Chapter 31

‘I don’t know about this. ’

‘What’s to know, jack-off? It’s Halloween! We’re just a couple of trick-or-treaters. ’ Nate drove slowly past Miss Bennett’s house. At the end of the block, he pulled to the curb.

‘Maybe we oughtta forget about it, ’ Bill said.

Nate shut off the headlights. ‘Hey, what’s the point in knowing where she lives if we’re not gonna pay a visit? Come on. ’ Nate climbed out of the car.

Bill hesitated, then swung open the passenger door. As he climbed out, the cold wind hit him and he wished he’d dressed more warmly. He might, at least, have worn shoes and socks instead of sandals.

Nate opened the trunk and took off his jacket. He turned to Bill, arms out. ‘How do I look? ’

‘Cold. ’

‘I can take it. ’

Like Bill, he wore sandals, jeans cut off raggedly at the knees, and a sheath knife on his rope belt. While Bill wore a striped T-shirt that gave him some protection against the weather, Nate wore only an open leather vest.

‘Catch this, ’ he said. He spread the flaps of his vest, and Bill saw a rough drawing of a skull and crossbones on Nate’s chest.

‘Didn’t know you’re an artist. ’

‘I’m a man of many talents. ’ He flipped a black patch down, covering his left eye. Then he reached into the trunk and took out two grocery bags. ‘For our goodies, ’ he said, handing one to Bill.

Side by side, they headed for Miss Bennett’s house. Her front porch light was on. A jack-o’-lantern grinned at them through her picture window.

‘Now don’t do anything dumb, ’ Bill warned.

‘Dumb? Me? ’

‘We’ll just ring her doorbell, and trick-or-treat, and that’s all. ’

‘Sure. ’

‘I mean it. ’ Bill adjusted the red bandanna tied around his head. He touched the big, hooped earring that hung from his right ear, and wondered if he should pluck it off; he didn’t want to look silly.

‘What’re you waiting for? ’ Nate asked.

‘Do I look okay? ’

‘You look gorgeous. The baddest buccaneer that ever sailed the Seven Seas. ’

Bill reached toward the doorbell.

‘’Cept your tool’s out. ’

Bill pressed the button, Then, though he knew Nate was joking, he touched his fly. He found it safely zipped.

‘Had you worried. ’

‘Sure. ’

The door opened.

Miss Bennett smiled out at them. Her face was smeared with soot. She wore a shapeless felt hat, a bandanna around her neck, a shirt of red flannel, and baggy brown pants held up by suspenders. A polka-dot patch adorned one knee of her trousers.

‘Trick-or-treat, ’ said Bill and Nate.

‘What have we here? A pirate and an exhibitionist? ’

Nate made a crooked smile. ‘Guess you’re a tramp. ’

She laughed. ‘Touché! A hit, a palpable hit. Come on in out of the cold. Do you like cider? ’

‘Sure, ’ Bill said.

They stepped into the house. Miss Bennett closed the door. As she turned away, Nate nudged Bill with his elbow and winked his uncovered eye.

‘You boys must be freezing, ’ she said.

‘We’re tough, ’ said Nate.

They entered the living room. ‘Have a seat. I’ve got hot cider on the stove. I’ll be back in a jiff. ’

Bill sat on the sofa, and watched her walk away. A polka-dot patch covered the seat of her pants. Nate winked again, and dropped into a stuffed chair near the corner. ‘Still think this was a lousy idea? ’

Bill shook his head, grinning.

‘Got you to first base. Imagination and guts, that’s all it takes. ’

A hand reached from behind the chair and clutched Nate’s shoulder. With a yelp, he leaped to his feet. As he whirled around, a black-clad Frankenstein monster rose into view. Nate backed away. ‘Very funny, ’ he told the monster. ‘You’re a real barrel of yucks. ’

It slowly stepped from behind the chair. Arms out, it lurched toward Nate.

Bill saw Miss Bennett in the kitchen doorway, shaking as she tried to hold in her laughter.

Nate continued to back away from the monster. ‘Okay! A joke’s a joke. Now knock it off! ’

It kept coming.

