The Monster of Piedras Blancas Page #4

I think he'll be more

comfortable in bed.

You bet.

- Easy now.

- All right.

Can he have something to

eat when he wakes up, doctor?

Yes, if he feels like it,

but don't force him.

I'll be back latter to have a look and

if there's any change you can call.

Thank you.

I wish he'd have felt like talking, maybe

he'd been able to tell us something.

Well, it shouldn't be to

hard to figure out, George.

There was a broken lantern

on the beach beside him.

Now, he must have gone out

last night, when Lucy heard him.

He went down by the rocks and fell.

That still doesn't

explain where the dog is.

He's probably out on the

moors chasing rabbits.

Maybe so.

- We better get back to town.

- Yep.

Take my Jeep...

I'm gonna stay with

Lucy for a while.

You can come back

and pick me up later.

All right, Fred. Perhaps

he'll be able to talk then.

- Thanks for everything.

- Anytime, Lucy.

You look bushed.

Sit down.

I'll get you a coffee.

I don't know how

Dad's going to take this.

He's never been

sick a day in his life.

He's just gonna have to get used

to it and take it easy for a while.

You don't know Dad

and his lighthouse.

I'll come out and give you a hand.

Maybe it'll give me a chance

to get to know him a little better.

- Lucy?

- He's awake.

How do you feel, Dad?

I don't know.

What happened?

We found you on the beach.

At the bottom of

one of the big cliffs.

The doctor says you'll

have to stay in bed.

But I can't!

- You've got to.

- I've got to tend the light!

I'm sorry, sir.

Those are orders.

What are you doing here?

He helped get you

up from the beach.

Oh...

Would you like something to eat?

Maybe some broth?

I suppose you won't leave me

alone until you get your own way.

It'll be good for you.

Watch him, will you Fred.

I'll be right back.

- Thank you.

- That's all right.

Do you have any

idea what happened?

I'm trying to think.

You must have gone out last night.

Lucy said she heard you.

Then there was the broken

lantern on the beach.

Yes, that's right.

After she went to her room, I took the

lantern and started down toward the cove.

Why?

She'd been swimming again

and I'd forbidden it.

She's headstrong...

...and last night she had the feeling

she was being watched.

I went down to see what I could find.

Did you see anyone?

No.

There's been another murder.

Who?

Kochek.

We found his body this afternoon.

He talked too much.

Mr. Sturges, you've been

around a long time...

...what do you know of the legend?

Piedras Blancas?

Oh, the coastal currents off this

point are very treacherous.

The rocks on the seaward side are...

...covered in white with gull dropping.

In bad weather they're almost

impossible to see.

Many a ship was lost on those

rocks before this light was built.

Not a record of any survivors.

With the coast and surf like

that, that isn't surprising.

No, but people would

rather start a legend.

Some of the earlier settlers claimed

a monster lived in the rocks

below this point.

Do you believe it?

Of course not.

Has anyone ever had a

look in those caves?

It's government land.

Nobody's allowed.

Do you mind if I have a look?

There's nothing there.

Then it won't hurt to have a look.

I don't want you on those rocks!

It's dangerous!

All right.

Are you sure that you don't remember

anything that happened last night?

If I did, I'd tell you.

Look!

Where'd you find her, Will?

Will?

I understand how you feel.

We all do.

But if we're ever gonna

stop this wanton killing

you've got to try to help us.

You got to tell me

whatever you can.

Will, where was she going?

Her mother sent her to the store.

Thanks, Will.

Come on, let's go

check with Eddie

see if she ever got there.

His broth will be ready in a minute.

- What's the matter?

- Oh, nothing.

I can tell. Now what is it?

Is your father often gone from the

lighthouse any length of time?

Why do you ask?

You said after your mother

died that he changed.

Yes.

And that after you moved out here

he wanted to be left alone!

He even sent you away to school,

wouldn't let you come

home during vacations.

What are you getting at?

How long was it after you moved here

that he sent you away to school?

About... 2 months.

Did anything unusual happen

before he sent you away?

I don't think so.

But you said he seemed

better for a while.

He was!

Then why did he send you away?

Some thing I did...

It wasn't anything, just kid's stuff.

No, go on.

Oh, when we lived up north he

he let me play around the rocks and

go to the beach alone.

But shortly after we moved here

he refused me the privilege.

He said it was too dangerous.

The cliffs never seemed any bigger

than the ones up north.

So,

I sneaked away one day

and got caught in one of

the caves by the tide.

When he found me it was

dark and he was furious.

I'd never seen him like that.

He sent me to bed without supper

and the next morning I was

packed off to boarding school.

I didn't see him for almost 10 years.

And he didn't give you

any reason at all?

I never question him.

You've heard of the

legend White Rocks?

Sure.

But you've never been in those caves?

- Think I'll have a look.

- What for?

Your father's keeping

something from me.

Isn't that a little unfair?

I don't think so.

He as much as ordered me

not to go in those cave.

Well, this is his light.

He's responsible.

Look, that's not quite the point.

Three people in the last 24 hrs.

have met with violent deaths.

I don't think there's anything to

the legend, but I've gotta be sure.

Even if it means

disobeying my father?

I'm not his son-in-law yet.

I thought you trusted him.

I do.

If you did, you wouldn't go to the caves.

I'm sorry.

I don't think you'd

better come here again.

Eddie!

Eddie!

Eddie!

That's funny. I told him to stay

here until I sent a relief.

Let's look outside.

I can't understand where

Eddies disappeared to.

You look in the office and see

if Kochek's body's still there.

I'll try the ice room.

But George, I just looked there.

George, are you all right?

- Go get him!

- No, no, not now.

Him...him...

Is he dead?

He's got a broken collar bone

and his back may be injured.

We better get him

over to my office.

Look.

Sam!

It's the same?

- It...

- Take it easy.

Why, it's identical!

Then I guess we found our killer.

Or he's found us.

Can you handle things here?

I better go get Fred.

All right, George.

Now be careful.

Lucy!

Lucy!

- Lucy, I've got to see Fred.

- What's happened?

- There've been 2 more murders.

- Oh, no. Who?

Eddie and Will's little girl.

How did it happen?

I haven't got time

to tell you now,

I've got to get Fred

and go back into town.

He went down to the cliffs.

All right. Oh, look..

Now remember one thing,

you keep the place locked!

And don't come out

until we call you.

Now there's a creature loose

around here someplace.

He's not headed this way,

but don't take any chances.

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