The Raven Flies At Night

by Janine R Pestel

  His partner put his hand on his shoulder, to try and console him. Johann glanced at Robert and made a facial gesture, a signal for Robert to pay attention without being obvious.

  “I know, Jack,” the other officer comforted his friend, “It's been really strange here the last few weeks or so. I don't know what's come over everyone.”

  “I've known Pete Johnson my whole life,” Jack continued, “We went to school together. I never, in a million years, would've thought he would do something like this. I mean -,” he paused a moment, as nausea started to well up inside him, “There was nothing left of his head.” He quickly put his hand up to his mouth and scurried into the men's room, his stomach retched as he ran.

  Out of the corner of his eye, Johann could see the police officer still at the counter, as he turned to stare into his cup of coffee. The muffled sound of a grown man emptying his stomach came through the closed bathroom door.

  “Must have been another suicide,” Johann whispered to Robert.

  “What was your first clue, Father Einstein,” said Robert, with a snort. Johann ignored the comment for a moment.

  “This is no time to joke,” Johann said, “This is a damned demon.”

  “You're right,” Robert said, “This isn't funny.”

  The younger officer returned a few minutes later from the bathroom and sat next to his partner. The two sat quietly and sipped their coffee for a few minutes. They got up from their seats and began to leave the café. One took out a dollar bill and placed it on the counter, under his cup.

  “Thanks, Betty. You tell your mom I said 'hey,' now,” he said to the waitress, as he turned to leave.

  “Thanks, Phil. You and Jack take care and watch yourselves out there. Give my condolences to Doris, okay,” the waitress answered, as she stuffed the bill into her apron pocket, and took the cups to the kitchen.

  “Seems news travels fast around here,” Robert said.

  “Faster than you know,” said the truck driver, as he got off his stool, and headed for the door.

  Johann and Robert caught off guard by the remark, stayed where they were, and didn't pursue the man to find out what he meant. They followed him with their eyes as he walked out the door. Turning back to their coffee, they glanced at each other. Johann raised his eyebrows, and Robert made a “Don't ask me” gesture.

  The two finished their coffee, and the waitress walked over.

  “You boys need anything else,” she asked.

  “No, thanks,” replied Johann.

  The waitress wrote out the check and handed it to Johann. He walked down to the register, and she followed. He handed her a five-dollar bill.

  “Keep it,” Johann said when the waitress handed him his change, which came to a little over a dollar.

  “Thank you,” she said.

  “How far to the nearest gas station,” Johann asked.

  “Which way ya headin'?”

  “Into Mountainview.”

  She gazed at him for a moment, almost as though contemplating this stranger.

  “'Bout ten miles or so,” she answered, “You're almost in Mountainview now. The gas station is on this side of the road just after you get into town. You can't miss it.”

  Johann thanked her for the information, and he and Robert went back out to the car. As they stepped out of the café, Robert took a deep inhale of the cool, morning air.

  “Must be some homes nearby,” he said, “I think I smell burned wood in the air.”

  Johann put his nose up and sniffed the air. He looked at Robert and nodded in agreement. “I always did love the odor of burned wood in the fall,” he said.

  The sun had just begun to rise as they left the small parking lot, on their way to Mountainview.

  -2-

  The golden disc of the sun peeked over the mountain tops on the horizon behind them, as Johann and Robert drove along the road headed to Mountainview. Johann glanced out his side window at the view. The black ribbon of the paved two-lane road they traveled on stretched out before him and twisted up the side of the mountain they climbed.

  The valley below and the mountains on the other side were unspoiled in their appearance. Pine trees lined both sides of the road. The trees on Johann's side of the road, being a little downhill, allowed him to see through the growth. Down in the valley, the tops of trees had begun to change to their fall colors. A small stream caught the sunlight, and reflected it, giving the appearance of a silver thread in a multicolored patchwork quilt.

  Johann rolled down his window and stuck his hand out to enjoy the crisp, cool morning air as he drove along. At times like this, he allowed his mind to wander to thoughts of better times, and almost forget his new, somber, purpose in life. He smiled, although only a little.

  Robert glanced over at him, a little put off by his partner's apparent lightness of heart.

  “Glad that one of us can have a great old time,” Robert said. His mood always turned a little cranky when hunger made its presence known, as was now the case. Johann's smile faded, as he turned, surprised, to his passenger.

  “What,” he asked, “Can't a guy feel good occasionally?”

  “I'm sorry,” Robert said, “I'm hungry. I'm not used to going this long without eating something.” He glanced down at his rotund midsection, then at his friend. “Don't say a word,” he said. Johann made a facial gesture as though he had no idea what his companion meant by that.

  “Well, if you're-,” Johann said.

  “I know,” said Robert, as he interrupted his friend, “If I'm going to hang out with you, I better get used to it.” He glanced at Johann, and began to chuckle lightly, “Guess I have to get used to a lot of things.”

  The town came into view, and up ahead on the right, the welcomed sight of the gas station the waitress at the café told Johann about. It came not a moment too soon, as far as Johann was concerned. His gas gauge needle had been on empty since just after they left the café. He knew they were running on fumes, and if they had to go much further, he and Robert would be pushing the car. That was something he didn't care to do.

