INTRODUCTION

These were the parameters of this experiment:

THE LABYRINTH MYSTERY

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Snapdragon
5/28/01
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The van slowed to a stop on the winding incline towards the steel bridge, the engine drowned out by the incessant roar of the wild water before them. The occupants leaned forward in a near single motion as if a few extra inches would improve their appreciation of the abundant spring runoff foaming out of the Sierra Nevada mountain range. Several snow-covered mountain tops showed above the pines that marched as backdrop to the rise of Jackson Ridge beyond this submerging link to their destination.

The woman in the driver’s seat turned about to give her passengers a twisted grin. “Anyone feel like a dip?” Everyone laughed nervously. Turning about, Snapdragon shifted into first and eased onto the bridge, damp with the spray from water bubbling scant inches under the wood and steel floor. “Take it easy, folks, the locals assure me that our little creek is cresting today.” The van lurched as the wheels turned onto an uneven dirt road and Snapdragon pressed hard, making a bouncing run at the steep slope that cut a long diagonal swipe across the face of the stony cliff. Another turn and they were atop the ridge, the van purring to a stop inside a ramshackle building that had originally been a small carriage house. Doors flew open and bodies tumbled out to haul weekend luggage out of the back.

“Has everyone else made it so far?” inquired Lesley. Snapdragon grinned at this last group from the airport to also include Gryphon, Southern Soul, Old Warrior, and cck. “Hey, hey,” said their hostess for the weekend, “I think the gang’s all here that can make it. Those who arrived earlier today have been busy exploring the grounds already.”

“That maze of yours, oh, I can’t wait to check that out,” said Gryphon, grabbing her suitcase and hustling towards Ridge House. Jabbering with anticipation, the rest followed, guided to the front entrance on the cliff side of the house by a flagstone walk. The house itself was of granite, coarsely dressed stone puzzle-fitted together into an austere two-story building. Second story windows poked dormers into the sloping roof. Once through the double-door entry, newcomers dropped luggage with noises of admiration over the central hall with a wide staircase leading to the second floor.

“This is incredible wood paneling, Snap,” said cck, stroking a panel of amber, swirled with rich red and violet. Southern Soul was using a single finger to follow the ornate scrolls in the stair railing. “Ah! Look at this bentwood. What sort of wood is all this?”

Snapdragon, busied with the registration book, looked up, handing a pen to Old Warrior. “The wood is mountain mahogany, also known as Pacific yew. It was cut on the property. It’s a curious wood. Very friendly to women.” The last comment lifted eyebrows and twigged a few smiles.

“Okay, I’ll bite,” said O.W., “how does that work, women-friendly wood?”

“The cancer drug, Taxol, is extracted from the bark. Damn near over-harvested at this point, but the drug is very successful in treating ovarian cancer.” Snapdragon raised her arms to indicate the house. “You’ll find yew wood throughout the house in one shape or form. The walls of the labyrinth behind the house are solid yew plants. It took my husband weeks to prune those eight-foot walls back into reasonable shape. There’s more to tell, but you’ll get as much as I know after dinner.”

There were squeals of greeting as ItBme and Wildrose came from the library at the back of the hall. Male voices could be heard beyond them as Ken and Old Timer hovered in the doorway. Hugs were exchanged, backs patted. Snapdragon shooed the newcomers up the stairs to settle their belongings into their rooms, with assurances that a dinner would be quickly forthcoming as the Friday afternoon advanced into evening.

The rest of the guests straggled in from the grounds as the odor of food, fresh from the oven, rang a silent dinner bell not to be resisted. The open kitchen and dining room combination took up the entire west end of the first floor, with a view of extensive garden plantings in stonewalled beds. The filigreed peak of a weathered Victorian greenhouse was evident at the end of the long walkway from the house through the garden. Two sets of French doors opened onto a roofed porch, allowing a cooling breeze to waft across the length of the dining table. Conversation was loud as all crowded amiably through a buffet of hot quiche, salad, and fresh fruit.

“… have you been out to the greenhouse? I’ve never seen so much wrought iron in a building like that. Quite a variety of seedlings, too ….”

“Wonder how old the garden layout is …. what a rush of blooms at this time of year ….”

“It’s huge! That rock smack in the center of that maze is just huge. Covered in ancient graffiti. Amazing when you think that it had to be underground for that tree to have wrapped it’s roots …. “

“Petroglyphs. Aren’t they called petroglyphs? Anyone hear the name of the tribe …?”

“The roots are gnarled and twisted …. wonder who thought to dig down to expose it?”

“… odd sensation going through the labyrinth. It was like floating halfway through …”

“Really? Snap said somethin’ about unexplained noises on both floors ….”

“ …. maybe not. I don’t hold much belief in ghosts ….”

“ …. course it’s an old house. Every old house has noises that are weird, but are easy to explain ….”

“The hallway is really cold. Has anyone else noticed just how icy that hallway is even when the sun’s coming through the window …”

Snapdragon basked in the warm friendship and enthusiastic curiosity. However, it did not lessen her edgy concern as to what the weekend might bring before Monday’s dawn. She comforted herself with the thought that so many bright and open minds from this cyber family seated around the table would have much to contribute to a solution of the strange events that were steadily escalating.

Following the dinner, coffee was brewed and there were howls of approval over warmed slices of fruit pie. Small plates were filled and everyone filed into the enormous library.

Setting a plain cardboard box on the table, Snapdragon slid into a chair with a sigh and pulled her plate towards her. The three days cooking in the kitchen had been worth it to have all the meals prepared ahead. She slid a forkful into her mouth and closed her eyes in momentary bliss before chewing. The remainder of the group found seats around dark, narrow tables. The room smelled of the old books that lined the inner walls opposite the north bank of windows overlooking the labyrinth. Moonrise had occurred with a near full moon hovering within the tree line to the northeast.

“Hey, Snap, I understand the bridge is going under. Are we marooned up here?” The question came from another table and Snapdragon found a busy week’s fatigue dulling her ability to keep up with whomever was asking questions. Never mind, she thought, answer the questions as they come and let’s get this ball rolling. She rose to her feet and smiled to the room, saying, ”Right now we are effectively shut off from leaving the ridge. The spring runoff, even this high, rarely last more than two days, so the timing looks to be perfect.”

She opened the box and lifted out a cloth wrapped bundle and set it on the table. “There are several things I’ll add to what I mentioned in all the email invitations. You all know by now that Joe and I have sunk pretty much everything we have into this house, the remodel, and the garden cleanup, all of it for the past nine months. Now with these strange events I’m worried that we won’t be able to make a commercial go of this as a bed and breakfast inn.”

