Perry put away his small tools and pulled out his flashlight. MT was still holding the lock and decided the best thing to do was take it inside with them. Something just said that was the smart thing to do. Perry clicked on the flashlight and stepped over the threshold with MT right behind.

The barrels weren't the only thing inside sitting along the wall in the gloom. There were a couple of ancient wheelbarrows, broken, but made of wood that still seemed to hold together. MT set the lock down on the floor of the tunnel beside the stack of barrels, and then pulled out his own light.

The ceiling was held up with thick, heavy timbers spaced about every six feet. That framework marched away into the darkness, and so far it looked solid.

"How deep does this go?" Perry asked.

"Don't know, but you can see the floor slopes downwards. Look at all those old pieces of equipment."

"What's that?" Perry said, his flashlight showing a place on the wall that seemed to sparkle in the light.

"I believe that is the saltpeter mineral they were mining. It probably oozes out of the limestone," MT said. "Okay, forget the mine for a moment. What are these barrels doing here?"

The light coming through the open door was enough to reach a dozen yards into the tunnel and the barrels seemed to gleam in the sunlight. Perhaps they were stainless steel. The metal did look a lot like the work table MT had seen behind the lunch counter at Dubb's.

"I don't know, but this one has a spigot on the side," Perry said, pointing the way with his flashlight.

Sure enough, there was a spigot just like something you might use to attach a garden hose. The barrels looked sealed with a heavy metal strap around the rim. But beneath the spigot sat a five gallon plastic bucket.

"One way to find out," MT said, and he turned the spigot on.

There was no mistaking that smell ... the barrel was filled with moonshine. MT filled about half the bucket before turning off the flow.

"Oh, Jesus," Perry said. "This is where Bates has been hiding his stuff."

"I would assume so ... guess we need to tell the sheriff."

"Damn, and I wanted to explore the tunnel a little bit ... but we ought to get the hell out of here," Perry said.

MT cast his light around the tunnel and saw what looked like four or five bales of hay wrapped in plastic. He walked over and pressed against the sides of the plastic package. The smell that emanated left no doubt as to the contents. Each of these bales was composed of marijuana leaves.

"What?" Perry asked.

"This gets worse by the minute," MT said. "I would guess these bales belong to Jason, or at least he grew the pot inside."

"Jason? How is he connected to Bates?"

"I couldn't begin to answer ... " And then they both heard the sound of the little dirt bike climbing the trail and skidding to a stop outside.

"Oh shit," Perry said.

"Uncle Nathan ... are you in there?" Jason's voice called out.

"Move out of the light," MT hissed, and they both backed against the wall.

"Who's in there?" Jason called out. And then there was no mistaking the sound of the slide on a shotgun as it was cocked, placing a cartridge in the chamber.

"Whoever you are ... you better come on out of there."

"Will he shoot?" Perry whispered.

"Probably will," MT said. "But if he does he'll bust a lot of holes in those barrels."

MT shrugged off his backpack and started for the door. He paused and held up a hand for Perry to stay put, then he picked up the five gallon bucket and stepped through the door.

"Hello, Jason," MT said.

"Marion ... what the fuck do you think you're doing?"

"Just taking a small sample for a little party we plan on holding Saturday night. Your uncle seems to make some pretty good shit."

Jason started laughing, and at the same time he lowered the shotgun until it was pointed at the ground.

"You have any idea what kind of shit you walked into? You're stealing my uncle's moonshine."

"It's already illegal and I didn't think he'd miss just a little. You know me, I wouldn't touch any of your weed," MT said.

"How the hell did you get in there?" Jason asked.

"I picked the lock, been coming up here and doing that for years. Alvin and I used to explore this whole mine."

"Alvin ... oh yeah, I remember him ... " And then as if the day wasn't going bad enough, MT heard the sound of a truck changing gears as it came in on the mine road.

"Well you sure fucked up now," Jason said. "That's my uncle and he is not gonna be happy to see you at all. In fact he has a little score to settle with you..." And when Jason turned his head to look for the truck MT made his move.

Two and a half gallons of moonshine didn't weigh more than twenty pounds but it sure was a lot of liquid. MT hefted the bucket and in one swift move tossed the contents right at Jason. The boy gasped as the plume of moonshine hit him square in the chest and coated him from head to toe.

