Darkest Night

by James Cherry

  “Okay, Ron, sounds good. I will call you tomorrow to arrange the flight schedule.”

  “Right, Doc. Email me if you need anything else,” Ron said.

  “Bye, Ron," and the doctor quickly added, “And thank you for everything.”

  “No . . . thank you,” replied Ron.

  Chapter 9

  Marty gazed out of the window of the Boeing 767 as the clouds rolled lazily by. He wasn’t happy at all as it had only been a couple days since he had arrived back from Mexico and the last thing he wanted to do was to go on another wild goose chase with the doctor. All he had really wanted to do was relax, but one call from the doctor had ruined his perfectly lethargic day.

  He had resisted the doctor’s request vehemently at first, but a promise of a hefty raise in pay promptly changed his mind. And so, here he was on a flight to London’s Gatwick Airport.

  Marty had tried to sleep through the long and dreary flight, but didn't have much success as the seats were packed so tightly together that he just couldn’t get comfortable. He now knew what a sardine felt like.

  He had also tried to entertain himself with the touch screen console on the back side of the seat directly in front of him. First he played a couple games, but the unresponsive touch screen made accuracy almost impossible, and he gave up in frustration. Then he tried to watch a movie, but the headphones didn’t work. And when he finally flagged down a flight attendant and was given a new set of headphones, the console started rebooting every few minutes.

  Marty became more and more agitated. With all of Ron’s money, why couldn’t he have spent a little extra for some first class seats?

  He tossed and turned in his seat. He leaned it back for a moment before he decided to sit upright again in a futile attempt to find a comfortable position.

  A British man seated behind him cleared his throat in annoyance and said, “Excuse me."

  The statement, sounding more like a threat than a question, prompted Marty to turn in his seat and glare at the gentleman behind him. He growled, “I am trying to get comfortable here. Just be patient.”

  The man appeared to be six feet tall with a lanky build. Clean-shaven and wearing a suit, he had the appearance of a businessman. His brown hair was speckled with gray and cut short but not to the point of a buzz cut. His British accent was faint, as if he had spent much of his time in the United States. Marty disliked the man instantly as there was something about the man that just plain annoyed him but he couldn’t put a finger on it.

  He glared at the man for a long moment before turning around to face forward. A wicked notion suddenly hit him and he grinned as he rapidly reclined his seat to its limit. The tray table on the back of his seat, which held the Brit’s paperwork and drink, spilled its contents into the man’s lap and onto the floor.

  The Brit cursed loudly, “Bloody Yanks. Pushy, stubborn, and rude. No better than the damn French.”

  Marty turned around quickly and angrily pointed a finger at the Brit. In a tone dripping with venom, he said, “I would appreciate it if you would not compare Americans to French. That’s very insulting.”

  The Brit unbuckled his seat belt and stood.

  Marty, preparing for a scuffle, jumped to his feet as well. He steeled himself for the expected incoming fist. But instead, the Brit stuck out a hand in friendship and said, “Truce. My name is Joseph Bacon and I hail from Essington, Stafford, England."

  When Marty made no move to accept his hand, Joseph smiled and continued, “Yes, comparing you to a Frenchman must be quite humiliating. I take back what I said. Americans are not as bad as the French.” He paused for a moment before adding, “You Yanks are more like the damn Dutch."

  Marty had to grin at that one. He didn’t know why but his perception of the man had suddenly changed. Marty knew that he was clearly the antagonist, not Joseph, and yet the man had apologized anyway. That took a lot of self-control. Self-control that Marty knew that he himself lacked.

  The Brit smiled again and held out his hand once more. “I do apologize, really. I am just having a bad day.”

  Marty accepted the man's hand and replied, “Marty Fellows."

  Without offering an apology of his own, he turned back to his seat and unsuccessfully attempted to make himself more comfortable in the perversely small chair.

  As he twisted and turned about, he noticed the doctor staring at him from the corner of his eye. Turning to the doctor he said, "Doc, just what the hell are we going to Loch Ness for?”

