us. Now, get on to the house."

He let the barrel of the gun flash under the moonlight for emphasis. DeWalt held his arm out like a doorman, indicating that Emerland should go first.

"Lead on, MacDuff," DeWalt said.

"Who the hell?" Chester asked.

"I'll tell you about it someday, after this is all over.”

But as they walked under the seemingly endless night sky, Chester wondered if it would ever be over.