say yes please.
He looked at me steadily. “Y’know, Sheriff. You’re not responsible for saving the whole world.”
I wanted to say “If only you knew” but he went on before I was tempted.
“People who do bad things, they’re doin’ ’em to all of us. You need to take some help.”
His words warmed me, but unfortunately, it seemed that there were things I was totally responsible for. It was me who called this hell down upon this town, whatever it was. And it did actually look like I may be responsible for saving the whole world. In fact, for changing the course of freakin’ destiny and saving the world entire. Entire, mind you. That’s big.
And I knew one thing for damn sure. There was no way I was taking anyone along for the ride this time. Or ever again. As scary as that is, it sure beats the hell out of feeling responsible when someone you care about gets hurt. And this big guy might look bullet-proof, but I was in a better position than anyone to know he’s got a hundred scars to prove he’s not.
“Look, thanks for the offer. Gotta go see a lady in Williamstown. She might know where Cleedaline was before she came here.”
Williamstown is the closest city to Dirtwater, and it’s also where I can find The Link.
“Well, Sheriff,” Doug drawled, less pirate than usual, more cowboy. “Guess this here is your lucky day. I’m heading there myself right now. I can give you a ride.”
“Is that so?” I narrowed my eyes at him. “Heading there for what end, pray tell?”
Doug feigned outrage at my suspicion, his hand clapped dramatically over his heart. “I have to see a man about a dog, for your information.”
“A dog?” Now I was confused.
“You really don’t need to know,” he finished. “Yet.”
I was curious, but I could tell by his secretive tone that he really did have some kind of business in Williamstown. Actually, a ride might not be a bad idea. Least that way I could think on the way over there. “This dog wouldn’t be able to launch rockets, would it?”
“Oh, baby,” he sighed. “Ask no questions.”
I was developing a suspicion that Doug was higher up the food chain in the shady organization he worked for than being just a gun for hire. But I knew one thing for sure: I did trust him. “Okay,” I conceded. “Let’s go.”
The ride up to Williamstown was uneventful, with the only break to the monotony of the highway the scattered road kill rotting in the heat. It took two hours and Doug stayed blissfully quiet, so I could think and plan. He only talked to check radio settings and climate control.
I was stroking the larbra scale bag that I still hadn’t opened but had brought with me. Stroking it in some ancient, rhythmic wave. I kept thinking about Mrs Tripe saying I’d know when the time was right, and I wasn’t not sure plain old curiosity was enough. I didn’t know why I’d grabbed it as I headed out and brought it along for the ride. For luck I guess.
While we drove, I thought again about the sound weapon, getting goose pimples all over as I remembered how it had felt as it blasted me, blasted into me. I wondered if it was the weapon that was meant to be the end of me. Soon. Very soon, according to the Seer. I thought about Mom, and Suzie. Lecanora. Mrs Tripe. The people who needed me. Then I gave myself a little slap and tried to focus again on the sound weapon, puzzling over what it could be. Seemed to me the damage was triggered by a single, perfect note, sung at a particular pitch.
But what kind of technology did it use to wreak its peculiar brand of hell?
What did it look like? Was it big, small? Would I know it if I saw it?
And, most importantly of all, how could I stop it? I mean, it looks like if I’m on land, ear plugs help, at least enough to get me away from ground zero. But if I’m in water, the poisonous sound is carried in the very vibrations around me. Mom sang me out of it, but that wasn’t such a reliable antidote. I couldn’t carry my Mommy around with me while I tried to work it all out.
I decided to take some time to question Doug. “Doug?”
“Yup.” It was like he could feel an interrogation coming, and was already buttoning