THE HAUNTING PAST MYSTERY OF THE AIRCRAFT DESIGN

THE HAUNTING PAST: MYSTERY OF THE AIRCRAFT DESIGN One would think that, after our successes, with both Delcon's village, and the alleged bordello, cases, that Tami and I would be due a few days rest. After all, it would be thanks to our detection work that the way had been cleared, for the expansion, of gambling, on two, prime, properties. Then, again, as even our retired pilots would suggest, "In the military, the "reward", for success, is double-time, and a swift kick in the (censored)". Sometimes, we wondered if Mr. Brown enjoyed keeping us busy, with mission after mission. Tami and I would only consider this, until we remembered Mr. Brown having told us that "The cases you will be working on are so unusual that no regular detective will risk their reputation, pursuing any leads". Mr. Brown had even admitted that, among his own staff, personnel were much more willing to be suspended, or reprimanded, than to have to work these kind of cases. In short summary, no other detectives wanted any "connection" with either those horrible movies, from the 1980's, the cartoons, or even the 1975 television series. No other detective wanted to be seen as hunting "Casper, the friendly ghost". This is why Tami and I had enough back-log, of cases, to keep us busy, for years to come. It remained that Tami and I were the only detectives, willing to take on the "cause", of lost souls, seeking either "release", or "justice". This is why, as we cruised, to our next case, Tami opened up the file, and we read through the contents. If the contact was accurate, it would seem that an assembly line was having trouble. Something to do with the latest generation of stealth aircraft. If the allegations were correct, at the end of each day, the prototypes were being locked away, in a secure area. No one had after-hours access, and the security staff verified, on multiple occassions, that locks remained in place, overnight. Come the dawn, though, security checks would find all electronics stripped out of the planes, as well as the indestructable window panes pulled out of frames. The aircraft plant wanted an investigation, primarily to find out if its human work-force was responsible, and for what reason. If humans were responsible, the company was prepared to prosecute. The problem was TIME. It would seem that the manufacturer had a deadline, to meet, and they needed a working line, and whole prototypes, to show to the U.S. Air Force. Prototypes which, if successful, would make even Ghost Ship Two look like a Ford Model "T", by comparison. According to what little information, which the Brown Agency had been able to acquire, it would seem that these would be the first generation, of "ultra-stealth" bombers, which would be capable of flight as fast as mach-four. The concept was that these bombers would fly so fast, while being invisible, to radar, that, by the time enemy forces knew that bombers were coming, the bombs would be dropped, and the planes halfway back to home bases. After what had happened, to the world, post September 11th, 2001, though, Tami and I were hesitant to take this case. That is, until we were offered an all-expense paid weekend, at a luxury resort, dependent on the successful completion, of the case. Tami and I just wondered WHY the firm had even offered to clear a parking lot, for our plane, to rest on. We questioned if this space should not have been devoted to the company's work-force, instead of a couple of visitors. Tami found the answer, to this question, even before we landed. While enroute, Tami had linked, to the company's web-site, and found that the company was down-sizing its American operations, and that four, of its plants, had, already, closed. Hence the fact that a parking lot was, now, available. This left the opening question of if the staff MIGHT be suspects, in any vandalism. After setting Ghost Ship Two upon the broken asphalt, of the parking lot, it would seem that Tami and I had arrived, at an in-opportune time. Specifically, at a moment, when the boss was trying to decide what to do with three, closed down, assembly warehouses. It seems that, while the buildings stood, local government wanted the tax, since the land was "in use". This "tax" was money, which the boss wanted, for himself. The problem was how expensive demolition would be, including waste clean-up. When the boss mentioned "Too bad we cant lease the space out, as luxury condominiums". The worker would say "No way will the city approve ANY work, until the site is "cleaned up". When Tami decided to suggest "Why not donate it, to the city, maybe as a homeless shelter?" The boss would look at Tami, asking "Who, the hell, are you?" When Tami smiled, and said "The Brown Agency sent us. Seems you may have a problem, which we can help you with". The boss was not-at-all polite as he growled "Get lost! Both of you. We can handle this, ourselves". Just a moment later, when an overhead crane broke loose, the bosses aide had to knock the boss out of the way, to avoid the man being crushed, by the crane. When Tami would ask "Are you sure you dont want our help?" The man would growl "I dont need no blasted Ghost-Busters". The situation is being handled". When Tami would ask "How, may I ask?" The boss would growl "None of your business". It would be at this moment when the aide would say "We THINK we found the perpetrators, of these "accidents", and the people are being fired, as we speak". When the boss growled "I said shut UP!", then stormed away, the aide said "Believe it or not, this is a GOOD day, for him". When Tami would ask "Who is being fired, and on what grounds?" The aide would say "We found some scraps, of paper, bearing fingerprints. Workers admitted the scraps belonged to them". When I asked "For what reason were the workers carrying the scraps?" The aide said "The boss didn't ask. Just fired them, on the spot." As the three of us began to walk into the assembly plant, the worker would tell us "Odd thing is, the workers acted like the drawings were the most natural thing in the world." When Tami would ask "Anything else "odd" going on, around the plant, besides the vandalizing, of the planes?" The aide would slip Tami a note, as he, verbally, said "Lady, I have no idea what you are talking about. The two of you should leave, now." Back at G.S.2, when Tami would ask "WHY would workers be carrying drawings, with them?" I would suggest "For the same reason why my fathers employer had him bring home blue--prints, of the company's latest products. I would bet that, like my father, the workers were team leaders, and the drawings were to provide visual aides, when subordinates had questions". Tami was about to ask me something, when she felt inside her pocket, and removed the note the aide had given her. All it said was "Not here. Kelly's Bar. three hours". When Tami went on the computer, to find this Kelly's Bar, she, also, found a reason why workers were upset, with the company. The towns web-site was full of comments, about the fate of the town, once this final factory shut down. Nearly all of the comments stated that it was predicted that the town would cease to exist, once this last employer was gone. There were other comments, including the one about the local Job Service office openly lying, about un-employment, as the factory closed. It seems that the public was not happy, with their state listing, as un-employed, ONLY those who were eligible for Un-Employment Benefits. Some comments speculated that actual un-employment was ten times, maybe fifty times what the agency was WILLING to report. Tami and I thought it funny that this state, like our home-state, had the policy only to report un-employment based only upon ACTIVE benefits files. Any time a workers benefits ran out, or the workers job did not make them eligible, for benefits, to begin with, the state refused to list them as "Un-Employed". Tami also found that divorces were excellerating, even as people were looking for ways to leave this "dying berg". It was only after an article, which stated that divorces were out-pacing marriages, by 100-to-1 that Tami found the address, to Kelly's Bar. By the time the aide, a man named Mike, met us, at the bar, Mike would tell us "I really dont think those workers had a thing to do, with the vandalism." When Tami, who was on her third iced tea, while I was on my forth, asked "How can you be so sure of that?" Mike would say "You wont believe this but not only were we guys having a friendly card game, but I recall how bright the moon was, on each of the nights." When Tami asked "How can you be so sure?" Mike looked around the bar, then whispered "When you have to "go", you dont want to wait in line, for the bathroom. I "watered" my friends lawn, a few times." When Tami asked "The moon?" Mike would say "I noticed that, as I did my "thing", each time, that I could see my shadow. And this was late evening." When Tami suggested "A full moon?" Mike would say "I am almost certain of it. In fact" Mike would look around the bar, again, as he asked "What would you say if I told you that I checked the calendar, going back months, to see what I could find, I think that most of the events, that I know of, have happened, during the full moon. How crazy is that?" When Tami asked "I noticed that the town web-site is full of comments, about the plant closing. Is that true?" Mike would say "That is why the boss is releasing people from their jobs. He says Americans as "too expensive". Claims he can get cheaper labor, in third world nations." When Tami asked "Does he have any nations in mind?" Mike would say "Plenty of talk, about China, North Korea. Places like that". Tami would look at me, as I whispered "Communist nations. Employers can pay ten cents per day, in wages, since the Communist Party supplies food, clothing, shelter, and education. All free of charge." Mike would add "Dont forget the secret police, and being arrested, and tortured, anytime the government wants to". I would correct Mike, saying "I never said Communism is good. I am, simply, saying the main reason why employers LOVE these nations. Non-existant wages, and management profits, to the max." Mike would smile as he said "While Americans starve, in the streets, and sleep in gutters". Mike would, then, give a wicked smile. When Tami would bring us back, on topic, asking "You said you did some checking, on your own. About the moon?" Mike would say "Yeah, I did some checking. Checked the incident reports, against the moon. MY thought was that vandals were using the full moon to light their way, while they did their "dirty-work". I have checked the property, several times, trying to find evidence, of a break-in, especially in places, where moon-light would be brightest." When Tami would ask "What did you find?" Mike would say "All I can say is that, with two exceptions, which I THINK the boss did, himself, the rest, of the vandalism, coincides with the full moon." When Tami would, softly, say "Great". Mike would say "Not so great." When Tami would ask "What do you mean?" Mike would say "I checked the area's, to see if anything was broken, or forced. Evidence of a break in". When Tami would say "Let me guess" Mike would say "No evidence, of anything. Either the vandals had keys, or the guards are lying, about not seeing anything. I just wish I could shake this "full moon" thing. I just dont know why, but I think it is significant" Mike, then, slipped us an envelope, UNDER the table, whispering "Here is everything I have, so far. Take care of it, just in case". (Why did I think that this was the last time we would be seeing Mike?) Back at G.S.2, Tami reviewed what Mike had collected, while saying "Amazing job, of gathering evidence. Mr. Brown would be proud of the man". When I would ask "Anything I should know about?" Tami would show me the information, from the envelope. Sure enough, Tami was right. This was not just some random scribblings. This was written like a report, including a time-line. If it was correct, though, we had not only the full moon oon our hands, but a possible ghost, out for revenge. While I did what I could, to scout the town, to see if there might be any natural explanations, Tami did what she was the very best at. She would, on numerous occassions, have to remind people, that we were NOT working for the plant boss. (A man whom, it seems, the entire town hated). Once Tami began winning peoples respect, and trust, she would begin hearing the same story, multiple times. Some story, about an inventor, who enjoyed designing, and building, model air planes. The problem was local air currents. The complaint was that normal airplane shapes shook to pieces, or crashed, when the winds got "nasty". Something Tami thought meant "Sudden change of wind direction". It would seem that, a man, named Richard, had spent years, working on an airplane design, which would work in even the most un-predictable winds. In fact, a design, which could slice through any air current, with ease. Locals knew the planes existed since, despite the fact that another young man had told Richard NEVER to let the planes be seen (For fear of design theft), Richard had tested the planes, to see how they handled the weather. Then came the point, where the young man had left town, for a short while. Just as the man was returning to town, Richard was served with a court order, to turn over all of the designs, and prototypes, to the other man (Who, it seems, had left town, to file for a patent, on the airplane design.) Since no one had known of such a previous design (and since the other man made a point of paying off the press NOT to include the local paper, in the response time, for challenges, to the design), the true inventor had been ordered to turn his creation over to the thief. A man whom, as locals claimed, had smiled, BRIGHTLY, as he stole his friends work. The courts, also, wanted NO part, in the inventors legal challenges, against the patent holder. The man was told "Deal with it!" As to whether the inventor committed suicide, or was murdered, that was a topic, which the police could do nothing about. Locals claimed that the inventor either killed himself, in a fit of grief, over his stolen design, OR that the patent holder had the man killed, to both silence the man, and to prevent further inventions, which would give away who the TRUE inventor was. What Tami and I, both heard, was that there had NEVER, been any "activity", at the plant site, until after the inventor had died. When we asked if people were certain, about this, both young, and old, said the plant had been the "life-blood", of this community, for nearly two centuries. The general suspicion, in the area, was that either the inventors ghost was seeking "justice", over the stolen patent, OR that the ghost was trying to prevent any sale, and closure, of the plant. (After all, what company wants to own a "haunted" factory?) By the time Tami and I returned to G.S.2, we found that we could have written one anothers notes. Everyone thought the ghost was involved. When Tami asked me "What do you think?" I asked how far away the next full moon was. As though "toying" with us, the next full moon cycle was "non-existant". Meaning, full cloud cover, for the entire week. The weather channels claimed there was a "front", from the west coast, which was dumping foul weather over the area. The "front" was large enough, and slow-moving, enough, that it took eight days, to pass overhead. This would be one of those times when Tami and I were glad that this planes designers had spent millions of dollars on stealth. Fact is, one evening, the only way we knew a severe thunderstorm was raging, outside, was due to flashes, through the portholes. That, and the drizzle, on the glass. It would seem that G.S.2 was stealthy enough that wind passed right around the plane, like we were not even present. That, and the fact that we never heard a single thunder-clap. Thanks to the planes on-board exercise center, and a hold, full of rations, all we could report, to the Brown Agency, for days, was "Storms continuing. Will plan for the NEXT full moon". It would be three days, into the last quarter, of the moon, before the "front" passed by. Never had this plane shined, so brightly, as it did, after a few days, of severe rain. While the boss was busy, firing workers, as each phase, of the new planes construction was being finished, Tami and I were acting as most of the workers were. Just trying to AVOID the boss, as much as possible. In our case, though, we did not want fights, over where we were placing our equipment. I have to admit that the boss really seemed to take GREAT PLEASURE, in firing people. Nothing seemed to make him happier than when workers left the factory, in tears. As for those who left the property, silently, the boss would call all kinds, of insults, at them. His main item, which he told, to ALL, departing, workers, was "Dont even THINK about putting this place on your resume. I will deny that you, ever, worked, here." Was it really workers, in hiding, who were tossing tools, at the boss, as he warned people that he would deny their employment? According to security guards, who came up, behind the tool bench, when the boss shouted "Security, ARREST anyone, who is back there, throwing tools at me!" When a security officer would say "Theres no one back here. Just some tools." The boss would say "Then YOU are FIRED". The officer seemed, almost, relieved, at the news. It was on the third night, of the first quarter moon, when Tami and I verified what Mike had said, about the boss causing some of the damage, himself. Although we had not seen Mike, since the Kelly Bar, we were on "casual stake-out", when thermal picked up movement. Whomever it was, was wearing heat-cloaking clothing, but not properly. The fool forgot to zipper the suit, to the neck. Thermal showed the zipper was down to the belly. Donning our night-vision goggles, Tami and I went "hunting", to find out just WHO our "guest" was. And, just as Mike had predicted, it was the boss man. We watched, and recorded, as the man put together an incendiary pipe bomb, then attached a primer cord. In fact, he was just about to set off the explosive when Tami asked "And, just WHAT do you think you are doing?" When the man asked "What? Whose there?" We realized that not only had the man bungled his heat signature, he had not even brought night-vision gear. When Tami stepped forward, and identified herself, the man would say "You have NOTHING on me" Tami asked "You want to bet?" When the man, sarcastically, asked "And just WHAT does young pretty ass think you have, on me?" Tami would say "Thats right. You dont have night vision gear, do you." When the man asked "Whats that?" Tami would say "It lets you see, at night. Oh, and dont bother going for that gun, in your holster". When the man asked "What gun?" Even as he drew the weapon, and fired at the sound, of Tami's voice. When Tami said "Nice try. Better luck next time.", then added "By the way, we have recorded you, setting that explosive. I am sure that the police will want to see that". When the man said "Ha! I OWN the police, in this area", Another voice would join us. But it was a voice which we did not recognize. It was a voice which said "You dont OWN ME, or them." When