Invaders From Mars by Ray Garton Page B

and the policemen, and he wondered what kind of thoughts were slithering behind their cold, predatory eyes. Couldn’t Mom see it? Was she blind to their behavior? Couldn’t she tell they were watching him like a hawk would watch a field mouse?
    “Thanks for coming, Chief,” Mom said politely. “It looks like we found him ourselves.”
    “Everything’s fine now,” Dad told them. “You can go.”
    “Our pleasure,” Chief Ward said.
    Officer Kenney turned to Mom and tilted his head. “Bye, ma’am.”
    As they turned to leave, David thought he saw it, only for an instant, and not very clearly in the dark: a spot on the back of the chief’s neck, darkened and puffy. Before he could be sure, Dad was leading him by the hand back to the house with Mom at his side. David craned his head around to get another look.
    Officer Kenney was gingerly touching his neck, leaning his head forward, rolling it this way and that.
    Whatever it was, it had the police now. At least, it had these two policemen.
    David felt invisible walls closing in around him.
    “Your dinner’s been ready for nearly two hours,” Mom said as they went into the kitchen. “It’s warming in the oven.”
    “Thanks, Mom,” Dad replied, “but I’m really not very hungry.”
    “Okay, fine,” she muttered angrily, going to the oven to turn it off. “I keep it for two hours and you don’t want it.”
    “Sorry,” he said, but he didn’t seem to mean it. He stepped up behind her and touched her back. “You know, Mom, it sure is beautiful up there over the hill. Why don’t we take a walk up there after you finish the dishes?”
    David couldn’t listen anymore; he couldn’t be in the same room with his dad. He left the kitchen and sat at the foot of the stairs, chewing on a knuckle. Their words were still clear, though.
    “George, you’re acting very strange. Are you sure there’s nothing wrong?”
    “Overworked. Under a lot of pressure. Let’s do the dishes and go for that walk. I could use the exercise and . . . we can talk.”
    No! David’s mind screamed. Don’t go with him! That’s what he wants! What it wants!
    “Okay,” Mom said. “Just let me go to the bathroom first.”
    David heard her footsteps in the hall and he dashed from the stairs to stop her.
    “Mom!” he whispered sharply. “I gotta talk to you!”
    “Honey, can it wait? I’ve got to go to—”
    “No, Mom, it can’t!”
    She stopped and touched his forehead. “David, you’re sweating. Do you have a fever?”
    “Mom, please . . . don’t go over the hill. Please!”
    “Why not, David? What’s wrong?”
    He clutched her hand pleadingly. “Mom, something terrible happened to Dad up there. I don’t know what, but something. He got a scratch on his neck and now . . . now he’s not Dad anymore! And it got the chief and Officer Kenney, I know it did, just now, out there!” His throat began to feel thick and tears stung his eyes. His sweaty palms were sticky against his mom’s cool skin as he held her hand in both of his. “Mom, please don’t go over the hill, please!”
    “You feel okay, David?”
    “No! I’m scared! For you!”
    She squatted down, face to face with him, and touched his cheek. “Look, honey, there’s nothing over that hill. The police even said so.”
    “What’s wrong?”
    David started at his dad’s voice. It had that deep, throaty sound it got when Dad caught him doing something wrong.
    “It’s his nightmare,” Mom said, standing. “He still hasn’t gotten over it.”
    Dad sucked his cheeks in thoughtfully as he studied David. “He’ll get over it.” He turned to Mom. “Come on, let’s get going.” He put his arm around her.
    “Mom . . .” David whimpered helplessly.
    “It’s late,” she said. “Go to bed, honey.” She disappeared in the bathroom and, once again, David was left alone with his dad.
    Dad suddenly seemed taller than he ever had before. He held his arms a few inches from his sides, as if he might