It began as a strange feeling of dread and imminent danger he experienced in a Florida orange grove in 1974. Another experience of dread occurred in the Sunshine State when he pulled his motorcycle off of a moonlit road in 1978.

Shortly after that incident, Decker moved to Texas, and while hunting on a friend's farm decided on unconventional camping arrangements. Decker had decided to spend the dark watches of the night about fifteen feet up in a large tree, and was awakened to see large hands reaching upward toward his feet ...