The Stories That Haunt Us

by Bill Jessome

  It came to be known that, on the very same day, while towing another boat into the harbour, the cable snapped and hit Ludger d’Entremont on the head, sending him overboard to his death. The broken bell of the bicycle began ringing at the precise moment Ludger was killed.

  Death Was His Companion

  It was mid afternoon when I stopped at the Bras d’Or look-off on Route Four. Seated at a picnic table were three couples enjoying the scenery and a snack. I was invited to join them and it wasn’t long before they wanted to know if I was writing another Maritime Mystery book, to which I replied “Yes. Hopefully, it will be out sometime in soon.”

  “Do you believe in forerunners, Bill?” asked of the picnickers.

  “Of course,” I replied. “Remember, I grew up in Cape Breton.” Naturally, I asked why.

  “Well,” said the elderly gentleman, “I’ll give you a piece of advice. Never try to outrun a forerunner. My friend Murdoch tried and died of a heart attack.” Now I was intrigued and wanted to hear more. I wanted to know exactly what happened to his friend.

  “Death was his companion that evening,” said my storyteller. “It was a warm evening and my friend Murdoch decided to walk home from the office. He felt he needed to unwind, and was certain the walk would do him good. Halfway home he heard footsteps behind him. They were faint and distant at first but were steadily catching up with him. When he turned around to see who it was, there was no one there. He thought this was very strange indeed. Murdoch kept on. No sooner was he in full-stride than he heard the footsteps again. But this time they were much closer.

  “Murdoch did what few people would ever think of doing. He spoke to whatever was following him. He knew it was of some supernatural force. ‘Is it me you want?’ he asked. ‘Is that why you’re following me, or is it some member of my family?’ There was no reply because death is always silent.

  “Murdoch then had a thought. If he could outrun the forerunner he’d be safe. So he ran for home as fast as he could. But no matter how fast he ran, the footsteps kept pace. When he reached the steps of his home, Murdoch collapsed. That’s where his family found him lying in a heap muttering about death, footsteps and forerunners.

  “The doctor said Murdoch was under a lot of stress and needed complete bed rest.”

  My storyteller shook his head and went on. “Poor Murdoch never had a chance to get well. Just before drifting off, he heard three knocks on his bedroom wall and he barely had time to turn his head toward the knocking when life left his body. The forerunner had caught up with old Murdoch in the end. Death always does.”