Darkfall Part 39

I.

At headquarters, the underground garage was lighted but not very brightly lighted. Shadows crouched in corners; they spread like a dark fungus on the walls; they lay in wait between the rows of cars and other vehicles; they clung to the concrete ceilings and watched all that went on beneath them.

Tonight, Jack was scared of the garage. Tonight, the omnipresent shadows themselves seemed to be alive and, worse, seemed to be creeping closer with great cleverness and stealth.

Rebecca and the kids evidently felt the same way about the place. They stayed close together, and they looked around worriedly, their faces and bodies tense.

It's all right, Jack told himself. The goblins can't have known where we were going. For the time being, they've lost track of us. For the moment, at least, we're safe.

But he didn't feel feel safe. safe.

The night man in charge of the garage was Ernie Tewkes. His thick black hair was combed straight back from his forehead, and he wore a pencil-thin mustache that looked odd on his wide upper lip.

"But each of you already signed out a car," Ernie said, tapping the requisition sheet on his clipboard.

"Well, we need two more," Jack said.

"That's against regulations, and I-"

"To h.e.l.l with the regulations," Rebecca said. "Just give us the cars. Now Now."

"Where're the two you already got?" Ernie asked. "You didn't wrack them up, did you?"

"Of course not," Jack said. "They're bogged down."

"Mechanical trouble?"

"No. Stuck in snow drifts," Jack lied.

They had ruled out going back for the car at Rebecca's apartment, and they had also decided they didn't dare return to Faye and Keith's place. They were sure the devil-things would be waiting at both locations.

"Drifts?" Ernie said. "Is that all? We'll just send a tow truck out, get you loose, and put you on the road again."

"We don't have time for that," Jack said impatiently, letting his gaze roam over the darker portions of the cavernous garage. "We need two cars right now."

"Regulations say-"

"Listen," Rebecca said, "weren't a number of cars a.s.signed to the Carramazza task force?"

"Sure," Ernie said. "But-"

"And aren't some of those cars still here in the garage, right now, unused?"

"Well, at the moment, n.o.body's using them," Ernie admitted. "But maybe-"

"And who's in charge of the task force?" Rebecca demanded.

"Well* you are. The two of you."

"This is an emergency related to the Carramazza case, and we need those cars."

"But you've already got cars checked out, and regulations say you've got to fill out breakdown or loss reports on them before you can get-"

"Forget the bulls.h.i.t bureaucracy," Rebecca said angrily. "Get us new wheels now, this minute, or so help me G.o.d I'll rip that funny little mustache out of your face, take the keys off your pegboard there, and get the cars myself."

Ernie stared wide-eyed at her, evidently stunned by both the threat and the vehemence with which it was delivered.

In this particular instance, Jack was delighted to see Rebecca revert to a nail-eating, hard-nosed Amazon.

"Move!" she said, taking one step toward Ernie.

Ernie moved. Fast.

While they waited by the dispatcher's booth for the first car to be brought around, Penny kept looking from one shadowy area to another. Again and again, she thought she saw things moving in the gloom: darkness slithering through darkness; a ripple in the shadows between two patrol cars; a throbbing in the pool of blackness that lay behind a police riot wagon; a shifting, malevolent shape in the pocket of darkness in that corner over there; a watchful, hungry shadow hiding among the ordinary shadows in that other corner; movement just beyond the stairway and more movement on the other side of the elevators and something scuttling stealthily across the dark ceiling and- Stop it!

Imagination, she told herself. If the place was crawling with goblins, they'd have attacked us already.

The garage man returned with a slightly battered blue Chevrolet that had no police department insignia on the doors, though it did have a big antenna because of its police radio. Then he hurried away to get the second car.

Daddy and Rebecca checked under the seats of the first one, to be sure no goblins were hiding there.

Penny didn't want to be separated from her father, even though she knew separation was part of the plan, even though she had heard all the good reasons why it was essential for them to split up, and even though the time to leave had now come. She and Davey would go with Rebecca and spend the next few hours driving slowly up and down the main avenues, where the snowplows were working the hardest and where there was the least danger of getting stuck; they didn't dare get stuck because they were vulnerable when they stayed in one place too long, safe only while they were on wheels and moving, where the goblins couldn't get a fix on them. In the meantime her father would go up to Harlem to see a man named Carver Hampton, who would probably be able to help him find Lavelle. Then he was going after that witchdoctor. He was sure he wouldn't be in terrible danger. He said that, for some reason he really didn't understand, Lavelle's magic had no effect on him. He said putting the cuffs on Lavelle wouldn't be any more difficult or dangerous than putting them on any other criminal. He meant it, too. And Penny wanted to believe that he was absolutely right. But deep in her heart, she was certain she would never see him again.

