The Shadow of the Shaking Tree

By Perry Mark Stratychuk

The Shadow of the Shaking Tree is the first group of horror short stories written by Canadian writer and filmmaker Perry Mark Stratychuk.

Originally released in paperback during the mid 1990's it's now available digitally for the first time, in the format of your choice.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Perry Mark Stratychuk
• Release date: Apr 7, 2018
• ISBN: 9781386996668

Perry Mark Stratychuk

Perry Mark Stratychuk (born in St. Boniface, Manitoba, Canada) is a filmmaker, writer, musician, poet, and actor. Described in a review as a "natural artist", he is a director, cinematographer, and producer in several movie genres such as experimental short film, music video, and documentary. Along with writing bizarro fiction and poetry, Perry creates strange "outsider" artworks, and can be heard forging eclectic electronic / experimental guitar music for soundtracks and albums as a Canadian electronic drone music pioneer active since 1981. Perry currently resides in Chengdu, Sichuan, China with his wife Sayda, and miniature Schnauzer Aboo.

Book preview

Step into the shadow of the shaking tree ...

THE GRIM TRADE

Amidst the foul air Elmor Buke nimbly removed the rough hemp from around the wrists. He was behind schedule big time, but still tugged at each limb playfully. It was nearly an hour since the snatch. This one seemed to leap right off the rolling skateboard and into his arms. He should've picked someone from a poorer cut of town. Someone hungry, weak and less likely to put up such a struggle. Clean inside, dirty outside.

Next time.

He slid the limp thing to the back of the van. As the wooden tool crate yawned he pushed it inside, no longer empty of merchandise. He locked down the lid and fidgeted with the stained ropes in his jacket pocket. Pulling up on his loose titting trousers Elmor jiggled onto the driver's seat of the truck.

Elmor started his new van feeling pride well inside him. The engine roared smooth with North American technology. Clean outside, dirty inside he thought. Chomping hard into a jumbo burger already gone cold he drove off.

Lindsay's shoulder was about to give way. He hated weakness. He'd been like this since the operation when he lost fifty pounds he couldn't put back no matter what he shoved in his mouth. Sweat dripped from his messy blonde hair. He got nowhere.

Their new car sat silent and worthless at the roadside. Lindsay clenched his teeth and forced his weight at the wheel wrench again. His meager frame against the jammed lug nut. All this for a flat friggin' tire.

Gaaaa, he grunted pulling with all his frame could throw. Still can't do it? asked a voice coolly.

You wanna try? he snapped.

Lindsay straightened brushing gravel from his sharp pleated pants, and spat thick and bloody to the ground. Bit my lip.

. 'Hand it over," she said.

He pressed the wheel wrench into her manicured grip. A disciplined one well used to handling steel.

Go for it Mom, said Kenny, leaning across a smooth curve of fender.

You're not gonna start flexing again are you, said Lindsay as he spat more redness.

Yeah, 1 am, she said.

Carol was in smashing shape. In fact, Lindsay first met her at a gym downtown. His ex always said he went down there too much. Well, you had to have a hobby right? He had a lifetime membership which he gave to his son