[Spartan6]

Mike woke with a start and grabbed his phone, fumbling to open it in the dark.

“Yeah?” He murmured sleepily into it.

“Mike?”

“Yeah ..”

“I’m sorry to bother you so late but a call just came in and I could really use your help.”

Fumbling for his watch, Mike saw that it was almost one forty-five in the morning.

“Uh, yeah, sure boss.” Mike rubbed his eyes. “Uh, why me? Why not the on-call crew?”

“Because I’m doing this one personally and you’ve been with me the longest and I don’t trust anyone else as much.”

“And you feel less guilty about waking up the shop foreman?”

There was a brief laugh, “Yeah, that too.”

“Sure, just let me pull on some clothes and I’ll be down.”

“Cool, see you at the shop.” The line went dead and Mike closed his phone. Mike gave himself another minute of luxurious pillow time to fully wake up and digest the phone call. Jay was the best guy in the world to work for but he sure was demanding sometimes. “Oh well, I can use the overtime.” He thought as he pulled the sheet back.

Quietly, so as not to disturb anyone more than he already had, Mike quietly gathered up his clothes and padded down the stairs to the front door. As he pulled his jeans on he wondered why these things always happened this late at night- then it came to him- if they didn’t happen this late they wouldn’t be “one of these things”. Rolling his eyes at his own stupid logic he gently eased the front door open and tiptoed out to sit down on the porch to pull his boots on.

He fished a cigarette out of the pack from his jacket pocket and fumbled for his lighter. The ancient zippo sparked to life and Mike could hear the tobacco crackle as he drew the flame in. Giving the stars a quick glance he fished his car keys out of the same pocket and headed for his beloved Mustang. It made him smile every time he looked at the muscular, graceful lines of the 1969 Mach 1. Mike slipped into the comfortably rump-sprung bucket seat and sighed contentedly as the big V-8 purred to life. It wasn’t a long drive to the shop but Mike enjoyed the chance to cruise in the warm Summer night. Something he got to do too seldom anymore.

Turning down the volume on the stereo as Brian was screaming about being “back in black”, Mike pulled in next to the big panel van in front of the one-story metal building with “JC’s Disaster Repair and Restoration” printed in big block letters on the side. Heading for the door he pocketed his keys when he saw that Jay was already there. He pulled the glass door open and was greeted by the smell of fresh coffee and almost sprinted for the pot for some life-giving mana. Lots of cream, lots of sugar, in a dark roast, just the way he liked it. Sipping it, Mike walked back to Jay’s office and plopped down in the guest chair and fished for another smoke. Jay looked up.

“Those things are going to kill you someday.”

“Mhm..” Mike murmured as his zippo sparked and he drew the smoke in. “So what can’t wait until a decent hour?”
“A lady called me earlier today and said she was coming in tomorrow and wanted her house ready to be lived in. Then she called me back at home an hour ago and said she was taking an earlier flight and would be in at six.”

Mike frowned a little. “We do disaster clean-up, fires, floods that sort of stuff, we’re not maids dude.”

“Yeah, I know but apparently she’s had it rented out until recently and they sort of trashed the place.”

“Ah, so we go shovel the place out before she gets there.”

“Yep.”

Mike twisted his lips around a little and drew on his cigarette. Exhaling he asked, “How much work are we looking at?”

“Shouldn’t be too bad, I drove by earlier today and it didn’t look too rough. Besides she just wants it habitable, she’s doing most of the work herself.”


“Yeah, okay, whatever. Let’s go get it done so maybe I can get some more sleep before morning.”

“No sweat, I’ll give you the day off tomorrow.”

Mike chuckled. “Yeah like those retards in the shop can find their asses without me.”

Jay smiled and shrugged. “Suit yourself.”

“Why are you doing this one yourself? Couldn’t the on-call crew handle it?”

“They’re tied up cleaning up after a fire across town. Big family, big house. Lots to do.”

Mike nodded in understanding and stubbed the cigarette out in the ashtray Jay kept on his desk just for him as they both stood up. They both warmed up their coffee before switching off the pot and heading for the front door.

“We gonna need the truck?”

“Nah, and you can drive.” Jay replied, smiling.

“Woo-hoo!”

They both piled into Mike’s Mustang and Jay told him the address as they pulled away.

