'The Secret Gardener' (Part 1)

Narator/Intro:

"Perhaps... From a far away place, may

come a Secret Gardener. One that works

quietly, and behind the scenes, to 'prune'

some of the dead wood and weeds, here?"

#$$$#

El Muerte Blanca... was what they named

themselves. Juan read of The Black Death,

that happened in Europe, and got the 'idea'.

He suggested it to the 'Don', who wore white.

They were a gang. Not much different from

the 'Hole in the Wall' type of gangs from the

1930's era of America. But this one was in

Mexico. Out in a small village area. Si. Yes!

They had several 'ex-members'... Known as

The Hole in the Head Gang, who each had

'moved on' to greener pastures? Maybe...

No one knew for sure. The After-Life was

a Hoped for reality, the Church promised.

But Don Manuel Vargas never put much

faith in anything he'd never witnessed.

But late tonight, he'd get a 'glimpse'. Si!

"Don... There is a shipment coming in

tonight! My contact in Texas promised."

The Don smiled... and played with his

mustache. A habit or a nervous 'tick',

no one in the Gang guessed or knew.

"This is Good, Juan. You make the

pick-up with Jesus. He is new, and

needs to learn how these things go."

"Yes, Don... It will be so!" said Juan.

That very Night... At Midnight.

Outside an ivy-covered cantina, on

the outskirts of the town. A Light.

A strange Light descended from a

lamppost nearby the cantina walls

and a dark 'doorway' hidden in the

ivy. This door was to a world, unseen.

The Next World? Maybe so. Odd? Si.

The Light entered the dark doorway.

Then the doorway shut closed again.

"Jesus... Stick close to me. Though

the Border is miles away, we must

keep an eye out for any 'Strangers'.

Anyone that is out of place. They

could be connected to the FBI,

back in Estados Unidos. We need

no troubles. Not tonight. Not ever!"

"Si! Juan. I shall not fail you...

Or the Don... No way, Jose!"

Juan: "Good, amigo. Make

sure you and I don't... Fail!"

The 'Shipment' arrived on time.

An old school bus... Windows

all blacked out. A secret cargo.

A dozen or so, young, pretty...

Girls. None over 15. White,

Hispanic... One black. And

one Native American. Si.

The human-traffic trade

was sadly... Alive & well.

Drugs were bad enough.

This... Was beyond Evil.

(To be continued...)