Fading Light: An Anthology of the Monstrous: Tim Marquitz (33 page)

“Promise, I come alone. Just on a mission of peace to find
other members of the faith out here surviving … let them know
they’re not alone. The work doesn’t end just because
we’re in the end times.”

“But why are we here, still here? Why are we left behind with
the sinners instead of reaping our salvation at the foot of the
Almighty? Where’s the Rapture?”

The man smiled. “The Lord’s got his own timetable. With
the first comin’, was 30-years, give or take, between our
Savior in the manger, and later, hanging on Calvary. Might be the
second coming, too, happens over a course of time.” The man
paused, and his face turned serious. “Frankly, the Lord forgot
to ask my opinion on how to do things. For myself, if this is one
final trial, my only hope is to not stray into the darkness.”

Jeb grinned. “And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due
season we shall reap, if we faint not.”

Pastor Friendly clapped his hands. “Galatians 6:9 … and
straight King Jimmy, music to a Baptist’s ears. You are one of
the flock.”

“Amen,” Jeb said. “Now let’s git inside.”
He led the man into the kitchen, where Sarah had the lights on and a
kettle brewing on the stove. Giving the pastor a baleful stare, Annie
set some cups on the table—with a thump.

“How’d you come to be prepared for the darkness of this
tribulation?” Pastor Friendly looked around the room, his eyes
skipping over Annie.

“Was a dream I had. I realized something was coming, even
though I didn’t exactly know what. I started laying in stores,
learning strategies from those crazy zombie apocalypse and the older
Y2K folks. Figured they might be all a bit touched, but they sure
were preparing. At the end of it, figured there wasn’t much
difference between some disaster, some disease, and a bunch of
walkers. When the clouds rolled in, we were ready.”

“Our heavenly Father does provide. Even for this old man. I’ve
been on the hunt for a faithful soul.”

“I’m a Christian, if that’s what you’re
asking. I know to keep God in my heart.”

“That’s right,” came from Jeb’s mom. “I
knew how to raise my boy.”

The pastor smiled as Jeb made a sweeping gesture towards his mother.
“That’s Sarah, my mother.”

The man clapped again. “Praise God. Not just survivors, but
family—a believing family. Of a truth, I could’ve run
into far worse.”

At that moment, Cassie entered from the living room, a huge quilt
wrapped around her. The pastor stood and bowed slightly in her
direction. “Ma’am.”

Jeb rushed to pull Cassie’s chair out for her and she sank down
gracefully. Then Annie pulled a chair as close as possible to Cassie
and sat, still glaring at the Pastor.

“This is my wife, Cassie,” Jeb said. “We’re
expecting our first child.”

“Ah, I thought so.” The pastor said. “But what of
this lovely little girl? Isn’t she your daughter?”

“That’s Annie. She’s come to us through the
darkness. Now she’s family.”

“How lovely,” the pastor murmured, glancing around the
table till his eyes lit on Cassie’s belly. “You do look
near the end, my dear. What plans have you for the birth?”

Cassie held up a pair of crossed fingers.

“None? There’s no room ready for the birthing? Herbs to
help lessen the pain … linen to stop the bleeding?”

“We’ve got plenty of towels.” Cassie glanced at
Jeb.

Jeb put a hand down on the table. “We’re going to be
fine, Pastor.”

“Please,” the older man said. “Call me Herbert.”

“Herbert?” Jeb, Sarah, and Cassie said in unison.

Then from Jeb, “Herbert Friendly.”

“Parents, what can you do?” A short pause. “But
back to them herbs—for the pain. I have some in my satchel,
and would certainly be willing to leave them for this beautiful
expecting wife of yours.”

“Do you know about birthing babies?”

Herbert turned to answer Cassie. “Well, as a matter of fact,
I’ve assisted at a few. Our flock’s full of young folks
and they all seem to be attempting to ‘go forth and multiply.’
We’ve had three births since the darkness fell, and all were
easy.”

“Jeb, can I talk to you … in the hall?” Cassie
rose from her chair. Jeb followed her into the hall.

“Ask him to stay.” Cassie’s eyes were wild.
“Please, Jeb. I’m so worried about the birth and here’s
someone with experience with people, not cows. You’ve got to
ask him to stay!”

