Madelaine (2) “Can’t you see he’s in love.” Lynn couldn’t resist. “Yeah he’s gonna live out here with wonder woman.” LaVerne got in her licks as well. Eric just ignored their teasing. I looked at Helen and she was staring at the red marks on Eric’s neck as she continued eating. Eric finally had a hot dog but that was it. As it started to get dark, he walked away toward the stream, no doubt for his usual routine of peeing and smoking. Things were pretty quiet around the fire and I didn’t feel much in a story telling mood so we all just settled for family small talk. It was then that I started to feel a little numbness in my left arm. It was not a welcome feeling. I tried to ignore it hoping it would go away though I knew it wouldn’t. Above all, I didn’t want Helen to suspect anything was wrong with me. Then I heard Eric’s voice. “Hey guys, look who’s here.” In the flash of the fire light we could see Eric almost beaming with Madelaine at his side. They sat farther away from the fire than the rest of us. After exchanging greetings, the girls began talking to Madelaine about normal get acquainted things like where she was born and went to school. Helen and I were quiet, listening to the echoes of their conversation when Richard came over to me. “Are you feeling okay dad,” he whispered in my ear. “You look kind of pale.” Helen was busy looking at Madelaine so she didn’t hear me tell Richard to get me a Nitro pill from the first-aid kit bag. As Richard got up, I started to feel some pressure in my chest. Now I began to perspire a little. I looked at the four of them, sitting across the campfire. Madelaine removed her tossle cap and I saw the shiny long black hair emerge, flowing down her shoulders. Even LaVerne and Lynn were stunned by this unveiling. She sat close to Eric, her arm coupled with his. Her face was fair, almost pale, but even removed from the firelight, I could see her fine, delicate, features and those shiny black eyes. Now those eyes were staring directly at me, almost right through me. Where had I seen this face before? It was now more familiar than ever. Trying to recall, I looked down for a moment. When I looked up again, her eyes were literally burning a hole in my chest and I began to sweat profusely. Now there was pain in my left arm…. Then I remembered. The book about the legend. That’s where it was. I could see the page now in my mind’s eye. A picture of a beautiful young woman with jet black hair and fair skin. The description underneath the picture read: THE COUNTESS CHRISTINE MADELAINE BOUCHARD. Madelaine was her middle name!!! I felt like I was going to pass out when Richard came back with some water and the Nitro pill. Quickly I put the pill under my tongue and swallowed the water. Now we had Helen’s attention and she was crouching over me, realizing I was in trouble. “ Oh no, I was afraid of this.” She was pale herself and held back her tears. Richard took charge. “Put something under his head, I’m going to get the cell phone out of the wagon and call 911.” By now the others across the campfire noticed what was going on. “Is dad all right?” Lynn spoke as they all stood up together. Helen put a rolled up blanket under my head and turning to the right I looked directly into Lynn’s four foot mirror leaning against the cooler. With the moonlight and glow from the crackling flames, I could clearly see the reflection of them standing across the campfire. Lynn and LaVerne and further back, my son Eric. Everyone but Madelaine. I could not see Madelaine’s reflection in the mirror! My head began to buzz and I tried to speak but Helen urged me to be still. I managed to blurt out something like “you’ve got to get them out of here!” but no one was listening. Helen was busy wiping away my perspiration and trying to console me in her own loving way. How Richard got through to the highway patrol with that 911 call, I’ll never know. Even more amazing was how the ambulance ever found us up in those mountains. We didn’t even know the name of the road we came up on. As they lifted me into the ambulance, I watched the fear and the grief on the faces of Helen and Lynn and LaVerne. It was the last time I saw their faces. I see Richard’s car coming through the gate entrance. At last I can leave this place. It really hasn’t been so unpleasant here. Just too much time to think. The knock on Alex’s door came soon after his son’s arrival. “Your son Richard is here Mr. Kaufman. All the release papers have been signed and you’re free to leave with him.” Mr. Wiese, the administrator, was polite and courteous as he’d always been since Alex’s arrival at this hospital. Richard walked into the room and the father and son embraced. Their slight smiles were tempered by thoughts of the formidable task ahead of them. Richard grabbed the large suitcase and