Time to start making some money, Seamus thinks as he reads the note. He eats a quick breakfast and wakes up Micky and makes his way to the meeting.
The thirteen block trip to the Gabrielle’s berth takes only a few minutes by taxi.
The Hudson River docks are a place of constant motion. Smells of sea water, oil, fish, and damp wood are mixed with the sweat of the stevedores, and fill the air. Dozens of ships of all sizes and descriptions are tied up here, in various stages of loading or unloading. Huge cranes swing heavy loads overhead, and the ground is littered with cast-off packing materials, broken glass, and bits of metal. As you make your way to the berth of your intended vessel, you are bumped into and sworn at by the stevedores, who stride off without looking back. ”Welcome to the real New York”, Mickey quips.
It takes nimble footwork to avoid being knocked over or shouted at by one of the dockhands. Tied up on the north side of Pier 74 along the Hudson River shores of New York City is the Gabrielle, its bow facing out. On the south side of the pier, the brightly lit and well-maintained facilities of the Italian Royal Mail line make the expedition’s berth seem shabby and unimportant. You pull up at the foot of West 34th Street, and cross over Twelfth Avenue to the pier shed front. A small sign has been stenciled and nailed:
An overweight Port Authority guard in the small office at the door checks to see if each of your names name correspond to one on his clipboard.
“Go on in, bud.” he says to everyone but Phoebe to whom he simply gives a wide smile. ”Ma’am”, he states.
The pier extends six hundred feet into the river, and is eighty feet wide. A long narrow shed runs down the center of the pier, fifty feet wide and thirty feet high in the center. The shed’s interior is piled with cargo—boxes, bales, drums, and pallets, in stacks fifteen feet high, running back from the outdoor work area in three long rows with narrow aisles in between.
A railway track runs along each side of the pier between the shed and the ship. Boxcars stand here and there on the tracks next to large open doors. By day, crews of stevedores stream up and down ramps between the boxcars and the shed, shifting cargo into the interior or moving it onto pallets and nets to be lifted upwards into the Gabrielle’s holds.
Climbing the gangway up to the deck, and dodging various maritime types who all seem to be in a hurry to go up or down the gangway. The sheer number of people who are involved in the process is staggering. Standing at the top of the gangplank as you board is Professor Moore.
”There are simply too many of us to make introductions simple. Here is a manifest of your fellows. Speak with who you like, no doubt Starkweather will make a speech soon enough. Sandwiches and coffee are on the table in the mess hall. Take what you like, and go see Mr. Sykes in the crew’s lounge. Right through that door and down the hall.
We will all meet each morning at eight o’clock, in the Rose Room at the hotel for the next several days, we intend to leave on the 14th of September. If I don’t see you again today, I trust I’ll see you there.””.
The manifest list is staggering:
Team Leaders
James Starkweather UK Explorer, guide, lecturer
William Moore USA Geologist and organizer
Guides
Peter Sykes CAN Arctic guide
Nils Sorensen NOR Arctic guide, mountaineer
Gunnar Sorensen NOR Arctic guide, mountaineer
Science Crew
Willard Griffith USA Geologist, Cornell University
Charlie Porter USA Assistant to Griffith
Morehouse Bryce USA Paleontologist, Univ. of California
Timothy Cartier USA Assistant to Bryce
Charles Myers USA Archaeologist, Univ. of Chicago
Avery Giles USA Assistant to Myers
Pierce Albemarle USA Meteorologist, Oberlin College
Douglas Orgelfinger USA Assistant to Albemarle
Samuel Winslow USA General aide, studying glaciology
Camp Crew
Tomás Lopez USA Worker
Hidalgo Cruz ARG Worker
Maurice Cole CAN Worker
Christopher St. Claire USA Worker
Seamus MacHale USA Worker
Mickey Gallagher Ireland Worker
David Packard USA Team boss, camp security
Richard Greene USA Physician
Phoebe Barrett USA Nurse
Clergy
Father Fergus Garrity USA
Writers
Christopher St. Claire USA Writer
Thomas A. Greenwood USA Writer
Technicians
Louis Laroche CAN Radio tech/operator/electrician
Albert Gilmore USA Drill tech
Michael O’Doul USA Drill tech
Sled Teams
Gregor Pulasky POL Sled team chief
Enke Fiskarson NOR Dog wrangler
Olav Snåbjorn NOR Dog wrangler
34 Dogs – 3 Teams
Pilots/Mechanics
Douglas Halperin USA Pilot
Ralph DeWitt USA Pilot
Lawrence Longfellow USA Engineer/mechanic
Alan “Colt” Huston USA Engineer/mechanic
Stanley Chastain USA Engineer
Patrick Miles USA Technician/mechanic
Gabrielle, Scottish-built in 1913.
