Mountain Shadows

Chapter 1

The whole mountain seemed to be frozen. White on white. The snow had fallen week after week. Then it had frozen solid turning the mountain into a white wilderness.

High in the pale sky a buzzard appeared searching for food in the white waste. There was nothing. No sign of any movement. It circled around then flew off round the shoulder of the mountain.

Colin Grant looked around. In the distance was the village he had walked from, Dunree. He had only arrived that morning. He couldn’t wait to get onto the mountains. He booked a room in the village inn and as soon as he changed into warm clothes and sturdy boots he had set off. He breathed in. What he had been told about the Highland air was true. It did feel so pure. He felt his whole body coming alive with the real joy of it.

He had left Edinburgh that morning. His friends at the university had tried to persuade him to go to Paris with them. They were all celebrating passing their finals. He had qualified MA (Medicine) with Honours but he preferred to visit the Highlands. His father had spoken often of his ancestors going back many generations.

He had started to do a family tree but going back to his great grandparents was as far as he could get. After that, try as he might, it seemed as though the Grants never existed. But as far back as he could track it would seem that they may have been round about this area in Dunree which was as deep in the Highlands as one could get.

He was so deep in thought that it was some time before he realized that his walking had got easier. It seemed that he had been walking up a frozen burn. So much easier than the steep hillside. He followed it over a low ridge. He stopped to rest and look around. He was expecting to see nothing, just the same whiteness all around. But then to his surprise a few hundred yards away there was a house.

Or maybe that was too much calling it that. It was more like a shack. One small window each side of the door and a corrugated iron roof. A ladder was leaning on it as though as though someone had been doing repairs on it. To the side was some sort of enclosure, maybe used to keep animals. He felt a strange feeling looking down at it. He felt that he wanted to get away from that area. Then a few flakes of snow started to fall. Why am I feeling so stupid he thought to himself? I could go and maybe get shelter till this snow shower passes.

He gave a timid knock at the door and shouted Hello. When there was no reply he reached up to a little space above the door and found a key. He placed it in the lock and was about to turn it to go inside when he hesitated. How did I know that there was a key hidden there and once again he got the feeling to get away quickly from the area?

He turned and made his way back the way he had come.

The snow started to fall in earnest. By the time he arrived back at the inn it was turning into a blizzard.

Well glad to see you back safely. Jim Dounie the inn keeper met him at the door. It’s always a worry when someone goes alone into the mountains. You look pretty frozen. There is plenty hot water if you want a bath. Dinner will be in half an hour. We only have two other guests staying. This is quite a quiet time of year. Colin turned to go upstairs. He turned back. Mr. Dounie could you tell me something about an old derelict house a good way up the mountain?

Jim Dounie turned back. Come into the lounge after your dinner. I will have time then to have a talk with you.

When he entered the dining room only a couple about his own age were having a meal. They introduced themselves. The man, about six foot, a boyish look about him with fair curly hair and bright blue eyes. I am Kevin Shepton and the midget beside me is my sister Sally. there was a strong resemblance between them. The same fair hair and blue eyes. Sally laughed. Maybe I am a midget but I can sort out big brother. In actual fact she was probably about five foot six. They had strong American accents. Colin introduced himself. I have booked in here for three days to do a bit of hill walking. I am a New Zealander. I have just finished my final year at Edinburgh. Sally smiled at him showing beautiful perfect white teeth. It made Colin’s heart flutter. What did you do? she asked. Oh Medicine. You must be a very young Doctor? Not really. I am twenty six. Her brother laughed. There you are Colin. My sister always wanting to find out information. Now brother dear. Only about people that interest me. Colin felt himself blushing. How about joining us for a drink in the bar after dinner? Kevin suggested. Yes why not. But I must have an early night. I’m going hill walking again tomorrow early.

After dinner Colin went to the lounge to talk to James Dounie. He found him sitting by the fire sipping a beer. Can I get you a drink? Well no actually I am going to join the American couple in the bar but I am dying to find out what you know about the house that I came across today.

"Well Colin, I really know very little. I only bought this inn about a year ago. This is one of the strangest villages I have ever been in. My wife died three years ago in a car accident. Ever since I have been wandering around. Not been able to settle anywhere. I wandered into this village and saw the For Sale sign. The price was right. Much cheaper than I expected and on the spur of the moment I bought it.

