Prologue Saterday werving ard. the birds clirped from outside my sedcom cxindoers Tey looky clung 10 the tree tranches, playing ther intrinsic: sumwertioe songs. bet wo water boar bard? lstered 10 their lappy clirping, 40 watter beer fur they sung, 2 couldnt break this sense of foreboding that ate at-we after agreed to weet cath the won from the Kliwategl Mystery’ onlive (Bram, 7 am od, retired, my interests have deed up and wy enft ~ also retired ~ faves wo aetter She bas wo wferests otter than eratcling dayftine WV sheers. Hubs, 7 rotter- ge weds than stand etch olasftive felevision. A fer days Sefire, as (Pout-of'the Buc, 7 eas presented crth the greatest cppertonty, of my Uf; 10 go on an astentare docin sooe evcient underground. tele fer people Knees existed! lel, (ewe tele you P jumped at the clance (vot Literally Jinnpedl as that aceld've burt my knees, but you kroar bat wean, P ens terribly excited) Then, after the cacitement-oled dean, the foreboding began. ? sighed thinking 10 mysdfitaead go assay, is justo ed wind laying tricks on we? should se apey, 7'm going 10 go on an adtentare like that bLbe Saggies feller. blben ies Tine te weet the wen in foe, 2 dd terglain to my ent esbere 2 ans going. Perbuaps 7 should. lave in bindsight; sut-at the tive ? didn't exant-ber to start gplling od-we, telling we exbo 2 am and? stead te doing. 2 eras so ft up ath that comersation, ? really wean it=Norwally, on days like today, 2A spend my tine etter reading or playing video pres on the computer: 2d sit back avd soit oud-the five, liding wy depression from eeryone ait a st0c ficade. 7 cruldit pay attention 10 any body artundk we, avd ftrtooutely, the rest-of tte wertd weuld. comply, igrering my existence like? Ts wot-lke ? don Hike my lif Acteally, Fe lied. a good li, wost oft spent srorking in orvalisin exiting up stores in me (acol. press office. but perseunlite ese, 2 ems the tape that stayed cut of the public's eye. ? eras the shadoa af the back oftte press room, People oly kucer we through my articles printed in the Leitrin Gooette neaspaper: 7 eras the scribe eritng decom the protagenists story. Hany body else said such remarks, they aodldnt te arong. Affer all, wag com story but anytting te erite lowe about las 7've mentioned): 7 am the vorweal, otterty Boring veighbour, and right weer, 7 cant belp but clude mgsel for wy lack of-wteresting friends. 7 realised 7 bad te change that; or the boredom could. weaorasly kil we. Aso, trots se tld, Pins as excited thud-any ofter person ~ let-alone three ~ odd be wsiling 10 make friends exith an dd mar like me. As the clock cewrted oan the seconds and wioutes untc ites five fbr we 10 go it foe and meet my veer comrades, the sense of foreroding increased. in my stowacl. 7 packed. a flash lilt, some spare tsatteries and a bottle of eater fir my trip ix the underground Temple. AP tis pont; tMeseuld be veat te inpossible 10 krack myselPuncenscicas in my current-ceerly lyped state of mind.As soon as? drove to teem, 2 parked up my car on a. side alley, cut of tte esay of traffic and pedestrians, and exelked to Castte Street abere the group of wen said they erode amitng, Tams already 10 MA and they were there allright: At the centre of them amas a man eto 7’ never wet sefere, bis wasne cas Jolm Hoaey, andl be cas the one abo brought this group togetter trough bis onlire fev, The Kiimataghs Mystery, ofvedticl exe cere all. members. de steok bands and clit-chatted jokingly about this and that: doit think cor comersation eras important enough 10 earite any oft docn bere, but? realised as soon as 2 yowed them that? eas a background character: And. undortstedy, Jobn amas the profagowst of ow astentae. Without woticing, 7 vuconsciously Aegan scoating atthe yoouger won. He ans of overage age, average plysical fess. average face.2 bated that guy the womentF sacr lim, be is 0 average items wnbearadte (bul, oy, tat? erculdn't gie to te that young again!). No, 7 cant let my jealousy get the better oftme. Restraint is important, especially sce F'm the dest-and supposed to be the ensest: In actaality, P deutF brave a single arise Aone in wy Body. IPP esas wise in the least, F'A have never volunteered To come on thus ‘excursion’ as these wen like TO call if? Arcrageress aside, esbat-wade Jobe speci eas the type of company be bung around cath, Rater than frends, 