The Path to Big Wolf Cliff

The Path to Big Wolf Cliff is Chapter 1 of How I Met My Echo on Big Wolf Cliff

Liz pats her dad’s shoulder, and he stops the quad.

“Is that the path to Jenny’s invisible cabin?”

“Yes. But it’s not invisible.”

“How come nobody’s seen it?”

“Jenny’s good at hiding but I’ve seen it.”

“You have?”

“Of course. I know every abandoned shack in the bush.”

“Was it abandoned?”

“I don’t know. I was too scared to investigate.”

“Has anyone gone inside?”

“I think so. Do you remember how the lake was discovered?”

“Yeah. Two university students working for the rail found it about fifty or sixty years ago.”

“U-huh. Did I tell you how they found it?”

“It was a smoking hot day, and they were looking for water. They wandered through the bush and ended up at Big Wolf Cliff. They were so hot they jumped right into the lake.”

“Yup. That’s the story, but it’s not exactly right.”

“No?”

“I heard one of the guys had a bit of the charm.”

“The charm, like you say Mom has?”

“Yup. He heard a voice in the wind and followed it to Big Wolf.”

“A voice?”

“Yup. He said it was like an echo. Once he heard it, he kept on calling, and it would answer him. It led him to the lake.”

“Did he meet the person who was calling him? Was it Jenny?”

“I am almost positive he did, but they were very hush-hush about it. He was a medical student. He didn’t want to ruin his life following ghosts.”

“Jenny’s a ghost?”

“No, but that’s what folks would think. I believe echoes can take any form.”

“They have a form? I thought they were all voice.”

“I spotted her once from the boat.”

“No way? Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Your mom doesn’t like me talking about Jenny.”

“Why not? If Mom has the charm, she must’ve seen Jenny.”

“I think she did, but either didn't like her or something went wrong. Either way, she won't set foot on Big Wolf.”

“Oh, I thought it was because she's afraid of heights.”

“Well, it’s that too.”

“How do you know her name's Jenny if no one else has met her and the two students kept their traps shut about it?”

“It’s what your mom calls her.”

“You said she can change her form. So, she’s not always a little girl?”

“She doesn’t sound like a little girl when she echoes me, so I’m guessing she can be whoever she wants.”

“Who told you about the boys meeting Jenny?”

“Your mom.”

“If Mom doesn’t like Jenny, why does she talk so much about her?”

“I don’t know, sweets. Maybe to keep me away from her cabin?”

“Has it worked?”

“Well, it hasn't squashed my curiosity completely, but I was too scared to enter her cabin when I found it, so her warning had the desired effect.”

“How did you find it if Mom’s the one with the charm?”

“A little bit of dumb luck and a sprinkling of magic. Your mom’s not the only one who’s charmed.”

“Mom says you have an overactive imagination.”

“That she does. She’d prefers that explanation to what it is.”

“Do you think I have a sprinkling of magic? I want to see Jenny one day.”

“You probably do—you’ve got the charm on both sides. We’ll scan the cliff next time we're out on the boat in calm weather.”

“Yes, let’s. Do you think something bad happened to the boys who found the lake?”

“What do you mean, sweets?”

“Well, they discovered the lake but never tried to buy a piece of it.”

“I never thought of that. Maybe whatever they found scared them away?”

“Do you think Jenny’s evil?”

“No, but not everyone can handle magic woven into their reality. I didn’t have the courage to step one foot into her cabin. Life’s easier sticking with what we know.”

“I’m not afraid of magic.”

“Well, you have no reason to be, yet.”

“Yet?”

“I think it’s time to get back to the cabin. We don’t want to worry your mom.”

“Okay, but one more thing?”

“What’s up?”

“Why is there a path if no one visits Jenny?”

“I don't know. It's been here since I started coming. There are a lot of good blueberry patches up there.”

“Oh, yeah, I guess you’re right.”

“I’m always right. Just don’t tell your mom that. Let’s head home, Lizzy.”