Unwelcome News
On the first day of September, Preston returned to the Stickles farm. The sky was cloudy and a certain atmosphere hung about the place; he hoped that his visit with the beast would be short and not painful. The creature was so demented and unpredictable that even going there seemed stupid.
Everything looked the same from the outside, but he did not get the chance to check the little room because a demanding voice bade him sit at the table.
Gingerly, he went inside the walls of the old house and sat at the table where the beast was already waiting.
“You are late”, it said. “But at least you came on the correct day, which is something I should be thankful for, I suppose”.
“I came because you said you would have news for me”, said Preston. The beast looked at him closely,