Tami asked "To whom am I speaking?" The voice would say "My apologies. I am Richard. The TRUE inventor, of those planes." When Tami asked "May I see proof of this?" Richard would, no-sooner, say "Certainly, dear lady", when the boss would say "Impossible! I conficated every bit of what you had. There is nothing left, to find!" Richard would, politely, say "That you KNOW of, that is". When the boss grew snide, saying "I DEMAND everything, which you have!" Richard would ask Tami "Does he understand that I am no-longer alive?" Tami would say "Doubtful." Richard would, then, tell the boss "Any contracts, which might have bound my Earthly body, became null, and void, when I was murdered". When the boss growled "But I FILED the PAPERS! Your LIFE belongs to me". Tami and I wondered if the man realized he was talking to a spirit. A person no longer alive. When Richard would remind the man "That may have been true, while I was ALIVE, by now?" Still, the boss did not comprehend, even when Richard became a full form apparition, then stepped THROUGH the wall, of the building, and slipped the pipe bomb back outside, laying it at the bosses feet, saying "I think this belongs to you". When Tami would ask Richard "Would you mind some conversation?" Richard would bow to Tami, as he said "I would LOVE to. Being dead is just not as glamourous as it is hyped up, to be". When the three of us went to walk away, we heard the boss call out "I will have a restraining order, by tomorrow evening. You will, ALL, be in jail". Tami and I laughed at this, while Richard gave a questioning look, back at the boss. When Richard, then, looked at Tami, she said "Yes, I know". Back at G.S.2, Richard would say "Wow, I have wanted to see this thing, since you arrived." When Tami asked "You KNEW we were here?" Richard would say how impressed he was, with our plane. Especially how it handled the recent storm. When Tami would ask "Why did you not come forward, sooner?" Richard would say "Everyone, I have appearred to, so far, has this look, of terror, in their eyes. Its like I am some demon, from a horror movie. You, two, are my first, REAL, contact, in "ages". As the conversation progressed, throughout the night, Tami and I learned that Richard would have been a reall "rising star", in the developing technologies field, except for the fact that he had no college degree. As a result, no one would hire the man, for more than manual labor. Just too many people, out there, with degrees, looking for work. Since Richard said it was important for people to know, first and foremost, that he believed that he had NOT taken his own life. When Tami asked "What happened?" Richard would say "I went to bed, considering if I had any options, in this community. Then, I THOUGHT I heard a sound, then blackness." When Tami suggested "So, someone was INSIDE your place, when you came home". Richard would say "Possibly. Either that, or their entry awakened me. I remian un-certain, of which." When Tami would ask "What did the coroner have to say?" Richard would say "That is what was so odd. I seem to recall overhearing the men talking. The coroner was saying "Its just standard procedure", while the boss was saying "No! I dont want any investigation. Do you hear me?" When the coroner would say "But the law says it is to be done" The boss would say "Just file a report, listing cause of death as "Unknown". When Tami would wonder "I wonder WHY the man did not WANT the cause of death, to be known, unless..." She knew that I understood, as well. The boss did not want an investigation, since the clues would point to himself. I dont, really, know what time I fell asleep, but I know I did not make it to bed. In fact, come morning, I woke up, stiff, and sore, on one of the planes couches. In fact, I think that the co-pilot woke me up, saying "You are not going to believe this." When I asked "What TIME is it?" The co-pilot would say "14:25. But this is more important." When I asked "What is?" The man told me "Take a look". It would seem that the pilots had downloaded a video, of the towns courthouse. It was time-stamped that very morning. The video showed the boss man being lead from the courthouse, wearing a straight-jacket. A reporter was saying "Local businessman sent for a "rest", after asking a judge for a restraining order, against a GHOST." Judge Benson Peterman suggested the man be sent, to a local psychiatric unit, for a "rest" after the man not only insisted that his property is "haunted", but that the man wanted an order, restraining the ghost , from "speaking" to anyone. Judge Peterman issued his remarks, in a statement, reminding the public "Statutory Law applies ONLY to the LIVING. This court has no authority over the deceased." The pilot laughed at this, saying "Can you imagine?", then thought of one of our PAST cases, and said "Sorry", to the room, in general. While Tami and I had to refresh ourselves, for the coming events, Richard just waited, patiently, saying "I have all eternity". Once we were ready, Richard lead us to a place only HE knew about. He would say "I like to call it my OWN bat-cave". Tami and I could see why. After all, the place had shelves, with dozens of "action figures", fom the classic Batman television series, as well as the "bat-equipment". Amid all of this classic memorabilia, Richard had his own work bench, including tools, and supplies. "It was HERE that I created the designs, for the plane, which the company is manufacturing. In fact, over here", showing us another table, "This is where I kept my favorite "disasters". The models, which, never, quite, worked." Tami and I noticed that what was spread, before us, on the table, was the result of a lifetime, of dreams and hopes. If ONLY Richard had gone for a degree, he would be RICH, today. Maybe even alive. Richards only request "Make sure that the RIGHT people receive this stuff. I want the right people to enjoy what I tried to make, for them". Richard then made out a list, of who would receive what. Shortly after Tami and I delivered the "gifts", to locals, some corporation came to town, insisting that everything be turned over, under Patent Law. When Judge Peterman asked the corporate representative "Do you understand that the law ONLY applies to the LIVING? The courts have no jurisdiction, over the deceased." It was when the corporate rep would ask "The deceased? WHO is deceased?" The judge would say "The creator of the items you are claiming." The rep, it seems, had no response, to this, except to leave town, quietly. Once Richard knew his works were delivered to the intended receivers, Richard would, again, request that Tami inform the plant workers that Richard never meant anyone any harm. He was just angry that his invention was stolen, and that the courts refused to take any action. Yes, during moments, of rage, he HAD entered the factory, after hours, and ripped components to pieces. He had, even, removed parts, from mahines. This is why machines would stop working, for no apparent reason. Richard had said "These actions I took, when I was angry. I never meant to harm friends, or relatives. Please express my deepest apologies". When Tami would promise that we would make sure that word got around, Richard would ask "What happens, now? Do I got straight to Hell, for my post-life actions?" Sure enough, Mother Superior would appear, as if on cue, saying "Sir, I do believe that, if I were in your position, I would have done the same. Besides, according to Gabriel, your ledger page has far more GOOD, than bad. This is why I was sent, to collect you. I just hope you find Heavens workshop to be as interesting as your Earthly one is." When Richard would ask "Can I collect whats in my shop?" Mother Superior would say "No need. Everything you will want, or need, is ready for you." then, to Tami and I, Mother Superior would say "Gabriel is most pleased, with your actions, as well. Keep this up and I can promise you a place, in Heaven". All I could think of was "What did we do?" All we do is aid the deceased, in finding peace. It was not like we were building homes, for the homeless. We were not fixing meals, for homeless shelters. We were not even volunteering, in childrens services. Still, somehow, Tami and I were ending up on everyones "Go To" list. Even as Tami was preparing the final report, for the Brown Agency, on the inventors ghost, leaving the question, of the manufacturing plant hanging, for the time being, she would, also, review some recent messages, from her sister, Crystal. It seems that Crystal was having trouble, not only sleeping, but coping, with an un-relenting dream, about a local house. Ofcourse, Crystal would speak to her sister, and the family, in general, about the dreams. Yes, in my opinion, Tami's family was what I would call an "average, American, family". Their membership supported one another, and defended one another, as well. I wondered what it would be like, to belong to such a family. Oh, well. Life, and Death, go on...

THE HAUNTING PAST MYSTERY OF THE BORDELLO

THE HAUNTING PAST: MYSTERY OF THE BORDELLO After finishing our initial work, on Delcon Maximillians village, our pilots were just preparing Ghost Ship Two, for launch, while Tami and I were securing the "staff" section, of the plane, when we heard the chime, telling us that Mr. Brown was coming on the video-comm. When Tami and I sat before the monitor, Mr. Brown came on screen, to ask "Are you, still, at "Delcons" village?" When Tami would say "Just preparing for take-off", Mr. Brown would say "Might I ask you to place your departure on hold, for a short while?" When I would say "Okay, boss, whats up?" Mr. Brown would say "I have another case file, right on your door-step, so to speak" When Tami and I looked at one another, then Tami asked Mr. Brown "What do you mean?" Mr. Brown would flip through our, latest, report, then ask "Do you remember that adjacent property? The one he (me) investigated? The property which had been the original choice, for the casino location?" When Tami would say "Ofcourse, we visited the place, however, we failed to find anything beyond an old, weed infested, foundation" Mr. Brown would ask "When your visited the property, was it day-time, or night?" When Tami and I admitted it was around mid-afternoon, Mr. Brown would ask "Would you mind taking ANOTHER look. This time, AFTER sun-set?" When Tami reminded Mr. Brown "All of our findings, or lack of same, are in the report" Mr. Brown would say "Exactly why I want you two "on-point". You are on-site. You are, already, aware of most of the properrty's history. This, it seems, is exactly why even the client wants YOU to investigate the premises". When Tami would ask "Investigate what?" Mr. Brown would say "Reports are coming in, claiming that, after MIDNIGHT, "things" are being seen. In fact, some "things" are being witnessed, just after sun-down. The clients request is simple enough. They just want you to either prove, or dis-prove, the claims, of haunting". It was amazing how, even as Tami agreed that we would remain on-site, our pilots were shutting down the fight systems (As thought they KNEW we would never turn down the chance to investigate a haunt). When the pilot entered the staff area, he would tell us, as they passed by "I knew this would turn out to be a case". When Tami asked "How?" The pilot would say "Simple. You did too much research, on that property, for simple curiousity". When Mr. Brown had neglected, to inform us of (OR, what the client failed to inform the Brown Agency of), was the fact that the client not only wanted to know if there were any spirits, around the property, but the client also wanted to verify if, in fact, the property had, once, been a bordello. Well, for Tami and I, it was just a matter of time, and patience, for us to discover whether spirits were present. The most difficult part, of the investigation, would be the question of proving if the property had, in fact, once been the site, of a bordello. Providing such proof would be, further, complicated, by the fact that the home had blown up, and burned down, more than a century ago. Back in the days when a "Bill of Sale" could be ANY-thing, and written by ANY-one. Sure, "back in the day", only MEN were, legally, allowed to purchase property, many women "got around" this, by using their husbands, or fathers, names. With the exception of telegrams, and certain, mail, packages, no signature, or I.D. was required, for most transactions. In those days, if goods were ordered, and paid for, the goods were delivered, period. Ofcourse, back in this time, written contracts were not required. A hand-shake was just as binding. All of this meant that, in regards to this case, as Tami had outlined, in our preliminary report, was just how fake some of the so-called "documentation" could be. Take the photo's, of the women, for one example. The women, in the "old" pictures might be dressed in Victorian-era clothing, and even have Victorian-era hairdo's, however, my partner spotted the fakes, just as easily as she could spot quality clothes. Simple fact was that, in the era, when the photo's were, supposedly, shot, there were no washers, dryers, indoor plumbing, etc. As a result, the women, of the day, were, nearly, as "beefy" as their men were. Since the women, in the photo's, were slim, petite, even "dainty", Tami ruled, and I agreed. These photos were, recently, made, to APPEAR to be a century old. When Tami used some Brown Agency software, to remove the ladies faces, for the use of facial recognition software, neither of us was surprised to find modern day matches. As for the lands title, and deed, it was no surrprise that the property was in a MANS name. After all, in those days, women could only INHERIT land, left to the women, in writing, by fathers, or other, MALE, family, members. While Tami worked on locating LIVING family members (whose names were NOT disclosed to the modern day purchasers), I returned to the site, took various measurements, and surveyed the general area. This I did while I sensed being "watched". A "tour", of the property, yielded few results. The main exception would be the crumbling wall, which enclosed what appearred to be a private cemetary. Since the markers were so eroded, though, I was left to take pictures, before using my portable, optical, scanner, on the surface of each grave marker. This is how I learned what might have upset the spirits, of the property. As I came cose to getting a clear reading, on a head-stone, I felt movement, by my left leg. When I looked at my leg, I saw a "hand", and "arm", moving about, until it had a grip on my leg. Un-like what is shown, in the movies, and, often, in real life, where people RUN from spirits, I, however, had enough past experience, with the deceased, that I bent to the arm, took hold of the wrist, and, when the hand opened, I removed, from the hand, about what I expected to find. A modern day Halloween trick. The arm was attached to a robot motor, which was attached to a pressure mat, buried just beneath the surface, of the grave. Ofcourse, the label, on the arm, said "Made in China". No surprise, there. Almost ALL modern trinkets are made in Asia. When I put on gloves, then placed the trinket in an evidence bag, which I, then, locked, in my Jeep, the returned to the grave-site, I admit that I offered a prayer, of Forgiveness, to the departed. (It only seemed right, after the pranksters had dessecrated the grave, with the gadget.) After I reported in, to the Brown Agency, about the trinket, I took the trinket to the police station where, un-fortunately, the police matched prints, on the trinket, to those, of locals, even FASTER than I thought that they would. The problem was that the pranksters had a LONG history, of such pranks, and this was not even their latest. When the young offenders were brought into police headquarters, the pranksters kept saying "It was just a joke, man. Just a joke", until the police told the pransters to "Shut up and get inside the cell". When one, of the pranksters called out, from behind bars, asking "What about our phone call?" A police detective would call out "Shut up, or I WILL gag you". When the prankster called out "Thats police brutality", the detective stood up, walked to the prison bars, and told the boy "I have you on Trespassing, Dessecration of a grave, Resisting arrest, and Dis-orderly conduct. If you dont shut up, I WILL have the judge throw the book at you" Behind the "mouth", the other pransters would whisper "Man, shut UP! We are in enough trouble, as it is". The detective would, then inform me "Its a good thing we got there when we did. The deputies caught these punks preparing to place all sorts of "adult sexual products", on this property". When I asked what the sentence would, most likely, be, the detective would say "For first offenders. A warning. For these kids, though, with their records, I would be surprised if the judge limited the sentence to "Community Service"." While the punks were being processed, I asked department staff who would be most likely to know who had owned the property, where the furnace had, long ago, exploded. When a records clerk said "Best place to look would be town hall", then walked away, since I, already, knew this information. I was relieved when an aged man asked "Are you the ones looking into the old Hollings place?" When I gave the man the location, of our new investigation, then asked "If that was the old Hollings place, then, yes, we are reviewing the property. More, correctly, though, we are reviewing its PAST owners". When the man said "That wont do no good", and I asked, the man said "My grandpa told me that the house weren't built by a single man. It were a GROUP, of men. Grandpa says the men bought the house from one of those mail order catalogs. One of those things from before the blasted in-ter-net. They bought it, and had it shipped here, as a place for their families to live". When I mentioned "I thought most families camped out, until huts were built", the man would chuckle as he said "You watch too much t.v." Then he would add "The men, and their wives, built the house, real quick, then moved their families in, while the husbands went out, and built individual places, for each family." When I asked "Which one was Mr. Hollings?" the aged man said "None of them first men. The home, you see, changed owners, over the years, as people moved in, then moved on. One, dimmed fool even "lost" the place, in a poker game. Left his family out in the street, so to speak" When I asked "Where did Hollings come in at, and where did the bordello story come from?" The man would say "Grandpa told us, when I was young, that the home owner had a "thing" for a "darkie". When I clarified "You mean a black woman?" The man said "Mom, and grandma, say its not polite to call "darkies" black". When I asked "What about the owner, and the "darkie"?" the man would say "Hollings come to town, heard the stories. You know how people were such "Puritans", in them days". "Well, Hollings hears about this white guy, I forget his name, but word has it his wife wont let him share the same bedroom. So, the man finds a woman who WILL share, with him. By the time Hollings finds the two, together, the home owner has two kids, a boy and girl, by the "darkie". Hollings tells the man Hollings price, for