Moonshine Blues

By Larry W. Bumpus

Jessup Collins was at the still since before the sun came up. He had it fired up and was making some corn liquor. Jessup had been making ‘shine since he was a boy along with his daddy and granddaddy. The recipe had been perfected by Noah Collins, which was Jessup’s great granddaddy and handed down from father to son.

Making ‘shine was a tradition in the Collins family. It had been going on beginning with Jessup’s great-great granddaddy Josiah Collins. ‘Shine was in the Collins blood.  

It sure was hot that morning. It was September and it didn’t seem like the summer was ever going to go away. Summer had been hot. It made it even hotter out in the woods where there was no breeze blowing through the trees. 

He reached in his back pocket and took out his packet of Redman. He took a good amount and stuffed it between his cheek and gum. That was better. Nothing like a chew to wake you up in the morning. 

The fire was burning merrily and made it seem hotter. He was getting a batch ready for his weekly run to Barrington. There were some people there that appreciated the fine taste of his ‘shine and he had a reputation as having some of the best, if not the best, in the area. 

It was a matter of pride that he was meticulous and careful when he was at work. He wanted high dollar and got high dollar for his ‘shine. There were a lot of people who wanted that recipe. The Cable boys came to mind. They had a still about two miles from his and they made a piss poor product. Rumor had it they were once using an old car radiator in their still and it caused some people to get very sick from drinking their hooch. That was just one of the stupid things those boys did.  

Twice now they had attempted to spy on him and learn his technique. Problem was they didn’t know exactly where his still was and if you didn’t know you were never going to find it. 

Oh, they had tried following him but he got wise to that real quick. It was no problem losing them in the woods. He chuckled as he remembered their loud cursing when he lost them where the trees were thickest. Those boys didn’t know the woods like he did. Come to think of it, no one did. 

The part of the woods he was in was safe, he reasoned. He was far from the clearing and the shack where Long Tom was said to haunt. Not that he believed that drivel. His wife, Sarah, did though. She was all the time telling him to be careful. That woman listened to Mrs. Nelson too damn much.  

He was pretty sure that Mrs. Nelson knew what he did in the woods. Hell, she knew everything that went on in Harme’s Way. That woman had been the town gossip for as long as he could remember. 

When he happened to run into her, she always looked at him slyly. She knew. He knew she wouldn’t tell the town constable, Albert Godwin. Jessup chuckled. Not that it would do any good. He was a good customer. 

Jessup’s dad wasn’t out today. Arthritis was acting up something fierce. Jessup had told him last time to just stay at home and he would take care of operating the still. Wasn’t much of a two-person job anyway. 

Long about noon Jessup sat down on his stool and unpacked his lunch. Two fried bologna sandwiches and some chips. He would wash it down with some spring water. 

As he ate, he contemplated what he was going to do with the extra he had. He always had a gallon or two extra. Never failed. He would see if Albert Godwin wanted any. If not, he knew some high school kids who might like some. High school kids were good business around Halloween. They would be having a party up at the old Creech Hollow Mine. He would always manage to sell them some. With Jessup, it didn’t matter who he sold to so long as they had the money. 

It was getting close to dark when Jessup was ready to leave. He would get his truck in here in the morning and load up the ‘shine for his trip to Barrington. It was tricky getting the truck in there but he had done it numerous times. It sure as hell beat lugging it all the way back. 

That night over supper, Sarah said, as she passed the corn, “You hear anything in those woods at all?”

Jessup thought a minute and said, “Heard a few birds. That was about it. Why?”

“I just get nervous for you in those woods all day. No telling what is out there.” He sat down his fork. “Is this about that Long Tom nonsense again?”

“I don’t think it’s nonsense. Lots of people think he’s real.”

“You been talking to Mrs. Nelson again, haven’t you? That woman is such a busybody.”

Sarah protested. “She is not. She just knows a lot about what’s going on.”

“You mean nosey.”

“She says that Long Tom is real. Lots of people have seen him.”

He speared a potato with his fork. “Well, I ain’t seen him. Besides, all of that is over on the other side of the woods. I’m a ways from all that malarkey. Long Tom, if he is real, can stay up at that old shack of his. I ain’t bothering him and if he is real, he ain’t bothering me.”

The next morning, he was up before the sun. He roused his sleeping wife to make him some breakfast then pulled on his overalls. Today was the day he was going to make the delivery to Barrington.  He had some good customers in Barrington. People paid good money for his ‘shine. He wasn’t about to disappoint them. After all, he had a reputation to uphold. 

Over fried eggs, biscuits, and sausage gravy he told Sarah about what time he would be back. “I’ll be back sometime this evening. Never get back as early as I like. Them Peterson boys like to talk and their ma likes to feed you so don’t wait supper on me. I’ll probably get some food while I’m there.”

Sarah said, “Well, you keep an eye out for them State and County police. You don’t need to go to jail now. Just mind your speed and obey them traffic signs.”

Jessup stood and brushed the crumbs off his chest. “Sometimes you’re worse than an old woman.”

He was out the door before she could reply. 

Driving the truck up to the still was a tricky bit of business. Not for the first time, he debated about trimming some of the brush and trees back but then that would make his still easier to find. 

He had gone by his daddy’s house but the old man was still laid up with the arthritis. He wasn’t actually lying in bed. He was sitting in the rocker on the front porch. 

Nope. The old man didn’t feel up to going to Barrington. That was okay, though. Jessup could handle things by himself. He had done it before. 

The old man had been in the process of rolling a cigarette with his arthritic fingers. He had managed to get it done and get it lit by the time Jessup stepped up on the porch. 

“Naw, I reckon I ain’t gonna go with you, Son. Arthritis hurting too bad. Don’t know if I could make it to Barrington sittin’ in one position.”

Jessup replied, “That’s okay, Pop. Just thought I’d swing by on the way to the still to see if you wanted to go.”

“Sit down a minute, Boy. Take a load off before ya go.”

Jessup sat down on the steps. He wanted to get going and get to Barrington but he figured his Pop wanted to chat a bit. He hadn’t been over to see him in a few days and usually they were at the still together. 

“What’s on your mind, Pop?” he asked, getting him a chew of Red Man. 

The old man said, “I been thinkin’ we ought to raise the price of our ‘shine.”

Jessup replied, “Why you want to go and do that for?”

“Welp,’ He replied. “Our juice is pretty pop’lar. We been gettin’ requests for it from all over. Betcha we could make top dollar.”

“Don’t ya think if we do that our business would be going to them Cable boys?”

The old man laughed. “Them boys on Carver’s Creek got an inferior product. I’ve tasted it. It’s pretty rank. Besides, they’re white trash.” He looked at Jessup. “You be thinkin’ about that, boy. Give ya somethin’ to think about on your way to Barrington instead of listening to that godawful racket you call music.”

On the way to the still, Jessup cranked up the radio so he could hear it over the breeze coming in the open window. His truck had no air conditioning.  Creedence Clear Water revival, or CCR, was belting out Bad Moon Rising. It was one of his favorite songs. 

He slowed down when he got to the spot where he could drive his truck into Booger Woods. It would be slow going but it was worth it. He could load up his ‘shine and be on his way to Barrington.  With any luck, he might be back before it gets dark. 

There was no breeze at all in the forest. It was hot and humid. The only thing he could hear was the sound of his truck. Funny how you hardly heard any birds or seen any wildlife in these woods.

He didn’t believe the woods were haunted, like most folks. But there were some of the oddest-looking trees he had ever seen. All gnarled and crooked looking. Not at all like healthy looking trees. 

This was a perfect spot for the still though. No one would come looking for it. Not in Booger Woods. He doubted the stories would keep out the Cable boys though. 

There were three of them. The oldest, Lucius, was the ringleader of the group, followed by Tobias and youngest being William. William was only seventeen but as mean as a snake and they all were sneaky as cats. 

They had been after the recipe for as long as Jessup could remember. He knew they had been in the woods looking for his still. Not that they would find it. 

