1 00:00:00,080 --> 00:00:03,000 Speaker 1: There's nothing better than feeling comfortable in your own shoes, 2 00:00:03,279 --> 00:00:05,240 Speaker 1: and that doesn't mean flopping down on the couch with 3 00:00:05,280 --> 00:00:08,640 Speaker 1: bunny slippers. Maybe you're a parent raising a little rock star, 4 00:00:09,119 --> 00:00:11,959 Speaker 1: or a tech nomad working from anywhere and jumping from 5 00:00:11,960 --> 00:00:14,920 Speaker 1: one thing to the next. Whoever you are, all Birds 6 00:00:14,960 --> 00:00:17,360 Speaker 1: wants you to be comfortable in your actual shoes too. 7 00:00:17,720 --> 00:00:21,279 Speaker 1: They're wool runners, pipers, and loungers are designed for a 8 00:00:21,400 --> 00:00:23,480 Speaker 1: level of coziness that makes you feel like you can 9 00:00:23,520 --> 00:00:26,479 Speaker 1: do anything. 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That's alll bi rds 19 00:00:58,960 --> 00:01:13,840 Speaker 1: dot com. Welcome to a special bonus episode of Unexplained. 20 00:01:14,959 --> 00:01:17,559 Speaker 1: Since I am currently away, rather than leave a large 21 00:01:17,600 --> 00:01:20,160 Speaker 1: gap before the next episode, I thought I'd give you 22 00:01:20,280 --> 00:01:23,960 Speaker 1: something else to fill the time. So, without further ado, 23 00:01:24,480 --> 00:01:26,880 Speaker 1: I invite you to imagine we're deep in the forest, 24 00:01:27,440 --> 00:01:30,960 Speaker 1: camped out around a roaring fire, telling each other stories. 25 00:01:32,360 --> 00:01:38,760 Speaker 1: This one is mine. The window began to rattle, and 26 00:01:38,840 --> 00:01:41,120 Speaker 1: for the first time he became aware of the storm 27 00:01:41,280 --> 00:01:45,840 Speaker 1: unfurling outside. Leaving him on the bed, She ran to 28 00:01:45,880 --> 00:01:49,160 Speaker 1: the window and unclasped the lock. A huge gust of 29 00:01:49,200 --> 00:01:52,880 Speaker 1: wind rips the pane from her hands. He watches as 30 00:01:52,880 --> 00:01:55,400 Speaker 1: his mother leans into the night and speaks fast and 31 00:01:55,480 --> 00:01:58,840 Speaker 1: soft under her breath. Something between her and the wind 32 00:02:00,520 --> 00:02:03,440 Speaker 1: high above, a bright moon begins to dim as the 33 00:02:03,440 --> 00:02:08,120 Speaker 1: clouds thicken and twist above the house. Moments later, a 34 00:02:08,240 --> 00:02:11,560 Speaker 1: large black bird swoops on to the window sill. She 35 00:02:11,680 --> 00:02:14,240 Speaker 1: lets it hop on to her finger calmly strokes its 36 00:02:14,240 --> 00:02:17,520 Speaker 1: feathers before bringing it over to the child. She holds 37 00:02:17,560 --> 00:02:20,560 Speaker 1: the bird out for him to stroke. He laughs as 38 00:02:20,600 --> 00:02:24,720 Speaker 1: it hops on to his shoulder. Yes, he is yours now, 39 00:02:25,480 --> 00:02:29,040 Speaker 1: he will take care of you, she says. The sound 40 00:02:29,040 --> 00:02:32,920 Speaker 1: of distant voices draws her back to the window. Staring 41 00:02:32,960 --> 00:02:35,680 Speaker 1: into the thick of the woodland beyond, she saw again 42 00:02:35,840 --> 00:02:38,840 Speaker 1: the three small orange lights bobbing around in the dark, 43 00:02:38,960 --> 00:02:42,399 Speaker 1: like hot coals floating on the wind. She turned back 44 00:02:42,400 --> 00:02:46,360 Speaker 1: to the boy. It is time, William. As she lifts 45 00:02:46,400 --> 00:02:48,840 Speaker 1: him from the bed, he sees the wetness run from 46 00:02:48,880 --> 00:02:51,560 Speaker 1: her eyes, and when she presses him close, he can 47 00:02:51,560 --> 00:02:55,320 Speaker 1: feel the damp warmth of it on his face. Promise me, 48 00:02:55,560 --> 00:02:58,160 Speaker 1: you won't let them see you, no matter what, she says. 49 00:02:59,480 --> 00:03:01,840 Speaker 1: He nods as she takes his hand and leads him 50 00:03:01,880 --> 00:03:05,320 Speaker 1: to the back door. When she opens it, the voices 51 00:03:05,360 --> 00:03:07,880 Speaker 1: are nearer, and there are two more lights approaching from 52 00:03:07,880 --> 00:03:11,320 Speaker 1: the back. I will be right behind you, I promise. 53 00:03:12,120 --> 00:03:15,160 Speaker 1: Now go. She pushes him out, and for a moment 54 00:03:15,200 --> 00:03:20,040 Speaker 1: he stops, expecting her to follow. But she does not run, 55 00:03:20,320 --> 00:03:23,400 Speaker 1: she says, and then he has gone into the dark. 56 00:03:25,680 --> 00:03:28,560 Speaker 1: Janet Horn comes a cry from the front of the cabin. 