I meant it when I said it was a strange village. You would think that as it’s the only pub that it would be a friendly place to be sociable to visitors. But it’s the opposite. I bet when you go into the bar the young couple will be sitting alone and all the locals at another table. No talking, even amongst themselves. No laughter. It’s like being in a church. An old man comes in about nine o’clock. I found out his name. He is called the Keeper. He doesn’t have a drink. He whispers something to the men and they all get up, finish their drinks and go."

One day I met the Keeper when I went looking around the village just after I arrived. He had a cottage just on the village boundary. I told him that a couple staying at the inn were very interested in an old cottage high up on the hill. The same one that you are interested in. They wanted to know its history. Well I must admit I was totally taken aback at his reaction. He waved his walking stick at me. Tell them to keep away or they will regret it. For a moment I thought he would hit me with his stick. An old tramp like man with his long hair which looked as if it hadn’t seen a wash for years. But he was well over six feet. Big broad shoulders. I beat a hasty retreat. We now just ignore each other. But believe me there is something strange going on."

Colin made his way to the bar. Jim Dounie was right. The couple was sitting apart and four or five men were sitting. They had a drink in front of them but there was no conversation. He bought himself a beer and joined Kevin and Sally. They were quite subdued. The atmosphere in the pub was getting to them. Kevin tried to get a conversation going. So you came all the way from New Zealand to go to Edinburgh University. A long distance Colin. Well it really was only for the final year.

I did it for two reasons. First of all I had always wanted to study in Edinburgh and secondly I think it made my father so happy. He had never managed to visit Scotland and so many stories had been handed down throughout the generations and he was so disappointed that he couldn’t trace further back than his great grandparents. And trying to piece some bits of the stories I think they must be fairly near this area.

Well I think we will retire. This air does make me sleepy. Sally turned to her brother. Are you coming? Kevin finished his drink. Yes I’ll be with you in a minute. He shook hands with Colin. We will maybe see you in the morning but we are leaving early. We are going skiing to Aviemore. Enjoy your walk tomorrow Colin and take care.

Colin was left sitting alone. Finishing his drink he looked up when the door opened. A strange looking man entered and from Jim’s description this was the Keeper. There was something gorilla like in the way he walked. And the length of his arms. It was difficult to guess his age. He just stood at the table beside the men. He must have said something. Colin couldn’t hear but the men all stood up and followed him out of the bar. Maybe there was a simple explanation. They could be poachers. But why go into the bar. Colin gave up and made his way up to bed.

Next morning he entered the dining room early. The young couple had already gone. Jim was serving breakfast. No point in taking on anyone when we are so quiet. And of course the American couple only had juice and cereal. Well, Colin said. I would like a full breakfast if that’s possible. It will fortify me all day on the mountain. No bother, Jim said. I will also make you some sandwiches and fill a flask. Colin thanked him. In some way he felt sorry for him. He seemed to be quite lonely. He was stuck here in a village that wasn’t very friendly, still mourning the loss of his wife. Maybe when the summer season came he would be too busy to be lonely. Remember now, he shouted after Colin. Don’t take any risks."

Colin started off. He had decided to explore the opposite side. Once again he felt a wonderful form of release, the snow sparkling in the sun. And as he left the village behind, the peacefulness, as if he was the only person in the whole world. If anything this route he had chosen was much steeper than the previous day. After a couple of hours he felt himself getting a bit breathless. I really am out of condition. All the hours I sat indoors studying hasn’t helped. He decided to sit and have some coffee from the flask. The heat of the sun reflecting off the snow made him feel quite drowsy.

He thought he felt the smell of wood smoke. Can’t be. Who would be lighting a fire high up on a snow covered mountain. But the smell persisted. Then he saw a thin trail of smoke wafting towards him in a soft breeze. It seemed to be coming from just round the corner from where he was sitting. He scrambled to his feet and in his excitement he very nearly fell over a ravine because he couldn’t believe his eyes. Standing in quite a large wood was a huge building almost like a gothic castle.

The smoke he saw was coming from some of the large chimneys. He felt he was dreaming. Yesterday he had come across a ramshackle house and today a castle. He was so busy looking at it that he wasn’t watching where he was putting his feet. He tripped and tried to stop himself falling but down he came. He felt something hitting his leg and when he tried to get up he realised that he must have twisted his ankle. He had hit a rock partly covered in the snow.

The shock hit him and he just sat there. He started to feel the cold. I have got to