“Don’t be silly, the bedrooms are splendid with all that Victoriana …”

“ … advertise you have ghosts! That’ll bring in believers and ….”

“ … the gardens alone are an attraction. And that maze, Snap, the maze is something else all again ….”

Snapdragon chuckled and held up her hand for quiet. “First off, let’s talk about the labyrinth. It is not a maze, as a maze has dead ends and false trails. A labyrinth has only one path to the center, hence, only one way to come out. That means the path covers the entire space around the center which has the rock and tree.”

There were several assenting grunts and Wildrose spoke up, “Well, that explains why you feel like you’re walking clear around the farm several times just to get to the prize.” Laughter followed in the wake of facetiousness.

“Yeah, that’s pretty much it,” agreed their hostess. “I do think that ancient rock is a remarkable centerpiece. The carvings and drawings appear to have several layers since some overlap. Locals think that the Miwok Indians are responsible, but I’m not so sure they did it all since roots are covering early carvings. A yew doesn’t get that big without many centuries ticking away.”

Old Timer spoke, “It’s a shame, but it’s obvious the tree was cut. Hand axe by the looks of it. Bit odd that they did it so high above the open hollow in the side. There’s about eight feet of trunk still left. Any information on that?” Snapdragon gave him a wan grin and replied, “Not as much as I’d like to have. However, most of the yew wood in the house is said to come from that one tree. It must have been enormous. We know that the house was built around the onset of the gold rush, say, about 1850. Jackson gained quite the reputation as a wild town known for its, well, uh, its brothels.”

“Ooh, boy,” groaned cck, leaning forward, “let me guess; all those small, intimate rooms upstairs and that large, fancy parlor at the front of the house. This house was one of those brothels, wasn’t it?”

Snapdragon giggled wearily. “Yeah, you’ve got it. This was the crème de la crème of all the Jackson cathouses. Not much written history is available in town, but I do have the journal of the one and only madam that ran it up through the turn of the century.” She picked a slim letter opener from the box and used the tip to flip off the cloth folds from around a thick book, bound in cracked and faded burgundy leather. “This was found in the roof space behind the short dormer walls in the west end bedroom.” Careful to not touch the book with her fingers, she lifted the cover with the opener and let it fall back. On the cover sheet was a carefully penned map of the labyrinth. Several exclamations escaped those close enough to see it.

“…. your madam designed the labyrinth?”

“Why would she go to so much trouble to build an extravagance …”

“What’s with the letter opener, Snap?”

Her smile fled and she looked haggard. “I find that I can neither handle the book nor read the passages without falling asleep,” Snapdragon said with hesitation. “Joe can touch it, read it without effect. Yet both I and my daughter doze off after several pages. It’s a catnap of maybe thirty minutes, but disturbing nonetheless.”

ItBme cleared her throat and spoke in a soft voice, “Is that the reason we are not going to see your daughter this weekend? Were either of you dreaming in this sleep?” Snapdragon gave her a long look before responding. “It happened only once to Carolyn. That was enough. Joe has taken Carolyn on a father-daughter weekend. I need to understand what is happening before I let my only child near this book again or the labyrinth for that matter. As for dreams: neither of us remembered a damn thing except for being very tired when we woke up.”

While comments flew back and forth from supportive to flatly skeptical, Snapdragon eased the letter opener between marked pages and flipped to a new labyrinth map. She waved for silence and tapped the book. “There are seven different labyrinth patterns in this journal. Each one is a subtle change to the one before.” She pointed the in the direction of the windows. “So far I have experienced three of them out there.”

There was a stunned silence. Frowning, Ken asked, “Do I understand you that a labyrinth made of rooted plants changes its pattern by itself? Do you know how this sounds?”

“Ooh, I do,” said Snapdragon dryly. “It’s way over the edge. Like a bizarre hour in the Twilight Zone. My own husband didn’t believe it till it happened to him last week. We both had the pattern memorized, being in and out dozens of times doing cleanup. We could walk it in our sleep. The first time it happened to me about eight weeks ago was when a few turns changed, directions reversed. The incidences are coming faster now and the changes match the patterns in the journal. Rosa Falcone’s journal. A woman that I’m beginning to think is much more than a madam of ill repute.”

Southern Soul spoke up, puzzled, “ I thought from your emails that you were dealing with spirits, a haunting of sorts. This was to be a Ghostly Weekend. Nothing so strange as what you describe.” Snapdragon took a deep breath and exhaled heavily, running the fingers of one hand through her short hair. “Look, the ghosts have been present all along. It’s an old house with a checkered history. There are footsteps in the hallway on both floors. We have a Weeping Lady who haunts the upstairs hallway. I sleep in the west end bedroom, the madam’s room, since it has a private stairway down to the kitchen. Although it happens all over the house, it is mostly in that room you can hear low whispering. None of that is terribly frightening to me, but it sure can mess with your sleep. And it isn’t the best advertisement for a restful B&B.”

Snapdragon sat down abruptly, visibly sagging. “Folks, I have far too much activity in this place that cannot be explained easily. If we all can get through the weekend to make heads or tails of this, then Joe and I can come to terms with holding the cards we’ve been dealt here. Either that or folding and moving on.”


The rest of the evening was spent in broadening the details of the shape-shifting performance of the labyrinth. Snapdragon was insistent that there had been no error in the memorization of the labyrinth’s path between her husband and herself. It was a game that had become frightening in the surreal aspect of the impossible during the past weeks. Several of the men handled the journal, flipping pages, reading listings of herbal plantings, recipes for bewildering concoctions, but there were few words concerning the mysterious labyrinth of yew. Lesley was daring enough to peruse the pages with no ill effects. However, Snapdragon stopped Gryphon from taking hold of the book, and the two had a whispered exchange that left the ginger-haired guest folding her arms and staring warily at the book. By ten o’clock, their hostess, with shadowed circles hollowing her eyes, declared exhaustion and the group began to retire to their rooms by two’s and three’s.

Morning came early at six as the first guest down to the kitchen was greeted by brewed coffee, bagels, flavored spreads, and sliced fruits ready on the buffet. By seven o’clock, five had gathered in the dining room, sharing what peculiar noises had occurred during the night, when a sense of unease became alarm. At seven forty-five, the rest of the house was up, dressed and searching with purpose.

