|
A cup of drinking chocolate !
Abigail and Amy were sat talking “it all happened a few months back that’s when strange things started. “
Matthew James known as ‘Matty’ to friends was a poacher, he made a living out of anything he could sell be it livestock, rabbits, pheasant, salmon whatever ! he was also VERY good at it and often avoided the gamekeepers.
Charles Dunnock was a gamekeeper his sole quest in life to pursue Matty and one of these nights as he professed “to fieeell his backside, with the wee shot from me gun “ That night it had been after the full moon into the first quarter, it was dark, eerie, the woods rang with the sounds of owls and other creatures including some badgers their young playing.
Matty, had managed, to acquire some ten rabbits, from the snares, he had set and, was tying them to his length of stick, when he heard a noise. He knelt down and kept still, footsteps passed him as he glanced up he could make out the shadowy outline of Dunnock.
That powerful heavy set form shadowed by what light there was which was not much not much at all probably why Dunnock even when he glanced around did NOT see Matty ! he carried on as now Matty peered over the brush he had been hiding in to see Dunnock step down towards the Loch ?
The soft swirl of water, the mist off the Loch, Dunnock liked that, he did not mind the weird and wonderful sounds or the mist that sometimes came in thick and fast, you couldn’t see more than a few hundred yards ?
It was then he noticed something move, he peered straining his eyes, was it that rogue Matty fishing on the lake ?
He called out “if thas you Matty James I’ll no be stirrin from eere you best be gettin in there’s nay fishin fer you poachin the lairds salmon “ His voice, echoed in the mist, as Matty watched him, shook his head thinking the fool !
he could he reasoned, slip past him ! he made a move towards him ..
Dunnock had been watching the mist, building up on the water his voice terse and impatient, he could make out some kind of shape ? he screeched again “I’m nay stirrin Matty James yi best be gettin ome “
“Strange things some peculiar goins on “ Amy sipped her drinking chocolate the chocolate around her lips across her chin, “Matty James ? his hair turned white some say wit fear “
So that was the odd fellow she had bumped into in the village ? he was nervous alright and strangers weren’t appreciated ! he had hissed at her “if you’re one of them reperters yous can forgit it I’ll not be tellin yous anythin. “ turned and stormed off !
“Seen someint out by Loch so they say someint evil folks don’t go down there at night “ she finished her drink passed the cup to Abigail who passed her a tissue ! “Don’t go down theres at night “ she wiped her chin and lips
“Taint safe ! reckon tha couple tha ended up dead chose to ignore the warnings “ she paused.
“They wasn’t first ones though “ Abigail leaned in closer “Who was ?”
Amy sat back “Gamekeeper Dunnock ! “ There was a loud thump at the door ! Abigail saw Amy almost jump out of her skin it was her father “Cmon tis time you was ome “ He glared at Abigail, there was a look of contempt on his face, he didn’t like strangers ? No he didn’t like her friends who owned the holiday let !
“Comin up ere all airs and graces puttin up property prices “ Amy went to grab her bag heading towards the door stopped turned “Thanks Abi !” They left the roar of the land rover heading off up the track.
So, the gamekeeper Dunnock was the first victim ? The next morning she casually enquired about him,
Angela in the post office served her with stamps.
“Bad real bad, his face all twisted, contorted with fear some say” Paused leaned in closer “Some do say, he saw the devil himself “ a figure of a male moved in closer.
“Stop talkin such clap trap woman he died of a heart attack thas all, it’ll nay be doin the toureest trade nay good you an others carryin on these tales “ he turned looked at Abigail.
“He, was almost her age.” He smiled. “My folks run guest house they’ll nay be likin these fanciful tales ! “ He introduced himself as did Abigail.
“William Burns, no relation to Robbie you be notin !”
He smiled again. Abigail was quite drawn to liking his attention !
Paying for the tea, smiled at her again, then left.
Matty had moved closer to Dunnock, “Damm this “ he hissed to himself.
“One of these days, you’ll be too damm clever Matty James for your own good !”
It was then, he heard a scream an ear piercing loud shriek as he looked up he dropped the rabbits and ran ! ran as fast as he could ! Dunnock had froze, his eyes, not believing, what he was seeing.
His face, contorted, twisted with fear, unable to move, as from the waters and from within the mist; shapes moved, the spawn of the dead ? had hell opened up ? seconds later he wobbled gripped his chest
then fell back,
his face still twisted contorted his body shaking then he was dead.
Abigail had been washing up when in walked Amy “Didn’t knock sorry will do next time only Steph, growls if I knock, says there’s no need to !” Abi grinned “Its OK ! I know anyone else will knock !”
“So what do you say ?” Amy finished her biscuit “its alright during the day I guess, just night time so yes, but my dad better not find out he’ll be real mad at me “ The stretch of land along the edge of the loch varied but there were footpaths and now Abi was stood where the gamekeeper had been found ?
The very edge of the loch, it was damp, not boggy but soft under foot, she reasoned next time she would wear more appropiate footwear as he shoes were caked in mud ! “It said in the local paper he died from a heart attack a pretty bad one apparently but his face was one of terror “
The newspaper clip Abigail read later did indeed say he died from a heart attack it did however omit the added
‘face of terror ‘ no doubt trimmings added from locals.
The gamekeepers body was in the crematorium a service in progress, the coffin on the runners ready to be loaded into the burners when the doors at the back of the crematorium chapel flew open and in walked two males, heavy set and well built, their presence, was noted by all of those present, as imposing to say the least
“You can’t burn the body “ One of them handed the priest a piece of paper “As of now that body is to be examined by us then it will be returned “ Some minutes later, after the initial response, from those present had died back.
The body was removed still in its coffin. They drove off as in through the gates to the crematoria another vehicle moved towards the entrance.
“We don’t have the body !” The priest let alone others were agitated, one of them approached a female who had introduced herself as Shezem. He had been drinking and had had quite a few, she stepped back as he leered at her.
“What’s it to you lot anyways ? we don’t have the body they took it for “ he looked at the priest “Examination some medical autopsy ?”
The look on Shezems face said it all. That lot had been late to the party might have been an appropriate expression on her face. “This! “She hissed.. storming out muttering some expletives that were not the least bit complementary. “Scum, WHOever wherever they are.. hiding from us? We shall see.. “
Those in the queue, now leaving were in deep conversation. Abigail had taken Amy to one side.
“The loch, where they found the body of ..” “Matty.. James Matty?” She nodded.
“We’ll have to leave the car and walk.. the vehicle parking area is still being monitored. The moment you park up they will be aware that YOU,” She paused.. “WE are there.. BUT! If we park up aways from that.. Its a short walk to the shoreline.
Where Matty died .. of shock.. “
|