The immediate effect was that he screamed as the liquid got into his eyes and effectively blinded him. He dropped the shotgun and pawed at his face as MT turned back for the mine and grabbed the chain on the door to swing it shut. The crash of metal as the door hit the frame coincided with the sound of a pickup truck grinding to a halt outside.

"Perry, get me a light," MT said, holding the door shut with one hand and scrabbling on the ground where he had tossed the lock.

The tunnel was dark now, the only light coming in from around the walls where the barrier met the rock, and from several holes bored in the metal.

Perry was right there with the light, and MT picked up the lock and looked at the chain he had pulled inside. The frame around the door was comprised of the metal rods that had been driven into the walls along the mouth of the tunnel.

MT wrapped the loose end of the chain around one of the rods and slid the shackle of the lock into it to keep the door closed. He didn't close the shackle because the lock was only there to hold the door shut. Locking themselves in would be the last resort because MT knew only one way out of here and Perry wasn't going to like it.

Meanwhile there had been a lot of screaming outside and once the chain was set MT leaned over and put his eye to one of the holes in the metal wall.

"Oh shit," MT said, and grabbed Perry, pulling both of them to the floor. The blast from the shotgun hit the metal wall and it rang like a bell. There was no way any gun would be able to blast through that wall, but it was scary.

"Come on out of there, you little fuckers," Bates called out.

The door rattled as Bates tried to pull it open and then there was silence. MT and Perry were still on the ground when the barrel of the shotgun was pushed through one of the holes and a second blast filled the interior of the tunnel.

"Go ahead, do that again," MT called out. "You almost hit your barrels that time."

MT heard cussing outside, and then a thumping sound as something hit the metal wall. Then Jason was right outside the door and he laughed.

"I'm gonna stay here while my uncle goes off and gets that portable cutting torch in my Granny's garage. Once we cut through I'm gonna enjoy shooting your legs off one at a time, Marion. And if you think you can break out of there then think again. We got that door jammed solid. Ain't no one coming out this way."

Now that was a serious threat and MT could see the fear on Perry's face. They heard the sound of the pickup truck starting up and turning around. The Grandmother's farm was only about twenty minutes away, so in less than an hour Bates would be back.

"I was hoping it wouldn't have to come to this," MT said.

MT could see a shadow on the ground outside the door. The metal wall wasn't tight against the rock on every side and there were gaps here and there, including the one under the threshold. Jason was right outside soaked with moonshine ... it had to be done.

MT snatched up the five gallon bucket and proceeded to fill it up with moonshine. It was much heavier now so he carried it two handed over to the door and set it down.

"Jason ... you know I got Perry Trogdon in here. I don't think you guys want to mess with that family."

"Oh yeah, well fuck him too," Jason yelled back.

The door rattled again and MT took the chance and peeked through one of the holes. Sure enough, several pieces of timber were propped against the door. Damn, they would not get back out this way. Sorry Jason, MT thought, but he knew it was time.

He reached in his pocket and pulled out the book of matches. Without hesitation he tipped the bucket of moonshine over and watched it splash against the door and drain out underneath.

"What the hell ... is that supposed to scare me?" Jason yelled.

"No ... but this is," MT said quietly.

He struck a match and set the whole book on fire, dropping it onto the soggy soil saturated with moonshine. The effect was instantaneous as the high grade alcohol burst into flames that quickly lapped up the inside of the door. But it also travelled under the door and ignited the ground outside, and the boy who was standing on it.

The screams this time were louder as Jason's clothing burst into flame. MT turned his back on the door and pulled Perry to his feet.

"I'm sorry," MT said. "He was a bad kid, but I never expected to do something like this to anyone."

Perry clutched MT and tears coursed down his cheeks. The screams began to fade away and MT knew he would have to look. What he saw was Jason running like crazy towards the trail that led down to the creek. Maybe he would get there before the burning moonshine did too much damage. Bates would go berserk when he returned, but at least Jason was out of the picture. MT knew they really had no options left.

"I don't suppose that radio of yours works in here," MT asked.

Perry wiped his face with the bottom of his shirt and shook his head. "I looked when you went outside. There's no signal."

"The rock is probably preventing you from getting through. So we'll have to go somewhere else until it works."

"Somewhere else? All we have is the mine ... " Perry started to say, and then he paused.

"Yeah, and it isn't going to be easy," MT said.

"I trust you know the way out?"

"I do, but in places it's a long slow crawl. At least you brought your equipment and that will be a big help."

