CHAPTER 11 GHOSTBUSTER

 

I was amazed.  I had written to Peter Underwood using an address in the back of one of his books I’d bought..  It was simply, Peter Underwood, c/o The Savage Club, London.  It was so much simpler in those days.

I had given him a brief overview of what supernatural challenges we had, and how scared we and the staff were.  He asked me for more in depth information about the staircase and the little girl who made the Electrician fall from his ladder.

I also told him about the Piano Tuner and the shadow man he was talking to.

The phone went silent.

“Peter?” I said, “are you there?”

“A shadow man?”

“Yes, is that significant?”

“Fully formed?  Clear to the eye.”

“Just a matt black figure.  Around 6ft.”

“How far away were you?”

“Around 20ft away!”

“How can you be sure of the height?”

“It was next to the piano tuner. I’m six foot one and he only came up to my shoulders when I met him when he arrived.”

“My goodness,” Peter replied, “This is most disturbing.  This sounds like a fully formed spirit, an entity that can interact with the natural world.  There must be something on that staircase that is a gateway through which all manner of spirits can come through.”

“You lost me a little there Peter.  Have you come across something like this before?”

“Not for a while, but yes.  Devilish buggers, difficult to deal with.”

“We have a priest coming here on the 2^nd of January and…”

“I strongly advise against it.”  Peter sounded agitated. “On no account should you bring anyone into the school at present from the priesthood.  This entity is very strong.  Controlling even.  Everything that is happening is happening because of it.”

“Well he’s booked,” I said, “And the head teachers want this dealt with.”

“Listen, David.  It’s up to you but, I can only advise you that you must not bring a priest into the situation at present.  This entity will not like it.  It will target him!  We have no real idea of its power but I am sure it is what you heard on the stairs coming after you that night.”

“Well, what do you suggest?  I wrote to you in the hope you may give me some advice.”

“David, listen.  I spend this time of year in Scotland, have done for the last couple of years.  I can get someone to your school, a colleague, before the priest arrives to investigate and assess the situation.  I have to tell you that this is a very interesting case and one that we would be interested in investigating thoroughly.  Can I get someone over to you the week after Christmas?”

A swift calculation told me that the Vicar needed rescheduling to the following week, and an evening.

“He will call you tomorrow around 2pm to make the arrangements.  Is that OK?”

“OK, thanks.  I didn’t expect you to do anything, just a little advice, so thank you.”

“Thank you David, and please.  Do not let the vicar into the building.  It will not be safe for him.”

“Ok, I won’t.  I promise.”

“We will speak again soon, Bye bye”.  The line went dead.

I stared at the wall, phone in hand.

John stared at me, brain doing somersaults

Now to break the news to the Head.