ELENA GRAY
Night Visions © 2019 Elena Gray
All rights reserved under the International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. 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 publisher.
This is a work of fiction. Names, places, characters and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, organizations, events or locales is entirely coincidental.
Cover Artist: Luminescence Covers
Warning: the unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in prison and a fine of $250,000.
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CONTENTS
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
About the Author
Most people get to wake up to an alarm clock. But not Sam Cade. She woke to something wet and cold nudging her exposed calf. Cracking one eye open, she peered at the time. Six thirty on the dot.
She groaned and pulled her fluffy down blanket over her head, blocking out the early morning light filtering in through the shades. “Go away, Ginger,” she croaked, snuggling deeper into the warmth of her bed. “Let me sleep another hour.”
The remnants of her nightmare still lingered in her mind. Why did she keep dreaming of the man pinned to the tree and why was she never able to see his face?
Ginger whined and tugged on the blanket. Sam didn’t know why she even bothered trying to sleep in.
“Okay, okay, I’m awake. You’re lucky I love you,” she cooed as she ruffled Ginger’s thick, brown and gray fur.
She swung her legs off the bed and stretched her arms. The nightmares always left her feeling like a freight train had hit her.
This was going to be the start of a long day.
She resisted the urge to dive back under the covers. Instead, she walked toward the bathroom, wiping the grit from her eyes. As Sam crossed the threshold, a steady buzzing began in her head. The tempo increased with every step she took. Her body tensed. She placed her fingers on her temples and focused her thoughts inward.
“Quiet! It’s too early for this.”
After three years, she should be used to the sounds. They were always there, like an unwanted visitor waiting in the background. A constant lingering static. Conversations with indiscernible words. Eventually, she could block them out, but now and then, the voices would resurface. She inhaled through her nose and out through her mouth as she rubbed her temples until the noise retreated in defeat.
Ginger whimpered as she rubbed up against Sam’s pajama clad leg. Her wet nose nuzzled the back of Sam’s hand. Sam glanced down and tousled Ginger’s fur.
“It’s okay, Gin. They’re gone.”
Sam took a moment to clear her head. She leaned her hip against the granite sink, waiting for the room to stop spinning. At least she was able to keep her feet under her. The days of waking up on the cold tile floor were far behind her.
She sighed as she reached for her toothbrush and applied the toothpaste. These nightmares had to stop. If they continued, she’d not only feel like a zombie, but she would look like one too. At the moment, the resemblance wasn’t far off.
With a mouthful of toothpaste, she glanced at Ginger, whose tail thumped against the floor in sync with the swish of Sam’s brushing.
“All right, I’m hurrying,” she mumbled, as toothpaste dribbled down her chin. She rinsed her mouth and took one last look in the mirror. Hopefully, she wouldn’t run into anyone she knew while out. There was no time to cover up the effects of her sleepless night.
She pulled her hair up into a high ponytail as she made her way back into the bedroom. Humming a tune, she searched through her drawers for a pair of shorts, grabbed her brother Jason’s Aerosmith t-shirt off the overstuffed chair, and swiped some socks off the floor.
Her poor room. It still hadn’t recovered from the chaos she’d made last night when she misplaced her necklace. She eyed the clothes spilling out of the drawers, then the contents of her jewelry box. It lay on its side, with necklaces and earrings spread across her dresser.
Even a pair of underwear dangled from her floor lamp. If anyone came into her room, they would think someone had robbed her.
She rubbed the pendant resting against her chest. Ian, her confidante, hero, and best friend, had given it to her for her eighteenth birthday. She still remembered the way her heart had ceased beating the minute she’d opened the tiny blue box. Time had seemed suspended when she’d untucked the delicate, white tissue paper to find a breathtaking Celtic knot necklace nestled inside.
But nothing haunted her memories as much as the moment Ian had clasped it around her neck, the warm caress of his fingers setting her blood on fire. The memory of his words still stole her breath. He’d explained how each intricate weave of silver mirrored their intertwined souls. He’d always told her he loved her, but, up until then, he’d never crossed the line of friendship.
Yet everything about that day, and the way he looked at her, had promised that so much more existed between them.
To lose such a precious memento…it would have broken her heart. Thank God Ginger had appeared with it dangling from her mouth. Sam had been about to sob in defeat, but she’d ended up squeezing the breath out of her dog instead.
Smoothing her fingers over the cool metal pendant, her heart pinched. It was all she had left of Ian. Her final connection to him.
Ginger led the way down the stairs. Sam swiped her phone off the entry table, sliding the black band over her arm before she draped the ear buds over her shoulder. She opened the door for Ginger and stepped onto the porch.
The crisp morning air cleared the cobwebs in her head. The sun had just begun to peek over the lake. Pinpoints of orange and pink light reflected off the crystal-clear water.
The sharp bite of the early spring breeze caused goosebumps to rise up all over Sam’s body. Tempted to go back inside and grab a pair of sweats, she thought better of it. Once the sun peaked, she would be drenched in sweat.
Taking a seat on the top step, she slipped on her shoes. She loved the early morning sounds as dawn awakened a new day—the sigh of the trees as the wind blew through the leaves, the hum of a boat’s motor off in the distance, the chirp of the birds as they soothed her overtired brain.
That is, until Ginger’s snort broke the spell. She paced at the bottom of the porch, eager for their morning run.
Hopping down the remaining steps, Sam quickly stretched and glared at Ginger. “Honestly, you have no patience!”
Sam popped the ear buds into her ears, then lowered the volume and began a light jog toward the main road into town. Ginger whined and refused to follow.
“C’mon, Gin. Can’t we change our route for one day?”
Ginger barked and sped off toward the beach. Sam rolled her eyes as she raced to catch up. Java Jive would have to wait until after her run. What she wouldn’t give for a French Vanilla Latte. Preferably in an IV drip.
The one constant in her run was to avoid looking at the house next door. Even though it had been vacant for years, her heart still ached every time she thought about the man who used to live there. After thinking she’d lost his necklace yesterday, she couldn’t help breaking tradition and stealing a glance next door.
She wished she’d find him waiting on his porch, ready to go on a run with her, like he’d done every morning. That the years he’d been gone had never happened. She swiped at the traitorous tear that managed to slip free. After all of this time, shouldn’t her heart have finally healed? Shouldn’t it hurt less?
There were too many what-ifs. Like what if he hadn’t kissed her that day? What if they’d remained friends instead of confessing their love for each other? Would that have made any of it easier?
The sad answer was no. He’d had her heart from the first day they’d met. Even after all of the years and after all of the times she’d tried to forget, she still loved him.
She wasn’t delving into the past. Not today, and definitely not after the nightmare she’d had this morning. She was out here to clear her head. She didn’t look back as she left Ian’s house behind her. With each step, she built the wall back up around her heart.
A growl broke through the music thumping in her ears. Sam stopped dead in her tracks, a pulse of panic building in her gut. Ginger stood on guard, teeth bared, her intent gaze focused on the woods.
“What is it, Gin?” Sam huffed, trying to steady her breathing. She held the ear buds in her hand, listening.
When nothing but a few birds chirped back, she scanned the tree line, searching for what had Ginger’s hackles up.
A twig snapped.
Sam jerked her head to the right as Ginger’s growl deepened. Unease washed over her. She couldn’t shake the sense that someone was watching them.
“Ginger, here!” she commanded, taking a step backward.
When Ginger didn’t respond, she gave a shrill whistle and snapped, “Ginger, here, now!”
Ginger gave a final growl before reluctantly walking to her side.
Sam slapped her thigh twice, signaling Ginger to follow. As they jogged around the bend, Ginger glanced back and bared her teeth. The hair on Sam’s neck stood on end. Something was definitely in the woods, and Sam wasn’t about to investigate.
The rustle of leaves to her right caused her blood to run cold. She whipped her head around. For a moment, she thought she saw two glowing eyes.
Sam picked up the pace as the whispers in her head returned, then increased their tempo. Her breaths came out in quick gasps, causing her heart to hammer in her ears. Tension radiated off Ginger, her growls heightening Sam’s fear.
