‘Nobody at the lodge was alive the next day when a fellow and his wife showed up to register.’
‘My God,’ Cora said.
‘There were twenty-eight bodies, including the owner and his wife and three kids.’
‘What happened?’ Abilene asked.
‘Somebody found the girl, obviously,’ Finley said. ‘And got pissed.’
‘I mean, how the hell do you kill twenty-eight people?’
‘Well, there was poison in the Mulligan Stew. Apparently, no one died from the poison, though. Not everyone ate it, for one thing. A lot of the kids were served hot dogs and hamburgers. Mostly just adults ate the stew. The thing is, though, that the killers didn’t wait around long enough for the poison to kill anyone. Maybe they just kept watch until people started getting sick so there wouldn’t be much of a fight. Then they stormed the place. With guns and knives and hatchets and axes.’
‘They killed most of the people right there in the dining room. But some got away, at least for a while. Bodies were found all over the place: behind the registration desk, on the stairs, a few in the upstairs hall. A headless body was even found in there,’ she said, nodding toward the archway entrance to the inside pool.
Vivian grimaced. ‘In the water.’
‘Floating.’
Abilene’s skin suddenly felt crawly. ‘Oh, yuck.’
Vivian was already on her feet, turning around and climbing out.
‘Thanks for telling us,’ Abilene said.
‘Oh, calm down,’ Cora said. ‘This was twelve years ago, for godsake. It’s not like we got any on us.’
‘Even so…’ Abilene muttered. The hot water caressing her skin suddenly seemed thick and foul. She saw Vivian standing on the concrete, arms lifted away from her body, head down -inspecting her body as if she expected to find something hideous clinging to her skin.
Abilene was tempted to follow her example. But Helen and Cora were still in the water. And it was ridiculous to think that the pool could still be tainted after all these years. Besides, she’d already spent a lot of time in it. The harm was already done.
‘This,’ she said, ‘is like eating an apple and being told later that it had a worm in it.’
‘You’re grossing me out, Hickok.’
‘You mean you aren’t already grossed out?’
‘So the pool had a stiff in it. Big deal.’
‘I knew we shouldn’t have come to this place,’ Vivian said.
‘Pussies,’ Finley said.
‘It’s ancient history,’ Cora pointed out. ‘I don’t know why anybody’s getting upset.’
‘I need a shower,’ Vivian said.
‘Good luck,’ Finley told her.
‘Why don’t you just sit down and relax,’ Cora said. ‘I want to hear the rest of Helen’s story.’
‘You mean there’s more?’ Vivian asked. She didn’t sound pleased.
‘Well, that’s just about it. Guess I should’ve left out the part about the body in the pool.’
‘Wish you had,’ Abilene said.
‘Ignorance is bliss, Hickok. That must be how come you’re always smiling.’
‘Take a leap.’
‘Maybe I shouldn’t tell the rest,’ Helen said to Cora.
‘Go on. If anybody doesn’t want to hear it, they can cover their ears.’
‘I imagine we’ve already heard the worst,’ Abilene said. Without saying a word, Vivian sat down on the pool’s rim and crossed her legs. She began to flick her hands against her thighs as if brushing off ants.
‘Anyway,’ Helen said, ‘bodies were found all over the place.’
‘So we understand,’ Abilene muttered.
‘A few had been shot. But most of the wounds were in the legs, as if the attackers only used the guns to cripple them. The actual killings were done with sharp instruments. All the bodies were found with their bellies split open. Just like the girl the hunters killed. But it didn’t stop with that. They were mutilated and dismembered in all sorts of awful ways. Eyes were gouged out. Heads were split apart down the middle, or cut off at the neck. Arms and legs were chopped off. Same with the genitals of all the guys.’
‘Oh, for Godsake,’ Vivian muttered.
‘There were women whose breasts had been…’
‘I don’t want to hear this!’ Vivian clapped her open hands against her ears. ‘Just quit it! You don’t have to rub our noses in it. Christ’
‘Okay, well…’
‘What about the women?’ Cora asked. ‘Had they been raped?’
