I Read Stories: Nine Sundays In A Row by Kris Dikeman

 

Nine Sundays In A Row by Kris Dikeman in Strange Horizons

If you go to the crossroads at midnight on Sunday and wait there until dawn, if you do that nine Sundays in a row the Dark Man will come and teach you something. The Dark Man has a good dog who will look after you while you’re at the crossroads. But the Dark Man doesn’t give his knowledge for free. And sitting out all night isn’t healthy. What is a good dog to do, how is he to look after you?

Inhabiting an American folk tale, this story asks if, perhaps, the Dark Man’s companions have an opinion on what’s going on. And if they do, what will they do about it?

Read This: Excellent dark folk tale of bargains at the crossroad
Don’t Read This: Yet another deal with the devil story, from someone not even a party to the deal