Liminal - Part 5 - At the Threshold of a Mystery

As incredible as it sounds, Gwen and I became amateur ghost hunters and in our impulsive chasing after phantoms we lost our golden retriever, Mollie—one moment she was ahead of us on the path and then next instant she disappeared.

It was a hopeless feeling having your pet abducted by a phantom figure from beyond the grave.

We spent hours calling for her and searching the woods but it was a futile task.

Mollie was gone.

I spent a sleepless night lying in bed, the window open, hoping to hear Mollie's familiar half-yelp—the sound she makes when she wants in.

All night long I felt I was raving, drifting in and out of consciousness, my mind beset with strange images from some primeval twilight world.

I couldn't escape the forlorn feeling that Mollie was still out there in the woods lost in some other dimension of time or space.

About daylight, I was just beginning to relax when I heard Mollie's yelp, or thought I did. You know how that is—you're not sure if you're awake or asleep or dreaming and imagining things.

But then I heard it again, louder and more urgent this time.

I leapt out of bed and ran downstairs to the patio walkout doors. Mollie was sitting patiently on the patio stones gazing up at me.

I gathered her into my arms and buried my face in her fur. She smelled of wind and the outdoors but there was another sweet powdery scent that smelt vaguely of soap.

And then my hands brushed against a strange collar around her neck.

I parted her long fur and saw what appeared to be a leather thong and attached to it were what appeared to be several strange white stones, but on closer inspection, I discovered they were teeth of some large animal.

I sat back in amazement and stared at her. It was then I noticed three blue jay feathers affixed behind her left ear and a red smudge on her neck fur.

I was mystified by her appearance.

She didn't look bedraggled—her fur wasn't muddy or matted the way it often got when she ran through the woods—as a matter of fact, her coat looked freshly cleaned and brushed and it was actually glossy.

She didn't look worse for wear--she looked beautiful as if someone lovingly groomed and cared for her.

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While I was pondering this mystery the phone rang and I realized it must be Gwen calling to enquire about Mollie.

I brought Mollie back inside with me and waited until the phone rang off. I then sat on the living room sofa chair trying to gather my thoughts.

As happy as I was to get Mollie back in good health and unharmed, I was perplexed about how to explain this mystery to Gwen without looking foolish. I concluded there simply was no other way than to state the simple truth.

I suddenly felt completely exhausted by this whole business of phantom figures and ancient trackways.