- 2 days ago
A narration by The Keeper of Nicholas Leonard's original story "Father Calabasas VS the Gigantopithecus"
Music by Myuu- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A-lsGdiPwm8
Thumbnail art by Nikita
Images sourced from pixabay.com and pexels.com
Thank you for supporting REAL human art.
For story submissions or inquiries contact us at thekeeperofficial@proton.me (our story submission email)
@TheKeeperNarrates
Music by Myuu- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A-lsGdiPwm8
Thumbnail art by Nikita
Images sourced from pixabay.com and pexels.com
Thank you for supporting REAL human art.
For story submissions or inquiries contact us at thekeeperofficial@proton.me (our story submission email)
@TheKeeperNarrates
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FunTranscript
00:00Father Calabasas stopped at Duncan before going into St. Mary's Church of Lynn that morning.
00:06He was a Catholic priest but had a sweet tooth, or, as he said to the barista that morning,
00:13Ah, pardon my sweet thing, but I might have an extra skirt of that caramel syrup in my coffee this
00:20morning.
00:21Sweet thing was a slip that the barista didn't care about because it was Lynn, Massachusetts.
00:27And five in the morning. English was not his first language.
00:34Nobody knew if Father Calabasas was a Nordic kind of pale, Swiss, or Swedish kind of pale,
00:42but he seemed to hail from some country where paleness is a quality of the majority populace.
00:50Nobody knew if his accent was German or Transylvanian, but it was something similar.
00:58Some accents sound all the same to Americans, but the Duncan coffee on his breath was proof of his becoming
01:06Heart of Lynn.
01:08He carried his cold brew down the aisle of St. Mary's.
01:12It was so gray inside the church that he felt he had woken up before God did.
01:18Tap, tap, tap, tap went his shoes, working their echolocation to the altar, where he bowed and veered left to
01:28enter his office.
01:29He lit a candle at his desk.
01:31He liked candles more than using the electric lights.
01:36He sipped his coffee while reading from a book on theology and waiting for the sun to rise.
01:44His office was something akin to a captain's quarters to him.
01:48It was decked out with shelves of books on theology and world history, and decorated with religious relics, certificates, and
01:59photos of him and fellow priests.
02:01There was a picture of him and his grandmother back home who had lived to be 107.
02:09There was a picture of him and a drug addict, a 20-something-year-old girl who he had helped
02:16on a spiritual journey of sorts.
02:18He made phone calls to her every two weeks to check in, and she was doing well.
02:25There was a photo of him at a baptism of quintuplets.
02:29He looked delighted in all of his photographs, but his pale and gaunt draculine features betrayed himself.
02:38Physically speaking, he was a paradox, because he simply looked too ghoulish to be a priest.
02:45He sat down at his desk, because he wanted to get some reading done before the 7.30 mass.
02:54A thud made him turn his eyes away from his text to the ceiling.
02:59He said to himself, he blessed what he thought were pigeons with a chuckle.
03:06He delighted everything that lived, and he liked finding different aspects about different creatures to delight in.
03:14He appreciated how some pigeons cooed, despite how humanity discarded them.
03:20He always decided to give them greeting glances when he happened upon them in the parking lot outside St. Mary's.
03:28He liked the pigeons cooing, and in turn, he liked the seagull's perseverance.
03:34When he found a spider descending down from the ceiling of his office one afternoon,
03:41he cupped it in his hands and carried it outside.
03:45Don't let the pigeons make a meal of you, little friend, he told the spider,
03:50when letting it down into the turf of grass along the sidewalk.
03:54And how did he treat the ultimate creature?
03:58The one that cooed like pigeons when it prayed.
04:02The one that found a reason to persevere.
04:05The one whose heart sometimes seemed to be dangling above the precipice of hell by one cobweb string.
04:13He treated his fellow man kindly, whether he saw them in church or not.
04:19A louder thud came.
04:21Huh?
04:22Father Calabasas said, looking up from his text again.
04:27That's one big pigeon.
04:28He looked back down at his desk, with his eyes treating his Duncan cold brew,
04:34the same bewildered way as they'd treat a mystery potion.
04:39There came another thud that made the priest raise his eyebrows.
04:44Then there came a great creaking from above that made the rest of the church shiver.
04:51Father Calabasas stood up.
04:53He looked up at the ceiling with quite the inquiry in his eyes.
04:59But the boards of the ceiling seemed sworn to a new secrecy.
05:04Or had they been so frightened that they lost their tongue?
05:08He maneuvered around his desk while keeping his eyes upon the ceiling the whole time.
05:14He wandered out of his office and into the main body of the church.
05:19It was still empty, but less gray.
05:22For precursory sunlight was touching the stained glass windows,
05:27and just shyly lighting the church's interior.
05:31He shuffled down the aisle with his head back and his eyes up.
05:35The roof sounded like the groaning hull of a ship.
05:40It was so great that Father Calabasas quickened his pace.
05:44To the exit of the church because he thought the roof would collapse in on him,
05:49he was letting out a what?
05:51When the sound of a giant bell cracked open the morning,
05:55it seemed that the bell's signal echoed within the shell of the atmosphere.
06:01Father Calabasas hurried out and down the marble steps at the front of the church
06:07while the bell's signal droned lower and lower until its sounding ceased.
06:13He appeared utterly baffled.
06:16He shimmied into the empty parking lot while all the employees of the bank across the street
06:22filed out to find the source of the ringing.
06:24Again, a bell boomed out into the morning.
06:29But the thing was that St. Mary's bells were retired.
06:33They hadn't rung for decades.
06:36Not since the 70s, at least.
06:39As far as everybody knew,
06:41only seagulls frequented the bell tower at the top of St. Mary's,
06:46nesting and leaving white droppings, but never ringing the giant bells.
06:53It rang again before the second sounding could settle down.
06:57Father Calabasas could just make out the startled chatter
07:01of the bank employees across the street
07:04until their voices drowned inside the metallic roaring of the bell.
07:09He spun around in the parking lot and looked up.
07:13He gasped.
07:14There, on the gavel, and at the bell tower,
07:19was the silhouette of somebody tall, muscular, hairy, hominid.
07:26Its arms were lanky and long enough to reach into the bell tower.
07:31Because of the sun's triumphant rising,
07:34whatever stood on St. Mary's roof was only visible as a silhouette.
07:40Father Calabasas' gasp mimicked the bell,
07:43and continued on until it echoed out of existence.
07:48The silhouette was black as ink in front of the creamy orange, yellow morning sky.
07:55Why, the thing was blocking out the sun itself.
07:59The bank employees started screaming across the street
08:02as the thing on St. Mary's roof rang the bell again with a janky but mechanical jerk of its arm.
08:10The screaming of the crowd across the street below must have agitated the black mass atop St. Mary's roof,
08:17for it started ringing the bell in greater succession.
08:20It jerked its arm back and forth more quickly.
08:24And now, the great bell rang in panic-inducing harmony with the smaller bells of the tower.
08:31Father Calabasas would have sworn he heard the thing hooting underneath the agitation of the bells.
08:38But before he could zero in his ear on the barely audible hooting,
08:42the sound of sirens scared the thing away.
08:46It left while the bells radiated their metal echo into Lynn.
08:50He kept his face in a gasping expression while watching the thing slide down the roof
08:57and disappear behind the church.
