January 17, 1926

• The party books passage to London. First Class on the Cunard Line
• Harry begins her study of Sélections de Livre D’Ivon p.640 (36 weeks to study – ETA…OCTOBER 3rd!)
• Nicholas studies Amongst the Stones, the poems of Justin Geoffrey.
• One of the unique poems is “The Trappings of a Queen,” which describes the dread ruler Nitocris’ regal paraphernalia in great detail (Appendix D: Artifacts).
• The poem refers to Queen Nitocris, who has three items of power essential for her resurrection and subsequent protection: her Crown, Girdle, and Necklace.
• This knowledge/understanding caused Nicholas to lose a portion of his Sanity and gain some Cthulhu Mythos. (-2 Sanity/+2 Cthulhu Mythos)

LONDON

February 1, 1926 – Tuesday

• The party diembarks in London
• Roy persuades the custom agent to allow him to keep his service pistol
• Nicholas persuades the agent that his pistol is a magician’s prop
• Harry and Norman convince the agent that their rifles are for hunting

8:00am, Book separate rooms at the Savoy Hotel (Strand)

8:15am, Roy follows up on the business card found in a box of Jackson Elias’ notes from Jonah Kensington and calls the Penhew Foundation in reference to Jackson Elias
Sets up an appointment for Wednesday at 2:pm at the Foundation

8:30am, The British Museum (Great Russell Street)

• Nicolas learns of the protective qualities of the Headband of grey metal: various cuneiform-like runes are scratched into the surface of this heavy, curiously warm, metal band

12:00pm, The Scoop (third floor of a shabby building on Fleet Street)

• Arrive by bus
• Meet Mickey Malone, he directs the party to the archives
• The party discovers three Scoop articles (SEE MEDIA LIBRARY) that Elias had shown some interest in

2:00pm, Local galleries

• Research Miles Shipley background info
• Nicholaus discovers that famed occultist, Alastair Crowley has a Shipley and that he lives w his mother
• Norman learns that many galleries have reached out to him, but that he prefers
  private sales to gallery showings
• Harry and Roy learn of others who own Shipley’s pieces, primarily well-heeled occultists or those who dabble in the occult

5:00pm, Chelsea (West London), Shipley Home

• Approach Miles Shipley’s home, (fails Spot Hidden check)
• An the door they are introduced to Bertha Shipley
• Harry convinces Bertha that they are there to purchase a piece of art
• They’re taken to the attic to see the art. After pursuing the unsettling art, Harry becomes paranoid that she’s either being watched or that everyone is out to get her.
• Roy asks Bertha to direct him to the loo on the first floor

5:15pm, Shipley Attic

• Nicolaus now asks to use the bathroom
• While Nicholas is still in the loo, Roy asks to use the loo again, then runs outside the house and hides around the block
• Recognizing the Shipley’s frustrations, Harry purchases the painting “Black Mountain” for £500
• They leave the house and find Roy

5:45pm, The Savoy

• Upon returning to the Savoy, Nicolaus studies Harry’s painting while Roy sits in the room nearby (defiantly NOT looking at the painting)
• Dine in
• Get some much-needed rest

February 2, 1926 – Wednesday

8:00am, The London Library (St. James’s), Central News Agency (Ludgate
Circus) & Press Association (off Fleet Street)

• Research on Penhew and the Penhew Foundation.
• Norman actually has some previous knowledge due to his profession

12:00pm, The Olde Bell

• The party has lunch and discusses what they’ve learned so far.
• Harry tries to clarify what questions to ask Gavigan

2:00pm, The Penhew Foundation

• Led to Gavignon’s office by his secretary, Kinnery
• After waiting about 20min, Gavigan leads them into his office
• Nicholas and Norman spot a partially opened safe on the floor.
• Gavignon tells what he remembers about his brief meeting with Elias, some information regarding the Carlyle Expedition, and some details about the current excavation going on before escorting them on a tour of the gallery upstairs.
• Norman is fascinated by the discoveries.
• Nicholas sneaks away and attempts to get into Gavigan’s office. He is rebuffed by Kinnery
• Roy makes a suggestion to the party regarding the manic letter Jackson wrote after leaving London to no response.
• The meeting wraps and Gavigan escorts the party to the exit.