Their hostess was not to be found in the house, the gardens, or any of the outbuildings. The grim realization arrived by eight o’clock that the only place left to search was the labyrinth.

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wildrose
5/28/01
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She entered the Labyrinth, walking past the standing stones and hesitantly began walking the narrow path. Through the foliage of long narrow leaves of the Yew, there were gaps showing snatches of the world beyond, crisp and still cool in the early morning light. The slope of the Sierra Nevada, clad in fir, and pine scented, dropped off gradually towards the valley far below. Here in the Labyrinth, time seemed to slow and a quiet descended until all she could hear were her own footfalls; slow and hesitant. She glanced over her shoulder, back to the entrance, still only a few dozen steps or so behind, and reassured, wildrose smiled at her fancifulness. Wryly, she set about her business. She stopped and taking several slow, deep breathes, she whooshed out the air, clearing her mind and centering her spirit. "So there, she thought... I've done as instructed, and it's funny, but I do feel the effects... I feel a calmness, a.. a kind of almost euphoria...like I could glide along this path, with nothing to impede me upon my way..." and she began purposefully down the path, not finding it strange at all to be thinking of impediments...nor realizing until two turns into her walk that there had been standing stones guarding the entrance to the Labyrinth.."I don't remenber those there yesterday," she mused...slowing her steps in confusion... and glancing about. But of course, the Yew walls were the same... twisted and gnarled, the purplish bark rough against the background of the varicolored green of the leaves...which here in the interior seemed to be thicker, the gaps fewer and smaller; and she saw there, almost unnoticed, the small white blooms tucked among the tangle of branches.

Smiling, wildrose thought "Fairy Bells", and reassurred, she began once more down the path, which seemed to feel broader, and smoother to walk upon, and so she began to set her problem firmly in her mind, for it is said about the Labyrinth, that if you set a problem to be solved as you enter, the exit to the twisting paths would find the answer... that the changing directions of the paths, working upon both the right and left sides of the brain, clears the mind to receive the energies of the light, and so the wisdom of the ages. "Whew, now THAT is what I need" she grinned. "Wisdom has been in short supply in my life of late... and certainly Snapdragon could use some with her problems..." Snapdragon! Sheesh, that brought wildrose up short.... she was supposed to be looking for Snapdragon.. she had seen what she took to be her tracks just as she entered the Labyrinth, and now she looked , and there fresh upon the path ahead lay the small, neat footprints of Snap, their closeness suggesting a slow, measured progress along the way... the step of someone deep in thought. But following closely.. and sometimes over stepping those prints were the heavy, plodding tracks of thick boots... their width suggesting a bulky presence...but the corresponding length was not there... a unexpected shortness to the footprint and an ungainly choppiness of stride left Wildrose slightly disoriented. "Why, it positively shreaks 'stomp'..she thought as she followed the deeper depressions which almost oblitereated any trace of Snap. Dismay hurried her steps around the next bend , and then back around the next. And not noticing in her worry the broadening of the path and the slow changing of the yew into a hedge defined by the gradual addition other plants. Some so softly beautiful and almost of a fanciful nature... and vines, with small red berries...in imitation of the poisonous yew berry..yet with a more wholesome feel to them... and the slight aroma of ripening fruit sweetened the air..so that when wildrose paused to catch her breathe, her anxiety lessened.. and she chided herself, saying "Don't be silly... for what evil could befall a person in such a place as this, a place of such wonder" and she walked on, slowly savoring just being there, and all thoughts of Snap and The Peril, gone...

And from overhead, and from the deep boughs of the hedge came a quiet tittering.. so soft and so innocuous that wildrose thought of birds singing, and she smiled and meandered around the next bend in the path, slowly waving the green frond. Picked as it overhung the path, she now swept it to and fro in lazy arcs before her as she went. And it was this that saved her. For the frond became entangled in the web strung across the path, invisible to the human eye as it lay in wait on the darkening path. Suddenly, it HAD become darker... For now Wildrose saw that she was indeed deep in a forest, and the way had become dim and traitorous, the path now rough and unkempt with the horrid sticky web overall. And she could hear creakings and scuttlings.. as of creatures making their sure way stealthily towards the path. In terror, she sank to her knees, and trembling cast about for what to do, for she knew she dare not touch the web and she was afraid to go back.. and so by luck, she saw the only way through.. For whatever had made the web, had not thrown it all the way to the ground... but had left a fair amount of room to crawl underneath...and so Wildrose scrabbled her way on hands and knees through to the end of the way, beginning to hear sounds and twanging echoes upon the web overhead that she dare not look upon. And rounding the bend found she had left the horrid web behind, and the spiderlike creakings and mutterings and hissing disappointments over an escaped prey. And now she screamed.... unwise though it be, there, in that place.. still, the relief of tension cleared her brain. And she quickly walked away, as if to escape from the path of terror, and there, she saw before her on the widening path, a fork in the way, where one should not be.

And Wildrose sat down, smack in the middle of the fork. "This is my 10 minute break" she said aloud.. to the trees and the birds and the unseen things. " I'll be with you when I've finished" she whispered, wishing with all her might that she still smoked.

