Morning seemed to come early to Reginald and Marion, both converging on the university before the clock rang out 10am. Deciding the research of anything relevant to historical records of Egypt, more specifically provinces and religious records relating to ‘Sektat’.
Reginald sipped a strong cup of tea as he flicked through maps of Egypt, plotting out where the location of the massacre may have happened. Marion sat across the table, a large pile of books that gradually spread across the table as he moved through them at a brisk pace, all related to geography, religion and interpretation. Doing his best to retain the information he was reading about mummification and the processes involved, Marion was barely able to obtain an overview of Egyptian society, the reports he was reading all appeared to be rough translations at best.
The clerk appeared next to Marion, a look across his face of confidence as he handed a book to Marion, explaining he had located the name ‘Sektat’ in the index. Marion immediately opened the book to the marked page, to his disappointment, only a single mention in a single paragraph was visible. In reference to ‘Sektat’, a high priest, a man of incredible magical power and dread knowledge, his power base was located near the Nile river approximately 4,000 years ago.
This mention seemed to only frustrate Marion, closing the book and leaning back in his chair. The clock chimed two in the afternoon, Reginald standing from his seat, requesting Marion join him for lunch at the Army and Navy Club, feeling they had both earned a break from their studies.
*
Reginald led the way to the guest dining room where Marion was permitted within the walls of the Army and Navy Club, sitting at a table that was unoccupied, calling for a porter to take his order. Marion sat across from Reginald, both men looking around the room for any sign of Toby Norton, making sure he had not disappeared.
Time passed quickly as the two men devoured a substantial amount of meat and potatoes while discussing the best course of action to take. Marion suggested speaking to Inspector Craddock about trying to find the other participants of the massacre to see how many are already deceased.
Reginald dismissed the notion as foolhardy, instead insisting on getting in touch with Colonel Hollingsworth face to face.
Discover the identity of the academic that Hollingsworth had fallen out with, Dr Geoffrey Jordan, another of many avenues to investigate. Deciding that they would try to divide and conquer, Marion decided he would return to the Somerset Hotel and consult with Faez to try and discover any means of keeping the mystical assassin of soldiers at bay, Reginald choosing to speak in more detail to Toby who they had spotted working around the coat room and kitchen.
Finishing their meal, Reginald wished Marion good luck, advising him to return to the Club when he had spoken to Faez. Marion departed the club as Reginald made his way into the member’s area, cornering Toby in the narrow hall between the kitchen and bar. Toby seemed stunned at Reginald’s sudden appearance. Reginald handed Toby a notebook and pencil, demanding him to write down a list of names of the participants of the massacre. Toby insisted that he was currently working and would write the list when he was finished, advising that the list would be ready at approx. 7pm.
With nothing else pressing on his time, Reginald returned to the main bar, joining his fellow servicemen for war stories and banter.
Faez came running down the stairs to meet Marion in the same cafe. Marion shook his hand as he began to ask about any scriptures or texts Faez may have come across regarding restraining the beings that bring about death and calamity. Faez, agreeing to answer the line of questioning in a purely hypothetical fashion, stating that often when such curses exist, the individual would often be entombed with texts of condemnation, reincarnation and resurrection, such texts would best be interpreted by himself if found during the investigation.
Marion agreed that as neither Reginald or himself could interpret such writings, they would locate Faez immediately. Marion checked the time, his meeting with Faez also passed quickly as his watch closed in on six o’clock. Walking briskly back towards the Army and Navy Club, Marion stopped at most intersections, taking the time to look carefully at his surroundings, looking for anything that seemed out of the ordinary. Believing he was merely suffering from a mild dose of paranoia after his previous investigation that led him to the Java Coffee Company basement, Marion finally dismissed the notion and continued confidently down the main walkway as carriages and cabs rattled along the uneven roads.
Reginald heard the chimes of the large Grandfather clock at the back of the bar, singing out the time of seven o’clock in the evening. Puzzled by Toby’s lack of appearance, Reginald decided to wander about in search of his list.