“Whatever possessed you to get this old rust-bucket?” Jay asked as the Mustang merged smoothly onto the Interstate.

Mike looked wounded and stroked the dash. “Shhhh..she’s sensitive dude, don’t say things like that.”

Jay rolled his eyes. “Oh come on.. this things what, thirty-five years old? It’s doors could fall off any minute.”

Mike glared out of the corner of his eyes at Jay and reached for the shifter. His feet danced up and down as he threw the shifter deftly through it’s gates; acceleration pushed them back in their seats and after a few seconds they were blasting down the highway at around twice the speed limit through the warm summer air. Mike leaned forward and pushed the cassette back in the player. Angus started the first chords and Brian took it and explained how he got shook a long time.

“That’s why I love her.” Mike said as he looked at Jay and waggled his eyebrows.

Jay laughed and shook his head a little but honestly he was getting as much joy as Mike was from the ride. The Mustang’s 428 cubic inches of Detroit iron ripped them through the darkness as Jay leaned his head back to enjoy the warm Summer air streaming in his window. Jay started thinking to himself how easy it is to get wrapped up in day to day stuff and not get to enjoy simple stuff like cruising with your best friend in a hot-rod with rock and roll pounding out of the speakers behind you. Angus dropped into a solo and Jay looked over at Mike.

“Who had this first, Gabe or Paul?”

“Gabe bought it new and sold it to Paul. I got it from him after he let it sit in a garage for way too long.”

Jay nodded and pointed. “There’s the exit up there.”

Mike nodded and dumped the Mustang down the exit ramp too fast. Down-shifting and artful braking brought them to a smooth stop at the stop sign.

“Show-off.”

Mike grinned. “Which way?”

“Left.”

Mike nodded and eased the car down the county road. Angus was grinding on his axe and Brian was letting everyone know he was saluting those about to rock as the power poles whistled by in the darkness. It was as if the entirety of the universe was only what the cone of the headlights showed them.

“There’s the place on the right.” Jay pointed.

Pulling into the drive, the headlights cast their glare on a big locked gate. “Uh oh.” Mike said as he braked harder and stopped. “Now what?”

“No big. She sent me the key the other day.” Jay got out and unlocked the gate and pushed it wide open then got back in.

Mike put the car in gear. The trees overgrew the road heavily and several times branches rubbed on the roof of the car causing Mike to wince with each one. Long strands of Spanish moss draped like beards from the trees. The scents coming through the windows began to resemble rotting vegetation and something vaguely sulphurish.

“Sheesh! who landscaped this place, Bela Lugosi ?”

“It’s a little overgrown but I’m sure in a couple weeks it’ll be looking better.” Jay replied.

Mike pulled up in front of the once-beautiful two-story plantation. Time and tenants had obviously taken their toll. A fresh coat of paint would have helped a lot but the shutters sagged and the porch looked a little wonky. Mike looked dubiously at Jay as he shut the motor off.

“Habitable huh?”

Jay smiled. “It’s not as bad as it looks, really.” Jay pushed the car door open and stepped out into the dank air.

“Uh huh.” Mike said and followed his boss onto the porch, his boot heels making a hollow clunking on the old boards as they approached the front door.

“I bet a rat the size of a moose runs out when you open that.”

Jay smiled again. “Oh ye of little faith.”

Mike rolled his eyes. “We’ll see. I bet the hinges squeal too.”

Jay turned the knob and it gave with a squeak. Slowly pushing the door open the hinges squealed in protest. Mike winced. “Told you so.”

Jay made an “eh, what can you do” look and pushed the door open farther.

“Uggghhh! What is that smell?!” Mike gagged and stepped back. Jay grabbed his nose and recoiled as he peered into the gloom of the doorway.

“Hell if I know.” Jay muttered through his hand. “Lets find some windows and air this place out.”

Mike covered his nose with his hand and followed his boss into the gloom. They fumbled around a bit and found a light switch for the huge chandelier hanging in the foyer. It was dirty and discolored but was clearly real crystal and would be beautiful again after it was cleaned. It cast a pale light on them as they each opened a window on either side of the door, sucking in the fresh air as it swapped with the vile stench making it’s way out.

“Bet it wilts the grass clear to the road.”

Jay nodded. “Bet you’re right.”