Lately, those boys had been staying either at their place out on Carver’s Creek or their still in the woods. 

His pop was right when he said their ‘shine tasted rank. He had tried it before. Those boys knew nothing at all about the filtration process or even flavoring their ‘shine. They had even used a car radiator in their still once. How stupid was that? It was a good way to get people sick or even kill them. It was no wonder they had a hard time selling their ‘shine.

Jessup and his dad took great pains with their product. They used the clearest spring water and the freshest ingredients. They even had flavors. This particular batch was strawberry flavored and they had used real strawberries. After all, they had a reputation to protect. 

When the still hove into view Jessup could see that something was wrong. Something was terribly wrong. 

The pot had been pushed over and the copper tubing was all over the place. The ‘shine that had been in jugs waiting to be delivered was scattered all about all over the ground. It had mostly dried in the heat.  

Jessup swore softly as he got out of the truck. He walked over to the pot and looked at it. It had a huge dent in the side. The copper tubing would all have to be replaced. It looked like someone found the still and tore it up.  He cursed again and kicked one of the empty jugs. 

He righted his stool and sat down. He had to do some thinking. The only thing he could come up with was the Cable Boys had found his still and run roughshod all over it. That had to be it. He knew they had been looking for it. Looks like they were the ones that did this. 

After a bit, Jessup stood up and kicked his stool. Two can play that game! He would just take a run over to Carver’s Creek tonight and see what he could do. 

Their still wasn’t actually on the creek. It was located on one of the tributaries that ran in Booger Woods. Still though, them boys lived on Carver’s Creek and he was going to pay them a visit. He was going to take along his twelve gauge for good measure. 

He had to go home and call the Peterson boys. He had to let them know he wasn’t coming. 

On the way home he stopped by his dad’s place to let him know what happened. He breathlessly told his dad what he had found. 

His dad’s ire lit up. “We’re going to have to pay them boys a visit! What you got in mind?”

He told his dad how he was going over tonight with his shotgun. 

The old man said, “That sounds good! I’ll get my gun and go with you.”

“You sure you’re up to it, Pop?”

“Damn right I am. We worked hard on that still. All that product down the drain. We need to fix those boys.”

Jessup told his dad he would be by to pick him up about ten that night. 

“There’s going to be a reckoning.” His dad said. 

When he got home, he told Sarah what had happened. 

“I knew it,” she said. “One of these days that was bound to happen. Are you sure it was the Cables?

He threw his hands up. “Who else could it be? They are the only ones that are any competition around here. Wait till I get my hands on them. They are going to pay!”

“Well, don’t you do anything foolish! Maybe you ought to let Godwin handle this.”

Jessup laughed. It was not a humorous laugh. “Godwin? He couldn’t find his ass with both hands and a flashlight! Besides, asking the constable to investigate my still being destroyed? That’s a laugh! Even if he is one of my best customers. Nope. I’ll take care of this myself.”

“What if it wasn’t the Cables? What if it was something else?”

“Something else?” he sneered. “You mean, like Long Tom?”

She nodded. 

“How many times do I have to tell you there ain’t no Long Tom. That’s just some ghost story to keep kids out of the woods. For the last time, there ain’t no Long Tom!” He picked up the phone. “Now, I got to call the Peterson’s.”

After supper, Jessup went to the barn. He had some copper tubing there and there may just be enough to repair the still. 

He found the tubing with little difficulty. There was just enough. He breathed a sigh of relief. At least he wouldn’t have to go to the hardware store and get it. Fixing the still wasn’t the hard part. The hard part was going to be making up the revenue they had lost. That had been three thousand dollars’ worth of ‘shine scattered on the ground. That was going to be hard to make up. He was going to have to truck some fresh supplies up there. He wished his dad was able to help him but with his arthritis flaring up he wouldn’t be much help. 

He debated about getting some of the high school boys to help him get his supplies up to the site but in the end nixed that idea. That would be all he needed. Angry parents coming after him. 

In the end, he decided that he would just do the job himself. That way it would at least be done right. 

He picked his dad up at ten o’clock on the button. One thing about him, he was pretty punctual. 

As they rode toward Carver’s Creek his dad checked the guns to make sure they were loaded. It wouldn’t do to get there and have to load weapons. Odds were they would hear them pulling up to the house. 

Jessup said, “I don’t want no shootin’ right away unless they shoot first. Kind of want to hear what them boys got to say first.”

“You think they didn’t do it?” Asked his dad. 

“I’m pretty sure they did do it. Just want to hear what they got to say first.”

“Well, all right then.” Said his dad, tossing his cigarette out the window. “We’ll listen. If I don’t like what I hear though them boys are going to pay! Damn Cable boys!”

“I hear ya, Pop. We just lost three thousand dollars’ worth of product. I called the Peterson boys today. They were understanding. Said if we needed any help with the Cables to let them know. I told them this ain’t nothing that a twelve gauge couldn’t fix.” He laughed without humor. 

Carver’s Creek was an east-west creek that ran through part of town. Not many houses on Carver’s Creek Road and the few that were there were pretty run down. Some of them even had broken down autos in the yard on cement blocks. It was a bad neighborhood. People didn’t take care of their houses or their yards. Most of them were probably on relief. 

Jessup drove into the yard of the darkened house.  From what he could see the house looked pretty much like the others. Badly in need of a paint job and a rickety porch. 

The yard was full of weeds and looked as though it had not been touched by a mower in a good while.  

On the side of the house was a rusted out ’75 Chevelle that might have once been white. It was up on blocks and the weeds were thick around it. 

The few trees were choked with kudzu. This house and property had been neglected for a long time. That was typical though. The Cable boys were white trash. 

Across the road was Carver’s Creek. This particular part of the creek was trash filled. There was even an old refrigerator on the bank. There were fish in the creek but not this part. The fish had long given up on this area of the creek. Too trash filled to support life. It’s a wonder the county didn’t make them clean it up. It would probably cost too much for the city to do it and Harme’s Way was a poor city. 

Jessup and his dad got out of the truck holding their shotguns. 

“Cables! Come on out! I want to talk to you!” Jessup called up to the house. 

Silence. 

He waited a few minutes and yelled, “I know you’re in there! I know it was you Cables that wrecked our still! Now you come out here or you’re gonna wish you had!” 

Silence.

Jessup had enough. He told his dad. “Cover me while I go open that door.”

The old man nodded and Jessup strode up to the house, climbed the rickety porch and pounded on the door. 

No answer. 

“Maybe no one’s home,” said the old man resting his shotgun across his arm. “Maybe they’re at Dale’s.” That was the local tavern. 

“I doubt it. Dale wouldn’t let William in. He’s only seventeen.”

“Well, their truck ain’t here.” He was referring to the rust bucket of a truck the Cable Boys drove.  

“Hmm. You’re right. Let’s wait for them.”

Jessup came down off the porch and they leaned up against the truck to wait. Hopefully, it wouldn’t be a long wait. 

After about forty-five minutes the old man said, “Maybe they are at their still.”

Jessup replied. “Doubtful. It’s pretty late. What do you say we go home and go out to their still tomorrow? They are sure to be there. If not, well, payback is a bitch.”

The old man cackled. “Okay, Son. That sounds like a good idea. Let’s get out of here. We can deal with those boys tomorrow.”

After dropping his dad off, Jessup drove home. He was thinking. He knew how to get to their still. He had found it once while squirrel hunting. Not that there were any squirrels to be had in that damned forest but that did not stop him from trying. 

Their still was a ramshackle affair. It had been sloppily built and the area around it was trashed; much like their house. Without a doubt, those boys were slobs.

He wouldn’t be surprised if there were hordes of cockroaches running around that house. 

Tomorrow they would go to the still. It was about a mile walk into Booger Woods and near the clearing. 

That clearing was odd. A clearing in the middle of the woods with only one tree in it and that tree was dead. No matter, it wasn’t the clearing he was after but the still. Like he said, if those boys weren’t there then payback was a bitch. 

