Murky Manor Read online

MURKY MANOR

  Copyright 2008 by Steven & Margaret Larson

  Cover Art Copyright 2008 by Betty Rieffer

  This book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This book may not be resold. Thank you for respecting the work of the authors.

  Other books available by these authors

  CHILDREN'S FANTASY BOOKS

  Cave of Discovery

  Worlds Within

  The World Beyond the Door

  A COLLECTION OF WRITINGS

  Thoughts on the Wind

  Print versions available at www.lulu.com/larsonworlds

  Visit us at our web site www.home.earthlink.net/~larsonworlds

  CONTENTS

  1 Turrets and Lightening

  2 The Clipper Ship Diner

  3 Moving In

  4 The Gazebo

  5 The Image in the Cup

  6 Strawberry Crepes

  7 Fog in the Rainforest

  8 The Captain's Church

  9 An Unexpected Trip

  10 Escape on Two Wheels

  11 The Cataract

  12 Pirate

  13 The Antediluvian

  14 Plants, Mold, and Mildew

  15 Water Wisps at the Manor

  16 Escape from the Inn

  17 The Misty Way

  18 Watermelons

  19 Searching the Antediluvian

  20 Edison's Escape

  21 Safe Keeping

  22 A Safe Storm

  23 Aftermath

  24 Procuring a Boat

  25 The Chase

  26 Back to Murky

  Epilogue

  CHAPTER 1 - TURRETS AND LIGHTENING

  The old willow tree's top branches whipped around in the wind like stringy hair. A flash of lightening lit up the lower limbs. They scraped over the ground like gnarled fingers searching in the grass for something lost.

  Meredith stood in front of the antique secretary desk and slid up the roll top. A small wooden replica of a gazebo sat on the desk. She released a catch in the back, and the roof lifted off like a box top. Inside a black cup nestled in a pile of vibrant blue silk.

  She turned back to the windows. The outside world was bathed in purple light. Three sides of the small turret room had windows and cushioned seats. A cream colored cat sat with its nose pressed against the pane. Lightening flashed. She counted until she heard the boom in the distance. Seven seconds. Seven miles away.

  Meredith pushed aside the leather bound book she had been reading and curled up beside the cat on the faded fabric. She had expected Captain Morgan's journal to be full of exciting stories about his voyages. Instead the pages only contained navigational figures, duty rosters, and weather reports.

  "What do you think of the storm, Thomas Edison?" She buried her fingers in his soft fur and was rewarded by a purr. "That's what I think too," she said softly. "It's like the earth is being washed for an exciting event. Like my birthday."

  In two weeks she would be twelve. This visit to her aunt would be over by then. She would be home for her birthday. This year Heather, the most popular girl at school, had agreed to come to her party. Heather didn't like rain. She said it messed up her hair. Maybe this year there would be clear skies. But it had always rained on her birthday, and she had always thought of it as part of the celebration. Until now.

  The rain started with soft spatters. As the sky darkened, it tapped harder on the old glass. The house had stood there for over a century. Over time the glass had become wavy and thicker on the bottom. Water running down the surface further distorted the image of the yard far below.

  Narrow bookshelves separated the deep-set windows. They were filled with old books. She closed the Captain's journal and placed it back on the shelf. The house was full of oddities collected by Captain Morgan on his voyages over a hundred years ago.

  The hardwood floor was rough and uneven under her feet as she crossed the room. She stepped onto a tiny rug in front of the desk and wiggled her toes. Lightening flashed again and static in the rug popped against her foot.

  Boom. Three seconds. Three miles. Edison jumped off the window seat and slunk down the spiral staircase that led to Meredith's bedroom.

  She took a lighter from a tarnished brass spittoon and lit two candles on the wall over the desk. She tugged on the edge of the scarf and it slithered away from the cup. Scooping up her hair, she tied the blue silk around her unruly curls. Loose strands hung down and clung to her sticky skin. The room lit up briefly. Thunder rolled. One second. One mile.