his silence. Although the home owner has no trouble with his wife being kicked out of the house, the man is not fine, with HOW he lost the house. Anyway, soon after Hollings takes possession of the property, he up and leaves the area. Never comes back, that anyone knew of" When I asked "What about the house?" The man would say "As soon as the missus loses her comfy home, she packs her things, and leaves her husband. Like he meant anything to her." When I asked "The House?" The man would say "Sat empty, almost two years, before the man moved his REAL family in. Had a third child, by then. The family lived in the house, for YEARS, after that. Atleast until the kids left home" When I asked "What of the stories, of the bordello?"" The man would laugh as he said "Been hearing that one, for years. THAT house in another part of town. Where the money-people were." When I asked "The Hollings property?" The man would say "Not really sure about that. Some say Hollings came back, one day, found the couple, living there, and tried to burn them out." When I asked "Why do you doubt that?" The man would say "When the house went up, the "darkie", she was working back-stage, at the local theater, helping the women with costumes." When I asked "And her man?" The man would say "He was working back-stage, as well. Lifting the curtains". When I suggested "So, neither of them was home, when the house burned?" The man would say "You betcha! Too many people saw the two, at the theater". When I asked the man "Do you think Hollings burned down the house, to spite the occupants?" The man would say "Grandpa always thought Hollings burned the place down, over an insurance policy". When I asked "Insurance?" The man said "Rumor has it that Hollings took out a multi-million dollar policy, on the property, shortly after he left the area. A couple of years later, when another house burned down, Hollings collected, on HIS policy, since it was rumored that it was HIS house which had burned" When I continued "So, Hollings come back to town, many years later, and finds HIS house not only still standing, but inhabited." The man would say "Hollings decides to burn the place, himself, rather than return the insurance money. Money which, by then, rumor says, he spent up, years before, anyway". When I asked "How much time PASSED, between Hollings taking possession, and burning the house down?" The man would say "Lets see. The couple had five children. Since all of them, somehow, turned out as white as their papa, two of them went to college, one became a nurse, and the other two went into the trades" When I would suggest "Roughly forty years, then?" The man would say "Sounds right." I would thank him, for the information, then return to G.S.2. Upon return to the plane, Tami would not only verify the old mans story, but she added to this. Tami would tell me "I know why Hollings was, always, on the move. Records show that he had fourteen wives, that I have accounted for, so far. He also had dozens of children. It seems that he spent his life one step ahead of Pinkertons, even while seducing any willing women that he could find, and fool." When I asked "What about his financials?" Tami would laugh as she said "His financials. The man made his money, from extorting other people out of property. Although the police, long, suspected him, of burning atleast twenty properties, just on the East Coast, the police never could PLACE him at any of the scenes. No doubt, this is because Hollings had informants INSIDE the police, and Pinkertons. This is why he was, always, able to skip town, prior to arrest." The one consistency, which Tami had found marked ALL of Hollings victims was that every man Hollings extorted from was a white man, whose wife as "cold", towards him, and the fact that every single one, of Hollings victims was involved with a black woman. When I concluded "So, whenever he needed money, Hollings listened around, found out who was having "illicit" affairs, then blackmailed the couple." Then I asked "Roughly, how much did Hollings take, from his victims?" Tami would say "In todays money, I would speculate that Hollings took in about $750 million". When I could not even conceive of even having, let alone losing, so much money, Tami would add "Hollings was DEEP, into wildcat speculation. The longer the odd's, and the greater the earnings potential, the better he liked it". When I asked "Do we know what, eventually, became of him?" Tami would say "Died in his sleep. The coroners report, what there was, of it, says the man had a total of $500.00 on his person". When I considered what I could have done, with so much money, Tami reminded me "You are a gentleman. Hollings was the opposite. His wives, and children, ended up homeless, while he died, in his own bed". When I tried to consider how a man could have more than a dozen wives, while living outside a religious community, and without anyone ever knowing, Tami would remind me "Remember, there was NO internet, in those days. Everything was hand-written, and mailed. Even shop at home catalogues required the U.S. mail". When I asked Tami "Have you traced the bordello rumor, yet?" Tami would tell me "If what I have un-convered is correct, the women, and the photo, are NOT of the Hollings property." When I said "Okay, so, who are they?" Tami would correct me, saying "They WERE prostitutes, brougth in, to work the actual bordello, which was, actually, located at the opposite end of town. If you can believe it, a banker, and a doctor, brought the prostitutes into town, and the doctor received 75% of the bordello income, since his job was to keep the women healthy". When I asked "Are there any photo's, of the REAL Holllings house?" Tami would say "None that I can find, so far. You should, also, know that the womens faces, in the photo, are NOT the original women. When I spoke to each of them, the women admitted being paid $1,000.00, each, to allow the use of their faces". When I asked "Publicity?" Tami called up the REAL faces, of the prostitutes, on the computer screen. When Tami saw the shock, on my face, she said "MEN" When I inquired, she said "All you look at is beauty, and youth. Any woman, over twenty-one, you consider a senior citizen". I would have said "Well, excuse me, but I like what I like", however, I decided against saying this. After all, Tami and I DID make a great team. A successful team, as well. As for the graves, Tami would verify that the deaths were of family members, with only one "child", a man, from the trades, preceeding his parents into death. His death was listed as "Construction Accident". The other four "children", whose graves were present, would be recorded as going to their own graves YEARS AFTER their own parents deaths. As to the reason why the graveyard was being allowed to disintegrate, it would seem that the races (black and white), had decided, in the modern day, that, although people might be friends, and co-workers, that interracial DATING remained a subject not to be spoken of. As Tami would report "The fact is that, until just five years ago, the state refused to even allow cemetary funds to be permitted, for the maintenance of such graves." It was a logical conclusion that, although the family had been "accepted", during life, by contrast, in death, the people were to be ignored. Thanks to my scanner, though, I was able to retrieve enough information, from the head-stones, to allow the computer to perform background checks, on the family members. One fact, which stood out, and MIGHT be the cause, of many reports, was that the negro mother reportedly spent most of her life teaching her children respect for, and fear of, the spirit world. This lead to the question of if the hauntings could be the family members, simply upholding momma's beliefs? Since Tami and I had learned, LONG ago, that spirits embrace full moons, for appearances, we just settled in, for the next few days, until the next full moon was due. Now, I would have suspected that, if spirits were to rise, with the full moon, that we would have seen them rising, from the ground, as vapors, then moving toward the house. What made this house "different" was that even the house, itself, did not come from a mist. Although the house just appearred, and was slightly "glowing", with an "aura", the odd thing was that neither the house, nor the family, began as vapors, then solidified. The way both just appearred was similar to a person switching on a light, in a dark room. One second, there was nothing. The next second, all were present. As for what the report of "screams of terror" were all about, I noticed that these only happened when children were hurt, while laughing, and playing. Ofcourse, to those, who fear the unknown, a childs cry, of pain, could, easily, be mistaken for an animal cry, or worse. As I sat back, on "stake-out", and watched the show, I was reminded of how much this scene resembled "Little House on the Prairie", or even "The Waltons". The only people these spirits would spook would be humans, who were afraid of dark shadows. I made certain to note that the scene played out, for as long as the full moon was visible, overhead. Once the moon moved past the horizon, the scene vanished. When the moon returned, hours later, I made a point of sketching any details, which I could see, of the homes interior. It was during this time, when I realized this was an "intelligent" haunt. This was easy to determine since the scene changed, with every "performance". I think that my mistake was when, during one scene, which looked like a family dinner, I came up, to the surprisingly solid home, and, just as I was viewing the scene, inside the window, when, one second, the mother was at the dinner table, with her children, one moment, and the next moment, the woman was beside me, asking "Are you enjoying the show?" When I apologized, to the woman, saying "I am just gathering evidence, on the spirits, which inhabit this house. No offense was intended". When the spirit woman asked "Why are you gathering "evidence", on my family? We have committed no crimes" I apologized, again, telling the woman "I have heard reports that the home is haunted". It was when the woman would say "As you can, plainly, see, my good man, the premises are NOT haunted. Only my family resides within". It was when I took a moment, to realize what the woman had said, that I thought "How can they live within a burned out foundation?" yet when I turned, to question the woman, she had vanished. Seconds after this, the "porch" gave way, beneath me, and I fell into the foundation, as the house "winked" out of existance. When I reported these events to Tami, she agreed "Actual contact, and conversation. An intelligent haunt, to say the least". When I asked "I wonder why there were no reports, while we were investigating Delcon's village?" Tami would suggest "Maybe we were just not AWARE of the reports. After all, we WERE focused on the village excavation". A short while later, Tami would prepare another, of her carefully worded reports, to the Brown Agency. Now that we KNEW there were spirits, on the property, and, more important, since they were spirits of those, who had LIVED on the property, the question was "What, if anything, was our next move?" When the reply was "Get them OFF the property so that the place can be re-developed!" When Tami responded by asking "In case the spirits dont want to leave, voluntarily? What is our next course of action?" Tami had good reason, for asking this question. Especially after the case where, after a man paid $500 million, for a castle, then threatened to "evict" the spirits, if the dead did not LEAVE the property, on their own, When the owner had gone to court, to file an eviction notice, against the ghostly residents, of the castle, the presiding judge had suggested the man take a short "rest". When the man had slipped up, saying "I dont think the ghosts have "bags", when the judge asked if they had heard, correctly, and the man verified that he wanted eviction proceedings, against as many as 100 ghosts, the judge had, humorously, suggested "This court has no jurisdiction over the deceased. Statutory law covers only the LIVING". Now, when the reply came "If necessary, file eviction proceedings", Tami shut off her computer link. No WAY was another client going to go "down", looking like a fool. When Mr. Brown video-conferenced with us, the following day, Mr. Brown no-sooner agreed, with Tami, that legal matters are for the living, when he suggested "Tami, how about another of your "specials"? A compromise, like the one you negotiated, for "black" ville". When Tami asked Mr. Brown "Are you sure the client will go along with a truce?" Mr. Brown would suggest "Why dont you ask the spirits, first. IF they agree, then we can work on the living". That evening, as the full moon rose, over the horizon, right on schedule, Tami undertook her negotiations, with the spirits. (I stayed behind both to cover my partner, and, more importantly, because my "people skills" are non-existant) By the time the moon was over, to the far horizon, and I was ready to signal my partner, Tami came out of the house, looking concerned. When we returned, to Ghost Ship Two, and Tami filed her report, with the Brown Agency, the response was about what we expected. The spirit family had asked "WHY should WE move? We were here, first" By the time the Brown Agency had contacted the purchaser, and received a preliminary response, the full moon was two days past, and it would be another three weeks before the next full moon. When the mortal purchaser decided to "get cute", bringing in demolition equipment, while telling Tami "You have only until the full moon, to tell those spooks to pack their bags, and go find some place else, to haunt", when, as the construction equipment was being un-loaded, the weather went "crazy". Right over the property, dark clouds gathered, folllowed by thunder, and lightning. After this, the wind began to howl, and Tami and I retreated, to our plane, even as a torrential down pour soaked the Hollings property. When the owner ordered the equipment to proceed, with demolishing the foundation, multiple lightning strikes electrified each machine, and the operators, wisely, ejected, before the wiring systems were fried. Although a reair truck arrived, two days later, the repair men would report that each machine needed a complete re-wire. When asked, the repairmen woulld tell the property owner "Once we have the parts, we can have the machines working, in 72 hours" When the property owner would ask "Why dont you get started, then?" The repairmen would say "The parts will take six weeks, to arrive". Two more times, before the full moon, and the first quarter, heavy equipment was delivered, to the property, yet, shortly after each delivery, the machines electronics shorted out. With a total, of six pieces, of heavy machinery, out of action, the equipment dealer refused to send any additional equipment. During the first quarter moon, the property owner warned Tami "I will give you exactly ten minutes, into the full moon, to tell those spirits to "Get LOST". Do you understand?" Tami noodded, in agreement. After Tami moved away from the man, her response was "Good luck with that", as she returned, to rest, aboard Ghost Ship Two. I can only think that the owner decided to re-think his position, after his "frontal charge", during the first full moon, was met with a harsh response. When the man turned to the Brown Agency, asking "What do I do?" Mr. Brown spoke with great confidence, as he suggested "Let my team do their job. They have plenty of practical experience, with these kinds of situations. Let them do what we were hired to do". When the man agreed "But, I need RESULTS, NOW!, not later" Mr. Brown would say "Let my people do their work". Sure, maybe Tami's tact did take LONGER to achieve results, however, her results were proven, and lasting. In this case, Tami was dealing with a family, not so much interested in "haunting", as in being together. It seems that family bonds, in life, had continued, in death. The members just wanted to remain close. When Tami had asked "What makes you think you wont be together, in Heaven?" The spirit wife would say "We love this old place. It is our foundation" Well, Tami could have lectured the family, about the passage of time, and the fact that the house was just an illlusion, however, Tami spoke to the family, about seeing loved ones, they had not seen, in so very long, and never having to feel cold, or lonely, ever again. When the woman spirit would mention "You are mortal. How would you know what Heaven is like?" Tami would no-sooner say "I have a friend, who works there. I would like for you to meet her" When the spirits asked "Who is it?" Sure enough, right on "cue", Mother Superior would appear. She would give Tami a welcoming smile, then ask the family "Who would like a "sneak peak", at Heaven?" The nun suppressed a chuckle when, upon her appearance, both mother, and children, had knelt before the nun. When Mother Superior had said "Rise, my children", the spirits would stand then, with a simple, hand, gesture, it seemed that Mother Superior showed the family what awaited them, past the gates of Heaven. Tami only knew it was wonderful, by the looks, of joy, on the families faces. When Mother Superior would say "Right this way", and the family stepped forward, and began to dissolve, the husbands own spirit suddenly appearred, as he said "Wait for me." To this, Mother Superior would smile as she said "Never" (Meaning she had no intention of leaving anyone behind). As the father vanished, along with his family, and Tami whispered, to Mother Superior "Take care of them?" The nun would smile as she said "Ofcourse, my child. Even in Heaven, we take care of our own" There was, however, one problem, which Heaven could not solve. That was the problem of when construction workers would speak, openly, to fellow workers, and at local bars, about the freak weather, at the property. That, and the electrical shorts, at the Hollings property. Just as we had feared, each time the stories were re-told, the stories were embellished, even more. Then, the point came when the story, of the electrical shorts no-longer immobilzed equipment, but, rather, set the equipment to attacking workers. Although the disabled equipment was, eventually, repaired, the only workers willing to climb aboard were those who were recovering equipment, for the dealer. When no workers would come, to the property, the owner took Tami's suggestion, and donated the property, back to the town. This, in return for a three-year tax write-off. When Tami submitted our final report, to the Brown Agency, stating that the property was, now, spirit-free, Mr. Brown would make another request of us. "We have received a report that a jail MIGHT be haunted. That, or the inmates are playing a terrible joke on the guards. Since the location is right in your flight path, home, I have been asked to have the two of you just stop by, long enough to inform locals whteher or not the jail is "haunted". What do you say?" When Tami looked at me, and said "Why not?' and I agreed, Mr. Brown would say "Excellent. I knew I could count on you two. I will have the secretary make the arrangements" Well, life, and death, goes on...

