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Johnny opened the door to his house and walked into the cold
light.
Every light in the house was on, the lot of them Xickering like
a defective neon sign, and Louise was sitting in the brown arm-
chair. She was wearing an overcoat, wool gloves, and earmuTs.
Jesus, Johnny thought. It was colder than Minnesota, and the
light reminded him of the curious, ambient glare that Wlled those
northern skies right before a snowstorm. I don t care for this,
Johnny thought, but even as he thought it some sly, cold hand
reached in and stole the thought, scooped it up as though it were
a chocolate-covered mint left unattended.
 Hey Louise, Johnny said.  It s sure bright in here.
 It s getting there, Louise said, standing up.
Suddenly Johnny felt his chest being squeezed. He toppled
backward and was yanked oT his feet. He was dragged out of the
room, and the door slammed. The light  the blessed light  was
gone and he tried to free his arms and scramble to his feet, his
only thought to be reunited with the Werce, cold light.
 Better sit on him for a few minutes while his mind clears,
Doreen said.
A terrible headache set in, and Johnny crawled over to a bush and
vomited.
 He ll be all right now, he heard the magician say.
Johnny didn t feel like he was apt to rally. He rolled over on his
back. A large beetle landed on his forehead, and he brushed it oT
and sat up.  Jesus. He blinked at Doreen s kneecaps, found some
solace there, and asked,  What happened?
The Amazing Max explained:  Doreen lassoed you. She s an
artist with a rope, which I must say is fortunate for you. We
almost lost you, you know. I am not a man who enjoys giving
advice  let each man Wnd his own path, I say  but you are out
of your element here, young man, and I believe you should heed
the advice of experienced elders.
146  WITPUNK
Johnny looked at Doreen, who was demurely winding her rope.
 You saved my life, Johnny said.
Doreen looked up and smiled. She had blond, curly hair and
black eyes, goggled with eye shadow so she looked a little rac-
coonian  but sweet.
 I didn t really save your life, Doreen said.  Just maybe your
mind.
 Still, Johnny insisted,  I m beholden.
Doreen Xuttered her long eyelashes and looked away.
 I m Johnny Harmon, Johnny said.  And I won t ever forget
it.
The Amazing Max interrupted.  While I am delighted to hear
that you will never forget your name, I believe the future in which
you remember or forget anything may be brief if we do not
address the immediate problem. We ve got to pull the switch on
all these lights before they attract the Fair Ones.
 Fair Ones? Johnny asked.
 You don t want to know, the magician said.  Trust me, you
don t want to meet them. They ll only have one chance to break
through, so they ll wait until the Light is bright enough and then
some. I think we ve still got time. Where is the fuse box?
 In the garage, Johnny said.
An investigation revealed the garage door to be down and elec-
tronically locked.
The magician questioned Johnny closely, then said,  We ll
have to go through the kitchen to get into the garage. Johnny,
you ll have to do it. You know the layout. Do you think you can
walk through it with your eyes closed?
 Sure, Johnny said.  The door to the garage is just to the right
when you enter the back door.
The magician leaned forward and clutched both of Johnny s
shoulders. Amazing Max smelled like cigarettes and Old Spice.
 Okay. Now when you get into the garage, don t open your eyes.
The light is on there too, I expect. With your eyes closed, can you
Wnd the switch for the carport door? Johnny nodded.  Good.
And don t open your eyes until I ve said it s okay.
THE LIGHTS OF ARMAGEDDON  147
They slipped around to the back of the house, and Johnny
unlocked the back door.  Good luck, the magician said, and
Johnny, his eyes shut, pushed open the door and entered. He kept
his arms out in front of him, and he slid his feet forward across
the linoleum. He didn t feel the cold like he thought he would, but
the darkness behind his eyelids wasn t complete. He could sense
the strobe light of the room Xuttering on his eyelids; rainbow-
hued fragments drifted like ghostWsh into his mind.
There were the shelves to his right. China plates, the Abraham
Lincoln coTee mug, Louise s antique glass bottle collection . . .
Whoops. A ceramic jug toppled forward and shattered on the
Xoor. It made a loud noise, a sort of whump-crash that would
have pleased a child. Johnny stood still. The rest of the house was
silent.
Keep moving, he told himself. He found the door, felt along the
frame until he discovered the doorknob, then turned it. The door
swung open.
Woolen Wngers touched the back of his neck.
 Ah, Johnny said. Miraculously, he did not open his eyes.
 Hey Johnny, Louise said from behind.  I didn t know what
had become of you.
 Just going in the garage here, Johnny mumbled.  Just taking
a look in the old garage.
 Well sure, Louise said. She didn t seem intent on stopping
him. She wouldn t know that his eyes were closed. Not yet.
Johnny slid his feet across the concrete Xoor. A can of nails
banged over. He almost fell over the extra tire, did in fact lurch
forward, arms Xaying the air. He regained his balance, found the
opposite wall, and began moving toward the carport switch.
Louise spoke again.  What are you doing, Johnny?
 Just give me a second, Johnny said.  I ll be right back. All
I m asking  
 Ha! Louise shouted. She slammed into him from behind, her [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]