After wandering through the main entertaining areas, Reginald followed the signage to the basement level quarters, Toby and several other low level workers who lived on site occupied the series of small rooms. Calling out to Toby, Reginald came to a halt at Toby’s door where he was busily sitting at a small desk, lit only by a small candle, writing down names in the notebook.
A loud voice boomed down the main corridor where Reginald was standing, the main cook calling to Toby to put the garbage from the kitchen outside. Toby rose to his feet immediately, handing Reginald the book, believing he had written down all the names he could remember before rushing towards the kitchen access door where the cook was waiting.
Reginald left the basement level of the club, intercepted immediately by one of the staff, advising that his familiar guest had arrived and was waiting in the visitor’s lounge. Reginald strode into the visitor’s lounge, slightly larger than a standard home's drawing room, spotting Marion who looked slightly out of breath after his nervous walk back to the Club.
Reginald handed Marion the book of names, explaining that they would have to find the location of each man. Reginald raised his hand briefly, a noise catching his attention, a distant cry from outside the club. Reginald let out a call of “Toby”, running towards the front door, Marion quickly standing and following Reginald. Standing in the street, Reginald could feel the thick fog against his face, grabbing Marion by the jacket lapel, holding him close as he made his way to the right of the main entrance towards the side access alleyway where the exterior kitchen door was located.
Slowly walking the narrow path of the alley, Reginald let go of Marion to gain a better grip on his cane. A sense of dread filled Reginald as through the fog, under the dim light of the single light humming above the kitchen door, a shape appeared on the ground. Marion let out a brief sound of distress as he tripped on one of the bins that rested against the side wall of the Club, stumbling forward only to be held up by Reginald who had stopped under the dim lamp light.
Marion and Reginald both hunched down to see the mortified face of Toby Norton, his open eyes staring blankly at the sky. Marion was visibly shocked, turning his gaze away from Toby’s horrified look, he picked Reginald up from his lowered position and pulled him a step back, both men shocked that they had not noticed the position of Toby’s body.
The feet of Toby Norton were neatly behind his head, his toes facing outward, his arms pressed against his chest as if held in place by an invisible rope he had been trying to escape. Toby had been folded in half, his torso laying on top of the back of his legs that were resting underneath him. Whatever had done this was strong enough to obliterate bone and sever tendons and ligaments as if they were made of paper, another feat of inhuman strength.
Reginald raised his eyes from Toby’s corpse, a shadow caught his attention from further down the alley, past the reach of the lamp light. Raising his cane, Reginald stepped forward carefully, waving his hand at Marion to summon assistance.
Without delay, Marion ran back to the mouth of the Alley, calling as loud as he could for police and aid. Reginald pushed forward, hearing footsteps in the dark, the brief glimpse of shadows revealing a tall being, it’s strange features almost impossible to identify. Reginald boomed a warning into the darkness, demanding the assailant show themselves. Marion could hear police whistles in the distance, growing louder as several patrons of the Army and Navy Club began to gather at the front door to investigate the calls for help. Reginald raised his cane slowly as the darkness in front of him began to echo strange sounds of movement. Shuffling motion, a short distance ahead, shuffling and the sound of something being dragged against the uneven, cobblestone floor of the alley. Reginald took a step back as the sounds grew closer, yet his keen gaze unable to see the source of the noise.
Reginald raised his cane, ready to strike at whatever was getting closer to him in the darkness. As Reginald took another step back, the soft light of the lamp illuminating a short distance in front of his face.
Reginald let out a panicked cry for an instant, the light revealing an enormous dog shaped being flashing in front of his face. The shock of the image caused Reginald to leap backwards as a large arm bearing sharp claws sliced through the air, missing his face by mere inches.
Hearing the startled screams, Marion waved the two constables who had appeared from across the street towards his location as he turned and ran down the alley towards Reginald. Reaching into his medical bag that seemed to be permanently slung over his shoulder, Marion pulled the ‘Bulldog’ pistol from the semi hidden compartment, holding it by the barrel and cylinder as he ran.
