by Eros, Marata
I grabbed Jade's hand and got in the creepy cruiser again, noticing it was as disgusting as all the rest I'd ever been in.
We watched the scenery whiz by. “Where's Sophie?”
“She's going to meet us there,” Jade said.
I nodded. As our hands intertwined I looked to see if Gale's eyes were on the road. They were. I leaned over and put my mouth by her ear, kissing the outside edge, my lips brushing up against the cold metal of her hoop, the heat from my mouth warming it.
Her cheek pushed against my lips as she smiled. “That tickles.” She giggled softly.
I liked making her giggle.
“Later we can swim at Grampsʼ, it'll be nice and private.” I was envisioning her in that tiny bikini she had.
Her eyes met mine. “Caleb, we can't always make out.”
Why not? “We can sneak some time in,” I said, unfazed.
She grinned. “Okay,” she said, her cheeks coloring a soft pink.
We passed under the gate for the cemetery, the swirling scrolls marking our entrance.
Gale rolled to a stop as close to Clyde's plot as we could get. I looked at my watch, noticed we had ten more minutes until my boy showed up.
Gale turned around in the seat. “What's going on with Clyde?”
I shrugged, who knew?
She sighed. “I mean, why is he constantly popping up?”
I barked out a laugh, thinking about the jack-in-the-box thing.
“Ah, not funny , Caleb.”
I shook my head. “No, it's just—the way you said it made me think of something else.” Snark.
Jade raised her eyebrows and I gave her the, later look.
“The theory on corpse-raising is once raised, they're easier to raise again,” Gale said.
That'd been my experience; I'd bypassed theory totally.
“I didn't try to raise Clyde. And him running around was because I didn't get a chance to put him back because of the hospital thing,” I said.
“Why do you think he responded?” she asked.
We got out of the car and I slammed the door. Looking around, I took my time answering. The great fir trees swayed in the wind, their branches almost caressing the ground. I leaned on the top of the car's hood. “I think because he was my first, ya know—corpse to raise that we're just connected. I'm not gonna lie, I don't really know. Clyde just feels tight, ya know?”
“Like a friend?” Jade asked.
I nodded. “Kinda... but, more like a body guard. A zombie body guard.”
“He feels different than the others,” Gale said, with a shiver.
Huh.
Clyde broke through the tree line after she said that, his feet a slimy mess, the muck inside his shoes oozing out of them. Must've run .
He turned his gaze to me as the Weller car brought up the rear, the Js piling out.
Then his eyes went to Gale's.
Jonesy rubbed his hands together. “ʼKay, let's get cookinʼ, I'm dying to go to Mac's.”
Clyde scowled at him, which made another ball oʼ flesh slide off and land on the grass. Facial expression really took a toll.
“Okay, chill—kinda touchy for a corpse,” Jonesy said, getting nervous.
Bry said, “Jonesy, could you just not .”
Jonesy crossed his arms, huffing.
I walked over to Clyde and we looked at each other.
“Thank you,” I said.
He inclined his head, “If I may be presumptuous enough to add counsel before I go.”
Okay.
“Those young men, who caused you such harm....”
“The doofus brigade,” Jonesy clarified.
“Quiet, Jonester,” John said and Jonesy stalked off, parking his ass on a tombstone, chin resting in his palm.
He swung his face away from Jonesy and back to me. “They are not a light threat. I have known people before that are without a conscience. There are people like this now, in your time. There will be more to follow. I advise you use whomever you have at your disposal to dispatch this threat.”
“Kill ʼem all, right?” Tiff asked.
Clyde inclined his head again and Officer Gale stuck her fingers in her ears and chanted, “Not listening, not listening!”
“As plans go, I can't fault it,” Alex said.
Bry said, “I like it.”
Wellers.
“You guys, listen, there's always going to be a Carson. Look at what's happened. He got into high school and sucked up a couple more clones,” Jade said.
“Losers proliferate,” John said.
Alex laughed, jerking his thumb toward John. “Yeah, what he said.”