7A. say this type of flloer bung cut ett exbat could. easly Ae labelled as a lackeys. Actially, riglt-woer be was est lis lackeys: A groop Of fur wen, myst Pincluded, ate flocked toumrds bin like lost sheep ete be acted. as thei sbepberd. One of the wen esas cder than bin Lut yourger thanwe. Aman cith a disproportionately large bead. and tiny ody. He alesays back on a. rafter stocked eapression on bis clean-shaven face and deted on Joln like an overprotectiie wotber. Se, archetype toro ebwck, The otter wan was quite the character as al. He was the yourgest among us, bod woutted, sipclar type of personality, cabo could beste labeled as stayie and claer all af the same fine. He ans pretty childish, and by clildsly 7 wean be ens ankenyt ait disberdled bir, toro day old stabrtle on bis clin anc a ratter awoying 2 kvear that already’ atte, Archetype three check. Med lastly, there as we. Sloe, plodding, carmudgeen ld fart ait atite lair, ard lattes so ironed stiff they locked like they sere wade ofrcardibcard. Archetape fur check. Really, This guy. He bad all three ous firuky banging on bis erordls, dsbing out the plan for our ‘excursion’ tat esas pretty sure be bad vo idea. atat le «as doing ee all just naforelly flocked. to bina Uke cats to cafrip. Really, just ato the bell dees be think be is? ‘F'm Jolon! Jol Heesey, thats exto!Alle P sas ticking suck thoughts, the childish looking mo, Tom is lis vowme, suddedy tlarted cot enth an anworiny (oud voice; “Are exe gona. get waving oF are cee gore. stand arand bere all day talking about it? Poln's woath forwed a. sught sue Lut bis eyes getty varrocred, ‘Geery body ready? Then lets take wy car? The group piled iuto Joba's car and be dae us tere wiles due south out of teem. He pelled up off the side of te main read and ae got cut: We got out ou feast-lightts and tarred. then on and ofPwaking sure they corked We macle ovr say carefree doom This wergrocm lane, aritt wo regard fo the sronders of-natare that surrounded as. The der wan Frovk (bo was atleast-a decate and a bel Pyouger than we) and Ten Legon squaleblng oer varieus topics, mostty reveling artund esbat bappered to Jobe the first tive be crentto Klwategls og. alte the man in question, being the guy be eras, enbked on and (istered. 10 them arth a ary smile Cnfertenatily, this trougld-the poir-oftttem 10 we, asking ecbat my thoughts cere about etrat-lappened 10 Jolur and exbether there eras a curse and if2 eapected sewetting Jad to bagpen 10 we as ell. 7 said? badn treally thought about it vor bad I an opinion, ete a sight fash of foreboding tightened in my stewnclh again Auysay, offer a fr winetes ofrsnbking dem this lave eve arrived. at the bog. 2dans offer PM avd the sur eas out and bigh ix the sky. ble traversed ever soggy greand vd got-to the ered Aull effigy sult ofereod. about thirty fret bigh I sans a. hiearre Sgltin the 0g. Witt Joln leading the amy, ae climbed up on the effiay's platform base and. doam the trap deer; down some weed. stairs to the boagy grovwdk There eas a. series of steps cot straiglt into the earth leaking seloer the boq's suvftce. ble tarred on the flaslelights and descended thes ert trepidation. My Areattr eras loud and a celd sereat dripped doom wy back. 7 eras uot used fe all this ealking. 7 didn Pesant to complain or slocr them doa as 7 coud occasionally feel the barsh stares of the otters penetrating through the dark at we. Tegetter ost my overactive imagination and the pressure from thei glances, my store face - etch P tried wy dawmedest 10 moutain - began 10 crumble aud texte, Despite thus, 7 fought the urge fo run assay or put my bead doer, or wg that rewotely shoored signs of-ceakuess. 7 stragded agamst the groaning urge of~ embarrassment ate 7 stared long and bard at the cwpty darksess in frout of we. My face vas a stifPas a board, etale side uy bead, a sent wnutra repeated. DH doesn't matter, it doesnt matter, i deesnt water: Honesty, ? considered wugsel 10 te a lof were eacited 10 be bere than any ofthe otters. Gufertonafely, wy ld aged. psycle aasntas steadfast as 7 imagined. As quietly as possible, 2 sexitehed offrmy ftastlight; tarred around and ealked acray otile trying vot 16 attract any wore uneranted attention 7 exanted to made wy exback 10 the entrance, ent the surface and day lightas way destination. Parl 2 balf-sprited. along the dark. corvider, waking a beeline for the entrance. Contrary 10 my baste, ? really dit weed to reacls the surfitce and dowfiglt, i aoas jist. 2 reeded an escape. back there, that eas a seriously embarrassing wowent, and exeuldit- doubt? wade iteven erase hy rovwing ex 2 sighed deectedly 0 2 tarved. the nest corver: Sbortty thereafter, ? arvied ata reow, a place ? badn'tucticed beftre. Did? take a sarong torn? That eras inpossitle, P ems swe P kucer ccbere P ams going. 