Read Online Black Stump Ridge by John Manning; Forrest Hedrick - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: John Manning; Forrest Hedrick
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site and check on things one last time he wouldn’t sleep easy tonight. Billy Ray was pretty good about making sure the security arrangements were in place, but it didn’t hurt to check. Besides, as sharp as Billy Ray was, Bubba was his clumsy opposite. Jake didn’t think Bubba would be careless enough to deface the markings in the back, but this was not the time for complacency. With strangers in the area it might not be a bad idea for Granny to do her thing, too. This would be a very bad time to have him break free and start wandering the hills away from the cave. Very bad, indeed.
With that thought, Jake started the truck, turned on the lights, and headed down the driveway. He turned onto the road following the path Fred and his friends had traveled less than forty minutes earlier. Halfway up the mountain he slowed. He turned left through a gap in the trees that was nearly invisible in the darkness. A stranger – as well as many locals – would have had trouble following this path during the day. Jake had driven it so many times that light or dark made no difference to him.
The road wound down into a small valley and then climbed slowly upward, switching back and forth through the trees. He slowed near the top of the ridgeline. Moments later he stopped, turned off the lights, and shut off the engine. He cranked down the window and listened to the forest. He let his eyes adjust. He could hear the faint sound of an engine as it labored in the distance. Satisfied that all was quiet near him, he got out of the truck and made his way deeper into the woods.
Several paths, most no larger than game trails, led to his destination. One of the security measures protecting his operation was his insistence that no one trail was used more than any other. Even the thicket in front of the cave opening was maintained in such a way that only a determined and knowing search would reveal what lay behind.
Jake paused as he studied the thicket and the area around it. Satisfied that there were no signs of more human traffic, he approached the tangle of brush and thorny bushes and eased his way through. A dark opening, roughly five feet high by four feet wide, lay behind. He ducked and entered. The cave’s roof rose quickly as the opening traversed first left, and then right before it widened into a large chamber.
Light from the low fire burning beneath the cooking tank illuminated the copper coils and thumper can. Rows of bottles, some full of clear liquid, lined one wall. Bags of sugar and sacks of corn lay on pallets along the other. A large circular fan stood behind the still. Its blades turned slowly as it drew smoke and fumes deeper into the cave. A small Toyota generator hummed quietly nearby. Five olive green jerry cans stood a short distance away. Jake walked over to them and lifted each one. Two were empty. Three were full. Three were gone, so Billy Ray must have taken those with him. Bubba should have taken the other two with him to fill for the weekend. Jake thought for a moment. Three should be enough to make it to Friday, especially if Billy Ray brought the other three back full tomorrow night.
Jake stepped deeper into the cave. The sides and roof closed in once more until there was only a narrow, nearly circular passage. Faint silver-blue phosphorescence lit the floor, ceiling and walls. He looked closer at the silver tracings on the rock. None appeared to be disturbed. He nodded to himself. The light from the argent characters was as pale as the luminescence of a watch dial. Either he was deep in the cave or the sigils were weakening. Jake decided he would definitely bring Granny up here to recharge the wards – just to be on the safe side.
As he watched, the glow faded until it was gone completely. A chill enveloped his body. His mind raced. There was one other entrance to the cave. Only one thing could make the glow fade. Someone disturbed the markings at the other entrance. The wards were no longer up.
He backed
With that thought, Jake started the truck, turned on the lights, and headed down the driveway. He turned onto the road following the path Fred and his friends had traveled less than forty minutes earlier. Halfway up the mountain he slowed. He turned left through a gap in the trees that was nearly invisible in the darkness. A stranger – as well as many locals – would have had trouble following this path during the day. Jake had driven it so many times that light or dark made no difference to him.
The road wound down into a small valley and then climbed slowly upward, switching back and forth through the trees. He slowed near the top of the ridgeline. Moments later he stopped, turned off the lights, and shut off the engine. He cranked down the window and listened to the forest. He let his eyes adjust. He could hear the faint sound of an engine as it labored in the distance. Satisfied that all was quiet near him, he got out of the truck and made his way deeper into the woods.
Several paths, most no larger than game trails, led to his destination. One of the security measures protecting his operation was his insistence that no one trail was used more than any other. Even the thicket in front of the cave opening was maintained in such a way that only a determined and knowing search would reveal what lay behind.
Jake paused as he studied the thicket and the area around it. Satisfied that there were no signs of more human traffic, he approached the tangle of brush and thorny bushes and eased his way through. A dark opening, roughly five feet high by four feet wide, lay behind. He ducked and entered. The cave’s roof rose quickly as the opening traversed first left, and then right before it widened into a large chamber.
Light from the low fire burning beneath the cooking tank illuminated the copper coils and thumper can. Rows of bottles, some full of clear liquid, lined one wall. Bags of sugar and sacks of corn lay on pallets along the other. A large circular fan stood behind the still. Its blades turned slowly as it drew smoke and fumes deeper into the cave. A small Toyota generator hummed quietly nearby. Five olive green jerry cans stood a short distance away. Jake walked over to them and lifted each one. Two were empty. Three were full. Three were gone, so Billy Ray must have taken those with him. Bubba should have taken the other two with him to fill for the weekend. Jake thought for a moment. Three should be enough to make it to Friday, especially if Billy Ray brought the other three back full tomorrow night.
Jake stepped deeper into the cave. The sides and roof closed in once more until there was only a narrow, nearly circular passage. Faint silver-blue phosphorescence lit the floor, ceiling and walls. He looked closer at the silver tracings on the rock. None appeared to be disturbed. He nodded to himself. The light from the argent characters was as pale as the luminescence of a watch dial. Either he was deep in the cave or the sigils were weakening. Jake decided he would definitely bring Granny up here to recharge the wards – just to be on the safe side.
As he watched, the glow faded until it was gone completely. A chill enveloped his body. His mind raced. There was one other entrance to the cave. Only one thing could make the glow fade. Someone disturbed the markings at the other entrance. The wards were no longer up.
He backed
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