"Finished what?" said a lilting voice from beyond the fork... and down the right side. And there, among the big, spreading Oakwood, sat a man. Tho of serious demeanor, Wildrose thought him 'Goodly to look upon'; and then started at the strange turn of phrase sprouting from her practical head. Looking up through the hair untidily covering her forehead and straggling in her eyes, she asked "Fair or Foul be you?" and he laughed delightedly and said "Ah, t'will be for you to judge when all is through".. and then, asked, "And which path will you now take? For the Lady of the Wood becomes concerned for you human creatures who walk her ways without protection or care." and he stood in one lithe movement, dropping a white stone of some size into the middle of the path, and turning, began to walk away down the path. "The left path will take you out of the Labyrinth, and so did we send that way that thing who followed your friend, and it is long gone... and that way is now safe for you to travel, if you will. But this way nothing foul will follow for a while, not while the good is fresh in the stone, and if you choose the Nanth, come along as is your want, but tarry not too long for strange events are upon us and all choices may be ill". And looking down, Wildrose saw that the light, clear footprints of Snap had taken the right path... and those ugly heavy prints had scuffed and stomped down the other path. And the man was gone. And search tho she might, no mark of his passage could be seen... except for a package left under the tree. Investigating, Wildrose found a light biscuit, some cheese and dried fruits, and a skin flask of some clear light orange liquid, which smelled slightly of oranges, and other things. Grateful, she sat down and ate every bite, wondering at the tastes, familiar yet not quite recognizable, and far surpassing anything she had yet tasted. Hearing a slight tinkling, she found a fount of clear cold water bubbling up from a slight rocky shelf near the tree and she washed her face and poor skinned and cut hands and knees, so sore from her desperate crawl under the web. And taking a final drink, she began with halting steps following Snap and (she presumed) the man down the right hand path, and her heart was light. And she never noticed that her aches and bruises and cuts seemed relieved. But she did wonder... did that man actually have pointy ears? Or was that just the shadows making strange visions... and then she smiled at her whimsy and hurried on, sure she would find Snap around the next bend, or the next...and the Labyrinth continued it's unbroken twists and turns, farther into the middle and so Wildrose hurried around a bend, and she was there. And the Stone was there and the tree of Yew... and the man of the forest sat on a bench facing them... and his longish hair covered his ears completely and Wildrose grinned down her thoughts and looked at the other folk there in the center of the Labyrinth. For it was quite crowded, but she didn't see Snap. And many of the folk were outlandish.. in dress and form... and some of the women looked in manner and dress as if they had just finished a shift at the old brothel on the hill... and indeed there were some rauchus laughter, as if someone had just told a particularly raunchy joke; coming from the scantily clad ladies... and they blew kisses with wide smiles to the appreciative man sitting on the bench and disappeared through the open fold in the side of the Yew trunk, ducking slighly to slip through..and all the other folk followed.. some of the males with cheerful leers at the rounded bottoms they followed through the breech in the tree.

And now you know said the man, Airith as he had been called by some of the folk. And here is at least a reason your friend has been bothered in her family's new home, tho others there may well be. But this, at least, is one of which I have knowlege. For here is a way into the other world. And hard tho it be to discover, it was deemed to be a danger, your friends moving into the big house, lest the secret be breached. Therefore, it was thought by some to scare them safely off, with spells and other such tricks, as had been done to many of those before, who tried to live there. For the time came near for the labyrinth's opening cycle to the world beyond and many come and go during that time who would not be discovered by the uninitiated of this world. And now Snap Dragon has been carried of her own free will into that place, and I offer you safe passage as well... for you have both shared the earthly name of Rosemary... which is an herb much loved and of great value to the folk of the air... and therby is it a sign by which we who dwell in both worlds may recognize your friendship. Will you now come and tarry there awhile, amoungst the Trees of Light, and there partake of such wisdom as awaits you? And taking her hand, Airith led Wildrose unhesitantly down and through the yawning opening in the Yew Tree.

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The Gryphon
5/30/01
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"Where's that book we were looking at yesterday? Bring it to me. I'll try to get to the bottom of this mystery. I'll be right back...." and Gryphon ran up the stairs toward her room.

Several of the group left the room to search for the book. Others looked around the dining room and kitchen area.

"Here's the book. What's Gryphon planning to do with it? Last night she wouldn't even touch it!" said one of the members of the group gathering in the dining room. They heard running steps down the stairs.

"We're going to find the Rosemarys!" Gryphon said as she joined the group, and settled herself down at the table. Her short red curls were still glistening from the purification ritual she'd rushed through. Her silk caftan billowed around her as she sat down. "I've only done this once before and it scared me too much to try again. But this is important. Two friends are among the missing, and we must find them or at least determine that they are safe and where they want to be at this time."

"What are you going to do?"

"Why is your hair all wet?"

"Perhaps they just went to town? Did anyone check the garage? Is the Van still there?"

The questions came too fast for Gryphon to tell who was asking what, or to even answer, so she held up her hands and said, "WAIT! I'm going to try to get some answers. I've prepared myself as well as I can for something like this. I'm not sure what - if anything - will happen when I go into trance, but at least I'm willing to give it a try. If everyone will just find a comfortable seat, and be quietly attentive, we may get to hear what's going around here."

Chairs were pulled away from other tables, and moved closer to circle around Gryphon. The guests settled themselves rather quickly after some hurried whispers and a quickly stifled giggle. "Do you want us to hold hands, Gryphon?" softly asked ItBme? "How can we help you?"

"Hold hands, or not as it suits you. Mostly, I just need you to open and quiet your minds. Be receptive to whomever wishes to communicate with us. I hope to provide the channel for some entity that may, in turn, provide us with some answers." explained Gryphon. She closed her eyes, took three deep cleansing breaths, and laid hands upon the cloth wrapped book. Without opening her eyes, she pulled the cloth wrapping back to reveal the cracked and faded burgundy leather cover. She then placed her hands flat upon the cover and took several more deep breaths.

"What's she doing?" someone whispered to Gryphon's left.

"Shhhh!" came the quick reply from the right.

Suddenly, Gryphon sat up straighter in her chair. Eyes still closed, her countenance serene, she spoke in a voice much lower than her own, yet clearly enough that all was heard as she spoke the rhyme,

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

"The Labyrinth is a Journey to the door within the trees.
The Touchstone in the center is but one of many keys.
All women hold the secret, and in groups we wield the power
To pass within and visit there the worlds within the bower.
The seven Patterns here I've drawn lead to places I have been,
But never could I tell you of all I've heard and seen.
Through the door are worlds beyond description and compare.
There you'll find your heart's desire, but only if you dare.
For on this Path lurk dangers, and not all you'll recognize.
So keep your eyes wide open to avoid a bad surprise.
But if you go, remember this, and heed my gentle warning
If you wish to stay on Earth, hie thee home by morning."
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^



Gryphon slowly slumped forward, leaning onto the table and put her forehead on her hands. She'd apparently fallen asleep.

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Old Timer
5/31/01
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The guests had wandered into the large library one by one where a heated discussion was taking place about the strange events of the last 24 hours. The atmosphere in the room was heavy, marked by feelings of dread, fear of the unknown, and yet for some a sense of adventure. The talk seemed to revolve primarily around the mysterious book of the labyrinth and the labyrinth itself. Opinions were many and varied as each person voiced what they felt had really happened.

