The Devil Comes Back to Retroville

by Gary D. Snyder

Part 3:

Cindy stood motionless, peering at Jimmy and Lou as though trying to divine the purpose of their meeting through sheer force of will. She had all but forgotten Libby at her side and only barely responded to what Libby said.

"A perfect time? For what?" Libby asked.

"What?" This is not good, Cindy thought. Not good at all.

"Earth to Cindy. Are you feeling OK?" Libby gave Cindy a concerned look.

"OK?" The last time Lou was here Jimmy and I barely got away from him.

"Oh, look. Miss Fowl is skinny-dipping in the fountain."

"Uh-huh." I've got to find out what he's up to.

"And Carl and Sheen are dancing the overture to Swan Lake."

"That's nice." I probably wouldn't be able to find out anything from Jimmy. But Lou…

"And isn't that Timmy Turner kissing Britney over behind those bushes?"

"I guess." Cindy came to a decision and looked at Libby, who was standing with her arms folded and wearing an annoyed expression.

"Have a nice nap?" Libby asked.

"Oh. Sorry. Listen, I have something to do. I'll catch up with you later, OK?"

"Fine by me," answered Libby as Cindy watched her walk away. "I've had more interesting conversation with a Fuzzbie."

Cindy sighed. She would explain to Libby later, but for the moment she had more important things to attend to. She looked about her, noted various places of cover in the park, and began moving furtively from one to another in an attempt to get closer to Jimmy and Lou without being seen. After two or three minutes she managed to reach a large bush about ten feet behind Lou and waited there, listening intently.

"So that's it," Lou was saying. "Think you can handle it?"

"Yes." That was Jimmy's voice, but it sounded odd to Cindy. "It sounds simple enough. I shouldn't have any problems."

"Good. Get going on that, and the next time I see you I'll fill you in on a few more details. Remember, I'm always happy to help." Cindy heard Lou laugh, and at the memory of the sound she gritted her teeth angrily.

"Okay. And thanks. I appreciate it."

"Any time." Cindy heard the sound of footsteps - she supposed they were Jimmy's - fading away. As they died away into the distance she heard Lou say softly, as though to himself, "Any time at all, Jimmy. Always happy to help an old…acquaintance."

Lou waited a few seconds, and then turned and walked slowly away with a wide smile crossing his face. Phase 1 accomplished, he thought with satisfaction. Now for - His thoughts were abruptly interrupted as he felt hands grab him from behind, spin him about, and pin him against the trunk of a tree.

"Okay, Lou," Cindy snarled, holding him by the front of his shirt. "What's going on?"

Lou recovered quickly from his surprise and smiled that infuriatingly easy smile. "Hey, Cindy," he said amiably. "Long time no see. Did you miss me?"

"Not long enough,' Cindy retorted, releasing her hold on him. "Just what do you think you're doing with Jimmy?"

"Nothing he doesn't want," was Lou's terse reply.

"Don't play games with me!" Cindy nearly shouted. "Jimmy may not remember you, but I do! You want something from him. What is it?"

Lou smiled and held up his hands, looking innocent. "You've got me all wrong. Jimmy had a problem, and I'm just trying to help him, just like I tried helping you out once. Can't I do something nice for somebody in trouble?"

Cindy's voice dripped with contempt. "You wouldn't give anybody change for a nickel without wanting two cents on the deal. What did you get Jimmy to promise you?"

"Nothing. Honest."

"Nothing?" Cindy echoed with suspicion. "No contract, no deal, no promises?"

Lou solemnly held up his right hand. "No contract, no deal, no promises. Nothing."

"If you're lying to me…" was all Cindy could say.

"Not to you," Lou answered softly, looking into her eyes in a way that made Cindy feel uncertain and uncomfortable. "Never to you." His voice changed and became businesslike. "But what's the big? From the way you usually talk about Jimmy I'd hardly expect you to care about his problems or how he deals with them. It sounds as though maybe you've been having some thoughts or feelings that…"

That seemed to be a big mistake, for Cindy grabbed the front of Lou's shirt and dragged his nose within inches of hers, a dangerous light burning in her emerald eyes. "What I say about Neutron is one thing," she said fiercely. "What I think about him is another." She dragged Lou's face another inch closer bit out the next words like pieces of steel. "And how I feel about him is none of your or anyone else's business." She pushed Lou away. "Just don't try anything. I'll be watching."

Lou raised his hands, palms outwards in a sign of peace. "I promise. I won't try anything funny with Jimmy." Cindy gave him a last suspicious look and then walked off. When she was out of sight Lou allowed himself another smile. Phase 2 accomplished, he though with satisfaction.

On her way home Cindy stopped at the Candy Bar to have a Purple Flurp and think over the situation with Lou and Jimmy. It was while she was thinking that she first noticed the stranger. He was a black youth dressed somewhat on the shabby side sitting in a booth and reading a book, and usually Cindy would have been too preoccupied to have paid him any attention. But her encounter with Lou had left her shaken and edgy and she could almost sense that he was watching her closely. Whenever she looked directly at him he was always engrossed in his reading. But whenever he was in the scope of her peripheral vision she was sure he was staring intently at her. After several minutes of trying to catch him staring at her she gave up and headed home.

The trip home was equally unnerving. She felt as though someone was following closely behind her, and several times she turned to see who it was. Each time there was no one there, but once or twice she was almost certain she saw the stranger a block or so behind her slipping behind a tree or hedge. Cindy had never had a stalker (although in third grade an infatuated schoolmate had followed her home every day for over a month) but she suspected she now had one. Once safely at home she thought over the events of the morning. Who was the stranger? Was he somehow mixed up with Lou? And what was Lou up to?

All she knew, with an unreasoned but chilling certainty, was that something terrible was going to happen. And somehow Jimmy was the key.

End of Part 3

Author's Notes:

Although my plan is to eventually provide enough details about Lou and past events to permit readers to ultimately understand the plot of this story, some newer readers may want to read "The Devil and Jimmy Neutron" to learn the details about Cindy's and Jimmy's first encounter with Lou.