by Marc Laidlaw
him like fever waves, spreading from his heart to his crotch and back again.
In the silence that ended “The Woods Are Dark,” Runick glanced furtively at those around him, and was shocked to see that their eyes held something like the same adoration and passion that he felt. Nothing the equal of his own, of course, but still—a puny striving to unite with her power, her purity, as if they alone could make her whole, as if her energy were a physical substance they consumed like addicts. He despised the way they drained the life away from her—no wonder she looked tired. He would never treat her so badly; he wanted to give something to her, not steal it away. No one here could possibly understand her songs as thoroughly as Runick did, for no one here had such a sympathetic darkness at their core, a blackness that harmonized so completely to her music. The dark valley inside him had known no other light than Holly’s voice. In that place especially, she sang for him alone, she created and celebrated his power.
Jealousy made him grit his teeth. His entire being clenched in fury and frustration. His eyes were fixed on her mouth, so he saw, rather than heard, her words: “How Black Was My Valley.” He stiffened in surprise, almost backing away. This was a kind of blasphemy!
But it was too late to flee. The first notes were already sweeping him away, carrying all his rage and jealous passion down into the dark.
Maybe if he’d had some warning, if he’d had time to steel himself against the song, he could have made himself invulnerable. But he was so used to hearing it in private, giving himself to the music completely, that now his descent into the valley was a conditioned reflex—a cue planted and reinforced by self-hypnosis, irresistible.
The pressure of the crowd merged with the pressure of darkness. Instead of cigarette smoke and spilled beer he smelled the night wind blowing through pines and moss. He was alone now, sweeping down into the valley, borne along by the cascading notes, unable to turn back or slow his descent.
He struggled against the current, dimly aware that there was danger here because his other body was in jeopardy. But resistance was useless. He couldn’t tell if his eyes were open or closed, if he were dreaming or awake. All he knew was that the music was loud, all-enveloping, beating at his blood and bones, and its volume made the vision stronger than ever before. She had never played it in a concert he attended. The valley was deeper and darker, impossibly real. Tonight there were no prefatory stars or moon, not even a hint of blanketing clouds. Above was simple darkness, and the sense of sheer walls closing in as he plunged into the deep well of darkness.
The musical wind sucked him down toward the source of sound, so strong that he hardly needed his wings to soar.
Then suddenly there was light, a nova, and Holly’s face shone out at him as her luminous words spilled their radiance over everything. He panicked, beating backward, afraid of the flash—afraid that his true nature would be revealed, his sickness exposed, and everyone would see what he really was. He fanned his black wings, trying to blot her out before she could harm him. He felt his shadow spreading, saw the fear come into her eyes as she finally noticed him and recognized his power
“Runick!”
And again he was snatched back, his wings furling up painfully, the lights of the bar breaking in on the black purity of the vision, all his limitless power abruptly dwindling to nothing but the weak shell of a frantic, obsessed young man—only one among many.
It was Nevis again, his roommate, shouting. “I been looking for you, man! See you found her, though. Isn’t this great? I told you she’d play for us!”
Runick tried to pull away, struggling back to the valley where his destiny lay, but he was hopelessly off the track.
He stumbled away from the stage, unable to bear the disparity between the growing intensity of the song and his own loss of power. Nevis clutched his shoulder, shouting in his ear.
“After this we’ll stake out her sister’s place on the edge of town, okay? Heather Anderson’s her name. Holly’s probably staying there. We’ll get her autograph or maybe a good look through the shades.”
“You can’t do that.”
“Sure we can. Come on, you’re her biggest fan, you should be up for it. When are you gonna get another chance like this?”
“You can’t invade her privacy like that. You don’t understand.”
“It’s not like we’re breaking into her house, Runick, we just want to see her. But hey, if you don’t want to come along, that’s fine.”
He couldn’t imagine hiding with anyone else, tolerating their brutish comments. Their understanding of her songs was superficial; to them all rock music was just an excuse to jerk around and scream and do drugs. As if the Black Valley were only a valley, only words in a song, instead of a place more real to Runick than the inside of this bar. Nevis had never been to that place; he had no idea what made it so black.
Still . . . if he was clever, and went along with them only so far, he might profit from their enthusiasm—at least as far as it went. He didn’t have to sink to their level when he could stand on their shoulders.
“Maybe I’ll go,” he said. “Just to keep you in line.”
Nevis cheered and then he was gone, spotting another accomplice. Left alone in the crowd, Runick looked back at the stage, wishing things could be as they had been before. The image of the dark valley had frightened him, but at least it was better—more fulfilling—than this.
But he was grounded in reality now, mired in bodies.
The rest of the concert was almost disappointing, with never another moment when he felt close to Holly until she hustled past him with the guitarist’s arm over her shoulder, fighting for the door. For a brief moment he found himself inadvertently placed in her path. The panic in her eyes might not have been meant for him, but it looked like recognition.