Gabrielle crew
Americans and Europeans numbering 47
Captained by Henry Vredenburgh.
They can carry a crew of two plus ten passengers, or a large amount of cargo. A fourth smaller aëroplane, will also be in service but will not be used farther south for expeditions to the Lake Camp, the site of the original dig and resulting catastrophe.
Stanley takes a thorough look at the expedition manifest. There's many more people than he expected, including many more engineers and mechanics. Unexpectedly it comes as a relief. It's good that the maintenance of a fleet of modern aircraft will not be a responsibility on his shoulders alone. That might work in more moderate climates, but in frigid temperatures? Those planes are going to going to need a lot of work.
He thanks Moore for the manifests and then turns to the others that he met in the hotel, speaking mainly to Seamus, the ex-cop, in a slightly lowered voice.
"This expedition seems to be pretty well stocked in personnel and equipment. I know there's a security detail, but I'm worried there aren't enough weapons. I know I'd like the be armed in the event of some sort of animal attack or outbreak of cabin fever or mutiny or whatever goes wrong. I'm from rural Massachusetts and Upstate New York and am a little out of my depth here. Would you be able to help me get a piece to carry for self defense? Perhaps a police-type revolver."
When Stanley approaches him with his question Seamus smiles, "You can get anything for a price, pal. Let me see what I can do for ya."
"Look pal I'd like to help ya but it looks like your gonna be short a few greenbacks." He considers a moment, "Look I front ya the money but ya owe me a favor. How does that sound to ya."
Stanley considers for a moment. Perhaps prices are inflated in the big city, but he didn't think a firearm would be so expensive. Even so, it's still probably worth having the extra protection.
"I can live with a favor, I think. I'll get you back as soon as I can," he nods. "I really appreciate it"
Christoper hand waves the idea of getting guns now, "Let's spend the day on the ship then we can get whatever weapons we feel we need later after all we are not leaving for another few days".
You head below deck into the crew's lounge and find Peter Sykes one of the expeditions' polar survival experts. "Good morning all. I am Peter Sykes. I will be taking your measurements for clothing that we will need for the trip. It is vital that your clothes fit perfectly".
He measures all the men for height, weight, waist, chest, collar, inseam, shoe size, hat size, and glove size.
He seems a bit surprised to see Phoebe. "Ma'am, sorry to have to do this but we have no female seamstresses". He is professional in his work but he does brush up against some parts Phoebe would prefer be brushed by her husband only. He blushes a bit as he works and you sense his discomfort. He mumbles sorry a few times.
Once the measurements are taken he smiles and wipes the sweat from his brow. He then proceeds to give instructions on how to enter and exit the many pieces of clothing you will be required to wear during the expedition.
"Another two days and we will have everything ready for you all. Now head on down to the dining hall. Dr. Greene is set up there to do a brief physical exam".
Dr. Greene is a middle-aged physician with a full head of hair. As he see your group enter he smiles warmly at Phoebe, "Nurse Barrett! Glad to have you on board, I was afraid I would have to handle all of these patients short handed! We should speak at the hotel later".
He greets the rest of the party as well though he seems perplexed to see Christopher among you.
A special booth is set up for the Dr. to examine Phoebe away from prying eyes she remains within while the rest of you are examined as modesty dictates.
