Chapter 4
The noise from the heavy machinery was deafening. The ground rumbled and throbbed as the metal beasts carried out their
work. The site supervisor pulled the ear protection away from his ears and listened as the engineer in charge yelled instructions
into his ear. Shaking his head and waving his hands to indicate that he could not hear above the noise, he grabbed hold of his
arm and dragged the engineer into relative quiet of the temporary site office. Clearing a pile of papers from the chair in front of
his desk the site supervisor indicated for the engineer to take a seat.
�It�s impossible to hear you over that row outside Ed, now what�s this about possible protests? Coffee?� he waved a cup.
�Yes please Lou. Seems some of the locals have been kicking up a stir about the excavation work on this property. It�s all
about some local legend apparently.� Ed accepted the coffee from Lou and sat down.
�God knows it�s always something to put a halt progress isn�t it.� Lou said as he cleared a space on his desk and placed his
own cup down. �What local legend this time?�
Ed grinned and shook his head in disbelief. �The devil apparently.�
Lou choked on his coffee. �The devil?� he spluttered incredulously. Regaining his breath and wearing look of amazement on his
face he scoffed. �Now I�ve heard it all. I�ve heard some stories in my time to try and halt construction work but this one takes
the cake. The devil!� he began to laugh and Ed found himself smiling as well.
�Yeah unbelievable isn�t it Lou.�
�So what are you gonna do about it?� Lou asked.
�Nothing Lou. We�ve got a deadline to meet with this hotel�s construction and I�m not gonna let a bunch of locals and their silly
superstitions interfere with us getting the job done. But I�m just warning you there could be trouble.�
Yeah ok Ed, thanks for the heads up.� Lou was still shaking his head in disbelief. �The devil.� He scoffed. �That is the craziest
thing I�ve ever heard.�
Ed nodded. �Just warn the workers won�t you though, we don�t want any of these superstitious tales causing the fellas to be
uneasy about construction on this site. Play the whole thing down if you can.�
�Will do Ed.� Lou placed his empty cup on his desk. �Do you want to come and oversee the latest excavation work? We�re
almost ready to pour the cement for the foundations.�
�Yeah sure.� Ed pushed up out of his chair. Lou grabbed the protective headsets that the workers used to guard against hearing
loss on a construction site and handed one of the pairs to Ed. He held open the office door and both men covered their ears
and put on their hardhats as they made their way out of the office to inspect the latest work.
************************************
Charlize dodged the traffic and the rain as she darted across the road. Her ridiculous high heels clattering on the tarred bitumen
surface as she ran as fast as the heels would allow her. She glanced at the watch and swore profusely. She was late again. She
raised her rather large handbag over her fair head and made it safely to the opposite pavement in a relatively damp condition. In
the reflection of the glass shop windows she caught sight of ruin the sudden unexpected autumn shower had heaped upon her
designer pantsuit. She rolled her eyes and sighed amongst a burst of fresh curses.
�Why me?� she muttered ruefully as she took stock of the wreckage of her person. A giggle burst forth from her lips as her
sense of humour took hold. This disaster could only happen to her. And she had so wanted to look her best for the occasion.
If only she had agreed to let Kevin pick her up to escort her to this function. But her strong independent streak had won out
over common sense. This was the first major exhibition of her paintings and sculptures and she was arriving to its opening under
her own steam, with no man on her arm. Even if that man was her handsome celebrity boyfriend of three months. She had
wanted to do this on her own without Kevin�s fame intruding and he understood her request and need not to be seen as riding
on his coattails. Though the fields of art and pop music rarely crossed paths, the mainstream press probably wouldn�t see it that
way. And they would be here in force to review her work this afternoon. Charlize was just beginning to garner respect for her
work, making a name for herself as an up and coming talent and she was very serious about her art. So she had arranged to
meet Kevin at the gallery owned by her good friend and sponsor where the exhibition was taking place.
Charlize bent down and adjusted the strap of her shoe around her ankle. It had slipped down in her run across the road. The
shoes she wore today were a frivolous fashion accessory totally at odds with the severe cut of the pants suit she wore, but they
showed off her sense of fun. And Charlize was addicted to shoes. Kevin often teased her about owning so many pairs that
couldn�t possibly wear. Glancing in the shop window again, she pulled a face at her appearance and brushed her fingers lightly
through her short blonde hair fluffing it back into some semblance of the style it was cut in.