Helen, casting a glance at Vivian, nodded. ‘And then some,’ she said.
‘The cops never got anyone for it?’ Abilene asked.
‘They figured it must’ve been the girl’s family. Or maybe more than one family was involved. I mean, there were an awful lot of assailants. They’d tracked blood all over the place. The cops think there must’ve been anywhere from twelve to fifteen of them. Including women and children.’
‘Some of the killers were kids?’
‘A real family affair,’ Finley said.
‘The problem was, the cops didn’t know the identity of the girl who’d been killed by the hunters. So they didn’t know who to go after. They went around questioning the locals, but they never came up with anything. So the massacre at the Totem Pole Lodge was never solved.’
‘If there were bloody footprints everywhere,’ Abilene said, ‘there must’ve been fingerprints, too. All they would’ve had to do is round up all the people in the area and try to come up with matches.’
‘I guess they didn’t do that,’ Helen said.
‘When it comes right down to it,’ Cora said, ‘maybe they didn’t want to find the culprits. The cops must’ve been local people. Maybe they had a pretty good idea who did it, but they just decided to let it go.’
‘Afraid they’d stir up more trouble,’ Finley suggested.
‘That doesn’t seem likely,’ Abilene said. ‘We’re talking about a major atrocity. Cops aren’t gonna just look the other way.’
‘Who knows? Once they heard Henderson’s story, maybe that’s exactly what they did.’
‘I don’t know,’ Helen said. ‘I just know that they never arrested anyone. And the lodge was closed down, right after the killings, and never reopened. Apparently, some bank owns the place. They’ve tried to sell it off, but everybody around the area knows what happened here. Potential buyers find out pretty quick, too. Once they hear about the massacre, they won’t have anything to do with the place. On top of all that, the book says that the lodge is supposed to be haunted.’
‘Surprise surprise,’ Finley said.
‘People who’ve come near it at night have sometimes seen lights inside. And heard strange noises.’
‘This place is no more haunted than I am,’ Cora said. ‘The locals probably made up all that garbage just to keep people away from the place.’
‘Hey,’ Finley said. ‘That kid this afternoon? Maybe he took us for spooks.’
‘Yeah,’ Abilene said. ‘We might be contributing to the legend.’
‘Improving on it,’ Finley added. ‘Ghosts of bare-ass babes.’
‘Joke about it,’ Vivian said. ‘For all we know, he might be part of the bunch that murdered all those people.’
‘He would’ve made a hell of a killer,’ Finley said. ‘What’d he do, brain ’em with his bottle?’
‘He couldn’t have been older than four or five back then,’ Abilene said. ‘Unless he’s older than he looked.’
‘I don’t mean he was necessarily in on it. But his family might’ve been. Maybe the girl was his sister, or something. What if they have him come over to check on the place, and he’s supposed to let them know if anyone’s here?’
‘Maybe they’ve got us surrounded.’ Finley swiveled her head, making a show of scanning the moonlit grounds.
‘We didn’t do anything.’ Helen sounded nervous.
‘We’ve done plenty,’ Abilene said. ‘But nothing to them.’
‘They’ve gotta be maniacs,’ Vivian said, ‘to’ve killed all those people like that. Who knows what it might take to set them off? Suppose it’s enough that we’re staying here?’
‘We’re at the lodge, so we’re fair game?’
Cora sighed. ‘Come on, gals. You’re letting your imaginations run wild. Before you know it, you’re gonna get yourselves so worked up you’ll want to pack up and get out.’
‘Which is what I’ve wanted to do from the start,’ Vivian reminded her. ‘But now that we know what happened here… Those maniacs probably still live in the same place. Somewhere nearby. And maybe they do know we’re here. And maybe they don’t like it.’
‘Maybe they enjoyed the last chop-fest so much that they’re eager for another.’
Cora let out a loud sigh. ‘You’re not helping matters, Finley.’
‘Hey, I’m on your side.’
‘Then quit horsing around.’
‘I don’t think we should stay,’ Vivian said.
‘See? What’d I tell you?’
