The Death of 1977 (Book 3)

Negril, Jamaica

The Rainy Season

"Walk with me, if you will. Here, beyond this beach aptly named Bloody Bay, lies an uncanny, if not deadly revelation that has rocked the people of Negril.

What lies behind me, deep within this bamboo forest is a horror the likes you have never witnessed before.

As we venture deep into the crevices of the quiet glade we can hear almost nothing. No kinds of wildlife to be seen or heard. Only quiet...eerie, deep quiet.

The deeper we delve, the more the human imagination begins to develop a sense of fear and trepidation, until...we find the unthinkable.

Right here, in this massive ditch, once was the resting place of exactly eighty-six men, women, boys and girls. All of which were torn to pieces by some wild animal just three months earlier.

Who discovered and buried the people is still a mystery. What kind of vicious beast could have wrought so much havoc is still baffling.

Local authorities are hesitant to say just what kind of animal could have murdered all of those people, but villagers in and around here say that this entire area was at one time, and still is cursed. Some even call this area 'The curse of Satan.'

The soil that I have in my hands is all but infertile. As I mentioned earlier, the sounds of animals is all but non-existent. It's as though they are aware that this entire forest is a nightmare.

I, your host, Silas MacDougal, even have reservations on remaining here. Even as I stand here I feel a deep presence lurking about; something sinister following me.

It's said by some of the neighboring villagers that voices can be heard coming from this very forest both night and day. There have been stories of giant animals once stalking people in this very village over fifty years ago. Creatures that have plagued this once peaceful Oceanside crest that was at one time called home, have now turned it into a wasteland, with nothing to show for it but memories.

What sort of animal could have wiped out an entire village? Who was it that buried all the bodies? How could such evil have been overlooked for so long? What the hell are the kids doing running around our set?" Silas angrily shouted in his Scottish vernacular. "Cut, cut, cut!"

All around Silas, his young camera operator Rebecca and her younger brother and microphone man William were little Jamaican children running, frolicking and acting as if the entire forest were their private playground.

All Silas could do was take off his ball cap, toss it to the ground and look on in utter disbelief. "Where the hell did they come from all of the sudden?" He fussed.

"They're from the other village," Rebecca, who also spoke in a Scottish dialect, said as she turned her camera off.

Spinning around and around, trying to catch all of the racing children in a single eyeshot, Silas remarked, "This is crazy! I'm filming a documentary here, not an episode of Sesame Street!"

Impishly grinning, Rebecca said, "They're just kids playing."

"Let them play somewhere else!" Silas ranted as he began for the foot of the forest. "I wanna at least get the introduction complete before it rains again for the tenth time today, for God's sake!"

No sooner had Silas and his assistants exited the forest, a short, bald, old Jamaican man dressed in a white buttoned down shirt and slacks began approaching him.

"Now what," Silas rolled his eyes.

"You know what he wants." William moaned.

Wiping his sweaty face with his dingy undershirt, Silas promptly pasted on the shiniest, phony smile he could assemble.

"Good afternoon, Pastor Bena!" Silas

my friend!" Bena responded in kind, kissing Silas on both cheeks. "How

job," Silas gritted his teeth behind his cheesy smile. "What brings

dey just got out

that it?" Silas strained

will come and visit de church. We have

to show up this Sunday,

between doing our documentary and all the rain, we've

his hands. "God be with you all! Come now,

waited until Bena was out of earshot before Silas dropped his fake smile and said, "Those Protestants never give up. Hopefully we'll be done with this shoot before Sunday, and

But before Silas could speak another word, the clouds in the sky darkened within a matter of

sky. "You're supposed to be an almighty being!

while just a few

cap. His khaki pants and muddy boots would have suggested that

while glaring an amused smirk at the unfortunate

embankment he was parked. He drove down the muddy, rural road, past numerous fleeing villagers who were trying to escape the weather's conditions. There were men, women and children, some of which were either running, riding bikes or

until he made it to a main road that led down a rain-slicked highway in the afternoon, after work

From left to right there were people on both sides of the road walking or remaining underneath their tents selling food or whatever else they saw fit to peddle. But

the dreary season, if a person wasn't accustomed to the conditions, then they were just as well to up and leave

off the main road and down an alley before stopping behind the store.

approached Livingston's side and knocked on the glass. Appearing annoyed, Livingston rolled down the

side of the truck and climbed inside. Gawking and

down yet another alley and parking. The rain pelted the truck so hard that it felt as if

Livingston dashed out his cigar before turning to the man

satchel and glancing behind him as though he were being watched, the man asked, "Where have you been all dis time?"

got back from Lincolnshire two days ago." Livingston replied. "But don't worry about that. What do you have for

dese about

twisted his lips

two have been taking pictures and filming." The

him before. He's filming some kind of movie out in the woods. He's

photo, the man pulled out another. "Dis one is part of the JLP, but he and his followers have also been roaming around de outskirts near de Palm

thought for a moment or two while glaring hard at the

ten or so," he

his nose. "You bloody

hard to tell. Dey are young; dey come and dey go

an eye on them. I

The man then handed Livingston

"De workers down at The Kabal say dat she is a server dere. She also works down at

"So, what does she have

"She's an

Looking perturbed, Livingston ranted, "Why are you taking pictures