The Thing in the Garden

By Mary Diana Vakalis

Several highly unusual incidents occur in the
peaceful area of Lancaster PA. The mystery
deepens as an Amish family and innkeepers are
involved in strange occurrences.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Dec 18, 2009
• ISBN: 9781462843244

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Copyright © 2010 by Mary Diana Vakalis.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced

or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic

or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

This book was printed in the United States of America.

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Dedicated to Andrew Vakalis

The weather was hot and oppressively humid. It was late afternoon as four heavily perspiring boys tore off their outer clothes, stripping down into the bathing suits beneath their coveralls. They hastily made their way down the sloping embankment to the large winding pond below. One of the shorter blond boys running ahead of the others slid in the muddy basin, stopping short of falling into the water. One by one, they waded into the cool water until it sank to a lower depth well over their heads, splashing around and calling out to each other loudly, letting off steam from the day’s activities. The pond proved to be a welcome relief from the sun blasting the countryside.

John swam away from the others, his muscled tanned arms cutting through the still water. He went a distance down around a slight bend to where the embankment rose to the highest point on the left side of the pond. Relaxed, he swirled on his back floating, squinting at the glaring sun. His friends settled down and refrained from their shouting matches. A sudden crashing sound of brush being treaded on and the snapping of light saplings echoed distinctly from the tall mound, interrupting the peace of the moment. Alerted, he searched the densely overgrown upper portion but could not find the reason for the commotion. A sense of uneasiness came over him; he decided to swim back to his companions.

The others were quietly enjoying the water’s comfort when he returned to the area. A sudden whooshing noise echoed across the area followed by