7 seiteled my fercls on again autipating thatthe ofters sere to flr axsouy 10 see my Light in the distivce. The chamber ans enpty, wid ofavy Ui seve fr my ox. 2 shifted my gnze. (Fem Left t0 right brefty veting the. thre dooraays and reess of triangular shaped wicles that wert betzren them along the cxalls. Hibere the bell am 2? Heer did? get bere? 2 eas lamenting wy present condition, eben an enedpected greeting weise reversberated. eittin the room, 2 flinched in fright: 2 seaky tarred arco atthe chamber eas deattly quiet, sbosing 10 indication eshot-bad wade the woise a wowent ago. Yt; despite mysdf-9 ceuldit lelp but stier as a fling oP weasivess settted er me. May be it-eas the fact that? was currently alone right weer, 0 maybe itaas the fict that? bad such an wermactie iwagvation, bo Kross. but-at that woment, 2 fet attaid2 gulped. beftre P noticed, the room bad. developed quite an owinous atwosplere, yet there was vebody ix there besides myself-9 squatted. deer, beping te bear the seund of-shoes on the dusty flagstoues, butwobedy esas there sesides myself Maybe Fm just being poroveid,’ 2 reasoned 2 sttod up again and that's aten PD beard a second grat reverberate throughs the room, ‘Okay, woer? defivitely knoe? beard sowetting.’ As 7 stood there struggling ath the notion atretber to mestigate the scond or ron out-of the place like a bat eat of tell, 2 realised 7 erasn't sure from atat-directon the grout came from anc G2 ran? wight inadvertently Lump info esbatever Least wade the woise, tucl cas the opposite of-atut I aauted 7 wasnt sure atat to do. Seftre long, 7 could wake cut esbat-sourded like sewcore wntking, Unftrtovatily, the feotsteps eerentthe usual sound of-wer's shoes on the stone fteor: There as someting a Aituvusval abeut these particular fotsteps; they seanded like sare fet on the grow ad they sere treadtig lightly, as (they elonged. 10 a swell person, They confined for avetber wewent uit 2 seer sowelting come threngh the dooriay cut-of the darkress. Hrasas & csowan No surprise, 2 didit-recegwiee ber: She eras rater vorwal looking antt plain lottes, atleast thats stat? first theuglt- Tithe td, ? coudntreally fell, much ober cans covered ty ax exceptonelly large amcwit of baggarth iron grey air, abicl bade t been cat in years. Going ty beer things lave tarred oxt-s0 fr themas a safe bette assume there eras wore than just we and the ofter wen P arried. cit lidlng in this suubterravean tewple goThrough ber curtain of ai? sau- the surprised look on ber fice. She eas scared and. from the expression she sas sbosting it looked as (Pste as abeut-to scream cet? sas filly ausare of the possiblity that any veise wight-attract the otters to way esbercadtouts, Ont oftpure rafter; ? cored. the emavi's woot ait my band. 7 kept it in place, Blocking cxt-ay sour that way or way vot come out: She strugded at first, 50 cathe wy otter band, 7 pedrwy der flager up t0 my Ups, woking abe slen?-gestere, She sviely expressed. a vesting dace, avd soon calwed doen. Her eyes scanned vghaufty from lef t6 right: A looked like she tad enough caperience To understand we. 7 sloaty removed wy band from ber weutt, and wedded, She wedded. beck, and wotoned. 0 0 vearty stairedl, indicating ler goal *0 90 dain it: Litt 0. bet of iter regret, 2 sbeok my bead and eit muy empty band gestived ‘up’ ait ony Finger, nkcating that? seanted fo lease this place. She Heought-long and bard, a. wask oftirdecision shadecsing Ler fice. Afr sowe thought, it seews like she folly came fo a decision She wedded ence were 10 we, and tis tive indicated te floes ber round the corver from esbere sbe crigually come. Alordlessly, estheut eritng fora response, she waved on 7 flloered, suddenly aasore that-ie wiolit lave sperta. tit-too much tive cut-in ove place. After esabking fr sacral minutes through dark. corridors and. alleys, ae entered avetter reo att shelves and a seeping cot