- - - - “Snapdragon and Wildrose have to be in the labyrinth, there’s no other place they can be!” - - - - “But the men have searched it twice and insist no one is there.” - - - - “Yes, I know – but how do you explain the footprints clearly showing that they entered and have not returned?” - - - - “Gryphon – are you feeling okay? Your expression tells me you know more than you told us while in your trance.” - - - - “I feel fine physically, maybe a little tired is all. I don’t remember anything – yet some how I feel I have been in the presence of others. It was as if they were probing my mind, reaching deep into my soul.” - - - - “You may still be groggy, we thought you would never wake up – it scared us.” - - - -“Has anyone else noticed the glow coming from the center of the labyrinth – or is it my imagination?” - - - -

It was OW who first noticed that Old Timer and cck had moved to the far corner of the room. The table in front of them was strewn with several books. Their conversation, though animated and lively, was barely above a whisper.

“What in hell are you two doing?” “Everyone’s concerned about the weird happenings and you guys seem to be in another world,” growled OW.

The room was suddenly silent as all eyes were turned to the two men, who were obliviously irritated by the question. Looking at each other, Old Timer caught the slight nod from cck. Old Timer stood and walked to the center of the room.

“It’s time, we feel, to tell what we think is occurring in this house and grounds,” he said.

“In order for you to understand, it’s necessary to give you a history lesson, as briefly as I can, about the lost continent of Atlantis.”

The response from the listeners, as you would expect, varied from incredulous to laughter.

- - - - “History of Atlantis, my god man, you’re crazy!” - - - - “Another fairy tale. He he he” - - - - “We’re wasting time, shut up and sit down” - - - -

Old Timer raised his hands, the look in his eyes told the room he was deadly earnest in what he said.

“Okay, if it will make you feel better, just call it another of my tall tales,” he smiled. “However, if you listen I think you might change your minds when I’m finished.”

“The chance meeting by cck and myself occurred when we met while researching the reason for the existence of man’s spirit/soul. Since then we have collaborated often with each other and have found some rather startling answers to our questions.”

“We believe that man’s spirit is destined to live forever in a physical body. There is reason to believe that this first occurred some 10,000 years ago and this knowledge is lost in the past.”

“He and I don’t totally agree on this but we’re confident we may have found some of the answers, each in his own way.”

The room looked at cck who just smiled and nodded at Old Timer, indicating he should continue. Old Timer began to tell a story that spanned time and space.

“It all started when the Atlantean thought-form beings - projecting vibrations of pure white light and energy - gradually began to take on a more material shape and density and began to engage upon acts of sheer self-indulgence.”

“These physically encased thought-form projections, through the passage of time, began to separate into two groups; those who followed the Law of One and those that chose to follow the Sons of Belial.”

“The Law of One maintained the highest standards of consciousness and was able to continue vibrating at only the very highest level of light and energy; and remained very close and true to the one Creator/God.”

“The Sons of Belial, on the other hand, were only interested in the amplification of the ego, self-aggrandizement and carnal pursuits. They found great enjoyment in experimenting with the sensual and sexual pleasures of life and with the hypnotic-like power, which they exerted over the people they came in contact with.”

“I think that most, but not all, of the Sons of Belial perished when Atlantis was destroyed and only the keepers of the Law of One were allowed to escape.”

“However, it would appear that a number of the Law of One deliberately chose to stay behind so that they could destroy or 'hide' important Atlantean technology and 'blue-prints' which they knew would have been disastrous to the uninitiated spirit /souls of today.”

”These 'blue-prints' they placed in the Hall of Records.”

“What do you mean by Hall of Records? Are you saying that the so-called technology of Atlantis actually exists in some mysterious place?” asked a voice from the back of the room.

Old Timer warmed to the question, “I believe there exists three Halls of Records. One in Egypt, under the right paw of the Sphinx, one in a remote Mayan temple in the Yucatan, and the last in Atlantis itself.”

“Not only do these records contain the answers to the ‘crystal energy’ powers purported to exist but also the Atlanteans appeared to have developed a very advanced technology, which allowed them to create a civilization that may rival our own.”

“It is also believed that they mastered control of time and space.”

Pausing for a moment to arrange his thoughts, Old Timer continued, “However, all this is conjecture at present as no proof has been found of the Halls existence.”

“I don’t see how this fanciful story of yours has any relation to our situation.” spoke OW, who nevertheless had been listening with great interest.

“Ah, it would seem you’re right on the surface,” answered Old Timer. “Let me try to tie things together for you.”

“I believe that the keepers of the Law of One are searching for the spirit/soul of their four Queens of Harmony. These Queens rule over the four natural life forces; that is Earth, Wind, Fire and Water, the forces that originally united the spirit with its physical body.”

“Until the four Queens have been located and brought back to the Law of One, the Halls of Records will not be found and opened.”

“This is getting to be too much, old man!” said one of the men. “It’s poppycock for starters and has nothing to do with what we face today in this hotel.”

“Please try to hear me out first, then you can say whatever you think.” sighed Old Timer.

“You can’t deny the existence of the great temples in Egypt, or the Mayans, or the Incas, or even the sacred mounds of the native Americans. The keepers of the Law of One in their search for the four Queens have created these sites.”

“They were placed in relation to what the builders thought would allow them to touch the natural life forces. The Incas reached high to touch the Wind, the Egyptians built next to the Nile to touch the Water, the native Americans honored the sacred Fire, and the Mayans worked the Earth as the mother of their souls. All were on the right track, but were wrong in their efforts; the four Queens are ‘Spirit Life Forces’ and cannot be found by physical means.”

“I believe the Queen of Water has been found and returned to her rule. I believe she was Hatshepsut, the first Queen of Egypt to refer to herself unconditionally as a pharaoh. She wore the kingly false beard and garments and ruled remarkably for twenty-two years. When Thutmose III became pharaoh, he ordered the removal of any mention of Hatshepsut herself, destroyed much of the relief work depicting her rule, some of which Hatshepsut deemed worthy of being recorded.”

“It's not certain what happened to Hatshepsut; she simply disappeared. I think she was returned to her place in the Law of One.”

“That brings us to the present. What is the reason for the strange happenings you have seen and heard in these grounds and building? Such as the ghost wolf at the head of the stairs some claim to have seen, the muted voices in the night, the sound of laughter from the labyrinth; - and have any of you noticed the great Eagle circling endlessly around the center of the labyrinth? He’s been there since we arrived.”

“I took the opportunity while everyone was tending to Gryphon this evening to walk the exterior of the labyrinth, thinking that there might be a hidden exit we had overlooked. I found myself suddenly face to face with the ghost wolf that was searching it as well. He barely noticed my presence – as if I was of no interest to him – and moved on. Yet when I looked into his yellow eyes it was as if I was looking into the pits of hell itself.”

“There is, without doubt, a powerful force at work and it’s directly connected to the labyrinth. Gryphon’s own words she spoke while in her trance also confirm this.”

