“I’m sure my father knows what he’s doing,” Denise had answered coldly.

  Velma’s wide mouth had turned down in a sneer, but she didn’t reply. Denise had waited a minute then shrugged and left the kitchen. The woman was easy to handle. It took being firm. As she remembered her talk with Velma, Denise smiled. It was really very simple to run the lodge. Velma should be leaving soon. She was almost finished with the buffet. Posey was already gone and that was a relief. Denise didn’t like looking at his misshapen body and his slowness was disgusting. Maybe later they would do something about him. Having a mental defective around was repulsive.

  The front door opened and Denise turned. She expected to hear the good news of Jessie and Andy being captured, but it was the stupid Trasker sisters. Since they had found their mother dead they were more lazy and dense than ever. The night it happened they had worked themselves into a fit. It had taken Melanie hours to calm them. Not to put Melanie down, but it didn’t take much skill to handle them. They didn’t have enough brains between them to form a single thought. The funeral was in the morning. A grave-side service in Lost Crossing’s stringy little cemetery. Most of the townspeople were going and it would keep their tiny minds occupied while The Group went about its business. it was as Melanie had said, all things did work out for the best. Even Bessie’s funeral served a good purpose.

  Ellen stepped forward, her eyes red-rimmed and puffy. “We finished. You want anything fore we go?”

  Denise scowled.

  “Did you put the cleaning cart away? The other night it was left out beside the tool shed.”

  The two frizzy yellow heads bobbed. They’d taken off the navy blue work smocks and had them rolled in twisted bundles. They stared at the floor, their heavy shoulders rounded under their cheap white cotton blouses. Denise really should give them one last order for the day, to make sure they knew who was boss.

  “Did you get the dining room set for this evening?”

  “Nope.” Ellen wagged her head.

  Denise put her hand on her hip. They were getting the day off tomorrow, but that didn’t excuse being sloppy today.

  “You better go in there and do it right now.”

  “Don’t have to,” Alice spoke up behind her sister. “Velma said she would do it. ‘Cause of the funeral.”

  “Velma doesn’t give the orders around here. I do!”

  Ellen moved back beside Alice, they looked like two sulking sows.

  “Go ask her if you don’t believe us. We’re going now,” Alice said.

  They turned in unison and left, their combined bulk nearly filling the wide door. Denise let them go. Arguing with them was beneath her. Still, someone should speak to Velma about taking it upon herself to give orders.

  Outside the lodge the twilight was gathering in a soft blue haze across the grounds and around the buildings. Denise turned to the lighting panel on the wall behind the desk and flicked the switch on for the deck and the parking lot lights. Then she crossed the lobby and went out onto the veranda.

  She looked down the road toward town, but the Trasker sisters were already out of sight. The rest of the area looked deserted. After a bit Shorty’s old truck chugged around from the back of the lodge. As it rolled through the lot and toward the road Velma waved at Denise. Velma’s ever present cigarette winked its red tip in the dusky evening. Denise sighed. It was good to have them gone. Now she could plan the things she intended to buy and the places she wanted to go. Melanie had told her what to expect tomorrow night and at first it brought an icy shock, but that quickly passed. Melanie’s explanation made sense.

  Superior people were entitled to make use of the others. That is what they are good for. Humans are the highest order on the planet and it is the duty of the enlightened ones to build and grow strong. Then someday they can take their rightful place as rulers. Denise gazed into the blue-gray evening and vowed that The Group would never be sorry for choosing her. And when the time came she would prove her loyalty and worthiness. It was too bad she couldn’t do something now, find a way to show her resourcefulness then maybe Terrance would take her to England for a while. The people he had spoken of, and the way he lived there, it was too wonderful for words.

  A shuffling sound at the corner of the lodge startled Denise. She leaned over the railing above the yew bushes. Posey stuck his moon face around the side of the lodge, an idiot’s grin plastered across the lower half of it. As Denise drew back the rest of Posey’s repulsive body came into view.

  “Posey. What are you doing here? I thought you went home.”

