The Serpent and the Crow

Book 2: Chapter Sixteen

Wade played the tape on the VCR. The static image illuminated Jador's face. Edgar's eyes followed Wade while strapped to a computer chair. Wade took a deep breath as the image popped up.

Heather Harding held the camera while she narrated. She followed her husband past the Town Hall carpark.

Heather said, "We are traveling down to look at what the boys have been busy doing late at night."

William said, "You worried I was cheating on you, aye?"

"The notion never crossed my mind. I see how you like it. There ain't no way you were going to give all this up."

"You've got a point, Hun. I bet after this you're working to drop them granny panties and put on the lacey number. You know the one?"

"Oh, yeah."

Edgar laughed. He said, "I prefer this already. It is kinky. I guess you and Dale share the same interests in cheesy pornos."

"Shut up," They said at the same time.

Heather followed William through the main hallway to the Town Hall. The place was full of volunteers. Children practising for the Hansel and Gretel play. Wade thought of the night they kidnapped his little Mary. She, too, was at a school play, The Wizard of Oz.

Heather said, "Wow, this amazing, love."

"I paid no expense; the kids deserve a bit of flare in Solemn."

Wade thought it looked well done; the false walls and general scene design was far superior to any his little Mary starred in. It appeared to be a professional production from Phoenix.

William walked towards a few men are working on the set pieces. Wade thought they were putting in the last touches.

"You better get ready to finger the guy, Edgar."

"Sounds like you're kinky like Dale, Wade."

"Don't fuck around. We'll put you down and burn all this shit," Jador said.

"I'll play along. The guy's a fucking creep, anyway."

Wade's attention turned back to the video as he heard the laughter of children practising with their teacher, dressed as the Witch from the play.

"Well, Hun? I guess someone is going to get the 'D' tonight."

"Willie... kids are running all over the place."

Dale said, "Hey, Boss. We're done with the stove."

Dale showed them how to use the elaborate oven the witch lured the kids into. He switched the handle, and stage lights, with coloured gels to simulate flames, flooded the stage.

"Wow, that is frigging cool," Heather said.

"I guess my engineering skills came in handy after all, huh?"

"I'll admit you're good with your hands, hun."

William shouted to Dale, "Great job, buddy. Dale, this is my wife, Heather. Dale is from the local hunting club and volunteered to help the community."

"Well, you guys have done a fantastic job."

"Pleasure is all ours. Call if you need us... anytime."

Edgar laughed. He said, "Fucking sly dog. He wants to bone Mrs Harding in the racy lacey number too."

Jador said, "I told you to fuck up."

"You want me to fuck up or point out the guy."

"Is this the guy?" Wade said.

He pointed to Edgar on the video, tending to a bunch of stage lights smoking a cigarette.

"Who's that, Hun? He looks kind of scary."

"Don't mind him. Eddy is a whiz on the lights."

"You hear that, Jador?" Wade said, "Eddy is a whiz. "

"Yeah, maybe you can come to fix my lightbulbs in my toilet, Eddy," Jador said.

"Fuck you. You're both going to miss it."

"Miss what?"

A voice sung, "Rock a by baby on the treetop. When the wind blows, the cradle will fall."

The creepy voice sent chills up Wade's spine. He knew whoever sang that lullaby was likely to be the killer.

"Mum..." Katie Harding's little voice said off-camera.

We see Heather pan left to reveal little Katie hugging her mother's leg.

"That man scares me."

"Oh, Katie. He is harmless. I don't know if he should smoke in here, though, Willie."

"Yeah, I should say something."

"No, not him," Katie said, "Him."

Heather turned the camera down to the darkest part of the stage, down the creepy lane of fake trees, the frame of the scary forest Hansel and Gretel journey down. At the end of it was an enormous man wearing a Trepidation Zoo outfit.

"That's the guy I saw with Katie Harding's body in a barrel."

The large man in the video turns around to Heather. Wade recognised him.

Wade said, "Fuck me."

"You know him, Wade?" Said Jador.

The man's eyes lock on Katie,

William said, "Don't be afraid, darling. Do you want to meet Daddy's hardest worker?"

Katie looks at her mother holding the camera.

"Go on, Katie. He's just as scared as you," Heather said.

Katie saunters down the lane with her father following.

The man's gaze follows every step Katie takes. Any person would think him dumb witted. Drool formed at the edges of the man's lips. I struck Wade with a sickening thought that this man was salivating from the sexual delight Katie represented to him.

"Hey, what is your name, friend? I am so ashamed to ask. I'm good with names."

The man does not move an inch. William looks at Heather as the moment became awkward.

"What is your name?"

The man remains a silent golem towering over Katie. Wade noticed that the man's hand was on a broomstick. However, his hand was brushing against the crotch of his pants. It was subtle, but it was there.

"I love that song you were singing, Mr," Katie said, "My mother sings it to me before bed."

The man smiled as he said, "I'd love to sing it to you sometime, little one."

William said, "What's your name, Pal?"

"You can call me Elmer."