Gary, an old man, records in writing the most frightening thing that ever happened to him: when he was nine years old, still grieving the recent death of his brother from a bee sting, he went fishing in the woods and was approached by a slick man in a suit. Observing at once that this was no ordinary man - his eyes were like windows over fire and his breath was hot and sulphurous - Gary knew he was in the company of the Devil. The Devil toys with Gary and tells him his mother has just died at home from a bee sting, the same as his brother. As Gary panics, frozen, the Devil talks about how starving he is, and Gary realises he will be eaten if he doesn't act. He thrusts the large fish he caught at the Devil, and when the Devil bolts it down, Gary runs for his life. He narrowly escapes and runs into his father on the road. The two return home together and discover that Gary's mother is fine. At Gary's father's urging, they return to the creek for Gary's fishing gear and his father notices the charred grass and odd smell around the place. Unnerved, his father gets rid of the fishing gear. Gary goes on to lead a peaceful and uneventful life, and is scrupulously careful to be a good man, knowing what fate might await otherwise. But he fears another encounter with the man in the black suit, knowing the creature is driven by a hunger beyond morality.