To Journey's End Part Six

        Sam had never tried to deliberately deceive a search party before but this was a man’s life at stake. “Red, looks like we’re going to be laying a trail away from the river.” After leaving his home, he had stopped and gotten some hog ribs and a few other pig parts and wrapped them in the clothing Todd had been wearing. As he wrapped up the ribs, he saw the stains on the cuffs of Todd’s shirt where his wrists had been weeping, it strengthened his resolve. He headed out to place where he had found Todd and crossed the bridge moving northeast until he reached the bayou. He had put some of the clothing around Red and they had moved in a pattern similar to a man, stumbling and disoriented until they stumbled on a group of alligators basking on the bank of the bayou. “Okay Red, stay back.”

Sam picked up a large branch and hung the pants on one end. The pig legs stuffed inside had begun bleeding as they were beginning to thaw. With just one shoe dangling from the foot of the jeans he approached the largest reptile and held the slacks out as an offering. Sam wasn’t prepared for the force of the leap as the reptile lunged for the food it smelled. The snap of it’s mighty jaws broke the branch like a twig and it began gnawing on the treat; soon it was in a fight with a second reptile and the jeans were torn asunder. Seeing several other alligators headed where they smelled meat he flung the shirt wrapped ribs and watched as they too began to shred and devour both the clothing and the meat. It had become a feeding frenzy, and Sam hauled Red out of the way before the gators decided they wanted something even fresher.

After shedding his dirty clothes and stuffing them in the duffle bag in the back of his jeep, he pulled his uniform on and with Red along, headed to meet the group waiting for him in the school gym.

Arriving at the gym, he saw the regular searchers waiting for instructions.

“Hey Sam. Where you been? I thought this search was supposed to start a half an hour ago,” hollered Eli. “What happened to you?”

“I had a flat tire that needed changing, sorry for the delay. Okay this is what we’ve got. A man went missing a couple of nights ago, according to his friends the man is distraught over the death of his family. Here’s his description and this is the area we’ll be searching.”

“You know it’s already been two days, Sam. We’ve had a lot of rain in the last two days and if he was out in the bayou area there’s no tellin’ what he could’ve run into.”

“I know Eli, but we have to try. Gather around people this is the area we’re looking in.” He pulled out the map he had been looking for earlier and showed the group the area. “Jerry” had said to look. “ His pals are supposed to be out there searching now. So keep an eye out for them. A tall black guy and a shorter, stockier white guy. They’re out of their league out there, but they said they were careful. I just hope they don’t run into trouble, too.” Sam divvied up the area, sending a dog with each group. “Okay, we’ve got about 4 hours of good daylight to work with but we’ll work until almost sunset. Everybody agreed. I told his friends They’d have to wait until tomorrow once the sun goes down. Maintain contact with the walkie-talkies and let us know if anything is spotted.”

The group headed out and the rest of the afternoon was spent searching for their missing man. It was nearing sunset when Sam and his group encountered ‘Jerry’ and his friend.

“Sheriff, I’m hoping you have some good news for me. Kent and I haven’t had any success, and I’m getting worried for our friend.”

“My men and I have searched this whole area from the river and back and so far there has been no sign of your friend, but there are three more groups out there working. Hopefully, someone will come up with something soon. Since it’s getting close to dark, I suggest you and your friend remain with us for the rest of the search. We don’t need to have to go looking for you next. Let me check with the men.” Suddenly, a voice crackled out from the walkie-talkie at Sam’s waist.

“Sam, this is Fred. I’ve think we’ve got something. One of the dogs just found a shoe doesn’t look like its been out here long.”

Sam looked at ‘Jerry’ “You heard? What kind of shoes did your friend have on.”

“He wasn’t expecting a camp out so he was wearing white loafer tennis shoes.”

“Fred is it a white loafer tennis shoe?”

“You‘ve got it Sam. How did you know?”

“It belongs to our guy. His friend is with me at the moment. Keep looking, I’ll have the rest of the groups converge on your area. The more of us looking the better our chances of finding him.”

Sam held the button down on his walkie and spoke “Okay everyone, you heard Fred’s conversation leave your location and join in the search in Fred’s section. We’re not going to have much light left. Out. You and your pal coming Jerry?”

“We’re right behind you, Sheriff.”

The walkie crackled again. “Sam you better hurry. One of the fellas just found a piece of clothing. The dogs are really acting up. We might be close.” There was some static then, Lookout! Damn, there’s a nest of rattlers. Sam, if he encountered those rattlers...”

Sam began sprinting toward Fred’s section, he knew what they were going to find soon and hoped ‘Jerry’ and ‘Kent’ were right there to see.

The dogs were making a ton of noise and Sam knew they were close. Off to his right he heard Eli yell, “Hold onto that dog unless you want to lose him, too.” He changed direction heading for the ruckus.

“Somebody talk to me. Have you found him?”

Eli yelled back “Yeah, we found him.”

As he got closer some of the guys were losing their lunch. He turned to Jerry and Kent. “Hold it, this doesn’t look good.” Sam pushed his way through the searchers.

Suddenly he was stopped by Eli’s burly arm. “Better stop there Sam, it’s not safe to go any further.“

Sam found himself face to face with absolute carnage. There was blood everywhere. The alligators still alive were hissing at the onlookers and protecting their winnings. What was left of Todd’s clothing was strewn about like rags, but it was hard to tell his bones from some of the smaller alligators who had tried to get some of the meat. “My God, the man never stood a chance.”

