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!”