“That would be greatly appreciated.”
I had hurried across the room and, squatting down, reached up from under the door and passed him the serviettes. As he accepted them, I moved back and peered nervously at the stall directly beside him. There was more of that strange fecal matter…. It was too large to have been a small mammal, and yet too small to have been anything the size of a dog. I had seen something similar once before. It had been during a visit to Toronto after helping a friend move a fridge. It had been far smaller, but my heart leapt into my throat as I recognized what I now distinguished as comparable to the feces of cockroaches.
“Oh dear God, no--,” I had whispered as the horror took me and I turned back to where Rich still occupied the stall, “Are you just about done in here?”
“Just about—sorry about this--,” He apologized, “I never usually eat this late and it got to my stomach.”
“It’s no trouble at all--,” I felt the hairs rise on the nape of my neck, and attempting to sound calm, said, “I’ll just wander around until you are ready.”
Moving away from his stall, I wandered slowly down the row, shining my lantern as I gently kicked the doors open to gaze within. That very same fecal matter littered the corners and rear of each stall from just behind the toilets. Something had definitely been using the place as a shelter. My nerves tingled, the fear building as I looked above and into the corners of the ceilings. Half-expecting to find some form of hideous larvae nesting in the darkness.
A sound from outside now caused me to draw the revolver, swiftly moving toward the open entranceway.
An icy gust drew my attention downward and back upon the lake, my friend’s words echoing in my thoughts. Michael—I know in my heart, in my soul that there is something evil down there… and that it’s waiting for someone—for us…
What if the insects had somehow evolved into an aquatic species? Something that fed upon unsuspecting boaters and swimmers, and used the camp during the winter months…..
A sudden and blood curdling shriek sent me hurdling toward Rich’s bathroom stall! No sooner had I reached him did he come rushing out with something perched upon his back! It was dark, shrieking, and clung to him as he crashed against the stall door!! I raised my lantern, but in the panic of the moment could not make out either figure as they struggled! He flailed as the thing screeched, and falling to the floor, he rolled, casting it aside! I had drawn my gun and intending to fire, was halted as Scott and Red Cloud appeared in the doorway!
“Stop—don’t shoot it!” Scott shouted, frantically pointing as it scurried out the door past the two men, “It was just a raccoon! You guys okay?”
“A raccoon--,” Rich gasped, as gathering himself and looking around at us, he shuddered, “It’s still a giant forest rat. It might’ve had rabies!”
Red Cloud had entered the washrooms, looking briefly about, and said, “There was racoon crap everywhere in there—and neither of you saw this?”
I had just looked toward Rich as we were both at a loss to answer.
“City boys--,” Scott sighed with a shrug as he turned to Red Cloud, “They wouldn’t know the difference between a racoon turd and a candy bar in the dark.”
“No—we really wouldn’t--,” Rich appeared frustrated, “Did either of you notice anything odd or out of place?”
“We did not hear, see, or sense anything.” Red Cloud announced, patting Rich on the back. He smirked, “Except for your screaming.”
“I did not scream--,” Rich argued, following us from the building, as he said, “It was more like a shout, I was just startled. Did you see the size of that thing?”
“It sure sounded like a scream to me.” Scott shrugged, “My ten year old cousin sounded just like that when she stepped on a spider one time.”
“Other than Rich’s furry little friend--,” Red Cloud interrupted, saying, “Did you discover anything that might be of interest?”
“We experienced what was obviously a physical manifestation in the cook-house.” I began explaining as we walked back up the path, “An enormous pot was cast down without any reason or explanation. We had sensed something in that very same corner just moments before. And when we turned down the lights and prepared to depart—it just came down behind us.”
“We were just going to look into the cook’s old cabin--,” Rich mumbled, appearing quite embarrassed, and quietly said, “But, I had to make a rest-stop.”
“Were you feeling threatened, or in any kind of danger by this experience in the cook-house?” Red Cloud drew his heavy deer-hide coat closer about himself, the cold and dampness now visibly affecting us all.
“Not threatened, but we both felt as though we were intruding.” I thought for a moment, “But, we did arrive at a conclusion--,” I brought the matter to the attention of all, as halting, I turned and pointed back down the path, “Which has less to do with the actual camp, but brings our focus back to the dock and upon the lake.”
“If you’re going to tell us that it scares the crap out of you--,” Scott groaned, looking back from over his shoulder as he had peered out at the lake, “You’re not alone. Old Red and I were talking about that as we walked around this spook-show, shanty town.”
“This place carries many bad feelings, some worse than others.” Red agreed, as gesturing with a nod toward the lake, he scowled, “But, somewhere between the night shore and endless tides, an evil waits in the darkness.”
“My friends, we have a choice to make here and now.” I looked among their stern features, dark and cold in the night, “We came here to investigate—and we have done that. There is no need to take this any further than we have, unless anyone feels differently?”
There was little apprehension as Scott, looking between our companions, spoke for the group, “Hell bro, we came here to find out what’s going on. Just because we might or might not have found something, doesn’t mean that we should just turn tail and run. I say that we dig down good and deep, stand our ground and kick some--!”
