All Around the Town Read Free

reason to hope.

    Chapter 7
    THE CAR STARTED to have trouble a little while after they left the diner. Every time they slowed down in traffic the engine sputtered and died. The third time it happened and cars had to pull out from behind them. Opal said, "Bic, when we break down for good and a cop comes along, you'd better be careful. He might start asking questions about her." She jerked her head toward Laurie.
    Bic told her to look for a gas station and pull off the road. When they found one, he made Laurie lie down on the floor and piled garbage bags filled with old clothes over her before they drove in.
    The car needed a lot of work; it wouldn't be ready till the next day. There was a motel next to the gas station. The attendant said it was cheap and pretty comfortable.
    They drove over to the motel. Bic went inside the office and came back with the key. They drove around to the room and rushed Laurie inside. Then, after Bic drove the car back to the gas station, they watched television for the rest of the afternoon. Bic brought in hamburgers for dinner. Laurie fell asleep just when the program came on about missing children. She woke up to hear Bic cursing. Keep your eyes shut, a voice warned her. He's going to take it out on you.
    "The cashier got a good look at her," Opal was saying. "Suppose she's watching this. We'll have to get rid of her."
    The next afternoon, Bic went to get the car by himself. When he came back he sat Laurie on the bed and held her arms against her. "What's my name?" he asked her.
    "Bic."
    He jerked his head at Opal. "What's her name?"
    "Opal."
    "I want you to forget that. I want you to forget us. Don't you ever talk about us. Do you understand, Lee?"
    Laurie did not understand. Say yes, a voice whispered impatiently. Nod your head and say yes.
    "Yes," she said softly and felt her head nodding.
    "Remember the time I cut the head off the chicken?" Bic asked.
    She shut her eyes. The chicken had flopped around the yard, blood spilling out from its neck. Then it had fallen on her feet. She had tried to scream as the blood sprayed over her, but no sound came out. She never went near the chickens after that. Sometimes she dreamed that the headless chicken was running after her.
    "Remember?" Bic asked, tightening his grip on her arms.
    "Yes."
    "We have to go away. We're going to leave you where people will find you. If you ever tell anyone my name or Opal's name or the name we called you or where we lived or anything that we did together, I'm going to come with the chicken knife and cut your head off. Do you understand that?"
    The knife. Long and sharp and streaked with blood from the chicken.
    "Promise you won't tell anybody," Bic demanded.
    "Promise, promise," she mumbled desperately.
    They got in the car. Once more they made her lie on the floor. It was so hot. The garbage bags stuck to her skin.
    When it was dark they stopped in front of a big building. Bic took her out of the car. "This is a school," he told her. "Tomorrow morning a lot of people will come, and other kids you can play with. Stay here and wait for them."
    She shrank from his moist kiss, his fierce hug. "I'm crazy about you," he said, "but remember, if you say one word about us..." He lifted his arm, closed his fist as though he was holding a knife and made a slashing motion on her neck.
    "I promise," she sobbed, "I promise."
    Opal handed her a bag with cookies and a Coke. She watched them drive off. She knew that if she didn't stay right here they'd come back to hurt her. It was so dark. She could hear animals scurrying in the woods nearby.
    Laurie shrank against the door of the building and wrapped her arms around her body. She'd been hot all day and now she was cold and she was so scared. Maybe the headless chicken was running around out there. She began to tremble.
    Look at the 'fraidy cat. She slipped away to be part of the jeering voice that was laughing at the small figure huddled at the entrance to the school.

    Chapter