09:00He noticed how tawny the thing was with hair.
09:04Like bristles on a ruined paintbrush, it was covered in hair.
09:09This was the last quality he noticed about the thing.
09:12Father Calabasas took a step deeper into the parking lot.
09:16Oh, how that black mass had disturbed his pigeons.
09:19He needed to go and chase it until he remembered the crowd of people across the street.
09:26He turned around before he could continue deeper into the parking lot.
09:31And he saw how the people huddled together.
09:35Even the bank's security guard had an unsettled expression on his face.
09:40While the women clung to him,
09:42the bells had ceased to echo when Father Calabasas crossed the street.
09:47He put his hands out and levered down his arms in a calming motion like a conductor quieting the band.
09:56It is all right, everybody, Father Calabasas insisted.
10:01The thing has ended.
10:03The thing has ended.
10:05What was that thing, Father?
10:08Asked the security,
10:10in a thick Bostonian accent.
10:12How strange it was to hear a Bostonian accent conveying fear.
10:17Well, it was quite big,
10:20Father Calabasas said, sounding sarcastic.
10:24I think we can all come to an agreement on that.
10:28Oh, somebody has to catch it.
10:30The old bank receptionist squealed.
10:34Father, what the hell was it doing up there, ringing your bells?
10:37Yes, the security guard asked.
10:40His face was red and seemed about to pop with sweat.
10:45A police car pulled up and parked on the curb of the sidewalk outside of St. Mary's.
10:51The cop hopped out of the car and stood beside Father Calabasas,
10:56making the two of them immediate partners.
10:59It was a man!
11:01The old receptionist shrieked at the police officer,
11:05but before the police officer could inquire furthermore,
11:08the security guard blurted,
11:11That wasn't no man.
11:12Hell no.
11:13And I saw the thing, officer.
11:15Thing?
11:15The police officer inquired.
11:18That bastard must have been ten freaking feet tall.
11:21The security guard complained.
11:23I saw it, officer.
11:25All the other employees cowered.
11:28They took turns looking up at the bell tower.
11:31In front of the yellow morning sky,
11:33before looking back into the huddled horde they formed.
11:37What a sour hollandaise sauce was that sky.
11:42The police officer turned his attention to the calmest amongst the bunch.
11:47Father Calabasas widened his eyes when he saw a call for responsibility
11:51in the police officer's eyes.
11:54The priest cocked and tilted his head,
11:56as if his skull was a bingo machine,
12:00rotating to the winning number.
12:02I guess you saw it too, father?
12:05The police officer asked.
12:08Just a shadowy version of the thing,
12:11your honor,
12:12Father Calabasas said matter-of-factly.
12:14And it was quite hairy.
12:17Oh, and tall, like he said.
12:19These crackheads are revolving,
12:22the police officer said while shaking his head.
12:26Oh no,
12:27Father Calabasas said,
12:29hunching toward the police officer and speaking in a low voice.
12:33See,
12:35I've assisted in the rehabilitation of quite a few,
12:38um,
12:39crackleheads
12:40in my day.
12:41And you see,
12:43well,
12:43I don't think any of them got so hairy and tall
12:46because of their habitual bane.
12:49Well,
12:49then,
12:50how do you explain this,
12:51Father?
12:52The police officer said in a low voice of his own.
12:56Oh my goodness!
12:57The old bank receptionist shrieked.
13:00It was a giant monkey!
13:01Was it,
13:03Father?
13:04The police officer inquired.
13:07It was monkey-like,
13:08your honor,
13:09Father Calabasas said after a moment's hesitation.
13:13But he didn't sound sure enough.
13:16You guys might want to keep an eye on the police log tomorrow.
13:19The police officer chuckled.
13:21I'm going to take down everybody's statement.
13:24I'm sure I'll be able to find you inside,
13:27Father.
13:28Yes,
13:29I have a rendezvous with a bygone koduru in there,
13:33Father Calabasas prophesied.
13:36The conversation that the priest and police officer had was inconclusive.
13:42They conversed in his office,
13:44and the inquiry only seemed to cement the situation
13:47into a more bizarre molding.
13:50For the police officer believed the priest the most of all amongst the other witnesses.
13:56Father Calabasas went into detail how he heard the thuds,
14:01and heard the ceiling creaking,
14:03before he hurried out to see the thing ringing,
14:07St. Mary's bells.
14:09He left out the detail of the thing hooting because he still wasn't completely sure of it.
14:16By the way,
14:17Father,
14:18the police officer said while shaking the priest's hand,
14:22You call the judge,
14:24Your Honor,
14:24although I don't think you'll ever be seeing one.
14:27What do I call you?
14:29Tommy.
14:30Sergeant.
14:31Officer.
14:32Your fellow man.
14:34The police officer said with a twinkle in his eye.
14:38I'll get out of your hair,
14:39as I understand you have mass soon.
14:42I'd rather have you in my hair than a giant monkey thing.
14:46Father Calabasas joked.
14:48The two chuckled,
14:50and the police officer laughed,
14:51leaving the priest alone in his office again,
14:54with an empty Duncan cup on his desk.
14:58Coincidentally,
15:00the bells began ringing
15:01when he hung up the phone.
15:03How politely did the priest treat the nuisance?
15:06He didn't even bother to go outside
15:09to try to see the thing.
15:11For it was the same time
15:13as it was the other day
15:15when the same thing happened.
15:18He knew what it was.
15:20But he didn't know why
15:22it was so attracted to St. Mary's Church.
15:25To this church.
15:27The rest of the day carried on as normal,
15:30but an escalation occurred
15:32the following Monday morning
15:33when Father Calabasas was waiting
15:36for the barista to make his cold brew.
15:39There was a television
15:40in the corner of the room
15:42playing the news.
15:44Authorities are still investigating
15:45this bizarre incident,
15:47but still nobody can explain
15:49what creature was on the security footage
15:51of the grocery store.
15:52The woman,
15:53news anchor said,
15:54while the footage cut
15:56two footage
15:57of a grocery aisle
15:58taken from above.
16:00It showed shoppers hurrying away
16:02while a hominid with orange hair,
16:05twice the size of the fleeing shoppers,
16:08was ransacking the shelves of food.
16:10Because the footage was from above,
16:13only the head and shoulders
16:15of the creature was visible,
16:17and its visage
16:19was covered in its orange hair,
16:21but its fingers
16:23were somewhere
16:24between purple and black,
16:26and they were very long,
16:29thick fingers.
16:31Three Stop and Shop employees
16:33have quit following this incident,
16:34and Stop and Shop has made
16:36an official comment
16:37about the situation,
16:38saying,
16:38We here at Stop and Shop
16:40appreciate our customers,
16:41of all different shapes and sizes,
16:43but do not condone
16:44this kind of behavior.
16:46We apologize for the disruption
16:47at our Lynn location
16:49on Washington Street
16:50the other day.
16:51The news anchor reported,
16:54This coming hours
16:55after another bizarre incident
16:56at St. Mary's Church,
16:57where the thing was reportedly sighted
17:00ringing the church's bells
17:01before fleeing.
17:02Get yourself on the nearest Mayflower
17:05and come up here,
17:06Father Calabasas said.
17:08into the landline phone
17:10in his office that morning.