‘Damn! ’ He put up his fists. ‘One more step, shit-head! ’

‘That’s enough, ’ Miss Bennett said in a calm voice.

The monster’s huge, misshapen head turned toward her.

‘Sit down and be good, ’ she said.

It lowered its arms. It turned away and lumbered back to the chair where Nate had been sitting. With a quiet grunt, it sat down. It folded its hands and crossed its legs.

‘Sorry if he scared you, ’ Miss Bennett said, coming in with two mugs of cider.

Nate smirked and snorted. He sat on the sofa beside Bill.

‘Who are you? ’ Bill asked the monster.

The monster sat motionless, and said nothing.

‘Who is it, Miss Bennett? ’

‘My friend, the Wretch. ’

‘Makes me want to retch, ’ Nate muttered.

‘He’s quite harmless, Normally. ’ Miss Bennett set down the mugs on the coffee table.

Bill thanked her, and picked one up. Pushing a cinnamon stick aside, he took a sip. ‘That’s good. ’

‘It’ll warm your bones, ’ she said. She crossed the room, and sat down on the lap of the Wretch. ‘So, what’re you fellows up to? ’

‘We’re gonna pillage the town, ’ Nate said.

‘Actually, we’re going to a Halloween party, but that’s not till later. ’

‘Same with us. ’

‘We’re not keeping you, are we? ’

‘No. There’s no rush. ’

‘You heading over to the Sherwood place? ’ Nate asked.

‘One of my students is having a few people over. ’ She slapped one of the monster’s hands as it slid up her thigh. ‘There’s a party at the Sherwood …? ’ The doorbell interrupted her. ‘Excuse me, ’ she said. She pushed the Wretch’s hand off her leg, and went to the door.

Bill heard her open it. A chorus of children’s voices called out, ‘Trick-or-treat. ’

Across the room, the monster stood. It began walking slowly toward Nate.

‘Okay, Wretch, knock it off. ’

It raised its arms.

Nate jumped to his feet. ‘Okay, asshole. ’

The monster reached out for him.

Nate kicked. His foot shot toward the crotch, but a quick hand blocked his blow, gripped Nate’s ankle and threw him backwards. He hit the floor, his head barely missing the coffee table.

Bill sprang to his feet, ready to fight, but the monster held up its hand. ‘I’ve got no quarrel with you, ’ said a voice muffled by the mask.

‘Lay off Nate. ’

‘I’m done with him. ’ The monster’s hands fumbled with its mask then pulled it off.

Mr Carlson, the school librarian, frowned down at Nate. ‘That was for yesterday, Houlder, for knocking her into the bushes. ’

‘You cocksucker, ’ Nate muttered. ‘I’m gonna sue your ass. ’

‘I believe this falls into the category of self-defense. ’

‘What’s going on here? ’ Miss Bennett asked, frowning as she entered the room.

‘Houlder was just leaving. ’

‘Damn it, Nick! ’

‘Sorry, ’ he said. ‘But Houlder had it coming. ’

‘An eye for an eye never solved anything. ’

‘It helps, believe me. ’

‘That’s right, man, ’ Nate said as he got to his feet. ‘You just remember that. ’Cause you’re gonna pay. ’ He flipped open his vest and tapped the skull-and-crossbones drawn on his chest. ‘See this? You’re gonna look worse by the time I’m done. Count on it. ’

‘You scare me, Houlder. ’

Nate’s hand darted to the hilt of his knife. He unsnapped the sheath.

Bill grabbed his wrist. ‘Come on, Nate. Let’s get out of here. ’

He held on until Nate’s arm relaxed.

‘Yeah, okay. Let’s go. ’

Miss Bennett hurried ahead of them, and opened the door.

‘Sorry about this, ’ Bill told her. ‘But your friend did start it. Nate was just sitting there. ’

She nodded and said nothing.

‘Carlson started it, ’ Nate said, ‘but I’m gonna finish it. ’ He stopped at the door and looked back at the black-clad man. ‘You hear that, Carlson? I’m gonna finish it. An eye for an eye. ’

‘Just try it, Houlder. ’

Bill tugged Nate’s sleeve. ‘Come on. ’

They stepped outside, and Miss Bennett shut the door.

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