But it was not really the ringing sound that kept us awake, it was the fighting. After about 5 minutes of listening to the ringing sound, the girls began arguing fiercely with each other. I could hear them in their rooms on each side of us. And Sky began arguing with me as well. Oddly, I was not affected by this phenomena, neither were the cats.

Sky was finally screaming at me, calling me all sorts of names, much like the other girls were doing to each other. I opened the door to the hall and it seemed like people in other rooms were doing the same thing. It was more than just arguing though, it was anger, fighting, though not physically fighting I do not think. But Sky finally threw a book at me that had been in the room.

That is when the cats began growling at her. Muffin went on the floor just as Sky picked up a lamp to throw at me and she rolled out from behind the bed and “Thwock!”, Sky went down. Meow,meow.=Me not hit hard, honest, just to stop. She had only used a rubber ball, but it seemed to stop Sky, and wake her up from whatever was affecting her. “What happened?” she asked. So I told her what had been going on. The girls were still fighting in their rooms, hopefully not doing more than yelling at each other.

Suddenly everything was quiet with the girls so Sky, the cats and I went to see what had transpired. They were sitting on their beds, not really sure what had happened, except they knew that a big argument had happened between them. They could even remember what they had been saying to each other. Sky looked at me. “Did I say things like that too?” she asked. Likely she did not remember because of the bump on the head from Muffin.

“It does not matter,” I said, “it was not you talking anyway.” Meow.=Me think they got hippo tizened. “Yes, I think you might be right,” I said. I told the girls to check around and see if anything was missing, but nothing was. In the morning I talked with the manager about that ringing. He told me it happens now and then, and always there is a major theft during that time.

He said the thieves are able to enter the room while the people are fighting and steal things without being seen, which he could not understand. I told him that sound seems to have a hypnotic effect on people so all they see and hear are themselves arguing and fighting. “That does seem to make sense,” he said, shaking his head, “but last night no one reported anything missing, which is the only time that has happened.”

“Perhaps someone just did not want to report it,” I said, “especially if it was stolen property anyway.” “Hmm, I never thought about that,” he said, “and we do not have any police on this island, though it only takes about 15 minutes for them to get here. We have even had our hotel safe robbed, but it is rather old.” Later, while the girls were in swimming, the cats were running around and I was sitting on a beach chair, an older couple came to sit close by.

They were staying in the room across the hall from us. We began talking about the ringing sound last night and they mentioned having a huge fight, worse than they had in their 50 years of marriage. This was their 50th anniversary vacation and he had bought his wife a diamond necklace, worth $25,000, which they had kept in their room safe. But it was stolen last night while they were arguing.

At least that is what they figure happened since she had it on during dinner last night and all evening, until they got back to their room. She then put it in the safe and this morning it was gone. “Someone must have noticed that necklace and decided it was worth stealing,” I said, “I was talking with the manager this morning and he told me that a theft always occurs during the time when that ringing sound happens.

People are kind of hypnotized so they do not even see the thieves come into their room. You should call the police though, it will be better when you claim your insurance.” “We did not have it insured yet,” said Rob, “I bought it just before our trip and gave it to Maddy last night.” “You should still report it”, I said, “just in case the police are able to find it.”

“Yes, you are right,” he said, “we just felt so stupid that someone could steal it while we were awake.” Off they went to talk with the manager about calling the police. I checked my phone to see where the nearest police were located. That did not make sense, I thought to myself…

To Be Continued.

©2023 Steve McLeod.