R. Crow Associates -- Investigation III -- Shady Screams Falls, late day. Hungry.
Shady Screams Falls is, as indicated on the map, dry. The bed that once crashed with water is now littered with mist-dampened plastic bags, shotgun shells faded to pink, and other trash. The area, once semi-regularly cleared, is being taken over by new growth.
The path continues past a large wooden sign with routed letters, SHADY SCREAMS SEASONAL HUNTING GROUND, with another smaller wooden sign nailed just below, PERMANENTLY CLOSED TRESPASSING FORBIDDEN. Tacked under plastic are the relevant ordinances promising prosecution, et cetera, but also several other small posters.
Several are mimeographed MISSING notices, but itβs impossible to tell how recent, since theyβre also protected by the same scrubby plastic. Three hunters or hikers have been reported as missing, their last known whereabouts being this approximate area, with photos reproduced in blurry purple ink, their names, and the phone number of the local sheriff--which Mert has no intention of calling.
The other notices are warnings against hunting or trapping animals at all, due to exposure to disease. Several game animals are listed by name and with poor-quality photos. It seems the hunting ground is not only polluted or contaminated, but the animals are as well: they suffer from mange, and in advanced stages of the disease can be identified from afar by their staggering gait.
Still another notice warns against drinking any water in the area due to the presence of βheavy metals.β Itβs a much higher quality posting to Mertβs expert eye, clearly photocopied by a good machine instead of a hand-cranked mimeograph. At its bottom is a logo heβs seen before: a pair of scales, balancing an atom against a lightning bolt. Itβs the same logo heβs seen on the cover of the plant managerβs planner, and on his brief view of the plant itself, the Spotter Lake Nuclear Power Plant.
Mert pokes around in the dry waterfall bed, finding only trash and an untrustworthy package of beef jerky. Itβs getting late and hanging around any longer would be a bad idea. He quickly writes down the names of the missing hunters and hiker--none of them match the name of his plant manager--and quickly retraces his hike back through the Lost Townie Forest.
By luck or skill, he finds his way back without incident, just as the sun is starting to set in the east, searing his eyes. Of course, Steveβs car is gone--along with it, any chance of Mert getting his money back. He drives into town, regretfully drawing cash from the local bank, and checks into the cheapest motel he can find.