Chapter 15

The college guy spoke up, "Guys, if there's anyway ... anyway at all ... don't cut the ropes, and brush out your tracks. I'm betting that what passes as a holy man or priest in this neighborhood is expecting to come back and dispose of the evidence. Jonesy says our little valley looks an awful lot like a meteor crater.

"A man could make a good living selling those girls out of state ... so to speak. Kill off a couple for effect ... leave the rest for the monster in the crater to devour. I wouldn't mind an awful lot if you left the painted guy tied to a post. If you do hang him from a post ... gut him and take the entrails with you ... someone take a baggie. Don't forget to brush out your tracks. Be good, now, ya hear?"

"What's a meteor got to do with it?"

"I'm betting Jonesy is right ... this valley might be only as old as the memory of the oldest survivor. Then again it might be a few generations old. There's nothing in the water ... no frogs, no fish and the island in the middle is a regular feature of meteor strikes.

"It's close to twenty klicks to the nearest standing trees. This must have been quite the portent and it's perfect for a smart man to start a new religion over. The girls are offered by the people ... nobody had to kidnap or steal 'em. The people EXPECT to see them gone. The priests back at the village are going to be suspicious as all get out ... but they can't do anything about it ... the girls are supposed to be gone."