Another snap of a twig.
The whispers grew even more frantic.
Her stomach clenched. She told herself it was only an animal, or just her imagination running wild. Her thighs burned as she dug her shoes into the path and pressed forward.
The unknown seemed to keep pace with them. Shapes shifted back and forth. Ginger edged toward the tree line.
“Ginger, heel,” Sam commanded. She was not about to let Ginger run into the woods. It wasn’t much farther to her friend Bryan’s house. She dug into her reserves and sprinted in an attempt to put distance between her and the unseen presence behind them.
Her lungs were on fire; her breath coming out in strained gasps with each step she took. Another sound. Closer this time.
“What the hell—” Bang!
Sam let out a yelp. Her muscles contracted as she staggered back a few steps.
“Whoa, Sam. You okay?”
Her neighbor, Bryan, descended his porch steps in swim trunks and a t-shirt. His blond hair was wet and spiked.
Okay? Embarrassed was more like it. The heat in her cheeks deepened. His screen door slamming shut had the same effect as a gunshot to her heart.
“Ginger sensed something in the woods,” she panted. “So I’m a little on edge.”
Placing her hands on her hips, she tried to catch her breath as she stole quick glances over her shoulder. She moved closer to Bryan, not even realizing what she was doing until the heat of his body radiated toward hers. Neither he nor the blazing sun overhead did anything to chase away the sensation that something continued to watch her.
Ears alert, Ginger pressed against Sam’s leg.
Bryan’s brows pinched in a tight knot, his attention focused on the path behind them. “It was probably just a fox. Tom said that he saw one the other night. His pup wouldn’t stop yapping until he ran out and chased it off. They’ve been getting pretty bold, walking through yards during the day.”
“I don’t know, Bryan.” Sam’s ponytail tickled her neck as she shook her head. “Ginger never reacts that way when there’s a fox
around. This seemed bigger.” Much bigger. Sweat forged an icy trail down her back. Whatever lurked in the woods had eyes level with hers.
“Anything around here is more afraid of you,” Bryan reassured. “Especially with Ginger as your running partner.”
The whispers churned through Sam’s head. Her fingertips drifted to her temples, trying to steady the pulsing waves. She pushed the voices back until they were barely audible.
Bryan put a hand on her shoulder and gave her a gentle squeeze. “You sure you’re okay?”
“Yeah,” she breathed, forcing a smile. “Felt dizzy for a sec. Probably just dehydrated.”
He looked into her eyes before turning toward his house.
“Let me get you some water,” he said as he raced up the steps.
“I’m fine, Bryan,” she yelled after him. “Really…”
Her words trailed off as he reappeared with two bottles of water and a bowl.
How had he moved so fast? God, her imagination wouldn’t stop. With a flick of his wrist, he twisted the caps off both bottles, then handed one to Sam while he poured the other into the bowl he’d placed on the ground.
“Drink up, Ginger. You’ve earned it.” Bryan ran his fingers through his damp hair. “Just to be safe, you may want to start carrying some pepper spray.”
A low rumble escaped Ginger’s mouth as she advanced on Bryan.
“Ginger, heel!” Sam mentally added one more item to her list of embarrassing things today. She knew Ginger wouldn’t hurt Bryan, but having a one-hundred-pound dog advance on you with teeth bared wasn’t exactly a good time. What was with her today?
Bryan held up his hands in surrender, his eyes wide as Ginger took another step closer.
“Hey, Ginger, no offense. I didn’t mean anything by it. I know you can take care of Sam.” He slowly lowered his hand, holding it out for Ginger to sniff.
She hesitated for a second, then bumped his hand with the top of her head.
Bryan chuckled as he scruffed her fur. “Sorry, girl. Forgive me?”
Sam watched Bryan crouch down and scratch her dog behind the ears. A sigh of relief blew past her lips when Ginger didn’t snap his hand off. Not many people would get close enough to Ginger to pet her, let alone get nose to nose with her. She was a one-person dog.
As her heart rate slowed to a steady trot, Sam lifted the water bottle to her lips, letting the cool liquid slip down her throat. But the relief was short-lived. She choked on the water, spilling some across the concrete, when Ginger and Bryan snapped their attention to the woods behind her.
Before Sam could move, Bryan launched himself behind her, his back pressed to hers. As if time slowed, she turned, terrified of what stood on the other side of him. Bryan’s muscles flexed under her grip, as she dug her nails into the soft cotton of his t-shirt. She fixed her eyes on the shadowed opening of the trail, waiting for something, or someone, to lunge out of the darkness.
“What is it? What do you see?” she whispered.
In response, the voices in her head stirred again. Their tone grew more agitated.
Ginger’s growl vibrated against Sam’s leg. This wasn’t good.
“Ginger,” Sam warned. Sensing Ginger was about to run, Sam reached for her, but she was too late. Ginger took off and entered the woods. “No!”
Her stomach twisted with fear as she stepped forward. She couldn’t let Ginger go in there alone.
“Sam, wait.” Bryan pulled Sam back against his chest, his arm anchoring her in place. “Let her go. She can handle herself.”
“Are you crazy?” Sam wriggled her hips, trying to loosen Bryan’s hold. If he didn’t let go, he’d get a nice introduction to her foot.
“We have no idea what’s out there. What if it’s a bear? Or worse…a rabid animal?”
Even more of a reason for her to stop Ginger from entering the woods. Fighting against the arms constraining her, Sam jerked her body, causing her head to slam into Bryan’s chin. His hold didn’t loosen. Her gaze dropped to the bulging muscle preventing her
escape, realizing that the iron bands of his arms weren’t going to release her.
Bryan’s voice turned low and steady in her ear. “I promise she’ll be okay.”
Sam hesitated, then blew out a breath of air, her shoulders sagging in defeat. “Fine. You can let go now.”
When the pressure around her waist didn’t decrease, she said, “I promise I won’t run. You’re right. Any animal would be stupid to go up against Gin.”
She forced a laugh that sounded hollow, even to her own ears. Silent prayers filled her mind. She couldn’t bear to lose anyone else.
Movement drew Sam’s attention back to the woods. Shading her eyes against the sun, she saw Ginger’s figure emerge from the trail.
ThankGod!
Bryan let go. Her knees found concrete as she waited for Ginger to run to her.
Even though her body quaked with relief, she wasn’t about to let Ginger get away with disobeying. She took Ginger’s face in her hands, dropping her voice to the scolding tone that made Ginger’s ears pin back. “Don’t ever do that again!”
Ginger dropped her head at the reprimand and whimpered. That whimper tore at Sam’s heart. Ginger was only following her instincts. But what if it had gotten her hurt or killed? She was done running without a leash.
Sam released a sigh. Slipping her arms around Ginger’s neck, guilt tightened her chest. That same guilt spread to her heart when Ginger rested her head on Sam’s shoulder. “I’m sorry I yelled, girl. You aged me about ten years.” She leaned back and looked into Ginger’s eyes. “Don’t ever do that again. Okay?”
Ginger’s wet tongue darted out, licking Sam’s cheek.
“I guess I’ll take that as an okay.”
Another slobbery kiss followed. With a sincere laugh this time, Sam pushed herself to her feet. She turned in time to see Bryan’s lips set in a hard line, his eyes focused on the trail. She followed his stare, desperate to know what had him so agitated. Ginger had
chased whatever was out there away. Hadn’t she? Yet something still didn’t feel right.
Bryan seemed to mask his concern, quirking his lips into a smile. Eyes as blue as the autumn sky studied her. How had she never noticed how blue his eyes were?
Because they weren’t Ian’s.
What was wrong with her? Why did she keep fantasizing about a ghost? Especially when she had someone as gorgeous as Bryan living near her. Why couldn’t she move forward? Why couldn’t she forget…?
“I’m sorry,” Sam whispered, shaking her head. “I’ve really made a fool of myself this morning and it’s not even eight yet.”