  This gas station was more like a truck stop, complete with a restaurant. Robert's eyes lit up when he spotted the sign for the eatery, and he glanced at Johann, almost with puppy dog eyes.

  “Yes,” Johann said, as he let out a slight chuckle, “We'll stop here for breakfast, then fill up with some gas, and find a motel.”

  “Yes,” said Robert, as he made a fist pump motion.

  “Well,” said Johann, “I guess 'Earnest' will be happy.” Robert smiled and rubbed his swollen belly.

  The asphalt parking lot was much larger than the dirt lot at the café they left a little while ago. Although a dozen or so cars were already parked in the area with the “Cars Only” sign, this lot gave the appearance of being almost empty. It was obvious the single-story building was old but had been updated. It now sported a bright white and orange paint job. The tall sign at the road proudly proclaimed “Mountainview Food and Fuel.” Both the paint job and the sign appeared to be almost brand new.

  Johann parked the car, and the two men entered the newly updated restaurant. Inside, everything was clean and new. The place had a counter with gleaming silver stools. The orange and white cushioned tops of the stools had the letters MFF embroidered on them. To the left and right were the dining rooms with both tables and booths, also in the orange and white color scheme. The walls sported a paint job that was mostly orange, with some white stripes. Johann and Robert studied the area as they made their way past the “Please Seat Yourself” sign at the vacant hostess station, to a booth in the left dining room.

  “This place should be called the 'Mountainview Creamsicle,' ” Johann whispered to Robert.

  “Oh, you're cold,” Robert said.

  The two decided to sit in a booth with a window. They chose a window with a view of the town. The mountain which towered in the background, Johann surmised, gave the town the name “Mountainview.” The town, although larger than Buck
town, was still fairly small. One building, however, did stand out as being much taller than all the other buildings in town. It was almost like a tower, even if it was only six stories tall.

  Almost as soon as the two men sat down, a young waitress walked over and stood next to the table. She gave the impression that she glared down at the two prospective patrons. Johann and Robert glanced up at her.

  “My name is Sharon. I'll be your waitress,” she said. The smile on her young face gave an impression of being forced. Johann estimated that she could be no older than 20. “Can I get you guys any coffee,” she asked as she placed the menus in front of Johann and Robert.

  “Yes, please,” said Johann, as he studied the menu, “With cream and sugar, please.”

  “Make that two, please,” said Robert.

  “I'll be back in a moment,” she said, as she turned and walked away.

  As Johann and Robert watched the young waitress pour their coffee, they were both unaware of the invasion taking place in the parking lot. Outside, something in the lot attracted the attention of an extensive flock of huge, black birds; Ravens.

  One of the male avians landed on the open window of Johann's vehicle and peered into the cabin, as though he knew what he searched for. The bird sat there for a moment and surveyed the inside of the car. Finally, he spotted a shiny object on the console and hopped down to Johann's seat. He made his way over to the small metal object and found it to be Robert's cigarette lighter.

  The Raven gazed at the shiny object for a moment, as though he read, and understood, what the inscription on it said. On the side which faced up, appeared the logo of the American Medical Association - a staff with two snakes intertwined around it. Written in a circle around the logo; the words “Bucktown Regional Hospital.”

  The enormous bird studied this for a moment, then turned to exit the vehicle. He hopped back onto the window, spread his black wings, and began to flap. All the other birds in the lot stopped what they were doing and turned to face him. It was as though he was the general and they, the army under his command.

  The bird on the car tilted his head back and began to crow. This caused all the other Ravens in the lot to follow suit. In moments, the air became filled with the sound of dozens of Ravens, who all crowed at one time, although not in unison.

  The sound of the birds crowing in the lot outside the restaurant could be heard, even though muffled, inside. Johann glanced at Robert with a quizzical expression on his face.

  “Do you hear that sound,” Johann asked.

  “I hear something,” answered Robert. He glanced around and tried to zero in on where the sound came from. As his gaze passed the window, he stopped and raised his eyebrows. Johann followed Robert's gaze and spotted all the Ravens out in the parking lot.

  So did all the other patrons, as everyone stopped whatever they were doing and stared out the windows at the undulating sea of black birds in the parking lot.

  Johann studied the people in the room. Some of the patrons merely shook their heads, as one would do when someone else did something silly, while others had more substantial reactions to the sight.

  The sound of a woman's scream, followed by the loud crash of a serving tray, as it hit the floor, made everyone in the place jump, almost in unison. This was followed by the sound of even more utensils which crashed to the floor, as people dropped their knives and forks. Johann turned to face where the noise came from. A waitress cowered in the corner of the room. She appeared to be crying and trembling as though in fear for her life. She glanced at the window, and quickly turned away, so as not to gain the attention of the massive flock outside. She used the 'if I don't look, you won't see me' mentality.

  “This is rather odd,” said Johann.

  “I would agree,” Robert replied.

  “I've never seen anyone so afraid of birds before,”

  “That reaction does border on 'psychotic,' ” said Robert, as he tried to put on his best doctor impression.