The next morning, he got up with the sun and while Sarah made breakfast, he loaded up his truck with the copper tubing and other supplies he would need to get the still back to running. With any luck, he should have it operational by noon. Then he and his dad could go see the Cable’s at their still. 

He worked on the still until almost noon. At last, he had it back into shape. It wasn’t as bad as he had initially thought. Tomorrow, he would fire it up and get back into production.  

After picking up his dad the two drove up Grave’s Road until they came to a dirt trail. They left the truck on the side of the road and followed the trail. It had probably been made by some animals at one time but Jessup wasn’t sure where those animals were now. 

When the trail disappeared, they began walking through the trees. They kept an eye out for trip wires. They did not want to announce that they were coming. They both checked their shotguns to make sure they were loaded. 

You just don’t wreck someone else’s still and expect to get away with it. Doing things like that could get you killed. But as much as Jessup would like to do just that he knew he wasn’t going to kill them boys. Murder was the last thing in the world he wanted on his conscience.

The old man, on the other hand, had been involved in some shady stuff involving bootleggers. Rumor had it a revenue man had gone looking for his daddy’s still and had never come back. To this day his daddy claimed he had nothing to do with it but Jessup thought otherwise. He knew the old man had raided some stills in his time and tore them up. Got to keep the competition down. 

Jessup couldn’t help but notice that there were no birds chirping or flying about. Not that there were any in his part of the woods but it was odd there weren’t any here either. It reminded him of his attempt at squirrel hunting in this area. No squirrels either. 

His dad said, “Lets’ take a break. We’re almost there anyway. I don’t want to be tuckered out by the time we get there.”

Jessup was agreeable so they sat down and leaned against a large oak. They guessed that was what it was anyway. It was too gnarled and crooked to really tell. 

They didn’t talk. Voices could carry in these woods and they didn’t want to be heard. 

Jessup passed his dad the canteen and he drank thirstily. The water was a little warm but at least it was wet. 

After sitting for several minutes Jessup stood and helped his dad stand up. The still shouldn’t be that much further if Jessup remembered correctly. It was near a big, ugly tree that had branches that looked like a crouching spider. 

Just then the still hove into view. Or rather, what was left of it. If Jessup’s still had been damaged this one was destroyed. Pieces lay strewn and the pot was smashed almost flat. Pieces of copper tubing were laying here and there on the ground. There was even a car radiator laying there against the tree. 

It would have taken someone with some strength to have flattened that pot.

“What the hell happened here?” asked Jessup. “This place is way worse than what ours was.”

“Your guess is as good as mine,” said his dad, looking around. “Looks like whoever did it was pissed.” 

“More than that,’ replied Jessup. “He was teaching those boys a lesson.”

“Look!” the old man pointed at a spot next to the stream. Jessup went to stand by his dad and see where he was pointing. There it was. 

Blood. And a lot of it by the looks.

Jessup kneeled own to look at it closer. It was already drying and coagulating into a sticky red mess. 

“Wonder what happened here?” He asked softly.

The old man looked around nervously, as if expecting whatever did this to come out of the woods. 

“I don’t know but I think we ought to get back to the truck.” He said, fingering his shotgun. 

Jessup stood up. “I think you’re right. Come on, let’s go. We’ll figure this out when we get back home.”

They made the trek back through the woods until they found the trail. Both heaved a sigh of relief when they found it. 

It was easy going after that. They followed the trail and both were greatly relieved to see the truck. They had been looking over their shoulders the entire time. 

On the way back, Jessup was silent. He was thinking. What could have done that? Who could have done that? Was there someone new trying to make a name for himself in the ‘shine business? If so, who was it? 

As far as he knew he and the Cable boys were the only ones in Harme’s Way making the ‘shine. There were no others. None that he could think of anyway.

The old man broke the silence by saying, “Whoever did that had to be awful big and strong to do that to three healthy boys like that. Those Cable boys were tough. They sure as hell wouldn’t go down without a fight.”

“Yeah, but who? The biggest guy in Harme’s Way was Big John Torrance and he died three years ago. No way could it have been him.”

The old man was thoughtful for a minute then said, “If I didn’t know better, I would think old Long Tom did it himself.”

Jessup shook his head disgustedly, “You sound like Sarah now. She’s all the time telling me to watch out for Long Tom.”

“I said, ‘If I didn’t know better…’”

“You might as well have said you believe in him too. Tell you what I am thinking of doing. I am thinking of going up to that shack and prove once and for all that there ain’t no Long Tom!”

His dad turned to face him. “You going to go at night?”

“Nope. I’m going to go in the day. I don’t want to get lost. Easy to get turned around in these woods.”

“When you plan on doing this?”

“I don’t know. Soon maybe.”

“Welp,” said his dad. “You let me know when you go. That way if something happens, I can come and get you.”

Jessup laughed. “How are you going to come and get me?”

“Didn’t say I would go alone. Some of my friends would come with me.”

“Like who?”

“Jim Saunders and Pat Jameson for two.”

“They are as old as you!”

“Maybe so but they can still shoot.” The old man lapsed back into silence. 

After dropping his dad off he headed home. Did he really say he was going to go to that shack and see once and for all if there was a Long Tom?

What if there was a Long Tom and that was what wrecked his still and the Cable’s too?

Everyone knew the story of Long Tom Morris. Back in the 1800s he had kidnapped and had his way with several children from the surrounding communities then killed them. He had been caught in the act by the people of Harme’s Way and they had lynched him. Legend had it he was hung from the lone tree that stood in the clearing in Booger Woods. It is said they left his body hanging there until it just rotted and fell off. Now it is said his ghost roams the woods looking for the people that lynched him. 

Lots of folks in town believed that Booger Woods was haunted. Jessup had never seen or heard anything and he had been out at the still at night several times. Sure, the trees grew oddly and there wasn’t much, if any, wildlife about. 

The only spirits in those woods were the ones that came out of his still. That thought made him chuckle. 

That night he could not get to sleep. He had told Sarah what had happened and naturally she wanted him to get the constable. Godwin was probably three sheets to the wind by now and in no condition to do much of anything. Not to mention that it was night and it was a good way to get lost in the woods. Jessup didn’t think he could find their still at night. 

He kept wondering about the blood and what might have happened to the Cable boys. Part of him thought that it could not have happened to a nicer bunch of guys. The other part was wondering if they were even still alive. That had been a lot of blood. It even shook the old man up and nothing fazed him ordinarily. 

Sleep finally came to him and his dreams were colored with blood. 

The next day after a relatively sleepless night Jessup was at the still. Business was business after all and he needed to make some money. 

He sat and watched the fire burn merrily and the odor of sour mash began to permeate the air. This batch he was going to flavor with raspberries. He had bought some in Barrington the last time he was there and they ought to do the trick. 

The sun was shining through the leaves of the trees and it was already a hot one. Felt like it was in the nineties and it was only eleven thirty. 

He opened the sack lunch he brought and bit into a ham sandwich that his wife had made. While he ate, he thought about what he had found at the Cables’ still. 

The blood was the most disturbing thing. As much as he disliked the Cable boys, he had to think that they must have put up a good fight. Those three were tough boys. They would have put up a fight. Maybe they did and had their asses handed to them. That had been a lot of blood.

He had driven by the Cables’ house that morning and it was still dark and no sign of their truck. It didn’t look like those boys had been home. The nearest doctor was in Barrington and he seriously doubted that they went there. No, something had happened to those boys. 

He had not been just saying that he was going to go to that shack in the woods. He recalled some of the legends he had heard about Booger Woods. Like witches meeting in that clearing on Halloween for instance. He thought that was a lot of drivel and a lot of Mrs. Nelson talking.  That woman sure could talk up a story though. She was a believer in Long Tom that much was for sure. He thought that Long Tom was just a story to keep kids out of the woods so they wouldn’t get lost or to frighten them into good behavior. “Better be good or Long Tom will get you!” He chuckled at that. 