"You all check out just fine though you sir may want to cut back on the drinking", he states glaring at Mickey. "Professor Moore wants you all to head back above deck for publicity pictures. From there, a dental appointment has been set up for you in mid-town a block from the hotel. The rest of the day is free to do as you wish".
Christopher skips the press pictures and heads straight to the dentist.
The press pictures are painful. You are photographed plain clothed, in cold weather gear and purposely posed here and there among tools, charts and instruments - whether they apply to your purpose on the expedition of not.
The dental visit is a short cleaning and a check for cavities. Mickey is forced to stay behind for several more hours of work. Christopher is nowhere to be seen.
Finally, past 2 pm, starving for lunch, you are all free.
All the getting poked and prodded is understandable, in an academic sense, but that still doesn't make it any easier to experience. Overall, Stanley is quite glad that it's over, for now, and hopes that there won't be much more of it. With a week to go before departure, still, that's probably a vain hope.
Stanley's first priority, after all this time, is to get something to eat. The bagel this morning feels so long ago. After that, perhaps, he'll try to meet up with the pilots and mechanics listed on the manifest, if he can find them. It would be nice to gain a rapport with those he'll be working most closely with before they have to work together in a hostile environment. First things first, though, and he doesn't want to seem like he's ignoring the others on this expedition either, since there will be a limited number of people to interact with once they embark.
"Anyone want to get lunch with me to relax a bit after all that uncomfortableness?"
Peter Sykes seemed professional enough that she is in no way offended. When he mumble sorry she quietly says It is fine Sir.
Upon meeting Dr. Greene and seeing that he is actually willing to speak with her she smiles broadly, I would be more than happy to chat with you later
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Thomas was a reasonable man and he knew the importance of both the custom made winter clothes, the medical exam and even the dentist, but the press pictures brought him to the limit of his patience.
He could hear his belly complaining about the lack of food when Stanley asks about who would like to eat.
"I could not answer for everyone, but I'm surely willing to eat something... specially a good meal, since we'll be spending only god knows how many months eating canned food and fish..."
I am all for moving forward towards some adventuring.
As a fellow Miskatonic U professor, Moore treats you to dinner in the city. As he drinks his tongue begins to loosen about the survivors of the last Expedition.
“I only saw the Danforth boy once afterwards, coming off of the ship. He did not look at all well, and they took him to a hospital straight away. A total breakdown, we were told. He was in the, ah, institution for nearly a year before he ran away. Went back to the school, tried to break into the geology department after hours during examinations. A guard ran him off—I don’t know if anyone has seen him since. Pabodie, Sherman, McTighe . . .” he sighs.
“Good men, all of them. After the voyage they were changed. Quieter. Morose. They didn’t like to talk about the Ice; none of them would say why. My greatest fear is for William Dyer.
He was so terribly different when he returned! Dyer used to be a fine speaker, a dedicated scientist, one of the more popular teachers in the department. He was . . . charismatic, I suppose. After the voyage, we scarcely knew him. All of his good humor was gone. He wandered the halls, day and night, returning to his office to write his report. His work suffered, and so did his students. He lost weight, and I do not think he slept well. His eyes had that hollow lackluster look one used to see sometimes in veterans of the Great War. But that was not all of it”. he pauses to take another sip of his wine.
“William and I used to be chums. The ‘Double Bill,’ they called us, a few years back.” He smiles, remembering. “After his return it was almost as if he no longer knew me. He would avoid me in the halls—fail to return my calls—be late for meetings—miss engagements—I simply do not know why. There was a horrible sense of guilt about him! As if he were carrying around some horrible sinful secret that aged him visibly by the day. I cornered him once. Demanded to know—to help—but he refused me flatly. He was vicious about it, too. Said things.
Hurtful things. Said I presumed too much, and he didn’t need burdensome friends like that.
