Session XI: Crystals and Chinese Dragons

As the freezing air of the Limehouse district cut through Marion, even with Reginald’s coat draped over him, both men stopped a short distance from the wharf, standing next to a single man, shabbily dressed, a small fire blazing in a bucket at his feet.  Marion huddled over it in an attempt to release his bones from the freeze he was feeling.  The two men trudged for a quarter of an hour until they sighted the first Hansom Cab available to give them a lift back to their office.  Entering their office, Marion immediately shed his clothes down to his under garments, standing in front of the roaring fire place.  Reginald entered cautiously, the unlocked door alarming him, a fact Marion missed as he was too consumed with getting to the fire.  Reginald alerted Marion to the unlocked door and the obvious absence of Singh, Marion looked around the office, the toppled furniture and un-shelved books that had been cast across the floor showing signs of a struggle.  Reginald called for Singh in the silence, instead sighting blood trails across the floor.

Reginald conducted a thorough search of the premises as Marion changed into dry clothes in front of the fire, modesty leaving him in his effort to avoid hypothermia.  Feeling like himself again, Marion joined the search for evidence of who may have been inside the office.

Both men reloaded their pistols, Marion’s hands shaking from the cold far less than half an hour previous.  Convinced it was the Chinese criminals mentioned by Craig and Seamus, Reginald picked up the phone and called Scotland Yard.  Reginald boomed down the phone line that he was reporting a break in and a missing man.  Leaving a message for Inspector Craddock, Reginald hung up the phone, moved to the door and locked it with an internal bolt.  Marion moved into the kitchen, fetching some bread and cheese to eat, knowing that his body needed sustenance to maintain its temperature.

Looking around every room, the fowling pieces they had purchased were missing, along with several kitchen knives and Reginald’s sabre.  Eating and drinking without care, the brandy warming his throat, Marion asked if Reginald wanted to head back to Limehouse immediately or if they needed to rest before going back into the obvious danger that it posed.

After another hour, two police officers knocked on the door of the office, Reginald’s call to Scotland Yard causing the desk Sergeant to send two men in response.  Reginald gave his statement of his missing man and the missing weapons of personal significance.  After a short statement and a secondary and collaborative statement from Marion, the two officers began patrolling the area.

As the morning came, Marion was relieved to realise that the icy water of the river had not taken hold of him.  The aches of his fall and tired legs being the only symptoms, the standard trouble breathing and chill in his chest not present.  Making himself a cup of tea and a second for Reginald with his usual nip of Brandy inside, Marion sat in his chair, looking around the office that they had done their best to clean the previous night.

Calling the tavern where he contacted Seamus again, Marion explained he needed an update as soon as possible as he had new information to assist in locating where they needed to go.

Reginald joined Marion, drinking his tea quickly and thrusting his cup at Marion in silent request of a second, Reginald paced around the office in his robe and night shirt, both taken from the wardrobe he had claimed in the room he used when spending evenings at the office.  Reginald muttered to himself as to what he could do to find Singh, being reminded by Marion that Craddock would either be in attendance or calling shortly.

Reginald moved to the phone, relieved to hear that no offences had been committed at his home, his wife unnerved by the conversation and distressed at the report of the missing Singh.

Reginald hung up as a knock at the door called for his attention, opening the door, Inspector Craddock, Detective Sergeant Craig and two constables entered the office.  Craddock enquired as to what had happened in the evening.  Reginald burst with frustration, shortly being excused by Craddock who turned for a more detailed recount from Marion.  As Marion explained the series of events, Craddock interrupted as he told the two he sent no message.  Marion explained the deaths of several Chinese men and a mysterious stranger in a bowler hat who dispatched at least two men.

Craddock looked around the office, the blood stains still on the floor from the scuffle that had taken place.  Craddock collected Craig and demanded he make ready the troops, his intent being to enter Limehouse and shake down some Chinese establishments.  Taking their leave, Craddock and Craig exited the office quickly followed by their police constables.

Reginald dressed himself for another day on the streets of Limehouse, tucking his Webley into his waistband under his jacket, Marion doing the same, instead leaving his pistol in the medical bag he carried constantly.

A knock at the door far less audible than Craddock’s previous knock, Marion opened the door to see Seamus standing against the wall.  Marion asking Seamus to send his men into Limehouse and observe where the police go and what information they can find based on the location.

Reginald and Marion both stopped what they were planning, instead of heading into Limehouse, deciding to stay in London and rest for the day, allowing Craddock to work and Seamus’s minions to observe, at least giving them an idea of where they needed to go in Limehouse to attempt to find Singh.

Craddock returned to the office of Lockhart and Collins in the early evening, reporting to the two men that they had gone through several establishments, all signs pointing to one of the larger Chinese gangs that operate in Limehouse.  Craddock unable to give any information regarding the location of Singh, he left the two in their office with little more information than they had in the morning.

Reginald looked on the desk and spotted the card for Fordyce, the former butler of Colonel Hollingsworth, enquiring via phone for a messenger to summon Fordyce from the address listed on the card.