He reached for her hand, his touch comforting. “Listen, you didn’t make a fool of yourself. Not many women would want to run back onto that trail knowing something was out there.” His smile widened. “Your bravery impressed me.”
Her cheeks warmed at the unexpected compliment.
“Why don’t you let me make you a cup of coffee,” he asked, angling his head toward his house. “Then I can drive you home.”
The temptation to say yes wriggled inside her. She never said no to a cup of coffee, but all she really wanted was to go home, lock the door, and take a long, hot shower.
The rest of her run would have houses scattered along the route. She’d already passed the wooded portion so she shouldn’t run into any other problems along the way. Knowing she would regret it later, she asked, “Can I take a rain check?”
“At least let me give you a ride.”
Yep. She would definitely regret this later. “The lazy part of me would love a ride, but Ginger would never forgive me if we didn’t get to finish our run.”
Bryan looked from Sam to Ginger, his worry for her safety obvious. Why was this guy still single?
“Okay. But promise me one thing. If you need anything, you’ll call me.”
Now it was Sam’s turn to reach for his hand. “Thanks, Bryan.”
She offered him a reassuring smile, then turned and continued her run, with Ginger keeping pace at her side. She glanced over her shoulder to see Bryan watching her retreating form, his arms crossed over his chest. Her gut told her there was more going on than a fox running around during the day. Was he overprotective because she lived alone? It’s not like she was completely isolated. Even with Ian’s house empty, the Bensons still lived next door for most of the year. That was the problem with living on the lake. Not everyone lived here year-round.
With the remaining houses passing in a blur, her mind returning to what might be in the woods. Maybe she should call animal control, have them come out to check just to be safe. With so many kids in her community, it would put her conscience at ease knowing they were safe.
Her white, two-story colonial appeared in the distance, its green shutters welcoming. The promise of a hot shower was just moments away. Adrenaline took over as Sam pushed herself to finish the last stretch. Her muscles screamed from the exertion. She bent over when she reached her porch, bracing her hands on her knees while she tried to catch her breath.
She wiped the sweat out of her eyes as she climbed the steps. A blast of cool air greeted her when she opened the door, soothing her sweat soaked skin.
Ginger turned in a circle before plopping on the floor with a gusty sigh. Sam grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge. It wasn’t the French Vanilla Latte she craved, but it helped soothe her parched throat. After her shower, she would head into town and grab her coffee.
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw movement at the window. She barely had time to react when Ginger scrambled to her feet, snarling. Sam crept to the window and inched the curtain aside, searching the yard. Nothing looked out of place, but Ginger continued to growl, her claws scratching at the door.
Another flash of movement brought a gasp to Sam’s lips, causing her to spill water down the front of her t-shirt. Her pulse pounded in her ears as she angled her head to get a better view outside.
Each passing second, she searched the yard, and each scratch from Ginger elevated her fear. What the hell was out there?
In answer to her question, a golden retriever crossed her line of vision.
“Ginger, hush,” Sam scolded. “It’s just Callie. You wanna go play?”
She pulled the door open to find a dark silhouette framed in the entryway.
Sam choked back a scream. It was only her friend, Scott. With her hand clutched to her chest, she scolded, “You scared the crap out of me! My heart can’t take much more of this.”
Scott stepped forward, his brows drawing together with worry. “Sorry. I was about to knock when you threw the door open.”
She leaned into Scott’s welcoming hug. His arms tightened around her, stealing her breath. It looked like someone missed her.
“No, I should be the one who’s sorry. I’m a mess today. What are you doing here so early?”
He handed Sam a paper cup with Java Jive scrawled across the side, steam wafting out of the top. “I figured Ginger wouldn’t let you run into town, so I brought you your morning coffee.” He pushed a paper bag toward her with his other hand. “And your favorite apple cinnamon danish.”
She lifted up onto her toes until her lips grazed his cheek. “You really know the way to a girl’s heart.”
She walked into the kitchen and took a seat on one of the island stools. Two large windows, with a clear view of the lake, faced her. This was one of her favorite rooms in the house. Most of her memories were in this kitchen. Her mom was always baking something, and her brother, Jason, was always trying to snag it right out of the oven.
Scott dropped onto the vacant stool next to her. “So are you going to tell me what has you so jumpy?”
He pulled two pastries out of the bag and set one in front of her. Hot liquid teased her lips as she sipped her coffee. Would he realize she was stalling? Doing her best to avoid his question, she took her chances, allowing the sweet taste of vanilla and cream to
glide down her throat. The safety of her home made the whole morning seem like the product of an overactive imagination. Between the nightmares, voices, and now the unsettling feeling of being followed, Scott would think she’d turned certifiable.
Warm fingers cupped her chin, turning her face until their eyes met. Scott’s shade of blue was slightly darker than Bryan’s. Her hand itched to smooth his windblown hair.
“I can tell something is bothering you.” His voice softened. “Is it Jason?”
Sam blinked back the tears threatening to spill over. Why did he have to bring up her brother? He knew how much she hated when he was on assignment. The weeks without contact sucked. But that was just another penalty of his job. Unease twisted her belly. She should have had at least a quick text from him by now.
She shook her head, knocking a single tear loose. She silently cursed her emotions. Especially when Scott’s thumb reached out and brushed it away.
“It’s not Jason,” she whispered, leaning into the stool’s high back.
“Then what is it? I can tell something’s bothering you.”
Warmth pulsed from Scott’s fingertips. It radiated through her body, slowly uncurling the tension.
She tugged her lip between her teeth, unsure of where to begin. “Do you think I’m crazy?”
He released her chin, letting his hands drop to hers and pulling her closer. His brows drew tight together. “Of course, I don’t. Why would you ask that?”
Sam wished she could snatch the words back. She felt stupid for even saying it out loud, but Scott was the only person who she felt comfortable talking to about this; aside from her brother, and he was currently MIA.
He applied pressure to her hands, offering silent encouragement.
“When I went for my run this morning, I heard something in the woods. Ginger heard it too. I’ve never seen her get that worked up over any of the wild animals around here.” Goosebumps raced across her arms. “It felt like someone was watching me. Stalking me. This isn’t the first time I’ve had this feeling.”
“What do you mean?”
“Once, when I was walking in town, and, again, when I was at the farmer’s market. Each time, I searched for someone out of place but never found anyone.”
“That doesn’t mean you’re crazy. You should trust your instincts, Sam.”
She looked over his shoulder and watched Callie racing back and forth in her driveway. What if her instincts were telling her she was losing her mind? Nothing made sense anymore.
She dragged her gaze back to his. Her grip on their clasped hands tightened. “The voices are back too. And the nightmares.”
“For how long?”
Sam braced herself for Scott’s reaction. He was about to go into protective mode in three, two...
“A couple of weeks.”
“A couple of weeks?”
She flinched at the roughness in his voice. There wasn’t even a valid reason for waiting so long to tell him. A small part of her was afraid something really was wrong with her. The voices, paranoia, they were both signs of a mental breakdown.
“All right, a couple of months.”
His eyes shot to the ceiling as he shook his head. Probably mentally counting to ten before he lost control. He always said her stubbornness was one of the things he liked about her. She bet he was rethinking that compliment.
“Why didn’t you tell me?” he asked, shifting in his seat. He released her hand, threading his fingers through his hair in agitation. “First, you think that someone is following you, and now this. I would have been there for you.”
“I’m not a little girl who needs coddling. What are you going to do? Stop living your life to take care of me?” She plucked at her pastry, leaving a trail of crumbs on the counter.
Scott stilled her hand. He lifted it and pulled it down to rest on her knees. “I’m not here to coddle you, Sam. I’m here as a friend to listen and to help you. If someone is actually following you, you can’t stay here alone.”
“What if it’s a product of my imagination? Besides, I have Ginger.”
“And you have me, too.”
Her eyes fell to their joined hands. Scott’s thumb caressed the back of her hand in an attempt to soothe her. She was foolish to carry this burden for weeks. Having this conversation with Scott for five minutes, she was already more at ease.
