Winter Falls

by Eddie Skelson

  ‘Oh?’ Kevin said cautiously.

  ‘Yeah I figured that there has to be someone here who can give me some decent directions or even better perhaps someone could accompany me, or at least escort me there. I’m absolutely positive that my boss would pay them for their time.’ Joe beamed at Kevin and hoped that he would offer to go along.

  Kevin didn’t return the positive smile. Blank faced he replied ‘No, I don’t think you will find anyone.’

  Joes face fell ‘Really? I mean it couldn’t take long with someone who knows the way, surely?’

  Kevin turned his head to look at the customers; they were all doing their utmost to appear to be occupied. He put his hand on Joes shoulder and Joe could feel the strength in it as Kevin gently guided him toward an empty table close to the entrance.

  ‘Come here a second Joe, take a seat.’ Kevin said quietly and the two sat facing each other. Kevin leaned in a little towards Joe and Joe mimicked the move. ‘Listen mate, I’ll not mess you around. You seem like a nice fella and yer also seem smart so I want yer tae listen tae me carefully okay?’

  Joe wasn’t sure how to deal with the situation. Kevin had not threatened him but he felt as though a tension had suddenly insinuated itself into the atmosphere.

  ‘Of course.’ he said.

  ‘This is the Gods honest truth.’ Kevin said and paused.

  Joe nodded to indicate that he understood that Kevin was about to speak as a ‘man of his word’. He had no reason to doubt him.

  ‘If you were to ask every single person in this village, or at Kilicolm just to the east or away to Inchroch in the north how to get to Winter Falls they couldn’t tell you.’

  Joe eyed Kevin carefully, searching for any hint of humour or general piss-take. ‘Do you mean couldn’t or wouldn’t.’

  ‘Joe, this isn’t a Scotsman versus Englishman thing. To be honest your average Scot doesnae really give a fuck where people are from so long as they don’t try to screw him over.’

  Kevin pushed his spectacles up, twitching his nose as he did so. ‘I have never spoken to a single person who has been to that place and come back. Now don’t get me wrong, their people come to us on occasion. They buy supplies from us here in town, they buy in bulk and pay in cash. A lot of cash. Much more perhaps than you would think was fair, but I have never spoken to anyone who has simply visited that place...do ya ken?

  Joe understood from this only that the people of Winter Falls were charged considerably over the odds for their goods.

  ‘My father never spoke about the Falls other than to warn me about it. See that Cenotaph you mentioned? He told me that the memorial was the closest I should ever go to Ardach Coille, the forest beyond it. He said that it was an evil place Joe, and he meant it believe me. My father was afraid of nothing, nothing at all,’ he emphasised. ‘But any mention of Ardach Coille or Winter Falls and he would go as pale as a ghost.’

  ‘I’m not really sure what you are suggesting here Kev.’ Joe said ‘Are you saying the forest is…what? Haunted?’

  ‘I don’t know!’ Kevin said. ‘I don’t know if it’s haunted, plagued by locusts or full of Nazi’s, what I’m telling you is that the scariest, bravest man I have ever known, a man who I loved and who would never lie to me was terrified that I might try to find that place.’

  Joe thought about this and then asked, ‘So what about the people from the town, you say they come and buy all this stuff what are they like?’

  Kevin mulled over this question for a moment and then clasped his hands together, crossing his fingers. His thumbs rubbed against each other.

  ‘They are...different. I mean physically. How they look and move.’ Kevin appeared to be struggling to find the words to express himself.

  ‘When they come they are always dressed in large black coats, dirty things that stink to high heaven of fucking fish and Christ knows what else. They wear those hats, from the 1920’s, like Gangsters wore.’

  ‘Fedoras?’ Joe offered.

  ‘Aye, that’s them.’ Kevin agreed. ‘I mean they’re fucked too, dirty, battered. But with those hats, and the big collars lifted up on the coats it’s difficult to really see them. You can just about make out their eyes, sometimes a nose, sometimes and a mouth.’ Kevin brought his hands up to his face, one just above his eyes and one below his mouth indicating the visible area. ‘That’s all ye see.’

