Blue Lights in the Water (short story)

Blue Lights in the Water

I used to often take the road that leads from the lumber mill back into town. It runs along the river and passes by the old dam at about the midway point. Ever so often, on my way home from a long day of work id see a blue light shining from the gate house. illuminating the river along the base of the dam. Now we all heard talk that the dam keeper is strange, some even believe that he is the restless spirit that died long ago. Sometimes I see him walking along the top of the dam even fishing in the river but never in the nights with the blue lights. I've never even said a word to him even though I'm very tempted I remember having heard all tales of him around town. I know my father has saw him when my father was a young boy, even my fathers father has seen him. They swear he's the same man. He's older than any human to ever live. I thought it was impossible that there must of been multiple dam keepers over the years, I thought so, but i was wrong. Well in a way I was wrong, and in a way I was right. One night while I was making my way back to town with a caravan full of lumber, I saw somebody lying in the road. I stopped my horse, grabbed my lantern and went to see what was wrong with this person that was lying on the road. It was a man, muttering something under his breath, and he looked to be in pain. I gave him my hand and helped him to his feet, when he stood up he wouldn't let go of me, I saw him up close by the light of my lantern I say he didn't look older than 50 years. "What happened to you" I asked. He replied "I fell, I'm in pain" his grip was strong, and I didn't see any visible injuries. I inquired "Where ya hurt? Why were you laying in the middle of the road?" "I need to get back to the dam" "To the dam?" I said. "Yes the dam and I want you to come with me" "Are you the dam keeper?" I asked "Yes I am young man, now come I need to show ya this" "Show me what" I was already uneasy at this point. He says "Someone needs to know and the night has given me you". Towards the dam he pulled me I tried to object but his grip was to strong. Question after question he got, I demanded to know what it was he wanted to show me. When we reached the landing of the structure his voice animated "I've seen ya around these parts many times, I've seen ya along this old road by night and ya never stopped to say hello especially when there are blue lights on the water. you never stop to wish me well, everyone tells tales about me, everyone talks about old man Wellam, they say I'm just the wreak who works as the dam keeper and when them blue light flash they say I've lived here for a thousand years they say there hasn't been any other dam keepers but me they say I'm a ghost and they tell there children to stay away, when they see blue lights on the water they tell their children there is another soul that I have taken. So look at me now since you seen me up close do I look like a ghost to you, I'm going to show you something that you have never seen before. your gonna see them blue lights shine bright on the river tonight I'm gonna show ya how I'm very much alive. Heres the walkway, heres the gate house here are the levers that I could work in the dark. I've worked here much longer than you could imagine I put blue lights glaring on the water like cold life and I keep on working for another long while some people think eternal life is eternal youth but really its just lingering and avoiding fate. Now lets get them blue lights burning." By then we were standing in the gate house it was a small square room with a desk with moldy windows, there was also a trap door in the floor which was open I could see a shaft going to a lower level. "That there is the flood level" said Wellam. He produced a flask mad of silver and told me to watch and not say a word. He poured something from the flask into the lantern. It began to emit into cobalt colored smoke he hung the lantern on a hook in the ceiling there it started to burn with a ghostly blue light. Brighter and brighter it got i had to shield my eyes from its glare a gust of wind whipped through the gate house blowing in through the windows. I hear Wellam shouting something it must of been words or it might of been shrieks of pain. A sudden chill fell over the place and I wrapped my arms around myself to keep from shivering. Then I heard two voices, as I was screaming my eyes open a bit to try to see whats going on. Wellam was going about but there was someone else with him there shouts grew to a terrible pitch. Blinded and deafened I crouched and covered my face and ears.Then just as quickly as the fury had come on, it receded. The air went calm and the sound not quite so loud the lantern yet glowed with and eery blue radiance on the ground I saw Wellam naked huddled over another man I stood up in order to get a better view the one lying on the ground was Wellam as well "Shedding my own skin" he muttered the shock pulsed through me what is this I could not believe what I was seeing. The Wellam lying on the ground let out a moan and his fingers twitched the Wellam crouching nearby grabbed him and pushed him into the open trapped door. He shouted as he went and I heard him it the floor with a splash. "Tell me whats happening" I gasped Wellam shut the trapped door and sealed it with a latch "some people think eternal life means eternal youth" Wellam walked over to the levers and pulleys on the other side of the room, "really its just lingering and avoiding fate" "this is madness" I heard myself say he began working the levers and ropes. The sound of rushing water rose from below along with the muffled screams of the man down there "its a trick, its advise and its definitely a trap". My eyes were burning I couldn't blink "which are you? are you the same Wellam or is he the one down there?" Wellam only threw me a glance and shrugged his shoulders the rush sounded out the screams of the man in the flood chamber. I backed up, ready to bolt away "lets get them blue lights burning on the currents below, its a trap to keep the keeper forever"