Mr. Hands

Gary A. Braunbeck

Contents ( 25)

Mr. Hands

Book III

Cedar Hill Series

Gary A. Braunbeck

JournalStone

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ISBN: 978-1-945373-24-4 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-945373-26-8 (ebook)

ISBN: 978-1-945373-25-1 (hc)

Printed in the United States of America

2nd Edition

JournalStone rev. date: August 19, 2016

Cover Design: M. Wayne Miller

Edited by: Aaron J. French

Mr. Hands

“…when the gods wish to punish us, they answer our prayers.”

—Oscar Wilde

Prologue:

Intersections

—Shall there be mercy, then?

—Not for monsters like them, no.

—Under no circumstances?

—Anyone who would do such a thing doesn’t deserve it.

—So, then…under no circumstances?

—Goddamn right, under no circumstances.

—So be it.

The next cliff on the mountain was not as steep as he had first thought, but there was no doubt in his mind that it would probably get steeper before he reached the top. He came to the bulge, went over, placed his foot firmly on the edge, and found a solid hold with his left hand on what felt like a root. Pulling upward, kneeing and toeing into the gold-colored stone, kicking steps into the shale-like rock wherever he could, he positioned both hands and one foot before moving into a new, higher position.

He thought of his family—all of them now gone back to earth, dirt, rock, soil and dust, the forgotten rot of molding ages—and had to steady himself against tears.

It wasn’t my fault, really, it wasn’t, I didn’t mean for any of it to happen, ohGod, please, please, can all of you forgive me…?

The mountain was starting to shudder in his face and against his chest. His own breath was whistling and humming crazily against the stone. The rocks were steepening and he labored backbreakingly for every inch. His shoulders were tiring and his calves ached and the muscles in his arms felt like iron. Panic was courting him, and it was only the thought of what he might find somewhere above that kept him going.

Proof-positive that what had happened years ago had, indeed, been real.

That he had not imagined it as the doctors insisted.