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SUMMARY: The sixth in a 14 part serial short story- a new one every week. I wrote this to be recorded as an audio story- you can hear it at www.williamhrdina.com- but I think it holds up as a regular short story as well, and its finished so it won't disappear.

Croucher- Part VI- The Legend
By William Hrdina

"So now what do we do?" Ryan asked John, as they stood staring at the hairy creature approaching.
"I don't think he'll hurt us. But everyone try not to make any sudden moves."
As if on cue, the man let out another series of guttural rumblings before turning on his heels and running back into the jungle. Logan's immediate reaction was to give chase, but Ryan grabbed his son's arm before he could get more than a couple of steps.
"Oh come on Dad, he's getting away." Logan whined, craning his arm away.
"He'll be back." John said, watching the man go.
Ryan turned his attention to John. "Just where the hell have you brought us? What is this place? Who is that man? Why don't they speak English? They have pots and pans- they have a wood burning stove they clearly know how to use. So these people can't be totally isolated."
"These people cannot have always been isolated- it doesn't mean they aren't now." John began. "I believe this is a town once known as Croucher. It doesn't really have a name anymore of course. The idea this place ever existed is seen as a legend- the possibility there might still be people here- that's never been seen as more than a children's story, meant to freak out camper's around the campfire. Of course, I've always wondered- dreamed really. They say once upon a time this place was an important stop on the trek across the mountains. But then, well, some things happened here that drove everyone away. But the stories must be wrong- some people must've stayed."
"What happened here?" Logan asked, his eyes boring into the tree line for sight of anyone approaching.
"Well, you realize, what I'm telling you is nothing but legend- but its said everyone in the town of Croucher went mad- horribly so- some folks say cannibalism- others say things far worse."
"Was there a famine up here or something?" Dottie asked.
"No. It wasn't hunger that drove them to it- not according to the legends. No one knows why- or even exactly when- but civilization just broke down here. 1847 is the most commonly sited date- but according to my own research- that number seems to have been more or less pulled out of a hat."
"Civilization doesn't just break down- people don't just decide to turn to cannibalism." Dottie said.
Then a thought popped into Cliff's head and he felt his stomach clench in fear. "You don't suppose they've decided to become attached to the practice do you?" He asked.
"You mean?"
"Yeah. Are they cannibals now?"
John shook his head no, but it wasn't particularly convincing.
"Okay, this is fascinating, but I came here to try to build a relationship with my boy, not to become the main ingredient in tonight's soup of the day. I want you to take us out of here right now Mr. Legasse- and I'm not kidding." Ryan said.
"I'm with Ryan." Cliff agreed. We need to get out of here- like yesterday."
"We can't leave!" John said. "We've only just got here- I've been searching for this place for five years.