57 00:03:29,240 --> 00:03:32,840 Speaker 1: Come out and faces. She wipes away her tears and 58 00:03:32,919 --> 00:03:37,280 Speaker 1: readies herself. The men dragged her by her hair and 59 00:03:37,400 --> 00:03:39,560 Speaker 1: threw her to the porch, before taking it in turns 60 00:03:39,560 --> 00:03:43,120 Speaker 1: to kick and stamp on her body. The dogs whipped 61 00:03:43,200 --> 00:03:46,520 Speaker 1: up by the frenzy barked manically, straining at their leashes 62 00:03:46,600 --> 00:03:50,480 Speaker 1: as their black fur bristled with unseen charge. The handler's 63 00:03:50,520 --> 00:03:52,800 Speaker 1: feet slid in the dirt at the strength of them, 64 00:03:52,960 --> 00:03:55,000 Speaker 1: trying for all their lives to stop them from ripping 65 00:03:55,000 --> 00:03:58,119 Speaker 1: her apart. One of the dogs slipped free and tore 66 00:03:58,200 --> 00:04:02,800 Speaker 1: down upon her with the startling orcity. Finally, Lockhart yelled 67 00:04:02,800 --> 00:04:05,640 Speaker 1: for them to stop, and the errant dog was wrenched, 68 00:04:05,720 --> 00:04:09,960 Speaker 1: snarling and snapping from the body, fresh blood dripping from 69 00:04:09,960 --> 00:04:15,400 Speaker 1: its jaws. The men, catching breath and wiping hands on shirts, 70 00:04:15,760 --> 00:04:19,839 Speaker 1: looked anxiously into the darkness of the surrounding forest, and 71 00:04:20,000 --> 00:04:22,960 Speaker 1: then back to the woman, lying crumpled and still at 72 00:04:22,960 --> 00:04:26,880 Speaker 1: their feet. Light from their torches streaked across the porch, 73 00:04:27,360 --> 00:04:32,279 Speaker 1: covering all in a soft orange glow. Lockhart jumped down 74 00:04:32,320 --> 00:04:35,640 Speaker 1: from his horse. To his horror, she started to move, 75 00:04:36,279 --> 00:04:39,520 Speaker 1: drawing herself round to face him. The men gasped at 76 00:04:39,520 --> 00:04:43,040 Speaker 1: the sight of her, swollen and blackened, her skin yellow 77 00:04:43,040 --> 00:04:47,320 Speaker 1: and purpling underneath the reddening night dress. She fixes them 78 00:04:47,320 --> 00:04:52,240 Speaker 1: all with her bloodied eyes, but mostly she fixes him back. 79 00:04:52,279 --> 00:04:56,280 Speaker 1: For seconds, are we? She says you? He said, pointing 80 00:04:56,320 --> 00:04:59,279 Speaker 1: to a man from the back. The man stepped forward 81 00:04:59,279 --> 00:05:02,320 Speaker 1: with lantern in and his wiry body trembling as he 82 00:05:02,400 --> 00:05:06,400 Speaker 1: neared the bloodied woman. His name was McConnell, a crofter 83 00:05:06,480 --> 00:05:11,200 Speaker 1: from the Black Aisle. With me, said Lockhart. The rest 84 00:05:11,200 --> 00:05:15,000 Speaker 1: of you get her tied up. She managed a few 85 00:05:15,000 --> 00:05:17,920 Speaker 1: crawls towards the door before another of the men stopped her, 86 00:05:18,440 --> 00:05:21,000 Speaker 1: holding her down by the neck with his boot. She 87 00:05:21,120 --> 00:05:25,040 Speaker 1: squirmed underneath, her body jarring and breath heaving as flecks 88 00:05:25,080 --> 00:05:29,160 Speaker 1: of red splatter the ground. The man presses down harder 89 00:05:29,360 --> 00:05:32,679 Speaker 1: as another of the men kneels beside her. He grabbed 90 00:05:32,720 --> 00:05:35,839 Speaker 1: her hands and tied them fast with twine, staining red 91 00:05:35,880 --> 00:05:40,880 Speaker 1: as he pulled it tight. Satisfied by the restraints, Lockhart 92 00:05:40,880 --> 00:05:43,880 Speaker 1: took a lantern and proceeded to lead mcconnall into the house. 93 00:05:46,279 --> 00:05:49,839 Speaker 1: The two men entered cautiously, tiptoeing slowly through the corridor. 94 00:05:50,839 --> 00:05:54,240 Speaker 1: The darkness seemed to recoil and slither into furthest corners 95 00:05:54,320 --> 00:05:58,120 Speaker 1: at the moment of illumination. As the men continued forward, 96 00:05:58,640 --> 00:06:01,359 Speaker 1: with the dark sealing up behind and the sound of 97 00:06:01,360 --> 00:06:04,279 Speaker 1: the cabin creaking, it was as if the very walls 98 00:06:04,320 --> 00:06:09,240 Speaker 1: were closing in around them. McConnell could feel his heart 99 00:06:09,360 --> 00:06:16,279 Speaker 1: beating in his throat, and then Lockhart stopped listen. They 100 00:06:16,279 --> 00:06:18,360 Speaker 1: had entered a small room to the back of the house. 101 00:06:19,520 --> 00:06:21,800 Speaker 1: McConnell sniffed at the air and tried to hear above 102 00:06:21,800 --> 00:06:25,080 Speaker 1: the din of the blood thumping in his ears. Lockhart 103 00:06:25,240 --> 00:06:27,599 Speaker 1: moved the lantern around, showing up little more than a 104 00:06:27,600 --> 00:06:30,560 Speaker 1: tiny black stove and a small rug laid out on 105 00:06:30,600 --> 00:06:35,240 Speaker 1: the ground. He kicked away the rug, exposing a door underneath. 