Hell Mountain Part 2 - If you have not read part one then do so Part three to come - Aliens - http://maxpages.com/ufo1paranormal/Story_Number_Ten_Part

It might have been faster and I know much warmer to have taken the car but the simple movement of the horse and the conversation, mixed with the beauty of Nature made it worth while.

Thomas talked about the mountain and how he had watched large birds fly from its peaks, with their white eyes glowing they would swoop down on a herd and devour a full size cow. I don’t know if he was telling me these stories with hopes that I would be discouraged from going over the top of the mountain area, or to scare me off, or just to see how much bull he could shovel before I would question his stories. I was not one to argue with legends and stories, but when he got to the point of where a virgin girl from the next village was picked up by a ghost, disappeared for three weeks and then come back pregnant I had to draw the line. His response to my questioning his story was that she was due this week and I could be there for the delivery, made me a bit uneasy.

However, seeing the Helicopter, I was to fly made me worried. It was an old U.S. Navy Helicopter designed to land on a Air Craft Carrier and used for search and rescue during the Korean War. Getting off the horse I walked around the old bird and noticed several bullet holes, dents and scrapes in the side of it fuselage. As I turned to ask, Pete Highwater, sitting in a wheel chair, rolled over and introduced himself. He owned the chopper and had just recently busted his legs.

The conversation was light and to the point. He asked if I could fly the beast, his name for the helicopter, and I informed him that there should be no problems, then I asked how the bullet holes got there. He explained that he was the local law in the area and he uses the beast to hunt down poachers. Sometimes they shot back, especial when they have a prize game. I asked if the beast could fly. He told me of some of the modification he had placed on it. He had added a whisper mode, high intensity spot lights, four fifty caliber machine guns pointing downward at an angle, out of the chopper’s forward and aft sections. He replaced the engine with a modified jet engine system and could get the beast to a speed of about 380 miles per hour. I looked at him and commented, “ At that speed , I thought the Chopper would vibrate itself apart. “ Peter looked at me and commented, “ Well that is how I busted my leg. “

He asked where I was going to go with the beast and when I told him, his face became serious, and informed me that he would not let me use the beast. I sat down on a old empty metal 55 gallon drum barrel. Peter looked first at me then to Thomas. “ I am sorry that you came over here, but I lost my partner on that mountain and I will be damned if I was going to lose me and his helicopter. I looked at him, “ What happened? “ Pete pushed himself towards the front of the chopper, “She took off at 07:00 hours to check out the poachers run, She called in that she seen something near the edge of the rim of the mountain, and was going to investigate it. I came out of the office and watched with my binoculars as her helicopter flew over the lip and downward. Lost radio contact. There was this loud rumbling sound and a puff of black smoke.”

I watched as he moved back towards the side door, “ Hell, I fired up the beast and went up there. It must not been more then ten minuets passed and when I got over the rim there was nothing.” I questioned as if there was no wreckage, and he responded that the whole damn area was covered in fog. He told me he went back 30 more trips and always the fog.

I got up from the barrels, and asked “ Is there anyplace up there to land and put in a search party? He slid open the side of the helicopter. “ Yhea, but no one around here has the balls to go in and look, including me! “ I walked towards him while saying, “ I’ll go in and look.” He strapped the hoist belt around his waist, pushed a button and as he got lifted off his chair he spoke, “ Though you would say that! Go into the office and pick out some fire power, rescue gear, and extra food rations. Thomas you know where everything is. “ Thomas looked at me then Pete as he swung his body unto the back seat of the chopper, “ Do you two mind if I go along, Always wanted to see what was up there.”

While unbuttoning the hoist belt he said, “ Only if you don’t tell them dumb stories of yours. Going into the house I asked why he never volunteered to go up there before?
Grabbing a large back pack, he started shoving food rations into it, “ Never had anyone as crazy as me, and who I could trust to do it! “ I grabbed three 44 caliber pistols and holsters, two boxes of ammo, three semiautomatic m-16 rifles, six boxes of ammo, two 16 gauge shot guns and two boxes of ammo. Thomas looked at me and asked if I wanted to take a few surface to air missiles. I shook my head no, but stuffed ten grenades and seven flares into the pack I was loading.

