Tale 10 told by Taniwha on 28.11.2000
Visions

I thought death itself had entered my room the other night, for the lad who
stood before me bore the eerie stare of one who had seen the blending of the
boundaries between our world and the thereafter. As soon as his chattering
teeth allowed, he told me in halting and quiet tones of ghost stories so
distorted that I found myself hoping for eternal life over an afterworld so
disturbing.  The child had fallen asleep upon a grave yard, and the sights
he'd seen upon the witching hour, of ruffians and citizens of good repute
alike raiding the plots and harnessing the ghastly powers of dried bones and
undead spirits, painted pictures too vivid to be discounted as dreams.  The
boy, poor child, has not slept since -- and my own nights have been troubled
and restless.