| Show Peoa Sophomore Skillful Writer A As n R project in h Ml 11 Dixie l ot of IVon Poa block black eyed and charming j 15 year old old ear rold South Bouth Summit sophomore ha hM written n n R short bon story which l Is k to say the 1 least t. t The Imagination vocabulary sense of ot construction con and storytellIng story toll J. J Ing big ability dt displayed here IU are extremely rare In one of 01 IS III ISI I I read rend a RIot lot loo says say's aj nixie Dixie In fact lart I rP read d everything evel DO YOU OU BELIEVE ME By Dixie Marchant Merchant They say Ive I've lost my mind That Js is why Im I'm here In this padded heavily soundproof room with only a pen and paper to reI re- re I hove the terror of these expectant expect ant hours Im I'm not Insane 1 I J haven't lost my mind I Ive I've lost something else elee something much more valuable to me But Dut Im I'm not Insane You must realize that Its It's only that the pain that In Jn- r tense gnawing pain sometimes overpowers me and I can un do noth noth- inq 4 Du 1 tl Jm m po pot t I n in I a know now I haven't long long longto to to H live Jive e and 1 am frightened I frightened ItS Ite a e sickening sicken Bicken f k n. n Ing fear tear reaching out from the I very Inner recesses of my brainand brainand brain brainand and clutching at my heart tearing tearing tear ing at my body I have never nevert I t known such fear as this and its it's almost thrilling In a way In my mind Ive I've compared it Jt to such trite things as my first day at atI r. r school or the time I fought with 1 I Ithe j the neighbor boy Ive I've even compared compared com I pared it to my first kiss Ides On these j J i occasions I knew excitement ex ox- expectancy even a sense of foreboding foreboding fore fore- I boding but never this dreadful I fear I I b. b I Wonted Wanted Money They dont don't believe me No one believes me me but they shall soon inee j i nee Bee seel I They are living their monotonous mono mono- monotonous lives day after alter day week I after week year after year with I never a thought of the supernatural I tural the impossible the incredible I ible No I didn't believe in ghosts nor hypnotism nor sensory perception I 1 didn't believe be lieve In visions and prophecies I be-I nor did I believe in voodoo curses or r witchcraft I was Interested as they are only in my position In soci society ty I was selfish and greedy geedy I 1 wanted money money money-money money the root of all aJl evil I had money once twice even but Ive I've spent it ev ery cry cent trying to gain ga n back what Ive I've lost They are like that too They nev never r stop atop st p to enjoy what they already have but keep pushIng pushing push push- Ing inS on for more Ive I've tried to tell them how Il I Ii I i feel but they only laugh at me They took my money In an attempt attempt attempt at at- tempt to cure but now that my my money and influence are gone they only laugh They pity me tee y s pity strangely enough That's 1 t Im I'm locked in this cold dark Dirt Cut you must most realize realise Im I'm not Insane No one ona could be more sane than I am at this moment Although no one may ever read this I must write It down to ease eue my mind Ive I've told it so 80 o many mant times Umes but always they laugh and whisper to each other and then politely tell me they can be of ot no help 8 See Ste Psychiatrist Perhaps they say MY a psychiatrist fould could help you See Always it is to derision lon and pity tut ut ut never help I Ah All but enough of this rambling a B. B 1 J have little time My name is Barf harry Barry Wilmore I J am an Englishman n I J was the only child of the G Governor of of and was educated Ine in inthe the Ike e highest schools Ive I've always alway t Teen MD n a playboy I was spoiled and ADd toy JOy escapades finally brought meto me meto meto to u a bad end beginning really At the death of my father I Idle Idle- dis discovered covered that I 1 had been left out of Ills his will Penniless I l became aa an adventurous treasure seeker Ive I've traveled traveled all all oler the world for lost cities burled buried treasure and fantastic jewels It eras nas a search for the latter that me me to Africa deep into the heart Of the damp dark jungles bf bt Africa Im I'm only twenty five but I J feel aa CUI though Im I'm much older Fear am and aDd pain ages one BO so 1 J had made my fortune and there was really leally no need for meto meto me mo moto to begin this hunt but its it's possibilities pos poe S for tor excitement fascinated me JOe 1 had heard of 01 an enormous diamond approximately eight inches in n ches chea in diameter perfectly cut and aDd beautifully polished It was supposed to be larger than any other in existence It Jt bad had never been beeD appraised appraise but it was valued at something over a Ii million I lars larsi The moment I heard beard of ItI it itI I J knew I must possess the Jew jewel 1 Weal Deal U In Witchcraft The prize belonged to a tribe ot of headhunters headhunter a called led the Nor Nor- hall hal halWell well welt known for lor their dan dan- dealings in voodoo and witchcraft They were located locate deep in the African jungle near an active volcano I 1 wa was warned time and again of the dangers of my undertaking but I J was w. deter determined mined mint to go I decided to take takeI I I with me a close eloe friend Allan 1 r booked passage tor for forI I the two t of us on a south bound l loner ner j I The long tong trip up the coast of Africa m was vas Very err pleasant It It was mote more of or a pleasure cruise tb than n a business trip I r enjoyed it im men el little L. L I. I ot i.