“The question you should now be asking yourselves is this; is this force good or evil or possibly both? Are we seeing the keepers of the Law of One versus the Sons of Belial battling for control over the woman?”

“I strongly suspect and believe that one of the women here today is the spirit Queen of the Earth force, she does not know it yet but unseen forces are growing stronger with the passing of each hour, as noted by the effects of the book and labyrinth on the women.”

“When, - and if, - she is allowed to be taken and is in fact the last of the four Queens to be returned, then the Halls of Records will be opened, Atlantis will rise, and a rebirth of mans spirit/soul will follow.”

“If I’m correct, then one of the women will be taken from us - and if I’m wrong - well - - - - - - - - -,” his voice trailed off.

An uneasy hush fell over the room as Old Timer quietly returned to his chair and sat down.

*********************
cck
6/01/01
********************

" What did you say cck? That sounded a lot like Gaelic." Asked Ken.
You're right Ken added Old Warrior, that did sound a bit like Gaelic, but I don't think that is cck!"

"You are both right!" chimed in the Gryphon. "That is Gaelic, but a very old dialect. One that I have never heard before. It's a little hard to make out, but I think it says something about boys and girls and dangerous magick, at least that is what it sounds like, but one thing for sure, that is definitely NOT cck speaking!"

Old Timer turned around in his chair to see cck standing next to the wall, his finger tips just barely caressing the wood that graced the walls. Over and over he repeated the warning in the ancient tongue, all the while staring blankly at the yew wood as in a trance.

"Someone get him away from that blasted wall!" The Gryphon shouted. "Before he hurts himself. I'm not sure it is healthy to remain in that kind of trance for too long!"

With that Old Timer sprang from his chair and placing his hands on cck's shoulders gently pulled him away from the wall. At once the chanting of the warning waned, and cck was lead to the chair the Old Timer had recently vacated. Slowly the "Look" of the trance began to fade form his eyes and a semblance of returning to normal quelled the fear in everyone. That fear was soon to be replaced with bewilderment.


"Hello everyone, I am Czer."(Pronounced See-er.) Were the words that issued from cck's lips. "Beware ye sons and daughters of mortal man! There are powers here beyond your understanding!' That warning came from Hel herself, the ancient Goddess of the Underworld, and should not be taken lightly. There are many of the Old Gods and Spirits in this place, and they do not welcome the foolish mortal gladly. It is well that we take Hel's warning to heart and tread lightly while we are in this Holiest of the ancient Holy Places."

"Old Timer and cck were pretty close in their guess about Atlantis, but that is but one of the stories that can be found in these branches. This place predates Atlantis, it predates all of the history and legend of mortal man. For we are all now standing in the limbs of Yggdrassil, "The World Tree." The very same Yew were Odin himself suffered for 9 days and nights until he extracted the secrets of the runes from The Rune Stone on which the Great Yew sits. In the eyes of mortal man these walls are cut and honed from the Great Yew, but in the Spirit World the wood of these walls are still growing from Yggdrassil. This house is just another limb of the World Tree, and the Gods and spirits that roam the paths of the Labyrinth and limbs of Yggdrassil sometimes pass through these rooms on their way to and fro. Every knot in the paneling of this house has a different rune imbedded in it's design. This house is still linked to the Great Yew and to The Rune Stone."


"That ancient boulder on which Yggdrassil sits, the Rune Stone that The Great Yew ensnares with it's roots, is THE RUNE STONE. The stone from which all runes are connected and draw their magick. Every time a rune is cast with the proper incantation, a link is forged between it and the Rune Stone. The Rune Stone is the gateway to the Gods and the Spirit World. It is the source of all power in this world. The two dozen or so runes that have been given to man are but a few of all that are inscribed in the Great Stone. The meaning and power of these others, the gods keep for themselves."

"The ancient Gods have not gone away these many centuries, their attention has just been focused elsewhere. With the recent return of mans reflection to the old ways, the Gods and Goddesses have once again turned an eye in our direction. A rebirth is about to take place, and we are now standing in the center of it."

"The Wisdom and Knowledge of the ancient ways and of yourself is close at hand if you have the spirit and the courage to walk the Labyrinth. To do so safely, the wise will arm themselves with a talisman to protect them on their journey. There are many spirits that travel these paths, and not all are friendly to a foolish human who would venture into their domain. Great Knowledge requires great risk, but nothing ventured is nothing gained."

"Just as each of us are born under a different sign of the Zodiac, we are also each connected to different runes, to know you runes is to begin to know yourself. The gods that give their power to each rune will look fondly on those mortals who are born to it. In time of need they will protect and guide you if you call on them."

"Scattered around the perimeter of the Labyrinth are the ancient rune stones once forged by Odin himself. If you are to venture into the Labyrinth we must first gather these stone and you must pick the rune that is yours. Each rune will lead you down a different path, a path that is for you alone. It is your path to knowledge and wisdom and cannot be walked by anyone else. "

With the last of these words The Czer was gone and cck slumped in his chair fast asleep.


( helpful sites.)

http://w3.one.net/~tomwulf/NW/RuneWorld/Learn.html
http://www.futhark.com/

 

******************
Old Warrior
6/12/01

******************

"You know how getting someplace is half the fun? Well not this trip! I threw my stuff in the duffel, grabbed clean pants, barely caught the late plane and now my stummick's sore from bouncing around the sky all afternoon. And i forgot my dam nitro! It won't be easy, this ---" he thought as his last piece of luggage slid onto the carousel. "I've never been here before, don't know a yew tree from a me tree, i don't know the people that well----"

He had hoped to meet them that awful weekend of the Spirit Lake Dream. He remembered the dizziness alright, and the nightmare, and Suzn explaining his 3-day nap, and that he'd sworn to never touch that medication again, no matter what! It seems so long ago -- like some dusty echo -- like a childhood fairy tale --

So i'll tell you my goal here - this is the first weekend off since i was sick, and i by god intend to be a tourist! I don't know much about sneaking around underground (we left that part to the other guys in wartime) i don't want to get all worked up over rumors or some melodrama or anything - i'm going to relax, have a good time with my friends and just see how the cards fall. And i might stick my head under a tree. And i just might learn something. If that's not enough, well tough!

Oops, no matter, that must be the van --
"and would you look at this? -- you must be Snapdragon..:)"

.... looking up as he reached the top step, "Am i dreaming? 3D cyber-people, and not a keyboard in sight? Dang! Anybody sitting here? heh heh - Now who is everybody? Hey, i know that pirate! Well thank you, i do as i dam please - that's why i'm here!"