3:00pm, Devonshire Street

For generations, London and its suburbs have comprised the greatest city known to man. Approximately seven and a half million people live in the Greater London area. Not only the largest, but London is also the wealthiest city in the world. In later generations, New York overtakes the sprawling city on the Thames but, just now, London is the queen of civilization and the heart of the British Empire—but the cracks are beginning to show.

A dark scar lies beneath the fields of England. The Great War claimed a generation, with most families losing two of their number in the conflict. For many of the aristocracy, heirs have been lost, servants no longer serve, and the power once guaranteed by bloodline is being usurped by nouveau riche industrialists. Behind the facade of the Roaring Twenties, the British class system is slowly bleeding to death. Laborers strike for more pay and better conditions, and those going about London’s streets are likely to see picket lines from time to time.

The County of London covers approximately 116 square miles (300 square km). It is ridiculously easy to hide (and get lost) in its warren-like streets. The wealthiest portions of the city are north of the Thames: the West End and most of Westminster, extending into Chelsea, Kensington, Paddington, and Marylebone. Within Westminster rest, the palaces and government offices are commonly thought of when the word “London” is mentioned. The most fashionable addresses include Mayfair (just east of Hyde Park), Belgravia (south of Hyde Park), Kensington (west of Belgravia), and Chelsea (to the south of Belgravia and Kensington). The district of Soho, an area bounded by Oxford Street, Regent Street, Charing Cross Road, and Piccadilly, is among the most ethnically diverse areas of London. It is home to the Berwick Street Market (one of the oldest street markets in the capital), where flappers can find ready-made dresses next to all manner of other items and produce. Truly cosmopolitan, Soho is also beset with crime, prostitution, and other urban vices.

The actual City of London covers about one square mile just north of the Thames, within London’s medieval walls. Rail terminals funnel commuters and travelers to the commercial heart of the British Empire. Further north, the districts are predominantly artisan or middle-class. The mean streets of the East End: Stepney, Bethnal Green,
Limehouse, Shoreditch, and so on, form a distinct and abruptly contrasting poverty, a state also normal along the south bank of the Thames from Battersea to Greenwich. A writer of the time noted, “Even in the richest quarters, in Westminster and elsewhere, small but well-defined areas of the poorest dwellings occur…” Further south of the Thames, the districts become progressively more middle-class and suburban.

The Great War interrupted the growth rate of London but building construction and renovation have since renewed despite ongoing labor unrest (that comes to a head in 1926 with the General Strike). The period between 1920 and 1930 sees rapid expansion and modernization of transport networks, with the further development of the London Underground and electrification of commuter railways. War rationing has ended and nightclubs and cocktail bars flourish, both frequented by the Bright Young Things.

While modernization grips London, the overall economic position of England is not so good. Immediately following the Great War the economy boomed but, by 1920, the economy has slumped and industries like coal are in decline. Unemployment rose when servicemen returning from the front found no jobs, which only added to the general rise of joblessness that would not dissipate until the onset of the Second World War. Signs of unemployment and poverty are most noticeable in the East End working-class areas of London but the jobless may be seen on many London streets, sometimes agitating for political change.

LONDON FOG:
London in the 1920s is famous for its fogs, known as “London peculiars,” caused by coal fires and factory pollution. Also called “pea-soupers,” the fogs were often so dense and unpredictable that people caught in them found navigation very difficult, if not impossible. Due to industrial pollution, the fog came in a range of colors, from yellow-brown to green, as well as being damp and cloying. While not recognized in the 1920s, it was estimated (in 1954) that such fog had actually claimed the lives of around 12,000 people (total) due to the fatal properties of the chemicals contained within them.

In an effort to watch over the Juju House, our characters started setting up the abandoned pawnshop into the small magic club. Taking shifts to watch out he door as the others move things around inside to avoid suspicion.
Harry and Roy took some time to meet with Dr. Lemming at Murray Hill Hotel. Dr. Lemming confirms that the markings cut into the victims foreheads originates from an African cult out of Kenya called “The Bloody Tongue”. Though, he believes the markings were most likely adopted by a local crime organization to try intimidating their enemies, rather than murders performed by the actual cult (our eye witness experience and recent Peruvian adventure tells us otherwise). When asked where his knowledge of the symbol came from, he points to a book titled, “The Black Power”. Written by none other than Jackson Elias.

