Chapter 2.3

Near Bowie Arizona

The coyote watched the mouse scurry into the bush as patiently as it could. It was not much as a meal, but the animal could not afford to be choosy. The darkness around it seemed to be complete. Even the black river that smelled of death was quite. No beasts with bright eyes racing by trying to smash the coyote under it as it had seen happen so often to other animals. Tonight it could hunt in peace. The mouse suddenly burst from its hiding place and was running straight towards it. The hunter leaned back and prepared to pounce when it realized something was wrong. The mouse ran right past it as it tried to make sense of what did not seem right. A subtle vibration could slowly be felt in the pads of the creature’s feet. It’s ears went up trying to catch any sound that could indicate the source of the vibration while its dark eyes searched for any movement that could be a threat.

In the distance its ears finally detected the sound of something heavy moving on the road near by. A low growl rumbled from its throat as it backed away cautiously, then finally turned and darted off into the desert night. The noise continued to echo louder across the land for several minutes before a large dark black shape passed where the animal had been. For several miles the shape moved through the night, the sound of its diesel engine the only indication it existed. Then a glow appeared on the horizon before it. Moments later the town of Bowie could be seen with the Interstate passing near it. The jet-black semi approached then finally turned of Apache Pass Road and onto the on ramp to East Bound I-10.

The truck continued down the Interstate with out any lights, and no one seemed to notice in the early morning hours. Then after fifteen minutes of traveling the vehicle left the freeway just past the small green sign indicating the small community of San Simon could be reached by taking the exit. The truck rolled down the off ramp and towards the small sleeping community of small building and trailers surrounded by yards of sand and scrub brush. Before it entered the town limits, the engine turned off and the vehicle drifted down the road silently into the street lamps where it finally stopped near what would be considered the town center.

For several minutes nothing seemed out of the ordinary. Then a figure jumped out of the cab and moved back towards the trailer. Before he got there, the doors opened and several figures dropped down. No words were exchanged as they separated and disappeared into the shadows of the community. The few screams were never heard by anyone. It was about an hour before sunrise when they had finished and the truck was once again on the I-10 heading East and moving towards the New Mexico State Line.