Part 2 (Conclusion) - Amidst the Ancient Trees: Stake-out at Black Lake; “Fire in the Hole.”
FROM THE BEGINNING: https://rigglew4.blogspot.com/2017/03/entry-5-woods-are-lovely-dark-and-deep.html
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Dr Herman Bunyard (Bill) WWI Marine Corpsman | A solidly built young reporter, wearing his college football jersey | With his coon-dog 'Slim' at his heels | A throwback to the French-and-Indian war |
Sunday 21st: Philipe brings Herman back to the smoldering cabin, where the group picks up a drag-mark trail behind the cabin that leads north. About a half-mile we come upon the edge of a lake where the drag-trail leads into the water. Very dark water…black! As we scan the lake we notice poles at the water edge about a mile away. With binoculars, “Looks like people tied to them. Five poles. And something sticking out of their chest.”
Herman insists we hurry to give aid; Philipe more cautious, “Why bother, the look dead.” But the doctor is already walking the shoreline towards the poles per his Hippocratic oath. Philipe, Zeb, and Reggie follow but consciously keeping their distance from the water’s edge.
At
the poles, metallic spikes driven into the hearts of the lifeless bodies
dressed in smocks with flecks on paint. “Flash, click” as Reggie captures the
scene with his camera. The Yale hippy artists; 3 men and 2 women. Recently, as
blood slowly drips from the end of the hollow tubes. Zeb approaches to touch a
spike, then jumps when.... eyes open, “Kill me. Kill me now. Please! They took
us in the night to a dig site. Using tools and dynamite to get at something.”
Herman pulls the spike causing the man to officially die. Philipe approaches
another, “How many were there? What else did you see?” Three men digging at the
end of the road. There was a small boy and girl held there.
Five
blood spackled spikes now lay on the ground at the feet of the corpses. The
women are without purses and thus IDs. Only 2 of the men have wallets; Isaac
Miller and Boyd Billows.
We
follow a man made path in the trees behind the beach that leads north for about
an hour. Philipe calls a halt as he spies a construction site ahead. A tripod
and pulley rigged over a hole in the ground. Voices. The Canadian sneaks closer
as the others cover with rifles. Huts to the side as 3 men in hard-hats ready
to drop a rope ladder into the hole. One back and forth from a hut. P sneaks
closer hearing another voice from the pit. Sees more huts behind the tree line
to the left, and a construction “Keep Out” gate.
At
the next opportunity, P grabs the worker exiting the hut with a stick of
dynamite in hand. But the worker refuses silence ignoring Philips’s threats. In
fact Philipe’s gun butt across the skull
doesn’t faze the worker who “claws” back. “Shit, more undead!” Shots ring out
and grapples ensue. Herman stabs at the back of a worker attacking Zeb –
surprise as the worker turns to dust providing no resistance that allows
Herman’s blade to pierce Zeb’s shoulder. Fortune, extreme fortune, as solid
shots drop the two remaining undead that decay into dust.
As Herman checks the supply hut, Philipe and Zeb are already at the pit shooting at the lone undead trying to climb out. A final shot and another puff of dust cascades upon a huge gem half buried in the pit that pulses with blue light.
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As Herman checks the supply hut, Philipe and Zeb are already at the pit shooting at the lone undead trying to climb out. A final shot and another puff of dust cascades upon a huge gem half buried in the pit that pulses with blue light.
Herman
tends Zeb’s wounds as Philipe goes from hut to hut. “Click, click” as Reggie
takes more pictures. A garbage hut, another quarters with cots for 4, a foreman
shed. But no kids. “Jane, where are you?” Silence. P returns to the garbage hut
to find the kids drowsy from weakness. They revive as P pours water over their
lips. “Did you find my father? We were hunting when captured.” Ah, the other
father/son team…Brian and his boy. No sign of Brian; wasn’t staked out with the
students. “Sorry boy; what’s your name?” And that’s when a musket barrel sticks
out of a back door. P hustles the kids out the door when the shot rings out,
“BLAM.” Just misses as P shuts the door and readies. Zeb advances with the
stick of dynamite, “Fire in the hole.” We all scramble to get the hell away,
but it’s a short fuse…”Ka-Blu-ee.” Unlucky Zeb takes a long splinter in his
back.
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We
load the kids in the worker’s truck Herman had seen pass the prior day. A gas
can from the shed to fill the tank. 5 sticks of dynamite and a LONG fuse are
lowered into the pit, “Bury whatever that is they were trying to dig out.”
Minutes pass as we drive away before a loud “KA-BOOM!!!” Our satisfied smirks
are washed away by the inhuman scream from the lake.
On the long bumpy ride to town to get our story
straight. Philipe boiling with anger as Herman insists we return “All” the
ransom money. Sheriff Jenkins surprised at our success, “The other teams gave
up; one after the 1st night.” Philipe’s anger rises when the sheriff
reminds us the promise to split the reward amongst the 12 searches. “We’ll
split it 8 ways…screw the team that quite early and isn’t even here!” We drive
away back to Boston each $700 richer. “You American doctors…no concerns for
money you charge so much. Why we could have claimed the ransom bag missing and
divided the $10K between us!”
Reggie is busy at the ‘Concorde Gazette’, disappointed
his boss refuses to publish his story. “Face it son, I release this and the
police will be arresting you and your accomplices for murder. Undead. Who are
you trying to scare? And burn those pictures…they’re incriminating evidence
against you.”
Weeks pass when Reggie notes an article in another
paper. “Lucas Strong is financing the restart of the Vermont reservoir dig
despite the tragic accident weeks ago.”
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