Blood Fugue Read online

‘I wanted to buy you another beer but I thought it would seem a little odd, you know?’

  ‘Are you old enough to be in here?’ asked Amy.

  The girl looked at the barman and he turned away.

  ‘I guess so,’ she answered.

  ‘Well, I think I’ve had enough for tonight,’ Amy said.

  The girl wasn’t put off.

  ‘Only if you’re drinking alone,’ she said.

  Amy glanced around Mulligan’s. It was almost deserted — one old timer with his hat still on occupied a small round table. A young couple in jeans and plaid shirts played pool. A drunk watched the silent TV through half-closed eyes. She looked back at the girl.

  ‘You been watching me?’ she asked.

  ‘No,’ said the girl. ‘Not watching. But I couldn’t help noticing you.’

  Amy was half amused, half disbelieving. Was this girl coming onto her?

  ‘Well, like I said, the evening’s over for me.’

  She said the words but she didn’t move; still held in the cool gaze of the girl with the woodlands in her eyes.

  ‘Have one beer with me. Coming over here to ask you was one of the hardest things I ever did. I don’t want you to leave thinking I’m weird or a lesbian or something —

  or something

  — I wanted to talk to you. Is that such a bad thing?’

  Amy felt her will collapse. She wanted to talk and drink long into the night. She wanted to connect. She wanted what Jimmy had never given her — care. Something other than orgasms that made her weep with loneliness afterwards.

  She released an exasperated laugh.

  ‘Okay, whatever. One more beer.’

  The girl faced the bar to order and Amy watched her. She wore motorcycle boots and dark stockings, a purple mini skirt and a leather jacket with buckles and straps and zips. She looked both lost and wild.

  The girl turned, pushing a beer towards her.

  ‘Listen,’ said Amy, ‘any other night I’d have said yes straight away, so don’t feel bad. You caught me on a bad day.’

  ‘It’s okay. I get those too.’ The girl smiled for the first time and Amy was charmed. ‘You want to stay up here or shall we find somewhere else?’

  ‘Where were you sitting?’

  The girl gestured into the gloom

  ‘In that booth right there.’

  Amy noticed the bar creep taking an interest in them. Anywhere far from him would be fine.

  ‘Looks great.’

  She followed the girl, watching her slender behind sway in its thin coating of fashion and wishing she wasn’t so heavy these days. She’d look like a moose sitting next to the kid. Yeah. A dark corner was the best place.

  She set her beer down and slid in but the girl remained standing.

  ‘I’m gonna punch in some more tunes. Any requests?’

  ‘I don’t know what they’ve got on this machine,’ said Amy. ‘Let me give you some quarters though.’

  ‘No way. I got it.’

  The girl clomped off to the jukebox and leaned over to inspect the selection. The guy playing pool checked out her ass and Amy didn’t blame him one bit. The guy’s girlfriend snatched the cue from his hand and took her shot, missing badly. The bar was desolate with so few people in it. The music that roared from the jukebox boosted the limp vibe.

  The girl returned and slipped into the seat opposite, raising her glass.

  ‘To fulfilment.’

  Amy couldn’t hide her surprise.

  ‘Amen,’ she said.

  They clinked their glasses and drank, the girl downing half of hers in a swallow. Amy didn’t try to keep up.

  ‘I guess you work out, right?’ she asked the girl after a while.

  ‘Yeah, I do. When I was sixteen I started to get real fat. I always said I’d never be fat. Mom says when I was a kid I used to cry when I met fat people. I wouldn’t watch them on TV or anything.’

  Amy felt herself reddening.

  ‘Oh hey, listen,’ the girl said, ‘you are not fat. I would never have said that in front of you if I thought you were fat, I swear. You’re beautiful. You’re how I imagine a real woman to be.’

  ‘A real woman?’

  ‘Shit, I’m just going to stop digging this hole right now. When I said I was getting fat, I mean I was huge. I looked sick. That kind of fat. I decided I’d die before I let myself stay that way. Now I work out five times a week at home. I don’t drink soda — beer is fine, by the way — and I run three times a week too.’