Tis seewedl 18 be ber law= Afar sbe indicated it eras woer safe te talk, 2 took a cleser-lock atthe creman. She bad a. souchedpostive, etucl she wawtomed the extiole tive. 7 eapected ber to start talking, buf contrary to wy eapectation, she remained slent and arordlessly shuffted about the rem. AH way base just Leen way imagination but 7 fet that ber movements bad a. pretty depression gait to it: breaking the silence, 7 decided to talk first: “allo are you? 7 asked. After a womentof giving v0 response, ste finally spoke, Her-veice eras frak and tardy audible. “Arvwwarie: Coswrngs” P ecas astewisbed. Mat ame esas flumir 10 we. “Are you Jena. and Abert Comings’ daughter evo disappeared. the wighit oP August-sra, 19827 She looked wp, awd. seeing the asteuisted expression on my fice, ber eyes feared up. She besitated. to speak for a. wowent, only gaping crit ber weuth slightly open bed aith wo sound coming out Eventaally, she did speak. Yes? She looked. decom at ber bands avd the clottes she erore inckcating itera ber in the flesh. “ale all thenglt-yer exere dead. You parents beped. yon served the fre, but they crertaally gave vp Lope anc stopped locking fr yeu” 10.. 7 bid doen bere etren the Guards raided cur setttewent looking for egal deugs. Theses beer? wanaged to suvvie affer the first fires broke eut-2 emited. a fer days anti seryone 10s gone ard the Guards bud left Sle looked up te the celing auc continued. t0 explain. ‘but-aben crent-ap t0 lease 2 func the ef blocked crits rabble and earth. 2 becawe trapped docmn bere... far ments. She spoke siuky, as fPsuch ax edplavation eras enough Fs wot wentls, dear croman,’ 7 said. “You've teen docm bere for decades. Hts een over thwty years A look of deep regret ens plastered. on ber oferaise sttic face. She quickly stock that eapression off theugls ‘Are my parents stil lie? D nodded. I quess truly Aends erere pretty strong, eben ix ber condition and depried. state of wind. “Heer did you swrvie? P asked ber. "P wean, all this tine ant wo bed or exater? The git flashed a conftised. and doubtfil from at me. Pun sure gone realized this... but the erortd bas changed “dllhat do you wean? 2 bac wo idea erat she eas talking about: aadShe sighed resiquedly. “Ole are in a place thatis wo place, in a tine that is no fiwe, a aorta Letereen aortds. A Shadeerrealun” Hearing these words, 7 realieed she was probably quite wad. but she stil wight be able to tel we someting usefil. P Ait-docrn on my lip, befbre P spoke. 2 endlerstand P suggested asskecardly, “there is seme strange supervatival mystery ait His femple. Away te oPrnterest, or itway be tival, i sucls a tangled. skein as 2 ecu try 10 wove.” ‘Sometime someone as an encounter nth the arcane, ecplamed Annmarie, ‘and tren eyes are opened. and. caret be suit: Once you te stepped int Thin Paces, ke bere, youve stepped heyouk the Vek into etiat seems 16 be cur com esortd, buf isn't There are things that-are real bere that-are only extispered. spectres in on corm aortd They camet-tinch us atile they are bere, but-ence ae cross the Vil, Hey are jastas real as you and we. Here they are unbound They cease being wicked atuspers and Aecowe real dangers of teeth and class: There someting not-right bere. 7 feel cold.like death, 7 stated. She gesticalated ext ber band in a circular wotion “A domain of-eul itis. 7 serateled wy bead, trying 16 gafber my thoughts for stat? eranted to say veat After some tive, 7 decided te trust my companion for the tive being 1te beard 4y otters. 7 amas conmnced the wen from the fru bad vot gien ap thei roaming around the temple, so? eas conscieus that any worse oe. wade. could attract then attention 2 shoud be delighted, sir, and perbaps (ater we can come ack bere and rescue cor Uittte chat-aod you can tel we beer the ccorkd. acbore bas developed in my absence. ‘ditt pleasure) 2 said. Part dale did 0 Uitte exploring. As ee passed woseessly Through a galleried corridor in the dark. 7 did vot-use way flashlight least it gie ausay bur presence To the ofters ~ (ed 4y Annworie, 7 thought? sacra face lightup ath torch Light for an ustout: Dr eras on the otter side of-an open chasm in another corridor estrose pillars acre wostty carve stone of suall girth. Hoerever, the face oid not follocr along parallel fe ou cvsn direction dake anbked dean staiveray after sturzimy, alamys beadag fia