Back at the shop, a schedule has started being put together. Hopefully finding a the best time to perform a small B&E to gather information. Perhaps bringing Harrys camera as to not raise any further suspicion that are onto them! Or we find out that its noting more than an African bauble shop and we waisted a bunch of time. Before that happens, we need to decide what to do about the derelicts in the ally way. Their presence is unpredictable but always seem to be around when the Juju House is vacant. We began forming a passing relationship with them to gain familiarity. Roy stopped at a pharmacy to acquire some “sleep aids” that we can slip to the vagrants when the time comes.

During Roys watch, he watched a well dressed early 20s white man enter the Juju House and leave with a stuffed envelope being tucked into his jacket. Roy followed the man into the 14th precinct police station. While there, he set up an appointment for next week to speaks with Captain Robeson.

Harry picked up a copy of The Black Power from the publishing house and went back to her apartment. While reading through the daily paper, sees that Erica Carlyle is throwing an eclipse party on Saturday, January 24th at 8:00 am. Contacted a few friends and acquired an invitation to attend the event.

The stakeout continues. The only reoccurring customer is a large well dressed bald black man with a scowl. The first time was the previous day where he left with N’Kwane after they closed for about an. This time going into the shop for about an hour and leaving by himself. To gather further information about this man, perhaps stopping Juju House with a gift for N’Kwane as a thank you for our fortune doll would be a good excuse to go in while this man on sight.

Harry spent the day reading through Jackson’s book, The Black Power. Its symbol might appear as a set of brackets set around a sort of flower motif, there is an odd resemblance to the rasping mouthparts of a lamprey. This symbol is commonly tattooed onto the bodies of cultists.
They use many different weapons throughout the cult, but the ritual murders and mutilations are always performed with a panga; a large broad-bladed African knife used as a weapon or as an implement for cutting heavy jungle growth.
A cult executioner or assassin wears a hideous headpiece with a dangling red strip protruding from the forehead . This strip distinguishes the cultists rank: a simple red cotton flag for new initiates, a strip of leather carved to resemble a tongue for the highest echelons (does anyone remember how long the strip of red fabric was that Adams kept in his journal? that may help us figure out danger levels haha). These masks are also all that is worn during the monthly sacrificial ceremonies which are usually performed under a new moon.
Lastly… Harry read about the being that these cultists worship. An avatar; an unnatural, primal being embodying rage, with callous disregard for human life. It resembles a bloody-red tongue that stretches upward from the ground as if reaching for the stars…. comforting

Wednesday, January 21st
The morning (10:am) after meeting w the Harlem Hellfighters, Norman and Nick intended to go to the JuJu house to introduce themselves as the new neighbors (having picked up a year-long lease to the abandoned pawn shop next door). On thier way, outside in the alley, they noticed two vagrants shuffling around. Inside the JuJu house was cramped w African goods in every conceivable space. They met Silas K’Wane (sp?), who seemed very friendly and encouraging. He gave Nick an African figurine made of yarn and a kind of nut and told them to hang it in their shop for “good luck and much prosperity”.

Norman endeared himself even more to the old man by recognizing a Kenyan artifact (I forgot what) and asking about it.

They both observed a key on a leather thong around the old man’s neck and a door behind the counter. Nick asked if he could use the man’s bathroom, but Silas politely refused, referring to the space behind the door as his private quarters and not for the public.

Nick asked about the vagrants outside and Silas said that they were harmless and kept an eye on the shop for him in exchange for some food now again. Nick also bought a wooden replica of a Nigerian knife (no relation to the African knives you saw before), and they left the shop to meet up w Harry.

They recounted their conversation with Harry.

End of session.

Previously, on Masks of Nyarlothotep…

2:pm Monday, January 19th, 1925

After leaving Emerson Imports, the party decides to scout out the JuJu House. But first, check in with Carlton Ramsey at his office. The team takes a cab up to Harlem and stops by the office. Ramsey is on the phone, but his niece hands the party a note from Rebecca Shosenberg, it read, “This is important, meet me at Lafayette Theater tomorrow at 10:am. Make sure that you are not followed.”

The team continues up 137th Street and drops Roy off about a block before the JuJu House before driving past and waiting for his report. Roy walks up the block and looks down Ransom Lane, a cluttered alleyway that ends in a small courtyard with two doors. One is the JuJu House, the other an abandoned pawn shop. Roy believes that he can get another view of the JuJu House from the next block, so upon hopping back into the cab, they drive around the block to see the old pawn shop, and where the JuJu House is located, three barred windows on the first floor. Nick comes up with the idea of renting of buying the pawnshop as a way of spying on the JuJu House without making the proprietors of the JuJu House suspicious.

