Sanctum Arcanum

by Alexander Kautz

  “Maybe both--,” I swallowed hard, “After seeing it all and losing so much, you could hardly blame me.”

  “And yet, you know nothing of the things that I have seen or suffered.” He began fading, the form of the raven returning as it once more perched atop my desk, “I have granted you wisdom, sight beyond seeing. Look into yourself—the answers exist there….”

  The lights had flickered, and suddenly flashed back on, the silent form of the raven staring through bright red and jeweled eyes. I had carefully recovered the golden orb with its black linen cloth, and slowly leaning back into my chair, contemplated the raven, the demons question and the horrors I had just witnessed.

  Although the bird now sat silent, appearing no more animated than the desk itself, I thought aloud while speaking from the heart.

  “Even through the loss of so many and so much--,” I had swallowed back the words, “And knowing the evil that was responsible. It’s not the physical life that matters in the end, but our souls. When I fight it will not be out of revenge—but for the sake of doing what is right….”

  “Then you have answered your own question—,” The raven spoke in a whisper and from somewhere within my thoughts, “It matters little where you might wander or appear as through time—you are and shall remain what you have always been…..”

  “And the things that have known me before—seek revenge and pursue me in this life again….”

  “And whether by curse or blessing, this time you do not stand alone….”

  I had reached for the lamp, slowly switching it off, and rested my head down upon my arms and onto the desk. I could hear the steady pounding of my heart in the darkness and feel the tension that now filled the room. It was the static of emotions that now flooded my thoughts painfully, while feeling utterly lost.

  I knew in that moment that soon everything would change. I had considered simply putting all my affairs into order, and departing forever from home and friends. I could wander alone and into the wilderness to face this thing without further endangering them.

  Yet, something from deep within me whispered, “Regardless of your presence here—love remains, and vengeance following, shall surely hunt and destroy them all….”

  “What will I do—what can I do to protect them?”

  “The book--,” I heard the distant reply that I knew as Marlowe, “It contains passages, sacred symbols of protection. If used wisely, cautiously, it can provide a barrier against the night. Follow thy servant—he can guide you, but you must retrieve it yourself. But beware—beware of that which power and temptation brings….”

  “Beware--,” I had softly said, “Beware of that which power and temptation brings.” Closing my eyes, I began drifting into the stillness as the world faded into the night. Marlowe’s words echoed from out of the darkness. As visions of that terrifying book came out of the shadows and I slipped into the realm of dark and troubled dreams…

  Chapter SIXTEEN

  Monday, December 9, 1974.

  8:45 a.m.

  It was snowing ever so lightly as I had walked out through the tall black iron gates. The morning was darker than usual, and as I closed and locked the gates behind myself, shivered in the icy wind. I had called Rich shortly after seven in the morning and explained things as best as possible to my friend. Few words could describe the fear and fascination that he had expressed, but it still hadn’t dismayed him from continuing. It had been my intention to borrow NR1 and make the journey alone to Hedley, but Rich had whole-heartedly disagreed, and insisted upon making the journey with me. And so, we arranged to return together to that abysmal cave and to where we had hidden the book and cane.

  It would have been impossible to slip away from the house without Eva, old Norman or Caitlin having noticed. So, I had informed them that I was going with Rich for an afternoon drive. The horror of it all had not quite settled with me. I decided to leave the conversation for when I returned. I had all intentions of telling Caitlin the truth, but just didn’t know how….

  And so, there I stood at the front gates, lost in thought as my friend had come down the street and pulled in before me. The first thing that I had noticed was that he had already made the repairs from Scott’s accident in Harrison Mills. The damaged fender and black paint was absolutely flawless.

  “I stopped by the donut shop for coffee and tea--,” He informed me as I had climbed up and into the cab of the truck, “I had to buy new thermoses. I forgot almost everything at home.”

  I could see the tension and sheer panic in his eyes, and gently patted his shoulder as I buckled myself into the seat, “I’m afraid that I’m not doing much better this morning. As you know, I had a very bad night.”

  “I’m feeling the blame for what happened in Midvale--,” He slowly pulled away from the curb and drove down the street, “It was my idea to go there in the first place—and…”

  “No--,” I cut him off in mid-sentence, “It would have happened anyway and somewhere, sooner or later. From what little I understand, there’s just no escaping this thing. It was just a matter of time.”

  “So, I guess that we’re in serious trouble--,” He had passed both thermoses into my hands, “Do you mind pouring one for me as well?”

  “Of course not--,” I began unscrewing the tops and arranging the cups on the center console, “And as far as the trouble issue goes? We were up to our necks in it long before we even had any idea. From what I gathered, this vendetta is much older than either of us will ever know.”

  “I wonder if we’ll even be able to find that old book and the cane. We just dropped them into that hole in the cave. We don’t even have any idea of how deep—or where the hell it goes?”

  “We have more than just luck on our side now.” I poured coffee and offered him the cup, “I’m certain that we’ll find them both without any trouble at all. It’s getting them back out of there that has me concerned. I’ll have something of a guide, as I explained on the telephone. But as far as the physical aspects, getting in and out of there, are concerned, I’ll be on my own…..”

