The Flying Eyes Read Online Free PDF

he was only a few stores away from them. They stood together, yet apart, their shoulders limp, their hands at their sides, and their eyes glazed over in a hard stare. He had seen them before, only then they were walking double file, and being run down by impatient cars. They belonged to the Eyes. And they, in turn, would walk into the fields and the woods until they came to that black thing down among the trees.
    The six Eyes were still sailing up and down the street, passing from light to light, glowing red or blue or green from the neon. Here and there, he saw a person brought up short, go limp, and follow the glide of an Eye, to join the group at the corner.
    â€œHave you seen enough?” he asked Wes.
    â€œToo much.” Wes’ voice was hoarse. “Look out!”
    Linc ducked just in time to miss being caught by the rushing lashes of one of the Eyes. As he regained his feet, the Eye stopped and swiveled to come back for him. Wes’ hand was strong on his arm, pulling him out into the street, and he broke away from the watery stare of the six-foot thing, dodging between the cars. They gained the other side. The Eye didn’t follow.
    He ran around the corner, into the dimness of the side street. Wes’ feet sounded beside him, and he didn’t stop running until he reached his car. Underneath his revulsion and terror were the facts he had gathered, and in them somewhere had to be something to provide him with an answer.
    * * * *
    They reported to Iverson, then went down the corridor to a smaller office where they could have some privacy out of Collins’ line of fire. Linc gulped the coffee Wes heated and said nothing, trying to get his thoughts under control.
    There was one thing on his mind that he could be rid of, and now. He said, “Wes, this afternoon at the game, and then at the house—all that arguing I did—I want to apologize.”
    â€œThere’s no need for that, and you know it. You have a crooked idea of friendship if you think that every little difference of opinion needs forgiveness.”
    â€œNevertheless, I felt like a fool when you overlooked it and came along with me. Nobody else offered to come.
    You keep jolting me, you know? What I said this afternoon about friends and the obligations they create, I guess if I’m honest with myself, those are the easy ways I’ve used to soothe my own rejections. You’re the first man who has ever put up with me long enough to see if there is anything inside me to be friendly with.”
    Wes was grinning. “I managed to get by your ugly face, if that’s what you mean.”
    â€œOkay,” Linc surrendered, “I won’t say any more.”
    â€œI think Kelly’s beginning to soften you up a bit.”
    â€œCould be,” Linc agreed. “I hope she’s all right there alone.”
    â€œShe’s got Ichabod, and from the sound of him when we left, he’s not likely to cower from those things. Like that man downtown, he’d probably face an Eye and bark his heart out at it.”
    That man downtown. Linc remembered him as he fought the Eye with the umbrella. Raw courage. That man was probably an average guy, a father with a little girl; and the little girl was probably an average brat most of the time; but at that particular moment she had become priceless, and he had been valiant in his fight to save her. And he had saved her. The Eye had moved off. True, it had gone after bigger game, but the thrusts had made it retreat.
    â€œThe simplest solution.” And it was so simple that he had overlooked it!
    â€œI see that trouble-shooting expression on your face,” Wes commented. “Have you got an idea?”
    He nodded. “Even simple enough to satisfy Collins. Let’s get Iverson down here and I’ll lay it out.”
    Iverson came alone. Collins had gone home, confident that nothing would be settled tonight. Iverson’s face was gaunt with weariness.