Rainy Season nad-13 Read online

Page 3


  Around quarter past five, the first light began to creep into the sky and over the land. Willow was buried beneath a writhing, hopping, complaining carpet of toads. The buildings on Main Street had lost their angles and corners; everything was rounded and hunched and twitching. The sign on the highway, which read: WELCOME TO WILLOW, MAINE, THE FRIENDLY PLACE! Looked as if someone had put about thirty shotgun shells through it. Flying toads, of course, had made the holes. The sign in front of the General Mercantile, which advertised: ITALIAN SANDWICHES PIZZA GROCS FISHING LICENCES had been knocked over. Toads played leapfrog on and around it. There was a small toad convention going on atop each of the gas-pumps at Donny’s Sunoco. Two toads sat upon the slowly swinging iron arm of the weathervane atop the Willow Stove Shop like small misshapen children on a merry-go-round. At the lake, the few floats which had been put out this early (only the hardiest swimmers dared the waters of Lake Willow before July 4th, however, toads or no toads) were piled high with toads, and the fish were going crazy with so much food almost within reach. Every now and then there was a plip! plip! sound as one or two of the toads jostling for place on the floats were knocked off and some hungry trout or salmon’s breakfast was served. The roads in and out of town – there were a lot of them for such a small town, as Henry Eden had said – were paved with toads. The power was out for the time being; free-falling toads had broken the power-lines in any number of places. Most of the gardens were ruined, but Willow wasn’t much of a farming community, anyway. Several people kept fairly large dairy herds, but they had all been safely tucked away for the night. Dairy farmers in Willow knew all about rainy season and had no wish to lose their milkers to the hordes of leaping, carnivorous toads. What in the hell would you tell the insurance company?

  As the light brightened over the Hempstead Place, it revealed drifts of dead toads on the roof, rain-gutters that had been splintered loose by dive-bombing toads, a dooryard that was alive with toads. They hopped in and out of the barn, they stuffed the chimneys, and they hopped nonchalantly around the tires of John Graham’s Ford and sat in croaking rows on the front seat like a church congregation waiting for the services to start. Heaps of toads, mostly dead, lay in drifts against the building. Some of these drifts were six feet deep.

  At 6:05, the sun cleared the horizon, and as its rays struck them, the toads began to melt.

  Their skins bleached, turned white, then appeared to become transparent. Soon a vapor that gave off a vaguely swampy smell began to trail up from the bodies and little bubbly rivulets of moisture began to course down them. Their eyes fell in or fell out, depending on their positions when the sun hit them. Their skins popped with an audible sound, and for perhaps ten minutes it sounded as if champagne corks were being drawn all over Willow.

  They decomposed rapidly after that, melting into puddles of cloudy white shmeg that looked like human semen. This liquid ran down the pitches of the Hempstead Place’s roof in little creeks and dripped from the eaves like pus.

  The living toads died; the dead ones simply rotted to that white fluid. It bubbled briefly and then sank slowly into the ground. The earth sent up tiny ribands of steam, and for a little while every field in Willow looked like the site of a dying volcano.

  By quarter of seven it was over, except for the repairs, and the residents were used to them.

  It seemed a small price to pay for another seven years of quiet prosperity in this mostly forgotten Maine backwater.

  At five past eight, Laura Stanton’s beat-to-shit Volvo turned into the dooryard of the General Mercantile. When Laura got out, she looked paler and sicker than ever. She was sick, in fact; she still had the six-pack of Dawson’s Ale in one hand, but now all the bottles were empty. She had a vicious hangover.

  Henry Eden came out on the porch. His dog walked behind him.

  ‘Get that mutt inside, or I’m gonna turn right around and go home,’ Laura said from the foot of the stairs.

  ‘He can’t help passing gas, Laura.’

  ‘That doesn’t mean I have to be around when he lets rip,’ Laura said. ‘I mean it, now, Henry. My head hurts like a bastard, and the last thing I need this morning is listening to that dog play Hail Columbia out of its asshole.’