SLEEPY HOLLOW UN-RECORDED NEGRO HISTORY

SLEEPY HOLLOW: UN-RECORDED NEGRO HISTORY When Abigail Mills brought the volume, before Ichabod Crane, it was her primary intent, to find out if the volume was even genuine. The events, which would tranpire, from this action, would, once again, shatter Abigail Mills perception, of American history. Having grown, to womanhood, surrounded by the racial hatred, of "Roots", Abigail Mills, now a police lieutenant, had been forced to confront Ichabod Cranes alternative version, of American history. A version which the young woman remained reluctant to accept. Still, since Cranes version, of history had proven correct, more than once, the police lieutenant was learning to accept NOTHING, at face value, anymore. This, young, negress was being faced with the fact that, while not all white people were "evil", as "Roots" had claimed, not all negroes were victims, either. All of this had been staring Abby in the face, ever since the day when she had visited Professor Malachai Olsen, who had reminded the young woman that there was NO one, CORRECT, version, of American history. Neither textboooks, nor television, told the entire story, of the nations history. These were just some, of the factors, which lead to Abby's caution, when she found the very old volume, at an "odd's and end's" sale. Out of curiousity, when Abby opened the volume, to the first page, and she found the stylized writing, of both Queen's English, and what appearred to be German, all hand-written, with the flair, of the 14th through 18th centuries, Abby would check, to be sure no pagess were missing prior to offering the cashier $10.00, for the volume. Abby was hoping that Crane would decide that the volume was authentic. If not, she was only out $10.00. What very few people, even in Sleepy Hollow, knew, about the police deputy, was that Abby had, never, been a "straight A" student, even in English class. Ofcourse, neither had Jennifer, for that matter. Like most children, of modern times, all the Mills sisters wanted, out of each day, was to get OUT of the "prison", which many students consider school to be, in order to be free to enjoy their afternoons. Abby, however, had started to re-think her education, especially when dealing with a man like Ichabod Crane. A man who not only spoke, but read, and wrote, in both Queen's English, as well as regular English, and (somewhat annoyingly) Crane could handle German, as well. Abby remembered that she, herself, had considered taking language classes, while in school, however, when she had decided to try the German language, she had dropped out, early, in the first semester, and for good reason. While the students had wanted to learn about the nation, its language, and its people, the teacher, FIRST, INSISTED that, before teaching the students this "evil" language, that the students were, first, required to memorize, and be able to quote, the events of the Holocaust. This would include the NAMES, of the death camps, NAMES, of the commanding Germans, and so on. The whole, first, semester, was to be devoted to this darkest part, of German history. When one, of Abby's classmates had dared ask the teacher "What about all of the beautiful art, buildings, classical music..." It would seem that such praise, for an "evil" nation, had so enraged the teacher that the instructor had THROWN the student out of class, then warned the remaining class members "ALL krauts are EVIL! Just as Germany, itself, is "evil", in its purest form. NEVER forget that". After the "teachers" display, and remarks, Abby had understood that the teacher had no intention of teaching the facts, about Germany. Abby understood that this was the reason why, soon after the demonstration, all of the class members had removed "German Language" class from their schedules. The class had folded within a month of its start date. Not surprisingly, the teacher had transferred to another school. That was then. Now, Abby was tempted to ask Crane to share his knowledge, of German reading, and writing, with her. The question, which concerned her, though, was "Am I too OLD to learn?" Ofcourse, Abby had one advantage, which other students, even in the modern day, do NOT have. While students, especially in public schools, such as the ones the Mills sisters had attended, were staffed with "teachers", who "fire" information, at students, at the rate which machine guns fire, while set on "fully automatic", and students either grasp the information, at "warp speed", or they fall behind Abby, now, had an "edge", on this "educational system". Atleast as far as history is concerned. Abigail Mills had Ichabod Crane. Not only as a partner, but as a teacher, as well. A person willing to discuss American history, at a casual, conversational, pace. As a result, Abby had, already, learned that, in Queen's English, "Successful intercourse" was interpreted as "Succcessful, of profitable, conversation". Now, Abby hoped that Crane would be equally understanding, about translating this volume. (Abby thought 'God, I HOPE that this is NOT a volume, of fairy tales'. Abby felt that it would be so embarrassing, having Crane inform her "Congratulations, you have discovered an original manuscript, of: Mother Goose, Hansel and Gretel, Jack and the Bean Stalk,, etc") While Abby Mills was using her leisure time, to find some objects, for her own place, Ichabod Crane would be devoting his time to locate, and converse with, the descendants, of his friends, and fellow soldiers, from the Revolutionary War. To date, though, Cranes search had shown that, over the years, following the war, most of the parties involved wanted to move themselves, and their families, as far AWAY, from the memories, of blood, and death, as possible. In as much as Crane could research, maybe a dozen, of his comrades, had remained in the area, attempting to re-build, from the ravages of war. To date, however, Crane had located, and visited, only three, of these families. To his discouragement, though, none of these people even had any acknowledgement, that a "distant ancestor" had been involved, in the war-fare. Now, thanks to the fact that, in revolutionary days, the main "system", of "record keeping practices", was family bibles, Crane was un-certain that he would be able to locate ANY of his compatriots. Sure, he might request the assistance, of Katrina's White Magic coven, in the hope that the women MIGHT provide some answers. However, due to the number, of recent inquiries, which Crane, and Abby, had made, of the coven, Crane was un-certain of if additional inquiries would tax the covens patience. When Abby produced the volume, for Crane, she would remind him "I picked this up since it appearred to be atleast as old, and, maybe, as inportant, as George Washington's Bible. I thought you might want to review it". When Crane would reply "I am most gratified by this display, of generosity", Abby would say "If that means "Thank You", then "Your Welcome". Upon reading only the primary five pages, of the text, though, Crane would call Abby to his side, stating "Letenant, you have procured a most interesting document." When Abby would ask "How so?" Crane would say "It appears that this manuscript is a record, of the negro populations attempts at forming new, post-war, communities, in the America's.." When Abby would say "I thought that slavery lasted long after the Revolutionary War". Crane would correct her, saying "This manuscript speaks, not of the Revolutionary War, but, rather, of the Civil War. What your fellow officers refer to as the "War between the States". When Abby would suggest "So, it was written by a powerful white person..." Crane would correct her, saying "Letenant, although your current public school system was only founded in the 20th century, my own research, of post-revolutionary America, indicates that, once the shackles, of British tyranny were thrown off of the colonies, the colonial peoples, again, pooled their resources, in order to retain educational services". When Abby would say "For white people, right?", Crane would ask "WHY do you continue to cling, so powerfully, to that distorted fairy tale, of American "history", which you refer to as "Roots"? Abby would reply "Until you came along, "Roots" was the closest thing, to American history, which black people had". Crane would respond "Gratious. How easily mis-informed the current generation is. You watch that thing called a television, and you believe whatever you see is the "truth". When Abby would say "Come on, Crane, you have to admit that Africans were brutalized, when the slave ships reached America... Crane would cut her off, saying "Yes, I was present, at the time, remember? **I** witnessed slaves, both black, AND white, being marched off of ships, like cattle". When Abby would say "All I am saying..." Crane would cut her off, again, saying "....is that you PREFER to believe this fellow, Haley, and his writing, just because it makes you feel empowered" When Abby would say "Okay then, WHAT does the BOOK say?" Crane would inform Abby "This volume was recorded by a person, who refers to themselves as "an educated African gentleman". It would appear to list his efforts, to detail the primary motivations, for post Civil War Africans, to attempt to establish their own communities". When Abby would suggest "I'll bet THAT went over, REAL well, considering that this is the first I am hearing, of this story". Crane would mention "Am I correct in remembering that your own history teacher, recently, informed you, of your LACK of interest, in America's, historical, lessons?" Abby would admit "Okay, so I wasn't the most attentive student, in class" Crane would say "Precisely. I have little doubt that it was your lack of interest which reduced your awareness, of the nations history" When Abby would say "Just tell me what the book says, PLEASE". Crane would say "Very, well. This volume speaks of a time, after your Civil War, when freed blacks were offered parcels of land, as well as small numbers, of livestock. The volume speaks to the fact that most of the parcels were so minute that it was, nearly, impossible for the workers to plant crops, while building shelters, on the lands." When Abby said "Okay, so freed slaves got shafted, on land deals. Big deal. Corporations shaft the public, everyday". Crane would interrupt Abby, again, saying "Letenant, I am attempting to inform you that some of the freed slaves managed to create a positive outcome, from the land grants". Crane would continue "According to this volume, it would appear that groups, of freed slaves, came together, and settled on sections, of wilderness, which other persons had decided, previously, were "too wild for development." This volume states that the primary settlement, of the freed persons, was a piece, of rough, and wild, land, which sat in the shelter of a rock overhang. The writer states that "Where land owners, and the religious, saw the face, of Satan, in the rock overhang, the settlers saw, as they developed the land, was a face, of a wolf. This is why, instead of fearing the rock, the settlers named the village after the wolfs face." When Abby asked "What happened to the settlers? I sure dont remember any villages, named Wolf's Face". Crane would, silently, read on, for awhile, even as Abby performed a web-search, for any villages named "Wolf's Face". Crane would, soon, come forth with "Letenant, I think I may have found atleast a small amount, of the solution. According to the volume, it is recorded that, after the lands were cleared, and crops planted, families began erecting shelters. If this journal is correct, some of these shelters later evolved into homes, while others evolved into shops." When Abby would say "Still not registering" Crane would say "The freed slaves would build a prosperous village, for their use, and even began trading goods with other villages. For approximately twenty-five years, the villagers prospered, and built a solid community relationship, with nearby settlements." Crane would continue "If this journal is correct, it was about the time when the village was becoming an equal partner, with local villages, that the "ghosts" began to show up." When Abby would say "Ghosts"? You mean, the Ku Klux Klan?" Crane would say "Possibly", since, so far, he had found mention, of this group, only a few times, during his research. Crane would ask Abby "Tell me, did this Klan ever wear glowing apparrel?" Abby would say "If you consider bed sheets to be "glowing clothing", then yes". Crane would wonder "Perhaps the mist, which is mentioned, was, actually, ground cover" When Abby would ask "Why the ghost questions?" Crane would say "It would seem that, once the village began to prosper, and grow, that these "spirits" began charging through the villlage, swinging hand weapons, at the villagers. It would seem that these "spirits" wanted locals to flee, in terror". When Abby would ask "Did anyone stand their ground?" Crane would say "Let us find out", then he read, further on, and informed Abby "The volume states that just two men stood their ground. These men were, then, roped, and dragged away, by the "ghosts". When Abby asked "What happened to the village?" Crane would say "The volume says "Village re-settled, and re-named, by newly arrived, European, settlers". When Abby asked "What else does the book say?" Crane would say "This was only the first, of several, attempts, at establishing communities. The volume indicates that, each time a community was founded, by freed slaves, the community was allowed to flourish, for decades. In each case, the "ghosts" only appearred once the community was, firmly, established". This is when Abby would say "You know, Crane, this sounds a-LOT like the modern practice of Emminent Domaine". When Crane would ask "What, perchance, might this "Emminent Domaine" procedure entail?" Abby would say "To put it simply, anyone, with plenty of money to spend, including corporations, and hospitals, who wants your land, can just buy it out, from under you". When Crane would say "Barbaric" Abby would say "I agree, BUT it is legal". When Crane would question "To THROW people out of their HOMES, just for MONETARY gain?" Abby would say "Woe, now. I didn't say that I APPROVE of the practice. I said it was LEGAL". When Crane would ask "Have you participated in such an action?" Abby would say "You know that new, medical research center, at the edge of town?" When Crane would say "That enormous brute, with wings, spread, as though preparing to take flight?" Abby would say "The sheriff's department had to serve twenty-five families, with "Notice to Vacate", just to clear enough land, for that place to be built." When Crane would ask "So, are you saying that the owners, of the land, were endebted, and were un-able to produce sufficient revenue, to cover the debts?" Abby would say "Wrong. None of the homes was in foreclosure. Everything was on schedule". When Crane asked "If the land owners were not in debt, WHY was property seized, from them?" Abby would say "Because MONEY TALKS, LOUDER, in American courts, than tenants rights. Since the medical community has billions of dollars, at its disposal, they can just mow down home owners, who have only about $150.00 per month, in revenue, after the bills are paid. In the modern world, MONEY wins, every time." Crane would consider these words, as he continued reading the volume. What baffled both Mills and Crane, was how, in every case Crane read of, the plot line was the same, in village after village. In atleast a dozen cases, the villages were allowed to grow, into successful communities, before being raided. The question was "WHY were the villages not raided, while being established?" WHY wait until a community was, firmly established? Of the communities which were, actually, burned to the ground, Crane found notations, stating that members, of the negro community, had attained not only the respect, of neighbors, but held positions, of power, within communities. The author, of the text, would surmise that this is why the villages were burned to the ground. In only one case, though, which Crane read about, was a white community burned, as well, by the "bed sheets". From the contents, of the volume, it was reported that the "bed sheets" burned the white town, since, the white people responded to their neighbors plight, with buckets of water. Even as the "bed sheets" began lighting fires, all on account of a negro male being selected, over a white male, for a post, at a local fire brigade, the riders had set fire, to the negro community, only to be foiled, by the neighboring whites, who began dousing the flames almost as fast as the fires were lighted. The author surmised that this is the reason why the "bed sheets" turned their attack on the white town. When black and white turned their attention from the now-doused flames, of the negro community, and saw the white community going up, in