As the evening got later, Fordyce arrived at the office, his tall stature filling the doorway.  Reginald addressed him as a colleague, asking if he would take on a position of a live in office attendant and clerk.  Fordyce, still looking for employment accepted the post, looking around the office and enquiring if he was free to arrange the space to his liking.  Reginald agreeing before taking his leave for the evening and returning home.  Fordyce made himself comfortable in the second spare room while Marion retired to his own room, thinking about how to best infiltrate Limehouse.

*

 Marion and Reginald wandered through the docks of Limehouse, weaving between alleys and making sure no one was paying them any particular attention.  Eventually the two of them ended up looking at the docks they had previously been attacked.  As they moved on, both Marion and Reginald noticed a strange man who seemed to be following them.  The two continued to wander the streets, hiding themselves in an alcove when they disappeared from the main view.  After failing to see the man move past them, they re-emerged from the alcove to sight the man some distance away, continuing on his own path.  Marion and Reginald followed the man at some distance, noticing he moved out of the main street and turning into a side street, Marion and Reginald turned into the street to come to a dead end filled with four doors, no sight of the man.

Turning to exit the side street, Marion and Reginald were met by three large Chinese men who refused to let them pass.  From behind them, the man who they were following had re-emerged and engaged them in conversation.  Reginald cutting to the point and demanding to know where his man Singh was being held.  Marion kept a sharp eye on the three men, his hand inside his medical bag and gripping his pistol.  Reginald’s conversation had turned to trading for the life of Singh, the Chinese man demanding the cube for the Indian.  Marion and Reginald unanimously agreed to the terms, the time and location of the meeting to take place as soon as possible.  Given the instructions that they would be approached with a location for the exchange as soon as they were able to prove they had what was desired.

Allowing the two to leave, the three large Chinese men parted, allowing Reginald and Marion to pass, Marion slamming his shoulder into the closest Chinese man as he passed, his frustration clear.

*

 Reginald removed the cube from the chimney in the office, handing it to Marion who opened the front door, standing on the steps, holding the cube over his head for anyone watching to see in plain view.  Turning on his heel and moving back inside the office, Marion placed the cube in the wooden box it was housed in before placing it on the small side table by the fireplace.

Reginald paced madly as he waited for the Chinese to make contact, Marion sat in his favourite chair, his skills at rolling his own cigarettes leaving much to be desired, his first cigarette falling apart as he reached the half way point.  Reginald lit his pipe and sipped on Brandy as he slowed his pacing, listening intently for any sounds at the door.

Marion successfully lit a cigarette that was holding together and began dialling the number for Scotland Yard, asking for Inspector Craddock, the desk Sergeant unable to connect the call.  The desk Sergeant advising that Craddock was already within the Limehouse district and had no determined time of return.

The knock at the door was faint, yet both men reaching for their pistols as Fordyce opened the door slowly, a small Chinese buy handing him a note.  Closing the door and passing the note to Reginald, it was poorly written, yet clear enough to determine the location was on a side street, off the main road of Limehouse.  Wasting no time, Reginald took his heaviest cane, tucked his pistol into his belt and made for the front door.

*

 The Hansom Cab stopped as close to the location as the driver was willing to go, Reginald and Marion exiting the cab and slowly moving towards the location.  Reginald could see up ahead of them a small man waving at him, the same man he had conversed with in the alley.  Marion soon noticed the same man who led them into a large restaurant, the dull lighting casting enough shadow across several faces they recognised, the patrons all brandishing tattoos that resembled snakes and fangs.

Sitting at a table in the centre of the restaurant, the man demanded the object that they had brought to trade for Singh.  Reginald demanded to know Singh was alive before agreeing to anything.  The small man laughed and nodded to one of the three men who had blocked the alley earlier.  One rising and walking to the front door and waving across the street.  Looking out the main window towards the street, two Chinese men emerged from a dark building across the street, hauling a large man wearing a turban who was bound with ropes.  Reginald recognised Singh immediately turning back to Marion and nodding to him.  Marion reluctantly removed the box from his medical bag and placing it on the table. 

Reginald and Marion rose from the table, moving to the exit without further words, moving quickly to where Singh was standing, flanked by the Chinese men.

The men released Singh as they received a nod from the man on the door at the Restaurant.

*

 Reginald paced through the office as Marion inspected Singh, patching light wounds and bandaging bruised limbs and ribs.  Reginald recited his plans aloud, demanding to take the life of the Chinese men involved, questioning Singh in between outbursts.  Singh recalled the strong smell of smoke where he was being held, Reginald immediately picking up the phone, calling Scotland Yard and demanding to speak to Inspector Craddock.

Marion looked around the room as he bandaged Singh, Fordyce had been busying himself about the property, cleaning and tidying all common surfaces.  Singh and Fordyce both eyed each other, a form of mutual respect between the two of them as they were both in service to Reginald and Marion in one form or another.

*

The doorbell chimed as Marion concluding mending Singh, Fordyce opening the door to a startled Godfrey who was already pacing around the office area.  Godfrey engaged Marion and Reginald immediately, desperate to take action regarding the reading he had been doing of the documents Marion had given him.  Godfrey explained he had been reading his Tarot cards and great evil was imminent, Bidwell’s house was the centre and that is where they needed to go without delay.

Godfrey strode back out the front door calling for Marion and Reginald to hurry.  Reginald asking Fordyce to monitor Singh as he put his heavy coat on and joined Marion who was standing next to Godfrey who had a carriage waiting.

