Carnacki: Heaven and Hell

by William Meikle

  “‘Well Carnacki,’ Sir John said. ‘You’re the expert. What happens now?’

  “As if further enraged by the sound of the Lord’s voice the green valve flared even faster and the pounding outside went up a notch. It was counterpointed by fresh beating and pounding on the scullery door downstairs. Once again it felt as if we were trapped inside a massive kettledrum.

  “The green valve brightened to a glare so strong I had to avert my eyes. It so happened that my gaze fell on the boarded windows – just in time to see a corresponding green glow seeping in from outside. I could see it moving through the gaps in the board, swirling and flowing like a luminescent fog.

  “A shadow moved in that fog. I couldn’t see a definite shape but I knew what it was – a swine thing.

  “I was not prepared to wait any longer. I raised my voice, beginning the spell of exorcism.

  “Ri linn dioladh na beatha, Ri linn bruchdadh na falluis, Ri linn iobar na creadha, Ri linn dortadh na fala.

  “Our adversary seemed to have dropped all pretence at being Sir John’s father. There was no repeat of the harsh language in Scots of the previous night. Instead we were subjected to ever more intense pounding on windows and the scullery door, and loud bellowing of formless words that sounded like screams in a high wind. The lights of the pentangle washed a rainbow of color through the library, and the green mist beyond the windows seem to shrink and quail.

  “Ri linn cothrom na meidhe, Ri linn sgathadh na h-anal.

  “The door of the scullery fell in with a loud crash. There were heavy footfalls on the stairs then something large and bulky loomed in the doorway to the hall.

  “Ri linn tabhar na breithe Biodh a shith air do theannal fein.

  “Several things happened at once. The pentangle valves flared in unison, bright as the midday sun. The green mist outside dissipated completely – and Sir John gave the thing in the doorway both barrels of the 12-bore.

  “It blew apart, leaving only a pool of thick green slime behind.

  “The room fell silent, and outside the windows all that could be seen was the silent dark of a Highland night.”

  * * *

  Carnacki stopped and we all remembered to breathe.

  “I don’t know about you chaps,” he said, rising from his chair. “But I could do with a stiffener after that.”

  Arkwright clapped his hands, applauding.

  “I say, bravo Carnacki. You gave those swine things what for, that’s for sure.”

  Carnacki smiled, but it did not reach his eyes.

  “The tale has a ways to go yet,” was all he would say.

  The grandfather clock in the hall chimed. I checked my watch and was surprised to see that it was already past ten o’ clock. Carnacki saw me looking.

  “Yes, it is getting late,” he said. “But I would beg your attention for an hour or so more. I am afraid we will not finish tonight, but there is more I need to tell you before I send you home.”

  “Will not finish tonight?” Arkwright said. “We shall see about that anon.”

  Carnacki merely smiled and moved over to the drinks cabinet. Arkwright was quick to join him.

  “Dashed handy with a shotgun that Scotsman?” he said. As usual he wasn’t really expecting an answer, merely seeking an opening into a conversation. “I’ll bet it’s good hunting up there. Did I tell you I have a week booked in Derbyshire? Dashed fine grouse moors they have there. I bagged twelve on the last visit and…”

  Carnacki stopped him with a sad smile.

  “We have no time for your anecdotes tonight old chap,” he said softly. “Maybe next time. But for tonight, I must press on, lest I lose the will to tell the rest of the story.”

  We hurried to get our glasses filled and settled back in our places. Carnacki thought for several seconds, then continued.

  * * *

  “Much as it pains me to say it, it is failure I must speak of now. But first if you can, allow me some moments to bask in what I thought was success.

  “We stood there in the protective circle for a good twenty minutes, but all had fallen completely quiet. I nodded to the others and stepped over my defences.

  “Nothing happened; there were no more attacks. I allowed the other two to step outside the pentacle.

  “Sir John had a good poke at the slime in the doorway, using the shotgun barrel as a stick. Whatever it had been, it was most definitely dead now.