  “You alone, is you?”

  The evening breeze rippled along Denise’s arms and she rubbed them. She half suspected that Posey’s sudden appearance had something to do with her chill.

  “The others will be back shortly. I think you better go. There’s nothing more for you to do. What’s the matter, did you forget to sneak some food from the kitchen?”

  Posey’s chin dropped and his childish eyes clouded.

  “Oh, come on now,” Denise chided. “Surely you didn’t think you were smart enough to get away with it. Well, go on. Take something if you want. I don’t guess they want you to starve, and I’m sure you can’t cook for yourself.”

  Posey’s lips drew up in a wet, rosy pucker. “Posey can cook. Do it all the time, and Farley said food was okay to take.”

  “What do you want then?”

  Posey crooked his finger and started backing out of sight around the side of the lodge. “Come here, got a secret for you.”

  Denise leaned over the railing, her curiosity and aversion playing tug-of-war. What secret could such a simpleton have?

  “Get back here where I can see you, Posey.”

  “Nope. Got to whisper it. You come round here.”

  Denise flounced down the stairs. It better be worth the effort or she would make him sorry.

  Posey stood wide-legged staring at the ground. “Little Andy, he says come get you. He’s in the woods. He says bring you and nobody else.”

  “You tell the little sneak to come here!”

  Posey didn’t look up. The tone of her voice was too sharp. Everyone knew how Posey felt about Andy. She would never get anywhere with him using threats.

  “I’m sorry, Posey. You tell me where he is and I’ll send our father to get him. I’m supposed to watch the lodge.”

  Posey shook his head, the red underside of his lip sticking out even further. “Can’t, don’t know where he is.”

  “Posey, you’re impossible. If you don’t know where he is, how can you take me to him? Not that I’d go.”

  “We suppose to go walking and Andy will come out when he sees it’s us.”

  Denise glanced down the gravel road. Someone should be back shortly. If Andy were hiding in the woods waiting for her they could easily find him. A sly idea crept along the edge of her thoughts. It would be even better if she had Andy there when they got back. That should certainly show them her worth.

  “Listen, you go tell Andy I can’t come. But that I’m alone and I want to talk to him. Tell him it’s safe.”

  “He won’t do that. He’s going to wait a little while then go away. He don’t tell me nothing but that I got to get you. Then we walk through the woods.”

  Denise chewed her lower lip in thought. Andy wasn’t going to come to the lodge, and by the time the others returned he would be gone again. Maybe he and Jessie were together.

  “Posey, have you seen my mother?”

  Posey raised his head. The veranda lights caught the pure emptiness of his eyes. “Nope.”

  The truth of his denial was as clear as his blank blue gaze. Posey couldn’t tell her anything more. It was exactly like Andy to be so bothersome, insisting she come to him. If she let this chance to find him slip away Stan might be furious, and it certainly wouldn’t gain her any ground with The Group. Denise studied the edge of the dark woods.

  “Okay, I’ll go. You wait here a minute. Andy must be hungry and thirsty, I want to take him something to eat.”

  Posey nodded and folded his arms across his bulging belly. No need to worry, he would stand like a post until she got back. She ran to the kitchen and quickly threw a piece of cheese between two slices of bread and wrapped it in a napkin. Then she moved to the more important job. She grabbed a thermos from the pantry and filled it half full of milk. In the lobby she set the sandwich and jug on the desk and raced upstairs. In her room she dug through a dresser drawer and pulled out three of Melanie’s packets. In seconds she was back at the desk where she emptied the powder into the milk. A few swallows and Andy should be easy to get back to the lodge.

  Denise followed Posey’s rolling gait across the lawn and into the trees. The darkness closed in, but Posey went on as if it were bright daylight. Denise stumbled behind him, her heart pounded with eagerness to complete her plan. She could already hear the praises ringing in her ears. They went deeper and deeper into the woods. The sound and smell of the river grew stronger. Denise swatted an insect buzzing around the back of her neck then lifted her clinging damp hair away from her collar.

  “How much further?” she panted. The humid night air was like breathing under water.