* * *
After playing a set in that bar, it was ruined for the group as a place to relax. Ron took off without a word as soon as they got out the door. Kelly suggested a bar in Laineville, and Raelene immediately dropped out. When they got there, Holly could see why. It was full of cowboys, such as they were these days, and more kept coming in carrying bowling bags. She couldn’t help but feel anonymous here.
Neil asked endless technical guestions about the eguipment she used until Kelly started steering the conversation toward events from their past—things the synth player had no part in. Eventually Neil said something about having to get up early for work, and then they were alone. Later they walked down Main Street looking in dark storefront windows, wandering around a subject that didn’t fit comfortably into any conversation. The end of the evening seemed all too inevitable. Worse, despite herself Holly found that she was curious about exactly how much—and how little—Kelly had changed. It had been a long time since she’d been in this position with anyone who’d known her first as Holly Andrews rather than Holly Terror.
“Time I got back,” she said, and caught the expected flicker of anxiety in Kelly’s eyes.
“You staying with Heather?”
“Motel. I can’t take too much of her right now.”
“No doubt.”
“Have you seen her at all, Kelly? Is it just me, or is she weirder now?”
He shook his head. “I don’t run into her very often— you know how she is.”
“I feel bad not staying with her, but . . . .”
“You two never did have much in common.” He squeezed her hand. “Come on, I’ll give you a lift. Maybe you want to come by my place for awhile?”
“Maybe for awhile,” she answered, wondering whether it was curiosity or entropy that made her go against her better judgment.
* * *
Sometime late, or very early, in blackness except for a candle’s last flickering, Kelly’s phone rang. Holly woke just enough to feel grateful that it couldn’t be for her.
But then Kelly shook her, whispering, “Holly, it’s for you. It’s Heather.”
“Heather?” She sat up and drew blankets around hersel
f, unwilling to accept the phone. He had the mouthpiece covered. “What does she want?”
He shrugged bony shoulders. “I don’t know—she sounds hysterical. She asked if I’d seen you.”
“Fuck.” She took the phone. “Heather? What is it? What’s wrong?”
Heather could barely restrain herself. “They’ve come for you, Holly! They’re out there! They think I’m you— they—please come over, Holly, please!”
“What are you talking about? Who’s out where?”
“In the trees, they’ve been coming closer all the time, but this is the first time . . . around the house. They think you’re here and they’ll come after me if they can’t have you.”
“Jesus, do you know what you sound like? Call the police if you have peeping toms.”
“They’re not—they’d just melt away. I wanted to explain but it took too long and you ran out before—please, Holly, you have to come!”
She pulled the phone away from her ear and sighed, shaking her head at Kelly.
“You want me to come with you?” he asked.
“I don’t know if I’m going anywhere,” she said.
Heather must have heard her: “You have to!” she screamed.
“I think you better,” Kelly said. “Come on, I’ll drive you.”
“This better be good, Heather!” she yelled into the phone. She slammed it down.
Kelly was already dressed by the time she got out of bed. He shoved her clothes at her in a wad. “I’ll start the car. “
She dressed clumsily, anchored down by a cumulative exhaustion that wouldn’t let her come completely awake. She needed a good twelve to sixteen hours of sleep. It was like a dream, standing here swaying over Kelly’s bed, but that was a more reassuring dream than the thought of seeing Heather in this state.
Fifteen minutes later they rounded the curve before the old house, and the headlights of Kelly’s car picked out a glint of chrome, a flash of a windshield. For a snapshot instant Holly saw a new model pickup truck parked a few dozen yards down the road; in the cab, a young man was frozen on her eyes in the act of raising a bottle to his lips. As they passed the truck, the kid ducked out of sight. They turned into the driveway, the headlights flushed several figures from the trees near the house.
“Hey!” Kelly slammed on the brakes and jumped out to intercept them. They were boys, faces bright with liquor and laughter. Kelly didn’t even get close to them; they hooted derisively and fled down the road. A moment later the pickup sped into view, made a dramatic, tire-screeching one- eighty, and tore back toward town. The bed was crowded with passengers now, chanting into the night, their voices fading with distance: “Hol-ly! Ter-ror! Hol-ly! Ter-ror!”
“Fans of yours?” Kelly said.
She turned toward the house, wondering why all the lights were off. Suddenly Heather emerged from the gloom of the doorway and ran across the grass to meet her, sobbing.
She felt cold and damp as the lawn in Holly’s arms.
“Okay, okay, Heather, they were just kids.”
“I thought—I thought—”
“ But she was too shaken to speak.
Holly and Kelly led her back to the house, trying light switches as they went. None worked until they got into the kitchen. She sat Heather at the table while Kelly filled the kettle.
“You should’ve called the police,” he said.
“That’s what I told her,” Holly said.
“No … I’ve called them before. They don’t come out here anymore. Or if they do come, they just laugh at me.”
“You mean this happens all the time?” Kelly asked.
“Not . . . not exactly.”
“They’re only bothering you because of me,” Holly said. “Why should they be coming around all the time? They know I’m never here.”