Nevertheless, she didn't cry too much, and she didn't hang on him too much, and she got into the car with Davey and Rebecca. As they drove out of the garage, up the exit ramp, she looked back. Daddy was waving at them. Then they reached the street and turned right, and he was out of sight. From that moment, it seemed to Penny that he was already as good as dead.

II.

A few minutes after midnight, in Harlem, Jack parked in front of Rada Rada. He knew Hampton lived above the store, and he figured there must be a private entrance to the apartment, so he went around to the side of the building, where he found a door with a street number.

There were a lot of lights on the second floor. Every window glowed brightly.

Standing with his back to the pummeling wind, Jack pushed the buzzer beside the door but wasn't satisfied with just a short ring; he held his thumb there, pressing down so hard that it hurt a little. Even through the closed door, the sound of the buzzer swiftly became irritating. Inside, it must be five or six times louder. If Hampton looked out through the fisheye security lens in the door and saw who was waiting and decided not to open up, then he'd better have a d.a.m.ned good pair of earplugs. In five minutes the buzzer would give him a headache. In ten minutes it would be like an icepick probing in his ears. If that didn't work, however, Jack intended to escalate the battle; he'd look around for a pile of loose bricks or several empty bottles or other hefty pieces of rubbish to throw through Hampton's windows. He didn't care about being charged with reckless use of authority; he didn't care about getting in trouble and maybe losing his badge. He was past the point of polite requests and civilized debate.

To his surprise, in less than half a minute the door opened, and there was Carver Hampton, looking bigger and more formidable than Jack remembered him, not frowning as expected but smiling, not angry but delighted.

Before Jack could speak, Hampton said, "You're all right! Thank G.o.d for that. Thank G.o.d. Come in. You don't know how glad I am to see you. Come in, come in." There was a small foyer beyond the door, then a set of stairs, and Jack went in, and Hampton closed the door but didn't stop talking. "My G.o.d, man, I've been worried half to death. Are you all right? You look all right. Will you please, for G.o.d's sake, tell me you're all right?"

"I'm okay," Jack said. "Almost wasn't. But there's so much I have to ask you, so much I- "

"Come upstairs," Hampton said, leading the way. "You've got to tell me what's happened, all of it, every detail. It's been an eventful and momentous night; I know it; I sense it."

Pulling off his snow-encrusted boots, following Hampton up the narrow stairs, Jack said, "I should warn you-I've come here to demand your help, and by G.o.d you're going to give it to me, one way or the other."

"Gladly," Hampton said, further surprising him. "I'll do whatever I possibly can; anything."

At the top of the stairs, they came into a comfortable-looking, well-furnished living room with a great many books on shelves along one wall, an Oriental tapestry on the wall opposite the books, and a beautiful Oriental carpet, predominantly beige and blue, occupying most of the floor s.p.a.ce. Four blown-gla.s.s table lamps in striking blues and greens and yellows were placed with such skill that you were drawn by their beauty no matter which way you were facing. There were also two reading lamps, more functional in design, one by each of the big armchairs. Both of those and all four of the blown-gla.s.s lamps were on. However, their light didn't fully illuminate every last corner of the room, and in those areas where there otherwise might have been a few thin shadows, there were cl.u.s.ters of burning candles, at least fifty of them in all.

Hampton evidently saw that he was puzzled by the candles, for the big man said, "Tonight there are two kinds of darkness in this city, Lieutenant. First, there's that darkness which is merely the absence of light. And then there's that darkness which is the physical presence-the very manifestation-of the ultimate, Satanic evil. That second and malignant form of darkness feeds upon and cloaks itself in the first and more ordinary kind of darkness, cleverly disguises itself. But it's out there! But it's out there! Therefore, I don't wish to have shadows close to me this night, if I can avoid it, for one never knows when an innocent patch of shade might be something more than it appears." Therefore, I don't wish to have shadows close to me this night, if I can avoid it, for one never knows when an innocent patch of shade might be something more than it appears."

Before this investigation, even as excessively open-minded as Jack had always been, he wouldn't have taken Carver Hampton's warning seriously. At best, he would have thought the man eccentric; at worst, a bit mad. Now, he didn't for a moment doubt the sincerity or the accuracy of the Houngon Houngon's statements. Unlike Hampton, Jack wasn't afraid that the shadows themselves would suddenly leap at him and clutch him with insubstantial yet somehow deadly hands of darkness; however, after the things he had seen tonight, he couldn't rule out even that bizarre possibility. Anyway, because of what might be hiding within the shadows, he, too, preferred bright light.