ther wodlergrrund feonrd abut Id guess 10 be the very sbottommost-of-tte iwerted. pyramid wit oe reached. a short passage. Atte enc of our passage sas a. steep decline, perbaps af one five made up of steps but weer eroded. sweet sy the constant movement of feet over its surface fr willemia. In any case, the decline ended. ix a. wassive wooden lor. %This wight te the scarce of the legend. ofrbeast Sog and the spooky goings on that seems fo dog this Terminally Uluck place. The ‘scarce’, yes! she agreed. ‘After? got trapped. docrm bere 2 used. my tive 10 go all wer this place very carefilly. There ore a sibele series of chambers seleer as, The lecrest room, in particelar, struck we. The ree iselftis uct inconsidera ble. in size, ond the masoory wore wassive than onyecere else ix this fertress-like structure. © the widdle of the room is a srll-bole, af fteor lee, endentty going deep woderqyound. There is wo aindlass wor avy trace of there ever baving seen ary “10 rape- voting, is sinly a vastty deep bole. The door ofthe room is wassvc, wade ofe00d and ems evidently iuftrded fir some kind of protection te semcowe o- semetting” ? axa deferwined, wore than ever, 16 folloer on this guest Do you reweuser oor Te gt te this exell room’? 2s there many rooms or passage info it? ‘Only one passage leads deem, exorn suoott sy (ong use or sometting of the kind becouse? could hardly keep my feet-as ? exert doesn. Once ? stambled ana aliest (Ul nfo the erell-bele. “das there aneftbing dse about the place? ‘Only one ofber thing 7 remember eras a queer swell ertucl came vp from the erell” ‘Can you fake we there? Only exe’ have f0 be very queton the journey least ce 3There eas v0 esay oP ooking in 10 fied ont-esbat-esns seliodk the bea door as it aeas fgltty fitted. against the wassie stove sats oftte eral. Shining the torch, treer the beam around the edges oftte deor 10 see (f-2 could find anyetere a bole or fas through esbicls 7 coud ostain a dinpse. Foled. in this ? leaned. myself against the call andl eaited for it to te opened by the grt. Presentty Anvwarie, woving woiscessly through the dark, approached the. door: ‘Can you open it? 2 asked ber. She wade v0 reply in words, but; putting the hacks oftber bands togetber, text leer avd lover-tl. ber forebeadk touched the floor dectty in front ofthe door: Then sbe rose and etilst-2 pondered ber strange odeisance ste bad opened. the door, frit opened easly esitteut-any creakiog or sound ofrany kind. Alt was all dark; bud-she entered. as freely and sate as litte wisging or restraintas (Pit bad been batted in seokight- For we, 2 bad to use my torch to see that there eras a onde round bole leadlag straight doan in the middle of the large room, the vertical. shat ho ubich was constructed oftwassie stones, so closely jonedk tegetter-as te extistitouly one swocths surfiice. Ths presented the appearance of-baving atone fine seen pelisted. The open eell-bole sert-up such a. fuk. wiasma. ofrrark gas or fames itaas distinctly reuseating avd wade my bead sein, The darkvess seemed 10 close m on we asittr an overasteeluring density ~ a darkness Tangible and palpatle thatissued from the bole! 2 tried to rush acray from the iebrorribe thing aud dipped on the slope ontside the doorney. Falling forward, 7 bad. fo fel my amy up the incline fo the passage sabere ee bad originally cowe doz. halen 2 came outP felt quite dicey avd discrientated. 7 fil inte a. state of» itellectaal. trl aabicls bad wo parcllel in my experience. Then 2 rocbied. may eyes ix sheer amazement: Up the steep store sope from the door weer shut y etic ae bod prosusly entered, dided the crown, as calm and vovrfted as she was sefbre, She belped we up avd ere walked in slence back. te ber lair filloerng ox circuitous route once again. Afar a tine willing oer ebat? eamuted 10 say ? asked ber sabat eros on iy wind ‘Arvonarie, lease tel me all you kuoer or suspect outed this place. 