Part 18 (1/2)

”I'm fine here,” Janelle said. ”It wouldn't be ladylike.”

The Reverend shook his head. ”I'm afraid that I can't swim, Mr. Hogan.”

”It ain't that deep,” Deke told him.

Before the Reverend could respond, Jorge interrupted.

”What's he saying?” Deke asked.

Jorge put one finger to his lips and cupped his ear with his other hand.

”I don't hear nothing,” Terry said.

The bushes along the stream bank rustled. The horses whinnied and glanced around, stomping their feet. I reached for my pistol, realizing too late that I'd left it on the sh.o.r.e with the rest of my gear. Then the undergrowth parted and Janelle and the Reverend both screamed.

I was expecting another dead thing-maybe a horse or a person-but what charged out of the bushes was no corpse. It was the biggest d.a.m.n lizard I'd ever seen. It stood on its hind legs, towering over the horses, about fifteen feet long from head to tail and probably weighing a ton. Despite its size, the thing moved fast. Arms outstretched, it ran on two legs towards Janelle and the Reverend. Each hand had three fingers. The middle fingers were equipped with claws the size and shape of a grain sickle. It had a big head and an even bigger mouth full of arrowhead-sized teeth. Its tongue flicked the air as it made a hissing, throaty sort of roar.

Shrieking, Janelle dove into the stream. The Reverend ran after her. I noticed that he'd p.i.s.sed his pants. He paused, glancing back and forth from the water to the lizard, as if trying to decide which one he feared the most.

The creature slashed the throat of Terry's mount. The poor beast took two faltering steps and then fell over. The other horses scattered. As they did, three more giant lizards emerged from the bushes and attacked them. The cries the horses made as they were slaughtered was one of the worst sounds I've ever heard.

We hurried to the far side of the stream while the lizards busied themselves with their kills, tearing and ripping, sticking their snouts into the horses' abdomens and rooting around. I glanced back and noticed that the Reverend had waded into the water up to his knees. He stood there trembling, watching in horror as the lizards feasted.

”Come on,” I shouted. ”While they're distracted!”

He shook his head.

”Somebody has to help him,” Janelle said. ”One of you get back over there.”

”The h.e.l.l with that,” Deke said, wading onto the sh.o.r.e. ”I ain't even going back for my gear. You think I'd go back for him?”

Janelle gasped. ”He is a man of G.o.d G.o.d.”

”Then I reckon G.o.d will keep him safe,” Deke replied. ”Either that, or he'll meet G.o.d real soon.”

”I'll get him.” Terry splashed into the stream.

Cursing, I jumped in after him.

”Hogan,” Deke yelled. ”Where the h.e.l.l are you going? Get back here!”

”Our guns are over there,” I told him. ”We're going to need them.”

That was my excuse, anyway. Deep down inside, I wondered if I was doing it for Janelle, instead. I waded after Terry. We made it about halfway across the stream before pausing. The lizards were still eating. So far, they'd ignored the Reverend. He stood there, glancing back and forth between them and us. His chin quivered and his legs shook.

”Come on, Reverend.” I waved at him, trying to keep my voice low. The movement attracted the attention of one of the lizards. It raised its b.l.o.o.d.y snout and snorted, c.o.c.king its head sideways and studying Terry and me. I'd been charged by a bull once, while crossing a pasture. The lizard had the same look in its eyes as the bull right before it charged.

”Terry,” I whispered, ”don't move. Just stay still.”

He nodded. The color drained from his face.

”Reverend,” I said, keeping my voice calm and steady. ”You need to get in this creek right now. It don't matter if you can't swim. Terry and I will carry you. But get your a.s.s over here.”

Nodding, he inched forward. The water rippled around his knees. His lips moved in silent prayer. His eyes were closed.

”That's it,” I whispered. ”Easy now. Nice and slow.”

I glanced at the lizards. All four of them watched us now. They stood stiff and tense, ready to spring. One of them was missing an eye. The left side of its face was a ma.s.s of scar tissue left over from some long-ago fight.

”Giants in the Earth,” the Reverend muttered. ”Leviathan.”

It was hard to hear him over the churning water. ”What?”

”It's a Bible verse, Mr. Hogan. There were giants in the Earth in those days.”

”Only verse I know is 'Jesus saves'. Reckon I'll take your word for it.”

He stopped, gasping as the water reached his crotch. One of the lizards crept towards the stream.

”C-cold,” the Reverend stammered. ”It's so cold.”

”That's okay. We've got you. Terry, give him a hand.”

”Hogan,” Deke called.

”Little busy right now,” I said.

The lizard on the bank lowered its head and sniffed the spot where the Reverend had been standing. The other three turned away from us and stared into the forest. I followed their gaze and saw why. The three dead coyotes I'd noticed earlier had followed us into the canyon. Now they stood under the tree line, watching us with blank, lifeless eyes. One of them was missing an ear. Another's broken ribs were sticking through its fur. They didn't pant. Didn't growl. They just stared. Flies hovered around them in clouds.

”Oh h.e.l.l,” Terry said.

The Reverend's eyes grew wider. ”What is it? What's wrong?”

He started to turn around, but I stopped him.

”Never you mind. Just give Terry your hand. Let's get out of here before they decide to have us for dessert.”

As Terry reached for the Reverend's trembling hand, the lizard on the bank leaped into the stream, splas.h.i.+ng water over our heads. At the same time, the dead coyotes lumbered into the clearing. The other three lizards went for them. The one with the missing eye seized a coyote in its ma.s.sive jaws and shook the corpse back and forth.

The Reverend and Terry both slipped, sinking below the surface. They came up sputtering and flailing. The Reverend clung to Terry's shoulders, almost dragging him back down again. The lizard surged forward, squealing. I splashed water at it in an attempt to scare it off, but all I did was make it swim faster.

”Let go,” Terry choked. ”Can't breathe...”

Sobbing, the Reverend clutched him tighter. They both went down again, and then the lizard was on them, close enough that I could feel its breath on my face. It smelled like rotten meat. Its jaws closed around Terry's head and lifted him out of the water. His legs and arms jittered, and I could hear him screaming inside its mouth. The creature gutted him from groin to neck with one of those sickle-shaped claws, while holding the Reverend beneath the surface with its hind legs.

On the far sh.o.r.e, Janelle, Deke, and Jorge screamed. I backpedaled, unable to take my eyes off the slaughter. The lizard was busy with Terry and the Reverend, and paid me no mind. Neither did the other three. They feasted on the horses and coyotes.