Clyde leaned in real close and I stifled a gag, poor guy. “We are connected now, you understand this?”
I nodded; I was so getting that.
“It is as if I rest below the surface of a restless pool of water. One ripple and I awaken. There is no denying that I will respond to you when you are in distress, no matter what the distance. It is compulsion now.”
Great.
Gale approached. “So, you're not in control of this?”
Clyde looked at her with disbelief, planting a rotting hand against his chest. “My dear, I never was, I never was. He,” and he pointed at me, “is in charge of all that is dead. Caleb has brought me closer to being alive again .” He closed his hand into a fist, the skin stretching close to splitting, the meat of it lightly touching his chest.
With that Clyde walked to his grave, lying down on top of the undisturbed earth. I released the stranglehold of my power. The energy leeched out from my splayed fingers, hitting Clyde like a two by four. He closed his eyes, a sigh escaping his mouth, the grass rolling over him like green water.
We all stood there quietly for a minute then Tiff said, “Huh, you didn't even need me, I feel hurt.” She clutched at her chest over her heart.
I looked at her. “Be glad that I didn't!”
“Yeah, no shit,” Jonesy said.
Gale just shook her head, “I'm going to forget Clyde was encouraging murder. Yeah, I think I've got amnesia on that.”
Wish we all did.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
I think I could smell Grampsʼ house from the cruiser as it swung onto Driftwood Key Road. He would already have his BBQ-er lit up, ready for the dogs and burgers.
I couldn't wait. Jade had a smile on her face. This summer had really mattered for her. Spending time with my mom, gardening (Gee, pick me), and weekends at Grampsʼ had been good for her to spend time with my normal family.
Well, mainly normal. Cuz Gramps was kinda his own thing. I was thinking he and Clyde would see eye-to-eye on a butt ton. Yeah.
Gale dropped us off at Grampsʼ and lingered. I told her to hold on and ran over to Gramps.
He was flipping burgers and dogs already. I glanced at my watch and saw that it was noon; my belly rumbled. I guess the smell was the only reminder needed to Awaken the Beast.
Gramps said, “Hello there, Caleb. Who's your friend?” he asked, pointing the tongs at Gale.
“Yeah, about her,” I began and he raised his eyebrows at me, “she sorta helped out today and I think it'd be great to—”
“—The more the merrier is what I always say,” he said, flipping a burger and keeping his eyes on the BBQ.
Sweet. Gramps could never say no to the chicks.
I jogged back to the cruiser, and Gale said, “Okay, you guys have a good time...”
“Listen, Bobbi, Gramps wants you to hang out with the Fam.” That wasn't entirely accurate, but it was the best way to put it.
She looked skeptical. “He doesn't know me...”
I shrugged. “He likes a crowd.” The right crowd .
Bry's car limped up the driveway and he parked it in front of the garage door. Alex, the Js and the Wellers got out and shut the doors at the same time.
The passenger door fell off with a big clatter on the concrete driveway, shuddering and bouncing in a slow spin.
We star
ed until it fell still.
Gramps walked over and said, “Caleb, go watch that BBQ-er.”
Hell, Dad had a natural gas one. I didn't know anything about briquettes—or whatever outlawed fuel source Gramps used.
I trudged over there.
Bry and Gramps looked at the door laying on the driveway. Bry had a bemused expression but Gramps was resolved. “I can weld this sucker on after lunch,” he said, palming his chin.
Bry's eyebrows lifted. “Yeah?”
“Yeah, you'll never use it again but it'll stay on there like super glue.”
“Super what?”
“Never you mind,” Gramps said, checking out the perimeter of the hole left by the door. “Yeah, I'll get my grinder out and rough this surface up,” he smoothed his hand along the edge, “and it'll be good as new.”
“Ah, what about,” Bry pointed to that pesky little point-of-entry challenge.
“Well, your friends have one door in the front and two behind. They can figure that out, right?” Then he looked over at me. “Caleb,” he bellowed, “how are those dogs doing?”
