THE HAUNTING PAST MYSTERY OF THE WILL

THE HAUNTING PAST: While undergoing our latest round, of re-supply, and re-fuelling, which included a complete, U.S. Air Force inspection, of every system, on the plane, Tami and I relaxed, and began reviewing Lysia's latest situation. In this case, however, the culprit was not a quack, who preyed on young women, to cover his criminal tracks. This time, it was another, of Lysia's friends. This friend, a recently-married man, and a man who had been planning to move into another new house. According to Lysia's research, her friend had not even known that he was an heir, to the subject house, until AFTER he was married. (It seems that some clause, in a will, about only inheriting, once married, and, therefore, "stable"). According to Lysia "My friend, and his bride, were, fully, prepared to find their own housing, until thier marriage paper-work brought forth an attorney, from a distant relative, whom the man did not know existed. The attorney brought the papers, to the new couple, just after they signed the papers, for their own place. While the couple had been, fully, prepared, to move into own housing, they had been "swayed", by the attorney, saying that, once the terms, of the will were fulfilled, the couple could SELL the subject house. What baffled Lysia, and her "team", was how the terms, of the will, were, nearly identical to the plot line, of a 1990's "comedy" titled "The Super". In the will, like the movie, a person was ordered to LIVE in a house, for a specified time. In the movie, performer Joe Pesci portrayed a slum landlord, who is sentenced to serve four months "house arrest", inside one of his own slums. He is only allowed to leave the building, for food, medical emergencies, and to arrange maintenance, of the building. That, ofcourse, was Hollywood screen writers. In the REAL world, where Lysia's friend lived, it was no movie plot. There was no going home, to a comfortable trailer, at the end of a days filming. Also, this case concerned an old house, NOT an apartment building. Tami and I understood Lysia's suspicions, about the will, especially since the movie was not filmed, until the 1990's, while the will was signed, in the 1930's. It would have been impossible for the family to plageurize a movie script, which would not be written, for 60 years. Still, the conditions, of the will, were clear. "To inherit this home, you, my heir, must move INTO the house, (with any spouse, and children), and LIVE in the house, for five YEARS. If you do this, you will become the owner." "To be clear, you MAY leave the house, for work, groceries, medical care, and for other, essential, tasks. What you may NOT do is just move in furniture, and clothes, then live elsewhere". When Tami would say "Unusually strict, isn't it? Almost like saying "You may have a currect spouse, but no ex-spouses. No less than six children." I would agree, both on this, and that the will was most unusual. When Tami and I vid-linked, with Lysia, for more information, Lysia would say "Sorry, my co-workers do not trust electronics. Probably due to the fact that they design, and build, such devices, regularly. For this reason, they understand how easily these devices may be tampered with. I do, however, promise you a FULL review, upon your arrival". Soon, however, Tami and I learned the reason WHY the U.S. Air Force wanted such a thorough review, of our plane. It would seem that, while other, stealth bombers had been in service, for years, no bomber, to date, could do what Ghost Ship Two could do. Namely, flying beyond the sound barrier, while fully loaded, and making vertical take-off's, and landings. While our plane had been modified, several times, for the needs of our cases, these changes had inspired the air force to re-examine the design. Sure, a special, experimental, spray, had been developed, which would both adhere to our composite hull, AND absorb long wave, radar emissions. Also, our "mounted in place" jet engines had been replaced with rotating engines. What our flight performance had proven was that the engines were just as stealthy, in vertical flight mode, as in horizontal mode. Aftre surviving being attacked, multiple times, with nothing more than "scratches", It would seem that the air force was re-examing the design. The air force thought that, if Ghost Ship Two could carry our supplies, including motor vehicles, freezers, labs, and so on, while remaining stealty, the plane should have no problem carrying bombs, just as easily. G.S.2 had a proven record, of "survivability", and the air force wanted to know more. What Tami and I doubted, that the air force took into consideration, was our pilots exerience. Because the men had twenty YEARS, of experience, with everything from helicopters, to cargo planes, THESE men knew how to make planes "dance". While Tami remained convinced, that 80% of the reason why G.S.2 was so successful, was due, more, to pilot experience, than to plane design. I just could not make up my own mind, if the percentage should be 70%, or 90%. Yes, Ghost Ship Two is a marvel, of engineering, however, Tami and I wondered if its record would be so "bright", with LESS-experienced pilots, at the controls. Even as we cruised, to the college town, where Lysia was based, Tami and I considered cases, handled by amateur "ghost busters". Tami and I knew of atleast twenty cases, where less-experienced "ghost busters" had done nothing, except enraged spirits, sending humans fleeing, from homes. Once the cheap amateurs had created worse trouble, experienced, professionals had to be called in, to resolve the trouble. This is why Tami and I were so relived, that the air force retirees had signed on, then stayed on, for our cases. WHERE would WE be, without them? While Lysia met the plane, at the landing area, Lysia would say "Sorry for all of the hush-hush, but my team believes it is better that the university NOT even know you are here". When Tami would ask, Lysia would say "Officially, spirits are only in whisky bottles. The university reputation is built on this" When Tami would ask "Where is the briefing to be held?" Lysia would lead us to a nearby, foreclosed, house. As Lysia said "The owners lost the house, after a potato chip manufacturer built a plant, and hired 500 locals, only to find that South America offered cheaper labor, and non-existant, health laws. After that, a telemarketting group came to town, offering workers 20.00 per hour. While the telemarketers DID secure some office space, there is no record of supplies being moved into the space. When workers, including the home owners, applied for, and showed up, for work, the workers found the office doors locked, and local police being sent in, to tell the workers to disburse. After that, the family could no-longer afford to retain the house, so they moved out, and the realtor has been TRYING to "move", as in sell, the house, ever since." When Tami would ask "How long is your groups lease?" Lysia would say "Since the realtor suggests that it will increase the homes value, being inhabited, we will be allowed to stay, either until our work is completed, OR until the home is sold." Inside the house, Tami and I found the kitchen well in hand. This, even as Lysia introduced students, from the universities cooking classes. As the lead cook would inform us "This is good for extra credit". It would seem that this project was similar to those new types, of vocational schools. The places were, instead of just memorizing the content, of text books, students no-sooner MEMORIZE a lesson, when the students learn the practical applications, of their studies. Places where forgotten lessons could, very easily, lead to an ambulance ride, to a local hospital. For Lysia's team, however, the goal was to AVOID the "ride", and use learned information, to determine IF, HOW, and by WHOM, a property might be "haunted". Tami and I would be introduced to trades students. Students, whom Lysia had requested come along, in case the "haunting" was nothing more than loose pipes, or poorly-installed wall board. The culinary students "job" was to make sure that the team had plenty of nourishing, energy, food, as well as energy drinks. When our group went into "conference", Lysia would begin the discussion, reminding attendee's "It is fine to make comparisons, with other cases. What is important is to remember why we are HERE". According to Lysia's historians, "The current house is, maybe, 95-110 years old. The prooblem is that our research has shown that this is NOT the FIRST house, built on this site." When Tami would ask "Can you estimate?" The student would say "Based upon ancient "record keeping", we believe that this is the fifth, or, maybe, the seventh, house to be built on this site". When Lysia would, patiently, say "Define that, for our guests." The student would say that, "Based, purely upon personal journals, and several, written, church, records, we have traced stories, of some of the homes, such as a seventeenth century home, which, allegedly, "lept" into the sky, and never came down." When I would ask "Tornado?" The student would say "Nothing on record. Possible, though." When Lysia would tell the student "Please continue." The student would add "In atleast one, possibly three, of the cases, it would seem that the community burned the homes down." When Tami would ask "For what reason?" The student would say "In one case, un-confirmed reports, of children being sexually molested. In the other cases, un-confirmed accounts suggest that Devil Worship was taking place." (Tami and I, never, failed to "get a kick", out of Lucifer being blamed, for mans actions) The student did seem hesitant, to mention one, un-confirmed case. A house, owned by a man who, allegedly, had great sex, with his wife, after cooking, and eating, each of their children. Tami would be first to emphasize "Un-proven and un-verified." The student would say "Correct. Nothing but journal entries, of suspicions." When Lysia would, next, turn to the Geology students, asking "What have you learned, so far?" The Geology students would say "So far, we HAVE verified that multiple structures have stood, at this site, over time. Some were larger, like barns, sheds, maybe dormatories. Others seemed to be small, like one, two, or three, room cottages. Building materials vary, as well as style. We have found evidence, of mud-brick, waddle-and-dowl, as well as mortice and tendon. In fact, I have little doubt that, if we continue, we will find the remains, of indian teepee's." When Lysia would turn to the Plumbing students, asking "What have you to report?" The leader, of the plumbers, would say "To date, our test holes have located everything from hollowed out, petrified, tree logs, to lead piping. Stone joints, here and there. Cant say we have found much, from the twentieth century, though. I should add that it seems odd that all, modern, plumbing, ends some 500 feet, from the edge, of the property, and well inside the towns land." When Lysia would ask the Landscapers "What have you to report, so far?" The lead landscaper would say "Our research has turned up that, over the years, of the 1770's, through 1850's, tenants did attempt to engage local landscapers, to beautify the property. It would seem, though, from journal entries, it would seem that the landscapers feared something, about the property. Claims of ghosts, and, get this, floating equipment." When Lysia would say "Define, please", the student would say "Some workers claimed to see not only spades, wrenches, and screwdrivers, floating about, but, atleast one source claims to have seem a steam-powered tractor levitate from one place, to another". When Tami would ask "Was it a John Deere?" The student would say "No, maam. Based upon the approximate date, of the entry, John Deere did not even exist, at the time." When Tami would say "Sorry, small joke." Lysia would tell the student "Proceed." and the student would say "As near as we can understand, from the journals, the floating unit was a European import. One of those fifty ton monsters. Heavy, iron, construction." When Lysia next called upon the Sociology students, they would report "Our research has turned up that, even though the occupants, of the homes, were, generally, well-liked, in the community, sightings, of floating masses, howling, and other, classic, horror film effects, are reported, regularly. Whether or not these are just the products, of active imaginations, is anyones guess." When Lysia turned to the landscapers, again, asking "Show our guests the map you have prepared, of the property." The head landscapers would indicate a series, of red "X's", saying "Caution at these points. As near as we have learned, three of these are depleted wells. One has a rusted, metal, cover, while the others have just been overgrown. We have marked each, with glow-in-the-dark paint, but be careful, nonetheless. While we have located some kind of "chamber", or box, in the yard, there is NO confirmation that this was a "punishment room", for land-owners children. Caution should be exercised, at all points." When Lysia would turn to the Carpenters , the lead Carpenter would state "While the house may APPEAR to be, generally, sound, we are not committed to this. The house had sat, vacant, for decades, and squeeky floors abound. Curently, we are awaiting some scaffolding, to shore up the second floor. The basement consists of nothing beyond walls, and an age old boiler, which should be in a museum. There is NO flooring, in the basement." When Tami would ask "Would anyone, on this assignment, have grown up, locally?" Even I would be suprised to learn that the cooks would say "Three, of my staff, have been here, since we were born." When Tami would ask "Besides great food, and beverages, what can your team contribute, to this investigation?" The head cook would say "I have been to the property, three times, during my life. Everytime I go near the place, I feel dozens of eyes, on me, as if watching." Another cook, a woman, would admit "I took a couple of "dare" dates, in the house. We never went half as far as we were dared to, since, on one occassion, an ear-splitting laughter scared us from the house." When Tami asked "The other date?" The woman would say "We heard what sounded like heavy footsteps, coming from above, on the second floor. When my "date" went up, to see who else was present, I heard a scuffle, and a scream, then a thud. After that I bolted." When Tami would ask "What did the police find?" The woman would say "It took me hours, to get the police to look at the house. Before they took me to the house, they sermonized me, about Trespassing, and Breaking and Entering." When Tami would ask "What did the police find, on site?" The woman would say "I expected to find my date, sitting, out font, laughing at me." When Tami would ask "What DID they find?" The woman would bow her head, then say "Signs, of a fight, but no sign, of my date, or anyone else. The official story is that the man just wanted a dramatic exit, from town. What better story, than disappearring, from a haunted house?" When Tami would ask Lysia "What do you have on the previous owners, or any others, who might be haunting the property?" Lysia would say "Thats the problem. As both of you know, from previous cases, official records did not come into existance, until the world wars. Before that, family bibles, and church archives, are the best we can do." When Tami would ask "Can you "ball-park" it, for us?" Lysia would say "As few as thirty, maybe as high as four hundred." When our group travelled, to the subject house, even Tami and I felt the "energy", eminating from the place. Some-THING was calling this place "home". I can only think that, when this place was built, it was bright, and airy. This because, behind the streaks, of rot, I could see the remains, of the original paint. Two, and a half, stories, above ground, and basement walls, which were only half buried. The windows were grimy, from decades, of not being washed. The paint was well into the process, of peeling off. The construction students would say "That "scent" you smell, is advanced rot. Filters must be worn, in-doors, at all times." When I would ask "So, you HAVE been inside the home?" The students would say "We did as much as we felt SAFE, doing, inside there. With dipped, and bowed, ceilings, and wall-board, hanging out, we felt it best to deal with the ghosts, first." When Tami would ask "What do the ghosts do?" Lysia would begin listing such things as "Moving tools about", and "Un-plugging tools, while in use." "Sometimes, the ghosts whisper to my staff". When Tami would ask "Threats?" Lysia would say "More like "If you value your lives..."" After seeing the site, Tami and I would begin our own research. The problem was that, so very much, of even American history, is not yet even recorded. Even history books are written from the authors point of view. This is why we had Ghost Ship Two, and Mr. Browns infinite resources. Tami and I would spend six WEEKS just sorting through age old "records", and trying to verify which accounts were true. I do have to admit that the cooking class students did an amazing job, of making healthy food taste flavorful. Lord alone knows how the students made coffee, and tea, taste, and smell, so good, while providing so much caffeine. While Tami concentrated on the "records", I would join the "blue collar" workers, whose job was to document, and tag, every sink hole, and well, which inhabited the place. While I was amazed, that anyone would let a well-head sink, below ground, the construction crew, and the landscapers, had an alternative theory. They thought that, originally, the well head was ABOVE ground, and that it had, simply, sunk, over the centuries. While the general thought, at the site, was that the arrival, of scaffolding, would make th place safer, for investigation, it would turn out that the opposite was true. While the flooring supported our weight, when the students tried to brace the upper floor, to make it safe, for walking, the opposite happened. As the braces were being jacked into place, not only did the ceiling NOT go up, but the floor boards, under the scaffolding, actually, sagged, into the floor. The idea, of pouring cement, in the basement, seemed practical, however, the concern was the fact that, once the cememt hardened, the force, of using even sledge-hammers, to break up the chunks, might destroy fossils. As for the idea of bring in pre-cast slabs, this idea had been considered, and abandoned. While the basement windows were spacious, there was, simply, no way to use them as an entry point. The real hold up was the fact that the team KNEW there were house foundations, underneath this place. It was not until I had the crazy idea, of suggesting "Since there is no floor, under these walls, why dont we just dig DOWN, beneath a wall section, then slide the panels in, from underneath?" Surprisingly, just as my consideration was under advisement, Tami brought us an update, on history. The very FIRST