The First Church Read Online Free PDF Page A

of his pocket and unlocked it.  Mr. Boyd flicked on the light and stepped into the room.
    “Wow,” Luke whispered.
    The room was lined with bookshelves, but there weren’t any books.  War trophies and weapons filled the spaces instead.
    Luke saw samurai swords and bayonets.  Helmets and pistols.  Medals, photographs, shell casings, and skulls.
    Six skulls looked at him from a glass display case set in the wall across from the door.
    The jawbones were gone, as were most of the upper teeth.  The skulls were yellow ed with age.
    “I took those heads,” Mr. Boyd said, pausing to take a drink.  “I didn’t cut them off or anything.  Caught some jerk with them.  He had snuck up through the lines, almost got himself killed coming back through.  Whipped him good, took his trophies away and sent him along to his commanding officer.”
    “Why’d you keep them?” Luke asked.
    “Hm?  Oh, well,” Mr. Boyd said, scratching the back of his head.  “Those Japanese have some curious customs, you know?  Everything’s got to be burned together or some other stuff.  Not really sure.  Thought it was a pretty good joke on them, not being able to get to whatever their version of Heaven is.  Anyway, now , I keep them to remember what I went through.  And besides, I’m not going to throw 'em out.  Those boys were doing what they were told.  Same as me. ”  
    “Like I was saying before, boy,” Mr. Boyd said, looking at him.  “You do terrible things in war.  Terrible.  Once you realize you like it, well, you come to respect others who like it , too.  And some of those Japanese, well, they liked it.  They liked it a lot.”
    Mr. Boyd looked around the room silently, and Luke did the same.
    He felt strange, as though he and Mr. Boyd weren’t the only ones there.  A cold sensation moved along the back of his neck, and Mr. Boyd smiled.
    “Yes,” he repeated.  “They liked it a lot, boy.”
    Several small cups rattled on a shelf.
    They were tiny, almost like a little girl’s play tea set.  But they had Japanese flags painted on the sides and what looked to be Japanese writing.
    “Yes,” Mr. Boyd murmured.  “Give me a minute.”
    He looked at Luke and grinned.  “Looks good, doesn’t it?”
    “Yes sir,” Luke said, smiling.
    “Now, don’t tell anyone about the skulls,” Mr. Boyd said seriously.  “I don’t need any grief from the mayor about them.  He was a Four-F, ‘physically unfit’ to serve in the military.  Kind of funny, since Mayor Arel was the star runner in track for the high school.  Course it helps when your uncle’s the draft board’s physician.”
    “I won’t say anything, Mr. Boyd,” Luke said.
    “Thanks, kid ,” Mr. Boyd said.  He finished his beer.  “Come on.  I need a fresh drink, and you should get on home.”
    Luke nodded and stepped into the hall.  Mr. Boyd closed up the room, locked the door and then led the way to the porch.
    “Thank you, Mr. Boyd,” Luke said.
    “You’re welcome,” he replied, grunting as he sat down and got a fresh drink.  He looked at him for a moment.  “Your pa gets a little rough when he drinks?”
    Luke nodded.
    “Okay,” Mr. Boyd said, popping the cap on his beer.  “Know the feeling.  Mine was the same way.  You ever need to, you come here and see me.  Or the missus, if I’m not here.”
    Luke swallowed dryly and managed to say, “Thank you.”
    Mr. Boyd smiled, took a drink and then he said, “You’re welcome.  Now get on.  I’ll see you soon , I expect.”
    Luke nodded, waved goodbye, and made his way home to see how drunk his father was.
     

Chapter 9: At the Hotel Room
     
    Brian sat down on the chair in his hotel room.  He poured himself a healthy shot of whiskey and knocked half of it back before he set up his laptop.  Thirty seconds later , he was online, and the hunt was on.
    I know I’ve seen that style of uniform before , Brian thought.  Something to do with Clint Eastwood, which made