106 00:06:36,279 --> 00:06:38,520 Speaker 1: He dropped down and pressed his ear to the floor. 107 00:06:39,160 --> 00:06:41,520 Speaker 1: It was as if the sound was vibrating through it. 108 00:06:42,560 --> 00:06:44,760 Speaker 1: He set down the lantern and took hold of his 109 00:06:44,800 --> 00:06:48,559 Speaker 1: side knife. With his eyes locked on McConnell, he pulled 110 00:06:48,640 --> 00:06:52,719 Speaker 1: up the door. A strange heat wafted out, and something 111 00:06:52,760 --> 00:06:56,720 Speaker 1: sickly and sweet drew water from their eyes. McConnell wretched 112 00:06:56,760 --> 00:06:58,880 Speaker 1: and held his hand out in front of him as 113 00:06:58,920 --> 00:07:02,200 Speaker 1: if it might fend off the smell. Both pulled their 114 00:07:02,240 --> 00:07:06,560 Speaker 1: shirts to their mouths and noses. Lockhart picked up the 115 00:07:06,640 --> 00:07:10,239 Speaker 1: lantern and held it into the new darkness, revealing steps 116 00:07:10,360 --> 00:07:14,680 Speaker 1: leading into the nothing below. The strange hum, now louder, 117 00:07:15,120 --> 00:07:21,320 Speaker 1: pulsed through the air as slowly, the men descended far 118 00:07:21,440 --> 00:07:24,600 Speaker 1: up the hill. William, having finally scrambled through the last 119 00:07:24,640 --> 00:07:27,600 Speaker 1: of the ferns, emerged into the open and collapsed at 120 00:07:27,600 --> 00:07:30,720 Speaker 1: the foot of the great tree. Panting in the darkness, 121 00:07:30,760 --> 00:07:33,160 Speaker 1: he gazed up at the gnarly twisting arms of brown 122 00:07:33,440 --> 00:07:36,880 Speaker 1: stretching high into the night, the leaves rattling in the wind. 123 00:07:37,880 --> 00:07:41,440 Speaker 1: The large blackbird cowed as it swooped down, taking shelter 124 00:07:41,520 --> 00:07:45,920 Speaker 1: in the upper branches. High above, the clouds pulled apart 125 00:07:45,960 --> 00:07:49,280 Speaker 1: in places, and peering into the space beyond made William's 126 00:07:49,320 --> 00:07:53,960 Speaker 1: head spin. He'd never been here alone, this familiar place 127 00:07:54,000 --> 00:07:56,480 Speaker 1: where he would lie in her lap, listening to her 128 00:07:56,520 --> 00:08:00,760 Speaker 1: stories as she picked out the constellations above. His mother 129 00:08:00,800 --> 00:08:02,920 Speaker 1: had told him this was the place of his berth, 130 00:08:03,400 --> 00:08:05,400 Speaker 1: above the pit of fire from which he had been 131 00:08:05,440 --> 00:08:09,480 Speaker 1: forged and then become life. A crack of lightning had 132 00:08:09,480 --> 00:08:13,000 Speaker 1: shot down, igniting the whole tree. It had burned all 133 00:08:13,000 --> 00:08:15,559 Speaker 1: of that night, but not left one sign or scar, 134 00:08:16,040 --> 00:08:18,880 Speaker 1: save for a twisted line coiled all around the trunk. 135 00:08:19,840 --> 00:08:23,040 Speaker 1: William rose on to old fours and wandered over to 136 00:08:23,040 --> 00:08:25,600 Speaker 1: touch the bark, being careful not to trip on the 137 00:08:25,640 --> 00:08:28,480 Speaker 1: fat roots that had burst through the ground, snaking their 138 00:08:28,480 --> 00:08:32,679 Speaker 1: way through the undergrowth. Looking closer, he could just about 139 00:08:32,679 --> 00:08:35,520 Speaker 1: make out the ancient ruins etched onto the surface by 140 00:08:35,600 --> 00:08:39,559 Speaker 1: unknown hands. She told him it was a sacred tree, 141 00:08:40,040 --> 00:08:43,120 Speaker 1: had always been so that the soul of an ancient 142 00:08:43,200 --> 00:08:46,040 Speaker 1: king had been trapped inside, and if ever a tree 143 00:08:46,080 --> 00:08:48,480 Speaker 1: was harmed in the forest, there would be a fatal 144 00:08:48,520 --> 00:08:51,760 Speaker 1: price to pay. The guilty bellies nailed to the bark 145 00:08:52,080 --> 00:08:54,840 Speaker 1: and marched all way round until their innards would spill 146 00:08:54,960 --> 00:08:57,760 Speaker 1: like the gutting of rabbits, replenishing the soil with the 147 00:08:57,760 --> 00:09:01,720 Speaker 1: blood of man. Trace the line that twisted all around 148 00:09:01,760 --> 00:09:04,760 Speaker 1: with his finger, following it down to the base, where 149 00:09:04,760 --> 00:09:07,360 Speaker 1: a small cluster of mushrooms were sprouting out from below 150 00:09:07,360 --> 00:09:10,760 Speaker 1: the roots, their slender bodies holding the caps aloft like 151 00:09:10,920 --> 00:09:14,880 Speaker 1: little bells. He slipped down between the two large roots 152 00:09:15,040 --> 00:09:18,520 Speaker 1: and lay back against the trunk, Gazing up at the sky. 153 00:09:18,960 --> 00:09:22,360 Speaker 1: He wandered at the infinite space, the distance into which 154 00:09:22,360 --> 00:09:26,440 Speaker 1: he would forever fall, and the stars, so many stars. 