Song of Ariel: A Blue Light Thriller (Book 2) (Blue Light Series)

by Mark Edward Hall

  Charlee squinted in confusion. “A signal? Really?”

  “Maybe. Come on,” he said, going back for the others, “let’s go find out.”

  “If it’s a house he might have food,” Charlee said. “We need to find something to eat.”

  Jason could see that Charlee was looking a little pasty. She’d been through quite an ordeal over the past forty-eight hours or so, and pushing her too hard might lose them more than it would gain them. “You’re right,” Jason said. “We’ll check it out.”

  When they got there they saw that it was a farmhouse with a large barn, set back off the road a hundred yards or so, surrounded by a large pasture. They saw cattle grazing in the distance. The old Suburban was nowhere in sight. “What do you guys think?” Jason asked.

  “I think he drove the car into the barn and closed the door,” Slim said. “He doesn’t want anyone to know he’s home.”

  Jason agreed. “This is rural Maine and I’d wager he’s armed. He won’t take anyone at face value.”

  “He won’t if he’s smart,” Slim said.

  “What should we do?” Danielle asked Jason.

  “The rest of you should stay here while I go on up and knock on the door.”

  “You really think that’s a good idea?” Slim said.

  “You got a better one?”

  Slim let out a deep, almost shuddering breath. The ebony skin on his face seemed to blanch almost white. “No, boss, but if we lose you, then what?”

  “I’ll be careful,” Jason said.

  Slim considered this for a short moment. “Careful ain’t enough if you’re dead. Hand me that rifle before you go. Might not be the best strategy showing up at the man’s door armed.”

  “Yeah, you’re right,” Jason said passing the rifle to Slim with what seemed like great reluctance.

  “Don’t worry,” Slim said. “I won’t use it unless it looks like he’s about to blow you away.”

  “That’s comforting. Wish me luck.”

  “Oh, you’re gonna need some of that,” Slim replied.

  “Don’t do anything dumb,” Charlee said, falling against Jason and wrapping both arms tightly around him. She was sobbing again. “I don’t want to lose you.”

  Jason glanced over at Danielle. She was staring strangely at him.

  “It’s a little late for that, don’t you think?” Jason said. “Stupid has gotten me this far. If we’re lucky maybe it’ll get us all the way.”

  Don’t say that,” Charlee said still clinging tightly to him. “Without you none of us would be here.”

  “You mean without me and a little girl named Ariel.”

  “We don’t even know she’s real.”

  “Oh, I think she’s real. Question is will we ever find her.”

  “We’ve gotten this far,” Danielle said.

  “Okay, let’s get this done,” Jason said, moving away from the group, his shoes crunching on the gravel driveway.

  “He knows we’re out here,” Slim said after him.

  “No doubt,” Jason said over his shoulder.

  Danielle, Charlee and Slim stood at the edge of the driveway and watched Jason go to the front door.

  CHAPTER 20

  Ice Caves. Northern Maine Wilderness. July 6th.

  It was not an easy descent. It took Doug, Jennings and Eli more than two hours to snake their way down through the nest of naturally formed shafts that would ultimately lead them to their destination. At times they had to crawl on hands and knees. Some of the spaces were so narrow they barely fit through them, some so large giant stalactites hung from the ceilings like crystal icicles. In places huge amethyst geodes smiled at them like monstrous mouths filled with purple teeth. There were slippery sections covered in ice and sheer drop-offs that would most certainly have resulted in death if a foot had been placed wrongly. The one constant was the cold. It was like winter down inside the Earth and they were all shivering, even as their sweat clung clammily to them.

