Fire at Dusk: Part 5

Buck began approaching the bushes. He feet grew heavier as he drew closer to the suspect flora, as though the ground had turned to mud and was sucking his feet into the earth after each step. At around a distance of ten paces or so he heard what sounded like muffled crying. His blood froze at the sound, his brain trying to process the situation. However, before he could do anything else, the bush erupted into hearty laughter. The gears slowly started turning again in Bucks mind and he realized that Dick had been attempting to stifle his laughter the entire time.

Buck stomped the remainder of the distance to the bush and careened his flashlight into the foliage. Dick crouched, low to the ground intertwined with the bushes, his glazed eyes locked with Buck's. A shit eating grin was smeared across his face.

“What'n the hell are you doin' out here hindin' in the bushes Dick?” Buck shouted.

Dick stumbled out of the bushes and dusted himself off and clapped Buck on the back. “Take 'er easy bub, I ain't been here long. I wassh on my way back when I heard you folksh comin' and ducked here into these bushessh here. You sshould've sheen yershelvesh, you looked like you were bout ta pissh yershelf there Buck!” Dick punctuated the sentence with laughter and took a swig from the metal flash he grasped in on hand.

Jessie hurried over to Richard and grabbed his arm to steady him. “All right, let's mosey on back to the cabin and finish the game.”

The party began their trip back to the cabin. Dick stopped mid stride and began patting his chest and sides. He broke free of Jessie's grasp and bumbled back to the treeline cursing and mumbling something about his stash.

“Dammit, I guess we better go help him find it,” Buck grumbled.

The cool yellow beam of Buck's flashlight scanned the dense forest floor. His head turned to the ground, searching for his friend's baggy of choice contraband. His head bumped into something and he looked up. As his flashlight beam intersected with the object hanging from the tree, his jaw slackened and his eyes grew wide.

“Guys!” a panicked tone escaped his mouth as he backed away.