THE MOONGAZER

 THE MOONGAZER. 


It was just after 11:55 pm. The night was eerily quiet and was filled with a terrifying darkness that engulfed us with stifling closeness. The only light came in fleeting spurts and brilliant clarity from the moon. It was a full moon night, overladen with dark rain clouds!


We quickly forgot the blistering excitement of the late night movie, ‘Kid Galahad,' which we had just seen at the village movie theater. We hurriedly ran along the middle of the clay brick road which coursed its way along the river bank, and ambling pass a silent burial ground, rushing to get home before the midnight hour. 


On full moon nights, especially after midnight, the Moongazer would come out to roam the street, looking for an ideal spot to stand immobile and stare at the moon, his long legs stretched across the road. Invariably, the Moongazer stood just where the village koker was located, and where the clay brick road was met by two cross streets. He would stand astride, his feet planted on each side of the dusty road, his arms sometimes folded across his chest, or, just hanging by his sides, with his gaze fixed on the moon. A giant he was, towering above the dark houses which lined the village road.


 He must not be disturbed when he is gazing at the moon!


We knew about him from the many tales we heard from our parents and grandparents. Sickness, unexplainable ailments, mental eccentricities, and even death followed an encounter with the Moongazer!


We ran in the dark night, fear filling our little hearts, as thunder rumbled with lightning streaking across the skies! The placid river shone in the night as the dark clouds suddenly dissipated,exposing clear skies, and an abnormally big moon.


We were warned by our parents not to venture out on this full moon night but Elvis Presley was our hero, and in the company of our elder uncle, who told us not to be afraid, we disregarded their advice, telling them that the Moongazer was all mythical folklore. 


Then the bells tolled! They came from the burial ground! Our uncle froze in his tracks! We stopped running and held on to his legs, wondering with frightening fear at the tolling of the bells. We knew that there were no bells in the burial ground! 


Our uncle said with a trembling voice, "I have been told that the cemetery bells always toll at the midnight hour on a full moon night."


And then it happened! 


…to be continued.

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