Who the hell knew? Out loud I said, “I got this, Gramps!” hollering back.
“Ah-huh,” he said in a tone that clearly said, I'll believe that when I see it.
More parents rolled up: Sophie's mom to drop her off and Helen and Bill, Jonesy's parents. Where were my parents?
I asked Gramps.
“Your mom is bringing some grub.”
“Like what?”
He looked at me, dead serious. “Everything else.”
Huh. That sounded awesome, Mom could bake like a fiend.
Helen and Bill walked up to Gramps, who had run over and worked his magic on the grill. He strode over to Bill, pumping his hand off in his typical, over the top handshake. “Bill, good to see you,” murderous guy-clap to the shoulder as Bill stumbled forward.
“You too, Mac. Thanks for inviting us to your little soiree, here,” Bill said, looking around at the biggest green lawn he'd probably ever seen, which rolled all the way down to the shore's edge.
“Look at this lawn,” Bill said with more than a hint of awe in his voice. “My dad used to have a lawn like this. How do you get away with it?”
Oh brother . He's gonna Make A Point. I so knew where Mom got that.
“Grandfathered.”
“No shit?” Bill said incredulously.
“Bill, language,” Helen said, not without affection.
“Right, sorry. But, look at all this,” he spread his hands out. “And he's using real briquettes, I can smell them.” He stuck his nose up in the air sniffing like it was the priciest scent ever produced.
What was the big deal anyway? Mom was totally into the environment to the gnat’s ass. But Gramps was... he was Gramps . Just thinking about them conjured my parents out of thin air. They pulled up and the Js suddenly became the most helpful kids on earth. Jonesy was first in line to haul all the food (there was a ton). I think Mom had baked the universe. Gramps was nodding in that approving way of his.
“Your mom can bake up a storm,” he said, piling all the burgers on one side of a huge, stainless tray and the dogs on the other.
Mom sailed over to Gramps, standing on tiptoe to kiss him on the cheek. “Hey Pops.”
He pulled her into a hug. “How's my girl?”
“Ornery.” She smiled.
“Excellent,” he said, grinning back.
They'd be fighting inside a half-hour . They were so much alike and yet, not at all.
Funny but true.
Sophie walked over, her mom pulling away in her car. “Hey, how's it goinʼ?”
We told her.
“So, Clyde was zombie on the spot?” she laughed.
“Yeah, but, here's the thing, he's getting...” I began.
“Terribly lucid?” she said in her adult way.
“Yeah,” Jade said.
“I'm gonna get my trunks on,” Bry said to the group.
“Where's Barbie?” Jonesy said from the doorway leading into the kitchen.
“Don't worry, Jones. She's coming,” Tiff said, the comment punctuated by an eye roll.
There was a collective groan, and Bry sighed. “Come on guys, I know her brother is an asshole.”
Helen said, “Language!”
Jonesy sorta cringed. I guess my mom wasn't the only Vulgar Language Radar Queen. How do they always hear it, anyway?
“Sorry,” Bry muttered, and Helen huffed off with her hands on her hips, that hair of hers still looking like lost-animal-zoo-time on her head.
“Anyway,” he began again in a soft voice, “I'm still digginʼ on her and trying to not dwell on that asswipe Brody.”
“Well, good for you, but he was one of the eff-ups that gave Caleb the got-nailed-by-gnomes look.”
“I've had that look before,” Bry said, noncommittally.
Yeah, he had. Probably minus the internal fun, though.
“I hate gnomes,” Tiff said with a shudder, casting a nervous glance around the lawn.
Lot of lawn, lots of room to have lawn décor.
“Don't worry,” I laughed. “Gramps doesn't believe in clutter,” I said making airquotes.
“ʼKay, let's get the swimsuits on,” John said.
“No-oh. You gotta have priorities,” Jonesy said. “And that'd be food.”
“Your parents don't make you wait the hour after eating before going in the water?” John asked.
We all looked at him like he grew a second head.
“Ah- no . What kind of horseshit is that?” Tiff said, smacking some fresh gum.