story, which she had sought to verify, was the story of the man having great sex, with his wife, after cooking, and eating, his children. Tami looked most proud as she said "Thanks to Mr. Browns sources, I have confirmed this story, or, atleast, most of it." When Lysia would say "Lay it on us." Tami would say "The story started out as a rumor. History says that, when a few, HARD, years, hit the area, that the couple sent their children away, to live with relatives. The parents did not think the children should share, in the hardship, of the frontier. The story goes that, while the couple struggled, to survive, about the only "amusement" they had, was sex. The story says that the wife gave birth, twice, both to still-born children. Children who "Vanished", soon after birth. While local records do not record the burials, of the newborns, the wifes diary states that she, and her husband, buried the children, at the western edge, of the property. The "legend", of the COUPLE, then the HUSBAND, cooking, and eating, the children, started out as camp-fire stories, and grew from there. All anyone knew was that, at two points, the wife was pregnant, then she wasn't. With no children being added to the community, rumors, and gossip, evolved, into the story." When an Architecture student would ask "What became of the couples already existing children?" Tami would say "Near as I can find out, after a number, of bad years, the couple moved on, to "more promising" land, and their children followed the parents." When a Sociology student would summarize "So, since the woman got pregnant, yet no children were seen, on the property, people begin to spin tales". Tami would add "To pass the time, during the foul weather." When the Sociologists would suggest "Can we confirm WHERE the infants were buried?" The landscapers would ask "Whats the point? After centuries, do you THINK the bodies would, still, exist?" The Sociologist would suggest "We could, atleast verify that the infants were buried whole and intact." When Lysia would ask "You REALLY think that parents would eat their own children, then bury the bones?" The Sociologist would say "Only one way to be certain." Since the journal referred to a location, where tree's had fallen, over the centuries, it would take a week to find the childrens remains. Even when the remains were excavated, atleast a few students insisted that the bite marks might be human. That is, until Lysia had the bones sent to the university lab, which verified that the bite marks were from various animals. As for the rest of the research, Tami was having even LESS luck, in verifying who was who. What Tami could verify, via research, was that the reason why several crosses, made of copper, were found, in one level, was because, at one time, this land had belonged to a Quaker man. The Quaker owner was religious enough that he had crosses, in every room, of his home. Whether he qualified as a "fanatic" depended upon ones point of view. One things for certain, and that was that history speaks of the man being able to quote the Bible, on a moments notice. In another layer, however, were found the remains of objects, which would have been common, inside a whorehouse. If the layers were correct, however, the whorehouse had stood AFTER the Quaker house was abandoned/demolished. Tami and I wondered if THIS might be the source, of the un-rest. Could it be that a Quaker was not happy, with hookers on thier property, even LONG after the Quakers death? At another point, there had been a blacksmith shop, on the location. We found evidence, of the shop, while digging UNDER the foundation wall, for the concrete panels. While Tami, Lysia, and the researchers, were busy, trying to piece together what truth there was, in the past, I was assisting the carpenters first with the digging, then laying, of the panels, then the scaffolding. In the opinion, of several of us, it would have been cheaper, just to level the place, and build, brand new. Alas, such is the case, with history. Preservation, often, costs more than replacement. In preservations favor, though, is that history is being maintained, for future generations. As w had suspected, from the start, the first floor was the only level which was safe, for access. The only places, where the second floor did not sag, were the spaces where modern scaffolding was in place. Off of the edges, of each scaffold, fell pieces of wall-board, and ceiling board. It was during the construction, of the scaffolding, that even I had an "encounter", with a spirit. While I would not call it terrifying, the spirit did suggest "If you value your life, you will leave this place." When I asked "Why? What is so terrible, about this housee?" The spirit would say "This place has not been safe, for many years. It is dangerous to remain." When I would clarify "You mean, due to the condition of the building." The spirit would ask "What else did you think I would mean?" When I reported this conversation, to Tami and Lysia, Lysia would ask "You had an actual conversation, with a spirit?" I would define "Not really a conversation. More like a friendly caution." This is when Lysia would ask "I wonder if THAT is what the other workers have been reporting. Not so much a "threat", but a caution." Tami would say "That DOES make sense. After all, atleast one of the homes, on this property, was built, and maintained, by a construction worker." When Lysia seemed "spooked", by the knowledge that there were, in fact, spooks, in the area, Tami would suggest "The question is: If the spirits are inhabiting a house, which is NOT safe, for any human to enter, then HOW do we make contact?" This is when one, of the carpentry students came up with a thoughtful suggestion. "Why not demolish this place, and let the class re-build it, as it, originally, was. New material, old craftsmanship?" Over the following days, Lysia was working, with her staff, to justify such an expense. The university trustees would want to know what the group planned to do with the house, after the project. How could Lysia explain that the idea was just to build a shell, which was safe to walk through? The "answer" arrived, just three nights into the discussion, when a severe thunderstorm ravaged the area. Yes, it was severe enough that our pilots even declared G.S.2 un-safe. Even as we raced, to pack the gear, and supplies, the location seemed to "come alive", with a fearsome groaning. When our group ran out, from cover, to see what was causing the sound, we watched as the pouring rain finally "broke the houses back". The house imploded, falling in, upon itself. One, of the construction students would mention "Dont worry, we can dig out the equipment, after the rain stops." After a furious night, of rain, followed by a slightly less powerful morning, of rain, the group returned to the site, where we found what we expected to find. A pile, of rotted lumber, which smelled, strongly, of mold, and rot. When gloved hands touched the lumber, it was more like touching soft sponges. To the groups amazement, when one of the Sociologists looked to the left, of where we stood, and asked "Who are they?" Tami was the only one, who recognnized the spirits, from old photographs. When Tami asked the spirits "May we help you?" a man, in an eighteenth century great coat would stand erect, asking "Young lady, would it be possible for me to speak with one of the gentlemen?" At that moment, Tami had to remind herself "These spirits are from the days before the nineteenth amendment. The days when women were SEEN, but NOT heard." When I joined my partner, asking the spirits "May we help you?" The spirit would ask me "YOUNG man, would it be possible to put our house back together?" When I would ask "That hunk of junk?" The man placed a commanding tone into his voice, as though speaking to an impertinent child, saying "YOUNG man, you are speaking of our home!" When I would say "Apologies, sir. Allow me to consult with my co-workers." While our group consulted, Tami and I did not mention that several spirits were "eavesdropping". This, even as one, of the male spirits seemed angry, when a construction student would suggest "Now, that the house is gone, why dont the spirits either "get lost", or find someplace else to haunt?" Tami would suggest "Its never that simple. We need to learn the REASON, which is retaining the spirits to THIS land." When a Sociologist would ask my partner "Just HOW do you intend to do that? All we have, now, is a vacant property." Tami would suggest "Why dont we try a variation, on the carpenters idea. The only difference being that we build a relica, in every detail. After we see the spirits off, the house can be sold." The carpenters would caution "While our idea, for a shell, woulkd have cost about $35,000, we should be cautious of total re-building." When Tami would ask "How much more can a complete re-build cost?" The carpenters would say "$350,000, to $400,000." Lysia would be first to say "I DOUBT that the university would go for such an idea." Then Tami had another idea. "What if we made the re-build a class project. Let students re-build the house, to learn how such homes were built, while under the direction, of experienced teachers." Lysia would, only say "I guess it cant hurt, to ask." As it turns out, when Lysia took the idea, to the university deans, the primary condition, for the project, was that the foundation be dug, deep enough, for proper Archeology to be completed. Once a firm base was secured, then the home could be re-built, on this sound foundation. It would seem that, while the spirits were in agreement, with the excavation, to be done, one man asked "Please be careful. My final request was that my body be buried, on the property. If you find my bones, I ask that they be treated with respect." Oddly enough, once the excavation began, Tami showed me the truly "odd couple", who were observing the dig. Yes, the Quaker man, and the whorehouse owner, were observing the work, like a city inspector would do. Side by side, the man and woman watched the humans dig the ground. At one point, the madam asked that the workers stop digging. When the workers asked, most turned white, when the madam came full form, reached into the loose Earth, and withdrew some kind of broach, or charm. When the spirit put the chain around her neck, the workers stood, un-certain, until the madam would say "My father gave this to me, when I was a child. I thought I had lost it. It thank you all, very kindly, for locating this treasure." The Quaker man came forward, full form, when some sort of cask, or chest, was found. The man was most proper as he asked the workers "Stand aside, gentlemen. You have located MY property." When the Quaker opened the container, even I was surprised that the container held a scroll-type version, of the Holy Scriptures. The Quaker would say "This has been handed down, through the generations, by my fathers." The next day, the carpenter came forward, when his tool chest was located. When the remains, of a mans skeleton, were found, partially inside the dig site, Lysia did as the law required, and had the bones analized, by the lab, while promising the spirit "If these are, in fact, your bones, then we can decide where to re-bury them." Twenty-four hours later, the bones were verified not just human, but a match, for the build, of the spirit. As a result, a discussion was held, about WHERE to bury the bones. The mans re-burial demand was simple. He wanted to be re-buried, someplace where he could rest in peace. Not some place we, pesky, humans would dig up, within the next 250 years. By the time the team located a proper place, for the re-burial, Tami was working, with the designers, on color schemes, while I was working with the contractor, on the "nuts-and-bolts", of the place. Using modern standards, it would have been very easy, to build the home, in a factory, then ship it to the site. The trustee's, however, wanted the students to gain the knowledge, of HOW the ancients built such homes. Result, the house would be BUILT, on-site. The one, good, thing, about the "stick-build", was that this drew out the spirits, allowing Tami to do her "thing". Conversing, and finding out WHY each spirit remained with the property. In this case, and most bizzarre, of all, Tami would be told, time and again, by spirits "I have no where else to go. This is why I remain. I mean no harm. I just feel that I belong here." Almost suspiciously quickly, as Tami suggested the thought of "Mother Superior. Where are you when we need you?" The spirit would show up, saying "My child, I am always, near you. Your welfare is my assignment." When Tami introduced our latest "band of souls", Mother Superior would surprise us when she would turn to the Quaker man, saying "Sorry, the Chairman feels you went too far over-board, with your family. Christianity is supposed to be about love, and acceptance. Aiding others, to see the light, of the Lord. It is NOT about "cracking the whip", and demanding absolute obedience." When the Quaker man would say "Madre, I did do my best, to teach good Christianity, to my family." The nun would say "No, good sir. You taught CONTROL, DENIAL, and the other, bad, parts, of our faith." When the Quaker would argue "Allow me to stand before St. Peter. I am sure he will acquit me." The nun would say "While the verdict is, already, in, I will not deny your request. I do caution you, though. Do NOT try to force the Chairman to see YOUR point of view. The Chairman is compassionate, but he has no time for fools, who translate the Word, to their own ends." When the madam would suggest "If the Quaker is not good enough, for Heaven, then that leaves me OUT, as well." All Mother Superior woulld ask was "Says WHO?" It would be to the carpenter, whom Mother Superior gave her highest commendation, saying "Sir, you are a good son, of the church. You have used your abilities, to enhance the lives, of others. You are most welcome, at the Lords table." When the man thought about the affairs he had, with two, married, women, while their husbands were away, the nun would say "The Chairman knows all there is to know. Since no harm was done, you have been allowed leniency." When Lysia would ask the nun "I thought Heaven was only for the righteous, and perfect." Tami stifled a smirk, as Mother Superior would say "How typical. How many times must I remind you mortals. Heaven is NOT some ultra-exclusive, country club. No one needs a special pass, to enter. It is what you DO, with your life, that matters." While the Quaker man would be sent to a "place of Contemplation", where he would be allowed to consider his actions, in life, and consider attonement, the other spirits would join Mother Superior, in dissolving into thin air. Tami could only guess that, with this group, there was no need, for the Enforcer Demon. No wonder it did not show up. While the house was only 25% built, when the last, of the spirits, were sent on their way, it seems that the university decided to continue the build. The idea being to show that quality construction was not a dead art. When Tami turned in our final report, on this location, Mr. Brown would say "Excellent work. Now, if you would not mind looking over the in-coming file, I would like your observations, on this one." Oh, well, life, and death, go on...

THE HORROR OF WOODRUFF HIGH SCHOOL

THE HORROR OF WOODRUFF HIGH SCHOOL While I have, over the years, had nightmares, about the time I spent, in this place, nothing has reminded me, more, of this "house of horrors", than a recent, memoribilia, article. One of those "How have you been, since high school" articles. Yes, I remember the year I spent in this place, located in school district 150. Woodruff High School is located on the north east side, of Peoria Illinois, in one of the lower income areas, of the city. An area where, in MY day, violent students, openly, beat on peaceful students, while calling peaceful students "homo"(sexual), "lesbian", and worse. For most of my freshman class, the only way to prove ones life was of value, was by beating on, and, even, killing, other students. In my class, I was considered an "outsider", just as much as Mr. Spock, of the planet Vulcan. The only difference was that, while performer, Leonard Nimoy returned to his home, each night, to relax with his "Star Trek" paycheck, I, on the other hand, was, openly, TERRORIZED, daily, by fellow students. People who just could not live with the idea that a student, in their midst, wanted to live peacefully. As for the staff, of Woodruff High School, these people, deliberately, turned a "blind eye", to the violence, of the freshmen. In the case, of my "classmates", I am certain that my male classmates have gone through life, beating, stealing, maybe even killing, for what they want. The worst part is that this "gutter trash" is EXACTLY what management WANTS, to encourage employee turn-over, and keep "seniority" non-existant. As for my female classmates, I am certain that these "women" have gone on, into adulthood, to become the kind of "women", who enjoy be-littling gentlemen. The kind of "women", who shout, in gentlemens faces "You are NOT a man!" and "You dont deserve a WOMAN!". The kind of women who are DRAWN to the abusive type, of men. The type of women who adore men like Conan the Barbarian". While management has, openly, REWARDED the cruelty, of such students, students who punched students, openly and publicly, as well as slamming victimized students into school lockers, while using various profanities, on the victims (While Woodruff staff members look the other way) This is why my own "memories", of Woodruff High School always lead me back to the reason why I was FORCED out of this "gladiatorial arena", which was Woodruff, and into adult education. At Woodruff, I am certain that staff cheered the "Conans" brutality, while ignoring victims pain and suffering. I, also, have no doubt that this savagery was a definite amusement, for district administrators. This is why peace-loving students, such as myself, were forced OUT of Woodruff. My freshman class proved, beyond a doubt, that they were NOT evolving, toward adulthood. These people proved that they were DE-volving, back to animal instincts. I would, also, add, that I am certain that the Imperial Roman Empire would have given Woodruff High School the highest marks, in sheer, student, brutality. While most of these brutes, and bullies, no-doubt will go on, to lives, which will end in obscurity (since all that they know is violence), I will guess that most will pass away, forgotten by the community. For those, who do NOT end up in nursing homes, I would suggest that most would end up in prison (Since violence is the only life they know). As for myself, I am planning a legacy, which no BULLY can, ever, take away. A legacy, in a rich tapestry, of short story fiction, as well as my unique arts and crafts. **I** willl be remembered, by this world, LONG after the bullies, who profaned me, are long dead, and Woodruff High School, itself, has been bulldozed.