  Finally they entered onto a flat plateau inside a vast chamber that seemed to go on forever. Here they stopped for a breather. It seemed warmer down here than above and they were all grateful for that. Eli stared in awe. The cavern appeared large enough to hold all of Manhattan Island. But cavern was too simple a word for what he was seeing. Truth is, there were no words to describe it. Unlike the rest of the caverns and chambers they’d passed through on their descent, this one was illuminated by a soft blue light that seemed to be everywhere. Eli cast his eyes heavenward, looking for the source of the light. None was evident. It seemed miles to the ceiling above them, although this could have been a trick of light and shadow. As he stared, vertigo gripped him and he had to look away. Eli could only guess at the size of this place, and of its construction. Though the floor was smooth, like glass, it appeared to be of a marbleized substance. And everything was clean, very clean, much unlike what he’d seen on his journey down here. “Hey, guys,” he said. “This isn’t a natural formation, is it?”

  “I don’t know what it is,” Jennings said, eliciting a pained look from Doug. “Follow me.”

  Doug said nothing as he and Eli fell in step behind Jennings. Several meters along the flat plateau Jennings halted and signaled for the others to stop behind him. At first Eli was unsure why until his eyes adjusted to the strange diffusion of light. Then he saw that they were standing on the edge of a precipice. He walked around Doug and ventured a look down. What he saw sent knives of panic into his heart. Laid out before them was a canyon so deep and vast it was literally impossible to make any sense of it. And at their feet lay a staircase of stone that descended in a spiral down into infinity.

  Eli estimated the distance to the floor below to be at least a kilometer, but he could have been wrong. No way could he judge distance in this strange place. “I guess this answers my question about whether it’s a natural formation or not,” Eli said. “Those stairs are man-made.”

  “Let’s just say they were built by intelligent beings,” Jennings said. “I can’t honestly say that men built them.”

  Eli continued to stare downward. “These stairs were literally carved from the cliff wall,” he said.

  “It does appear that way,” Doug said.

  “Do you know how long that would have taken?”

  “Forever if it was done with hand tools,” Doug said. “Rick and I think it’s more likely they were carved from the rock face with some sort of technology, like lasers. The workmanship is too precise to have been done by hand.”

  “Now that is interesting,” Eli said. “What do you think they’re for?”

  Jennings shrugged. “I don’t know. To get up and down, I guess.”

  “Yeah, but if they were carved with a technology like lasers . . .” Eli’s voice trailed off.

  “Maybe they were used for some sort of ceremony,” Jennings said. “Whoever built them are long gone.”

  “Any idea how old they are?”

  “Impossible to say without carbon dating,” Doug said, “but Rick and I both believe they’re thousands of years old. Maybe older.”

  “Rick, you’ve known me what, five, six years, and you never even once hinted at this being here. This is colossal. This is the most amazing thing I’ve ever seen. Why didn’t you say something?”

  “I saw no reason to,” Jennings said. “My father discovered all this years ago and he knew instinctively that it would be a mistake to go public with it. And he was right. As far as I know Doug is the only other person besides me and my dad who’s ever seen this. At least in the modern world. You have the distinction of being the fourth, Eli.”

  “This is all connected, isn’t it?” Eli said. “Everyone here and everything that’s happened is somehow connected to this and to Ariel.”

  “What makes you say that?”

  “I feel it.” Eli made a strange face. “I’m a Zen master, for crying out loud, and my intuition is telling me it’s all connected.”

  “I’m an evidence guy,” Jennings said. “
I don’t have the luxury of intuition.”

  “Yeah, we know all that about you, Rick, but I do, and I think you should trust me.”

  “I trust my gut,” Jennings said.

  “What you’re seeing is only part of what’s here,” Doug said.

  Eli continued to stare out over the immense canyon as if he was standing on the surface of an alien planet. “Part of it?”

  “Yup,” Jennings said. “The tip of the iceberg. Unfortunately you’re not going to see everything, at least not on this day.”

  “Why not?”

  “Because we came down here for a specific reason. Four years ago Doug put something down here for safe keeping.” Jennings looked over at Doug. “Now you need to tell us where it is so we can get back topside.”

  Doug pointed at the stairs. “We have to go down there to get it.”

  Jennings groaned. “I was afraid of that.”

  Eli said, “If some sort of advanced technological society built this place the least they could have done was put in an elevator.”