  ‘Go inside, Toby,’ Henry said, holding the door open. Toby looked up at him with wet eyes, as if to say Do I have to? Things were just getting interesting out here.

  ‘Go on, now,’ Henry said.

  Toby walked back inside, and Henry shut the door. Laura waited until she heard the latch snick shut, and then she mounted the steps.

  ‘Your sign fell over,’ she said, handing him the carton of empties.

  ‘I got eyes, woman,’ Henry said. He was not in the best temper this morning, himself. Few people in Willow would be. Sleeping through a rain of toads was a goddam hard piece of work.

  Thank God it only came once every seven years, or a man would be apt to go shit out of his mind.

  ‘You should have taken it in,’ she said.

  Henry muttered something she didn’t quite catch.

  ‘What was that?’

  ‘I said we should have tried harder,’ Henry said defiantly. ‘They was a nice young couple. We should have tried harder.’

  She felt a touch of compassion for the old man in spite of her thudding head, and laid a hand on his arm. ‘It’s the ritual,’ she said.

  ‘Well, sometimes I just feel like saying frig the ritual!’

  ‘Henry!’ She drew her hand back, shocked in spite of herself.

  But he wasn’t getting any younger, she reminded herself. The wheels were getting a little rusty upstairs, no doubt.

  ‘I don’t care,’ he said stubbornly. ‘They seemed like a real nice young couple. You said so, too, and don’t try to say you didn’t.’

  ‘I did think they were nice,’ she said. ‘But we can’t help that, Henry. Why, you said so yourself just last night.’

  ‘I know,’ he sighed.

  ‘We don’t make them stay,’ she said. ‘Just the opposite. We warn them out of town. They decide to stay themselves. They always decide to stay. They make their own decision. That’s part of the ritual, too.’

  ‘I know,’ he repeated. He drew a deep breath and grimaced. ‘I hate the smell afterward. Whole goddam town smells like clabbered milk.’

  ‘It’ll be gone by noon. You know that.’

  ‘Ayuh. But I just about hope I’m underground when it comes around again, Laura. And if I ain’t, I hope somebody else gets the job of meetin whoever comes just before rainy season. I like bein able to pay m’bills when they come due just as well as anybody else, but I tell you, a man gets tired of toads. Even if it is only once every seven years, a man can get damned tired of toads.’

  ‘A woman, too,’ she said softly.

  ‘Well,’ he said, looking around with a sigh, ‘I guess we might try puttin some of this damn mess right, don’t you?’

  ‘Sure,’ she said. ‘And, you know, Henry, we don’t make ritual, we only follow it.’

  ‘I know, but…’

  ‘And things could change. There’s no telling when or why, but they could. This might be the last time we have rainy season. Or next time no one from out of town might come…’

  ‘Don’t say that,’ he said fearfully. ‘If no one comes, the toads might not go away like they do when the sun hits em.’ ’There, you see?’ she asked. ‘You have come around to my side of it, after all.’

  ‘Well,’ he said, ‘it’s a long time. Ain’t it. Seven years is a long time.’

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘They was a nice young couple, weren’t they?’

  ‘Yes,’ she said again.

  ‘Awful way to go,’ Henry Eden said with a slight hitch in his voice, and this time she said nothing. After a moment, Henry asked her if she would help him set his sign up again. In spite of her nasty headache, Laura said she would – she didn’t like to see Henry so low, especially when he was feeling low over something he could control no more than he could co
ntrol the tides or the phases of the moon.

  By the time they’d finished, he seemed to feel a little better.

  ‘Ayuh,’ he said. ‘Seven years is a hell of a long time.’

  It is, she thought, but it always passes, and rainy season always comes around again, and the outsiders come with it, always two of them, always a man and a woman, and we always tell them exactly what is going to happen, and they don’t believe it, and what happens… happens. ‘Come on, you old crock,’ she said, ‘offer me a cup of coffee before my head splits wide open.’

