Loathsome, Dark and Deep
by Aaron Polson
© 2010 – All Rights Reserved

“They weren’t the first we’ve seen come down the Lewis.” Arthur Jenkins took a sip of whiskey and set his glass back on the table. We were seated at a table in The Thirsty Dog, one of the two saloons in St. Helens. The room was rather empty, save for an assortment of mismatched tables and a few dour looking men—men with gazes older than their years.
“No,” he continued, “we’d had a few deserters from Curt’s camp after the …

Off Track
by Michael Hultquist
© 2011 – All Rights Reserved

“Not a good first week, I take it?” Counselor Ray said. His voice vacillated between mild amusement and dumfounded concern.
Gary sat in the same chair as last week, arms folded across his chest, lower lip jutted out in an uncharacteristic pout. He expected a lecture and felt one coming on, like a volcano rumbling the earth before it spouts off. Isn’t that what counselors are for, anyway? They lecture you about what you are and aren’t supposed to do. They dig …