Emmetsburg: Thirty-nine

John knelt in the damp cool grass, With his good hand he gripped Louis by the collar. Instantly Louis took hold of John’s arm, using it as leverage to pull himself close. Taken aback John tried to pull free, but again Louis and that impossible strength held him fast.

“Poor babies, John,” he sobbed in that far away voice, “All burned up. All burned up.”

“Who?, what are you talking about.”

“Them three pretty little girls up at Spirit Lake,” said Louis. “Nothing to be done, John. Nothing to be done. All burned up...” his words trailed away.

John shook him hard, feeling himself at the end of his patience. He growled, fighting emotion and not wanting to worry Anna, still standing in the door. “What the hell are you?”

“You'll be next, John. Go to meet your maker. Anna will get on. Be all right. All for the good.”

“What's for the good? I don't understand.”

“World goes on without us John,” said Louis. “Fills in the gaps. Sun rises and the sun sets. A new day comes. The dead are forgotten, but their actions and deeds live on in all the rest.”

John shook Louis again. He felt pushed to the edge. The blood charged madly through his veins, exploding in his temples.

“What if I break your neck?”

“You'll go, John Perkins.”

“Go where?”

“You'll go to save that boy. You'll go for Anna. You'll go.”

“To die?”

“Of course, John!”

“When? How?”

“One week's time, no more. You'll go, John Perkins, shot by your own hand.”

Louis released him and went limp, as if someone had simply flipped a switch. John pushed away, coming to his feet and backing away to regard Louis Stanton from a distance. He was sleeping, though John might have wished far worse for the man at that moment.

This was all so absurd, he thought. Either he was had or Louis was. Maybe both of them were mad. A shiver ran through him for just a moment as he entertained the thought that all this was true. He shook the thought away instantly. John was still languishing in the aftermath of that dark thought when a hand upon his shoulder startled him.