by Neil Crenner
and see if we can find anything that might help us figure this out."
They quickly left the house and were walking towards the bluff. Reason found the zigzag path that he discovered with Didier on his last trip there.
"Come this way Catherine."
They slowly descended the path, pushing away small branches that grew along it from lack of use. They finally made it down.
"I don't really remember it the same way."
"It has been many years."
"Let's go that way." Catherine pointed south.
They started to walk along the beach and the bluff in front of him extended out to the sea. It was beginning to get high tide, so they would have to get a bit wet. They waited until the tide rolled back and then hurried on just missing the waves rolling back in. They were on the other side.
The beach was much more narrow here and almost none existent just up a bit. He looked around to see if he could discover something. It just looked like a wall of dirt and rock and bushes. They walked up to the side of the bluff and stared at it slowly.
He looked up the vertical wall and tried to imagine how a passage way would wind up inside it. He couldn't figure it out and proceeded to walk on the beach a ways up. They walked until there was no more beach, but just some rocks and the bluff. Reason turned back to see if he could make anything out. It appeared as if nothing was there.
Where could have she gone? He thought maybe when the tide was lower, he could walk on. The wall seemed to go forever. There was an indention in the bluff, but he couldn't see it. He would have to get wet. He was afraid to walk in the water because the rocks were jagged and slippery.
"Catherine you stay here." He took a few steps and it was very cold and soft. He held onto a branch and then paused. Should he continue on he asked himself? Was it too dangerous?
He thought he would take one more step to see if he could look around into the indention in the bluff. He reached for another branch and felt something hard and round it, but it was covered with dirt. He looked at it through all the shrubbery growing and indeed it was a metal rod that was horizontal and looked as if it were heading onward.
He tried to loosen the dirt around it and to no avail. This must be some handle to walk along the bluff with. He took another step forward and slipped. He grabbed for the shrubbery and held onto a branch that began to crumble off the wall. He recaptured his balance and was just about to step back when the branch broke off the bluff and took with it a mound of dirt.
There Reason could see the metal rod once more. He grabbed a hold of it and looked around the indention. There he could see a hole in the bluff. Just one more step and he could reach it.
He slowly stepped as far as he could while still holding onto the metal rod. When he couldn't hold on any more he thrust his body forward and leaped to the hole. The shrubbery felt thru and he landed on soft dirt. It was dry and cool inside the opening. A gate was next to him. He got up and tried to brush himself off. He could feel the breezing coming thru. The tide must have been all the way up he thought, if it came up any more the tunnel would be flooded.
"Catherine," Reason shouted, "Catherine go back up to the lighthouse."
"What have you found?"
"A tunnel. I am going to follow it a bit."
"Be careful."
The gate was made of metal and wood and looked as if it had not been moved forever. He pushed on it and it broke free, slowly opening. There was very little light in the tunnel and he knew he needed a flash light. His watch had a light on it. He turned it on and he could barely make out a tunnel.
He began to walk and had to grasp his hands in front of him in case there were cob webs. He walked slowly and realized that this was a man made tunnel and it was tall enough to stand up in. The floor had rock on it and the sides of the walls were smooth and straight. He walked for what seemed a long time.
He was ascending slowly and the air didn't reek of anything foul. He finally came to a fork. There were two tunnels. Now he had to decide which one to take. He thought that he would take the one on his left, because that's where the lighthouse was. He continued to walk till he came to some stairs.
They looked like they were marble. He climbed up them and there was a door. He turned the handle and the door opened and he pushed it up. He could see some light coming thru some planks. He pushed on them and they would not budge.
He yelled out, "Hello."
Nothing. He yelled out a few more times and then he heard Catherine's voice.
"Catherine! I am down here. Can you see me?" He pounded on the planks. Dust came down on him.
"Where are you Reason?" Catherine asked in dismay.
"Over here, under the floor. I can't push open the door." Catherine came over to where his voice was.