  “Yeah, we’ve been saying the same thing for years,” Jennings said. “Maybe there is one somewhere. We just haven’t found it.”

  “You guys don’t have to go down,” Doug said. “I can do it faster on my own.”

  Eli shook his head. “Ariel’s instructions were very specific. She said that I was the only one who could retrieve and deliver the object. I just need you to show me where it is.”

  Doug bristled. “That doesn’t even make sense. I’m the one who put it there. What difference could it make?”

  “I only know what Ariel said. I think she has her reasons.”

  “Then let’s get moving,” Jennings said. “We’re wasting time.”

  “You’re going?” Doug said.

  “What. You think I’m too old, too weak? Think again. I climbed up and down these infernal stairs a hundred times before you were born, and I can do it a hundred more.”

  “Suit yourself. A moment ago you were moaning and groaning.”

  “Just don’t understand why you had to hide it way down there. Not like anyone would ever find it between here and the surface.”

  “I had my reasons,” Doug said as he placed a foot down onto the first step. “Come on, I’ll show you why.” Eli followed with Jennings bringing up the rear.

  CHAPTER 21

  Hartland, Maine, July 5th.

  When Jason knocked on the door he was surprised that someone answered it almost immediately. It was the same old guy they’d seen out on the road driving the beat up Chevy Suburban. But Jason could see now that he wasn’t as old as he had initially thought. Maybe fiftyish. His hair was totally gray, however, and Jason guessed this is what gave the impression of age.

  “Tell your friends to hurry,” the man said. “They need to get clear before they’re spotted.”

  “What?” Jason said confused. “How do you know?”

  “I’ve been expecting you. Come on! Get them moving!”

  Jason took a step back on the door stoop and motioned for them to hurry.

  Inside was a typical 19th century New England farmhouse, nothing fancy, probably updated sometime in the mid-20th century.

  “Quite the band of merry pranksters,” The man said with a twinkle in his eye. He extended his hand to Jason. “Name’s Ralph Little. This here’s the Little farm, passed down from my father, and to him from his father. Not much of a working farm these days. The little guy doesn’t have much of a chance with the big conglomerates buying everything up.” Ralph chuckled. “That was a joke in case you didn’t catch it.”

  Jason smiled. “Sounds like you’ve used it a couple of times.”

  “Just a couple,” Ralph said looking expectantly at Jason’s band of merry pranksters. Jason introduced them. “Nice to meet you all,” Ralph Little said.

  “You live here alone?” Jason asked.

  “Lost my sweetie to cancer a year ago,” Ralph said. “Rough time, I’ll tell you. Got two grown daughters, both college graduates, live out of state. Not much opportunity in rural Maine, unless your idea of employment is working the cash register down at the Quick Stop.

  “You said you’d been expecting us,” Danielle said. “How is that possible?”

  “It wouldn’t have been before the whole crappin world went belly up,” Ralph said. “Now it seems all the rules have changed. I’ve been trying to figure out what I was supposed to do with the rest of my miserable life when something totally amazing happened a couple of nights ago.”

  “What was that?”

  “This beautiful little child told me you’d be coming. She also said someone else would be showing up.”

  “Yeah, they’re out there somewhere and they’re not very friendly. But I guess you already know that.”

  “Yeah, I know about em, but that’s not who I was talking about. Mr. Cobain,” he called, “would you please come out here.”

  Everyone was startled when a slightly disheveled young man emerged from another room.

  “This feller’s name is Johnny Cobain, and he just arrived here from New York City,” Ralph said. “I hid his car in the . . . barn.” Ralph’s hesitation before he said the word barn wasn’t lost on Jason.

  “Isn’t really my car,” Cobain said looking a little sheepish. “After the little girl talked to me I took the train north, but somewhere in Connecticut the train derailed and everyone went crazy. I stole a car and had to fight to stay alive. Somehow the child’s voice got me through all the craziness and led me here. I didn’t know why until I arrived and Ralph filled me in on everything.”

