40. Sloan
FORTY
SLOAN
“It was a few months ago, right before the first attacks started.” Benjamin told the story as if he were reliving the event itself.
“It was just turning dark. I was working in my shop. Mrs. Jansen was having me fix a pair of her husband’s favorite shoes.
The heels were worn through. Ahhh, that man loved to dance with his children.
Anyway, I heard a thick snapping sound coming from the trees behind my house.
Curious as to what could be making such a loud noise, I walked from my shop, out to the woods directly behind my home.
“Like I said, it was getting dark, so I had to squint into the light of the fading sun. Through the trees, I could see something large moving. At first, I thought it was unicorn. They are the largest animals in these parts of the woods, but it didn’t move like any unicorn I had ever seen.
I’m no hero. I won’t pretend to be, even as I’m telling you this story.
I was scared. Still, for some reason, my curiosity outweighed my fear.
I stayed rooted to that same spot, trying to get a better look at whatever it was that was slowly making its way through the forest.
“There was a patch of ground the creature traveled through that was free from any tree or bush blocking my view. The light shone down at a perfect angle. I was finally able to get a clean look.”
Benjamin stopped his story to take another long drink from his mug.
Sloan was beginning to wonder how coherent their storyteller was as he closed his eyes and steadied himself on his stool.
Wiping his mouth with the back of his left sleeve, he picked up the story again.
“Listen, I know that there are no dogs or wolves or bears in the forest. What I saw looked like a kind of large canine. It was as big as a bear but long and slender like a wolf. The strangest thing wasn’t just that.
It was so unnatural-looking. I mean, it looked like a—a creature more made than born.
It had a huge upper body and a much smaller lower body.
Its mouth was gigantic. Its dark, short hair made it blend into the forest, almost like camouflage.
I was even close enough to see thick muscles ripple beneath the creature’s fur.
“Everything I’m telling you now I saw in a few seconds before the creature moved on into the forest. I’m not sure if it didn’t see me, or maybe it did, and for whatever reason wasn’t interested in me.
Whatever the case, it disappeared. I was so shaken trying to figure out what I saw that I kept the information to myself that night.
I was going to tell everyone in the morning, but that night’s when the first attack happened.
I was afraid if I came with information after the murder had taken place, I would be blamed for not saying anything sooner or labeled a lunatic.
I mean, after all, what was it that I saw anyway? ”
Neither Sloan nor Aareth could answer Benjamin’s question.
“The largest canines that roam this part of the Outland are wolves and they’re no more than sixty to seventy pounds at the largest,” Aareth mused.
“That’s the answer I explored,” Benjamin agreed after another long drink.
“But this thing was gigantic. I’ve seen wolves before—they’re not much larger than a big dog.
This thing was massive. Easily four to five times the size of a wolf and the way it was shaped—I’ve never seen that much muscle on an animal, not to mention the size of its jaws or the way it was colored to blend right into the forest.”
“It’s like it was born to hunt,” Sloan said under her breath. “An apex predator; hard to see, built to kill.”
Benjamin and Aareth looked at Sloan for a further explanation.
“I don’t know,” she said to their questioning glances. “I don’t know if we’re dealing with a new species or something much darker than that. With any luck, Jack and Marcus will have found something that can help.”
“And if they haven’t?” Aareth asked.
“Either way, this thing needs to be killed,” Sloan said. “I’ve never met an enemy, human or animal, that can’t be dealt with by cold, hard steel.”
Benjamin mumbled something to himself as he stared out the bar window.
“What was that?” Sloan asked.
“Oh nothing. I’m sorry. I think I’ve had a bit too much to drink. I agree with your plan and comment about blades being able to kill, but what if it’s not of this earth?”
Sloan’s rational mind refused to believe that the animal was either a demon or spirit; still, the possibility was there. “Then God help us all.”