His chair scraped across the floor as he stood. “Listen, I’m going home, grabbing a change of clothes, and coming back later with dinner. We’ll figure out what’s going on.”
“Scott, you don’t have to do that.”
“But I want to.” He leaned down, his warm lips brushing her forehead. “I’ll take care of dinner and a movie.”
She turned in her seat, her gaze following him across the room.
He opened the door and stepped out onto the porch. “I’m thinking a horror flick may not be a good choice tonight?”
Before she could argue, he winked and closed the door behind him.
Smiling, she took the stairs two at a time. Scott was right. She should have trusted him enough to call him sooner. But a part of her wanted to handle it on her own, to prove that she was strong enough.
She made her way into her bathroom and flipped the handle on the shower. She stripped off her clothes, tossed them into the hamper, and stepped under the hot spray of water. She needed to stop ignoring what was happening to her and face her fears, even if it meant going to a doctor.
Once the water ran cold, Sam grabbed a towel and stepped into the steam-filled bathroom. As she approached the mirror, a new shock jolted her, forcing a scream past her lips.
A woman in a gauzy white gown stared back at her. It was like looking at her own reflection, but not. The woman had long, wavy dark brown hair; her skin was a golden brown. A single factor separated them. Her eyes. Where Sam had dark brown eyes, the woman’s eyes were a vibrant violet.
“He’s watching you and waiting. Don’t make the same mistakes I made,” the woman pleaded, concern evident in her gaze.
Sam stood frozen in place. That was a first. The woman showed up to startle her often, but she’d never spoken before.
Not wanting her to leave without answers, Sam whispered, “Who are you? Who is watching me?”
But it was too late; the woman vanished as quickly as she had appeared.
The cursor beat impatiently on Sam’s computer screen, demanding she type a sentence, a word; anything would be better than the blank page staring back at her. Her eyes dropped to the shredded remains of the pink index card in her hand. Great. So much for her notes.
Cupping her hand, she swept the yellow and pink confetti into the pail next to her desk. She should be working. She knew that, but her mind remained unsettled. Blank pages didn’t matter. Nor did editors. Or the characters she should be writing about. The only things that mattered were the voices, the visions, and the nightmares. If she wasn’t losing it, then how were they connected?
Who was the woman in the mirror? Why did she feel compelled to warn her? Was she suddenly psychic and seeing ghosts? That would explain the voices. If that were the case, then she needed to speak with a medium, not a doctor.
Sam’s stomach twisted just thinking about it. If it’s supposed to be a premonition, then why were there so many unanswered questions? Who planned to hurt her? She’d dealt with fanatic fans and crazed stalkers before. But this? This brought crazy to a whole new level.
And the voices. The pulsing in her head at the same time Ginger sensed something in the woods couldn’t be a coincidence. The urgency had to be a warning. Even Bryan’s concern alarmed her.
She groaned, dropping her head into her hands. Am I psychic? Orjustplaincrazy?
Rubbing her eyes, she avoided the mocking cursor. If she didn’t pull herself together, she would never meet her deadline. She wanted to pound her head on the desk. She still had a book signing next month, edits to finish on her next release, and an upcoming writers’ workshop. Why did she continue to overbook herself?
She wiped her clammy palms on her knit pants as her chest tightened. A full-on panic attack was about to take over.
Breathe,Sam!
Frustration built inside her. She snapped her laptop shut before she could throw it out the window. Stressing over everything would only be counterproductive. She’d block her creativity for weeks if she allowed herself to continue the destructive behavior. Maybe she needed to rearrange her schedule for the weekend. Allow herself the day and night off and enjoy her time with Scott tonight. But come tomorrow, she’d be glued to the chair. No matter what. Hopefully, the only voices in her head would belong to her characters.
The caster wheels whirled across the floor as she stood, settling her hands on her hips. She arched her back, letting out a groan when it gave a satisfying pop. How long had she been sitting in her office? Three hours? Four? Her stomach growled in response, letting her know she’d daydreamed through lunch. Again.
She left her desk and crossed the threshold, making her way to the kitchen. She stopped at the refrigerator to study the contents inside. Even though her body craved food, the thought of consuming it turned her stomach. Her eyes passed over the leftover chicken salad, and she settled for a green tea instead.
Sam was about to sit at the kitchen table, but then changed her mind. After spending hours at her desk, she needed some fresh air. Leaving the kitchen behind, she stepped out onto her front porch.
She plopped down in her dad’s favorite wooden rocker. A warm breeze caressed her face, bringing a smile to her lips. She loved the sound of rustling leaves and the steady thump of her boat as it bumped against the dock. How could her loft in Manhattan compete
with this? While she missed her life in the city, nothing compared to the peacefulness she had here.
The wind kicked up a notch, carrying the scent of pine and mint from her garden. She propped her feet on the porch railing. Her foot flexed and relaxed, setting the chair in motion. She wished it was almost time for dinner with Scott. Being idle for the next few hours sounded luxurious in theory, but, at the moment, she would prefer the comfort of his company.
Scott filled the void in her heart. Not completely, but enough so she could breathe again. So why had they never become more than friends? Because she was a fool, haunted by a ghost, a memory that had overstayed its welcome. It was beyond time to move on. Didn’t she deserve to be happy?
To think she wouldn’t know him if he wasn’t such a bookworm. Why he wasn’t out on a Friday night getting bombed with the rest of campus never made sense. For her? It made total sense. She wrote her first book in high school and had four released by the time she entered college. She spent more time in the library than anywhere else on campus. It was one of the few places where she could write without interruption. Sam could still see her favorite corner in the library, her feet tucked under her in the overstuffed chair while she worked on the last book in her series.
But that night, when the shadow had fallen over her, that’s the night things had changed. That’s the night the hottest guy on campus had come into her life, sporting a flannel shirt and Converse shoes. Even the loose-fitting shirt couldn’t hide the bulging muscles underneath.
When he’d handed her a steaming cup of coffee, she’d literally melted inside. His timing had been perfect. The caffeine hit was just what she needed to get through the last few chapters of her book. Only she didn’t finish writing that night. She’d invited him to take the seat next to her, and they’d spent the rest of the night talking. He was so easy to talk to. It was as if they’d known each other forever.
For the first time in a long time, she’d allowed someone to get close to her. She had plenty of friends, but none she would confide in. Until Scott.
Sam dragged her gaze to the dock. The last place she’d seen Ian, the last place she’d touched him. She lifted a shaking hand. Her fingers pressed to her tingling lips as she remembered their first kiss. And their last.
She needed to move on.
A soft whisper drew her back to the present. Whatnow?
Her chest tightened as her eyes darted back and forth for any sign of danger. Ginger bounded up the steps and plopped at Sam’s feet with a grunt. She relaxed back into the chair. If Ginger wasn’t alarmed, then she shouldn’t be. If only the damn voices were consistent. How was she supposed to know whether or not they were a warning if they popped up randomly?
The chair creaked as Sam rocked back and forth. Just as her eyes were about to drift closed, Ginger lifted her head and sniffed the air. Her nails scraped against the wooden floorboards as she scrambled to her feet. In one swift motion, she leapt off the porch and raced toward the house next door.
“Seriously, Ginger?” Sam sighed.
With a groan, she pushed herself out of the rocker. Her peace and quiet was short lived. She dragged her feet across the lawn. Of all the places Ginger had to run, why next door? Sam’s stomach twisted into knots as she drew closer. She paused, rubbing her temples as the whispers forced their way back into her head.
Not now! Her silent scream forced the voices to listen. She exhaled a sigh of relief, grateful they’d vacated her mind.
She stopped in her tracks as she rounded the corner, startled to see a man kneeling beside Ginger. Not only kneeling, but actually petting her. His voice was so soft, she wasn’t able to hear what he said.
Ginger never let anyone, let alone a stranger, within a hundred yards of her without baring her teeth. Sam opened her mouth to tell the man he was trespassing, but the words lay trapped in her throat when he stood and faced her.