17:12Dr. Milton Kellogg
17:14arrived the following
17:15Wednesday afternoon,
17:17carrying his bags
17:18and suitcase
17:19into St. Mary's,
17:21which then smelled
17:23like the cardboard-tasting
17:24communion wafers
17:25and candles.
17:26Father Calabasas
17:28was in his mass attire,
17:29a white robe
17:31with a green stripe
17:32down the center,
17:33when the doctor
17:35hurried down the aisle.
17:36I came as soon
17:38as I could.
17:39Milton croaked.
17:40He had a nasally voice
17:42that so desperately
17:43wanted to be British.
17:45But I didn't come
17:46all this way
17:47for you to try
17:48and convert me again,
17:49he said
17:50when coming to a stop
17:51before the altar.
17:53Father Calabasas' face
17:55became lit
17:56with amusement.
17:57He seemed
17:58to be waiting
17:59for the opportune
18:00moment to laugh.
18:01Old friend Milton,
18:03he finally spoke.
18:05How we is
18:05the alligator farm.
18:07Business is blooming.
18:09Milton said,
18:10despite the disinterest
18:12in his voice.
18:13The Deinonychus skull
18:15is a real draw
18:16with the little children.
18:17Just as long
18:18as you keep them
18:19away from the real
18:20hungry living alligators.
18:22Father Calabasas teased.
18:24Oh, have you seen
18:25that movie,
18:26Lake Placid?
18:27Yes, I did, Tobias,
18:29and in my opinion
18:30it is ridiculous.
18:31I hope we have time
18:33to go and see
18:34a less ridiculous movie
18:35when this whole thing
18:36is over.
18:37Father Calabasas mused.
18:40Milton squinted
18:41behind his glasses.
18:43His acquaintance's amusement
18:44always perplexed him.
18:46This whole thing?
18:48Milton inquired.
18:50Your request
18:50was urgent, Tobias.
18:52I wish you did
18:52some explaining
18:53over the phone.
18:55Perhaps I thought
18:56you wouldn't come.
18:57You must instill
18:58some better belief
18:59in me, Tobias.
19:01Milton sighed.
19:02Even his sigh
19:04was disinterested.
19:05Well,
19:06why don't you start
19:07with what you saw?
19:09Father Calabasas
19:10went on to describe
19:11the events
19:12of the bell ringing.
19:14Milton opened up
19:15his laptop
19:15and Father Calabasas
19:17directed him
19:18to the footage
19:19of the thing
19:19in the grocery store.
19:21I don't believe it!
19:23Milton said
19:24in a kind of
19:25elongated gasp.
19:27Well,
19:28you better believe it,
19:29my friend.
19:30No,
19:31I mean,
19:31I don't believe it.
19:33Milton said
19:34while stroking
19:35a non-existent beard.
19:37It seems to be
19:38a Gigantopithecus blackie.
19:41Uh-huh.
19:42And what is that?
19:43An ancient species
19:44of primate
19:45that went extinct
19:46in Asia
19:46two hundred thousand
19:47years ago,
19:48give or take.
19:49Milton said.
19:51He lifted
19:51a pointed finger
19:53and started tracing
19:54his equation
19:55in the air
19:56in front
19:56of the laptop screen.
19:58The aspects
19:59are unmistakable,
20:00its size
20:01and orange hair.
20:02It's a distant relative
20:04of the orangutane,
20:05but it's supposed
20:05to be an ancient relative
20:07not living,
20:08you see.
20:09I've seen it
20:10ringing my church bells.
20:11What do you call it again?
20:14Gigantopithecus.
20:15Milton answered breathlessly.
20:18It was supposed
20:19to have died
20:19around the time
20:20humans were leaving Africa.
20:22The both of them
20:23went silent,
20:25remembering
20:25their previous conversations
20:27and friendly debates.
20:29The silence
20:30was agreeable
20:31because both
20:32subconsciously knew
20:34that today
20:35was probably not
20:36the appropriate day
20:37for a friendly debate.
20:40Besides,
20:41either one
20:42already knew
20:43that they couldn't
20:44sway
20:45the other's opinion.
20:47Finally,
20:47Father Calabasas
20:49broke the silence.
20:50Some things
20:51come back
20:52from the dead,
20:52Milton.
20:53Another silence
20:55came
20:55while they rewatched
20:57the footage
20:57from the grocery store.
20:59Are there any zoos
21:00around?
21:01Milton asked.
21:03The Stone Zoo,
21:04but that is far away
21:05and they do not have
21:06any orangutans
21:07or anything of the sort.
21:09Could it be
21:10a new species?
21:10No,
21:12it's the Gigantopithecus,
21:13all right,
21:14Milton mused.
21:16What makes you so sure?
21:18Because you called me
21:19for help,
21:20Tobias.
21:21The utterance
21:22of his first name
21:23made Father Calabasas
21:25flinch,
21:26but he remained
21:27composed.
21:28But can you riddle me
21:30this,
21:31Dr. Kellogg?
21:32Father Calabasas
21:33waved his finger
21:34while beginning
21:35to pace
21:36the area
21:37between the pews
21:38and the altar.
21:40So what if it is
21:41Gigantopithecus?
21:42That's a mystery
21:44in and of itself.
21:45But why did the creature
21:46not once
21:47but twice
21:48ring the bells
21:50of my church?
21:51The bells of which
21:53not many in Lynn
21:54are old enough
21:55to remember
21:55ever hearing.
21:57Well, I...
21:58Milton began
21:59to think aloud.
22:00I'd say
22:01monkey see,
22:02monkey do,
22:02but you say
22:03those bells
22:04haven't been
22:04rung in years.
22:06Decades.
22:07Father Calabasas
22:08hissed.
22:10Pongo Pygmaceous,
22:11that's a ring-a-tang
22:12to you.
22:13Has been recorded
22:14quite comically,
22:15uh,
22:16driving golf carts,
22:17using saws,
22:18and doing
22:19very human things.
22:20Milton explained,
22:22although there was
22:23an air
22:24of uncertainty
22:25in his voice.
22:26Oh, Milton,
22:28if you saw
22:29how urgently
22:29this thing
22:30rang the bells,
22:32Father Calabasasas
22:32exclaimed.
22:34What are you
22:35suggesting,
22:36Tobias?
22:37That this thing,
22:38this here
22:39Gigantopithecus,
22:41was doing more
22:42than monkey see,
22:43monkey do.
22:44Father Calabasas
22:46explained,
22:47I theorize
22:48that this was
22:48an act of
22:49desperate
22:49spiritualism,
22:50a monkey
22:51in search of,
22:52in search of God.
22:54Milton was
22:55so enamored
22:56by the priest's
22:57monologue
22:58that he was
22:59fearful of
23:00the church organ
23:01coming to life
23:02and melancholic
23:03song,
23:04but it didn't,
23:06so he listened
23:07and hoped
23:08that no church music
23:09would begin playing.
23:11Father Calabasas
23:13went on,
23:14You are from
23:15the party
23:16that believes
23:16humanity springs
23:17from apes,
23:19right?
23:19Yes,
23:21Milton answered,
23:22a little amused.
23:23But Gigantopithecus
23:24is not an ancestor
23:25of humankind.
23:27He is manlike,
23:29Father Calabasas
23:30shrugged.
23:31He made shrugging
23:33appear so much
23:34like a move
23:34in a musical.
23:36Then,
23:37in your book,
23:37did ancient men
23:38develop religion?