�Oh well not much I can do now.� She thought to herself with a light laugh and a shrug of her shoulders as she continued her
stroll along the sidewalk. �I knew I should have caught a taxi.� But since her studio apartment was only a few minutes walk
from Jules� gallery and the afternoon was at the time she left, sunny and pleasant, so she had decided to walk.
The gallery entrance was soon before her and she made her way down the damp steps, walking carefully so she would not slip.
That was something she was quite capable of doing, making an entrance as spectacular as falling flat on her face.
The gallery was crowded with people mingling, chatting and examining her art works. The buzz of excited conversation washed
over her. She spotted one influential critic and immediately felt sick with nerves. Although she believed in her ability as an artist,
these people made her feel incredibly nervous. Her eyes scanned the room looking for the one person to calm and settle the
fluttering in her stomach.
Their eyes met across the crowded room and a slow leisurely smile touched his lips and his eyes lit up as their gazes caught and
held. In those deep green eyes she found the reassurance she sort. Kevin was leaning up against a pole talking with a mutual
friend of theirs, a glass of wine in his hand. Immaculately dressed, as was his norm at events like this. She smiled at him as she
glanced down at her rain sodden appearance with a shrug of her shoulders and he smiled tenderly back. His eyes glanced
towards her shoes and he laughed. She knew to Kevin it didn�t matter in the least that because of the rain she was slightly
dishevelled.
And Kevin was comforted to know that she was at ease with her own identity and talent not to let this put her out of her stride.
In fact he knew that her sense of the ridiculous would find this extremely funny and the laughter that shone forth from her
glowing eyes had in their unspoken message had proved him correct. He nodded his head towards Jules indicating that he was
content to stay in the background. This was her day and he wanted her to enjoy it. She deserved it. Charlize blew him a kiss
and he mouthed an endearment in return. As Charlize made her way over to Jules he returned his attention to their mutual friend
only to find himself being regarded with amusement. With an unapologetic smile he begged his friends pardon and continued on
with their conversation.
Jules looked up from his conversation with another art critic whom was on friendly terms with Charlize and himself. He was
very interested in her work and was keen to promote it.
�Charlie darling, what on earth happened.� Jules cried out as Chalize made her way over to them. He enfolded his prot�g� in a
bear hug and she was lost in his enormous embrace. Not only was Jules an avid art collector but he was well known as a
gourmand as well and it showed in his expansive frame.
�It rained Jules. I got very damp.� She laughed and turned smiling a greeting at the other person in conversation with Jules.
�Hello Adam, it�s great to see you again. So what do you think?�
�It�s exquisite Charlie, absolutely brilliant. You are going to be the toast of the town.�
�Really Adam, are you sure you�re not incredibly biased? Charlize asked in an amazed tone.
Adam laughed and laid a hand lightly on her arm. �My dear, old Fanshawe over there has been espousing your talents since he
arrived here. If you�ve won him over darling, you have got it made. He has proclaimed you the art world�s newest and brightest
talent.�
�I think I feel faint, Jules I need champagne, and now before my knees give way.� Chalrlize begged weakly.
Jules laughed and waved over a passing waiter. �You wish is my command my dear, and since I am the discoverer of the art
worlds newest and brightest talent we shall have only the best. Where�s your young man Charlie darling? Look there he is, call
him over my love. We have things to celebrate.�
Charlize laughed and beckoned Kevin over. After excusing himself from his friend, he joined the celebrating group dropping a
kiss on Charlize�s head and wrapping his arm about her waist.
�I�ve been hearing great things of you babe.� He smiled down into her shining eyes. His own were alight with pride. The waiter
appeared with the bottle and glasses of vintage champagne. Taking a glass each they saluted Charlie and wished her continued
success, but Kevin and Charlie only had eyes for each other.
******************************
Ed and Lou walked around the area where the excavation work for the hotel�s foundations was taking place. The bulldozers
and the large bobcats were digging and flattening the site in preparation for the pouring of the concrete. Trucks were carting the
discarded soil away to another area of the property that needed landfill. The noise and bustle was typical of any large
construction site. Men in hardhats worked, joked and yelled instructions over the grinding of the heavy equipment, while the
foreman supervised his men and made sure all was going to plan.
Several labourers with shovels were digging out the deep trenches, fine work that the bobcat wasn�t capable of doing so the
reinforced steel mesh could be laid in preparation for the concrete. The foreman looked up at the approach of the site
supervisor and the engineer in charge. He pushed back his hardhat and wiped his sweaty brow with his arm.