Having finished their scouting mission, they stop back off at Ramsey’s office and contact Buford Sampson, a real estate agent, in regards to leasing the pawnshop. They are to meet Mr Sampson tomorrow in front of the pawnshop at 1:pm.

11:am Tuesday, January 20th, 1925

The Mystery Team takes a cab up to the Lafayette Theater. Rebecca waits for them under the marquee. The crew follows her inside while Roy waits outside as the lookout. Inside, Millie Adams leads the group to an isolated box seat in the empty theater to tell her story. She tells of Hilton’s awareness of Harlem folks going missing once a month, Of his teaming up with the Harlem Hellfighters and going on patrols, and of his suspicions about the JuJu House. She herself had seen a large group of folks gather at the JuJu House one night as well as a few cops going in and out on occasion. Once, she was almost spotted by someone hanging out in the alleyway, so she stopped spying on them. Now, she fears for her life. Rebecca is taking her upstate after the interview.

1:pm Tuesday, January 20th, 1925

The cab arrives outside the abandoned pawnshop. The real estate agents walk the group through the pawnshop. It’s cold, dingy, and has a rodent issue. It’s perfect! The group heads to the real estate agent’s office to finalize the paperwork.

5:pm Tuesday, January 20th, 1925

Once the paperwork is finished, the crew heads over to Fat Maybelle’s in hopes of talking with the Harlem Hellfighters. After convincing the doorman that the party wasn’t there to cause trouble, they were let in. Nick saddled up to the soda jerk, ordered drinks, and attempted to find the Harlem Hellfighters with little luck. Norman leaned in and asked specifically for Needham Johnson, and the soda jerk pointed them out at one of the booths. Norman got a fresh round of coffee for the guys as Nick and Harry carried over their egg creams with an oddly ostentatious amount of decorative fruit and cocktail umbrellas over to the booth.

Norman convinces Hilton’s friends that they are above board, on the level, and are willing to commit to helping exonerate Hilton. The party learns that the Hellfighters discovered that people seemed to go missing around the time of the full moon. The next full moon is in two weeks (February 8th). Also, that Hilton was framed shortly after throwing his suspicions towards the JuJu House. They and their families were all threatened by the police. And that Hilton had managed to snatch a strip of red cloth from an assailant’s mask, but the cops either have all their evidence in a storage locker somewhere or it’s already been destroyed. When Nick asks for the Hellfighters’ help, they are hesitant but could be convinced. They take down Ramsey’s office number and the group leaves the coffee shop.

Sunday, January, 18th 1925

4:pm. Norman and Roy return from Sing Sing to meet up with Harry and Nick at the hotel. Norman gets his monthly dysentery and stays at the hotel. The rest of the group decides to go see Millie Adams. They take a cab into Harlem. A block away from Millie’s apartment building, Roy spots a police car idling with two police officers in the car. Undeterred, the team enters the building and climbs the stairs to the second floor. There is no answer after knocking on the apartment door several times. Roy goes down to street level to find a cab. Meanwhile, Harry tries one more time and attracts the neighbor who said that Millie packed her things and left a little over an hour ago. Roy asks the police officers to call a cab. They bruskly tell him to “move along”.

5:pm. The team finds a cab and takes it to the church Millie frequented on Sundays. The priest informs them that Millie was approached by a dark-haired white woman and they both rush off together. Harry suggests that is could have been Rebecca Shosenberg,

Monday, January 19th 1925

9:am. The Team arrives at Carlton Ramsey’s office in Harlem. Ramsey reads the will. If the party agrees, all of Elias’ funds will go into completing his research into the Carlyle Expedition. Ramsey will be the go-between for all funds, communications, legal fees, etc. The party agrees.

10:am. Harry makes some calls from Ramsey’s office. She calls Professor Cowles in Arkham. He sums up his lecture in four parts as…

One: a bat cult once existed among the Aboriginal peoples of Australia. It was known across the continent, and the god of the cult was known as the Father of All Bats. Adherents believed that by making human sacrifices to their god, they themselves would become worthy enough that the Father of All Bats would appear to them. Once he was enticed to appear, the god would conquer all men. Sacrifices were run
through a gauntlet of worshippers who struck the victims with clubs embedded with the sharp teeth of bats. The teeth were coated with a fast-acting poison, somehow derived from fermented bat droppings.
The victims apparently went mad before they died. Leaders of the cult reputedly could take the forms of bat-winged snakes, enabling them to steal sacrifices from across the land. Cowles believes that this cult became dormant or extinct hundreds of years ago. Its former existence is the reason that he became interested in Jackson Elias’ books about present-day cults.

