The sweltering heat of the late summer had not given up one bit in the last three weeks. Each year a similar heatwave struck the town of Montbury, and each year for its duration it was the main topic of discussion for its inhabitants. Most of the people of Montbury insisted that the heatwave experienced in their town was qualitatively different then the ones experienced in the other towns in northern Louisiana. The townsfolk swore that the sweltering heat would drive the wildlife in the vast wetlands surrounding Montbury into a frenzy and that during this period one shouldn’t venture in the wetlands at the risk of relinquishing something of their own. No visitor was ever explained how and what they risked losing by going into the wetlands and it wasn’t even certain if the townsfolk knew either what the supposed curse alluded to.

The legend however had the effect of discouraging anyone from leaving town during the few weeks and it had a significant effect on the mood inside the town. Mothers would hold their children close to them at all times, brothers would not be laughing at the jokes they’d be normally telling, and sworn enemies would not seek confrontation with each other. If two friends would pass by each other beside on the street, they would not stop to talk about mundane affairs, and if they did stop the conversation was strictly limited to the topic of the heatwave. Each Sunday the church of Saint Venerius would be filled to the brim with believers and atheists, drunks and abstainers, business owners and union workers all dressed in their best. During these sermons, united in their shared inner tensions, they were all just scared montburians looking for solace.