It couldn’t be…
But everything about him said yes. His presence…his demeanor… his eyes…
Then he smiled a crooked smile that stole the air she breathed. A rush of memories came flooding back. Of her childhood. Of happier times. Of him.
IanBehr .
He’d disappeared from her life after their first kiss on the dock. A kiss that had left her falling deeper in love and had ended up destroying her.
Where had he been for the past three years? Why didn’t he say goodbye? Why didn’t he call?
Anger blazed in her soul. Mind-numbing anger. Ian had left her heartbroken, not respecting her enough to say goodbye. But staring into those hazel eyes shattered the silence in her heart, and it began to beat again.
He was still her Ian.
Except, he wasn’t a boy anymore.
“H
i, Sammie.”
Mouth gaping open, Sam could only stare at the man before her. Her lips tried to form words, but nothing came out. Only Ian called her Sammie. He told her she would be his Sammie forever. But forever never came.
Ian.
It felt like the air had been sucked out of her lungs, leaving her hollow inside. If she took two steps, she would be in his arms. How many nights had she dreamed of him holding her, only to wake screaming when he was torn away? Nightmares weren’t the only things that haunted her sleep. Ginger was always there to make things right. Countless nights Ginger would curl up next to Sam, nuzzling her until the tremors subsided, or until Sam fell back into a restless sleep.
Ginger couldn't protect her from this. No one could.
“I can't do this,” she moaned, not ready to dredge up all of those old feelings.
A steady thrum began in her head, working its way to her stomach until it churned in denial.
OhGod.Pleasedon'tletmecryinfrontofhim.
Sam blinked back the tears that threatened to spill over. They were the first sign she was on the verge of losing it. She should run now, before her heart betrayed her. A coward's way out. It would be better than making a mistake she would regret later.
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Mutta tämäkös silloin alkaa peuran vatsassa sisuksia hakata ja reikiä pistellä, niin että peura karkaa tuskissaan maalle ja sinne kaatuu kuoliaana. Pian silloin neula selvisi peuran vatsasta tanterelle ja alkoi riemuissaan kerskaten huhuilla:
»'Kiidä, kiidä kintahaisein, Oiottele, oravaisein, Löyti neula löytösen, Saipa neula saalihin!'
»Kinnas ja orava kuulevat heti neulan huhuilun, mutta hymähtelevät halveksivasti eivätkä aio lähteä katsomaan. 'Lähtisihän tuota, jos uskoisi siellä edes jotakin saaliin nimellistä olevan, mutta mitäs vielä, valehtelee se meille taaskin.' Mutta kun neula yhä vain huhuaa, ei hellitä, vaan alati piukuu maailmalle sitä, kuinka hän nyt muka taas sai saaliin, niin silloin eivät orava ja kinnas enää malta, vaan lähtevät menemään paikalle, ellei muun vuoksi, niin ainakin tukkiaksensa suun mokomalta saalistajalta. Tullaan touhuten: 'No, missä saalis?' Neula kärkevästi ja ylpeästi viittaa: 'Ka tuossa!'
»No hyväinen aika! Siitäkös ihastutaan, kun on saalis sellainen jottei mointa. Kiitellään neulaa ja sanotaan, että hyvä se on pienikin, kunhan on vain terävä, ja ruvetaan keittopuuhiin. Nytpä huomataan, etteivät ne neulan muutkaan saaliit niin halveksittavia olleet: vesirapakosta kantoi kinnas vettä ja orava kiskoi tervaksia tervaskannosta, että saatiin hyvä tuli, millä vesi kiehuttaa ja peura keittää. Keitettiin se peura sitten ja syötiin makeaan suuhun. Sen pituinen se.»
XL.
TYHJIÄ TIAISEN VIRRET, RASTAHAISEN RAKSUTUKSET.
Metsän piika pikkarainen, Simasuu Tapion neiti,
Soitellos metinen pilli, Simapilli piiperoita.
Tulikin sitten taas kevät ihana Ilmolan ja Metsolan maailmaan, tuli tuulineen ja sateineen, kuulakkoine öineen ja kirkkaine päivänpaisteineen. Ihmeellinen elon voima virkosi hereille kaikissa luoduissa. Heräsi karhu konnultaan ja läksi samoamaan maita ja mantereita, painui susi salon syvyyteen pesimäpaikkaa itselleen hakemaan, lähtipä kettu liuvari kulkumatkoilleen ja oli hyvin iloissaan. Joka paikasta, joka puusta ja pensaasta, kaikui lintujen viserrys, joka kankaalta kuului metson sointi ja teeren kukerrus, joka korven kuusen latvasta virtasi rastaan hopeinen laulu. Kaikesta saattoi huomata, että oli tullut ihmeellinen kevät, jota varmaankin seuraisi vielä ihmeellisempi kesä.
»Johan nyt on kummallista», arveli Immilän eli Vänskän Aatamikin halonhakkuussa ollessaan, kun metsästä äkkiä alkoi kuulua
houkuttelevaa puhetta. »Istu mättäälle, istu mättäälle», kehoitteli
ääni ja jatkoi viekoittelevasti: »Paa piippuun, paa piippuun, ei kiirutta, ei kiirutta, päivä on pitkä, päivä on pitkä, ei kiirutta, ei opoollenkaan!» Hämmästyneenä Aatami arveli, että onhan tässä tosin vielä keväistä päivää istahtaakin ja pani piippuun, jolloin ääni metsästä rupesi uudelleen tyytyväisenä hokemaan: »Halkomies, halkomies, istu kivelle, istu kivelle, paa piippuun, paa piippuun!»
»No kyllä, kyllä», sanoi Aatami, »kuulenhan tuon vähemmälläkin kehoittelulla.» Mutta silloinpa ääni rupesi häntä kiusoittelemaan ja haukkui: »Kivipiippu, puupiippu, talon tupakoita tärvää, renk' roisto, renk' roisto!» — »Höss’» suuttui nyt Aatami ja uhkasi laulajaa piipunvarrellaan, mutta äänipä silloin ilkamoimaan: »Viskataan, viskataan, visapiippu, visapiippu, tiitteräkoppa, vaskivarsi, räkätättärä, titurituritu!» — »Vähättelen minä sinun haukkumisistasi!» ynseili Aatami, nousi kiveltä ja yritti pistää piippuaan taskuunsa, mutta silloinpa ääni metsästä neuvoi viisaasti: »Perät suuhun, perät suuhun!» Suu hymyssä Aatami totteli neuvoa ja viskasi perät suuhunsa niin että lopsahti. Sitten hän riisui takkinsa ja rupesi ahkerasti hakkaamaan. Äänikin oli vaiennut.
Aatami hakkasi hikipäissään halkoja ja ihmetteli itsekseen, mikä kumma nyt on Tapion metsään tullut, kun ihmisen äänellä puhuu. Ja siinä samassa alkoi taas ääni kuulua ja jutella kuin sääliväisesti:
»Aatami, Aatami?» sanoi se kysyvästi. »No mitä nyt?» vastasi tämä hiukan ärtyisesti, jolloin ääni jatkoi: »Paitas' on rikki, paitas' on rikki!»
Tämä oli Aatamista sentään jo liikaa ja hän ärjäisi vihastuneena: »Niin on, mutta minkä minä sille teen!» Heti oli ääni valmis neuvomaan: »Ota akka, ota akka!» Ällistyneenä ajatteli Aatami, että tuohan nyt vasta merkillinen neuvoja on ja huusi metsään, ettei hän saa akkaa, vaikka haluaisikin. »Oo juu, oo juu!» vastasi ääni, »tiijän vissiin, tiijän vissiin, kyllä saat, kyllä saat, nai Kirppu-Liisa, nai
Kirppu-Liisa!» Korvallistaan kynsien Aatamikin silloin yhtyi leikkiin ja sanoi, ettei Kirppu-Liisa hänelle tule. Mutta silloin ääni sanoi vakuuttavasti: »Oo juu, oo juu, tiijän vissiin, tulee se, tulee se!» »Pidä suusi kiinni!» sydäntyi nyt Aatami hänelle sanomaan, jolloin ääni valittaen huusi: »Kas se on mies, kas se on mies, kun suuttuu sitten, kun suuttuu sitten, kun minä neuvon, kun minä neuvon!»