Reginald had his back against the wall under the humming light, ready to strike at anything that moved in the darkness. Spotting Marion, Reginald called for him to halt and be cautious, Marion reaching out to Reginald, pistol in hand in an effort to allow Reginald to take the weapon by the grip.
Silence in the darkness as Marion quickly retracted his outstretched arm at the sound of footsteps behind him, Marion pointing his free hand down the alley as the two approaching constables demanded to know what was going on. Pausing only for a moment, the constables continued on into the dark, foggy alley as Marion moved to Reginald’s side. Reginald placed his hand on Marion's shoulder, doing his best to explain what his eyes had seen for a moment, describing a man sized animal, its long neck and snout catching the dim light as it moved quickly.
Moving towards the mouth of the alley, Marion and Reginald could hear the shouting and surprise echo through the fog from the direction the constables had run towards. Reginald hobbled inside the Club, pushing past the small crowd of people who had gathered on the front steps. Marion, close behind, came to a stop next to Reginald who was leaning against a bookcase in the main lobby. Reginald poured himself a large glass of scotch, muttering in a volume Marion could barely hear “Large…man dog thing…swipe at me…how dare you…”
One of the constables who had pursued the assailant down the alley appeared in the entryway to the Club, shouting and pushing past the crowd, striding across the carpeted floor and disappearing in the direction of the kitchen.
Reginald and Marion steadied themselves, both now discussing what they should do, for them to be the ones to find yet another body would cast a larger shadow on them as potential suspects. Deciding to slip out, Marion quietly moved past the crowd that seemed to be getting larger, Reginald offering a brief distraction, announcing to the crowd that Private Toby Norton had been murdered on their doorstep.
A number of constables had now converged on the Army and Navy Club, Reginald sitting at4 a table, two constables questioning him as to the events of the evening. Patrons reported that Reginald had been the last person to speak to Toby, making it impossible for him to leave the scene.
Craddock entered the Army and Navy Club, moving through the sea of constables and taking a seat at the table where Reginald was sitting. Craddock expressed his frustration at finding Reginald at another crime scene where a murder had taken place.
Craddock demanded Reginald attend the morgue, demanding that Marion also attend, arranging to meet them there in half an hour. Reginald walked out of the Club and straight into a Hansom Cab, his knowledge of the roadways between Marion’s residence and the Army and Navy Club making it easy to find Marion who was on foot. Approximately halfway between his residence and where the Club was located, Marion was stopped by the familiar voice of Reginald that boomed from an oncoming Hansom Cab. Marion immediately entered the cab to see an unnerved Reginald who explained where they were going and who they were meeting.
The cab arrived at the morgue inconspicuously, Marion and Reginald exiting the cab and entering the wooden door of the office. The voices of Craddock and Spencer echoing through the almost empty space. Marion cleared his throat the notify the men that they had arrived. Craddock moved and stood solemnly at the centre of the room, standing next to one of the tables reserved for cadavers being examined. Two tables were occupied at the present moment. Craddock pulled back the sheet revealing Toby’s crumpled body. Reginald recoiled as Craddock spoke harshly about how such violence and power could be spent on one man.
Reginald answered Craddock’s questions regarding what he saw in the dark alleyway. Marion was watching Spencer, observing that the experienced doctor was shaken. Craddock pulled back the second sheet revealing a body that was somewhat stranger than Toby’s. A withered body, smelling of rot and mould, dressed in robes and primitive coverings, its head concealed within a tall mask, the shape of a large hound head. Moving closer, Marion and Reginald could see that the mask was made from the skin and bones of a dog like creature. Spencer uttering the word “Jackal”, the mask elongated, making the shape appear much taller than that of a man.
Pulling the mask from the corpse, the intense smell of rot filled the nostrils of Reginald and Marion. Craddock pushed further for answers regarding the corpse. Asking how a body as badly decomposed could be walking around and assaulting police officers in the dead of night.
