Winter's Bite

Cait Chapter 5

Cait

Chap 5

I woke early next morning. As usual I'd dreamt about the car crash. But this time it had been Owen who appeared in frontof the car, dropping down from the sky like some huge bird. Really freaky.

As I showered, I remembered how the police had questioned me. They told me I'd been found wrapped in a blanket in the car's back seat. They thought I must have been asleep when the accident happened.

I stood as water ran over my hair and face and relived telling them what happened. They'd thought I'd dreamt or hit my head and hallucinated.

'You describe this man very clearly. You could have only seen him for a second or two under extreme circumstances,' they said.

'It wasn't the first time I saw him,' I explained. 'I spotted him by the postcard stand as we headed out.'

I'd been following Mom and Dad from the ski-resort when I felt some-one watching. I looked up. A young man wearing a Cossack brown fur coat and hat with fur-lined boots flicked his eyes between Mom and me. Long red hair surrounded a pale face and flowed down under his hat. The man's intent stare had creeped me out.

I saw the two police-men exchange glances.

'You saw this creepy man at the ski lodge and later you dreamt about him,' the older one suggested.

'No. I saw him in front of the car,' I insisted.

'But if you left first how could he get ahead on the road. Did he pass your car going up the mountain?'

I admitted no cars had passed us. It didn't make sense. I even doubted myself. Maybe I had dreamt or hallucinated. But my memories were so clear. And everytime I dreamt, it had always been the same, until last night.

I might have taken last night as proof I'd dreamt the mysterious man except Aunt Louise had mentioned some-one named Jeb the day before. The same name Mom had cried when she saw the man in the road. One thing was clear, I had questions for my aunt, and I intended to ask them soon.

I brushed my teeth and wrapped a bath-towel around me. In the hallway I met my cousin, Kevin, emerging from his bedroom. I flushed with embarressment. Nice one, Cait, I told myself, corrupting the morals of fourteen year old boys. That must be a new low.

Before I could question Aunt Louise she announced I would start my new school on Monday. She whisked me into town after breakfast to buy a new uniform. During the hour's drive into town I stared out the window, curious about my new surroundings. We drove past dark pine forest and moorland. Snow-capped mountains formed a background.

'Look! Deer,' I cried.

I strained my head backwards, watching a small herd at the forest's edge as we whizzed past.

'Yes, there are deer in Haimon forest, other things too. Stay out of there,' Aunt Louise warned. 'Wild boar inhabit it. They're dangerous. Every year or so some tourist disappears, despite the warning signs. Even deer can be dangerous.'

'Haimon Forest?' I asked.

'Aye, the Haimons own it. They own most land around here, including the land Garntor is built on.'

'But not Garntoran Hill?'

'No. The hill's been in our family generations. Some say as a gift from the Haimons, others that an ancestor bought it from them.' She shrugged.