  ‘Where do you get the energy?’ asked Amy.

  ‘Doing it gives you energy.’

  ‘Really?’

  ‘Sure. It’s like being high but you feel clear-headed and full of life.’

  Amy shrugged.

  ‘It’s a while since I felt anything like that,’ she said

  ‘Come for a run with me sometime, then.’

  ‘Oh, God. I couldn’t. It’d be like a whale and a dolphin going swimming together.’

  ‘You should come. You’d like it.’

  ‘Where do you run?’

  ‘All through the Bear Mountain trails. It’s beautiful out there.’

  ‘Cold in the winter.’

  ‘You don’t feel it,’ said the girl. ‘You’re warm by the time you reach the woods. Anyway, the offer stands if you change your mind.’

  The girl was really trying hard to be nice. Amy decided she ought to loosen up and have a little fun instead of worrying about the difference in their ages and appearances. She put her hand out across the table.

  ‘My name’s Amy Cantrell.’

  The girl shook it.

  ‘Gina Priestly.’

  ‘Well, it’s a pleasure to meet you, Gina. You’ve saved me from a lonesome night.’

  ‘You got guy trouble?’

  Suddenly, Amy was able to smile.

  ‘Not any more,’ she said.

  Chapter 14

  In daylight the creature hid itself within the darkest places of the forest, safe where no brightness could penetrate. During those hours it entered a resting state, in which it tried to escape its own hunger. But when the sun fell beyond the peak of Bear Mountain, it could hide from its purpose no longer.

  As the twilight came it rose from its bower and wandered in the woods or ran along the trails or sat among the rocks of the high passes. Sometimes it pranced in time with the silent pulse of the night. The deeper the darkness, the more restless it became. By midnight, it was demonic with mischief and hunger and lust. It came then to the town to answer the bidding of the master in its blood.

  It revelled in its power. It didn’t matter that the creature was an abomination, that it did not belong among these trees and mountains, that it was a stranger to the very earth beneath its feet. It only mattered that it was free, abroad upon the night and able to prepare for an even greater liberty.

  In the meantime, there were playthings in the valley and in the woods, trinkets for the creature to toy with. Nectars to be sampled. Agonies to be appreciated

  José disappeared into the trees at the side of the trail to look for a secluded spot where they could pitch camp. Better to get away from the path and find a place where their tent wouldn’t cause trouble for others.

  He didn’t find a space. There was barely enough distance between the pines to peg out their ground sheet. The ‘clearing’ had to be made by cutting back the branches of the trees until they had enough room to set up the tent without ripping it.

  Carla watched him work with her arms folded.

  ‘Papa, can’t we sleep in the open?’ she asked.

  ‘Have you found somewhere better?’ he replied.

  ‘What is wrong with the trail?’

  ‘We will be in the way there.’

  ‘In the way of who?’ she protested. ‘No one comes this way.’

  ‘Perhaps not often, but the trail is officially open and we can’t block it.’

  When the tent was erected, José set up the gas stove for Maria, placing it a
safe distance from the porch guy ropes.

  ‘I’m starving,’ said Luis. ‘What’s for dinner?’

  Carla smirked.

  ‘All you think about is your stomach, cochino.’

  ‘All you think about is which colour nail varnish to use to impress which one of your boyfriends.’

  José glanced at Maria. She ignored him.

  ‘We’re having boil in the bag chilli con carne with rice,’ she said.

  ‘You have a boyfriend now, Carlita?’ José asked.

  ‘Boyfriends,’ said Luis. ‘Dozens of them,’

  ‘Don’t cause trouble, Luis,’ said Maria. ‘There’s tinned fruit, too, if you want it.’

  ‘It is true then?’ José was unsmiling. ‘Why do I not know of this?’

  Maria said: ‘She’s almost seventeen, José. She’s old enough to have a boyfriend.’

  ‘Perhaps. But more than one?’ Finally he grinned. ‘Is that legal?’

  ‘Why do you always pick on me, Papa? What about Luis and his cigarettes?’

  Luis looked up, wide-eyed.

  ‘Shut up, Carla,’ he whispered.

  José turned to his son.