After an intense discussion regarding the statement made by Reginald, Carddock refused to believe that this body was the assailant. Reginald explained that from what he saw, the height of the mask fit the description of what he witnessed.
Excusing themselves from Craddock for a few moments, Marion and Reginald were relieved the discover that they were not the target of the current investigation. Deciding it was best to give Craddock all of the information they had, they re-joined Craddock and Dr Nelson next to the body of the Jackal headed man.
Reginald explained all they had discovered, the conversation with Faez, handing Craddock the card with the address of the Egyptian. Marion contributed to the conversation regarding investigating the illogical nature of the crimes, Craddock’s face showing clear signs of frustration. Reginald also handed Craddock a copy he had scribbled down of the list of names given to him by Toby as members of the Military action.
Craddock concluded the conversation by stating he would follow up with Faez and speak to Reginald and Marion in the coming days. Leaving the Morgue, Craddock closed the door loudly, Reginald and Marion breathing sighs of relief. Leaving the morgue a few minutes after Craddock, Reginald and Marion entered a Hansom Cab and began discussing the disturbing nature of the body clad in robes and the strange headdress.
As the Cab stopped outside Marion’s residence, Reginald agreed that the two of them would head back to the morgue first thing in the morning, wishing to witness the autopsy of Toby and the rotting corpse at 7am.
*
Marion arrived at the morgue at 6am, setting up for the autopsy that was about to be conducted.
Marion prepped the rotting corpse for the autopsy, laying the body on the table, preparing all of the tools necessary for Dr Spencer to begin. Marion looked closely over the body, the skull was cracked, the body was covered in dirt, his hands were full of wood splinters and dark earth. Marion’s mind was racing believing that the corpse had clawed his way out of a coffin and crawled through six feet of dirt. Marion continued the examine closely the skull of the body, the long crack appearing more recent, most likely when it was hit by the police the previous night. Examining closer by lamp light the mask, the craftsmanship of the mask was exquisite. The reinforcement, the shaping, the curves, all were made by someone with skill. The mask was made from hide, the head itself was that of a Jackal, its fur was real, yet there was no space for whoever was wearing the mask to be able to see. Marion completed the autopsy over the course of hours, writing hi report in duplicate, delivering a copy to Dr Spencer, the second bound for Inspector Craddock.
*
Reginald sat in his sitting room next to his telephone, his attempt at research of the name Geoffrey Jordan yielding little results, several vacant telephone calls later, Reginald dialled the British Museum, the clerk going through his records, locating the name as a former employee, conveying that he was the curator of Eastern antiquities.
The address on file, 72 Clarendon Road, Bayswater, a distance from London, Reginald writing the address down and thanking the clerk for the information. Barely putting the phone back on the hook, the telephone began to ring. Answering immediately, Reginald was relieved to hear Marion’s voice, advising that he needed to meet at Scotland Yard as he had to deliver the medical report .Already Dressed, Reginald tucked his Webley Revolver into his belt, calling for Singh, Reginald left his sitting room and headed for the front door. Marion was standing at the steps of Scotland Yard having left the report with the desk clerk inside as he was advised that Inspector Craddock was unavailable. Reginald opened the door of the Hansom Cab for Marion to enter. Sitting in the stationary Cab, Marion began to explain the findings of his report, also expressing his thoughts of how the body showed all the signs of being buried and escaping from its coffin. Reginald held his head in his hand, shaking his head as he took in the information. A Marion concluded his report, Reginald called for the Hansom Cab Driver the head to the Bayswater address of Geoffrey Jordan.
Marion and Reginald knocked on the door of number 72 Clarendon Road. After a short time, a short woman opened the door, after escaping the wild assumptions of Reginald, they discovered that Jordan was a tenant of the residence upstairs. Taking the calling cards of the two men at the door, the woman ushered Marion and Reginald into the foyer, she disappeared up the stairs.
