"Rich has lived in the North Carolinian wilderness for over two years, and while he's heard the stories, he never actually believed they were true. Even after witnessing it for himself, Rich still isn't sure he believes in what’s happening around him. He knows one thing for sure -- he's going to have to rescue the man he thinks is being sacrificed, no matter how much he hates violence.
The guy on the table is a honey-coated wet dream, and Rich isn’t sure what to do after saving him from what appears to be a cult in the middle of the forest. So much for the quiet life."
Carolina Burning By T.A. Creech Rich Mallone hoisted his canvas pack a little higher on his shoulder and carefully stepped past a barely visible piece of ash log. It was a beautiful night for star gazing; not a cloud in the sky for miles in any direction, a sharply defined waxing half-moon slipping past the western horizon, the humid air warm and inviting. Rich couldn’t wait. The Pleiades were supposed to be especially bright tonight, and the little bluff he had found when he first relocated to the Pisgah Forest was clear of any trees that might obstruct his view. Hiking up the bluff wasn’t easy. The dense leaf litter made for a treacherous climb, even with heavy boots, but Rich had been making this particular trek for a couple of years now. He knew to step carefully and tread lightly.