The Guardian’s Guidebook

Sep 28

Appendix E: Skeffington Papers – Edinburgh, Scotland

21 October 1810

Most Reverend Sir,

Eureka! At last, a modicum of promising news, as my descent into hell unfolded in a most peculiar and (dare I be so bold?) miraculous way.

Either good fortune or divine providence — or a healthy dollop of both — led me without incident to the very lair of MSD, which lies but a few paces from the Flodden Wall in an otherwise unremarkable corner of the graveyard. I lingered over the vault for some unspecified time, searching for God knows what, as, like your Grace, I have seen countless sketches of the stone, Which, at first glance, appears no more significant than the ground on which it sits.

As I gazed with mounting frustration, a sound or movement (perhaps the Bloody Mackenzie himself) directed my attention to a crudely drawn cross, etched roughly onto the wall behind the marker. My mind leapt immediately to vandals (a too-regular occurrence at the Kirkyard), but on closer inspection, I noted with some confusion that the ends of the crossbar were shaped, quite unmistakably, as directional arrows.

With no real hope, I followed these indicated paths precisely to their ends, and found, on both occasions, a clearly marked gravesite — one belonging to an Alexander MacDonald, d. 1793, the other to a Lady Marjorie Dee, d. 1797. A miracle? Or the fanciful ruminations of a feverish spirit?

MacDonald and Dee — Dee and Don. Suffice it to say, I was aghast. The Dee and Don rivers meet the Northern Sea in the City of Aberdeen. With your forbearance, I shall travel there at once.

Spiritedly Yours,

Ackerly Skeffington, Guardian First Class, European Guild of Guides & Spirits

Edward Vogels