'Lords of the Land' #8
A 'Brooklyn Zoo' Story
Property Management
Lords of the Land
Bathed by dusk, tucked in by night, the sun retires for the day, fast alseep; sucking upon its thumb, drool around the mouth. Perched on earthen and mortar thrones, guardians of the nocturn watch under the cover of darkness for enemies and for dinner. Four men make their way up to Nostalgia from Hoyt along Warren like an arrow. Silent are their steps, quick, their pace. Nearer they draw. All, one with the night. Nearer. Their pace quickens, as their leader breaks into a gallop, pulling away. They keep step. Matsi and Fable approach Nostalgia, greeted by a makeshift sign, "closed indefinitely". They enter. As if by telepathy, Zoo and Redd take strategic positions; one at Nostalgia's threshold and the other on a stoop adjacent to the bookstore's side. They wait, readied; piercing eyes.
Floorboards groan and whine as the pair investigate Nostalgia. Breaking and entering through a shattered window pane at the store's front, light from a street lamp cascades across the back of Fable, illuminating a wolf with the words "BrookNaw Canines" in its jaws on a denim vest. Shifting shadows demand attention but get no play. Noses to the air, the duo's nostrils flare then deflate. Repeat. Continuing to scan Nostalgia, they wade through stacks and rows of books, and other merchandise. Movement in the basement shift the two from orange to red alert. Removing his vest, Fable tosses it on a pile of books. He advances. Snarls emanate from the pair. Pupils dilate, irises fade, feral eyes remain. Snarls give way to growls. Matsi pulls back. Extending his arm in front of Fable, Matsi retrains him. A large rat waddles up from the cellar to their feet. Lifting his foot then dropping it, Fable obliterates the rodent with a size 10 Timb. Blood splattering books and furniture.
Reconvening outside, the men disappear into the night without word and without trace. Matsi and Fable peel off, maneuvering up Court Street. Zoo and Redd turn onto Wyckoff.
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Ain't no rat like a dead rat... the four-legged and two-legged kind!