The Curse of 1977 (Book 2)

It was hot, smelly and stuffy down below in the Cypress sewer system where Deputy Mayor Mrs. Colleen Henderson, a black lady. Land surveyor Ron Nichols and County Treasurer Leonard Fulton, both white men, all carefully trekked along the slimy and slippery walkway that led towards a large light just a few yards up ahead.

With his lamplight leading the way, Ron made sure that his two cohorts were steadily behind him as he stepped over a large, dead rat that was lying on the ground.

Leonard remained close to Mrs. Henderson as though her life depended upon him while Henderson herself, in a pair of high heels, no less, remained stalwart through the thickness of the sludge that she dared to reluctantly plod through.

Sweating and partially covering her nose from the stench, Colleen complained, "If my husband knew that I was walking through the sewers with a couple of white men he'd have my black butt hung." Her voice echoed throughout the moldy cavern.

"Don't worry, Mrs. Henderson, the sewers are the last place on earth that your husband would ever suspect anyone to be prowling about." Ron sarcastically remarked.

"How much...further, is the end?" Leonard gasped for air amidst the stifling humidity.

"Not much further now." Ron stopped dead in his tracks to point his light upwards. "You see these up here? The more grates you see, that's the closer we're reaching the lake. And the closer we reach the lake, the closer we can get outta here."

"Thank God." Colleen exhaled. "I don't know how anyone can work down here, especially in all this heat."

"It's not so bad." Ron said. "My brother-in-law works down here year round, and he says it's like working in a literal shithouse!" Ron laughed out loud.

"Let's try and put a clamp on the color commentary, Mr. Nichols." Leonard rebuked.

"It's okay, Leonard, my husband cusses like there's no tomorrow." Colleen said as she stepped ahead of the two men and resumed the tour.

"If you don't mind me asking, Mrs. Henderson, why does Cypress need a subway system?" Ron asked as he made sure to keep the light ahead of everyone. "I mean, this city really isn't all that big to begin with."

"Mayor Findlay wants to raise people's spirits." Colleen explained. "This city is going through a depression, building a subway would give some kind of validation that we can improve under dire circumstances."

"Even if it further bankrupts this city into oblivion," Leonard bitterly muttered under his breath.

"He's right, I mean, it'll take at least a year to carve out these sewers, and another two years to set up the rail system itself." Ron added.

Sighing, Colleen said, "Tell that to our beloved Mayor who still thinks he can get three more Sears stores to come here."

"I'm telling you guys, these sewer systems were constructed way back in the 1910's." Ron contested. "Cities like New York, L.A, Chicago and Detroit were all built with rail systems in mind. From the electrical output, to the main roads, and—

"I'm sure the Mayor considered all these matters, Ron." Colleen stepped in.

never considered the cost, now did he?" Leonard questioned with a

this bankrupt us, but we don't have the manpower to construct such a thing. It's one of the hottest summers on record and we're trolling through a rat infested sewer, for God's sake. So, gentlemen, let's do our best as city employees to make the old man as happy as a clam, just so we can show him how ridiculous

Both Ron and Leonard seemed to be caught off guard by Colleen's sudden, belligerent rant, but at least it let them know

"I must admit that this is not how I envisioned this job." Colleen continued. "A forty-eight year old Deputy Mayor stepping through shit,"

"Don't worry, Colleen," Leonard remarked, nearly tripping over another dead rat, "this is Findley's last term. Hopefully we can stall on this idea

problem." Ron all of the sudden came to an abrupt halt right in the

dread at the two forks in the middle of the sewer. Two corridors that were completely dark and foreboding

where

But Ron just stood in place while shining his light back and forth down both caverns. "This is a

a real hum

"When I studied the layout down here, I don't recall there

be kidding me!" Leonard dropped his arms in defeat. "I've got a meeting with the Governor at

second while I take a look at the dates on the walls." Ron persisted as he stepped close to one of the walls and

rolled her eyes and brushed her hair clean of cobwebs before walking

are so thin and decrepit that it makes me wonder if a rail system could sustain itself down here." She said. "I

a pipe dream, Colleen." Leonard paced back and forth. "Hey, Ron, I don't

"I don't believe so.

even continue, there was something, something that growled within the sewer. Its grunt echoed throughout

could do was just

"Would someone like to tell me just what in the hell that was?" Colleen shivered in the gooey

stand around and find out." Leonard spun around

sewers once again, only by then, its roar seemed to be drawing closer to the three city officials that had no

this one!" Ron pointed to his right before taking off down the sewer

having a hard time keeping up due to her high heels

"Ron, I don't see any grates!" Leonard exclaimed in terror. "Does that mean

Ron, however, was too busy trying to outrun whatever was lurking in the

once. Colleen could hear the splashing of water along with something that sounded like heavy steps scampering

"Dear God, what is

as he took a hold of Colleen's hand and tried his best to keep her

ran that was all the more

it be a wild