155 00:09:29,520 --> 00:09:33,680 Speaker 1: The hum was now a throbbing organic drone. Lockhart stepped 156 00:09:33,720 --> 00:09:36,559 Speaker 1: forward with the light, causing a million flies to scatter, 157 00:09:36,800 --> 00:09:40,120 Speaker 1: before settling down again in strange thick clumps on the ground. 158 00:09:41,120 --> 00:09:43,600 Speaker 1: McConnell let out a cry and dropped his lantern to 159 00:09:43,640 --> 00:09:49,480 Speaker 1: the floor. Control yourself, shouted Lockhart. He handed the lantern 160 00:09:49,559 --> 00:09:52,679 Speaker 1: back to McConnell, but stopped short when he too had 161 00:09:52,720 --> 00:09:58,080 Speaker 1: seen the dirt floor was sticky with congealed blood, the 162 00:09:58,200 --> 00:10:01,400 Speaker 1: filthy walls smeared with a black and red glistening in 163 00:10:01,440 --> 00:10:05,880 Speaker 1: the light. Lockhart flicked again at the flies, causing them 164 00:10:05,880 --> 00:10:08,960 Speaker 1: to disperse just long enough to reveal pieces of tiny 165 00:10:09,000 --> 00:10:14,520 Speaker 1: limbs and matted hair covered in the syrupy mess. Oh God. 166 00:10:16,800 --> 00:10:22,040 Speaker 1: McConnell vomited violently into the corner, then fled up the stairs. Lockhart, 167 00:10:22,280 --> 00:10:26,120 Speaker 1: no longer aware of himself, continued on stumbling through the 168 00:10:26,200 --> 00:10:30,480 Speaker 1: room towards something moving in the darkness. The sound of 169 00:10:30,520 --> 00:10:33,960 Speaker 1: a whimper brought him to a sudden halt. He lifted 170 00:10:33,960 --> 00:10:40,920 Speaker 1: the lantern towards the corner of the room. Ada. Lockhart 171 00:10:40,960 --> 00:10:45,720 Speaker 1: took a step closer. Oh Christ, he said, bringing his 172 00:10:45,800 --> 00:10:49,760 Speaker 1: hand to his mouth. The child was sat facing the wall, 173 00:10:50,000 --> 00:10:52,440 Speaker 1: still in the dress she was taken in, now just 174 00:10:52,520 --> 00:10:57,160 Speaker 1: a ratty, maroon stained rag. Lockhart moved ever closer, with 175 00:10:57,200 --> 00:11:01,120 Speaker 1: the lantern held in front, shaking in his hand. The 176 00:11:01,200 --> 00:11:04,760 Speaker 1: girl who was tied up remained still, but he was 177 00:11:04,840 --> 00:11:07,840 Speaker 1: now close enough to see her little chest moving up 178 00:11:07,920 --> 00:11:12,600 Speaker 1: and down. Ada, I'm here, he said, his voice beginning 179 00:11:12,600 --> 00:11:15,600 Speaker 1: to break. He laid a trembling hand on her back 180 00:11:15,840 --> 00:11:18,160 Speaker 1: and felt her warmth. As she drew a short breath 181 00:11:18,240 --> 00:11:21,600 Speaker 1: and turned stiffly towards the wall. He held the torch 182 00:11:21,720 --> 00:11:27,959 Speaker 1: up to her face. Ada, it's me. Lockhart's tears were 183 00:11:28,000 --> 00:11:30,679 Speaker 1: now steadily spilling on to the dirt floor as she 184 00:11:30,720 --> 00:11:36,160 Speaker 1: slowly turned her head towards him. Outside, Hans reached for 185 00:11:36,240 --> 00:11:39,200 Speaker 1: guns and calmed the horses as the last of the 186 00:11:39,240 --> 00:11:41,560 Speaker 1: scream was ripped from the dark of the cabin and 187 00:11:41,679 --> 00:11:46,320 Speaker 1: flung into the raging wind. Moments later, Lockhart staggered to 188 00:11:46,360 --> 00:11:49,840 Speaker 1: the door, a large bundle in his hands. He stood 189 00:11:49,840 --> 00:11:52,520 Speaker 1: motionless as the wind lashed out and sent his hat 190 00:11:52,679 --> 00:11:56,880 Speaker 1: flying into the trees. There's no one else, said Lockhart. 