Werewolf Stories to Tell in the Dark by Anthony Masters Page A

is that we’re all part of the exploitation process. She should have remained with the pack.’
    â€˜Is she unhappy?’
    â€˜She was at first. But she’s got a little more used to us.’
    â€˜What about Johnson?’
    â€˜She hates him.’
    â€˜You’re sure of that?’ Brad was bewildered. If she hated Johnson so much then how could he ever have persuaded Susan away from the wolves? Then he realized what must have happened. ‘You mean he abducted her?’
    â€˜I don’t know,’ said Geoff cautiously. ‘I’ve got no evidence. Johnson’s coming here tomorrow so maybe I’ll find out more.’
    â€˜I hope you do.’ Brad’s imagination was seized by Susan’s plight.
    â€˜You’re not to tell anyone what I’ve told you.’
    â€˜I won’t. But let me ask you one more question, Dad.’
    â€˜Well – what is it?’ He was impatient and guarded now, as if he were beginning to regret telling his son so much.
    â€˜Would the wolves have gone on accepting her? I mean – OK – she’s twelve. But what would happen when she became a woman?’
    â€˜I believe they
would
have gone on accepting her, but of course I can’t be sure. There’s only one thing I
can
besure of in this case: that she’s clearly much happier with animals than human beings and, in my opinion, the simple reason is that she
is
an animal.’
    Brad could see that his father was very fired up and he suddenly felt concerned for him. Ever since the divorce he had become obsessive, taking up a cause here and a cause there, dropping one for another, and somehow getting angrier and more sorrowful each time.
    Brad knew that his father depended on him, but he also knew he could never give him what he really wanted – and that was his confidence back again.
    Brad slowly realized Susan had become his father’s latest crusade; he could see that haunted look back in his eyes – a look that he feared might lead to a breakdown. He, too, missed his mother, who had run off with one of his father’s ex-colleagues and was now in Virginia, but Brad had managed to work at least some of his sorrow out in the surf, and he found the ocean a great comforter, with its caressing waves and all-enveloping breakers.
    The next morning he was out in the surf again, curving along a mountainous crest on his board, the sky above him a meridian blue and the unit and its cluster of buildings white blocks just above the rippling sand of the shoreline.
    As Brad was wading back through the surf he spotted a tall man standing on the beach, looking out thoughtfully at the glittering ocean. He wore a white suit and the early morning light played on him dazzlingly. He was deeply tanned and had a long, waxed moustache, but rather than being an affectation, it seemed to enhance the sense of purpose that Brad could actually feel as a physical force. Then he saw his father approaching theman and gesturing him towards some rocks. Slowly Brad walked through the surf towards them, knowing he shouldn’t eavesdrop but unable to resist the temptation to do so.
    â€˜It’s enough.’ The voice had an edge to it. ‘Susan isn’t happy.’
    Brad suddenly realized that this was Gilbert Johnson and he listened even more attentively.
    â€˜How do you make that out?’ snapped his father.
    â€˜I
know
her.’
    â€˜But why bring her out here if you’re going to take her away so quickly?’
    â€˜I wanted to know her capacity – and her potential.’ Johnson sounded very anxious.
    â€˜We’re still working on that.’
    â€˜I know enough. Besides – I have a contract to fulfil.’
    â€˜A contract?’ His father was immediately suspicious.
    â€˜Well, she’s got to be provided for, hasn’t she? Earn her keep.’
    â€˜So what are you going to do?’ But Brad knew exactly what Gilbert Johnson was