flames, the groups bound together, to fight this new blaze. According to the volume, only half of the white community could be saved. While locals were battling these blazes, the "bed sheets" returned to the task, of burning down the black community. Only after the negro community was, fully, ablaze, did the leader, of the "bed sheets", come forward, to warn the exhausted towns-people "Blacks is inferior to whites. This is God's commandment". When Crane would, mistakenly, think, out loud "There is no such commandment", Abby would say "Commandment, about what?" Crane would advise her "The author suggests that, when two villages worked together, to stop some destruction, that one of the "ghosts" came forward, to warn the survivors that "Black people are inferior to white people. The author even suggests that the rider claimed "This is God's commandment". What rubbish". Abby would say "But, typical of the Ku Klux Klan. Just like other groups, they interpret the Bible, as they choose to." Crane would say "How convenient". When Abby would ask "Does the volume tell how MANY villages the Klan burned, and how many they just scared people away from?" Crane would say "Most un-fortunate. No totals seem to be listed. Only the fact that each village was allowed to become well-established, before being attacked" When Abby would say "The question is: WHY? Why not attack, while the village is small, and defenseless? Why wait until locals have built homes, and businesses?" When Crane would suggest " I think it may have something to do with the land. Remember how the author states that, in the eyes of developers, the land, in its original form, is not worth the cost, of development?" When Abby would say "I remember you mentioning it" Crane would suggest "What if this group, your Klan, waited until the negroes worked the land, made it manageable, then ran the negroes off of the land, now that the land had real value?" Abby would say "Sure, the land must have been worth maybe a thousands times more, once it was developed." Crane would say "Yes, and add to the fact that it was well-known, even in my day, that negroes were terribly frightened of ghosts, dogs, witchcraft, voodoo, and so on..." Abby would say "Light a few torches, put on some bed sheets, wail, like ghosts, scare locals out of their homes, and off of their land, then come back, lay salvage claim, and make a killer profit from the sales of the property" When Crane would ask "A "killer profit"? How does a murderer profit, from land sales?" Abby would say "Figure of speech. It means that the salvagers make a very LARGE profit, from the land deal." When Abby would take the information to Professor Olsen, and ask "Can this be verified?" Professor Olsen would say "My dear girl, you really DID sleep through too many classes. I even recall the questions, from your class-mates, about how supposedly un-educated black people could build such prosperous communities." When Abby would ask "So, it is true. Freed slaves DID build communities, and these places prospered?" Professor Olsen would say "Until the Klan ran them off the lands. Them, and those ridiculous bed linens. Such a lack of originality." When Abby would suggest "It was effective, though, wasn't it?" Professor Olsen would say "Un-fortunately, yes. It was most effective". When Abby would ask "Could you provide me a map, of these places?" Professor Olsen would say "Sure, just give me enough time, to find one of the original maps, and I can have something for you, in a few hours." When Abby would leave the professor to his errands, she would, no-sooner, be behind the wheel of her truck, when she would hear a familiar voice saying "Not everything is as it seems, is it?" When Abby would look to the rear, sure enough, there was August Corbin. Her mentor, teacher, and "guide", on more than one occassion. When Abby would ask "What are you doing here?" Corbin would ask "What is it that YOU are looking for?" Abby would say "Answers. I need to know what the TRUTH is" When Corbin would ask "WHY?" Abby would say "I grew up believing, in one way. Now, everything I THOUGHT I knew, and thought I believed to be true, is being proved false". Corbin would ask "Abby, what does it matter that white people were slaves, as well as black people? What difference does it make, that one group, or another, founded a city? Why are you upset about events which happened centuries before you were born?" Abby would say "I THOUGHT that I could do something, to make things right" When Corbin would ask "Make WHAT right?" Abby would suggest "Balance out history. Give us our "fair share". Things like that". Corbin would remind her "Abby, NO one can change the past. Not even the covens. The past is past. All you can do is work at the present, and make a better future". When Abby would ask "Better, but for WHOM?" Corbin would remind her "You cannot remake the world, in your own fashion. All you can do is make the best, of what you have. Dont try to change the world. If anything, change yourself. By the way, word has it that you want Crane to teach you the German language." When Abby would ask "How did you know, about that?" Corbin would say "I may be dead, but even the dead hear things." When Abby would say "Swell. Tell me, what will happen if I do this?" Corbin would only say "You will expand your horizons, just as you had hoped to, with Quantico" When Abby saw that Corbin was about to vanish, she told him "Nice seeing you, again, old man" Corbin would say "Always a pleasure, kid". With that, he was gone. Over the coming months, and at Abby's request, Crane would, at every opportunity, use German terms, for a variety of reasons. Granted, it was slow going, however, with Cranes assistance, including the slow substitution, of German vocabulary, for English, Abby, soon, understood enough German to aid some travellers, who had lost their way, to an Octoberfest. When her co-workers began asking "Since when do you speak German?" Abby would say "Since Crane is teaching me." In fact, it would be due to Cranes assistance, with teaching the language, which allowed Abby to figure out a message, written in blood, at a crime scene. When a co-worker asked "Is this Moloch's work?" Abby could state, with certainty "No, this is not Moloch. This is the Hessians. A rough translation would be "You will not prevent the rising. Prepare for what is to come". Her co-worker would say "So, I guess Mr. History Professor IS teaching you, isn't he". While ignoring her co-workers comment, Abby would bring the news, to Crane, who was, still, contemplating the reason why the K.K.K. had waited, for so long, to raid each of the negro villages. It wasn't like it was a national secret, that negroes fear spirits, and the supernatural. When Abby would question Crane with "So what? Many people fear spirits. Even the fake ones, inside haunted houses". This is when Crane would remind Abby "Your perceptions, of history, remain flawed." When Crane would continue "In MY day, un-like your precious "Roots", trappers, rarely, used fire arrows, to subdue potential slaves." When Abby would ask "So, WHAT did they do? Ask "pretty please"? Crane would respond "The most successful trappers played upon the fears taught to children, around camp-fires. Tales, of using the fires, which lit the night. Tales which claimed that monsters, spirits, witches, etc. roamed the darkness, beyond the fire-light, waiting for the fool-hardy, to wander away from the fires protective light". When Abby said "Let me guess. Anyone, who ventured away from the fires, was eaten". Crane would muse "Not so many stories, as one might suggest, were stories of persons being consumed". When Abby would ask "Then, what was the major line, in YOUR day?" When Crane would say "The primary accounts, which I learned of, were acounts of the non-attentive being captured, and used as slaves, either by dragons, or by Satan." When Abby asked "Are you suggesting that people were sent, to hell, for not staying close to camp-fires?" Crane would correct Mills, saying "Letenant, I was, merely, pointing out one, possible, rationale, for how persons were captured, and turned into slaves." When Abby would say "I dont follow" Crane would clarify "The most successful trappers used local superstitions, to lure locals into traps. Fire-arms were, rarely, needed, since superstition caused such fear, in captives, that victims were immobilzed long enough to be netted." When Abby would suggest "I would bet that white slaves were treated far better than the black ones were" Crane would state "A wager you would have forfeitted. While negroes were netted, and chained, near their villages, Europes impoverished were netted, chained, and hauled away, from European poverty prisons." When Abby would say "But, negroes were sold, publicly, at auction", Crane would add "As were Europeans, and Asians." When Abby would ask "Wait a minute. What does African slave trading have to do with Americans being chased from their homes, by fake ghosts?" Crane would spell it out, for her. "Just as tribal story-tellers impressed tales, of "evil", on Africa's young people, so, too, did the "leaders", of the later, American, communities. In a similar fate to the tales of Atlantis, tales, being re-told, generation after generation" When Abby would suggest "So, you are saying that "story-tellers" made villagers easier targets?" Crane would suggest "I am implying that FEAR, based upon hearing the same tales, many times, during youth, were, deeply, ingrained, on community members." Abby would say "Let me guess. You think that stories, such as ghosts, who snatch children away from parents, were the real reason why settlers fled the bed sheet covered Klan members?" Crane would say "A logical conclusion. After all FEAR causes irrational actions, even in the most rational of minds." Abby would, then, bring up the question "So, you are saying that these people, who spent decades, building new communities, just up and ran away, from the bed sheets, due to some old fire-side tales?" Crane would say "To protect ones family from perceived danger, I would assert that this would be a distinct possibility". When Abby would ask "Okay, but, WHY didn't the people return, once the "ghosts" rode away?" Crane would say "At this moment, I believe that the solution, to the current situation, lies within the pages of the volume. I must return to my reflections, in order to obtain said information". When Abby would say "One, final, question. Well, maybe two. For one thing, some, of what I saw, in that book, appearred to be in the German language. Am I right?" When Crane would say "Indeed, the volume does contain many Germanic writings" When Abby would ask "Why the combination of the languages?" Crane would say "I presume that the author was being humble, in presenting himself as educated. Due to his fluid use, of both German, and English, I would suggest the author was a person of exceptional education". When Abby would ask "But WHY the combination? Why not use just one language?" Crane would suggest "Not everyone, even in MY day, was multi-lingual. I believe that it was the authors intent to make the volume understandable ONLY to those who could read both languages". When Abby would suggest "Like a code?" Crane would say "Presumably". When Professor Olsen would produce the maps, Abby would mention "I have been to some of these places. There is, nothing there, except tree's, rocks and water" Crane would avert his eyes as the professor would say "That is true, NOW. Who can say WHAT it looked like, a century ago?" When Abby would ask "What eventually, became of the people?" Professor Olsen would say "Who can say? They may have died out. Maybe they moved on. Remember that, until the twentieth century, official record keeping standards did not exist." When Abby asked Crane "Road trip?", Crane would say "Dandy". A few hours later, and the duo arrived at one of the spots Abby did not already know about. Sure enough, between the map, Cranes "talent", for observing the landscape, and some luck, thrown in, the two DID locate the remains of a village. Still, Abby wondered why the negroes did not return, after the whites moved on. It would be Crane, who found the vital clue, in the landscape. Namely, the community graveyard. If what was left was accurate, the colony was wiped by a now-preventable, childhood, disease. Since the disease had left so many dead, in such a short time, whomever buried the last, of the bodies, left a warning, written in Queen's English: "Let it be known, to one and all, that the final numbers, of these souls did perish in the year of our Lord, one year ago. Our numbers waited for a year, hoping that God's Divine Judgement would have passed from the area." When Abby would suggest "So, this is why the negroes did not come back. They thought the place was cursed, by God, no less" Crane would say "It would appear so." When Abby would suggest "These people need a better memorial, than weeds, and decaying tombstones. We should do something". This is when August Corbin would pay the two a visit, asking "What does it matter, now? They have gone, from this world. Why not just let them Rest In Peace?" Abby would say "They need to be remembered" Corbin would say "Funny, you never cared about such things, before." Abby would say "Wonderful. A philosophical discussion, with a dead man. Crane, would you help me with this?" Crane would say "The sheriff is correct. The time, for remembering, is when ones family is alive. Celebrate the living. Allow the deceased rest in eternal peace". It was odd but it was not until this moment that Abby wondered "WHY did I find that volume, at the sale? Was I SUPPOSED to find it? If so, why?" While Ichabod Crane reviewed the volume, hoping to find some financial motive, for the K.K.K. to attack the villages, at intervals of 25-30 years, he noted the reports, of harvests, of food, and weaving, of fabric. Reports which were no more astounding than those of any of the other settlements. The cause, of the attacks, also, could not be moonshine. This, due to the fact that these communities did not produce more product, than any other settlement. And, as for the fact that white children were, routinely, being raised, by negro nannies, this was nothing new, as well. In fact, by the time Cranes regiment had arrived, in the colonies, atleast three, elderly, negro men, had earned the title of the colonies "Best Animal Trainers". During these same times, negro women had, for generations, already, served as personal maids, for white families, just as negro males had served as butlers. As far as market prices, for goods, and services, were concerned, both races received the same payment. In fact, from what Crane was able to deduce, from the contents of the volume, there was NO apparent REASON, for either the delays, or the attacks. This is why Crane decided to conatct the local chapter, of the Freemasons. Due to the fact that these men served as a kind of "guardians", of American history, Crane hoped that, maybe, these men would be able to provide him with some clues. Crane would be most dis-appointed to learn that, un-fortunately, the "No Girls Allowed" rule extended even into the groups records keeping. Crane would realize this when he stepped inside the groups archives. It would not take long for Crane to notice that some items, which Crane KNEW that women had invented, first (including household items) had invention credited to the men, who re-invented the items, at later dates. It would not be until Crane would turn to Malachai Olsen, that a possibility would present itself. As Olsen would remind Crane "You do understand that the Klan has been a Puritan group, since its founding. In fact, if the K.K.K. had its way, none, of America's negroes would even be allowed to live in, let alone VISIT, states, where white people would live". When Crane would admit "I am aware of such facts" Olsen would, then, ponder "Do you remember what happened, during colonial days, when some white women became pregnant, and gave birth, to the children, of negro men?" When Crane would say "Indeed. As I recall, numerous men were, publicly, flogged, for the "crime" of "tainting" white women" When Olsen would ask "Do you remember what became of the children, born of such relationships?" Crane would say "I heard stories of the children being sent to foundling homes. I cannot be certain since none, of the children, were, ever, heard from, again". When Olsen would say "Fair enough. Now, what do you remember of the "other side of the coin"? The relationships between negro women, and white men?" Crane would ask "What is to know. Some, propertied, families, "purchased" "comfort", for their young men. Always a most discreet practice, though. Officially, the young females were regarded as "household staff". When Olsen would ask "And what ELSE do you remember?" Crane would admit "Some of the women, eventually, beccame mistresses of the household." When