Perry clutched at MT's shirt and pulled him in for a kiss. It was a vote of confidence that MT only hoped he deserved. It had been a while since he'd been down here. The kiss ended and Perry still didn't let go.

"I have to say this before we go ... I love you, MT. I don't think I've ever felt this way about anyone."

MT smiled and brushed the dirt off Perry's cheek. "I love you, too ... and before we get into a long discussion about what that means I suggest we get the hell out of here before Bates comes back."

Damn, Jason ... why did he have to threaten them? The boy was obviously under the influence of his uncle. The image of Jason on fire would haunt his nights for a long time, but MT knew he had to protect his new-found love. Perry was probably terrified and depending on him. The next few hours would test the courage of them both.

They both slapped on their helmets and turned on the lights. MT pulled a length of rope out of his pack and told Perry to tie it around his waist while he did the same with the other end. It was dark where they were going and filled with danger.

"Save your flashlight and use the helmet," MT said. "I hope these are new batteries."

"The very best," Perry said.

They turned towards the tunnel and began a slow walk. Perry knew they were going down when up is where they wanted to be.

"How long?" Perry asked.

"An hour, maybe two. It's like this," MT said. "I have to find a chimney that leads up, which won't be easy since I've never been down this far before. Alvin said he climbed all the way down to the door by himself so I'm hoping he left some kind of sign along the way. Just be patient. It's going to take us a while. I'm afraid we'll have to get wet in a few places, but then you'll also get to see some things no one else knows about."

There were signs along the way, but not Alvin's. A broken shovel, a shattered cart that mules might have pulled, the debris of a mining operation from a hundred and fifty years ago. And all along the way there were patches of the glittering mineral deposits, the raw saltpeter.

Perry tried not to touch anything and kept his lantern focused on the ground where he was about to step. MT was only a few feet ahead so the rope dragged on the ground.

"Uh, MT? I read that saltpeter contains a chemical that inhibits your sex drive."

"Really? That sucks," MT replied.

The darkness felt oppressive, probably because MT was moving slowly, looking at the ground one moment and the ceiling the next. The timbers overhead still looked solid, but there were piles of rock as well, some of them right in their path. The mountains might be ancient but the ground still shifted which caused the rock to fracture and fall.

Perry had no sense of time down here in the darkness, just a deep abiding dread that they were going deep into the earth and might never find their way out. Several times MT paused and cautioned Perry to step around obstacles in their way, and some of them were holes in the tunnel's floor.

At one point the pause was long enough to be of concern and Perry wondered if MT had lost his way. But it turned out to be an especially large hole with only a small ledge of rock to skirt the drop into nothingness. Side by side they moved with their backs to the wall and moved past it. And then the sound reached them, even here in the depth of the mine.

It was a distant booming, as if someone was trying to get their attention. Perry had avoided talking until now because he was afraid of distracting MT from moving forward.

"What do you suppose that is?" Perry asked.

"Bates is back," MT said. "Sounds like he's trying to break in."

"You think he will?"

"Probably, but he's of no danger to us. I imagine the man is pretty damn pissed off about now, so I'm glad we left."

"Are we making progress?"

"Yes. Just be patient."

He could be nothing else. Perry knew if he gave into the fear he felt that the journey was over. MT couldn't drag him out of here and so he kept walking. One foot on front of the other ... it was the only way.

It seemed like they had been in the tunnels for hours when MT laughed.

"Oh yes, there she is," He said. "Come here."

Perry walked up and stood, looking at where MT's lantern shone on a pile of bones.

"Is that the mule you told me about?" Perry asked.

"I certainly hope so. The shaft should be around here somewhere. I'm afraid we'll have to do a little climbing in a moment."

Several times they had passed by openings that branched off the main tunnel, but MT never varied his course and always moved straight ahead. Perry had no idea how the boy knew where they were. But the atmosphere in the tunnel had varied: wet air one moment, dry the next. At least there was air to breathe and so the darkness was the only real fear Perry faced.

"There we are," MT said and his light illuminated the first sign Perry had seen.

On the wall of the tunnel was an arrow pointing upwards, indicating that MT and Alvin had been this way before. A warm sense of relief washed over Perry. They had found the way out.

"Okay, this is a chimney of rock we have to climb. As I recall it's a few hundred feet long and at least it doesn't go straight up. I imagine the miners cut these things to allow air circulation, but they are big enough for us. So now we move up into the next level."

