Tainted

 

Pavement slid by like the juice flowing from Tom’s burger as he careened through the wooded corners of state route 522, known locally as the highway of death.

“Dad that’s gross! wipe your chin,” Natalie giggled.

“Tom for God’s sake watch the road, you’re going to get us killed,” Sarah, his wife interrupted.

“We don’t watch out. They watch out for us, cause we’re the Hammonds!  We’re carnivores.” Meat, sauce, and red juice streamed from his mouth as he spoke.

“Tom!”

Their black SUV jolted upward on the right side with just the left wheels on the pavement. They rode like this for several feet before landing back on all four wheels and spinning to a complete stop.

Tom blinked his eyes several times to clear the shock. Once he regained his composure, he checked on his family. Like him they were disorientated but the safety restraints had brought them through the worst of it.

Tom got out of their car followed by his wife.

“My God what is that smell?” Sarah said, holding her nose.

“I’m not sure. A slaughterhouse maybe?”

“Peeeeeeww. Did someone number two?”

“Nats get back in the car sweetie...” Sarah’s voice trailed off.

All three of them turned and peered into the gloom as the long shadows of dusk feasted on the dying day. Inhuman moans drifted along the highway.

“Tom, you hit a cow. I told you to watch the road!”

“I didn’t hit the cow. It was already in the fuckin road. Must’ve escaped…”

“Is the cow going to die? I don’t want the cow to die mommy,”

“Nats the cows going to be ok. I’m going to call the animal ambulance,” Tom said as he brushed away her tears.

His call with the Animal Control Office was brief but both Sarah and Natalie clearly heard, “two hours,” before Tom abruptly ended the conversation.

“Alright get in the car its all taken care of.”

“But the ambulance isn’t here Daddy.”

“It’ll be here. But right now, we have to go…”

Their discussion was interrupted by a high-pitched bellow. Through the gloom they could make out a smaller animal a calf. Its brays would pause momentarily as it licked the wounded bovine.

“Is that its baby?” Natalie asked.

“Everyone get in the car.” Tom gestured with his arms.

“Tom, we can’t just leave it like this?”

“They’re on their way. We’re done.”

“Carnivores.” Shaking her head, “Right Tom?”

Natalie sobbed as she slumped into the backseat.

“Now? You’re going to question me now? You’re some piece of work, you know that?”

“You hit the cow! You own this! Our daughter is traumatized for life.” Sarah threw her hands up in the air and let them fall loosely at her sides.

Tom brushed by Sarah and threw the passenger door open. It bounced back on its hinges from the force. Tom pulled his gun out of the glove and chambered a round. Turning to Sarah he sneered, “Happy?”

He walked over to the wounded heifer. The stricken animal attempted to get up on all fours but with its back broken only managed to scoot further into the road. The calf licked its mothers head and backed off several feet as Tom approached. Its eyes wide and expectant as Tom patted the feeble animal’s head. Tom wanted to retch. A single thunderclap echoed along the highway.

The drive back was quiet. Natalie had cried herself to sleep and his wife sat next to him with her seat partially reclined. If she was asleep, he didn’t know it. The smell from his half-eaten burger was nauseating. As repulsive as it was, however, he couldn’t bring himself to throw it away. He owned the rot, the smell, and could feel its taint on him. In the dark the pavement slipped by like the tears streaming down his cheeks as he carefully rounded the corners of Highway 522.