Is He Dead?

The creek water was dark and dismal, covered with a blanket of leaves and moss. Large cypress trees towered like skyscrapers above the shallow creek bed. Closer to the water line, large, ghost-like cypress knots extended from the ground. Just as Tom shut off the motor, there was a loud splash in the water. A six or seven foot long alligator whipped his tail across the surface.
He ordered both Amanda and Melissa out of the truck. He pointed to a grassy area next to the water and demanded, “You stand right there and don’t fucking move!”
“What about alligators?” Melissa asked. Tom opened a tool box that was mounted on the back bed of his truck and removed a large machete. “It’s not going to matter in a few minutes,” he said coldly as he removed a machete from its canvas cover and walked over to Amanda and Melissa.