Olsen asked "WHY?" As if testing Cranes knowledge, of history, to which Crane would say "It is a popular belief that the girls provided their lovers with children" When Olsen would ask "What happened to THESE children?" Crane would say "Most were sent to live with negro relatives, whom the fathers families paid handsome sums, to take in, and raise, the children" It was when Crane would say "In colonial times, the races did NOT "mingle" BOTH races maintained a respectful distance". When Olsen would ask "And WHY was this?" Crane would say "The Quakers, and the Catholics, were as deeply, opposed, to racial integration, as this K.K.K. was". When Olsen would ask "And, what would half-breed children have meant, to these groups?" Crane would suggest "Perhaps, that negroes, and whites, could get along, just as well as the indian tribes got along." When Olsen would ask "Would it not pose a danger, to the religious?" Crane would, then, review some documents, which showed that negro families were compensated, handsomely, for permitting young daughters to "attend" young white mens "needs". Now, Crane would realize the reason WHY the villages were attacked. Someone must have let slip the knowledge, that young, negro, women, were "attending" to young, white men. Now, the 25-30 years gap made sense. While the negroes were building their communities, trading goods, and raising crops, and families, no one paid the villages any notice. The villages were only attacked when young women became "staff", in white homes. Since the Quakers,, and the K.K.K. would suspect racial relations were occuring, the Klan had decided to, further, seperate the races. Now, the mystery made sense. The question would be HOW to inform Abigail Mills, without pushing her right into the arms of that Haley fellow? By the time Crane was prepared to give Abby the news, Abby would inform HIM of what had happened. It would appear that, for some reason, the coven was not yet certain, of Katrina's motivations. As a result, the coven would choose Katrina to act as an "errand boy", bringing Abigail Mills before the covens membership. Abby would inform Crane "When I was inside the coven chambers, again, I remembered what you said, about showing respect. When I met with the high priestess, I could not believe what she showed me. Not until I was, also, shown the records, of the time" When Crane would ask "And, what conclusions have you drawn, based upon this information?" Abby would say "Considering the SIZE, of some of the families, I would say that the women were happy with their lives. Not that women, of the day, had many choices". Crane would say "Indeed". Crane was relieved that Abigail Mills was coming to terms with an alternative version of history. After all, NO one had the "full story". Not even Crane. When August Corbin would appear, to the two, Abby would say "Yes, I know. Not everything is as it appears" Corbin would say "You are learning". When Abby would ask "Hey, old man, you COULD have made this easier, you know. You COULD have just TOLD us". Corbin would ask "Would you have believed me?" And let the question hang, even as Abby considered it, herself. Abby would inform Crane "It looks like I have a LOT more studying, ahead of me" Crane would say "Courage, letenant. Remember that even the Roman Empire was not constructed within a single passge of the suns radiance, upon the Earths surrface". Abby would say "If that means "Rome wasn't built in a day", then you are right". Corbin would instruct Crane "Teach her, well, Mr. Crane. Abby has much to learn, before she understand how just how much she does not know" When Abby would say "Thanks, old man", Corbin would say "Anytime, kiddo", just before he would dissolve. Abby would, then, suggest, to Crane "Why dont we get a fresh start, in the morning" Crane would say A most excellent suggestion."

THE HAUNTING PAST THE SIDE BAR TRIPS

THE HAUNTING PAST THE SIDE-BAR TRIP Sure enough, that was SUPPOSED to be the plan. Once Tami and I departed the Egyptian artifact case (while leaving behind a HEATED debate, over whether Christians, or "heathens", had sailed, to the America's, first). To hear Mr. Brown say it, it was a "mere" one hundred miles, off of our projected course, to pick up the package. At this time, Tami and I were, still, growing accustomed to how quiet Ghost Ship Two's engines were. This "bird" was so sleek that it seemed that "she" just skimmed through the air. During the flight, Tami went through her personal e-mail, learning that her mother remained hopeful that Tami and I would begin dating, in the near future (if not, already). By contrast, since I had no one I was, really, close to, I spent my time reviewing footage, of the raging debate (with headphones, ofcourse). It would seem that most of those people, who were opposed to the concept, of pre-Columbian, Trans-Atlantic, travel, were the people who were saying "So what?! So you have a boat, and a few writings. WHERE is the REST of your supporting evidence?" When proponents countered this with "I do believe that, even if we produced a pyramid, you would maintain the position of "WHERES your proof?" Opponents maintained that the finding was "false", since there was no other, obvious evidence, of Egyptian life, in the America's. One opponent even said "So, you have a boat, and some scrolls. WHERE is the REST of your proof? Show me pots, dishes, cups, etc. If you want me to believe, show me an Egyptian village, located on American soil". The only part I found truly funny was when an opponent was challenged with "WHY was Columbus believed, when he said he had sailed around the world? Why didn't skeptics, at that time, say "WHERE is your proof?" On-board Ghost Ship Two, I had to switch the connection off. It was the same old debate, which had RAGED, for CENTURIES. While Christians believed that saying "ON my faith, as a good Christian..." was all the "proof" they needed, these same people insisted that all opponents, to the Christian view, of life, were required to provide in-disputable PROOF. Opponents did this, knowing, full well, that such "proof" would be nearly impossible to find, especially after the passage of tens of thousands of years. Yet, while some opponents were asking "How do you Christians know, for a fact, that the Garden of Eden actually existed? Where is your PROOF? What are the coordinates, of the garden?" The religious were silent. Like I said, the same old debate. Fortunately, by the time I tuned out, of the debate, and Tami closed her family e-mail, Ghost Ship Two had clearance for landing, and for pick-up, of our package. I wil, never, cease to be amazed at how soft, and quiet, modern aircraft are, upon landing. For example: With G.S. 2, during either take-off, or landing, Tami and I, hardly felt a thing. Then, there was that "Ground Speed Sensor" thing, which, when our landing gear deployed, the sensor rotated the wheels, just fast enough to avoid the old fashioned screech, of tires touching pavement. With Ghost Ship Two, the landing was pure silence, even as the tires touched the runway. After a short "taxi", G.S.2 stopped in front of a hangar, where we would await the arrival of this "package", which we were to pick up. Although the instructions were for the package to be waiting for us, about fifteen minutes passed, prior to the packages arrival. This is why the pilots shut down the engines. To conserve fuel. It would be two HOURS, after arrival, the package would be hand-delivered, by a carrier, who seemed in an awful rush. When we accepted the package, Tami, barely, had time to put pen to the form, registering receipt, of the package, when the messenger rushed away, saying "Thats good enough". When Tami and I took the package inside the plane, and strapped it down, then tried the intercom, informing the pilots that we were ready for lift-off, yet there was no answer. In fact, first Tami, then myself, noticed that none, of the stand-by indicators were lit. When Tami and I walked to the bridge, we found the pilots cross-checking every system. When we asked "Whats going on?" The pilots would say "Total power loss. We are trying to locate the source, right now" When the co-pilot would say "I just dont understand it. Everything was fine, when we landed. Why wont the girl work, now?" When the local air national guard brought out some batteries, to "jump-start" G.S. 2, the techs promised that the batteries were "fully charged", before the leads were connected to our plane. Within moments, though, the batteries went dead, right after the leads were connected to G.S.2. When Tami and I pondered this, for a moment, considering the events, which lead up to the power loss, Tami would say "Nothing has changed, since we landed. Everything remains in place". When I asked "Are you sure?" Tami would say "The only thing, which is "different" is that the package is, now, on-board". When I would look at her, and Tami would say "You dont think..." I would say "Lets try it, and see what happens". When Tami and I, together, lifted the package, and walked out of Ghost Ship Two, we noticed that the package seemed heavier than it had been, when we took it into the plane. The question was "HOW could that be?" When we labored to carry the package behind a nearby shack, and sat the package on the ground, then strolled back, to Ghost Ship Two, we would be surprised when, moments after our arrival, at the plane, the power was restored, and the systems began re-booting. When we contacted the pilots, via the comm, both men said "I dont understand. We lost ALL power, yet for no visible reason.. Now, power is restored. The Air Force Chief of Staff is NOT going to like this report". When Tami asked me "You dont think?" and I would ask the pilots "Mind if we try something?" The pilots would say "Why not? This is YOUR plane". When Tami and I departed the plane, and walked behind the shack, to retrieve the package, we found it odd that the package was, now, light enough for Tami to carry, on her own. With a baffling look, between us, Tami and I returned the package, to Ghost Ship Two. Shortly after entry, though, when Tami placed the package on top of our scanner table, the plane, suddenly, lost all power, again. A moment later, Tami asked me "Do you feel that?" I wasn't sure WHAT I was feeling, but our pilot, soon, let out a curse, loud enough to be heard throughout the plane as he said "Not again". This, even as the co-pilot would say "Nothing wrong, here". When Tami and I went to pick up the package, Tami noticed the increased weight, even as she asked me to help her carry the package. (Again, the package seemed much heavier, coming out of the plane.) This time, Tami suggested that we simply place the package on the ground, at the edge of the tarmac. Shortly after setting the heavy package down, and returning to the plane, we watched as, again, the systems re-booted. When the pilot came to us, asking "What is that thing?" Tami would say "I dont know, but its just too dangerous to fly, with it on-board the plane." When Tami contacted the Brown Agency, via comm-link, and reported on recent events, Mr. Brown, Mr. Blue, and Mr. Black, all agreed that ground transportation would be safest, for whatever this thing was. Tami would add the suggestion, of an armoured car. Preferrably a model from the age before electronic fuel injection. (No one was surprised by the agency request, that we remain on-site, until the armoured car arrived). Though we MIGHT have expected a Pinkerton's truck, we would be surprised when a medical equipment truck, designated for nuclear material, drove up, to the plane, later, and the driver gave us the code word, which the agency had told us to expect. When Tami asked the truck driver "Why a medical vehicle?" The driver said "Lead lined walls. It is about as "easy" to drive, as a tank, however, the lead lining SHOULD contain your package." When Tami and I carried the package, to the trucks rear doors, we realized the reason why the truck was so massive. This truck had walls thick enough to shield contents from a nuclear blast. After the package was locked, behind the lead walls, the driver signed off, on receipt, saying "Give me 48-72 hours, for travel time. This "thing" has all of the "pick up" of a turtle". All Tami and I cared about was returning to base, and HOPING that our next case would be a regular, ghost, case. Back, at the Brown Agency, Tami and I noticed that we were not the only agents being recruited, to study the package. It would seem that Mr. Blacks entire tech department was on-hand, as well as Mr. Blues entire team. Although a tech, in a bomb squad suit, was able to open the package, and show us the interior, of the package, no-sooner did we see something, which no one, present, recognized, but, moments after the package was opened, all the power went out. And not just in the lab, either. It seems that the entire building lost power. When Mr. Black gave the tech the hand signal, for "close it", and the tech closed the package, everyone, present, was amazed when, just about three minutes, AFTER the lid was closed, the buildings power came back on-line (In a repeat of what had happened to G.S.2.) When Mr. Brown asked "Did the client happpen to mention WHERE this thing came from?" The secretary would, only, say "The client reports that their children found the package, while playing, and outdoors, exploring." then added "We were contacted when, without warning, or reason, the clients home electricity ceased to function. The report says that the power was not restored, until the package was lugged, or dragged, out of the house, and into a nearby shed." When Tami asked "Did the shed happen to have a dirt floor?" The secretary would say "I have no idea, but I may inquire, of the contact." When Mr. Brown would ask those assembled "Any thoughts, or theories?" Mr. Black would say "An observation. Any time this "thing" is around electronics, or wiring, it would appear that it drains all energy, for its use. The only time it appears to be in-active is when, such as present, the "thing" is resting, on a pile of dirt" When Mr. Blue would ask "What about the delivery van? Why didn't it stall out?" Mr. Black would suggest "The package was contained within thick, lead, walls." When Mr. Brown cast a questioning look, Mr. Black would suggest "Lead is an Earth element. The truck, like the soil, in the observation room, are made of Earth elements. I would suggest that Earth elements cause that "thing" to either "power down", or dissipate its power". When Mr. Brown would ask "Proof?" Mr. Black would instruct the tech, in the bomb suit, "While leaving the package in the pile of dirt, open the cover, for just a moment". To everyones surprise, the contents were dark, as though powered down. When Mr. Brown would say "Analysis?" Mr. Black would say "We do not dare use our equipment, on the object. I suggest filing off samples, to place under examination". When the samples were taken, the tech, inside the lab, would report the faintest glow, eminating from within the package. Similar to friction, trying to power the device up. Just as everyone feared, though, the filings did not match any minerals, or metals, found on Earth. When Mr. Blacks team was left to ponder the "thing", Tami and I would be asked to review what Mr. Brown called "Something similar to the Hatfields and McCoys". Mr. Brown provided us with the case file, and a conference room, in which to examine the file. Tami and I agreed on one thing, atleast. Since the file stated that two, seperate, groups, of spirits, were "shooting" at one another, and that, spectral or not, each gun-shot was leaving a very REAL mark, in the landscape, Tami and I were willing to leave this case to others. As Tami and I agreed "Its bad enough being attacked, by the unknown, but bullets?" When Tami asked Mr. Brown "Just WHERE would REAL spirits find live ammunition?" Mr. Brown would, only, say "One, of many, questions". Questions, we didn't mind. Conversing with the deceased? We were okay with that. Chasing, and being chased by, "monsters"? We could live with that. Being shot to death? Not high on either of our priority's lists. While waiting for a non-lethal case to come along, Tami and I did agree to investigate the case of a woman, in a trailer park, who claimed she was being sexually asaulted, by an "un-seen force". The file claimed that the only thing the woman knew, about her attacker, was that it was a male. What the file DID contain was the caution "Subject has a LONG history, of substance abuse". When Tami and I visited the area, where the woman lived, in the hope of finding something "concrete", concerning all that we had learned, from both police, and the womans neighbors, about the only thing Tami and I learned was that the woman was NO "reformed" addict. It would seem that everyone Tami and I spoke with, said it was easy to tell when the woman was "using". As far as to how the intruder gained access, to the