The luggage got stowed somehow, he couldn't remember, but by the time they clattered across the swollen creek, everybody was talking at once and the world was surrounded by a van. There was excitement in the air, like a high school pep squad on the way to a playoff! It had been years since he'd lost track of directions, it was such a miracle to finally see these folks :) He reminded myself to pay better attention when the time came to crack this labyrinth thing...........

He ate like a farmer that nite and fell awake at about sunup - despite it rising 2 hours later here. He began stoking his morning pipe while absorbing the spectacular view from his westerly dormer window. His mind tried to condense the lay of the land into a managable image. According to the treetops, it was a little like Sierra Pelona Ridge but the local cover was more dense --- or maybe more like that hunting plateau up north of Ellensburg where he used to camp in his Rambler wagon -- when suddenly a fluttering shadow brought his attention to the windowsill. "Well good morning, Brother Crow!"

"What will our day be like, ay? Where will we soar? What looping scribble will your shadow paint? What's the battle plan?" The crow cocked his head as though pondering a response, and for a moment their thoughts almost merged. Apparently, this crow fancied himself a ----- The door creaked and as OW turned, the crow silently swooped from sight.

We drew our tags at breakfast (I'll tell you about the womenfolks when i get back - WOOWEE! and yes, i sat with the guys - well hey! :) and after a healthy swig of java and i guess 2 or 3 of those nice gooey bagels and strawberry cream cheese, I was still chuckling about those dam argyle socks but the time had come to experience the labyrinth. I was glad i'd had a chance to chat with Joe last nite - his dedication and focus were reassuring, and his response to yoyo's "silly dancing roots" comment had provided some insight into the way locals feel. I'd like to see how Ken, cck and Patriot fared on yesterday's scouting, but they must have already gone back in -- looks like it's my turn now.

Not wanting to look like somebody's Sherpa or walk like a Yeti, I had jammed my pockets with munchies & decided against my clumpy boots in favor of tenners - the weather was clear enough, terrain didn't appear too hazardous, water was abundant and the plentiful songbirds told me this forest's micro-species were healthy.

One last duffel check - Polaroid, recorder, spare batteries, baggies - nothing squeaks or rattles, (not that it would matter here )-- so this is as compact and portable as we get, sir. Where was that hollow yew again? "holloe you!" there's a punchline in there somewhere -- heh heh

They had been right - it didn't take long to locate the yew tree, and what a specimen she is! You read about trees like this - and it's all hollow between the roots, like a cluster of caves or doorways or something. Snapdragon had claimed we wouldn't need to dangle off ropes or anything so this will be easy enough for even an old guy, i'm thinking. But i'll humor the kids. Besides, it'll be quite a treat to see what makes a forest tick by observing it from the inside!

So i've switched on the mini-cassette, lit my light, hopped on in, fully alert, and i'm starting to count steps. Lord willing, i'll be back in time for the local 6 o-clock flood report!

I want to mention the roots first - they're everywhere, and range in size from a barrel on down. But the interesting things is - they resemble flesh over bone. I'll try to get a close-up here so you can see what i mean. This root is about as big as a human body.



Memory alert: after a few hundred paces, i remembered my weakness for checking mileage; i always START OUT real well, but tend to get distracted and forget to verify ARRIVAL mileage til i've driven somewhere else! I finally decided steps aren't as important as landmarks - where are the landmarks? Up top, the leaves tell you everything, but down here......

As my eyes adjusted to the dim light, i began to recognize pieces of alphabet in the surrounding roots. There's a sideways G, and a K -- yep, we're on track now! The first tunnel section was almost squarish, but now it's getting pointy on top, like an egg. Aside from sometimes having to crouch, it's been easy going so far - good air and everything trends downhill.

A lot of the tunnel has visible earth, and there's a "mesh" of little sucker vines like capillaries that kind of support the walls and crawl out to nearly carpet the floor. Hard to tell what's natural and what's sculpted, it's all pretty old. It's surprising how warm the air is down here - must be pretty shallow, or heat from living things. Or something, well, decaying maybe .....

It smells sorta musty in places, but you get used to that. The soil looks to be sandy loam and topsoil with ribbons of sand, except for the sticky clay stretch back there by the - umm -- maybe step 300 or shortly after - on this side of the dripping spring. And now i'm seeing either exposed limestone or marble. The roots don't care what it is, they just wrap around and twist in and out like they enjoy hugging things.



I'm finding out it's not all easy. I just came thru the fifth "narrows" - every so often it gets pretty tangled but if i persist, the roots are almost as flexible as garden hoses. This cluster was low and dense, so i sorta root-swam and didn't touch down for maybe fifty feet. Man, those stretches are tiring! Thank god for the clear going - i'm no kid anymore.

Here's something interesting -- looks like there have been kids down here at some point - there are little handprints outlined on this one big naked marbley part.



I should have brought a jacket or something for a cushion - not that i'd need it in this muggy dam bath-house! I must have come a few miles or better now - Hooray, there's a nearly-flat rock - with the handprints overhead, i'm taking a sit for awhile. Ouch! (pulling an apple from his back pocket)

"CRUNCH" --- Crunch --------crunch -------crunch
Oh shit, did you hear that echo? heh heh

"Funny, i can hear myself breathe, but i didn't notice that while i was walking. It was guiet walking too - the hairy little twigs are so damp they just bend underfoot. Hey, my breathing even echoes!
(OW's best Alfred Hitchcock) -- "Good evening!" lol - lol - lol - lol
Man, Buddy Holly could have made a fortune with accoustics like this!

Sorry, didn't mean to get silly - i'm just so relieved to find an opening this big.

Ah, time to rest up and organize my impressions!

I think i should mention my marble theory here - ever since i saw the first limestone, then crawled thru the root nests and now

there's this marble ceiling with the handprints - well, i can't help but think it's all one big rock. If it is, it's a beauty! I first started noticing the "under-corner" of it, then hiked quite awhile, even discounting the slow stretches, and now i'm almost "beneath" the thing. That is one helluva stone, i'll tell ya! heh heh

It's sorta supported by roots, like they're embracing it, and i noticed when i switched batteries it wasn't that dark. i mean, it SHOULD be darker than the inside of a cow way down here, but the lighter-colored rock has a sorta glow to it. If it wasn't such a hike, i'd go back and check the light every so often.