He had been going in these woods since he was a teen helping his pop with the still. He had never seen anything that would scare him. Sure, it was an odd place. The trees grew funny and there was hardly any wildlife but there weren’t any ghosts. 

If there had been ghosts, he would have seen them by now. The old man had never seen any either. Actually, they kind of liked the idea that the woods were haunted and that people believed that. It kept them from nosing around and getting into this still.

But someone had gotten into his still. The Cables too. He couldn’t help but wonder what would have happened if he had been there the night his still was trashed. Would there have been blood too?

Jessup had his shotgun with him. He had also set up his trip wires around the area so he would know if someone approached. He was taking no chances.  Whatever got the Cables wasn’t going to get him. 

He didn’t know what that was. He was on the fence thinking it might be someone new trying to muscle his way in to the ‘shine business here in Folsom County.  If that was the case, he wasn’t about to let himself be scared into moving his still out of Booger Woods. Nope. He was here first. Even before the Cable boys. This still had been here since the time of his great granddaddy. Of course, not all the original parts remained but it was still located here. Great Granddaddy Noah would be some kind of pissed if he knew that the still was to be relocated. He was staying. 

His mind turned to finding that shack. He had a general idea of the location. He had never been there but had heard from various people where it might be. He’d go there and see once and for all that there wasn’t anything there or anything in these woods. It was just an old shack after all. 

Jessup figured he would go look for it at the end of the week. That way he could get this batch of ‘shine made and get it to Barrington. The Petersons would be pleased. They would get their ‘shine and he would get his money. 

He sat back on his stool and finished his sandwich and drank his coke. It was actually a Sundrop but down South all sodas were called ‘coke’. 

That night over supper he told Sarah about his plan. She was nervous about him going into that part of Booger Woods. 

“What if you get lost?” she asked, as she passed him the gravy. 

“I’ll have my compass. Besides, it will be during the day so I can mark trees and find my way back.” 

“I don’t like the idea of you going to look for Long Tom.”

He swallowed a mouthful of mashed potatoes and said, “I ain’t going to look for Long Tom. I’m just going to see if those Cable boys are at the shack and try and find out who trashed my still. I don’t want to go through that again. That cost us some money.”

“What good’s money if you ain’t around to spend it?” She said.

Jessup put down his fork. “Sarah? You sound like an old woman. I’ll be fine. I’ve been hunting around there before. It will be no trouble.”

Sleep came easier for Jessup. He had even nodded off in front of the TV. It was good to have a plan. 

The Petersons were glad to get their ‘Shine and counted out three thousand dollars into Jessup’s hand. 

“I tell you what,’ said Jessup, pocketing his money. “You boys must have some good customers to be buying this much.” 

Danny Peterson, the older of the two, said “Can’t complain much, Jessup. We got some buyers for this that’s true but we’re going to drink our share of it too.” He laughed. 

David, the younger, said, “You get that mess sorted out yet about your still?”

Jessup told him what happened and what he found out. 

David whistled low. “You planning on going to Booger Woods alone?”

Jessup nodded. 

Danny said, “When ya going?”

Jessup said, “Thinking of going this Friday.”

Danny said, “Hell, we ain’t doing anything on Friday. Want us to come with you? I’d kind of like to see Booger Woods.”

David said, “Yeah, me too.”

“Well, if you boys want to come along, that’s fine with me.” He told them he was planning on going about noon. They said they would be at his house before then. 

On the way back to Harme’s Way Jessup had to admit he felt a bit better with the Petersons coming along with him. Now that he thought about it, the idea of going into that part of the woods alone made him a little nervous. Not that he was afraid or anything, far from it. It would just be nice to have some company and a couple more sets of eyes. Maybe they could find out what happened. He hoped so.

He fully expected to find the Cable boys dead. That had been a hell of a lot of blood that had been spilled and he was pretty sure it belonged to the Cables. The thought of them dead didn’t really bother him any. It was no great loss and besides, it eliminated some competition. Not that they were much competition anyway. 

He stopped by his dad’s on the way home and let him know what was going on. The old man seemed relieved that the Petersons were going along with him. He reminded him that he and his friends would be waiting to see they came out of Booger Woods. 

“If I don’t come by here by sundown on Friday you know we either got lost or something happened.” Said Jessup as he took a mason jar of sweet tea from his mom. 

“I don’t think you need to go that far in the woods,’ said his mom. “No telling what is in there.”

Jessup snorted. “You sound just like Sarah, Mom. Has she been talking to you?”

“It don’t matter,” she said, sitting down in her rocker on the porch. “You just mark my words; I think it is a bad idea to go off traipsing in those woods like you’re planning on doing.”

“Don’t worry yourself none, Ma. I ain’t going alone.” He told her about the Petersons coming along with him. “Which reminds me,” he dug into his overall pocket. I got something for you, Pop.” He gave his dad his half of the money. 

“You ain’t got to do that son,” his dad said. “I didn’t help with this batch.”

“Yeah, but you did with the batch that got destroyed. That’s your share. Take it.”

His dad put the money in his pocket. “Thank ya, Boy.”

Jessup slapped his knees, got to his feet and said, “I gotta get home to supper. I’ll see y’all later.”

That night over dinner he told Sarah that the Peterson boys were coming with him on Friday. 

“Well,’ she said. “I’m glad they are going with you but I still wish you wouldn’t go. What if something happens?”

He laughed. “Ain’t nothing going to happen. Besides, we’ll have our shotguns. Anything comes at us it’s going to wish it hadn’t.”

Friday came and the Petersons showed up at Jessup’s about eleven thirty. They were prompt, just like they said they would be. 

Sarah stood at the door watching as they all piled into Jessup’s truck, their shotguns in the gun rack. 

As they left, she waved and called out. “Y’all be careful and hurry back!”

The drive to Booger Woods was uneventful. Not a lot of people were out today it being so hot. 

Jessup was almost certain that Sarah was already on the phone with Mrs. Nelson. Why she felt that woman had to know everything was beyond him. Before you knew what was happening it would be all over town. 

He was surprised that no one had reported the Cable boys missing. Not that they were pillars of the community and be missed but you would think that someone would have told the constable. It never occurred to him that he should have told the constable. 

Not that Godwin would accomplish anything. He couldn’t tell his ass from a hole in the ground. Besides, he was most always drunk. He left most of the policing up to the County and the State. 

Jessup parked on the side of the road near the woods and they got out. To anyone watching it looked as though they were going hunting except it wasn’t squirrel season. 

Danny said, “Woo-wee! I always heard about these woods but never seen them. Pretty peculiar looking trees.”

Jessup said, “Yeah, they all look like this. Screwiest woods I’ve ever seen.”

“You think we’ll be able to find this shack?” asked David.

“I hope so. Based on what I’ve heard it is close to the clearing. I know where the clearing is. It’s’ not far from the Cable’s still, or where it used to be anyway.”

“Well, let’s get going before it gets even hotter.” Said Danny, putting some shells into his gun and wiping the sweat from his face. 

“Sounds like a plan,” said Jessup, also loading his gun. 

They entered the woods.  

It was slow going. The underbrush was thick and clung to their legs as they navigated their way through the trees. Where there should have been birds flitting through the trees and calling to each other there was only silence. 

“You’re right, Jessup,” said Danny after a while. “These woods are downright peculiar. Why the hell would you put your still out here anyway?”

Jessup grunted while pulling a vine that was wrapped around his leg away. “People don’t come out here. They think the woods is haunted.”

“I can see why,” said David, bringing up the rear. “Haunted by what anyway?”

Jessup recounted the story of Long Tom and that is ghost is said to wander the woods.

“Creepy story,” said Danny. “How much of it is true?”

“Well, there was a Long Tom and he was lynched for what he did to children but I don’t believe the ghost part of it at all. There’s no such thing.”

“What about the shack we’re going to?” asked David nervously looking behind him.

“That was Long Tom’s. I want to see if it is being used. I want to see if those Cable boys are hiding out there.”