  “Don’t know. Just go till Andy comes.”

  Posey crashed on until Denise’s legs were heavy and aching.

  Suddenly Andy appeared. At first he looked like a short dark tree stump standing still and rooted to the spot. Then he moved and the paleness of his face and the white of his smile flashed in the dark.

  “Thanks Posey. You did fine.”

  “Yessiree bob! What you want now?”

  For the moment Andy ignored Denise. He showed more concern for the hulking dummy than for her.

  “You go home now. I want to be alone with my sister.”

  Posey shuffled his foot in the leaves and hung his head. For a second Denise feared that Posey wouldn’t obey. If he were there it would be impossible to drag Andy back to the lodge.

  “Yes, Posey, you go on. Andy and I need to talk,” Denise said.

  Andy and Posey looked at her as if she were interrupting an important conversation. Then Andy stepped closer to Posey.

  “It is okay, Posey. You’ve done enough. It isn’t good to know too much, I’ll explain later.”

  Posey waited a minute and then turned and plowed off into the towering trees. Andy put his hands on his skinny hips and cocked his head like a small Robin Hood. He seemed at home in the woods, a sprite of the forest, one of nature’s grubby little creatures.

  “So, you came. I didn’t think you’d be brave enough.”

  “Don’t be silly. I had to find you. Look I brought you something to eat. Here, you must be thirsty, drink this and then eat your sandwich.” Denise unscrewed the top of the thermos.

  “Boy, you must think I’m dumb. I wouldn’t eat anything you touched. I know what you did to Mom.”

  “Oh, Andy, you don’t understand. Mother is sick. It was for her own good. I only brought this to be nice. Come back with me, Velma has dinner ready. Andy, Daddy is so worried.”

  “Sure he is, like he’s worried about Mother. How could you do it, Denise? What’s wrong with you? Those are bad people, they want to hurt her.”

  Denise set the thermos and napkin down on the ground and reached out to grasp Andy’s shoulders, but he jerked away.

  “Don’t be that way, Andy. I want to help you.”

  Quickly she lashed out and threw both arms around him. He squirmed for a minute and then stood still, the heat of his body soaking through her shirt and jeans. Her fingers dug into the stringy muscles of his arms until she felt the hard bone underneath. He couldn’t get away now.

  “Keep still and listen to me. No one is going to hurt you, or Mother. So don’t lie to me, you know where she is, don’t you?”

  “I sure do. Right behind you.”

  Denise gasped and whirled, landing right in Jessie’s outstretched arms. Jessie hugged Denise in a smothering embrace.

  “Denise, Denise. I’m so glad to see you. What have they done to you? It seems years since I’ve seen you away from their evil influence.”

  Denise clenched her teeth and endured the sentimental slop. Having them both to contend with complicated things.

  “Come back with me, Mother. I told Andy there is nothing to be afraid of. Daddy needs you, we both do. You always took care of us. If you think there is trouble how can you leave us?”

  Denise could almost feel the lurch of Jessie’s heart. She rang the right bell one Jessie couldn’t fail to answer.

  “Please, Daddy will listen if you explain. Besides, the guests are different now. I know I got carried away with the first group, it seemed so exciting and interesting. But they are gone. You over reacted, Daddy did what he thought best. But I can see you’re fine now, so come home to us.”

  The words were like sticky sweet syrup on her tongue and the sight of Jessie sickened her. Jessie looked terrible. Her face was thin and haggard, ghostly without a touch of makeup, and her hair stood out like a wild bramble bush. The mad woman clutching Denise’s hand made her want to gag.

  “Don’t believe her,” Andy said. “It’s a trick.”

  “Hush, Andy. She is here with us and that is what matters. Denise, honey, listen to me. I know Melanie seems elegant and you want to be like her, but under those fancy manners and pretty clothes is nothing but festering rot. Trust me. You admitted that I’ve always tried to take care of you and Stan, well, this time I’m trying to save you from something horrible. And part of the terror is that they have blinded you to the truth, clouded your judgment. No, don’t turn away.