“Agreed--,” Red Cloud interrupted, “Soon, there will be people, women and children here. We can do nothing for those already lost to this place, but for them, we must stay, must try…”
I looked to Rich, who crossing his arms over his breast and shivering in the damp cold, looked down and just nodded.
“Alright then, it’s unanimous, for better or worse, we see this thing through.”
The group had fallen silent. Glancing back toward the water, it was apparent that we had all felt something lurking from just beyond shore…..
Red Cloud and Scott had waited outside. Fumbling with the keys, Rich managed to unlock the door to the cook’s shack. We had looked at each other briefly before raising our lanterns and moving forward. The door creaked loudly as we slowly made our way inside. Although the main buildings and our cabin had been provided with power, it was apparent that they had used oil lamps in the shacks. A large hurricane lamp still rested on a small table near the window. Yet, for all of its beauty and my passion for antiques, I had no desire to remove it from that place.
The shack was a small, one bedroom structure, which unlike our cabin had no kitchen. There was a main room with a table and chairs and a wood stove for heat, but it was primitive in comparison. Though still structurally sound and properly sealed from weather and wind, it was dismal to say the very least. The dust lay heavy in this place, and it was damp and moldering over many years without heat.
Ever so slowly we had made our way into the bedroom and to where the murders had taken place. The old iron bed frame remained, rusting in the darkness, but the mattress had been removed for obvious reasons.
“Are you getting any feelings or impressions?” I looked to Rich, who resting a hand upon the little bureau in the corner of the room, looked back and shook his head. He had paused in thought, looking around the room as though confused, “Nothing in the slightest—other than freezing in this miserable cold. Oddly enough, this just feels like any other empty room.”
I felt stunned, disoriented by this apparent lack of general constitution. And even now, I questioned whether we could trust our own instincts in this place. The only truly disturbing thought about this cabin was the knowledge of what had happened there. But even so, it was nothing but another vacant space, filled with dust, mold and some very bad memories.
“If anything happened in here,” He seemed utterly confused, “Then it’s completely evading me. Maybe something is blocking the usual resonance—hiding the evidence?”
“I’m not sure--,” I shivered, sneezing as I turned from the dust-covered bureau, “But, it’s like you said. It just seems like any other empty room.”
“Is it possible that whatever evil is out there--,” He pondered while peering from out the little window and back at the lake, “That it’s overwhelming all other senses and sensations in this place?”
“Well, if it is then we will be finding out soon enough.” I motioned to my friend to follow as we moved out of the little bedroom, “If it’s powerful enough to block our senses and make us all nervous—aware of its presence, then it’s just a matter of time before it makes an appearance.”
“I still wonder whether this was just a simple haunting to begin with--,” Rich scratched nervously at his goatee, his eyes wide, “Or if something else followed us here….”
“Let’s get back to the others. I’m sure that we’ll get our answers soon enough.”
And with that final thought, we had moved from out of the room and quickly made our way back outside.
Chapter Four
The wind had picked up considerably as we made our way back down to the dock. The waves splashed against the rocky shore, casting an icy mist into the whistling gusts that now chilled us to the bone. It was truly amazing how different this place had become in the darkness. But then again, September was upon us and the fall approaching all too swiftly.
“Let’s have a look in the boat-house.” Rich pulled the collar of his jacket closer about the back of his neck, “Is it just me—or is it getting cold already?”
“It’s after midnight.” Scott looked at his wrist-watch, “It’s now September first, welcome to the end of the summer, gentlemen.”
Working my way through the ring of keys, I could not locate anything that would fit the large padlock. Frustrated, I turned to look back at my companions, “For some reason, the key to the boat-house isn’t on this ring.”
Red Cloud just stared. It was an all-knowing look as crossing his arms over his breast, he grumbled, “I did not think that Frank would want anyone in there.”
“Oh? And why is that?” Rich shivered.
“That was where he kept his boat, the Jenny II.” Dark suspicion filled our old native friend’s eyes as he silently looked between us, “He never let anyone near her, except the girls from town that he took out on the lake.”
“Why did he call it the Jenny II?” Scott appeared increasingly aggravated, his eyes darting around the dock.
“The first one was a fancy speed-boat. Frank used to fuel it up right over there by that pump--,” Red Cloud pointed toward the end of the dock to where a huge fuel tank rested in the darkness, “But there was a fire. The boat burned, drifted out, and sank just off shore. We were lucky no one was killed….”
“How did that happen—were they smoking?” Although having previously heard the story from Frank, Rich now questioned the credibility, “What did he do with the wreck?”
“No one ever smoked on the dock.” Red Cloud looked out into the dark waves, “As for what was left of the Jenny, he just left it down there. The water there was far too swift and deep to even risk attempting a recovery.”
“So, the Jenny II was his replacement.” Rich nodded, a dark suspicion filling his eyes as he looked back toward the boat-house, “I would have liked to have gotten in there and taken a good look at her.”
