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Chapter Fifteen
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There was a clamor of people around the friends. A black man, standing 6'8" at just under 300 pounds, built like a brick wall, and bearing a gentle radiance, approached them, along with his little mother. The woman said, "I remember when Amos and my son were wee little boys, and there was rain after a heavy truck drove through the street. They both played in the mud, happy as pigs in a blanket!"
The man said, "If there's anything we can do to help, just tell us."
Jaben said, "As a matter of fact, Bear, yes, there is."
"Yes?" the man said eagerly.
"Could we join you for dinner? I need to think, and having more company and less work to do would help me."
"Certainly," Bear said. "It would be a pleasure," his mother added.
"What are we having?" Thaddeus said eagerly.
"Rice and gravy, fried chicken, and peach cobbler."
"Mmm, soul food," Thaddeus said, smiling. "I'll try not to drool on the way over."
"Ok," Bear said, his deep voice rumbling into an even deeper laughter.
Different people were in and out of the kitchen at different times, although Grace, Bear's mother, and Lilianne were always in. A pleasing aroma filled the house; Thad wasn't the only one who found it hard not to drool.
Bear picked Jaben up and squeezed him in a big Bear hug. Then he set him down, and, placing his arm over Jaben's shoulder, asked, "So, whatchya thinkin' about, Bro?"
Jaben closed his eyes. "I want to find Amos, if he's dead or alive. I know you're supposed to leave this to the authorities, but it is on my heart to do so. I want to do whatever it takes, whatever the cost, to find him."
Sarah walked out of the kitchen, her ears cocked. "I'm in."
"Me, too," said Lilianne's voice.
"How're you going to do that?" Bear asked, his eyebrows raised in curiosity.
"Don't bother me with details."
"I'm going with you, too," said Ellamae, and squeezed his hand.
"Do you want to use my gun?" Bear asked. His gun was legendary in the town as an elephant gun with a laser sight.
"Bear, you know I can't hit the broad side of a barn with a sniper rifle."
"I'm in," said Thaddeus, his eyes wide with interest. "Could we go out in the forest and shoot a few crabapples?"
"Just a second while I go get it." Bear disappeared up some stairs.
"Honey, you know I'm in," said Désirée.
Bear returned, carrying a very large rifle. He held it out to Thaddeus.
Thaddeus hefted it, and said, "Let's go."
As the two walked out the door, Thaddeus asked, "Why do you use such a massive gun, Bear? Nothing you hunt needs that kind of firepower."
A stick snapped under Bear's weight. "I don't know. It's me, I guess. Same reason I use a sixteen pound sledgehammer, or thirty-two when they'll let me bring one. Part of it is toy and... you know the saying, 'The only difference between a man and a boy is the size of the toy.'"
"How do you turn the laser sight on?" Thaddeus asked. "I've never used one."
"Here," Bear said. "Like this."
Thaddeus lowered himself to the ground, and said, "See that crabapple tree out at battlesight zero? See that crabapple that sticks out to the far left?"
"Battlesight zero for this gun is about three times what you're used to."
"Oh, yeah. Thanks. I'll adjust accordingly. Anyway, see that crabapple?" "The really little one?" Bear asked. "Uh-huh." Thaddeus grew still, his body's tiny swaying decreasing and decreasing. The tiny crababble glowed red. Then it stopped glowing, and Thaddeus closed his eyes.
Boom! A resounding, thunderous gunshot echoed all around.
The crabapple was no longer there.
Thaddeus rubbed his shoulder, and handed the gun to Bear.
"I'm sorry, Bear, but I can't use that gun. It's much too heavy for me, and the kick from that one shot is going to give me bruises. I can feel it now. I really appreciate the offer; I have for a long time longed to fire Bear's gun. But I can't use it. I need to stick with my .22."
"You are a true marksman, Thaddeus, and a good man. I hope that you don't meet anything that requires the firepower to take down a grizzly."
"Oh, that reminds me," Thaddeus said. "I heard this from Jaben. Which is better to have if you're attacked by a grizzly: a 10-gauge, or a hollow-nosed .45?"
"Ummm..." Bear hesitated.
"The shotgun, because you can use it as a club when it runs out of ammo."
Bear laughed a deep, mighty laugh, and then they walked back. That man, Bear thought, was not entirely telling an innocent joke.
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Chapter Fifteen
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