 Arriving at the Mansion of John Bidwell, the police presence had disappeared, the home no longer an active crimes scene.  Marion led Reginald and Godfrey to the rear of the house where they had previously made entry through the kitchen.  To their surprise, the kitchen door was unlocked.  The three men entering as quietly as possible, Godfrey pulling a deck of cards from his pocket as he entered the kitchen.  The muttering of Godfrey was close to maddening for Reginald whose mind was still focussed on the violence that had befallen Singh.  Spying a light on upstairs, Reginald took the lead up the rear stairs of the house from the kitchen to the second floor.  The source of the light emitting from the library, where the gathering had been held where the three of them had sat at the table where the cube was first seen.

Moving quietly to the door, Reginald could hear hushed voices coming from within the room.  Reginald did not hesitate, pushing the door open, revolver in hand, the table was filled with the participants of the gathering that had taken place after the party of John Bidwell, the only people missing, the three of them and Bidwell himself.  Reginald demanded answers, Marion pulling his pistol from his bag as he entered the room behind Reginald, also shocked at the gathering.

Reginald waved his pistol around the room, all participants dismissing Reginald and Marion and speaking directly to Godfrey, all who were present explaining that Godfrey must be sharing their dreams as he had arrived at the time required for what they had come to do.

Reginald and Marion moved back towards the door, unsure of how to proceed given the dozen people in front of them all speaking of dreams and alike.

The lamps on the wall began to flutter, the candles on the table burning brighter to compensate for the flickering light.  A door opened at the far end of the room, the door they had seen Bidwell appear from on their first visit.  A robed figure appeared from the room, welcoming all in attendance, removing his hood, all were shocked to see Bidwell himself standing at the head of the table.  Bidwell approached the table and placed the cube on the table as he had done before, Reginald felt fear cross him as he gripped his revolver tightly.  As Bidwell placed the cube down, a thick smoke began to rise from the candles on the table.  Reginald called to Bidwell, demanding to know who he really was, raising his pistol at Bidwell’s face, pulling the hammer back in preparation to fire.

Marion stepped forward alongside Reginald as the smoke from the candles began to swirl as it thickened.  Sparks began to emit from the candles and the cube, a blue electricity like lightning flashing from the cube across the table.  The smoke turning to a funnel like shape as the people around the table began to recoil.

Marion raised his pistol as carefully as possible at the cube, the flashes giving him no end of distress.

Reginald squeezed the trigger as he had Bidwell dead to rights, the 455 calibre bullet slamming into his face, causing him to recoil.  Turning back to Reginald, Bidwell’s face had been replaced with that of Bartlett.  Both men horrified at what they were looking at as Bidwell’s face changed in front of them.  Movement began to form in the smoky funnel that was now forming more of a tunnel.  Marion pulled the trigger of pistol, his bullet ricocheting off the crystal and slamming into the wall behind Reginald.

 The occupants of the room desperately trying to leave, the doors failed to open as the occupants of the space began to scream and wail.  Reginald and Marion moved towards Bartlett, both firing, the body in front of them being riddled with pistol bullets, both watched in horror as they watched Bartlett’s face change from Bartlett, to a Chinese woman, to Constable Baker, back to Bidwell.  Marion’s attention was caught by something moving in the tunnel of smoke.  Large, worm like creatures appearing in the darkness, pale flesh resembling a centipede mixed with many other forms on insects.  Marion’s arm lowered from Bidwell as his pistol was empty, yet Marion could not take his eyes from the creatures he was watching through the tunnel of smoke.  One of the creatures possessing a glowing orb resembling a globe as it drew closer to where Marion and Reginald stood.

 Reginald turned his attention to the tunnel, aiming his pistol at the closest creature, firing at the glowing orb in its possession.  Several more beings drew closer to the tunnel, all carrying various items of obscurity.  A beam of light flashed through the tunnel, striking Marion in the chest, sending him recoiling against the library wall, Reginald watched in horror as Marion’s chest was little more than a hole big enough to fit a dinner plate through, his lifeless body turning to ash as it slumped over.

Reginald turned his attention back to the tunnel, clicking the trigger of his pistol as he had run out of bullets.

A second beam of light flashed across the tunnel, passing through Reginald, as it struck him, he opened his eyes, screaming in his chair by the fireplace in the office of Lockhart and Collins.

Marion burst from his room also screaming, vomit on the front of his shirt, urine soaking his legs as he fell to the floor, curling up in a ball and falling silent.

Fordyce and Singh came from their rooms, standing in the hallway with Reginald over Marion who was clearly in shock.  Wrapping Marion in a blanket, Reginald enlisted the help of the two others to get Marion clean and back in to his bed.

 Dawn broke across London to find Reginald sitting in Marion’s room, Marion finally upright, both men explaining the same dream to each other.  Both men began to prepare for another day, Marion far slower than Reginald, Fordyce explaining that after the two of them returned the previous evening with Singh, all retired for the evening, everything they had seen from Godfrey’s arrival onward was simply dreams.

 Both eating less than they were used to, Marion’s stomach was making it difficult to keep food down.  Reginald doing his best to keep his usual routine, however witnessing his friend vaporise in front of him had clearly left an imprint on his mind.

