The Howling II

14

AFTER THE POLICE and the television people and the neighbors and the sightseers left, David picked up his son from the neighbor's house and took Joey and Karyn to spend the night in a hotel. The next day they took Joey to stay with David's sister, who lived across the lake, in Bellevue. Then they went down to the police station and answered more questions for Lieutenant MacCready. Finally, late in the afternoon, they went back to their house.

David strode around briskly, talking in a very businesslike manner. "We'll have to get the window replaced first thing. And new carpeting in the hall. The stairs and the wall will need a thorough cleaning."

"Do we have to settle it all right now?" Karyn said.

"The important thing," said David, "is to get on with our lives. Get Joey back home and everything back to normal as fast as possible."

"No, David," Karyn said softly. "It won't work. Things will never be back to normal. Whatever that is."

"Please, Karyn, I know this is a terrible blow. I feel it too, believe me.

But it won't do any good to dwell on it."

"Don't you understand?" she said. "Don't you know what it was that killed Mrs. Jensen? No, it was not a dog, and it was no psychopathic killer, either."

"You don't seriously believe — "

"I do. The wolves of Drago are here. The werewolves. They've come for me."

"You're upset. I'll call Dr. Goetz. He can prescribe something for your nerves."

"Dr. Goetz can't do me any good now. No one can. They've found me, and there will be no rest now. What happened to Mrs. Jensen is my fault."

"That's crazy talk. It was a prowler, more than likely."

Karyn took both his hands in hers. "It was no prowler, darling. I know that, and I think in your heart you know it too. As long as I stay here, there is danger. Not only for me, but for you and Joey, too."

"What are you saying?"

"I have to go away, David."

"No!" he cried.

"I have no choice."

"But — where will you go? How long will you stay?"

"I'll stay until this thing is over, one way or another. And I think it's better if I don't say where I'm going right away."

"I can't agree to that."

"Please, David. I promise you I'll let you know as soon as I can. Meanwhile, the fewer people who know where I'm going, the harder it will be for anyone to follow me."

"I'll go with you," he said. "We'll fight this out together."

Karyn shook her head. "No, darling. Joey will need at least one of his parents with him. He'll need your strength."

"Karyn, I can't let you just — walk out this way."

"I have to," she said. "It would be too dangerous for you and for Joey if I stayed here. If you love me, David, don't try to stop me."

He put his arms around her and pulled her tight against him. "If I love you? My God, Karyn, I love you more than anything in the world.",

Karyn let her head rest on her husband's chest. She heard a sound she had never heard before. David Richter was crying.

The next morning Karyn bought a ticket to Los Angeles at the Western Airlines counter in the

Seattle-Tacoma Airport. She did not notice the old woman, bundled up in scarves, who sold paper flowers nearby. The old woman, however, paid close attention to Karyn.