Dark Rain Read Online Free PDF

w-a-t-c-h-i-n-g.
    Darn, it didn’t really scan. But the ragged old man smirked anyway.
    He was high up – maybe forty feet up – in a massive, ancient oak that spread its branches out against the night sky a block down from Cray’s Lane. Had a perfectly clear view of the whole scene from here. The black-and-white cars and the flashing lights. The goings, to and fro, of all these tiny-seeming mortals. He could see them. They could not see him, not even if one of them happened to look at him directly. He had made himself invisible. The furtive pleasure of the voyeur crept through every pore of his decrepit soul.
    The tree creaked around him, and its leaves fluttered in the gentle breeze like swarms of tiny wings. He was perfectly comfortable up here. Had been born out of the deep primeval woodlands of New England, after all, long before the place had even had that name. He could stay up here all night if need be, without the tiniest discomfort. The fact was, he had watched the very first humans arrive in the forest from a tall branch such as this. He’d gazed at them wonderingly, it slowly dawning on him what sport these curious, upright creatures might provide him with.
    The bulldog was nestled in his lap. It had a squint-eyed, drowsy look, as though it had been busy. Was a terribly ugly example of its breed. The thing looked even older than its master. There was nowhere on its body where its skin was not in thick, uneven folds. Its basic colors were brown and white, in blotches. Except the brown looked more like a dark fungus, and there were rings of black around its eyes.
    It was too fat even for a bulldog, its face, between the hanging jowls, all deep distorted creases. Its protruding teeth were snaggled, razor-sharp. Unlike most of its species, though, its tongue never came lolling out.
    Something shifted every few moments underneath its skin. Ripples and bulges ran along its spine. As if a second creature was inside it, trying to get out.
    Its master rubbed its bulbous head with fingers like dried twigs.
    And continued to peer down, his eyes not even blinking. His left pupil – larger than the right – caught the flashing lights below and seemed to shimmer with a strange internal flame.
    Cops and more cops. He sneered with contempt. He had known their type, whatever they might call themselves, since these forests had first been populated. People who tried to interfere. Human beings who tried to stop him. They thought their badges, warrants, and the weapons that they carried gave them power.
    They were wrong. Had no idea what genuine power was. Hundreds of them down the centuries had learnt that to their cost.
    They were temporary. He was ancient and, so far as he knew, forever. Could simply swat them away like insects, any time he wanted.
    There were two people down there, however – not in uniform – who interested him rather more.
    First, the tall and slightly scruffy woman with her hair cropped like a man’s. When she’d first arrived, he’d thought she was a gawker. A civilian who’d noticed there was something going on and stopped around to watch. He’d quickly come to understand that she was more than that. She had purpose. Was dynamic, driven. Watching her as she scoured around the place was like staring at an acetylene flame, the heart of it penetrating, hot.
    She had vulnerabilities as well. He could sense them, almost taste them. And would use them if he could. That was his special skill, one he’d honed down all the centuries. The thing he always did the best. But she was a strong one, and he had to admit that.
    Then the tall, gaunt blond man had turned up. They obviously worked together. He was different from the woman. Just as driven, yes, but in his own far calmer and more solid way. There wasn’t so much fire about him, really. More … a rock, standing firm against a swiftly-moving current. He was powerful in his own way.
    He would have to keep an eye on these two. Perhaps … test their