-ot 4 r da days s were sere ere among the last car care 1 J flee day d. d t I was waR to know Ve We readied reached the mouth of the Niger after fifteen days of ot wonderful wonderful won won- derf l sailing Balling weather Here Richfield and I J prepared to travel up river A native village called Ephrine was as 41 near Dear ear by and it at af forded us Negroes for a safari and it was here al also IO o that that we bought our out supplies It was with great trouble that we acquired our Negroes They seemed eager cagEr enough to come with us Uti until they learned of our purpose Then they would mumble mum mumble ble an Incoherent excuse and slip awa away with either an awed or frightened ed expression in their I II eyes Finally we gathered together together to to- I gether gather enough m men n for fora a a strong trong well balanced group It a took took a a. a r of great wealth to do dolt It it I I I I I Dangers Mounted I At first while traveling up river ri I there were were balmy sea aa breezes blowing in to cool us but gradually gradually all ally as we pushed further into the jungle J It became extremely hot and humid Three da days before we we reached our aliI landing place the heat became almost unbearable an and t the of malaria yellow yel yel- low Ilow low fever rot crocodiles and poisonous pol onous snakes made matters worse At last oat Lar guide gullie told us it ft was time Limb to begin our march through the Jun jungle le We e w were ere glad to be able to go Into Inlo the trees where the heat wasn't quite so I unbearable We Va pushed on through the jungle hacking at times at the thick growth of foliage in order to get through For five days w we we walked sleeping at night in the trees keeping watch every four hours The monkeys kept up an incessant chatter as we passed and the birds and other small animals chided us from branches far above our heads or blinked questioningly at us from their tiny homes hidden beneath the roots of the huge trees On the sixth day late in the afternoon we reached our destina Lion tion Breaking through a grove of t cc c trees we co could cl see e tIe a volcano towering a short hott distance dill die tance In front of or us U The noise nole o othe of f the bubbling lava tava AS we drew nearer became x camf louder and ant louder On the cone of the volcano the roar must have been tEen almost deaf Great clouds of steam team were ere continuously tram flom the mouth and the hue huge volcano presented pre pre- rented a horrify ng sl eight Bight ht chilling chill chili ing u. u us to the very the Vry o of our o As we neared the volcano themen the I nen men grew Kew 1 ew t f i r t I they i to go o any Rny further We camped near the base bane 6 11 of the volcano tied and t prepared r to take Ue tole jewel the n next net t da day leaving themen the themen men mn to set ct 1 up camp and I I r pressed on to the nati native e eI I v Have le age to gather I Beautiful Statue I As we reached the village we e esaw saw in the center of or the huts a aI I f statue It Jot was wal about twenty feet high and I J dare say eay almost a 8 as wide aide It was likened unto an image of Buddha Made of gold it glistened and shone Rhone as the suns sun's rays l it and glance glanced off agan again The eyes eys were sapphires of large dimension and the lips w were wre ere studded with Th The feature that attracted our gaze most however was was wis' the beautiful diamond heM held to rn its ita I and nd lt it Wan WI almost aJ nj l eoe 1 Ne Never rb before before t r h had d I I. I Veen s 's such sucha a nUKe auge jewel of Rn any kind It looked as though It had been cut and polished by the tinE finest t Jewelers It seemed to have acquired all aJI the colors colon of the rainbow and ond asIt as all asit it sparkled there in the late afternoon aft af- i they flashed flashel brilliantly It al almost rot blinded u us to look at it it II I I As night was faking and we wee au I to 10 nv H back to camp amp we laid our plan quickly It U was an ary r plan S 1 iU in piny other expeditions Y We w were were re to walk into nto the tillage to to ask aak as ast though we were lest ICH how t far ar w I 1 had to travel to r reach ch the Niger Hh River 11 We were to put on an appearance ap op appearance of being big game hunts hunti hunt hunt- i t s 8 As we dl didn't nt speak their language and it was quite probable probable I able that they didn't speak ours sign language would be used and I this would give me more time to toI I sabotage the diamond While j I Richfield was keeping them busy I I 1 was to grab the diamond and e leave without being seen Later I Richfield and the men mn would fol fol- i j low and we ue I. I would head for the I Nig Niger r. r Richfield and I then went back to camp 1 rJ Plans ns Complete I IThe The next morning we left camp I takIng some om weapons t POU with ith us to 1 tUi tb t h o-i o ett and set let Ill ut Lt for tor he the V e. e V Ire e could per persuade suade ouy three koi ot the Uie met aiea to