Part 20 (1/2)

Jerry saw the movement. It moved quickly, blending into the shadows of the jungle. He didn't see it clearly, but its shape was human.

”s.h.i.+t.”

The figure had disappeared to the left. He turned right on Harwood Street and out from under the skysc.r.a.pers. The properties along this road had been concrete lots and low-rise buildings. Few plants took root in the deserted parking lots. Soon, the only vegetation in sight was the gra.s.s growing between the seams of the pavement.

The rush of the tires on the road hushed as he sped down the gra.s.s-covered street. The steering wheel felt loose and the tires plowed down the long blades, but the ride inside the coach had improved. The highway was just ahead and he allowed himself a thought of relief.

The shadowy figure had not been alone. There was a flurry of motion on the street. Vague forms dashed about the field beside the coach. Soon, the das.h.i.+ng stopped and the creatures began to stand up.

They were everywhere.

As tall as a man, hundreds of them began to appear. They looked identical; each had a sickly green complexion and a haunted look in their eyes. Their dead gaze did not follow the coach.

”What are they?” Alex began to panic. ”They aren't human.”

”Not anymore.” Jerry pressed the pedal harder and wished that he had spent more time souping up the Silver Lining's engine.

The creatures stood their ground; their only movement was a gentle sway as if blown by a breeze. More creatures appeared as the coach sped south down Harwood.

”What are they doing?” Erica screamed from the back.

”Scaring us.”

”It's working,” she had her arm around Austin. Pulling the costume's head down tight with both hands, the young boy shook in his bear suit.

”Oh my G.o.d!” Alex pointed to the right.

The old mason hall had stood empty for years, even before the evacuation of the Metroplex. The art deco building was ma.s.sive. Twin steel doors, two stories tall, had burst open. More of the creatures rushed down the stairs into the sunlight.

Buds protruded from their skin. Vines drooped from the backs and arms of some.

They rushed into the street as the coach flew by the ornate steps of the Shriner hall. They gave chase.

”What are they?”

”They're plants. Mean ones. Keep that gun in the window!”

The mob of altered plant life didn't chatter or roar. It screeched. Each creature emitted a sound that caused the pa.s.sengers to cover their ears. Jerry had always a.s.sociated the sound with spring. As they shrieked, he envisioned himself with a blade of gra.s.s to his lips-gently blowing to make it whistle.

But the creatures' sound was louder and more intense than any blade of gra.s.s.

The off ramp he planned to use to get on the highway wasn't far now. He blew through dormant intersections and kept his eye on the service road ahead.

A green wall descended in the coach's path. Hundreds of the creatures fell into place behind one another to form a field of green.

”Hold on!” He didn't slow; his foot never left the pedal.

The shrieks became unbearable as the coach plowed into the creatures. They splattered and smeared on the motor coach. They flew in all directions from the impact. Green ooze splattered through the broken winds.h.i.+eld.

Alex recoiled into his seat.

”Alex! Shoot!”

The boy opened his eyes to see living vines reaching for him. He screamed and began to fire. Each shot spread more green pulp into the cab.

He fired until the gun was empty. A hand reached forward and pulled the shotgun from his grip and set another in its place. Erica and Trent reloaded the empty shotgun as Alex emptied the replacement.

The truck slowed from the resistance of the crowd. The tires lost traction as they slipped on the pulp of the crushed monsters.

All forward motion stopped.

Alex continued to blast any creatures that tried to climb the hood. Jerry cranked the wheel left and spun the tires until they burned through the shrieking ma.s.s and touched the road again. The vehicle lurched under the canopy of the old Farmer's Market.

Here the surface of the road was exposed; he could get solid traction and build some momentum.

But there was no time. The mob of living plants surrounded them. The creatures ama.s.sed on all sides of the home and began to rock the coach.

Alex fired another shotgun dry. Erica handed him a fresh one.

Jerry drew the .45s and emptied a clip from each, picking off a creature with each shot.

”Do something!” Erica screamed.

He risked a glance to the back of the cab. Erica's fingers bled. He couldn't tell if she had been hit or worn the flesh from her hands feeding sh.e.l.ls into shotguns.

Trent had grabbed a weapon of his own and was firing at the creatures as they began to shatter the windows. Chewy barked ferociously and snapped at any vines that made their way into the interior. She s.n.a.t.c.hed one in her teeth and thrashed her head until the vine detached from its host.

Jerry emptied another clip and grabbed for the iPod. He held the b.u.t.ton until it chimed ready for a voice command. He yelled into the device, but it didn't register over the growing peel of shrieks.

He tried again, this time cupping his hand to block out everything but his voice.

”Play sequence, Ring of Fire!”

A chime rang through the coach's surround system and the device's voice replayed the command.

”Playing songs by The Muppets.”

”What? No! No!” He mashed the b.u.t.ton harder to reset the voice prompt as Mahna, Mahna began to play.

The song filled the cabin as the Silver Lining shook violently. Cracks began to appear in the sh.e.l.l. Curtain rods crashed down. Kitchen drawers rattled open and spilled their contents onto the floor.

The iPod chimed again and Jerry spoke the command once more, ”Play sequence, Ring of Fire.”

Responding with a positive beep, the iPod displayed a picture of the legendary singer and Johnny Cash came over the stereo speakers. External speakers popped to life and the trumpets began to play. Soon, the Man-in-Black's voice boomed under the metal roof of the Farmer's Market.