Quarrel with the Moon (30 page)

"I hid the baby an' I snuck out to the barn an' got Reuben's pup. I cut its throat, wrapped it in a piece of flannel an' then, the preacher an' me ... we buried it.

"The next day I took you over to Harley an' Leoma. I can't call it love at first sight, because I saw you first. Oh, how they rejoiced. You were like a miracle to them." She reached out and touched Josh's cheek. "I gave you away because I loved you the best." Her voice became hollow as if she were speaking from a great distance. "I kept Orin here. I thought that way I could watch him, find a pattern to the changin', an' keep him out of trouble. Then Kalem came to call. The very next night he showed up at the house an' demanded to see his child. He began laughin' an' asked if it looked like him. An' as he laughed he began changin'."

"Changing?"

"Changin' into his beast form. Half-man, half-wolf. It was a terrible sight. My blood runs cold just to tell of it. He started to come up on the porch, but I was prepared for him. I had a shotgun, an' I shot him an' I killed him. I carried his body to the Lookout an' dropped it off the bridge. It fell into the stream an' was carried down to the river."

"Oh, my God!" exclaimed Josh. "Then the skull, the bones were ..."

"Kalem Balock."

"My father."

"Even in death, Kalem reaches out to curse us all."

"You believe that Kalem Balock was a ... a werewolf?"

Avarilla nodded.

"How could such a thing happen? How did he get that way?"

"I don't know, Joshua. I can't even imagine."

"And where did he come from?"

Avarilla took a deep breath. "Somewhere in Europe."

"I just can't believe this."

"Joshua, believe what I tell you," Avarilla said gently. "You saw the remains of Kalem Balock. You can't explain away that." Avarilla cried out in anguish. "God help me, but I kept Kalem Balock alive in Orin! So many people have paid for my foolishness. So very many. You see, I believe Orin caused the mine accident that killed all those men. When he was still a teenager he had bedded every woman in the Ridge, married an' single, an' made each of them pregnant. Yes, he killed those men. He wanted their women all to himself."

"You're saying that the children are...."

"All his. All like Orin. Like Kalem. Only to a lesser degree. They cannot change as fully as Orin, but they can change."

"That means Roma is one of them," Josh groaned.

Avarilla nodded slowly. "But it's Orin who makes them do evil things. He has power over them. They do everything he says. Orin wants Roma back. She has no choice but to go to him."

"No! I won't let that happen."

Avarilla quietly added, "Orin means to kill you."

Josh looked at his grandmother, hoping that she was exaggerating, but he knew that she was not. He suddenly thought of Cresta. "My God, Cresta. Do you suppose Orin let her leave?"

"I don't know. I liked her even though she was an outsider. I prayed for her safety."

"Who did you pray to? Surely not God?"

"I pray to the powers of nature, Josh. Look, look around you. Can't you feel its power? Can't you smell it?" The air was charged with the overwhelming aroma of ozone, and the thunder was so powerful that it shook the earth on which they stood. She put an arm around his shoulders. "Don't you see you were meant to return? Now you must take your rightful place. After all, you were the first born."

"What are you saying?"

"The others, the ones who are only partially tainted with the strain of the wolf, can be tamed. But not as long as they follow Orin. This evil must be stopped. An' the evil is him ...
him
."

"You mean ... kill him?" Josh's voice was hoarse with emotion.

"Yes."

"When?"

"Tonight. Now."

Josh stood up. "There's no other way?"

She shook her head sadly.

"Where do I meet him?"

"You'll find him." Avarilla embraced Josh. "Go with my blessin', Joshua."

A blessing or a curse, Josh wondered. He walked away into the darkness.

Josh moved like a sleepwalker down the Thicket, towards the covered bridge. He looked to his right; in the distance he could see the Lookout. There was a glow coming from it as if it were on fire. And he knew instinctively that that was where the ritual would take place. He hurried through the shivering woods and reached a pathway leading to the Lookout. The giant boulder was lit by scores of torches stuck in the earth and wedged in between rocks. It looked like a gigantic birthday cake, Josh mused.

Birthday. Birth Day.

Appropriate.

He braced himself as he stepped onto the swinging bridge. Gripping the rope rails, Josh willed himself not to look down. Though falling into the gorge would be an easier death than what he was to face.