  ‘And?’ Joe asked, confused.

  ‘They’re not right.’

  ‘Not right how? Joe asked.

  Kevin puffed. ‘I don’t know, it’s hard to say ya know?’ He looked around, searching for the words or perhaps to see who might be listening. He leaned in again.

  ‘You know those poor people who get that look about them when they have a problem, a disease from birth...makes them look, different?’

  Joe called out terms that came to mind ‘Uhm, like Dwarfism, Thalidomide, Downs Synd...’

  ‘Down Syndrome, that’s it.’ Kevin interrupted.

  ‘You think they have Down’s syndrome? Joe asked

  ‘No, no I mean like, they have that look you know. The wee kids you see with it they all have that same look and you know that something isn’t right.’

  Kevin forked two fingers on his right hand at Joe’s face. ‘These guys, their eyes are wider apart than you would expect, their noses are...more flat, not always but you know, a lot of the time. Their mouths are wide and thin lipped. This look...they all have it in some way or another.’

  Joe could tell that Kevin was being utterly honest but couldn’t see where he was going with it. Was he saying that the town was inbred? Some highland twenty first century version of a back-woods Deliverance type town? And even so, what of it?

  ‘Kev, I’m not really sure what that means, you know. Ok if this place is a bit backwards it still...’

  Kevin cut him off. ‘It’s not backwards Joe, its fucking evil.’ Kevin said it sharply and with conviction.

  Joe noticed a few heads stir from their drinks. Kevin realised that he was becoming too agitated and held silent until he felt that attentions had drifted again.

  ‘Look, the simple matter is that Winter Falls has a history and the truth is I don’t know what it’s all about. My father did and he wouldn’t share it, no one’s parents here would, but we all got the same warning, to stay away. Most of the old folk from Roscregan have moved away now, ironically it’s the money from the Winter Falls people that keeps this place alive, if that’s what you can call it. The old folks used the cash to leave ans we use it to send our kids to University, as far away from here as possible. One day I hope I have enough to go too.’

  Kevin clasped his hands together on the table. ‘All you have to do is drive to Inverness.’ He said.

  Joe couldn’t understand what Kevin was driving at other than that he had some deep seated fear of the town, or at least its people. But he knew it was a genuine concern that the Scotsman was expressing and that sharing his concern was somehow a risk for him.

  The two looked at each other in silence. Joe struggled to make Kevin’s strange revelation meet with anything approaching reason. If it was true, was Winter Falls some kind of drug running zone, a town taken over by a cartel or mafia, a secret government installation for biological research or perhaps it was a massive Paedophile haven and the men were products of in-breeding.

  They were all farfetched ideas but then so was the concept of generations of villagers being too afraid to go near a place.

  ‘I’ll go home tomorrow.’ Joe said. A look of relief passed across Kevin’s face. ‘To be honest I’m sick to the back teeth of driving around like a twat. We can sort this out from London.’

  Kevin nodded. ‘Aye, good, good. Take the same room and I’ll get the train times for ye.’ Kevin stood. ‘The phone is behind the bar if you want to call your boss.’

  ‘No.’ Joe said. ‘I’ll leave it until I get to London and tell him face to face. I’ll need to time to come up with something that doesn’t make me we look like a to
tal failure.’

  ‘Aye well, I think it will turn out for the best.’ Kevin said by way of comfort.

  ‘I fucking hope so, I really fucking hope so.’ Joe left the table and made his way back to his room.

  Joe spent the rest of the evening completing crosswords he found in newspapers that were piled next to the fire. None of the locals that came to the bar attempted conversation with him but occasionally one would nod in greeting or say ‘Evenin’ as they passed by him.

  Kevin had been busy. A delivery truck had arrived and cases of spirits were hauled in. Joe helped with this along with another villager named Tim. Kevin and Tim appeared to be good friends and the tall thin man, who Joe discovered was a mechanic was friendly and exhibited a dry wit.

  While he and Tim had worked together Joe had interrogated him lightly about Kevin and the village. He wasn’t surprised that Tim was guarded and evasive, it seemed to be the norm here but he did reveal that Kevin had a military background and that he was considered a ‘hero in the village’ but he wouldn’t expand on this.