The doorbell chimed, Fordyce answering promptly, Godfrey walking in somewhat cautiously.  Reginald called Godfrey to sit across from him in the office.  Godfrey enquired if they had seen what he had seen during the night, the three men sharing the same story, all except where they varied in opinion, Godfrey explaining that Reginald and Marion had come to collect him, yet Reginald explained that Godfrey had come to collect them in his dream.

 Godfrey continued to explain his vision, the clarity was far superior to that of his cryptic vision the previous night of a yellow dragon breathing fire surrounded by faceless men.  Godfrey explaining that after the two of them had fallen, the large worm entities came through the tunnel and were released upon the world.

Marion followed Godfrey’s previous thought, the description of the yellow dragon breathing fire.  Marion connecting the vision to a possible location where Singh may have been held, thick smoke and a yellow dragon snorting fire.

 Godfrey continued rambling about his dream, agreeing with his own argument of needing to contact the others present in the dream and to discuss with them.

 Reginald and Marion rose from their chairs as they followed the rambling Godfrey as he moved out the front door continuing to discuss consulting the others.

Godfrey continued to mutter and walk, as Marion and Reginald took a step out from the door, Godfrey looked up to see he was standing in the street, looking to his right, he did not even have a chance to react as the horses and wheels of a carriage went over him, his body almost severing under the weight of the carriage.  Marin and Reginald halted in shock at watching their associate be run down before them.  Reginald briefly sighting the driver of the carriage who did not slow or stop, a brown coat, bandaged hand and bowler hat disappearing around a corner as he increased speed.

 Marion moved to Godfrey, blood oozing from his eyes, ears and throat, the marks of hooves in his chest, his lags crushed by the wheels of the carriage.  Godfrey was gone.

 Reginald moved to the phone, his voice filled the air with his harsh voice, informing Craddock over the phone that Godfrey had been killed, they had retrieved Singh, yet made no mention of the loss of the crystal cube.  Reginald continued to explain that they had questioned Singh and the information gained was the heavy smell of smoke and the climbing of stairs and alleyways from Singh, the mention of a Yellow Dragon and thick smoke some of the last words from Godfrey.

Craddock, who had been spending time in the Limehouse districts with his officers, yet his search had been broad and spread thin.  The addition of information regarding smoke and a yellow dragon giving him the idea that the locations with the densest congestion of smoke rich buildings and heavy criminal activity that he and his officers had encountered were near the docks.

 Craddock rounded up his officers, arming them with revolvers instead of clubs, consulting with Detective Sergeant Craig, he narrowed the location to a large establishment known as “The Golden Dragon”, the possible headquarters of where the criminal element was located.

Reginald and Marion hailed a Hansom Cab and gave the driver direction to the main entrance to the Limehouse district.

*

Sitting in the Hansom Cab, waiting for an activity to occur, Reginald and Marion both sprang to life as two police carriages and two Black Mariah coached passed them in the street, demanding the driver to follow the police convoy.

The cab arrived at the corner of Gow Street where the police wagons had come to a stop, already the constables filing into the building, the dulled sound of gunshots emanating from inside.  Glass windows broke as furniture smashed against them from the inside, Reginald and Marion exited the cab and made their way to where the police were entering what appeared to be a restaurant.

Reginald and Marion entered what was left of the front door from where the police had nearly removed it, Reginald announcing he was with Craddock as he passed the constables on the front door.  From within the building, a path of destruction was being made through the restaurant and up the stairs to the second floor, gunshots continued from various parts of the restaurant, the familiar voice of Craddock booming from upstairs.  Reginald and Marion kept behind the small army of police who had made their way up the stairs into a long corridor.  The sound of screaming men and women followed by gunshots continued to fill the air.  As the two of them looked in each room along the sides of the corridor, this establishment had been home to all manner of illegal activity, opium users, prostitutes and violent folk all littering every room.  As Reginald and Marion continued up another flight of stairs behind the voice of Craddock, confusion in the voice of Craddock and Craig as they moved along a second corridor.  Marion called to Reginald as he pulled back a curtain that was being used as a door.

A study lay before him, a workspace containing strange machinery powered by both steam and electricity, tools and equipment of all kinds littering benchtops and walls alike.  The far end of the room was filled with a large machine that was similar in design to the images they had seen littering the walls of where Bartlett’s body had been found.  Moving closer, Marion sighted the crystal cube lodged in the machine, calling to Reginald he summoned him closer.  Reginald halted his approach as he sighted the familiar glowing orb he witnessed in his dreams plugged into another part of the machine.

 Marion picked up a large piece of timber from the floor and swiped at the cube in an attempt to knock the cube free from the machine.  The cube crashed to the floor loudly as the timber planks echoed across the space.  As the cube broke free from the machine, the glowing orb immediately disappeared from view, as if it was never there, Marion wrapping the cube in some loose cloth that littered the workbenches, stuffing it into his bag.  Craddock’s voice boomed from behind the two men, demanding to know what they were doing, not willing to wait for an answer, he demanded thy leave immediately.

