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By Root 2256 0

not even Dare was able to hear. And then he was gaping at something, astounded, for though the door was still closed he could see two figures who were standing in the hall directly in front of it as if they were about to enter: motionless and silent, staring into the room, they were the priests he thought he’d seen in the other wing. The taller one, older, with a freckled face, held a book that was bound in bright red leather. With the vision the poundings grew faster, more violent; then abruptly the energy seemed to relent and it ebbed to a muffled, steady pulsing as the door creaked back to its original shape. Freeboard cupped a hand to her mouth and emitted a stifled sob. The soft poundings receded, moving slowly down the hall, growing fainter and fainter until at last they were gone.

Freeboard took the hand from her mouth. “Jesus, Terry, I want to get out of this place!” she whispered hoarsely.

“Me too.”

“You think it’s gone?”

Dare shook his head. “I don’t know.”

He started to get up to go to the door but the Realtor quickly tugged him back down. “No! Don’t open it yet! I don’t trust it!”

“Yes, you’re right,” he whispered back.

They waited. And then voices. From below. Trawley and Case. Dare and Freeboard leaped up and moved swiftly to the door, opened it and rushed out into the hallway. Below them, Case and Trawley were ambling into the Great Room, quietly chatting. Trawley laughed. Freeboard called down to them loudly, “Hey!”

Case and Trawley looked up. Dare and Freeboard were hustling down the stairs, rushing up to them. “My God, am I glad to see you guys!” exclaimed Freeboard. She was breathless. “Where in freak have you been?” she exclaimed.

“Why, I was just showing Anna the rest of the house,” replied Case. “Is something wrong? Have you seen something? Tell me.” He fumbled at his pockets, as if searching for a notepad and pen. He examined their faces. “Yes, I see something’s happened,” he said.

“No shit! Listen, don’t ever leave us like that!” Freeboard told him.

“You’re so pale, dear,” the psychic observed. “And you too, Mr. Dare.”

“I’m in tatters,” Dare declared. “Undone.”

“Well, what was it?” asked Case. “What did you see?”

“I don’t know,” Freeboard answered. With a knuckle, she brushed away a tear from her eye. “There was something. It came down the hall. It was trying to get in, it almost bent in the door!”

“What door?” asked Case.

“To my room,” said Dare.

“First we heard this loud sound,” recounted Freeboard. “Like a sledgehammer pounding on the walls. The whole house shook, it filled up your brain! And then it—”

“Excuse me,” said Case, looking past her. “Oh, Morna, dear?”

Dare and Freeboard turned and saw the housekeeper standing close by. Where had she come from? wondered Dare.

Morna’s eyes were on Case as she answered, “Yes?”

“Have you been in the house this past hour?”

“Of course.”

“Then you heard it,” said Freeboard.

“Heard what, Miss?”

“Heard what?” Freeboard giggled.

“You heard nothing unusual, Morna?” Case asked. He was frowning and seemed dubious and uncertain.

“No, nothing at all,” Morna answered serenely.

“It was shaking the house!“ Freeboard blurted incredulously.

“Yes, exactly!“ added Dare. “It was deafening!”

Morna gently shook her head and said softly, “I heard nothing.”

“Oh, well, shit!” muttered Freeboard. “So I’m looney toons.”

“But I heard it too,” Dare exploded.

“Tell me, Morna, where were you?” Case asked, his frown deeper. “I mean, just this past hour,” he added.

“In the kitchen.”

“This is crazy!” blurted Freeboard. She threw up her arms. “Will there be something further?” asked Morna.

“You’re very sure, Morna?” Case persisted.

“I am. Is that all, please? I can go?”

Case held her gaze with some mysterious emotion in his eyes. It was something like longing. Or grief Then after moments he said softly, “You may go. And thank you. Thank you more than I can say.”

“Yeah, me too. Thanks a bunch,” grumbled Freeboard.

“Then good night,” Morna told them. She held Case’s gaze for another long moment, and then turned and glided slowly toward the hall at the