Grabbing the ropes and climbing gear we went out to the helicopter. Thomas explained that Peter had purchased this weapons and supplies from the U.S. Military Surplus. Being that he is the only law in the area, they allow him some extra fire power. I then asked if the partner of Pete was his wife? Thomas told me not to bring up her name, but it was his little sister, and his entire family never forgave him. I nodded my head yes as we approached the open doorway.

We placed the gear in the back and Pete asked why I was not taking the surface to air missiles . I told him that I did not see a need to. Going over a pre-flight of the helicopter I noticed that the machine guns had armor piercing shells in them. Starting the engines I wondered if we really needed all this firepower or was I reacting to their stories. Thomas and Peter had their headphones on , and the feel of the lift came over me as the beast moved rapidly upward and forward. Peter remarked that the controls are touchy, and it moves faster then what I would think. Flying with the green giants in Nam and being trained by the best in a combat situation, the maneuvers I tried even made Pete gasp a few times, and poor Thomas to barf twice.

Within moments we were traveling up the side of the mountain As we climbed I could see why a ground attempt to rescue would be impossible, and trying to climb down or repelling would be suicidal. I had tied the Thermometer onto the outside of the fuselage, just within my view. As we climbed the temp got colder. I was purposely making the ascent slowly. I wanted to see everything. Peter was adjusting my infrared and thermal scanner I brought with me and asked if I would want o sell it to him. I explained that it was not mine to sell.

As we started to reach the edge of the peak I noticed that the tree shapes were different and the foliage was a darker green color. I kept away from the lip edge, then moved away from the mountain, and asked Pete to put the Scanner on and look into the mountain area. His response of “ Holy Shit” confirmed what I had thought. Thomas grabbed the scanner and looked through it, “ I can see the demons dancing and trying to grab us.! “

Large movements of hot and cold air thermos were pulsating off the edge, and then back into the mountain. Any rotating or fixed wing aircraft getting to close would be sucked down into the mountain area. This also accounted for the large amount of fog. I asked Pete where the landing area was, and he pointed to an area about 900 yards from us. Pete put the scanner back on and with his help, guided me towards the landing area. It was a small clearing on the very edge of the lip. The Thermos were just far enough away that they did not effect the chopper. The thermometer showed that the lips temperature was near 80 degrees. I took off my flight jacket, and grabbed an extra empty back pack.

I loaded it with several ration packs, and loaded the weapons. I strapped the side arm around my waist and tied the bottom of the holster to my leg. I stuffed four hand grenades into my pants pocket and strapped the m16 to my back. I told Thomas that it would be best that he stayed here and would be more help if I should need him. Peter grabbed a radio from inside and handed it two me. “ I will be on channel two if you need us! “ I nodded then slid the radio into the back pack. “ If this is what I think it is, I doubt that the radios will be useable..

I tied the one end f the rope to the Helicopter and threw it over the side of the lip. I held the rope and counted the seconds until I felt the rope go limp by either hitting something or no longer unwrapping. A 250 foot rope, falling and became limp at 75 seconds. I went back to the chopper and took out the second 250 foot rope and attached it t my scurry line on the main rope. Thomas handed me a night vision scope. I told him that because of the heat rising it would not be workable. I thanked him then slid it in my back pocket.

Thomas then attached a yellow colored spot light to the scurry line. He told me that this was Peters idea and it might help. I switched on the light , and started down backwards over the edge. The yellow light did cut through most of the fog but I figured a slow descent is the way to go. On occasion I could feel quick movements of air rushing past me just inches below. All of a sudden the fog around me disappeared and I could see just below, and a little area around me. I wrapped the rope around my leg and pulled out the night scope. I was in a crater. The sides were steep and semi-smooth Even with the scope I could not see bottom , but I could see the end of the rope. I slid the scope back into my pocket, then tied the end of the second rope into the one I was using just below my feet. Testing the knot I then let go of the second rope..