CANDLESHOE THE CHALLENGE

CANDLESHOE: THE CHALLENGE When Casey Brown opened her phone, she would be surprised to see Cluny's name, on the Caller I.D.. When Casey would ask "Whats up?" and Cluny would ask "Do you, presently, remain awaiting your departure, at the airport?" Casey would switch back, from American English, to the more formal, British, English, of the British Isle, as Casey would say "Presently, my transport remains approximately thirty minutes, from airport arrival. How may I assist you?" Cluny would say "A matter has arisen, which requires our attention. Would it be possible for you to return to Candleshoe?" When Casey would say "If the matter is so urgent, allow me time to secure alternate transportation. If fortune favors my travel, I shall arrive, at Candleshoe, within an hours time. Two hours, at maximum." Fortune must, truly, have been favoring Casey, since her rental car had not even been processed, into inventory, when Casey Approached the reservations desk. When the reservations desk attendant would say "Welcome back, Ms. Brown. How may we be of assistance?" Casey would ask "Has my rental been re-assigned, to another customer, at this time?" The clerk would say "Why, no. We have yet to begin the processing." Casey would say "Excellent. May I extend my rental agreement, at this time?" The clerk would examine her station, saying "There will be no need. As I indicated, neither the motor, nor the contract, has been terminated. Do you wish an extension, of your current, motor, agreement?" Casey would say "Yes, for the present. I will be extending the agreement." Keys, back in hand, Casey would remind herself "When in England, drive on the LEFT side of the road." On her way back, to Candleshoe, Casey wondered what WAS going on. Casey remembered not only packing her belongings, but double-checking this, with Cluney. Since Casey was certain she had all of her travel supplies, in the car, Casey wondered for what REASON that Cluny was requesting Casey's return, to Candleshoe. Still, Casey had to admit that Compton-in-the-Hole remained a beautiful place. No matter how often Casey had seen the landscape, in the time since Harold Bundage, first, brought Casey, to meet Grandmother. As Casey passed through the village, however, she noticed the same, guarded, expressions, on villagers faces, which Casey had observed, when she, first, travelled, here, ith Harold Bundage. It was only after Caseys arrival, and exchanged curtseys, with Cluny, that Casey was surprised to see constables, and not Wilhelm, come, for Caseys bags. When a constable "dented" a bag, upon entering the house, Casey would call out "Hey!", then adding, in American English "If you break it, you bought it." When the constable seemed confused, by Casey's remarks, Casey would remember her British English, saying "Take care, my good man. Personal possessions contained, within." When Cluny, and Casey, entered Candleshoe, and Casey found the constables going through her belongings, Cluny would capture Caseys hand, whispering "The sooner you are OFF, of the suspect list, the sooner we may proceed to learning the true criminal's identity." When Casey would ask "What criminal? Whats going on?" Cluny was about to explain, when a detective inspector would interrupt, asking "Miss Brown? Miss Casey Brown?" When Casey would say "Right here, in front of you. What is going on?" When the detective would begin by asking Casey's business, both in England, and at Candleshoe, followed by questions such as "Were you aware of any observations, which seemed out of the ordinary?" When Casey admitted "When I departed, I wasn't being very observant. Cluny and I processed my belongings, to my motor, then I departed, for the airport." When the detective would ask "At, precisely, what TIME was this departure?" Casey would say "I dont know. Maybe two hours ago. Why?" The detective would say "**I** will pose the inquiries, at this time." Casey would say "Not if you want MY help. Now, tell me. WHATS going on, since I departed?" When the detective would begin listing names, of items, Casey would ask Cluny "WHY is this guy asking about Grandmothers stuff?" The detective would say "Miss, IM in charge of this inquiry, at this time." Just a moment later, a constable would join the group, telling the inspector "NO sign, of the contraband, in the luggage, nor the motor." Casey would say "Now, wait a minute! Are you implying that I would have stolen Grandmothers belongings?" The detective would say "Miss Brown, you DO have a rather extensive, juvenile, incarceration document, in the colonies." When Casey would stand her ground, asking "Why would I steal from my own grandmother? A woman who would have given me anything I wanted?" Cluny would interrupt, saying "Inspector. Your search has failed to locate the missing items..." When Cluny saw Caseys surprise, Cluny would say "Unless you have more substantial evidence, than a decade-old, juvenile incarceration, document, might I suggest your inquiries would be better suited towards locating the missing items?" When the detective would say "Very well, miss", then, as though staring right through Casey, the detective would say "I will be observing your behavior. Count on this." The detective, then departed the room, to join the constables. Once the detective was engaged, with the other officers, Casey would take Cluny, by the arm, to another room, then Casey said "Out with it." When Cluny would say "Out with what?" Casey would correct herself, asking "The thieves. WHAT did they steal, from Grandmother?" Cluny would say "All I know is that Wilhelm noticed some items were missing, during his regular review." When Casey would ask "HOW could you consider ME a suspect?" Cluny would say "Neither Wilhelm, nor I, considered you, as the theif. The police requested your recall simply due to the fact that we informed the police that you had departed, just recently." Casey would say "A recent departure, and a juvenile incarceration record. Talk about flimsy, or rather, transparent, evidence." Cluny would add "Now that you have been cleared, I was hopeful of gaining your cooperation, in locating both the perpetrators, and the missing items." When Casey would ask "Do you know what has been taken? I mean stolen." Cluny would say "Wilhelm is preparing a list, as we speak." When Casey grabbed Clunys hand, and said "Lets go. I want to know what people would steal, from our grandmother." When the ladies found Wilhelm, he was sipping a mug, of ale, then, upon seeing the women enter the room, Wilhelm would ask "Cluny, was it Grandmothers biscuit tin, or her sugar candy tin, which we sent for cleaning, and repair?" When Cluny would say "The biscuit tin", Wilhelm would say "Then, it was the sugar candy tin, which is missing." Casey would ask "You dont mean Grandmothers hand-molded, hand-painted, tin, do you?" Wilhelm would say "That is correct." Casey would snatch the partial list, from Wilhelms hand, and, when Wilhelm would say "Hey!", Cluny would silence him, with an arm touch, as Cluny asked Casey "What are your observations?" Casey would say "I remember most of this junk. Its all hand-made. No way a regular pawn shop would touch it." When Cluny would ask "What conclusions would you draw, from this?" Casey would say "For this kind, of antique stuff, the thief would have a buyer already lined up. No one else would touch this stuff. But, WHO would be in the market, for one-of-a-kind, British, ceramics, silverware, stoneware, and pottery?" The detective would enter the room, saying "My curiousity is, also, aroused, especially with a petty THIEF in residence." When Casey would tell th detective "Dry up." The detective would ask "Dry up? Is that American slang?" Cluny would say "Inspector, Ms. Brown is consulting, with us, on this matter." When the detective would say "A petty THIEF! Consulting, at a crime scene? On whose authority?" Cluny would stand, firm, as she said "As mistress, of Candleshoe, on MY authority. Now, detective, no matter your prejudices, regarding Ms. Brown, I have requested Ms. Browns assistance, in this matter. Have I made that quite clear?" When the detective would mention "If you dont mind her making off, with Candleshoe, in her front pocket." Casey would say "thats BACK pocket, constable. The term is "In the BACK pocket." After the constables departed, Casey, Cluny, and Wilhelm, would sit, in the kitchen, drinking coffee, while Casey would say "I wont bother asking how the crooks entered the house. Even **I** know this place is full of secret passages. The question is "WHY would anyone WANT Grandmothers belongings? I mean. Is it a land feud? Bitter, past, memories?" Cluny would say "Hard to say. England has a very LONG history." While Casey KNEW that the police would be stupid enough to watch the local pawn shops, Casey decided to turn in, early. Casey wanted to be up, EARLY, and to be out, and about, before the village had a chance to make itself alert, to face the day. Casey would be out of bed, coffee made, and a thermos, in her hand, as the sun rose, over the estate. While Casey wanted to make it APPEAR that she was simply out, for a sun rise stroll, Casey spent her earliest, morning, hours, checking as many, of the secret entrances, to Candleshoe, as she could remember. Rather than finger-prints, though, Casey checked for FOOT-prints. (Casey was quick to discount her own, and Wilhelms, from his, earlier, "tour", of the area.) Casey wanted to see if anyone ELSE was using the passages. After finding five, in-conclusive, locations, Casey would borrow a bicycle, from Candleshoe, and begin pedalling, to the "pawn shops", which the police knew nothing about. Of the seven shops Casey visited, that day, Casey found only one, which sought the "merchandise", which Casey was searching for. When Casey inquired, of the shop owner, all that the owner would say was "Yes, miss. There have been inquiries. Shall I add your name, to the list of "interested parties"?" Casey knew better than to say "Yes". Instead, all Casey said was "I will check in, later." After departing the "specialty" pawn shop, Casey contemplated the question of "Who would WANT Grandmothers belongings?" Casey knew, from her time, at Candleshoe, thhat the estate was full of "one of a kind" stuff. Artists signatures were to be found on almost every stick of furniture, book, and painting. Every police man, in the area, would know Candleshoe property, even from a "mmile away". Ofcourse, even the Lady, St. Edmund was as much a "fixture", of the local community, as the local church was. In fact, her ladyship had not only raised her own children, however, once these were adults, and, after Margaret/Casey had been whisked off, to America, by the girls father, then the mother had died, a year later. The Lady St. Edmund had gone into social/community service, and even presided over many primary school students. Her Ladyship not only knew the "back story, of almost everyone, in the community, however, it was, also, true that most of the community had visited Candleshoe, over the years. Caey knew that there was no WAY a thief could "move" Grandmothers stuff since, by day, everyone, in the village, would have recognized the property, on the spot. This left only night time transport. This would mean creeping, slowly, through the village, while locals slept. Wwhen Casey returned to Candleshoe, for dinner, she found Cluny, and Wilhelm, in the kitchen. This is when Casey would ask both of them "WHEN was the last, inventory, review taken, prior to my return?" While Wilhelm would say "A few months", CLuny would add "To be proper, a review is conducted, every three months. The soolicitor insists upon quarterly accounting, due to the value, of the articles, and the legends, of escape tunnels." When Casey would say "So, okay. Prior to my return, WHEN was the previous inventory review taken?" Wilhelm (with head bowed) would say "Six months previous." When Cluny would ask "Six months? You KNOW the solicitor requires quarterly reviews." Wilhelm would say "Apologies, CLuny, but with the spirits being present, I just did not acknowledge the value, of the pottery, when this was compared to the excitement of observing luminous spirits." When Casey would interrupt, saying "So, the preevious review was completed SOME-time BEFORE Cluny asked me to return." Wilhelm would say "Correct." When Casey would ask "Weree there any storms, in this area, BEFORE my return, to Candleshoe?" Wilhelm would say "You were only departed, for four hours." Cluny would correct this, saying "Pardon, several times, incliment weather has been a bother." Wilhelm would add "I think I was compelled to restore the power circuits, atleast eight times." When Cluny would ask Casey "What is the motivation, for this inquiry?" Caey would say "The only, recent, prinnts, which I located, near the secret entrances, were from Wilhelm and myself. I was wondering if the thieves came, and went, prior to my arrival." Cluny would say "If the previous review was six months ago, then WHO knows what might have been stolen, and at what point." Casey would add "Or, where." When Peter stopped by, to ask "What is this non-sense I am hearing, about Casey perpetuating a home burglary, against Grandmother?" Cluny would provide Peter with the short version, while Casey looked the man over. (Boy! had Peter "filled out", as a man) Once the "report" was completed, Peter would say "This is all nonsense. Caey spent almost as much time, at Candleshoe, as any of us did. If Casey wanted anything, she had, practically, a decade, to "pinch" the items." When Cluny would remind Peter, about Casey's, childhood, incarceration, documents, Peter would ask "What relevance does that have, in the present?" Cluny would say "It is my belief that the constables would prefer to place blame on a living, touchable, person. Namely Casey. This, rather than trying to trace "persons unknown", or even "spirits"." When Peter would ask Casey "What have you discovered, during your inquiries?" Casey would say "I knew that there is atleast ONE buyer, out there. A "secure" shop verified this. However, I do not believe that the merchandise has been made available, at this time." When Wilhelm would ask "Upon what evidence do you base this conclusion?" Casey would say "By the way the broker said things like "interested parties", and the fact that the broker declined to show me even a sample, of the merchandise." When Cluny would ask "What conclusion have you drawn, from this evidence?" Casey would say "If this weere Los Angeles, I would have my gang find a safe place, to hide the loot in." To which Cluny would correct, saying "To secure Grandmothers beloongings?" Caseey would go on, saying "We would need to hide the stuff, until the "heat was off". When Wilhelm, Peter, and Cluny, seemed puzzled, as Wilhelm would say "The heating system, in Candleshoe, is not operational, at this time." Casey would say "Pardone. I meeant "Until the constables lose interest, in the matter." When Peter would ask "If YOU were the intruder, WHERE would you hide the pilferred property?" Casey would say "Somelace, where no one would think, to look. I would have to ditch the take, FAST. The longer a theif holds oonto the loot, the more likely the cops will nail them." Then Casey remembered "This is not Los Angeles. This is England." When Peter would say "Your suggestion, while worthy of further inquiry, would leave so very many opportunities, for concealment. Right, Wilhelm?" (The boys knew of hundreds of spaces, on the grounds, of Candleshoe, where people could hide, and this did not even count the number, of spaces, INSIDE Candleshoe, where such items coulld be "stashed") Whiile the SEARCH began more as a treasure hunt, it was not long after Wilhelm returned, from the village, with carpentry supplies, that Wilhelm also brought news. The constabulary had "Information Requested" posters out, on Casey. Suddenly, the SEARCH had become a CHALLENGE! The CHALLENGE, for the family, was to find the stolen items, before Casey was arrested. When Peter brought forth a map, of Candleshoe, suggesting "Let us begin the search with the most spacious locations." When Casey would say "FIne. We start there, but I have to tell you.. NO, good, theif, would store all of their loot, in a single location." Cluny would say "So, let us proceed upon the assumption that we are dealing with a BAD thief." In less than an hour, all of the LARGE spaces, around the property, had beeen searched. Peter had marked off each location, on the map, to prevent repeat searches. It was the smaller spaces which would consume multiple days, of searching. There were just so many of theese spaces, and so many of these spaces had secret entrances. Casey found herself wishing that the spirits, of Candleshoe, would aid in the search, as they had, the previous time. While thesee groups were searching Candleshoe, finding spaces which the young