Morton - The Samhanach

THE SAMHANACH

Lisa Morton

Digital Edition published by Crossroad Press

First Edition published by Bad Moon Books

This Edition 2011 by Lisa Morton

Cover 2010 by Jill Bauman

LICENSE NOTES:

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MORE TITLES FROM CROSSROAD PRESS & BAD MOON BOOKS

NOVELLAS:

The Adventures of Mr. Maximillian Bacchus & His Traveling Circus by Clive Barker

Alice on the Shelf by Bill Gauthier

The Better Year by Bridget Morrow

Blood Spring by Erik Williams

The Bone Tree by Christopher Fulbright

Heart of Glass by David Winnick

The Hunger of Empty Vessels by Scott Edelman

Little Graveyard on the Prairie by Steven E. Wedel

Mischief Night by Paul Melniczek

NOVELS:

As Fate Would Have It by Michael Louis Calvillo

Black and Orange by Benjamin Kane Ethridge

Acknowledgements

Huge thanks to my parents, who nurtured my love of Halloween; to Ricky, who shares that love now; and to the Dark Delicacies writing group, who offered support and invaluable criticism on this novella. And thanks to Roy, Liz, Cesar, Frank, and everyone at Bad Moon theres a reason authors like me keep working with you guys again and again. Lastly, I wanted to offer thanks to the author of The Halloween Encyclopedia and A Halloween Anthology for providing all the authentic Halloween fact and folklore used hereinbut that would be a tad narcissistic and more than a little silly, wouldnt it?

Merran

Merran Alstead held the severed hand up to catch the light from the house, turning it slowly, admiring the blood that flecked its stump.

Too bad its not Wills , she thought, half-smiling.

Put it over here!

She turned, lowering the gruesome rubber prop, and saw Jeannie on the far side of the lawn, pointing at a Styrofoam tombstone. Merran crossed to join her daughter, stepping carefully around the fake spider webs, flickering pumpkins, and ghosts made from white sheets. She reached the leaning marker, knelt, and carefully wedged the hand down into the grass until it seemed to be jutting up out of the earth, an undead thing struggling to rise.

Thats cool!

She reached over and flicked Jeannies witch hat, causing the six-year-old to giggle. Under the wide black brim, Jeannies face was painted green and sported a long nose theyd glued on with spirit gum; the costume was complete with black dress and broom.

No princess for my little ghoul , Merran thought, eyeing her offspring with amusement and pride.

The girl was jittering with Halloween excitement; she flew across the yard, pretending to cackle with fiendish glee. Im the Halloween witch!

Merrans attention was drawn away by a muttering coming from the sidewalk; she thought shed heard something like Halloween bitch," followed by teenaged snickers. Her stomach clenched as she saw Jay Saunders, Manny Posada and Luke Ehrens slinking by. The three sophomores were at least smart enough to know they were too old for trick-or-treat tonight, but Merran didnt want to think about what alternative theyd come up with to act out Halloween. Manny and Jay leered at her openly, and Luke barely looked away, trudging along in his baggy, would-be gangsta clothing with his hands thrust deep into his pockets. She thought she heard someone mutter milf as they climbed into a parked car.

Mommy?

She looked back to find Jeannie leaning down near the porch, eyeing something curiously. Did you put these here?

Merran joined her, then squinted in the dim light; she could only make out small white shapes.

What are they? Jeannie asked.

Huh. I dont know.

Merran retrieved a lit jack-o-lantern from the porch and carried it over to where Jeannie stood. Kneeling with the flickering orange gleam, she now saw that the pale forms were mushrooms, each the size of her fist, about twenty of them growing in a ring, enclosing a space six feet in diameter. In the center of the circle was a small book; even in the soft light Merran thought it must be bound in leather, the kind with ribbed bands on the spine. She picked the book up, saw that it had no lettering on the covers.

You didnt put this here? she asked Jeannie, already suspecting a Halloween gag.

No. What are those other things?

Mushrooms, or maybe toadstools. They mustve just come up.

Howd they get so big? Jeannie asked.

Good question. Halloween, I guess.

Jeannie started to reach for one. I could use these for my witches brew

Merrans own hand instinctively shot out and blocked her daughters tiny fingers. No, I dont think we should touch these. Some mushrooms are poisonous.

Oh, Jeannie said, her eyes wide at the thought.

As Jeannie ran off into the house, Merran pocketed the book; shed look at it later. She gazed up into the night sky and shivered once. It was completely dark now, almost time for the trick-or-treaters to appear. The air was slightly chilled, just right for late October, and the evening breeze carried a faint scent of smoke and decaying leaves. She loved this night, always had; in fact, her affection for Halloween had eventually led to a major in Folklore Studiesand a useless degree that had nothing to do with her secretarial job in a dull office.

She inhaled deeply, trying to fill her lungs, to chase out the thoughts of a failed marriage and lackluster career and single motherhood. She wondered if Will was off at a party somewhere, girlfriend on his arm, glass in hand, dressed as a pirate, or a cowboy.

Stop it , she reprimanded herself. Hes gone, a thousand miles away, and its Halloween, and youve got Jeannie and youll both enjoy the evening .

Hey, Merran.

She looked up and saw her neighbor, Keesha Johnstone, waiting for her. Keesha was dressed as a cat, with one-piece jumpsuit, tail, ears, and painted nose; her five-year-old, Darren (rigged as a Transformer) peeked out from behind her striped leggings, and her seven-year-old, Marissa, a queen in crown and home-sewn robes, stood regally off to one side.

Oh, hi, Keesha. Let me get Jeannie.

Merran leapt onto the porch, calling into the house. Jeannie, Mrs. Johnstones here.

From the bathroom just off the kitchen came a muted reply: Im fixing my nose!

Merran bent to a large bag by the door and came up with mini candy bars, which she placed in Keesha and Darrens outstretched bags. Ill be your first tonight. One for you, Your Highness, and for you, youruhtruckness.

Both children shrieked out gratitude, then started off for the next house. Dont go beyond the Lees! Keesha called after them, then turned her attention to Merran.

My witchling is fixing her nose.

Keesha laughed. Witch, huh? I thought she wanted to be a vampire.

Merran shrugged. She did, but we couldnt find any fangs small enough.

A moment lapsed, as Keesha glanced past Merran. Your yard is great, butyknow, Ive got Jeannie for the night, if you want to go off to Rick and Shirls party

Merran wrinkled her nose. Thanks, but