  He offered her a cup, and before they had finished, the sounds of hammers and saws had begun in town. Outside the window they could look down Main Street and see people folding back their shutters, talking and laughing.

  The air was warm and dry, the sky overhead was a pale and hazy blue, and in Willow, rainy season was over.

  FB2 document info

  Document ID: f8747f29-73a6-4727-8456-e77a2befbfba

  Document version: 1

  Document creation date: 28 December 2007

  Created using: FB Writer v1.1 software

  Document authors :

  Sclex

  Document history:

  Версия 1.0 – подготовка fb2. (Sclex)

  About

  This file was generated by Lord KiRon's FB2EPUB converter version 1.1.5.0.

  (This book might contain copyrighted material, author of the converter bears no responsibility for it's usage)

  Этот файл создан при помощи конвертера FB2EPUB версии 1.1.5.0 написанного Lord KiRon.

  (Эта книга может содержать материал который защищен авторским правом, автор конвертера не несет ответственности за его использование)

  http://www.fb2epub.net

  https://code.google.com/p/fb2epub/

 

 

 


    The Stand Read onlineThe StandThe Shining Read onlineThe ShiningIt Read onlineItThe Dead Zone Read onlineThe Dead ZoneThe Dark Tower Read onlineThe Dark TowerThe Gunslinger Read onlineThe GunslingerSong of Susannah Read onlineSong of SusannahUnder the Dome Read onlineUnder the DomeThe Mist Read onlineThe MistRevival Read onlineRevivalMisery Read onlineMiseryMile 81 Read onlineMile 81From a Buick 8 Read onlineFrom a Buick 8Just After Sunset Read onlineJust After SunsetBlack House Read onlineBlack HouseDoctor Sleep Read onlineDoctor SleepThe Drawing of the Three Read onlineThe Drawing of the ThreeWizard and Glass Read onlineWizard and GlassDolores Claiborne Read onlineDolores ClaiborneCarrie Read onlineCarrieThe Little Sisters of Eluria Read onlineThe Little Sisters of EluriaThe Waste Lands Read onlineThe Waste LandsThe Green Mile Read onlineThe Green MileThe Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon Read onlineThe Girl Who Loved Tom GordonCujo Read onlineCujoThe Outsider_A Novel Read onlineThe Outsider_A NovelThe Tommyknockers Read onlineThe TommyknockersCell Read onlineCellPet Sematary Read onlinePet SemataryThe Talisman Read onlineThe TalismanFour Past Midnight Read onlineFour Past MidnightDifferent Seasons Read onlineDifferent SeasonsNeedful Things Read onlineNeedful ThingsNightmares and Dreamscapes Read onlineNightmares and DreamscapesChristine Read onlineChristineThe Running Man Read onlineThe Running ManThe Eyes of the Dragon Read onlineThe Eyes of the Dragon11/22/63 Read online11/22/63Firestarter Read onlineFirestarterInsomnia Read onlineInsomniaFinders Keepers Read onlineFinders KeepersGerald's Game Read onlineGerald's GameThe Wind Through the Keyhole Read onlineThe Wind Through the KeyholeHearts in Atlantis Read onlineHearts in AtlantisDanse Macabre Read onlineDanse MacabreThinner Read onlineThinnerDuma Key Read onlineDuma KeyThe Bachman Books Read onlineThe Bachman BooksSkeleton Crew Read onlineSkeleton CrewThe Outsider-Stephen King Read onlineThe Outsider-Stephen KingFull Dark, No Stars Read onlineFull Dark, No StarsSalem's Lot Read onlineSalem's LotBag of Bones Read onlineBag of BonesDesperation