  “‘Jolly good show Carnacki,’ Doig said, pushing a glass of Scotch into my hand. ‘I knew you would not let us down.’

  “I sensed no signs of anything from the Outer Circle, and the valves had gone back to their steady, base-level glow. The only sound was the crackle of wood on the fire and the distant hum of the generator.

  “I accepted the Scotch gratefully, and we shared some of his Lordship’s fine Indian tobacco. As I smoked the pipe, the events of the last few days finally caught up with me. Doig was in the middle of an anecdote about the Varsity boat race, but I was finding it difficult to follow his gist. A wave of tiredness washed over me. Sleep called and I went gratefully.

  “If I dreamed of a black pyramid, I do not remember it. All I remember is waking to thin sunlight coming through windows from which the boards had been removed. Sir John was applying putty to the window frame and there were several large sheets of leaded glass leaning against the bookcases.

  “‘We keep spare glass downstairs,’ the Lord said. ‘I have had to repair several panes over the years and have learned to be prepared. Usually it is after a winter storm.’

  “The man seemed remarkably perky.

  “‘I must say Carnacki,’ he said. ‘You have lifted a great weight off my shoulders.’

  “I rose, and had to stretch my back to straighten out a series of knots that had gathered in the night. The Lord seemed so happy that I could not tell him that there was one thing left for me to do. I would have to revisit the island, to prove to myself that the menace was passed. And before attempting that task, I needed to break my fast.

  “I found Doig in the scullery, using the range to cook up eggs, bacon and some fried bread that seemed mostly butter and lard but was delicious with two cups of strong fresh tea. While I was eating, he was busy reattaching the heavy oak door. He made a point of showing me three deep gouges in the wood on the outside.

  “‘Your spooks are certainly rather more than wisps of gauze are they not?’

  “There I had to agree with him. Not for the first time I was confused by the physicality of these manifestations. They did not fit with any of my experience, or theories, of the nature of the Outer Regions, and I must admit to being stumped.

  “Physical or not, they seemed to have succumbed readily enough to the exorcism spell. And I intended to make sure of that fact that very day. But to do so, I was going to need some help. When the three of us gathered in the library for tea and a smoke I laid out my plan for the afternoon’s expedition. At first I thought Sir John might refuse outright. Indeed he did quail at coming with us, but he did agree to my other stipulation. An hour later Doig and I were maneuvering the oil generator into the rowing boat. You see, we needed it, for my battery was completely frazzled, drained almost completely by the conclusion of the exorcism spell.

  “I did however have several qualms about using the generator, not least of which was the sheer size of it. It was so large that only one of us could get into the boat with it. We had to make three separate shuttle trips before we had everything we would need transferred over to the island.

  “Then we had to carry, drag and push the generator along the narrow track to get it close enough to the tomb for me to be able to run the pentangle cables to it. All these preparations took much longer than anticipated and I was dismayed to see that the light was going from the sky before I had even gone as far as setting up the pentangle.

  “‘I gave Doig the chance to leave me to it but, stout chap, he stood by me. Indeed having him there meant that the task of getting the defenses installed wen
t faster than I hoped.’

  “‘Of course setting the pentangle meant going inside the tomb to find an appropriate spot. I was reticent at first to enter, remembering the tickle in my mind on my last visit. But this time the structure was empty, just another chambered tomb, no different from any other I had been in. There was no sense of any presence.’

  “At first the interior looked as I would have expected, and reminded me greatly of the barrow at Larkhall. The walls were built of similar large blocks of sandstone, beautifully engineered and dovetailed together so tight that you could scarce slip a sheet of paper between them. But where Larkhall had been a traditional chambered tomb, this one seemed to be one long passage, stretching away from us at a slight slope downwards into the ground.

  “Doig stood at the entrance, half in light half in shadow.

  “‘If you plan to go down there, I’m afraid you’re on your own old chap,’ he said. ‘I do not think my nerves would take it.’

