Murky Manor by Steven & Margaret Larson
"Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love Him?"
Hank said, "Back in the days when the church charged pew rent, Captain Morgan purchased this pew for his family. His family wasn't big, and the Captain was always away on some voyage. So he stipulated that visitors and the poor could always sit in his pew." His eyes twinkled. "Some of the congregation didn't like it, but his pew was always full."
Overpowering notes from the pipe organ flooded the room as the choir filed in. Hank sauntered back down the aisle, the tuff of hair swaying in rhythm. The music drowned out most of the singing. Meredith didn't mind. She didn't know the songs and she could sing as loud as she liked.
After the singing, a young man came out. His short-cropped, blonde hair and tanned skin contrasted sharply with his white shirt. He announced that his sermon would be taken from Matthew chapter 6. This was the pastor? He looked more like a surfer. Meredith sat up to listen.
He read, "So why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: and yet I say unto you, that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these."
She picked up the church bulletin and read the sermon title. "Faith or Fashion? Which do you follow?" Meredith slumped back in the pew. He wasn't going to be very interesting after all.
Tony seemed disappointed that there wasn't time to visit the cemetery. At least she was spared walking through the wet grass in open sandals. Instead, they headed to the Clipper for the Sunday special.
The only fresh seafood listed on the mermaid's sign was Blackened Catfish. The other specials were all steak and chicken dishes.
"I was hoping there would be more choices by the time we got here," Carlo said. "Apparently the fishing still hasn't picked up."
"Any idea what the trouble is?" Doris said.
"They seem to be blaming it on tropical storm Helga. That storm has been out there for a week now. It fluctuates daily. Meteorologists don't know what to make of it. It just sits out there. If it decides to come inland, it could be a real disaster."
CHAPTER 9 - AN UNEXPECTED TRIP
After dinner Meredith changed into blue shorts and a t-shirt with white trim. She took the cup and met Tony in the lobby. It was muggy and the windows were clouded over with moisture.
They headed for the gazebo. It wasn't as humid outside, but her hair curled and frizzed even in the hair clip's grip. The damp breeze felt chilly against her neck. Inside the gazebo it was even cooler.
The bag of clothes sagged on the bench. "I thought we put that back underneath," Meredith said.
"We did. Someone moved it."
Meredith set the cup down, and opened the bag. She ruffled through the contents and the newspaper clipping rustled against her hand. The pink jacket was missing.
A crack of thunder made her jump. Rain began pattering softly on the roof. It rapidly became a downpour.
"Close the shutters or we'll get drenched," Tony shouted. "I've got this one. Get the other side."
Meredith crammed the paper into her pocket and pushed on the shutter. It slammed, pinching her finger. She cried out and pulled her hand free.
A trickle of water ran under her sleeve as she held the shutter closed. "Tony! I can't get it latched."
Twisting her neck, she tried to look over her shoulder. A gust of wind blew dead leaves and dirt through the open door. She sneezed and lost her hold on the shutter. It banged against the wall.
Tony pushed her aside and pulled the shutters closed. "Get the door before the whole place is soaked," he said.
She pressed her throbbing finger to her mouth and crossed the room. With a heave she slammed the door shut. Outside the rain pelted the building. She looked at her finger. The nail polish was chipped. The flower had been half scrapped away.
"Sounds like someone's throwing gravel at us," she said.
"That's hail," Tony said.
"It can't be hail. This is August."
"He held out his hand and opened his fingers. Small white crystals lay melting on his palm.
Meredith shivered. "It's cold and wet in here." If the jacket had still been in the bag she would have considered putting it on. It didn't matter who had worn it. How could it be so cold in August?
"It's only wet because you didn't get the shutters closed in time." He picked up the cup.
"I chipped my nail polish trying to close the stupid things."
Tony blinked. "Is that all?"
"No. I smashed my finger too. Why did you leave the door open?"
"I didn't. It blew open."
A crack of thunder boomed making them both yell.
"It's dry in the middle of the floor," Tony said. He brushed aside the dirty leaves and sat down. "Come on." He patted the floor.
Making a face, she sank down beside him. They leaned against each other back to back. She wrapped her arms around her bare legs and rested her chin on her knees. His back was warm and she stopped shivering. Soon they were breathing in rhythm.
"Yesterday I saw an image in the cup." He said the words so softly she barely heard him over the rain.
"What did you see?" Her voice quivered.
"A sailing ship coming towards me, rising from the bottom of the cup. There was a figurehead on the front just like the one at Murky. She was even holding a globe, only there were blue flashes of light around it. I couldn't see if they were inside the globe or on the surface.
He shifted position. Cold air brushed against the backs of her arms. She scooted around so they were sitting side by side. He held the cup out. Their fingers met around it. She wasn't sure which was warmer, the cup or his fingers. How could he have warm hands when hers were like ice?
There was a crash of thunder. A flash of light lit up the room. She squeezed her eyes shut. When she opened them it was dark and quiet. She let go of the cup and stood up.
"What happened?" Tony said.
When Meredith's eyes adjusted to the dim light she could make out bookshelves lining the walls.