"There is a desk on top of the floor. I can push it out of the way." She began to push it and then Reason saw even more light. He pushed on the floor and it rose up. Catherine reached down and helped him raise it.
"Where did you come from?" She gasp.
"You were right Catherine, you were right. The lady that night, she went past the bluff and went along the narrow beach and then there's an indentation. There's a tunnel that leads here to the lighthouse."
"Well come out of there." Catherine reached down to help Reason.
"I am fine, it's just the bright light hurts my eyes. It was so dark down there. I had my watch light to lead the way. It was amazing. The tunnel had a gate, but it looked as if it hadn't been used forever.
The floor was rocks and the walls were smooth and the stairs are marble that lead up here. It's amazing. And the even more amazing thing is that I came to a fork in the tunnel. I took the one to the left and it led me here." Reason said with excitement in his voice.
"Well where do you think the other tunnel leads to?" Catherine asked.
"I bet it leads to that winery or the estate. This is quite amazing. Who would have dug those tunnels? And no one must know about them." Reason exclaimed. "I am tired. I need to sit down. He sat on the rocking chair and took a deep breath.
"I can't wait to tell Didier about this. He's won't believe it. Now we need to go into town and get a flash light. The air was cool and clean down there, so wherever it leads to it must be open on the other side."
"Do you think we should do it?" Catherine asked.
"Well since we're here, I think we should. I don't think it will hurt. Let's drive into town. I am hungry again. You'll have to change your shoes or did you bring some others?"
"I brought a pair of walking shoes in my bag, just in case."
"Oh you thought you might need them. Then you must have known something I didn't." Smiling as he said this. Catherine smiled back.
They were in the car and driving back into town. It was already after 11 o'clock and Reason was just dying to check out the tunnel. He wondered if Catherine had second thoughts so he asked her. "Are you sure you're up to doing with. I can take you back to the bed and breakfast if you want?"
"Then what are you going to do? Come up here all by yourself. No way. I am in for a good adventure." Catherine exclaimed.
They stopped at a hardware store and picked up some headband lights and a couple of flashlights. Reason grabbed a back pack and some bottles of water. They also bought a small box of colored screws and a compass. Reason wanted to mark things if they needed to back track. Soon they were back in the car heading back to the lighthouse, this time they would park closer.
At the lighthouse.
Catherine easily walked down the stairs in the lighthouse. She was amazed at how nice the tunnel was. They quickly proceeded down the path which was at a decline. Soon they came to the fork and headed that way. The walls were lath and plaster without the paint. The floor was crushed rock. The ceiling was also latte and plaster. They walked for a very long time.
Soon they came to a gate. It was wood and metal like the one leading out to the bluffs. Reason pushed on it and it would not open.
&nb
sp; "Do you think we have made it to the house already Catherine?"
"Well I didn't think we walked that far. Maybe we are somewhere else." Reason pushed again, and he could tell something was baring there exit. He let go and the gate stayed.
"Whatever it is, it is heavy. Help me push Catherine, right here." She leaned on the gate next to Reason and they push really hard. It barely moved about ten inches.
"I think we can squeeze through."
Upon looking through it was very dark and Reason couldn't make it out. It looked like a warehouse. He got his body through the opening and could tell that a 100 gallon barrel was sitting in front of the gate. He rolled it away and Catherine came out.
"Well are we in the estate?" Catherine asked looking around her headband flash light shining in the dark.
"I don't think so. It looks like a warehouse."
"It smells like wine, old wine."
"Maybe we are in the winery. They used to have one here." They walked along a wall and came into a big huge area with large oak barrels everywhere. It is the winery. "I wonder how far we are from the house now? Let's go see."
They made their way through the maze of barrels and found a door. It was locked from the outside.
"There has to be another way out of here. Otherwise, we will have to go back the way we came."
"I am too tired to go back that way." Catherine grimaced.
"Well let's keep looking. They searched more and came to another door that led thru to some other area of the winery. They found a door there and it was locked as well.
