A morning in October. 1888.
Those at the Museum having returned to their boarding house, the adventurers reconvened. Mr. Blake and Dr. Davis drooped noticeably with fatigue. Questions were posed to young Abdul and answers received:
Dr. Davis turned to Miss Costorari and said, "Professor Challenger put me in mind of something that you might do. The Neanderthal that died in the Museum vault may have left a spirit who could be questioned as to why and how Abdul came to be their prisoner."
Miss Costorari said, "Given their sensitivity to light, it would seem odd that the troglodytes would kidnap someone during the day. But ... can it speak Anglish or Romany? I do not speak Neanderthal."
Dr. Davis turned to Po. "Perhaps your ability to telepathize would be useful in this matter?"
Po protested, somewhat ineffectually, "I cannot speak with the dead."
The afternoon was therefore allocated:
Dr. Davis went up to her room to sleep. Mr. Blake considered simply changing his shirt and joining the other investigators, but opted instead to catch a couple of hours of sleep.
In the Museum, Voronika found the same crowds (of ghosts) that usually made the building uncomfortable for her. Once in the Pottery Vault, Mr. Steele noted that it had been cleaned up; only the dent in the door remained. Voronika could see a troglodyte ghost running madly at the walls and, finally, smashing into the area of the open door, vanishing as it fell. In about 7 minutes and 6 seconds (the mechanical man eventually calculated from the gypsy's descriptions), the bound Neanderthal appeared, struggling to its feet. It looked at her, panicked, and restarted the running sequence. Miss Costorari tried several approaches to interrupt the Neanderthal, but came to the realization that the spirit was locked into the sequence: it would look intelligently at its situation, see someone or something that, in truth, scared it to death. When she described this to Mr. Steele, he commented somewhat wonderingly on what could have gotten into a locked, guarded room. "Magic?" Miss Costorari mused, and then noted that magic use would be non-trivial in a museum such as this. Finally, she tried to stand in the Neanderthal's place. Doing so, she experienced a cold and primal panic. Mr. Steele, fortunately, was able to prevent her from damaging herself, and she quickly returned to normal.
Meanwhile at the Explorer's Lounge, Mr. Penrington had made the acquaintance of a thin, tanned, weather worn man in his late 30s, one Regis Philby, who had spent time in Arabia during the construction of the canal. With pride and regret Philby admitted, "Since the birth of my son - Harry St. James Bridger - I've discontinued adventuring. But I've been as far south as the Heja and played with Emir Husayn ibn Ali's little son Faisal." Philby knew of the Yemeni as untrustworthy, being good allies to the French. "The only thing they do better than lie is to steal." He also knew that the Foreign Office currently wants to establish relations with the Omani on the other side of Yemen, in order to place an airship refueling station there. He was perfectly willing to fill Penrington in on current Arabic-Anglish politics, and was most poetic on the beauties of the desert. "Irem" did not ring a bell but he knew the Arabs had fantasy stories of cities built by djinn, appearing and disappearing.
Penrington showed the photo and said, "This item has lately come into my possession. Would you know of any to whom it would be of interest?" Philby was fascinated by the photo, having never seen one, and suggested that he talk to the Museum's Department of Oriental Antiquities. The two men exchanged cards.
In the Minerals Collection back at the Museum, Mr. Steele found very few samples from the Arabian Peninsula.
At dinnertime, the investigators exchanged information. Po suggested that the Neanderthal might have been under mental control and was released to panic. That would account for the kidnapping being such un-ape-like behaviour. Miss Costorari insisted that, howsoever the troglodytes had come into possession of Abdul, given the attack upon his foster parents, clearly his being held a captive elsewhere saved his life.
Mr. Penrington, in relating his information, tried to be politic about Philby's Yemeni opinions.
The conversation centered for a while on Po. The fact that he was at times competent in martial situations was mentioned.
Abdul asked, "You were trained as a warrior?"
Po answered, "I have studied the Way of the Warrior since I was 3," there was a rather long pause, "until I was 11, when I was shunted off to a priesthood."
Abdul: "There are many wonders in Anglia!"
Po: "I am not from Anglia. I was born in the Far East."
Mr. Blake inserted, "Cathay."
Abdul: "I remember my geography." To Po, "So, you are Chinese. Isn't that a long way from here?"
Mr. Blake explained, "I was a soldier for a time. I hired his father while stationed overseas."
Abdul: "So he is your servant?"
Mr. Blake: "His father is. Po is... Po."
