jak.themothmanprophecies-第13章

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er。
　　
　　Three　days　later；　on　December　7；　I　arrived　in　Point　Pleasant　for　the　first　time。　I　found　a　sleepy　little　town；　clean；　well…managed；　prosperous。　The　Ohio　valley　is　a　busy　industrial　area　and　the　river　is　lined　with　chemical　factories　and　thriving　businesses。　It　is　a　far　cry　from　the　dreary　coal　mining　towns　of　Appalachia　further　east。　The　neat；　modern　homes　of　the　valley　boasted　more　than　their　share　of　color　television　sets　and　late　model　cars。　The　people　are　not　hillbillies　but；　for　the　most　part；　are　skilled　technicians　employed　in　the　many　factories；　well…educated；　well…paid　Americans　leading　quiet；　average　lives。　Although　there　was　a　hotel　in　Point　Pleasant　I　chose　to　cross　the　Silver　Bridge　and　take　a　room　in　one　of　the　many　modern　motels　on　the　Ohio　side　of　the　river。
　　
　　My　first　stop　was　the　Mason　County　courthouse　and　a　chat　with　Deputy　Halstead；　a　soft…spoken；　serious　man　with　a　receding　hairline　and　just　a　trace　of　the　curse　of　all　small…town　policemen…the　potbelly。
　　
　　〃There's　something　to　it；〃　he　assured　me。　〃The　people　who　have　seen　this　Bird　were　all　mighty　scared。　They　saw　something。　I　don't　know　what。　Some　say　it's　just　a　crane。〃
　　
　　I　asked　him　if　there　had　been　any　flying　saucer　reports　in　the　area。
　　
　　〃No；　we　haven't　had　any　of　that。　Just　the　'Bird。'　That's　enough！〃
　　
　　He　told　me　how　to　find　the　McDaniel　home　and　I　drove　out　to　do　the　thing　I　hated　most…knock　on　the　door　of　a　total　stranger；　introduce　myself　as　a　hotshot　writer　from　New　York；　and　invade　the　privacy　of　people　already　weary　from　the　publicity；　reporters；　and　self…styled　investigators。　Mabel　McDaniel　came　to　the　door；　an　attractive　woman　not　at　all　like　the　frail；　drawn　sparrowlike　women　I　so　often　met　up　in　the　hills　of　Appalachia。　It　was　early　evening　and　within　an　hour　Mabel　had　made　a　series　of　phone　calls　and　the　little　house　was　filled　with　people。　Roger　and　Linda；　Steve　and　Mary　Mallette；　and　Connie　Carpenter　and　her　fiance　Keith；　and　Mrs。　Mary　Hyre　all　arrived。　My　first　reaction　to　Mrs　Hyre　was　negative。　Every　town　has　a　local　busybody　and　I　pegged　her　as　that；　erroneously　it　turned　out。
　　
　　Connie's　eyes　were　red　and　swollen；　as　I　have　already　noted；　but　she　was　the　only　one　who　had　experienced　this　telltale　reaction。　She　seemed　to　be　an　emotionally　fragile　girl；　but　down…to…earth。　Roger　and　Steve；　lifelong　buddies；　talked　with　great　enthusiasm　about　their　great　adventure。　But　I　had　learned　long　ago　that　young　men　usually　tend　to　color　their　experiences　with　rich　imagination　and　heroic　posturing。　However；　there　were　no　false　heroics　here。　They　had　been　genuinely　frightened　out　of　their　wits　and　were　not　ashamed　to　admit　it。
　　
　　Later　Mary　Hyre　told　me　she　had　heard　them　recount　the　episode　dozens　of　times　to　innumerable　reporters　and　investigators。　〃None　of　them　have　ever　changed　it　or　added　a　word；〃　she　noted。
　　
　　Since　they　had　viewed　the　creature　only　briefly　and　in　the　dark；　their　descriptions　were　understandably　lacking　in　significant　detail。　Even　Connie；　who　had　seen　the　creature　in　broad　daylight；　could　not　describe　the　thing　beyond　the　fact　that　it　was　gray；　huge；　and　flew。　Its　face；　she　said；　was　〃science…fiction…like。〃　The　glowing　red　eyes　had　made　the　biggest　impression　on　her；　as　they　had　on　the　others。　And　the　overriding　sense　of　unreasonable　fear　was　the　main　reaction。　There　had　been　no　smells　in　the　areas　of　the　sightings。　No　footprints　or　droppings　or　other　tangible　evidence。
　　