"Catherine, maybe there is another tunnel that leads to the house? Let's find what direction the house is in and look there."
"That's a good idea. Do you think it might be back where the other tunnel was?"
"Yeah, let's go look there first." Reason said smiling. They headed back the way they came and started looking behind some other 100 gallon barrels shining their flash lights over every space in the wall.
"Maybe we should look on the floor for it." They found nothing.
"There must be another one somewhere." Reason exclaimed. He began to walk around a large cylinder shaped object that looked like it was a metal barrel. He saw something that looked like a door. He pushed on it and it opened up, there was a staircase down.
"Catherine, Catherine! I found it, over here behind the barrel!" Reason walked around the barrel shining his light towards the ceiling.
"Do you see my light?"
"How did you get way over there? Catherine asked rhetorically.
"It wasn't easy, but I managed. You have to navigate thru the barrels." He kept shining his light towards the ceiling.
"Here I am." Catherine said as she came around the big cylinder. "Wow I can't believe we found it. It's a good thing we thought of it."
"Yeah! How smart are we?"
"Very smart so far. Lead the way." They climbed the stairs down and started walking. This tunnel went on for a very long time and they needed to take a break. Then they came to an opening that had a bench to sit and rest.
"This must be the halfway point. Should we rest?"
"I'll have a seat." They sat down on the cold stone bench.
"How much further do you think it is? Why would this be the halfway point?" Catherine asked.
"Whoever was walking needed to rest half way. Don't you suppose, just like us."
"It sure is cool in here. Are you ready to get going?" Reason asked.
"I am ready. This is one good hike." Catherine exclaimed.
"I am guessing it's around two miles from the lighthouse to the main house." They continued to walk and finally came upon a wooden gate.
"Well what do you think?"
"I am glad we made it. Let's see where we are now." Reason pushed on the gate and it swung open. Alas they were inside the carriage house.
"Well we made it this far. I hope there is a door that leads to the main house."
They went to the other side of the empty garage and opened that door. It led to a porch, which led to a breezeway. They were finally at the house. They could see the vineyards and orchards from the windows.
"I hope no one's here."
They came to a door and opened it. They were now in a small room that was like a mud room. Just as they closed the door Reason caught something from the corner of his eye. He saw movement out in the vineyard. He moved the café curtain and peeked out.
"Catherine I see a man out in the vineyard. He is looking thru some kind of telescope."
"Do you think he saw us?"
"Oh no, if he had, he would be over here asking us what we are doing here?"
"What do you suppose he's up to?"
"I think that is surveying equipment. That means there is another man as well."
"What do you think they are surveying?"
"I don't know but we better be quiet. Let's go into the house." They opened another door and were inside a large kitchen. It was dark and they let their eyes adjust."
"Should we turn on our flashlights?"
"Let's try to do without them for now."
They moved on thru the massive kitchen and into a butler's pantry which had no windows. Reason turned on his flashlight and then he heard a car door slam shut.
"I think the men are leaving, be still a moment and listen." Silence.
They went back into the kitchen and peeked out the café curtains.
"They are driving away in that truck."
"I hope they didn't see us," Catherine whispered.
"I am sure they didn't. Let's move on."
Chapitre 28
A few minutes later.
The large dining room was off the butler's kitchen. It had huge fireplaces at both ends of the long room. A mahogany dining table that sat twenty was situated on a large wool oriental rug, a large buffet on each side of the room.
"Boy this is a grand dining room. I would love to have a party here." Reason said.
"I don't remember coming in here when I came to visit. I stayed in my room most of the time or went out to the garden to play. We ate out on the back patio breakfast and lunch. Dinner was usually served to us in our room." Catherine explained.
"I would have loved to have come here when I was a young and explored the entire house." Reason exclaimed.
"It wasn't so easy with Annabelle around all the time. She was always afraid of everything," Catherine quipped.
