The Mystery of Pine Tree Mountain

By Charles Roberts

Pine Tree Mountain had been shrouded in mystery for centuries, anyone who attempted to climb the mountain disappeared until two teenage boys scaled the heights and found out the mystery. When they had sons they informed them, those sons grew into their sixties before deciding to climb the mountain, they took with then a twelve year old grandson of one of the men, and fought the beast. Twenty years later the boy, now a man brought from the top of the mountain the skeletal remains of the mythical beast.
To the Victor the Spoils. a man goes to look at the house he has inherited from his grandfather but has a rather nasty surprise when he tries to go upstairs.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Charles Roberts
• Release date: Feb 2, 2014
• ISBN: 9781310481024

Charles Roberts

Charles Roberts. After a life in public service Charles was forced to retire at the age of 52 due to health problems. In 2005 he moved, with his family, to live in the south of Spain. Charles like to walk in the hills either with or without his dogs, enjoys watching wildlife, and is a member of an amateur dramatic group. He also enjoys writing in various genres.

Book preview

The Mystery of Pine Tree Mountain

And

To The Victor The Spoils

Charles Roberts

First published in Smashwords edition

by Charles Roberts 2014

The right of Charles Roberts to be identified as the author of this work

Has been asserted under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

All rights reserved.

You may not copy, store, distribute, reproduce or otherwise make available this publication (or part of it) in any form, or by any means (electrical, digital, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise) without prior written permission of the author. Any person who does any unauthorised act in relation to this publication may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims for damages.

Illustrations © 2013 Ann Inwood.

One

‘Come up here young Tim and let me tell you about that mountain you can see out of the window there,’ the old man said beckoning the boy to him and patting his knee. ‘You mean Pine Tree Mountain granddad?’ Tim said as he approached the old man. ‘I do Tim! I’ll tell you all about it just as my grandfather told it to me.’ ‘Gosh! That must have been a long time ago.’ ‘Don’t you be cheeky young man,’ his mother said entering the room, ‘where do you want your tea dad?’ ‘Down there’ll be fine love,’ he answered her, ‘do you remember me telling you about the mountain June?’

‘Old Pine Tree dad? How could I forget it? I couldn’t sleep for a week with the nightmares,’ putting his tea cup down on the small table by his chair. ‘Is it scary mum? I do hope that it’s scary,’ sitting in the chair next to his granddad. ‘It was to me Tim. Now just you sit still and listen to your granddad,’ she said turning to leave the room. ‘Aren’t you going to listen to it as well mum?’ Tim asked. ‘No I’m not! I’ve heard it once and that’s enough. I don’t need any more nightmares thank you. Mind you dad it was dark when you told me the story,’ she said as she closed the door.

‘Story! This is more than a story young lady. This actually happened,’ he called after her. ‘At least that’s what my granddad told me,’ more to himself than anyone else. ‘You have to remember that mum’s just a girl granddad. They’re always scared of something, not like us men eh granddad?’ ‘You’re right Tim,’ he said ruffling the boy’s hair but staring at the closed door and frowning a little. ‘Are you all right granddad?’ the boy asked, looking up into the old man’s face. ‘What! Oh yes of course I am Tim. Now I’m going to take you back to a time before televisions and radios.’

‘What’s a television granddad?’ ‘Eh! Oh it’s a TV Tim.’ ‘This is going to be a story. We’ve had TV’s like forever granddad.’ ‘You might have had Tim but when I was your age we didn’t have a TV. In fact there was only one TV in the street.’ ‘Wow! How boring! What did you do granddad?’ ‘We read, or played games, or played out.’ ‘I’m not allowed to do that,’ Tim said sadly, ‘because of that strange man who lives down the road from us.’ ‘Well this story involves that man and tells you why he’s so strange. Or at least it involves his granddad. Tim.’ ‘You know him granddad?’ ‘I know his family yes Tim.’

Outside the sky was steadily darkening with storm clouds. ‘Have you seen the dark mark near the top of the mountain Tim?’ ‘Sure it stands out a mile.’ ‘Do you know what made that mark Tim?’ ‘Granddad everybody knows that! It was made when a German bomber crashed into it and burst into flames.’ ‘Is that what you think? Is that what you’ve been told? Who told you that?’ ‘Everybody granddad. The kids at school, the teachers.’ ‘Your mother?’ ‘She won’t talk about it. I asked her but she just said that I was too young to be asking questions like that.’