I told him he was hurting everyone, not just himself; he said that he was leaving as soon as the report was done. And he did. Signed up for a dig in Montana, then another one in the Yucatan, then one or two more, always far from home. Last December he wrote requesting indefinite leave. We haven’t seen or heard from him since. The only word I ever received was a short note from Hawaii in March. ‘I am sorry’ is all it said.”
“So you see Professor Arnault, my friends, I have to know what happened down there. What was able to hurt my friend so terribly. And no one alive up here is willing to say.”
There is a last brief pause. “I hope he’s happy, wherever he is. I hope he’s sleeping well.”
New York (UPI)—Commander J. B. Douglas, famed sea captain and former master of the brig Arkham, will return to Antarctic waters later
this year. James Starkweather, world explorer and leader of the forthcoming Starkweather-Moore Expedition to Antarctica, announced today that Douglas has agreed to come out of retirement and captain the expedition’s ship on their voyage of discovery.
“Commander Douglas will be an invaluable addition to our expedition,” Starkweather said. “Not only does he have a personal knowledge of many of the dangers and hazards of the South Pole, but he is an accomplished explorer and adventurer. The expedition will benefit greatly from his experience of the harsher climes and his keen inquiring mind. I look forward to providing this country’s most noteworthy scientists with a means to enrich our understanding of the natural world.”
Douglas, a twenty-five year veteran of the Merchant Marines, was sailing master of the Arkham on its 1930 voyage to the Antarctic with the now-famous Miskatonic Expedition. He retired from the sea in 1932.
Commander Douglas could not be reached for comments. Starkweather has promised interviews with the Commander beginning on September 7, by appointment.
You all spend a lovely late afternoon and evening together. Seamus shows your group to a few interested sellers who set up those interested parties with firearms for the trip. The ammunition is cheap enough to get two full boxes of bullets each!
After that Mickey brings you all out on the town to some of the best gin joints in the city, VIP only type places. The night is cut short by a police raid but Seamus speaks to the officer in charge and none of you are arrested much less mentioned in the papers the next day…
Several long tables are laid out, with breakfast steaming on a buffet sideboard. Pots of cold water, hot coffee, juice, and tea fixings are available. A large chalkboard stands at the front of the room. Starkweather and Moore arrive a few minutes after eight.
James Starkweather stands up before the group. Tall and charismatic, with black hair and a noble profile, he is very much the popular figure of the romantic adventurer. Starkweather welcomes everyone by name and is filled with infectious enthusiasm; it is clear that he sees great things ahead in the far South. He gives few details, and answers no questions, but does reveal more specifically the route the trip will take:
Like Miskatonic University’s expedition before it, Starkweather-Moore will use aircraft as its main means of transport. Three “large, fast, modern aircraft,” Boeing model 247s, have been purchased and will be arriving in a few days. A fourth smaller plane, the sturdy Fairchild FC-2 carried by several previous Arctic and Antarctic expeditions, is already aboard the ship, and will be used for mapping and exploration on the Ross Ice Shelf.
Three semipermanent camps are planned. One, on the shore of the Ross Sea, will act as the base camp for the aëroplanes. The second is to be erected near the site of Percival Lake’s last great discoveries, if the site can be found; the third, the forward base for exploration, will be located on the ancient high plateau described by Dyer as on the far side of the Miskatonic Mountains.
Many exploratory flightsare planned: the Gabrielle carries enough aircraft fuel to “fly each of the planes around the world.”
The expedition will leave Antarctica on or before February 1st of 1934. The mortal remains of the deceased Miskatonic Expedition members, if they can be found, will be brought home, along with as many of the bones and artifacts from the Lake’s Camp site as possible.
Moore greets each expedition member in turn, inviting them to stand up and speak a few words about themselves and their specialties. Most are shy and give only the information listed on the Personnel Roster.
”Also I would like to introduce Doctor Arnault just added to the Expedition last night. Professor of Archeaology at Miskatonic University. I am sure we are all very glad to have him along”. Polite clapping follows his introduction.
Moore then opens the floor to questions.