23:40Or did we
23:41search for it?
23:42Is the Gigantopithecus
23:43ringing the forgotten
23:45bells to,
23:46shall we say,
23:47see if God
23:48responds to him?
23:49Shall we say,
23:51to summon God?
23:52Does it want to learn?
23:54Tobias,
23:55I think you're
23:55fantasizing.
23:57Why,
23:57of all things,
23:58of all things,
23:59Milton,
24:00would Gigantopithecus
24:02come to my church
24:03and ring the bells?
24:05Father Calabasas
24:06emphasized.
24:07And although Milton
24:09was a staunch atheist,
24:11it made him go silent.
24:13I'm going to ask you
24:15a question that I
24:16fear to ask,
24:17but I must ask it.
24:18Father Calabasas
24:20said,
24:21Is the Gigantopithecus
24:22a danger?
24:23A ten-foot-tall
24:25primate?
24:26Milton sighed.
24:27Generally,
24:28orangutans are not
24:29aggressive towards humans,
24:31but those are
24:32orangutans.
24:33Little is actually
24:34known about
24:34Gigantopithecus.
24:36Put one in a
24:37modern-day civilization
24:38with cars,
24:39traffic,
24:39pedestrians,
24:41out for walks,
24:42children playing
24:42on playgrounds,
24:44children playing
24:44outside during recess?
24:46Ah,
24:47we might not desire
24:48experimenting with
24:49just waiting to see
24:50how Gigantopithecus
24:52behaves with
24:53modern man.
24:54Father Calabasas
24:56thought of the
24:56screaming bank
24:57employees.
24:59He thought of how
25:00shoppers in the
25:01grocery fled.
25:02I mean,
25:03Gigantopithecus has
25:04the teeth of a
25:05generalist herbivore,
25:06but again,
25:07primates have been
25:08known to become
25:09territorial.
25:10Milton explained,
25:12Is my church
25:13in danger?
25:14If this thing
25:15returns and causes
25:16a panic during mass,
25:17there's no telling
25:18how it would react
25:19to human panic.
25:20Milton answered,
25:21the two became
25:23silent again.
25:24It would have been
25:25a good time for
25:26the church organ
25:27to come to life
25:28and provide some
25:29kind of daunting
25:30melody,
25:31for they didn't
25:32want to fill the
25:33silence with
25:34more theories,
25:36or worse.
25:37Fill it with
25:38violent predictions.
25:40What do we do,
25:42Milton?
25:42We find it,
25:43learn about it.
25:45What do I do
25:46if it comes back
25:47at the wrong time?
25:48Father Calabasas
25:50said,
25:50rephrasing his
25:51questions
25:52and making it
25:53sound more dire.
25:55How do I
25:56protect my flock?
25:58Do you mean
25:58firepower,
25:59Tobias?
26:00Milton asked,
26:02but the priest
26:03didn't answer.
26:04You know guns
26:05aren't allowed
26:06in church.
26:07Milton teased,
26:08but didn't smile.
26:10How long do you
26:11plan on staying
26:12in Massachusetts,
26:13doctor?
26:14Father Calabasas
26:16asked,
26:16after deliberating
26:18with himself
26:18in his own
26:20mind.
26:21Now,
26:22Milton began,
26:24I plan on
26:24staying a whole
26:25lot longer
26:26than I initially
26:27planned.
26:28Father Calabasas
26:29passed the
26:30background check,
26:31and on Saturday
26:32night he wasn't
26:33getting ready for
26:34mass in the
26:34morning,
26:35but he was
26:36sawing off the
26:37barrel of his
26:38newly purchased
26:39double-barrel
26:40shotgun.
26:40There was a
26:41bandolier of
26:42shells hung up
26:43on the wall
26:44while statuettes
26:45of Mary held
26:46her arms out
26:47open,
26:48as if shrugging
26:49in surprise.
26:51While sawing
26:52off the barrel
26:53of his new
26:54shotgun,
26:54he thought of
26:56that comment
26:56Milton made
26:57about an
26:58orangutan
26:59using a saw.
27:00The sound
27:01of the saw
27:02teeth biting
27:03into the barrel
27:04filled his office
27:05while he worked
27:06in candlelight.
27:08The barrel
27:09toppled onto
27:09the floor
27:10and let out
27:11a hollow
27:11clang that
27:12was similar
27:13to the bells.
27:14Father Calabasus
27:16held up
27:17the sawed-off
27:18double-barrel
27:18and examined
27:19it,
27:20examining how
27:22the orange
27:22candlelight
27:23reflected in
27:24its black
27:25barrel.
27:25I dub
27:26ze
27:27little
27:27flock,
27:28he told
27:29the shotgun.
27:30He then
27:31turned around
27:32to the lever
27:32action rifle
27:33and considered
27:35sawing off
27:35the buttstock
27:36and barrel
27:37as well,
27:38but was
27:39unsure.
27:40It was a
27:41marlin model
27:42336,
27:43and he had
27:44already decided
27:46to name it
27:46David.
27:47After the
27:48David and
27:49Goliath story,
27:50had anybody
27:51ever pitied
27:52ze giant?
27:54This he
27:55wondered
27:55while babysitting
27:56his new
27:57purchase in
27:58his office.
27:59He remembered
28:00how urgently
28:01the black
28:02silhouette
28:02rang the
28:03bells.
28:04It gave
28:05him a sense
28:06of dread,
28:06but also
28:07a sense
28:09of pity.
28:10It was a
28:11sense of
28:12sympathy.
28:12Was it
28:13a sense
28:14of sympathy?
28:15This thing,
28:16it reminded
28:17him of
28:18the
28:18abominable
28:19snowman
28:20from the
28:211964 film
28:22Rudolph the
28:23Red-Nosed
28:24Reindeer.
28:24He used to
28:25watch it
28:26every Christmas
28:26season when
28:27he was a
28:28boy in
28:29his snowy
28:29village,
28:30and the
28:31abominable
28:31snowman
28:32always frightened
28:33him greatly.
28:34Father
28:35Calabasas
28:36trekked into
28:36Lynn Woods
28:37the following
28:38Sunday
28:39afternoon.
28:40Milton wore
28:41a Davy
28:42Crockett
28:42hat that
28:43had a
28:43raccoon
28:44tail attached
28:45to it.
28:46He also
28:47wore a
28:48beige
28:48safari
28:49uniform,
28:50with the
28:50pants tucked
28:51into brown
28:52combat boots.
28:54Father
28:54Calabasas
28:55wore his
28:56black
28:56Cossack.
28:57He looked
28:58as ghoulish
28:59as always,
29:00but he
29:01looked alert.
29:02Ah,
29:04Milton
29:04yelped
29:04when
29:05Father
29:05Calabasas
29:06drew
29:06Little
29:06Flock
29:07from
29:07within
29:08the
29:08Cossack.
29:09Luckily,
29:10he did
29:11this while
29:11they were
29:11deep
29:11enough
29:12within
29:12Lynn Woods.
29:14Do you
29:14have any
29:15idea
29:15how
29:15illegal
29:16that
29:16is?
29:17Milton
29:17asked,
29:18but
29:19Father
29:19Calabasas
29:20didn't
29:20seem
29:21to
29:21care.
