Preamble
Anton Von Stefan’s First Gothic Story
Arriving too late to catch the last ferry across Arrow Lake in central British Columbia, Canada, our author left the ferry landing and headed back into the mountains via a narrow, winding road. Locating a partially hidden sign he had previously noticed on the side of the road, he turned his Triumph TR7 in the direction indicated by the roadside advertisement for a campground.
The side-road climbed higher into the remote mountains, twisting and turning while the evergreen trees increasingly encroached upon the gravelled path, almost obliterating the way. Eventually arriving in an alpine meadow where the trees receded and provided ample room for a rather level field, a single light appeared in the distance. This welcome beacon registered the only sign that any human habitation was ever present in this remote portion of the earth. Thereto did our adventurous author drive.
Discovering that he was the first customer to this newly opened campsite, he never-the-less decided to stay and soon set up his small tent. Taking a shower in the newly constructed facility, he exited that building just prior to a horrific and most intense thunder storm. Pelted by heavy rain, he was kept awake for hours as the lightning flashed overhead, tearing the night apart with its brilliant illumination and deafening sound. As a result of that sudden onslaught, our author found that sleep was impossible. After enduring several hours of this tempest, the storm finally abated, and Anton Von Stefan fell into a deep sleep.
Waking early the next morning, he had the entire story in the forefront of his mind and brought out paper and pen. Feverishly writing for several hours, he tore down his tent in time to catch the ferry across Arrow Lake. While enjoying the crossing and the morning mist, which at that early hour was rising in abundance from the fresh water’s surface, he chanced upon a life ring bearing the vessel's name. 'MV NEEDLES' was clearly written on the bright, orange, safety device which was mounted just beneath the ship's handrail.
He was amazed, and somewhat mystified by this peculiar designation, as he had never crossed this lake before nor had he ever heard of the names of the ships plying these inland waters. Yet, the tale that had entered his mind, and now demanded to be written, bore the name: “The Passing of Mr Needles” and that curios title came from his dreams of the previous night.
The storyline was so intense in his mind that upon acquiring the far shore and arriving back on solid ground, Anton Von Stefan turned into the first wayside location possible. Setting up a makeshift desk, consisting of a table and chair at the very edge of Arrow Lake, he completed the initial, handwritten draft. The "Passing of Mr Needles" was his very first Gothic Horror Story; and, in his wildest dreams, he never imagined he would continue to formulate these unique, inspired, original, ghastly tales from that day forth.
This fictional narrative was indeed the first Gothic Horror Story ever written by Anton Von Stefan. Unequivocally, it is also a tale you should not miss out on. The author can only hope that in some small way "The Passing of Mr Needles" will enhance your day as much as it thrilled him to write it that memorable morning.
The Passing of Mr Needles is found in:
Volume I, The Curse of The Red Crystal
To read about the Author: See Twisted Biography
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