Stuart's Web

'Thanks, Zangi. This is great. Thanks very much.'

Stuart recalled that Granny had said that Zangi is different. How Stuart wondered? Just what is Zangi's problem? He was puzzled.

Stuart took a shower and lay back on the bed and propped himself up with the thick pillows to read the paper. He was glad that he was only spending one night in Sheldon. It was unlike any other place he had ever been. Zangi added to the mystery. There wasn't any category that he could place Zangi in. Not retarded? What? He couldn't decide. No commonly accepted label seemed to fit him. Oh well, tomorrow he would be on his way. Out of here. Gone for good. He would be starting his new life in L.A. Maybe his dreams would finally come true. He dozed off occasionally as he was reading.

Walking outside the cabin after awakening he looked around at the bright ivory moon peering through the restless leaves of an ancient oak tree. Still peering at the sky he realized it had been a long time since he had actually looked at the stars. The leaves kept nudging each other softly in the breeze. He listened awhile before realizing that the leaves were the only sound he heard. The stillness was deafening, almost unbearable. There were no human noises at all. No sounds what-so-ever coming from the nearby houses. No television. No babies crying. Not even any dogs barking. He glanced down the street. Cars were still parked in their driveways. Granny's house was also dark. The restaurant was closed. There was a dim light emanating from the building but there were no people anywhere Stuart remembered that he had left his car parked at the gas station when he had taken a ride in the Thunderbird. He walked across the street to the car and drove around the town. There was no sign of life anywhere.

Maybe there was a meeting tonight. He looked at his watch. Ten thirty. No its probably too late for that. Strangely, he felt rage, abandenment and loneliness. Why didn't someone ask me to go? He missed Peggy more than ever.

He parked his car beside the cabin and went in and lay down on the bed, listening. He dozed off again. At midnight he awakened to hear a pleasant hum of cheerful voices and footsteps. He could see a procession of people walking back to their homes, chatting with each other. He tried to spot Melanie in the crowd.

He felt relieved and fell asleep.

At 7:00 the next morning, Stuart, eager to be on his way gathered his shaving gear and dirty laundry and put them in the car. Reluctant to leave without telling Tim goodbye and wanting to see Melanie once again, he planned to ask Tim to breakfast. He longed to be around her flirty friendliness. As he turned to walk to Tim's place, he caught a glimpse of what seemed to be long wispy silver threads extending in all directions. The image would last for only a second. But the impression would stay much longer. Stuart stared in disbelief. He drove to the edge of town to investigate the phenomena. Suddenly the electrical system of his car failed. It would go no farther. A bright light blinded him for an instant. He would notice later that his watch stopped at 7 a.m. The glass in his watch cracked. He got out of the car and tried to walk away. He was caught, tangled in an invisible viscous liquid. He struggled to pull his arms away. A sticky substance stuck to him. He stared up at the sky. For a second the giant silver web was visible. In the morning dew, thousands of drops of water glistened like diamonds. it was breathtakingly beautiful and very frightening. Stuart was no match for the dark power of the web and whatever malevolent creature had created it.