Returning from the upper level, the woman conveyed that Mr Jordan was not taking visitors. Reginald pressing the urgency of the matter, Reginald bustled past the woman and began up the stairs, Marion close behind. As Reginald bellowed that Jordan needed to answer as the matter concerned Colonel Hollingsworth. The woman pushed past Reginald to the second door on the left at the top of the stairs. A man’s vice echoed through the door. Opening the door quickly, a man aged around 50, his silver hair shaggy and unkempt. Pushing into the room, Reginald and Marion stood in the centre of what looked like a living area, towers of books and small artefacts of different origins littered the room. Dressed in his bed clothing, his long dressing gown doing a poor job of concealing the pistol tucked into his waistband. Demanding that the two state their business, Jordan looked like a man who was hiding and did not want to be found.
Reginald and Marion both took their time with Jordan, explaining that they were not enemies, explaining their investigation into the murders. Jordan was showing clear signs of fear, Reginald not able to sway him to calm. Jordan was less than helpful explaining that Nicholas Hollingsworth was at the centre of the conspiracy, he was the man with all the answers.
Marion and Reginald spent almost half an hour in the company of Jordan, the entire time, Jordan gave firm resistance to any form of questioning. Having tolerated the two intruders, Jordan finally turned the two away, forcing them to leave, his hand moving towards his pistol.
Marion and Reginald both backed away slowly, vacating the quarters of Jordan, Reginald giving Jordan his calling card that was quickly snatched from his hand as Jordan advanced on the two who were taking longer than necessary to leave.
On the street, Marion and Reginald both muttered their anger and disappointment at Jordan’s lack of assistance. Arguing about what their best steps would be to start putting pieces together and where to go next, Reginald put forward the notion of getting in touch with Colonel Hollingsworth wife Ramona, however Collin’s objected as he was unsure of the nature of contacting a lady of the house without the knowledge of the householder. Much procrastination began back and forth between the two, not wanting to re-enter the home, yet unsure how to get Ramona out of the home, after a long discussion, the two decided the safest course of action was to make a phone call to the Hollingsworth home.
Posing as a member of the British Museum and Art Gallery, it would possibly produce a somewhat public meeting or at the very least a second invitation to the home. Deciding to use a private phone within the Army and Navy Club, Reginald led Marion to the far side of the guest dining room to where a phone was sitting in the corner of the room. Requiring privacy, Reginald pushed through a nearby door to a private member’s lounge, being halted at the door as to the sudden appearance of a ‘non-member’, Reginald rebuked the man, pushing past him with authority as they were in need of a private room with a phone to assist in the investigation of Lord Gower and more recently, Toby Norton. After grumbles and frustrated comments regarding the irregularity of the situation, both Reginald and Marion were let into the room out of respect for the recently departed. Marion took a seat at the phone, dialling the number for Kandahar house, the phone was answered by the familiar voice of Fordyce. Posing as a curator from the Royal Art Gallery, Marion was able to hear Ramona’s voice appear at the end of the telephone line. Dispensing with the façade, Marion immediately dropped his act and began to convey the urgency of the situation they were facing. Ramona’s feeble attempts at expressing the irregular nature of the call were overshadowed by Marion pushing the danger and severity of the potential safety impacts on the entire family within Kandahar house. After a brief exchange, Ramona agreed to return the call of Marion the following day on a phone number that they could provide, Marion immediately giving the direct number for Reginald’s home.
Deciding to spend the evening at home, Reginald informed Singh of the likely hood of a call to follow the next day, taking a seat in his sitting room and spending longer than usual cleaning his Webley Revolver, Cherry in hand whenever it was free. Marion spent his evening picking up where he left off at the Morgue, refiling the paperwork that was out of place, reorganizing his office before he left for the night.
*
A loud knock woke Reginald as he slumbered in his chair, Singh summoning hi to the phone. Glancing at the large clock in the hallway, it was only moments before midnight. Taking the phone in hand, Reginald boomed into the mouthpiece, demanding to know who was calling, the panicked and quiet tones of Geoffrey Jordan’s voice came through as whispers. Reginald listened intently as Jordan whispered carefully that shapes and shadows were moving across the street and in the yard, hearing movement in the hallway, a scream was cut short as the phone line gave out.