Turning toward Vivian, Helen said, ‘We already agreed to give it at least one night.’
‘That was before you told us what’d happened here.’
‘I don’t see how it really changes anything,’ Cora said.
‘Besides,’ Helen said, ‘I did tell you there’d been murders.’
‘You didn’t say there’d been twenty-eight.’
‘Twenty-nine,’ Finley corrected. ‘Don’t forget the gal the hunters killed. Or maybe she shouldn’t count, since she didn’t get trashed in the lodge.’
‘The place was a slaughter house. I’m not gonna be able to sleep a wink, knowing I’m in a place where all those people were killed… mutilated.’
‘Good,’ Finley said, if you can’t sleep, you can be our official lookout.
‘What do you think, Abby?’ Vivian asked.
She shrugged. ‘Even if I’m on your side, it’d still be three against two for staying. I’ve got to admit, though, the place has lost some of its charm. I might be in favor of leaving if we had somewhere to go. But the nearest town is - what - forty miles away? On these roads, it’d probably take us a couple of hours to get there. And we don’t even know if it has a motel. We could end up spending a very long, miserable night. And I’m tired already.’ Even as she mentioned it, she yawned.
‘So you don’t want to go?’
She finished her yawn, then said, if I thought there was any real danger
‘Hey,’ Cora said, ‘I wouldn’t stay, either, if I thought someone might show up and attack us.’
‘None of us would,’ Helen said.
‘Finley might,’ Abilene said.
‘Just if I can get it on tape.’
‘So that’s it, then, huh? We’re going to stay? In spite of everything?’
‘It’s supposed to be creepy,’ Helen reminded her. it’s that, all right,’ Abilene said.
‘Should we go back in, now?’ Helen asked, ‘i’m starting to prune.’
‘You oughta climb out and cool off,’ Finley suggested.
‘Just ignore the audience in the woods.’
‘Thanks anyway. Is everyone else ready?’
‘I’ve had enough,’ Abilene said, and yawned again.
‘We keeping you up, Hickok?’
‘I am starting to get awfully groggy.’
‘It’s the hot water,’ Cora told her. ‘i’m feeling about ready to hit the sack, myself.’
‘Why don’t you all get out?’ Vivian suggested. ‘We can walk around to the front. It’ll give you a chance to dry off and get cool. Besides, I’m not stepping foot in that water again.’
‘I don’t want to walk,’ Helen said. ‘I’m not wearing any shoes.’
‘I’m not wearing anything,’ Cora said.
Abilene laughed. ‘Since when does that bother you?’
‘Since she heard about the wild hillbilly clan,’ Finley said. ‘Anyway, all our stuff’s in there.’
Vivian rose to her feet. She picked up Abilene’s flashlight. ‘If I have to walk alone, I will.’
‘That’s all right,’ Finley said. ‘I’ll go with her.’
‘You scared of the water, too?’ Cora asked.
‘Oh, sure. I just don’t need to get wet again.’ She uncrossed her legs, stood up, and brushed off her ramp. ‘You guys go on through the pool. We’ll circle around and meet you.’
‘You’re naked,’ Helen pointed out.
She looked down at herself. ‘Yep.’
‘Be careful,’ Abilene said.
Finley, striding alongside the pool with Helen’s flashlight in her hand, said, ‘Never fear, the Fin-man’s here.’ To Vivian, she said, ‘Let’s keep the lights off unless we need them.’
Abilene was glad to hear it. In spite of Finley’s carefree faЈade, she wasn’t reckless.
‘Ta ta for now,’ Finley said. She and Vivian began walking away, staying on the granite beneath the porch, heading towards the north end of the lodge.
Cora stood up and turned around. ‘Watch your tails,’ she called.
Finley gave her ramp a jaunty swish.
In a low voice, Abilene said, ‘Let’s keep an eye on them for a minute.’
‘Intended to,’ Cora told her.
‘Viv’s really spooked,’ she whispered.
‘You’re telling me.’
‘Maybe we should leave tonight.’
‘She’ll be okay.’
