The Children of Fear Page 7

  She looked contrite, but Luke had a hard time forgetting the wild look in her eyes as she choked him.

  Corey twisted Luke’s shirt. His eyes were frightened.

  Luke didn’t want to upset his little brother any further. He put his arm around Corey. “It’s all right,” he whispered in a hoarse voice. “It’s been a long day. We’re all tired. We need to sleep. I’m not angry with Leah, I promise.”

  Luke expected Corey to release him then, but Corey only tightened his hold on Luke’s shirt and tugged harder. Luke stretched out on the boxcar floor beside Corey.

  Then Corey tugged on Leah’s skirt. She lay down on the other side of Corey.

  Luke soon heard his brother’s gentle snores as he fell asleep, snuggled closely between Luke and Leah.

  Luke could feel Leah’s cold green stare boring into him over Corey’s head.

  It was a long time before Luke was able to sleep.

  ♦ ♦ ♦

  The next morning the matron gave out bowls of porridge to each child. Luke sat down next to Mary while they ate breakfast.

  He quickly downed his small portion of porridge. Mary held out her bowl. “You look hungry. Here, take mine,” she suggested.

  “Oh, no. I couldn’t,” Luke replied, though his empty stomach grumbled.

  “Please—I don’t like it. It will just be thrown out,” she said.

  “Well, if you don’t want it,” he replied. He took the porridge and smiled at her. “Thank you.”

  “You’re welcome. How is your throat?” she asked.

  Luke rubbed it. “Better. She’s never done anything like that before.”

  “Traveling on this train changes people. I bet Mike and his brothers weren’t bullies before they climbed into this boxcar,” she said.

  Without warning, a big hand snatched the bowl of food out of Luke’s grasp. He spun around and watched Mike’s brother, Sam, throw his head back and gulp the porridge down.

  Sam smirked. He ran his tongue across his lips. “Thanks, Luke. Nice of you to give me your breakfast.”

  Luke wanted to jump up and knock that smile off Sam’s face. Only Mary’s gentle hand on his shoulder stopped him. “He’s not worth the trouble,” she said.

  Luke nodded in agreement. “You’re right.”

  Luke turned and gazed between the slats of the boxcar at the scenery passing by.

  Golden wheat grew in the fields. I would like to work in a field again, he thought. With a mule that will obey me. Surely someone in the next town will want three healthy children to work a farm.

  Luke heard a low groan. He turned his head and spotted Sam grasping his stomach.

  “Eating too much will give you a stomachache, Sam,” Luke told him. “You look old enough to know that.”

  Sam grimaced. Then he gagged.

  Sam’s face began to turn purple. His cheeks puffed out as he made awful choking sounds. He pointed at his open mouth.

  Alarmed, Luke sprang to his feet. He rushed over and knelt beside Sam. “Did the porridge get stuck in your throat?” Luke asked.

  Sam opened and shut his mouth—but no words came out. Only the horrible gagging noise.

  Luke took a deep breath. Then he dug his fingers into Sam’s mouth. Something squirmed beneath his fingers. Something cold and slimy.

  Something cold, slimy … and alive.

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  13

  A shiver slithered along Luke’s spine. He tightened his hold on the slimy thing and pulled.

  A dark purple leech slid out of Sam’s mouth. Luke gagged, his own throat tightening. He threw the leech on the floor and stomped on it.

  Deep red blood squirted out from beneath his shoe.

  Sam kept gagging. His eyes began to bulge out.

  There is another one in there, Luke thought. “Help!” he cried. “I need help!”

  The children stayed back, their eyes wide. Sam clutched Luke’s arm. Luke could see Sam’s throat convulsing.

  Luke shoved his fingers into Sam’s gaping mouth. His fingers touched another cold leech feeding on the blood in Sam’s throat. Luke tugged hard, his fingers losing their hold on the slick, squirming creature. He dug his fingers into the leech again and pulled it free.

  Sam released a strangled cry. His face darkened to a mottled shade of purple. The same disgusting color of the leech Luke had pulled out of his mouth.