"Are we going up into another portion of the mine?" Perry asked.

"Nope, now we enter the cave and cavern system. This is real progress, Perry. At the top of this chimney is a special place I think you might find pretty amazing. Remember me telling you about those hash marks? We're about to see them."

The chimney seemed like a very tight fit in several places and was slow progress. MT kept the rope fairly taut since he was afraid Perry might slip. But he also kept up a steady dialogue of encouragement, talking about each handhold along the way. From Perry's point of view that voice was the only thing that kept him going, the only thing that kept the fear from taking over.

Then suddenly the path widened and Perry climbed up into a darkness that seemed vast because his ears told him the walls were far away.

"This is the cavern," MT said. "I wish we had a bright lantern, but let me turn on my flashlight for a few minutes."

The flashlight lit up only a small portion of the space which Perry could only judge to be hundreds of feet wide and immensely tall. But the most amazing thing were the stalactites that hung down over them. He knew the name from his visit to the cave in France. These weren't as big but MT showed them off proudly and so Perry reacted in the appropriate manner.

"Oh Wow ... how beautiful," He said.

"I had a lantern last time I was in here and I still couldn't see everything," MT said. "But look, see those marks on the wall? I have no idea what they mean, except someone else was in this cavern a long time ago."

Perry didn't feel like speculating over marks on the wall...this was no longer an adventure. The cavern had a large pool of water that seemed to move, but Perry thought he might be imagining things.

"So how do we get out of here?" He asked.

"I know, we need to keep moving. Here's where we get wet, I'm afraid."

MT led the way across the vast space to where the water seemed to flow through an opening. And like a beacon of hope there was another arrow pointing down into the water. It didn't look deep but Perry knew it would be cold.

"The water flows into the next space and the next but I remember it was only waist deep, thank God. I would remove the radio from your belt and put it in your pack. The bottom is smooth and slippery so watch your footing. Are you ready?"

Perry nodded. "I've hated every minute of this, but you know that."

"I won't ever ask you to come into the caves again," MT said.

"Good, because I just might say no," Perry laughed.

The water was cold, but not freezing. They waded into the tunnel and only a few feet later were in another cave, smaller but just as wet. MT kept them moving on across that space and into the next, where he climbed out and helped Perry onto the bank.

"The rest of the way is dry, but it's also uphill," MT said.

Perry didn't bother to ask how much further they had to go because the answer just might take away his will to complete the task. There were several tunnels leading out of this cave, but only one of them had the arrow painted beside it.

They crawled and walked, depending upon how high the ceiling was. There were even more arrows pointing the way and Perry forgot how many he had seen. Then MT stopped and switched off his helmet lantern. And there in the distance Perry could see light.

"This is the entrance," MT said.

It was all he could do to keep Perry from running towards the mouth of the cave, but they hurried along and burst through a cluster of pine branches into the sunlight. Perry fell to his knees and gulped in the fresh air. Then for no apparent reason he started laughing.

"What's so funny?" MT asked.

"We just went through hell and it made me wonder if loving you is going to be like this all the time. If I didn't trust you we wouldn't be here. Just don't ever ask me to do that again," Perry said.

MT laughed in return, he understood exactly what Perry was saying. He was about to respond when they both heard the boom echoing up the hillside.

"Is that Bates?" Perry asked.

"I guess it is. Does your radio work here?"

Perry pulled out the small device and stared at the screen. "Two out of four bars, that ought to be enough. What should I tell them?"

"Call the sheriff. I doubt if the Brinks guys know where the mine is."

Perry pushed the button on the side of his radio. "Brinks ... this is Perry Trogdon."

"Perry ... this is Dave, where are you?"

"Dave ... I didn't expect to get you."

"I took the early shift ... where are you?"

"Look, Dave ... we found Bates. You need to call the sheriff and tell them Bates is at the old Confederate mine. MT says they will know where that is."

"Are you in danger?" Dave asked.

"I was ... Bates doesn't know where I am now ... which I gather is several hundred feet over his head."

"You stay away from him. I'm calling the sheriff right now. You stay where you are and I'll come get you," Dave said.

"I understand ... we're not going anywhere," Perry replied.

"I'll call you when we get there," Dave said.

"Okay, bye," Perry said, but Dave was already gone.

The booming sound continued and MT pulled Perry to his feet. "Let's go see what Bates is doing," he said.