29:22The
29:22Lord
29:22is
29:23my
29:23shepherd,
29:23I
29:24shall
29:24not
29:24want,
29:25Father
29:26Calabasas
29:27quoted,
29:27but this
29:28did not
29:29assuage
29:29Milton
29:30at all.
29:31Did
29:31you not
29:32bring
29:32a
29:32gun,
29:33my
29:33friend?
29:33A
29:34gun?
29:35Milton
29:36squealed.
29:37Yes,
29:38don't
29:38you
29:38use
29:39one
29:39of
29:39those
29:39revolvers
29:40when
29:40tiptoeing
29:40around
29:41your
29:41alligators?
29:43Yes,
29:44but
29:44that's
29:44in
29:44South
29:44Carolina,
29:45and
29:46I
29:46have
29:46a
29:46revolver,
29:47not
29:47a
29:47sawed-off
29:48shotgun.
29:49We
29:49aren't
29:49Barney
29:49and
29:50Clyde
29:50to
29:50buy
29:50us.
29:51I
29:51believe
29:52he
29:52used
29:52a
29:52sawed-off
29:53rifle.
29:54But
29:54his
29:55sweetheart
29:55used
29:55a
29:55sawed-off
29:5620
29:56gauge.
29:57That's
30:01Ithaca's
30:02to
30:02catch
30:02Milton.
30:03This
30:04is
30:04just
30:04for
30:04protection,
30:06Father
30:06Calabasas
30:07said.
30:08Milton
30:08looked
30:09to
30:09his
30:09side
30:10to
30:10see
30:10the
30:10priest
30:11cradling
30:11the
30:11shotgun
30:12in
30:12his
30:12arms,
30:13the
30:14same
30:14way
30:14someone
30:15might
30:15carry
30:15a
30:16little
30:16lapdog
30:16against
30:17their
30:17chest.
30:18There's
30:19an
30:19old
30:19legend
30:20about
30:20a
30:20pirate
30:20who
30:21buried
30:21his
30:21treasure
30:22in
30:22these
30:22woods,
30:23doctor,
30:24Father
30:24Calabasas
30:25mused
30:26amongst
30:26the
30:27crunching
30:27of
30:27their
30:27footsteps.
30:29They
30:29say
30:29he
30:30died
30:30in
30:30an
30:30earthquake,
30:31thus
30:31the
30:32term
30:32dungeon
30:32rock,
30:33now
30:33a
30:33sort
30:34of
30:34tourist
30:34attraction
30:35in
30:35the
30:35woods.
30:36Dungeon
30:37rock?
30:37It's
30:38a
30:38stony
30:38crevice
30:39in
30:39the
30:39earth,
30:40underneath
30:41a
30:41wedge
30:42of
30:42boulders.
30:43Father
30:44Calabasas
30:44went
30:45on.
30:45I
30:46know
30:46about
30:46this
30:47only
30:47because
30:48a
30:48youngster
30:48I
30:49befriended
30:49used
30:49to
30:49crawl
30:50on
30:50the
30:51crevice
30:51and
30:51shoot
30:51up.
30:52It
30:53is
30:53a
30:53dark
30:53and
30:54damp
30:54den
30:54down
30:55there
30:55it
30:56is.
31:00I
31:00sent
31:01with
31:01the
31:01youngster
31:02one
31:02night
31:02to
31:02go
31:02and
31:03collect
31:03her
31:03discarded
31:04needles
31:04with
31:05her
31:06and
31:06she
31:06finally
31:07decided
31:07on
31:08turning
31:08over
31:08a
31:08new
31:09leaf.
31:09I
31:10tell
31:10you
31:10this
31:10in
31:11confidence
31:11of
31:11course
31:12but
31:13I
31:13am
31:13proud
31:13of
31:13her
31:14and
31:14this
31:14forest
31:15brings
31:15up
31:15memories.
31:16She
31:17studies
31:17at
31:17the
31:18North
31:18Shire
31:18Community
31:19College
31:19now.
31:20Oh
31:20but
31:21I
31:21haven't
31:22seen
31:22her
31:22in
31:22a
31:23while.
31:24Milton
31:24simply
31:24listened
31:25to
31:25the
31:25priest
31:26while
31:26they
31:26walked.
31:27In
31:28fact
31:28the
31:29more
31:29they
31:29walked
31:30the
31:30more
31:30they
31:31remembered
31:31their
31:31friendship
31:32and
31:33the
31:33less
31:33they
31:34remembered
31:34about
31:35the
31:36Gigantopithecus.
31:38They
31:38laughed
31:38about the
31:39first
31:39debate
31:39they
31:40had
31:40in
31:40Cambridge.
31:41Their
31:42friendship
31:42was built
31:43on
31:43disagreement
31:44but
31:45also
31:45a
31:46kind
31:46of
31:46respect
31:47for
31:47each
31:48knew
31:48the
31:49other
31:49possessed
31:50a
31:50propensity
31:51for
31:51learning.
31:52It
31:52was
31:52what
31:53they
31:53talked
31:53about
31:54while
31:54Milton
31:55put
31:55vinegar
31:56on
31:56his
31:56fish
31:57and
31:57chips
31:57while
31:58Father
31:59Calabasas
32:00dipped
32:01his
32:01fries
32:02in
32:02tartar
32:02sauce.
32:03Oh
32:04I
32:04love
32:05tartar
32:05sauce
32:06Father
32:07Calabasas
32:08moaned
32:08as the
32:09two
32:09scaled
32:10the
32:10hill
32:10in
32:10the
32:10woods
32:11that
32:11led
32:11to
32:12Dungeon
32:12Rock.
32:13Milton
32:14threw
32:14up
32:14his
32:14hands
32:15and
32:15the
32:15two
32:16stopped.
32:17The
32:17gesture
32:18made
32:18Father
32:19Calabasas
32:20regret
32:20his
32:21wild
32:21profession
32:22of
32:22love
32:23for
32:23tartar
32:24sauce.
32:24But the
32:25forest
32:26didn't
32:26move.
32:27No
32:28crows
32:28flew away
32:29but they
32:30remained
32:31in the
32:31branches
32:31where the
32:32sun
32:32beat
32:33through
32:33in
32:34lime
32:34colored
32:35flakes.
32:36Do you
32:36see this
32:37Tobias?
32:38Milton
32:39whispered
32:40while reaching
32:41for a tuft
32:41of long
32:42orange
32:43hair.
32:44He
32:44grabbed
32:45the
32:45tuft
32:45as
32:45gently
32:46as he
32:46could
32:47and pulled
32:48it out
32:48of the
32:49tree bark
32:49like wool.
32:50The
32:51hair
32:51of the
32:52Gigantopithecus
32:53Father
32:54Calabasas
32:55gasped.
32:56Milton
32:56put the
32:57tuft
32:57of hair
32:57up to
32:58his
32:58nose
32:59and
32:59sniffed.
33:00The
33:00sample
33:00is
33:01fresh.
33:01He
33:02said
33:02snipishly,
33:03look
33:04around
33:04for
33:05prints
33:05or
33:05more
33:05tufts
33:06of
33:06hair.
33:07Father
33:07Calabasas
33:08started
33:08doing
33:09so,
33:09but the
33:10earth
33:10was
33:10too
33:11dry
33:11for
33:11prints,
33:13and
33:13they
33:13were
33:13on
33:14the
33:14hill
33:14near
33:15dungeon
33:15rock,
33:16so
33:17there
33:17was
33:17too
33:17much
33:17gravel
33:18within
33:18the
33:19dirt.