  ‘You’ll no find a better bloke than Kev when ya need a fella wi some steel at your side.’ Tim said by way of closing the discussion.

  While Joe and Tim had worked on emptying the truck of supplies Kevin had noticed Joe struggling with the metal kegs made cold by their journey. He dug out a pair of strong gloves and very a thick woollen hat with ear flaps which was a hundred times warmer than his Joe’s Tie Rack beanie.

  Later when Joe tried to return them Kevin told him to keep them as they were ‘proper’ and ‘not like the shite’ he had bought from city.

  The beer truck driver mentioned that the weather was beginning to turn and Joe made a mental note to check with Kevin the forecast for the rest of the week.

  The outside air was still very cold and the previously clear sky had been replaced with a dull flat canopy of grey that met the hills on every side.

  After the delivery had been brought in Joe had considered exploring the immediate area but as his trainers were already damp he decided that with his current luck they would most likely fall apart if he tried to be adventurous. By nine o’ clock the monotony had finally gotten to him and he told Kevin that he was going to go to bed early, ready for the journey home.

  Kevin gave him a mock salute and smiled, his mood clearly elevated by his decision to leave. Joe took the time to wash himself down before relaxing on the bed. He tried to push the spectre of the conversation to be had with Mike away and instead allowed thoughts of the appealing curves and fetching smile of Mary Burgess to entertain him. As he started to drift away he pulled the covers over him and sank into sleep.

  Chapter Four

  Joe woke feeling fresh and fairly alert at seven am. He washed and brushed his teeth, dressed and began to pack his travel case. He had left his trainers on the radiator and the heat had dried them out completely. They were pleasantly warm when he pushed his feet into them. Once satisfied that what few items he had bought along were in the case he headed for the bar.

  As he came down the stairs there was no smell of breakfast although Kevin was sat at the same table and watched him as he descended the steps. In front of him was a small brown envelope.

  ‘Good morning Kev.’ Joe said.

  ‘Mornin.’ Kevin replied

  Joe was disappointed that there wasn’t a plate full of eggs, beans, bacon and sausage waiting for him. He had forgotten what a guilty pleasure eating ‘bad’ food with such abandon had been. Kevin didn’t look happy. As Joe approached the table the Scot pushed the envelope toward him.

  ‘This was delivered for you last night.’

  ‘Oh? What time?’

  ‘About eleven.’

  Joe picked up the envelope. In neat script written in biro across the front was his name. No stamps or postmark were visible and the envelope flap was reinforced with sticky tape.

  ‘Who delivered it?’ Joe asked ‘Not the postman surely?’ Although Joe then considered that out here perhaps it worked like that.

  ‘No, not the postman.’ Kevin replied flatly.

  Joe picked at the tape and then drew it off in a strip, lifting the flap. He pulled the envelope open and retrieved a folded letter. Opening it up and resting it on the envelope he read it to himself.

  Dear Mr Clarke,

  My name is Dr. Alan Peake and I have been informed that you wish to come and collect copies our of local health records but have had difficulty in finding us. Do not worry, you are only one on a very long list of people who have got lost in the labyrinth of roads and woodland around our town. One day I’m sure we will manage to make signposts that don’t blow away every time the wind changes direction.

  I have included with this letter exact directions to the town including landmarks to help guide you on your way. Please make sure to bring this letter with you and use it by way of introduction to Officer Alex Macgregor at the Police Station. He will be happy to guide you to my office and I can furnish you with any information you require.

  I look forward to seeing you soon.

  Dr. A. J Peake

  ‘Fuck me.’ Joe said. He looked inside the envelope and withdrew a second slip of paper. A few directions were scribbled onto it. He noticed that one of the landmarks was titled, ‘The Cenotaph.’

  ‘Who bought this in?’

  ‘One o’them.’ Kevin said.

  ‘Right.’ Joe replied. ‘One of the downs guys.’

  ‘It’s no downs ah said.’ Kevin replied sharply.

