Promises Beyond The Veil Of Light ( PT 45 )

Picture by pixabay free images.

 

 

 

Part Forty One

 

 

 

Tuesday came with drifting snow. Large flakes fell in the early morning. The night had bought so much of the white stuff that it was hard to know where roads and paths began and ended. Smooth icicles hung from trees lingering longer than usual with the harsh conditions.

 

In the grave yard blackbird pecked searching for a bite to eat, tossing the snow in shallow places but not having much luck, he would be dependent on the kindness of humans that day and go searching in gardens.

 

A lone woman by the name of Sonya was walking her dog and decided to take a short cut through the cemetery, not her usual route but it seemed a lot safer than the main pavements. She crossed the slush ridden road, her spaniel eager to be off. Cars slowed down as they caught sight of the well wrapped up figure, their wheels spinning almost out of control.

 

Reaching the other side her dog pulled on its lead eager to be let off. “No boy, I can't take your lead off, we're going into the cemetery.” She pulled the dog back to heal. “Come on Kit.” The woman bent down and tickled the dog under the chin. “I know you want to run, but that's not allowed in cemeteries, so you'll have to stay by my side I'm afraid.”

 

The arctic conditions left barely any sign of burial ground. The woman thought of the words and sang them quietly to herself! “In the bleak mid winter, frosty wind made moan, Earth stood hard as iron, water like a stone, snow had fallen snow on snow, snow on snow, in the bleak mid winter long time ago.” She'd sung the hymn at Christmas in her church choir, it was one of her favorites.

 

Edging her way further along what she assumed to be the path, Sonya caught sight of the vestibule and decided to shelter before carrying on. It was a wild morning with the wind beginning to pick up, her dog seemed desperate to be off. “No Kit, I need to stop a moment, catch my breath.”

 

Kit appeared anxious as he pulled on the lead, barking and whining loudly. “What's up boy?” She bent down to turn the dogs head, but Kit seemed agitated and wouldn't calm down. Sonya knew her dog well and had a feeling that he'd smelt a dead animal. “Come on then, let's go and see what you've discovered.”

 

Kit almost dragged Sonya off her feet, with only one thing on its mind, to hunt down the scent. She felt her feet sinking as Kit led her across what normally was grass, but was now a white thick blanket, to where the grave stones were submerged and couldn't be seen apart from the headstones. Kit didn't seem to mind his body sinking as he tracked down his hunt.

 

The dog suddenly stopped and started digging away, when Sonya caught sight of what looked like a coat buried. Quickly she began scooping snow away with her gloved hands, while Kit worked with his paws as if in a frenzy.

 

A gruesome sight met her eyes as a frozen blue hand appeared, then moving more snow uncovering the sickening sight of a body lying face down on the grave. With stomach churning her face turned a sickly white, she collapsed to her knees, her dog pining to know what was going on.

 

Even though Sonya knew better than to touch the body realizing whoever it could be was dead, she couldn't stop herself from shaking the body, hoping in a mad whirl that whoever it was still breathed. “Please wake up,” she repeated over and over, but still the body remained silent with no movement.

 

With legs feeling like jelly Sonya moved to stand, it was time to find a phone box even though she could feel her insides ready to explode. Putting her sick feeling to one side, Sonya knew there was one up the road from the cemetery if her memory served her right. “Come on Kit, I've got to report this straight away.” She didn't want to leave the body but had no choice as snow continued to fall heavily. That poor woman! She thought discovering it was a female.

 

With heavy heart she made her way towards the entrance, cars still struggling to keep moving in a straight line. Carefully crossing the road, she had a seven minute walk to the post office where a phone box stood. Tears filled her eyes, heart racing, it was the longest walk she'd ever had to make, not because of the snow but the fact that she had no idea how long the body had been lying, there and didn't no what she'd say to the police if they questioned her.

 

“Just tell the truth!” She whispered to herself as thoughts kept going around in her head. “Why oh why did I have to find her?” She uttered again into thin air, tears mixing with flakes that landed on her cheeks like feathers.

 

Finally reaching the phone box and stepping inside, she discovered it had been vandalized, the phone ripped completely out. “Dam!” She shouted at the top of her voice with the door open, still holding Kit's lead. “Dam, dam, dam.” It was all too much, she would have to go into the post office, ask to use there phone.

 

Luckily they were open. Not wanting to leave Kit outside, she opened the door and a bell rang. “Hello, hello,” she called out.

 

An Indian woman in a blue sari appeared from behind the counter not understanding why this stranger would just stand at the door letting in the cold. “Come, come,” she waved her in.

 

“But I've got my dog with me and I need to use a phone, it's an emergency.”

 

“No! No! Dogs allowed in shop.” She pointed at the sign.

 

This was ridiculous trying to communicate with this lady, so she reluctantly secured Kit to the post. “I won't be long Kit, just have to make a quick phone call.” She smoothed his coat and Kit "Whelps!"

 

Moving inside the owner moved back behind the counter ready to serve. “How can I help?”

 

“Look! I've a real emergency, I was down at the cemetery with my dog, when we came across a dead body of a female lying face down across a grave. I need to contact the police.”

 

The owner immediately seemed to understand and waved the woman over tut tutting. “Dear, dear me, what is the world coming to?” She uttered.

 

“Thank you.” Picking up the receiver and dialing 999, the operator asked which service she needed. “Police!” It felt like everything was happening in slow motion and seemed to take ages. A voice came on the phone asking what the problem was. “I want to report finding a dead body in the cemetery on Blanch Road.”

 

“I will need your name, address and phone number,” came back the reply.

 

She felt panic and just wanted the police to come quick. “My name's Sonya Anderson, I live at 28 Nutmeg Close, Brampton Court. My phone no is 274689.”

 

There was a short pause. “Can you slow down and tell me how you came to find the body?”

 

Sonya hadn't even realized how fast she was talking, so took a deep breath. “I was out walking my dog and decided to take a short cut through the cemetery, my dog started barking and pulling on the lead to be off. He often gets the scent of dead animals and digs them up. Well this time he led me to a body.”

 

“So where are you now?” Came a relaxed voice.

 

Sonya was in such a panic and could hear her dog yelping outside. “I'm at the corner of Blanch Road Post Office”

 

“Stay calm, there will be a police car with you very soon. I suggest you make your way to the cemetery entrance, as the police will want to question you further.”

 

Sonya didn't even think about the busy day she had ahead and forgot about letting work know, she was just eager to show the police the body. “I'm on my way now.” Putting the receiver down, she thanked the lady behind the counter, feeling like she was going to cry, but knowing there wasn't any time.

 

The heavy flakes were now blowing around in what felt like a blizzard, leaving her dog pining to be home in the warm, instead of standing in the cold. “I'm sorry Kit, but if you will go digging up dead bodies.”

 

Untying his lead, Sonya started back along the road towards the cemetery, she could hear a police car in the distance and knew immediately it was coming her way.

 

To be continued...