  Jessie touched Denise’s cheek and the spot burned as if Jessie’s fingertips were coated with acid. Denise could not stand to be touch by this woman. She stifled a scream and turned away, her lips curled down in disgust. Jessie smiled sadly.

  “I know I look awful, but I am not crazy. Denise, I am the same woman I’ve always been. I love you and I won’t let those creatures take you. I don’t understand it, but they are some dreadful blood cult. That revolting thing with the pig is nothing. These new guests are worse. They aren’t satisfied with animals. I’m pleading with you. Come with us and we will find a way to rescue your father.”

  The babbling drivel was more than Denise could stand. She jerked free of Jessie and glared at her.

  “No, you don’t understand. Not even a part of it. Daddy and I have been offered something so precious and wonderful your little mind can’t possibly understand. And in your stupidity you want to snatch it away. If you love us so much, do something useful for once and come back with me. You talk about loving and caring, then prove it.”

  Jessie fell back, her hollow eyes filled with shock. Denise laughed, the rich silvery sound winding to the treetops.

  “I didn’t think you would. You’re a fake, Mother. You have the opportunity to buy us a priceless gift, the ones you say you would do anything for, and look at you. A shaking coward.”

  “You shut up.” Andy lunged at Denise pounding her with his fists. Jessie grabbed his shirt and pulled him away.

  “No, Andy. You can’t reach her that way. We will not give ourselves up to this horror, Denise. Your mind is twisted. The sacrifice of one life for another is a noble thing, if it truly saves someone. But letting them kill us would give you to them forever. They’ll use you, turn your youth and beauty to something wicked and evil. Please, believe me.”

  Jessie stared into Denise’s eyes, the force and intensity of her Mother’s gaze frightened Denise. Jessie locked her hands around Denise’s small wrist. It felt as if she had been shackled with iron handcuffs. Then Jessie began to push, forcing Denise to her knees. The power in her Mother’s arms was unbelievable.

  “Andy, open the thermos and bring it here.”

  Denise stiffened and tried to shake Jessie off. Silently Andy held the thermos out to Denise.

  “Take it and drink,” Jessie commanded. “You’ll go with us one way or another. When you come to your senses you’ll thank us.”

  “No! You’re crazy.”

  Denise twisted and thrashed from side to side. Jessie towered over her, then lifted her knee, pressed it into Denise’s chest and tumbled her backward onto the forest floor. Then Jessie dropped to straddle her and pinned her arms against the rough scratchy leaves and bruising rocks.

  “Hold her head and pinch her nose closed, Andy. She’ll have to breathe thought her mouth, then pour the milk in.”

  Andy nodded and crouched above Denise’s head.

  Then the night was filled with the sound of pounding feet, the crackling crunch of leaves, and the snapping of small branches. Stan burst out of the trees and lunged at Andy. He encircled Andy with his arms and lifted him off the ground. The milk went flying, a blue white streak in the darkness. Andy’s legs kicked and battered at Stan, while Leland Kellerman and Hermann Steiner grabbed Jessie and pulled her off of Denise. Robert and Bill watched, their faces bright with the glow of success. Terrance helped Denise up and gently brushed the dirt and leaves from her back.

  “There now, don’t tremble so.” He put his comforting arm about her waist and drew her close to his side. “You’ve done good work this night, lassie.”

  “Indeed you have,” Robert said.

  Leland smiled at her, the scar down his cheek a thin white line against his darkly handsome face. “And all without a word of guidance. You have a right to be proud,” he said over Jessie’s head.

  Jessie and Andy struggled silently except for grunts and groans of pain when they were held tighter. Denise wished they could be disposed of on the spot, what they had tried to do was humiliating, how dare they degrade her so. But the praise and warmth of the smiles around her soon eased the sting. Stan thrust Andy into Bill’s strong arms and planted a kiss on Denise’s forehead.

  “You have made me proud, Denise. I won’t forget. I’m ashamed to say I wanted to tell you, make sure you’d do the right thing.”