  Sam’s brothers shoved Luke aside. Luke helplessly watched as they carried Sam into the matron’s private car, another leech dangling from his mouth.

  Those leeches were in my bowl, Luke realized. I was supposed to eat those leeches. Leah did this to me!

  Luke staggered to his feet. He gazed around and spotted Leah. She sat against the far wall, staring through the slats of the boxcar. His legs felt like rubber as he crossed the rattling boxcar toward her.

  “Were you trying to finish what you started last night, Leah?” he asked sharply.

  She spun around, her face going white. “What are you talking about?”

  “The leeches. They’ll kill Sam before nightfall. They would have killed me if he hadn’t stolen my bowl of porridge.”

  Her eyes widened in shock. “Are you saying I put those horrid creatures in your porridge?”

  “Or maybe you simply talked them into crawling into the bowl,” Luke told her. “You seem to enjoy watching animals and other creatures hurt people.”

  She jerked away as though he’d slapped her.

  “You said I have a gift with animals—you said it was something to be proud of,” Leah cried.

  “That’s right. A gift Father handed down to you. He would never have wanted you to use it for evil.”

  “How do you know what he wanted me to do with the gift? Did he share it with you?”

  Her words cut Luke. He always wondered why his father had shared his gift only with Leah.

  “I knew Father well enough to know he never used his skill with animals to harm anyone.”

  “And you think I have?”

  “Yes—”

  Luke felt a sharp jerk on his arm. He glanced down. His gaze rested on Corey’s small, round face. His little brother’s chin quivered, his green eyes filling with tears as he hung on to Luke’s arm. Luke saw that he had grabbed Leah’s arm too.

  Luke glanced at Leah. “I’m sorry about last night, Luke,” she said quietly. “I was angry, but I didn’t put anything in your bowl this morning.”

  He stared into her clear green eyes. He wanted to believe her.

  Corey tugged on Luke’s shirt again. Luke knew Leah didn’t want to hurt Corey any more than he did. He also knew that their arguing upset their brother.

  “All right, Corey,” Luke said. “We’ll stop fighting.”

  Corey stopped tugging on their arms, but he didn’t release his hold.

  “Go sit in our corner, Corey,” Leah said. “I’ll tell you another story about our family.” Corey happily trotted off.

  Luke felt ashamed of his earlier doubts. I should trust Leah as much as Corey does, he realized.

  “Maybe you should talk to your lady friend about the porridge,” Leah suggested softly.

  “What?”

  “Well, she’s the one who gave it to you. Corey and I watched her do it,” Leah admitted. “Maybe you ought to ask her about the leeches.”

  Leah turned and made her way over to Corey.

  That’s right, Luke thought. Mary did give me the porridge. He hurried over to her. “Mary, I need to ask you something—” Luke stammered.

  She stared at him with a questioning look.

  This is Mary. The nicest girl I’ve ever met.

  “Yes, Luke?” she asked.

  He gazed down at her. He felt like a fool. Mary could never do anything like that, he decided.

  He shook his head and sat down next to her. “I wanted to ask you … do you know what town we’ll stop at next?”

  “I’m not sure,” Mary answered.

  The door to the matron’s private car crashed open
. He turned to watch the matron march down the center of the car.

  Mary came to her feet and stood beside him. He could feel her trembling as the matron cast a steely-eyed glance their way.

  “We will be stopping soon,” she announced. “You had all better look your best and be on your best behavior.”

  She crossed the car and stopped in front of Leah and Corey. “Stand up, young man!” she ordered.

  Corey climbed out of Leah’s lap and stood before the matron, his eyes wide.

  “I expect you to talk. I know you can. Talk!” she demanded.

  Corey tightened his lips.

  Luke took a step toward Corey, but Mary grabbed his arm. “She’ll only pick on him more if you interfere,” Mary whispered.

  Luke nodded, remembering the matron’s threat to leave him behind the last time he had tried to help Corey. As hard as it was, he stayed beside Mary.

