Swap Gas, Cont'd.

"You boys come to look for spacemen ?"

As soon as the Trooper said that I became filled with terror. Not because of being asked the question by the Trooper, but rather, because of the look I saw on TC's face. It was the same look that had been getting us in trouble since we were Cub Scouts and altar boys.

"Not really" TC said, his face taking on that expression of evil that can only be seen in the eyes of a boyish prankster. "We're actually here to search out some of the larger lakes in hopes of finding one of the direct relatives of the Loch Ness Monster !" This was followed by TC's sardonic grin. I held my breath as I saw the Troopers face light up in a rage.

"People from space are not necessarily monsters!" The Trooper shouted at us.
Time for TC too back peddle as only he could do. He'd done backpeddling a thousand times in life.

Sheepishly, with an expression of almost childlike innocence TC said, "Well, actually Sir, we're here to scout out some of the better fishing sites in hopes of coming back here this summer. Michigan is such a wonderful place and the people so very friendly."

It works for TC every time. The Trooper had been disarmed. His face relaxed, the Trooper said, "Oh, all right. I was afraid you might be some of those trouble makers. Besides, Our people in Washington have already determined that this whole thing is nothing but swap gas."

The Trooper was smiling now, yet there was something odd abouot the smile.
"How old are you boys ? Anyone no you're up here?"

We gave him our drivers licenses which he looked over in a cursory way. His smile had become more learing. I could feel the old Ford begin to vibrate because of the way Tom and Turtle were shaking in the back seat.

A strange grin on his face and his eyes piercing us the Trooper gave us our drivers licenses and said, "Good luck finding your spacemen." He walked away.

After the Troopers patrol car pulled away, we resumed our journey. TC turned off of the main road and began traveling back roads as if he had a specific destination in mind.

"What the hell is swap gas?" Turtle asked. "Is that somethin' ya use instead of regular gasoline?"

"No," Tom said. "I think it's something like the gas that's in your kitchen stove."

TC turned the old Ford down a narrow, tree lined lane. The car bumped over old ruts and brushed against raggedy, low hanging tree limbs. I don't think I've ever seen a night so dark, before or since.

"Where the hell are you going?" I asked.

"Following the directions the Trooper gave us" TC said as he stared through the windshield to see road ahead.

"The Troopers directions? What are you talkin' about?"

Turtle suddenly shouted, "Maybe swap gas is some rare element that guys from outer space need to power their ships for inneplanetary travel! Maybe it's only found here and that's why they keep sneakin' down on earth cause this is the only place it's found!"

Tom said, "I thinnk we should call home."

I didn't recall the Trooper giving us any kind of directions, or did I. Did the Trooper say something about a swamp?

The roads had become not much more than mud pathways. At one point I was sure the old Ford was about to become hopelessly bogged down in a muddy quagmire, but TC hit the gas and withing seconds we turned out of the wooded path and on to a gravel road. The black nigh broken only by the dim beams of light thrown fron the front of our car. As we drove along, fenceposts that held rusty barbed wire in long stretches shot past us, looking more like the pickets of an old wooden fence.

"TC" I said, "I think we're lost."

"Maybe" hea said. "What did the Trooper say about seeing the swamp on ur left?"

I replied, "He said it's near an old farm."

We slowed for a curve in the road. The we saw the sign. DEAD END ROAD.

We rolled along for a few more feet when we saw the decrepit, old, barn. A barn once painted bright red that had become gray and tattered. The doors were wide open and light, bright, white light poured out of the doors. That was the only light to be seen as far as the eye could see in any direction.

"Let's stop here and ask" TC said.

The car rolled into the driveway that was thick with mud and standing water. An old, abandoned house stood along side the driveway, ready to fall down. The house had no windows left in it and the covered porch had already begun to collapse. Tall grass and weeds surrounded the place. Shutters had fallen off of it and many of the clapboards were now gone. "Too bad this isn't haloween" I said, but got no response from the others.

Our car came to a halt and it's headlights bathed an empty shed in a dim light.

"Ya think swap gas is valuable?" Turtle asked. "ya think these people might have potato chips or somethin' we could buy from them?" he added.

"Maybe they'll let us use a phone to call back home" Tom said in a voice that sounded shakey.

All of us hesitated after getting out of the car. We stood on the driveway, mud covering the tops of our shoes.

"C'mon guys" TC mumbled as he started toward the barn and that bright, white light.

As we followed TC I thoughht about what Tom had just said. Maybe we should have phoned home a long time ago. Before we got this far.

As we wallked through wide double doors of the barn and into that light we saw an old rusted tractor that had not run in years. Farm tools, old and worn out hung from the rafters. A solitary cow stood in a stall munching on hay. There was a farmer sitting on a rocking chair off to the side.

The old guy was wearing bib overalls that looked brand new. A rediculous straw hat and a bright red plaid shirt. He could have been a brother to the Trooper that had stopped us out on the highway. The same dark, almost wild, piercing eyes.

"Hello boys. You come lookin' for spacemen?"