Good morning again - after finishing my snack, i guess i dozed for 20 minutes, long enough for my knees to stiffen up and my butt to get soaked from the moss. I can't remember dreaming but my skin is clammy and i have an anxious feeling, like i missed something. You know, an urgency ... a creepy-crawly ... anyway i'm pressing on -- you coming? -- (hearing every sluffy step, every breath) ... it's warming up, isn't it? Or do i just need to pee again?

Things are definitely changing as we get deeper - haven't seen a caterpillar since just after i came in. Then i think the cobwebs thinned out - well, there were still some on the letters - on the G anyway. I have been seeing a few stalactites already - they look like carrots but they're warm to the touch. I forget where the last worms were. The roots are getting thicker as we go, and they're more muscular and serpentine in appearance-- (stopping)




That's the second time i've heard that sloshy sound - like somebody raking a dam lake. There it - did you hear that? Oh this blasted ringing in my ears --

okay, you heard the sloshy sound right? .. but i hear, like, gurgles, pretty steady, down that way someplace...... this flashlite's about done but i brought Suzn's cheapie for backtracking -- thru here, it's getting downright hot! Why don't we go find the gurgles? Might be cooler there .....

Oh man, i'm wringing wet & about played out! It should be right around here some--
oh for heaven's sake, would you look at that! It's only a little spring. See how it puddled here and washed this clay across the path? See -- these -- tennis shoe tracks --?

I'm setting this down for a minute - i'll get back to you -- we might be having a problem here - heh heh"


"And that's it, AT" Old timer said. "That's all there was on the tape. We stopped to get OW for dinner last night, apparently he hadn't returned yet but we did find his duffel with the tape and everything -- just sitting there on his windowsill."

 

 

**************************
Southern Soul
6/13/01

**************************

Southern was anxious to explore the labyrinth. She felt a kinship to it somehow...as if she belonged here. The 'feeling' had 'hit' her as soon as she had arrived. Her 'real' name was a Celtic name...so perhaps she 'did' belong here.

She packed her small pack with the things she thought she 'might' could make use of in the labyrinth. It was warm...but with the labyrinth being shaded as it was...she packed a flannel shirt...a flashlight...just in case...a writing journal and pen...a pocket camera...a light snack of...a couple pieces of cheese...half a dozen crackers...a small apple and cluster of grapes...and a large bottle of water...and her reading glasses. She looked over the pack once again to make sure she had not forgotten anything. She added tissue to the pack..."you never know" she chuckled to herself. She intended to take full benefit of her journey through the labyrinth. From what Snap had been saying and comments from the others...and her 'feeling'...that was exactly what she intended to do. She gathered up her pack and sunglasses and smokes and headed out.

She let her fingers glide down the banister of the stairway as she descended...she was intrigued by them...drawn to it in a way. It felt alive to her touch. She remembered reading an article about a church in the UK called St. Digain...in Conway, North Wales... next to the Stag Inn and Restaurant. This church had an old cemetery adjacent to it that had the world's oldest Yew tree...was claimed to be over 4000 years old. The article had photos...and the tree was huge. The photographer claimed that when he was admiring the shots he took...he noticed a 'strange...greenish' glow coming from the heart of the tree. She smiled as she remembered this...hoping that 'perhaps' she too would become part of the Ancients. She certainly had the feeling of 'belonging' to it all some how. She smiled again as she reached for the front door.

The day was sunshine bright...perfect...warm and inviting. She smiled again as she headed for the labyrinth. She could hear faint conversations of some of the others as she made her way up the hill. As she approached the labyrinth the hair on her arms and neck began to rise...and chills flowed across her skin.

"Yes" she thought..."I belong here"...as she passed under the arched entrance.

She noticed it was much cooler within the walls of the labyrinth...she was glad she brought the flannel shirt. As she made her way further in...a sense of 'knowing' filled her...and she seemed to glide without care around the winding and twisting trails. She felt a sense of 'peace' about her...of 'welcome'.

A few moments later she came to a fork in the trail. The path on the right looked 'misty and mystical' and the path on the left looked 'earthy' yet... 'clogged'...was the only word that would come to her mind. She stood a moment...when suddenly a strong scent of evergreen...raced past her. It had come from the path on the right. She glanced over her shoulder to see if 'anything' seemed unusual...but nothing seemed to be out of place. The only thing...she seemed slightly 'giddy'. She smiled...and without hesitation...started down the right path. "That has a nice ring to it" she thought..."the right path."

She noticed all sorts of things as she made her way down the path. Glistening stones and wildflowers that she had not seen before. Then suddenly she heard what was singing...or something close. She sped up her pace and soon found herself in the center of the labyrinth. There it was...the huge Yew stump with the carved rock held tightly in its roots like fingers gripping it. It seemed to be humming. Such a sweet sound she thought as she knelt beside the stone. Her fingers began to trace the carvings on the stone...one in particular seemed to draw her fingers to it. It felt 'alive' when she traced it...as if she 'knew' it. She placed her cheek on the stone and was amazed to feel its warmth. It seemed to vibrate against her flesh...as if humming its sweet song. She drew closer to the stone and embraced it as tight as she could ... as if hugging a friend of long ago. It was if she knew it and it knew her. All part of the Ancient Ones.

As she stroked the stone and traced the carvings...a faint whisper of a voice came to her..."You are of the place"...it said. "What? What did you say...and where are you...who are you?" Southern asked...looking all around to see where the voice might be coming from. "You are of this place"...it said again..."part of the Old Ones...the Ancient Ones." At that moment...the most beautiful woman Southern had ever seen stepped from behind the huge Yew stump.

She was dressed in a long and flowing white gown made of lace and gauze...her long black hair hung in flowing waves past her knees. Her skin was ivory and unblemished...her teeth white and even...her eyes the bluest of blue...and her voice...that of the angels. "Who are you?" Southern asked. "I am Agatha...guardian of the Yew...and messenger for the Old Ones. They have sent me to bring you to them...they have been waiting for you." With this Agatha reached for Southern's hand and led her through an opening in the stump.

The only thing Southern could hear at this time was a humming sound...much like a song...and the words..."There will peace in the valley and good will toward man..." She liked the sound of it and followed Agatha down the corridors of the stump. But there was darkness and dampness in places...that oozed like slime...and she asked Agatha how such a place that offers peace and harmony could be so foul in places. Agatha only spoke the words..."Sons of Belail"...and silence and darkness closed about them.

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