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Writer's pictureMark Sanders

Chapter 15: Ablaze

Blogtober 2023

Clarkton and Murphy drove north out of town and turned west onto Highway 60. The leaves were ablaze with red, yellow, and orange, the sure sign of the coming autumn as well as the advent of deer season.


Deer hunting was practically a religion in southeast Missouri, with schools letting out for a week, sometimes two, to let students hunt with their families. Murphy grew up in a family where getting a deer was the difference between eating meat or only having potatoes and beans for dinner. Many still lived the same way.


“We can’t cancel deer season,” Murphy said.


“We couldn’t if we tried,” Clarkton said. “The conservation department’s in charge of the hunt, and what are we going to tell them?”


“People depend on deer to feed their families,” Murphy said. “They’ll risk the danger no matter what they’re told.”


“That’s why we have to find this thing and stop it,” Clarkton said.


“Do you have any ideas how?”


“That’s where we’re going.”


They turned down a county road that led to a gravel road that ended in a chain blocking a dirt trail. Clarkton got out and removed the chain, then they drove down to a clearing that ended in a huge sinkhole.


“What’s this?” Murphy asked.


“Fracking operation,” Clarkton said. “They abandoned it last spring when it all collapsed beneath them.”


“I never heard about it.”


“The company hired me for security. We all had to sign an NDC.”


“Nightmare Deadly Creatures?”


“Yeah. Who knew?”


Photo credit Adobe Stock #855814

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