"Phyllis A. Whitney - Stone Bull" - читать интересную книгу автора (Whitney Phyllis A)

THE
STONE BULL
Phyllis A.Whitney
"Am I to blame for my sister's death? Perhaps I shall never be free of the questions, the sense of blame . . . even now, when my life has changed so excitingly, so hopefully, I am never free of Ariel's shadow."
All her life, Jenny Vaughn had lived in the shadow of Ariel, the graceful, enchanting prima ballerina whose art had become legend. But suddenly Ariel was gone, and Jenny's ordinary life as a schoolteacher was transformed as completely as if a magic spell had been cast.
Love had come like a whirlwind and brought her to Laurel Mountain, the beautiful Catskill resort estate. For a brief moment, she thought she was free ... to be herself, to be happy and in love. Then she came across the stone bull and the shadows began to gather. Dark, ominous, they whispered of Ariel, of guilt and danger, threatening the very foundations of the new life Jenny had found.
Book Club Edition

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Books }>y Phyllis A. Whitney
THE STONE BULL
TEE GOLDEN UNICORN
SPINDRIFT
THE TURQUOISE MASK
SNOWFIRE
LISTEN FOR THE WHISPERER
LOST ISLAND
THE WINTER PEOPLE.
HUNTER'S GREEN
SILVBRHILL
COLUMBELLA
SEA JADE
BLACK AMBER
SEVEN TEARS FOR APOLLO
WINDOW ON THE SQUARE
BLUE FERE
THUNDER HEIGHTS
THE MOONFLOWER
SKYB CAMERON
THE TREMBLING HILLS
THE QUICKSILVER POOL
THE BED CARNELIAN
The
STONE BULL
Phyllis A. Whitney
DOUBLEDAY & COMPANY, INC.
GARDEN CITY, NEW YORK

Copyright й 1977 "by Phyllis A. Whitney
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OB AMERICA
I
Foreword
One of the questions most frequently asked of a writer is whether "real people" have been used in a story. In my case the answer is an immediate and unequivocal "no." My interest as a novelist lies in creating my own characters and the incidents that happen in a story. However, real places often furnish me with the inspiration that leads to an imaginary background and totally imaginary characters.
The marvelously beautiful and romantic Mohonk Mountain House in the Shawangunk Mountains on the edge of the Catskills provided an inspiration for the setting of The Stone Bull. None of the dire happenings in this story ever occurred at the real Mohonk, of course, which is a lovely and entirely safe place for any visitor.
I would like to thank the management of Mohonk Mountain House for its hospitality and assistance during my visit. In particular I want to thank Ruth Smiley, Rosalie and Dan Wilson, Mary Whitefield, and Jay Davis. My thanks as well to Diane Greenberg, who told me about those "whispering voices" on the lake, and to Frank Lyons, who kindly drove me all over the Mohonk acres in his truck. None of these people bears any resemblance to the imaginary characters in my story.
Phyllis A. Whitney
Tina
Tonight I am alone for almost the first time since my marriage. I sit here in our bedroom at the Mountain House, with all the lamps burning, and I am afraid. I know that soon Brendon will come upstairs and his very presence will dispel my foolish uneasiness. He will tell me that no one can mean me harm here at Laurel Mountain. But how can Brendon fully understand the sense of guilt that haunts me and is quite apart from this beautiful place, from the people who live here, or from those who come as guests to the hotel. Always my thoughts must return to Ariel.