Catfish in the Cradle

by Wile E Young

  Left the more traveled routes behind once we hit alligator bayou. The fog made it slow going, and I kept my eyes peeled for each twist of the channel.

  Gideon joined me on the deck, sliding the glass door behind him as he offered a small red pouch to me. “Luc says don’t lose it this time.”

  Letting it drop around my neck, I grunted and nodded my head towards the glass door. Gideon’s eyes followed me to Luc, still busy brewing god knows what. “Said that he didn’t need me right now, that he needed to prepare for when we got there.” Gideon shrugged. “Whatever the hell that means.”

  The both of us lapsed into silence as another turn in the river forced me to take a long arc to make it.

  Gideon pulled a up a chair beside me and stared out at the gathering flood waters swiftly turning our home into a swamp. “Wonder when this will stop.”

  I laughed. “Never. It’s going to be Noah thing, forty damn days and nights and then bam, its fish fucker all you can eat.”

  The younger man didn’t share my mad laughter. “Been thinking about her… shot her cold…didn’t even hesitate.”

  Whatever insane mirth I had gleaned was shot. “She betrayed you, tried to murder you, murdered Scott… can’t fault her yourself for doing what you could.”

  Gideon pulled a small photo from his jacket pocket; it looked like it had been taken this past winter. Gideon and Vicky were huddled close together in the photo, happy and carefree, bundled up like a Hallmark movie.

  “I know you loved her, but there’s going to come another woman for you, hopefully one that’s not shacking up with monsters.”

  Gideon ignored me and continued staring at the picture. He stood up and walked to the edge of the deck. The rain soaked him through quickly and he stood at the prow, staring at the brown waters.

  Could have been crying when he flicked the picture away, the current dragging it under the boat and to the waiting propeller. I chose to believe it was the rain making me see things.

  Neither of us said anything when he sat back down next to me.

  ****

  We’d gone maybe another half a mile when the feeling started to nag at the back of my head.

  Danger…

  Close.

  “Go inside and tell Luc to kill the lights.”

  I said it as calmly as I could, but Gideon could tell I was dead serious as he practically threw the chair overboard in his haste.

  I didn’t venture up this way much, so when Luc emerged asking me what was happening, I ignored him. “Get the map out. Any harbor big enough for this big bitch to hide in close by?”

  Gideon flipped the chair up and Luc hastily spread the map out and began scanning the channels. “About a quarter mile up, there’s a harbor off Kitchen Creek big enough to hold us… one-way in.”

  Gideon examined the map and shook his head. “I know this place. It’s overrun with the salvinia. We go in we aren’t getting out.”

  “No choice.”

  I could hear it over the sound of the rain, thundering boat motors moving much faster than us. Luc and Gideon heard it too by the time we reached the entrance to the harbor. I swung the boat starboard, the ancient wood groaning as I put it through its paces.

  Even with the grey mist that hung over the lake I could see the swathe of green ahead of me. Looked almost strong enough to walk on. Prop began choking barely feet into the weeds, struggling to keep the propeller turning as the grass and mulch began clogging the blades. The salvinia closed behind us just as quick, flowing back into its place, covering our tracks easily.

  With a shuddering cough the motor finally stalled out, and we came to a stop between the shoreline and the woods on the right and a copse of cypress trees on the left.

  “Quiet now,” I whispered and gripped the throttle hard. Didn’t know who was coming up behind us but it didn’t matter. Better safe than sorry.

  The motors got loud, nice outboards in case they had to maneuver through the salvinia.

  “Surprised we haven’t caught up with them yet.” Earl Ray wasn’t even attempting hide his voice, arrogant ass.

  “Folks saw them leaving in that eye sore Whyte calls a home. Bastard’s going to pay for killing Vicky.” Couldn’t make out who else was with him. Hell, if I hadn’t played poker with him every Saturday for five years I wouldn’t have recognized Earl Ray’s voice either.

