Helltown - Jeremy Bates Page 0,30

And he don’t hear too good neither unless you shout.” He raised his voice. “Ain’t that right, Floyd?”

Floyd nodded.

“Well?” Cleavon said, smiling expectantly at them.

“Well what?” Austin said.

“Ain’t you gonna introduce yourselves?”

Mandy glanced at Austin and Cherry. She saw her fear reflected in their eyes. Cleavon and his brothers were not just assholes; they were dangerous. But there didn’t seem to be any choice other than to keep Cleavon talking until Steve and Noah returned with help.

“I’m Mandy,” she said.

“Mandy,” Cleavon repeated. “That’s short for Amanda, ain’t it?”

She nodded.

“I like it. Mandy. Suits you.” His eyes floated to her breasts.

“I’m Austin,” Austin said. “And this is Cherry.”

“Austin and Cherry—now those are a coupla fine names as well. Had an uncle named Austin. Sat on the porch all day drinking hooch, his own concoction, from a big ol’ jug. By suppertime he would be drunker than Cooter Brown on the fourth of July.” He smiled his gap-tooth smile at Cherry. “Never knew a Cherry though. The pleasure’s mine, darlin’.”

Cherry looked away from him. Her lips were pressed together in a thin line.

“Well,” Cleavon went on, “now that we’re all fine friends, why don’t y’all tell me what happened? What caused this unfortunate accident?”

“Our friend lost control of the car,” Austin said simply.

Cleavon eyed Jeff. “That the friend, huh? And just lost control, you say?”

“Another car ran him off the road. It was a hearse.”

“A hearse? You sure you don’t need to get your eyes checked, boy?”

“We all saw it,” Mandy said sharply.

Cleavon held up his hands. “Hey, no need to get worked up, darlin’. You say ya’ll saw a meat wagon, ya’ll saw a meat wagon. Now, enough talk. How ’bout we give you a hand bringing your friend there back to the house. We got medicine and enough food to feed the lot of you to your heart’s content.”

“Like I mentioned,” Mandy said, “our friends went for help. They’ll be back here any minute. But thank you for the offer.”

“And if they got lost? Could be hours ’till they get back. We got a telephone. We’ll call the sheriff. He knows exactly where the ol’ McGrady house is. He’ll be there with an am’blance in fifteen minutes.”

“We’re going to wait here,” Austin said tersely.

“Hey! I ain’t liking your tone, boy,” Cleavon growled. “Didn’t your mama teach you no manners? When someone offers you help, you be gracious.”

“Listen, mister…Cleavon,” Cherry said pleasantly. “We appreciate your offer. We really do. But we can’t move our friend. He has a broken back. Moving him will make his injury worse.”

“Don’t worry, darlin’. We’ll be careful with him.”

“We’re not going anywhere,” Austin said, stepping forward.

“I’m ’fraid I have to insist,” Cleavon said. “Boys, get the cripple.”

Floyd and Earl started toward Jeff.

“Don’t you touch him!” Mandy shouted. “His back is broken!”

Austin made to intercept them.

“Hold it right there, Cueball,” Cleavon said, and to Mandy’s horror he produced a monstrous machete which had been hidden beneath his jacket. “I wouldn’t do nothing stupid if I was you.”

CHAPTER 8

“They will say that I have shed innocent blood. What’s blood for, if not for shedding?”

Candyman (1992)

Austin acted without thinking. He charged Cleavon and jump kicked him in the gut. Caught by surprise, Cleavon didn’t have time to swing the machete. However, the jump kick was uncoordinated and did little more than knock Cleavon backward a few steps while Austin crashed awkwardly to the ground. Before Austin could regain his feet, Cleavon was on him, raising the machete. Austin kicked the psycho in the shins, dropping him to his knees. Austin lunged, driving his shoulder into Cleavon’s chest, knocking him onto his back. He grappled for the machete, but the man wouldn’t let go. Then Cherry appeared beside him, also grappling for the weapon.

Austin landed a fist in Cleavon’s face, then another. Still, Cleavon wouldn’t relinquish his grip on the blade.

Abruptly Cherry disappeared, lifted free from the skirmish. A moment later the left side of Austin’s head went numb. Cleavon had walloped him with his free hand. The world canted, his vision blackened, but he didn’t release Cleavon’s other hand, which was still holding the machete. Cleavon struck him again, this time catching his chin. Austin tried to head butt Cleavon, but his forehead deflected off the asshole’s temple. White-hot pain tore through his face. Cleavon was biting him! He shoved himself free, his hand going to his bloody cheek.

The chaotic scene around him registered in a heartbeat. Earl holding Cherry off the ground, arms around her chest, her feet