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.

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

"Look, I'm no fan of this either." Colleen said in a frustrated manner. "Not only will 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

belligerent rant, but at least it let them know that they weren't the only pessimists in the

this job." Colleen continued.

"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 of his long enough to see him walk out of office before it comes to

all of the sudden came to an abrupt halt right in the middle of

in the middle of the sewer. Two corridors that

"Well, where

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

a real hum dinger?" Colleen asked in

the layout down

"You've gotta be kidding me!" Leonard dropped his arms in defeat. "I've got a meeting with the Governor at noon, for God's

walls." Ron persisted as he stepped close to one of the walls and began to read. "I do know that the older the dates the

only rolled her eyes and brushed her hair clean of cobwebs before walking over and scraping her hand against the

walls are so thin and decrepit that it makes me wonder if a rail system could sustain itself down here." She said. "I wouldn't be surprised if this entire sewer system collapsed the moment one

Colleen." Leonard paced back and forth. "Hey, Ron, I don't see any grates anywhere anymore. Could

don't believe

that growled within the sewer. Its grunt echoed throughout the caverns making it sound as if it were

what they were doing at that very second. All they could do was just stand and allow their eyeballs

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

out." Leonard spun around to Ron. "Which one

its roar seemed to be

this one!" Ron pointed to his right before taking off down the sewer without looking

keeping up due to her

grates!" Leonard exclaimed in terror. "Does that mean

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

intensified, making it sound as though the thing was angry and hungry all at once. Colleen could hear the splashing of

"Dear God, what is

keep running!" Leonard yelled as he took a hold of Colleen's hand and tried his best to keep her at his

more and harder they ran that was all the more virulent the animal's roars seemed to

a wild dog?"