  Gideon tensed up next to me, tendons in his neck straining as he gritted his teeth together. Couldn’t see them through the fog and rain, and if they hadn’t been shouting at each other I wouldn’t have been able to make out what they were saying.

  “Think we should check out these bayous? Might have pulled in there.”

  “No way they could have heard us, rain’s way too thick.”

  “I’m checking anyway. My prop won’t clog up with that shit.”

  Luc hastily reached in his pockets producing a small candle and lighter. Never thought I’d see the day when Luc Robichaude didn’t look confident, but his hand was practically trembling as he struggled to light the candle.

  One of the distant motors got louder. Thought I could see the hint of a spotlight through the mist.

  My hand lashed out and I gripped his arm hard. “They’ll see the flame!”

  “Trust me,” Luc hissed back at me, the small flame licking at the wick and producing a nice warm glow. He began chanting prayers and incantations that I couldn’t make out. The candle bled red wax that ran down the stem and onto Luc’s hand, sizzling when it touched the skin. I saw my young friend wince, but he never stopped continuing to chant as his flesh scalded.

  The motor was close now, definitely a searchlight scanning through the fog. I held my breath tight as my heart pounded in my chest.

  “Don’t waste the time. If Robichaude gets hold of them channel markers this whole thing is done. You aren’t getting rich and neither am I.”

  The searchlight turned off, vanishing as a coughing backfire reached my ears. I breathed out a sigh as the motors and shouting voices growing more distant.

  Luc immediately went to the edge of the boat and plunged his hand into the cool depths, the candle immediately hissing out. Luc grunting relief as he glanced back us. “It’s a working to cloud men’s minds. Usually do it in a candle holder though… hurt like hell.”

  Understatement of the year, and I found that I had newfound respect for the man; he had a pain threshold like none other.

  “Why do they need to destroy them at all? Why haven’t they just come to kill us?” I asked, curious.

  “I expect it’s because Lincoln is still fighting them. The mercury has done a number on them. Can’t fight a holy war without your messiah.”

  A measure of pride pounded through my chest, Pope spirit at work: Don’t give in.

  “Religious fervor and degrading mental faculties don’t mix well,” Luc said as he squeezed his hand tight grimacing. “I can heal this but it’s going to take time that we don’t possess. Have any burn ointment on this tub?”

  Gideon nodded his head back inside. “Right over where you’ve been working, actually.”

  I glanced over the side of the boat back towards the prop sitting dead in the water. “Best be arming yourselves too. Could use a little cover when I dive in to unclog the prop.”

  “Grady, I think I have a better chance and you’ve been pushing—”

  “Get that burn cream on your hand, Robichaude, and let me worry about what I can and can’t do.” I wasn’t going to have anybody pitying me or thinking I couldn’t do something. I was old, not useless. The Cajun’s lips thinned, and he followed Gideon inside without saying another word while I made my way around the side to the bow.

  Double outboards. Couldn’t tell how much shit had actually gotten clogged up in the works, and wasn’t too optimistic about my chances of getting it clear either.

  Couldn’t reach the props from here, which meant a little trip below the water line. We weren’t in any well-traveled path, which also meant alligators prowled
. Irony at its finest that it would more likely be the animals that I had spent a lifetime hunting rather than a monster that finished me off.

  Gideon and Luc both came out the back door holding twin rifles, .30-06 by the looks of them. If you wanted to keep a trophy those weren’t the calibers to be going with. Now if you wanted to blow something away into the next county, then you were right on the money.

  Gideon cocked the gun and began sweeping the water, Luc mirroring him.

  None of us said anything. It was understood what could go wrong.

  I eased myself into the water and my breath immediately caught in my chest. Damn chill went all the way down to my bones. I began feeling around the props, the triple plates of metal twisted up fierce with detritus. The salvinia had clogged them up good, wrapping tight around the shaft, hard bits of root really constricting around the blades.

  “Either of you have a good knife?”

  Gideon produced a blade from his pocket and I began the slow process of cutting through the vines, careful to keep a tight grip lest the tool go tumbling into the deep.