Po spoke up, "It's time I told more. My father was instructed to be hired by you so that I'd have a safe haven in Anglia."
Mr. Blake, amazed or amused, "Don't tell me we have two princes in hiding?"
Po: "I am not a prince. I have tried to explain to Dr. Davis and even she did not understand for several weeks." Dr. Davis glanced with raised eyebrows at the Chinese boy. He continued, "Do you understand reincarnation?"
Abdul, excitedly: "Are you a spirit that keeps coming back? A djinn? Or someone else of importance."
Po: "I am a being of little importance."
Mr. Blake: "Why was Lok so instructed?"
Po: "It had been foretold."
Abdul: "How was Mr. B. chosen? Is he a Chosen One?"
Po: "I do not know how."
Mr. Blake: "Not for my dashing good looks." Dr. Davis gave him a strange, puzzled look.
Steele commented: "Nor for your copious funds."
Mr. Blake protested, "My father still had money at the time."
Po, returning to the main thread of conversation, "Should we head East, there is a group of people who would be after me, to use my heart to perform an evil ritual to gain control of the world."
Someone commented, "Do all who study the Way of the Warrior, glow yellow and float in the air?"
Mr. Forester interjected, "What!?!"
Mr. Blake asked, "What would be the use of your heart if you are a being of little importance?"
Po: "The ritual would be very bad for the world only if I am not an ordinary boy."
Miss Costorari added, "Regardless of whether you would fulfil their needs, it seems wise to hold on to your heart."
Abdul, amazed: "Can you live without your heart?"
Po: "The ritual would certainly take me off of the Wheel of Life."
Mr. Blake: "I know that those who live without their hearts are Undead and must be destroyed."
Po: "Not all dead are evil, even Those Who Walk."
Having exhausted their amazement over Po's tale, the discussion moved on to further plans. Tomorrow, there would be a field trip for the students to the Dept. of Oriental Antiquities. This night, at Dr. Davis' urging, further investigations of the underground existence of the Neanderthal would be undertaken. A discussion ensued as to whether or not the two teen-agers could be allowed to risk the danger of Adventurous Exploration. Dr. Davis politely but firmly pointed out that Abdul and Mr. Forester were both under the group's protection and so could not be left behind alone, yet each member of the group had proved him or herself useful in past investigations. Therefore, the two newcomers should come along (to continue to be protected), allowing the group to act at its most effective. Therefore as well, there was no reason to forbid Po his share of danger. Mr. Penrington's sword was determined to be most compatible to Abdul's size and training, so a loan of the weapon was effected, although the Arab boy would have been more comfortable with a curved blade.
Night in London.
The Underground pit was well lit. As Mr. Steele brought the lift down, one could see numerous members of the Constabulary and army, as well as Tweed Suits, all directed by Professor Challenger. Our Party was detained at the lift. However, Mr. Steele was immediately recognized. Via the established hierarchy, the mechanical man was requisitioned to help remove rubble. Apparently the Neanderthals had used the last 24 hours to block the crack Our Party had used. Steele suggested to Challenger that he speak more with the Party, which suggestion the professor seemed to feel was redundant. Then the mechanical man proceeded to cut a goodly-sized tunnel, eventually breaking through into the chamber that had been the scene of Our Battle with the troglodytes.
Although Steele asked politely, Challenger did not allow him to investigate further. Having ascertained that further crevices were also blocked and that the machine man could not clear them all in an efficient amount of time, Mr. Steele was dismissed. The professor did, however, first exhibit a sealed beaker of red chalk, one of four piles of the stuff found where the four fighting Neanderthals had been - or so he presumed. Challenger referred to the machine man's usefulness as "a portable steam shovel". Steele responded politely, "I think of myself as more than that." He explained about taduki and continued, "I am a human sailor who has merged with the Nasmyth Engine." The professor listened, but expressed little interest and proceeded to leave the dig site, acknowledging Dr. Davis with the merest nod. [Which is as close as Society allows a gentleman to come to delivering "the cut direct" to a woman.]
Back at the boarding house, the frustrated party discussed what little Steele had learned. Miss Costorari wondered if the red powder could be the after effect of a magic spell. Dr. Davis, recalling that traces of red pigment had been found on the fossilized bones in the Neander Valley, speculated, "Memorials." Steele could not be sure whether the crevices had been caved in or filled in by hand. It did seem like a lot of work for the primitive troglodytes to accomplish in 24 hours.