Read onlineDesperationEnd of Watch Read onlineEnd of WatchWolves of the Calla Read onlineWolves of the CallaMr. Mercedes Read onlineMr. MercedesBilly Summers Read onlineBilly SummersRose Madder Read onlineRose MadderLater Read onlineLaterGunslinger Read onlineGunslingerThe Langoliers Read onlineThe LangoliersJoyland Read onlineJoylandIf It Bleeds Read onlineIf It BleedsApt Pupil (Scribner Edition) Read onlineApt Pupil (Scribner Edition)Flight or Fright Read onlineFlight or FrightEverything's Eventual: 14 Dark Tales Read onlineEverything's Eventual: 14 Dark TalesNight Shift Read onlineNight ShiftThe Dark Half Read onlineThe Dark HalfOn Writing Read onlineOn WritingThe Institute Read onlineThe InstituteA Death Read onlineA DeathThe Man in the Black Suit : 4 Dark Tales Read onlineThe Man in the Black Suit : 4 Dark TalesBullet Read onlineBulletThe Dark Tower tdt-7 Read onlineThe Dark Tower tdt-7Chiral Mad 3 Read onlineChiral Mad 3Big Driver Read onlineBig DriverStephen King: The Green Mile Read onlineStephen King: The Green MileDolan's Cadillac nad-1 Read onlineDolan's Cadillac nad-1Head Down nad-22 Read onlineHead Down nad-22The Doctor's Case Read onlineThe Doctor's CaseLuckey Quarter Read onlineLuckey QuarterRage (richard bachman) Read onlineRage (richard bachman)Black House js-2 Read onlineBlack House js-2The Wind Through the Keyhole (Dark Tower) Read onlineThe Wind Through the Keyhole (Dark Tower)Duma Key: A Novel Read onlineDuma Key: A NovelDark Tower V, The Read onlineDark Tower V, TheCycle of the Werewolf Read onlineCycle of the WerewolfAUTOPSY ROOM FOUR Read onlineAUTOPSY ROOM FOURDark Tower VII, The (v. 7) Read onlineDark Tower VII, The (v. 7)Gramma Read onlineGrammaSuffer the Little Children Read onlineSuffer the Little ChildrenChinga Read onlineChingaWord Processor of the Gods Read onlineWord Processor of the GodsLisey’sStory Read onlineLisey’sStoryDark Tower V (Prologue) Read onlineDark Tower V (Prologue)The Stand (Original Edition) Read onlineThe Stand (Original Edition)Rainy Season nad-13 Read onlineRainy Season nad-13Transgressions Read onlineTransgressionsThe Plant Read onlineThe PlantUnder the Dome: A Novel Read onlineUnder the Dome: A NovelThe Dark Tower II: The Drawing of the Three Read onlineThe Dark Tower II: The Drawing of the ThreeThe End of the Whole Mess: Read onlineThe End of the Whole Mess:Ur Read onlineUrThe Body Read onlineThe BodyUncollected Stories 2003 Read onlineUncollected Stories 2003Chattery Teeth Read onlineChattery TeethThe Mouse on the Mile Read onlineThe Mouse on the MileThe Cat from Hell Read onlineThe Cat from HellThe Drawing of the Three [The Dark Tower II] Read onlineThe Drawing of the Three [The Dark Tower II]Cell: A Novel Read onlineCell: A NovelUncle Otto's Truck Read onlineUncle Otto's TruckSong of Susannah dt-6 Read onlineSong of Susannah dt-6The Dark Tower VII Read onlineThe Dark Tower VIIHead Down Read onlineHead DownSneakers Read onlineSneakersCrouch End Read onlineCrouch EndOutsider Read onlineOutsiderEnd of Watch: A Novel (The Bill Hodges Trilogy Book 3) Read onlineEnd of Watch: A Novel (The Bill Hodges Trilogy Book 3)Revival: A Novel Read onlineRevival: A NovelEverything's Eventual skssc-4 Read onlineEverything's Eventual skssc-4The Colorado Kid Read