The Package

           Stanley looked at Ray quizzically. “What?”

           “Look, I’ll explain it again,” Ray said, a bit irritated. “We go in, we follow the directions, and we get out. Then we go collect our money. Simple. And we do it together; you’re not alone, I’m right here with you.”

           “Amen to that,” Stanley replied. “The last job almost killed me. I hate working alone.”

           Ray was pleased with the plan. The payment would be taken care of by the person who asked them to do the job—one-half now, and half again when completed. It looked to be a simple delivery, easy breezy.

           “Do you have the package?” Stanley asked.

           “It’s in the trunk; pretty big too. It’s wrapped in yellow butcher paper, kinda lumpy. Smells like crap too.”

           “Okay, let’s roll.”

Stanley started flipping through a copy of Rolling Stone, and they drove on silently for a while. Occasionally, Stanley would look up to see where they were, or to check out the architecture on the buildings of the city.

           “I’m a bit tired, Ray, do you mind if I doze a bit?” Stanley snuggled his large frame into the seat.

           “No problem, Stanley, just don’t snore.” He smiled. “I’ll wake you when we get close.”

           Ray began to softly whistle. He’d always enjoyed jobs with Stanley. “Stanley may be a bit absent minded,” he thought, “but he knew his stuff, was a good companion, and was fearless.”

           Ray turned the Cadillac off the main street and onto the highway onramp. He loved the feel of the car as it turned and accelerated. The plush seats, the cool sky blue color of the interior, and the leather steering wheel made him feel like he was in the lap of luxury. Life was good.

           Stanley stretched and opened his eyes. “Hey, we’re making good time, huh?”

           “You bet,” Ray said. “Look out there.”

Stanley ran his meaty fingers through his long blond hair, bent forward and put his bearded chin on the dash and looked out towards the forest. “Wow, look at those deer. There must be 30 or 40 of them.”

“Yeah, at least,” Ray said. “They look beautiful, no? Hey, how about some music?”

“That would be great.”

Ray fished around in the backpack that sat between them and pulled out a Beatles CD. “How about some Revolver?”

“Sure, I think the Beatles are the best!”

They drove along singing, Ray’s deep raspy voice blending nicely with Stanley’s smooth tenor. Ray turned the Caddy off the highway as the directions said. “There’s not much out here, is there Stanley?”

“No, nothing. I’ve never been out this way. It’s kind of desolate, isn’t it.”

They followed the directions, and found the designated road by counting the mile markers, then seeing a burned out car sticking out of the woods. “Is that part of the directions?” Stanley asked, point at the car. “It’s looking kinda creepy around here.”

“Sure is, partner.” He turned left onto the road leading into the woods. Ray looked around warily. “Almost looks like the trees are getting closer, but that can’t be… can it?”

“I was thinking the same thing,” Stanley whispered, sweat breaking out on his brow.

This was the first time Ray had ever seen Stanley nervous about anything. He drove the car slowly down the lane as it narrowed. The trees formed a thicker and thicker canopy the further they went.

“What do you think this is all about, Ray?” Stanley asked quietly. “Do you think there is a house or building out here, or are we going to meet someone in a field…and what IS that smell?”

They both looked back at the trunk. Ray shivered a bit as Stanley shook his head.

“I don’t know, Stan. The directions say to drive 10 miles in on this road, stop at a trail by a fallen pine tree, then walk down the trail with the package. It doesn’t say what happens after that.”

“What do you think is in the package?”

“Honestly, I have no idea, Stan. It sure is beginning to stink, though, isn’t it. The buyer told me it was lying in an alley on 16^th Street, by the jewelry store. It was heavy, but I got it in the trunk. The directions and half of the pay were taped to the package.”

“Well, whatever it is, it’s good money for just dropping something off and leaving.”

Ray looked at the odometer, and saw that they had only one more mile to go. The shadows were getting longer. “I hate that the sun sets so early now,” he said. I didn’t think it would take this long though. I’m not afraid of the dark, but this place is starting to give me the willies.”

“I—I know what you mean,” Stanley said as he looked around. “I’m sure I’m imagining things, but sometimes I think I see eyes watching us from deep in the woods, like in some cartoon.”

“Jeez, I thought so too!” Ray’s voice was a bit higher than normal. “I thought it was just me, so I didn’t want to say anything. I thought you’d laugh at me.”

“There’s the tree,” Stanley whispered, pointing to the right. “And that must be the lane the directions said to take.”

Ray stopped the car and they got out, slowly, Ray standing about six inches shorter than Stanley. “Who would ever live out here?” Ray said in a hushed tone.

“Beats me, but can we just get this over with? The path looks like it goes straight for a bit, then bends into the woods.”

Ray opened the trunk, and the stench hit them like a fireball! “JEEZ!!” They both turned away, gasping. “I should have packed masks, or something! Holy crap that reeks!”

Stanley inhaled fresh air and held his breath, reaching into the trunk and grabbing the package and yanking it out onto the ground. It lay on the ground, about six feet long and 18" around. “Whew, what do you make of this, Ray?”