The next morning. The British Museum Dept. of Oriental Antiquities.
The Party's acquaintance of old, Dr. Samuel Birch, examined the white statuette. "Without the four arms, it is in the style of South Araby. The four arms, however are indicative of motion or facets of something, in the Indian style."
Penrington took the opportunity to check the statuette for hidden compartments, finding none but noting that the incised patterns continued on the inside of the carved robes, in places where one would not normally be able to fit a carving tool. He was sure that the figure had no moving parts and could not come apart such that those places could be reached. "Something turned to stone by magic?" he guessed.
Dr. Birch answered, "A crystalized memory of something."
Mr. Penrington turned to Mr. Forester, "It's like what you do, but as solid rather than flat. Could you do this?"
Mr. Forester thought about it, "My components are for flat images, but...."
Mr. Blake was pulled into the conversation and, for a space, he and Mr. Forester left the others far behind as they discussed radiological theory.
The rest drew Dr. Birch into a discussion of Araby. "It's not as well known a region as Africa because it has been unfriendly to the Anglish. But it is interesting because of the 'lost' city of Omanum Emporium." Dr. Davis translated from the Greek, "Market City of Oman." Dr. Birch beamed, "It's the only unlocated place on Ptolemy's map. There were 23 cities marked in that peninsula; all but one have been identified in Eudiamon Arabia." Dr. Davis translated, "Arabia Felix, Fortunate Arabia." Dr. Birch continued, "It's still mostly unexplored. No one but Burton has been to Mecca, for instance."
"Tell us more about Ptolemy's map," Dr. Davis urged. Dr. Birch complied, "The Map of the World of the Greek Empire at its Height. Most copies were burned with Alexandria. Some appendices survived and the map was recreated from those." Dr. Davis followed up this interview by using her newly-acquired access to the Museum's Map Room. There she was able to memorize the location mentioned on Ptolemy's map.
Po asked Dr. Birch about current collectors of "things Arabian". The Keeper replied that most of the Museum's collection came from donations by military men who had been on the Suez. Men such as Mr. Philby, whose name was on several of the small placards.
Miss Costorari returned to the Museum's Reading Room. She determined that there had been a Market Town having 7 tall towers: Wabar. Abdul translated this as "Ubar", meaning great well. It had been built by djinn for King Ad Kin'Ad who had 90 steeds, 90 eunuchs, and 90 concubines. Most of the stories of Wabar included being guided by magic means, such as djinn or a flying camel. It was reputed to be green, fertile, wonderful, fabulously wealthy, and behind certain mountain ranges.
Dr. Davis noted the similarity between the names: "King Ad Kin'Ad" of the Wabar legend and "the people of Ad" of the Ad Irem legend.
Having considered Dr. Birch's information and recalling the symbols that Abdul had given for Irem, Mr. Penrington wondered, "Does anyone else think the three symbols might be related to the three items in the arms? The curve [ )] equals shield; The line [ | ] equals sword; the question-like mark-on-a-table [ ? ] equals incense smoke?" Mr. Steele nodded thoughtfully and commented, "Interesting. I was wondering what the significance of the symbols might be. Your theory makes some sense, in that I agree there's a good match between the symbols and the three items. I'm not sure what to make of that. Though, since I had the impression that there were multiple statues, presumably of different gods (e.g., one for each of the seven pillars) and thus holding different symbols, I'm not sure why any one statue should happen to hold items corresponding to 'Irem'. Maybe we'll learn more if/when we find another statue. In the meantime, it's definitely a good working theory."
Later that day, Po made a suggestion, which Dr. Davis passed on to Mr. Forester, that inquiries should be made at Smithee School as to whether or no the instructor Foster had returned. The headmaster admitted that not only had he disappeared the day Mr. Forester had been hired away, but that word had come round from his flat that he'd cleared out there as well.
A visit was made to Lord Franks to ascertain his interest in things Arabian. Although hospitable, it was clear that he was deep in his rivalry with Lord Cardiff. His interest is in Niger, not Arabia. Should the party want employment in Africa, digging in the sands, he would be willing to hire those he knew.
The Party having failed to develop an approach that could interest any sponsors known to them in funding a trip to Yemen or the western coast of Arabia nearest the point-of-interest on Ptolemy's map, Miss Costorari and Mr. Penrington began arrangements for the Party to escort Abdul to Paris and his former contacts, utilizing what personal monies still remained to them. Paris seemed a likely goal due to:
It was noted that the only one of the Party who spoke French was Abdul, which was likely to make information gathering in Paris somewhat limited.
