"What else can you tell me about the creature?"

"Nothin'."

"It's trapped in Loch Ness, isn't it?"

The old man looked up at me then, his expression of concern confirming my suspicions. "Go ask yer rabbittin' faither, seein' as he's the one that's been fillin' yer heid."

"You're wrong about Angus. He refuses to tell me anything, and it's his life that's at stake."

MacDonald scoffed.

"What was the sworn mission of the Black Knights, Mr. MacDonald? How does it relate to the creature?"

He stood, his patience shot. "I think it's high time ye were gone."

"I'll go, but those monster hunters won't be leaving. This time they'll stay until they've captured the creature, or are forced to kill it. Either way, it'll be on your head."

I hobbled out of his chamber, then out the lodge to the Harley. I climbed on the bike and was about to gun the engine when I saw the old man emerge.

For a moment, I wondered if he meant to talk or stab me.

"I have yer word as kin o' Sir William Wallace that ye'll no' speak o' this tae anyone?"

"Yes, sir."

He fidgeted, still contemplating his decision. "Dinnae ask me again aboot the Black Knights, that I take wi' me tae the grave. As tae the monster, I dinnae ken whit she is, I've only caught glimpses o' her twice, a' I ken is she's the last o' her kind, though whit kind, again, I cannae say. She's big, though, bigger'n any afore her, an' that's 'cause she's been trapped a long time, unable tae leave the Loch Ness tae spawn. Nature took ower an' jist let her grow. Born in blackness, she'll aye prefer the deep, at least she aye did 'til jist this past winter. At first I thought it wis a' the blastin' at that damn resort that sent her topside, jist like it did when she attacked ye seventeen years ago. But I wis wrong. Somethin' isnae right wi' the Loch, an' it's affected her mind an' her appetite, jist as it's affected the eels. Lesions, ye say?"

"Caused by some kind of toxin in the water. I don't know where it's originating from or why it hasn't been detected up until now, but it's definitely affecting the wildlife."

"Aye, but there's a more immediate problem. The creature's tasted human flesh again, an' that makes her very dangerous. Same sort o' thing happened long ago with another o' her kind, back when I was a lad. Still, I dinnae want tae see her put doon, she's served us well."

Served who well? The Black Knights?

"Dae ye think ye can free her to the sea?"

"I don't know. Where's the Loch's underwater access route into the Moray Firth?"

He shook his head. "Off wi' ye now, laddie. Godspeed."

I started the engine, then shut it off. "Mr. MacDonald, thank you for saving my life."