By the Side of the Road

By the Side of the Road
an interlude in the Soul Searcher saga


The baby had been dead for nearly twenty-four hours when the raindrops started to fall. Big, fat, cold drops that never quite manifested into pouring rain.

“Will that thing ever shut up? How can we sleep with its wailing?”

“I’ll go quiet its wailing.”

One hit the baby on its naked chest, reconstituting a tiny puddle of dried blood.

“Are you sure?”

“Yes.”

“More proof that they're not humans. Leaving their babies on the side of the road to get run over by cars and eaten by rats.”

Another drop hit the baby’s left foot, which still wore a tiny sock. When new, the sock was light yellow. It was now greyish brown from dirt and grime.

“I hear that the Wests found the thing on their doorstep.”

“Happens a lot.”

“The hospitals used to take them in.”

Two more drops, nearly connected as they fell, tap tapped onto the baby’s left knee, both hitting the hem of the pant leg, which had edged up the baby’s calf. One of the drops rolled down onto the shattered leg; the other soaked into the cloth.

“In the middle ages, they played soccer with the heads of their enemies.”

“Not a chance.”

“It’s a baby. Or was a baby.”

“Not really. And it's dead now, anyway.”

“It was still a baby, soul or no soul.”

“You’re heartless.”

“Forget I mentioned it. And we're late, anyway, so it’s not like I was serious.”

A drop fell perfectly into the baby’s open hand, forming a miniscule lake in the dead baby’s inanimate palm.

“I do wish it would stop its wailing.”

“I said I’d get it.”

“How are you going to do that? Never mind. We can close the windows. Just wish it weren’t so hot tonight. Will this heat wave never end?”

A drop hit the baby’s open left eye and, like a giant tear, dripped out of the eye and down the cheek, running a thin rivulet of red paint, revealing bright blue underneath.

“Those damn NoSos! They should all be sterilized.”

“It's okay, honey, the thing is getting quieter now so I am sure it’ll be d- … done crying by the time we’re in bed.”

“It's just so damn hot in here with the windows closed. Will this heat wave never end?”