people never knew existed, constables, in the closest, large, city, were busy taking calls, and charting Caseys past. What the constables could not understand, however, was the rationale, behind the detective inspectors desire, to have the American being so thoroughly investigated. Sure, Casey Brown had a substantial, JUVENILE, arrest record, but, as the constables noticed, this information was a decade old. What, possible, bearing could this information have, on the present? It was a known fact that, in the time, since Casey Brown departed both Los Angeles, and the United States, Casey had "fallen off" of the "criminal radar map". Maybe, this was part of the reason why the detective inspector was trying to find CURRENT information, on Casey Brown. Trouble was, all the constables ended up doing was compiling, and verifying, recoerds, from twenty-five years, past. When the detective inspector told the crime scene investigations unit "I want you to take Casey Brown apart. I want to know everything. Her toothpaste, deodorant. Even her bra, and panty, size. Fine me SOME-thing, which I can use, to put her behind bars." While the detective inspector was busy, trying to buiold a case, against Casey, Casey was meeting with some old "chums", from secondary school. (High School, in America), to find out more, about Englands underground, antiquities, market. That is, when Casey was not involved in searching for Grandmothers lost property. While Casey met up, with some ex-cons, her, primary, focus, was on those, currently working the "trade". What Casey was able to llearn was that there were as many as twenty buyers, bidding for the hand-made treasures, wwhich Candleshoe would offer. Items which, once purchased, would NEVER, see the light, of day, ever again. Sure, Casey understood that the actual thieves, who stole the merchandise, were, lucky if they received payment, of about fifteen cents on the dollar, for the objects real value, even from underground pawn brokers. People who would, then, sell the stolen goods, at 85-90 cents, on the dollar. This is the reason why the most successful theieves, whom Casey knew, only stole CASH. Steal money, then "sit on it", for ninety days, then relax. This time, however, Casey Brown was not llooking to score cash. Caseys goal was to retrieve Grandmothers property. When one, pathetic, criminal, arranged a meeting, with Casey, on the claim of "I KNOW where the goods are". The fool did not understand WHO he was dealing with. When the thief saw the dress suit, manicured nails, and comfortable shoes, the thief thought exactly what Casey hoped he would think: "This dames a push-over. I can take her for a fortune." While Casey started off, playing this very role, when the thief cut, directly to the chase, saying "If you want the antiques returned, bring $100,000 pounds, to a pplace which I will call you about, later." No-soonere had Casey said "Wrong answer", when she dragged the startled man into an alley, and began roughing him up. When the man saaid "Stupid little nutter. I will tell you nothing." Casey would, again, say "Wrong answer." When Casey noticed a barrel, of rain water, nearby, and drragged the man over, dunking the man, he cursed her, even as she kept saying "Wrong answer". When the man, finally stopped squirming, Casey dragged him out, of the barrel, dumped him, on the ground and, as the man coughed, and caught his breath, Caey would saay "Just a friendly reminder. No one stealls from my Grandmother. Tell yopur friends." After the theif sacrambled away, Casey returned to Candleshoe, to resume the hunt, for the missing items. Upon returning to the estate, however, Casey would listen as Peter, and Wilhelm, would agree "We wre, never, aware of how MUCH, of Candleshoe, we never saw, before. A person could build a housing development, within these walls." When CLuny would mention "I wish we could use hunting dogs, or even police dogs." Peter would ask "What good would that do? Those dogs are trained to sniff out bodies, or drugs. We are searching for Grandmothers household items." This is when Casey had an idea. "What if we brought in metal detectors?" Wilhelm would say "Nice idea. Not practicale, though". When Casey would ask "How so?" Wilhelm would remind Casey "Most of the doors, and hatches, in Candleshoe, are made of metal. No matter where you pointed such a device, it would sound off." Casey would say "Too bad we dont have a panel-peeking device, to see through walls with." When Cluny would say "If you mean ground penetrating radar, England IS modern enough to have possession, oof such devices." When Casey would ask "How much would one cost?" Wilhelm would say "IF a unit wer available, locally, it would, still, cost thousands of pounds, to survey a property of this size." When Casey would say "We dont have to survey the whol;;e place. Just enough to find Grandmothers stuff." Peter would add "Unless we know WHERE to look, it is entirely, conceivable that we COULD survey the entire property, beforee finding the lost items." Then, Casey had another idea. When Casey laid out her plan, then asked Wilhelm "How long, after you travel, to the village, to order the unit, do you think it would be, before the whole area finds out what we are planning?" Cluny would say "The village will know, by night fall. The entire county would know, by the following evening." Casey would, then, ask Cluny "How long would you need to arrange a large group, of observers? If need be, tell them that we have another active ghost. We will need spotters, to play "Hide and Seek". Cluny would say "Unless you want me to phone the people, I would require atleast a couple of days." When Peter would ask "May I inquire what your next action would happen to be?" Casey would say "Simple. After Cluny contacts the locals, then Wilhelm orders the radar, we watch the grounds, and see who "takes the bait". Once word gets around, of the radar, I believe that the thieves MAY try to recover Grandmothers items. When they return to the property, our spotters will alert us as to WHERE the theives are located. After that, we simply follow them to Grandmothers items." The next day, while Cluny set off, to notify the neighbors, of the "game", Casey agreed to drive into town, for groceries. However, just as Casey enetered the towns main street, she found that her car was stopped, by constables, both front and rear. When Casey would call out "For goodness sake. I am just going to buy groceries." The constables would sya "Sorry, miss. Detectives orders. We are to assume that your real intent is to leave town. As a result, we are to arrest you." At the police station, Casey was thankful that Cluny had attached an answering machine to the homes phone. When Casey got the nachine, she would say "Peter, Cluny, Wilhelm. I am at the village police station. Bring bail money." Two hours later, Cluny, and Peter, wer arguing, with the constable, over what Casey was, actually, doing, in the village. When Cluny insisted that Casey was, in fact, buying groceries, the constable showed Cluny a note, asking "Is this your signature, miss?" When Cluny would say "Ofcourse. THIS is the list I provided, for Casey." Still, the constable would say "You will need to return, tomorrow. The detective was quite clear. The thief goes nowhere, until the detective inspector has a go, at her." When Cluny, and Peter, left the police station, Peter would suggest "As long as we are here, we might as well bring back the groceries." The next day, when Cluny, Peter, and Wilhelm, returned to the police station, all three noticed how the detective was "handling" the investigation. The man was being just cleverly obtuse enough, in his accusations, to make Caseys twenty year old crimes seem like all had just occurred, the day before. The man must hav been going at it, most of the morning, since Casey was looking stressed, and exhausted. The more that Casey tried to say "Yes, twenty years ago, I DID do such things." The more the detective would say "So, you ARE a thief." When Casey would say "WAS". The detective ignored her, saying "Alright, thief. WHERE are the Lady St. Edmunds items?" When Casey would stretch, and say "I, really, dont know." The detective would say "So, you admit that you stole, and sold, the items. You just dont remember who the buyer was." When Casey would say "NO!", the Detective would say "Refusal to cooperate, with an investigation. Well, young thief. American or not. You are about to spend ten YEARS, as a "guest", of their majesties." Casey was being transported, to a womans prison, even as Wilhelm updated his inventory, and reported more items missing. When Peter would ask Cluny "What do we do, now? This was Caseys idea." Cluny would say "We see it through. For her sake. We find Grandmothers items. Turn the REAL criminal over to police, and HOPE that is enough to clear Casey." What no one planned on was for the "game" to take over a week, to be played out. Spotting the property was no real problem. Plenty of people, willing to help out. Still, it would seem that it took the REAL criminal a full week, to learn that the radar was on its way, to Candleshoe. Once spotted, by an observer, Peter, Wilhelm, and Cluny, would follow the trespassers trail, then watch as the theif grabbed some kind of cart, and began loading the stolen items into the cart. When Cluny would whisper, to Peter "Should we detain them, now?" Peter would whisper back "Not yet. Lets find out where they take Grandmothers items. Maybe we can learn more, along the way." By the time the "children", of Candleshoe, found out WHERE Grandmothers items were headed, the three also learned the identities, of atleast two, of the buyers. When the three rushed the court house, for Casey's arraignment, Cluny, Peter, and Wilhelm, no-sooner listenened to the prosecutor listing Caseys PAST crimes, but, then, the three were surprised when the judge brought forth Casey's JUVENILE documents. When the judge began emphasizing the DATES, th prosecutor insisted "The defendant HAS a previous, arrest, record!" The judge, however, would say "The accused HAD a PAST criminal record. A record, from, almost, TWENTY YEARS ago." When the prosecutor would hear the judge say "Unless you have CURRENT information, to charge th accused with." The prosecutor would say "Surveillance has observeed Miss Casey Brown, entering a KNOWN, underworld, pawn broker shop." When the judge would ask "For what reason?" The prosecutor would say "We BELIEVE Miss Browns intentions were to find an establishment, which would fence the items." Aftre the judge, and the prosecutor, would "jockey", back and forth, several times, including over the fact that it is NOT illegal to enter a pawn shop, or to ask questions." The prosecutor would say "She tried to leave the area, with-OUT proper approvals." The judge would ask "How FAR, from th village, beyond Candleshoe, was Miss Brown detained?" The prosecutor would say "I am proud to say that we apprehended the defendant, as she ENTERED town. We never gave her a chance to make her get-a-way." When the judge would say "In that case, just how much contraband DID the accused have, in her motor, at the time of detention?" When the prosecutor would press "Your honor. The defendant is a known, and admitted, THIEF! How can the court question her guilt?" The judge would say "So far, Mr. Prosecutor, ALL you have done is reminded this court of the distant PAST. This court has been provided with NO evidence, of RECENT crimes." When the detective inspector would interrupt the court, saying "Your honor, the defendant IS an acknowledged THIEF! Give me a few hours, and I WILL get a confession out of her." The judge would bang his gavel, saying "Baliff, remove the detective inspector from this court rooom." The judge would, then, turn, to the prosecutor, saying "This is NOT America. The British Empire does NOT torture people, into confession. Now, Mr. Prosecutor, unless you have RELEVANT, current, information, to present to this court, this court is inclined to dismiss the case, against Miss Casey Brown." Looking just like his heart had been ripped, from his chest, the prosecutor would say "No objection, your honor." Later, back at Candleshoe, Cluny, Peter, Wilhelm, and Casey would celebrate both the actions, of recovering Grandmothers items, AND Casey's freedom. Even now, however, Casey was no fool. Casey KNEW that the local constables would be waiting, and watching, for the slightest error, on Caseys part, to provide an excuse, to apprehend the woman on. Desite this and, even with the appearance, of yet another, previously unknown, part, of the estate, Wilhelm and Peter agreed "It should make for a jolly good time, finding out what ELSE lies beneath our feet." Casey would caution "Be careful what you wish for. You just might get it." According to the ground-penetrating radar results, there were stairwells, and passageways, which Peter doubted that even Priory had known about. When Peter found a deep passage, which seemed to lead AWAY from the property, Peter would ask Wilhelm to join him on a walk. This, while asking Cluny "Would you prepare us a days worth of food, just as a precaution." When Casey would say "You dont intend to WALK the whole thing, do you?" When Peter would ask "What not?" Casey would say "You have no idea of where that passage terminnates. You COULD wind up under the ocean." Peter would say "Dont exagerate. It is probably, no-longer than to the county seat. Besides, we will turn back, if there is trouble. Right, Wilhelm?" Wilhelm would say "Right ho!". Since both Casey, and Cluny, were curious about what the passage might look like, the ladies prepared the food, then accompanied Peter, and Wilhelm, down th ancient, spiral, staircase. Before begining the descent, however, Peter would take notice of an ancient-looking block-and-tackle, bolted to the basement ceiling. After this, and for what seemed like half an hour, the four adventurers descended the stairs, until they came to a landing. While none, of them, really knew WHAT to expect, down here, none of the young, were prepared for what they would find. It was a doorway, without a door, yet the frame was decorated in the height of beauty, of ancient, British, carving. What caught the groups attention, though, was what was IN the doorway. The spirit, of Captain Joshua St. Edmund, himself. When Wilhelm would ask "Sir, WHO are you?" (Thinking this person might be another intruder) Captain Joshua would remove his captains hat, then, bow, before his visitors, saying "Captain Joshua St. Edmund, Maquis of Candleshoe." When Peter would say "Sir, you have been dead, for centuries. Why do you remain?" Captain Joshua would say "I know of your plans, to search this passage. I have come to caution you against this endeavor." When Casey would ask "Why? It looks safe enough, to me." Captain Joshua would say "Young lady, I have been around, longer than you can imagine. I have walkeed this passage, both in life, and now, in death. Believe me when I inform you of this. Within the next two centuries, the passage will fail, and this entire level will be flooded." When Peter would ask "Sir, where did this passage lead, in your day?" Captain Joshua would say "This was a transport tunnel. I built it for my crew to use, in order to avoid the prying eyes, of townsfolk. They are good people, but nosy." When Peter would ask Captain Joshua "Sir, what is your desire, that we should accomplish, with this passage way?" Captain Joshua would say "To ensure the survival, of Candleshoe, I recommend a wall, no less than six bricks thick, be built, to close off this opening." When Casey would ask the captain "What else is there, which we are not, yet aware of?" Captain Joshua St. Edmund would smile, and give a wink, as he said "Candleshoe holds many delightful, and some frightening, surprises. Brick up this passageway, and forget about it. Other wonders await thee." When the four adventurers climbed back up the staircase, to the basement, Peter would say "Atleast we can, still use this block-and-tackle, to carry loads of bricks." When Casey would ask "How do we KNOW that tunnel was un-safe? Just because of some, old, ghost?" Cluny, Peter, and Wilhelm, would step back, and watch, as the captain appearred, behind Casey. When Casey saw the looks, on the others faces, she would say "Let me guess. The captain, or atleast his ghost, is standing right in back of me." When the captain would say "Right, young woman." The four left the basement, and had a "final meal", before Casey would say "I have been away, far too long, anyway. Lord knows what my own family has been up to." After two adventures, in one month, Casey was ready to return home. Casey did wonder what her home would look like. After all, America did not have the strict rules, of behavior, which Great Britain was so proud of. This time, Casey made her flight. Casey just wondered what might lie, ahead.

