| |
“Get up. We gotta go!” Hugo called, bursting into the trailer.
“Where? Have you seen the weather?” asked Tevia. “What happened to you? You’re drippin’ wet and covered in mud.”
“Move your ass, Tevia,” Hugo shouted. “I had a fight with that Irish Mick of Dania’s, if you must know. The police will be on their way, and we have to get out of here.”
The trailer rocks brutally in the raging gusts of wind.
“What? I don’t want to go out there.” Tevia argued.
“You have a choice: stay here, hope the trailer holds together, and wait for the police to put you in prison for murder; or try to get as far away as possible!”
Tevia realized he had to go, stuffed a few things in a small valise and threw on his coat and battered hat. “I don’t understand.” Then it dawned on him. “Oh no, Hugo, what have you done!”
“Move,” yelled Hugo. Another gust lifted the trailer off its foundation, and it lists dangerously to one side.
Hugo and Tevia leapt from the door, sliding in the mud in time to see the remains of Dania’s trailer sliding along the ground. They ran for Tevia’s truck. The rain was coming down in sheets, drenching them as they splash through the mud. “Go out the back way to Craft Street.”
Tevia starts the truck. Turning, they see Tevia’s trailer roll over and crash into the wrought iron fence surrounding the grounds. Broken pieces caught by the wind swirl through the air as projectiles.
“Hugo, are you going to tell me what’s going on?” shouted Tevia.
“I was trying to silence that fool Boris once and for all before he could tell anyone what happened to the Russo kid. Dania came in and caught me. You killed the kid, and I helped cover it up. We’ll both go to jail. Storm or no storm, we gotta go!” Hugo yelled over the roar of the storm
They made their way along the streets, dodging falling branches and other debris. A fallen maple blocks their path. Tevia swerves and careens down a side street only to stall out on Hawthorn Street where the street is flooded.
****
At the police station, on Washington Street in West Newton, Michael and Tony explain about Hugo’s attempt on Boris Koslov’s life and Tevia’s involvement in the death of Johnny Russo, Lieutenant Gillespie put out an APB for the two. He assigned a couple of men to block off all the main routes out of town and to questione anyone foolish enough to be out on the streets. A patrol reports in that an unoccupied truck has been found on Hawthorn Street. Checking the description of the vehicle, they determined it belonged to Tevia.
––––––––
The lieutenant signaled Officer Drew and two others. “We’ll search for Hugo and Tevia.” He turned to Michael. “Does Hugo know where you live?”
“No, he’s never been there,” said Michael.
“Good. Go home and stay with your family.”
Gillespie and the officers rushed past them, down the stairs, and out the door. Tony and Michael left the station and went to the car. Michael slid behind the wheel but didn’t start the engine.
"What are you waiting for?” Tony asked.
“Most of the force is out assisting with other storm-related problems leaving Gillespie with only a few men. It seems to me he’s going to need more help. Let’s find out.” Michael started the car and followed the patrol car’s tail lights.
****
Hugo and Tevia were searching for another car. The wind was letting up a bit, and they heard the police sirens in the distance.
Hugo checked a garage, but it’s empty. “We’d better find something fast.”
“I’m cold and wet.” Tevia pulled his hat down, and water spilt off the brim. “Can’t we get out of this rain for a while? Maybe they’ll give up lookin’ for us.”
“Divia mush, they won’t give up! Just shut up; you’re making me nuts!” The sirens were getting closer. Hugo watched a police car stop at the end of Hawthorn Street and block the road. Two officers got out. They watched as another police car blocks the far end of the street near their abandoned truck. A minute later Gillespie himself pulled up.
Hugo grabbed Tevia’s coat sleeve and dragged him behind some bushes. Tevia pointed toward Gillespie.
“Look, with the police.” Tevia pointed at Michael and Tony.
The lieutenant saw Michael and Tony come to a stop a few yards behind him.
Gillespie doesn’t have time to reprimand Michael and Tony. He shook his head and warned them, “Just keep out of our way.” He looked up. The sun would be setting soon and full dark—with no lights anywhere in the city—would descend on the town. Gillespie signaled his men to begin their search of the area. They searched the yards, porches, sheds, and garages lining the street in the hope of spotting Hugo and Tevia.
Hugo watched from their hiding place. “We have to move now, or we’ll get caught.” He jabbed Tevia. “Keep low. Duck into those trees and brush. Cuyamoi, get a move on!”