  The doctor began to answer but Marty cut him off and said, “You already told me about the email bullshit from that Scottish weatherman,” he waved dismissively, “What I want to know is what off the wall theory do you have on this case?"

  Doctor Burch chuckled and replied, "Marty, I believe that Nessie may be the same type of creature that attacked Bo and his team in Afghanistan. These creatures may also have some relation to the chupacabra as well. I find it highly unlikely that two different species would both fly around on the new moon."

  Marty rolled his eyes and said, "Bah, how can two species be related when neither one exists to begin with?"

  The doctor replied, "Have you forgotten? We have evidence of the chupacabra. Now we will use the same techniques to gather data on Nessie."

  "Data? What you collected was inconclusive at best," countered Marty.

  The doctor replied coolly, "Then gather evidence to refute my data. Until then, I hold all the cards while you have nothing but your personal misgivings.”

  Marty smiled inwardly as he really wanted to tell the doctor that he had already collected enough evidence to prove he was a quack. But he held his tongue and said, "I just don't understand how Nessie could be a flying creature anyway. Legend has it that Nessie is a sea serpent."

  A voice from behind startled Marty and he turned in his seat. Joseph said, "Yes, Nessie is reportedly a sea serpent. However, there are many types of birds that live in the water. Ducks, geese, loons, and cormorants, to name a few. It is quite possible that if Nessie only flies during a new moon, no one would have seen it in the air. The only thing the locals would have been witness to would be a swimming creature, thus giving rise to the sea serpent myth."

  Disregarding Joseph’s remark, Marty turned back to the doctor and said, "There is also the fact that the existence of Nessie has yet to be proven. Millions of dollars have been spent on numerous expeditions, and no one has yet to gather one shred of credible evidence to date."

  Joseph spoke again, "It is because the past expeditions were looking in the wrong places. Past expeditions had focused their studies under the water, not in the air."

  Marty glanced quickly over his shoulder in annoyance and then back to the doctor. Ignoring the Brit again and said, "What is your theory, Doc?"

  Doctor Burch chuckled and replied, "I agree with the British gentleman. He is quite on target with his theory."

  "Forget that damn red-coat and tell me why this expedition is so important," yelled Marty.

  In unison the surrounding passengers turned to glare at Marty, making him feel slightly uncomfortable. A skinny young flight attendant rushed to his side and put a reassuring hand upon his shoulder. She asked, “Is there a problem?”

  “No,” mumbled Marty. He sat back in his seat in a huff.

  The doctor grinned and said politely to the flight attendant, “He isn’t feeling well.”

  The flight attendant, seemingly satisfied with the answer, moved on with her duties.

  The doctor waited until she was out of ear shot before he continued, "Well, if we could gather evidence on Nessie that proves a relation with the chupacabra, it could answer a lot of questions. The chupacabra could actually be the young of a much larger creature."

  "Good Lord, do you hear what you are saying? Just a load of hypothetical bullshit if you ask me. We are going to try and find evidence of a creature that does not exist in order to prove a relation to a creature that does not exist," hissed Marty.

  Joseph leaned forw
ard in his seat and interjected, "But that is why you are on your expedition, in order to gather evidence and prove the doctor's theory."

  Marty turned in his seat and shot Joseph an angry glance. He growled, "Will you butt out?"

  Turning back to the doctor, Marty said, "Evidence has already shown that Loch Ness is incapable of supporting large life forms. There is not enough food, and it is too cold in the winter time for a reptile to survive."

  Doctor Burch snickered as Joseph interrupted again. "Marty, it is likely that Nessie does not live in the Loch. I do not think that it is feeding in the Loch, either. Nessie is going to the Loch for other reasons. Perhaps to breed?"

  Marty turned around in his seat and glared at Joseph. That Brit was really starting to piss him off. Through clinched teeth he reiterated, "So all the monsters go to Loch Ness to breed.”

  “I’m not saying…” Joseph started.