�How�s it going Jake?� Lou asked with a smile as he offered his hand to the foreman.
Jake shook it and grinned. �So far so good Lou. Good to see you again Ed.� Jake shook the engineer�s hand as well. �We�re
ahead of schedule, thanks mainly to the fine weather we�ve been having lately. And the fellas working here are a good crew.
They work hard and get along well together. It�s important to have that. If the crew is happy they work better. We should be
close to pouring the cement for the foundations tomorrow morning. How�s that sound?�
�Top work Jake.� Ed praised as he clapped Jake on the back. �There will be a bonus in this for your crew if they keep ahead
of schedule.�
But a holler and a shout from a couple of the workers inside the trench drew the three men�s attention towards the sound. They
pushed their way through the crowd that had gathered at the side of the trench. Careful of their footing they leaned over to see
what the fuss was about.
�What�s up Mike? Jake asked the taller labourer who was covered in head to toe in dirt and mud. Only the whites of his eyes
could be seen.
�Al and I hit something with our shovels Jake. It don�t feel like dirt or anything we usually find.� Mike told him as he leant on his
shovel.
�Ok dig a bit more and clear the dirt around it.� Jake ordered as he leaned over to get a better view.
�Ok boss.� Mike said as he and Al began to carefully use their shovels to clear the loosen soil away from the unknown object.
Lou waved at the drivers of the heavy equipment to shut their engines down. An uncanny silence filled the air as the grinding of
the machinery halted and more of the site�s workers made their way closer to the trench to see what had put a halt to the
construction.
Mike and Al glanced at each other as their shovels hit a definite object. �Sounds like wood.� Al looked with a puzzled face at
Mike.
�Yeah, here give me a hand Al.� Mike tossed his shovel aside and crouched down on his knees and used his hands to clear
away the finer dirt left on top of the wooden surface.
�Looks like a coffin to me.� Mike whispered to Al as his hands continued to wipe away the soil.
�I think you might be right there Mike.� Al replied as his hands quickly did the same.
�What is it guys?� Jake yelled down into the trench.
Mike stood up as Al continued dusting off the soil. �We think it might be a coffin Jake.�
�A coffin? Shit. Here let me come down and look.� Jake clambered down and squatted beside Al. Jake rubbed his hand across
the top of the now exposed wood. He looked up at Lou and Ed and grimaced. �The fellas are right. It looks like a coffin.�
Excited murmuring broke out amongst the workers as the import of the discovery made its impression.
�Jesus Christ.� Ed took off his hardhat and ran a hand through his thinning hair.�There goes the frigging schedule.�
�We can remove it and have it buried elsewhere.� Lou suggested.
�Yeah but what about the local historians? They will have a fit if we interfere with it.� Ed mused aloud with a thoughtful look on
his face. �It might have some local significance.�
�Yeah it might have, but if we�re real careful getting it out they can decide what they want to do with it then. After all Ed, there
was no historical objections put forward to this hotel being constructed here on this land when the plans were first issued and
approved. This property has been unused for over three hundred years. No one wanted it.� Lou spoke persuasively. He hated
his schedules being disrupted, especially by this type of event. If they acted now, then they could deal with the fallout
afterwards. In his eyes it was easier to be reprimanded after the event that to have the construction work halted for an unknown
length of time. He could see his words were swaying Ed into thinking along the same lines as he was. Time was money in this
business.
�Ok then.� Ed decided. �Jake get the fellas to dig it out.�
Jake looked up at his bosses with a hesitant look on his face. �Are you guys sure about this? I mean we could get into trouble
with the local authority�s if we do this.�
�Yeah go ahead Jake. I�ll cop the flack if there is any fallout over this.� Ed reassured him.
With a shrug of his shoulders Jake instructed Mike and Al to free the coffin from its confines within the soil.
They dug carefully. Making sure as they removed the dirt that their shovels were not doing any damage to the coffin. Jake
stood by and supervised the work, at times helping by removing some of the soil that held the coffin captive with his bare
hands.
�There you go boss.� Al said as he stood and stretched his back. Mike wiped his forehead and leant against his shovel.
Jake ran his hands lightly over the wood. He looked puzzled. He gently brushed away the soil from a brass plaque. �This coffin
looks like its extremely old.� He took out his handkerchief and carefully rubbed at the plaque so he could read its inscription.