  “But why is Ariel talking to you?” Danielle said, asking the same question that was on everyone’s minds.

  Cobain reached in his pocket and pulled out a medal.

  “The third object,” Danielle breathed.

  “Mind if I examine that?” Jason said.

  Cobain handed it over, Danielle came in closer and she and Jason examined the object thoroughly.

  “Yeah, I think it is,” Jason said. “I think we’ve found the third object.”

  “Amazing,” Cobain said.

  “How does it happen to be in your possession,” Jason asked, handing the object back to Cobain.

  “It’s a long story.”

  “I’d like to hear it.”

  “I’m sorry, sir,” Charlee interrupted, speaking directly to Ralph Little. “Do you have any peanut butter and jelly? I’m starving.”

  “You bet I do, young lady. Come over here and Ralph’ll fix you right up. In case you haven’t used your nose since coming inside, that smell is roasting chicken. By the looks of it you folks have had a long and trying day. I’m fixing everyone a nice roast chicken dinner. How’s that sound?”

  Everyone agreed that it sounded excellent. Outside the sun had gone down and darkness had begun to claim the day. Jason was bone tired and he guessed the others were, too. They needed food and rest. He hoped they’d have a chance to get both before all hell broke loose.

  While Ralph and Charlee were busy at the kitchen counter Johnny Cobain began telling the story of how he’d gotten here. He talked of his meeting with Dr. Shutzenberger, the story Shutzenberger had told him, the passing of the object, Shutzenberger’s murder, Cobain’s frantic trip to a Los Angeles bank to retrieve a file folder he never got, and the run for his life.

  “This woman you met at the bank,” Danielle said. “Did you hear her name?”

  “No.”

  “What was she like?”

  “I don’t know; normal, I guess. She was beautiful but there was something about her that said she meant business. She was surrounded by a squad of goons and it was just dumb luck that I got away with my life. Why do you ask?”

  Danielle hugged her arms to her body and said, “I’m not sure. Just a feeling.”

  By then Ralph and Charlee were back. Charlee was devouring a PB&J sandwich and drinking a tall glass of milk while Cobain went on with his story, telling them about his return to New York, the
error he’d made in calling a friend to meet him at his apartment, and how his friend had been murdered, mistaken for him; Cobain’s escape from New York and how the soothing voice of a child led him to this place.

  “But why here?” Danielle said.

  “The child has been talking to me since all this craziness began,” Ralph said. “It’s how come I knew you were all coming. She told me.”

  “She’s been talking to Danielle and me too,” Jason said. “But we both have identical objects as Johnny’s. You don’t have one of the objects do you, Ralph?”

  Ralph laughed, shaking his head. “I never heard of any of this until two nights ago when the child started talking to me.”

  “So why do you think she spoke to you?” Slim asked Ralph.

  “Because it’s where she wanted you all to meet up. She knew that I could help you.”

  “Help us how?”

  “That’s a little complicated,” Ralph said. “I’d prefer to get a little more acquainted with you folks before I talk about it.”

  “Whoever this kid is it appears she can read the future,” Cobain said.

  “Maybe it’s more than that,” Ralph replied. “Maybe she controls the future.”

  “How do we know we can trust her?” Charlee said around a mouthful of sandwich.

  “We don’t,” Jason said. “But I do trust my gut, and it says that we need to find this child and soon.” He looked over at Ralph. “What town and state are we in?”

  “We’re just north of the town of Hartland, Maine,” Ralph said.

  “I grew up in Madison, which isn’t too far south of here,” Jason said. “That would put us just west of Bangor, where we were originally bound.”

  “You guys were in that big jet that came down over by Wilson’s bog, right?”

  “Bet your ass we were,” Slim said.

  “Jesus, Mary and Joseph,” Ralph said. “Gawdawfullest sound I ever heard. Thought the world was coming to an end.”

  “We had to jump out of it,” Charlee said.

  “Well ain’t you a brave little thing,” Ralph said.