Dr. Davis, however, fretted about being more easily trailed via train than airship. As well, she voiced her frustration that, perhaps, not all avenues in Anglia had been explored. She discussed the possibility with Mr. Penrington of approaching the Foreign Office (with its interest in Oman). Penrington pointed out that, unless she was willing to reveal the presence of Prince Abdul, the only tidbit they had to offer the Foreign Office was the apparent connection between Foster and the unidentified murdered man. Dr. Davis admitted that revealing Abdul was tantamount to surrendering their promise of seeing him to safety, as the State Department would undoubtedly take the boy into protective custody. There simply did not seem to be any way to get an introduction to get past the first levels of bureaucracy - unless undersecretaries were willing to believe that a group of unknown adventurers, none of whom spoke Arabic, could be diplomats to Oman.
In the intervening days an additional bit of data about the Neanderthals was determined: their shaggy armor had been bear pelt. However no bears had roamed wild in Anglia in more than a century. Perhaps there might be some connection here with the two lions killed in a London park as reported in the newspaper....?
It did occur to Dr. Davis and Mr. Penrington that there was time to at last investigate the fragment of the fragrant wooden wheel found in the ruins of Timbuktu. The relatively-newly-promoted director, designer Sir William Thislton-Dyer, was eager to extol the virtues of Kew Gardens, part of the Royal Botanic Gardens in Surrey. "Here," he said, "quinine was first discovered and refined, resulting in many health benefits to Our Explorers in Africa. And currently we are working on a rare willow bark, looking for the right acidic formulation...." The 2-acre greenhouse held an Anglish collection of trees from Cathay. Our fragment's fragrance was identical to that of the common Chinese sandalwood. The fact that it was so fragrant was a sign that it was not very old. "Five years at most," the Keeper said. Dr. Davis' eyebrows rose slightly: every indication was that that piece of wheel had been sealed away in Timbuktu for 7000 years. Sir William continued, "Your sample clearly differs from Indian sandalwood as the latter is not as dark as this," indicating the dark reddish brown colour of our piece of wood.
Mr. Penrington asked about Arabia and learned that the acacia is the commonest tree there at present although there are stories of other trees in the distant past, now lost to the desert. After all, there are trees in the SE hills of Arabia reputed to be processed to make frankincense and myrrh, incenses of ancient times used in religious ceremonies and in burials.
From thence, Dr. Davis took the wooden wheel fragment to the Druid's Grove where lived her father. Having had some time after her return from Timbuktu, they did not re-open the subject of Africa, twins, and parental responsibility, nor was there further mention of the notion that the father had brought up concerning the fate of Dr. Warring's soul in the presence of a necromancer. [Did I leave any knives untwisted? :-) ]
In response to her query about what information Druidism could give about common Chinese sandalwood, Brother Oak introduced "a young man just back from Cathay," Brother Caidamu. The doctor could not help but see that bespectacled young man's robe was a tad too short. Too, she had to admit that the fond father seated him a tad too close to the lady doctor. Thus a rather uncomfortable conversation commenced, while Brother Oak hovered. Small talk about his experience in Cathay revealed, "It takes some time to meet the local gods and make friends... They don't speak the same language." Dr. Davis handed over the wooden wheel piece. Brother Caidamu noted, "The glyph is the Year of the Ram. The mountain people use such prayer wheels. This one is particularly thin and elegant." "Prayer wheels?" Dr. Davis asked. "Yes, used for carrying messages to spirits passed or tulpas." "Tulpas?" "Egregores," he said, translating into the Anglish concept. "Mystical beings created by the thoughts and prayers of people. Tulkas. Talupas." The poor young man looked at Brother Oak, apparently astounded that a druid's daughter could be so ignorant.
Dr. Davis was able to ascertain that Tookoos don't die, but they sometimes incarnate, and thought to herself that she now had a term for Po, if it mattered. She suspected that it would not, at least for some while. A tookoo - or maybe the prayer wheel - "carries messages from life to life." Messages -- or was it tookoos? -- were "necessary to ensure good crops and healthy babies and...," flustered at the obvious notion of procreation in the vicinity of a handsome woman, the young man could not go on. Brother Oak bustled to the rescue with fresh herbal tea.
Next week: Paris
[Note: As holidays approach, the game is likely to move into an every-other-week status. There will be no game November 13th.
(a) Cumulative (b) Cumulative since Volume II
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