They Go Bump
Page 3
“The second day?” Ball sat unbelieving. “You knew the second day and you didn't say anything?"
“It would've known about me, that monster, if I had said anything. Then I'd be dead. And so would you."
“But Reice,” Ball said. “The corporal—"
“I saved you.” Sweezy's voice was sharp. “I could've left you there, or started shooting blind, but I didn't. I waited for my chance, and I saved us both."
Ball lay back against the ground and stared up into the orange-dust sky.
“I'm a good soldier,” Sweezy's voice said. “I always said I was."
* * * *
They walked two more days and halted at the top of a high cliff. Safety waited near, beneath Hatch A, just out of sight beyond the darkening horizon. Night fell. Ball lay awake and thought horrible thoughts.
Like—maybe the monster had known about Sweezy, after all.
Ball hadn't seen the thing's body, crumpled and lifeless. He'd closed his eyes. Maybe there'd never been a body, maybe that thing was still alive.
Maybe it was...
Ball slowly turned his eyes upon the empty spot where Sweezy lay sleeping.
“Sweezy!” he hissed. “Sweezy, wake up."
There was silence. Finally, Sweezy's voice said, “What?"
Ball trembled, he couldn't help it. “That is you, isn't it, Sweezy?” His voice was pleading, desperate. “It is really you? It just occurred to me that—"
“Yes, it's me,” Sweezy's voice assured him. “Go back to sleep, Ball. Of course it's me."
Ball took a deep breath. Yes.
He rolled over and closed his eyes. He tried to relax.
Of course it was Sweezy, he tried to tell himself.
Of course it was.
* * *
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