Alex carried the other two as they walked to the elevator. At the main desk, Richard signed out on the visitor’s register and they both shook hands with Mr. Wiese before leaving. It was less than an hour’s drive back to Seattle. Richard lit up a cigarette and Alex looked somewhat surprised to see him smoke but he said nothing about the cigarette. “Were you able to…. “ “No dad.” Richard cut him off. “There’s just you and me. You really didn’t expect anyone else to join us, did you?” “No, I guess not.” Alex stared straight ahead. Alex began to recall the aftermath of the nightmare. He was in intensive care and after a week, Doctor Brewer did the by-pass surgery. Richard didn’t tell him right away but he knew he would never see the rest of his family again. Alex never saw the newspaper account of the tragedy. The freak forest fire started by sparks from the campfire which ignited the station wagon’s gas tank. An explosion and a fire which apparently trapped the three women – A mother and her two daughters. The fire fighters responded heroically and their efforts averted a near disaster. The mild weather enabled them to snuff out the fire before it reached proportions that could have turned that region of the northwest forest into a wasteland. Among the ashes and debris, the charred remains of the three women were found. There was no trace of Eric’s remains or the girl who had visited their campsite. Richard took care of the funeral and only when Doctor Brewer felt he was out of danger and recovering did he allow Richard to tell Alex what had happened. But Alex already knew what had happened. Convincing Richard was difficult at first, but he finally came around after his visit with an aging university professor named Kirchner who taught classes on the occult and demonology. He shared with Richard his life threatening experiences dealing with unexplained phenomena and while investigating unusual deaths and disappearances. Most of the faculty and students thought he was just an old kook. When at first he couldn’t convince Richard, Alex became frustrated and distraught. Then when Eric’s friend, young Jim Watson died, Alex kind of lost it. When no one would listen to him, Alex took matters into his own hands and dug up young Watson’s grave and set fire to the coffin. He was arrested for desecrating a corpse, trespassing, and a number of other charges. But the worst part is that when he told his story to the authorities, they turned him over to a state psychologist and he ended up being committed to a state mental hospital. It took Richard nine months to get his father released but not without the help of an expensive attorney, Doctor Brewer, and a psychologist who roomed with him in medical school and was able to pull a few strings with some directors on the state board of mental health. The two of them continued to ride in silence. It was almost noon when they got off the interstate exit and headed for what had once been their beautiful suburban home. The grass was now a brownish color and it had not been cut in weeks. The house looked dim and listless as they pulled in the drive. Inside, Alex found some coffee and started the coffee maker while Richard made himself a drink. He had been drinking a lot these past months. They sat at the kitchen table and looked at each other. “So even professor Kirschner wanted no part of this.” Alex waited for Richard to respond. “He’s old dad. And with his previous experiences, I’m sure he’s afraid. But he was helpful. He warned me that this is a very dangerous thing we’re attempting. He said she’s very clever and not to underestimate her.” Alex nodded. “No doubt, after all, she’s managed to survive for a hundred and fifty years.” “What happened to your friend Raymond?” Richard stared straight ahead. “Oh I think he wants to believe us but he just thinks the whole thing is too bizarre. He said even if everything we say is true, we still might be better off to leave things as they are. Leave them in God’s hands. Maybe he’s right.” “Eric will never see God unless we free his soul. Didn’t Kirschner tell you that? Richard nodded sadly. “I’m still with you dad, after all, he was my brother but….” “But what?” Alex demanded. Richard sipped his drink. “Dad are you sure you’re up to this?” This angered Alex a bit. “Never mind about me. Doctor Brewer and you both know I’m in better shape than ever with the strict diet and all the exercise I got at that goddamn hospital.” Richard couldn’t help but crack a smile. “All right, then we leave at sun up.” “Will that give us enough time? We have no idea how big those caves really are.” Richard looked his father in the eye. “We’ll find out though, won’t we.” Richard continued to drink as he watched his father fall asleep on the living room couch. He thought about his discussions with