“Michael--,” He placed a hand upon my shoulder, “You can hardly even walk now. That’s a two minute timer—and there’s just no way that you’ll be able to run. The best thing that you could do right now, is wait on that the back of the skidoo. And start praying that we make it out of here before that mountain comes down.”
Attempting to prove him wrong, I almost fell in the process, becoming frustrated as I desperately looked between the mine and my friend. “Just get on the skidoo—I’ll leave it running. I’ll be back before you even know that I’m gone.”
He didn’t even leave me the opportunity to argue. Forcible assisting me to where the skidoo sat running just yards from the mouth of the mine, he unceremoniously dropped me onto the seat. “Start counting—I’ll be back before twenty five!” And he was off and running!
I turned to watch as he took hold of the trailer, and heaving it forward, slowly rolled it into the mouth of the mine. With the slightly sloping grade, gravity was working with him as he valiantly forced onward. From my perspective it had appeared as though he had been swallowed into the jagged mouth of the mountain. I began slowly counting, peering up as the flurries continued and the sound of the engine echoed in the surrounding canyon.
It was all coming back to me again. The blizzard, those nightmarish things and the mine! Sitting upon the skidoo and shivering uncontrollably while unable to feel anything below my knees, I stared back into that blackness. The moments seeming to linger an eternity, still unable to see him, I began to fear the worst! Imagining something horrible to have happened, I began to leap off the skidoo and go after him.
But then, he burst from out of the mine, frantically running, and shouted, “Hold on—this is going to be bad!” He leapt into the skidoo, and bringing it around, sped dangerously back down the old service road!
“Bad—why bad--,” I gasped, holding on for dear life as we raced down the mountain, “What do you mean—explain!”
“No time for that right now!” He stared wild-eyed, sliding down the road, as he corrected the steering a split-second before sending us off the cliff-side, “If we make it—I’ll explain later!”
I had sunk deeper into my seat, the blood rushing to my head as we raced madly down the mountain. And then there was the sound of thunder, and a rumbling from deep within the earth! The explosion shattering the stillness and a mountain of rock and ice flowing down from behind us! I held on for dear life, too terrified to even look as I tightly closed my eyes!
The earth shook beneath us and the world became a deafening roar! As sliding off the service road and onto the highway, we skidded sideways and Rich accelerated! The engine howling with a sudden force, we flew forward! I had dared to look back as we roared away and the avalanche covered the service road behind us, burying the highway!
We had sped up the highway into town, as looking down and clinging to my friend, I said a silent prayer of thanks to the powers that be….
When we had reached the truck, Rich had immediately forced me to remove my boots, socks and pants. As offering me a change of clothes, he asked me to wait in the truck as the engine warmed. I had watched as he promptly leapt onto the skidoo, and then sped off somewhere into town. I had rubbed at my feet and lower legs continuously while waiting in the increasingly warm cab. The feeling had returned with an unpleasant burning. Something that I had been thankful for as the circulation now soothed my fears of any permanent damage.
It had bene several minutes before Rich returned, and climbing into the truck, he looked to me with the sincerest of concern, “How are your feet and legs?”
“I’m going to be alright--,” I thought briefly, “But now that we’re out of harm’s way. What on earth did you mean back there—about this going to be really bad?”
Buckling himself up and backing out of the parking area, he shook his head while explaining, “I have no idea of what the hell was going on up there, partner. But someone must have been back there after we dropped off the book and the cane. Because, I really don’t remember seeing those drums there before, and that’s something that I would have noticed. And, to make things more interesting--,” He raised an eyebrow as he slowly drove back through town, “When we first poured that stuff out of the drums--,” He coughed, clearing his throat, “It smelled like gas, but looked like jelly. At first, I didn’t realize it—but that’s because it really doesn’t make any sense for that stuff to be up there.”
“Please—enlighten me.”
“Well--,” His eyes became large as his expression revealed utter and complete confusion, “I don’t know how the hell it got up there or even why? But the stuff in those drums was napalm, a mixture of gasoline and soap. The military uses it in bombs and for flamethrowers.”
Remembering the ghastly stench of human decay that I had encountered in the mine shaft, I swallowed hard, “I think that you may be right about someone else having been there.”
“What makes you say that?”
“Because I smelled something near the opening to that cavern--,” The recollection seemed evidence enough, as turning to my friend, I said, “I know that smell better than most. It was the stench of a rotting human corpse.”
“Maybe someone was sent back there to destroy those things?” Rich thought aloud as he pulled into the service station for fuel, “And got a nasty surprise before he could finish the job…?”
The service station attended hurried out and I looked over at the man. He was dressed in a heavy parka and hat, and as he came to the door I realized to have been a complete stranger. “Can I help you, boys?”
“Please fill up both tanks.” Rich had politely waved as the man nodded, and hurried off.
“It must have been sold.” I commented while observing the new sign and faces that wandered around inside of the station, “I don’t recognize anyone.”
“Well, at least we know that they’re all safe--,” He sighed deeply, “If there was anything up there—it’s burned to a cinder and buried under tons of rock and ice….”