trailer, without breaking in, again, there was mutual agreement, among the community, that the woman was, often, so stoned that she did not even remember to close, or lock, her trailer door. After being cautioned, by the womans neighbors, Tami and I entered the womans trailer. Tami's concern was that the neighbors were correct. The woman did not even remember to lock her door. As for the interior, of the trailer, Tami and I were not surpised, at what we found. Just as locals had said, the woman was "too far gone", to care. Tami and I could only stand the interior, of the trailer, for a few moments, before we felt the urge to leave. As we departed the trailer, the lot owner said "Told you. Thats why Im puttin her out. Her electric has not been on, in months, and I dont even think that woman has had a real bath, in months. With this information in hand, Tami and I began our stake-out. Thankfully, it was not long before the facts of the case, came to "light". Maybe, the woman did not take actual showers, however, she did "borrow" a neighbors garden hose, and what looked like laundry soap, to shower with. Tami was not surprised when several, local, boys, stopped by, to watch the woman "bathe". After the woman was "clean", she snatched some clothes, from a laundry line, in another yard, then left the area, just before a patrol car stopped by. When the woman returned to her trailer, later that evening, Tami agreed that, as stoned as the woman, obviously, was, an attacker could chop the woman to pieces, long before she realized she was being attacked, and murdered. It was, maybe, an hour, after the womans return, to her trailer, that a man, in a suit, and overcoat, stopped by the womans trailer. When Tami and I crept close enough, to hear what was going on, we found out where the "light show", and "ghost" really came from. The woman was so far out-of-touch, with reality, that, once her "guest" got un-dressed, all he had to do was whisper the suggestion "Look at all the sparkling lights", into the womans ear. While the "action" was going on, Tami and I recorded enough, of the "proceedings", to make sure that the man, whomever he was, could be convicted. After all of this, I had to embrace Tami, for a moment, as she shivered at the thought of "She is so far gone, she would have believed him if he said "I am God"" Shortly after Tami and I made our preliminary report, to the local police, and a police cruiser, and an ambulance, were sent, to the trailer, the paramedics verified that everyone was too late. The woman was dead. While the police searched for physical evidence, of the cause of death, Tami and I found it, in some video, from a camera we had planted (as a precaution). It seems that the man, in an effort to save himself, had not only gotten the woman stoned, again, but, this time, he "put her out", permanently. Neither Tami, nor I, could believe that the man could kill just by saying "Look at the shining gates. Paradise lies beyond. An eternity of peace. Why not walk inside". After the woman had exhaled her final breath, and the man made sure her pulse was gone, he whispered something I wont repeat, in this report. When we reported in, to the Brown Agency, staff confirmed that this kind of death is called "hypnotic suggestion", while Tami had an even simpler name, for the process: Murder. The problem was that, with no weapon, or visible struggle, there was nothing to tie the man, a corporate administrator, to the crime. He would walk away, without so much as an interview. Now that the woman was dead, the lot owner would have the womans trailer towed away. By the time Tami managed to trace the lot rent payments, through various front companies, the executive would have placed enough "protection", around himself, that the law could not touch him. Add to this that there was no evidence, of "foul play", and the corporation could not be charged, either. Tami did make note, for the file, that the last time anyone saw the executive, he had boarded a corporate jet, flew a few hundred miles, then landed, switched to a private car. The man was clever enough NOT to even use a modern car, either. As for his victim, the woman, it seems that her family was so ashamed, of her, that the family had cut all ties, with the woman, years ago. And it was no wonder. A fine family, of Southern Baptists. Fine homes, cars, private school educations, proper community involvement. True preparation for up-and-coming leaders. The womans mother would tell Tami and I "From childhood, that girl seemed to hate everything this family stood for. She wasted so much time, away from home. After she ended up, in a homeless shelter, twice, we realized there was little which could be done. Every time she was dragged into detox, the process involved triple the normal time, Finally, we just had to give up on her. We had the full support, of the church, and the community, when we abandoned her, to live her own life. As our preacher said "A parent can only do so much, for a child. After that, the child must be set free". Still, despite the fact that the woman had made her own choices, and decisions, her mother seemed full of remorse, even asked she asked Tami "You are a woman. WHAT more could I have done, for my baby girl?" Tami would suggest that the woman focus on her remaining, adult, children. Those, who had turned out, as planned. When the womans other daughter joined us, saying "Mother, you should come inside, now." Then telling Tami and I "We thank you for the news". (Even the young womans eyes were full of remorse). Maybe the family did not wear their feelings on their sleeves, but their eyes spoke the "volumes" which their voices did not. As Tami and I departed the property, Tami would ask me "I wonder if my own family felt the same way, when I went my own way?" I would only say "Based upon the way the family has accepted you, back, I would say your family thinks a LOT of you" Tami would add "If only my mother would stop trying to marry me off." (Tami just hoped that I could not read her thoughts). Thankfully, by the time Tami and I concluded this case review, the Brown Agency had another case, for us. This would appear to be a case of disturbed remains, or relics. It would seem that a land survey, funded by a group, hoping to build a new casino, had turned up some pieces of clay pots, and a couple of sharpened stones. It would seem that, when the finds were sent in, for analysis, a group, of archeologists, appearred, on the construction site, and placed construction work on hold, while the area was being excavated. IF the contact information was correct, the "disturbances" started after what were reported as "pieces" of funeral gear, were excavated, and removed from the site, for analysis. Now, it seems that people, in VERY OLD clothing, were being sighted, around the dig. Tami's hope, for a simple "Visualize and Verify" went "out the window", when the report contained claims that some, of the "visitors", were actually asking workers questions. Questions such as "What are you doing here?" and "Why are you here?" Local police had started their own investigation, by checking costume rental stores, and fabric stores, to find out if anyone had rented costumes, or purchased material, with which to make costumes. Even the police investigation, of the internet, turned up "dry", for ORDERS of goods. When the police set up security, around the site, some of the patrol officers not only reported visuals, of the "visitors", but, in atleast two cases, "visitors" had gotten rough, with officers, while demanding to know "WHY are you disturbing my resting place?" Police were reporting that, in the seconds, between cuffing suspects, and opening cruiser doors, that hand-cuff's had fallen, loose, in officers hands. The "visitors" were nowhere to be seen. Since no one else WANTED to investigate the dig site, the file had landed at the Brown Agency, and its "Resident Ghost-Busters". Due to the fact that the contact file stated that the requested information was for Tami and I to find out if the "haunting" was "real", and, IF so, WHO was behind it, as well as the reason for the haunt. If the file was correct, the reason, for the haunt, would be obvious. Although local citizens had been petitioning local government, for many years, asking for factory jobs, the only money, which would be approved, for investment, would be for the construction of the latest resort. Something called an "Interplanetary" resort. According to a booklet, enclosed in the file, it would seem that the resorts restaurants, and guest rooms, were listed, in the designs, to be on the upper levels. Inside some kind of spheres, which would be constructed to resemble the planets, of this solar system. The main floors would be devoted, completely, and solely, to gambling. When Tami and I presented our primary report, Mr. Brown would say "I agree. WAY too much money going into the gambling, with NOTHING to show for it, in the local economy". On our flight, to the area, Tami expressed her concerns, especially over the "vanishing visitors". The people who, allegedly, escaped hand-cuffs. Tami wondered if these stories were a cover, for escaped prisoners, or if the stories were just fire-side tales. Something to give the site additional mystery, or even mystique? When Tami reviewed the law, concerning the filing of false police reports, and viewed the penalties, of same, she just could not see anyone, risking so much, just for fire-side stories. When Ghost Ship Two touched down, near the site, it would seem that we landed in the middle of what some would consider an "attack". While the archeologists were running for their lives, un-seen attackers were hurtling arrows into the air. Thankfully, our prototype ships designers had placed anti-radar, and anti-debris, covers, over the engines intakes. Our plane also had windows, which could withstand 88 milimeter rounds. What neither Tami nor I, nor even our pilots, could figure out was the reason why our infrared sensors were not tracking the body heat, from the attackers. Sure, our equipment was experimental, but our infrared had never failed, before. To view the scene, it was as if there was no one behind the arrows. This is why Tami and I agreed with the pilots. "Arrows do not shoot themselves. There MUST be someone out there". Since there were neither thermal, nor movements, to activate our automatic defenses, the pilots placed the guns under manual control, then deployed the cannons. When five arrows flew at the guns, our pilot, calmly, said "Lets see what happens when we fire back". It would seem that a three second burst, from our cannons, was all that was needed, to end the "attack". As to WHO the "attackers" were, even Tami and I stepped off the plane, expecting a "thank you", for ending the fight, only to receive a reprimand of "I hope you didn't destroy more, of the find". To everyones relief, our retired, air force, pilots were experienced enough to fire just above the "deck", leaving the site intact, while sending rounds crashing into the wall, of a creek, beyond. When the archeology team leader saw the results, and mentioned "I am impressed", the air force pilots would say "We aim to please". Yes, the air, around the dig site, was "charged", with energy, for a few minutes, no doubt with the residual velocity, of the cannon shells, however, aside from this, the site did not seem damaged. This is when Tami, myself, and our pilots, came forward, asking the team "What was that?" When the team leader would ask "What do you mean?" Our pilot spelled it out. "We had to fire our guns, manually, since there was no thermal, or motion, for our gunnery sensors, to lock onto". When the team leader would say "I really do not know WHAT you are talking about". Our pilot would ask "Arrows do not launch themselves. WHO was firing?" This question was met with silence. Instead, the team returned to its work, collecting, cleaning, and storing, the artifacts, even as Tami would point out "All of these household goods, which you are packing. Isn't that, alone, some sign of both intelligence, and community?" The team leader would respond "It might", then they went on, cataloging the finds. Tami knew something was wrong when, as a worker called "Take a look at this", and the team leader would bark at the workers "Stay at your stations!" Even to the un-trained eyes, of Tami and myself, the find was in beautiful condition. It was even decorated, with a painting. When the team leader dismissed the find, as if it was just junk, or, in the leaders words: "Oriental knock off", Tami took a closer look, and agreed with the site worker. The find WAS significant. When Tami and I returned to our plane, Tami ran a web-search, on the team leader. She wanted to know how the man could dis-regard such finds. According to the internet search, the man had a significant drug, and alcohol, problem. That is, atleast until a rich person met them, and dumped the man into detox. According to rumor/gossip, when the rich person found the man living in a one room place, the rich person had taken notice of how he had categorized everything, in his "world". The rich person realized that such a man could be of use, in the rich persons business. Since the rich person was into land development, and the man had a passion, for reading, the man had been supplied with enough textbooks, that the man never had time, to think about vice. In the time, since the mans release, from detox, it seems the rich person kept him busy, taking a staff from site to site, categorizing anything, which the rich person felt was "significant". It would seem, though, that the rich person had a CLEAR definition, of what "significant" meant. It meant financial value. The only finds, which the man would recognize, were those which would bring a profit, at auction. When Tami and I agreed, with the actual workers, of the team, on the issue that other finds deserved the same respect, as the "valuable" ones, and we offered to allow the team to use Ghost Ship Two, for temporary storage, of these finds, even I was, truly, amazed that the site leader made no objections. In fact, all he did, with what he found, was to clear enough soil, to expose potential value. In fact, the only two "finds" which the man officially, noted, were the golden knives, which were found, and which had gemstones mounted into their handles. What puzzled all of us was how the man kept silent, about the stone foundation, which was found in one section, of the site. The foundation was about nine inches below grade, yet it stood three feet tall, with squared corners, and the remains of a wooden door. I know it was, probably just imagination, however, I just felt weird, in the space. I felt like a person would feel when they were trespassing on another persons space, even as the team dug out the foundation. This, even as the teams generator failed, and computer batteries drained. When flashlights were tested, they, too, failed to operate. Then, there was the sound. A sound which the team leader insisted was "Just the wind". Still, the sound did resemble human moaning. Athough I am not certain of the exact connection, however, as the team leader told his workers "I want this thing cleaned, and documented, BY tonight. This way, it can be demolished, tomorrow morning." Within moments of this "address", a mist rose from the ground, and a body began to form. When the face formed, the "eyes", seemed to bore right through the team leader, who had been ordering workers back into the pit, even as the mist appearred. When a muscular, male, body, formed, from the mist, and a growl was emitted, the man laughed as he told the mist "Nice try. I have been around men, twice your size, and several times uglier. If they did not scare me, why should you?" While the other worker stood well away, the team leader climbed into the pit, and stood right in front of the "man". When the team leader crossed his arms, and announced "Whatcha gonna do?", seconds later, an arm, as strong as a tree, lifted the man into the air, and tossed him across the site, where he landed in a pile of bumps and bruises. When the "man" turned to the other workers, and even Tami and I THOUGHT we "heard" the "man" say "Out!", the workers scrambled out of the pit, even as my partner decided it was time she did her "thing". When Tami climbed into the pit, asking the "man" "Was this your home? Maybe your burial place?" When the "man" turned to Tami, eyes flashing a burning red color, Tami would remark "Very impressive, sir, however, I am wondering WHO you are, and WHY you are here". (I remain certain that Tami could calm an erupting volcano, just by talking to it). When the burning red eyes changed to a deep blue, Tami would remark "What beautiful, deep, blue eyes. May I see more?" The man seemed to consider this, then waived his hands, about the area, as if to say "This is all I have". When Tami asked "Would you like to meet, over by the