The Shadow of Banshee Hill by Fionn Mac Meldrum

Author:Fionn Mac Meldrum
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Koehler Books
Published: 2023-10-17T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

December 21, 2012

Waldo County, Maine

United States of America

There’s a lot of dead spots around these parts,” Cillian commented, seeing Emily failing to find a radio signal. All she was getting were intermittent peeps and cheeps of generic ’80s rock music mixed with jarring static as she turned the channel dial on the Dodge Challenger’s dashboard. “I wouldn’t waste my time until we’re closer to a major town.”

Emily accepted defeat and gave up her pursuit with a groan. She placed her full attention back on the freshly ploughed and salted road ahead of them that meandered through the sprawling landscape of Maine. The leafy trees of green that characteristically covered the woods and forests had fallen weeks earlier and were replaced with pure white snow, making the blanketed woodlands and granite peaks look somewhat enchanted. Only a couple of days had passed since a doozy of a storm had brought with it an almost record-breaking snowfall, but on that post-dawn morning, driving conditions were perfect.

“I’ve lived in New England my whole life, and this is my first time travelling north of Portland.”

“First impressions?”

“It’s quiet,” she answered. “I like that, though. Blue skies, endless trees, red barns, and not a billboard in sight—what’s not to like.”

Cillian nodded in agreement and smiled slightly, staring out the passenger’s window. He had a great reverence for nature. Even after being alive for over two centuries, he was still able to enjoy the spatial sensation that only the great outdoors could deliver. “Being away from the chaos of city life is good for the body and mind.”

“I hear that,” Emily replied as they drove past a quaint dairy farm that had several barns of different levels of deterioration plotted across its acreage. “Did you know that the doughnut hole was invented in Maine?”

“You know what, I didn’t.”

“Most people don’t know this but the first doughnut in America didn’t have holes. The Dutch brought them over and used to fry the dough in hot oil, but they cooked unevenly leaving the centre raw. A sixteen-year-old crewman on a schooner named Hansen Gregory came up with the solution and simply punched a hole in the centre, and, hey presto, history was made.”

Cillian forgot how nice it was to simply talk to someone about nothing of any substance. The same could be said for Emily. The mundane chitchat shared between them while driving the backroads from Boston had taken their minds off everything. The break was welcomed.

A sudden bubble churned in Emily’s stomach. The rumble was loud enough for Cillian to hear.

“Hungry?” he asked.

“I’m fine. It must be all the doughnut talk.”

“The town of Belfast is not far from here. I’m sure we can find something to eat there.”

“Don’t worry about it. I usually don’t eat breakfast anyway. I’ll be okay,” Emily declined just as her belly growled again. Clearly it was in complete disagreement with her. “On second thought, can you reach into the side pocket on my coat in the backseat? There should be a small bag of trail mix in there from last week when I was hiking with my cousin.

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