My mother stuck me with a weird name."
"Understood." The ranger grinned. "So, you say you're looking for Dark Entry?"
"I'm looking for the site of the battle of Stonesburg. Is that the same place?"
"That's the Yankee name for it. They won the war, so..." He shrugged. "Anyhow, Dark Entry is the name of the stream that feeds the pond at the site of the battle. You can't properly call it a battlefield, since it was more of a skirmish in a mountain valley, but it's all we've got around her."
Bones' heart beat faster. So at least part of the story was true.
"Are you going to tell him about the curse?" Betty leaned around the door facing. "It's only right."
"I will tell him. Thank you, Betty." Eddings kept his voice pleasant, though his eyes were stony. "Sorry about that. It's a remote location, and the site has had its share of tragedies: drownings, fatal falls, hikers gone missing. Couple that with the long-standing belief that the site is haunted, and you can see why some people," he rolled his eyes toward the open office door, "let their superstitious beliefs get the better of them. There's no reason for concern as long as you use caution. Just watch your step, and keep an eye out for the bears and the snakes."
"I'll be careful. Do you have a map that shows how to get there? I'll be happy to pay for it."
"No, but I'll draw you one. It's not too difficult." Eddings took out a legal pad, tore off the faded top page, and sketched out a map. He jotted notes about landmarks in places, and emphasized a few of what he said were the more confusing turns. When he finished, he passed the paper to Bones. "You taking anyone up there with you?"
There was something about the casual way in which he asked the question that told Bones he should not answer truthfully. "Nope. Just me." Suddenly, he feared the ranger was about to offer to accompany him. That would be out of the question. "Kind of a personal journey for me. Trying to get in touch with the spirit of my ancestor, you know."
Eddings smile did not touch his eyes, but he nodded and assured Bones that he understood completely. That was one of the advantages to being an Indian. You could heap a big, steaming pile of spiritual crap onto someone and they'd believe it. He shook Eddings' hand, called a thank-you to Betty, and slipped out the door, careful not to touch the rocking chair.
"D
"Understood." The ranger grinned. "So, you say you're looking for Dark Entry?"
"I'm looking for the site of the battle of Stonesburg. Is that the same place?"
"That's the Yankee name for it. They won the war, so..." He shrugged. "Anyhow, Dark Entry is the name of the stream that feeds the pond at the site of the battle. You can't properly call it a battlefield, since it was more of a skirmish in a mountain valley, but it's all we've got around her."
Bones' heart beat faster. So at least part of the story was true.
"Are you going to tell him about the curse?" Betty leaned around the door facing. "It's only right."
"I will tell him. Thank you, Betty." Eddings kept his voice pleasant, though his eyes were stony. "Sorry about that. It's a remote location, and the site has had its share of tragedies: drownings, fatal falls, hikers gone missing. Couple that with the long-standing belief that the site is haunted, and you can see why some people," he rolled his eyes toward the open office door, "let their superstitious beliefs get the better of them. There's no reason for concern as long as you use caution. Just watch your step, and keep an eye out for the bears and the snakes."
"I'll be careful. Do you have a map that shows how to get there? I'll be happy to pay for it."
"No, but I'll draw you one. It's not too difficult." Eddings took out a legal pad, tore off the faded top page, and sketched out a map. He jotted notes about landmarks in places, and emphasized a few of what he said were the more confusing turns. When he finished, he passed the paper to Bones. "You taking anyone up there with you?"
There was something about the casual way in which he asked the question that told Bones he should not answer truthfully. "Nope. Just me." Suddenly, he feared the ranger was about to offer to accompany him. That would be out of the question. "Kind of a personal journey for me. Trying to get in touch with the spirit of my ancestor, you know."
Eddings smile did not touch his eyes, but he nodded and assured Bones that he understood completely. That was one of the advantages to being an Indian. You could heap a big, steaming pile of spiritual crap onto someone and they'd believe it. He shook Eddings' hand, called a thank-you to Betty, and slipped out the door, careful not to touch the rocking chair.
"D
