The Lighthouse People

By Lenka Dusek

Grandpa was always good at telling stories. The one about the lighthouse people was one of the best. But sometimes its hard to know whether or not there's an element of truth buried in all that colorful narrative. Marinka is confident that those lighthouse people are just one of gradpa's random yarns, but her friend Teun is not so sure. Could the dead really be haunting the local beach?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lenka Dusek
• Release date: Jun 25, 2014
• ISBN: 9781311813244

Lenka Dusek

Lenka Dusek was born in the Czech Republic. She immigrated with her family to the UK in 2002. Having studied English literature at university (Masaryk University, Czech Republic) she decided to take up writing, and became a freelance ghost writer for a number of UK authors. She has had a lifelong interest in mythology. As a teenager she and a group of like-minded students were privileged enough to be able to stay overnight at some of the most notorious haunted castles in Europe, including Moosham Castle in Unternberg, Austria, and Predjama Castle In Slovenia. She has been all over Europe searching for evidence of paranormal activity, and has undertaken extensive research into vampire folklore. Her fascination for the supernatural has never waned. Most of the characters in her works are modeled on the real people, particularly those people she traveled with and who shared her interest in the occult.

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The Lighthouse People

Lenka Dusek

Smashwords Edition

Copyright © 2014, Lenka Dusek

All Rights Reserved.

ISBN: 9781301126569

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Teun was always a bit nervous around elderly people. Especially ones he didn't know. So he wasn't looking forward to meeting Marinka's Grandpa despite all the good things she'd been saying about him.

When he walked into the living room he was met by one of those strange musty smells that seem to hang around stuffy old places. And when he saw the man sitting in the corner he drew in a quick involuntary breath.

Marinka's Grandpa was not one of those sweet looking elderly people you like to imagine. He had a rather shabby appearance. He was laid back in a rickety foam chair that looked like a leftover from a trailer park and wore a frayed brown jersey that looked like something an old fisherman cast off. He had almost no hair but for a few tuffs of white around his neckline and his eyes were two wrinkled, vulture-like orbs set in a permanent scowl. Altogether he didn't look too welcoming.

He glanced up straight away when Teun walked in, but for an awkward moment didn’t stir. Above him the old ceiling lamp shone down a soft yellow light, which cast shadows on his face that accentuated those gnarly, unkindly features.

Marinka pushed through the doorway to get past Teun. There was no hesitation in her step. She walked straight up to her Grandpa, bent over his chair, wrapped her arms loosely around his neck, and gave him a quick peck on the cheek. In return her Grandpa gave her a pat on the back and grumbled something incomprehensible.

When Marinka stepped back her Grandpa rose slowly to his feet and finally acknowledged the guest. He locked eyes with Teun and stretched his hand out in greeting. Teun was surprised to see that that the man was no taller than himself. That was surprising because he was only eleven and most adult men dwarfed him.

'I was wondering who you were for a moment there,' said Grandpa in a gruff voice. 'So you must be Teun?’

‘Yes Sir.’

‘Very good. Very good. Marinka's told me a lot about you.'

'Oh, okay,' said Teun with a nervous waiver in his voice. He quickly shook the outstretched hand. 'She's told me a lot about you too.'

Grandpa glanced sideways at his granddaughter and let out a throaty grunt. 'Not surprising. Does a lot of talking our Marinka.'

'Awww!' said Marinka with a laugh in her voice. She knew the old man was teasing. His delivery of humour was always a bit on the brusque side but she was quite used to it… in fact she quite liked it. That was what made Grandpa Grandpa.

With a spritely twist she plonked down on the dusty sofa. On that cue Grandpa sat back down in his rickety chair and Teun took up another seat next to her.

Grandpa looked down his nose at the guest. 'So, you're in Marinka's class? Is that right?'

Teun nodded. 'Since we started school. We've been friends since we were five.'

'Best friends,' added Marinka quickly.

Teun flicked his eyebrows in agreement with her. 'That's right.'