Ghost Canyon (The John Decker Supernatural Thriller Series Book 7) by Anthony Strong (ebooks that read to you .TXT) 📕

“Will that work?” Barnes asked.

“I don’t know if any of this will work,” Decker said. “I’m only going on the information Travis Biggs wrote in his journal. For all I know, Karuk lied to Travis about how to return Shilah’s spirit to the other side and dissipate the energy that created the Baykok.”

“We don’t have any choice,” Fowler said. “Crazy as this all sounds.”

“I agree.” Robyn nodded. “According to what you just told us, Shilah’s remains need to be made whole again for the creature to go away. It shouldn’t matter whether there are some extra bones included that aren’t his.”

“My thoughts exactly.” Decker reached into the cabinet and removed the brittle bones. “I need something to wrap these and keep them protected.”

“A bag would be good too,” Barnes said.

“Coming right up.” Robyn stepped out of the room and quickly returned with a backpack and a towel, which she spread across the top of the display case. “Here, use this.”

Decker placed the bones on the towel and wrapped them carefully, then placed the precious cargo into the bag and zipped it up. “I’m going up to the grave.”

“I’m coming with you,” Barnes said.

“Me too,” Fowler announced. “I’m having trouble getting my head around all this, but I’m not going to miss it.”

“And me,” Robyn added. “It’s my mine. I have the most to lose.”

“I think you should all stay here and let me do this on my own,” Decker replied, glancing around the group. “It might not be safe.”

“All the more reason for us to come then.” Robyn met Decker’s gaze. “The Baykok might not want to slip quietly into the night. You might need a distraction.”

“Is this how you all feel?” Decker asked.

As one, they nodded.

“Fine. We don’t have time to argue about it.” Decker started for the door. He crossed the hotel lobby with the rest of the group in tow. As he reached the front door, he heard a patter of feet. When he looked back, Tieg was standing watching them.

The dog let out a single bark.

“No,” Robyn said, crossing to the animal and patting its head. “You can’t come with us. Go back to your bed and lay down.”

The dog looked up at her for a moment, then it turned and sauntered back toward the office, glancing over his shoulder once before turning the corner and disappearing.

Robyn rejoined the group. “Well, what are we waiting for? Let’s vanquish a monster.”

Chapter Sixty-One

They passed through town under the cover of darkness and made their way to the trail leading up to the Ghost Canyon Mine with flashlights in hand. But they would not follow it all the way. At the midpoint, another less traveled path meandered up through the canyon and ended, finally, at a plateau overlooking the Colorado River. It was there the warrior, Shilah, was buried. And it was there the Baykok would be defeated. At least, if it all went to plan.

Decker took the lead, with the backpack containing the last of Shilah’s remains slung over one shoulder. As they walked near Carlton’s shack he saw a light burning, but there was no sign of the old man himself. Decker eyed the old WWII Jeep sitting to the side of the cabin, wondering if it would be able to make it up the trail, then decided against it. The thing would probably roll over and kill them all on one of the steep inclines, not to mention how narrow the trail became.

They continued on out of town, climbing until they reached the split. Here they turned left, away from the mine. As they went, Robyn spoke up, breaking the silence that had consumed them since leaving the saloon.

“Do you think this will really take care of the situation?” She asked. “I mean, it seems so easy, just putting an old bone back into the ground.”

“Maybe there’s some sort of incantation we need to recite,” Barnes speculated. “Some ancient words that will open the portal between our world and wherever that creature came from.”

“If there is, I don’t know them.” Decker had wondered the same thing, but the journal didn’t mention any specific ritual. “We can only hope Travis Biggs didn’t omit any information.”

“Or that his buddy, Karuk, didn’t withhold some vital tidbit in the same way that he concealed one of Shilah’s bones.”

“Yes. But we can only go on the available data, and I choose to believe we will be successful.” Decker adjusted the pack on his shoulder and stepped over a boulder jutting from the earth. He played his flashlight beam over the ground ahead, aware of the danger posed by a careless misstep. The mountain pathway was treacherous in the darkness. If one were to slip and fall over the edge, it would be a long way down. Worse, the ground was uneven and scattered with loose rocks and gravel. But he didn’t want to wait for daylight. If the creature escaped the mine, innocent lives would be lost, and he would be to blame.

“How far do we have to walk?” Robyn asked. “I don’t like it out here.”

“It shouldn’t be much further,” Decker replied. “We’ve covered a good distance already. Maybe another half-mile.”

“Which will feel more like two miles on this terrain,” Barnes said.

“If you’re uncomfortable, I’m sure someone will take you back,” Decker said to Robyn. “You don’t need to accompany us.”

“I’m coming, and that’s all there is to it,” Robyn replied with a determined look upon her face. “You’re not getting rid of me that easily.”

“Not trying to get rid of you. I’m glad you’re here. You probably know the landscape better than any of us.”

“Damn right. Plus, I want to see that bone put back in the ground. That creature, the Baykok or whatever you called it, is living inside my mine. I intend to evict it.”

“That’s the attitude.” Barnes chuckled. “Don’t give up. Fight back.”

“I’ve never given up and I’m not starting now.” “Speaking of which,