The Manacled Mutineer

Ambrose is in his eighties; dying in a Welsh hospital. Appalled by his treatment because he has been in hospital too long according to the doctor, Ambrose knows he is being slowly starved of his last breath by the morphine that has been injected into his stomach. He starts hallucinating and is conscious of all and remembers incidents from his past long forgotten, He knows the old are treated abominably and, as his forced death draws near, his anger unabated, an unexpected visitor appears: Claude Rains, the old actor. He encourages a strange conversation with Ambrose as all the troubles of being old are spoken of. Ambrose remembers Claude from many films. It is the looking-glass that has appeared at the end of his bed that piques Ambrose's curiosity as he waits for the end. .  .

Soldier Pass By

On the eve of a major offensive on the Western Front, three friends from the Rhondda Pals, Lewis, Peter, and Dan are having a quiet chat. Lewis survived an explosion in which two men died. Suffocating, he is pulled from the mud. Lewis's personality has changed. He is more assertive and starts quoting from Shakespeare, Milton, and Chaucer. Even the doctors realize this is not the same lad. Lewis also sees auras around the dead on the battlefield, Dan believes Lewis knows who is next to die.  As the night closes, Lewis's strange ideas unnerve his friends as they realize he can see into the future. . .

Tied Cottage

Jack Maltravers, the reclusive author of a number of supernatural novels, vanished over fifty years ago at his cottage in the Forest of Dean while staying with his wife Melissa, a noted wildlife photographer. Feted by critics and the public alike, Jack was always uneasy with his fame. Struggling with the beginning of his new novel "Tied Cottage", Jack finds he is unable to sleep and suffers terrifying nightmares. Melissa is troubled by his erratic behaviour and does not believe him when he says he will die shortly. . .

The Burden of Sorrows

During the Last Supper, Judas Iscariot suffers from blinding headaches. He finds himself disassociated from his body as he sees the old man who has been on the periphery of his vision: Saint David. The troubles Iscariot face are brought to the fore as he finally converses with David and discovers the meaning of truth and betrayal. . .

Deadmen's Bells

Folklore states that the foxglove, also known as Deadmen's Bells, was used by sprites and demons to entice people to enter unseen worlds. Rhys Adams, a shepherd from Bedw Farm, loses sheep on the Bwlch, whose forest people will not enter because of its terrible atmosphere. Entering the forest, he is aware of the unseen presence that will not reveal itself. Confused, Rhys drinks the waters he sees and speaks with Hu Gadarn, an ancient Welsh God, who tells Rhys strange things, especially that his brother is to die in the Battle of Waterloo that has not yet taken place and that he will never reach home. . .