“I’ve no idea, but it’s going to be a bear to get this down the path with that odor. I’ll grab the flashlight and let’s get going.”

As Ray reached into the trunk, an owl hooted so deep and loud that Ray jerked his head up and hit the trunk lid. “OWW! That freaking hurts!” The owl swooped out of the tree, cruising just 10 feet over their heads. Ray looked at it, stunned, as he rubbed his head where he’d hit the lid. “Oh my God, that thing is huge!”

Stanley put his hand on Ray’s shoulder, saying, “You okay man?”

Ray jumped a foot, and yelled, “Don’t EVER do that to me; almost gave me a heart attack!”

“Sorry man. Wasn’t that the freakiest thing?”

“Yeah. Hey, sorry I yelled at you. Come on, we’re two grown men. What are we afraid of?”

“You’re right. Shoot, I used to play in the woods all the time as a boy. Let’s go.”

They walked to the package and prepared to pick it up. Stanley turned on the flashlight, and there was some rustling in the woods to their left. They looked at each other. “Probably a squirrel, or possum,” Ray said, trying to be brave. “We can’t get weirded out now, this IS a forest, full of wildlife.”

Stanley swung the light around, but saw nothing. “Do you think there might be bears, or wolves out there? I don’t want to get eaten.”

“I don’t think so, not here anyhow. Maybe way in there, somewhere. We’ll be okay.”

They walked in a little way, the package sagging between them, and stinking to high heaven. Suddenly, off to the right, was the sound of running feet. Stanley shone the flashlight on the area. “Did you SEE that?” he croaked.

“I didn’t see anything, Stan,” Ray whispered.

“Right there, right there! I swear I saw a leg of something just before it got behind those trees. It sure wasn’t no possum, or any animal leg I’ve ever seen.”

There was another running sound further up the path.

“I’m not sure about this, Ray, this is getting just too weird.”

“I know, I know,” Ray replied, “but we have to get this done. Maybe whatever these things are are waiting for this smelly thing.”

They walked on, and though they kept hearing the sounds, and they seemed to be getting closer, and there were more of them, but Stanley kept the light only five feet ahead of them, and they did their best to ignore the sounds, and the stench. They followed the lane through its twists and turns.

“God, this is getting heavy.”

“I know, but we can’t quit now,” Ray said, “we HAVE to be getting close.”

“Please, let it be close,” whispered Stanley.

They walked for another 10 minutes until they came upon a huge rock, and in the light, they could see an envelope on it.

“Man, that HAS to be for us!” Ray exclaimed with a sigh. They set down the package and Ray grabbed the envelope. Inside was a shiny penny and a letter. Ray read it to Stanley:

This is your lucky day! Hold the penny up in front of you after you lay the package on the ground, and walk back to your car. Do NOT look back as you walk away, no matter what you hear, or your luck will run out. HURRY!

Stanley got behind Ray, and Ray holding the penny high in the air, they made their way back to the car. All around them they could hear running feet and grunts. Sometimes something would brush right past them, but they stayed focused.

“These things are really fast,” Stanley whispered into Ray’s ear.

Ray just nodded and kept walking, keeping the penny in front of him. They heard paper being ripped, and what sounded like voices, but not human voices, and chewing sounds. As they made a turn away from the rock, and the noises, Stanley couldn’t help himself, and he turned his head ever so slightly. The last thing he saw were two yellow eyes about two feet from his own. A hand clamped over his mouth and he was gone.

“Stanley! Stanley!” Ray whispered frantically as he stopped walking (but kept the penny up in the air). “Dammit Stanley, answer me!” There was no sound. Then he was aware of breathing right behind him. He thought of the warning in the note, and, slowly reached out behind him, hoping it was Stanley. He touched something warm and hairy, and pulled his hand back as if he’d plunged it into fire.

“Bye Stanley,” he said sadly. He walked on.

He walked as steadily as he could, though he felt like throwing up, and his knees were wobbly. The flashlight gave away his fears, as the light jiggled on the path back to the car. Finally, he saw the reflection of the metal of the bumper. On top of the car sat something very large, it’s tail swishing over the rear window and trunk. He switched off the flashlight; he didn’t want to know what it was on the car, and felt his way to the car. His foot hit a tire, and he felt the cool metal of the rear fender. He worked his way to the driver’s side door. Trembling, he opened the door without looking up and sat, exhaling loudly.

He heard noises from the roof, the scrape of claws, and saw a black figure walk down the hood and away from the car, it’s tail sliding down the car like an anaconda.

Ray started the car and pulled away. He looked to each side as he drove down the lonely road, but didn’t see the eyes he’d noticed on the way in. He drove in silence.

As he approached the end of the road, he opened his windows slightly for some fresh air, and realized that he was hardly breathing. The headlights fell on the burned out car across the street. On the car sat the owl, staring at Ray. Ray froze.

The owl lifted its wings, and with a thundering “HOO!” took off, passing right over Ray’s car. Ray let out a long breath, and pulled on the road toward home.

To break the silence, he turned on the CD player. John Lennon’s voice sang to him: She said, I know what it’s like to be dead, I know what it is to be sad…”