The Winter People by Bret Tallent Page B

or
sensation; buried deep but, it was there and as real as the rest of the
impulses she was getting.
    She had to
concentrate hard to pull in the innermost feeling of the dark thing, its face
beneath the face, its true identity.  When finally she did touch it, see it,
she gasped in horror.  She was staring into the face of pure evil.  It was a
thing without conscious, a thing that did not feel pity or remorse.  It was a
thing that lived on hate and grew darker with every passing day.  A thing that
she sensed would destroy Hayden, a thing that was already among them.
     
    ***
    The wiper blades
drummed out a tempo to the tire chains and wind like a metronome, a strange
symphony that tried to lull Mike to sleep.  He stared out at the wipers and
watched them push assault after assault of driving snow from the windshield. 
His head would grow heavy and droop then he would jerk it upward violently,
blinking several times.  But the jerks got less violent and the blinks longer
in duration.  Finally, he lightly dozed off into a memory.
    Mike waved to his
sister as she disappeared around the corner.  She left him standing at the curb
in front of "the guys" house, knee deep in ski gear.  Mike was
excited.  Ever since Nick had called him, he'd been anxious.  Granted, he
didn't ski nearly as well as Nick and not even close to Mo and The Tails, but a
road trip with the guys.  It was just what he needed.  That and a Blake's
Lottaburger with green chile.  He laughed to himself.
    Since Mike had
moved to So. Cal. he discovered that he missed only a few things.  He missed
his family, his friends, Albuquerque in general, and Blake's Lottaburger.  He
knew deep down that he would return to Albuquerque to live.  It was just where
he wanted to be.  But he needed to get his career going first.  And save up
some money.
    His was a close
knit Catholic family and he was the youngest of six.  And up until he moved
away six months ago, they all had Sunday dinner together.  Now, he came home at
every opportunity, and his parents still complained that he didn't spend enough
time with them.  Which was probably true, he always ended up spending more time
with his friends.  But come on, there was only so much family togetherness a
guy could take.
    So Mike spent most
of his time back home with Nick and Taylor, sometimes Mo, but usually Nick. 
Nick was probably his best friend.  They'd roomed together for several years
and had been friends for several years longer.  They suited each other and Mike
really liked being around him.  Nick was boisterous while he was soft-spoken. 
Nick was outgoing while he was rather shy.  Too shy, Mike thought.  But, they
were a pair.  They agreed on practically everything except music.  Somehow
though, they always found a happy medium.
    And, Nick loved
Blake's.  They had the best burgers in the world and you could only get them in
New Mexico.  Throw some green chile on one with cheese, and you had a classic. 
Now, every time Mike came home to visit, he had to have a Blake's fix.  Mike's
stomach grumbled at that thought and he decided he needed one before they went
out tonight.
    He turned toward
the house and started to drag his belongings up the walk.  The place looked the
same.  Even the same old Silly String in the juniper bush from the fight they'd
had at his going away party.  Mike smiled.  It was probably from another fight,
it was one of their favorite toys.  Then his smile faded.  He thought about
Nick being married.
    He still couldn't
believe it, boom, bam, thank you ma'am.  In a few months Nick would no longer
be Nick.  He would be Mr. and Mrs. Nick.  Mike wondered how it was going to
change his relationship with Nick, how it would change Nick.  He was happy for
him, no doubt.  The whole reason for dudedom is babedom, but you never really
expect it.  Mike sighed.  A long, thoughtful sigh then rang the bell.
     
    ***
    The Suburban
jogged from a particularly strong gust of wind