Two: an Aboriginal song cycle mentions a place where enormous beings gathered, somewhere in the west of Australia. The songs say that these gods, who were not at all like men, built great sleeping walls and dug great caves. But living winds blew down the gods and overthrew them, destroying their camp. When this happened, the way was open for the Father of All Bats, who came into the land and grew strong.

Three: a set of four overexposed glass slides. Each shows a few sweating men standing beside enormous blocks of stone, pitted and eroded but clearly dressed and formed for architectural purposes. Dim carvings seem to decorate some. Billows of sand are everywhere. Though he did not bring the book with him, Cowles says that the discoverer, one Arthur MacWhirr of Port Hedland, Australia, kept a diary in which he recorded several attacks on the party by Aboriginals. MacWhirr reportedly records deaths to victims from hundreds of small punctures, reminiscent of the earlier bat cult.

Four: Cowles tells a tale he collected from near the Arafura Sea, in northern Australia. In it, Sand Bat, or Father of All Bats, has a battle of wits with Rainbow Snake, the Aboriginal deification of water and the patron of life. Rainb ow Snake succeeds in tricking and trapping Sand Bat and his clan in the depths of a watery place from which Sand Bat can only complain, and is unable to return to trouble the people.

11:am. Nick calls the New York Times looking for Ms Shosenberg but she is not in the office. Roy calls the 7th precinct and asks Lt Poole to contact them when he gets in. Roy then calls Emerson Imports. Makes an appointment for 1:pm.

1:pm. (Note to self: The party succeeds a Luck roll). The Team arrives at Emerson Imports and talk w Arthur Emerson. He’s sorry to hear of Jackson’s fate. Jackson was inquiring about a Mambasan Importer from Kenya that Emerson used. All his imports went to a place called the Ju-Ju House in Harlem. The name on the back of the business card was the manager of the Ju-Ju House. In parting, Emerson notes that, the manager of the Ju-Ju House, Silas N’Kwane, gave him a bad vibe.

End of session.

Saturday 2:pm, the group went to Jackson’s funeral in Brooklyn. They met with Carlton Ramsey, Jackson’s lawyer, who invited them to the reading of the will on Monday at 9:am in his office in Harlem.

Jonah Kennsington, Jackson’s publisher, invited the group to swing by his office to go thru some papers that the police dropped off. It was the remaining paperwork from the murder scene. After spending an hour or two riffling thru the papers, the group discovered two business cards and a handbill for an NYU lecture that seemed like promising clues (you can find them in the Chat bar of our Skype sesh).

Harry called NYU and discovered that the handbill was for a lecture from 3 months ago and that the professor had gone back to Arkham. She then called her cousin Liza in Arkham and learned that he is originally from Australia but is teaching at Arkham for the next 7 months. They were unable to reach him as it was the weekend.

Saturday 5:pm, the gang met up with Lt Poole at the 7th to inquire about getting visitation privileges for Hilton Adams in Sing Sing. He agreed under the agreement that the group would keep Poole updated with what they learned.

Sunday 10:am, Harry contacted Bradley Grey, Erica Carlyle’s personal secretary, regarding some questions about her brother’s expedition. Unfortunately, Grey informed Harry that Ms. Carlyle refused to rehash anything to do with her brother’s ill-fated expedition.

Sunday 11:am, Norman and Roy took the train to Sing Sing and met with Hilton Adams. He said he was framed. That he and his old army squad had noticed a number of disappearances around Harlem and began investigating. The disappearances seemed to have a pattern of every new moon of the month, while the murders were more sporadic and didn’t seem to fit a pattern they recognized. Also, he couldn’t have been caught ‘red-handed’ in the act as he wasn’t carrying his combat knife on him that night, only his service revolver. He informed Roy and Norman of the names of his squad-mates and suggested talking to his wife Millie for any other info.

January 15 1925 1600 Landed in Flushing Airfield in Queens, New York. I grabbed a cab and said “Hotel Chelsea” to the driver. The ride was long, longer than I was expecting.

