Ghosts in the Luggage

The Ringing of the Years

By: Wolfgang Ausserbauer

Narrated by: Virtual Voice

Length: 6 hrs and 47 mins

Publisher's summary

In the quaint village that time seemed to have forgotten, Allie listened intently as I recounted Jeffery’s arduous journey. The castle, a once-neglected relic, stood defiant against the modern age. It was where running water was a luxury and electricity a mere whisper from the future. The ancient floors, worn by the passage of countless feet, had given way unexpectedly, revealing a hidden dungeon—a remnant of a darker past.
Yet, from the shadows of history, Jeffery had conjured innovation. The dungeon, or at least a part of it, had been transformed into a nerve center, an electronic brain that brought the castle to life. It was now a beacon of modernity, a smart-house rivaling any across the ocean in the States. So, my dear Allie, let not the creaks and moans of this grand structure alarm you. Its spirit is not of the spectral kind despite the fanciful whispers of the staff. And pay no mind to the butler, whose tales are as aged as he—Jeffery and Annabella’s loyalty to him is a kindness, not an endorsement of his character.
“All I’ve heard,” Allie mused with a hint of mischief, “is that he was a mere shadow of a man, adrift in spirits until Jeffery offered him redemption.”
“Let’s tread lightly, Allie,” I urged. “Our stay here is but a year, and who knows what phantasmic delights Jeffery has woven into the fabric of this place for our amusement.”
The topic shifted as Allie eyed the antique steamer trunks that had accompanied us. “Why summon these relics from their slumber? Surely, we could indulge in the luxury of new luggage.”
I couldn’t help but smile. “They’re more than mere containers; they’re travelers in their own right. And believe it or not, they’ve come back into vogue.”
Allie pondered, her gaze lingering on the trunks. “So, you don’t subscribe to the rumors? That they’re haunted and somehow find their way back to their ancestral home?”
I laughed softly. “Let’s just say they’re well-traveled and have their own stories. Haunted or not, they’re part of our journey now.”