THE HAUNTING PAST MYSTERY OF THE CHALICE

THE HAUNTING PAST: MYSTERY OF THE CHALICE While almost everyone, who has studied history, especially European history, is aware of the legend, of a magnificent chalice, The problem is that, over the centuries, the chalice has transformed, from being a simple, drinking, vessel, into claims which include that warriors, who drink, from the chalice, would become invincible, in battle. Then, there were the stories, of the chalice being "magical". Then, there are the inevitable rumors, that women, hoping to remain young, beautiful, and desirable, for all eternity, should either drink the blood, of virgins, from the chalice, or that the chalice be used to pour virgins blood over the womans body, so the women can bathe in the blood. Yet another, ridiculous, rumor, claimed that, if a man drank an un-specified beverage, from the chalice, that the man would would be "rewarded", with an erection, allowing him to have all of the sex he desired. This is what Tami and I LOVED, about myths, legends, and lore. While most tales START with a thread, of truth, at their core, the problem would be the myths, which grew up, around the stories. Soometimes, such tales could be pretty WILD. Still, when Mr. Brown contacted us, saying "I have another case, for you", then added "How long before re-fuelling, and re-provisioning, are completed?" When I provided a rough estimate, Mr. Brown would do a mental calculation, then say "You wont make it, for the current event, however, you should be in place, before the next event". When Tami would ask "What event would that be?" Mr. Brown would be most clever as he said "Its in the file". Shortly after Mr. Brown signed off, on the comm, we received our latest assignment. Once we reviewed the first page, I KNEW, from watching historical documentaries, just WHAT object that the file referred to. The file made referrence to a golden chalice. History claimed that the chalice was fashioned, by a king, sometime between 300, and 700, A.D. The chalices history is attributed to a stern king, and his loyal subjects. At some point, during the kings lifetime, the legend says that a traveller visited the kingdom and, having heard tales, of the subjects loyalty, to the king, the traveller had questioned the king in regards to HOW we could KNOW how loyal his subjects were. As a result, of this question, the king devised a test. The king sponsored a royal artisan, to create a chalice, which would be decorated with diamonds, rubies, and emeralds. The chalice was, then, placed by an often-used spring. The king, then, proclaimeed "ALL may use this chalice, for ANY purose, provided the chalice remains by the stream". Over the following decades, locals, and travellers, admired, wrote about, and even drank from, the chalice. Wash women, and merchants, filled water casks, from the chalice. Even laborers drank from the chalice, to quench thirst. The reason who so many people thought the legends were true was due to the sheer volume, of stories, which surrounded the chalice. Similar to Atlantis, the chalice would come to be known, "world-wide". Legend even suggests that the chalice remained, by the water, until long after the kings death was verified. Mr. Brown had, even enclosed an "estimated value" projection, for the chalice. Provided the accounts, of the chalice, were genuine, and reliable, the chalices modern value was estimated somewhere between $900 million, and $2.5 billion, U.S. dollars. According to the file, however, those, who were searching, for the chalice, were not in the search, for the money. These individuals were prusing the chalice due to some age old tale, which claimed that the possessor, of the chalice, would be "invincible", as well as being "Completely irresistable", to members, of the opposite sex. (Boy! What people will not believe in.) The file said that, currently, atleast two clans, which had been "at war", for centuries, and had fought to stalemate after stalemate, now wanted to "break the tie". Now, each side was searching for its own "nuclear weapon". A person, or object, so powerful, that the other side would cringe, in fear, of the enemy. While Irelands people are respected, for their pride, in thier nation, Dublin feared that, if the stories, of the chhalice, were true, that the deaths would not end with the clan battles. The governments worst fear was that, IF the truimphant clan had possession, of an ancient artifact, that the clan would not only proceed, to demolish the Irish Republican Army, but that, "drunk", with victory, the clan would proceed to overthrow Irelands government, then appoint themselves as Irelands rulers. As a result, our mission directive was simple. We were to prevent either side from laying claim, to any THING, which might be considered "magical". In short, similar to the Monuments Men, of World War Two, Tami and I were to "sneak in", ahead of the clans, and remove anything, which might be used as a "nuclear option". "Piece of cake", really. Considering that we were not certain of WHAT we sought, or where it was located. When I asked our pilots how the Irish felt, about America. Specifically if they, like France, were opposed to America's never-ending invasion, of the Middle East. Our co-pilot would say "The last I heard, Ireland is remaining neutral. That is, so long as Washington D.C. does NOT order an invasion. Unless they do so, we should encounter no resistence." The Irish, however, like most governments, remained hesitant to allow American "combat" aircraft into their air-space. This was especially true, for bombers, including stealth bombers. The U.S. Air Force Chief of Staff was compelled to issue a WRITTEN statement, stating that our "bomber" was NOT carrying any offensive ordinance. While Mr. Brown, and the Pentagon, would assure the Irish, that America had NO plans, to attack, or invade Ireland, Tami and I spent our time trying to seperate historical fact from fiction. While Ireland is a PROUD nation, with a LONG history, in both written, and verbal, formats, the problem was in trying to distinguish fact, from fiction, was more easily SAID, than done. The main thing, which Tami and I learned, during the research, was that the Irish are PROUD of their ancestors. There are endless numbers, of tales, regarding brave warriors. Men who fought, in life, and watched over the lands, even in death. Ofcourse, there are, also, tales, of tax collectors. While some of these people ONLY collected what was due, to the crown, others were greedy, demanding not only money, as payment, but women as well. SOME, of these tales claim that, on specific types, of nights, the spirits, of these "Ebenezer Scrooges" can be viewed, walking their property. The question is: Are the spirits guarding the treasure, which they accumulated, in life? OR, are they walking about, to prevent the escape, of their victims? Those, who slaved, and died, at the masters hands? Then, there were the tales, of everything from headless horsemen, to phantom herds, of cattle. The one section, of Irish mythology, which Tami and I agreed to ignore, were the tales, of nude spirits. Whether male of female, Tami and I agreed that NO European, spirits would be caught, even dead, out, in public, in the nude. Ireland might have a violent history, however, their people retained their pride, and proper behavior. By the time Ghost Ship Two was granted passage, into Irish air space, Tami and I felt as we had, both in Sweden, and in Germany. We wished that we spoke the local language. One, good, point, to our restricted flight path. It would land us, directly in the middle of the "target area", to begin the search. We woud be landing near some cliffs which, according to sources, held plenty of caves. Our question was: "Were we searching for objects, of power, or simply symbols?" WHAT would an Irish warrior be seeking, if they wanted to wield power? Not surprisingly, Ghost Ship Two had an escort, of fighters, on our way into Ireland. This time, though, the Irish sent in eight fighters. Two, for escort, to our destination, and six, to ensure that we were "blown to bits", IF we tried anything. G.S. 2's sensors soon sounded the tone, letting us know that our escorts were "locked on" to our plane. Even after G.S.2 landed, the fighters circled, until our engines were shut down, cold. The reason was simple: There was TALK, in Washington D.C. that, if the violence, inside Ireland did not end, by a specified date, that SOME, in Washington D.C., were preparing plans, to send yet ANOTHER, invasion, force, this time, into the Irish homeland. Ofcourse, the Irish had, wisely, taken the rumors serriously, since Irelands embassy, in America, had received "intelligence reports", stating that the Pentagon was preparing a five-pronged, invasion, plan, including some "saturation bombing". The same kind of bombing which continued to be used to completely LEVEL any areas, of the Middle East, which resisted America's invasion forces. What concerned the Irish government the most was just how COLDLY the Pentagon had projectted 500,000, to 1 million, Irish dead, within the first twenty-four hours, of such an invasion. As a result, Ireland, now, had TWO problems, to deal with. The first being to prevent radicals, from destroying the Irish homeland, by acquiring artifacts, which legend said possessed "mystical powers". The second was preparing a counter-offensive, in case Washington D.C. decided it would be in "America's Security Interest", to invade the Irish homeland. According to statements, issued to the media, by the Irish government, If Washington D.C. decided to invade, then the Irish promised to be prepared to "bathe the Irish lands, and waters, with the invaders blood". While, from Washington D.C., the president held several, telephone conversations, with Dublin, the cabinet members suggested a more personal visit. A way to show Ireland that America "meant no harm". Before departing Washington D.C., however, the president had ordered the invasion rumor be tracked back, to its original source. This person was easy to find, since they were holding a "strategy meeting", over which nations America should invade, and in what order to invade each nation. The groups goal would be not only to SILENCE all opposition, to a DECADES long, invasion, of the Middle East, but to FORCE other nations to enter this "war", on the AMERICAN side. If achieving this goal meant bombing cities, and torturing, and killing, local populations, then so be it. AMERICAN safety, and security HAD to be the HIGHEST PRIORITY, period. (No matter what the cost) While the radicals presented themselves in a way, which COULD be compared to Adolf Hitlerr, when the president lead the F.BI. into the discussion group, the president "read" the faces, of the attendees. Most, it seems, were only present, to listen to the speakers words. When the president viewed the attack plans, on the projection screen, the president, simply, could NOT believe how MANY nations, which the radicals, INSIDE the U.S. Government, wanted to invade. When the president counted atleast twenty-five invasion plans, their question was "WHERE did these people plan to secure both the equipment, and the warm BODIES, for twenty-five, seperate, inavasions? The military was spread, thin enough, as it was. This, with Iraq, and Afghanistan NO closer to surrender, to our invasions forces, then they had been, to Soviet invasion forces, back in the 1980's. Once the F.B.I. agent-in-charge would notify the president "I THINK we hit them where it hurts. It will take them months, maybe YEARS, to re-build their plans." The president, however, was NOT happy, with having to deny Americans "Freedom of Speech/Asembly". The president only hoped that, by breaking up this group, combined with a personal visit, to Ireland, would assure the Irish that America had no plans, to attack the Irish homeland. It would seem that, by the time we had received clearance, to enter Irish air space, the Irish had accepted the presidents "offerings". America would NOT be invading Ireland, in the forseeable future. When we landed, and began un-packing, Irish locals came forth to ask "Are you an advanced scout?" When Tami would say "We are detectives", and locals seemed confused, by this, I remembered my British lingo, from Watching B.B.C. I would inform the locals "You would call us detective inspectors". This seemed to lessen the tension, among group members. When locals asked us about the spirits, of a town crier, or the spirit, of some place, called Kilbreath Castle, Tami would be the ones to point out that our primary concern was the locating of a jewelled chalice. When locals asked what we wanted, with the kings chalice, Tami would say "If we are able to locate the chalice, we are to deliver the chalice to Dublin, for safe-keeping". When locals asked us "What about the scepter, of King McGuffin?" Tami and I looked at one another, as if to say "What are they TALKING about?" The locals would say "So, you are NOT aware, of the kings scepter. In that case, once you finish your chores, with your ship, we invite you to return, with us, to the pub. We have much to discuss". When Tami filed our inital report, with the Brown Agency, she added "Please be advised that we suspect that this case will involve MORE than a drinking cup". We were right, to think this. While the Irish were not so comfortable, with a man, who drank only non-fermented beverages, once the locals had a few drinks, some age old records books were brought forward, and our REAL "education" began. The kings scepter, as it turns out, was not just any "stick". While its core was made of iron, its surface was covered, layers deep, in bright, yellow, gold. The upper end, of the scepter, was embedded with diamonds, rubies, and emeralds. At the tip, of the scepter, legend says, was a sphere, of "knowledge", and "power". Legend says that a king, who wielded ths scepter, could either peer, into the sphere, and forsee events, to come, OR, in "combat" mode, the sphere acted like a ray gun. While I was left to listen to the men, inside the pub, Tami was engaging some local women, in conversation, and learning MORE, about the actual spirits, which haunt Irish shores. Legends of men, who fought deadly duels, over maidens. Legends, of maidens, whose life-loves never returned, from battle. Legends, of children, most of whom died accidental deaths, while a few were murdered, for a variety of reasons. Both Tami and I were warned, of which approaches, to various locations, were un-safe for travel. What, still, astounded me was how, thousands of years, before computers, and C.A.D. design software had come along, tradesmen had managed to build strong, and water-tight, structures. These included emergency escape tunnels (For royalty to use, in case of crown overthrow). Tami and I were, also, warned, of spirits, such as Angus MacIntosh. A man who, according to legend, felt himself BETTER than everyone else. All because he held a county-wide title. While Angus MacIntosh was not, often, seen, either in life, nor in death, almost everyone, whom Tami and I spoke with, verified that Angus MacIntosh was NOT a man whom people wanted to be near, NOR to be at ODDS with. Legend says that "good old" Angus, while quick to temper, did NOT go around, slicing and chopping off, peoples heads (As history portrays such men). Instead, Angus is said to enjoy beating his victims to death. Legend says that Angus enjoys watching his victims pain, from close up, while watching the life flow, from their bodies. As a result, of such legends, villagers have sought to AVOID Angus MacIntosh, whenever possible. Both his living body, and, now, his spirit. Ofcourse, Tami and I were, also, warned to avoid the "women, in white". These were the spirits, of heart-broken women, whose "true loves" died at sea. While the men had been at sea, other suitors had tried to propose, to the women, however, the women spent their lives standing at the docks, night-after-night, year-after-year, hoping that true loves would return. This, even after sailors deaths were, officially, reported. When Tami was warned "Do not be deceived by the fact that the maidens spirits seem to hover over the tides. You see, in THEIR day, there WERE docks, which stretched out, beyond the present docks. It is the memory, of the old docks, where the spirits keep watch. Over time, however, the docks succomed to the elements. Now, the spirits watch the tides, from docks which no-longer exist." While Tami logged our daily report, I added my visual surveys, of the landscapes, even while checking the local caves. While I cannot say, for certain, what the source, of the moans, from the Moaning Cave were, I DID record the moan, as I documented the cave, from the top, of the cliff, to the waves, below. While locals belived that the moan belongs to some, ancient, king, who protected his wealth, in death, as he hoarded, in life, I found no evidence, either of human remains, or indication that this had, once, been a treasure, storage, place. Back at G.S.2, while Tami shivered, at the recorded moans, when we "washed" the audio, through the planes computers, all that the software would come up with was "No matches found". When Lysia com-linked us, saying "I dont know if you have been informed, as yet, however, in