They followed a path among the trees and the sound kept getting louder. MT held up a hand in caution and led Perry out onto an exposed section of rock. Here the land fell away in a steep cliff and MT went to his knees and then lay down, crawling towards the edge. Perry knew they had to be on the hillside above the mine entrance.

The scene below was familiar. Bates had his truck parked near the entrance door and they could see the tanks of oxygen and acetylene he had brought to cut his way through the metal. But the man was standing down there with a sledge hammer bashing away at the hinges on the door.

Every swing produced a resounding boom and Bates let out a string of invectives to accompany the blow. MT could see that Bates had removed his shirt and was covered in sweat. But the most interesting revelation was the large bandage he had on his shoulder which now looked filthy. It seems Perry had done some real damage to the man.

There was no sign of Jason, which was a relief. But Bates must have been swinging that hammer a long time because he tossed it down and struggled with the door. With a squealing sound the door fell open and Bates picked the shotgun up off the tailgate of his truck and entered the mine.

"He still thinks we're in there," Perry said, and then he flinched as Bates fired the gun at something.

"Don't worry, I think he's just frustrated that he didn't find us," MT said.

"How long before the sheriff gets here?" Perry asked.

"Gonna be a while yet."

Bates walked back out of the mine with one of the steel barrels on his shoulder. Ouch, MT thought, that has to be heavy. That was confirmed when Bates dropped the barrel into the bed of his truck and almost fell over from the exertion.

"God Damn ... .fuck," Bates yelled, and his voice echoed off the walls of the cliff.

The man was really angry now and pulled the two gas cylinders off the truck and tossed them aside before going back into the mine.

"I bet Jason was supposed to help him load that stuff," MT said. "He won't be able to do it alone for long ... "

"Perry?" The voice from the radio.

"Turn that down," MT said, looking back over the edge. But Bates was still inside the mine and didn't hear anything.

Perry crawled away from the edge and turned down the volume before he answered.

"Yes, Dave."

"The Sheriff has been up in Chattanooga all morning, but I have a deputy meeting me here at the gates and I'm going to follow him to your position."

MT had heard every word and shook his head. "Let me talk to him," He said.

Perry surrendered the radio and MT pressed the button.

"Dave, this is MT. Do you still have that four wheel drive Jeep?"

"I do, what's the problem?"

"The sheriff's patrol car will have to use the upper approach to get down in here. But if you follow 193 up a few miles you'll see the power lines and you can use the service road to get in here much faster."

"That makes sense," Dave replied. "Are you still in a safe position?"

"We are, but Bates is loading up his moonshine and when he gets enough of it I'm afraid he's gonna drive away."

"Is he by himself?"

"He is now ... the other guy is probably half dead."

"Oh ... what did you guys do?" Dave replied.

"Don't ask ... Bates has a shotgun, but there could be other weapons in his truck," MT said. "Follow the service road until you see the gravel road and the sign with the golf ball on it. The golf course is on the left fork, the mine is the right one. Once you get on that road Bates won't be able to get past you."

"Good Intel, you'd make a fine soldier," Dave said.

"Uh ... thanks," MT said.

"I'll call the deputy and tell him to meet me at the golf ball sign. You guys stay put and don't let Bates see you."

"Yes, sir ... we'll sit right here until you show up."

Perry was grinning now. "Playing soldier now, are we?"

MT smiled back. "I guess so. I just hope Bates doesn't do anything stupid." But he probably will, MT thought.

By the time they crawled back to the edge of the cliff Bates had four of the barrels loaded on his truck, but he was sitting on the tailgate looking exhausted and holding his bandaged arm. That shotgun wound must hurt like hell by now and there had to be another two dozen barrels inside the mine. It didn't seem like there was any way one man could move them all.

Bates got up and walked around to the cab of his truck and leaned inside. When he stood up there was a cell phone in his hand. He dialed a number and waited before he looked at the phone and tossed it back in the cab. MT figured he was calling for help and wasn't getting through ... good. Bates walked back in the mine.

It was about ten minutes later when the radio call came in. "We're here," Dave said. "Are there any changes?"

"No," Perry said in reply. "He keeps going in and out of the mine to load his truck. We're on top the cliff overlooking the mine."

"The deputy is going to drive on down there, but I'm coming in through the woods," Dave said.

"Bates is gonna shoot the minute he sees that sheriff's car," MT said.

"Bates has that shotgun," Perry reminded Dave.