16 segin ett, then, oPbat-sortofmystery ~ pluyscal, wental, worl, listerical, scientific, eccult? Ary kink of bint that enkl belp we figure Pond 2 bave vot putty thoughts on the subject in sepuence, fergie we (dee order is vet observed in my iteration, Have you lave beard of ‘dlorm Ditele'? Pu afpaid vet? Most bese come 10 call it Slack Pig's Dyke’, incorrect though that wame is” Yes, 2 keroar esbod- yeu are trlking aboot wees Tis ditch is very ee probaly eftre the tive of tte Celts. tlben I ans ling 16above, some years age, 7 readk flklore atouta giantsorm atic bad wade tut dktel and offer tromels wderground Then? weved. to Kiwateghs 0g to stay cit the Commoity. They discerred the extrance 10 this temyle affer they dag an excavation trowel awd wade a search ofthe compler-so that it-codd be used as ott a refige and a. store” Pim guessing that the fowders of the Community kevecr about ths room ext the arell-bole” Yes, but wo one in those days bad ever beard of-anyone i the Commeitty having teen allocied even to come deer bere, At the time P exon lave wade a. survey -even atmy ox expense“ tut-oll suggestions cere wet-eith a prowyt and explicit negate. AL this is & apropos ofa suggestion on my part thatthe eell-bele sens a any bq ebucl the original denizens of this comple croula offtr vp sacrifices 1 a gant corm “a veritable beast of vast sive and godlike pocrer~ that-derells and waderties this femple and respires the odious gas that wade you alwost lose your senses: ‘Hoar do you Kyou all. this? Oris ttwerely supposition” In an age of scientific inestigation Uke ow oan, are are vot-retiering 1 science as the sasis of facts? Aad. so, shoudl eve not-accept the evidence these facts present boarcrer inpossible i-may seca af frst? 2 did wot-veed. 10 be rewinded. that Awmarie and the AUAL Community members 7sabe sttted. on the bog sere all practisng scientists. A seews oly be wataral fbr ler to resot-te the language oftscince in ber discussion. “olbat evidence is that? That uatere eras responsible fix the groath f-aninals ofricaleslatle see and strength eich emabked this plavetin the ancient past? “You speak. of dwosaurs? They've ded cut? Yes, but suppose sucl an animal. exstec that daselt in the deep earth avd survied the certs that caused. the mass extinction that criped.eut-its kin, esbose wetadtelm 15 such as 10 ollocr thei sural. fr theusands of years, avd being reweved from all efter acciden’s could. deep uninterrupted. sewe firm of*ligher ifelligence? Tere is no inpossirite ix this; 2 said remembering my science lessons from Secondary sched, ‘itis only the natarel process of evolution. For etamyple, ere are aici fem apes, 50 our intelligence is greater than the ape's’ Dn cor Theory of Erdution ase belive that the instincts oPanivals are cenfred. to aliwentation, selfPpretection and the wultiglication ofthe’ species. bet-Nlatare, esto dases ber oem edlutonary dectrives, way desclep an asinel x ber laboratory ix any gen army Or fri, and in the process of tine ndreds of uilicns of years if necessary ~ expand its intelligence as all as its edly sie. FF tbis te 50, eat could. be wore fitting the description ofa. gant-crerm in the fiiklore ofthese ands 1Than the ancient surviors of the carty days of the cxortd” “None; 7 too easly agreed ent ber loge. ‘Aad 50, such a creative ever existed, qided by its oem ends ty an wfelligence equal 16 its wonstroas size, eat erould Le its potential fer eul and destruction” Mary lous bad passed since ? arried fo this underground temple. eras sure That the wen enth etiom 7 bad entered this andergrownd temple lad gone Home aitbout we. 7 esas also conscious opmy tiredvess, 7 veeded 16 rest wg acary ola Aone. My wind is vot-as good as Fused 10 be, my dear, Fu in a esturt already; awk 2 aut to concentrate on etal yon say, Aut 7m tired andl its late. Can oe vot resawe the comersation feworroa? The crewman agreed. and erent aout setting up a. seeping cot fr me in the roo, 7 bad filly intended to refarn beme 10 sleep in wey comm shed tut? did not-obgect to spending the night ere. ? lay deem to rest-on the makeshift cot-ard. soon sleep stole over me. Part lll 2 lay sleeping on the col; eabicl ans voyjeldng and cold and firmy like a beadstone, eben? feta. ome of pleasure serep through we. There eras a. sound of music: ear we and aery bias sucet- P sloaty operedl my lids anc confrwed abut my brain Gaud way grom bad suspected: the sound ems the right gigging of Amare. Her body was heautifel and stirred in we the blaring fre oftamet-Her nudlty da vot-clash sith the meorlike grayscale wertd around us, bil was surprising Fo we, wadkty and arousal. back its proper tine avd place, but tis ans markedly diffrent Her uncerered.flesl eras as an expression of this strange temple, the wer sanction atere the invisible expressed tse Prisidly As 2 lay there aateling ber, wondering ebat2 was siypose 10 do, she climbed astride we arch cased wy stifPyroin ite ber pubis. Had this poor soman become so lonely she vas cling 10 jorp on the first-wan that baplessy came near ber? Dik ste koe? was marred? bias she vot plop by my age, theagls 2 adwit, she 20s 10 spring chicken berself Aad ubot-eoud this end erowan do if2 tak anytling te upset ber, would she sta me vith some rast encrusted ereagon? NLP could do sans lay there. 