“We shouldn’t stick around here too long—,” I thought for a moment, “We don’t want to be recognized or associated to that incident.” I had spoken very quietly while nervously looking around, concerned that someone whom I might have known would approach and recognize me.
“Poor old Raymond already has enough on his plate” He agreed, paying the attendant and pulling out of the bay, as he pointed toward a telephone booth, “But we should call home and let them know that we’ll be running a little late.”
“We can stop in Hope for dinner and call them from there.”
Several snow plows slowly came down the highway as we began pulling back onto the street. It would just be a matter of minutes before the authorities were alerted to the avalanche. With the steadily falling snow and rising winds, we could only hope that they would assume it to have been a natural disaster….
We had arrived in Hope shortly after seven and called home before sitting down to supper. Rich had fabricated a harmless story about investigating real estate in Princeton. And, although Maya had happily responded, Caitlin hadn’t bought a single word of the story. She seemed to have always had some kind of sixth sense, and instinctively knew when something was not quite right. Regardless, she had said very little, though I could tell by her tone that she was certainly unimpressed. In the end we had parted sweetly, though under entirely suspicious circumstances.
“Why so glum--,” Peggy had dropped menus in front of us, “It’s the holiday season, so cheer up before I smack you clowns!”
We had both laughed at the remark. It was the first sincere smile that we had shared all day.
“It was just a very long, cold and wet day,” I had explained, “It’s nice to be somewhere warm.”
“Well, you boys could be a lot worse off--,” She pulled out her notepad and pen, “They had a mountain come down on the highway just East of Hedley. The news said that no one was injured, but that the road will be closed for a few days.”
; “It’s a good thing we’re not going out that way.” Rich sighed with certain relief. I had noticed the fear in his eyes when she had mentioned the news, and possibility of injury or accidental deaths. We had never even considered the possibility when we had set off the avalanche….
“I’ll have the chicken burger--,” Reading the menu, I thought briefly before smiling up at her, and saying, “And the garden salad, no dressing.”
“Same here--,” Rich raised a finger in thought, “But, could you add mushrooms to mine?”
“Only if I leave it on the kitchen floor for a week--,” She raised an eyebrow, “Oh—I might be able to find you one.”
“You just can’t beat the service in here, eh?” An old trucker stumbled in from out of the cold and sat on a stool before the counter.
“Shut it, Bill--,” She tossed a tea spoon from our table at the old fellow, “Don’t make me come over there.”
“Can I ask if you are married?” Rich chuckled.
“No, but I happen to be spoken for--,” She smacked her notepad at Rich’s shoulder and winked, “So, don’t get any fresh ideas.”
“Now there’s a word that you never hear in this place.” Bill chuckled, “Fresh.”
“How about a fresh lump on the noggin, you old fart.” Peggy smirked, “I’ll put those orders in for you before you both grow beards.” As she hurried away I could only laugh. It was people like Peggy who made the world a special place with the blessing of a smile.
“So, what happens with the book now?” Rich had interrupted my thought, “Are you going to keep it in your house?”
“Marlowe spoke of certain sacred passages, symbols of protection.” I began explaining in more detail than previously, “I thought that we might incorporate them into the guest house. Maybe, make some of those symbols into jewelry and gifts that could be given as presents over the holidays without arousing too much suspicion.”
“I’ll arrange for that the minute that you have something to work with” He agreed, “And what about the book?”
“That will stay in my office, locked away until the guest house is completed. Then I’ll move it into a secure room.” I remembered Caitlin’s request, “Along with anything else that we might have any concerns about.”
“Are you sure that you’re going to be okay?” Wearied and visibly concerned, he removed his glasses and wiped the lenses with a napkin, “You’ve been dealing with a lot.”
“To be completely honest--,” Clasping my hands together upon the table and looking to my friend, I swallowed hard, “I’m more worried about all of you.”
“You know something? I get the impression that we have all been here together, before.” He spoke quietly and with such sincerity that each word rang with truth, “I don’t have answers to anything. But I know in my heart that no matter what happens, we will all be together again, and again. And, for as long as it takes to finish what we started together….”
At a complete loss for words, I just look down at my clasped hands. It was a silent prayer for protection of all those whom I loved and had become involved with.
“I’m not going to tell you that I’m not afraid--,” He peered out into the darkness and blizzard which now seemed to follow us, “Because, I’m only human.” Turning from the window, he looked to me with a sudden courage of conviction, “But I will say this: I have no regrets and I’m not a victim to this thing that’s hunting us. I’m not going to go down without a fight.”
“We aren’t alone in this fight anymore--,” I nodded reassuringly, “We won’t make it easy when it does try to take us down….” I peered out and into the storm, squinting, as for a moment I thought to have seen an immense shadow through the blinding flurries. An indistinguishable shape that was moving swiftly from somewhere beyond the surrounding pines….
“Is something wrong?” Rich had noticed immediately and peered out into the night.