  The cup had no handle and reminded her of a Japanese teacup, but much larger and heavier. She stretched her fingers around the cup. As she tilted it towards the candle, faint blue lines shimmered on the outside surface.

  Eerie shadows danced on the walls. The musty odors of faded maroon drapes and old books blended together. She could see a reflection of candle flames in the now dark windows.

  Then a brilliant light filled the room and shimmered around the window frame. The lines on the cup glittered. Strands of hair brushed across her cheek. Then everything went black.

  Meredith shivered. The window must have blown open and snuffed out the candles. There was a cold breeze against her bare arms and legs. It smelled of damp earth. For a moment she smelled something spicy, almost like cinnamon but with a tartness she could taste. It lingered on her tongue like the time she had eaten a green apple. Could it be a fragrance from one of the candles?

  The floor was cold as she took a step toward the window. She stubbed her toe, and let out a yelp as something fell with a soft thump. She knelt down and rubbed her toe. Her groping fingers brushed against cold metal. Stupid spittoon, she thought, and gave it a shove. A flash of lightening showed that she was facing an open doorway, not the window.

  She caught a glimpse of the willow tree's swaying branches scratching at the doorframe. She gasped and squeezed her eyes shut. The breeze stopped suddenly. She opened her eyes and looked up from where she crouched on the floor. The room was warm and had the familiar musty odor. In the candlelight she could see the spittoon still sitting on the floor beside the desk with the lighter poking out of the top.

  The stairs creaked. Light bounced up the hallway walls. She heard her aunt's voice.

  "Meredith? Meredith are you up here?"

  "Yes, Aunt Doris. I'm in the turret room." She struggled to her feet, and put the cup on the desk. Doris stood in the doorway breathing hard.

  "I was in the kitchen when the lightening hit and the electricity went out. Whoo! I thought I was starting to get in shape, but those three flights of stairs are a real workout. Guess I need to drop a few more pounds."

  "There's no electricity?"

  "Nope. Didn't you hear that loud boom when the lights went out?"

  When Meredith shook her head, the scarf came loose. Her light brown curls cascaded down her back. She caught the end of the scarf before it fell to the floor.

  Doris raised her eyebrows and pressed her lips together. "Hmm. Well, it sounded like a major hit. The whole neighborhood is probably dark. Good thing we were planning on moving into town tomorrow." She frowned at the candles.

  In the moving light she looked a bit like a candle herself. Her hair was cut short and dyed bright red. The fine strands floated around her face like warm embers, softening the wrinkles. She handed Meredith a flashlight and blew out the candles.

  "The Captain had two sons, Robert and David. They all lived in this house until the Captain died. Then the sons divided up the estate. David bought his own house and they dismantled their father's ship. They used the lumber to build turrets onto their houses."

  "There's another house with a turret like this?" Meredith asked.

  "Not any more. Both houses were built in the 1800's and lit by gaslights. One night during a thunderstorm, much like this one, David's house burned down. After that, Robert had this house wired for electricity. All except this room."

  "I think electricity would spoil it," Meredith said.

  "Well, no electricity seems like a good excuse to eat out. What say we go to the Clipper Ship for supper?"

  CHAPTER 2 - THE CLIPPER SHIP DINER

  The rain stopped by the time Doris found her car keys. It was a short drive to the Clipper. Everyone else seemed to have had the same idea. Meredith was glad she had taken the time to change clothes. Heather always said, "You never know when you'll meet someone, and you don't want to look stupid."

  The parking lot was almost full when they arrived. Doris squeezed her small SUV in between two pickup trucks. One was red with a confederate flag decal covering the back window. The other truck was blue, rusty, and muddy. A tattered pirate flag hung from the antenna. Then again, it wasn't likely she would meet anyone here.

  She pulled her blue jacket tighter around her as they walked around puddles to the front entrance. It was lucky her mother had insisted she bring it. Who could have guessed she would need a jacket in August?