Easy now. One foot in front of the other. A whipping wind caused the bridge to veer sharply to the left. Josh closed his eyes and went on.

As Josh stepped onto the boulder, a distant shaft of lightning charged the night sky.

Silhouetted against the brilliant backdrop, gathered singly and in groups, they were waiting to watch the spectacle.

The time of the beast had come.

Josh took off his boots. He preferred to be barefoot. A leather sole could slip on the smooth surface of the rock. Then he removed the rest of his clothes. He did not want the fibers of the cloth driven into the wounds. Josh sucked in the night air and waited. For the first time in his life he knew he was at a disadvantage. It was a sensation he had never before experienced, and it was very lonely. There was no way he could win. Orin was cruel and would want to savor his advantage, reducing him slowly, watching the life flow from him until the ultimate death.

Josh dragged his gaze around the "arena." The young people of the Ridge were in full attendance - Alex, Marinda, and all the others. They were in their human forms, their eyes glistening, their faces expectant and their mouths hung open in bloodthirsty grins. They were there to enjoy his destruction.

He didn't see Roma among them. He was glad.

From the other side of the boulder, Orin emerged. He, too, was nude. He offered Josh an arrogant smile. It was the smile the victor bestowed upon the vanquished. He moved forward on the balls of his feet toward the center of the boulder.

Josh felt sick and bloodless. Every nerve in his body was jumping, and he envied his brother his confidence, his power, his life. The only way he could bring honor to himself was to see how long he could stay alive. Josh went to meet his opponent, his twin, his brother, his executioner.

The two men faced one another, dropped into a crouch and began circling, looking for advantage, their nostrils flaring and their eyes blazing, their exhaled breath becoming plumes of white mist.

A woman's scream rent the air. Roma rushed from the bridge onto the boulder. She stumbled to the center and collapsed beside the two men. Wrapping her arms around Orin's legs, she cried, "Orin, don't do this. I'll stay with you. I promise. Let Josh go." He looked down at her with scorn, kicked out and sent Roma sprawling across the stone. Several of the others rushed to her side, not to aid her, but rather to restrain her. They dragged her to the edge of the rock and held her fast as the fight continued. Josh realized now that Roma was the winner's prize.

Josh swung a fist at Orin's face and, while the blow landed, it had no more effect than if it had struck a concrete wall. Orin threw back his head and laughed. Then, with the back of his hand, he struck Josh across the ear and sent him reeling to the ground. Roaring flashes of pain exploded inside his head.

Orin advanced and kicked Josh in the ribs. Josh groaned in agony. Another powerful kick struck him in the face. Orin's sharp toenails tore into his cheek. Josh rolled away from his brother. Placing his palms against the surface of the stone, he pushed down hard and managed to get to his feet. Orin was in no hurry. He stood sturdy against the rising wind, a proud grin splitting his face. There was a ripple of laughter among those who watched and an anguished sob from Roma.

The two men circled again, poised to attack. Josh moved in fast and appeared to slip. His feet shot out from under him. He was on his back. With a cry, Orin lunged forward. Josh rolled away, jumped to his feet and was out of range. Orin looked up from a prone position. His face had turned ugly. Rolling fast, Orin got to his feet and began forcing Josh toward the swinging bridge. Josh, unaware of his position, continued backing up. Suddenly, Josh felt the bridge post press against his buttocks and knew he had been maneuvered. He started to break, but Orin blocked him with a brutal kick in the stomach, knocking the breath out of him and forcing him backwards. Instinctively Josh reached out to grab the rope handles for support and left himself completely unprotected. Orin hit him full in the face with both fists. Josh staggered blindly, a gagging sound breaking from his throat. He fell against the rope, causing the bridge to swing. Josh slipped from the boards and dropped into space.

His hands, flailing wildly, caught hold of the wooden slats. When he was sure he had a firm grip, Josh started to pull himself back up. Before he could complete the action Orin stepped onto the bridge, his eyes gleaming, his teeth flashing. Using the full weight of his body. Josh began swinging himself back and forth, causing the bridge to also move. Orin could not keep his balance and was forced to jump back onto the boulder. Josh used those few seconds to pull himself up onto the bridge and standing. Lowering his head, he dove at Orin like a pile-driver. Josh's head crashed into Orin's chest and it seemed as if the huge rock itself quivered with the impact. Orin was down. Roaring with anger, he clamored to his feet and staggered toward Josh.