onlineThe Colorado KidSleeping Beauties: A Novel Read onlineSleeping Beauties: A NovelThe Dark Tower IV Wizard and Glass Read onlineThe Dark Tower IV Wizard and GlassA Book of Horrors Read onlineA Book of HorrorsFour Past Midnight - 3 - Secret Window, Secret Garden Read onlineFour Past Midnight - 3 - Secret Window, Secret GardenThe House on Maple Street Read onlineThe House on Maple StreetSometimes They Come Back Read onlineSometimes They Come BackBlockade Billy Read onlineBlockade BillyCrouch End nad-17 Read onlineCrouch End nad-17Lunch at the Gotham Cafe Read onlineLunch at the Gotham CafeThe Waste Lands dt-3 Read onlineThe Waste Lands dt-3Six Stories Read onlineSix StoriesA Face in the Crowd Read onlineA Face in the CrowdCase Read onlineCaseFour Past Midnight - 2 - The Langoliers Read onlineFour Past Midnight - 2 - The LangoliersUmney's last case nad-21 Read onlineUmney's last case nad-21Survivor Type Read onlineSurvivor TypeGuns (Kindle Single) Read onlineGuns (Kindle Single)You Know They Got a Hell of a Band Read onlineYou Know They Got a Hell of a BandThe Jaunt Read onlineThe JauntIn A Half World Of Terror Read onlineIn A Half World Of TerrorGwendy's Button Box Read onlineGwendy's Button BoxStorm of the Century Read onlineStorm of the CenturyThe Jaunt. Travel Read onlineThe Jaunt. TravelRoadwork Read onlineRoadworkDarktower 1 - The Gunslinger Read onlineDarktower 1 - The GunslingerFaithful Read onlineFaithfulThe Regulators Read onlineThe RegulatorsA Bedroom in the Wee Hours of the Morning Read onlineA Bedroom in the Wee Hours of the MorningGraveyard Shift Read onlineGraveyard ShiftThe Monkey Read onlineThe MonkeyChildren of the Corn Read onlineChildren of the CornThe Reploids Read onlineThe Reploids1922 Read online1922Darktower 2 - The Drawing of the Three Read onlineDarktower 2 - The Drawing of the ThreeWizard and Glass dt-4 Read onlineWizard and Glass dt-4Riding The Bullet Read onlineRiding The BulletWolves of the Calla dt-5 Read onlineWolves of the Calla dt-5L.T.'S Theory Of Pets Read onlineL.T.'S Theory Of PetsThe Langoliers fpm-1 Read onlineThe Langoliers fpm-1The Two Dead Girls Read onlineThe Two Dead GirlsThe Blue Air Compressor Read onlineThe Blue Air CompressorEverything's Eventual Read onlineEverything's EventualYou, Human: An Anthology of Dark Science Fiction Read onlineYou, Human: An Anthology of Dark Science FictionThe Night of The Tiger Read onlineThe Night of The TigerThe Regulators (richard bachman) Read onlineThe Regulators (richard bachman)Elevation Read onlineElevationThe Road Virus Heads North Read onlineThe Road Virus Heads NorthGood Marriage Read onlineGood MarriageFour Past Midnight - 5 - The Library Policeman Read onlineFour Past Midnight - 5 - The Library PolicemanGrey Matter Read onlineGrey MatterHerman Wouk Is Still Alive Read onlineHerman Wouk Is Still AliveIn the Tall Grass Read onlineIn the Tall GrassSix Scary Stories Read onlineSix Scary StoriesForeward Read onlineForewardThe Crate Read onlineThe CrateThe wind through the keyhole adt-8 Read onlineThe wind through the keyhole adt-8King, Stephen - Battleground Read onlineKing, Stephen - BattlegroundThe Wedding Gig Read onlineThe Wedding Gig11/22/63: A Novel Read online11/22/63: A NovelThe Long Walk Read onlineThe Long Walk