“Well, I don’t know about you guys?” Scott retrieved a rusted metal bar from off the dock, and prying at the lock, said, “But I definitely want to have a look in there. And no stinking little padlock is going to stop us!”
There hadn’t even been any time to argue the moral principles of breaking and entering, as Scott had quickly bent, and tore the hinge and lock away! He was stout of frame, big in build, and undoubtedly as strong as a bear. There was little that anyone might have said or done, as once he put something to thought, the action soon followed...
There was a moment of hesitation as we had all looked at one another. But curiosity being stronger than common sense, we quickly made our way inside. With lanterns held high and nerves tingling with our crime, we moved like thieves in the night.
It was a large building which, constructed entirely upon the water, ran some fifty yards in length. The distance of which still reached well beyond the edge of the dock. They had utilized a number of huge logs and planks to form a walkway on either side of the structure. The center being a water-filled bay which, surrounded in darkness, rested the Jenny II. Large doors blocked passage beyond, as secured from weather and prying eyes, she remained an untouched mystery throughout the years.
Obviously well maintained, and with the sails and rigging carefully secured, it remained a thing of dark and majestic beauty. Already, Frank’s claim to have neglected her over the years was proven to have been a complete and utter lie. The reason for his deceit utterly evaded me, as it seemed relatively insignificant.
“Why would anyone leave something so beautiful in this old place?” Scott gasped, shining our lights upon its hull, as we slowly moved along-side the craft.
“I’m sure that he had his reasons,” Rich stared blankly upon the vessel. His eyes focused and wide, without removing his attention from the ship, he muttered, “But, it’s obvious that he takes care of it….”
I knew that look, and was certain that he now experienced something dark and vividly disturbing. Rich moved ever so slowly, rigid as his growing and obvious anxiety now created a strange, even static tension. It was a cold and daunting fear that I had felt upon first entering the building. Unlike all the other places in the camp, this one had all the appeal of an old morgue…. It was in that same moment that I had noticed Red Cloud’s eyes, dark, clear, and simply staring, they appeared as black as the night….
“I think that we should take a look onboard—and below.” Scott whispered as though fearing to be overheard, “I got a gut feeling that the old creep is hiding something in here.”
“There is definitely something here--.” Rich swallowed hard, his wide and glassy eyes turning upon me, “Maybe we should consider doing this in the daylight?”
“We might not get a better chance--,” I had looked down into the black water, our reflections dancing upon the still surface in the lanterns’ glow, “We need to do this now.”
“Michael is right--,” Red Cloud motioned toward the ladder resting upon the side of the yacht, “This might be our only opportunity.”
“What in Christ’s sake is going on in here?” Frank bellowed from behind us, as standing in the open doorway with a lantern, he cursed at the broken lock, “This is a private area!”
“The lock had been broken off--,” Rich lied, as shocking us all with his deceitful reaction, he said, “We came in to have a look around!”
“Damn punks!” Frank ranted and raved, spitting and cussing as he shouted, “They have no God-damn respect for anything!”
We had hurried to where the enraged man now kicked at the door, “No one has any business poking around in another person’s things! Little bastards! They deserve to all end up at the bottom of the lake! Damn all of their sorry asses to a frozen Hell!”
The comment having startled us all, Rich had turned to look at Frank, “You know—I’ve got something in my toolbox that will seal this tighter than Fort Knox. I can put it together for you in no time—if you want me too?”
Frank appeared to calm, shrugging and looking around at us, as he nodded at Rich, “That would be greatly appreciated. I’ve ow
ned that old yacht since the fifties. She’s sentimental—and I’d hate to see anyone messing around with her.”
It was at that very moment that we had all developed a deepening curiosity about the old craft and whatever Frank might have been hiding in there. It was also the same time that I noticed that Frank stood with his back to the very metal bar that Scott had used to open the door. But I had not been the only one, as retrieving it from the ground, Rich now feigned anger and cursed, “Well, now we know how the little scumbags managed to get inside!”
Frank appeared as though he might just explode, but Rich, tossing the bar high into the night, swiftly sent it into a deep and watery grave beyond the dock! “I just need to grab my drill and a few things from the truck.” Rich gestured for Scott to accompany him, “Don’t you worry about a thing, Frank! I’ll have this altogether for you in a jiffy!”
And with that, the two men had hurried off and toward the truck. As I stood there on the dock with Frank and Red Cloud, something had caused me to turn and glance back in reflection. Looking over the lake, my attention was drawn across the vast darkness and toward the tiny, twinkling lights of town. It was the first time that I had realized just how secluded and distant we actually were. Even with the town of Harrison Mills just a few miles in the opposite direction, none would ever know if things should go terribly wrong.
The bitter and dampening chill that was carried by the wind from off the lake caused us all to tremble uncontrollably. Yet, the numbing sensation that now filled my heart was by far older, colder and infinitely more evil. For that very same and silent solitude, now carried me back in memory to a winter in Hedley. A small town which engulfed and isolated by a blizzard, died screaming before an unwary and slumbering world….
“You okay?” Frank had noticed my expression, as snapping out of the apparent daze, I had motioned with a hand in reply.
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