Hamelyn's Curse
Ode to Crom:-
Circle round! Circle round!
To reach for the sky!
Spill blood on the ground!
To the Gods we call!
To the gods we cry!
For them to hear?
The children must die
Circle Round! Circle round!
To reach for the sky!
Spill blood on the ground!
Chapter 10
After their success with the Photo Evidence. Don decided to risk sending David and his partner out to Edward's Plateau. Hopefully between them the pair would turn up further evidence and maybe even a clue. To the location of the Primary Crime Scene itself. Don was aware his team hadn't been given such a high profile case. Since the LA rapist. He wanted them to solve it quickly and apprehend the perpetrator. Already a Supervisory Field Agent. From Dallas FBI Field office was making noises about their involvement. The "Stuck up" SSA had even tried to restrict his team's access to the Plateau. Don technically outranked the woman and had used his superior grade. To get his own way But he knew if his people didn't come up with the goods sharpish? Laura Fuller would take over and oust them from the investigation completely.
In Don's mind it was essential they find where the remaining missing children were being held.
David parked the SUV in the clearly marked Law Enforcement Zone. Then he and Colby hiked up to the summit of Edward's Plateau. A slight rustling in the bushes. That fringed the track caused Colby. To look sideways. He got a momentary glimpse of a large Black dog. Something about it made a thrill travel up his spine. But then he decided. It was probably just a straying farm dog and dismissed it from his mind. They crested the lip of the path and stepped straight into a taped off area. They had barely advanced half a metre. When a woman approached. David recognised her. Laura Fuller was notorious at the FBI. Few people ever had anything nice to say about her. The most common epithet used to describe the woman was
'Psycho Bitch Hag from Hell'.
Naturally David didn't address her as this to her face. He just schooled his features into a bland expression. Laura regarded the two LA Feds with undisguised contempt then spat'
"I know all about you LA lot. Well I'm warning you now. Keep out of my squad's way. We are real field investigators. You are just a bunch low rank city wannabes," she glanced at Colby and the way he was dressed. Then in a very disparaging manner snarled. "And you aren't even FBI. You have no business being up here. Get below with the rest of the civilians!" David was far from intimidated
"Agent Fuller! Agent Granger is a fully qualified FBI agent and it might interest you to know. He qualified from Quantico At the top of his class with the highest distinction ever." David saw the woman pale slightly and pressed his advantage. "Agent Granger was also recently awarded the FBI Medal of Meritorious Behavior Gold Class." Fuller swallowed and wished she hadn't been so quick. To condemn the agents from LA. Many of her team were now observing. David dress her down. He hadn't finished. "So lady I suggest you get a little respect in your voice. When you speak to us." Laura flushed red then scowled. Annoyed at being denigrated by those she considered her inferiors. "This is just a simple abduction case she snapped "The sooner you lot get out of our way? The sooner we will find the missing kids." Colby kept quiet. He could tell David had the haughty woman's measure So saw no need to get involved in petty FBI politics. He heard the rustling again and sensed the dog had re-appeared. Laura noticed the creature as well and in an attempt. To re-assert her authority smapped. "Get your mutt off this Plateau. Before the brute corrupts even more evidence than you two." David was about to say the dog was nothing to do with them. When Colby forestalled him and lied. "That dog is called Shukr and is known to be the finest tracker around." David blinked as Colby. Blatantly lied and claimed the stray. Clearly though Laura Fuller was convinced and only snapped. "I don't care? What you called the stinking cur? Just keep out of my way and under control!" The knowledge that she was in the presence of Agent Colby Granger made her slightly wary. Every FBI agent across the country had heard of him and his heroism. It was well known. Agent Colby Granger was the darling of many high ranking officials and destined for great things. Laura burned with envy as she stalked off with, what little dignity she had left? David watched her walk away then stared at Colby
"Shucker what sort of name is that? You couldn't think of something more ordinary like Rover or Rex?" Colby frowned at him puzzled.
Don't tell me you've never heard of the famous Black Dogs of Legend? It was David's turn to frown.
"Are you talking about those red eyed, English Hell Hounds?" Colby laughed
"Only a modern New Yorker would named them such?" David sensed he wasn't being insulted.
"What do you call them then?"
"They have at least a dozen different names According to where they are supposed to haunt."
"Oh?"
"Padfoot, Barghest Gaitraes and I believe even our own Amerind tribes have legends concerning them They call them Makwa Vinovi." David blinked at this news
"Really? I never knew that!" Colby grinned
"You learn something every day."
David gave a half laugh "So am I correct in guessing Shucker is one of these Devil Dogs." Colby nodded.
"He is more commonly known as Black Shuck and his territory lies along the East coast of England. But there is evidence. To suggest he was once a real animal." They began to walk along the clearly marked 'Common Entry Path'. David noted the dog was following them.