33:19He
33:20unfolded
33:21his
33:21arms
33:21and
33:22drew
33:22his
33:22shotgun,
33:23while
33:24the
33:24two
33:24crept
33:25into
33:25the
33:25opening
33:25in
33:26the
33:26forest
33:26where
33:27dungeon
33:27rock
33:28was.
33:29There
33:30it
33:30is,
33:31Father
33:31Calabasas
33:32said,
33:33the
33:33entrance
33:34of
33:34dungeon
33:34rock.
33:35I
33:36don't
33:36think
33:36the
33:36species
33:37could
33:37squeeze
33:37inside
33:38there.
33:38But
33:39we
33:39can,
33:40Father
33:41Calabasas
33:41said,
33:42gripping
33:43Milton's
33:43arm when
33:44the
33:44Gigantopithecus
33:45emerged
33:46out of
33:47the
33:47trees.
33:48How
33:48yellow,
33:49were its
33:50eyes,
33:50its face,
33:52a purply
33:53bruised
33:53visage.
33:55It opened
33:56its mouth
33:56and roared,
33:57displaying yellow
33:59canine teeth,
34:00and flinging spit
34:01out into the air.
34:03Father Calabasas
34:05pulled Milton
34:05into the entrance
34:06of dungeon rock,
34:07just as the
34:08Gigantopithecus
34:09swiped at the
34:10two of them.
34:11They nearly
34:12tumbled down
34:13the wooden
34:14stairs,
34:15and would have
34:15been digested by the
34:17dark stomach
34:17of dungeon rock.
34:19But Father
34:20Calabasas caught
34:21himself.
34:21He held
34:22onto both
34:23Milton and
34:24his shotgun
34:25little flock.
34:26The two
34:27caught their
34:27breaths while
34:28listening to the
34:29agitated breathing
34:30of the
34:30Gigantopithecus.
34:31Its breathing
34:33amplified
34:33into a hoot
34:35and then
34:35into a
34:36shriek.
34:37Very little
34:38sunlight leaked
34:39into the
34:40stairway in
34:41dungeon rock
34:42while the two
34:43listened.
34:44They mastered
34:45their footing
34:46there on the
34:47stairs,
34:48intaking the
34:48primeval odor
34:50of the
34:50Gigantopithecus
34:51while it
34:52continued
34:53complaining
34:53in
34:54discoordinated
34:55hoots and
34:56shrieks above
34:57the entrance
34:58of dungeon rock.
34:59They could
35:00smell its
35:01breath,
35:01and it smelled
35:03like swampy
35:04pond water.
35:05Its body odor
35:06was doggy,
35:08almost as
35:08pungent as a
35:09cow,
35:10and they
35:11reminisced
35:12about its
35:12arms.
35:13Oh,
35:14its biceps.
35:15Had it
35:16indeed grabbed
35:17a hold of
35:18Milton,
35:18there was no
35:19telling what he
35:20would have done
35:21to the
35:21paleontologist.
35:22They must
35:23have hunkered
35:24down in the
35:25stairway for
35:26twenty minutes
35:26while waiting
35:28for the beast
35:29to amble away.
35:30Oh,
35:31and the
35:32heartbreak
35:32Father Calabasus
35:34felt while
35:35replaying the
35:35scene in his
35:36head.
35:37Although this
35:38species had
35:38perhaps tried to
35:39do something
35:40significant by
35:41ringing the
35:42bells.
35:43It simply
35:44could not be
35:45allowed to.
35:46Those weren't
35:47its bells to
35:48ring.
35:48Such thoughts
35:49ran through
35:50Father Calabasus'
35:51mind,
35:52while he held
35:53onto his
35:54friend and
35:55his little
35:55shotgun.
35:56Tomorrow night,
35:57Milton,
35:58he whispered.
35:59We must bring
36:00the Gigantopithecus
36:01to an end.
36:02Tobias,
36:03you misunderstand.
36:04We caught it
36:05off guard.
36:05It's too
36:06dangerous.
36:07The priest
36:08hissed in a
36:09whisper,
36:10his voice
36:11being carried
36:12down the
36:12stairway of
36:13Dungeon Rock.
36:14How angry
36:15it was when
36:16we entered
36:17its domain
36:17today.
36:18How angry
36:19it will be
36:19when our
36:20lord doesn't
36:21answer to
36:22its baying
36:22at the
36:22bells.
36:23What the
36:24rampage will
36:25it be sent
36:25into when
36:26it is denied
36:26God.
36:27Then it
36:28will truly
36:29become the
36:29ape it
36:30was always
36:31meant to
36:32be.
36:32The ending
36:33notes of
36:34the priest's
36:35mini-speech
36:35echoed down
36:36the stairway,
36:38being carried
36:38down into
36:39the dark
36:40stomach of
36:41Dungeon Rock.
36:42Then it
36:43will truly
36:44become the
36:45ape it
36:45was always
36:46meant to
36:47be.
36:48To be.
36:49Be.
36:50Be.
36:51Be.
36:52Milton took
36:52a deep
36:53breath
36:53through his
36:54nose.
36:55He was too
36:56frightened,
36:57even still.
36:58It will
36:59ransack the
36:59streets of
37:00Lynn,
37:00the priest
37:01hissed.
37:02It will
37:03overturn
37:03vehicles.
37:04It will
37:05turn its
37:05victims'
37:06scuzz
37:06into
37:07bells.
37:08Milton was
37:09too
37:09abhorred
37:10to speak.
37:12The plan
37:12was simple.
37:14Milton was
37:14stationed in
37:15the bell
37:15tower,
37:16while Father
37:17Calabasso
37:18waited at
37:18the altar
37:19with his
37:20shotgun and
37:21lever-action
37:21rifle.
37:22All the
37:23candles in
37:24the church
37:24along the
37:24pillars were
37:25lit,
37:26with the
37:27altar being
37:27the most
37:28lit area
37:29of the
37:29church.
37:30He was
37:31curious.
37:32The plan
37:33also acted
37:33as an
37:34experiment,
37:35for there
37:35was a
37:36plate of
37:36communion
37:36wafers and
37:38a goblet of
37:39red wine on
37:40the altar.
37:41Would the
37:41Gigantopithecus
37:42accept the
37:43Eucharist?
37:44Did the
37:45Gigantopithecus
37:46perhaps,
37:47on some
37:47level,
37:48possess a
37:49misty
37:49understanding
37:50of ceremony?
37:51Father
37:51Calabasso
37:52wanted to
37:53know.
37:54Father
37:54Calabasso
37:55flinched at
37:56the first
37:57tolling of
37:57the bell.
37:58He blinked
37:59and reminded
38:00himself of
38:01the mission.
38:02He looked
38:03down the
38:03long aisle
38:04between the
38:04pews,
38:05looking out
38:06at the
38:07church's
38:07open doors
38:08and imagined
38:09it would be
38:09just big
38:10enough for
38:11the Gigantopithecus
38:12to crawl
38:13through.
38:14He swallowed
38:15his dread and
38:16kept his eyes
38:17on the doorway
38:17ahead.
