The Haunting, wrap-up
Its a warm summer morning when Benjamin Veritas (a law student) and Dieter von Walden (a general contractor) are summoned to Benjamin's uncle, Armen Peterson's house. He informs them that one of his rental properties has an uneasy history, and recently the occupants have gone insane. He has heard that things such as this have happened before, which is why he was able to purchase the place so cheaply. Of course he doesnt believe in such things, but since Benjamin is a dabbler in the occult and Dieter a full service contractor, who better to declare the house habitable?
Upon arrival at the address Dieter immediately begins assessing the state of the exterior structure while Benjamin gets a lemonade. They notice a strange man across the street watching them through field glasses. Dieter is nearly hit by a falling brick.
Eventually they go inside and find the windows nailed shut from within. There is food still on the table, and it is rotten. The walls are covered in crucifixes; Dieter declares them Irish Catholic. After wrenching the nails free all the windows are opened, to air the place out. At the end of the hallway stairs both up and down are discovered. They continue up and find a bathroom and three bedrooms. The windows here are also nailed shut. Everything seems normal except for one bedroom, which has clearly not been entered in years. After opening all windows, they head for the basement.
The lights do not work, and the stairs are clearly rickety, so they determine that the best plan is to get a ladder. Dieters ladder is too large, so they leave to grab some lunch and a shorter ladder. When they return they find a way to wrench the ladder in and head to the basement. Dieter determines that there is probably a crawlspace behind one of the walls.
Suddenly loud noises echo from upstairs. While Ben looks for a trapdoor in the front room Dieter investigates upstairs.
SCREAM Ben looks out the window to see Dieter, broken and bloodied, on the front lawn. The gentleman from across the street comes to investigate. While the pair await the police he introduces himself as Gabriel San Dimas and indicates his misformed arm is due to being gassed in the war. Ben also determines that has probably caused the rest of his strange behavior as well.
When the ambulance and police arrive they again enter the house to find nothing amiss. The bed in the room where Dieter fell is near the window, and there are no new footprints, but no other evidence exists. Upon coming down the stairs Ben sees Mr San Dimas exiting the storage room, and the policeman suspects he might have taken evidence. After a short exchange he convinces the police that its some racy smut novels, but Ben is able to show that they arent, so he surrenders two books marked Diary. Unbeknowst to everyone else, he has one more hidden in his jacket.
While Dieter spends the next week or so in the hospital Ben does some research and uncovers a list of possible strangeness associated with the house and its original occupant, W. Corbitt. He also finds a link to an old church and what he believes to be a massive cover-up. While waiting for a warrant he has requisitioned the judge dies.
This only fuels Ben's suspicions. Once Dieter is again able to move normally they investigate the grounds of the old church. They find a strange symbol painted on a rock, and Dieter falls into a basement, breaking his arm. They find evidence of church records and an old book chained to a desk. Ben burns it and steals the records.
Eventually Dieter recovers and takes three mason friends with him back to the house to open the crawlspace. While in the basement one of the masons attacks the other with a sledgehammer and Dieter is stabbed by a mysterious flying knife. Ben runs in to help, and a policeman (who was waylaid by Mr San Dimas) follows. The policeman shoots at Ben and misses.
After a long verbal exchange where the cop refuses to admit shooting at him, they agree to all go outside.
So many questions remain...