‘But your mother knows the truth Tim. All the rest are just guessing. You see Tim, my grandfather and Mr Wilson’s grandfather were best friends.’ ‘Who’s Mr Wilson granddad?’ ‘The strange man Tim.’ ‘How do you know his name granddad?’ ‘As I said his granddad and mine were best friends. He was my best friend when we were at school, then he went away to the army and when he came back he was changed Tim. Quiet, withdrawn, refused to speak to anyone, even me. He lives there on his own without a friend or family.’

‘Maybe you should go and see him granddad. Maybe he’d talk to you now after all this time.’ ‘You know Tim maybe I should, show him that he’s not on his own and that he still has a friend.’ ‘That’s the way to go granddad.’ ‘Now this story about the mountain.’ ‘And the bomber crashing into it,’ he jumped up, put his arms out wide and ran around the room, ‘waaah! crash! boom,’ falling onto the floor in a heap. ‘Come sit here and I’ll tell you what that mark really is Tim and it’s not a crashed German bomber.’ Tim got up of the floor and went to sit in the chair by his grandfather. ‘Now then, you’re not going to leap up again are you Tim?’

‘No granddad. It’s getting dark do want the light switching on?’ said Tim as a flash of lightning lit the room.’ ‘I think that we’d better Tim my lad,’ looking out of the window at the now dark sky. ‘I think your mother will be in here shortly, I know she’s frightened of thunder storms.’ ‘She’s not, is she granddad? That’s a girl for you.’ Said Tim getting up and going to switch the light on. ‘Are you two all right?’ June asked, popping her head round the door. ‘We’re all right mum, but are you?’ asked Tim as he flicked the lights on. ‘Of course I am. Why shouldn’t I be?’ ‘Granddad says that you’re frightened of thunder.’ ‘I don’t like it, but I’m not frightened of it,’ she was saying as the room was again lit up by lightning and the thunder sounded as though it came from the room above. June jumped. ‘Your granddad likes to make up stories that frighten people,’ she said looking at her father. ‘Don’t let your tea go cold dad.’

‘You’re not staying mum?’ Tim asked. ‘No dear. I’ll let granddad tell you this on his own. Just don’t scare him too much dad.’ ‘I’ll try not to love. You just hide, from the thunder, under the kitchen table.’ Putting her tongue out at her father she closed the door as the room was lit once again by lightning. The old man chuckled to himself. Then, in between the claps of thunder, they heard the doorbell ring. ‘I’ll get that dad,’ June called from another room. ‘Now who can that be, calling on me on a day like this?’ the old man mused. ‘I don’t know granddad, but we’ll see in a minute.’ Just then they heard June’s voice.

Two

‘You’d better come in. My father’s in here with Tim,’ she said opening the door and showing the man in. ‘Dad it’s Mr Wilson to see you.’ ‘That’s the weirdo!’ Tim whispered to his grandfather none too quietly. There in the doorway stood a tall but stooped man, hair as white as snow, eyes of dark brown slightly sunken with deep bags under as though he hadn’t slept for ages, nose slightly hooked and thin lips that looked as though they’d never smiled. ‘Hello Dave. I hope you don’t mind my calling in like this, you’re the only one I know that I can tell,’ the man said haltingly. ‘Of course I don’t Adam.’ Dave said getting out of his chair and going over to shake Adam’s hand. ‘Come on in, take that wet coat off. June, you remember my daughter June, don’t you Adam?’ Adam nodded at June. ‘Take his coat to dry love. Would you like a drink? Sit! Sit yourself down; something’s weighing heavy on your mind Adam I can tell.’ Adam hadn’t taken his eyes off young Tim as he removed his wet coat.

‘Come along Tim and give me a hand,’ his mum called. ‘We was his age Dave,’ he said pointing at Tim, ‘we was his age,’ Adam’s deep voice seemed to resonate round the room. ‘Tim’ll be all right June. You will have a drink won’t you Adam?’ granddad asked. ‘Aye. If it’s not any trouble,’ he turned to look at June, ‘I