“I don’t know, Cassie. We don’t know much about—”

“He’s a preacher. What do I have to do, hit you over the
head with a pan? How much more do you need to know? I’d think
you’d be happy to have someone other than your Ma around to
talk God with. Just ask him to stay till after the baby’s born.
Please, Jeb. I’ve been so worried, and I’ve been praying
like you tell me to, and it’s like God’s just sent the
answer and he’s sitting in the fucking kitchen.”

Jeb stared into her tear-filled eyes and felt the desperation in her.
If it would ease Cassie’s mind, what choice was there? Truth be
told, he’d been worried himself. Herbert Friendly did seem like
a godsend. He turned and walked back into the kitchen, thankful he
had the brains not to reprove Cassie over the profanity. There, Sarah
was staring into her teacup and Annie was still glaring at their
guest. He thought the man might have been glaring back, but his eyes
raised and a huge smile cracked his face as soon as Jeb came back
into the room.

“Uh, Herbert, we was wondering if you might stay on a few days.
At least till the baby’s born. Cassie would be a bit more
comfortable knowing someone with some birthing knowledge was here to
lend a hand.”

The man grinned—ear to ear. “I’d be delighted.
God has sent me where I needed to be.”

The next morning Annie refused to leave Cassie’s side. She
stayed plastered to her, and constantly placed herself between Cassie
and the pastor. Jeb was confused by the behavior, but no amount of
reasoning with her seemed to work. Cassie seemed to be getting
annoyed, but tolerated the odd conduct, often even resting her arm on
the girl’s shoulders.

For his part, the pastor pretended not to notice anything out of the
ordinary and seemed content to help Sarah with the breakfast dishes.
Later, however, he managed to catch up to Jeb as he headed to the
barn.

“I wanted to talk to you about the birthing,” the man
said when Jeb stopped.

“What about?”

“Well, I could be wrong, but I think the baby will be coming
soon. I’m glad I’m here to help, but I must insist on my
directions being followed.”

Something about the man’s manner struck Jeb as off. “What
directions are those?”

“I think the birthing room is no place for a little girl, nor a
husband. I’m going to have to insist you wait outside while I’m
bringing your child into this world.”

Jeb shook his head. “Cassie’s not going through that
alone, she’s terrified.”

“And rightly so.”

“What? You said birthing wasn’t a big deal.” Jeb’s
breath hitched in his chest.

“I said that to calm down your wife. In the end, it might not
be a big deal, but I’m not a doctor. I have no way of knowing
if the baby is turned right … or what sort of problems may
occur. Don’t you get all worried now, I can handle most things.
And if I can’t, I’ll be glad of your mother’s help—and there’s always Him.”
His eyes glanced
skyward. “But your wife will be much calmer without you in the
room, and, to be honest the little girl will be much better off, as
well. It’s obvious she’s not comfortable around me, and
really, witnessing a birth, especially for a mute who can’t
effectively communicate her feelings—well, you need to trust
me on this.”

Jeb stared at the ground. He’d been happy to stop worrying when
the pastor said he had experience, but now all the fears were rushing
back. “Are you sure? Before God Almighty, are you sure?”

“I am.” The pastor laid a comforting hand on Jeb’s
shoulder. “You’re a good man. Now let me do what
serendipity brought me here to do.”

Jeb nodded and turned to the barn. He glanced back once he’d
reached the door, but the pastor had already headed back to the
house.

He’d barely gotten the horses hitched when Sarah shouted, “Jeb,
it’s time!”

Jeb took off at a run and leapt the porch stairs in a bound. Cassie,
pale and drawn, was standing in a puddle of fluid, her eyes glazed.
He crossed the room, swept her into his arms, carried her into their
bedroom, and laid her on the bed.

She clutched at his hand. “Jeb, don’t you be leaving me.”

Jeb glanced at the pastor, who’d followed them into the room.

“I’m going to be right outside, darlin’. Herbert
knows what he’s doing. You’re going to be fine.”

Annie rushed into the room and grabbed Cassie’s other hand.

“Me and Annie will wait out in the living room. Everything’s
going to be okay, Cassie. I promise.”

She started to complain but then a contraction hit, and she screamed.
Free from his wife’s grip, Jeb tried pulling Annie away, but
still clutching Cass’s hand, she dropped to her knees, shaking
her head violently. Knowing he had to get the girl out of the room,
Jeb pried Annie’s hand from his wife, dragged her away, then
threw her over his shoulder. Getting to the door, he turned for one
last look at Cassie’s face, almost losing Annie in the process,
what with her acting like a wild animal, bucking and kicking, trying
to get free.

