A Crying Shame (180 page)

Jon cut the engine to almost dead in the water.

Karl pulled the pin and put the pin into his shirt pocket. He held the spoon down, the grenade still inactive. Jon heard the spoon go spinning off into the mist as Karl released the grenade, tossing it at the last second. The explosion rocked the heavy boat. Karl sprayed the mist with half a clip of lead. Something screamed, burbled, then was silent.

Using a long broom handle with a hook attached for a gaff, Karl fished for the Link, finally grunting with satisfaction. He pulled the half-submerged carcass to the boat. The fragmentation grenade had blown open the Link's chest, a sliver of steel piercing its huge heart.

Young one?” Jon asked.

Yes. Quite. See the evidence of drool still inside the lips?” He pointed, using a leather-gloved hand to open the fanged mouth.
Maddened.” He shoved the Link back into the water; it floated away, the mist soon cloaking it.

Forward.” Karl gestured with his hand.

Aye, aye, Captain.” Jon grinned.

Yes,” the German said, his broad back to Jon.
The title is fitting, is it not? Bear that in mind.”

They made no more contact with Links until long after the sun had burned away the mist from the dark waters of the Crying Swamp. Jon had stayed out of the very deepest part of the swamp; they were several miles from the upthrust of land called No Name Island. He had noticed, with a hunter's eyes, signs of the Links. And once, something just slightly out of kilter with the surroundings seemed to leap at him from a distance.

And he knew the German had noticed but had not mentioned it.

Odd.

What, Jon?” Karl had asked innocently.

Look at the vegetation around the base of that old stump over there.” The mercenary pointed.
Doesn't it seem much more lush that it should?”

I really haven't noticed,” Karl lied.
I've been far too busy listening to my stomach
knurrening
in protest to the jousting about you've forced me to endure, sitting in this ridiculous little boat.”

He was lying and probably knew that Jon knew he was lying; Karl was far too observant to let anything so obvious slide past him.