Don't Read After Dark

By Larry Brasington

Larry Brasington's latest book, Don't Read After Dark: Lovecraftian Stories, is a collection of spooky stories set in different time periods, from the days of ancient knights, to World War II, to modern times. You will be mesmerized by these takes of soliders fighting off the worst Nazi plan ever, researchers exploring a freshly discovered village that no one knew existed, a homicide detective trying to solve the creepy murder of an elderly womand, a college student trying to support the crazy research of his mentor and professor. In the tradition of the infamous supernatural fiction writer, H.P. Lovecraft, these stores will fascinate and thrill you. Just don't read them after dark. 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Larry Brasington
• Release date: Jan 26, 2021
• ISBN: 9781393612827

Larry Brasington

As an author I the stories I write are ones I want to read. Having grown up in the Black and White movie days I saw every black and white Horror film, Detective Story and war movie I could. The Thin Man, Kansas City Connection, Maltese Falcon, Creature from the Black Lagoon, The Original Thing, the Day the Earth Stood Still, D-Day, Iwo Jima, Rhodan, Godzilla, just to name a few. I devoured books about American history. My first published story in 1968, “Temple in the Swamp”, a H. P. Lovecraft like tale, which might have been the start of my zombie phase. I enjoy writing stories that I would like to read. Currently I have published three novels: “Alien Madness” a science fiction tale, “Unholy War: the Brandenburgers—Russia 41” an alternative history-fantasy, and “Beyond the Wall” a historical adventure set in 168 AD in Scotland. I currently have a series of stories about Shane Eiland, Elf Detective called “Sum Yung Gye” and “The Case of the Missing Husband”. These are Noir style mysteries with a super hero flavor are my favorites and I hope the reader will enjoy them to.

Book preview

Don’t Read After Dark:

Lovecraftian Stories

Larry Brasington

Copyright © 2021 Larry Brasington

All rights reserved.

ISBN:9781393964599

DEDICATION

This book is dedicated to Ed Hoban. He read and enjoyed these stories. He inspired me to put them together.

Table of Contents

The Blood Moon Cult

Chapter One

June 5, 1944

Chapter Two

On the Ground

The Wolf Speaks

The Shadow in the Valley

The Temple in the Swamp

Snake Canyon

The Mad Arab

The Book of Udon

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

––––––––

The Blood Moon Cult, Eldritch Tales, Volume 2 Number 3, Necromomicon Press, P.O. Box, West Warwick, RI 02893.

The Mad Arab, Eldritch Tales," Volume 2 Number 4, Necromonicon Press.

Shadow in the Valley, (Stephen Cross) Eldritch Tales No. 8, Copyright 1982 by Crispin Burnham, A Yith Press Publication.

Temple in the Swamp, (Stephen Cross). From Beyond the Dark Gateway, October 1977, Volume 1, Number 4, A Silver Scabbard Press

The Blood Moon Cult

Chapter One

June 5, 1944

ATTENTION, YELLED the sergeant major, his voice filling the cramped wooden hut. A score of soldiers sprang out of their chairs and stood as a snappy English officer, complete with a patch over his left eye, entered. The man walked briskly up to the front, pivoted, faced the soldiers, and spoke, At ease, Chaps, take your seats. My name is Brigadier Ian McDonald, Royal Marine Commando, what. Now I know you lads are what you call Airborne, the American counterpart of our Airborne. The thing is, he hesitated and looked first at the men before him, then at the easel beside him, and back to the men. The thing is, lads, I have a special task for you tonight.

The room filled with groans. Brigadier McDonald continued, This task may be the key to the success of the invasion tonight. So much so, that Field Marshall Montgomery has asked your General Bradley for you. The Englishman let the words hang there.

Finally, a young, crew-cut, ramrod-straight second lieutenant with granite-chiseled chin in the front row cleared his throat. Begging the brigadier’s pardon. We got a mission—the invasion of France. The speaker asked in a thick west Texan’s drawl.

You did, Brigadier McDonald replied.

Exasperated by the response, the lieutenant stood up. His six-foot frame towered over the small English brigadier. Again, sir. What kind of special task? My boys and I are scheduled to go in tonight.

Lieutenant Miller, do lieutenants in the American army question orders from a superior officer? Brigadier McDonald said, his voice calm and steady.

Sir, we have trained for a year to... Miller caught himself. This approach was getting him nowhere.