  Leah caught his gaze, and he knew she wanted to do something to help Corey. Luke gave a short shake of his head, and he could tell his sister understood.

  The matron reached out and twisted Corey’s ear. “Talk!” she demanded. She tugged on his hair. “Tell me your name!”

  Tears filled Corey’s eyes. But he shook his head.

  The woman pinched Corey’s arm so hard that Luke could see her knuckles turning white. Corey stared over at Luke, his green eyes beseeching him for help.

  Luke stepped forward and felt Mary tug on his sleeve. “You’ll make it worse,” she whispered. “Believe me.”

  Anger tightened his throat as he watched the matron bully Corey.

  “Talk!” she yelled at the little boy, pushing her face close to his.

  Corey burst into tears and wildly shook his head.

  “I’ll give you something to cry about,” the matron threatened.

  Luke couldn’t stand it anymore. He balled his hands into fists and strode toward the matron.

  The train lurched to a stop. “Everyone out,” the matron yelled. She gave Corey a push toward the door. “And I expect you to talk,” she ordered him.

  ♦ ♦ ♦

  Wearily Luke walked back toward the train. He held Mary’s hand. Leah and Corey walked beside him. He could hear the other children shuffling along behind him.

  A few people had shown interest in Luke, Leah, and Corey … until they discovered Corey didn’t speak.

  If only Corey would speak again, Luke thought. His silence disturbs people. I’m certain once he has a mother and father again, he’ll begin to talk. But how can I convince people to take a chance on him … to take a chance on all of us?

  He looked toward the boxcar and felt loathing churn in his gut. He hated climbing into it, breathing the stuffy, foul air inside … and waiting. Waiting for the next town. The next day of disappointment.

  He spotted a huge black crow as it flew out of the boxcar.

  Another crow soared out of the car. Its sleek black wings spread wide as it swooped up to the sky.

  How strange, Luke thought.

  Then another flew out. And another. And another.

  Something is wrong, he realized as they neared the train. He heard the rush of flapping wings echoing inside the boxcar.

  More crows flew out and others flew in.

  Peering into the boxcar, Luke gagged. Mary gasped and covered her mouth, her face growing pale.

  Leah lifted Corey into her arms so he could have a clear view of the horror.

  Luke felt disgusted, yet he couldn’t pull his gaze from the matron. She lay sprawled on the floor—surrounded by crows.

  Pecking and tearing at her flesh.

  They killed her, Luke realized. And now they are feeding on her body.

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  14

  “Are you happy about this too?” Luke asked Leah once the train headed west again.

  Leah tilted up her chin. Luke saw defiance flash in her green eyes. “The matron was cruel. You saw what she did to Corey.”

  Luke glanced at his brother. Corey sat in the corner, his face pale. He had been trembling so violently after what he had seen that Luke had to wrap five blankets around him to stop his shaking.

  “The matron didn’t deserve to die like that,” Luke said, his stomach roiling with the memory.

  “She wasn’t nice to anyone,” Leah reminded him.

  Luke shook his head. How can I make her understand? he wondered. How can I make her stop?

  “But no one deserves to be pecked to death by a flock of birds, Leah.”

  “Do you think I told the crows to kill the matron?” she asked accusingly.

  Luke studied her. She slid over to Corey and put her arms around him. Corey rested his dark head on her shoulder. He sighed and closed his eyes.

  His sister. His sister with the green eyes of fire. His sister—who showed such bravery and love for her family.

  But who had smiled when she’d looked into the boxcar.

  “No,” he lied. “I don’t think you told the crows to kill the matron.”

  But he did. He thought she had somehow guided the birds to the red boxcar, had somehow forced them to swoop down and attack the matron.

  I can’t deny the truth anymore. Leah is evil. She is a killer, Luke thought.

  “The matron’s death upset Mary,” Luke told Leah. “I’m going to sit with her for a while.”

  “And talk about me?” Leah asked, narrowing her eyes.

  “I’m going to talk to her about the future,” Luke snapped. “I’m tired of traveling on this train. I’m tired of people squeezing my arms to see if I’m strong. I’m tired of people walking away when they find out Corey doesn’t speak.” He sighed deeply and ran his fingers through his dark hair. “I’m just tired, Leah.”

