6. Carmody Farm

The sound of an engine roars to life from the garage. Mickey drives the old Model T out into the yard then steps out of the car beaming. His eyes take in the professor and his face drops. Fuck…

Jimmy takes a breath. Freedom. "I might suggest, if we leave this place, we split that money and never go back to my brother. He was intent on gettin' this hooch, and I fear whatever took the townspeople here, took him too."

Manny Ziegler, or at least the thing that was once known as Manny Ziegler stepped out of the surrounding corn field and made his way through the yard toward the dead Professor Rhoades. The front of Manny’s once fine suit was covered in dried blood and he calmly gripped his lapels as he giggled from his multiple mouths. When the group looks at him, he placating held up his hands in a non threatening manner. In reaching Rhoades body, Manny dips his forefinger into the blown out portion of the professors skull and raises it to his lips giving a slurp as if tasting a fine vintage. Well done, boys. Truly well done. I can see you’ve taken care of your side of the bargain and I’ve… dealt with the townsfolk. That about wraps things up, I’d say. As you know… SHE… wants me to take you to her. But I could care less… I’m her only outlet now… And those who control the ins and outs is TRULY in control. Still… if you want to meet her, I can take you to her. That was also part of our agreement. Jimmy! So nice to see you again! Manny’s bulbous eye bounces and sways as he talks and occasionally a belch issues from one of his mouths.

Jimmy lifts his gun at the creature that approaches them, then lowers it tentatively. "Manny? What the fuck happened to you?"

Manny giggled slightly as he opened his arms and bowed to Jimmy. Whatever are you talking about Jimmy? More giggles came from the fat man’s multiple mouths. Suddenly the lawyer stops and looks at Jimmy in all seriousness. The only way to do business is to KNOW business. While you’ve all been having fun, I’VE been going berries deep, learning about what makes this place so special. Now I’ve got my finger right there… right there on the pulse… Manny stopped abruptly and grinned a wide grin. The way I hear it… you’ll soon be joining me anyway. It’s really not so bad. Have you ever felt the satisfaction of having three stomachs full?

Jimmy struggles against what he's just seen.

"He's Wrong." Lenny Says, clearly talking about the last bit of what Manny said and though he sounds convincing, his mind is lost trying to figure out how effected they are, can they avoid whatever She is? Would not having the drink far away from her keep them safe? It was only Manny who had a drink while in town was it not? He lies to himself trying to make himself feel safer.

Am I Lenny? Jimmy, think about the magic jar that cute little girl had. How big was the worm and how big were the specks? How much of the worm survived? Manny again chuckled to himself.

Jimmy holds up his affected hand. "I don't know to what extent this thing is taking me, but I will fight it with everything I have," he says to nobody in particular. Maybe he was trying to reassure himself. "I think he might be right. Maybe I don't get to survive this either, but I 'aint going down without a fight."

Lenny hops in the back of the car "Mickey, Drive." he says remembering how he crashed on the way here, he's not sure how much driving Mickey's done but he's pretty sure they Mickey's been in the driver's seat of a Model T before.

Jimmy hops into the car with Lenny and Mickey as they bring the vehicle around. "Let's get out of this shithole," he says.