Krampus: The Yule Lord Read Online Free PDF Page A

him and—”
    “So, the sack . . . it is still out there?”
    “Yes. Well, maybe? I mean when—”
    “Maybe?”
    “You see, after the sack fell, the sleigh went spinning out of control. It was all we could do to just hang on. A few seconds later we slammed into some trees. We were all—”
    “And Santa Claus? What happened to him?”
    “Well, I’m trying to get to that.”
    “Well, get to it.”
    “I’m trying. You keep interrupting me.”
    Krampus threw his hands up in frustration.
    “Okay, see . . . hell, where was I? Oh, yeah, when we hit that first clump of trees, we were slung out, but not Santa, he clung on. You should’ve seen him, completely out of his gourd . . . ranting and raving at us and at them deer. Them reindeer were all tangled and spooked, and off they shot. Up, up and away. Went spinning across the hollow, into the part of the hill where there’s nothing but boulders and drops. Slammed into them rocks so damn hard the sound echoed all up and down the valley. None of us seen exactly where old Santa ended up. But I can tell you sure as shit he didn’t walk off from that. Ain’t no way. He’s dead.”
    “Dead?” Krampus snorted, then laughed. “Santa Claus dead. No. As sweet as such tidings would be, it takes much more than a hard slap to kill such vileness.” Krampus tugged the stringy hair sprouting from his chin. “But it is encouraging that his sleigh and the reindeer are lost.” He began to pace. “Means there might still be some chance to get to the sack . . . to find it first.” Krampus’s heart began to race. “Yes, certainly there is! You say the sack fell with Peskwa, did you not?”
    Isabel nodded.
    “Do you remember where he fell?”
    “Yes. No.”
    “Which is it, child?”
    “Hard to say. I mean there’s no telling. The sleigh was spinning and—” Isabel glanced at the others. They shrugged.
    “The sack will be somewhere near the body.” Krampus’s voice rose with excitement. “You need to find the body, or where it landed. Should not be that hard to do. Begin your search there. Split up and spread out, and—” He stopped pacing, stared at each of the Belsnickels. “We must beat Santa to it. He now knows I live . . . knows about you. He will be sending his monsters. The sack is the prize. It is everything . . . if he should find it first then . . . well, then we are all as good as dead.”
    He snatched up one of the Shawnees’ spears, handed it to Makwa. “You still have your knives? Good. Take the rifle and pistol as well. You will need them should his monsters find you.”
    “We lost the pistol,” Isabel said.
    “Wipi shot him,” Vernon added. “At least three times at close range. I was right beside him. He hit him every time, right in the chest . . . didn’t so much as slow him down.”
    “No,” Krampus said. “No, I wouldn’t think it would. Now hurry, make haste. Every second counts.”
    The Belsnickels snatched up a couple of spears and an old shotgun with a broken stock from a pile of tools. They scrambled away up the shaft, one after another. Krampus shouted up after them, “Keep a sharp eye out for his monsters. You will know them when you see them. You will feel them.” Then, under his breath. “As they will feel you.”
     
    J ESSE PULLED INTO the drive of a small old house with peeling white paint. Linda and Abigail had been staying with Linda’s mother since the breakup. He glanced at his watch. He’d overslept and it was going on noon.
    He peered into the camper where two garbage bags full of toys sat waiting for Abigail. He grinned, couldn’t help himself. Santa’s crimson sack sat on the floorboard next to him. He stroked the thick, rich velvet. He had a good feeling about that sack and didn’t intend to let it out of his sight. It was magic, and he felt sure that somehow or another it was going to bring him good fortune. He just hadn’t quite figured out the somehow yet, but at the very least he