  ‘If I catch you smoking there will be serious trouble, Luis.’

  ‘She’s making it up to get herself out of trouble.’

  ‘I am not,’ Carla shouted. ‘Why do you do this to me?’ She glanced at each of them and José noticed something more in her expression than simple annoyance. ‘I didn’t want to come here,’ she said. ‘I don’t like these woods.’

  ‘Carlita,’ said José. ‘This is a special journey for us. It is like a pilgrimage that we are making in the name of family. It is hard but it is our duty and we must do it.’

  Maria dropped the plastic bags into the boiling water and Luis looked on with impatience. The blue glow from the gas burner became steadily brighter as the woods darkened. It was still early but the night advanced swiftly, lending everything a hint of violet.

  Carla crept a good distance away to relieve herself amid the pines. That way she wouldn’t have to go later in total darkness. Even in the half-light she was jumpy and snapped her head around at the slightest sound. She wanted so badly to make them all understand that they needed to get out of this place. She unzipped, pulled down her pants and squatted in the undergrowth. It was too late to turn back tonight but if she could get Papa to realise they were in danger, they could begin the long journey home in the morning.

  In the few moments she’d been away, the forest twilight deepened. It was as though the light had been sucked away. She dried with a tissue, dropped it, zipped up and fumbled through the grasping branches towards the sound of her family. Before she reached them she heard a branch snap behind her. She spun round to look but it was difficult to see more than a few yards through the pines.

  For a while she crouched, staring in the direction she thought the noise had come from, but the darkness soon made the forest indistinct, transforming every shape into a threat. The woods were silent. Nothing moved. Before it got too dark to see, she crept back to their tiny camp, crouching to avoid low branches.

  ‘What’s the matter?’ Maria asked her.

  ‘Nothing, Mama. I’m fine.’

  ‘You look scared.’

  Carla sat down on a tiny fold-out camping stool, completing the family circle. She glanced at each of their faces before dropping her gaze to avoid their searching eyes.

  ‘There’s someone else out here,’ said Carla. ‘Someone watching us.’

  Chapter 15

  ‘Sheesh. Fucking guys,’ said Gina. ‘I had a couple who just wouldn’t leave me alone.’

  Amy snorted.

  ‘I wish I still got that kind of attention.’

  ‘No, you don’t. Even ten guys chasing you still adds up to nothing if they’re all jerks.’

  ‘I guess. So what happened with your two?’

  ‘Didn’t have what it took to satisfy me.’

  Amy suppressed a laugh of surprise.

  ‘I didn’t mean it that way,’ the girl said. ‘I‘m just saying they didn’t measure up.’

  Amy put her hand over her mouth but even the couple playing pool heard her howls over the jukebox.

  ‘Come on, Amy. It wasn’t like that.’

  Soon Gina was laughing too.

  ‘I’m sorry,’ giggled Amy, ‘you sounded like such a porno queen for a second there. You seem so young to me that it was, I don’t know — incongruous.’

  Amy took a tissue from her handbag, blew her nose and wiped her eyes.

  ‘So how old are you, Gina?’

  The girl looked out of the corner of her eye towards the bar and whispered:

  ‘I’m twenty.’

  The kid was lying but what did it matter? Gina reminded Amy of herself fifteen years younger. She wasn’t going to give her a hard time over it.

  ‘How about you?’ asked the girl.

  Well, I should have seen that coming.

  ‘I’m thirty-three.’

  Amy watched Gina’s face for signs of shock, the typical teenage disbelief that anyone could be that old, but she saw nothing there; no flicker of boredom or disappointment. She smiled. One more drink with her new friend and then home.

  She stood up.

  ‘Same again, Gina?’

  ‘Oh, you don’t have to do that.’

  ‘I want to.’

  ‘Well . . . okay. Sure.’

  Amy was a little unsteady on her feet. She hoped it wasn’t too obvious. The barman poured two beers then leaned towards her.

  ‘That girl old enough to be drinking?’

  ‘What are you asking me for?’

  ‘You could get into a lot of trouble for buying her alcohol.’