Marion and Reginald both did not hesitate and left as quickly as possible, both men moving swiftly towards the docks.  Reginald payed a Chinese fisherman well for the use of his boat, Marion placing the cube in a sack filled with rocks, covering it in chains.  The two paddled down the river, finding a deep current of the River Thames, satisfied that the cube was secure and weighted well, Marion dropped the heavy sack overboard, watching as the chained bag disappeared into the murky water beneath them.

 

Session X: The Chinese Baker

Reginald and Marion looked at each other blankly as the crowd of Chinese residents closed in.

The police constables quickly grabbed the Chinese woman at the feet of Reginald, the man’s voice that came from her mouth identifying her as constable Baker causing them to hurry her into the Black Mariah.

Inspector Craddock called for the police to withdraw from the area, the woman in custody, the crowd causing him concern for the safety of the officers present.

*

Leaving the Hansom Cab, Reginald and Marion made the stop at their office, Reginald pulling all of the paperwork from his pockets and coat, and laying them on the table.  Marion did the same, producing the book of handwritten notes, several loose sleeves of paper and the box containing the clear cube.

Straightening up the paperwork, both unable to make sense of the drawings and instructions on the paper.  The phone on the wall rang loudly as the two were deep in thought as they looked intently at the papers on the desk.  Singh who answered the phone called that Reginald and Marion were to meet Inspector Craddock at the morgue, the body discovered at the scene was being directly taken there, their presence required.

The cab ride over to the morgue was filled with theories from Marion, Reginald confused from the first word.  Marion making all kinds of scenarios in his head regarding the swapping of bodies and the violence that was following the Bidwell case.  Marion’s main theory being that Bidwell had swapped with Bartlett who in turn swapped with the Chinese women and Constable Baker.  Thinking in his head that Bidwell may not have been Bidwell at all.

Arriving at the morgue, Inspector Craddock and Marion’s former employer Dr Spencer stood over Bartlett’s corpse.  Marion approached the body under the supervision of Dr Spencer inspected the body, clear signs of strangulation being the cause of death.  Bartlett’s knuckled bruised, most of his torso also covered in bruises that were days old.

Craddock not impressed by the simplicity of the crime, requested the presence of Reginald and Marion at Scotland Yard.

*

Craddock led the two into the basement of the Yard, the holding cells where they had seen the interrogation of the Chinese youth.

Detective Sergeant Craig was standing at the doorway to one of the cells, the Chinese translated standing behind him.  The Chinese youth was sitting quietly on the floor in the cell, Marion and Reginald asking for an opportunity to speak to the boy without police in the room.

After a long stare, Detective Sergeant Craig decided to go and make himself a cup of tea, his way of saying that they had a few minutes unsupervised.

Marion pulled the translator into the cell with him, Reginald following them inside, closing the cell door behind them.

The boy moved to the far side of the cell, cowering in fear, Marion pulling bandages and medical supplies from his bag, Reginald talking to the translator to communicate their desire to assist the boy and offer medical attention.

After a short time, the boy finally moved forward, the translator working hard to reassure the young man.  Marion began bandaging the boys head and arms, Reginald beginning his questioning of what happened when he and his friends were attacked.

The boy spoke of the attack, the strength of the man who he and his friends thought was prime for attack, moving from man to man, snapping their necks with such strength and efficiency that he had no choice by to flee.

Marion continued the questioning regarding any strange sightings at the time, asking if anything had happened to the boy himself.  Shaking his now heavily bandaged head, the boy desired nothing more than to leave, Marion and Reginald both stood from their lowered position, knocking on the cell door, signalling the guard outside to let them out.

Craddock stood at the end of the hall, Detective Sergeant Craig walking down the stairs with a fresh cup of tea.

Marion and Reginald explained that the boy knew little more than he had already told the police, Inspector Craddock refusing to release the boy, his testimony stating that he planned to steal and possibly murder a resident of London.

Asking Reginald and Marion to leave as their work was complete, Craddock turned to lead them up the stairs.  Marion turned to the translator, asking if there was anything else that he said that may be of help, the translator shaking his head as he followed Marion and Reginald up the stairs.

*

Reginald and Marion both took a seat in their office on opposite sides of the desk they used in the main area of their office.

Marion placed the cube and the manuscript of handwritten works on the table, looking at the cube first, the perfectly clear crystal housed a circular disc inside it, a strange etching of a strange language around its edge.

Reginald asked if they should summon Godfrey, a man with more knowledge than either of them on the subject at hand.  Marion dialled Godfrey who answered the telephone, agreeing to meet with them in the evening.

Marion turned back to the table thumbing through the manuscript, the languages and dialects almost alien to him, his knowledge of Olde English and Latin revealing that the works were in no particular order, many of the languages within were written in different handwriting across many forms of paper.

As Marion continued to read, the sketches and diagrams within the manuscript proving much more difficult to decipher as they showed measurements not used in common practice.  Looking inside the borders and leather binding, Marion discovered a title of sorts hidden away, “Pnakotic Manuscript”.  Putting some of the first pages together from what looked like an introduction, Marion could see that whoever was writing this book, started in the 15^th century, no author penning his name to it.