191 00:11:57,880 --> 00:12:02,600 Speaker 1: They're all dead. McConnell, still wretching, was now leaned back 192 00:12:02,640 --> 00:12:05,360 Speaker 1: against the wall of the house. He slid to the 193 00:12:05,400 --> 00:12:09,560 Speaker 1: floor as a strange sound emanated from his lips. One 194 00:12:09,559 --> 00:12:12,400 Speaker 1: of the men came forward, dressed smarter than the others, 195 00:12:12,480 --> 00:12:16,280 Speaker 1: in a dark suit and thin framed glasses. He took 196 00:12:16,320 --> 00:12:19,400 Speaker 1: the bundle from Lockhart, taking care as he unpeeled his 197 00:12:19,520 --> 00:12:22,440 Speaker 1: arms from around the girl, and gasped at the sight 198 00:12:22,480 --> 00:12:25,520 Speaker 1: of her face. Where he had expected to see the 199 00:12:25,559 --> 00:12:30,400 Speaker 1: gentlest of soft, olive eyes, instead were two large chasms, 200 00:12:30,400 --> 00:12:34,839 Speaker 1: each a gaping red abyss. Hurriedly, he brought her over 201 00:12:34,880 --> 00:12:37,600 Speaker 1: to a small leather briefcase and gently sat her down 202 00:12:37,640 --> 00:12:41,440 Speaker 1: beside it. He opened the case and pulled out various 203 00:12:41,480 --> 00:12:46,000 Speaker 1: ointments and dressings and got to work. What have you done, 204 00:12:46,320 --> 00:12:51,640 Speaker 1: said Lockhart, looking at nothing in particular. Janet, who had 205 00:12:51,679 --> 00:12:55,280 Speaker 1: been sitting tired and quiet on the porch, eased herself up. 206 00:12:56,760 --> 00:12:59,880 Speaker 1: This is nought but your conscience, the world you create, 207 00:13:00,600 --> 00:13:06,160 Speaker 1: she said wearily. Lockhart tore down upon her, grabbing her 208 00:13:06,160 --> 00:13:08,880 Speaker 1: throat and pinning her to the wall With the slow, 209 00:13:08,960 --> 00:13:12,240 Speaker 1: steady hand. He pulled out his knife and held it 210 00:13:12,360 --> 00:13:15,960 Speaker 1: under her chin. She spat blood to the ground and 211 00:13:16,080 --> 00:13:21,720 Speaker 1: fixed him again. Get on with it, you cowered, Stop. 212 00:13:22,600 --> 00:13:25,040 Speaker 1: We must take her to Dla ROSSI, shouted one of 213 00:13:25,080 --> 00:13:28,840 Speaker 1: the men, stepping forward. It was the chaplain. This is 214 00:13:28,880 --> 00:13:32,360 Speaker 1: the devil's work. We must dispose of her properly. He 215 00:13:32,400 --> 00:13:35,080 Speaker 1: looked at the others for support, but found only the 216 00:13:35,160 --> 00:13:40,240 Speaker 1: turning away of faces. Lockhart, either ignoring the cry or 217 00:13:40,280 --> 00:13:43,280 Speaker 1: most likely not hearing it at all, ran the knife 218 00:13:43,520 --> 00:13:46,480 Speaker 1: into her belly. She grabbed him by the hand and 219 00:13:46,600 --> 00:13:49,240 Speaker 1: bit hard into his wrist. He wrenched it from her 220 00:13:49,280 --> 00:13:52,439 Speaker 1: mouth and slapped her to the ground. Flesh dangled from 221 00:13:52,440 --> 00:13:57,679 Speaker 1: her teeth. String her up. She howled as they approached, 222 00:13:58,080 --> 00:14:01,320 Speaker 1: thrusting her jaws at any who came near. Some would 223 00:14:01,360 --> 00:14:04,320 Speaker 1: later say that she turned wolf. Some swore they'd seen 224 00:14:04,360 --> 00:14:08,199 Speaker 1: her hover inches from the ground, but finally she succumbed 225 00:14:08,600 --> 00:14:12,199 Speaker 1: the butt of a rifle. Having done with it, they 226 00:14:12,280 --> 00:14:14,200 Speaker 1: hitched the rope to the top of the porch and 227 00:14:14,320 --> 00:14:17,320 Speaker 1: passed the bottom end of it around her neck. It 228 00:14:17,440 --> 00:14:19,160 Speaker 1: took three of them to hoist her up to the 229 00:14:19,160 --> 00:14:23,000 Speaker 1: tip of her toes, and then a click echoed around 230 00:14:23,040 --> 00:14:27,920 Speaker 1: the trees. The chaplain stepped forward, holding out the gun. 231 00:14:29,560 --> 00:14:32,000 Speaker 1: She must go to Dalarossie or this will never be over. 232 00:14:33,640 --> 00:14:38,160 Speaker 1: Lockhart stared at the chaplain, then turned away. He grabbed 233 00:14:38,240 --> 00:14:41,440 Speaker 1: Janet by the face, his eyes catching yellow under the 234 00:14:41,440 --> 00:14:46,120 Speaker 1: flickering torchlight. She roused herself one final time and spat 235 00:14:46,160 --> 00:14:50,000 Speaker 1: blood in his face. The three men pulled hard on 236 00:14:50,040 --> 00:14:53,000 Speaker 1: the rope, lifting her feet from the floor. There was 237 00:14:53,040 --> 00:14:55,680 Speaker 1: a moment to struggle before her stomach fell from her 238 00:14:55,760 --> 00:15:00,480 Speaker 1: and onto the porch. Lockhart spat onto the ground, burn everything. 239 00:15:01,480 --> 00:15:04,400 Speaker 1: The chaplain dropped the gun and sank to his knees, 240 00:15:04,840 --> 00:15:10,880 Speaker 1: marking the sign of the cross as he went. William 241 00:15:11,000 --> 00:15:13,160 Speaker 1: turned his head at the sound of far off voices 242 00:15:13,400 --> 00:15:17,040 Speaker 1: and climbed out of the roots. Far below, a gentle 243 00:15:17,040 --> 00:15:19,840 Speaker 1: orange light seemed to dance and weave amongst the trees. 