Hanging up and dialling the number for Scotland Yard, Reginald left a message for Craddock to return his call. The Cherry still causing Reginald’s mind to sway, he demanded Singh lock all doors and windows before Reginald slumped back in his comfortable chair and returned to sleep.
As morning broke across the horizon, a loud knock at the door was answered by the ever alert Singh, Reginald close behind. Inspector Craddock was standing with two police officers, calling for Reginald to dress himself quickly as they immediately needed to depart. Riding next to Craddock, the exchange between Reginald and the Inspector was brief, Reginald explaining the strange phone call from Jordan the night before, Craddock informing of the mess that was discovered in the early hours of the morning.
As the cart came to a stop, Marion was standing on the steps to the building flanked by two more police. Craddock exited first, pointing where Marion and Reginald were to go and where to stay clear of. As the two made their way up to Jordan’s apartment, thick trails of blood leading up and down the stairs, from the rear of the house, to the front and up the bannister.
Entering Jordan’s living room, the neat piles of books had been toppled, paper that littered the walls ripped and destroyed, furniture broken and thrown across the room, everything covered in blood and more often than not, torn flesh and bone. Marion made his way behind the desk Jordan had used as his work area, the main husk of his body twisted and disfigured on the floor, his head no longer attached to his shoulders.
Reginald began walking carefully around the bedroom, following a thick blood trail that disappeared under Jordan’s bed. Using his walking stock as a support, Reginald lowered himself to his haunches slowly, his eyes following the blood trail only to have his gaze met by that of the dead eyes of Jordan whose head had come to a stop with a look of utter terror across it.
Looking toward the rear of the building through the blood stained windows, Craddock interrupted the two stating that they were not permitted to go near the rear of the house as more bodies needing identification were scattered all throughout.
Craddock demanded to know what Jordan had said to Reginald and Marion, who in turn answered as honestly as possible, that Hollingsworth was the centre before being thrown out. Looking around the entire space, Marion and Reginald both shared the thought that whatever had happened within the room, a search was conducted, blood stained books were underneath those with no blood, paperwork shared the same traits. Expressing their ideas with the inspector as they came to mind Reginald exclaimed that a search had taken place, Craddock pushed that Reginald and Marion step back and that Craddock would take over the Hollingsworth side of the investigation and more force from Scotland Yard was needing to be applied.
Craddock ushered Marion and Reginald from the crime scene, Reginald hailing a Hansom Cab. Marion produced several pages that he had tucked into his coat when no police eyes had been looking, partially translated Egyptian Hieroglyphics that showed Jordan had been working tirelessly to discover the meaning of. As Marion concluded the translation, Reginald could barely follow the babble of the translation, dismissing it has crazed ramblings of a crazed mind from a society he also deemed crazy and deranged. As Reginald and Marion sat at the dining table, breakfast being served as they both took their first sips of tea and coffee. Within moment, the telephone began to chime, Singh answering and nodding to Reginald that this was the call he was waiting for. Scrambling to the phone, Ramona’s voice was calm, doing her best to not show signs of distress. Unable to meet in public, Ramona listened intently as Reginald let all the information he had recently recovered out, the grizzly nature of the demise of Geoffrey Jordan being the prime topic. Ramona was shocked at the news before being interrupted. A commanding male voice echoed through the phone line, demanding to know who was speaking and how Jordan had been killed. Reginald unable to think of anything to say remained silent before the line went dead.
Hanging up the phone, Reginald looked at Marion, a mixed look of fear, confusion and frustration stuck on his face as he was unsure if he had just spoken to Colonel Hollingsworth. Marion enquired as to the call only to be interrupted by the phone ringing for the second time in as many minutes. Answering the phone warily, Reginald placed the earpiece to his head. The same male voice echoed through, calling Reginald by name, explaining that his presence was required at Kandahar house and that his help was necessary.
