This time Cappy went to look and after a little while he came back and said it was Alien, which had played two hours south of our reservation and which we’d only heard brain-bending stories of because we had no way down there and besides were too young to get in. There were no rental places on the reservation yet.
He must own it, I said, forgetting the open window.
He owns a copy? Owns it?
Shut up, you guys, whispered Cappy. He’s got his screens in.
Angus leaned back against the foundation of the building and drew his legs up to his chest. We put our heads together and spoke low.
Could you see it very good?
I could see it fine. He’s got a thirty-inch.
So that’s how we finally saw Alien—standing at the window behind the young priest we suspected of an unspeakable crime. Father Travis even turned the sound up so we could hear the whole movie. When the credits started to roll, he switched it off and we ducked down and crawled around to where the bedroom had to be. We were still in delicious shock. Angus lay down and poked his fist up from his stomach and jerked his legs. The light went on in the bathroom again and there was the trickling noise. Then toothbrushing and gargling noises. Then the light went on in the bedroom. We edged along the foundation. Slowly rose. There were curtains and rolled-down shades, but there was a gap where the shade met the window. The curtains were transparent panels. We could see just fine. We watched Father Travis take off his wizardly cassock and hang it up. He had big hard muscled shoulders and rocklike pecs. Crazed scars looped down the divided slabs of his stomach. He shed his boxers and stood butt-naked, then turned around. His scars all connected in a powerful tangle around his penis and balls. His equipment was there, but obviously sewn back on, said Angus later, awed, telling Zack. Everything down there was scar tissue—ridged, slick, gray, purple.
We panicked, scrambled away. The lights went out. We darted toward our bikes but Father Travis was unbelievably swift out the door and with a sure bound he seized Angus. Cappy and I kept running.
Come back here, you two, said Father Travis in an even voice that carried perfectly. Or I’ll rip off his head.
Angus yelped. We slowed and looked back. He had Angus by the throat.
He means it!
Say your Hail Marys, said the priest.
Hail Mary, Angus choked.
Silently, said Father Travis.
Angus’s mouth began to move. Cappy and I turned and walked back. The night wind came in and the pines sighed around us. The flickering yard lamps that lighted the church parking lot didn’t reach beneath the black trees. Father Travis walked Angus before him, to the house. Behind us. He ordered Cappy to open the door and once we were in he threw a dead bolt and kicked a chair up to the door.
As you know, there’s no back way out, he said. So you might as well make yourselves comfortable.
He flung Angus at the couch and we jumped forward and sat down on either side of Angus, hands folded in our laps. Father Travis pulled a plaid shirt on and grabbed his easy chair. He turned it to face us. Then he sat down. He was wearing the boxers and the plaid shirt hung open. His chest was massive. I noticed a set of free weights on the floor and barbells in the corner.
Long time no see, he said to me and Angus.
We were petrified.
Got an eyeful, huh? You dumb monkeys. Whaddya think?
He kicked me in the shin, and although he was barefoot my leg went numb and I rocked backwards.
Say something.
But we couldn’t.
Okay, dogface, he said to Cappy. You tell me why you were spying on me. I know these two, but I don’t know you. What’s your name?
John Pulls Leg.
A jolt of admiration shot straight through me. That Cappy could give a fake name at this moment.
Pulls Leg. What kind of frickin’ name is that?
It’s an old traditional name, Sir!
Sir? Where’d you get that Sir!
My father was a Marine, Sir!
Then you’ve disgraced him, you puling ass-wipe shit. Son of a Marine spying on a priest. What’s your dad’s name?
Same name, Sir!
So you’re Pulls Leg Junior?
Yes, Sir!
Well, Pulls Leg Junior, how’s this?
Father Travis reached out and yanked Cappy off the couch with one streaming jerk of his