black bird, over there?" (indicating Ghost Ship Two), the man bowed, then gestured "lead the way". The man DID "ask" Tami to have the diggers move elsewhere. He did not want his privacy disturbed, anymore than it already was. When Tami relayed the request, to the team, they seemed happy to comply. When the three of us reached G.S.2, the man showed us "images", of his life. Images of farming, when not off, soldiering. Images of building his wife her dream home, and of her raising their children. He showed images, of how he had built the "small" places, of stone, as his private place. It seems this was the place where his spirit rested. It was no wonder he did not want people disturbing the site. In another set, of images, the man showed his grown children, leaving home, then his wife, taken by illness. After her death, he had lost the will to live. When Tami asked the man "Did anyone else live nearby?"" The man showed us more images. This time, of fiends, and neighbors. He, also, showed us some sort of community workshop, where men banded together, to repair items, build tools, and to share some ale, at the end of the work-day. Once Tami got a good look, at the images, and asked the man "Would your friends be upset if the team digs on their sites?" The man showed us the image of a not very large man. A man who, when another man invaded his private space, and laughed at the smaller mans dis-comfort, and order, to LEAVE, it seems that "big and powerful" were no match for the smaller mans sheer determination. Small man pummelled "big and powerful", then dumped the big man outside the area. After that point, no one dared enter the small mans place, without being invited. When Tami went to thank the man, then added "I know not your name, or your title." The spirit "said" "Delcon Maximillian". When I bowed to the spirit, out of respect, and then Tami made an un-expected curtsey, Maximillian bowed, to us, then dissolved. When Tami downloaded a geological map, of the area, then placed the drawings, of delcons visions, over the map, she would say "This is what we can expect to find, at each location. There will be a large workshop, at this point, and it is "surrounded" by several, smaller, spaces. Each space was its builders private space, or "man-cave", if you will". She, then pointed to the small mans space, cautioning "Although I think we should excavate THIS location, we should dig ONLY far enough to verify that the space is present." When one of the workers asked "Why not go all the way down?" Tami would say "The man this space belonged to has very little patience, with intruders. If we dig into that foundation, we should be prepared for some serious injuies". When another worker would ask "Would a ghost REALLY attack us?" Tami would say "In life, this man once pulverized a man, more than twice his size, just for invading his privacy." When the worker asked "But, isn't he dead?" Tami saw the look, on the vaporous face, of the spirit, as if daring the humans to invade his space. Tami would warn the crew "If you attempt to excavate THAT foundation, you do so, at your own, personal, risk" For a brief moment, everyone looked around them, even as a deep chuckle semed to ride the air. When a female worker asked "What was that?" Tami replied "A warning". As to the reason why the academics could not see the spirits, even while Tami and I could see the deceased, Tami and I considered this to be debate-able. Some people had mentioned that our past experience, with the spirit world, had provided us an "edge". Others claimed it was because Tami and I kept open minds, to the world, around us. Ofcourse, there were those who considered us "kooks", claiming that Tami and I just saw what we wanted to see. To Tami and I, though, the reason did not matter. No matter which version people chose to believe, all that mattered, to us, was that "we got the job done". When some diggers ignored Tami's warning, and dug into the "forbidden" foundation, the diggers did not dig, far down, before both diggers were grabbed, by the belt, lifted seven feet, in the air, for long enough for the rest of the team to witness, then the diggers were pitched some 100 feet away, from the foundation. After this, the rest of the diggers agreed to AVOID the spot. When the workshop was located, the space turned out to be even more expansive than the image had shown. Our best guess was that the space was about three stories tall, and massive. In regards to the overall project, though, the problem was that, with more artifacts being un-Earthed, the longer the construction crew was held up, from starting their own work. It seems that the local government REALLY wanted the resort built, to attract tourist dollars. This meant that, as long as the diggers were bringing out artifacts, the longer the wait, before the foundation, for the resort could be dug, and poured, with concrete. There was, however, another problem. Due to the design, of the resort, the foundations would have to be dug twice as deep as the level where the relics were being found. When relics just kept coming out of the ground, the team leader realized that this land would, now, fall under historic preservation guidelines. When the suggestion was made, that the resort, simply, be moved, to the other side of the highway, there turned out to be a problem, there, as well. In fact, the very problem which had resulted in the current site having been chosen. Between what Tami had been told, locally, and what she had found, on the internet, the original, proposed, site was, at one time, the site of a whore-house. Although this information did not discourage construction, nor did the fact that the home had burned down, due to an explosion, of the furnace, The problem was that local people believed that the prostitutes spirits roamed the property. In fact, this seemed to be the primary reason why no one, locally, would buy, or develop, the property. When Tami checked the internet, while I roamed the property, I did find signs that the foundation, of a substantial home, had, once stood at the location. If pressed to identify the type of residence, all I could say, with confidence, was that it appearred to have a Victorian lay-out. As for the so-called feeling, of being "watched", I am not certain if the feeling was real. With the nearby brush, I figured that, IF I were being "watched", it was by other humans. I made this determination since I sensed no malicious intent. As for Tami's part, of the investigation, Tami reported finding old snap shots, from the age of old black-and-white film. The site information included the names, of the madams, along with some photo's, which Tami was most suspicious of. When Tami showed me the photo's, and asked "What do you see?" I told her the truth. "I see women, wearing traditional clothes, bun-style hairdo's, and long, flowing, dresses, of the Victorian age." When Tami asked "What else do you see?" I asked her "What am I supposed to see?" Tami spelled it out. The women, in the photo's, were slim, and curvacious. They had basic, female, arms, and subdued features. When I asked "What of it?" Tami would say "These photo's are, supposedly, of pioneer women. Remember, from the days of out-houses, and carrying buckets of water, from pumps, into kitchens. Now, look at those arms. Do they look like they spend their days lugging fire-wood, and water buckets?" When I suggested "Maybe, they had help? Maybe, they either employed local men, for the brute work, or offered their "services", for the mens labors?" When Tami retorted "And, maybe my mother is the evil witch from The Wizard of Oz". When I suggested "Okay, lets suppose, just suppose, that these are NOT pictures, of the prostitutes. Why bother posting the fakes, on a web-site? After all, the prostitutes died, in the furnace explosion. How could anyone profit from the distortion?" Tami would shake her head as she said "Wrong question. The women were victims, yes, BUT, it is the TOWN which would benefit from such a story. As long as people BELIEVE that the place COULD be haunted, the superstitious, and the paranoid, will stay away, and the county can set its own price, for the land" When I asked "Just how much HAS the town profited, from the haunting stories?" Tami would say "As far as I can figure, about $10,000, per year, from tourist interest". When I asked "And the land, itself?" Tami would say "It is on the market, at a price of $5 million." When I said "You have got to be kidding. $5 million for dirt, and a burned out foundation?" Tami would remind me that there were those, in the world, who MIGHT PAY $50 million, to own property, which is "verified" as being "haunted." A short while later, and via video-conference, Mr. Brown verified that "Yes, there are people, who will pay fortunes, for what they want. In fact, a collector, of "haunted" possessions, just paid $75 million, to own the dress, supposedly worn, by Lizzie Borden, the day Lizzie, supposedly seduced, then murdered, two relatives, who, if legends are to be believed, committed incest, with her". When I asked "How much of this has been verified?" Mr. Brown would say "The dress purchaser paid $25 million, just to find out if Lizzie Borden even owned the dress. You should, also, know that the bowl, which Lizzie, allegedly, stood in, to rinse her relatives blood off her body, sold, some years back, for $7 million, while the pitcher, which Lizzie allegedly used, and which does bear **A** persons fingerprints, sold, for $12 million". When I suggested "So, does it not matter what can be proven. People are paying millions of dollars, just to be able to say "I own a piece of history"? Tami would add "THAT is what THIS town is waiting for. Someone, who WANTS to buy haunted land. The city can ask its own price, IF the buyer wants the land, bad enough". When Tami would ask Mr. Brown "Sir, if the current excavation continues, and more relics are found, what should we tell the developer, about the site?" Mr. Brown would say "My secretary has, already, done that research. That area has only been inhabited, for two centuries. There SHOULD be nothing, at all, beyond say, 75 feet. As far the artifacts, the Smithsonian has agreed to accept the items." When Tami would ask about the vengeful spirit, the one which had tossed eight workers, in total, out of his "private space", to date, Mr. Brown would say "That is being handled". The owner has determined that an excavator, and a bulldozer, can "take care" of the "spook". Atleast, that was the plan, for forty-eight hours. Although no one had any clue, as to where the spirit found the energy, when the machines went to work, on the spirits foundation, both the evidence, of sabotage, and the laughter, which seemed to "float" on the wind, was enough to convince the workers, even before the machines were flipped over. When, over the following week, the machines were turned right side up, and workers were prepared to resume work, everything halted when, with a deep, male, laugh, the machines were flipped, again. When Tami asked the contractor "What is to be built on this site, anyway?" The contractor would say "I think its just going to be a grade space. A place, for resort guests to rest, and relax". This is when Tami suggested "If there is going to be nothing over, around, or beneath, this foundation, why not just cover it with soil, and work around it?" The contractor would remind her "The plans call for masive foundations, deep into the ground. We have to dig this whole place up, to firm up the work". Tami would add "So, un-like th allies, in World War 2, you cant just go around it?" (Tami was referring to the German command-and-control bunkers, of th world war. The bunkers which had been so rigidly reinforced that Europe eventually gave up, on trying to destroy the places, and just built, over and around, the places.) This is when the contractor also remembered his own history lessons, including the one about how the post-war Germans had not only built a park, memorializing the victims, of the Third Reich, but how architects had directed intake water, from the bunker pipes, into the fountain, and that the same pipes, and pumps, remained in use, to this day. Pumps and pipes, which powered three, majestic, fountains. The bunker would remian fifteen feet below the surface, so that even planting tree's had been no problem. Now that the contractor remembered this, they had the foundation filled in, and marked, with red flags. Once the hole was filled, and marked, the mans spirit, no-longer malevolent, spiteful, or angry, appearred, to Tami, gave my partner a graceful bow, to which Tami gave a return curtsey, then the spirit dissolved. And, just as "Delcon Maxmillian" had predicted, the site turned out to be filled with workshops, each containing even more arftifacts. In some cases, Tami and I even watched how spirits, seen only by us, watched the humans excavate their lives. The excavator DID pull something, like a large cube-shaped, stone, out of the ground, however, due to its size, the contractor considered it a bonus, saying "Not so much digging, now". By the time concrete, for the foundations, had been poured, and the wiring, for a fantastic casino, began being installed, even Tami and I were left speechless. Especially when someone paid $300 million, for the site, of the supposed "bordello". (This, even though neither Tami, nor I, ever confirmed the home had, ever, been a bordello). When Tami and I were invited back, later, for the resorts grand opening, the "Interplanetary Casino", Tami's thoughts, and words, saying how lonely the place was, seemed echoed by other women, as well. All that I will say is that the place looked like it was straight out of the worst horror movie, I had, ever, viewed. In a surprise, to the investors, and the community, many people, including Tami and I, declined to enter the resort, since it did not give off the illusion, that it was safe. About the only people, who did want to enter, were those who wanted to play the odds. When "delcon Maxmillian" appearred, between Tami and I, looking at the thing, and asking, in a DEEP baritone, voice "Is THIS what we have come to? "Monsters", where the un-wary wager their lives away?" When Tami would correct "Delcon", saying "THIS is how our "governments" CHOOSE to make money. The people have no say, in the matter". Delcon would reply "I am relieved that I did not live to see this attrocity. It would have brought shame upon the clans, for sure". When Tami would ask "Your people believed in a fair days wages, for a fair days labor, did you not?" Delcon would nod as he replied, softly "WE valued the WORTH, of the individual. We worked the land, and aided one another. My brethern will be heart-broken to see what has become, of our lands". With a "Thank You", and a "Farewell, my friends", delcon would dissolve. In less than two years time, revenue, from the "Interplanetary Casino" would fall so far SHORT, of expectations, that the casino would be declared a "white elephant". This, despite the hundreds of millions of dollars spent, on the hotel suites. It would be verified that, over time, no one, except resort staff, ventured to the "planets". As for the projected income, from the resort, this would fall short, of goals, by close to $10 billion. The local chapter, of Gamblers Anonymous, not only saw its ranks swell, especially with visitors, who had gambled away every cent they had, plus automobiles, and so on, but the chapter ended up setting up a "Community Service" program, to aid gamblers, in paying off debts. When the results were made public, the old city council was "swept away", replaced with a new, civically minded, council. This council would have to inform locals that the only grant money, still available, was for gambling resorts. The government had made it CLEAR. NO MONEY, for building factories. No one was sure just what to do, with the casino, though. The place may have been a blight, on the area, but demolition would bankrupt the local economy. Since the federal government would not approve demolition funds, the only decision, left, for the city, was to shut down the un-used suites, and just try operating the casino. (The rest would be "written off", of taxes). As for the Smithsonian, it seems that the finds were in conflict with what museum staff had thought about delcon's people. Museum staffers had been so certain, that delcons people had been nomadic, following game, and taking women, whenever they chose to. Now, that delcon's village had been un-covered, the nomadic theme would have to be re-visited. Tami would suggest, in her final report, that not ALL, of delcon's people, had been villagers. After all, NOT ALL modern people, are city-folks. The Smithsonian would only HESITANTLY agree that this was POSSIBLE, even though this would re-write history. Still, the museum agreed to review the matter. Well, at this point, I WOULD, normally, say "On, to the next case", except...