HomePurple Mountains Majesty
by Ron Van Sweringen
They began circling her body at first light. A half dozen of the black bastards, swooping down low and landing on bouncing legs to investigate. He screamed at first and waved his arms, but it did little good. They simply stood their ground watching him with those blinking eyes protruding from blood red skin. Vultures, he hated the bastards.
As the hours wore on they became more aggressive, forming a circle around Megan's body. Finally one gave a vicious jerk at her arm with its beak. He pulled himself up to a sitting position, fractured legs white hot with pain.
"Stop it, stop it," He screamed , his guts curdling inside of him. "Oh God, what am I doing here" he moaned. He knew the answer and hated himself for it. It was his fault Megan was dead. He knew the rocky slope was dangerous when he insisted they use it instead of the slower trail. Megan went over the edge first and he slipped trying to grab her.
"Eat me instead, you bastards," he screamed at the feasting circle of monsters. It was no use, their frenzy could not be stopped as they shredded her clothing, ripping away chunks of flesh. Her blond head matted in dried blood bobbed back and forth, torn at from every direction.
"Kill me too," he prayed.
They stood watch over her until twilight, then suddenly as if from an unknown signal, flew up instantly, disappearing in a black cloud. He saw the reason, raising its huge head to scent the air, the foaming mouth agape. A huge male Grizzly.
He knew his only chance was to play dead, so he began singing God Bless America.