We will be sharing the continent with three other expeditions. They have their own itineraries, of course, and Mr. Starkweather wishes to stay out of their way when possible. So far as I know, none of them have plans to push inland across the Miskatonic Mountains.”
Moore summarizes what is known of the plans of the Byrd, Ellsworth, and Barsmeier-Falken Expeditions, pointing out their published locations and travel routes on the map, and comparing them to this expedition’s plans. Afterwards, he leads a quiet toast to the success of the voyage, and winds up with a discussion of the work yet to be done.
[b]“One weeks remain before we set sail. That isn’t much time, and I’m afraid some things have rather fallen through the cracks. Between now and then I shall be calling upon each of you to lend your expertise toward our successful departure. I trust you are all willing to help? I’ve drawn up a number of lists, and there will doubtless be more when these are finished. . . .”
Moore begins immediately to assign duties to everyone present.
“I’ve an important request to make and it seems since all of you have bonded well and some of you have local contacts you would be good for what I need done,” Moore explains. “We have engaged the services of J. B. Douglas to captain the Gabrielle. Commander Douglas, you may know, was the master of the Miskatonic Expedition’s vessel Arkham. We’re delighted to have him, of course, but the Commander is a very private man and wants nothing to do with the press or the public view.
What I would like you to do is to make yourself available to the Commander and see to any needs he may have. He is due to be arriving on September 10th, and has reserved rooms at the Westbury Hotel at 440 Scammel Street. If you would meet him there that evening, after he arrives, I should be most appreciative. We want to extend him every courtesy.
Please don’t tell anyone about the Commander. We have promised him that his accommodations will be kept from the press, and that no one will bother him before the expedition sets sail. Mister
Starkweather wishes to announce Douglas’ hiring himself, but of course we’re not going to do that until closer to departure. I trust I can count on your help?
In addition, can you bring Profesor Arnault along with you? He met the Captain once briefly and the Captain prefers a familiar face.”
Arnault stands when he's introduced and gives a wave. He's wearing a cheap suit, has light brown hair and blue eyes.
" Zank you Professor Moore, it is fery excitink to be comink along on zis expedition. I am lookink fovard to gettink to know you all better ofer zee comink veeks. "
He sits back down.
" Of course, I am happy to help in any vay I can, but did you see zee paper zis mornink? It vas already in zee news zat Commander Douglas vas joinink zee expedition. "
" Of course, I am happy to help in any vay I can, but did you see zee paper zis mornink? It vas already in zee news zat Commander Douglas vas joinink zee expedition. "
Professor Moore looks absolutely stunned. "Who in the blazes leaked that to the press! I have to speak with James immediately. PLese seek out the Captain and do what you can to appease his wrath or keep newspapers away from him!"
That said he leaves you all alone together.
Father Garrity declines the purchase of a firearm, simply stating that The Lord will Provide what is needed.
He introduces himself to Arnault.
"So you know the Captain a bit? I'm looking forward to meeting him tonight. Might be about time to Christen the meeting".
"I'll come along for moral support," Stanley offers. "Some of you may have notice that I'm not particularly good with people, though."
He also introduces himself to the newest member of the expedition. "I'm Stanley Chastain, aircraft engineer and Mikatonic Alumnus. I know you by reputation, I think, though I never took any archaeology classes. Always thought it was an interesting subject, but never made the time for it."
Father Garrity declines the purchase of a firearm, simply stating that The Lord will Provide what is needed.
He introduces himself to Arnault.
"So you know the Captain a bit? I'm looking forward to meeting him tonight. Might be about time to Christen the meeting".
Arnault shakes Fergus's hand.
" Vell, I hafe met him von time before zis, I don't know know him fery vell. "
He nods at Stanley and shakes his hand. " Yes I am really lookink forvard to zis, it has been to long since I vas on a dig. To be honest sough I am not lookink forvard to zee cold. "
Nodding to signify her willingness to comply with Moores request. After his quick abandon of the room Phoebe moves toward Arnault to introduce herself, It is a pleasure to meet you Proffesor Arnault. I am Phoboe Barrnet the nurse for this venture.