"You look frozen," Hampton said. "Give me your coat. I'll hang it over the radiator to dry. Your gloves, too. Then sit down, and I'll bring you some brandy."

"I don't have time for brandy," Jack said, leaving his coat b.u.t.toned and his gloves on. "I've got to find Lavelle. I-"

"To find and stop Lavelle," Hampton said, "you've got to be properly prepared. That's going to take time.

Only a fool would go rushing back out into that storm with only a half-baked idea of what to do and where to go. And you're no fool, Lieutenant. So give me your coat. I can hop you, but it's going to take longer than two minutes."

Jack sighed, struggled out of his heavy coat, and gave it to the Houngon Houngon.

Minutes later, Jack was ensconced in one of the armchairs, holding a gla.s.s of Remy Martin in his cupped hands. He had taken off his shoes and socks and had put them by the radiator, too, for they had gotten thoroughly soaked by the snow that had gotten in over the tops of his boots as he'd waded through the drifts. For the first time all night, his feet began to feel warm.

Hampton opened the gas jets in the fireplace, poked a long-stemmed match in among the ceramic logs, and flames whooshed whooshed up. He turned the gas high. "Not for the heat so much as to chase the darkness from the flue," he said. He shook out the match, dropped it into a copper scuttle that stood on the hearth. He sat down in the other armchair, facing Jack across a coffee table on which were displayed two pieces of Lalique crystal-a clear bowl with green lizards for handles, and a tall frosted vase with a graceful neck. "If I'm to know how to proceed, you'll have to tell me everything that-" up. He turned the gas high. "Not for the heat so much as to chase the darkness from the flue," he said. He shook out the match, dropped it into a copper scuttle that stood on the hearth. He sat down in the other armchair, facing Jack across a coffee table on which were displayed two pieces of Lalique crystal-a clear bowl with green lizards for handles, and a tall frosted vase with a graceful neck. "If I'm to know how to proceed, you'll have to tell me everything that-"

"First, I've got some questions," Jack said.

"All right."

"Why wouldn't you help me earlier today?"

"I told you. I was scared."

"Aren't you scared now?"

"More than ever."

"Then why're you willing to help me now?"

"Guilt. I was ashamed of myself."

"It's more than that."

"Well, yes. As a Houngon Houngon, you see, I routinely call upon the G.o.ds of Rada Rada to perform feats for me, to fulfill blessings I bestow on my clients and on others I wish to help. And, of course, it's the G.o.ds who make my magic potions work as intended. In return, it is inc.u.mbent upon me to resist evil, to strike against the agents of to perform feats for me, to fulfill blessings I bestow on my clients and on others I wish to help. And, of course, it's the G.o.ds who make my magic potions work as intended. In return, it is inc.u.mbent upon me to resist evil, to strike against the agents of Congo Congo and and Petro Petro wherever I encounter them. Instead, for a while, I tried to hide from my responsibilities." wherever I encounter them. Instead, for a while, I tried to hide from my responsibilities."

"If you had refused again to help me* would these benevolent G.o.ds of Rada Rada continue to perform their feats for you and fulfill the blessings you bestow? Or would they abandon you and leave you without power?" continue to perform their feats for you and fulfill the blessings you bestow? Or would they abandon you and leave you without power?"

"It's highly unlikely they would abandon me."

"But possible?"

"Remotely, yes."

"So, at least in some small degree, you're also motivated by self-interest. Good. I like that. I'm comfortable with that."