  “He’d rather be with Mary than with us,” Leah whispered to Corey. “Isn’t that true, Luke?” she asked in a harsh voice.

  Luke turned on his heel and strode across the boxcar. Yes, he acknowledged to himself, struggling to keep his balance as the train rocked over the track. Yes, I need to be away from you, Leah. And I’m going to talk about you. Your powers terrify me.

  Mary smiled at Luke as he approached, but even her smile could not lift his dark mood. He sat beside her and took her hand.

  “You’re worried about Leah,” she said softly.

  Luke nodded. “I can’t deny it any longer, Mary. Leah has special powers. Powers that she is using for evil purposes.”

  Mary squeezed his hand. “I watched her when she looked at the matron. Her eyes glittered with joy.”

  “And her smile,” Luke added. “It was a smile of triumph.”

  Mary lowered her lashes. “I’m sorry, Luke. I’m so sorry.”

  “Sometimes I think if only a family would take us in, then Leah would be happy again. She wouldn’t want to hurt people anymore.”

  “Maybe that’s true, Luke. She’s had so much unhappiness,” Mary agreed.

  He found strength in her steady gaze. “But if we don’t get adopted, I don’t know what to do. I could never turn her in to the authorities. She’s my sister. And I promised my mother I’d always take care of her and Corey.”

  “I hope that a family adopts all of you soon, then,” Mary replied quietly. “I know you want to keep your promise.”

  “I do want to,” Luke told her. “But what if keeping my promise means that another person is murdered?”

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  “Let’s not think about that,” Mary urged him. “Just hope that a family takes you in when you reach the next town. Maybe that will solve all your problems.”

  “But if we’re adopted, what about you?” Luke replied. “I hate to think of leaving you here all alone.”

  “Oh, I’ll be all right,” she assured him.

  She is so considerate, Luke realized. Always thinking of others. She has made this journey tolerable.

  “But I’ll miss you,” Luke confessed.

  She lowered her gaze.

  Luke smiled. “Still shy with me,” he
teased as he took her hand.

  Then he saw it.

  A black spider on Mary’s arm. A spider with a red hourglass on its belly.

  A black widow!

  Mary gasped. Her hand tensed in his, and he knew she had seen the red mark too.

  “Don’t move,” he warned, his voice low.

  Luke slowly raised his free hand. He didn’t want to startle the spider.

  He had watched a cow die from the bite of a black widow once. If the venom was powerful enough to kill a cow … it could easily kill Mary.

  “Hold very still,” Luke whispered. He swept his hand down and knocked the spider off Mary’s arm. Then he jumped up and smashed it under his shoe.

  Mary released a tiny cry.

  Luke turned toward her. “It’s dead,” he announced.

  Mary’s face was white, her eyes wide with terror.

  Luke knelt beside her. “Mary, it’s all right. The spider is gone. I killed it.”

  She jerked her head back and forth. “It bit me, Luke.”

  Luke grabbed her arm and held it toward the moonlight streaming between the slats. He could see the thin trail of blood and the spot where her arm was beginning to swell.

  “You’ll be all right,” he promised her. “I’ll find you a doctor.”

  Luke rushed to the door that led into the matron’s private compartment. He turned the knob and yanked, but the door stayed closed.

  Locked! It’s locked, he realized. He banged on the door, but there was no one to open it. The matron was dead. No one had come to replace her.

  We’re trapped! He looked at Mary. Her face appeared so pale. A thin sheen of sweat covered her brow.

  “Don’t worry,” he called to her. “I’ll find another way to get help.”

  Luke raced across the boxcar. He struggled with the sliding door and shoved it open.

  The wind rushed in, pushing him back.

  He hung on to the side of the boxcar and leaned out. He spotted the wooden ladder that led to the roof about an arm’s length away.

  He glanced down at the huge iron wheels of the train. They spun so fast.

  His mouth grew dry. If I fall …