John turned a little red, struggling to explain, “Well, my parents—”
“—are super-ancient,” Jonesy finished.
John looked like he was going to say something then threw up his hands in surrender. “Yeah.”
I clapped John on the back and winked at Jade. “Let's eat then change.”
All of us walked into the house. Mom had spread food on the picnic-style table Gramps had set out for the teenage horde. The red and white checkered tablecloth looked like an oasis in the middle of a desert.
We dug in.
****
It was well-past supper. The second round of stuff had been consumed and I had eaten until the threat of puking was close, then finally had to hang it up. Late afternoon sun twinkled like wet diamonds on the water, and all of us were considering a righteous canoe fight—girls against guys—when Carson's dad showed up.
That is how weird the day ended, my nemesisʼ dad showing up. Sorta put a damper on things.
Dad sharpened right up, and walked over to the driveway. Like it was the most normal thing in the world that Carson-the-Creep's dad had arrived at the family BBQ.
It so wasn't.
Gramps gave me a look then came over. “Who's this jackass?” He jerked his thumb in the direction of Carson's dad.
I told him.
“Well, I'll be damned. That SOB has brass cajones, I'll give him that. He may need a little persuasion,” Gramps said, getting That Look.
“Ah, Gramps, let's see what Dad can do.”
“Okay, Caleb. Your dad gets a little time to be diplomatic , and then, I will implement The Solution.”
Jonesy was nodding. “See, Caleb, that's what I like about Mac here, he's got contingency plans.”
I don't think Jonesy was really up on the total four-one-one on what Grampsʼ Total Solution would be for this.
I knew things were gonna get interesting when Hamilton started jabbing my dad in the chest with a finger.
The kids got quiet, and I walked over there; Gramps on my heels and Mom charging behind us.
“Listen, I know you're a big-shot scientist but I don't think you appreciate my position,” jab-jab with the finger. “I speak for the people, and we don't need an AFTD corrupting our school and threatening my son.”
Dad took the finger that was jabbing him, giving it a sharp twist and he flung it back at the guy. “Your politic
al position has nothing at all to do with Caleb or his abilities. It was your son that did more than threaten mine. He injured my son, badly enough to warrant an overnight hospitalization and the attention of a Level Five Organic.”
Hamilton crossed his arms across his chest (I was getting totally why Carson was such a bully-type). “So you claim.”
“So I know,” Dad said.
Gramps said, “Here's the deal. You need to get your pompous ass off my property right this second or I will escort you in a way I know you will not like.” His tone of voice said it all.
Gramps had been a Navy Seal back in the day, and could still throw his weight around. He was the one that encouraged those push-ups I was doing all the time.
Hamilton's smile went from condescending to full on grin. “Look, old man, you're not going to tell me what to do. I can be and say whatever I want.”
Gramps belted him right in the face without so much as blinking an eye and Hamilton stumbled back, landing hard on his ass. Not wasting any time, Gramps strode over, jerking him by the back of the collar. He dragged him out to where the driveway ended, Hamilton spluttering about his rights, heel-marks trailing after him.
That worked really well for him.
Gramps dumped him on the gravel threshold that separated the driveway from the road's shoulder.
“I'd stay down if I were you,” Bry said, having run up behind Gramps. Hamilton's beady eyes shifted from Gramps, to Dad, to Bry, deciding he'd had all the excitement he needed.
“I'm getting in my car now,” Hamilton said, eying the group warily.
“Good thinking,” Gramps said, brushing off invisible dirt from his creased, old-guy-pants.
Hamilton stood on shaky legs, walking over to the car. He turned, a safe distance from the group. “This isn't over, Hart. I will prosecute you for this.”
“Grandfathered,” Gramps said in his matter-of-fact way.
Jonesy chortled in the background.
What a mess.
He burned out, gravel kicking up and hitting Grampsʼ wood fence.
“Isn't he a winner,” Gramps stated.
“Oh Pop, couldn't you have...”
“Been a sissy? No, not on your life, Daughter.”
