Things that go Bump in the Night!

By: Marcia King-Gamble

www.lovemarcia.com

When most of us think of October, we think of Halloween and Trick or Treat.  We think of pranks and rewards coming in the form of  sweets.  

This October we were asked to share our scariest  scenes with you. Since I'm a contemporary writer, and not big on paranormal I really had to think back. Then it came to me, seventeen years ago I wrote a book titled, This Way Home; a trade paperback.

The Underground Railroad has always fascinated me. For those of you who don't know what that is, it was a series of routes and safe homes established in the early to mid- nineteen century. These were  places that escaping slaves could go to on their way to Canada or other free states.

Harriet Tubman; an escaped slave herself, and known as Moses of her people, is the most famous of those helping  slaves escape. She was known as a conductor. Many of you may remember her from American history or the 2019 film,  Harriet , nominated for several awards.

What most don't know is that many of these conductors were ordinary people. Some were farmers, business  owners and even ministers. One of the wealthiest was Gerrit Smith; a millionaire, who purchased an entire family of slaves and then set them free. 

 Often quilts (yes, the kind you used for bedding,)  held codes, assisting the slaves in navigating their way to safe houses.  These quilts were often hung out to dry where a slave might see them in passing. I plan on blogging about this in the future. 

This brings me back to the story of This Way Home. Two people are drawn together by the strange dreams  they have in their respective homes. These dreams  throw them back into the past where they are chased by people they can't see and saved at the very last moment.  They learn through a blind, elderly man, given to visions, that both of their homes were stations on the Underground railroad. Here is an excerpt from that book.

Sam found the old armchair and sank into it just as the spell took force. His head lolled to the side and his body convulsed. He saw the first explosion of bright white light as he was transported back into time. He was outside in a field, working alongside the slaves, the only white man in sight other than the overseer. The ruddy, sweating man referred to as Master barked orders and brandished a whip. The welts on the back of the black man next to him signified the whip was used plentifully and often.  Children, their frail bodies bent under the baskets of ripe produce, shuffled by, their eyes vacant and lifeless.

Suddenly a noise broke out as a male slave broke free and headed toward the underbrush. Work ceased temporarily as his companions leaned on their hoes and in astonishment stared.

"Get back to work," the overseer bellowed, summoning reinforcements to chase after the runway slave. All hell broke loose as a slew of hounds arrived.  A posse of men guided them through the bushes in search of the slave.

The scene changed to an old church where men's and women's heads were bowed in prayer, black and white joined together. Sam recognized the church as one he'd cared for. It had been established as a safe haven for those who had escaped.

The minister leading the prayer , had been a fugitive slave who'd escaped to Canada. Later he'd settled near Syracuse, establishing Underground Railroad stations, one at his home and the other in this church. Now the church was no more. It had been demolished twenty-odd years ago and a nursery school stood in its place.

The congregation began to sing one of the more popular negro spirituals. Over the singing, Sam heard three loud knocks. Immediately the crowd hushed. and the minister bellowed, "Who's there?"

"A friend with friends," the secret reply came.

Hearing the familiar signal, he threw the church door wide open. A quaker entered carrying a black man who looked more dead than alive. A terrified looking female slave followed, holding the hand of a child. The ragged clothes they wore barely covered the essentials. The stark white of the man's eyes was prominent against his coffee face and his breath came in shallow gasps. Sam could smell the sweat trickling off his lean body.

The Quaker announced, "Friends, this is Erik and his family. We'll need to keep them safe."

The spell ended and with it reality returned. Sam was back in the old carriage house.....

There are other scenes like this one:

Bodies were hurled across the room by a dark shadow that reached down from the ceiling. Liza sat frozen in bed, clutching the sheets tightly against her. Bloodcurdling yells filled the air. In the distance a  siren wailed and neighbors in various stages of undress were out on their lawns staring at him.  (the hero is on a ladder,)  inside the bedlam continued.  

Now back to things that go bump  in the night.  October brings with it vampires, hobgoblins, shapeshifters, and ghosts, or as we say on my island, "jumbies". 

Nevertheless, whatever you believe in, or don't believe in, October and Halloween should be lighthearted fun. 

This year we especially need it!

 

About Marcia King-Gamble

Romance writer, Marcia King-Gamble began reading Mills and Boon books at six. They were considered naughty back then. Originally from a sunny Caribbean island where the sky and ocean are the same mesmerizing shade of blue, this travel industry executive has spent most of life in the United States. A National Bestselling author, Marcia has penned over 34 books and 8 novellas. Her free time is spent at the gym, traveling to exotic locales, and caring for an animal family that keep her sane. Well almost.

Visit Marcia at www.lovemarcia.com or “friend” her on Facebook: http://bit.ly/1MlnrIS

Be sure to email her to join her mailing list. 

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