The cab driver referred to the city as the “Big Apple” and the City that Never Sleeps". He was full of words and was determined that I hear every one of them. Do they ever shut up in New York? Turns out we has to drive over the Queensboro Bridge. I was hoping to see the famous Bronx Bridge. The one that had been reportedly sold so many times in the past.

Although the driver wouldn’t shut up he was very entertaining in an irritating sort of way. This was going to be another year for the Yankees, (whoever they were). I should go see them once the season started at the new stadium, aptly called Yankee Stadium. They had this new player Babe Ruth and he was going to win them another Series (whatever that was). I told the driver I was from Canada and he changed the subject to snow and blizzard. Huh?

We arrived at the Waldorf Astoria. I tipped the man and told him not to put too much faith in a man named after a woman. The hotel was bigger than any hotel I had ever seen. There had to be twenty floors. The building was also massive taking up almost the entire city block all by itself. Carrying my flight bag loaded with all my gear I entered the huge building. I saw the Lima crew had already arrived: Harry, Nick and Mr. Brock.

I got a bite to eat and headed upstairs with the others. The front desk had told us Jackson Elias was in room 410. We arrived at the door and it was locked. We knocked on the door and heard no answer. Resting an ear to the door it was determined there was someone inside. Fearing trouble Nick attempted to bypass the door’s lock.

The door popped open. We entered to find a nightmare. Jackson Elias had been ritually sacrificed with the same scarring that we found on Augustus Larkin’s chest. Poor Jackson’s was on his forehead. He was tied to the bed by the other room’s occupants.

The perpetrators were still in the room. One was in the bathroom while the remainder were headed out the window on the other side of the room. Harry, Nick and Mr. Brock entered the room while I watched the door, closing it behind us.

The rest was pretty much a blur for me. Harry slammed into the bathroom door knocking the occupant on his back. That woman is one tough lady. Nick headed out into the fire escape to follow the other two. I heard gun shots outside, presumably at Nick. In my mind I picture his pants having a big patch of urine. Mr. Brock walked right in front of Harry while she discharged her sidearm into the bathroom, striking him in the arm. The man inside the bathroom wielded a strange knife/ax combination I had never seen before.

Outside the window at the bottom of the fire escape Nick killed one of the men as the other got into a waiting car and drove off. This was a well organized attack on Jackson Elias and the Hotel Chelsea.

It wasn’t too long before New York’s finest arrived. They had their questions and we didn’t have too many answers.

Near as I could figure these people were not only into kidnapping but murder and cult rituals as well. This was far worse than I has expected. I needed to call Edythe right away…

April 2 1921 Saturday – We arrived in Puno early evening. Our return progress was a little slower with the expert, (supernatural?) guidance of the Augustus Larkin and his personal aide Luis de Mendoza. There were times we had to double back to avoid pitfalls or rivers too difficult to cross.
Upon entry into Puno, I immediately acquired a boat for a return visit to Nayra. Once we arrived I told the elderly, local woman about Luis de Mendoza and his being the mythological kharisiri. I also went into detail about the corruption (or was it possession?) of Augustus Larkin. I did not detail the finding of the treasure, however I did leave her a priceless trinket. Harry had informed me the piece was culturally appropriate for Nayra.

April 3 1921 Sunday – We departed puno, Peru for Lima, Peru and civilization.

April 6, 1921 Wednesday – We arrived in Lima, Peru. I went to see Professor Nemesio Sanchez at the Museo de Arqueologia Y Anthropologia. The two of us spoke of the failed expedition. The reality of the kharisiri, Luis de Mendoza, being from the original expedition back in 1543 from the notes collected by Trinidad Rizo by Gaspar Fugueroa. I also discussed the corruption (possession ?) of Augustus Larkin. I left him some trinkets to fund his expedition. I also asked him to bring some explosives in case he felt compelled to completely seal the god in its’ tomb.

April 7, 1921 Thursday We said our goodbyes: Mr. Brock, Harry Sterling, Nick Night and Jackson Elias. I said I’d keep in touch with them. I departed in the Walrus for points north.

April 12, 1921 Tuesday Not having a (drunken-barroom) wager to win I took my time on the return trip to Carleton Place and the airfield. With Prohibition running rampant in the States I cut my stay short in Miami and New York. Desperation at wanting a drink, battled against ever present fatigue. I finally touchdown at the airfield. I spent the night in the local club ed, awaiting the presence of the CO.