“Think they are?”

Jessup shook his head. “I don’t know. With all that blood back at their still I’m not even sure they are alive anymore. Maybe we’ll find some answers at that shack.”

After walking for what seemed like hours they burst into a clearing.  It was roughly circular with a large dead tree offset from the center. The tree looked evil, even during the daylight. 

It was roughly in the shape of an open hand with fingers outstretched as if it was reaching for the sky. 

“Is that the tree Long Tom was hanged from?” Asked Danny.

Jessup said, “Yup. That’s the one.”

“Looks right out of a horror movie. Those old ones they show on Creature Feature.”

Jessup, who didn’t watch Creature Feature, grunted. 

As they got closer, they could see that the tree had long been dead. There were no leaves on the limbs and it looked as if a strong wind would knock it down. It stood about fifty feet tall and looked as if it had once been a maple tree. It had such a bizarre shape like the rest of the trees they had seen. Something about it just wasn’t right. 

David said, ‘That is one creepy looking tree. It could give a person nightmares.”

Danny looked at his brother and grinned. “You ain’t scared are you, Little Brother?”

David snorted in derision. “Scared? Nah! This place is just a little…peculiar.”

“Yeah,” agreed Danny. “I know what you mean.”

Jessup said, pointing in a general north western direction. “From what I have been told the shack is that way.”

If the clearing in the tree looked creepy in the daylight, Jessup wondered what it would look like at night. He wasn’t planning on being around to find out. He wanted to get to that shack, find out what was going on, and then get back. He wasn’t a very imaginative man but there was a feeling of disquiet and just plain wrongness in this neck of the woods. He had never felt it back where he had his still but he was feeling it now. 

He wondered if the Petersons were feeling the same thing. If they were they were keeping it to themselves. 

They crossed the clearing and reentered the woods. Jessup checked his watch. It was almost three. They had better hurry if they wanted to get out before night. He didn’t relish the thought of trying to find his way through this forest in the dark. 

He was glad to get out of that clearing. It would not have surprised him if something did come out of the woods then. The clearing left him with an eerie feeling. It was as if they were being watched. By whom, or what he didn’t know. But that feeling was there and it was strong. He wondered if Danny and David felt it.   

He almost thought of calling the whole thing off and going back the way that they came. But they had come too far already to do that. 

After walking for what seemed like another hour they found the shack. It had seen better days. It was leaning to one side and there was no longer any door. The one window had been long broken out and a tree limb grew out of it. There was a hole in the roof and the rest of the tree could be seen growing out of it. 

The shack looked as though it only had one room and had what looked like a lean-to on the right side. The tin roof was so rusty there were holes in it

David whispered, “That it?”

Danny said derisively, “Of course that’s it! What else could it be? Why are you whispering anyway?”

David shrugged. “I dunno.” He looked around. “It’s kind of a creepy place, ain’t it?”

Jessup said, “Yeah, It’s creepy all right.” He realized that he was working up enough nerve to go in the shack. 

Taking a deep breath, Jessup strode through the door way. After several seconds, the Petersons followed him. 

The inside of the shack was dark, with dapples of light coming in the holes in the roof. The tree was growing in the corner and looked as though it had been there a long time. There were spider webs here and there but no spiders. That struck Jessup as rather odd. 

The shack was devoid of anything that looked like furniture.  On the right side of the shack was a small door. It was part way open. 

Jessup walked over to the door and grasped the handle. He pulled the door the rest of the way open and peered in. It looked as though it had once been used to cook meals. There were the remnants of a fireplace. 

“Look!” said Danny, pointing into the corner of the lean-to. 

Jessup looked to where he was pointing and gasped. There, in the corner, was what looked to be a pile of rags.  

He went close. It was a pile of rags. He gingerly probed them with his shotgun. He picked up a rag with the barrel of his shotgun to examine it more closely. It was a shirt. It had once been a white t-shirt but it was stained a deep red and there were slash marks on the front. He hurriedly dropped the shirt and examined the rest of the rags. They were articles of clothing and looked as though they had been placed here recently.  There was no dust on them and they all had red stains and slash marks on them; even the pants.   

Jessup looked up at the Petersons and said, “What do you reckon happened?”

Danny said, “You think those clothes belong to the Cables?”

Jessup nodded. 

David said, “That looks like blood all over them and what’s with the slash marks?”

“You got me,” Jessup replied, dropping the shirt that was on the end of his gun. “Looks like those Cables ran into some big trouble.”

Danny said, “Yeah, but what could have done that? You reckon they were attacked with knives?”

“Certainly looks that way. Then whoever did it dumped their clothes here.”

“Yeah, but what about the bodies?” Asked David, looking back toward the door.

“You got me,” said Jessup, kneeling down. “Come here. Does that look like tracks to you?” He was pointing to some odd shapes in the dust. They could be footprints but they were big.

“Awful big,” said Danny, kneeling besides Jessup. “I reckon they could be but whatever made them has some really big feet and wasn’t wearing any shoes.”

“I think maybe we ought to get out of here. Let the County handle it.” said David. 

“What are we going to tell them?” Asked Jessup, standing. “That my still got trashed and I thought the Cables did it? That I came out here looking for them?” He went to the doorway. “Whoever or whatever did it is using this place for a hideout, maybe. Maybe they will come back.”

“You want to wait for them?” asked Danny.

Jessup shook his head. “Not now. It’ll be dark soon. I say we go back home. I got some old traps I can lay around this place and get him. That way we won’t have to wait for him. Let the traps do the work.”

“You know?” said David. “That’s not a bad idea. When you plan on putting them out?”

“Lessee, I got to get an order ready for Clovis Peak. That’s going to take a few days. I guess maybe next Friday. You boys think you’ll want to come along?”

Danny and David nodded assent. 

The sun was low in the sky when they got back to the truck. 

Jessup wasn’t going to admit it too the Petersons but he was relieved to be back. The whole time they were walking back he had the feeling that they were being watched. It was like they were being followed in the woods. Several times he had looked back but saw nothing. He was glad the Petersons had been with him. 

He dropped them off at their truck and went to his dad’s to let him know he had made it back. 

After he told his dad what had happened his dad gave a low whistle. “Sound like something is afoot in them woods. You really think those traps are going to do anything?”

Jessup took out a chew of Redman and put it in his mouth. “I don’t see why not. Those traps I got are pretty strong. I’ll just set them around the shack and then go check in a few days and see what’s what. Who knows? I may just catch the bastard.”

That night in bed, he lay there thinking about the day’s events. He had made his mind up and was going to take action. He was going to get that Clovis Peak order ready then go set the traps. The Petersons were coming with him so he would have some help setting the traps.  

After he had got home, he went to his shed to look for them. There were five and they were the kind of traps meant to bring down a bear. They were a little rusty and the mechanisms needed oiling but they should do the job. 

He was bound and determined to catch whatever messed up his still and killed the Cables. 

It was no doubt that they were dead. Whatever did it had to have been big. It took on three big boys and looked as though it didn’t have a problem doing it. Then there were the footprints, if that was what they were, in the dust. They were big. Bigger than his feet and he wore a size twelve shoe. 

He could not wait to get those traps laid. He was glad he would not be alone. He thought back to when they were in the woods. Were they really being watched? He could not let go of that feeling. It had been a strong feeling. It almost made him feel as though they were trespassing when they were in the woods. 

The deep breathing of Sarah in the bed next to him told him she was asleep. He had not told her of the feeling of being watched. She was a little shaken when he described the clothes they had found and did not want him going back there. He had told her his mind was made up and he was not going to change it. She begged him to be careful. She was also glad the Petersons were going along and that he would not be alone. 

Thursday evening Jessup delivered the ‘shine to Clovis Peak. He had a buyer there, who much like the Petersons, also sold to local customers. Jessup didn’t mind this. He demanded and got top dollar for his ‘shine. What was done with it afterwards was of no concern of his. 

