08/16/2024
The Granger brothers, Giant Alligator Coachmen - Part 1
1809 - (Alternate Universe) Macon, GA - USA
In the early 1800s, in a forgotten corner of the southern swamps, there was a town called Mossy Creek. The town was little more than a cluster of wooden shacks, precariously balanced on the edge of the river that wound through the marshlands like a lazy snake. The swamp was a place of tangled cypress trees, murky water, and the endless drone of cicadas. But it was also home to a peculiar rivalry that had become the stuff of legend.
In Mossy Creek, there were two brothers, Caleb and Jebediah Granger. The Granger brothers were known far and wide for one thing: their giant alligators. These beasts were monstrous creatures, their scales dark as night, their eyes like amber lanterns glowing in the swamp's gloom. Caleb and Jebediah had raised these alligators from hatchlings, training them to obey their every command, and in the process, they had built a thriving business ferrying travelers across the treacherous waters of the swamp.
But while the brothers shared the same blood and the same strange bond with their alligators, they could not have been more different. Caleb was the elder, a tall, broad-shouldered man with a calm demeanor and a steady hand. He was known for his reliability, his alligators gliding smoothly through the water, carrying passengers safely to their destinations. Jebediah, on the other hand, was wild and reckless. He took pride in the speed and ferocity of his alligators, urging them to race through the swamp as if they were chasing the wind itself.
The townsfolk of Mossy Creek had long since learned that when the Granger brothers were near, it was best to steer clear of the riverbank. Their rivalry was fierce, and their competitions often turned dangerous. Every time a traveler arrived in town seeking passage across the swamp, Caleb and Jebediah would descend upon them like hawks, each trying to outdo the other with promises of speed, safety, or sheer thrill.
One sweltering summer day, a wealthy merchant arrived in Mossy Creek, his fine clothes and heavy purse catching the attention of everyone in town. He was on his way to a trading post deep in the swamp, and he needed a guide to take him there. Word spread quickly, and soon enough, Caleb and Jebediah were standing before him, each with an alligator by his side.
“Sir, you won’t find a safer ride than with me,” Caleb said, his voice steady and sure. “My alligator here, Ol’ Bess, has never lost a passenger.”
Jebediah snorted, a wild grin spreading across his face. “Safe, sure. But if you want to get there fast, you’re better off with me. Lightning here is the quickest gator in the swamp. We’ll have you to that trading post in no time.”
The merchant, sensing the tension between the brothers, stroked his chin thoughtfully. “And what if I wanted both speed and safety?”
Both brothers stiffened, eyeing each other with suspicion. Caleb’s jaw tightened, and Jebediah’s grin faltered.
“There’s no need to combine what one can do,” Caleb said evenly. “My alligator is all you’ll need.”
“Why settle for slow and steady?” Jebediah shot back. “When you could have fast and fierce?”
The merchant raised an eyebrow, clearly enjoying the spectacle. “I’ll tell you what,” he said, his voice carrying the authority of a man used to making deals. “I’ll pay double for the man who gets me there first. But,” he added with a sly smile, “I’ll pay nothing if I don’t get there in one piece.”
The brothers exchanged a look that spoke volumes. Neither could back down now.
“Deal,” Caleb said after a moment, extending his hand.
“Deal,” Jebediah echoed, clasping it.
The merchant chuckled and climbed onto the back of Lightning, Jebediah’s alligator, while Caleb took Ol’ Bess. With a flick of their reins, the brothers urged their alligators into the water, and the race was on.
The swamp passed by in a blur of green and brown as the brothers pushed their alligators to the limit. Jebediah’s Lightning surged ahead, cutting through the water like an arrow, while Caleb’s Ol’ Bess followed closely, her movements steady and unhurried. The merchant held on tightly, his knuckles white, as the alligators dodged low-hanging branches and twisted through narrow channels.
“Faster, Lightning!” Jebediah shouted, his eyes wild with the thrill of the race. The alligator responded with a burst of speed, widening the gap between them and Caleb.
Caleb’s face remained calm, but his mind raced. He knew the swamp better than anyone, and he knew that Jebediah’s speed could be his downfall. Up ahead, the river split into two channels—one wide and deep, the other narrow and full of hidden snags. It was a trap for the unwary, and Caleb knew which way Jebediah would go.
Sure enough, Jebediah took the wider path, urging Lightning on even faster. Caleb, however, steered Ol’ Bess toward the narrow channel, knowing she could navigate it without issue. The passage was treacherous, but Ol’ Bess moved with the confidence of an old hand, avoiding the submerged logs and sharp rocks with practiced ease.
As the two channels converged again, Caleb and Ol’ Bess emerged ahead of Jebediah, who was struggling to free Lightning from a tangle of underwater roots. The merchant’s eyes widened in surprise and relief as he saw Caleb pull ahead.
Jebediah roared in frustration, yanking at the reins. “Come on, you lazy gator! Move!”
But it was too late. Caleb and Ol’ Bess glided smoothly through the final stretch of the swamp, arriving at the trading post just as the first light of dawn touched the sky. The merchant dismounted, breathing a sigh of relief as he reached into his purse.
“Well done, Caleb,” the merchant said, handing him a fat purse of coins. “You’ve earned your reward.”
Caleb nodded, accepting the money with a quiet satisfaction. As he watched Jebediah finally emerge from the swamp, his face dark with anger, Caleb felt a pang of regret. They had once been close, but the rivalry had driven a wedge between them that seemed impossible to bridge.
Jebediah glared at Caleb as he approached, his eyes burning with fury. But Caleb, ever the peacemaker, extended his hand.
“Good race, brother,” he said simply.
For a moment, it seemed Jebediah might refuse the gesture. But then, with a reluctant sigh, he took Caleb’s hand.
“Next time,” Jebediah muttered, “I’m not holding back.”
Caleb smiled. “I wouldn’t expect anything less.”
And so, the rivalry continued, but with a newfound respect between the brothers. The people of Mossy Creek would speak of the Granger brothers and their giant alligators for generations, telling tales of their fierce competitions and the bond that, in the end, was stronger than any rivalry.
Pronounced "ˈer-ˌsäts", Ersatz is my Artificial Intelligence alter-ego. The AI creates the artwork and I give it a little bit of my pizazz.