"That looks like a stairwell," Tony said.
"We're in the turret at Murky Manor."
"Murky Manor? That's impossible."
"Those stairs go down to my bedroom. Look out the window. There's the willow tree."
"In the park?" He knelt on the window seat. "Wow. That's not the park. How'd we get way up here? Hey, this is really cool. I've actually made it inside Murky. But how?"
"It's just like the storm the other night. The one that took out the electricity. I was in this room when the storm came up. There was lightening. Then I think I was in the gazebo for a couple minutes. The willow tree was scraping at the door. Then I was back here. It all happened so fast. I wasn't sure till now that it really happened at all."
"So we just wait and poof - we'll be back in the gazebo?"
"How should I know?"
"This is some view. It's just like that picture in the clothes bag. Whoever took that photograph must have been standing right here."
"I didn't know that willow tree was so old. This picture was taken years and years ago, and the tree hasn't changed at all." She laid the clipping on the window seat.
Tony looked surprised. "Where did that come from?"
"I put it in my pocket when the storm started," she said.
He turned back to the window. "That fog is really creepy."
The willow tree swayed in the wind. Its branches dribbled in a swirling blanket of mist that surrounded its trunk. Several patches of fog separated and floated over the grass. They were lost to view when they drifted under the turret.
"Long as we're here, why don't you give me a tour? Show me some of the Captain's strange stuff." He looked around the room and stopped at the desk. "Hey this is cool. Looks like a replica of the gazebo."
"We should go. We don't want to get stuck here all night." Meredith tried to keep her voice light.
"It's not t
"Give me that," she said and pulled the scarf out of his hand.
"Okay. Show me the other cool stuff in the house."
"The power is out, remember?" She tied the scarf around her waist. "You won't be able to see anything." She tried not to think about the drive back from the Clipper with Doris. The image of dark trees and moving shadows kept creeping into her mind.
He lit one of the candles and grinned at her through the flame. "We'll use a candle. Come on."
"You can see stuff on the way out. It's a long walk back to the condos."
As they stepped out into the hall she looked back. The cup was sitting on the floor. For a moment she hesitated, then snatched it up.
Tony was standing outside the door holding the candle up to the wall. The face of a teenage boy looked down from a photograph in an elaborate frame. He stood on a pier with a small, dark object next to his hand. Behind him was a ship with the figurehead of a woman. Her hair blew out to the sides of the ship and her dress flowed down to her feet.
"It's the figurehead I saw in the cup," Tony said.
Meredith couldn't make out any details in the candlelight. "How can you be sure? They all look alike."
"They're not all alike. Each one is individual."
"Well, that could be from Captain Morgan's ship. You can check it out when we get outside."
As they made their way down the hall, the candle illuminated only a few feet at a time. They stepped around a tall wooden statue of a hairy animal with long arms and a menacing face.
"This would look great in my room," he said. "Do you think Doris would sell it?"
"Come on," Meredith said, and pulled on his arm.
The flickering flame made masks on the wall blink and grimace at them as they passed. She hoped the road wouldn't be as dark as the house. Tony stopped at the top of the stairs to examine a carving on the railing.
A soft moaning came from the front of the house.
"Creaky old place," Tony said under his breath. He leaned over the railing, and raised the candle. The light spilled down several stairs. Meredith laid her hand on his arm. He sucked in his breath and jerked his hand away. The candle went out. It was much darker in the hall than in the turret.
"Whhheerre." The sound floated like a whisper from below. "Whhheerre."
The lines on the side of the cup were glowing faintly. They clearly outlined a flower. She tucked it under the scarf where it felt warm against her side.
"Must be the wind coming through an open window or something," Tony said. His voice cracked.
Meredith shook her head. Then realized he couldn't see her. "Doris checked everything several times before we left. If there's an open window, someone opened it."
She could just make out the front door. Light filtered in through the filmy curtains that covered the windows on either side. The white fabric rippled.
She squeezed Tony's hand and pointed. "Maybe you're right about the window," she said softly.
"Whhheerre."
She shivered. The whiteness moved again and separated from the window. It wasn't the curtain. Tony started backing up. He pulled on her hand. The whiteness floated across the floor towards the stairs.
"Whhheerre."
They bumped into each other. Meredith nearly fell on the steps. They stumbled down the hall. She swerved but was unable to avoid the statue. It teetered, and the leering face swooped towards her. She screamed. Tony caught the statue and pushed it back in place. She clutched his hand. They raced down the hall and scurried inside the turret. He pushed the door closed and locked it.
CHAPTER 10 - ESCAPE ON TWO WHEELS
Meredith inched toward the window. Fog hid the ground and wrapped around the willow tree. A tall column of mist coiled up and draped over one of the branches. It swirled and changed shape until it looked like a figure facing the window. It detached from the tree, and floated towards the house. Tony pulled her away from the window.
"Down the stairs," he whispered.
Each tap of her shoes on the metal steps made her cringe. She stopped to look out the round window. Only wispy fog.
