Mason Winfield

Author:
Author, teacher, storyteller, and supernatural historian Mason Winfield studied English and Classics at Denison University, earned a master’s degree in British literature at Boston College, and studied poetry and fiction at SUNY Buffalo with professor emeritus and MacArthur grant recipient Irving Feldman. He has written or edited fourteen books, including the regional sensation “Shadows of the Western Door” (1997) and “Iroquois Supernatural,” co-authored with Michael Bastine, on the traditions of the Six Longhouse Nations (Inner Traditions International/Bear & Company, 2011). Several of his surveys of upstate folklore and paranormal tradition may be found at the website of Western New York Wares: www.buffalobooks.com. He may be reached at www.masonwinfield.com.

An anatomically perfect human jaw fashioned of diamond-hard quartz crystal is uncovered at an Ohio burial mound and sold on the underground antiquities market. Shortly after, three pothunters are found dead.

A mysterious new drug suspected of South American origin surfaces in Buffalo, NY. Its unprecedented psycho-tropic effects include the momentary activation of ESP. 

Blind, speechless, emaciated street people start appearing in many parts of the world. An urban legend-cycle forms around them, and the name of a murderous old cult, “the Whistlers” attaches to them.

An archaeological team at a Mayan site reports finding a bizarre artifact and vanishes. 

An upstate schoolteacher’s book of New York legends and folklore foreshadows these developments and more. 

   These are the threads – plus his affair with a maddening woman – that draw narrator Ward Courier into the international adventure of occultism, terror, Native American tradition and onrushing prophecy that is Mason Winfield’s anticipated new novel THE WHISTLERS. By the time the picture of THE WHISTLERS becomes clear, we are ready to believe in a sinister conspiracy that could predate Atlantis and even hail from another world.

The Whistlers

EPISODE with JASON "SWINGO" JONAS, Continued


In the aftermath of the firing, they hear a whimpering version of the hyena-like call coming from a point higher up on the hill. Then they hear a crackle in the undergrowth near it and one louder call, abruptly cut off.


"Sounds like they don't care for their wounded," says Aguirre.


"Just great," says Aguirre. "Just... really fucking great."


"Take a look for that puppy in the morning," says Jonas. "Just curious about what they are."


"If there's anything left in the morning. Bones and guts is my bet."


"If they're like coyotes, there could be only four or five," says Jonas. "Coyotes are good at making you think they got an army."


"They're good at making me think they got an army," says Aguirre. "And I don't think they're coyotes." He turns to the older gent, trying to calm the lad down and finish wrapping the wound. "How's your intern, Professor?"


Chapter 90: The X-Sacrificer, Part 90