  “I’ll be right there with you--,” He watched as I poured tea and took the first sip, “We’ll get through this together, somehow. We just have to be very careful. I’m still worried about going down into that mine. Let’s just hope that there isn’t anything down there, waiting for us….”

  Almost spilling my tea with his last comment, my attention drifted out and onto the highway. I could only hope that there wasn’t. Because, even if one of those things was still alive down there, it was very likely that it would all end there for the both of us….

  The roads and highways had been clear and the heavens bright and blue. Rich had slipped an eight track into the stereo and played Surf Hits, as “The Ventures” twanged to the beat of “Out of Limits.” There had always been something unique and even haunting about the band’s sound and style. It sounded other-worldly and timeless. I listened silently. Weary and barely able to keep my eyes open, I had settled back into my seat.

  Through this half-wakeful and sleeping daze I had watched the country-side slowly alter and change as the distant fields of Chilliwack became the foothills to the mountains, and the rocky crags and cliff faces of Hope ascended into the canyons of Princeton. Somewhere between the music, fatigue and well heated cab, I continued to slip between this world and the one consisting of dreams. It felt as though I had just closed my eyes when I heard Rich’s voice, “Michael—hey brother, we’re here…..”

  Groaning with a stiff neck from having slept crooked, I raised myself in the seat to have a better look around. As was always the case, the snow had been far heavier as we traveled away from the West Coast, and as we now drove down the main street and through Hedley, the flurries came as well.

  “Should we inform Tim and Harry that we’re here?” Rich appeared increasingly more nervous.

  “Not until after we get what we came for--,” I stared as we passed the new diner from off the highway, “My God—now I see
what Tim had meant.” I pointed, “The diner is almost exactly the same. The only difference is the old awning was orange and not green.” It was the same long and white shop with large windows, which overlooking the highway, now seemed to stare back. If buildings had souls, then I would have sworn that the old diner’s ghost still haunted that place…. I had noticed that much of the little town had appeared the same, with exception to the new sign at the service station and a few small shops. But it would never feel like home again, especially after the winter of 1972. I had considered calling Harry and letting Tim know that we were there. But something from deep within now warned me against it. I feared what might happen when they insisted upon joining us at the mine, which they would have done without a doubt. We would wait until all was well, and we were safe…

  “It’s hard to believe that this is where it all happened.” He looked up to where the mountain and mine overshadowed the little town, “How do we get all the way up there?”

  “A service road--,” I motioned to the left of the highway, “It’s located on the outskirts of town and just past the old cemetery. You can’t miss it.”

  We had almost missed the turn-off due to the deep snow and flurries. The road had remained unaltered and nothing seemed to have changed since I had last been there. As we slowly ascended the steep slope, my attention was focused upon the steady drop to our immediate left.

  “That’s where Tim picked us up the night of the blizzard--,” I pointed to where the road had widened slightly and then ascended toward the mouth of the mine, “In this snow it seems like just yesterday. I can still imagine Harry’s old Chrysler Newport parked there with the lights, barely visible through the darkness and snow.”

  “You mentioned that the last time we were here.” He reminded me. Shrugging and feeling my age, I raised an eyebrow and said, “I suppose that I forgot—some things just never seem to fade with time.”

  “Don’t worry about it--,” He scoffed, and rolling his eyes, said, “I only read the book, and your memories are haunting me too now. I feel like I was here and experienced the whole thing for myself.”

  “It’s the one time in my life of which I can sincerely say that I’m glad that you weren’t with me.” I had said it without even thinking, but he immediately understood. It could have been the tone of my voice or possibly the terror reflected in my eyes, maybe both. But he immediately changed the subject, looking up into the snow covered peaks. “God—I hate the snow. It should only snow for five days--,” He grumbled while navigating up the steep service road, “Just for Christmas and New Year’s. I can’t even imagine trying to drive up this road in the winter, and wouldn’t even be trying it without a skidoo or this thing….”

  Looking to my wrist watch, I swallowed hard as we pulled in before the mouth of the mine, “It’s already after two—we better get busy before it gets dark.”

  “Have you already forgotten?” He nodded in gesture toward the gaping portal to the old mine, “It’s always night in there….”

  “Well, some things are worth trying to forget.” I frowned, noticing that the entrance to the mine had never been re-sealed or boarded up, “You would imagine that someone might have sealed that place up. It’s dangerous—kids could get lost in there, or worse….” The memory caused me to shudder as we pulled in and parked.

  “Are you implying that anyone gives a damn?” He scowled, “They only secure things of monetary value—no one gives a hell about safety. You ever notice how they put seatbelts into cars and trucks. But, people still load their kids into the back of pick-ups, and go racing along highways and bouncing down those old roads? Christ—I mean really, there should be a law against that….”

  “I suppose that many throw caution to the wind.” I thought for a moment, “Could you imagine how fragile society would become, if we worried about every single, little thing?”

  “We’d have a world full of bleeding hearts with wimp’s for kids.” He frowned, and shrugging, said, “Yeah—I suppose that things could always be worse.”