This delivery had netted him two thousand dollars. He was going to split it with his dad. His dad’s arthritis had been better and he had helped down at the still that week. 

Surprisingly, there had been no further incidents and his still had not been messed up anymore. That had been a good thing and he had remarked on that to his dad.

His dad had told him that maybe they had put a scare into it with the guns and the Petersons with him. He had also suggested that Jessup let the whole thing go and chalk it up to experience.    

He was not about to let it go. He had already oiled the traps and they worked like a charm. He was going to catch somebody…or something.  

Jessup figured with the three of them they could manage to carry the traps back to the shack. They weren’t that heavy. It should be no trouble. They were all big men. 

Friday morning the Petersons pulled into his driveway at eleven thirty. “Hey Jessup!” Dav id called to the house. “We’re here!”

They helped Jessup gather up the traps and put them in the bed of Jessup’s pickup. They put the shotguns in the gun rack and pulled out of the driveway and were on their way. 

They parked in the same spot on Grave’s Road. Jessup left the truck running and turned to the Petersons. 

“This is it,” he said. “Anybody want to back out, now is the time.”

“What are we waiting for?” asked Danny, opening the passenger door. “Let’s get to it.”

Jessup turned to David. “How about you, Dave? You in?”

David nodded and got out of the truck behind his brother. 

Jessup was pleased. With their help he would get the traps laid in no time.  They could come and check them out on Saturday and see what they caught, if anything. 

Jessup was banking they were going to catch someone or something. That thought kept occurring in his mind. Some thing. What could it be? He still thought that it was some overgrown man they were going to catch but a small part of him wondered. What if it wasn’t a man? He refused to believe in Long Tom but what if it was something else?

He shrugged. They would soon find out. 

The trek through the woods was no easier than it was before. Brambles and vines and small limbs from bushes grabbed and tugged at their legs and lower body as they made their way through the trees.  

The Petersons were cursing and it was getting on Jessup’s nerves but he didn’t say anything. Can’t say he blamed them. The brambles hurt and twice he had been hit across the face with a bush branch. This was getting ridiculous. He was almost ready to give up and head back to the truck when they broke into the clearing. 

Jessup looked up at the blue sky. It had no hint of clouds. It was good to see it again after being hidden by the trees. High up he could see a plane flying overhead and briefly wondered where it was going. 

David put down the traps he was carrying and said, “How about a break? These damn traps are killing my shoulders.”

Jessup replied. “That sounds good. Let’s take five.”

They sat down on the wild grass and weeds and Jessup got out his Redman tobacco pouch and put a chew in his mouth. 

Danny wondered aloud. “Do you think these traps are going to catch anything? What are we trying to catch anyway?”

Jessup replied. “What do you mean?”

“Well, we know something wrecked your still and the Cable’s still and might have done them some serious harm.”

“Yeah?”

“So, what if it ain’t human?”

“Don’t tell me you’re starting to believe in that Long Tom nonsense!”

Danny looked down at the weed he had plucked out of the ground. “There’s a lot of weird things said about Booger Woods. We even hear about it up in Barrington.”

“Well,” said Jessup, spitting. “Don’t get your panties in a bunch. I’m sure whatever we are after is human. If it’s not, well, it ain’t going to feel too good with one of them traps around its leg.”

He stood up and brushed off the seat of his pants. “Come on, let’s get going. I want to be out of her before dark.” 

They gathered the traps and began crossing the clearing. Jessup remembered where the shack was and didn’t think he would have any problems finding it. He took some pride of being able of find his way in the woods. 

The shack hove into view after pressing their way through some thick brambles that grew under some odd-looking trees.  

They stood there a moment then David said, “Let’s get these traps placed and get out of here. This place gives me the creeps.”

Instead of giving him a hard time, Danny said. “That’s a good idea. Let’s get it done.” He looked at Jessup. “How do you want to do this?”

Jessup stood there a moment, thinking. At last, he said, “I think to place some in front of the door as well as the walk up to it.” He kicked the weeds. “These weeds will do a good job of hiding the traps. Maybe we can also put one underneath the clothes that we saw.”

Danny said, “Sounds good.”

Jessup put his traps on the ground and realized something. He had not had that feeling of being watched. The last time he had felt it almost as soon as they entered the woods. Now he didn’t feel it. He shrugged his shoulders and put it down to nerves the first time. 

He watched as the Petersons set the traps and went inside the shack to place one under the clothes they had found.  

The clothes were still there where he had left them. He set the trap and covered it. He smiled with satisfaction. It didn’t look like there was anything under there. 

He took a quick look around but nothing seemed different than when he was here last. 

After exiting the shack, he was careful where to step. Everything was set. Now all they had to do was leave and wait. 

After getting home and seeing the Petersons off he went inside. Sarah was sitting on the sofa watching her afternoon shows. 

He told her, after sitting down in his recliner, “The traps are all set. All we got to do now is wait. I told the Petersons we would go check them on Sunday.”

She said, without turning from the TV, “What are you going to do if you catch something?”

“Ain’t ‘something,’ He retorted. “It’s a ‘who’. I’m pretty sure that whoever it is is not going to be in a good mood when he steps in one of those traps and those teeth sink into his leg.” He cackled.

She replied, “Still and all, you be careful out in those woods. That place ain’t right and you know it. I’ll be glad when you get out of that part and go back to the still.”

“The still ain’t safe anymore. You know that. It got busted up once. I need to check on it tomorrow to make sure it didn’t get busted up again.” He took out his Redman pouch and took a chew.

“I wish you would move that still closer to home. Like in the barn.”

“I don’t want to have it in town. Too risky.”

“How so?” She asked. “You worried about Godwin?” 

He laughed. “Hell no! Godwin ain’t the one I’m worried about. The County comes through here from time to time. You know that. I don’t need them nosing around my property.”

“Just the same. I wish you wouldn’t have that still in Booger Woods.”

Saturday morning came and Jessup was up with the sun. He pulled on his overalls and woke Sarah up. 

“I’m going to check on the still now. How about having breakfast ready when I get back. I won’t be gone long.”

She drowsily responded, “It’ll be ready for when you get back.”

The drive out to the still was uneventful. He didn’t see anyone out and about this time of morning; especially on a Saturday. 

He hoped that nothing was wrong with the still. He needed it next week for when he and his dad made another batch. Part of this batch was going to Godwin. Godwin was one of his best customers. Jessup gave him a discount. Nothing like having the town constable owe you one. He chuckled at that thought.  

He had been supplying Godwin with ‘shine for years. He was pretty sure he was an alcoholic. 

Jessup didn’t drink that much. He tasted his recipe to make sure it was good but he didn’t sit and guzzle it. They ought to take a little ‘shine out to the shack and have something to drink when they get there. That sounded good. 

The still was exactly as he left it. He made sure the trip wires were still in place and made a mental note to bring the truck up to the still next time and bring some firewood. He was getting low. 

He sat down on his stool to rest a few minutes before heading back to the truck. He was thinking about the Cable boys. He didn’t like them a bit but he would not have wished what had happened to them on anyone. He no longer had any competition though. Not that they were much to begin with. Those boys took no pride in their product. 

It was quiet in the woods. The only sound was the stream bubbling and trickling along the rocks. There was good water in that stream. He used it to make his ‘shine. Not for the first time he wondered where it originated. Maybe a hole in the ground somewhere? Maybe somewhere a man has never been? Maybe someday he would track it back to its source. 

He shook his head. These thoughts were not getting him anywhere. He stood up and began the walk back to his truck. His stomach was rumbling and he wanted breakfast. 

He spent the day just lounging around the house. He wondered if his traps were sprung and was looking forward to checking them on Sunday. 

By now the word had gotten around Harme’s Way that something had happened to the Cable boys. Jessup speculated that a lot of that had to do with that Mrs. Nelson. Sarah had probably run her mouth to that gossip over the phone and just like that, it had spread all over town. 

