Enter Living: Harry and Seek-- Book of the Dead

By Cle Curbo

'Daddy, mom's boyfriend Mark is after me, and I'm hiding in the bathroom." This is Harry's frantic call from his twelve year old daughter, Madison. "Don't worry sweetheart, daddy's coming to get you." Harry races out his suburban home front door and gets hit by a quiet electric truck. For quite some time, Harry doesn't know that he is dead. In his car, he is driving to get his daughter. His car dies on a weed-filled road in the middle of where-am-I. He walks to a lake and finds Pete's Boat Rentals. On a rented boat on a lake in a storm, Captain bangs on his hatch, and their adventures begin.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Cle Curbo
• Release date: Dec 23, 2021
• ISBN: 9781005757588

Book preview

Enter Living

--Harry and Seek--

Book of the Dead

A Novella

By Cle Curbo

ENTER LIVING

-- Harry and Seek --

BOOK OF THE DEAD

By CLE CURBO

Distributed by Smashwords

Copyright 2021 by P. Turner Writer LLC

This is a work of fiction. All names, locations, buildings, items, monsters, and people are entirely fictitious and a product of the author's, or the characters' imagination. No likeness to the real world is intended or implied, nor should it be inferred.

Enter Living

– Harry and Seek --

Book of the Dead

By CLE CURBO

Chapter One

Harry was about to die, but he didn’t know it.

On April first, Fellie left him, no fooling, and took their twelve year old daughter with her. Harry came home to find a note on the refrigerator where he wouldn’t miss it. In the note, Fellie claimed Mark was a better provider and a good man. She hoped Harry wasn’t unduly hurt by her departure, but she had to do what was good for their daughter.

That was two days ago, and Harry hadn’t slept. Nobody answered his texts or phone calls. He didn’t know where Mark lived, or Mark would be toast. Fellie was savvy to that. Now in an April heat spell, he mowed his lawn to calm his mind. His old gas powered engine was perking along, so he left it running while he went back inside for water. Before he could make it to the kitchen his phone vibrated in his pants pocket. He answered it.

Madison? Sweetheart. How are you? He could hear sobs on the other end.

Daddy, mom left for the grocery store, and her boyfriend, Mark gave me a twenty-dollar bill and pulled down his pants. I ran into the bathroom and locked the door. I sent mom a text, but she hasn’t read it yet. Madison went to the bathroom window. It was big enough to step through, but the screen was made of wire and wouldn’t push open. Come and get me out of here! I just sent you a text with the address. It’s in Pleasanton.

Listen, Madison. Call 911. Daddy’s coming to get you.

Daddy, hurry. Please, hurry.

He headed out the door to run to his car. A softball from across the street bobbed up on his lawn and was rolling down past his car parked at the curb.

Daddy. He’s beating on the door.

What’s that, sweetie. The lawnmower’s on. I can’t hear you. He chased the ball into the street just past his front bumper, thinking he would pound Mark to a pulp, when BAM! He was hit side on by a silent electric truck.

At first, and for quite some time, Harry didn’t know he was dead.

He got up, feeling achy on one side, waved the truck on. I’m okay. No problem. He walked to the lawn, turned off the mower, went inside to get his keys, and as he got into his car, said to Madison. I’m coming to get you.

He closed the line, pulled out and drove down the street. He worried along, singing to himself that everything would be all right, except that traffic was heavy for a Saturday. He would take the old back road to Pleasanton. He pulled off the freeway onto a road that looked familiar. Yes, he knew it -- used to go to Niles Canyon. That would get him closer to Pleasanton and avoid the freeway crowd.

Minutes later, the road didn’t look so familiar. Had he made a wrong turn? A big hill was to his left. Thick stands of oak and pine on his right threw shadows across the road and onto the base of the hill. Then his car died. His battery needed a charge. Why wasn’t the gas assist engine working? He looked at the gauge. Close to empty. Frigging gauge. Can’t they build anything right. He coasted to a stop, got out, and started walking along the road, which soon became a dirt road full of weeds. He had a bad feeling about this.

***

Harry looked at his cell phone. Battery gone. He’d have to thumb a ride to Pleasanton. He jogged along. His daughter needed him. Damn you, Fellie for taking our daughter. You had no right, and you were hurtful.

Ahead, a body lay on the ground. He rushed to it. White hat off to the side, long handlebar moustache on a narrow nose of noble length, the guy wore a brown Eisenhower jacket and leather boots, their tops covered by black slacks, which contrasted with the white shirt with a rip over the breast pocket. The guy’s temple had a gash. Blood oozed down past his ear.

Harry pulled his handkerchief out and placed it on the wet gash. The guy’s eyes blinked. Hold the cloth to your head. Got to stop the bleeding. Who did this to you?

The guy sat up. Where am I?

We’re on a decrepit road. Harry looked into the distance. It leads to a lake. I’m lost. What is this place? Can you stand? I see folks milling around at the lake.

The guy was able to walk, so Harry led him toward the lake. How’d you get that gash on your head?

I’m Marshal Gentry. We raided the old wharf warehouse. Our informer brought us in, and I was about to cuff the grubby sex trafficker, when the informer bashed me on the skull with a hammer. Luckily it was a glancing blow. I must have passed out and they dragged me here out of the way.

The grassy road ended at lake shore where water shone mirror smooth in the calm air. People, some couples, strolled along the sand near water’s edge. Directly ahead, a chubby guy in a white golf cap with tees stuck in a pocket on the side of it was looking at the lake. Harry walked over to him. Hey, what golf course is nearby?

The guy removed his cap, and palmed his head. Got any hard candy? I’m out. I like to throw a piece in my mouth when I putt. The guy looked around him. I guess I walked off the fairway. I heard the ball go into the water.

Harry walked past him to a table in front of a boathouse. He turned to see the marshal head