She placed her finger over her lips. Tony nodded. Together they pressed against the bedroom door and listened. Meredith squeezed her eyes shut and held her breath. Soft whispering sounds seeped through the door. The room was getting darker. Tony touched her face and their eyes met. They started back up the stairs.
When they reached the landing to the turret, Tony paused and pointed up. The stairs wound up into darkness. She shrugged. There were many places in the house she hadn't explored. Now she wished there had been more time before the power went out.
Tony started up the stairs. He motioned for her to follow. Her hand trembled on the rail. She tried to push the picture of whispering fog out of her mind and concentrated on the steps.
As they climbed higher, the air got colder. The rail felt clammy. Tony stopped suddenly. She bumped into him, and the cup slipped out from under the scarf. It gave off a faint glow, casting soft blue light on a door.
"That's convenient," Tony said. He tried the handle, but the door wouldn't budge. "It's stuck."
Moving the cup closer, she examined the door. The rain probably made the wood swell. Cool air blew in around the doorknob. She ran her fingers along the frame. Something clinked on the floor. They froze in place and listened, but all was silent.
Tony reached down. With a big grin, he held up a strange old-fashioned skeleton key. The end was shaped like a flower.
"Try it," she said. "Hurry."
He put it in the lock. After several tries there was a click. She slipped the cup into the scarf. When he pushed the door open, cold, moist air hit their faces. Before them a narrow stretch of wooden flooring ran the length of the roof. It was bordered by a metal guardrail.
"A widow's walk," Tony said. "Come on. There's a door at the other end." With one hand skimming the rail, he started jogging across.
It seemed so far away. Meredith took a step. The walkway was wet. Her foot slid. With a gasp, she grabbed at the railing. The metal was cold and slimy. Tony was already out of reach.
She glanced down. Immediately her stomach lurched. The world below had been devoured by the murk, and it was working its way up to catch them. Swallowing hard, she hoped she wasn't going to be sick. Her face was hot. She felt like she was walking against a current. One step at a time she shuffled her feet forward. Her fingers felt numb.
Tony was waiting at the other end. One more step. He pulled her inside and closed the door. Taking deep gasping breaths, she leaned back against the wall.
"The same key works in both doors," Tony said. "What a cool place. You okay?"
"Yes," she said, but she didn't feel okay.
"Down we go then. Let's see where these stairs lead."
"I'm not going down there," Meredith said.
"Why not? It's lighter in this stairwell. Must be windows somewhere along the way."
She slid down the wall and thumped on the floor. Wrapping her arms around her knees, she said, "I'm not going down there."
He sat down beside her and their arms touched. "We have to. There's no other way out." He nudged her gently. "Would you rather go back across the roof?"
She trembled. "No."
He reached out and his fingers tightened around her hand. Warmth flowed into her cold fingers as she got to her feet.
"It'll be okay," he said. "I'll go first."
They started down. Six steps, turn, six steps, turn. A closed door led into the house. A small window with opaque glass faced outside.
Six steps, turn, six steps, turn. Another door. Another window. They continued down. The steps ended at a door, this time facing the outside wall. Tony tried the key. The door opened, and mist swirled in. Meredith jumped back, and stifled a cry.
"Looks like there
She started to protest, but he had already closed the door. They ran to the shed and ducked inside.
Meredith set the cup down on a bench, and stuffed the scarf in her pocket. Her hair was tangled and wet. She shoved it under the clip. Tony's head was poked behind some boxes, and he was moving things
"What are you looking for?" she asked.
"Help me with this." His muffled voice drifted back.
She took the boxes he handed her and stacked them on the other side. With some scraping and rattling, he pulled out an old bicycle.
"Looks like the tires are still good and inflated. Transportation home."
She looked at the rusted bike with skepticism.
"Beats walking," he said with a grin. "You can ride on the handlebars and I'll peddle. What do you say?"
They wobbled down the gravel driveway. Meredith gripped the cold metal handlebars, and gritted her chattering teeth. How had she let him talk her into this? They bumped along until they reached the asphalt road, and the ride smoothed out.
"Now we can make some time," Tony said.
"Not too fast!" she wailed. But the wind whipped the words away. Either he didn't hear her, or he was ignoring her, because the bicycle sped up.
"Slow down," she yelled.
"The chain came loose," he said. "No brakes! Hang on."
Trees sped past as they shot down the winding hill. Branches whipped at her legs. Her hair worked its way free of the clip, and blew back in his face.
"I can't see." He leaned to try and see past her. The bike swerved.
"Careful," she shouted. A patch of fog crossed the road and she gasped. "Look out." They flew through the vapor leaving her skin wet. The road leveled off. They started to slow down. In another minute they coasted to a stop.
"That was some ride!" Tony said. "Hop off."
She twisted her hair back under the clip. In a few minutes Tony had the chain back on. The rest of the ride back was at a more reasonable pace. They left the bike in the gazebo and headed down the path towards the condos.
Dark clouds gathered, and the wind picked up. Moving tree branches scattered light across the path. Leaves rustled as a squirrel scampered through the brush. At the front door, Meredith stopped.
"I don't have the cup," she said.