Web of stone (standard:mystery, 1873 words)
Author: La Futiere	Added: Mar 29 2010	Views/Reads: 3634/2300	Story vote: 0.00 (0 votes)
Mysterious powers used by accident victim to gain revenge. ESP?

Click here to read the first 75 lines of the story


Despite her distress she had developed some indefinable strength of
purpose beyond his comprehension.  She took to nocturnal wanderings 
often crossing the fields to stand in the great prehistoric stone 
circle of Avebury.   Short of an all-night vigil, there was little 
David could do to deter her.  They must, at all costs, get away from 
this place with its unbearable memories. 

Selling up was not difficult and his business affairs were quickly
settled.  The cottage in Cornwall was purchased without difficulty and 
preparations for the move went smoothly.   Dr Petersson approved ‘The 
tranquillity, plus a definite removal from her Mother's place might 
help'.  Tanith, however, resisted with tears and blandishments. ‘I 
can't leave Mummy, besides Cornwall might be too far' ‘Too far from 
what darling' David enquired ‘Just too far,  too far' 

Her entreaties achieving nothing and a few weeks later they entered
their new home.  Tanith adapted surprisingly well.   The cottage was 
beautiful, of solid granite in a barren landscape punctuated by the 
dark silhouettes of ruined engine houses.  To the south the sea pounded 
the granite cliffs and the magnificence of the place stimulated the 
artist within her.   Soon she was executing vivid pictures but still 
the theme of  webs and stones persisted.  As autumn cast its golden 
mantle over the hills, there was a definite awakening within her.   
Some colour returned to her cheeks and she was driven by some sense of 
purpose that was giving her inner strength.  She would not confide in 
David and he was content to allow her to recover in her own time. 

The first frost gripped the earth in mid November and David, returning
from a book fair in Penzance was looking forward to a hot meal before 
the big log fire.  As he drove into the yard he was surprised to find 
the cottage in darkness.  He pushed open the unlocked door to feel no 
warmth, the fire was out and Tanith was nowhere to be found.   His 
imagination took him on black wings of fear to the cliffs and the 
pounding ocean, then to the open, gaping mine-shafts, stinking pits of 
darkness - it was too much, first Janet and now.... 

The search lasted for many hours and teams of volunteers toiled in vain.
 It was almost dawn and the searchers returned from cliffs and mines 
tired and weary.  PC Davis had been selected with care.  A man who had 
knocked on many a door on a winter's night.  A man of sympathy and 
soul, a man who had himself lost friends from trawler decks and 
sea-swept lifeboats.  A man who knew the agony of life. 

With lowered head he entered the cottage ‘Nothing sudden' he warned
himself ‘ as David led him into the lounge. ‘Nice picture sir' he said, 
nodding at one of Tanith's paintings on the wall above the fire. ‘Yes' 
replied David, almost weeping ‘Tanith painted it'   Davis accurately 
gauged the depth of despair in the other man's eyes and decided to 
pursue the theme a little longer. 'Seven maidens isn't it?' ‘Seven 
what?' David asked absentmindedly ‘Seven maidens Sir, a Neolithic stone 
circle just outside Lamorna'  David leapt from the chair with an energy 
that startled the constable ‘A stone circle?  here?  For God's sake 
take me there'  Davies considered the request, taken aback by the 
urgency and decided that there was no harm in humouring the man.  
“Besides, come to think of it, we never thought of looking in that 
area”. 

As the pale rays of a winter dawn pierced the black sky, they found her.
 She was dressed in a flowing white night-gown in the centre of the 
circle.  She did not see them or hear them but sang softly to herself: 

‘This is my web, my web of stone, Come pretty fly, come to my home' 

The song was chanted over and over again as the young constable swept
her delicate frame into his arms and carried her back to the car.  She 
was asleep within seconds.  By the following day she was back to what 
passed for normal. ‘Why spiders darling?' David quizzed her.  She 
raised herself on one elbow to stare intently into his eyes. ‘Don't you 
understand the power of the spider?  Didn't Mummy tell you? ‘Well, yes, 
bit beyond me I'm afraid - brilliant engineers though' ‘Oh there's much 
more to it than that' she said scornfully. ‘Haven't you noticed that 
the Spider never tracks its prey?  It doesn't need to you see.  At 
night when my head feels misty, Mummy comes to me and teaches me 
things.  I know all the secrets. 

As the winter tightened its grip the first snow came.  Tanith made
several more excursions to the stones but PC Davis with understanding 
patience and David himself managed to find her quickly and return her 
to the safety of the cottage. ‘Would this torment never end?' 

It was Christmas in Penzance, goodwill abounded.  The waiter whisked
away the empty Champagne bottle and topped up their glasses from a 
third bottle. Harry and Mary were very happy and raised their glasses 
in a silent toast. ‘Oh darling, what a marvellous idea to spend 
Christmas in Cornwall. What made you think of it?' ‘Don't know really, 
the idea has been buzzing around in my head for some time'.   They 
strolled out onto the balcony and drank in the breathtaking splendour 
of Mount's Bay the water shimmering in the cold ethereal moonlight.. ‘I 
bet the view from Land's end is spectacular with the moon on the sea - 
lets go!'  Giggling happily they raced down the hotel stairs and out 
into the frosty night air.  Mary opened the door and climbed in behind 
the wheel, Harry climbed in beside her and, with a hail of gravel the 
Jaguar left the car park and accelerated through Penzance and the 
deserted street of Newlyn.  Over the narrow bridge with a scream of 
tyres, she gunned the car up the steep hill and out into the 
wilderness.  Racing down the narrow road Harry and Mary approached a 
corner and saw in the glare of the headlights, the most incredible 
scene. 

In a frost white field was a circle of ancient stones and there, in the
centre, a maiden in flowing robes was holding her hands up to the 
heavens and looking straight at them.  She appeared to be singing!  The 
astonished driver, Champagne slow, entered the corner at excessive 
speed.  The tyres surrendered to centrifugal force thrusting the Jaguar 
through a low hedge to slam into the first stone with explosive force.  
The engine died then all was silent. 

Tanith lowered her arms and ceased to sing.  She turned and walked from
the circle.  Behind her, there was a deep,  stunning thud and the night 
turned crimson as the flames devoured their prey.  Tanith did not look 
back, she was going home. 


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