Digging the Bones (section I: parts 1-4)

Digging the Bones 1: Discovery Bones - I don't know why they were important - they sat there in profusion. Long bones, short bones, ribs and vertebrae - the skulls drew my attention. They were alarmingly human, yet not quite so - I couldn't immediately identify what about them bothered me. My eyes became more accustomed to the dark - It was the teeth - long fangs, some like saber-toothed cats' - and the horns! Not all had them but enough to sort out a great variety of types! What timeless crypt had I stumbled into? I knew this was no theatrical trickery - these were not props in some weird B movie. I called in my crew and we began to collect the bones - if only I had known... I would have left them where they lay. 2: Transaction Hal at the Museum of Anthropology was so excited he nearly pissed himself. I laughed at his embarrassment - then got serious. "How much?" I asked. "Damn - I have no idea!" he stammered. "I've never seen anything like this! Just heard about it - never believed a word of it!" His fervor was almost contagious - but I'm a pragmatic businessman. "Ten big ones." I said, and firmly placed both hands on the table for emphasis. "Where d-did you find these?" he asked. I could not give him the exact spot - it was private property, which I didn't happen to own. I told him "South of Phoenix." and let it go at that. "Alright," he said, "10,000 it is!" "And 10% of the take." I added, glaring at him through half-closed eyes. "Ok, ok!" he replied. I had collected seven large crates of the strange relics, and I was actually quite pleased to get rid of them this easily. they had disturbed me from day one - but my greed had won out. "I'll pay you in a few days - when I can get the cash. I don't have that much lying around." I agreed - I wasn't in that great a rush, and I did want it all in cash. 3: To sleep... to dream? That night the nightmares returned. I found myself in a deep, dark forest - running crazily through clinging brush. Fear welled up in my breast and breathing became a chore. I looked over my shoulder, but saw nothing... yet I felt a presence nearby. I heard a screech, and felt the whoosh of wings narrowly missing my head. The impact of the wind almost bowled me over as I ran. I stumbled, but recovered and looked up. The harpy imp hovered over me - its eyes glowed bright fiery red, its 12-foot wingspan beat the air in a heartbeat rhythm. It slavered as it glared at me - the yellow drool dripping from the fangs - six-inch long daggers in a face made up of eyes and teeth. It darted towards me and grabbed my shoulders with long sharp talons that bit painfully into my flesh. Immobilized, it stared directly through me, then opened its mouth... I woke dripping with cold sweat and trembling uncontrollably. 4: Payment I could hardly wait to get my 10 G's and get the heck away from there. Hal had the cash for me on Tuesday, and I went over that night to pick it up. Somehow, strangely, the nighttime streets reminded me of my terrifying dreams, and I hurried myself along. "Here you are." said Hal, handing me the lumpy envelope. "10,000 - and you'll get the rest when I locate a buyer." I grabbed the cash and prepared to go, then I noticed Hal looked a bit haggard. "Something wrong?" I asked. He said he hadn't been sleeping well - some weird dreams were keeping him up. My heart skipped a beat - "Dreams?" I asked. "What sort?" Something chasing him in the dark, he said - a flying monster - like a medieval gargoyle with wings. My heart froze in my chest, and I almost fainted. "Damn!" I said, "I've been having the same dreams!" He stared at me with a weird look in his eyes. ~to be continued~ 4/4/2002A new story... don't know where the inspiration comes from, but here it is, straight from my story muse. Written April 5th, 2002 © on Apr 04 2002 04:54 PM PST, Heinz Scheuenstuhl    0 • 10