Then, with extraordinary speed and power, Josh rushed at Orin, leading with the flat of his left hand. The blow struck Orin's nose and caused jets of blood to spurt from each of his splayed nostrils. Orin fell backwards against a pile of large rocks which supported a torch. The flames burned the flesh of his shoulder, and a deep growl emitted from Orin's throat. He wrenched the torch from its holding place and advanced toward Josh, swinging it in front of him in a bright arc of light.

The pain inflicted on their leader riled the others. Several began to will themselves to change. Josh stared in horrible fascination. One young man's eyebrows began to grow straight until his entire forehead was covered with bristly hair. A female entwined her hands and held them high in a prayerlike attitude. Her nails, growing long and white, resembled candle tapers. Roma spoke his name just once. It was borne on the wind to the valley, where it grew in volume until it became a shout of desperation. Then Roma dropped to her knees and elbows and began clawing at the surface of the rock.

Orin slammed the torch down across Josh's left shoulder, and Josh fell to one knee, grunting with pain. He swung his left hand up, grabbed the stalk of the torch and wrested it from Orin's grasp. Then he plummeted it upwards, striking Orin brutally in the stomach.

Josh's eyes widened in horror. For a moment he had the distinct impression he had injured himself.

The hair covering Orin's abdomen began to crackle and burn. Orin roared, lurching backwards. His heel caught on a loose stone, and he fell onto his left shoulder. He lay still, regaining his strength. The spectators sucked in their breaths and waited.

Josh flung the torch over the edge of the boulder. There was an eerie silence. Orin twisted and turned upon the rock. And when he righted himself he was no longer completely human.

Orin threw back his head and howled.

It appeared as if a shadow passed over Orin's body. But it was not a shadow. Hair sprouted from Orin's quivering flesh. He closed his eyes, and an ecstatic expression transformed his face. His upper lip began to quiver, then giant incisors shot downwards to be joined by a row of equally sharp bottom teeth. His nostrils opened and widened. The hair on his head began to vibrate and move downwards, joining that of his eyebrows. The eyes seemed to recede into the head, and when he opened them they were lit by some inner fire.

Josh reeled, stupified. The surge of optimism which he had felt just a few minutes earlier evaporated. He knew that he was about to die. He looked down at Orin's hands, if indeed they could be called hands any more. They bristled with hair and were distorted into near-paws. The thumbs had receded; the remaining fingers were now tipped with curved and deadly talons.

Orin lunged at him. The claws tore into Josh's flesh. He felt his blood begin to flow, and he knew that his death was going to be by sheer butchery. As he moved away from the half-natural who was his brother, Josh's fear gave way to something that was even stronger in the human spirit. He became angered at the injustice, the imbalance of the conflict. The sky suddenly filled with an unearthly glow, unlike anything Josh had ever seen. It was as if all the lightning from all the storms in the world had struck that night. He stretched his arms to the skies and drew strength from the electrically charged atmosphere. He felt the galvanic power enter his veins and he, too, began to metamorphose.

His bare flesh tingled as shafts of hair forced their way through his epidermis. His fingers and toes writhed as they began to alter and change shape. He felt his toenails elongate and curve downward, scratching the rock on which he stood. His nostrils suddenly opened, and he smelled things more acutely than ever before. His ears reformed themselves, and night sounds entered them which he now understood. His testicles tightened in his scrotum. His penis sheathed in its protective foreskin, changed shape and sent vital signals careening through his groin. His eyes gained a wider periphery of vision and came into true focus for the first time. He opened his mouth to cry out in pleasure. Instead, his jaws stretched forward, his teeth lengthened and sharpened in a bray of joy that became instead a howl of triumph.

Josh turned on Orin. Now they were truly twins. The beast looked out through his eyes, something previously leashed by his own hand, now summoned from the depths of his soul. Fright flickered briefly in Orin's eyes. Snarling, Josh sprang and seized Orin's throat, sinking in his teeth to the gums. He could smell Orin's fear as he tore open his throat. The blood began to flow. And it was good.