April 13, 1921 Wednesday A shave and shower were intentionally withheld from me so I looked the scuzzy part of a rogue stealing one of George’s planes. The CO was brief and to the point with me. There was the threat of being shot on sight if I were ever to step on the grounds of the airfield again. It was amazing how his tone changed when I handed over enough trinkets. If the Walrus were returned to a three seater again, BY MY OWN HANDS, all charges would be “lost”. Case closed unless a future transgression was committed.

April 14, 1921 I returned to my wife, Edythe, and Carleton Place. Life was again back to normal. Edythe just loves to listen to me. I used to tell her everything. Telling her about the experiences at the pyramid outside of Puno, Lima would take some careful editing. For instance, Luis de Mendoza was one in a long line named after t he original from 1543. Elias Jackson was pushed into the campfire by Augustus Larkin. He landed on his left hand and burnt it to a crisp in the flames. It was very therapeutic revealing most of what happened.
She reminded me to go back to O’Heaphy’s and settle the drunken bet I had foolishly made. I nodded, appreciating her encouragement. Normally she’d have been angry that I left. Maybe absence made her heart grow fonder. That night we got a bun placed in her oven, the first of three.

1921-1924 Life had settled into a regular routine. Coming after the events of March and April of ‘21, regular was a good thing. We moved our family to Toronto to be closer to her father, the president of the Imperial Varnish and Colour Company of Toronto. I was given a cushy executive position to help me settle down from the past six years of my life. The corner office came with a four figure salary, parking spot and my own loo.
The day my wife gave birth to our first child was the most exciting day of my life. She was beautiful. We named her Sarah. The next year we had our second daughter followed by the apple of my eye, our son in ’23. Things couldn’t have been going better.
As part of my job at IV&CCofT, I was the health inspector. We had another person, more suited, for the job, but you know the boss’ son-in-law can get away with just about anything. I took to reading all of the manuals. I learned a lot about the harsh chemicals we used and what they could do to the human body once the two met. Judging by the cough Edythe’s dad developed, I’d say he came in contact with enough of those chemicals as to shorten his life. Even though I would expected to take over when the old man passed on I didn’t want the job. The chemicals were too dangerous, reminding me of the Great War.
My late night talks with Edythe continued through the next few years. Puno, Peru was firmly in my six. I was happy.

January 5 1925 Monday It was so easy to ignore the telegram that read: “HAVE INFORMATION CONCERNING CARLETON EXPEDITION STOP NEED RELIABLE INVESTIGATIVE TEAM STOP MEET JANUARY 15 NEW YORK STOP JACKSON ELIAS.” I almost crumpled it up and threw it in the garbage. It got stuffed into my back pocket.
That night when I got home my world had ended. My wife and two daughters were in tears. My son was gone. Taken from his crib. There was a small torn note stuck into the top of the crib wedged between the latch that read:
No
Cop
.
.
NY

Seeing NY reminded me of Jackson Elias’ telegram. I opened it up and reread it. I packed my things and headed back to the airfield. I needed George’s Walrus, again to get me back to NY City to see Jackson Elias and find my son. This just had to be the cult of the Kharisiri. Just how did they find me?

Baby Brown’s two sisters were having fun
For him and Mr. Dudders there would be none
Splashing the warm water in their bath
Their watery mess would gain their mother’s wrath

The dog’s barking the mother’s shout
“Hurry up in there and let the dog out”
“I will, " Sarah replied, drying off
As her younger sister had a nasty cough

Down the stairs to the front door
She watched the dog pass on all fours
She closed the door but it did not catch
Baby Brown saw the faulty latch

It was time for him to be free
Just soft, cuddly Mr. Dudders and he
He climbed out of his rag
Mr. Dudders got stuck on a snag

He pulled and pulled and finally RIP!
Down the stairs the two did zip
Mr. Dudders’ tag did fray
Baby Brown and he got away

Through the door to the front porch, from the porch to the walk, from the walk to the drive, from the drive to the street, from the street to the corner and from the corner to Main street. There were two lights in the distance, low close to the ground. They were small but getting bigger. They got so big they were blinding. Baby Brown was blinking. The car stopped and out popped a little old lady.
“Oh my, oh dear,” she exclaimed, “what are you doing here”. Come into my heat. She scooped him up and placed him on her front seat. Mr. Dudders and Baby Brown’s adventure had just begun.