Wherefore Art Thou, Emajean?
A Friends of the Library Mystery
The researcher looked around, hoping to see any kind of structure that would be evidence of people. In the far distance she saw a rectangular shape that might be a shed or even a barn. Squaring her shoulders she began trudging towards it.
The sun overhead was hot and she was grateful for the unfamiliar bonnet. It seemed to her that she had been crossing the fields for a very long time, but she had no time reference without her watch or computer. The tickle in her throat was becoming a roaring thirst, but every time she looked up to see how much farther, it seemed as if the structure was the same size in the distance.
She sank down in the field to rest for a minute. This is not fun anymore. I can’t figure out what has happened. Maybe I’ve gone crazy. Maybe this is a dream. She tried pinching her arm to wake up, but accomplished nothing. She closed her eyes and curled herself into a little ball, with her head down, and arms around her knees. She wasn’t sure how long she had sat there when she began hearing faint music.
The researcher jerked her head up and looked towards the structure. Now it was only about 100 meters away and she could see that it was, indeed a barn, and could hear music emanating from the half-open door. She stood up and began walking resolutely towards the barn. To her relief, she could actually approach it this time.
“Oh, that’s too bad, you’ve torn your stockings!” she heard a woman say. The researcher looked down at her legs and to her surprise, she was wearing a white nursing uniform. Indeed, the stocking on her left leg was torn. She looked up at the person who had commented, and asked, “where are we?” The short, dark-haired beauty laughed and said, “oh come on, Celia, we’re at Garm’s barn! You’ve been here lots of times!”
The researcher (whose name actually was Celia) figured she’d better play along. “Oh, yes . . . I’m just really hot and thirsty,” she offered as an excuse. “Well come on in to the Hard Times party!” the girl responded. “I have to say, though, you didn’t put on much of a costume!” Celia couldn’t help but giggle inside. In my real life this would be quite a costume! I hate the sight of blood! The giggle must have made her face relax into a smile because the other woman smiled at her. When she did her lips parted to reveal a blackened tooth.
