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Contents ( 89)
  1. The Secret of Cold Hill
  2. Table of Contents
  3. 1
  4. 2
  5. 3
  6. 4
  7. 5
  8. 6
  9. 7
  10. 8
  11. 9
  12. 10
  13. 11
  14. 12
  15. 13
  16. 14
  17. 15
  18. 16
  19. 17
  20. 18
  21. 19
  22. 20
  23. 21
  24. 22
  25. 23
  26. 24
  27. 25
  28. 26
  29. 27
  30. 28
  31. 29
  32. 30
  33. 31
  34. 32
  35. 33
  36. 34
  37. 35
  38. 36
  39. 37
  40. 38
  41. 39
  42. 40
  43. 41
  44. 42
  45. 43
  46. 44
  47. 45
  48. 46
  49. 47
  50. 48
  51. 49
  52. 50
  53. 51
  54. 52
  55. 53
  56. 54
  57. 55
  58. 56
  59. 57
  60. 58
  61. 59
  62. 60
  63. 61
  64. 62
  65. 63
  66. 64
  67. 65
  68. 66
  69. 67
  70. 68
  71. 69
  72. 70
  73. 71
  74. 72
  75. 73
  76. 74
  77. 75
  78. 76
  79. 77
  80. 78
  81. 79
  82. 80
  83. 81
  84. 82
  85. 83
  86. 84
  87. Acknowledgments
  88. About the Author
  89. The Cold Hill Ghost Stories

Skeet chipped in squeakily. ‘Also, clergymen like us believe that God has total control over the living and the dead – so it would make no difference if the deceased who are now ghosts had once been believers or not.’

‘Exactly,’ Orlebar confirmed. ‘Prayer is more powerful than any ghost. The Holy Spirit is more powerful than any human spirit. We Christians believe Jesus conquered death and Hell through his death on the cross and resurrection from the dead. He is all-powerful over all principalities and dominions. If you recall the Creed, He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead.’ He smiled at them, comfortingly. ‘Whether ghosts are believers or not is irrelevant. God has authority over them.’

‘Fine,’ Emily said. ‘Thank you.’

‘What if it’s a different faith from Christianity?’ Jason asked.

Orlebar replied, ‘We believe it is the same God for all faiths.’

‘Glad we got that one sorted,’ Jason said, jokily. Then he fell silent as above them they heard footsteps, clearly and loudly.

Stomp. Stomp. Stomp. Stomp. Stomp.

Skeet looked up, warily, at the ceiling.

‘Someone’s not happy,’ Orlebar said. He gave a benign smile. ‘Hey, as your locals told you, no one likes change!’

60

Wednesday 19 December

Over the next ten minutes the two clergymen laid a white linen altar cloth across the kitchen table, on top of which they laid the corporal. Then they donned white albs. From his bag, Orlebar produced a silver chalice, placing it on the corporal, into which he poured red wine while incanting a prayer. Beside the chalice, Skeet solemnly placed a silver paten on the corporal, into which he laid four round white wafers.

Orlebar now produced a silver censer, hung from chains and containing charcoal, which he lit. Grey smoke curled from the thurible, rapidly filling the kitchen with the pungent smell of incense. He lifted the censer up and walked around the room, shaking the smoke in every direction, chanting quietly, as Jason and Emily, still seated, watched in silence.

As he returned to the table, Skeet gestured with his hands for them to stand.

They did as they were bidden. The two clergymen stood on the other side of the table, behind the sacraments, and both closed their eyes, praying silently. Then, in unison, they opened their eyes again and looked at Jason and Emily.

Skeet began the communion. Almost simultaneously, they all heard, loud and clear, the ceiling shaking, and the sounds of footsteps again.

Stomp. Stomp. Stomp. Stomp. Stomp.

Orlebar continued, ignoring the sound.

Stomp. Stomp. Stomp. Stomp. Stomp.

Skeet took over again.

The stomping grew louder, angrier.

Jason and Emily stared rigidly ahead at the two men, not daring to glance at each other.

Like a pair of well-rehearsed musicians, Orlebar took over again.

The stomping above reached fever pitch. It sounded as if, at any minute, the ceiling would come crashing down.

Skeet continued for some moments, then Orlebar again took over, praying loudly and clearly. Finally the stomping stopped.