38:18As another
38:19tolling sounded,
38:20he imagined
38:21how scared
38:22his friend
38:23was,
38:24but he
38:24reminded
38:25himself,
38:26again,
38:27that this
38:27mad idea
38:28had a
38:29purpose.
38:30For some
38:31time,
38:32Father
38:32Calabasso
38:32listened to
38:33the bells
38:34from above.
38:35They weren't
38:36ringing the
38:37way the
38:37Gigantopithecus
38:38had rung
38:39them.
38:39They clanged
38:40much more
38:41meekly,
38:42and not
38:43as urgently.
38:44The bells
38:45ceased.
38:46Silence
38:47fell upon
38:48Lynn.
38:49Father
38:49Calabasso
38:50retained his
38:51composure
38:51when the
38:52thing came
38:53in from
38:54the street.
38:55It crawled
38:56up the
38:57marble steps
38:57outside and
38:58bowed its
38:59head while
39:00crawling to
39:01fit through
39:01the doorway,
39:02but it got
39:03on its two
39:04hind feet
39:04when it
39:05entered the
39:06aisle.
39:06It was no
39:07longer just
39:08a split-second
39:09episode in
39:10Lynn Woods.
39:11It was no
39:12longer a
39:13silhouette.
39:14The
39:15Gigantopithecus
39:16stood there,
39:17yards away
39:18from the
39:18priest.
39:19Father
39:20Calabasso
39:21inhaled as
39:22calmly as
39:22he could
39:23through his
39:23nose,
39:24and tried
39:25his best
39:25not to
39:26show emotion
39:27while sharing
39:28eye contact
39:29with the
39:30Gigantopithecus.
39:32Its yellow
39:33eyes seemed
39:34whettened by
39:34the candlelight.
39:36Its woolly
39:37coat of orange
39:38hair covered
39:38its body aside
39:39from a plate
39:40of purple
39:41mussel on
39:42its front
39:42side.
39:43Its mouth
39:44and nose
39:45had a
39:46protruding
39:46nature.
39:47It looked
39:48alarmingly
39:49more manlike
39:50than like
39:51an orangutan.
39:52Oh, but
39:53it was so
39:54unnaturally
39:55tall.
39:56It looked
39:57alarmed to
39:58see the
39:58priest.
39:59Or was
40:00that its
40:00natural
40:01visage?
40:02Father
40:02Calabasso
40:03tried to
40:04keep his
40:04hands from
40:05shaking,
40:06while he
40:07picked up
40:07and offered
40:08the plate
40:09of communion
40:09wafers,
40:10in the air,
40:11which was
40:12now in a
40:13battle of the
40:14scent of the
40:14Gigantopithecus
40:15and the
40:16warm scent
40:17of the
40:18candles.
40:19The body
40:20of Christ.
40:21He murmured
40:22in a voice
40:23he hoped
40:24only God
40:24could hear.
40:26The
40:26Gigantopithecus
40:27just stared
40:28blankly at
40:29him.
40:29There was
40:30some kind
40:31of recognition
40:31in its
40:32yellow eyes.
40:33Is this
40:34what you
40:35want?
40:36Father
40:36Calabasso
40:37asked the
40:38Gigantopithecus,
40:39but it
40:40didn't answer.
40:41This didn't
40:42mean yes,
40:43but it
40:44didn't mean
40:44no,
40:45either.
40:46If it
40:46is,
40:47Father
40:48Calabasso
40:48went on,
40:49I'll bring
40:50it to
40:50you in
40:51the woods
40:51every
40:52Sunday
40:52evening.
40:53The
40:53Gigantopithecus
40:54didn't
40:55understand
40:55this
40:56either.
40:57It
40:57blinked
40:58and sniffed
40:59the air
40:59while looking
41:00at the
41:00priest
41:01dead on.
41:02It
41:02cleared
41:03its throat
41:03in a
41:04low
41:04grumble
41:05and curled
41:06back its
41:06lips in
41:07perhaps some
41:08kind of
41:08attempt at
41:10communication.
41:11It
41:11sniffed
41:12the air
41:12furthermore
41:13and somehow
41:14Father
41:15Calabasso
41:16knew it
41:17was trying
41:18to smell
41:18the communion
41:19wafers.
41:21Was there
41:21a sense
41:22of familiarity
41:23being tied
41:24up in the
41:25air between
41:25them?
41:26The
41:26Gigantopithecus
41:27stepped forward,
41:29beginning its
41:30descent down
41:31the aisle.
41:32Father
41:32Calabasso
41:33kept the
41:34plate of
41:35communion
41:35wafers in
41:36front of
41:36him and
41:37waited.
41:39The
41:39body of
41:39Christ,
41:40he
41:41repeated
41:41in a
41:42voice
41:42that
41:42was
41:43clearer
41:43than
41:44earlier.
41:44He
41:45gulped.
41:46The
41:46Gigantopithecus
41:47was extending
41:48out its
41:49long arm.
41:50It actually
41:51was reaching
41:51for the
41:52plate,
41:53and it
41:53made
41:54Father
41:54Calabasso's
41:55heart
41:56throb
41:56so much
41:57that he
41:58could have
41:58smiled.
41:59The
42:00Gigantopithecus
42:01swatted
42:01the plate
42:02out of
42:02Father
42:03Calabasso's
42:03hands.
42:04The air
42:05was a
42:06glitter of
42:06communion
42:07wafers
42:07for a
42:08second,
42:08while the
42:09plate
42:09clanged
42:10on the
42:10floor.
42:11It
42:12roared
42:12while
42:13diving
42:13at the
42:13altar.
42:14Father
42:15Calabasso
42:16ducked
42:16just in
42:16time and
42:17grabbed
42:17his
42:18shotgun.
42:18He
42:19crawled
42:19away
42:20from the
42:20altar
42:20while the
42:21Gigantopithecus
42:22turned
42:22around.
42:23The
42:24shotgun
42:24blasted
42:25out,
42:25a
42:25tolling
42:26of its
42:26own.
42:27The
42:27Gigantopithecus
42:28roared in
42:29anger,
42:30for the
42:30buckshot
42:31had created
42:32little violet
42:33polka dots
42:34along the
42:34side of
42:35its purple
42:36chest.
42:37It
42:37closed its
42:38eyes and
42:39continued
42:39roaring.
42:41Father
42:41Calabasso
42:41fired the
42:42second round.
42:43He could
42:44hear the
42:45flesh being
42:45ripped off
42:46its shoulders
42:47when the
42:47buckshot
42:48splashed
42:48across the
42:49air.
42:49His
42:50whole body
42:51trembled
42:51while unlocking
42:52the shotgun
42:53and letting
42:53the barrel
42:54down.
42:55The
42:55thing was
42:56charging at
42:56him.
42:57He dove
42:58into a
42:58pew before
42:59he could
42:59reload
43:00little
43:00flock.
43:01The
43:01shotgun
43:02shells
43:02which he
43:03held
43:03went
43:03rolling
43:04away,
43:05rolling
43:05down
43:06another
43:06pew,
43:07and then
43:08another.
43:08The
43:09Gigantopithecus'
43:10fist shot
43:11down and
43:12cracked one
43:13pew bench
43:13in two.
43:14Boards and
43:15splinters erupted
43:17into the air.
43:18Father
43:18Calabasso
43:19climbed over
43:20a pew,
43:21catching a
43:22glimmer of
43:22brass on
43:23the floor.