244 00:15:20,680 --> 00:15:23,960 Speaker 1: It swayed and flickered, lilting to a silent music within 245 00:15:24,000 --> 00:15:29,440 Speaker 1: the wind, then brightened with the music of its own, snapping, crackling, 246 00:15:29,680 --> 00:15:34,840 Speaker 1: and rising out of the darkness. Mumma at once. William 247 00:15:34,880 --> 00:15:37,680 Speaker 1: tore down the hill towards the house, sprinting through the 248 00:15:37,720 --> 00:15:40,000 Speaker 1: trees and bracken as it whipped and scratched at his 249 00:15:40,120 --> 00:15:43,920 Speaker 1: arms and legs. Above the canopy, the black bird swooped 250 00:15:43,920 --> 00:15:47,080 Speaker 1: and cord as it desperately tried to keep up. As 251 00:15:47,120 --> 00:15:49,560 Speaker 1: William neared, he began to feel the heat of it. 252 00:15:50,920 --> 00:15:53,760 Speaker 1: He could see the trees burning now and the flaming 253 00:15:53,760 --> 00:15:58,280 Speaker 1: cabin and something on the porch, A dark shape shrouded 254 00:15:58,320 --> 00:16:03,880 Speaker 1: in flame, swinging on a rope, Mamma. Then a sudden 255 00:16:03,920 --> 00:16:07,520 Speaker 1: movement underneath, the slip of palms and feet on wet rock. 256 00:16:08,600 --> 00:16:11,640 Speaker 1: He went down with a sickening crack. The trees swelled 257 00:16:11,680 --> 00:16:15,760 Speaker 1: above him, blending with the sky, and then all was black. 258 00:16:19,000 --> 00:16:21,960 Speaker 1: Out of the dark came the faintest flickering of pale yellow. 259 00:16:22,920 --> 00:16:25,560 Speaker 1: It grew to a fine wisp, swaying softly in the 260 00:16:25,600 --> 00:16:29,680 Speaker 1: black silence. More it grew, hissing and crackling as it 261 00:16:29,760 --> 00:16:33,400 Speaker 1: gained in size, finally letting out a huge roar. As 262 00:16:33,400 --> 00:16:36,960 Speaker 1: it erupted into a golden fireball, consuming all the blackness. 263 00:16:38,480 --> 00:16:41,160 Speaker 1: Through the noise and heat, a knocking could be heard. 264 00:16:41,920 --> 00:16:45,360 Speaker 1: The noise grew louder as something wet and red dripped 265 00:16:45,400 --> 00:16:49,160 Speaker 1: from above. Then it was pouring, lashing down on the fire. 266 00:16:50,080 --> 00:16:53,360 Speaker 1: The knocking grew louder still, and inside the flames, something 267 00:16:53,440 --> 00:16:57,280 Speaker 1: was moving, A body writhing in the fire, his mother's body. 268 00:16:57,920 --> 00:17:01,240 Speaker 1: And then he was awake, sing for air and screaming 269 00:17:01,280 --> 00:17:07,200 Speaker 1: into the stillness of dawn. William felt for the soreness 270 00:17:07,240 --> 00:17:10,360 Speaker 1: on his head and touched the sticky redness with his fingers. 271 00:17:11,280 --> 00:17:14,160 Speaker 1: The black bird ceased its knocking of a nearby tree 272 00:17:14,320 --> 00:17:17,479 Speaker 1: and swooped down to the boy. It pushed at William 273 00:17:17,560 --> 00:17:19,720 Speaker 1: to return him to the great Tree, but he would 274 00:17:19,760 --> 00:17:23,840 Speaker 1: not be moved. William pushed the bird away and crawled 275 00:17:23,880 --> 00:17:28,400 Speaker 1: into the clearing. The house had been reduced to blackened 276 00:17:28,440 --> 00:17:32,520 Speaker 1: beams and soft gray ash, but somehow the porch had 277 00:17:32,560 --> 00:17:36,919 Speaker 1: remained intact. There still hanging was the blackened body of 278 00:17:37,000 --> 00:17:41,119 Speaker 1: his mother. William crawled underneath and peered up at the 279 00:17:41,119 --> 00:17:44,160 Speaker 1: shape of it. He held out his hands and took 280 00:17:44,160 --> 00:17:50,520 Speaker 1: hold of the charred remains of her fingers. Mamma. William 281 00:17:50,560 --> 00:17:53,439 Speaker 1: dived into the rubble, clawing through the blackened splinters of 282 00:17:53,440 --> 00:17:56,879 Speaker 1: wood until he had something sharp. He found the brittle 283 00:17:56,920 --> 00:17:59,320 Speaker 1: remains of his mother's chair and dragged it over to 284 00:17:59,359 --> 00:18:03,439 Speaker 1: the body. He climbed up and cut the rope. The 285 00:18:03,520 --> 00:18:06,840 Speaker 1: body thumped to the ground, and slowly he drew down 286 00:18:06,880 --> 00:18:11,000 Speaker 1: and examined the burnt remains Mamma. He held his fingers 287 00:18:11,000 --> 00:18:13,600 Speaker 1: out to her face that seemed to him nothing more 288 00:18:13,640 --> 00:18:17,119 Speaker 1: than a shadow. William grabbed her body and began to 289 00:18:17,160 --> 00:18:22,400 Speaker 1: shake it. Mamma He looked around, confused, shaking harder as 290 00:18:22,400 --> 00:18:26,920 Speaker 1: his face contorted into alarm. Mamma. He gathered the stiff 291 00:18:26,960 --> 00:18:29,720 Speaker 1: shape in his arms and squeezed as the wet spilled 292 00:18:29,720 --> 00:18:33,800 Speaker 1: from his eyes. Mamma. He fell on to her body 293 00:18:33,880 --> 00:18:36,640 Speaker 1: and buried his head under his arms as he sobbed. 