Ancient Echoes

CHAPTER 45



LIONEL SAT ON THE floor of the barn, his back resting against a wall. He was alone except for Vince. Somebody or something had awoken him. His brother, the Sheriff and that spooky-looking Simon Quade left the barn to go outside and talk. He wondered what they were up to, and why he wasn’t included.

He also wondered why the villagers allowed the women to stay warm and comfortable while they treated him no better than a farm animal. He couldn’t help but suspect the women offered the villagers all sorts of favors.

He notice the way Thaddeus Kohler ogled Melisse. He wouldn’t put it past her to take advantage of Kohler’s interest. Enough coeds had played such little games with him. They knew what it took to raise their grades, that was for sure.

Even that sniveling idiot Brandi Vinsome had come to his office after hours a couple of times and practically threw herself at him to convince him to take her on this field trip. She had hinted without subtlety that she would provide him a most pleasurable trip. What else would have convinced him to select her over capable applicants?

Once on the field trip however, she ignored him. So much for her promises and gratitude. Little bitch!

He sighed heavily. He couldn't think about women now.

Vince’s loud snores interrupted his thoughts.

The boy had been abnormally quiet ever since his fright the other night when he ran caterwauling back to camp. Rempart didn’t even want to think about Devlin and the possibility of another dead student. He rubbed his throbbing temples. Already he feared being forced to kiss his career good-bye after this abominable disaster. He would never live it down.

Tenure provided his only comfort. If they tried to fire him, he’d sue. How could he have known any of this would happen?

He felt sick to his stomach. He lay back down and covered himself with more smelly animal hides. All in all, he was glad the villagers took them in, even if he did have to sleep in a barn. The villagers suggested they not attempt to leave the village walls. Dangers lay beyond them. In the pens beside the stable were wild boars and sows, ducks and wild turkey whose wings had been clipped so they could no longer fly, and surprisingly tame big horn sheep and mountain goats. Lionel felt like one of the animals…but at least he was safe.

If only he better understood what he encountered here, he might feel less nervous about the place.

The sheriff had told them the men here had disappeared thirteen years ago; he said he recognized their names from official reports on their disappearance. Lionel found that hard to believe considering how young some of them looked. Or, maybe, this place was the Fountain of Youth, too!

One thing he did know. The ancient tools, utensils and such all around here had to have been left by the secret expedition that followed Lewis and Clark.

Many months ago, when he first read the journal of Francis Masterson at the Smithsonian with all its talk about people disappearing into the pillars, he assumed Masterson had gone mad. But now, he learned the tale was true. The expedition's men must have built these log huts and the community house, trying to make this forlorn land habitable.

He wondered what had happened to them. Did they find their way out, or did they die here? He shivered. And what about the strange creatures all around them? Where had they come from? His thoughts returned to rumors of bones of odd creatures found in this part of Central Idaho. Maybe he should have investigated further, although any rational man would have expected they were a hoax. But if bones of those creatures from this side were found in the real world, there had to be a way to go back, a way to go home. A kernel of hope built inside him.

Getting back...back to his home…his studies…his coeds…

Happy thoughts lulled him back to sleep.