Reginald pulled Bidwell’s journals off the wall, looking at the handwriting of Bidwell and comparing it to any of the numerous styles within the book. Both men convinced that Bidwell was not a contributor to the book.  Marion labelled several of the pages with small paper markers regarding similar written notations to the markings around the circular disc inside the cube, missed in with what appeared to be several forgotten, ancient languages.

Godfrey finally arrived to see Reginald and Marion still at the desk, the only changes, the addition of the Brandy bottle Reginald had been refilling his glass with.  Marion glanced at the clock, realising that evening had come quickly, three hours passing in what seemed like moments.

Taking a seat at the table, Godfrey exchanged pleasantries with the engrossed Marion who was still looking at the pages of the book.  Godfrey looked closely at the cube, inspecting the disc inside through the perfect crystal.  Explaining how interesting he found the symbols on the disc, Godfrey began to explain what he knew of the language, concluding that the origins are unknown, Marion used the work “Pnakotic”, showing Godfrey the book more closely, Williamson’s eyes lit up, excitement coursing through him.  He began to explain the rarity and value of such a book.

Godfrey poured over the text, doing his best to make sense of the random pages and quotations he could see.  Explaining to the two that the book itself was extremely rare,  it being the last thing he expected to find in their possession.

Marion engaged in conversation with Godfrey regarding the pages that show translations, clearly the change in the writing showing an impact on the translators mind, the handwriting getting worse and worse as the translation went on.

Godfrey continued to explain that books such as this one had significant effects on the readers, if the reader believes in such things, the book itself could have a devastating impact on the individual as unique as their own personality.

Reginald interjected in the conversation, bringing up the question that if the text was so powerful, could it be the cause of the body swapping witnessed by them of the Chinese woman and Constable Baker.

Godfrey, shocked at the words he had just heard regarding mind transference and body swapping, clearly thinking hard on any form of literature he had read regarding the subject.

Marion explained his theory in detail of how the swapping of minds may have happened through several people, Bidwell, Bartlett, the Chinese woman, Constable baker, detailing all as he drew a diagram of where the potential mind of violence could be now and who’s body it may be inside.

Godfrey drew attention to the Police Constable, asking if either of them had heard the voice of Constable Baker post transference.  Both Marion and Reginald scratched their heads, both agreeing that neither had heard him speak like a Chinese woman or himself after the transfer.  This raised the question in their heads as to if the offender was indeed Bidwell or something else, something worse.

Reginald and Marion looked at the way that the transferring bodies had been falling, each body inhabited by whatever was moving through them, was murdering the previous body.

Marion and Reginald agreed that they needed to get to the hospital where Constable Baker was being held in his new body.  Allowing Godfrey to remain at their office with the manuscript, Singh would remain to keep an eye on things.

Marion and Reginald hailed a Hansom Cab, driving directly to the hospital, the cab halting at the front doors in the drizzling rain.  Heading to the reception area, Marion realised that they may be standing in the incorrect hospital, using the phone the contact Scotland Yard, reaching Detective Sergeant Craig.  After a brief exchange, Craig gave little away over the phone as to the location of the person in question, yet Marion believed that they would be treating the woman at the closest hospital to Scotland Yard, the hospital they were currently standing in.

Speaking with the nurse behind the desk, Marion was able to use his particular skills as a medical man, speaking like a visiting doctor, he was able to ascertain that a Chinese woman was being detailed with a guard on the door at the end of the corridor on the third floor.

As Marion and Reginald walked the hall, Reginald moved as though he was in charge, nodding to the police officer as he moved past him.  Standing immediately, the Constable did his best to halt the two, demanding they identify themselves, Reginald towering over the constable and demanding access, mentioning Inspector Craddock and the possible loss of the constables job if he held them up.

The police office sat back at his post, allowing Marion and Reginald into the empty ward housing a single woman, restrained to a bed in the far corner.

Constable Baker’s voice came to life at the sight of Marion and Reginald, desperately screaming to be released.

Reginald did his best to calm the constable, demanding to know his version of events of the accident.

Baking continued his demands of release in between recalling the event where the woman did not want to move along outside the warehouse before falling in front of him.

Reginald demanded Baker remain calm as they continued their investigation, refusing to release him as he was not able to comprehend his current situation.  Reginald and Marion leaving the room quickly as they heard Baker screaming for release behind them.

Arriving back at their office, Marion and Reginald were met by the sight of Godfrey standing over the main table of the office, pieces of the manuscript spread across it.  Marion halted Godfrey in his manic movement of the papers, enquiring about Godfrey’s dream and the mention of the faceless men.  Godfrey halted at the mention of the faceless men, explaining how the inspectors did not believe him.

Godfrey tuned his attention back to the manuscript, explaining his discoveries regarding the different accounts of something known as the “Cone” beings, the writers of the first five chapters of the book in front of them.  All referencing a place known as “Pnakotus”, where the book gets its name.  Explaining what he had glanced over, he drew their attention to a passage regarding the Cone beings moving through space and time through such devices as the spheres and crystals.  The passage went on the explain a conquering race of beings that the Cone beings feared moving similarly through time and space via the crystal cubes and spheres originating from a desolate planet known as “Yakub”, the home of the worm like entities that conquer worlds.

Reginald was unnerved by the passage Marion read aloud, Marion himself dropping the paper and stepping back from the table.  Godfrey looked both men in the eyes and gave his theory regarding his beliefs that more reside between Heaven and Earth than they know about.