case you have not been informed, there are some horsemen which you should be aware of". When Tami would say "Dont say headless", Lysia would ask "Who said anything about headless? Near as we have discovered, here at the university, there are two, basic, types, of horsemen, in your area." When Tami would say "Okay, lets have it" Lysia would inform us of a man, named Donald McBride. Lysia would say "Legend says that, when Donald McBride viewed some raiders, coming ashore, he set out, at a gallop, to warn friends and family." When Tami would say "Let me guess. The raiders shot the man, to prevent the warning from being sounded" Lysia would say "Wrong. Legend says that, as Donald McBride rode off, a sudden, and violent, storm, arose, and Donald McBride died while enroute, to spread the warning." When Tami would ask "What happened, to the village?" Lysia would say "Near as we can understand, Donald McBride, soon after his death, came to friends, and family, in their dreams, announcing the approach, of the raiders, while apologizing for not appearing, in the flesh. Legend says that enough people saw the "vision", that villagers packed what they could carry, and moved to the safety, of the hills. There, they waited until the raiders passed through town, and departed." When Tami would say "Great story. Wheres the PROOF?" Lysia would say "After the raiders departed Ireland, search parties scoured the path, which Donald McBride would have used. Donalds body was located, beneath a lump of sand. Donalds body was dug up, and given a proper, Celtic, burial. Legend says that, since his death, villagers, always know, when either man, or nature, threatens the village. Any time danger is near, most villagers report "visions", of Donald McBride, riding, at a gallop, calling out "Danger is upon us!" Since Tami understood that Lysia had, already, done the research, on this topic, Tami would ask "When did Donald McBride die?" Lysia would say "Based upon the few "records", that we have access to, I would estimate somewhere between 450, and 500, A.D." When I would ask "Aside from dreams, has anyone witnessed Donald McBride, over the centuries?" Lysia would say "Other than occassional drunks, who claimed that Donald warned them to avoid serious accidents, there are only about 1,000 reports, all of which describe the same man." When Tami would say "I know you did not contact us, about a local, good, samaritan. Who ELSE haunts Irelands people?" Lysia would say "There is ANOTHER horseman. A man, reportedly named Pierre Bouchettte. Un-like Donald McBride, Pierre represented the WORST, of French society. Legend says that, given a few drinks, Pierre was willing to fight saber-duels, with anyone whom, he felt, had insulted him. Pierre is reported to have "run people through", inside pubs, AND he had a reputation that, if a vcitim tried to flee his wrath, Pierre would mount his horse, and be-head his fleeing victim." When Tami would ask "What became of Pierre?" Lysia would say "Once the mans wrath killed enough people, legend says that the victims families hired a gang, of six killers. It is reported that the killers found Pierre, in his bedroom, asleep, and stabbed him, one tiime, for each of his victims." When Tami would ask "What else do we know?" Lysia would say "The bad news is that, like Donald McBride, Pierre rides the lands, presumably searching for his killers. Here, however, is the BAD news. Over the years, since the 600's, when Pierre was executed, the spirit makes a habit, of be-heading any man, or WOMAN, whom he THINKS resembles his killers." When Tami would ask "Okay, so he kills people. How does that affect us?" Lysia would say "Pierre may have STARTED OUT, with six dead, however, Pierre continues to appear, and be-head, anyone whom he thinks might be connected with his death." When Tami would say "Ball-park it. How MANY people HAS Pierre killed, since the 600's?" Lysia would say "As far as we can determine, atleast 1,000 people." When Tami would suggest "So, WE should be careful IF we see a rider, while on this case." Lysia would say "Correct. Do NOT ASSUME it is Donald McBride. Not until you are certain". When Tami would ask "What information do you have, on chalices, and scepters?" Lysia would sigh, as she said "I really thought my degree WOULD make me knowledgeable. Able to provide any answer, that any one needed. Problem is..." Tami would add "Problem is, since your degree covers only a certain area, of research, you are learning that there is MUCH MORE, that you do NOT know. Things they never taught, in class." Lysia would nod as she said "All that I know, now, is how LITTLE I learned, in class". Tami would re-assure the woman "Dont worry. I am sure there are thousands of other people, ALL with degrees, just like you, thinking "Why are there so many thousands, of degree programs". When Tami brought Lysia "back on track", asking "What have you found, on chalices, and scepters?" Lysia would say "It is easier simply to send you the file, on our findings, to date. I want to caution you, though, not just about history, but about the fact that WE, at this university, THINK that this list is only 10% complete." Tami would say "Just send us what you have. We can take it from there. Send us more, when you have it." Well, if we thought the case was tough enough, with only chalices, to search for, we ended up having to add not only scepters, but, also, orbs, battle axes, annd even these spiked balls, which hang on chains, from clubs. There were, even legends, of service platters, whose reflections showed viewers either their true, inner, selves, or which prophesied the future. Then, there were legends, of crystals. Stones which, on sunny days, could blind, or even incinerate, an enemy. Since the list was so LONG, Tami suggested that we program the search, limited to chalices. Even with seven varriations, of search parameters, we, still, end up with twenty-five sites to research. When a member, of the Irish, federal police, contacted us, saying "There is rumor, that clan McGuffin has located, and is enroute to, one of the potential, resting places, of the chalice". When Tami would respond "Please notify us when the rumor, and destination, are confirmed" When the police officer would ask "Should we not intercept then BEFORE they reach their goal?" Tami would ask "Where is it you believe they are heading?" The officer would say "The Heatheren Waterfall." When Tami would ask "Why there?" The officer would say "Rumor has it that a king is buried there, along with the chalice." Tami would say "Keep us informed.", then she would do a web-search, even though she was certain of what the results would be. The internet confirmed what Tami THOUGHT that she remembered. The Heattheren Waterfall had been constructed just over a century ago. The waterfall was built by a man, who claimed that, when he removed loose stone, from a rock face, he found the burial chamber, of a king. Problem was, the man did not announce the find, until AFTER he built a waterfall, to hide the entrance. The man even diverted part, of a river, to feed the waterfall. No way was the waterfall connected to the chalice. The clans would be searching in the wrong place. Besides, the man never presented evidence, of his "find". He only told the curious to "Take my word, or not". Since the Heatheren Waterfall was so modern, and not referenced, in any, historical document, Tami decided that we should discount the claim. The problem was that this, still, left us with dozens of sites, to search. Entering known information, on the last, known, possessor, of the chalice, did very little to reduce the search pattern. Maybe Ireland is not so immense, in size, as America, or the Soviet Union, are, yet the Irish are clever, and make good use of the land. If an Irishman does NOT want something found, it could take centuries, of research, to find the item. When Tami and I decided to take a research break, and stroll the foot paths, we DID view some sort of "beast", in a nearby waterway. While I, too, wanted to know WHAT the creature was, I had to remind Tami "Remember. We are here to locate certain materials, and to prevent the overthrow, of Irelands government. We are NOT here to study "wild life". All Tami would say was "Party-pooper". Tami was correct, about one thing, though. It would seem that the owner, of Heatheren Waterfall denied search permision, even on a warrant, which stated "contraband goods". No-doubt, this is why one of the clans men decided to ignore both private property, and other, laws. Thankfully, the police had experience, with such matters, and had stationed a unit, nearby, to observe potential trespassers actions. The officers recorded both the trespass, and the clans men, walking behind the waterfall, only to emerge, a momewnt later, saying "There is NO chamber behind that waterfall. It is all a (profanity) trick". When the lights went on, just as an officer would tell the trespasser "And YOU fell for it. Now, hands behind your head." When the trespasser asked "What for?" The officer put on a smile, as he said "Didn't you know? Trespassing is against the law". When the trespasser indicated the property owner, saying "Arrest him, as well. For Fraud. Making people believe there is a chamber, and a corpse, behind that waterfall." The officers would smile as they said "Private property. They can do what they want". Aboard G.S.2, Tami would sigh, as she said "Thats ONE out of the way." When I would ask "How MANY to go?" While Irelands museums are quite attractive, even welcoming, containing venues, including food, to rival other nations, what most clans never knew, since their members lived in rural communities, was the pride Ireland takes, in safe-guarding its national treasures. Whether this practice is rooted in the Viking raids, of Christian mythology, or whether it is due to Christian raids, where goods were "acquired" "In the name of God", and "To support the Holy church"" History, and legend, are vague as to the REASON why Ireland is so protective, of its possessions. From the ancient accounts, which Tami and I were provided access to, it would seem that, whether a museum were modern, made of glass, and steel, or whether the museum looked "acient", circa 1700, or earlier, the clans thought all such museums would be "easy pickings", for the looters. Boy! Were the clans in, for a surprise when, once they forced open the doors, of each building, then stepped inside, only to have automatic, security gates close off all avenues, of escape, tighter than an American, federal, penetentiary. On-board G.S.2, as the trespassers names came across our computers, Tami removed each name, from the list, of those in contention for the artifacts. One, of the few, "mystical" pieces, which no one bothered to secure, was the statue, of an Irish saint. Some man, from before the time of Christ. Legend says that the man, on which the staue was based, had started out as a warrior. The man had defended local villagers so well, that enemy soldiers began fleeing, upon seeing the man. Oddly enough, however, while the man lived, asking only friendship, and respect, his least desire was for people to fear him. Once raiding parties ceased to risk coming to the area, the soldier "repented" his violent ways, becoming a monk. Legend says that, during the mans lifetime, and even after his death, the village was left alone, since locals spread rumors, that the savior continued to patrol the lands, and watching over the people. As for the twenty foot tall statue, legend says this is the mans grave marker. Originally weighing in, at 50 tons, as a solid block, of marble, legend says that a carver removed just over 10 tons, to create the mans likeness. What this would mean, for modern theives, was that they would need a truck,capable of carrying nearly 40 tons, and long enough for a twety foot tall statue. This is not including the diesel crane, which would be needed, to lift the statue. Add in the man-power, neeeded, as well as time TIME, for removal, and law enforcement would be on-hand, LONG before the statue was, even, cut loose. All the same, villagers believe that, as long as the statue stands, the village is protected. While Tami and I were attempting to locate the chalice, another group, of fools, got themselves buried inside the ruins of a 6th century castle. It would seem that the "race", to become Irelands next king, was outweighing common sense. When I asked Tami "Any idea what they were looking for?" Tami would remind me about the jeweled scepter, saying "I was just reviewing a legend, which states that spies, from another clan, saw th scepter entering the castlee, maybe around 1625, yet they never saw the scepter leave." When I would correct her, saying "They viewed the scepter entering the castle, via the front door, yet they never viewed the scepter exit, via the front door." Tami would say "Get technical". When I asked "Modern day casualties?" Tami would say "That will take a few days. No heavy equipment, in that arrea, for rescue operations." When I would ask "Secret escape passages?" Tami would call up the castles design, then say "Nothing on record". I would add "Ofcourse not. No sense building an escape route, only to publicize its existance. By the way, any informatioon on just how FAR such tunnels might extend?" Tami would say "Best guess. Miles." I would add "No doubt, protected by secret doors, landscaping, or other features". Tami would add "I just hope they are alive, when rescued." When the news got out, that a group was trapped, under the rubble, the other "contenders", for the objects, seemed to decide that no one would leave a priceless artifact under such an un-stable structure. As a result, the other "contenders" set thier sights on more solid structures. One place Tami and I wished we COULD have told the police about, in advance, was a church, dedicated to one of the patron saints, of Ireland. The problem was that the legend spoke only of a "holy place", which was "overseen" by someone neither Tami, nor I, ever heard of. By the time we realized that the target was a church, explosives had blasted a hole, in the floor, and a metal "mit", and a sword, were stolen from the church. The news next reported that someone had stolen a "ball" (orb), from something called the "Cave of the Ancestors". Tami wondered who would get the first "punch". The group, with the orb, or the group, with the mit, and sword. I figured that the orb would be first, since balls can be thrown, at enemies, while swords must be wielded. When Tami re-checked Irish lore, however, she found that the ancients were most articulate, about WHO would yield power/control, in Ireland. While the sword, and the orb, were "signs", of power, it would be only when JOINED, with the scepter, and the chalice, that a true king could be crowned. Without BOTH the scepter, and the chalice, the rest was just "costume jewelry". The problem was that the locations, of each, of these objects, were wrapped in riddles, woven into codes, which were baffling, even to modern super-computers. The legend, leading to each object, was a riddle, wrapped in a mystery, curled up in a conundrum. As a result, "best guess" was all anyone, including the Irish, could make. The question, which Tami brought, to the discussion, was "Who would WANT to rule a nation?" As Tami said "Nowadays, royalty spend their days attending social functions, when not conferrring with heads of state (Those who, really, run countries). Even the British crown is answerable. The days, of the kings will, being un-challengeed law, of the land, were long gone. Ofcourse, ther ARE the legends, of kings having as many women as they wanted, for their pleasure. While this had, certainly been possible, in ages past, the majority, of modern royalty, chose a single partner, for life. Much, of this information, Tami and I had verified, by speaking with long dead rulers. While Tami and I were attempting to decide WHICH, of the deceased, to contact, for more information, including WHO might know where the chalice, and the scepter, were located, Tami would suggest "Since we do not know when the horsemen will ride, why dont we try the tax-man. Ian McInnes. The man who roams that castle, located by the loche?" Because I had heard the legends that, if the spirits did not take to the living, the spirit would toss the living over the castles walls, I would be wary of contacting old Ian. This is why I asked Tami "Do you want to go, first. You ARE the "people person"." When Tami would say "Chicken", I made no argument. When Tami and I approached Ian McInnes castle, even I agreed the castle appearred both "ancient", and "foreboding". It would take us a couple of hours, of stroolling the castle, mentioning how we would like to discuss if the spirit knew of the chalice, and scepter, before we got any results. Talk about a victim, of bad publicity. Ian McInnes was nothing like the "monster", which legend portrays. In fact, towards Tami and I, Ian McInnes was most congenial. While Ian would admit "Yes, I am aware, of the chalice, which you seek", when Tami would ask "What can you tell us, about the chalice?" Ian would say "Not very much, except that the legends, of its beauty, do not do it justice" When Tami asked "What about the kings test, of his subjects