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Thomas nods at Moore's request, even if he is not happy at all.
What am I now? A babysitter or cheerleader? I'm supposed to flatter the old man and do whatever pleases him?
His thoughts are interrupted by the sight of his new companions presenting themselves to new man, the professor. He comes closer and offers his hand.
"Nice to meet you at last, Doctor Arnault. I'm Thomas A. Greenwood and I think I already crossed with you in the Miskatonic University during one of my visits to Professor Abbot."
Seamus just stands in a corner and watches Arnault trying to size him up.
" Zee pleasure is mine miss Barrett. " Arnault says. Taking her hand and giving a little bow. " I am sure vee vill all be glad to hafe you along. Zere can be many hazards on a expedition of zis sort. "
Arnault nods to Thomas and shakes the authors hand. " Ah yes, I sink I remember your face. " he replies with a little uncertainty.
He gives Seamus a nervous nod.
Your group travels to the Westbury Hotel in the hopes that the Captain has arrived early. You check in with the desk clerk who informs you that he is due to arrive the 10th and that no missive has been heard from him since the room was booked.
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Seamus Spot Hidden
Seamus notices that the newspaper which has the lead story regarding the Captain is strewn everywhere about the Hotel. In such a conspicuous manner that it almost seems as if someone did so purposely...
So we can assume he has seen the paper then? Well let's not keep him waiting.
"The front desk says he hasn't checked in or been heard from yet," Stanley points out. "If he's seen the papers he may not be arriving at all. Hopefully, if he's at sea or otherwise travelling, he may not have seen them at all yet. But he'll certainly see them if they're all over the lobby like this. Our best bet may be to remove them in the hope that he doesn't get a chance to notice them until after we get a chance to break the news to him gently."
Stanley starts to rove around the room gathering up the newspapers and bundling them under his arm.
" Let's hope you are right. " Arnault says to Stanely, as he picks up a paper from a table and sticks it under his arm and moves off to collect more.
As you all run around collecting the newspapers and depositing them in the trash, you hear the clerk speak aloud, "Welcome Captain, I trust you had a pleasant trip?"
Stanley, upon hearing the clerk say the captain had arrived, is relieved that they managed to finish disposing of the obvious newspaper headlines before he showed up. Why someone would go to all that trouble to try and make him upset is beyond him, but at least they didn't succeed. He saunters casually over to the desk where the new arrival is standing.
"Commander Douglas?" he asks, though it's mostly rhetorical. He's pretty sure about it. "My associates and I are members of the upcoming expedition. Professor Moore asked us to meet you and welcome you to New York." He gestures to the others that came along. "May we speak with you in private when you've got your room sorted out?"
The Commander extends a hand to you, "Certainly, certainly". He turns to the clerk, "Have a bell hp bring up my things if you would, tell me, have you the local paper?"
The clerk heads to the rack to find it empty, he shrugs. "I could have sworn I saw a ton of them around the lobby but it seems I was mistaken, sorry Captain Douglas".
The Captain shrugs, "No problem at all, I am sure my new associates will fill me in on all the local gossip".
He takes his key from the clerk and motions for the group to follow him to the elevator.
"Are you all part of the Expedition?" he asks eyeing Phoebe intently.
You step onto the ship the SS Gabrielle looking for Dr. Moore.
The hustle and bustle of the crew does not disturb you despite the sour looks they throw in your direction. One of the men finally acknowledges your presence and points you to the proper room below decks where Moore is currently presiding.
As you approach the room you hear two voices.
"...I am telling you James, someone must be seeking to sabotage us or at lest delay the trip!"
"Just because the news story got leaked? Preposterous my good man, the Captain will understand".
"No, he was very specific James, he wanted no press for himself, I just hope the Expedition team I sent will keep him distracted when he arrives in two days and that he does not happen to see the Times on the way here!"
The other voice responds, "Now that you mention it, Greenwood did say he was approached on the train here and told to abandon the trip".
The other voice responds, "So then this is not an isolated incident then!"