Marion moved to the bookshelf, pulling the last volume of Bidwell’s journal from the high shelf.  Reading aloud the final passages, Bidwell was consumed with the desire to return to Yakub, the paradise he describes in detail.  Marion and Reginald consulting Godfrey on their beliefs that Bidwell may be the Herald of the oncoming “Worm” apocalypse.  Godfrey shaking his head and in disbelief, thinking out loud that whatever Bidwell was doing at the gathering at the table after the party was an attempt to reopen whatever doorway he was seeking back to Yakub.

Asking Godfrey to leave as they were closing the office for the evening, Marion explaining that they would contact him at the next opportunity to examine the manuscript.  Returning to his room, Marion placed a shotgun under his bed in preparation, thinking that their possession of such a book would bring danger.  While Marion scuffled about in his room, Reginald took the cube and concealed it within the chimney of the office, then placing the manuscript itself in the safe located in the back room.

*

The morning came quickly, both men feeling unrested and alert, as if they had not slept at all.  Marion used the telephone to speak to Godfrey, enquiring as to if he had any further visions of locations and alike.  Godfrey unable to bring to light any location, yet explaining his new vision of many faceless men, yet all did not seem to be communicating with him.

 Marion removed the manuscript from the safe, Reginald giving his a stern warning as to what he should not be reading before departing back to his residence to get cleaned up and ready for the day.  Marion slowly began to read the book in the new order Godfrey had arranged it in.

Unable to focus, Marion quickly set the book aside, his mind not in the correct space to focus on the book, a headache causing his vision to blur.

Instead he called the tavern near the Morgue where he used to work, Marion summoned Seamus to run an errand in the Limehouse area.  Asking that he send his eyes and ears into the area for anything suspicions towards the goings on of the situation.

 As evening approached, Marion woke from his nap in his office chair to a knocking on the door, his pistol tucked into the side cushion of the hair.  Marion gripped the pistol and moved to the door, cracking it open to see Seamus standing in the light mist.  Allowing him access, Seamus spoke of what he had discovered, a local criminal element who played by their own rules, based in the Limehouse area, they take shelter near the docks.

Marion thanked Seamus for his information, paying him well for his help.

*

 Marion woke from his bed after a slightly more rested, the sun yet to crest the rooftops of the city.  The office phone was ringing, Marion moving quickly to answer it, Inspector Craddock’s booming voice announcing that they had discovered Constable Baker’s body in the river and it was being transported to the morgue.  Marion and Reginald’s presence was requested.  Marion hung up the phone before immediately calling through to the home of Reginald, advising the familiar voice of Singh that Reginald was to meet him at the Morgue as soon as possible.

Dr Spencer, Inspector Craddock and Reginald all watched as Marion began to inspect the body of Constable Baker, the bloated corpse presenting as if the water from the river had filled every limb.  Looking carefully Marion pointed out to the three men observing that there was a mark on his arm, a large dark mark that appeared like a bite mark, two puncture wounds.  The area around the punctures under the skin was darkening, like bruising only black rather than the familiar blue and purple skin tones.  Marion began to move his scalpel around the area, opening it up and seeing evidence of toxin and venom in the wound, hence the discoloration of the skin around the puncture wounds.

Looking further around the body, Reginald and Craddock took their leave and began discussing the venom in the next room.  Marion consulted one of his books, determining that Baker at had been bitten by a Cobra, the distinct pattern of the venom and coagulation of the blood proving the toxicity.

Craddock immediately tried to take his leave at the mention of Cobra venom.  Reginald stopped him, asking as to why he needed to leave immediately, Craddock revealing that there had been several bodies discovered around Limehouse with Cobra venom listed as the cause of death.  Craddock continuing regarding the criminal element that used the Venom as a form of signature.

Reginald then allowed Craddock to remove himself, moving to Marion and requesting that he finish his autopsy quickly and move towards Limehouse, in order to wait for the Scotland Yard force to arrive.

Craddock calling to Craig who was waiting outside, Reginald and Marion both hearing his booming voice demanding Craig assemble the troops for a large raid.

Reginald was curious as to Marion’s activities during their stop at the office, Marion electing to separate the manuscript and place sections of it apart.  Delivering a third of the book to Godfrey’s residence in his post box, another section Marion concealed within the old files of the morgue where he used to work and knowing that it would remain unfound for years, the last third remaining in the office, tucked inside a large geographical text he sighted when they purchased the office.

A knock at the office door saw a small child carrying a message for Reginald.  “New development, another body found in Linnot Wharf of Limehouse Basin, presence requested urgently, - Craddock”.

 Arming themselves with their pistols, Reginald and Marion hailed a cab and headed for Limehouse.

Arriving at the wharf, the large wooden steps leading to a dimly lit, unstable wooden wharf that split like a “T” intersection.  The evening fog lit by a lanterns at the ends of each branch.  Reginald halted as he stood at the bottom of the stairs, muttering to Marion that Craddock had never sent a messenger before, his sense feeling that this was mistake.  Marion now on alert, moved his pistol to his pocket, ready to fire on anything that looked sinister.  Dressed in their outdoor coats, the two decided to walk like dock workers towards the light in the centre corridor of the intersection, moving towards the lantern.  Both looked around themselves cautiously, moving quietly and carefully.