7 closed my eyes and eas seside myself my Miss axas 50 great it bordered on pavic. AL? could feel eras arve affer emmie of the cowan’s bar, ber lips and ber tongue, marking erry inch oPmy body. ? exanted to scream, vot out-of far or passion, but-singly 10 vertall the paradorical feelings that were veer batting 10 claim my beart-ard. brain “Step. 2 pleaded. ‘Make this step’ “Are you saying you ens 10 go back? back 10 your eorta™ 20Please... Very well? The coman rose and began 10 put-on ber clottes again ‘but-tell we, sr soba is the cutcome, in your cern wiod, ofour conversation, rove that-you ave rested. a cable? 2 pasted assay the thoughts oftser and focused on the comersation Te etele issue of giant wensters that codd enist fir thousands of years and lave bigher wtelligerce, already assuores a. practical shape; Aut ent added dangers that at first? did. vot ivagine? “And they are? she coaxed we. Pri a Least that sig, tien it gets bengry excald leave voting alie. cold j 4m 94 Y destroy csticle foems. Ernetty, That is aby irwust stay ndergroud abere itis and ner de. olloesed. to rise 10 the surface. Frit could be fod docin the exdl-bole it ereuld. wot-weed. to avsaken from ds stawsber anck buetfor its ccm feed, therey ravaging the Land in te process” P looked scepticelly at-ber: "Sigpose 7 don't belive any oft? The crewan looked doc af me. She eras started af uy sudden declaration, set 24ber eyes filed with a ferrible anger: Aer a winute of-sleatsitking, she spoke, 0 fore ofrresentvent stil Gngering in ber voice. ‘oly do you vot believe we” D weed preef 2 said restlutdly. “odd tit be Aetter, dear seman, PP cond. see tis monster at close quarters? ‘Gooduess, sir, erat are you saying? am enlling 10 ram The risk fo? take if there ero Le no slight risk. in the looking” 2 doot anyone bas seen it up close and lied fo tell the tale; she said. P have taken up the mantte of-sentry, baving noble this tenyle sine the entry ans Mocked decades ago, yet? kuoer voting of its strength of tearing and. swelling, Though 7 presvive that ott are of-enorwous posse: As T6 seeing, 7 preseune the opposite, Because it-bas adapted. t0 lie esittoat-any light in its andergreand lair fer masy Hhowsands oP years: Then its settted, P said, ‘ae shall keep curselies 10 the top of tte eell-bole cuf-of% its reach avd dense itout-of the shadoers entt the swell of*fresh hood like an wwsen reel, afteretuch 2 shall stive my Terelhight’on it avd ee ell see it elearty: “clbere enll the fest blood. come frew.” ZZP exdl cat -my palin esttr wey penknife and bold wy hand over the eell-bole to Mead. That should srring the beaste outfits sense ofswell. 's as pooverfil as you reckon itis. ‘Ariold she rluctautly agreed bbe wade cur cay doom the dark stony cold corridors aud steps of this vast twerted pyrawid again fo the erell room, ents Anmare leading and 2 trading after ber. 7 esas apprebensie as 10 etal ems going 10 see fftere ans, m fact; a real wouster. WeulA? survive the encounter? When ee reached the wassive esooden coor, she crouched docm fo shoo me there eas a swall depression in a. ftngstone on the ffoor in front oftte deer: Allen she pasted t-doan some Uidden mechanism veiselessly volecked the porta Stavdlng again, ste pasted the wassie door scandlessy open. 7 reasoned. temas convinky courtererialted sath luge eights lidden sehind the sll, so that -een a wall, Uightareiqht person, like Arwmare, could open itentt certain ease. Ih the room wy vostris erere assaded. by the borid flmes stich rose from the all-bole, but-D continued to eralke teerard it-50 thet 2 could peer dozn the shaft Aruwarie teak up 0. poston ebind. we. arch the bairs on the stack ofmy veck suddedy bristted in an waspoken sxarving. 2 tarved to look. at ber justin tive to see ber laswcl at-we crtt arms outstrecled in front-of ber and teeth ‘bared like an animal's thrtugl thet-wad curtain ef air Exnctty erbat-bappened wextans a bibofa blur. 23Aroveorie bad attenyted. 