Kirschner. “There is no other place for them to be but in those caves. Even the dense forest can’t shield them from daylight. Forget that archaic crap about using a wooden stake. It’s too risky and takes a lot of guts to do that to your brother. Do you really have the stomach? Can your father handle that with his heart? No, fire is the only sure way. You have to get a hold of a couple of flame throwers, the miniature kind. Know anybody in the military? If not, try the black market, nose around, you’ll find someone who can help you.” Richard was a little hung over when he woke up and Alex was irritated at their late start. As they drove on the interstate, Alex realized he didn’t even know what day of the week it was. “I think this is the exit isn’t it dad?” Alex nodded and Richard got off. They drove for a couple miles but they didn’t see the bridge. “Shit, I think we got off one exit too soon.” They had to turn around and circle back on the interstate, wasting almost 45 minutes before they finally found the right exit. In a little over two miles they crossed the bridge. Alex looked down out the window at the tops of the trees thousands of feet below and thought of Lynn. Then they started the steep climb up the road leading to the campsite. Richard finally found the opening and drove as far in as he could. You could see how much more open the area looked missing dozens of trees burned down in the fire. It was now already past noon. The flame throwers had shoulder straps to make it easier to carry and Richard went over the safety lock and the primer switch with Alex again. They each had two flashlights in addition to the miner’s hard hats they wore with powerful search lamps mounted on them. They were prepared all right but they could get pretty tired if they had to walk for hours wearing all that gear. The sun was bright as they walked down the trail toward the caves. Richard didn’t remember them being this far along the trail. They continued well beyond where he thought the entrance should be. “I don’t understand it. It’s got to be somewhere around here.” They walked up and down the trail for what seemed like hours. Finally Alex said. “I’m sorry my young doctor, but I’ve got to rest a bit.” “Okay you stay here for a while. I’ll keep looking and come back for you when I find the entrance.” Richard left his father sitting on the trail and continued his search alone. It was fall and there were only about two more hours of daylight left. As Alex watched his son heading back up the trail where they started from , the chest pains began. Alex tried to call out for Richard but he was too far away to hear him. Richard himself, started to get a little tired, but he continued to walk further up the trail. For the third time, he then went back to a spot where he thought the cave entrance should have been. As he studied the surrounding terrain, he noticed a patch of brush that looked somewhat different than the surrounding foliage. He started to pull back some of the brush and weeds and branches. Beneath it he found the cave opening. Kirschner was right. She was clever. She camouflaged the cave entrance anticipating they would come back to find her and Eric. The sun would be going down soon. There wasn’t enough time to get his father and come back here. He would go back for Alex after he had finished the job himself. He turned on the lamp mounted on his hard hat and with a flashlight in his hand, began his march through the cave. As he got several hundred yards inward, he saw two forks of the cave branching off and started to worry whether he would choose the right one. He now knew his life depended on it. He made a decision and followed one of the forks for another two hundred yards. It was the right decision. At the end of his lamp’s beam, he could see two rectangular boxes that looked like wooden coffins. When he got within ten yards of them, he took the flame thrower from his shoulder and leveled it at the coffins. For a moment he hesitated, then he removed the safety latch and squeezed the trigger-like lever. A stream of flame shot out and the force recoiled against his shoulder. He held his finger on the lever and kept it there as he saw the coffins engulfed in flames. His closed his eyes for an instant when he heard the human-like screams coming from the coffins. The smoke was getting thick but he released his finger from the lever and stood there watching the coffins as they turned into a stack of charred wood and ashes. Then he turned away and started back toward the entrance of the cave. As he scurried toward the cave opening, the smoke followed him and his blood raced and frightening thoughts of doubt ran through his mind. Was that them? Should he have opened the coffins and made sure before destroying them? Were there others in here with them? When