  They crossed a short wooden bridge to the restaurant. It was built over the water like a ship docked at a pier. Outside the door, a wooden mermaid held a sign listing fresh seafood specialties.

  As they opened the door they were greeted by a recording of an Irish tenor belting out a lively sea tune. A middle age man looked up from behind the counter and grinned. His black and silver hair was mostly hidden under a leather captain's hat. It curled around the hat, and poked out at odd angles. He winked at Doris.

  "Hello, Carlo," Doris said. "Looks like everyone up on the hill has lost their electricity tonight."

  "Mean ni
ght for navigating the highways," he said. "There's one table left." He pointed across the room.

  He wore blue jeans, but his shirt was white silk with billowy sleeves. It looked like something from a costume shop for pirates. The overhead light glinted on the St. Christopher medal that hung around his neck on a gold chain.

  They wound their way through the crowd to the table. Meredith unfolded her napkin and arranged her knife and fork on it. Stretching her fingers, she casually checked out her nails. Heather would be impressed. The white polish was still perfect and the tiny blue flowers on each nail were all intact. Carlo joined them. As the adults talked about the weather, Meredith scanned the room.

  Next to the window overlooking the water, a man and woman sat at a table ignoring the view. He hunched awkwardly over the table and handed her one sheet of paper after another. His dark hair hung limp down the back of his neck. It covered his forehead emphasizing his long narrow nose.

  The woman sat stiffly in her chair and frowned. With a long, skinny finger, he pointed to something on the paper. His chin had a defiant tilt as he waited for her response.

  "What can I get for the young lady?" The voice pulled Meredith's attention back to her own table. The server waited with his pencil poised.

  After she gave her order, Meredith looked back across the room. The woman was leaving. The man scooped up the papers and stuffed them in his coat pocket. One sheet fluttered to the floor unnoticed. His legs were long and his body thin. In just a couple steps he had caught up with her. His talk was animated as they walked out together.

  A girl clearing their table picked up the paper. She studied it for a moment, then slipped it into her pocket. As she passed through the swinging doors into the kitchen, the light fell on her black hair revealing blue highlights.

  Meredith was just finishing dinner when a boy came up to their table. His hair was wet, but it didn't weigh down the dark strands that curled around his ears.

  "I heard you were looking for me," he said.

  Carlo tilted his head and grinned. "You look like something the cat drug in, son. Look what you've done to my floor."

  The boy looked down at his muddy shoes and frowned. "Oops. I guess that shortcut through the back was wetter than I thought."

  Carlo turned to Meredith. "This fine specimen of manhood is my grandson Tony. Tony, say hello to Meredith. She's Doris's niece and here for a couple weeks to help out while the old Murky Manor is being repaired."

  Tony's face reminded her of a statue from her history book on the Greek classic period. His features were perfectly proportional, and he had the same sparkling blue eyes as Carlo. Then he grinned and a crooked tooth spoiled the image. He stuck out a hand that was moist and streaked with dirt.

  Meredith grimaced, and shook his hand quickly. She wiped her hand off on her napkin. Tony looked at his hand and seemed surprised to see the dirt. He rubbed it on his jeans.

  "I've seen Murky from the outside," Tony said. "The school had a haunted house up there one Halloween a couple years ago. Actually it was just a haunted yard. We didn't get to go inside." He looked sad at this announcement. "Hope you're not changing anything."

  "Just repairing the wiring," Doris said. "The storm knocked out the electricity, but the wiring needed replacement anyway. I don't want any fires."

  After dessert, it was decided that Tony would meet them in the morning to help them unpack. Doris smirked as she said, "Be sure to clean up before you come. Ms. Argon, the manager, runs a tight ship. She won't be too happy to see children at all. Best not to startle her too much."

  He is rather startling, Meredith thought with a smile. Maybe he'll be cleaner tomorrow.

  The sky had cleared and the moon was out when they left the Clipper. Doris slowed the car and turned on Willow Drive. The streetlights were still out, and the high beam headlights lit up the glistening pavement.