Forty Seconds passed before it went limp in my hands. I estimated another 180 to 200 feet yet to go before solid ground. I increased the speed of my descent and within a few moments I was standing on solid ground. I pulled the Radio pout and tried to contact the helicopter. All I got was static. I took out my Knife and checked its compass. It was spinning like a wheel. I was standing in area loaded with Maganite. Iron with a high concentration of magnetism. A compass is useless However, Since the crater is round and the rope is on the edge of it, If I follow it around I should be able to find it again.

I reached into the back pack and found that either Thomas or Peter had put two large flashlight into it. The beams seemed to be bright on both of them and I figured I have about four hours on the life of the battery. I tied one flashlight to the rope and the other into my other back pocket. I left with the light shining downward onto the crater floor.

Within a few moments my eyes started to get accustom to the light that was available to me. I was surprised that very little water had accumulated on the floor and some vegetation was growing. The further I walked away from the light, I could see that the vegetation was not something that I had seen before. I cut some samples and placed them in my pack. Hearing a movement I took out the night scope. Through it I found that rabbits had made their way in and were very abundant here. As I scanned the are, I got a glimpse of something large moving to the left of me about 100 yards.

I yelled out, “ Hello, Who are you? I am here to rescue you! “ There was a long silence as I watched the figure stop in its tracks. There was sort of a whimper of a laugh. Again I yelled, “ I am here to rescue anyone trapped down here, can you hear me? “ The reply of “ Oh, My God, where are you! “ Indicated that I had a found a female. I explained that I could see here, and that I would direct her towards me. She told me that I was to come to her and to make sure that I slash my way through the brush. There were others here also. I told her not to move and within a few moments I was standing next to her. It was Peters Sister.

She explained that the Crater had quick drop off areas and to get to the others we had to follow the path. I tied my handkerchief to a bush and followed behind her. She was crying as we walked and she told me how she barely landed the ship, and when she got out, it fell over a side and exploded. She also explained how she meet the others. They were trapped here many years ago, when a part of the mountain gave way under their feet, and then ended up on the bottom. Some of the other people with them were not so lucky.

Arriving to a make shift encampment I was greeted by the remaining six who were trapped down there 27 years ago, and their families of nine children. Fifteen people plus Peter’s sister. I told them how I got down there and about the rope. The older ones looked at me and said to take the children out. They could never make the climb. I told them that I was going to get them all out. Their eyes filled with tears of joy.

Much of what they had been living on was Rabbit and roots from the vegetation. They all seemed to be healthy and their clothes were made from cloth and woven vine vegetation they had. Refreshments came from the sap, and warm fresh water. There was a small pond and a water fall emitting out of the side of the Cavern. I walked around and then asked where their original wrecks were.

The military survival training was going to pay off, along with good old fashion ingenuity . The small helicopter had provided us with a metal frame that could hold all the passengers. They had large bundles of the vines that could be wrapped around the frame to hold it together and act as a buffer pad. Peter’s sister name was Sue, and she agreed that my plan had merit, and it would work if the damn birds don’t get in the way or grab it.

I looked at her funny, “ Birds?” The squelch on the radio and then Thomas voice, “ Can you here me? “ boomed from my pants. The youngest boy looked at my waist and asked if it always talks like that? I laughed with everyone and pulled the radio out. I told them the situation and then asked what the rope was tested at. A quick figure indicated that one of the children and one of the adults had to climb the rope with me. Sue said that she had no problem climbing the rope, and the oldest child, an 18 year old girl named Mary agreed to climb also.

We all had a quick bite to eat, then they followed me back to the rope, while dragging the frame and the twisted vine fabric. I felt as if we were on a safari in deep Africa. It took about a half hour to get to the rope and the shining light was a comfort to my eyes.
I Tied the rope onto the frame in several places on the frame. I told them that they had to wrap the vine all around the sides and top of the frame. The metal floor of the frame had survived since it was sitting in water. Wile they were doing that we were going to make the long climb to the top. They would have to keep an opening so they could all climb in and strap them selves to the inside of the frame. Once inside they would have to weave the opening close, so they would be protected.