294 00:18:38,680 --> 00:18:42,120 Speaker 1: The core of the black bird startled him. Drawing away 295 00:18:42,160 --> 00:18:45,120 Speaker 1: from her body, he noticed something was clinging to her leg. 296 00:18:46,119 --> 00:18:48,440 Speaker 1: It was the root of a tree bursting up through 297 00:18:48,480 --> 00:18:52,439 Speaker 1: the soil. Then he saw another attached to her arm. 298 00:18:52,480 --> 00:18:56,920 Speaker 1: He felt something shift moving underneath the ground. More roots appeared, 299 00:18:57,280 --> 00:19:00,679 Speaker 1: stretching out from the edge of the clearing, unfurled like 300 00:19:00,760 --> 00:19:03,760 Speaker 1: coiled bone, creaking and crackling as they neared her body. 301 00:19:04,760 --> 00:19:07,920 Speaker 1: He watched as they reached out like talons, feeling for her, 302 00:19:08,040 --> 00:19:11,719 Speaker 1: before wrapping themselves around and lifting her high above the ground. 303 00:19:12,440 --> 00:19:15,760 Speaker 1: William leaped up, grabbing for any part of her, desperate 304 00:19:15,760 --> 00:19:20,040 Speaker 1: to keep a hold, keep her in this world. Things 305 00:19:20,080 --> 00:19:23,399 Speaker 1: began to gather. They crawled, wriggling and pink from the earth, 306 00:19:23,880 --> 00:19:27,000 Speaker 1: or stumbled, bursting through the soil in black carapis bodies 307 00:19:27,040 --> 00:19:31,800 Speaker 1: of green iridescence. There was a rumble from deep and 308 00:19:31,880 --> 00:19:33,800 Speaker 1: it seemed as if the whole earth was going to 309 00:19:33,800 --> 00:19:38,359 Speaker 1: tear apart. Finally, the soil ripped open to reveal an 310 00:19:38,440 --> 00:19:42,119 Speaker 1: unknowable dark, a truth beyond time itself, as if the 311 00:19:42,119 --> 00:19:45,280 Speaker 1: world of trees and green and men was nothing but 312 00:19:45,400 --> 00:19:50,200 Speaker 1: an elaborate distraction. Something cold and damp came from above, 313 00:19:50,720 --> 00:19:54,439 Speaker 1: splashing down in ever larger droplets, then a guttural growl. 314 00:19:54,480 --> 00:19:58,359 Speaker 1: As the clouds ruptured and spewed down upon him. William 315 00:19:58,400 --> 00:20:01,960 Speaker 1: reached out helplessly. Her body was delicately passed from root 316 00:20:02,000 --> 00:20:05,439 Speaker 1: to root before being lowered under the soil and taken 317 00:20:05,480 --> 00:20:09,600 Speaker 1: down into the abyss. William threw himself to the ground 318 00:20:10,000 --> 00:20:14,520 Speaker 1: and sobbed. As the rain pumbled down, The earth readjusted 319 00:20:14,520 --> 00:20:19,399 Speaker 1: and smoothed, and the silence returned. At the base of 320 00:20:19,440 --> 00:20:23,439 Speaker 1: the surrounding trees, red droplet shaped flowers had started to appear. 321 00:20:24,440 --> 00:20:26,960 Speaker 1: They sprouted up the trunk and out to the branches, 322 00:20:27,280 --> 00:20:31,000 Speaker 1: hanging like jewels. By the time he looked up again, 323 00:20:31,600 --> 00:20:35,119 Speaker 1: she was gone. He jumped to his hands and feet 324 00:20:35,440 --> 00:20:39,239 Speaker 1: and started clawing desperately at the mud. No matter how 325 00:20:39,320 --> 00:20:42,639 Speaker 1: much he dug, the hole would not deepen. Finally, he 326 00:20:42,680 --> 00:20:46,480 Speaker 1: broke off and lay exhausted, his thick clothes heavy with rain, 327 00:20:46,680 --> 00:20:50,320 Speaker 1: clinging to him like a blistering skin. He looked at 328 00:20:50,320 --> 00:20:52,480 Speaker 1: the cabin, where the last of the fire had gone, 329 00:20:52,880 --> 00:20:56,240 Speaker 1: but the warmth of it still lingered. He sniffed the 330 00:20:56,240 --> 00:20:58,840 Speaker 1: air and crawled into the remains of his home and 331 00:20:58,920 --> 00:21:02,800 Speaker 1: trawled for something to eat. Shuffling through the ash and 332 00:21:02,880 --> 00:21:06,320 Speaker 1: blackened wood, he saw a small burst of light, something 333 00:21:06,359 --> 00:21:09,359 Speaker 1: glinting in the rubble. He picked his way over to 334 00:21:09,440 --> 00:21:12,800 Speaker 1: it and peered down at the strange thing. It was 335 00:21:12,800 --> 00:21:14,800 Speaker 1: as though a small piece of the sky was lying 336 