loyalty?" Ian would tell us "Tis true. However, the man was beloved, NOT feared, by his people. Only his enemies feared the king." When Tami asked "After the kings death, what became of the chalice?" Ian would look at my partner, in a questioing way, as he asked "Why is it you want to know? Ye be not Irish. Only the Irish may rule these lands". Tami would say "Dublin would appreciate having the chalice on display, where ALL, of Irish blood, may gaze upon its beauty." What Tami had forgotten was what we had found, on-line. The fact that, during Irelands history, there were times when Dublin had been wrenched, from Irish hands, and used, as a headquaters, by invading forces. And, yes, there were times, when clans disputted just who owned the lands, upon which Dublin rests. Still, Ian McInnes seemed thankful, when Tami promised "We have no desire, to rule Ireland, or to remove the chalice, from Ireland." When Ian would ask "Are you Christian, or Protestant?" Ian seemed shocked when Tami and I said "Neither" When Ian, in his irish accent, would ask something like "Do you serve Lucifer, then?" Tami would smile, as she said "We are spiritual, just not religious." (No WAY could we, properly, explain that, at times, our work HAD been CONTRACTED, either by Luicifer, or by the Chairman. To complicated to go into. Best to assure people that we were not "devil worshippers".) When Ian showed us a Bible, and asked "Would you read a verse, then?" Tami took the book, from the spirit, opened it, without hesitation, and said "Oh!". When Ian asked "What be the problem?" Tami would look at me, asking "Do you read Gaelic?" I would laugh as I said "Are you kidding. I can, barely, manage English." Tami would return the book, to Ian, saying "With regrets. We never learned to read Gaelic." When Ian would ask How can ye be from Ireland, and NOT read the Gaelic?" This is when I would say "Sir, we are NOT from Ireland. Our home is America. We only know English. The main language, of America." When Ian would ask "America? Now, just WHERE might this America be located?" Oh, boy! Another spirit, from pre-colonial days. If Tami and I had to explain the thirteen colonies, and America, a few more times, we should receive Ph.d's, for knowing America's past. Thankfully, by this time, Tami had the "short-form", or 10-40 EZ form, down, pat, telling Ian "Centuries, after your time, a land will be charted, across the ocean. Some Irish persons will settle, there, bringing Irish music, art, food, and so on, to this new land" When Ian would puff himself up, saying "No doubt, ruled by proper, Irish, gentry". Tami would say "Not exactly". (Since my partner did not want to engage in politics, by saying how much America had profitted, from Germany, she decided to re-focus on the matter at hand). When Ian asked "What do you mean?" Tami would re-direct the questions to the mans knowledge, of the chalice. If Ian knew the chalice existed, he might know where it was located. The problem was, Ian McInnes gave us a LIST, of names, starting with those, who risked lives, by removing the chalice, from its river-front home. If Ian were correct, the thief had been killed, by another theif, then another. ALL who wanted to possess the "magic" of the chalice. After 500, or so, years, the chalice came into the hands, of the church. Here it remained, inside the church, for atleast two centuries, before being stolen, again. Since the thieves feared dying, if they left the chalice in the open, they buried it. When Tami asked "Great! Can you show us where?" Ian would say "It is, no-longer there. Land-slides, from heavy rains, washed the soil, and the chalice, away." While, under normal conditions, Tami would let both the living, and the dead, proceed, at their own pace, with re-telling history, both she and I KNEW there were "hunters", out there. People who were willing to blow up churches, just to gain possession of the chalice. This is why Tami asked Ian "WHERE is the chalice, in OUR time?" Ian would say "Last I know, the chalice was a wedding present, used, along with a maiden, to secure peace, between warring clans. It rests deep beneath the foundations, of Glenbrook Tower Castle." Once Tami informed Dublin, it seems that the government KNEW about Glenbrook Tower, and its conditions. This is why divers were sent in, to search the sunken foundation. While the divers expected to find debris, what they did NOT expect to find was dynamite, grenades, and what looked like nitro. Someone, past or present, had been VERY intent, on booby-trapping Glenbrook Tower. Thankfully, the dynamite was from an age, prior to plastic sheething. Result, since the blasting powder had been wrapped, in simple paper, it was harmless. The greanades were old, and rusted. Still, bomb disposal would remove both the grenades, and the nitro, just to be safe. While a copper chest would be brought to the surface, after centuries, of being submerged, the chest stank, even as it was opened, to find a pile, of rotting rags, within. While the Irish used simple gas masks, to filter the stink, Tami and I used our breathers. After the bomb squad checked, for explosives (both ancient and modern), the rags were lain aside. Maybe under 15 layers, of rotting rags, we found the chalice. It was, indeed, "magically" beautiful. The chalice was, then packed, in another crate, to be airlifted, to Dublin. Next stop: the scepter. If Ian McInnes were correct, over 500 men had "entered the after-life", on purpose, slicing their own throats, after having taken a vow, to protect the scepter, for all eternity. To these men, their actions had NOT been suicide. They were becoming the "Noble Guardians", of the scepter. Ian had suggested that we recover the chalice, and consider the action a victory. Well, finding the chalice HAD been our original directive, but only until Dublin learned that we were not the only ones researching Irish history. Now, there were atleast two clans, which wanted the scepter. Rumor had it that the clans were in a "pitched battle", near some village, named Maire Fare (?) Something about fairies living nearby, and caves, full of pixey dust. The clans, however, seemed to be "at war" over (or with), another ruined castle. (I wont insult the castles name, trying to pronounce it, here). By the time G.S.2 arrived, Tami and I had received reports, of small, and large, arms fire, being used on the castle. It was not until we arrived, though, and Tami cast a look, at the castles defenders, even as the attackers would say "Good, sound, stock, they are. Stand up to everything we throw at them". When Tami showed me what she saw, even I realized what the score was. Trying to convicnce the clans? That would be another story. While the men, waging the battle, wanted to throw us out, of the camp, while they waged war, on the ancient relic, Tami would struggle, free, of her guard, then ask the leaders "Why are you wasting ammo? Dont you understand. The defenders are dead." When a Lieutenant would ask "Whats that you say, lassie?" Tami would face the leaders, saying "Tell them!" When the clan leaders looked un-easy, and the lieutenant would ask Tami "Tell us what?" I would inform the soldiers "The men, guarding the castle, took an eternal oath, maybe 1,500 years ago. They ended their mortal lives, to become the IM-mortal guardians, of the scepter." When the soldiers asked the clan leaders "This be true? We be fighting ghosts?" The clans leaders would say "I dont care if they are Russians. I want that scepter!" Tami would suggest "If you want the scepter, let ME go in." When the Irish, almost to a man, said "Oh, no, lassie. Maidens dont make war. Only warriors draw blood." This is when I would suggest "Why not let both of us go in. IF the scepter is there, maybe WE can bring it out." When a soldier would inform me "You will need a uniform", I would decline, saying "If they see me wearing your colors, I wont make it near the place. We will go as we are. (I only hoped I was correct). After we had the clans permission, to proceed, I aided Tami into her "teenage boy" costume, then we proceeded, to the castle. During our approach, both of us knew we had weapons trained on us. Ghost weapoons, that is. Gaining entry, to the castle, turned out to be the "easy part". Gaining an audience, with the head spirit. That was another. While the humans stood by, listening, in dis-belief, as Tami and I conversed with men, who had perished, centuries before Christ was born. Men who, proudly, served, for all eternity. Thankfully, Tami and I had worn our combat vests. This, since spirits required no food, or water, while we humans needed eating periods. Two days, into the cease-fire, and the leader, of the spirits, agreed to see us. After talk, of Irelands beautiful history, and noble soldiers, fair maidens, and so on, Tami, carefully, brought the discussion to the subject at hand. The scepter. When the head spirit would promise "It is in safe hands, for all eternity", Tami was clever, though. Tami spoke of tales, of how the scepter was said to be made of gold. Stories, of diamonds, rubies, and emeralds. All of which sparkled, in the daylight. Very cleverly, Tami maneuvered the head spirit into asking "Would you like to see the real thing?" When Tami would say "WE would LOVE to see it" This is when the spirit lead us, deep, into the depths, of the castle. (Boy! How often fairy tales got the story all wrong. Riches were, never, kept in towers. Security was much easier, deep, underground) When lead into the "Chapel Room", Tami and I noticed that, while the scepter did not, exactly, "dazzle", in its appearance, the energy, of the device, seemed to fill the room. When Tami and I brought out sensors, we wer amazed at how fast the meters went "off the scales". No wonder mythology said this thing could be used, as a weapon. It contained an energy source, un-like anything we had, ever, encountered. When Tami asked the spirrit "You say the castle was devoid of life, before you arrived?" When the spirit would say "Tis true, lassie. The owners were gone, for a spell, before we moved in." When Tami asked "Did villagers mention any reason, for this place being abandoned?" The spirit would say "That was the odd thing. Not a soul, Christian or Protestant, would speak of the matter". Tami and I suspected the reason. As Tami and I inspected the castle, the only readings, which made sense, were the magnetics. This caslte was, either built on a magnetic outcrop, OR, it was built, of magnetic, ore. The scepter was either focusing this energy, or generating it. When Tami had asked, to hold the scepter, the spirits saw no harm, in allowing a "mere woman" to handle the shaft. While Tami found what turned out to be the "firing button", causing a minor Earthquake, when the beam smashed into a far wall section, the re-coil, knoocked my partner, flat, on the ground. When she feined ignorance, the spirit would say "Lassie, be more careful, when you touch things" When Tami would ask "What was that?" The spirit would say "Lassie, you called forth the energy, of the Lord." When Tami would ask "Where is the safety catch?" The spirit would say "Never you bother yourself, with such matters. Perhaps, it would be more to your liking, if we visited the kitchens, or the mending rooms. These are places where a wee lassie would be more "at home". While Tami accepted the gender insults, knowing that these men knew NOTHING, of womens rights, she reminded herself "I am on a case. This is NO time, for womens lib." Before the scepter was replaced, I took hold of it, and realized this was no ordinary shaft. The scepter had internal workings, for sure. The people, who built it, MUST have had atleast twenty-first, or even twenty-third, century technology. Since it would be impossible, to remove the scepter, from these devoted spirits, Tami and I fell back, to our next plan. Filming details, of everything from battlements, to wall thicknesses, corridors, and so on. After Tami and I departed the castle, and showed the clans our footage, atleast one, of the clans men gave up the chase, saying "I dont hink even field guns, or tanks, could penetrate that place." The other clans men would suggest "What if we dropped a nuke, on that place?" Tami would look, at the man, as if he were crazy. When Tami would ask "What good would THAT do?" The clansmen would say "It would get the soldiers out of the way." I would remind the clansmen "Sir, what good is a nuke, against people, who have been dead, for 2,000 years?" When the clansmen would say "Okay, got any better ideas?" Tami would emphasize "You CANT win a battle, when your enemy cannot die, again." Somehow, it didn't SOUND right, but it was right. When the clans men would say "I shall RULE this land, as my ancestors, once, did. Those hypocrites, in Dublin. I will show them the MEANING of POWER!" This is when Tami and I realized that we were talking to a mentally un-stable person. After all, what sane person would "waste" a nuke, on ghosts? When Tami and I bowed out, of the command tent, Tami would speak to an oncoming server, who would agree that "Yes, if my lord does not take his tonic, before rest, he has terrible dreams." When Tami would ask "What would happen if you gave your lord MORE than the usual dose?" The server would say "Oh, no, my lady. To do so would send his lordship into a very LONG sleep." When Tami would ask "Like a coma?" The server would say "My lord might not awaken, for months, or even years." This is when Tami had a felonious idea. In America, such an idea would bring her ten, to twenty, years, in prison. Here, in Ireland? That night, once the server gave the clansmen his tonic, and Tami and I put on our Black Ops gear, then we snuck to the mans quarters. Tami then injected the man with a highly concentrated, timed released, dose, of his tonic. (The clansmen would not be issuing orders, for ten, maybe fifteen, years.) Shortly after the clansmen was removed, by ambulance, from the camp, his troops dis-banded, broke camp, and returned to their homes. While Tami had hoped that our report, on the "Guardian Spirits" would have ended the case, Dublin "dropped" another task upon us. "Before you depart our beautiful country, we ask that you either verify, or deny, that the orb is an interstellar map, of another star system." When Tami and I would ask "HOW would we do that?" Dublin would say "Legend says that, if you rub the orb, on tracing paper, it will leave an impression, of the place where the first Irishmen came from." When I would ask "Where does the sword fit into this?" Dublin would say "According the legend, there is NO connection. We want you to verify if the orb is a star map". When Tami would ask "Okay. WHERE do we find the orb?" Both Tami and I were annoyed, when Dublin would suggest "Ask your ghost friends". When Tami cointacted Mr. Brown, our boss would say "Nothing so exciting going on, here. See what you can find out, and report in". Swell! Now, we were not only "ghost buster", but "relic hunters", as well?" What HAD we gotten ourselves into? If the wide variety, of legends, surrounding the orb, were true, the device was anything, from a transmitter, to a flash grenade, to a "re-usable" (?), nuclear, device. Maybe even a portal, either to another planet, or another dimension. It ALL depended upon which legends one choose to believe. Sure, legends claimed the device was pure gold, while other legends claimed the device was copper. Other legends claimed the orb was titanium, while other groups insisted that the orb was not of Earth, at all. In summary, Tami and I were looking for a ball. It COULD be pocket-sized, or it COULD be a basketball. It COULD be made of just about any metal, on Earth, and it COULD be inscribed, with a star pattern. Not surrisingly, when Tami performed a search, first with keywords "Irish orbs", then adding the word "ancient", there remained MILLIONS of references. That, and THOUSANDS of photo's. More than two weeks, of research, later, and it was POSSIBLE that we had "nailed down" the POSSIBLE location, and name, of the orb, in questtion. If the internet was correct, the orb had acquired the name "Shenandoah". Most of the legend, however, told that this clan had FOUND the orb, NOT created it. The problem was that there were no shortages, of Shenandoah clans, in Ireland. When Tami and I went to check in, with Ian McInnes, he was either "gone", or "out too lunch". As for the Eternal Guardians, ALL that their leader would say was "Look to the castle, where the mist moves like ghosts". When Tami searched this information, she found only two matches. One, which had a green mist, and another, which had a blue mist. Tami and I were just about to scratch our heads, in disgust, when a man, of late 30's, to early 40's years of age, appearrred, on-board G.S.2. When the man said "Children. Do not be discouraged. Your journey has, simply, taken a new direction." While Tami and I understood that we were talking to a spirit, Tami, still, asked the man "WILL you giude us to Castle Shenandoah?" The spirit would say "Aye, lassie, I can do that, for sure". No-sooner had Tami said "Great!" and was about to ask "What are the coordinates?" when the spirit, of Angus Shenandoah, would say "Just follow the sound of me pipes. I will lead THEE right to me". While Angus Shenandoah dissolved, into thin