10 push we doc the cxll bole, but; out oftinstinct or lA age 7 fl to my keees and she stil rushing at we as iP esas standing up- posted the empty air in front ofber abere wy back ans a wowent age, dit vetting resisting ber foreard momento sbe apparentty carried. on and Hippo oer ny crouched fern and tambled inte the vell-bele and decen the stuff: She sereawed all the aay dun - net-an inconsidernsle distance 2 wight-add. - wif sbe lit-the rocky bette au aeryting soent-quet= Panting in fright, 2 stone my torch lialit-doum the er. andl thats aten 2 saemits 2 stoll. sce i> forever in my decams; Hhad-berrid creatire feeding on the seeded reweains of the crazy dead esewon. That gigantic worm, esbese lubering stody lies and may destroy the crotd (Pit eer rises 10 the surftce. 7 eras deferwined 10 neser let that happen. Dneeded 10 be feck and keptratere items; underground, ao never be allocred 10 vise to the surface. Mabe this is the secret the AUAL Community foonders kueer all along? Ana Aefore they cond tell the eortd atout it they esere destroyed? Perbaps 7 shoud Fell Joba Hoerey about this; iPught be usefid for the local listery 400k be's ariting. P esanted fo take up Annmarie's mantle of-sentry and vever leave this place, suf then 7 beard footsteps ecloed dom the temple's dark passages and 7 kuecr the wen from the Kimatogh Mystery for eere back again and prodratly looking for we. Ff they find we, they'll fake we assay; 7 said aloud 10 wobody. ‘7 can't let them oo that; 7 eron't go! 7'm bere for geod’ My exords choked up in the zomiddle and I yelled in anguish as fears relled doen uy checks. 7 sniclled tale Trying To restrain uy ewotions. 2 just saf-there for bers Pengly um wotsure beer long tPreally aos) scbinpering as the tears contiwed 10 roll. doom my fice. Then the wen eneutally arried atthe cell room door: Anwarie bad left the massie deer open befere she ded. 7 posicked. 2 EP buadk wo choice butte getrid of them by feeding at least one to the giant-eorm and the ofters would bightal. trout-of there frightened y 0 wadiran 56,2 pusbed the first wan ix the room doam the well-bele, but bade't noticed be sons ted by a rope 10 the veatwan esto sas fed to the neat ferming a ing cliain, After the first wen erext-deem the enll-bele and west ove eras ocagged. in after bi avd then the ofter avd the ofter ontt they were all gone deem the well 2 fit ase. about sending the wen to thei doony really terribly back ? bad to gt acny freon the scene. 2 ran faster than ? theaglt-my peer od legs cond carry we? reached the surftce and cardered out-of the bog stil thinking about bat boppered. blben ? got back to Slackross team 2 stayed wer wightin a lost, never dlarwing te retarn lowe 10 see my wit: 2 used the internet access in the este fo tal the women on the Klnattgh Mystery forum atat-bad. happened ie the anderarovvdl temple, but dile'treiek the part D played in the wen's disappearance. 2Eploge Hs Monday worring -0- it's Sunday worving I'm vot sue esiche avd the birds are clirpping cutie my wardlrcom erodes: 7 lazy (icin beck listening 10 them and ceaiting ft the vest visit from wy doctor: 7 told bin the last-five be visited we that-2 woud arite dean aerytting that bagpered in the wrdergrousek temple before 2 got arrested. avd puoi this earch for psycliatric evaluation Seto watter beer bard try 10 remember the way things flayed ont: 2 can vere understand uty they boppered. Just that they dd. After leaving Slackross and ping 10 Dublin andl arranging fra. sus 10 take citypilk sack to Klmatog 609 to sce the gant corm ix the uvclerqreund tenyle, 7 plarved. te feed them to the beast by shaving them doan the exll-bele. Unfertovatdly fbr we ut fortvate forthe towists - my plan esas rained ry the gardai este arrested. me fbr roswing an egal. fer ofclosed geerswent-oamed. property Yealh, 2 ain ek, refred, 7 bave vo interests, anck may ent - also retired - doesn’t bother bersdte come visitwe in bospital. 7 think. she is aftnid of we or else she doesn'temant 10 come see we because interrupts ber wecsng of daytioe 1 shoes. Hida, 7d mvc prefer to be wits than strand emateh daytve telesion Sutras al- lack ereutd. bate it; thats oll the doctors ere allocr us to do in this psycl exard, catele dayne 10 avd te ws! 26