  Meredith leaned forward and peered through the windshield looking for the turnoff to the mansion. Moonlight shone intermittently through thick trees that lined both sides of the road. The only way Heather and her crowd would come out here would be for a Murder Mystery Party. Meredith's Murder Mystery at Murky Manor. Had a nice ring to it.

  "So who named this place Murky?" she asked.

  "The town people started calling it that right after Morgan moved in. That's when the fog started appearing. There was never fog on the hill before, or so the story goes. It settles in around sunset. Most days it doesn't burn off until almost noon."

  "That's rather spooky."

  "Yes, I guess it is. No one knows what causes the fog. The house isn't real close to the water, and it's up on a hill. It's nice we're in a car and not traveling by horse and buggy."

  Meredith agreed.

  "I'll bet Robert occasionally traveled this road on dark nights when returning home," Doris said.

  "He was Captain Morgan's son, right?"

  "Right. You remember that both brothers had turrets added to their houses made out of wood from the Captain's ship. Robert also got the figurehead. He had it mounted under the turret. You saw it when you arrived this morning. When David's house burned down, everything was destroyed. Except his turret."

  "What happened to it?"

  "I heard it was turned into a gazebo."

  Meredith felt a tingle of excitement as she thought about riding alone in a buggy on a moonless night up this twisting road. What would it have been like to live at Murky Manor in those days?

  She pictured coming up to the old house with the windows all lit up. A groom would be waiting to take the horse to the stable. Inside a maid would settle her in a comfy chair next to the crackling fire. Tantalizing smells of fruit pies would fill the room.

  Doris stomped on the breaks. The seatbelt grabbed Meredith and jerked her back against the seat.

  "Missed the turn," Doris said, and backed up.

  They pulled onto the private road, and fog filled the headlight beams. Doris turned the lights to low. Only a few feet of pavement were visible as the car crept up the hill.

  The road snaked past huge tree trunks that appeared out of the vapor. The car emerged from the trees. Fog covered the ground, but a large moon filled the clear sky. The mansion was neither lit up nor welcoming. It was black and cheerless. The windows brooded menacingly down at Meredith as Doris parked the car.

  She could just make out the dark outline of the figurehead. In daylight it had seemed cheery and welcoming. Now it was more like a watchful guardian that resented their presence.

  "Here we are," Doris said with a big smile. "Murky Manor's not looking its best, but I'm sure the old house doesn't mean any harm."

  She hopped out of the car and handed Meredith one of the lanterns that Carlo loaned them.

  The lantern light gave Meredith's room a melancholy feel. The storm had left the room cold. The bed was built into the wall like a ship bunk. As she climbed in, she wondered if it was the captain's bunk. It was good she wasn't very tall, or she wouldn't have fit comfortably. At first the sheets were icy, but they soon warmed. It felt good to snuggle down under the blanket. She reached one arm through the chilly air to switch off the lantern. A soft thud on the bed let her know that Edison had come to join her. She fell asleep with his purr vibrating against her back.

  CHAPTER 3 - MOVING IN

  Meredith woke up early the next morning. She stretched, and her foot slid underneath Edison. She bounced him up and down until he gave a moan of complaint. His cream colored body was spotted with green light making the cat look like an alien from a B class movie.

  Light came through a stained glass window with a pattern of leaves and small blue flowers. It could only be reached by ascending part way up a staircase. Metal steps began just a few feet from the bed and wound around and around in a tight spiral leading almost straight up.

  Meredith dressed quickly and pattered up several steps. She peered between the leaves on the glass to see the grounds below. Doris was right about the fog. A thick cloud covered the yard. She hurried back to the bed.

  "Come on, Edison. It's moving day."

  Picking up the cat in one arm, she pulled the blankets over the bed. They hung unevenly down the side, and she gave the wrinkles a passing swipe. Edison responded with an indignant meow. She put him on the floor.

  "Never mind, Edison. Heather will never know we didn't make the bed properly."

  He dug his front paws into the rug's dull green pile.