Enigma in the Pines: contos, #1

By Ricardo Almeida

"Dive into the mysterious world of Gorham Park with 'Southern Shadows: A Park Ranger's Tale.' Join Jay Salem, a towering figure in more ways than one, as he navigates the bizarre occurrences and supernatural phenomena that unfold in the Deep South. Partnered with the enigmatic Jay Hardwick, a survivor of an otherworldly event, Salem shares the uncanny experiences that define their lives as park rangers.

As you delve into the pages, be prepared for a rollercoaster of strange encounters – from two-headed black bears wearing hats to the unsettling aftermath of a meth lab explosion. Salem's unique perspective and Hardwick's background in the Occult add layers of intrigue to their adventures. The park's understaffed conditions only heighten the suspense, creating an atmosphere where the unusual becomes routine.

'Southern Shadows' weaves a gripping narrative, blending elements of mystery, the supernatural, and the everyday challenges faced by those tasked with protecting the vast and mysterious Gorham Park. Sheriff Ames, with his eccentric appearance and unorthodox beliefs, adds another layer to the narrative, unveiling a series of events that challenge the boundaries of reality.

Uncover the secrets hidden within the woods as Salem and Hardwick grapple with the unexplained. From UFO cults to the eerie aftermath of meth labs gone awry, each chapter unfolds a new layer of the enigma that is Gorham Park. Will the duo uncover the truth behind the peculiar occurrences, or will they become entangled in the web of the park's mystique?

'Southern Shadows: A Park Ranger's Tale' is not just a story – it's an immersive journey into the heart of the unexplained, where the rules of reality bend, and the shadows hold secrets that defy explanation. Brace yourself for a captivating adventure that transcends the ordinary, inviting you to question everything you thought you knew about the Deep South's mysteries."

• Language: English
• Publisher: Ricardo Almeida
• Release date: Nov 19, 2023
• ISBN: 9798223846659

Book preview

Table of Contents

Enigma in the Pines (contos, #1)

My work as a park ranger in the Deep South, my assistant was a member of Occult, the lone

survivor of a event orchestrated to get their souls free passage out of the nearest UFO.

His name is Jay Hardwick and mine is Jay Salem.

To avoid confusion everybody just calls them wicky and me little Jay, even though I despise

that nickname and always have.

The little Jay thing is an old and rather worn out joke as I stand about 7 feet tall.

My parents were also monstrously tall and their parents before them too and so on and

so forth, probably all the way back to the time of the Deness of Ants.

Most of the great Danes are inbred for their gargantuan size.

Apparently my family followed a similar policy of foolhardy eugenics.

Regardless I prefer people to just call me Jay, the little thing gets old.

Nay Jay, Hardwick said to me, does that look normal to you?

He pointed across the field where a two-headed black bear stared at us, a blanket in bewilderment.

It does not look normal to me, and just ignore it.

Rule number one of the job is to always ignore everything that doesn't immediately threaten

your life, and even some of the stuff that does maybe.

I looked down from the bear but Hardwick was still frowning.

He has a hat on, I looked up and Hardwick was right.

One of the bears two heads had a herb a life cap on.

Well that's not against the law, I said.

Bears can wear hats.

Yeah, but it is a scam, he said.

That's not against the law, I said.

Americans have the right to participate in any scam they want.

Okay, but Hardwick raised his index finger for emphasis.

It isn't even sunny out.

Why the hat?

Hardwick, I feel like you're asking the wrong questions here, I said.

Siamese twins, two-headed bears, a flying saucers from outer space.

These things all happen.

The real question is, do I care?

I shook my head.

You need to learn the ropes of this job if you're going to become a park ranger like

me.

Rule number two, do the least work possible all the time, and maybe even less than if

you need to.

You'll make yourself look too good or people will be expecting you to do things all the

time.

And that comes back to rule number one, which is to ignore nearly everything strange or

weird.

I tapped my nose in confidence at him.

If you do almost nothing from the start, people will expect nothing from you, and then you

have nowhere to go but up.

Yeah, but you've been in the same position at the same pay for ten years so.

He shrugged, point taken Hardwick.

I just looked back down to the magazine that I was reading.

Some rag about Bigfoot sightings in British Columbia, and how Elvis was just spotted alive

and well, in a bathroom in Guatemala somewhere.

Hardwick was an average looking guy, six feet tall with