A Travel Ghost Story
He'd booked a holiday cottage in South Kerry so there was a long drive ahead. No time for non-essential stops if he was to get there by nightfall. He drove fast but some of the roads were narrow and twisting. Still the SatNav (and I don't mean a woman sitting beside him - that's the SatNag ) told him it was 20 miles to destination and dusk hadn't quite arrived. He parked by the roadside and got out for a much-needed walk.
He chose a narrow, very poorly maintained road to the right, climbing amidst woodland. A strong smell of resin presumably from the trees, the wind blowing into his face at close to storm level, howling and whistling through the trees like a banshee. He felt exhilarated. Once the trees were behind him the place was incredibly desolated ; not a person or house around, miles of blanket bog waiting to swallow the unwary ; in the far distance one or two twinkling lights suggested he hadn't been transported to another planet. He walked on enjoying the isolation. It was growing dark and there were some muffled rolls of thunder, so he turned back.
His hearing started to pick up a different sound. It sounded like wheels rolling over the rough road and not covered by tyres ; wooden or perhaps steel-rimmed. All his auditory faculties were now focused on the inexplicable sound. He could make out horses' hooves drumming the road as they were driven to a gallop by a cracking whip; even the jangle of their harnesses. In the year 2023! A massive crack of thunder made him jump. The sound now changed to horses neighing in terror, men shouting - even screaming. Hell, he was getting out of here. Walking became running. At last the car and just as torrential rain broke. What a relief to get inside.
He found the cottage without much trouble, got inside locking the doors and windows, and into bed. Eventually drifted into a fitful sleep. To be woken by a loud banging at the door. He lay shivering wondering what to do, but that part must have been a dream. No more sleep possible. He eventually got up to make tea or coffee but not a thing in the house. Come daylight at least there was plenty of time for a shower. He set off in the car looking for a shop. When he found one it was just being opened by a girl - a very pretty one as it happened.
And, more to the point, very friendly. "Have you moved into McGlinchey's cottage? Are you okay? You look like you've seen a ghost!" He told her all that had happened. "God that's weird. 200 years ago that was the stagecoach route from Sneem. One night they were confronted by a masked man on horseback, brandishing a pistol. When the driver didn't stop he was shot dead". She looked at the horror in his eyes. " Tell you what. I'll come over tonight and make you a hot whisky or two. Two spirits - me and the Powers, will exorcise the ghost."
He chose a narrow, very poorly maintained road to the right, climbing amidst woodland. A strong smell of resin presumably from the trees, the wind blowing into his face at close to storm level, howling and whistling through the trees like a banshee. He felt exhilarated. Once the trees were behind him the place was incredibly desolated ; not a person or house around, miles of blanket bog waiting to swallow the unwary ; in the far distance one or two twinkling lights suggested he hadn't been transported to another planet. He walked on enjoying the isolation. It was growing dark and there were some muffled rolls of thunder, so he turned back.
His hearing started to pick up a different sound. It sounded like wheels rolling over the rough road and not covered by tyres ; wooden or perhaps steel-rimmed. All his auditory faculties were now focused on the inexplicable sound. He could make out horses' hooves drumming the road as they were driven to a gallop by a cracking whip; even the jangle of their harnesses. In the year 2023! A massive crack of thunder made him jump. The sound now changed to horses neighing in terror, men shouting - even screaming. Hell, he was getting out of here. Walking became running. At last the car and just as torrential rain broke. What a relief to get inside.
He found the cottage without much trouble, got inside locking the doors and windows, and into bed. Eventually drifted into a fitful sleep. To be woken by a loud banging at the door. He lay shivering wondering what to do, but that part must have been a dream. No more sleep possible. He eventually got up to make tea or coffee but not a thing in the house. Come daylight at least there was plenty of time for a shower. He set off in the car looking for a shop. When he found one it was just being opened by a girl - a very pretty one as it happened.
And, more to the point, very friendly. "Have you moved into McGlinchey's cottage? Are you okay? You look like you've seen a ghost!" He told her all that had happened. "God that's weird. 200 years ago that was the stagecoach route from Sneem. One night they were confronted by a masked man on horseback, brandishing a pistol. When the driver didn't stop he was shot dead". She looked at the horror in his eyes. " Tell you what. I'll come over tonight and make you a hot whisky or two. Two spirits - me and the Powers, will exorcise the ghost."