No matter. He was going to find some answers tomorrow and if nothing else, the County could go in the woods looking for them. Not that they were going to find them. Jessup suspected that something had happened to the bodies. Could be they were buried. But if that were the case, why take their clothes off? It was a puzzler. 

Sunday arrived and with it the Petersons. They pulled into Jessup’s driveway about ten o’clock.   

Jessup stepped out on the porch. “You boys are early.”

Danny said, after getting out of the truck, “Yeah. Kind of want to see if we caught anything.”

His brother, David, slammed the truck door and laughed. “Kind of? You’re chomping at the bit.”

Danny laughed. “Welp, I just want to see what we caught. It was a lot of trouble lugging those traps through those woods. I want it to be worth it.”

Jessup chuckled. “Me too. I want to have caught something, even if it is just a rabbit. Leastways I know there is something in those woods.”

David said, “There is something weird about that place. No birds and I didn’t see any animal tracks.”

Jessup said, “There have never been birds around for as long as I can remember. Don’t know why they stay away from those woods. About the only thing I have heard in there were whippoorwills.”

Danny said, “Welp, are we going or just going to sit her talking all day?”

They loaded their guns into Jessup’s truck while he went inside. When he came out, he was carrying a jug. 

“What’s that?” asked David. 

Jessup held it up to the sun. “Just some of the best corn liquor you ever tasted.” He grinned. “I thought we might get thirsty and have a little sip or two after we check the traps.”

Danny grinned. “Now that’s more like it. Glad to see someone is thinking.”

The woods were hot. It was in the upper 80s but no breeze was stirring.

They walked down the path in silence occasionally swatting at the flies that seemed to come out of nowhere and bite them. 

“Damn!” said David, taking off his baseball cap and wiping the sweat from his brow. It was a Tennessee cap but the orange was dull and fading and dirty from years of wear and tear. “What do these flies eat when they can’t find somebody?”

Jessup said, swatting at the flies in front of his face. “I dunno. Maybe each other?” Where had the flies come from and why didn’t they see them before?

“Welp,” said Danny. “They must eat something. They’re nature’s garbage men.”

Jessup laughed. He had never heard flies described like that before.

The trail gradually disappeared and they began walking through the trees and brush.

Weeds entangled their legs and cockleburs stuck to their pants cuffs. The sun shone through the thick leaves of the trees and cast dapples of light on the forest floor. It would almost be pleasant if it were not for the heat and the undergrowth and the swarms of flies. 

Jessup cursed as he removed cockleburs from his pants. They stuck to him and seemed to stick right through the fabric and into his legs. 

Danny said, “We ought to be to that clearing pretty soon. This is getting real old real quick.” 

Jessup grunted. “Should be just ahead. Ought to be seeing it any minute now.”

Jessup stepped into the clearing and heaved a sigh of relief. Here they could take a break and maybe have a little of the corn liquor. 

They walked toward the tree that was almost in the center of the clearing. 

David remarked how ugly it was. “That has got to be the ugliest tree I have ever seen. I thought the trees in the woods looked bad but this one takes the cake.”

Jessup said, “Yeah, it’s ugly all right.”

“You know?” said Danny as he sat down and leaned against the tree. “Your little town is strange. You got Booger Woods and Long Tom. Who knows what else is lurking right around the corner?”

“Yeah,” said David, plopping down next to Danny. “Barrington has nothing like that. Not even a haunted house. Y’all got all the weirdness.”

Jessup opened the jug and grimaced as he took a sip. “That stuff is strong! Whadaya mean ‘all the weirdness’?”

“Look around you,” David gestured as he took the jug. “Look at these trees! Look at how there are no birds or wildlife around. Nothing but damned flies.” He waved his hand in front of his face. “Damn, that is strong!’ he said as he wiped his mouth on his sleeve. 

Jessup said, “Told ya. Booger Woods has always been like this. Don’t know why the trees don’t grow right. Must be something in the soil. 

“I remember my pa telling me that Booger Woods was this way even when he was a kid. It’s always been this way.”

Danny took the jug and took a sip and grimaced. “It’s creepy is what it is. I don’t see how you keep a still in this place.”

Jessup laughed. “It’s about seven miles from here.”

“Just how big is Booger Woods?”

Jessup took the jug and said, “I don’t rightly know. I know it is real big though. Supposed to be a swamp somewhere in it but I’ve never seen it.” He took a drink and stood up. “We better get going. I want to get out of here before dark.”

“Yeah, I guess we better,” said Danny as he and David stood up. “Wonder if we caught anything?”

“I hope so,” said Jessup as they began walking across the clearing. The grass wasn’t that high in the clearing. It came up midway to Jessup’s knee. He was just glad the cockleburs were gone. He hated those things with a passion. That’s why he always wore work boots. But they still stuck to the cuffs of his pants. At least it wasn’t his socks. 

It wasn’t long before they got to the shack. Even in broad daylight it looked creepy. Jessup wasn’t about to tell Danny and David that. 

They carefully walked up the path looking for the traps. At last, they saw one. Jessup gasped. It had been sprung but there was no blood. There was nothing. Further up there checked another. Same thing.  

Jessup scratched his beard. “What do you fellas think of that?”

David said, “Something sprung them. That’s for sure.”

“Yeah, but what?” asked Danny as he bent down and picked up the trap.

“Well, whatever done it knew enough not to step in them. I’m going to check the one inside.” 

Jessup headed to the sagging opening that used to be a doorway. In the lean-to was the last trap. It had been sprung also and the clothes that it had been hidden under were scattered around the floor.   

Jessup exclaimed, “I’ll be damned! Whatever it was knew enough to look underneath that pile of clothes!”

Danny hunkered down to examine the trap. Nearby was a broken stick. “Looks like that is what he used to spring the trap.” 

“It’s too damned smart for its own good!”

David asked, “What do you want to do?”

“I think we ought to stay and see if he comes back. Then we’ll get him!”

Danny checked his watch. “It’s still early. Won’t be dark for a while. That sounds like a plan.” He sat down to wait. 

The others followed suit and David said, “Why don’t you break out that jug?” 

Jessup awoke. His head ached. Beside him lay the empty jug. He sat up and looked around. It was night. He roused the sleeping Danny and David. “Come on! Get up! It’s dark!”

With a groan David sat up. “That hooch was strong!” He got up as Danny sat up.

“Oh man! My head hurts.” Said Danny as he stood up. He looked around. “We must have been out for a while. Anyone got a flashlight?”

“Yeah,” said Jessup. “Back at the truck.”

“Why the hell did you leave it back there?”

“Look! I didn’t think we were going to be here after dark.” He squatted and then said, “We got two options. Stay here till light or try to get out of here in the dark.”

David said, “Neither one of them sounds good.”

Danny was feeling around on the floor. “I can’t find my shotgun. It was right next to me.”

Danny began looking for his. “I can’t find mine either. How about you, Jessup?”

Jessup felt around but could to find his gun. “Mine is gone too. So is my pistol.”

“What the hell happened to them?” Asked Danny.

Jessup said, “Someone took them. That has to be it. Someone came in here while we were passed out and took them.”

“You think so?” said David.

“What else could it have been?”

David was silent. 

“Welp,” said Danny. “If we’re voting, I say we get the hell out of here. There’s a full moon tonight so that will help.”

“Sounds good to me,” said Jessup. How about you David?”

“I think it’s a good idea. Let’s just get the hell away from here and back to the truck.”

“Let’s go then.”

They gingerly made their way out of the shack. They left the traps in a heap by the doorway. They weren’t going to try and take them back now. Jessup didn’t really use them, they just hung on his barn wall for decoration. 

The moon was out but clouds were coming in. Jessup cursed their luck. With the moon behind the clouds, it was going to be darker than hell and hard to find their way. 

They began to make their way through the forest with Jessup in the lead, Danny in the middle and David bringing up the rear. 

That had been walking for about thirty minutes. It was rough going. The moon had gone behind the clouds and it made it hard to see where you were going. Three times Jessup had run into a tree. They were making very slow progress. At the rate they were going it will be well into the morning when they got back to the truck.   