"Well let's see what the rest of the house is like. I am sure those men won't be coming back anytime soon." They proceeded to leave the dining room thru two large pocket doors that had not been opened in a very long time.
"Why do you think this house is so clean? I mean I don't see dust anywhere." Reason asked.
"Maybe a maid comes in and dusts once a month or so." Catherine offered.
"I couldn't imagine that, but if it's so then I want to meet her and talk to her."
"What do you suppose she will tell you?"
"I think she can tell us if this place is haunted." Reason said with eyes wide open.
"You think it's haunted?
"Oh I wonder."
"Why do you say it like that Reason?"
"Because I have a feeling about these kinds of things, trust me."
They went to the foyer that was larger than one might think, almost as big as the dining room.
"Oh this is such a larger foyer. Maybe it was the architects dream to have such a large foyer.
"This staircase looks like it belongs in a Hollywood movie, so grand and dramatic."
"I would say so myself." Catherine looked about as she said this. "No furniture in here, or paintings or art either. The carpet is worn here especially."
"I wonder why it would be so worn out. The sun comes shining thru that window up there and it has bleached the carpet and dry rotted it." Reason pointed to the landing halfway up the stairs.
"Let's go up there and look around. I would like to see if there's any furniture up there."
/> They walked slowly up the stairs, Catherine following Reason closely behind him. The stairs squeaked here and there. Half way up the stairs the landing was awash in sunlight. The draperies had been removed some time ago, but why Reason thought?
"I remember these stairs. I wanted to slide down the banister. It all seems so fuzzy though."
At the top of the stairs there was a wide hallway that led in three directions. The left was a very long corridor that they couldn't see all the way down, as it got very dark. The corridor directly in front of them was a short one with only two doors. The Right corridor was also long, but lit up with more sunshine.
"Let's go to the right, I can see down there. They proceed to the right and looked into each room one at a time, to find them all empty of furniture.
"Someone has been keeping the place clean. No dust anywhere. Why the missing curtain on the stairwell landing? All the other windows have beautiful window treatments." Reason exclaimed.
Reason stood wondering if this house had any more secret passages.
"Catherine do you remember anything about this upstairs area?"
"It seems to me that there was another staircase that led up to the room where Annabelle and I stayed."
"Could it be down the hall more?"
"Yes do you see how there is a pop out right here on the wall? The handrail abruptly stops here, but looks as though it may have continued on up to the third floor."
"Yes I see that. Why do you think that they closed off the third floor?"
"Maybe to forget something that happened up there."
"Like murder?"
"We must find a way up there, and today if possible."
"Shall we take a look outside?"
"Let's! Follow moi."
They headed back down the hall to the stairs. Reason kept his eye on the area where there might be a third floor. They came thru the foyer and right to the front door. Reason stopped, "Let's peak out first, to be sure no one is out there. You look out over there Catherine," pointing to a sidelight beside the mammoth doors.
They both peered out moving the lace draperies just enough to get a clear view.
"It is quiet, no one in sight."
"Should we chance it Catherine?"
"I don't see why not. If we are caught we shall just tell them that we thought the property was for sale and we came to look at it. The front door wasn't locked so we came inside. What can they do to us, ask us to leave is all?"
"Never to return, then where will we be?"
"We will be nowhere. We will just have to drive back home."
"That's what I am afraid of," Reason said dryly.
Reason unlocked the front door slowly and turned the handle, pulling it open with a thud. He walked outside casually followed by Catherine. They walked down the stairs out to the drive turned around and looked up.
"Hmm! No third floor windows."
"Let's go around the back and check, via the house, we are less visible." Catherine headed back into the house less casually. Reason followed.
They wound back through the house to the rear again. Catherine in the lead unlocked the door and proceeded without looking first.
"Catherine wait let's peak first!"
"No time to peak"
Reason sighed, "We better not get caught till we find something."
"We won't be caught, follow me!"
As they walked out of the rear of the house they looked up to find four windows.
"See up there, a third floor does exist. I knew my memory was accurate. Let's go