  “‘Mine neither,’ I replied, and as I said it, I realized it to be true.

  “I drew a pentangle just inside the doorway of the tomb. Now I had my first protective barrier.

  “You do not need a description of my electric pentacle, for you know that it has saved me many times already, and proves most efficacious against many emanations and disturbances. I set the mechanism to overlay the newly drawn pentagram and connected it to the generator outside. Almost immediately the comforting rainbow glare shone from the intertwining vacuum tubes.

  “Once I was sure that the vacuum valves were all operating correctly, I called Doig over and we stood in the centre of the circles.

  “‘Please tell me we are not in for a repeat of last night,’ Doig said.

  “I shook my head. ‘This is a mere precaution,’ I replied. ‘I must perform the exorcism, but I feel that there is nothing now here to exorcise.’

  “I started the chant. It sounded dull and dead in this cold tomb, but nothing responded and indeed I was starting to feel dashed foolish as I brought it to an end. The brightness of the valves had not changed at all, and the only sound was Doig’s somewhat rapid, excited breathing.

  “‘Is that it?’ he asked.

  “In truth, I was wondering the same thing myself. I had him stand quiet for several minutes, but it became evident that there were to be no repercussions from the exorcism.

  “I realized at that same moment that it was only the light from the pentacle that allowed us to see inside the tomb. It had gone almost full dark outside. I disconnected the valves and, once outside, switched off the generator. Both Doig and I looked down the rough track then back at the generator. There was no possible way that we would be able to make the required trips to get it back to the keep – not in the dark.

  “I was concerned that Sir John would be left without light and warmth but Doig reminded me of both the large range and the fireplace in the library.

  “‘And look’ he said, pointing over the water. The keep showed as a deeper shadow in the growing darkness. Light flickered at two of the larger windows. I could not tell whether it was candle or firelight but in either case, it seemed Sir John had the matter in hand.

  “We left both the generator and my defenses where they were and headed for the boat. Without the presence of the generator we were both able to fit easily. Doig took the oars while I sat and watched over my shoulder as the island receded away from us. I stared intently, looking for any hint of a green tinge, but there was only the deepening darkness.

  “Doig was ecstatic.

  “’Well done indeed old chap,’ he said. ‘I will admit I was in two minds about getting you involved in John’s troubles, but I must say, you have come through for us admirably.’

  “Indeed I was feeling pretty pleased with myself at that point. It wasn’t to last long of course, it never does. I was not to know at that point that it would not even last out the coming night.

  “But I’m getting ahead of myself again. Let’s just say that my success was to be short lived. We did at least manage to return to the keep with no further ado. Once we got inside it became apparent that Sir John had already made a start on celebrations. In my pride, I joined him. We spent a most enjoyable evening around the scullery table, drinking strong Scotch ale, smoking the Lord’s expensive Indian tobacco, and telling tales. I am afraid I allowed myself to descend rather too far into my cups. I told them the tale of the Larkhall Barrow, and also spoke of what transpired in the vaults under the Royal Hospital in Chelsea. And I do believe I may even have exaggerated my success somewhat, emboldened as I was by ale and a sense of a job well done.

  “I did not tell them the tale of the Lusitania. Perhaps if I had brought that particular horror back to mind it might have reminded me that fate must not be tempted.

  “But as I have said, I was feeling far too pleased with myself.

  “I was proud.

  “And I was in for a fall.”

  * * *

  Carnacki paused to tap out his pipe, but he was not yet finished.

  “I need ten more minutes of your time if you are willing,” he said. “For I must tell you just how far that fall would be. I must tell you the cost of my pride.”

  Arkwright voiced what we were all thinking.

  “Do go on old chap,” he said. “And do not blame yourself for any perceived failings. You are the strongest and best of us all. We know you did all you could, whatever the outcome.”

  “Whatever the outcome?” Carnacki said in a whisper.

  He stared into the fire for the longest time and I thought the evening’s tale had come to a premature end, but finally he let out a deep sigh and continued.