In the gap, the Brigadier plunged. Lieutenant Miller, I am well aware of your previous mission. You have new orders now. Signed by your own General Gavin. As for your training, you were trained to fight, were you not? The brigadier glared in Miller's eyes; neither man gave an inch. Miller did not respond. The Brit said, Sergeant Major, would you uncover the board.

Sir.

Behind McDonald, his sergeant uncovered a board, revealing the flank of the invasion and the area leading to Cherbourg, the great port on the Normandy Peninsula. In the center of the map was a red circle.  Lieutenant Dave Miller sat down and rubbed his chin.

Gentleman, the area in red is the Chateau De Loupe, which means in French the Castle of the Wolf. Until recently it was the ancestral home of the Counts de Loupe, an old French family left over from the fourteenth century. Our Resistance contacts have told us an SS unit called the Blutmond Gruppen or Blood Moon Group have taken up residence there and are moving in and out of the Chateau every night. Furthermore, a labor battalion of prisoners has been taken off the Atlantic Wall to work there. Frankly, with Field Marshall Rommel pushing to complete the Atlantic Wall, this redeployment of workers has the High Command nervous. Brigadier Ferguson flipped the map chart, revealing an aerial view of the chateau, a rectangularly shaped fortress, a pair of round turrets on both ends, and a massive gatehouse with a bridge. A large moat surrounded the castle. 

As you can see, air reconnaissance photos have revealed nothing unusual, but the Maquis have seen covered trucks entering at all times of the day and night and returning empty. He flipped the page. From what the French can tell, the trucks are carrying boxes about the size of coffins. Also, the Blood Moon are plundering French graveyards for bodies. Frankly, whatever is going on has the locals spooked, and they are staying away.

Lieutenant Miller, SHAEF doesn’t want any surprises that might affect the invasion. Let me make myself clear, anything, anything that might disrupt Operation Overlord, we need to know about it. Finally, Lieutenant Miller, find out what this SS Blood Moon unit is up to and stop it if you can. Questions?

You think it is one of those wonder weapons Dr. Goebbels keeps talking about?

Frankly, I don’t know. As crazy as it sounds, of late Himmler’s boys seemed to be obsessed with the Occult. Whatever, it has the Resistance in the area scared. Scared enough to make SHAEF nervous with the invasion on tonight.  So, you got the job. Report first. Destroy second.

Still not wanting to concede, Lt. Miller asked, Why not let the Air Force flatten the place?

Time. Our paratroopers are going in tonight, and the soldiers are landing in the morning. I know this is a rush job and all, but you have your orders.

Shit, someone in the back said.

When do we go? Miller asked.

Immediately, came McDonald's reply. Softening, he looked at Miller. I know it's a tough break not going in with your chaps, but this has to be done. I have a glider and a Lancaster waiting for you. Sergeant Major escort our American friends to their gear and get them on the field. One last bit, Lieutenant Miller, two underground agents are going with you. They know the Chateau area, lived there before the war. The Sergeant Major has your orders and maps. Take the time you have to study them. Good Luck. Brigadier McDonald finished and snapped to a salute. For a moment Miller wanted to kick his chair across the room. Damn army. Damn Brits. With a sigh, he stood and said, All right, you heard the man, get a move on, there's a war on!

His men rose from their chairs with groans and fell in behind the British sergeant major who led them to a nearby hut, where on a series of long tables their gear lay—rifles, grenades, rations, canteens, packs, web-belts, it was all there.

What are you apes lookin' at?  Get your gear and get moving, shouted Sergeant Hank Dean from Tennessee, or I'll put my boot up your ass!

Dean reached down and picked up a Thompson submachine gun. Checked the magazine and slung it over his shoulder. Around him, the platoon drew their equipment with a practiced efficiency.

What, no parachutes, Sarge? Greg Jones quipped.

No, Jones. All you’ve got to do is fall on your head. Now get it in gear. Tanner, don’t forget your bazooka! Might come in handy if we run into a tank.

Ah, Sarge, it’s heavy.

Outside, Lieutenant Dave Miller studied the satchel the Brit had given him:  a map, a dozen pictures, and two typewritten pages. Hell. We’re going 40 miles behind enemy lines toward Cherbourg. But why is a Brit giving us orders, doesn't make sense? Monty is on the other end of the invasion near Caen. We are going to be a long way from home. What could be so important? Guess I'll find out, Lt. Miller thought.

Leaning in where the passing men would not hear, Sergeant Dean asked,