The wind rolled and heaved in rushing swells, snarling and growling through the trees, ratting the listless, animating the lifeless.  Rain spit and sputtered as tender, nascent plants braced and steeled themselves.  The menacing storm grew malicious as man and beast sought shelter, awaiting its passing, so damage could be assessed…

  Darkness slithered in like an unctuous serpent, enigmatic, noxious and malevolent.  It quickly suffocated the light and all that was good and decent.  Evil could be done in the shadows.  Trickery and thievery thrived there.   In honor of Halloween, and all things cryptic, dark, and wicked, I offer you…