"We know, but the deputy is just going to show himself and let Bates know the road is blocked. If he doesn't surrender then that's his problem. Okay, here we go."

Perry and MT had a front row seat, and what a show it was. Bates was still in the mine when the patrol car edged out of the trees and sat in the middle of the road. The first clue Bates had that he was in trouble was when the deputy goosed the siren.

The blast of noise brought Bates running out of the mine to his truck where he grabbed the shotgun. The patrol car was still a hundred yards away and out of any effective range, but Bates didn't hesitate. He took a shot.

The boom of the shotgun echoed off the cliffs and MT thought he could see the shot hit the front of the patrol car.

"Give it up, Bates," The deputy's voice blared across the space from the speaker in the light bar mounted on top.

Bates responded with another shot which shattered the windshield and sent the deputy diving out his door and moving around to the back of the car. Three pistol shots dinged off Bates' truck and he ducked. MT wondered what would happen if one of the bullets hit a barrel full of moonshine. Would it explode?

Bates must have worried about that very same thing because he moved around towards the cab of the truck and opened the door. He reached in behind the seat and pulled out a hunting rifle, a 30-30 MT guessed. Uh oh; the deputy was in trouble now.

Bates leaned across the hood of the truck and fired two shots into the front of the patrol car, causing a burst of steam as he holed the radiator. He was still leaning on the hood when MT saw Dave materialize out of the tall grass and brush behind Bates.

Dave stood still with his M-16 locked against his shoulder and zeroed in on Bates.

"Surrender, Bates," Dave yelled, but of course the man would do nothing of the kind.

Bates turned at the sound of the voice and brought his rifle up. Dave tapped out three quick shots, sending Bates sprawling back against his truck where he slid to the ground. The hunting rifle lay uselessly in his lap, but Dave kept his own weapon trained on the man as he cautiously approached. He gave Bates' leg a kick and the body slumped over beside the front tire.

Dave waved at the deputy and then started to look around at the cliffs. That's when MT and Perry stood up and waved.

"He's gone," Dave yelled. "Come on down."

"Be right there," Perry yelled back.

"Are you planning to jump?" MT asked.

"No ... let me guess, there is no easy way down."

MT laughed. "Follow me."

The trail followed the top of the cliff for about a quarter of a mile before the erosion of the slope allowed them to pick their way down through the trees. This brought them up behind the patrol car where Dave and the deputy were standing looking at the damage. The deputy looked up and gave MT a smile. It was Mr. Sawyer.

"You boys sure know how to find trouble. We'll have to wait here for the sheriff and the coroner, they're on the way," Sawyer said.

MT gave Dave an appraising look. "That was mighty fine shooting. I hope that doesn't get you in any trouble."

Dave nodded. "Remember what I said, this was his fault, he chose to die. As for trouble, I think we got that covered. I called the Sheriff and told him what was happening. He made me raise my right hand and deputized me right over the phone."

"Can he do that?" Perry asked.

Sawyer laughed. "I doubt if anyone will bother to ask that question of our sheriff."

"Can ... can I see the body?" Perry asked.

"You think he's still a danger?" Dave asked. "Sure, go take a gander ... he doesn't look like much."

The group walked over to the front of the pickup truck where the body lay crumbled in the dirt. The man didn't look so scary now, MT thought, not with three bullet holes in his chest.

"You said there was another man?" Dave asked and Sawyer gave MT a look.

"Yes ... I almost killed him," MT said. "It was Jason Wicket ... Bates was his uncle. I think if you go down the hill to the creek you'll find him there. He's going to need an ambulance."

Sawyer went back to his patrol car and radioed in for more help and an ambulance. Then he walked back and pulled a small notebook and a pen out of his shirt pocket. "Okay, MT ... why don't you start at the beginning ... "

The sound of another truck shattered the silence just as MT finished describing the events of the morning. Ben Trogdon pulled his vehicle around the damaged patrol car and stopped on the edge of the clearing. He leapt from the vehicle with Carl right behind him.

Perry didn't run to his grandfather this time, he let the man approach. Trogdon shook his head, but then he smiled.

"What is it about you boys? Trouble seems to follow you around," He said.

Carl walked over and placed a hand on MT's shoulder before looking down at Bates' remains.

"Marion Teague ... what have you done now?" Carl asked.

Sawyer laughed. "I'd say that these two boys were out to collect the reward on Bates. They sure deserve it."

"Dave ought to get the reward," MT said.