  “And you are saying the entire population of Nessie monsters consists of one breeding pair?” Marty asked, and without waiting for an answer he continued, “And another thing, if these monsters don't feed at the lake, then what do they feed on? If Bo was telling the truth, and his team was all eaten by Nessie's, then why haven't there been any missing people around the lake area?"

  Joseph answered quickly, "There could be other Nessie's visiting other lakes around the world. Many isolated lakes in many countries have some legend attached to them about sea serpents. I do believe that it is a little naive to assume that the population is just two creatures. As for why no one has come up missing at the Loch, perhaps Nessie's do not feed while they breed?"

  The doctor nodded in agreement and said, “Actually, there are many species that do not feed while they are in the mating stage. Take the . . .”

  Ignoring the doctor Marty turned to the Brit and said hotly, "Name one other lake where a legend of a lake monster exists."

  "In the United States there is the Flathead Monster at Flathead Lake, Champ at Lake Champlain, and Tessie at Lake Tahoe just to name a few. In Africa, there is Incanyamba in the Umgeni River, and Nyami in Lake Kariba. In Norway, monsters have been seen in many lakes such as Lake Seljordsvatnet or Lake Romsjoen. Sweeden has their fair share of monsters as well, such as Lake Storsjon and Lake Gryttjen. China has the Tianchi monster in Lake Tianchi. Canada has been a hotbed of sightings within the last hundred years. Ogopogo from Lake Okanagan or Charlie from Lake Charleston to name a couple. Oh, we mustn't forget the monster sightings in Lake Van East in Turkey, Lake Sharipovo in Siberia, and Lake Kos Kol in Kazakhstan. How about . . ."

  "Enough," shouted Marty.

  The passengers surrounding Marty turned to stare again, and quite a few began mumbling and shaking their heads in irritation. He ignored the disapproving looks and asked, "Just who the hell are you, and how do you know so damn much about lake monsters?"

  Joseph answered slowly, as if to let the information sink in, “I am a cryptozoologist. You know what that is?"

  Marty rolled his eyes and nodded in affirmation. He replied sarcastically, “Yeah, a guy who studies mythical creatures and shit.”

  “Something like that, except I do not study feces,” he replied with a grin.

  Marty scowled and ignored the jest. He asked, “So I suppose you are heading to Loch Ness to check out the renewed sightings of Nessie?”

  Joseph replied jovially, “Well, I was at a convention in New York when I received an email from a chap named Burch. Doctor David Burch, I believe.”

  Marty blinked in surprise. He turned to look at Doctor Burch and narrowed his eyes in suspicion, noting the doctor trying his hardest to suppress a laugh. Suspecting that he had been the butt of a prank, Marty half-heartedly punched the doctor in the arm and turned to face forward in his seat.

  The doctor sputtered, “What?” He looked at Marty with a wide grin.

  Marty, already knowing the answer, asked, “Doc, just who all did you invite to accompany us on this trip?”

  “Just our usual team . . . plus one,” replied the doctor nonchalantly. He pointed over his shoulder and continued, “His name is Joseph Bacon, and he is the leading authority on Lake Monsters. Why do you ask?”

  Marty sat back in his seat and began to sulk, as he couldn't quite believe what had just happened. The doctor had invited another damn cryptozoologist to join the expedition and to top it all off, those quacks had played a prank on him!

  He turned to Doctor Burch and sputtered, “You knew Joseph was on this flight and knew he was sitting behind us because you made the arrangements.”

  Joseph said cheerfully, “Well, the boy isn’t as dumb as he looks.”

  The doctor laughed and said, “Why, yes, Marty. Joseph and I met at the boarding gate and had a chat while you were off running around the airport gift shops. We decided that we would hold off on introductions for a bit in order to mess with you.”

  Marty looked out the window at nothing in particular and scowled. He was the king of pranks and yet he had just been out-pranked by two incompetent old kooks. He now knew the trip was really going to suck.

  ***

  Doctor Burch took in a deep and satisfying breath as he gazed out across the landscape. He thought Scotland was a beautiful country with its green rolling rocky landscape that was primitive, yet serene and relaxing. The air was crisp and clean without a hint of the toxins and smog typical of cities.