come cotte e with us so 0 we left ieH t Ue dS s t. t 16 to Leak bieak camp tamp Richfield Lang an 1 te enu u t. t J ef lu In a toward the Nor Nor- e an an h. h c. c the e lame ae a e trat tra a a- ave ve le ua w I u t before Upon arriving at th the volcano olcan 1 I wile balte Ule s j ai 10 fc 6 01 KU t berue e I 1 a j t- t t-j t J the tie arrival al of the Ull the trees As e stun soon OD bs as 1 I 00 cOta tee see the vi lasers beu bal al arond around Richfield I J slipped i. i Il ij Le e ua aul 1 0 10 e. e the almond out of the Idols Idol's Laude 1 l t a. a y I I J the foot toot of crt the vH t cano no and nd I J was to 0 run r I I f the he e urance to when a areat great reat rumbling came from wt wi within I tie e a o. o lt it was Wall about to erupt Frightened I 1 tried to run away The d d me and be began shoot n ng end and running about confused I 1 tried to get away but through sheer terror I was glued to the spot Finally as the hot lava bubbled and boiled I J gained back my ny ability to move and move move 1 I did Greedily clutching the dJa- dJa oad I began to 1 tun un I Suddenly there came tame a tremendous tremendous dous ious roar roar Startled by bythe the noise noille I Iban ban glanced d back backward ard I I was was held Ito Ito- mob mottle moble la and and speechless Standing on the shoulders of the idol Wallan was Wall an man man- He was black and his skin ebone and glistened like the image below him bim lie He was wasi i dressed n n a loin cloth made of leopard skin and a huge headdress head head- i drew dress looking exactly like Uke the idol was as on Ms his s head Sp Speaking distinctly he could be heard it Deemed for miles around As I looked at at him I realized I was held by the power in n his eyes I It U was ai though I 1 was t. t bed Speaks In English Speaking first in the tongue he then addressed himself Ito I to me hi in perfect English I l ca can remember his speech clearly I Every ery word every sentence every every ev eVe lery ery accent was clearly imprinted jn In my mind He spoke only a few words and at the time the full fun I impact of what he said didn't strike me He lie spoke I first of the curse laid upon the by the gods If It anyone was to dl disturb the diamond diamond dia dla mond the volcano would erupt and its lava lav would destroy the vii vil lage lase He said eaid that because I had taken the diamond nd the I I 1 I would ond suffer The damage was done don and it was U Impossible to II change bar whal had bad happened hap e ed Then 1 ho he e. e pl plated placed CH a CUrse upon me mil saying say ay ing lag i Because you rou hold bold in your ands ands' th the the bodies of f the an and and r from them their tig to t Ive you Ive you shall suffer For many marfy days daya you tou shall shah be eaten way ay Iro fro r t the e inside bit by bit O our Z life Ufe shall hang by thread iii a a t. t ours urs now does Go and mad as all you go so think of your death j. j For For For- such as aa death holds bolds taxi many terrors Go and die Village Destroyed 7 Ana 1 ran ran ran until I could hardly a a 1 breath Finally 1 reached camp camp From thee three I the lava Ja pout over th the theelder elder of ot the volcano ad 1111 J I heard the screams scream of th the dying dyla Nor Nor- phal F Fascinated I J watched watched until un- un til I could watch no Ao longer and then we wo broke broko camp A and d heeded bended for the Niger As we tr tri 1 f eras raa easeful careful to keep the diamond In my pos pos- possession possession session all of the time I was Insane insane in in- sane eane with my greed I 1 was also constantly thinking of the curse placed upon me I knew it could never come true It was impossible sible But gradually I began to wonder I By the time we reached the Niger I was feeling ill and by i 7 t the time we arrived home the terrible pan pain had begun I r was still telling myself that I r was just sick that the curse placed upon me had nothing to do with the terrible pain but now I teal reap ize be how wrong I 1 was I After two iwo d days ys in fn England I J could bear the pain no longer I J II JI I I went to the best beet physicians spec spec- of all kh kinds d but still no noi i help A month ago I J had hope but Ive I've lost all hope now Im I'm I slowly dying the most horrible death imaginable l Gnawing Pain What terrible pain I Its It's as j though something Is chewing at atm m my bones never nevet giving me 6 a m mo mo- J merits meats rest I 1 Cry ery out for merc mere mercy but It does me no good butt L cushy the pa pan pain n gnaws and and hewl its way through my my bOdy I IThe IThe The doctors do no good They cannot combat something suet lis as' as as' as this something they knew noto ing log about let alone believe In They have given up ae a I J have hae j i If It you you listen closely you can hear something always chewing scraping and gnawing ing away at my my life Ufe Oh Ob If only I could could die now no nodie die a speedy dY merciful d death ath I But no my greed must be pun If there IS a God Im I'm praying praying pray pray- ing to Him now to deliver me soon Boon from my trial I can bear ber the pain no longer It is intense horrible i I IThe The pain oh that gnawing i trop eron ny pain D But wa watI at t. t I 1 mu must t pull myself together and finish my story I j I I gave |
