Millions of In-Worlds

Chapter 27: Keepers & Merlin

Daddy said smackin' his forehead, "Yer right. If these pictures was ever released, we would suffer the same fate as Roswell, New Mexico. Burns would become a travel destination for all the kooks and crazies in the world. Our quiet town would wither. We'd become just another cheesy tourist trap."

"I hadn't thought of that," Bud muttered.

"There is somethin' that Beau and I ain't told ya, Mr. Ashe. We know who and what they are. As you suspect, they come from a different world." Mr. Ashe raised an eyebrow. Daddy reassured him, "Don't worry they are here ta help, not ta harm us."

"If you didn't see this until this morning, where are you getting your information?" Mr. Ashe pushed up his glasses and gave Daddy that famous sidewise glare.

"The real reason we went out this mornin' was to get the proof needed to convince the mayor to call off his call ta citizens. It would be a disaster.

"The construction in the woods is a herculean effort ta contain three escaped lairbeasts. For millions of years they was trapped inside our Locci Forest. The great crash opened a way for them ta leave. These lairbeasts are the same monsters who came out at night and disturbed our sleep with their growls, shrieks, and terrible cries. It isn't just the noise.They are more powerful than you can imagine. They are capable of devourin' ever'one in Burns. Just bloody piles of bones is what they'd leave b'hind. A ragtag bunch of yahoos stompin' 'round with 12 gauge shotguns and huntin' rifles would put us all in grave danger. What if they came upon the construction site and shot up our friends? They would hafta leave, and the beasts would have no one ta stop 'em.

Mr. Ashe asked, "Joe have you seen these creatures?"

"No, but others have. Emma Anderton who works for you has seen 'em, and so has my daughter and her good friend Wishes."

"If you haven't seen them, what makes you so sure they exist?"

Beau told 'em, "'Cuz I've been to the place they come from." He was clearly uncomfortable with this line of questionin'.

Daddy was gettin' impatient, "Look Arthur, we could spend all day fillin' ya in but we are runnin' out of time. Our very survival is on the line. I promise we will tell you ever'thin' you want ta know, but right now we have ta stop the mayor."

Mister Ashe took it all in. Slowly he said, "I believe much of what you are saying, enough to convince me to go with you to the mayor's office. Whatever is going on out there, it wouldn't serve to have a bunch of loose cannons galavanting through the woods playing war games. But, and he got as serious as a crow's stare, I am going to hold you to your promise, Al. Agreed?"

They shook hands to seal the deal.

On the way they made a quick stop to the now uprighted statue of Col. Higgenbotham and touched his right boot for luck. Not that any of them were superstitious. They had been doing it since they was kids, and it was a habit. Anyway, they reasoned, it couldn't hurt.

It was still purty early. The breakfast crew was preparin' ta feed townspeople who was still homeless. The birds been up for hours scavengin' worms and bugs. Yellowed leaves left on the trees was gettin' scarce as hair on a coconut. October was almost over. Arthur Ashe said, "It looks like we're in luck. The mayor must be in, because that's his blue Schwinn parked in front." Movin' 'round town was still easier on a bike, or walkin'.

The four men climbed the crumbly City Hall steps and went inside. It was deemed important to get the mayor's office functional, but that was 'bout it. Construction crews were workin' night and day to get folks back in their own homes. The rest of City Hall could wait.

The office door was open. Mayor Greenly motioned them inside, while conductin' town business on the phone. When finished, he looked up and greeted them with a not far from genuine smile. "What can I do for you gentlemen today?"