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.
