"So I heard. Whit're yer intentions then?"

"Who was Adam Wallace?"

He sat on the edge of his bed and rubbed his face, which seemed to have aged ten years in the last two weeks. "I see ye've been talkin' tae my guid pal, Calum, aye?"

"Answer the question."

"Adam wis first cousin tae Sir William Wallace, an' he wis jist as brave a soul. In Spring o' the year 1330, he accompanied Sir James the Good, commonly kent as the Black Douglas, on a mission o' great importance, tae take Robert the Bruce's heart tae the Holy Land."

"Yeah, yeah, I know the story of the Braveheart. What I don't know is the story of the Black Knights."

"Dae ye ken whit a blood oath is?"

"Does that mean you won't tell me?"

"No' unless ye wish tae become a Knight."

"I don't have time for this nonsense."

"Nor dae I. Now whit are yer intentions wi' the monster?"

"Why do you want it dead?"

"Why? Because it's dangerous."

"It killed Calum's wife, didn't it?"

"That, I cannae say. But it went after you. An' that's enough for me."

"That was an accident. It was lured up by the salmon, real salmon, not the kind you used in your alibi."

"My guilt or innocence has no bearin' on this. Whit's important now is that this monster is dealt wi', once an' for a', afore it kills again."

"Interesting how the jury's deliberating upon the same thing."

I turned and left, knowing that might well be the last time I'd see him alive.

Clansman Wharf

True met me an hour later in the Clansman parking lot. I was surprised to see the media had vacated the wharf.

"A'right, Zack, I got yer message an' brought ye a' that ye wanted an' mair," True said, pointing to a rental truck. "But I'll expect an explanation afore we make way."

"I told you, there's crude oil leaking into Loch Ness. You and I are going to find it."

"Ye want tae find an oil leak, call the EPA. This deep divin' suit ye had me fetch is for somethin' else entirely."

"The oil will guide us to the monster's lair. I mean to descend into the passage and reopen it, releasing the Guivre to the North Sea."

"Free the Guivre? Dae ye work for bloody PETA then? Bloody hell, Zachary, first ye're too feart o' even gettin' on a docked boat, now ye want tae go swimmin' wi' Nessie? An' whit makes ye think I'll help ye wi' this crazy plan?"

"If you won't help me, I'll find someone who will. I'm sure those monster hunters are game."

"Thae arseholes?" True shook his head. "Why dae ye want tae dae this, Zack? My sister loves ye. Take her away frae this dreary place an' live oot yer lives. Ye dinnae need this tae be happy."