Moving past the intersection where the wharf split, the two man found themselves at the end of the walkway, standing under a single lantern.  Looking down, the water was littered with rowing boats, the wooden planking of the wharf littered with ropes and fishing equipment.  Marion picked up a large spool of rope, throwing it over his shoulder as if he was a dock worker.

Hearing nothing and seeing very little through the dim light of the lantern, the two turned to return to the stairs, both feeling that they should not be where they were standing.

 Walking slowly back towards the intersection a form came into view standing at the centre of the intersection of the wharf.

Marion dropped the rope he was carrying as the shape came into view flanked by two more shapes.  Three large Chinese men stood in front of them, each man carrying blades and chains.  Looking around them, two more men appeared on the left branch of the wharf another two to the right.  Looking into the darkness, two more figures stood silently on the stairs they had descended.

Reginald on instinct grabbed Marion and threw him towards one of the row boats in the water.  Shocked at the sudden movement, Marion stumbled, missing the boat and falling into the water at the foot of the docks.

Reginald drew his Webley and aimed it at the largest Chinese man standing before him, calling out that he would shoot the first man who advanced on him.

Marion appeared on the water’s surface, desperately swimming towards the ladder attached to the dock, his coat weighing him down.  Holding on to a rung of the ladder, hearing Reginald’s warning to the oncoming assailants.

 The three Chinese men seemed undeterred by Reginald’s call, advancing on him slowly, the four men standing to the left and right laughing at Marion’s fall into the water.

Reginald raised his Webley at the large Chinese man carrying a knife and chain, firing a shot at him.  The bullet flying past the man’s face and slamming into the stairs a short distance behind him. 

Marion struggled to climb the ladder, falling back into the water before getting a solid foot hold on the ladder.

Reginald fired again at the large Chinese man, his shot slamming into the shoulder of the chain carrying Chinese man, the shot blowing half of his face off, sending him to the ground without a heartbeat.

Reginald glimpsed movement at the top of the stairs, the two Chinese who had been standing there now toppling down to the bottom, falling off the side of the wharf into the water.  A stout man wearing a bowler hat, brown suit and trench coat slowly descending the stairs.

The man in the hat firing two pistols as he came level with the attacking Chinese.  Three of the Chinese men began to run at the man in the bowler had, the three closest to Reginald advancing quickly on him.

Marion pulled himself level with the wharf, looking over the planking to see the fight about to happen.

Reginald fired at point bland range at the oncoming assailant, swinging his cane at another man’s face.  His shot slamming into the ribcage of one of his attackers, causing him to buckle over and collapse, his cane missing the second man by inches.

 The man in the bowler had advanced on the Chinese men, firing his pistols, cutting down another Chinese man, leaving two rushing him with blades in hand.

 Marion drew his pistol from his pocket, heaving his arm on top of the wooden planking and taking aim at the men attacking Reginald.

 Reginald dodged the large machete that came flying at his face, in turn swinging his cane and glancing one of his Chinese attackers in the face, causing him to recoil slightly.

 The chill of the icy water causing Marion to shiver as he pulled the hammer back on his pistol ,firing into the melee Reginald was in the middle of, his shuddering hands sending the shot wide, the bullet hitting one of the posts six inches behind the Chinese man Reginald had just sent backwards.

Reginald found his footing in the brief instant the two Chinese recoiled at the sound of Marion’s gunshot. Lunging at the two men, his cane collecting the machete brandishing man in the head, sending him back several feet before turning and running.  The Chinese man shot in the ribs also stumbling away into the fog.

Marion pulled himself up on to the wharf, Reginald’ second assailant swinging a staff at Marion as he flopped onto the wharf like a large catch of a fisherman.  The staff slamming into Marion’s back, he let out a cry of pain as the compounding effect of the icy water and sudden shock of the staff almost pushing him back into the water.

 Reginald grabbed the Chinese man who had struck Marion, using his pistol like a club, he slammed the Chinese man in the throat, the man dropping to his knees, turning as he fell, moving away from Reginald, gripping his throat and running in the direction his compatriots had fled.  Marion gripped the foot of the man attempting to escape, rising from the floor, Marion slammed his pistol into the man’s face, his eyes glazing over as he fell unconscious to the ground.

 Reginald could see that there was a break in their brawl, two Chinese men lay in front of them, one dead, one knocked out, looking further down the wharf, two bodies floated in the water, another two bleeding on the wooden planking of the wharf.  Reginald helped the drenched Marion to his feet, Marion swearing and cursing Reginald for his stupid reaction that caused him to fall in the water.  Bothe men looking for the man in the bowler hat at the end of the wharf, both looking into blank emptiness.  The man who had come to their aid had vanished.

 Marion removed his coat, the chill getting worse, yet the weight of his drenched coat off his shoulders allowing him to inspect the Chinese men briefly, all were covered in snake tattoos and various other imagery.

Reginald removed his coat, passing it to Marion as the two headed back up the stairs towards the street.  Reginald calling for a Hansom Cab as Marion stood shivering in the icy London air.

 1.34 “I desperately want to be inside a big black mans body!”