Trust Your Instinct

Gazing out at pristine whiteness, Alicia could not help smiling. How beautiful, she thought as snow flakes continued to float from heavy dark clouds, adding to the already well-covered, snowy ground. How deceptive, pure clean loveliness yet hiding such hard work.

In deep thought, Alicia considered her next action. The front steps and pathway need to be cleared but I'm putting that off as long as possible because it's freezing out there. Glancing towards the box of chopped logs near the hearth, she smugly mused, at least I'm warm inside. Plenty more logs on the veranda and it's still snowing so it won't hurt to wait a while before chancing it out there. Hope it eases off soon. Want to sneak out to check the horses in the barn.

The weather forecast predicts deteriorating conditions later this afternoon so it can't put it off too much longer. Looking towards the stables, her furrowed brow and worried expression betrayed her concern for her animals. Five horses, a fine, thoroughbred black stallion, three exquisite mares, all in different shades of gray and the most adorable baby colt. A beautiful dark gray baby,whom Alicia called 'Cobalt'. They're all snug and warm in their stalls but I would like to check them when I get a chance. Little Cobalt is a strong, sturdy baby but he is only two days old.

Her pleasant reverie ceased as she glimpsed movement near the woodshed. What is that? I swear I saw something move. Something misty, strange. Trembling,breathing quickly she gasped as a familiar, eerie feeling washed over her. What is this, fear, but why am I scared? Weird, and it's not the first time I've glimpsed misty gray movement over there. I feel panicky, even thinking about that area outside the woodshed. I'm shaking.

As Alicia stoked the fire and attended to some household chores, the image of the odd movement persisted. She continued to peer out of the window towards the area where she had noticed movement, Could be a fox, I suppose, she mused. Fooling herself, she tried to dismiss it. There it is again. Though half expecting it, the movement startled her, causing her heart to thunder in her chest. I don't think it is a fox. I saw something misty, something gray. I'm going over there. I've got to investigate, find out what it is.

Grabbing her coat from the hook by the back door, she pulled it on. Snatching a woolen beanie she put it onto her head, dragging it well down, snugly over her ears, under the hood of her jacket, then with warmly gloved hands grabbed the shotgun from the wall and ventured out into the freezing air. She laughed as the shock of the frigid air hit her face, almost taking her breath away.

It's slippery, even with my heavy boots. I've got to be careful. don't want to fall. Tramping as quietly as possible Alicia reached the woodshed, sheltering briefly in it's cover before going to the right side of the building. The overhang of the roof prevented the snow from piling up close to the shed, leaving just a slight covering of white. Nothing to see, but wait, something has been here. Could be a stray dog judging by that hole he's dug.

A dirty snow-streaked mound spread an untidy mess over the stark white snow.

Alicia realized the reason she did not come around this side of the woodshed. It is creepy here. An obscure, mysteriously weird feeling enveloped her, an inexplicable fearful atmosphere Alicia could not fathom, but not something she could ignore. I am stupid to come out here alone, she thought as an icy, horrifying sensation washed over her. She began physically shaking, her mouth going dry with impending dread.

Crouching, she looked into the hole, pushing her gloved hand into it. She shuddered at feeling something hard. Alicia stood, quickly grabbing a shovel from the woodshed. She began digging, enlarging the size of the hole. With the wet dirt being easy to dig, she could soon look right down into it. "Oh! Oh! Ooh! A skull!" On seeing it she realized that the gasping sounds were coming from herself while registering in horror, the creepy, perceived disgust of touching a skull. Even in freezing air, beads of perspiration began to form on her face. A wave of nausea swamped her while bile rose into her mouth momentarily. Reality seemed to leave her senses and the misty form of a very old man stood before her. Smiling at her he seemed to say, "At last! Someone has found me. Fourteen years I've been here, murdered by my own brother. I know you will see my murder is solved. Instantly the mist cleared and the misty figure vanished.

Shivering not only from the cold air, Alicia started to realize she had been holding her breath. She began gasping, gulping for air, almost choking as she inhaled and then exhaled. Oh! I thought I was going to vomit but the feeling is gone now. How eerie, what just happened, she thought as she bent to pick up the skull? Ooh! What am I going to do with it? I don't want to take it into the house. Reasoning with herself she thought, I'll pop it in the hessian bag I use for taking kindling into the house. I can leave it on the table on the veranda.

Talking care not to slip, though moving as quickly as possible, Alicia walked across the snow-covered ground to the house. Hurrying to the veranda she placed the bag containing the skull onto an old table.When inside, she hurriedly plopped into an armchair to somehow gather her thoughts. With quickened heart-beats and breaths coming in short gasps, she anxiously wondered What now?

Taking some slow deep breaths she began pulling herself together, Alicia stood up reaching for the telephone. With trembling hands, finding it difficult to hold the phone she put a call through to the police.

"Constable Kirston here," said the voice at the other end of the phone.

Even to herself, Alicia's voice sounded shocked and shaky."Constable, it is Alicia Johnson here. I found a skull in a hole near my woodshed."

The policeman answered, "Did you? Did you notice any other bones?"

"I d.d.don't know. I guess there could be but it is too scary and too cold for me to continue digging, Forgive me constable but I am shaking. I've never seen anything like a human skull before." replied Alicia.

The Officer said, "Miss Johnson, don't dig any more. I'll get a team out there as soon as this weather clears. Do you think you could cover the hole with something until I get someone out there."

"What about some wire-mesh, I think there's some in the tool-shed. I could roll a couple of logs over it to keep it in place." suggested Alicia.

"That sounds good." was the reply.

"Constable Kirston, do you know of anyone who died out here?" ventured Alicia.

