A Crying Shame (125 page)

It's infectious?” Jon asked.

Oh, my, yes,” Walter said.
Very much so. But we don't believe it's airborne. Ninety-nine percent certain of that. And that is something we can all be thankful for.”

I'm glad you found something to be thankful about in all this mess,” Mike said.

Jon studied the sheriff, not in an obvious manner, but whenever the opportunity to do so undetected presented itself. That little worrisome item about Mike was now clear, no longer mysterious and elusive: the man never took off his sunglasses. Jon stepped around behind the man and glanced into one of the lenses. The glasses were not prescription; not that he could tell. But they were Photograys.

Odd, Jon thought.

And the man—a handsome man—isn't married and never talks about dating anyone.

And he has shown absolutely no interest in either Linda or Debra or Tammy ... that I have noticed, Jon amended. Maybe the man is just one cool dude?

Maybe.

Or maybe he knows he is one of Them and wants his genes to die.

And maybe, he thought, I am full of shit about this man.

Von Pappen was saying,
. . . think from our brief study of the brains of these Links, the ... let's call it a virus ... triggers a great sexual drive in those infected. Ummm,” he mused,
yes.” He glanced at Walter. ”Are we on the same wave link, Walter?” He smiled.
No pun intended.”

I assure you, none was taken. Perhaps. If your theory is correct, that is. It might be a marvelous breakthrough. Oh, my, yes. Just think ... consider this for a moment, Karl: first we find the suppurative and break it down. It could be a great aid in—if we could reverse it, that is—in containing an overactive sex drive. Why in prisons alone ... oh, yes.”

Greatest thing since saltpeter.” Jon's comment was as dry as the world's best martini.

Oh, I assure you, Jon,”—Von Pappen beamed—
the ramifications—medically speaking—would be far greater than—”

What in the hell are you people talking about?” Mike interrupted.
Oh . . . never mind! I don't want to know. You just tell me this: if a human being is bitten by one of these ugly ... fuckers roaming around the swamps, is that person going to die?”