He read out aloud'
Here lie the earthly remains of Cyrus Herrick.
The devil incarnate.
Never to be buried on consecrated ground as punishment for his sins.
May his evil be forever purged from the world.
1692 in the year of our lord.
You�d think this coffin would have rotted away by now.� Jake stood and looked at Mike and Al in wonder. They both had
taken a backward step away from the coffin as Jake had read out the inscription.
�I dunno if we should touch it any more.� Mike said as he glanced about at the faces of his fellow workers looking for support.
�Yeah I agree Mike.� Al moved beside him. He crossed himself superstitiously. �What do you reckon Jake?�
�Well in my opinion I�d leave it be, but I�m not the boss am I?� Jake looked up at Ed and Lou for instructions.
�Just get it out of that trench or else construction will be held up if we leave it there to let the historical experts look at it. Lou get
that bobcat over here to lift it out.� Ed ordered.
�But we could be breaking the law.� Jake warned.
�I don�t care Jake. We�ve a schedule to keep too. Now I�ve said I�ll take the heat. Let�s get this thing out of that trench so we
can get back to work.� Ed insisted impatiently. Now his mind was made up he wanted that coffin out of the way. He waved the
driver of the machine closer.
The bobcat manoeuvred close to the edge of the trench and lowered its bucket into the hole. Mike and Al picked up a couple
of crowbars and worked them underneath the coffin. Lifting it a fraction so the bobcat could scoop it up. Jake climbed out of
the trench to give the guys more room as they worked to lift what might be precious historical cargo. He was not at all happy
with Ed�s decision but it was out of his hands now. Al and Mike stood back and watched warily as the bobcat lifted the coffin
slowly out of the trench, their part in the action was over and done with now.
The sky suddenly began to darken and the breeze was picking up. But the workers barely noticed as they concentrated on the
coffin�s removal. They talked leisurely amongst themselves discussing the find as they watched the bobcat go to work.
The air temperature started to drop, as the breeze became stronger and cooler. It whipped and whirled about the legs of the
workers, picking up the dust and dirt, swirling the particles around so it stung at their faces and eyes. They used their hands to
shield their faces from the dust storm that had encompassed them. The cloud cover had now totally smothered the afternoon
sun and the day was now a gloomy leaden grey, heavy with moisture and threatened rain. The men shivered at the sudden chill
in the air and begun huddling about in small groups for protection from the elements.
Without warning the bobcat�s engine emitted a shrill grinding sound and it shuddered to a halt. The bucket laden with the coffin
swung precariously over the trench as the bobcat teetered on the edge of the excavation work.
As the storm�s tempo rose in pitch, the coffin overbalanced and tumbled into the trench. An ear-splitting scream echoed
throughout everyone�s mind, causing the workers to cover their heads in pain as the scream exploded in their ear canals. It was
a howl of repressed anger and hatred, a hostile abomination that increased in volume, agonising to those that experienced it. But
the scream also was triumphant, gloating and to those that could still hear, it had the sound of manic laughter.
Eardrums burst and exploded and men writhed about the ground, their limbs twitching in excruciating agony. The grey leaden
skies opened up and a downpour was unleashed in a furious wave of blinding rain. The onslaught stung like a million needles
piercing the skin as the gale force wind finally blew itself out till there was nothing left to be heard but the pitiful moaning and
weeping of men crouching and huddling together, many with blood seeping from their ear passages.
Jake staggered unsteadily to his feet and wiped the blood away from his ears. With a shaking hand he wipe the dust and grime
from his eyes. Against his will but drawn to look anyway, he reluctantly stared over the side of the trench. The coffin that they
had uncovered was empty. But thrown up against the sides of the trenches and covered with debris were the bodies of Mike
and Al, well what was left of them.
There was barely any skin attached to their bodies. Muscle and tissue was all that was left of two of his crew. It looked as if
they had been flailed alive. Their hands were outstretched as if to ward off the horror. But worst of all was the nightmare look
of petrified terror in those lifeless, staring eyes. Jake fell to his knees and was promptly sick. But in the back of his mind he
recalled the inscription on that brass plaque.
God what had they unleashed when that coffin had fallen and opened? He felt his body freeze and chill and begin to shake as
his blood ran cold.
�The devil incarnate. Oh my god, what have we done?� He whispered as he drew his knees up to his chest in a foetal position
and wept and moaned softly in fear.
Chapter 5
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