Fred walked up to Sam’s elbow. “If he stumbled into those rattlers, he probably was too far gone to realize what the gators did.”

Sam glanced over at Jerry and Kent. Jerry was looking on the scene impassively. Kent had joined the guys losing their lunch. He walked down the bank a short way and grabbed a branch, the same one he had dropped earlier. He reached and snagged a piece of shirt and scrambled back quickly as one of the alligators moved toward him. He took it off the branch , “I’m guessing this is what your friend was wearing?” He held it out to Jerry.

Jerry finally flinched and refused to take the bloody rag. “Yes,” he said composing himself again. “That’s what John was wearing. Aren’t you going to shoot them?” he waved his hand at the remaining alligators.

Sam and the rest looked at him horrified. Eli spoke up. “Why should they be killed for doing what comes naturally. This is their home, and in case you didn’t know it, mister. The American alligator, although not endangered any longer, is still protected around here. But you see those three big ones there. They are endangered. Those are American crocodiles. Usually the alligators give them a wide berth, but it appears everybody was hungry. I’m sorry for your loss, but I won’t kill an animal doing what it did,just to survive.”

“What are you? The local authority on wildlife?” Baker said, sarcastically.

“I’m the High School Biologist if you must know. Just because we live and work out in the country doesn’t make us any different from you.”

Baker looked at all the men surrounding him and knew he wouldn’t get any more help from them. He turned to Sam “Will there be a time, when we can get or obtain some of the remains.”

“Maybe in a week or so, maybe never. It doesn’t look like there’s going to be much to recover. It’s getting dark and these guys see better in it than we do. We need to move out. Everybody mind your steps. Like Fred said, we have rattlers around too.” Sam once again offered the scrap of cloth to Jerry, but he shook his head distastefully and said. “Kent take it.”

Kent swallowed hard but carefully took the piece of shirt and stuck it in his jacket pocket. He looked at Baker, who stood still, taking once last look at the embankment and then departed following the searchers. Kent cleared his throat, trying to think of something to say as he looked at Sam, then he just dropped his head and followed his boss.

Sam smiled thinly at their retreating backs. “That should keep you fellas satisfied for a while. Come on Red, let’s go home.” By the time he and Red got to the road, only Eli and Fred his deputy remained.

“Just what kind of friends were those two? Not even a thank you or a hint of remorse for the poor guy.” asked Eli.

“I don’t know Eli, I guess everybody handles death differently. The short guy was at least bothered by his friend’s demise. But I agree with you, that Jerry is one cold-hearted bastard. I’m going home, I’ll call fish and wildlife in the morning and tell them what happened. There’s nothing more we can do. Thanks for your help, let everyone know they did a good job and I’m proud of all of you. At least we found him. He was just missing too long. Fred, see you tomorrow. Beth’s waiting with dinner. See you.” He climbed into his jeep as Red hopped into the passenger seat. He was anxious to get to Beth to tell her what had happened.

***

Todd had spent his time humming his favorite songs. They were crystal clear in his head when he was in his safe room, but out there it was different. Everything was muddled. he kept trying to put it together but his brain wouldn’t cooperate. He shook his head He didn’t want to think about out there. Out there was pain. Yes, but they’re out there too, “Who?”

You know who? Think. Go away, it hurts to think. I need them . Think! A face appeared to him, angelic and sweet. Starr. Yes Starr go on. Starr loves me no matter what I do. She’s my light, I hate the darkness, but around her, there is always light. There’s someone else more important than life remember? Yes, Blair. His Blair, the only one who understood him and accepted him. She loved him. She told him so. His wife. No, that’s wrong. She wasn’t anymore. He remembered her telling him to leave. He saw her in front of him crying. “I won’t give up Blair, I won’t give up on us, I’ll get you back.” Todd got up and walked to the door of his safe room touching the door wishing she was on the other side, “I want to come home, Blair. Please! Can I come home now?”

The room was quiet, only the lamplight casting a soft glow on him as he lay there unmoving, then his hand rose as if he was holding it out to someone, but no one saw.

In the living room Beth hurried to the door, She hugged her husband the minute he entered. Then gave him a kiss. Sam tasted the salt and knew she had been crying. “Beth, what is it?”

“Sam I can’t help it. I feel so helpless right now. That man in there is fighting for his sanity as well as his life. What they did to him, we can only imagine. It makes me sick.” She looked back at her husband, her tears drying. “What happened out there?”

“I think I succeeded in holding them off for the time being,” he ran his fingers through his hair. and walked to the bedroom door looking at their guest. “They think he’s dead. Although I don’t know for how long? The one guy struck me as the type who won’t quit until he has proof positive, but I figure we got possibly one or two weeks tops to get Todd back on his feet and out of here.” He looked back to Beth “No change, huh?”

“I didn’t have much luck, all though a few times I thought he might come back. Sam go sit with him, talk to him. He believes you’re his friend Sam, maybe you can get him to come out.”

Sam looked down at himself and realized what a mess he was. He was covered in mud and twigs, from tromping around through the swampland and underbrush near the bayou. Not to mention, he felt dirty after being around “Jerry”, the guy made his skin crawl. “Let me wash up and then I’ll sit with him until dinner is ready.” Beth nodded, gave him another quick hug and headed for the kitchen.

After making quick work of the shower, Sam felt refreshed and hungry but as promised, he headed to the bedroom to have a chat withTodd.



*** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** ***
Our writers like to hear your feedback. Please leave a comment when you read.