David said, in almost a whisper, “It sure is creepy out here without a light.”

Jessup replied, “I don’t know about creepy but you can’t tell which direction you’re going. Maybe we should have stayed at the shack till morning.” 

“Too late for that now. I don’t think we could make it back to the shack. I think we’ll be lucky to make it to that clearing.”

Danny said, bringing up the rear, “You can’t see your hand in front of your face. How are we going to make it out of here?”

Jessup said, “Quiet! I can’t hear myself think. We ought to be getting close to the clearing. I figure once we get there we ought to stay till morning.”

David said, “There is still the problem of our guns. Who took them and where is he now?”

Jessup said, “I don’t know. I figure on worrying about that once we get out of here and back to the truck.” 

David replied, “Maybe we ought to worry about it now. He could be hunting us with our own guns.”

“Yeah, Jessup,” chimed in Danny. “We’re already in a helluva mess. That would just add to it.”

Jessup turned around and stared into the darkness. “Well, what do you suggest we do? Go look for him?”

“Kind of hard to do that. So damn dark and the moon has gone behind the clouds.” 

Jessup replied. “Then we stick with my plan. Get to the clearing and wait for the sun to come up.”

As they continued Jessup tried to fight the wave of panic that threatened to take over. They were seriously lost right now and he wasn’t even sure they were headed it the right direction. Twice now he had run into a tree. He didn’t want to panic. That would probably set off the Peterson boys in a panic too. Best try and keep a level head. Though it was hard to do. 

If Booger Woods was creepy in the daylight, it was definitely not a place you wanted to be at night. It was dark. No moon to shine its light and not even a trail to follow. 

Jessup cursed his luck. He should never have brought that jug. They could have been out of here before it got dark if they had not started drinking. 

What if they couldn’t find the clearing? He had a pretty good idea how to get out of the woods from the clearing, but they had to find it first and at the rate they were going they were not going to find it. 

“Hey!” David called in a whisper. “Stop a minute!”

Jessup turned and said, “What’s wrong?”

David moved up closer to Danny. “Thought I heard something.”

“Yeah? What did it sound like?”

“Like someone stepped on a stick and it broke. It sounded like it came off to the right.”

Danny said, his voice a little shaky, “Let’s keep moving so we can get the hell out of here.”

It felt as though they were moving at a snail’s pace. Having to move around trees and brambles. Jessup kept hoping they would not run into any poison ivy or poison sumac. Then he realized that was the least of their problems. 

They had a difficult time moving on one consistent direction. Twice now Jessup was unsure of the direction they were going. For all he knew they had gotten turned around as they scramble around trees. It was slow going and due cursing coming from the Petersons. He could hear the frustration in their voices and the fear. They were all big men and they were scared. If Booger Woods was scary during the day it was terrifying at night. Normally at night in the woods you would hear night birds and animals. These woods were dead silent. That made it even worse.  The silence was like a physical entity. It was thick and oppressive. 

Jessup looked up again at the night sky. There was no break in the clouds. He couldn’t see the moon or the stars. Damn! Of all nights to be cloudy it had to be this one. He was sure he could find his way back to the road if he could only see the moon or even the stars. It was like a black and grey curtain had been drawn and covered everything. 

The Peterson boys were no help at all. Amidst all their cursing and complaining they knew very little about being out in the woods at night. Especially these woods. Hell, come to think of it, no one knew these woods in the day or in the night.  

“How much further?” Groused Danny, pushing away a branch that had smacked him in the face. 

“How the hell do I know?” Said Jessup as he strained to see ahead of him. “I can’t see my hand in front of my face.”

David interrupted them, “I heard it again!”

“Heard what?” Asked Jessup, trying to keep the fear out of his voice. 

“Off to the right of us. I heard a stick snap.” Jessup could hear the fear in his voice. 

Danny told his brother, “Just calm down. Maybe it was an animal.” 

David replied, trying to calm himself. “Since when have you seen or heard an animal in these woods? There ain’t any birds either.” 

Danny was silent. 

Jessup tried to keep the panic from rising in him. If he could keep his head, they could get out of this. He mentally cursed himself again and again for bringing that ‘shine with him. What was he thinking? Of all the stupid things he could have done it had to be that. 

“There it was again!” Said David, panic creeping into his voice. 

This time they had heard it also. 

Jessup said, “Let’s pick up the pace and get the hell out of here.”

The trees and brambles prevented them from going any faster. The trees were so close together that is slowed them down as they tried to go through them.

Time and time again Jessup wished that the clouds would part and the moon would come out. It was so dark and they had no light. It didn’t help matters either that something seemed to be following them off to the right. Periodically they would hear a stick break as if something stepped on it crushing it with its weight. 

Jessup could tell the brothers were beginning to panic. Danny kept bumping into him from behind and cursing under his breath. This did not help his own panic. “Dammit Danny! Quit following so close!” He nearly shouted. 

“Move your ass then! This is taking longer than it took to get here!” Danny said in a shaky voice. The whole experience had unnerved him. 

Jessup ignored him. He was wondering that whatever took their guns knew what they were. They were helpless and defenseless now and maybe that was just what it wanted.  

When did he start thinking that it was an ‘it’? What if it was someone? He wracked his brain trying to think of who it might be. Was it the Cable boys? He squelched that idea pretty quickly. There had been way too much blood at their still site.

His mind went back to his wife and the things she had said in the past about Booger Woods. He knew she had heard a lot from Mrs. Nelson about the woods but he thought it was all a lot of talk and stories. What if they weren’t stories but actually true? He felt the panic rising in him and tired to push it back down. He imagined all sorts of horrible things. 

“Come on!” He hissed. “Let’s get the hell out of here!”   

From the back, David gasped. They turned and he was gone. They could hear something being dragged into the darkness and then a loud scream. It was David. 

Danny cried out, “David!”

There was another scream. “Run!” The he was choked off. 

Danny didn’t want to leave David but Jessup grabbed him by the arm and said, “We can’t do anything for him! It’s too late! Run!” 

They tried to run but were hampered by the trees and undergrowth. At times it slowed them down to a crawl. 

Jessup could hear Danny crying but he knew there was nothing they could do. Whatever got David finished him off pretty quickly and David was a big man. He tried to say something to Danny over his shoulder but there was no response. Stopping, he turned and realized that he was gone. He thought Danny had gone back for Daivd and then he heard a scream. It came from further in the woods and he knew whatever got David had also taken Danny.  

In full panic mode now, he began running. He ran into trees but that didn’t slow him down. He pushed his way through the undergrowth that wrapped around his legs. Jessup no longer knew which direction he was going. He was turned around and had lost his way, ‘

Whatever had taken the Peterson boys was no longer trying to be stealthy and quiet. He could hear it following him. It was crashing through trees and brush like it wasn’t even there. 

He picked up his pace, a low moan leaving his lips. He knew he was in bad trouble. 

He almost tripped when his feet became mired in mud. Then he was up to his ankles in water. The swamp! He had blundered into the swamp that was said to be deep in the woods. He had got turned around and they had only been going deeper into the woods. He could hear splashing in the water behind him so he hurried forward, the water getting deeper. Soon, the water was up to his thighs and getting higher. He was struggling to make it through the water. He got to the point where he had to swim. Her couldn’t see the water but it smelled foul. 

He ran into a log sticking out of the water and struggled to climb on to it. Something was tangled around his legs and he realized that he was caught in underwater vegetation. He tried to kick free but it made it worse. He could not get out of the water and it was pulling him down. His exhaustion prevented him from being able to pull himself out of the water. He was losing his grip on the log. He tired to get some purchase but the log was too wet and smooth. 

He looked behind him in time to see the full moon break free from the clouds and illuminate a large dark shape that stood there watching as the black water sucked him down. Before he went under, he heard what sounded like laughter. 

The creature stood there a moment. It watched the spot where Jessup went under.  Slowly, it turned and lumbered back the way it came. 

By Larry W. Bumpus