00:21:14,800 --> 00:21:18,120 Speaker 1: on the ground. He brushed at it, then staggered back 337 00:21:18,119 --> 00:21:23,560 Speaker 1: in alarm. There was someone else there. Cautiously, he approached 338 00:21:23,600 --> 00:21:28,400 Speaker 1: again and looked down again. Came the face. He pulled 339 00:21:28,400 --> 00:21:30,720 Speaker 1: the thing from the rubble and stared at the face 340 00:21:30,800 --> 00:21:33,920 Speaker 1: gazing back at him. He brought up his hand to 341 00:21:33,920 --> 00:21:36,359 Speaker 1: touch the face, and the other face did the same. 342 00:21:37,800 --> 00:21:40,560 Speaker 1: He barked at the face, and the other face did 343 00:21:40,600 --> 00:21:45,800 Speaker 1: the same. The blackbird cord high up in a tree, 344 00:21:46,480 --> 00:21:49,760 Speaker 1: William sniffed. He helped the thing close and looked at 345 00:21:49,840 --> 00:21:53,480 Speaker 1: himself fully for the first time, Where his mumma's face 346 00:21:53,520 --> 00:21:57,080 Speaker 1: had been soft and pure. His was strange and misshapen. 347 00:21:57,920 --> 00:22:00,160 Speaker 1: His ears seemed tied to the side of his head. 348 00:22:01,200 --> 00:22:04,000 Speaker 1: He touched his eyes. That seemed not right for the face. 349 00:22:05,440 --> 00:22:09,120 Speaker 1: William barked again at his reflection as the strange unease 350 00:22:09,200 --> 00:22:13,000 Speaker 1: took hold. He scanned down to the neckline, where just 351 00:22:13,119 --> 00:22:16,680 Speaker 1: above his shirt a red line ran all around. He 352 00:22:16,720 --> 00:22:19,040 Speaker 1: traced it with his finger. As he became more and 353 00:22:19,119 --> 00:22:23,199 Speaker 1: more agitated. He wrenched off the soaking shirt and trousers 354 00:22:23,440 --> 00:22:26,679 Speaker 1: and stood naked looking into the thing. He found the 355 00:22:26,760 --> 00:22:30,040 Speaker 1: same raised red lines circling the top of his arms 356 00:22:30,040 --> 00:22:34,000 Speaker 1: like a fine thread. Wrapped around on his legs, he 357 00:22:34,080 --> 00:22:37,520 Speaker 1: found the same. William threw the thing to the ground 358 00:22:37,520 --> 00:22:41,119 Speaker 1: and screamed into the air. He felt a sensation like 359 00:22:41,240 --> 00:22:43,760 Speaker 1: wanting to run and run, run so fast that he 360 00:22:43,840 --> 00:22:46,600 Speaker 1: might slip out of his skin. This strange jacket he 361 00:22:46,640 --> 00:22:51,920 Speaker 1: did not understand. Again, the blackbird cowed. William looked up 362 00:22:52,000 --> 00:22:54,280 Speaker 1: as it flew down from the tree and landed by 363 00:22:54,280 --> 00:22:57,800 Speaker 1: his side. It pecked three times at the ground and 364 00:22:57,880 --> 00:23:02,199 Speaker 1: then flew back into the trees. William looked at the spot. 365 00:23:03,080 --> 00:23:05,040 Speaker 1: There on the ground. He could see the tracks of 366 00:23:05,160 --> 00:23:09,719 Speaker 1: three brayers leading back into the forest. He sniffed at 367 00:23:09,720 --> 00:23:14,560 Speaker 1: the earth, a smell like Mumma, but somehow different. William 368 00:23:14,600 --> 00:23:17,440 Speaker 1: walked slowly on hands and feet along the line of 369 00:23:17,520 --> 00:23:19,919 Speaker 1: the horse prince, tracking them to the edge of the 370 00:23:19,960 --> 00:23:24,720 Speaker 1: clearing up above. The blackbird followed, hopping from branch to 371 00:23:24,760 --> 00:23:27,919 Speaker 1: branch as William made his way along the trail and 372 00:23:28,040 --> 00:23:38,840 Speaker 1: disappeared into the forest. All elements of Unexplained are produced 373 00:23:38,840 --> 00:23:41,920 Speaker 1: by me Richard McClain Smith. Please subscribe and rate the 374 00:23:41,960 --> 00:23:43,840 Speaker 1: show on night Tunes, and feel free to get in 375 00:23:43,880 --> 00:23:46,560 Speaker 1: touch with any thoughts or ideas regarding the stories you've 376 00:23:46,600 --> 00:23:49,199 Speaker 1: heard on the show. Perhaps you have an explanation of 377 00:23:49,240 --> 00:23:51,679 Speaker 1: your own you'd like to share. You can reach us 378 00:23:51,680 --> 00:23:54,719 Speaker 1: online at Unexplained podcast dot com or on Twitter at 379 00:23:54,800 --> 00:24:07,480 Speaker 1: Unexplained Pod. Now it's time to take care of yourself. 380 00:24:07,920 --> 00:24:11,679 Speaker 1: To make time for you, teledoc gives you access to 381 00:24:11,720 --> 00:24:14,879 Speaker 1: a licensed therapist to help you get back to feeling 382 00:24:14,920 --> 00:24:18,639 Speaker 1: your best. 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