They moved about the house’s first floor pulling back heavy velvet curtains and opening windows. Slowly the air became almost tolerable. Mike lit a smoke as Jay turned on a Tiffany lamp in the parlor.

“Nice place, really classy.” Mike commented as they pulled sheets off the antique furniture.

“Yep, she’s gonna love living here again.”

The two slowly made their way through the first floor of the house opening more windows and uncovering more furniture and finding a surprising number of lights that still worked until they found themselves in the kitchen.

“Are you kidding me? Look at this Jay.” Mike said as he backed away from the kitchen sink, a hand covering his nose.

Jay peered into the sink. “It looks like someone sacrificed your moose-sized rat in there.”

“Oh that is so all yours.”

“Gee, thanks.”

“What are friends for, right? I’ll go upstairs and start up there.”

Jay watched his friend go and steeled himself to clean the God-knew-what out of the sink. Pulling some rubber gloves out of his back pocket Jay scooped up the vile mass and pitched it out the back door. Again and again he flung double handfuls of the sticky, unknown mush out back, his nose wrinkled with each new handful. He could hear Mike upstairs moving from room to room and secretly hoped there was something equally vile in the bathtub upstairs.

Soon Jay was finished scooping the horrible stuff out and turned on the water. It ran brown and stunk at first but soon ran clear. Mike’s boots pounded down the stairs.

“All done up there.”

“Nothing putrid in the bathroom?”

“Nope, surprisingly clean really. Toilets even flush. I thought you said the tenants had torn this place up?”

“Well she said they did but it looks pretty good to me.”

They both looked around. The kitchen cabinets were dingy and grimy but it wasn’t anything a sponge and some soapy water couldn’t fix. The tile on the floor was filthy but again nothing a mop wouldn’t fix right up. Gazing around the room their eyes came to rest on the same thing.

“Basement.” Mike said quietly.

Jay nodded. “We have to go see what’s down there. Maybe the damage she talked about is down there.”

“You know I hate those old basements, they creep me out.”

“Sissy.” Jay teased.

“Hey, I had a bad experience in one once okay?”

Jay rolled his eyes and stepped over to the door, gripping the knob and pulling the door open. The foul air that rushed up the stairs at them would have defied description by Lovecraft. Jay and Mike doubled over, gagging.

“Found it.” Mike managed to mumble after an eternity retching his toenails up.
Jay wiped his eyes and coughed a few times as he wondered when he’d eaten those lima beans. Drawing a few breaths of semi-pure air the two stepped toward the basement and peered into the oppressive darkness.

“Bet me the light is at the bottom on a pull-string.”

“You know, that’s what I love about you Mike, you’re the eternal optimist.” Jay glared at his friend.

“Well, aren’t they always?”

Jay nodded, conceding the point and began feeling his way down the stairs, Mike following a step behind. Jay found the string at the bottom of the stairs and gave it a tug. It’s dim illumination barely carried to the corners of the stone-walled room. The stench was strong again in the basement and the pair wrinkled their noses.

“What IS that?” Mike asked.

“You don’t recognize it?”

“No.. it’s just horrible.”

“Think about it for a sec.”

“Waaaaait, I do know that stench!”

Jay smiled. “Balmug.”

The two looked around and finally, in the darkest corner of the basement, they found him. Balmug the demon tried to rise up and be imposing but the low basement ceiling kept him from getting a good spread on his bat-like wings but he did manage a pretty good malevolent glare from his eyes that shifted like flame.

“Balmug, how many times do we have to run you out of people’s psyche’s? What is this, about the five hundred and seventy-third time this decade already? Mike asked as he crossed his arms.

Balmug roared and lashed forward with talons like razors. The two friends deftly ducked and suddenly the talons lay on the floor with their corresponding fingers and hands. Mike made his flaming sword disappear back into the pocket dimension it had come from and re-crossed his arms. Jay stepped forward and touched the creature’s head, quieting the piteous screams it made as it looked at the stumps that now ended it’s arms.

“Ssssshhhhhhh.. It’s going to be alright.” Jay said quietly and leaned forward to softly, almost lovingly, kiss the demon on the brow. In a flash of light the hideous creature was gone.

“Why do they always make us do it the hard way?” Mike asked sadly.

“Because they don’t know any other way.” Jay replied quietly.