Although they try for stealth, their movements are spotted. “There they are.” The shout split the late afternoon silence. As the police gave chase, Tevia and Hugo
––––––––
run faster. Tony and Michael joined the chase following behind Gillespie.
“They’re headed for the marsh and the bog,” shouted Officer Drew. Michael and Tony split from the rest and head for the other side of the bog.
The marsh was flooded, and Hugo pulled Tevia through knee-deep water, to reach the other side and find a way to escape. Gillespie and Drew see the direction Hugo was headed and skirted around the marsh to head them off.
Hugo didn’t know the land, so the two ran straight on. Thick layers of mud sucked at their feet—slowing them down. Each step pulled them deeper into the mire. Twenty feet ahead was the peat bog.
Michael knew what will happen if the two men continue that way. “Hugo, stop! You’re headed for the peat bog.”
Hugo stopped. Tevia was out of breath. “Cuyamoi,” Hugo yelled, “Overchay.”
“He thinks you’re lying, Michael,” said Tony.
Gillespie shouted from the other side of the marsh. “Hugo, give it up. Let’s talk.”
No one wanted to follow the men into the marsh. Hugo was very close to the edge of the bog.
Tevia, unable to run in the mud, threw his hands into the air. “I give up. I ain’t goin’ to die out here.” He started to walk, but he’d reached the edge of the bog. He felt himself sinking and tried to go back, but every move he made caused him to sink deeper. He managed to lift one leg only to have the shoe pulled off. He’s frantic and grappled for anything to drag himself out. The harder he tries, though, the more he’s sucked into the mire.
“Hugo!” The smell was sickening, and with every move he was drawn deeper into it. He raised his chin in an effort to keep the foul stuff out of his mouth, but he panics as he felt it continue to envelope him. He screamed, “Help!” A firm hand grabbed his collar and slowly hauled him out of the wretched quagmire.
Tevia was hysterical and clinging to Hugo like a child. He babbled irrationally; his voice cracking as he sobs uncontrollably.
Hugo raised him up and pushed him toward Gillespie.
Tevia at first refused to budge, but in time gathered the courage to make his way to the waiting police. Officer Drew pulled out his handcuffs and walked toward him. Shaking from stress and the cold marsh water, Tevia can barely speak. “Mush has a cormunga in his cover,” Tevia blurted to Gillespie. Gillespie nodded for Drew to take him away.
“Get him to the station and into some dry clothes,” he instructed the officer, “and maybe some hot soup, too.”
The two boys were circling back to Gillespie, Michael nudged Tony, “What’d he say?”
“Tevia said Hugo has a gun,” explained Tony.
Hugo watched as his friend was led away. He realized no one was on the west side of the marsh, so he
thought if he could reach the road he might still be able to get away. He moved along, skirting the bog and moving away from the police.
“Hugo, NO!” Tony and Michael see him at the same time.
Gillespie shouts to his men, “Circle around and intercept him.” To Hugo, he yells “Don’t be a chuccuo. You can’t get away!”
Hugo stoped, but he wasn’t beaten yet. He reached into his coat and took out his revolver. “If I’m going down, I’m going down fighting!”
“Throw the gun away, Hugo! Don’t be divia,” the lieutenant yelled.
Daylight was quickly diminishing. Hugo’s response split the air as he fired a shot that went wild over their heads. The police had no choice but to return fire. Hugo cannot move fast, but he worked his way toward the western bank and to the potential safety of the road.
“Oh God. No!” Michael exclaims. Hugo’s path will take him to the edge of the bog where several officers were trying to close in on him. As they approached, one took aim and shot. The bullet hit Hugo high on his back, and the force of the blow spun him around. He lost his balance and fell. The pain, sharp and burned like a branding iron, but Hugo was determined and struggled to his feet when another shot hit him in the shoulder and he was shoved forward. He couldn’t regain his footing. The ground is no longer under him, and he felt himself sinking.
He panicked as the water rose around him. He knew he couldn’t make it. He was going to drown in this filthy mire that’s all around him. Moving his arms took more effort than he had, and each movement sucked him deeper into the deadly bog. He gaspped for breath, but even that seemed to pull him down.
Michael, Tony and the police can only watch and listen as he bellowed in Russian. They watched in stunned silence as Hugo raised the gun to his head and pulled the trigger, ending his life before the peat bog could claim him. The sound reverberated across the water and echoed endlessly into the night as the lifeless body was slowly engulfed by the bog.