air, his music came through, loud and clear. Since none, of the four of us, on-board G.S.2, was a "fan" of Irish bag pipes, our pilots made maximum speed, to the castle. Still, we spent a full HOUR, being serenaded, with pipe music. It was only once G.S.2 was on the ground, that the sound, of the pipes vanished, and Angus Shenandoah met us at the castles main entry. When the spirit saw us looking at his glowing form, Angus would ask "Do you not like my ghostly appearance?" When Tami would ask "Why?" Angus would say "Usually, tourists enjoy glowing ghosts. Livens up the place, you might say." Once inside the castle, Angus would abandon his glow, then say "Follow me. The library is where we will find what you seek." While Tami and I had wished it would be the orb, itself, that would have been far too easy. No, Angus wanted US to find the orb, ourselves. To aid our research, though, Angus DID bring us a stack, of five volumes, saying "Children, the answers you seek are within. Enjoy your reading." When Tami would mention "If you KNOW which books the answers lie in, why not just show us the information?" Angus would bow, as he would say "Pardon, lassie. I thought you KNEW the rules, of the spirit world. In this case, the rule where mortals must EARN knowledge. Spirits may guide you, but we are prohibited, from interfering." Yes, Tami and I knew this rule, from our previous cases. It was just an annoyance, having to re-learn what the ancients, already, knew. Sometimes, I wish we could take "short cuts", however, "social promotion" had lead to far to many minors graduating high school, with only a second grade reading, and writing, level. No, the rule was correct. Tami and I needed to LEARN. This was the only way to solve this case. What would prove baffling was how different authors, before the time of Christ, were able to, so vividly, describe spacecraft, such as Battlestar Galactica, the Jupiter 2, and other space craft, from modern, Hollywood science fiction. This, in a time when, if a person wanted to listen to music, they travelled either to concerts, or restaurants. Eveen vacuum tube type radio, remained THOUSANDS of years into the future. Despite these facts, atleast one volume, the author described the lay-out, of a battlestar. Starting at the bridge, and passing the fighter bays, on the way to the engine rooom. (Was this just wild imagination?) When Tami found drawing-after-drawing, of the "magical" orb, she photographed as many, of these as our cameras could store. With these digital images, in hand, Tami and I returned to G.S.2, where Angus Shenandoah watched, spell-bound, as Tami used the camera photos to produce a three-dimensional model, of the orb. When Angus first looked, at the blurry projection, he asked "Is that the best your "machnies" can do? If so, I know of painters, who can do better, even while hung over, with drink" Tami would say "Patience, Angus. Let the computer do its job" Tami and I, then, enjoyed some rations, while Angus seemed bored, while the computer did its work. When the computer beeped, and Angus, startled, by the sound, asked "Whats that?" Tami would say "Relax! For a ghost, you sure are jumpy." Once the rendering was completed, the sphere rotated 360 degrees, while showing the orb, as clearly as if it were right in front of us. When Angus would say "I, still, do not see anything", I would suggest, to Tami "Lets lay it out, flat". Soon after this, the computer made more sound, then compared the orbs decorations, to a map, of the universe (The parts we KNEW of, anyway). If the drawings wer accurate, the orb WAS a map, of the night sky, above a planet, maybe 75 million light years from Earth. To MY surprise, it was Angus own spirit which looked at the "map", and, in Gaelic, cursed the "map". When the spirit returned to English, saying "Lad, Lassie. Your machine dont know nothin. The Shenandoah clan been in Ireland, since recorded history. You can check that with our parrish priest." When Tami would ask "With your permission, sir?" Angus would say "You have it. If I were alive, I would write it out, for you" When I would ask "Angus, where do YOU think these drawings came from?" Angus would grumble "Probably the bottom of a mug of ale." Tami and I would agree, even as we added additional sources of information. Then, ofcourse, came the HARD part. FINDING the TRUE orb, and reading its TRUE surface. When Tami and I would ask Angus for suggestions, the Irish man would stand, straight, and tall, saying "Aye, lassie. I may know a few, who may know what you seek" For some reason, while Angus was off, searching for clues, within the spirit world, Tami and her regular type, of investigation, happened upon a series, of e-mails, ALL of which claimed "I have the information, of which you seek. The question is: How MUCH is the information WORTH, to you?" While some, of the e-mails contained photo's, of orbs, others were of pure text content. ALL claimed to have information, which was for sale. Tami just catalogued them, ALL, under the title "fortune hunters". Tami would take NO chances, unless Angus Shenandoah made no progress, with Irelands spirits. The next day, Tami and I were surprised when Angus showed up, with a teenage girl, named Lorn. Turns out, the young woman was a descendant, of Angus, and she had died, nearly 1,000 years ago, of a disease which, in the modern world, is , totally, preventable. When Angus whispered, like a father "Proceed", Lorn would, in a heavily Irish accent, inform us "I am aware of the orb, which you seek, however, like my ancester, here, I do not believe that the orb is a star map." When Tami would ask "How do you know this?" Lorn would say "My father, the king, had his astrologers study the night sky, for these stars. When the men could not find these stars, in our sky, my father asked for suggestions" When Tami would ask "What happened?" Lorn would say "When no adult, not even the village witch, could tell my father WHAT the orb meant, my father gave it to me, as a toy." When Tami would ask "What did you do, with it?" Lorn gave us a weak smile, as she said "I was so captivated, by the markings, that I used clay tablets, to make a flat copy. I thought it might be a song." When I would ask "What happened, when you tried to play it?" Lorn would say "Worst music I, ever, played. It did not sound like opera, jazz, or any other music. It was bizzarre. Eventually, my father asked me to stop wasting my time, and concentrate on my lessons." When I saw the look, on Tamis face, I was like "What are you thinking?" Tami would suggest "What if it was neither a star map, nor music. What if it was a message." Angus would be the first to say "Reaching, a bit, aren't you, lassie?" When Ttami looked at the man, saying "Im open to suggestions." This left Angus to ponder the orb, as well. When Tami asked Lorn "Do you remember the last place you saw the orb?" Lorn would say "Yes, my lady. When I died, my parents placed my favorite toys on display. Since I spent so much time, with the orb, it was placed into the display case, on a small pedestal." When Tami would ask "Any chance it remains?" Lorn would say "Most un-fortunately. One of fathers great-grand-children pawned the lands, to pay off his gambling debts. Clan Shenandoah has not owned the land, in centuries." When Tami would ask ""Any clue who owns the land, in the modern day?" Lorn would say "Aye. Clan McFinnish owns the land. I present this caution to you. McFinnish, and Shenandoah, have been at odds, for almost 900 years." When Tami would ask "Over land, or a woman?" Lorn would say "A young, Shenandoah, lassie, who was promised, to a McFinnish lad, as a peace offering" Tami would say "Let me guess. An insult was involved" Lorn would say "Even worse. The lassie not only declined to marry the lad, but she cut herself off, from Shenandoah, HOPING that any peril would befall herself, and not the clan" Tami would say "So, the McFinnish, feeling scorned, attacked Shenandoah lands, and ripped apart your castle?" Lorn would say "Aye". When Tami would ask "What became of the display?" Lorn would say "To my knowledge, the display rests near the crypts, and, well under McFinnish lands" When Tami would say "No problem. We just ask McFinnish for a look around." Lorn looked at Angus, would say "Wrong. If it is known, that you have contact, with Shenandoah, McFinnish would shoot you, just for our association." When Tami would ask "Any bettter ideas?" Everyone went into "think" mode. Later, when Lorn suggested "Why didn't we think of it, before?" then Lorn looked at Angus, saying "We are not human. We are spirit. We can walk right through walls." Angus seemed to like the idea, but only until Tamii would remind the spirits "No good". When Lorn asked "Pray, enlighten us", Tami would say "While the two of you are spirit energy, and can travel, through matter, with ease, the orb is three dimensional. You could, never, take it through a wall". Angus would look at Lorn, saying "Sorry, lassie. The lassie is right. We may not have bodies, but the orb does". This is when Tami would say "On the other hand, you COULD verify if the orb is present, at all." When Angus looked at my partner, Tami would say "It would be a great help, if the two of you slipped in, found the orb, and reported back its position, and condition." When Lorn would ask "What if we are captured. It would mean our lives" This is when Angus would place a fatherly arm, around Lorn's shoulders, softly saying "Lassie, we are, already, dead, remember? What can they do, to us?" When Lorn considered this, she told Tami "Your request will be honored. We will be your eyes, inside the chambers." After the spirits departed, on their task, I told Tami "Clever. If they find the orb, then we can proceed. If they dont find it, then we dont waste the effort". When Lorn, and Angus, returned, with stories, of "great, crunching" jaws, and iron snakes, Tami asked Angus to draw the lay out for us. When he did so, Tami and I realized that, while the defenses were ancient, the clan McFinnish was determined to protect the orb. While Tami did her best, upon approaching the modern clan members, to gain diplomatic access, to the orb, it would seem that I was to be a "sacrificial lamb". This, when a McFinnish daughter saw me, and began asking my own ancestry. When I informed the young woman that I was over 90% German, I was surprised when the young woman would say "I can work with that." When Tami asked the young woman "I thought that TRUE Irish only married TRUE Irish" The young woman concerned me when she spoke of "winning a man over, and "converting" the man, by giving him a LARGE family. **I** would be the one, to remind the young woman "My partner and I are only in Ireland, until the orb is verified. After that, we return to the United States" When the young woman gave me THAT look, asking "IS there NO way, I can convince YOU to stay on?" I would have to extend my apoligies, saying "I have other duties" Tami would chime in with "He's right. We have other jobs, and duties, just as you do." When the young woman would say "Very well. A girl can only try", then, while walking away, saying "Had to try" Tami would joke "I wonder if it would have been worth it? Spend the night, with a local, grab the orb..." and I would add "... and be executed, either for tricking the lassie, or worse. What if she turned out pregnant? HOW would we explain THAT, to Mr. Brown?" I have to hand it to the girl, though. She was persistent, and creative. The young woman even sent me e-mails, saying she was willing to "swap the orb", IF I agreed to stay on, atleast until she was confirmed pregnant. Well, while I could think of millions, of other men, who would LEAP at such an offer, I, for one, had no intention, of leaving fatherless children in places, where assignments took my partner and I. Too my surrprise, though, the young woman, eventually, brought forth the orb, saying "I am sure that my father would not mind. You have proven your honor." After we scanned the actual orb, into the computers, and I provided the young woman with a "thank you", for bringing the orb, Tami smiled as she said "Too bad you didn't take advantage, while she was on the plane." (I KNEW what Mr. Brown would think of that!) While the girl returned to her clan, Tami and I studied the orb. Even though we were annoyed, when the chemical analysis read "Unknown", in comparison to every sample, known to Earth. As for the alleged "star map", it was only off, by about 20 million light years. In flattened form, the map showed a star system, 95 miillion light years, from Earth. Why would anyone bother creating a map, of a system, which humans could not hope to reach, for nearly 100 million years? When Tami and I tried "audio synthesis", I was glad Tami suggested "headphones". This because, even at low volume, the "sound" was an assault on our ears. It was not until Tami ran the carvings through our linguistic programs, that we found what Dublin sought. A message, writtten in computer code. The translation, roughly, said: "Since the time is at hand, for you to read this message, it is, first, importatnt, for you to understand. Home world is DEAD. This is why we came to (the Irish name for earth). We came here, not to visit, but to begin new lives. To prevent the enticement, to return to a dead world, we have sent our ships away, following our debarking. We have selected this planet, since it is green and fertile. We HOPE our children can learn to live in peace. Since this orb was fashioned, on home world, not on (Earth), its components will seem "alien" to you. No matter. We have brought you here, to preserve our race." When Tami would say "Sounds like the Irish version, of the Holy Bible, doesn't it?" I would agree. "Garden of Eden. Be Fruitful, and multiply, and so on." Tami would ask "I wonder why race, after race, chose Earth, as their destination? What makes Earth so special?" I would suggest "Remember. In those days, the planet was peaceful, and filled with potential." When Tami would say "Yeah. Look at what WE made, of it." I would remind her "Even with all of their science, they could not predict the future." Tami would add "This leaves only one question. WHAT do we tell Dublin? The Irish are aliens? Earth was an "outpost? WHO would believe such a story?" I would caution my partner "The Irish are no more ""alien", to Earth, than the rest of us. Remember what the Gargoyles told us. Humans came to Earth, to do genetic, and agricultural, research." Tami would add "I remember. The Christian version, of history, was created AFTER many, dangerous, mistakes were made. Better to let people think that mankind "blinked" into existance. This way, the people wont ask "WHERE DID we, ALL, come from?" And I would add "Remember. The message says that home world is DEAD. There is nothing for the Irish to return for. After so very long, the planet might not even exist." When we contacted the Brown Agency, for directions/instructions, we noticed that, when the reply came, it was co-authored by Mr. Brown, Mr. Blue, and Mr. Black. The reply came via "overnight express", and the enclosed ball was made of copper. The accompanying note said "Dont be surprised, by contents, of message. We made it as real as possible." When we scanned the ball, we found that very little was changed. Just fictionalized. When Tami and I brought the Brown Agency orb before Dublin's heads of state, and, even AFTER these people read the message, they, still, tried to plot the star pattern. When the leader brought Miss McFinnish before Tami and I, while the leader would say "Ireland owes you much gratitude. You are welcome, on our shores, any time." As Tami and I extended our thanks, the leader would look at me, and mention "I KNOW you are German, but" patting the young womans hand, the leader would add "I do wonder how a blend, of Irish, and German, blood would turn out" Tami would be quick as she said "We need to be going. Work goes on, elsewhere." The Irish would wave to us, as we boarded G.S.2. Once we were airborne, and out of sight, the young woman would ask the leader "DO you think a combination, of Irish, and German, blood, would be a bad thing?" The leader would say "There are radicals, everywhere. The Germans, and Americans, are no different from us. They work, play, and raise families. Only our flags really matter. Besides, even if a match was "good", the children would, never, be allowed to ascend to power" On-board G.S.2, Tami would tease me, asking "What would it be like, to have MORE of you around?" I would say "Not funny. You saw how I was, as a child. I have no intention of putting ANY woman through that." As for myself, my greatest hope is that I did not break the Irish girls heart. After all, this WAS just another assignment. I had no intention of leaving "damage", at any location. It was when Tami submitted our final, case, notes, to the Brown Agency, that the response was a message, from Lysia. "I am calling you, from off-campus. I dont want anyone to think this is serious. I THINK, however, that there is another problem, at hand. One which the two of you are, uniquely, skilled in." When Tami and I reviewed Lysia's message, we found the Brown Agency approval attached. After re-fuelling, and re-supply, we were headed BACK, into the "heart" of America.