The Pale Man Rises

CHAPTER THIRTY SIX

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When Blue Boy realized the morning sun was dipping its narrow fingers through the canopy of the trees he awoke and was grateful he was still alive. He rose up then favoring the leg as he did. It was now quite swollen and very sore. But thankfully the blood was no longer flowing and the mud was proving to be a reliable poultice.

He sniffed about in search of something to eat, but it was to no avail for there was nothing about that might offer him some nourishment. He trudged off then headed through the trees down to the shore of the river once more. He looked down the way it flowed. As he peered down it he could see how the dense woods marched completely down to the shore.

Cypress trees stood about in the river like waders on vacation and it was so dark down there and the encroaching trees so crowded together along its narrow course that a human might think he had gone into some dense South American rain forest or black African jungle.

This was the way they had gone. He struggled through the tall grass along the shore. It was still cold and he sensed it would get even colder. He looked up, as the forest grew thicker and rose darkly above him.

He had to dodge fallen rotten limbs and numerous roots that rose up out of the ground like angry monstrous giant worms escaping their burrows. Puddles of water, which had escaped the path of the river, lay about the shore breeding grounds covered with algae.

He halted momentarily to give his aching leg a rest. Then an unexpected opportunity came racing up from the river toward him. It was a small wet rodent and it had committed itself upon the path it had chosen. When it at last realized the danger the big bloodhound posed for him it was too late, much to late. The dog snatched it up and ate it almost whole.

Done with his impromptu breakfast the dog now sought out some fresh water there in the forest. Once he had found some water and had satisfied his thirst Blue Boy returned to the shore of the river and continued on sniffing out their odors as they proceeded all the while sloping south on a map of the terrain.

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After a good while longer he heard the traffic of the nearby town of Dayton. The hour was growing late the sun near going down and the animal felt the need to rest his injury once again. He hadn't seen any evidence that the evil travelers he was seeking were anywhere nearby even though he could tell they had come this way for their atrocious scents were still strong and vibrant in his delicate nostrils.

At last he found an abandoned burrow. He dug into it some making it large enough to accommodate his bulk. Once he was sure it was large enough he hesitantly entered there. Soon he was asleep and deservedly so.

He had lain there for a long while comfortably snoozing when the snap of a dry twig snared him from his rest. Cautious as ever he twisted about in the burrow and approached the opening. He poked his head out and looked about alertly. He saw them coming nearby from the forest where it led up to the outskirts of the nearby town. The pale man moved on rapidly seemingly unconcerned about the noise he was making and Clay Reese brought up the rear stooped and almost a silly parody of the snarling, foolish assistant of the mad scientist, or Dracula's Renfield.

They would pass by close to the burrow and so Blue Boy ducked back down deeper into it. Soon they came by and the hound could see them well. The pale man smelled him there in the burrow, but thought nothing of the odor of the animal. This was the first time the hound had gotten a good look at the evil creature. He was impressive in his size and ghostly whiteness.

Blue Boy watched them with increasing dread. It seemed the creature's power was more defined at this distance and the hound was almost deterred by it. But his sense of duty would not allow him to rebuke his commitment.