  The chills racing up my spine had nothing to do with the temperature, and I went about my work as quickly as I could, the fear beginning to creep back into me.

  I had made it through the roots wrapping around the second prop when I heard a distant boat motor and stiffened.

  “Might want to hurry, Mr. Pope.” Gideon said as calm as possible, steam coming off his brow.

  “I’ll check the prow,” Luc said as he vanished into the mist. I redoubled my efforts, hacking at the roots as twin searchlights pierced through the fog.

  “Y’all folks all right?”

  The boat came to a stop next to us and I sighed in relief when I saw TEXAS GAME WARDEN emblazoned across the side. Larry Knowles and Desmond Miles leaned out wearily, bright neon raincoats shining under the flashing blue and red lights..

  Desmond looked at Luc with wide eyes when he rounded the corner; Luc nodded his head. “Desmond, long time.”

  “Yeah, good to see you back, Robichaude.”

  I finished cutting the vines and crawled back out of the water, shivering as Gideon reappeared tossing me a warm blanket that I eagerly wrapped around myself. “What are you fellas doing so far out?”

  “Looking for the assholes that are baiting their droplines with chicken. Don’t have to explain to you how illegal that is.”

  I glanced at Gideon, who mercifully didn’t mention that I had tried baiting the man-eater with that exact same tactic. Might have known the gator was there, but illegal methods are still illegal.

  “What are you guys doing so far out here? Taking on apprentices, Grady?”

  Here came the moment of truth: if these men had been involved, they would have already been trying to blow my brains out. But as it stood I thought they could be trusted.

  Would they believe us, though?

  “Why don’t you fellas follow us. Come on board; we don’t have a lot of time, so we’ll make it quick.

  ****

  By the time we were done, Larry Knowles look at the three of us like we had lobsters crawling out of our ears. “Not wanting to insult you guys or anything, but you are aware of how completely insane this sounds.”

  Luc nodded. “Well aware of it but the facts don’t lie, don’t you think it odd that you haven’t been able to find the Sheriff or Beau Caldwell?”

  Larry shrugged “It’s a flood things are crazy, power lines are down, these assholes out here on the river are trying there best to murder every poor gator they come across and you’re talking some half ass redneck Creature From the Black Lagoon shit.”

  Yeah, this went about the way I expected it to. I gave a look to Luc before I gestured towards the door. “Thanks for taking the time to listen, but afraid we’re going to have to cut this short. Can’t let my grandson lead some sort of crusade against us if I can help it.”

  Larry Knowles looked like he wanted to haul me off and throw me in the nearest care facility. Didn’t blame him for that; if Cy had still been alive and started talking about fish monsters living under the lake I would have readjusted his dosage as well.

  “I believe them.”

  Desmond said it quietly, but he might as well have clapped his hands and done cartwheels. Larry looked like he was about to shit bricks.

  “You can’t be serious.”

  “Things I’ve seen, Larry, I’m willing to believe a lot… especially when a Robichaude is involved.”

  “All of that hoodoo crap was just that, just boogeyman shit meant to scare kids.”

  Desmond shook his head. “I believed that too, brother, but it’s all real. You don’t have to come but I’m going with them.”

  I nodded my thanks at him while Larry threw up his hands in exasperation, swearing as loud as he possibly could before pointing at the game warden boat attached to our hull.

  “Well fine, let’s get fucking going so we can play hero, dammit.”

  Gideon and Luc both expressed their thanks while I nodded in approval.

  The two game wardens had returned to their boat when the splitting migraine almost caused me to topple off the side. Luc caught me as I doubled over. I heard distant shouting but couldn’t make out what they were saying; my mind was a haze. The Cradle materialized in front of me.

  This is the end, Grampa.

  I heard Lincoln’s voice in my head, drumbeats pounded heavily as a horde of deformed half-breeds jumped up and down, hollering mad obscenities in their alien tongue. Four of the primordial Deep Folk stood in the pool of mercury, clustered around the gigantic statues, their head bowed in supplication.