  The team stood near the River Foyers as it snaked its way through the countryside, disappearing into the deep, clear Loch Ness. The silvery calm surface of the Loch was such that the overlooking mountains and rocky hills cast a perfect mirror image into the still waters.

  As the doctor patiently waited for dark, he enjoyed the sight of the waning sun as it cast various shades of gold across the sky. He closed his eyes and took in another deep breath of the clean fresh air.

  A cough and snort jolted the doctor from his reverie. He turned to look at Marty, who was wiping his runny nose. Something in the air had his eyes puffy and swollen. His nose ran continually and he constantly complained that his head felt like it was about to explode. He had been having an allergic reaction ever since they had arrived and was feeling absolutely miserable.

  Ayako patted Marty on the back with a look of concern and handed him an allergy pill.

  Marty rudely snatched the pill from her outstretched hand and swallowed it without even waiting for water. He moaned and sneezed again.

  The doctor suddenly laughed.

  Marty looked at the doctor sharply and said, “You think this is funny? Well, I sure don’t. Let's get this over with so that I can get the hell out of this god-forsaken place.”

  The doctor replied good-naturedly, “It should only take us a couple of days and we will be heading back stateside. Our terminals are in place, surrounding the area that Nessie was sighted.” He swept his hand to indicate the immediate area and continued, “With any luck, we might just get a glimpse of it as it leaves the Loch.”

  Marty fell silent and turned away. The doctor knew that Marty must be really sick for him to be so sullen and quiet. The boy always loved to hear his own voice.

  The doctor decided to give Marty a break and he turned to the rest of the team. He noticed Ron pacing back and forth impatiently, shaking his head in irritation.

  “What’s wrong Ron?” asked the doctor.

  Ron stopped his pacing and said, “Just when the hell is this damn Scotsman supposed to meet us here? He is an hour late already.”

  Just as the doctor was about to answer he spied a small European compact car as it drove into the parking area. A short, stocky man with a thick head of curly red hair tied back in a ponytail and sporting an untrimmed mustache of equal intensity, hopped out of the small car and headed their way.

  As the man neared the team, it was obvious that he was in prime fit condition. The muscles of his broad shoulders threatened to split his shirt and his sinewy neck was so bulky that he appeared to not have one at all.

  The man approached Doctor Burch, stu
ck out his hand, and introduced himself, “Hello, names William McKee. Sorry I am late but the fog in London was so boggin thick that the airplane couldn’t take off.”

  Doctor Burch accepted William's hand. The grip was firm, to the point of being painful and he let out a sigh of relief when William finally released his vice like grip.

  The doctor replied, “No problem, no problem at all. Don’t worry about it.”

  William asked, “I take it you had no problems with the GPS coordinates that I sent you?”

  The doctor pointed to the middle of the lake and said, “I believe the coordinates are in that area?“

  William nodded with affirmation.

  The doctor smiled and said, “We have placed the terminals in various locations surrounding this area. If anything leaves from this place by the way of the sky, we will know about it.”

  "Aye," answered William, obviously impressed. He continued, "Oh, and here is the film I promised you. I took the liberty of digitizing it and I think you will find it quite interesting." He handed the doctor a CD stuffed inside a jeweled case with the words 'NESSIE' written in large, bold letters on the front.

  The doctor accepted the CD with a nod of appreciation and stuffed it into his jacket pocket.

  Suddenly remembering that he wasn’t alone, the doctor said, “I am sorry. Let me introduce you to my team.”

  William shook each team member’s hand in turn and nodded at the names as they were given. The doctor introduced Marty last and he watched in amusement as William leaned forward to peer curiously into Marty’s face. With the Scotsman’s nose almost touching Marty’s, the two stared at each other for a few moments.

  As if coming to a decision, William offered his hand. Marty accepted it and promptly sneezed into the Scotsman’s face.

  The doctor couldn’t help but to laugh as William leaned back and blinked in surprise. The Scotsman quickly let go of Marty’s hand and wiped off the spittle with a disgusted look upon his face.