Hampton lowered his eyes, stared into his brandy for a moment, then looked at Jack again and said, "There's another reason I must help. The stakes are higher than I first thought when I threw you out of the shop this afternoon. You see, in order to crush the Carramazzas, Lavelle has opened the Gates of h.e.l.l and has let out a host of demonic ent.i.ties to do his killing for him. It was an insane, foolish, terribly prideful, stupid thing for him to have done, even if he is perhaps the most masterful Bocor Bocor in the world. He could have conjured up the spiritual essence of a demon and could have sent in the world. He could have conjured up the spiritual essence of a demon and could have sent that that after the Carramazzas; then there would have been no need to open the Gates at all, no need to bring those hateful creatures to this plane of existence in after the Carramazzas; then there would have been no need to open the Gates at all, no need to bring those hateful creatures to this plane of existence in physical physical form. Insanity! Now, the Gates are open only a crack, and at the moment Lavelle is in control. I can sense that much through the cautious application of my own power. But Lavelle is a madman and, in some lunatic fit, might decide to fling the Gates wide, just for the fun of it. Or perhaps he'll grow weary and weaken; and if he weakens enough, the forces on the other side will surely burst the Gates against Lavelle's will. In either case, vast mult.i.tudes of monstrous creatures will come forth to slaughter the innocent, the meek, the good, and the just. Only the wicked will survive, but they'll find themselves living in h.e.l.l on Earth." form. Insanity! Now, the Gates are open only a crack, and at the moment Lavelle is in control. I can sense that much through the cautious application of my own power. But Lavelle is a madman and, in some lunatic fit, might decide to fling the Gates wide, just for the fun of it. Or perhaps he'll grow weary and weaken; and if he weakens enough, the forces on the other side will surely burst the Gates against Lavelle's will. In either case, vast mult.i.tudes of monstrous creatures will come forth to slaughter the innocent, the meek, the good, and the just. Only the wicked will survive, but they'll find themselves living in h.e.l.l on Earth."

III.

Rebecca drove up the Avenue of the Americas, almost to Central Park, then made an illegal U-turn in the middle of the deserted intersection and headed downtown once more, with no cause to worry about other drivers. There actually was some traffic- snow removal vehicles, an ambulance, even two or three radio cabs-but for the most part the streets were bare of everything but snow. Twelve or fourteen inches had fallen, and it was still coming down fast. No one could see the lane markings through the snow; even where the plows sc.r.a.ped, they didn't make it all the way down to bare pavement. And no one was paying any attention to one-way signs or to traffic signals, most of which were on the blink because of the storm.

Davey's exhaustion had eventually proved greater than his fear. He was sound asleep on the back seat.

Penny was still awake, although her eyes were bloodshot and watery looking. She was clinging resolutely to consciousness because she seemed to have a compulsive need to talk, as if continual conversation would somehow keep the goblins away. She was also staying awake because, in a round-about fashion, she seemed to be leading up to some important question.

Rebecca wasn't sure what was on the girl's mind, and when, at last, Penny got to it, Rebecca was surprised by the kid's perspicacity.

"Do you like my father?"

"Of course," Rebecca said. "We're partners."

"I mean, do you like him more than just as a partner?"

"We're friends. I like him very much."

"More than just friends?"

Rebecca glanced away from the snowy street, and the girl met her eyes. "Why do you ask?"

"I just wondered," Penny said.

Not quite sure what to say, Rebecca returned her attention to the street ahead.

Penny said, "Well? Are you? More than just friends?"

"Would it upset you if we were?"

"Gosh, no!"

"Really?"

"You mean, maybe I might be upset because I'd think you were trying to take my mother's place?"

"Well, that's sometimes a problem."

"Not with me, it isn't. I loved my Mom, and I'll never forget her, but I know she'd want me and Davey to be happy, and one thing that'll make us real happy is if we could have another mom before we're too old to enjoy her."

Rebecca almost laughed in delight at the sweet, innocent, and yet curiously sophisticated manner in which the girl expressed herself. But she bit her tongue and remained straight-faced because she was afraid that Penny might misinterpret her laughter. The girl was so serious serious.

Penny said, "I think it would be terrific-you and Daddy. He needs someone. You know* someone* to love."

"He loves you and Davey very much. I've never known a father who loved his children-who cherished cherished them-as much as Jack loves and cherishes the two of you." them-as much as Jack loves and cherishes the two of you."

"Oh, I know that. But he needs more than us." The girl was silent for a moment, obviously deep in thought. Then: "See, there're basically three types of people. First, you've got your givers, people who just give and give and give and never expect to take anything in return. There aren't many of those. I guess that's the kind of person who sometimes ends up being made a saint a hundred years after he dies. Then there're your givers-and-takers, which is what most people are; that's what I am, I guess. And way down at the bottom, you've got your takers, the scuzzy types who just take and take and never-ever give anything to anyone. Now, I'm not saying Daddy's a complete giver. I know he isn't a saint. But he's not exactly a giver-and-taker, either. He's somewhere in between. He gives a whole lot more than he takes. You know? He enjoys giving more than he enjoys getting. He needs more than just Davey and me to love* because he's got a lot more love in him than just that." She sighed and shook her head in evident frustration. "Am I making any sense at all?"

"A lot of sense," Rebecca said. "I know exactly what you mean, but I'm amazed to be hearing it from an eleven- year-old girl."