“Stop this, Annie,” he roared, freezing the girl. Out in
the hall, he set her on the floor and knelt to face her. “Cassie
and the baby will be fine, but we have to stay out here. I need you
to mind me. You’re not going in that room.”

As if to punctuate the words, the latch
snicked
softly and he
realized the pastor had locked the bedroom door. He couldn’t
blame the man; it was the only way to be sure Annie stayed outside.

Sarah came forward. “Why’d he lock the door?”

“He told me he didn’t want us in the room, he figured
Cassie would be better off with us waiting out here. But he’s
going to call you in for help if he needs it.”

“How’m I supposed to get in with the door locked?”

“I guess he’ll open it. Really, Ma? Do we need to play
this right now?”

“No. I’m sorry. Guess he knows what he’s doing.”
Sarah put an arm around Annie, who was staring at the door. “Just
seems a bit medieval, if you ask me.” She looked at the girl.
“C’mon, Annie. We’ll make everyone some tea.”

Annie wouldn’t budge. Instead, she took up a spot across from
the door and stared, her eyes trying to bore a hole through the wood.
She had her head in that cocked position again, like she was
listening to something he couldn’t hear.

But soon they could all hear what was going on. Cassie’s moans
were loud and long, Herbert’s voice patient, cajoling. Hours
passed, and Cassie’s sounds grew weaker. Then Herbert was
urging her to push and Cassie’s moans turned to loud grunts and
cries.

Then silence.

Annie tensed and Jeb found himself staring at the door, listening for
any sound from within.
Shouldn’t the baby be crying if it
had been born? Shouldn’t the pastor be talking still to Cassie?
Jeb’s mind filled with awful images of blood and pale
infants with blue lips.

Before he managed to shake himself clear of the morbid thoughts,
Annie ran full steam at the door, hitting it with her shoulder and
busting the door in. What happened next, he’d never be able to
reconcile.

The door opened and there stood Herbert, Baptist minister, holding
the baby’s lips to his mouth and sucking in.
This is all
wrong … shouldn’t he be blowing breath into the baby?

Jeb had no time to answer his own question as Annie’s small
body sailed through the air, left leg extended … impacting the
man’s chest, knocking him backwards. The two crashed together
and rolled into a corner of the room. Jeb, seeing the man letting go
of the baby the moment Annie’s kick nailed him, dove to catch
the tiny bundle. The small weight landed squarely in his hands and he
placed the infant on the bed, where he began briskly rubbing the
newborn with a towel. Quick, the skin started pinking, but no cries
issued from its tiny mouth. From the corner of his eye, Jeb noticed
movement in the corner of the room where Annie and Herbert were
entangled.

He looked over and his jaw dropped as the skin of the pastor’s
face began to bubble and smoke. Then the flesh began to blacken and
stretch. The smell of cooking meat filled the air. Jeb froze in pure
fear as the nightmare creature that had been a man only moments
before began to change. It rose from the floor, twisting as its flesh
charred, the fingers becoming talons, and huge horns sprouting from
its head. From the back, large leathery wings unfolded. Jeb couldn’t
move, could only stare, stunned as the nightmare’s head turned
towards the baby.

The split second its eyes focused on the infant, Annie began to glow—the light expanding from her chest until it surrounded her
like a halo of raw energy. The demon, for surely the creature was a
demon, some Hell-spawn bent on destruction, shielded its eyes from
the light. But Annie walked relentlessly closer to it, the beast
hissing and growling as it backed itself into a corner. Annie
withdrew a dagger from her sleeve and buried it into the creature’s
stomach, easily piercing its flesh, and causing the demon to bellow
so loud that Jeb grabbed his ears in agony.

No sooner had the bellow issued forth, when the nightmare disappeared
in a noxious explosion of sulfuric smoke. At its departure, Annie
sprung to the bed and set her small ear to the baby’s chest and
then, ever so carefully, kissed its tiny rosebud lips. The baby’s
chest began to move and, at last, it sent up a wail. Jeb felt tears
of gratitude slip past his lids.

His paralysis broken, Jeb bundled the baby and turned to Cassie.
Sarah hurried to the bed to survey the damage the birthing had
wreaked.