Ghost Story Review: "Legal Rites" by Isaac Asimov and James MacCreigh

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Russell Harley’s uncle Zeb has been gathered unto his fathers. Russell’s heard rumors of money buried around old Zeb’s place and now that he’s inherited it, he makes the trip out to desert to see. The stars are already out when the driver drops him off and unceremoniously disappears. Harley goes to get himself a drink of water and finds there’s no indoor plumbing as well as no electricity. No well, either. By the cistern he hears dripping water hissing as if landing on a hot stove. Only it’s not water—it’s too thick. “Get off my land!” he hears someone yell. There’s no one there, but Russell gets. He doesn’t stop until he reaches the first saloon. “Whiskey,” he croaks, while the other patrons stare at him, at the blood stains on the front of his shirt. The bartender hands him water, a bottle and shot glass. “I could of told what would happen,” he says. “Only you wouldn’t have believed me. You had to meet Hank for yourself before you’d believe me.” Seems that Uncle Zeb had roommate who doesn’t want to move out to make room for Russell. This is a silly story, one that can be forgiven its improbabilities because it’s a lot of fun to read. It’s not just farce (though it is), Uncle Zeb’s backyard is “thirty thousand visible acres of hilly sand, rock and patches of sage and flame-tipped ocotillo.” And there is a nice little twist at the end. This story can be found here: _____ Title: “Legal Rites” Author: Isaac Asimov (1920-1992) and James MacCreigh (penname for Frederick Pohl) (1919-2013) First published: Weird Tales September 1950 Source: ISFDB