“No, it must have just been a reflection in the window. It’s been a very long day.” Rubbing at my eyes and reaching for my tea, I looked curiously toward the till. Peggy was serving the old trucker his coffee and giving him a really hard time about his order. I had drifted into that dazed and comfortable place in the mind, where warm and worn from the day, I almost slipped into a dream. The world all about me seeming to slow down as sounds blurred and lights dulled. There was a sudden flash as though lightning had filled the room, and suddenly everything had changed! The doors hung wide and the snow blew inward as the diner had become empty, the walls covered in blood!
I stared aghast at the corpse that lay in a crimson river upon the floor! Its head crushed and the features twisted, becoming hideously unrecognizable! That same brilliant flash blinded me again! As blinking, I stared through the wall and into the kitchen! Horrified as I saw what remained of the cook, whose head had been shoved down into the boiling deep-fryer!
“Michael!” Rich had taken a firm hold upon my wrist and broken me from the terrifying scene! “Are you okay?” He smiled kindly while releasing his hold, and nodding to where our meals now sat on the table before us, “You were just staring—I was worried…..”
“I’m fine—I was just drifting off—sorry….”
There was a knowing look in his eye, but he declined from pursuing the subject, simply indulging his food and staring out through the window and into the frozen night….
My attention had returned to the counter as Peggy had served old Bill his Shephard’s pie and laughed while handing him the ketchup. The bottle had then slipped from his hand, falling to the floor, and sprayed a crimson stream across the tiles.
Rich had caught my expression, looking between the floor and my face, and whispered, “I know that you saw or sensed something. Are you going to tell me what it was?”
Looking back at him, I could hardly find the words, “Murder—I think that it was murder….”
The drive home had been done in silence and while listening to his favorite Christmas Carols on the radio. Neither of us was really feeling the seasonal cheer, but it seemed appropriate for the time of year. The events of the day had finally taken its toll upon us both, as wearied and worn of mind, we politely bid farewell at the gates to my house.
I had fumbled with the cold padlock and unwound the chain. And stumbling inside and through the deepening snow, I struggled with trembling fingers to close it again. The darkness had fallen and all about was bitter cold and buried beneath an ashen veil. I had made my way hurriedly up the drive and toward the front door, startled as Caitlin had suddenly appeared! We had not exchanged a single word. She had just pulled me inside, closing the door, embraced and held me tight.
I knew that she had suspected the worst and had only been grateful to have me safely home. I had wondered, pondered as to what might have alarmed her so? And then, the sound of the television news reporting of the avalanche in Hedley revealed and confirmed the source of her fears. We had both gone to bed early that night and though I had attempted to speak, her plans had not included talking….
Even as she had silently slept later that night, I had stood by the bedroom window, staring out at the foundations of the guest house. The snow had ceased and the night had become utterly still. The grounds all about lay pale as the moon peaked out from behind blackened clouds. The window had been opened ever so slightly, and I listened as the wind’s chilling whispers faded, vanishing into the darkness as they whistled among the pale statues in the winter gardens…
Thursday, December 12, 1974.
After documenting the events of the past few weeks into Nightrealm IV, I had focused upon matters concerning Marlowe’s book. Taking every possible precaution, I had requested that the mystic select the required information. As the demon had previously explained, though Marlowe had become a part of us, his awareness and spirit still existed. In this way and when summoned, he was able to pass in astral form from out of me, and stand as a singular entity while remaining attached. He had directed my hand upon the book, selecting only those symbols and
passages which we required. I had noted the pages, and then carefully drawn out and written all that was needed.
These we had incorporated into the design, décor and construction of the guest house. Though subtle, there were symbols on each door, window, room, corridor and all aspects of the house. This had been achieved by the usage of crown moldings, fixtures and fanciful door- and window- frames.
The craftsman had also incorporated these frames and moldings into the structure of my own home, Rich’s manor and the store where Scott, Carrie and Patrick now lived. We had explained the situation to Scott and Carrie, without going into too much detail. But it was obvious by their reactions that they had completely understood.
There were several groups of workmen assigned to the project and the additions went quickly and without complications. Unlike our homes which had the window and door frames replaced, these were just additions to existing framework, and appeared decorative at best. To this extent, explanations had not been required as the office personal simply found it amusing. It seemed little more than an eclectic accent, attributing more mystery and intrigue to the old building.
We had taken no chances and paid special attention to Red Cloud’s penthouse apartment. The elder native had taken immediate notice of the unusual designs, but said nothing. It was obvious by the suspicion in his fleeting glances that he had already assumed their purpose. I had taken the opportunity during a private moment to explain the situation and our concerns. We had considered calling a meeting and expressing these issues to everyone involved. But, realizing that the explanation would have sounded utterly ludicrous to even some of our closest associates, settled to take matters into our own hands.
With the swift approach of Christmas, Rich had designed jewellery and items such as we would pass out as gifts. In this sense, we would attempt to protect as many as possible. We could only hope and pray, that whatever now stalked us had little interest in anyone beyond our immediate circle, and if it did, that our efforts would prove to repel the thing!
Sanctum Arcanum Page 46