  The biggest one, Vi’hocta, knelt at the monument’s feet, repulsive tongue lashing out and lapping at the mercury oozing down the stone edifice. When he rose a deathly silence passed through the assembled horrors. My grandson’s fear flooded through me along with other sensations that I didn’t understand.

  A hunger all consuming, my mind flashed with the memories of a million years and knowledge above my feeble understanding. I could see the workings of magic and the downfall of the Deep Folk from ancient wonders into primitive savages.

  There was a thumping and the crowds parted way. The Deep Folk with the useless eyes made his way easily through the masses, sloshing into the pool of mercury, his whiskers twitching as it passed through the metal. Vi’hocta gestured, and Lincoln roared in defiance as they dragged him forward.

  Impotent anger seized my heart. Wanted to reach out and strangle every one of the bastards. But it wasn’t my body, wasn’t my vision. I was just an observer… helpless.

  Two eight-foot-tall Deep Folk dragged Lincoln to the edge of the liquid, and Vi’hocta reached out a webbed hand to his son.

  Goodbye.

  I raged helplessly as Lincoln walked into the tide pool. The masses began chanting, deep rhythmic croaks and warbles as the massive creature seized Lincoln’s face, covering his eyes in darkness.

  Then it plunged him down into the mercury.

  Intense pride filled me as I felt my grandson struggle as long as he could to hold his breath When he finally gave in, I felt his mind deteriorate with each breath of poison. Couldn’t remember his few days of life at first, then his name, then me, just a jumble of images and instincts.

  When he was pulled back up to the surface, he looked around in confusion for a moment before roaring a challenge at anyone who would defy him.

  None did.

  He turned and bowed to his father, recognizing the alpha of the tribe… for now.

  His father croaked, pleased with himself and handed him a spear.

  Before the vision ended, I felt the rage beating in my grandson’s chest and saw the discarded remains of human skin. No more humanity.

  The sightless Deep Folk croaked. A procession of half-breeds came forth, their shuffling steps and arms straining to hold the body they carried.

  I saw my daughter, bloated from her time beneath the waves; could smell the stench of rot around her.
They laid her body at Lincoln’s feet and I felt his indifference. There was nothing in his heart for this dead surface woman, only hunger.

  He reached down with his hand, the fused flesh wrapping easily around his mother’s dead face. He tugged, and the skin came free easily, bits of bloody and putrid tendons hanging free. He clutched my daughter’s face in his hand like a rag. I got to stare into her dangling eyes as he brought it to his mouth and chewed; could taste the rot in my own.

  The Deep Folk croaked out cheers of joy and joined my grandson in the mercury pool, all of them eager to join in the meal.

  I was weeping when Luc’s face came back into frame, the others crowded around him.

  “Saw him… saw him down there.”

  Luc didn’t need to ask as he clutched the mojo bag around his neck and whispered prayers.

  “Maybe he can buy us some time.”

  I looked at Gideon, stifling my tears and retreating to that primitive part of me that held my rage. “No. They’re ready, and they’ll be coming soon. He ain’t human anymore.”

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Gideon took the helm while I recovered. I appreciated him for that and for the others leaving me be while I worked through my despair. I was truly alone in the world now; the bastards had forced it out of him, everything that connected him to this world.

  Swore I would kill them all, give them pain like they had never experienced. With the remainder of my time on this earth, I would make them pay. And aAt this rate that wasn’t going to be a long time and I didn’t give a damn.

  What was left anyway?

  My daughter’s severed face hung in my mind as I raised myself off the couch. I’d felt Lincoln’s instincts… what his father had told him. The surface dwellers had betrayed them, had poisoned their seed and forced them to live in the Cradle. Their god had sent signs, promises and omens that the half-breeds would be redeemed. Lincoln had been that sign, and once the Robichaude markers were gone, nothing would stop them from retaking the surface.

  Monsters wouldn’t know what hit them once they were done killing everybody in reach. I’d reckon that the government would come in and do a little sweep and clear or maybe just sterilize the whole lake to be safe.