　　After　taping　their　individual　stories；　we　decided　to　go　out　to　the　TNT　area　so　I　could　have　my　first　look　at　the　site。　At　about　9　P。M。　we　drove　to　the　old　ammunition　dump。　The　police　had　now　locked　the　old　gate　leading　to　the　power　plant；　but　it　was　no　problem　to　squeeze　through　the　fence。　The　night　was　dark　and　overcast　and　the　rickety　building　was　just　a　huge；　black　lump　on　the　landscape。　We　gathered　outside　the　main　entrance。　The　crowds　who　had　swarmed　there　weeks　earlier　had　given　up　so　we　were　alone　。。。　ten　people。　I　carried　my　powerful　six…cell　flashlight。　To　me；　this　was　just　another　broken；　deserted　building　in　a　remote　spot。　I　was　used　to　prowling　around　such　places　alone　in　the　dark；　but　I　was　troubled　by　the　fear　that　now　seemed　to　be　gripping　our　little　expedition。　Their　nervousness　was　real。　Only　Connie　and　Keith　volunteered　to　enter　the　building　with　me。　The　others　clustered　outside。
　　
　　The　three　of　us　went　into　the　ruin。　Connie　was　joking　and　in　good　spirits。　Keith　was　sober　and　quiet。　The　interior　of　the　building　was　filled　with　debris　and　silence　except　for　the　soft　sound　of　dripping　water。　Large　rusting　boilers　stood　on　the　ground　floor。　I　peered　into　them　with　my　flashlight。　Mothman　wasn't　hiding　there。　I　climbed　the　steel　ladders　and　strolled　the　catwalks。　Even　the　pigeons　seemed　to　have　deserted　the　place。
　　
　　Satisfied　that　the　building　was　empty；　we　started　for　the　exit。　I　preceded　the　other　two　with　my　flashlight。　As　she　stepped　through　the　door　which　led　into　the　smaller　chamber　where　the　main　exit　was　located；　Connie　glanced　over　her　shoulder　and　let　out　a　horrified　gasp。
　　
　　〃Those　eyes！〃　she　screamed。　〃He's　there！〃
　　
　　She　dissolved　into　total　hysteria；　crying　uncontrollably。　The　brave；　cheerful　girl　of　a　moment　ago　was　now　a　blubbering　wreck。　Keith　and　I　rushed　her　outside。
　　
　　〃I　saw　those　eyes…two　big　red　eyes…by　the　wall　in　the　back；〃　she　managed　to　choke　out
　　
　　While　everyone　gathered　around　her　and　tried　to　calm　her；　I　turned　and　rushed　back　into　the　building。　The　wall　at　the　far　end　of　the　boiler　room　was　blank。　There　was　nothing　there　that　could　have　reflected　the　light　from　my　flashlight。　Again　I　searched　the　building　from　top　to　bottom　and　found　nothing。
　　
　　When　I　got　back　outside　I　found　a　police　officer；　Deputy　Alva　Sullivan；　had　joined　our　group。　Like　the　others；　he　had　been　reluctant　to　enter　the　building　and　help　me　with　my　search。　They　were　all　looking　through　a　fence　facing　a　field　that　went　behind　the　power　plant。
　　
　　〃We　thought　we　saw　something　back　of　the　plant；〃　Mary　Hyre　explained。　〃A　tall　figure　running。　Was　it　you？〃
　　
　　〃No　。。。　I　never　left　the　building。〃
　　
　　〃What　was　that　noise　while　you　were　in　there？〃　Mabel　McDaniel　asked。
　　
　　〃What　noise？〃
　　
　　〃It　was　metallic　and　hollow。　A　loud　noise。　Like　a　piece　of　metal　had　fallen　all　the　way　down　from　the　top　or　something。〃
　　
　　Everyone　had　heard　the　sound　。。。　except　me。　And　I　hadn't　done　anything　to　make　such　a　noise。
　　
　　Keith　led　Connie；　still　crying；　to　their　car。
　　
　　〃Please；　let's　get　out　of　here；〃　she　begged。
　　
　　〃I'm　bleeding；〃　Mary　Mallette　suddenly　exclaimed；　cupping　her　hand　to　her　ear。　I　flashed　my　light　into　her　ear。　A　small　trickle　of　blood　was　oozing　out。
　　
　　〃Did　you　hear　anything　else？〃　I　asked。　Everyone　shook　his　head。
　　
　　〃No；　but　it　doesn't　feel　right　here；　does　it？〃　Mary　Hyre　observed。　〃It　feels　oppressive　。。。　heavy。〃
　　
　　I　had　to　agree　with　her。　Something　did　seem　to　be　out　of　whack。　Steve　Mallette　led　his　wife　away。　Now　we　had　two　hysterical　women　on　our　hands！
　　
　　〃Did　you　really　see　somebody　back　there？〃　I　asked　Deputy　Sullivan　quietly。
　　
　　〃It's　hard　to　say。　Might　have　been　an　animal。　A　deer　or　something。〃　
　　