  * * *

  “It was past midnight when the three of us parted on the stairs and went to our beds. I had one last look out of the library windows before retiring but I could see nothing but blackness and my own tired reflection.

  “The bed felt cool and comfortable. I took just enough time to divest myself of my trousers then fell into its inviting embrace. I was fast asleep within seconds.

  “The dream seemed to start immediately. I felt a tugging as I once more soared over the alien landscape. Rivers flowed below, green rivers, thick and almost gelatinous. Forests of lance-like stalks swayed and danced although there was no discernible wind, and for the first time I heard sounds, a cacophonous chorus of whistles and grunts, as if a whole zoo was in turmoil and the sound was being fed through a giant phonograph. The tugging got more pronounced and I sped, ever faster, towards where the colossal pyramid sat waiting. Something probed in my brain, quizzical yet hungry for information.

  “I felt the tug, trying to draw me down into the pyramid for further examination. I tried to bring the exorcism spell to mind, but the booze had me befuddled, even here in the dream-state. Panic took me and I screamed long and loud enough to snap me awake.

  “But even then confusion still held reign, for although I was awake, the screaming continued. It took me several seconds to realize that the sound came from Sir John’s bedchambers.

  “I arrived at his door at exactly the same time as Doig and we had an almost comic moment when we jammed together in the doorway. We had no time to laugh.

  “Sir John stood at the side of his bed, bathed in the now familiar green glow. Stocky figures stood on either side of him, one holding each of his arms. Their faces were hidden in shadow but their profiles showed them for what they were – the swine things had returned.

  “On seeing Doig and I, Sir John’s screaming went up a notch.

  “‘Save me Carnacki! Save me!’

  “I realized immediately that there was little I would be able to do without my defenses – nothing that would not put Doig and myself in extreme danger. But I could not in all conscience stand by and allow Sir John to be abducted. Once more I started the exorcism.

  “Ri linn dioladh na beatha, Ri linn bruchdadh na falluis, Ri linn iobar na creadha, Ri linn dortadh na fala.”

  “But my adversary was not going t
o give me the luxury of completing – not this time. The green glow intensified and thickened, until Sir John and his attackers seemed lost in a thick fog. His Lordship screamed again, but it sounded thin and distant despite his close proximity to us.

  “Doig leapt forward, intent on going to his friend’s aid. But it was to no avail. The green mist blew apart like smoke in the wind. There was one last fading wail that quickly diminished to nothing. I ran towards the spot where Sir John had stood – just in time to see a green glow speed over the loch outside. It slowed and settled over the mound at the island’s centre then faded as it seeped down into the tomb below.

  “I had failed utterly.

  “The island had him.”

  * * *

  Carnacki fell quiet.

  Nobody spoke, none of us knowing quite how we should respond to this latest revelation. I would normally have expected Arkwright to be the one to ask the obvious question, but Jessop got it in first.

  “Surely that is not the end of the matter old chap?” he asked. “Did you not say that this tale would take another night?”

  Carnacki spoke softly.

  “Indeed I did. There is much more to tell, and much of it will sound even more outlandish, possibly even wondrous. But I am afraid we will have to leave it here, with his Lordship’s abduction. If I continue the tale now then we shall be here all night, and I am afraid poor Arkwright for one is ready for his bed.”

  As if to prove the point our friend let out a small contented snore. His head fell forward at that, and he came awake with a start.

  “I was just resting my eyes,” he said, and got another laugh all round.

  “Out you go,” Carnacki said, and showed us to the door.

  On the way along the Embankment I brought Arkwright up to date with the end of the night’s portion of the tale.

  “Bally bad show all round,” Arkwright said. “Do you suppose Carnacki managed to redeem himself? I would hate to think of Sir John having to spend eternity with those dashed pig things.”

  I had no answer for Arkwright, and indeed my own head was full of questions that could not be answered – not until Carnacki called us to hear the rest of the story.