he finally reached the opening, he saw that it was now dark outside. Walking down the trail toward where he had left his father, he shouted, “dad!, dad!, where are you? It’s over, it’s done! “ His voice was half jubilant, half hysterical. When the echoes of his shouting faded, there remained only an ominous silence. Then the light on his hat found Alex. He was lying on his back and his eyes were closed. Richard knelt over him and felt for a pulse. There was none. He put his ear to his father’s heart, then felt his throat with his fingers. He was gone. Richard looked at his father. His lips were quivering and the tears began to run down his cheeks. He bit his lip. Now he was the only one left. All of them gone. Mom, LaVerne, Lynn, Eric, and now…..dad. He sat for a few minutes in the dark next to his father. This must be a dream, he thought. I’m going to wake up and find out that none of this is real. Then he looked up at the sky and as he breathed in the crisp night air, he knew it was real. All too real. He left the flame thrower on the ground, put his father over his shoulder and began to stagger down the trail toward the campsite where he parked the car. Alex was heavy and Richard had to stop a couple of times to rest before he finally reached the path that led to the bank of the stream where he and Eric went spear fishing. He put Alex down and stopped to rest again. Kneeling down, he looked over to the bank just above the stream. She was sitting there looking at the stream, her long flowing black hair draped over the back of her shoulders. Breathing hard and nearly exhausted from carrying his father, Richard knelt there motionless. Strangely enough, he felt no fear, no anger, no sorrow, and if anything, perhaps a desire to surrender. Madelaine turned around and looked at him. Even in the dark, he could see her eyes shining brightly and the silhouette of her classic features. “Come sit down beside me. We’ve much to talk about.” He suddenly found himself sitting next to her on the bank. There was a bubbly feeling in his stomach like that of a teenager who had just fallen in love. His eyes were fixated on her beauty, concentrating on her moist and shapely lips as she spoke. “It was you I really wanted all along, Richard. Jim was nice, but your father destroyed him. Then you took Eric from me. Now I’m all alone. I don’t like to be alone. Promise me you’ll stay with me. We can be together forever.” She moved close to him. As they became locked in each other’s arms, Richard felt her warm sweet lips on his. Then Madelaine moved her lips to his ear and whispered. “I know a bridge not too far from here. We could carve our names on it. Then everyone would know we belong to each other forever.” They ran down the steep road toward the bridge, stopping now and then to kiss and caress and hold each other tight. As they came to the bridge, Richard was no longer tired, in fact he felt exhilarated. “Give me your knife, Richard.” He took a knife out of his back pack and gave it to her. Madelaine began carving their names on the railing and Richard stood a few feet away looking down over the railing at the tiny tree tops thousands of feet below. As he stood there, he felt something warm and moist running down the side of his neck. He felt his neck with his fingers and in the moonlight he was able to see the blood on his fingers. He looked over at Madelaine smiling like a school girl as she carved on the railing, a crimson stream trickling from the corner of her mouth. He turned away from her and now he saw the faces of his father and mother and Eric and Lynn and LaVerne. Madelaine nearly finished carving, turned to Richard only to see him kneeling on the bridge and making the sign of the cross. “Richard what are you doing!!!” Her face was contorted by anger and fear. Before she could reach him, Richard pulled himself up, and with one violent thrust, vaulted himself over the railing. Madelaine watched in agony as she saw him soaring downward toward the tree tops below, his arms extended wide like a giant bird who had just escaped from captivity. EPILOGUE Friends and former faculty colleagues of professor Rudolph Kirschner reported his mysterious disappearance to the Seattle police. Professor Kirschner was last seen attending an auction at a historical museum one evening last week. The auction records disclosed that the professor had purchased a railing from the legendary “Lover’s Bridge” which was renovated as part of the Mt. Baker National Forest restoration project. He paid $10,000 for the railing. Others attending the fund raising event told police they saw professor Kirschner leave the auction before eleven p.m., accompanied by an unidentified, young, black haired woman.
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Copyright © 2000 Richard Koss |