"What sort of evidence?" David continued the conversation.
"Way back before William the Conqueror, just after the Romans retreated from Britain. England was invaded by a succession of German races. The Jutes the Angles and the Saxons."
"I've heard this tale before too," David interrupted. "Weren't the Saxons led by a couple known as Henghist and Horsa?" Colby nodded then continued with his narrative.
"The Druids were trying to re-establish themselves as the Spiritual Leaders of the Celts. After four centuries of Roman subjugation. When up sails Henghist and his brother."
"That must have been a blow to the Celts. So soon after ridding them-selves of the Romans." Colby agreed then added
"Probably - barely a decade had passed - since the withdrawal of the Cohorts. But the Druids hadn't wasted any time. They'd already began re-growing their Sacred Groves and forcing the people. To revert back to the worship of their bloodied Gods."
"So sacrifices were the order of the day?" David half joked.
"It's very likely," Colby agreed then added "Anyway, Horsa was alleged to have a giant, one eyed dog called Shukr. (Shooga)" David raised an eyebrow
"Could Shuck be a derivative of Shukr?" he corrected himself to copy Colby 's name for the dog.
"Its very like that Shuck grew from Shukr or as the Saxons would have said it Scucca." He grinned at David . "And you think Rover is common place. Scucca just meant Hairy. Henghist's dog was probably just a furry great mongrel." David suddenly made a very pertinant observation
"Weren't the Saxons of Germanic descent?" Colby hadn't even made such a connection But now he concurred and praised his astute his partner. Then returned to the subject of Black dogs. "Anyway the point of this story is? The dog in question was trained. To hunt down the Druids and finally rid the British Isles of the malign Snake Worshippers. In the same way as Saint Patrick once had. Eventually the Saxons forced the Druids back into the wilds of Wales. It was left to Edward the first. To finally eradicate the villains." David was astonished. "Henghist and Horsa were Christian? I thought the Saxons were like the Vikings and followed Odin and Thor!" David did have some knowledge Coldy inwardly noted. He wondered if perhaps one day? He would be able to let David in on his secret hobby? Aloud he furthered the conversation. "The more northern Jutes and Angles definitely did - well their own version Wotan and Taranis. But the Saxons were from Southern Germany and were most likely to have had more contact with the newly converted Romans." Colby eyed the stray dog But a new idea was forming in David's mind. "Okay!" He admitted to himself. "It was totally out there. But half of him knew He was right."
"That thing is as black as night, hairier than Satan's butt and I've just noticed it only has one eye and its red."
"It's probably just a coincidence," Colby shrugged. David shook his head. "You no more believe in coincidence than I do. That thing is here to protect you." Colby laughed.
"I think that is about as likely as Saint Patrick. Himself turning up and solving the case." David laughed at the very idea. But then his amusement faded. "What's upsetting it?" he pointed to the newly named Shukr. The dog was growling at a rocky outcrop. It's teeth were bared and all the fur on its back had risen. Curious the two men walked across -to get a closer look. At what was distressing the animal. Colby crouched and parted the long fronds of grass around the base of the stone. David heard him give a gasp of horror and knelt beside him. For a closer look. Almost at once he saw it and his insides cramped. He like Colby. Knew what he was looking at. It was a coiled snake carved in the style of Ancient Celtic Knotwork.
"Oh God!" David breathed. Colby patted the dog and whispered.
"Good boy! Good Shukr!" He reached into his inner jacket pocket and lifted out a tissue wrapped bundle.
"What is that?"
"Second breakfast," Colby grinned sideways at his partner. You know me. I always have to have snack. The hotel won't miss these few bits and anyway. The FBI is paying for them." David grinned and gave him a knowing look. Colby unwrapped the small packet and rewarded the dog with half a rasher of bacon. David rose to his feet and although. It went against his better judgement. He obeyed protocol and waved to Fuller. She stalked across scowling.
"What now? This better be important." David forced himself not to snap back at the rude woman. "We've found some sort of carving on this rock Agent Fuller."
"Supervisory Special Agent!" she snapped. Then stepped closer and looked down at the Petroglyph!
"That is not evidence. It's some rubbishy bit of graffiti," she snorted. "Stop wasting my time," She looked at Colby feeding the black dog. "And I want. That mangy mutt off my Crime Scene. Before he craps on something. That is relevant." She spun on her heel and stormed off.
"Crikey!" Colby murmured "What a rude bitch. Man! She takes the Gold Medal. For being a first class cow."
David smothered his smile. Then said. "Well I don't care what the hag thinks? Both you and I know that symbol is important?" He snapped a photo of it on his Cell Phone. Then sent it to their temporary base. David knew his Charlie would understand it's importance.
TBC