"Yes,it could be that I do. Many years ago, about fourteen years if I remember, the bloke who owned your place Harry Pickering went missing. He was never found. Everyone suspected that he must have died. A huge search of your property and the bushland adjoining it ensued but nothing was ever found. It was a huge story way back then. It is not unusual to hear one of the old-timers mention him from time to time." he answered. He had a brother who sold up and left town about ten years back."

"Oh!" gasped Alicia. "I've been here ten years but I never met the owner. His name was Joe Pickering, I believe."

"That's right. He inherited the property seven years after his brother, Harry went missing. A strange, peculiar fellow. A grouchy little bloke, never said a good word about anyone. My old partner, Sergeant Robertson saw him lose his temper with Harry on more than one occasion. Even threatened him with a shotgun once. We always suspected he could have something to do with his brother's disappearance. How is the track leading to your place? Can we drive a car on it?"asked the policeman.

Alicia answered, "I don't know. There's a good covering of snow. It's about a foot deep near the house but it's probably not so bad on the road. A bit hard to say really."

"Never mind, I'll send someone out there as soon as I can. Will you be all right till then?" continued the officer.

"I will thank you Constable. I'll go out and cover that hole now." was the reply.

The policeman finished with, "Good. Be careful Miss Johnson. This is no weather to be outside. Bye"

"Goodbye Constable Kirston,"Alicia said as she put the phone down.

Shivering with some sort of weird anticipation Alicia pulled on her warm gear again. Trudging back into the cold, she grabbed a piece of chain-wire from the tool-shed and headed towards the woodshed. Dragging a few heavy logs, one at a time she placed the wire-mesh over the hole. "That's good. it covers it well." she thought as she rolled the logs on top of the wire. She stood looking at it, pleased with herself because the logs fitted the purpose perfectly.

Strange, she mused. I don't have that eerie, creepy feeling any more.

On hearing a movement, she looked up in surprise. Standing right near her was a brown and white Kelpie dog.

"Where did you come from boy? she greeted him. Warily he came closer to her. Alicia put out a tentative,gloved hand to pat his head. He moved even closer to her and nuzzled his head into her. "Come on boy, let's go back to the house and I'll find you something to eat."

With the dog beside her, Alicia turned to walk back to the house when she noticed her neighbor, Bill Saunders driving through her gate towards them. He drove right up to the woodshed, before clambering out of his four-wheel drive. "Are you all right, Alicia?" He greeted.

"Yes Bill, I am. What are you doing here?" she answered.

"Came to see you. Constable Kirston rang me. Told me you found a skull. Did you, Alicia?"

"Yes, I sure did. It almost frightened the life out of me. It's left me feeling a bit queasy" replied Alicia with a tremble in her voice.

"Where did you find it?" Bill inquired.

"Over here," said Alicia, pointing at the covered hole. "I was asked to cover the hole."

"Yeh! I know, Constable Kirston told me, we are not to touch anything. Whose dog is it?" queried Bill pointing at the Kelpie.

"I don't know. He seemed to come out of nowhere. He's not vicious, quite friendly. I am about to take him into the house. He looks hungry," was Alicia's reply.

"Looks old too. Poor old fellow. You know Alicia, the old bloke who lived here many years ago had a puppy just like him. No. it couldn't be him, it's too long ago."

"Do you want to come inside, Bill? It's cold out here."

"Thanks but no, Alicia. I just wanted to check if you were all right. I will another time. I want to get home before the weather deteriorates. I heard on the forecast that we're in for more snow and strong winds. I don't fancy getting caught in that."

"I don't blame you, Bill, see you later."

"Yeh! Will you be all right with that dog? I'll take him if you like," Bill offered.

"No, thanks all the same, Bill. He'll be fine. I think he belongs here."

"Yeh! I believe he does." Bill spoke while getting into his wagon. "The cops said they would send someone over to see you as soon as they can. Are you sure you'll be all right?"

"I've got company," she answered pointing to the dog. "Somehow I feel safer with him here."

"I'll see you soon, Alicia. Bye."

Alicia waved as he drove off, then turned and walked back into the house. She grinned as she watched the dog walking beside her. When they entered the house he walked ahead of her right into the kitchen. "You seem to know your way around here, boy,." she murmured while ruffling his head. "I'll find you something to eat." Opening the refrigerator door she looked inside and located some left-over lamb. "Here we are. You'll like this." She grabbed a bowl from the cupboard and piled the lamb into it. She'd keep the bone till later. "Here you are, boy." Alicia said while putting the bowl in front of him. It was gone in a moment. "You were hungry, you poor old fellow." He looked at Alicia with his head cocked to one side, as if to say,"Thank you."

The Kelpie sauntered quietly into the living room and flopped himself onto the mat in front of the glowing fireplace.

"Well, make yourself at home, why don't you?" said Alicia with an amused tone.

Momentarily the warmth of the room seemed to dim, replaced by a waft of frigid air. There stood a gray, misty figure, the shape of a very old man with a dark beard. He pointed to the dog and smiled warmly. Then in a moment he was gone.

Alicia felt he was pleased because the Kelpie dog was home where he ought to be.

Funny, apart from the change in the warmth of the room, Alicia's former feelings of horror and dread were absent. In their place lingered a feeling of peace and that things were how they should be.

No one else would ever believe her story. She would work with the police by assisting in any way she could to resolve the mystery of the murder but no one need know what she had seen today.

Looking at the dog, Alicia said. 'I am going to call you Harry after your master." He opened a drowsy eye and looked at her while she spoke.

Alicia continued speaking, looking at no one visible, "It's all right Harry. He can stay here. I'll look after him".