Shade of Pale Read Online Free Page B

chair to think. Leaning back with a swallow of bourbon in his mouth, he let it swirl slowly down his throat and closed his eyes.
    He saw the image of his father. That’s how it usually began.
    His father had always told him to take care of his sister; he must have said that every day of Jukes’s life He could almost hear the man’s familiar voice, loud and abrasive, booming through the house: “Jukey, remember, you’re the big boy. You’re the older brother, and what does the older brother do?”
    â€œTakes care of the little sister,” he had replied timidly.
    â€œDamn right.”
    Then his father would nod contentedly, never once considering the fact that Jukes might fail. When his father died and Cathy was only fifteen years old, Jukes swore to protect and care for her. His father had died knowing that and believing that Jukes would always be there for her.
    A year later, when his mother passed away, she, too, wanted to hear those words. Little Cathy was too young, too weak, to take care of herself, she said. Jukes had to do it.
    When Jukes next saw Declan Loomis, the deterioration the man had undergone in just twenty-four hours shocked him. Loomis’s gaunt face looked resigned to death. His eyes were sunken orbs, frightened and dead.
    He walked slowly into the office, weary and defeated. He looked at Jukes and smiled weakly. “It’s almost time, Doc. She’s gettin’ closer.”
    â€œMr. Loomis, have you been taking your medication?”
    â€œYeah. But all it does is slow me down.”
    â€œYou still feel as if you’re being followed?”
    Loomis shook his head. “Doc, I told you. I don’t feel anything; I am being followed. Except, now, she’s starting to call to me, drawing me to her. And I can’t resist. It’s like I’m swimming against the tide.”
    Jukes got out his notebook and prepared to take notes again.
    When Loomis spoke, his voice was dry and exasperated. “Is that all you headshrinkers do? Just write things down in your damn little notebooks?”
    â€œAll the answers are inside you, Mr. Loomis. All I try to do is help you dig them out.”
    â€œDig them out? Christ, you’d be better off helping me dig my grave.”
    â€œLet’s avoid talk like that, OK? How do you expect me to treat you successfully with an attitude like that?”
    â€œI don’t expect successful treatment. I told you; I’m going to die.”
    Jukes changed the subject. “Have you been able to sleep?”
    Loomis rubbed his red eyes and sighed. The weight of his madness lay heavy on his shoulders. He ignored the question.
    â€œI bought one of those disposable cameras. I figured I could take a picture of her to show you, so you wouldn’t think I’m making this up.
    â€œI started taking it with me everywhere. I saw her on the train platform, across the tracks from me. She was only fifteen yards away. I pulled the camera out of my pocket and started snappin’ away. I must have got ten good pictures. She just stood there and stared. Then the train arrived and I couldn’t see her anymore.
    â€œWhen I got the pictures developed, there was nothing on the film. Just the train platform and the other people, but not her.”
    Jukes crossed his legs.
    â€œI know that you’re gonna say it’s just another weird coincidence, right? Like the film lab fucked up, or I aimed the camera wrong, or she was never there to begin with.… But I know what I saw.”
    Loomis coughed and felt his pockets for a cigarette. “I’ve done some research, Doc. You want to hear?”
    Jukes nodded.
    â€œThe Banshee, or more correctly the Bean Si or Bean Nighe, is the Irish death spirit. She wails for the members of the old families. She’s a female spirit, you know, and her coming always foretells death to one of the males in the family.”
    An uncomfortable silence followed. Jukes