Disinterred

Chapter Eleven - Death Becomes Her

     In the dark moon lit sky the blaring siren of Dan's police car cut threw the silent night. The crackling radio starts to weep and Dan's voice can be heard on the other side talking to Deputy Lockhart.  Okay, good I will see you in five minutes.

     Lockhart is going with us? No, the Deputy is bringing us some horses. He will stay back here while you and I ride ahead and locate the entrance to the tunnel. It will be light out soon and we will want to take advantage of that when we can. Make a day of it.

     The sounds of branches breaking can be heard as Dan and the professor ride up closer to the barn where the tunnel was located. Your not nervous are you Marine? Shit son I can't wait to see what's down here.

     Suddenly a man darts out of the woods in front of them. Stop!! Stop now! Okay Mister, don't shoot I was just coming back from fishing. As the professor shines his light on the mans face he realizes that he recognizes him. Raymond, Raymond is that you. A deep dark laugh could be heard coming from the man as the light seem to deem around him. No, no sir. I am not, Raymond was my grandfather. How old are you?

     I'm 72 now never mind how old I am you could me in a mess of trouble son what the hell are you doing out here? I live here. The question is what is an old man and a city boy doing tromping around the most haunted part of the Mississippi delta? I'm sorry you said you live here?

     Why yes, I lived here and my families lived here all our lives. Yes, your great grandfather took over this land when the Gentry family left. Leave? They still here sir. As the man began to turn as if to point the hairs on Dan's neck started to stand up as he was genuinely frightened about what he would hear next.

    As the men approached a small square area of shrubbery they could see shrubs covered a stone wall around a very old cemetery. As they got closer head stones started to appear one getting bigger than the other.

    My god Dan! What is dad? I can't believe this is here. The professor laughing uncontrollably looks at his son in law with amazement. It's the grave of the first Gentry that came here. Wow, we have theories on where this could be for years.

     Their all here all right. Their all buried over here except for Patrick he was killed at Gettysburg. They never were able to located his body and bury it properly. It probably never will. The government up North didn't care too much about the bodies of dead rebel soldiers I guess, nor did the south the bodies Union soldiers.

     So are you pretty familiar with the Gentry family history. A big evil looking grin devoured the mans face as he said, "yes my family worked for the Gentry's until their end." So would you mind answering a few questions for me? Not at all sir, but lets go back to my cabin.

     The cabin is located deep in the swampy area behind the main Gentry house. It is an old slave cabin over grown by shrubbery and surrounded by knee deep water. A strange place for a man to live even in Mississippi.

    Come on in. There is some nutria cooking on the stove there if you two are hungry. Nutria? It's like a giant river rat. So what did you folks want to know? Well, do you mentioned Patrick, but do you know what happened to his oldest son. Why sure he is buried over there to. Yes, but do you know how he died?

    Well, my grandfather told me a story. It is why the land is cursed and the spirits of tortured souls walk this land, but that is not the only thing that prowls this land at night. Evil exist sir and sometimes you can't stop it. It just is.