Loch Death

By Robert Shearer

For hundreds of years a secret order of monks has prevented the return of an ancient evil. Three friends on a weekend visit to a remote loch in the Scottish highlands stumble across this battle. A battle between the order, the locals and the deadly curse of the Each Uisge's.

• Language: English
• Publisher: BookBaby
• Release date: May 18, 2014
• ISBN: 9781498919302

Book preview

14

Chapter 1

‘I don’t think we'll be out here too long this morning, it’s too cold.’

Will McKay pulled his hat down and stamped his feet. Looking up into the sky he saw the clouds being stained a deep scarlet from the sky behind them. This gave the surface of the loch, along with the trees and mountains surrounding it, an eerie reddish hue as dawn crept its way into the glen. Will and his friend Joe Hadman were standing on a small jetty over a small fishing boat. Joe got into the boat first and waited for Will to hand down their fishing tackle. Then he clambered down into the boat himself.

‘It’ll be okay once were out there’ said Joe.

‘Yeah, well just to make sure your right, I’ve brought this’ said Will producing a small silver coloured hip-flask from his pocket.

‘Great minds think alike.’ Joe pulled out a similar looking flask and, with a grin, took a drink from it.

Laughing, Will stated the engine of the outboard motor and they moved slowly out toward the middle of the loch.

‘If it starts to rain let’s just call it a day early this time.’ said Will.

‘Will do. We’ll head for shore at the first sign of any bad weather.’ said Joe.

‘In fact let’s head back once the pub opens.’

‘Yeah that sounds like a plan; after all we wouldn’t want to over-fishing would we.’

‘That’s right man, I’m always thinking about the environment like that.’

They ambled their way out into the middle of the loch where they both cast off and sat down.

Unbeknownst to them, form the loch shore, the two men were being watched. Two men in long, thick black robes stood and observed the fishermen in silence.

‘Men from the village?’ said one breaking that silence.

‘Yes it looks that way’ said the other.

'Will this cause us problems?'

‘No, they won’t be a problem. Come we have work to do. We must prepare for this evening’

The two men turned and walked away. They were heading in the direction of a ruined castle by the side of the loch. As they left another figure, further up the shore, was also watching the fishing boat. The observer smiled and began to walk slowly into the loch, not taking his eyes from his target. Eventually he disappeared completely below the water’s surface and was gone.

Meanwhile, oblivious to all around them, both men on the boat had fallen asleep. Will slumped forward and snapped awake. For a moment he had forgotten where he was but rubbing his eyes and hearing Joe's snoring he quickly remembered where he was. He looked over at his noisily sleeping partner and gave him a shove.

‘Joe, said Will to no reply, ‘Joe wake up!’

Joe woke with a start, looked at Will, his fishing rod, then Will again and said,

‘What? Is it time to go?’

‘Er, yeah, yeah it’s time to go.’

‘Good idea, if we spend to long out here we'll end up getting tired.’

As they spoke they could feel the first spattering of rain beginning to fall.

‘That settles it,’ said Joe, ‘Its staring to rain.’

Will tried the motor but it wouldn't start. He tried again. Nothing happened. That's odd, he thought.

He said, 'Joe the engine isn't working.'

'The fuel tank can’t be empty, didn't you fill it up last night?' said Joe.

'I didn't think I needed to, I'm sure I’d done it the other day.'

'Some sneaky bastard’s been using our boat on the sly.'

'Yeah I’ll bet,’ Will slumped into his seat, ‘tell me we've brought the oars.'

'Yeah, there here.'

'Let’s get back and find out who's been messing with our stuff.’

They both began rowing back towards the jetty. They both looked miserably at one another as it seemed as though the rain was getting heavier by the minute. Not far from the jetty however there progress seemed as though it was being hampered by an unseen force.