Aatami pyyhkäisi otsaansa ja ajatteli, että horajavatko hänellä korvat, vai mitä tämä tällainen juttelu merkitsee. Hän ryhtyi uudelleen ahkerasti hakkaamaan, kun jo taas alkaa ääni kuulua ja tällä kertaa hyvin houkuttelevasti: »Aatami, Aatami!» — »No mitä nyt taas?» — »Ryyppääks' viinaa, ryyppääks' viinaa?» — »Ahaa!» kirkastui siitä Aatamin ilme ja hän vastasi suutansa pyyhkäisten ja nielaisten pitkän syljen: »Kyllä, mutta mistäpä minä sitä saan?» Neuvoen vastasi silloin ääni hänelle: »Koassa tippuu, koassa tippuu, puupiiput, puupiiput, kippahattu, kippahattu, Maija kokki, Maija kokki, käyppä sisälle, käyppä sisälle!» — »No mutta kaikki se vintiö tietääkin!» säikähti nyt Aatami ja koetti tehdä koko asian tyhjäksi sanomalla, että tokko tuolla Maijan kodassa mitään sellaista tippunee. Mutta ääni vakuutti varmasti: »Tippuu, tippuu, vielä pyttyyn, vielä pyttyyn!»
Aatami kynsi korvallistaan ja ihmetteli itsekseen. Olikin jo tullut ilta ja hän läksi kotiin kyllästyneenä tuohon outoon haukkujaan, joka koko päivän oli hänen kanssaan puhetta pitänyt. Mutta eipä se vieläkään hellittänyt, vaan lauloi hänen peräänsä pilkaten, niin että salo raikui: »Ka laiska, ka laiska, pien' pino, pien' pino, vähä on halkoja, vähä on halkoja, lyö vielä, lyö vielä!» Aatamista tuntui jo kaamealta, varsinkin kun ilta jo hiukan hämärsi, ja kiireesti asteli hän kohden Immilää.
Kun hän tuli kotiin, ei siellä muusta puhuttukaan kuin kaikesta siitä ihmeellisestä, mitä metsistä ja vainioilta näinä päivinä oli kuulunut. Kääpälään oli samana iltana saapunut matkustavainen mies, puoli pökerryksissään säikähdyksestä. Hän oli kertonut, että kun hän hämärissä oli tullut viidakon läpi, sieltä joku oli alkanut karmealla äänellä hänelle haastaa: »Herra, herra, parta pois, vieläpä koko pää!» Olivat siinä jo kovasti muutkin säikähtäneet, että jokohan nyt olivat tihulaiset liikkeellä ihmisiä uhkaamassa, ja jo olivat aremmat piiloonkin pujahtaneet, kun muutama uskalias pojan norssi olikin lähtenyt sinne viidakkoon katsomaan, mikä siellä uhkailee. Poika kun siellä kuunteli aikansa, niin jopas ääni sanoa säräytti hänellekin pöheiköstä: »Herra, herra, parta pois, parta pois, vieläpä koko pää!» Kovasti oli poikakin silloin säikähtänyt, mutta kuulikin samalla siipien vihinää ja tuttua ääntä: »Kupeek, kupeek!» Ylpeänä palasi poika takaisin ja sanoi halveksien, ettei hänen ole ennenkään tarvinnut metsäkanoja pelätä, sillä eivät ne vielä tähän saakka ole pystyneet keneltäkään päätä pois leikkaamaan. Älyttiin siinä jo asia ja ruvettiin sitä äskeistä kulkevaista kovistamaan, että mitä hän nyt sellaisia kauheita juttelee, kun huomattiinkin, että hänhän oli, poloinen, kovasti päissään, jolloin hänet pistettiin nukkumaan. Mutta kun itse
Kääpälän isäntä kertoi, että kun hän samana aamuna meni rysilleen, siellä häntä joku lintu ihan ihmisen äänellä liukkaasti neuvoi: »Mies hoi, mies hoi, paa rysä risuun, paa rysä risuun, saat hauin lierii, saat hauin lierii!» — niin silloin jo uskottiin, että jotakin ihmeellistä oli nyt tulossa, kun linnutkin haastelivat ihmisen äänellä. Ja kun isäntä oli sitten murahtanut, että saanenpa tuon sitten panna rysän risuun, oli lintu ruvennut tyytyväisenä hokemaan: »Hauki liikkuu, hauki liikkuu, paa vatiin, paa vatiin, muru kullenkin, muru kullenkin, papu miniän osa, papu miniän osa!» Siihenpä sitten yhtyi renkikin kertomaan, että hänen kyntäessään joku ääni alituiseen metsästä hänelle haasteli
kysellen: »Kuka se kyntää, kuka se kyntää, mies kyntää, mies kyntää, tpu liki, tpu liki!» kunnes yltyikin valittamaan: »Rikka kiassain, rikka kiassain, mitenkä se sieltä pois suahaan, mitenkä se sieltä pois suahaan?» Itse oli ääni kuitenkin itseään lohduttanut sanomalla: »Neuvoilla, neuvoilla» ja taas kysymällä: »Minkälaisella neuvolla, minkälaisella neuvolla, tir-ri-ll-iit?»
Sellaisella päällä oli tänä keväänä luomakunta ja paljon siitä kierteli juttuja Ilmolan kylässä. Niinpä kertoi Hoipon vaari, jota kylän kesken sanottiin Riippu-Jussiksi, nauraen, että kun hän ikäkululla hevosella oli kelirikolla viimeistä heinäkuormaa hakemassa, niin eikös ilmestynyt siihen korppi vierelle lentämään ja vaikuttamaan, että »kelp' ukko, kelp' ukko!» — »Mitähän se nyt minusta kehuu?» oli vaari silloin itsekseen ajatellut, kun korppi olikin samalla hänelle ennustavasti huomauttanut: »Olkka ruuna siinä!» — »Ahaa!» oli asia valjennut vaarillekin — »se toivoo ruuna paran kuolemaa!», jolloin korppi oli kehoittavasti jatkanut: »Kirppu-Jussi, Kirppu-Jussi, markka naula, markka naula, laukku tulee, laukku tulee, tiuku pois, tiuku pois, pelkkä luu, pelkkä luu, tuo kankia, tuo kankia!» Ja metsään lentäessään oli vielä toivorikkaasti huutanut: »Tuolta suahaan, tuolta suahaan!» Sattuikin siinä nyt niin kummallisesti käymään, että ruuna äkkiä kuolikin aisoihinsa, jolloin vaarin täytyi lähteä marssimaan jalan kotiin. Mutta mennessään hän ehti kuulla, kuinka korppi jo iloissaan laskeutui raadolle ja uudelleen arvosteli: »Pelkkä luu, markka naula», mutta hännän alle tokaistuaan ilostuikin ja kehui: »Ihraa kaikki!»
Näistä lintujen pakinoista tekivätkin ilmolaiset aivan oikean johtopäätöksen, sillä asiahan oli niin, että nyt oli kaikkien lintujen suuri käräjäkevät. Sillä heitä liikkuikin Metsolassa niin suunnattomat joukot ja sillä he myös kaikki olivat niin puheliaita ja liukaskielisiä,
kun olivat valmistuneet kukin käräjilleen oivallisesti asioitaan ajamaan. Merkillisiä asioita oli siis Metsolassa tapahtumassa, varsinkin kun muistetaan, että tänä keväänä piti karhun, suden ja revon polttaa ja kylvää yhteinen kaskensa. Ennen kuin suvi oli loppuun kulunut, saatiin vielä nähdä monta muutakin kummaa, joka osoitti ihmeellisen vimman vallanneen ei ainoastaan Metsolan, vaan vieläpä Ahtolankin asujamet.
XLI.
LAKI ON NIINKUIN LUETAAN.
Riidoiksi rikasten miesten, Käräjiksi kansan köyhän.