　　The　whole　group　was　now　in　a　state　bordering　on　sheer　panic。　I　could　see　that　their　feelings　were　real。　This　was　not　just　some　kind　of　act　being　staged　for　my　benefit。　I'm　no　hero；　but　I　did　not　share　their　fear。　Mrs。　Mallette's　bleeding　ear　was　a　sign　of　concussion；　meaning　the　air　pressure　had　changed　suddenly。　Connie　had　apparently　had　an　hallucinatory　or　psychic　glimpse　of　those　frightening　eyes。　The　metallic　clang　could　not　have　e　from　inside　the　building　or　I　would　have　heard　it；　too。　It　may　have　been　associated　with　the　sudden　change　in　air　pressure。　I　scanned　the　black　skies。　There　was　not　a　star；　not　a　light　visible。
　　
　　We　all　filed　back　to　our　cars　and　returned　to　the　McDaniels'　home。　Mary　Mallette's　ear　stopped　bleeding。　Keith　drove　a　still…shaking　Connie　Carpenter　home。　And；　being　an　all…time　idiot；　I　returned　to　the　TNT　area　for　another　look。　It　was　well　past　midnight　as　I　drove　aimlessly　up　and　down　the　dirt　roads　among　the　igloos。　Mothman　did　not　pop　out　of　the　bushes　to　cry　〃Boo！；〃　but　I　did　have　one　curious　experience。　As　I　passed　a　certain　point　on　one　of　the　isolated　roads　I　was　suddenly　engulfed　in　fear。　I　stepped　on　the　gas　and　after　I　went　a　few　yards　my　fear　vanished　as　quickly　as　it　came。　I　continued　to　drive；　eventually　returning　again　to　the　same　spot。　And　again　a　wave　of　unspeakable　fear　swept　over　me。　I　drove　quickly　away　from　the　place　and　then　stopped；　puzzled。　Why　would　this　one　stretch　of　road　produce　this　hair…raising　effect？　I　turned　around　and　slowly　headed　back；　trying　to　note　trees；　fenceposts；　and　other　landmarks　in　the　dark。　Once　again；　when　I　reached　that　particular　point　the　hair　tingled　on　the　back　of　my　neck　and　I　became　genuinely　afraid。　When　I　emerged　from　the　other　side　of　this　invisible　zone　I　stopped　and　got　out　of　my　car。　The　air　was　perfectly　still。　There　wasn't　any　audible　sound　。。。　not　even　a　bird　call。　I　was　reminded　of　the　hour　of　quiet　that　settles　inexplicably　over　the　jungle　in　early　morning　when　suddenly；　usually　around　2　A。M。；　all　of　the　animals；　birds；　even　the　insects；　bee　totally　silent　for　about　two　hours。　If　you're　not　used　to　the　jungle　and　its　ways；　this　sudden　silence　can　wake　you　from　a　deep　sleep。
　　
　　I　walked　back　to　the　〃zone　of　fear〃　slowly；　alert　for　any　rustle　of　bushes；　measuring　my　own　breathing　and　emotions。　I　was　perfectly　calm　until　I　took　one　step　too　many　and　was　back　in　the　zone。　I　almost　panicked　and　ran；　but　I　forced　myself　to　look　around　and　proceed　slowly。　By　now　I　had　figured　out　that　I　was　probably　walking　through　a　beam　of　ultrasonic　waves　and　really　had　nothing　to　be　afraid　of。　After　I　had　gone　about　fifteen　feet　I　stepped　outside　the　zone　and　everything　was　normal　again。　Now　I　had　to　walk　through　that　damned　spot　again　to　get　back　to　my　car！　It　was　too　dark；　almost　pitch…black；　and　I　was　too　unfamiliar　with　the　TNT　area　at　the　time　to　attempt　to　go　around　the　zone。　Although　I　knew　it　was　harmless；　I　dreaded　re…entering　it。　I　actually　considered　remaining　there；　only　yards　from　my　car；　until　daybreak。　But　I　finally　steeled　myself　and　walked　once　more　through　that　invisible　stream；　scared　out　of　my　wits　in　transit　yet　privately　pleased　with　my　discovery。
　　
　　In　daylight　I　returned　to　the　same　spot。　The　zone　of　fear　was　gone。　I　searched　for　power　transmission　lines；　telephone　microwave　towers；　and　anything　that　might　have　radiated　energy　through　the　area。　There　was　nothing。　Nor　did　a　daytime　exploration　of　the　power　plant　reveal　anything　Connie　might　have　mistaken　for　red　eyes。
　　
　　Mrs。　Mallette's　bleeding　ear　and　my　discovery　of　the　ultrasonic　zone　of　fear　convinced　me　that　UFO…type　phenomena　were　present　in　the　TNT　area　even　though　the　police　and　press　had　not　received　any　reports。　I　asked　Mrs。　Hyre　and　the　McDaniels　to　be　alert　for　any　rumors　of　sightings。　Within　days　I　tracked　down　dozens　of　UFO　witnesses　throughout　the　Ohio　valley。　At　2　A。M。　on　the　morning　I　was　first　prowling　the　T