  When I had climbed down from the truck and turned to look at the mine it had all come flowing back. A torrent of mixed emotions as the voices of those involved on that fateful night seemed to echo from out of the mountain. I could hear Gene and the others as we had fought our way up the ridge and through the blinding storm.

  The mouth of the mine was intact and exactly how we had left it several years before. It gaped like the jaws of some monstrous mountain fiend, waiting to swallow up some unwary traveler. The icy wind blew into the blackness of that pit, echoing within unseen caverns from deep within while chilling me to the bone.

  “Are you going to be okay?” Rich had gently taken hold of my arm.

  “It’s nothing—just old memories.” I had shaken off the thoughts, “For some kids it was that spooky old house at the end of the block. But for me—and for as long as I can remember, it has always been that mine….”

  “I can’t really blame you--,” He had stood and stared into the mouth of the mine for several moments before saying, “That place gives me the creeps, too. And I’ve only been here once before, and that was with you.”

  “Maybe we should find some way to cover this opening before we leave?”

  “We can figure something out--,” He looked about the area and noticing a tool shed, pointed, “We might find something in there?”

  “Well, keep that in mind for when we finish with this place. I’ll sleep a little better knowing that we at least tried.”

  “Give me a hand with this cable—I have a little surprise for you.” He dragged the cable from out of the winch at the front of the truck, and pulling it along, laughed as he said, “It’s not the easiest to manage, but we can do it between the two of us.”

  We had dragged the cable and some equipment while making our way out and toward the mouth of the mine. We had grumbled a little along the way as the walk was hindered due to the deep snow. The heavens had darkened considerably with the heavy flurries, and the cold wind whistled among the tall and ancient pines. It felt as though I returned to those very last few hours of the nightmare that I had barely survived the last time. I shivered with the recollection, fearing what might lay hidden somewhere at the bottom of that mine.

  “I’m not sure of how deep we will have to go--,” He began removing the gear from his backpack as we halted before the entrance, “But, I rigged something up to make this easier on us.”

  “Not we--,” I gently took hold of his wrist, sternly gazing into his eyes, “I have to do this part alone.”

  He had attempted to argue, but I cut him short, “We don’t have any idea of what might be down there. There’s no need for both of us to take that risk. Someone has to stay here—just in case, and to warn the others…”

  The utter look of despair that now crossed his face caused me to turn away, as testing the batteries of my flashlight, I said, “This shouldn’t take too long. And, as I told you before—I won’t be totally alone…..”

  “Put this on--,” He slipped a harness about my shoulders and buckled it at my waist, “I’ll attach the winch to the cable.” He offered me a small remote, plugging it into a port on the harness, and said, “We can’t get any signals in the cave. But I had this cable made with a wire inside that activates the winch on the truck with this remote.” He explained, “The green button is for up and the red button will take you down. The mechanism is used to handling items weighing in the tons. So, I don’t have any way to control the speed as of yet—so please, be very careful. Let’s just give it a quick test—to make sure that everything is working right.” He had motioned for me to pull upon the rope while pushing the appropriate buttons on the remote. I did this and was pleasantly surprised as it gently let me down while applying my full weight upon the cable.

  “Alright, it shouldn’t be too bad of a ride for you--,” He nodded while feeling more confident, and said, “I did some preliminary tests—but just wanted to be sure.”

  “I’m sure
that everything will work just fine. This was a brilliant idea, Rich. Well done!”

  He held the end of the cable that was fastened to the winch on the truck, “I didn’t have time to add a radio cable to this damn thing yet—so we won’t have any way to communicate.”

  I thought briefly, and taking hold of the cable, tugged it three times as he held it, and said, “But what if we use this as a signal that all is well?”

  “That’s a terrific idea—but what’s the sign for trouble?”

  Pondering briefly, I tugged four times upon the cable while leaving a space in between, “Two—space and then twice more.”

  “I’ll keep in mind that you’ll also be climbing down at some point.” He already appeared frightened as he nervously said, “So, make sure to keep the signals straight so that we don’t misunderstand each other. Or, I’ll be coming in there either way.”

  “I know, my friend--,” Looking upward and squinting in the flurries, I sighed deeply, “Let’s get this show on the road before it gets any worse.”

  “Wait—don’t forget this!” He produced a long leather satchel and passed it into my hands, “You’ll need something to put the book and cane into. The last thing that we need is you dropping that stuff while you’re leaving the cave.”

  Slinging it about my shoulder, I nodded in a final thought, “Alright then—I’m off.” And with that I had clipped the end of the cable and remote to my safety harness, switching on the flashlight, and slowly made my way into the mine.

  It had been even darker than I had previously remembered. The dull afternoon glow that flowed in from behind me was blinding as I had glanced back. There was a chilling draft coming from far below, and a dank, repulsive smell that caused me to turn in disgust. It reminded me of the sickly sweet and sulphuric stench of human decay. It hadn’t been there when I had returned with Rich earlier. I could only hope that some animal might have crept inside and, having become lost, expired somewhere far below…..