  ‘Well this is great.’ Joe said, ignoring the rebuke. ‘I can head over there straight away and get this thing wrapped up once and for all.’

  ‘So you’re not going to Inverness?’

  Sure, once I’ve got this sorted.’ Joe couldn’t hide his joy. ‘Kev, this solves everything. I can be done in Winter Falls by the afternoon at the latest and then I’m off to Inverness for the train home this evening.’

  Kevin shook his head. ‘I think you should go home Joe. Put that letter on the fire and drive to Inverness right now.’

  ‘I can’t do that. Come on mate, this is from the Doctor there.’ Joe checked the name again, ‘Dr Alex Peake. He’s basically said that’s he’s expecting me ASAP and that the records are waiting.’

  ‘Can ah take a peek at the letter?’ Kevin asked.

  ‘Sure.’ Joe said, handing him both the letter and slip of paper with the directions.

  Kevin studied them both carefully and then pointed to a mark at the bottom of each piece of paper.

  ‘See that, what’s that?’ He asked.

  Joe hadn’t paid any attention to the mark on the letter, only the directions. At the bottom right corner of each sheet was a faint reddish brown symbol. It looked like a spiral with a line through the centre. There were two dots at the bottom and at the top what looked like two dashes.

  ‘I don’t know.’ Joe said. ‘Perhaps it’s his signature?’

  Kevin scoffed at this. He pointed to the pages. ‘Ya think he signed the directions? Who would put his signature at the bottom of a scrap o’ paper with directions on it?’

  Joe thought he had a point but couldn’t see what relevance it had. ‘Well, maybe it’s not. I don’t know what difference it makes.’

  Kevin became exasperated. ‘It’s fucking weird don’t ya think? Like that town, like the freak faced guy that brought the letter, like everything about the whole business of Winter Falls.’ He handed the papers back. ‘Ever since you mentioned that you were looking for the Falls my back has been crooked with worry.’

  ‘Listen mate, I just think that...’ Joe was cut off mid-sentence.

  ‘I need to tell you one more thing, before you make up your mind.’ Kevin said urgently. This time he looked behind him to check that the door was shut and no one had entered the bar. Joe stood patiently, ready for Kevin to deliver his final argument.

  ‘People used to go missing around here.’ Kevin said. He could see that Joe was about to speak and so held up a finger to silence him. �
�Not for a long time mind, but in my Dad’s day, occasionally, when I was a nipper folks would disappear.’ Kevin lowered his voice. ‘Visitors to the hills, the coast and from the other villages just vanished’

  ‘Oh come on, this is a highland region, people are always falling down holes and wandering off cliffs. Christ, I thought I was going to end up in a Loch just driving here!’

  ‘Aye, we do lose the odd clueless rambler who doesnae look where he’s goin, but I’m talking about kiddies vanishing from their beds at night.’

  Joe shifted in his seat. Kevin’s voice was now a whisper.

  ‘There used to be another half dozen villages within sixty miles of here. All gone now. Because children and young women were being taken from their homes and snatched off the streets. Families packed up and left, moved as far away from that godforsaken town as they could, and that Joe is what we are all about to do here. In a few years Roscregan will be a memory, a mistake on your road map.’

  Joe wasn’t prepared to let this new bombshell deter him. Kevin was pushing the very highest level of credulity that he would allow. ‘You said used to. I take it this is no longer the case.’

  Kevin sat back. ‘No, it’s not. Once the police started to get involved in a serious way it stopped. After FIFTY years it stopped Joe, but then again did it? I mean what if they just started to hit places like Glasgow and Edinburgh eh? How many kiddies and girls vanish from those shite holes and it doesn’t get reported or fucking noticed?

  ‘Wait, Ok so now the townsfolk of Winter Falls are child snatchers and what, serial killers?’ Joe folded the letter and returned it to the envelope. ‘Listen Kev you have been an absolute gent and I would’ve been screwed without your help but this is just…it’s getting silly mate.’ He tucked the envelope inside his jacket.

  ‘I’ve got to go. I’m going to get this business sorted and get back to London so that I can fire some cash up to you and a very big thank you present, Ok?’