CHAPTER 313
In the silence Reuben and Sparrow waited. Dr. Guitierrez was still curled up on the floor, his body shaking.
"Are they gone?" Sparrow scanned the dark quiet hall.
Reuben had his watch to his ear. "I wouldn't count on it."
"What's that?" Sparrow's eyes stopped at a spot on the floor among the scarecrows.
"What's what?"
"That." Sparrow pointed.
In the shadows Reuben saw a small glinting pile of something that was catching a sun ray from one of the skylights. "That wasn't there a moment ago. What the devil is it?"
Sparrow began to move toward it.
"Don't be daft!" Reuben barked.
"Sh," she quieted him.
"Damn it, woman." Reuben felt an obligation to watch her back, so he followed.
Within his first step he felt a snag at his pant leg. It was Marty whimpering for him not to go.
Reuben kicked him back. "Get your knuckles off me, you unworthy poltroon! We'll be back in a hot minute!"
When Reuben looked up again Sparrow was already wading into the gauntlet of Scarecrows. He followed her but then paused before delving amongst them himself.
"What's that?" Reuben snapped his watch up to his ear. "A trap?" He rolled his eyes. "You're preaching to the quire, Clive."
He followed her in with caution, his eyes in a ceaseless oscillation through the bales of crudely bundled foliage that teetered around him. A skull swung in his direction, and he soured his face at it.
"Goblin culture," he muttered.
Reuben almost stumbled over Sparrow as he came upon her among the scarecrows. She was hunched on the floor. He stood above her and waited while she examined whatever it was that had caught her eye. After a time he became restless.
"Well?"
Sparrow stood and held up something shiny and silver. Reuben squinted at the slender object for a moment and saw that it had bold red lettering on it.
His eyebrow went up. "A Three Musketeers bar?"
Sparrow held up her other hand. Pinched between her fingers was a bag of Doritos.
Reuben's eyes shot to the floor where it looked like somebody had raided a vending machine and dumped the contents. A crinkling noise drew his eyes back up. Sparrow was peeling open the chocolate bar. She sniffed it and went to take a bite.
Reuben slapped the Three Musketeers out of her hand.
"Reub, what the hell!"
"Haven't you ever watched The Road Runner Show? Wherever there's a pile of food laying about, someone is likely to be hiding around a corner waiting to drop an anvil on your head!"
Sparrow looked up at the ceiling and then at Reuben with a flat expression. "No anvil, Reub."
She tore open the Doritos and reached in.
Reuben promptly slapped the bag to the floor.
"Come on, man!"
"They could be poisoned for all we know. Crafty creatures these goblins are." Reuben glanced at his watch. "I'm already tellin' her, man!"
"Ok Reub, you know I hold your grandfather's insight in the highest regard, but you've gotta drop the goblin bit. Those were obviously some kind of animal out there."
"Talking animals! What is this, Doctor Dolittle?"
"We don't even know if they're the ones who hung all the creepy ass shit around this building. We're not even sure if they're after us. Hell, we don't even know for certain if they're dangerous."
"You think what you like, and we'll think what we like! If you wanna gorge yourself on poison Zagnuts and tainted Fresca then don't let me stop you! Be my guest, but I for one believe those are goblins, and we should get the hell out of here. Preferably with all fingers and toes accounted for!"
As soon as Reuben finished his sentence they both heard Dr. Guitierrez let out a shrill scream. It was loud, and it was sudden. Silence followed it.
Sparrow and Reuben hurried back through the gauntlet of scarecrows to the place where they had left Marty. With their pistols vigilant and trigger fingers ready they emerged only to find that he was gone.
"Damn goblins got him!"
"There's not a trace of him." Sparrow looked at the spot where he was. She quickly scanned the surrounding area. "Marty?" She was met by silence. "Dr. Guitierrez!" Only more silence followed.
Reuben shrugged, "well shit, I'm gonna miss him."