‘I sure didn’t think it’d upset her so much,’ Helen said, coming up behind them.
it was a pretty awful story.’
Finley and Vivian disappeared around the corner.
‘I hope they’ll be all right,’ Abilene said.
‘Let’s get on in.’ Cora, turning around in the chest-high water, waded past Helen and halted facing the archway. ‘When did the lantern go out?’
‘Oh, my God,’ Helen said.
Abilene followed Helen. They stopped at Cora’s back.
Beyond the archway was darkness.
‘It probably just ran out of fuel,’ Cora said. She didn’t sound troubled.
‘God, why did we give them both the flashlights?’ Helen sounded greatly troubled.
‘No big deal.’
‘Maybe we should go around,’ Abilene said.
Cora didn’t answer. She slipped through the archway and vanished.
Helen and Abilene followed.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
The windows high in the wall at the far end of the pool glowed dimly with gray light from outside. Turning around, Abilene looked up at the row of windows sheltered by the porch. They were barely less dark than the blackness surrounding her.
The half-circle of the archway was like the mouth of a tunnel, but the moonlit night beyond it was where she had already been, not where she was going.
Abilene turned away from it. She waded slowly forward.
She couldn’t see Cora or Helen. She couldn’t see anything at all except for the murky strip of windows way off to her right.
She could hear the others, though. The sounds of their breathing, along with her own. And the slurpy sounds of their wading. They seemed to be in front of her. But not very close. They had continued across the pool while she had paused to look around.
‘Abby?’ Helen’s hushed voice was high and shaky.
‘Right behind you.’
‘I don’t like this.’
‘Me neither.’
‘I can’t see a thing.’
‘Shhhh.’
From Cora?
‘What?’
‘I thought I heard something.’
‘Oh, Jesus,’ Abilene murmured.
Then yelped as she bumped something and arms clamped around her.
‘Is that you?’ Helen gasped, her breath hot on Abilene’s face.
‘Of course it’s me! Jesus! You almost gave me a heart attack.’
‘I’m sorry.’ The clench loosened, went away. She felt hands grip her upper ar
ms. ‘Stay with…’
‘Shhhh.’
They went silent, stood motionless.
‘Somebody’s in here,’ Cora whispered.
Helen made a whimpery sound. Her fingers dug into Abilene’s arms.
And Abilene heard it, too. A single, soft flop of water somewhere in the blackness to her left.
Her bowels squirmed. Shivers scurried up her back. In spite of the water’s heat, she felt her skin go stiff with goosebumps.
Cora’s calm, quiet voice said, ‘Let’s just get out of the pool.’ The words were followed by a flurry of lapping, splashing sounds from her direction.
Abilene clutched Helen’s wrists and forced her hands away.
‘Don’t leave me!’
‘Come on! ’ Clinging to one wrist, Abilene lunged past Helen. Pulled her around. Towed her. The sounds of their own rush through the water masked whatever noise the intruder might be making.
Making as he hurried closer to them in the darkness.
The water felt like a strong, hot wind thrusting against Abilene, trying to slow her down.
She wished she could let go of Helen. She could slip beneath the surface and swim silently to the other side. But she kept her grip on the wrist of the terrified, whimpering girl, and kept trudging forward.
‘What’s going on?’ Cora didn’t sound so calm, now.
‘We’re coming.’
‘Hurry.’
'Jesus!’
‘I’m right here,’ Cora said. Straight ahead. Close.
‘Are you out?’
‘Yes.’
Helen squealed, ‘Yeeahhh!’
‘It’s me. Just me.’ Cora.
Helen jerked her hand free. Abilene heard water suck and splash and drip. She reached out to the side and felt a slick, bare leg. Though she could see nothing, she pictured Helen scrambling out of the pool, being helped by Cora.
Nobody in here now but me and him.
Abilene flung herself forward. Her hands slapped the rim of the pool. Kicking at the water, she boosted herself up. She expected a hand to grab one of her ankles and jerk her down. Then her knees met cool hardness of the pool’s edge. She scurried through the darkness, hands and knees sliding. From off to the side came sounds of slapping feet.