The Larkhill Barrow

"Carnacki: The Larkhill Barrow" is a short story by British-born author William Meikle. It tells of an investigation conducted by Thomas Carnacki, a character created by William Hope Hodgson and expanded upon by many others.
==Synopsis==
Famous occultist Thomas Carnacki is summoned to assist a military man with a problem his unit have been having at their training facility: every time they test a new machine gun atop a rise in the ground, it results in the shooter going insane (an effect which dissipates after a short time) and the whole camp suffering from dreadful dreams of drums - and something far more sinister - in the dark (which does not).
Carnacki's investigations revealed that the rise is in fact an ancient barrow designed as a kind of sonic prison for an ancient and malevolent entity, and the rhythmic drum of the machine gun has partially opened the gate.
Luckily for everyone, Carnacki is able to reproduce the effects of the prison through the use of phonograph recordings and many mystical charms, and even manages to re-incarcerate the entity on one of his phonograph cylinders, a fact he keeps hidden from everyone involved.
==Characters==
*Thomas Carnacki, a renowned occult detective.
*Private Jimmy Carruthers, a brave 18 year old soldier who assists Carnacki in his efforts.
*Colonel George Blandford, commander of the Royal Artillery base.
==Publication History==
"The Larkhill Barrow" has been published in the collections Carnacki: Heaven and Hell (2011), Home From the Sea: Tales of Lovecraftian Terror (2017), and The Larkhill Barrow (2019).
==Trivia==
*Despite never explicitly referencing the works of H. P. Lovecraft of the greater Cthulhu Mythos, the inclusion of "The Larkhill Barrow" in Home From the Sea: Tales of Lovecraftian Terror indicates the author's belief that this is in the spirit of such works. Additionally, the premise, that of an unfathomable entity imprisoned and attempting to break into our our dimension, is most definitely Lovecraftian in nature.
Category:William Meikle works
Category:Mythos-Inspired Works