Yhteinen oli kaikilla linnuilla nyt käsitys siitä, että käräjät tässä on pidettävä, sillä kovin oli ruvennut paljon kuulumaan valituksia väkivallasta, kärsityistä vääryyksistä ja jos mistä. Mitäs ollakaan, kokko, lintujen kuningas, antoi määräyksen, että suuret vuosikäräjät nyt pidetään, ja käki lähti lentämään mannulle, niin ahkerasti kuin ikinä kerkesi. Ja paljon se kerkesikin, tuntui kuin olisi se kukkunut tänä keväänä ihan joka puun latvassa, kukkunut ja sitten kakistanut kurkkuaan. Yhä vilkkaammin linnut tästä kaikesta keskustelivat, juttelivat ja pohtivat, niin että koko Metsola oli paljasta puheen sorinaa.
Tuli sitten se suuri käräjäpäivä ja uteliaina odottivat linnut, kenen kuningas lie pannut tuomariksi ja ketkä lautamiehiksi. Kurkipa silloin, pitkäkaula, lennähti tuomarin paikalle ja ilmoitti tulleensa määrätyksi toimimaan tuomarina tässä suuressa oikeudenkäynnissä. Sitä vastaan ei ollut paljon kellään mitään sanomista, sillä olihan kurki
yleensä tunnettu jaloksi ja viisaaksi linnuksi, mutta kun hän sitten ilmoitti kuninkaan määränneen vala- ja lautamiehiksi laklat ja varikset, herätti se ankaraa vastustusta. »Vai varikset tässä vielä valamiehiksi», murisivat linnut äkeissään, »niin kuin ei niitä variksen valoja jo vanhastaan tunnettaisi!» Kurki kuitenkin kajahdutti kuuluvasti kuninkaan käskyn ja sitähän siis oli totteleminen.
Alotettiin sitten juttujen käsittely ja huudettiin ensimmäinen esiin. Kaikki hämmästyivät, kun oikeudenpalvelijat haalasivat tuomarin eteen pienen piskuisen pajulinnun, palkulaisen, kovasti nuoritettuna ja käärittynä. Näki selvään, että oli raukkaa pieksetty ja pyntätty, lyöty ja lytistetty. Höyhenet olivat niin pahasti sekasorrossa, että näytti kuin olisi sitä ihan potkittu ja jaloin päällä pyöritty. Vieläkin onnettomalta vesi silmistä sirisi ja veri virtasi vaivaisen nokasta. Kovan säälin vallassa nyt odotettiin, minkä hirmutyön pajulintu raukka oli tehnyt, kun häntä näin oli kohdeltu, ja katsottiin vihaisesti variksia, jotka häntä siinä tunteettomasti ja kylmästi rytyyttivät tuomarin eteen, mokomatkin käräjäintoiset poliisit.
Kun sitten pajulintu oli saatettu oikeuden eteen, rupesi vanha varis, joka toimi yleisenä syyttäjänä esittämään kannettansa syytettyä vastaan, puhuen laajasti ja monisanaisesti käreällä kurkullansa. »Oli köyhä mies», sanoi hän, »hyvin köyhä mies, joka kynti ja kylvi peltonsa, ahkerasti ja taitavasti toimitti työnsä. Ja paljonko oli köyhällä miehellä kylvämistä? Ei äijää: kynti kymmenen vakoa, kylvi kymmenen jyvää. Ei olisi siis pitänyt mennä näitä hänen viimeisiä jyviänsä ottamaan, ei, sillä sehän olisi ollut suuri rikos. Mutta kuinkas kävikään? Tuskin oli köyhä mies parka mennyt pois kynnökseltään, kun siihen jo keräytyi lintuja. Tuli peipposia, hakahtivat siinä harakat ja närhit näppäsivät, kävivät sirkut sissimässä ja varpuset varastamassa. Tulivat samassa viranomaiset
paikalle varkaita kiinni ottamaan, niin jopas äkättiinkin siellä itse teossa tämä pajulintu palkulainen, kun se oli viemässä viimeistä jyvää. Mitäpäs siinä — pistettiin äijäpaha nuoriin ja tässä hän nyt on kuulemassa korkean oikeuden tuomiota.»
Kauhuissaan olivat muut linnut kuunnelleet kanneviskaalin puhetta ja ne, jotka myöskin olivat olleet köyhän miehen kynnöksellä, pistivät päänsä siiven alle, ettei heitä olisi tunnettu. Mutta samalla kaikki olivat hyvin äkeissään siitä, että sellainen suuri varas kuin varis, oli nyt muka puhtaana tuomarina, tuolle pikku raukalle, jonka varkaus joka tapauksessa oli hyvin viatonta laatua. Mutta niinhän aina on, miettivät he mielessään että isot varkaat kyllä irti käyvät, vieläpä pieniä tuomitsevatkin, mutta pienet — ne ensiksi nuoriin lyödään ja hirtetään! Mutta kuullaanhan, mitä tuomarilla on variksen puheen johdosta sanomista.
Huutipa nyt kurki kulkustansa: »Oletko ottanut jyviä köyhän miehen kynnökseltä?»
Pajulintu palkulainen raotti vaivalloisesti silmiään ja kuiskasi heikolla äänellä: »Söin minä kaksi, korkeintaan kolme jyvää.»
Oikeus harkitsi asiaa tämän selvän ja mutkattoman tunnustuksen kuultuaan. Vihdoin kurki taas kurotti kurkkunsa pöydän yli lausumaan: »Koska siis olet ottanut jyviä köyhän miehen kynnökseltä, ja koska varasta ei saa sääliä, sinulta on korvat karsittava, kaula poikki katkottava ja pää pois järitettävä.»
Kuullessaan tämän kamalan tuomion vavahtivat kaikki linnut kauhusta, sillä heidän oikeudentuntoansa oli nyt kovasti loukattu. Kaikki katsoivat toisiinsa ikäänkuin odottaen, eikö löytyisi mistään sellaista lintua, joka uskaltaisi panna vastalauseensa tätä hirveätä
tuomiota vastaan. Ja se löytyikin. Korkealta sinitaivaaita rupesi kuulumaan kirkasta liverrystä, joka oli niin veikeätä ja suloista, että kaikki unohtuivat sitä kuuntelemaan. Pääskynen sieltä pujahti nuolena paikalle, kuuli asian ja sanoi kohta reippaasti: »Varastat sinäkin, kurki, otat mielin määrin ohria, rukiita ja kauranjyviä.»
Hämmästys valtasi silloin kaikki kuulijat, kun nyt pääskynen ihan oikeuden puhemiestä syytti samasta rikoksesta, josta tuo pikku raukka juuri ikään oli hengiltä tuomittu.
Kurjen naama venähti entistäkin pitemmäksi ja varikset sekä laklat olivat nolon näköisiä. Kohtapa kurki kuitenkin ärähti pienelle pääskyselle: »Olenko minä varastanut köyhän miehen kylvöksestä?
Taidanhan minä ilmankin elää, jos en muuten, niin lennän synkkään saloon, jossa verotan rikkaitten kaurahalmeita, tahi syön marjoja metsästä ja suolta karpaloita». Mutta pääskynen visersi rohkeasti vastaan: »Varkautta se on rikkaankin halmeen riipiminen, mutta minäpä en varasta, vaan olen ihmisten ilona, kaiken ristikansan riemuna, saattelen suven sanoman ja laitan päivän lämpimämmän.»
Suuttuneena nyt kurki uudelleen ärjäisi: »Vai et varastal Johan sinua Neitsyt Maaria varkaaksi sanoi; olit vienyt Santa Maarialta sakset ja silkkikerän.» Mutta sitäpä ei kurjen olisi pitänyt sanoa.
