The Isle of the Dead

"Well, in a sense, yes; but, to be more precise - books that are of an occult nature," Simon said cautiously, not sure exactly how the elder gentleman would receive this.

The old man's face broke into a broad grin and he said, "My son, I believe now it is me who must congratulate you on your good fortune."

The two men talked through the night until the first tentative rays of light topped the distant, unobstructed horizon. They did not even pause to enjoy the beautiful sunrise, so enthralled in tales of the arcane and forbidden. The Earl told stories of ancient and forgotten locales that so intrigued Simon that Simon could swear the man had actually been there. It wasn't until late into the night, and several cognacs later, that the old man finally told of his intimate knowledge of the Isle of the Dead. While at first Simon was skeptical of this tale, he was more than impressed with the Earl's knowledge of the occult and especially rare books.

After making landfall the Earl invited Simon to his estate just north of Perth. He promised him that it would be worth his time and promised fine hospitality. Simon had several appointments in Edinburgh with book dealers but promised to rendezvous with the Earl at his estate in four days time.

Any doubts Simon had about the Earls integrity were quickly abolished upon beholding the Earl McDermott's impressive library. At first he was thinking of avoiding the estate altogether but something in the old man's mannerisms had arrested his intrigue. The old man seemed to be a man out of place in the current day even more so than the average elderly person is not "with the times". Almost as if the old man was from a bygone era of time. Fortunately for Simon he had decided at last to visit the estate; partly out of disappointment in his book hunting in Edinburgh and partly out of a peaked interest in the vague timelessness of the old man.

Upon beholding the rare and well preserved texts in the library at the McDermott estate the two men had once again descended into conversations of the occult and arcane. It was on this evening that the Earl McDermott had swayed the conviction of Simon in regards to the existence of the Isle of the Dead. The old man had been there himself! Not only had the old man discovered the location and been to that exact spot where Simon now waited amongst the rocks, he had met with Charon! Yes, the old man had met with Charon, the Ferryman of the River Styx, and had promised Simon that he too could make that same journey!

Simon was, of course, skeptical in the fashion of any man with sound reason. That is when the Earl escorted Simon into the underground tunnels that led through secret, subterranean passageways that appeared to have been carved from the rocks under the Scottish soil in ancient and mythical days. Through twisting labyrinths of lichen and niter covered stone they progressed until they arrived at the Earl's hidden prize. A small, circular room lined with ancient tomes.

"Here you will find the most forbidden and ancient works, dating back through the epoch of the human soul into the distant and remote infancy of our race. There have existed many dark and secretive societies throughout time. From the most sinister tribes of the darkest jungles to the most horrific and power mad dynasties, what is represented here very few men would believe and even fewer have seen," the old man had spoke in a delicate whisper as if speaking his words too loud would invite the presence of ill forces.