The Lurker at the Threshold : A Horror Mystery by Brandon Berntson (books under 200 pages .txt) 📗

“I agree,” Millie said.

“I led you here, which I didn’t have to do,” Nyarlathotep said.

“Thanks for the kind offer,” Macky said.  “Puzzling, tall, black and slim with no features.  No bones broken.  No duress.  Just a bunch of rum-bunnies outside the cosmic context of space and time and horror.  It’s a little over the top, if not a trifle insane.”

“We’ll be praying for you, Dev,” Millie said.

Macky looked at her and frowned.  “Is that your idea of a pep talk?”

“I was never much on giving speeches.”

“Your continued support is priceless.”

“Remember, Dev, we’re here for you,” Armitage said.

“That’s comforting.  Maybe you could look helpful things in those books of yours.”

“They’re not as exciting as I’d hoped,” Capshaw said, “but it’s taking my mind of the guard I killed.”

“At least you’re getting something out of it,” Macky said.

“There’s quite a bit of information here, really,” Armitage said.  He pushed his glasses onto his nose and pointed at some text.  “Most of which we already know.  Things of the past and future.  Things of the sea.  Things of the cosmos.  Things of other times and spaces most people have never even discovered.  But I may have succeeded with my invocation.  The hound’s motives may have changed.”

“Changed how?”

“Finding Amelia, of course.”

“You’re deductive reasoning is slipping,” Millie said.

“What are you here for?” Macky asked.

“Balance and security,” she said, and smiled.  “And I am delivering some good one-liners, which is keeping the atmosphere light.  No pun intended.  See?”

“Has any of this stuff been proven?” Macky asked. “Didn’t this Lovecraft character at least get some things wrong?”

“We haven’t made it that far yet,” Armitage said.

“Maybe we’ll get lucky,” Capshaw said.

“Most people haven’t ventured into those domains,” Armitage said.  “I’m not sure anyone dares.”

“When does it end?” Macky asked.

“Not till we face out fears,” Armitage said.  “It’s a precarious battlefield, Dev.  Most of the people who have ventured there, have met with terrible ends or gone completely insane.”

“Like the Mad Arab?”

“Precisely.  Look.  Let’s not pretend everything is going to be okay.  This might be a no-win situation.  But what choice do we have?”

“We could all take a vacation to Bermuda,” Macky said, brightening. “Boy, does that sound exciting or what?”

“When all is said and done, there might not be a Bermuda,” Capshaw said.

“Negativity is not welcome,” Macky said.

“You fell into this nightmare,” Millie said.  “You have to help us get out of it.”

“She’s right, Dev,” Armitage said.  “Let’s not create a false sense of security.”

“Your friends don’t inspire a lot of confidence,” Nyarlathotep said.

“Maybe I can trade them in for a more confident group,” Macky said.  “What’s loyalty like in the Outer Darkness?”

Nyarlathotep seemed to smile; it was hard to tell.

“We’ll be praying for you, Dev,” Capshaw said.

“To whom?”

Millie raised her eyebrows at his correct use of grammar.

“Give my regards to Innsport,” Macky said.  “I feel more confident with our tall, dark friend here.  At least he knows the terrain.”

“Devlin Bigelow Macky,” Millie said, stepping forward, and raising her finger.  “I’ll have you know we have stood beside you throughout this entire ordeal.  We’ve been following you, helping you, risking our own lives, pets, sanity, futures, and families on every ghostly, maddening trail this night has presented.  We’ve exposed ourselves to one countless horror after another, risking life and limb, all on account of your nimble-brained carelessness over that vile Necronomicon.  You are a half-witted, bumbler of accidents and misfortunes!”

“How did you know my middle was Bigelow?” he asked.

“I looked in your wallet.”

“That doesn’t mean my motives aren’t pure,” Macky said.

“Not to mention the pains Henry and Creighton have been going through, learning all they can, helping us stay alive,” Millie added, “and who knows what Duke and Newt are up against, not to mention poor Amelia.”

“Thanks for the kind words, Millie,” Capshaw said.

“Yeah, that was nice,” Armitage agreed.

“Compensation is still being evaluated and processed,” Macky said.

“That’s something, I guess,” Millie said.

—

“Wouldn’t it better if dogs could talk, Duke?”

“There’d be no mystery then.  I prefer it this way.”

“But easier.”

“Life was never meant to be easy.”

“Is this going to be one of your philosophical rants again?”

Duke shrugged as they followed the hound through the city.  The fog pulled back, but it was still thick.  The green jade across the animal’s neck (or was it a monster?) shed a green glow along the alley.

“How long do we have to walk for?”

“Until the hound leads us where it wants us to go, I guess,” Duke said.

“Let me ask you a question, Duke?”

“Does it have to do why things aren’t easier?”

“Yes.”

Duke nodded.  They continued to follow the hound.  It was dark and quiet.

“Well?” Newt asked.

“I wasn’t sure what you’re question was,” Duke said.

“I was wondering what you thought about the nature of evil,” Newt said.

“You don’t waste time getting to the point, do you?” Duke said.

Newt smiled and shrugged.  The hound continued to move ahead of them.

“Adversity creates growth, maybe,” Duke said.  “Suffering is necessary.  Or so some say.  If you say that to someone with cancer, or a paraplegic, or someone born without arms and legs, you might get a different answer.  It depends on your response to it, I guess.  And you might not always like what you hear.  I think it’s a way of rationalizing suffering.  The bottom line is, no matter what you think you understand, or what you don’t understand, it’s all speculation.  There are good philosophies, theologies, some truths, but there is also a great big mystery regardless of how many answers you come up with.  It depends on who you are.  No one ever said we were supposed to live in a Utopian society, Newt.  No one, not