A houseboat. Finegan Fine

zombies there.

As the couple turns to return to the bonfire the camp mistress looks

over her shoulder, calling back with a wave toward the bonfire.

But you can stay here.

The passengers are frozen, not sure how to proceed, so Finegan breaks

the spell by moving forward cheerfully.

Common Joey, lets see what’s to eat. Got those

peaches?

Joey has a sack of peaches and another of pecans, their contribution to

the communal supper. Joey runs ahead to give these to the camp

mistress.

The passengers trail along behind Finegan. As they arrive at the

bonfire, they are greeted by others who have been alerted by the camp

mistress. Some put their arms around shoulders to comfort. One of the

passengers breaks down and is hugged by another woman.

Finegan drifts off to the side with Joey to discuss business and see

what the group might have for barter. He puts his hand out to shake

another man’s hand. Then he grabs the hand of a smiling flirtatious

woman nearby and swings her out into the dance area in front of the

fire, stomping and swinging.

Joey continues to shake hands and introduce himself. He pulls the photo

of his parents out of his pocket and shows it around. Those who look at

the photo are shaking their heads.

______________________________

26

Barney is sleeping in the doorway of the houseboat, guarding the two

inside. An empty whiskey bottle is on the floor next to Finegan, who is

snoring.

The camp mistress is walking quietly through the dewy grass to the

waters edge, and up the plank. She has come to warn Finegan. Finegan

gets up, groggy. The camp mistress points at Joey.

Keep that youngster close now, yahear? We’ve

had reports of kids goin’ missing.

Finegan raises an eyebrow, and nods.

27

Jury of Peers

The houseboat is traveling up the middle of a broad river, thick with

trees along both banks. Dead tree branches are standing like black, wet

soldiers at arms, so thick in places no approach to shore is readily

available. Finegan has Joey at his usual post atop the roof of the

house. Finegan points ahead, along one side of the river.

What’s that up there? Looks like a shack.

Finegan slows his peddling, letting the houseboat drift. Several young

children are seen in the yard of the shack, clustered together. Finegan

sees a place where some high ground is jutting out into the river,

where one could walk ashore. He points in that direction, soundlessly,

wanting to go ashore to see if something might be amiss. Why are there

no adults around?

Finegan peddles quietly and steers with the rudder, while Joey hops to

the front of the houseboat to throw a rope over a sturdy branch. They

are downriver from the shack, and have apparently not been seen by

anyone. Holding onto a branch, Finegan swings down onto the finger of

land. He is holding onto branches as he goes along the land projection,

stepping gingerly. He makes his way to the riverbank and up along the

bank toward the shack.

Finegan walks up to a chicken-wire cage, strung from one tree to

another and nailed firmly. The only opening is at a door of the shack,

so there is no escape from the cage. The chicken wire seems to be

buried in the ground, as well as strung overhead, so climbing or

tunneling are not a ready option either. Finegan walks up to the fence,

curling his fingers through the chicken wire, tugging it slightly,

testing. It is immediately apparent that this is not a yard meant to

28

keep children at play from falling into the river. Something else is

afoot.

The half dozen children huddled in the center are young, 3 years of age

to a girl of 7 years or so. They are thin, very pale, very dirty, and

wearing tattered clothes. Because the children have fallen silent,

Finegan’s presence has been noted. The main door of the shack opens and

a hag emerges.

Hey! You looking to buy?

The hag is thin, wrinkled, toothless, and has long greasy hair hanging

straight down, some strands in front of her face. Her clothes hang on

her, as though she has lost weight. She wears bedroom slippers and

socks that are falling down around her ankles. Wanting to assess the

situation, Finegan plays along. Finegan points to the 7 year old girl,

who is standing to the rear of the clutch of children.

What’ll you take for the girl in back?

Like the others, the girl has a solemn face. The girl blinks, stares at

the ground, and is making fists with her hands as they are held at her

sides, tense and frightened.