“I mean come on, he had to have heard us come in. Why didn’t he leave then? He knew he couldn’t stay.”

“Because he’s not allowed that choice, you and I both know that.”

Mike nodded slowly and the pair climbed the stairs.

“At least he took his stench with him.” Mike said.

Jay left the key under the mat as they left. The ride back to the office was quiet. They usually were after a cleanup like that one. The sun was just coming up as they pulled back into the lot and Mike dropped Jay off, opting to take the offered day off. Jay walked into the office and was greeted by a few “good mornings” and “how ya doin’s.” Jay smiled and nodded as he made his way to the white double doors leading to the room in back to change. Pete looked up from his busily ringing phone.

“Morning boss.”

Jay stopped just in front of the doors. “Morning Pete. Busy already?”

“Yeah, lots of calls for cleanups already this morning. Couple fires last night and a few flooded basements. Usual stuff.”

Jay nodded and smiled. “Well I’m gonna go get cleaned up a little.”

“Rough one?”

“Naa, not so bad. I had Mike with me.”

Pete nodded and smiled knowing how well the two worked together. Jay started through the door.

“Boss?”

“Yeah Pete?”

“Do you ever.. you know...get tired of taking those calls knowing how they’ll turn out?”

Jay smiled and shook his head. “The sign outside says JC’s Disaster Repair and Restoration, right?”

“Yeah.”

“How long has it been there?”

“Long time, boss.”

Jay winked and went to take his shower.








end

[Unglef]

As I told you before, I think it's @#!&ing great. For some reason, it makes total sense for Michael to drive a Mach I (which has always been an underestimated vehicle, in my opinion).

Send a copy to Pat Roberts.

[drjsallison]

It's good, but I feel like I am missing something. Too fast to process everything how it needs to be. It was much better the second time I read it. I liked it, but you could do so much more!

Keep it up!

[Spike]

The first time I heard that story was when Unglef read it outloud to Steve and me late one night (early one morning actually).

It seems to be a story that begins "in progress", and I can see how it might require a re-reading, but as a fan of episodic literature and also an admirer of the works of H.P.Lovecraft, I find the style compelling.

Arright..enuff of the high-flung literary review bullstuff.. I agre with Unglef. It was #$%@ing good. I'd love to see more stories based on those characters. They flippin' ROCK!

..like Ghostbusters..only COOLER!

[Saint of Sinners]

Hey this looks familiar... oh yeah I was suppose to good my opinion on it a while back. Its getting there. I really like the part about the pysche and I'd like to see the concept explored more in the story.

Plus I still think Mike should have a statue of the Virgin Mary on his dash board

[CuCulain42]

It seems like a good start, still a bit rough at the edges. The last part when they reach Balmug seems to be rushed. The descriptive quality you have at the beginning gets a bit lost. Characterization is good; Mike and Jay are believable.

[ugluk69]

Dude that was sahweet!!!!!

Like what wad previously said a bit more description of the demon and perhaps a bit of dialogue between Mike and Jay and the Demon could be good. I was riveted to my compy while I read this!!!! (hoping my Lt would not walk in and interupt/ yell at me)

[Spartan6]

Thank you for all the kind words, I'm flattered.


You guys did catch the religious overtone, right? JC is Jesus, Mike is Michael, etc..?

Something I felt I wasn't able to convey effectively was the fact that the house and yard are actually the perception of someone's psyche. The basement is supposed to be the deepest depths of someone's mind. When I write I just write down what the "movie" in my head looks like and that's what it looked like.

I'm not a real rabid christian and no offense intended to those who are. I don't know what sparked this particular little saga, I just sort of started seeing it one day. I've never really been inspired to write anything even half way religous before, this just sort of "came out". I haven't even thought of a decent title yet.

I'm happy yall liked it though. There might be another Mike and Jay story in my old melon somewhere, I'll look around for it.

[Spartan6]

CuCulain42, on Aug 31 2005, 08:19 AM, said:

The last part when they reach Balmug seems to be rushed. The descriptive quality you have at the beginning gets a bit lost. Characterization is good; Mike and Jay are believable.

I was trying to show how easy it actually is for heavenly agents to banish the minions of ol' sulphur breath.

I'm glad Mike and Jay are believable to you. I feel like I succeeded.