Tuskin oli pääskynen tämän vanhan syytöksen kuullut, kun sekä hän että tuhannet hänen paikalle saapuneet toverinsa alottivat semmoisen laulun pirinän siitä varastamisesta, että koko käräjäväellä menivät korvat lumpeeseen. »Kuusi vuotta olin kuninkaalla piikana», lauloi pääsky kiivastuksissaan, »sain kultasormuksen, pesin ja panin aidalle kuivamaan, niin varpunen senkin vei, vivikli, kukukli, Santa Mariia, hiera haara hiekkis! Sitten minä olin pippilässä pappilassa kolme vuotta piikana, sanottiin siksit, saksit saattaneeni, ompeluneulat ottaneeni, en, Kies' aut', sielun
päälle! Olin minä sitten Leivolassa piikana, niin Toivolan emäntä löi leipilapiolla hameeni halki. Mutta minä otin Ristuksen todistajaksi ja sanoin, että kyllä Ristus itse tietää, ja sitten minä panin säkin seipään nenään, niin se vietiin, varastettiin! Meninpä silloin kylään, jossa kakkara katolla paistui: alkoivat syyttää minua kakkaranvarkaaksi, jolloin minä menin räätälin luokse; räätäliltä katosivat sakset ja kultakerä. Suutuinpa siitä, menin Saksaan, sain saappaat, Saksa sanoi minun verkaa varastaneeni, kun oli vähä verkaa rinnassani; minäpä menin Ruotsiin, sain ruokaa, sain liinasen, sain ruojuut, panin jalkaan, kävin kuraan — silloinpa menin Savoon, sain saviset housut, tulin Turkuun, sain turkit, nytpä sikeri, sukeri, menin kaivolle, nostin vettä, tein tein sotkuja, vik, vik, kuker Marii, pesin liinasen, pesin puhtaaksi, kiulasin, kaulasin, pesin pynskäni, pesin hanskani, pesin riepuni, räpäleeni, pesin sukkani ja sormikkaan! panin pistolle, panin aidalle kuivamaan, niin tuli Viron varas ja vei. Menin taivaaseen, niin Neitsyt Maaria sanoi minun varastaneen häneltä punasilkin, sinijakun, lampaanraudat, mut kiellä-än…»
XLII.
ENSIN ASIA TUTKITAAN.
Sitä sikaa vingutetaan, Joka aidan raossa tavataan.
»Saavatkos naapurit tästä selvää?» kysyi kurki koetettuaan hetken aikaa turhaan ottaa selkoa siitä, mitä pääskynen todella tahtoi sanoa. »Ei, emme saa mitään selkoa», vastasivat varikset ja laklat, »ylen on meille tämä puheen vuodatus kiivasta lajia.» — »Taidamme siis laskea tuon pajulintu palkulaisen niine rangaistuksineen, jotka on jo saanut, koska näyttää tuomiostamme näin hirveä meteli nousevan?» ehdotti kurki. Toiset suostuivat siihen, jolloin kurki keikahutti kovan sävelen julistaen äskeisen tuomion peruutetuksi ja pajulinnun vapaaksi sekä kutsuen uudet asialliset tutkittaviksi.
Kaikkien hämmästykseksi ilmestyi siihen jälleen pääskynen ja tällä kertaa päällekantajana. Altavastaajana esiintyi tuikean ja murjottavan näköinen varpunen, joka jo tullessaan äkäisesti tiuskahteli. »No, mikä ihme teillä nyt on riideltävänä?» kysyi kurki hiukan hermostuneesti, sillä hän pelkäsi pääskysen uudelleen päästävän sellaisen liverryksen kurkustaan, ettei korkea oikeus voisi
saada koko kanteesta selvää. Mutta pääskynen rupesi reippaasti ja kirkkaalla äänellä asiaansa selittämään.
»Tuskin minä äsken», selitti se liukkaasti, »pääsin rakkaaseen kotitalooni, niin kukas siellä on muu kuin tämä varpunen tonajamassa räystäällä ja minulle vastaan äyväämässä: 'Minä olen täällä ollut', sanoi se, 'vilussa värissyt, pakkasessa, kurjottanut ja sinun tupaasi tukkinut, ja sinä tulet kuin valmiille vain. Minä kun vanhastaan tunnen tämän varpus-äijän äreäksi ja pahansisuiseksi, en ruvennut siinä heti hänen kanssansa tappelemaan, vaan koetin häntä hyvällä lepytellä ja houkutella. Tius, tius', sanoin minä hänelle, 'kyllä minä maksan työstäsi, kunhan vain pois menet, tuonpa vielä sakset, vaksit ja ompelukoukut sinulle ulkomailta.' Mutta ei tämä muuta kuin pahantuulisena ärisee vastaan, että vähät minä sinun koukuistasi, kun et niitä aikoinaan tuonut, ja vähät minä sinun saksistasi — onhan minulla ollut täällä itsellänikin työkalut. Ei minun nyt auttanut muu kuin turvautua nöyrään rukoukseen, että anna toki minun asua omassa pirtissäni, sillä enhän minä siinä ole kuitenkaan enempää kuin kolme kuuta vain. Mutta ei sekään auttanut. Paatuneena vaipunen vain vastaan jurnutti: 'Vielähän minä nyt sinua tänne päästän, minähän tänne olen vienyt uudet höyhenetkin ja kaiken muun hilannut ja haalannut, ja kun minä olen kerta yhdeksän kuuta pirttiäsi hallinnut, niin en minä huoli sinua niin vähän ajan vuoksi tähän ollenkaan ottaa, mieluummin vaikka auttelen uuden pesän teossa. Tuossa on parsi ja siinä tyhjä paikka, tee siihen pesä itsellesi, niin minä rupean apulaiseksi.' — 'Tee uusi pesä!' rupesin minä siinä itkemään, 'miten tässä nyt enää uusi pesä ehditään tehdä, kun ei ole edes kivijalkaa valmiina. Mistä minä tässä peruskivet ja muut saan?' Silloin sanoi varpunen pilkaten:
»'Hae itse pohjakivi
Pohjan pitkästä perästä, Tuolta puolen tunturia, Norjan vuoren notkelmasta!'
»Eihän siinä mikään auttanut, vaan kun varpunen ei mennyt pois minun pesästäni, täytyi ruveta uutta ajattelemaan. Olenhan minä hyvä muurari, lohdutin siinä itseäni, ja varpunen kehui olevansa hyvä rakentaja ja tulevansa auttamaan. Mutta kun ruvettiin työhön, niin se vaatikin, että minun pitää hänelle laittaa hyvä ruoka, rukiin ja ohran jyviä sekä liinan siemeniä. Kysyin häneltä silloin, milloin sitten pesä tehdään, kun savikin on niin kaukaa hankittava, mutta hän vain arveli, että onhan meitä, pääskysiä muka, monta veljestä, jotka kyllä herkeävät hänen ruoanlaitoiltaan saveakin hakea. Minä väitin, että ne veljet ovat unohtuneet matkasta pois meren yli kuljettaessa, tuulilla tuimilla, myrskyillä kovilla, mutta ei varpunen muuta kuin tiuskui ja ärjyi, kunnes lopuksi karjaisi minulle, että tee itse talosi. Silloinpa minä päätinkin tulla korkean oikeuden eteen vaatimaan, että varpunen on häädettävä minun talostani pois, tirrai…»
Tämän sujuvan ja peräti liukkaasti lausutun kannepuheen aikana oli varpunen jo kymmenenkin kertaa yrittänyt ääneen, mutta ei ollut saanut sanasta kiinni, kovin kun on luonteeltaan juro ja kieleltään kankea. Leuka vain väkätti kiukusta ja silmät olivat tuikeina kuin mustat katajanmarjat. Kun sitten tuomari ankarasti kysyi, oliko perää kantajan puheessa, rupesi varpunen sähisten ja katkonaisesti haukkumaan pääskystä, että mokoma siinä vain haittana elää ihmisten pihoissa, mutta pitemmälle ei päässyt, kun jo pääskynen lipevästi sotki häneltä puheen. »Mitä se sinua liikuttaa», sanoi se, »jos olenkin ihmisten tuttava, kunhan en varasta. Mutta sinäpä varastat, kun minä taas eleIen vaikka pihan rikoilla!» Siitä oli sitten