"We'll let the sheriff sort that out," Trogdon said.

And he did. The coroner's van, the sheriff, several more deputies and the ambulance arrived at about the same time. There were lots of photographs, including the interior of the mine and the stacks of barrels. MT had almost forgotten about Jason until he showed the Sheriff the bales of marijuana.

"Where is he?" The Sheriff asked.

"I think he'll be down at the creek," MT replied. "His clothes were on fire the last time I saw him."

The Sheriff sent two of his deputies and the paramedics down the hill to look for Jason. The whole story had to be told again, and MT was sure this wouldn't be the last time either. But just about the time he finished the paramedics returned with Jason on a stretcher.

"Third degree burns," a deputy told the Sheriff. "He'll live, but it's going to be a long and painful recovery."

"Make sure the hospital knows he's under arrest, and post a deputy to keep an eye on him," the Sheriff said.

Dave seemed to understand the grief MT felt as they loaded Jason in the ambulance.

"He's not dead, MT, although he may wish he were before this is all over. Jason declared war on you and you fought back with the only weapons you had. That's the sign of a good soldier. But knowing that doesn't make it any easier to stomach."

"I guess not," MT said. "Thanks."

"You're welcome," Dave said.

Ben Trogdon decided that the boys had experienced just about enough of all this for the moment. The Sheriff knew where to find them. But before they left Perry ran over to the mine door to look at the damage. There were no scorch marks on the metal and that had been explained when Dave gave the gas tanks a kick and declared them empty.

If Bates had not left the mine to go get them, he and Jason might have loaded enough of the moonshine to make their escape. It didn't matter, those events were now history. Perry returned to the truck with a smile on his face. He crawled in and placed something on MT's lap. MT looked down and saw the lock.

"What's this for?" He asked.

Perry grinned and held up the key. "Bates must have dropped this. Now I have the key to your lock." MT understood completely.

Their names were in the Chattanooga paper this time; there was no avoiding it since the story was front page news. Brinks still maintained a watch at the gates of the Trogdon estate, but now it was to keep out the reporters. MT stayed with Perry out in the summerhouse for the rest of the week to avoid the curious folk in town. It was hell being a celebrity.

The Fourth of July dawned and Franklin drove into town to pick up MT's parents. Upon their return Carl was shocked to see a huge camper-sized vehicle sitting in the driveway with a chauffeur standing beside the door. Trogdon gave them a smile and Franklin parked the car.

"What's all this?" Carl asked.

"Too many of us going. Might as well go in style," Trogdon replied.

He might as well have hired a Greyhound bus, Carl thought as Barbara and Perry's sister boarded, followed by Richard and Neil with assorted wives and children. MT's parents and Trogdon took the steps, with MT and Perry the last to board. Everyone sat down on the chairs and couches in the vehicle and the whole thing moved slowly down the driveway towards the gates.

The ride to Chattanooga didn't take long but it was punctuated by the announcement Trogdon made as they got out on the highway.

"MT, your parents and aunt agree with me, we need to get you boys out of town for the rest of the summer. All this activity has stirred up a lot of attention, and so we think it's best if you both leave and spend the rest of the summer down in Florida with Barbara."

MT was stunned. He looked at his father who nodded. "I think you'll have a good time down there," Carl said.

MT turned to Perry. "Did you know about this?"

"Nope, but I think they're right."

Barbara gave MT a smile. "You'll have the beach all to yourselves. This is the off season and only the locals stay in town. Your parents and I agree. Things will be a lot quieter and safer down there."

MT sighed. What choice did he have? At least he would be with Perry.

"Now before you go I guess you ought to know, the sheriff has decided you boys deserve the reward money for Bates," Trogdon said.

"I think Dave deserves that more than we do," MT said.

"Funny you should mention that," Trogdon said. "Dave is now the newest deputy in Marsh County, and as an employee of the government he doesn't qualify for any reward money. But since he will have to move into town I think we might offer him a nice house of his own and that will be reward enough."

"Cool," MT said.

They all settled into the ride, which gave MT and Perry a chance to move to the back seats of the camper and look out the rear window.

"So ... the beach," MT said. "I guess they figure we won't get into any more trouble down there. I don't know what kind of things we can do for entertainment."

"I have a few ideas," Perry said. "I'll bet you've never been shark fishing. Or maybe we can take a little trip over to Okeechobee and look for alligators ... or maybe ... "


On to Chapter Eight

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