Heather shook her head so minutely that Holly almost missed the gesture. She read her sister’s intent, though.
She wouldn’t speak further in front of Kelly.
Fortunately, he didn’t seem anxious to stay. When they heard the first birds singing, he allowed himself to be led to the door. “You sure you’re going to be all right?”
“She’s my sister, Kel. I’ll be fine just as soon as I get her in bed.”
“Well, call me when you’re up again, I’ll pick you up and you can get your car. Maybe we can have dinner or something?”
“I’ll call.”
She watched him drive away. It was still pitch black outside. The birds didn’t make another sound.
Heather paced restlessly across the kitchen floor. “I couldn’t talk with him around.”
“I know. I know what you want to talk about.”
“How could you?”
“Because I know what’s on your mind. This whole 'emergency' of yours. You think somehow these kids know you write my songs, you believe I told somebody, and now they’re coming around to wreck your privacy. Isn’t that it? You think they’re your fans.”
“No—”
“I didn’t tell anybody about you, Heather. If you want to know why kids come around bothering you, it’s because you’ve made yourself into some kind of institution around here—the weird white lady. You know, in the sort of house kids dare each other to visit on Halloween.”
“It wasn’t kids before tonight. If you’ll listen, I’ll try to make you understand.”
Silence. Black night. The wall clock’s ticking was unnaturally loud.
“Well?” she finally said.
Heather went to the window. Holly saw nothing in the glass but her sister’s reflection, as in a black mirror.
“It’ll be light soon. Safe to go. We’re at the shallow end of night.”
“The shallow . . .. What are you talking about?”
Heather moved toward the back door, gesturing for Holly to follow her. “It’s easier to show you.”
“You want to go outside?”
“Yes. You can see for yourself. You can decide what you want to do.”
Holly couldn’t find the strength to resist. The sooner this ended, the sooner she could drag herself up to her barren room and sleep. She followed Heather onto the back
porch, which was dark and damp as the outdoors and suddenly she was outdoors. Pine needles brushed her face, leaving a trail of cold tears. She glanced back and saw the bright kitchen windows far behind them, though she had no memory of stepping over the threshold.
Exhaustion was making her delirious.
There was just enough light to see the trunks of trees around her. Her shadow fell dead ahead, pointing the way from the house. Heather was a pale shape weaving through the pines. She sensed that the sky was growing light, and she could just make out the scratchy glitter of wet needles and the curved gleam of resinous branches heavy with rain. Their footsteps were padded, muffled, and made a crumpling sound, as if they were wading through tissue paper.
She looked up and saw Heather staring at her with a forlorn expression. She started toward her, then saw it wasn’t Heather at all. Heather was far ahead, in another direction, moving guickly—though she stopped when she heard Holly’s gasp. The other face she’d seen was gone now; as if it had never been.
“What is it?” Heather asked, coming back to her.
“I thought I saw your face, but it wasn’t you.”
“No, it wasn’t. Take my hand. Don’t be afraid, it’ll soon be light.”
And if it weren’t? Holly wondered. What then? What if this were the deep end of night?
* * *
To Runick, the house was a dark shrine, and the coming of the headlights could not have pried him loose from his place of worship. The others scurried like bugs, taking their sacrilegious comments with them. It was a relief to have the darkness to himself. He crouched low among the pines, finally rewarded for his vigil by the sight of her walking through the headlights. When they darkened a moment later, he blinked furiously and tried to track her through the night, but it was impossible. Then he heard a door shut, and the wa
iting began again.
He hardly felt the chill, or the rain that came and went. He dozed. What woke him was the sound of another engine starting. He saw the car pulling out of the yard. A figure appeared at the bright kitchen window, not Holly but the pale one—her sister. He feared for a moment that she had seen him, but she backed away slowly, no alarm in her gestures. Moments later he heard voices in the trees behind the house, and a gentle crunching sound exactly like that which preceded his descent into the dark valley…the
popping and clicking of the slightly scratched album. But this time the sound was actual footfall. He slipped through the trees, following, until he saw their shapes ahead of him. The darkness was easing a bit, sloping into morning, which added to his anxiety. He needed darkness to face Holly, needed the strength and security it brought. He tried to will it into being, and then remembered where he was.
He was the guardian of this place. The darkness was nothing less than his wings. All he needed to do was spread them, let the black pinions unfold, and then the music would begin and they would all be swept down into that place, that furrow in his dreaming brain.
Runick shut his eyes to evoke the feeling of darkness.
He imagined himself at the very mouth of the valley, about to start his descent. He was the needle sliding into the groove. He was darkness covering over all.
The trick was working, owing perhaps to all his practice, his discipline. It was a reflex shared by the night; a vision he had brought into the world. He could hear the music now, coming up from a deep cleft just ahead of him; and as the sisters descended into it, he swept along behind them on a black wind.
* * *
Heather moved quickly, surprisingly strong and surefooted in the dark woods; and with one arm she lent some strength to her sister, who kept stumbling. Holly just wanted to lie down.