I told the smallest boy that we would give four good yanks on the rope that we had made it to the top. If they were not done they were to pull twice on the rope. We would then give them an extra hour to complete their work. If we got no response we would start brining them up. I was going to use the beast to pull them out of the crater. The sides are smooth enough that the vines should protect them and at the angle to start the extra 90 feet of rope lose would allow me to go above the lip and the danger zone.

I cut off 75 feet of the vine cloth and tied it around Sue, Mary, and I. I thought that it would be best to allow Mary to go first, then Sue, and finally me. If they should drop I could anchor myself and catch them. I was very happy when the top of the lip appeared and the strong arm of Thomas pulled me up. Mary and Sue were exhausted but yet they grabbed the rope and we gave it the four pulls. We waited for a few moments and there was no response.

Thomas took the ladies over to the chopper and a warm family reunion was given as he and Peter treated the bloody raw hands of Sue and Mary. I wrapped a bandage around my hands and then started up the beast. I ordered for the passengers to buckle themselves in and get ready for the ride of their lives.

The Beast moved upward slowly. I had peter watch the thermos and to tell me when we had clearance over them through the scanner. I kept an eye on the rope, As it dangles freely in the down wash until it started to become tight. Peter yells out about another 10 feet. I started to feel the weight of the frame and its passenger pull against the ship swinging it towards the Thermos. I yelled out, Hang on!” I gave it everything it had and we barely cleared the thermos. I went into a straight vertical move and ascended as fast as possible. I was not sure how long my knot would hold. Keeping an eye on the altimeter the rise seemed to take forever, about 100 feet yet to go, the rope had a sharp thump on it as if a fish was nibbling on the line. However, the beast kept rising.

Within a few moment that seemed like eternity the make shit carrier emerged from the top of the mountain. I quickly swung away from the mountain and started down to towards the Cabin. It was the closets and had enough room to land the chopper and its cargo. In less then three minuets I was setting the cargo down on the ground as gentle as possible. Bill came running outside of the cabin with Thomas’s sister following.
The look on their faces was priceless as I set the beast down about 50 yard from the carrier.

With the exception of Peter we ran over to the carrier. I took my knife out and seeing the makeshift closure I sliced into the vine. The voice of the youngest one asking if they can do it again caused everyone to burst out laughing. Thomas went back and got peter and his chair out of the Beast. The oldest adult said that he though we had lost hem when we bounced them. Sue turned to me and stated, “ The damn birds.”

I looked at her an told her that there was no bird big enough that could do that, we must of hit an over crop of rock. Mary came out from around the back of the carrier, and her face was as white as a ghost, She was holding a dark blue and green feather that was almost as big as she was. Thomas and Sue both looked at me and Stated together, “ Told you, the damn birds. “

Later that evening we were sitting in tribal area enjoying an outdoor feast the top of the mountain began to rumble and glow. I watched as several white lights came from the top and went directly down towards the cattle area. I and Sue jumped into the car and traveled towards that location. Several moments later we arrived at the location. One cow laid dead and several spots around it was burnt to a crisp. The other cattle had stampeded off into the surrounding areas.. I looked over the cows half torn carcass as Sue was walking around picking up things. I grabbed the camera from my car and fixed the flash attachment. Taking six picture Sue told me to take another one of her Holding a bluish green feather that was taller then her five foot five inch body, it was 6’ 9” long.

We looked around the area and watched as the mountain grew silent again. I asked Sue , with the time she spent inside it, was there ever any signs of volcano activity? She shook her head no, and moved up next to me, and looked into my eyes, “ I want to thank you for saving our lives.” I smiled and responded, “ You already have, and tomorrow, would you like to drive into the main city, I want to get these feathers Identified. I want to know what that damn bird is! She laughed as she wrapped her arms around mine.

We entered the university and they must of thought that I was certifiably crazy when I asked who their top bird person was. At first they were hesitant until I showed them my badge and told them that this was part of a homicide investigation. Dr. Presimmons was more the

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Robert D. Kilgallon
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Page Updated Mon Jan 15, 2001 12:02am EST