  Without warning, the whole flock of birds took flight, as though queued by some powerful, unseen force. There were hundreds of birds, and they momentarily blackened the sky with their presence. Johann took note that as soon as all the birds left the area, people resumed their normal activities, almost as though they all felt relieved the birds had left. He glanced over at the waitress who had, apparently, had the worst reaction. She was no longer crying and trembling. It appeared she pulled herself together well, under the circumstance.

  “That was like being in an old nineteen sixties horror movie or something,” said Johann, as he examined everyone in the room.

  “It's just plain fucked up,” Robert said, as he, too, studied the people and tried to figure out what happened.

  A moment later, the waitress walked over, with the coffee for Johann and Robert. She placed the two cups in front of them, then smiled.

  “Have you decided what you would like,” she asked.

  “I'll have two slices of bacon and two eggs. Over easy on the eggs, and wheat bread toast, please,” said Robert.

  “And you,” the waitress asked, as she gazed at Johann, as though he were something she needed to study.

  “I'll have the same, please.” They handed their menus to the waitress, and she walked away to place their breakfast order for them.

  “That was weird,” said Robert, as he took a sip of his coffee, “Never seen that many Crows in one place before.”

  “They weren't Crows,” said Johann, “They were Ravens. I never saw that many in one place before either,” he took a sip of his coffee, “Although, it is the end of summer. I suppose they could be migrating.”

  “Do you think so?”

  “I hope so,” Johann said after he thought a moment.

  “What else could it be,” asked Robert.

  “Demons can take the form of animals and birds,” said Johann, “That would include Ravens.”

  A few moments later the waitress arrived at their table with their breakfast plates. She placed the plates in front of Johann and Robert. The food on the plates smelled delicious. The bacon was crisp, the eggs had been cooked to perfection, with the yolks still intact, and the butter on the toast was just the way Johann liked it.

  As Johann took his first bite and enjoyed the taste of the food, he realized that the counter area suddenly became quiet. He stopped eating and glanced out to notice a tall man standing in the room. He faced the counter, which presented his profile to Johann. Robert, curious as to what had his friend's attention, turned to look as well.

  The man appeared to be at least a few inches over six feet tall, and dressed in a black suit, with a dark blue shirt and a black tie. His slicked back hair; a distinguished 'salt and pepper,' had thinned, just a little, on top. He appeared to be in his mid-to-late fifties or possibly even early sixties.

  The new arrival stood there for a moment and slowly turned his head toward Johann and Robert. The intruder's gaze made Johann's skin almost tingle from the thought that this man leered at him. Johann shuddered slightly, from the sensation. It was enough to make the hair on the back of his neck stand on end. A slight sense of relief came over Johann when the stranger glanced away from him.

  “Do you know him,” asked Bob.

  “I'm not sure,” answered Johann, “For some reason, something about him isn't right. It gives me the chills. I think I saw him before somewhere, but I don't know where.”

  “He must be someone very important,” Robert said, “Look how everyone is almost bowing to him.”

  Everyone seemed to regard, and treat, this stranger as a king. When he walked, people near him moved aside a little more than normal, to allow him to pass. Johann kept his attention on the man for a few moments, as he passed the counter and disappeared into the kitchen area.

  “Well,” said Johann, “He's either the guy from the Board of Health, which I doubt, or he owns the place.”

  The waitress walked over to check on Johann and Robert.

  “How's everything,”
she asked, smiling.

  “Everything's fine,” answered Johann, “We wondered who that man was that came in a few minutes ago.”

  “Oh, you mean that tall man,” Sharon said. She almost sounded as though she were stumbling over her words, and stalled for time to think of an answer.

  “Yes,” Robert said, “That tall man. Who was he? He seemed to be important, and we just wondered who he was.”

  “Why that was Mister Earl,” the waitress answered.

  “Mister Earl,” asked Johann.

  “Yes. Mister Earl. At least, that's what we all call him. He owns this place, along with quite a few other businesses in town. His main business is the trucking company. He never tells us his last name. He tells everyone to call him Earl. But, since we work for him, we call him Mister Earl.”

  “I see,” Johann said. He took a sip of his coffee, “Thank you. Curiosity got the best of us, that's all.”

  “Can I get you, boys, anything else?”

  “No,” Johann answered, “Not for me, anyway. There is one more thing bothering me, though. We saw a huge flock of Ravens out in the parking lot a little while ago, and it caused quite a ruckus with the customers in here. I even saw one of the waitresses drop a tray. I thought she was about to have a heart attack or something. Any idea what that was all about?”

  Sharon gazed at Johann for a moment, then put her hands in her apron pockets. She let out a small sigh and looked around as though making sure she wasn't being watched or listened to.

  “Most people around here have strong superstitions,” she said, in a hushed tone, “They look at Ravens as being harbingers of bad luck and, in some cases, death. The birds started coming around here back in the Spring, and shortly after they showed up, weird stuff began to happen. It's almost like people went crazy or something. Why, since the birds have been here a bunch of people -,”

  “Now Sharon,” a man's voice interrupted, as a hand came down, gently, on the waitress' shoulder, “We don't want to bore our guests with trivial stories of superstition, and folklore, do we?”