MERLYN'S CAVE

Standing here,

in front of the entrance

to Merlyn's Cave

on Tintagel beach.

Midnight, deserted.

Noisy, intrusive tourists

are long gone.

An eerie silence, broken only

by continual crashing

of mighty Atlantic waves

onto jagged rocky outcrops.

Stepping into the darkness,

leaving protective glow

of full moon outside.

Moving slowly, cautious

of slippery rocks

underfoot.

Cold penetrates

right to the bone here.

Dripping sounds

echo spookily

around ancient sea-sculpted walls.

A sudden movement.

Startling.

Holding my breath,

listening intently.

Shivering in the clammy

atmosphere.

Silence.

I'm unnerved.

Feel like retracing my steps,

escaping to the safety

of moonlit beach outside.

But a strange impulse

draws me onward.

It's as though my feet

have a will of their own.

So I'm led ever deeper

into the dank interior

of the Earth's bowels.

Peculiar whispering

surrounds me on all sides.

I'm convinced

there's someone in here with me.

'Hello,' I call out,

trying to sound much more confident

than I feel.

No reply,

just the returning echo

of my own voice.

But the whispering

abruptly ceases.

I'm approaching the far end

of the cave now.

I can see the Moon's reflection

in rippling water

through a narrow aperture.

A dark figure passes swiftly

from left to right

just a few feet

in front of me.

'Hello,' I call out again.

Still no answer.

Intrigue competes with fear

as I grope my way forward

to the exact spot

where I just lost sight

of the shadowy form.

There's nothing here

but solid rock wall.

I've never moved so fast

in my entire life!

Impervious to the slippery floor,

cracking shins on stone,

splashing knee-deep in rock pools,

I scramble to the relative security

of silver streaked

sandy beach.

Catching my breath,

I'm compelled to turn

and make sure

I'm not being followed.

There,

in the shadow

of gigantic Tintagel Head above,

stands that same figure,

motionless,

watching me.

'Who are you?' I call out,

as much in frustration

as any other emotion.

'I am Merlyn!'

a deep voice replies.

I blink

and the beach is deserted. 



This face appeared on the wall in my hall just after this experience.

It is no longer there, but continues to periodically re-appear in the

condensation on my bathroom mirror.

I can find no rational explanation.