43:24He picked
43:24it up,
43:25shoved it
43:26into his
43:26shotgun,
43:27and flipped
43:28the barrel
43:29back up.
43:30The
43:30Gigantopithecus
43:31regained its
43:32footing just
43:33in time and
43:34brought both
43:35its fists
43:36up with
43:36the vigor
43:37of an
43:38executioner's
43:39beheading
43:39axe.
43:41Father
43:41Calabasso
43:41pulled his
43:42finger down
43:43on the
43:43trigger all
43:44the way.
43:45The
43:45Gigantopithecus
43:46threw its
43:47head back
43:47immediately when
43:48its forehead
43:49caught the
43:50brunt of
43:50the buckshot.
43:51It had
43:52been so
43:53close to
43:53Father
43:54Calabasso
43:54that its
43:55head had
43:56caught every
43:57ball in the
43:58volley of the
43:58round.
43:59Its deflating
44:00roaring came
44:01in conjunction
44:02with the
44:03wet crack
44:04its skull
44:05made.
44:05Father
44:06Calabasso
44:07watched the
44:08Gigantopithecus
44:09make one
44:10final expression
44:11as it fell
44:12down backward.
44:14Its mouth
44:15was open
44:15as if it
44:16wanted to
44:16let out
44:17one final
44:18hoot,
44:18a final
44:20prayer.
44:20The church
44:21echoed with
44:22the thud
44:23its falling
44:23body made.
44:25Father
44:25Calabasso
44:26panted while
44:27watching steam
44:28exit gracefully
44:29out of the
44:30wedge at
44:31the top
44:31of its
44:32head.
44:32The wound
44:33reminded him
44:34of the
44:35entrance to
44:36Dungeon Rock.
44:37Milton
44:38hurried into
44:39the church
44:39while
44:40Father
44:40Calabasso
44:41watched the
44:43violet liquid
44:44pooling out
44:45of the
44:46Gigantopithecus
44:47skull.
44:48Thank
44:48goodness
44:49you're
44:49alright!
44:50Milton
44:51sounded like
44:51he was
44:52breathing for
44:52the first
44:53time.
44:54Tis
44:54quite
44:55the
44:55time
44:55to
44:56thank
44:56God.
44:57Father
44:57Calabasso
44:58said while
44:59turning around
45:00to face
45:00his friend.
45:01Did it
45:02reach for
45:02the communion
45:03wafers?
45:04There was
45:04a moment
45:05where I
45:06thought it
45:06was.
45:07Father
45:08Calabasso
45:08answered
45:09matter-of-factly.
45:10He held
45:11the shotgun
45:12rather limply
45:12now that
45:13it was
45:14empty.
45:15Suddenly
45:15he remembered
45:17he was
45:17holding it
45:18and was
45:19startled by
45:19it.
45:20Oh!
45:21He laughed.
45:22I better
45:23go hide
45:24this before
45:24the police
45:25arrive.
45:26Yeah,
45:26you better.
45:27Milton
45:28murmured.
45:29He was
45:30a bit
45:30astonished
45:30at his
45:31friend's
45:31resilience.
45:32Or
45:33was it
45:34a lack
45:34of surprise?
45:35It made
45:36him start
45:37to wonder
45:37if his
45:38friend had
45:38actually
45:39performed
45:39the rite
45:40of exorcism
45:41before.
45:42Part of
45:42him
45:43didn't
45:43want to
45:44know.
45:45Gunshots
45:46aren't the
45:46most abnormal
45:47thing in
45:48some parts
45:48of Lynn,
45:49but they
45:50are very
45:51abnormal
45:51from inside
45:53St.
45:53Mary's.
45:54So the
45:55residents
45:55surrounding
45:56the
45:56church
45:57did
45:57notify
45:58the
45:58authorities.
45:59Gunshots,
46:00Father Calabasas
46:02said to
46:03the police
46:03officer while
46:04Milton was
46:05finishing dragging
46:06the Gigantopithecus'
46:08body down
46:09into the
46:10church basement.
46:11The priest
46:12was stalling
46:13the police
46:13officer on
46:15the front
46:15steps outside
46:16the church.
46:17You'll know,
46:19now that you've
46:20mentioned it,
46:20a loud noise
46:21did wake me up
46:22from my
46:23nap,
46:23but there
46:24might be
46:24mice in
46:26the church
46:26rafters,
46:27don't tell
46:27anybody.
46:28By the way,
46:29do you know
46:30any good
46:31exterminators,
46:32your honor?
46:32They had
46:33used ropes
46:34to pull
46:35and drag
46:35the behemoth
46:36primate
46:37along the
46:37floor,
46:38until they
46:39let it
46:39tumble
46:40down the
46:41basement
46:41stairs.
46:42Milton
46:43wanted to
46:43bring it
46:44back with
46:44him to
46:45South Carolina
46:46for further
46:47study,
46:47without the
46:48pesky government
46:49involving itself,
46:50but there
46:51was something
46:52that unnerved
46:53him about
46:53the Gigantopithecus,
46:55even though
46:56it was dead.
46:57It picked
46:58at his mind
46:59and turned
46:59his consciousness
47:00into a scab
47:01while he stood
47:02over the
47:03wooly,
47:03orange,
47:04body of the
47:05thing,
47:06while Father
47:07Calabasas
47:08distracted the
47:09police outside.
47:10An ape
47:11that,
47:12as Father
47:12Calabasas
47:13presented,
47:14performed an
47:15act of
47:16desperate
47:17spiritualism.
47:18Was Milton's
47:19heart breaking,
47:20or was his
47:21mindset evolving
47:22against itself,
47:24while he loomed
47:25over the body
47:26of the
47:27Gigantopithecus?
47:28He certainly
47:29had never scaled
47:30any religious
47:31building to ring
47:32its bells.
47:33He couldn't
47:34remember any
47:35time in his
47:36life where he
47:37was enthralled
47:37in an act of
47:38desperate
47:39spiritualism.
47:40But this
47:41ancient ape
47:42was.
47:43Well,
47:44Milton and
47:45Father Calabasas
47:46ready the body
47:47for the remaining
47:48hours of darkness
47:49that comes
47:50after midnight.
47:51He got a
47:52rental car
47:53when the sun
47:54came up,
47:55and the two
47:56struggled
47:57transporting the
47:58cadaver
47:58into the
47:59vehicle.
48:00They shook
48:01hands,
48:02and Milton
48:02drove away.
48:04Besides a
48:05couple of
48:05incidents,
48:06on the
48:06highway where
48:07Milton felt
48:08the car was
48:09going to lift
48:09up forward
48:10in the air
48:11to balance
48:12out the
48:13thousand pounds
48:13of ape
48:14in the
48:14back,
48:15the commute
48:16went smoothly.
48:17He spent a
48:18couple of
48:19days transporting
48:20the body
48:20into his
48:21homemade lab
48:22near his
48:24alligator farm.
48:25He spent
48:26even longer
48:27dissecting and
48:28preserving the
48:28body and
48:29all its
48:30disassembled
48:31parts.
48:32But it was
48:33when he got
48:33to the head
48:34that a
48:35familiar fear
48:36returned to
48:37him that
48:38led him to
48:39call his
48:39old friend
48:40in Lynn,
48:41Massachusetts.
48:42in an act
48:44of desperate
48:45spiritualism.
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