
In the crisp autumn of Oakdale, two inseparable friends—Fred, a steady‑hand with a single‑barreled repeater, and Roy, a quick‑tempered youngster with a double‑barreled rifle—spend a lazy Saturday hunting through golden woods. Their easy banter about football, school, and the quirks of the reclusive Mr. Hopkins hints at a community where every pastime is intertwined with local gossip. As they venture toward the forbidden “covers” on Hopkins’ land, the quiet countryside feels both familiar and oddly charged.
Beneath the surface of their simple pursuits, strange rumors circulate about the old homestead and a long‑forgotten disappearance that still haunts the town. When a sudden, unexplained incident disrupts their hunt, the boys find themselves drawn into a puzzle that stretches beyond the fields and football scores. Their camaraderie and youthful curiosity become the key to uncovering secrets that have lingered in Oakdale’s shadows for years.
Language
en
Duration
~4 hours (285K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Release date
2015-12-30
Rights
Public domain in the USA.
Best known as the psychiatrist behind the hugely influential classic The Road Less Traveled, this author brought together psychology, spirituality, and practical advice in a way that reached millions of readers.
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