  ‘I didn’t let her in here, Brains. If anyone gets into trouble it’ll be you. You want to kick her out, go ahead. Otherwise, shut up.’

  He turned away, put the bills into the register and handed her the change.

  ‘I could kick you both out if I wanted to.’

  ‘Do it. You can give me my money back first, though. Right now, it looks like we’re paying your wages.’

  Amy walked back to the booth triumphant.

  ‘What was that all about?’

  ‘Not much. Just giving that asshole the facts.’

  Gina raised her glass.

  ‘Right on.’

  They drank the beers and talked. The more they talked the less Amy wanted the evening to finish. When the songs ran out on the jukebox, Amy made her own choices and sat back down as the tune she’d been listening to earlier played again.

  ‘Excellent choice,’ said Gina.

  ‘You think?’

  ‘Yeah, I love this one. Sometimes I can’t get it out of my head. Hey, we should dance.’

  ‘What? You can’t dance to this kind of thing.’

  ‘Why not?’

  ‘It doesn’t have that kind of beat.’

  ‘Sure it does. Come on, let’s dance.’

  Amy looked around and saw that they were the last people there except for the barman. She didn’t give a fuck what he thought.

  ‘Okay.’

  There was a tiny dance-floor on the other side of the pool table but there were no lights. It was even darker than where they’d been sitting. She looked at Gina for some input on the matter and their eyes met for longer than they should have.

  ‘Yeah,’ said Gina. ‘That’s where we should do it.’

  She took Amy’s hand and led her into the shadows. In Gina’s smooth, cool grip, Amy felt real companionship. The closeness between them made her stomach flutter. Gina, eyes closed, one arm above her head, let the music bend her. She twisted at the waist, shifted her weight from one leg to the other, ground her hips. Amy watched, unable to move at first and hypnotised by the sinuous movements. Soon, she too closed her eyes and let the music have her body. She squeezed Gina’s fingers and Gina squeezed back.

  When the song ended, the dead silence swamped them. Amy let go of Gina’s hand. When a
new track started she didn’t know what to do. Two hands reached for hers, closing the distance between them a little further. They danced again, this time becoming part of each other’s movements. When Gina placed Amy’s hands on her hips and put her own hands behind Amy’s neck, Amy stopped thinking about the future and the past. She slipped deep into the exquisite moment. Their foreheads touched. They turned and turned.

  When the songs finished they continued to move until Amy broke the contact.

  ‘I need to go to the bathroom,’ she said.

  Returning from the too-bright ladies room, she found Gina standing by the door of the bar with both their handbags.

  ‘Ready to go?’ asked Gina.

  ‘I could stay all night but I’ve got to work tomorrow. I ought to get home. Can I walk you somewhere?’

  ‘How about your place?’

  Amy hesitated. Could she really invite this girl home for — for what? Her confidence fled.

  Gina made it easy for her:

  ‘Hey, I understand if you don’t want to. I mean: we hardly know each other, so —’

  ‘It isn’t that. It all just seems kind of strange and sudden. And now isn’t the . . . best time. I want you to come back. I really do. It just feels weird.’

  ‘Does it feel nice?’

  ‘Yeah. It does.’

  ‘That makes it okay, then,’ said Gina. ‘So, maybe I could meet you another night?’

  Amy saw the disappointment in the girl’s face but that wasn’t what made her mind up.

  ‘No. Come back now. I want you to. Just tell me one thing.’

  ‘Anything.’ said Gina.

  ‘Will anyone miss you tonight? Come looking or whatever?’

  ‘No, my folks are away for a while. They wouldn’t care anyway, they’re too busy to notice me most of the time.’

  Amy held out her hand.

  ‘Come on.’

  Hobson’s Valley was silent but for the thump of Gina’s boots and the click of Amy’s heels as they strolled arm in arm along the street-lit sidewalks.

  ‘We’ll go round the back way,’ said Amy. ‘It’s quieter.’

  She led the way from the street along the unlit passage beside the house and let them both in through the kitchen door. ‘We can do whatever we want now,’ she said, as she closed it and switched on the light. ‘Make yourself at home. Want a coffee or anything?’