Elliot shakes his head at the devastation - but at least the author of the destruction is gone. "Looks like the Sleeper is done imparting whatever knowledge it might have possessed." He fixes Gonçalves with a hard look. "Was that thing awake? Restrained? Or still in a comatose state as we originally found it?"
Gonçalves shakes his head. "Not my department. But based on the evidence, I'd say it was very much awake. Why don't you come to my office and we'll listen to the audio recordings?"
Elliot shakes his head in disbelief. "Right. The whole 'compartmentalized' ideal your organization is so fond of. You just might find the notion to come back and haunt you before this is all said and done. If it hasn't already. Lead the way, then."
Gonçalves leads you down the corridor to a laboratory. Within, the room contains electrical apparatus arranged on benches, including a phonograph. Plugging in a phonograph, Gonçalves lowers the stylus onto a record and the crackling sound of a man’s voice can be heard.
Gonçalves says "I apologize for the poor quality of the sound. It is a recording from a radio broadcast."
The words are familiar to any Jew or Christian as from the Book of Genesis:
“And the Lord God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life. This is the word of the Lord!”
Gonçalves looks at you enthusiastically and says, “Can you hear it?”
”Yes, of course. It is a bad translation, but it is the Old Testament.”
Chakos looks to the Padre for confirmation.
"Never been much of a good Christian but yeah, sounds like it" He pauses a moment not as sure of the dynamics of the group before looking around and seeing the door shut when he asks "Why Doc, what are we supposed to hear?"
Antonio listens for a bit, but then turns to the Doctor with some concern on his face. "I don't hear anything other than an odd translation from the Book of Genesis. What are we supposed to be hearing?"
Elliot raises a hand for silence as he listens intently...
"What is it you are hearing?"
__________________________________________________________________
Elliot, you hear a whispering voice behind the Christian gospel. It could almost be radio static, but it's not.
Gonçalves turns a dial, isolating certain frequencies, allowing you all to hear the hidden speech. ...who wish to know the truth of Yig, make your way to Bingham, Oklahoma. The truth shall be revealed.
Then, mutterings in a language you've never heard. Gonçalves says "It's Naacal, the serpent-man language." He translates haltingly: [b]"...wondrous yield the ungodly under Yig, bestowing blessing to lie and strike, the blessings yield waiting heart. He under who upon curious lies, and him waiting of the serpents curious mind glittering..."
"To Oklahoma then?"
"That is an odd passage for them to use as Serpents." He turns to Doctor Gonçalves. "You can understand Naacal? So there are really three messages being broadcast here. How long have you been listening to these broadcasts?"
"So, not sure that message means much yet, but should we followup with the radio station before trotting off to Oklahoma?"
Elliot listens to the hidden message within the hidden message as well, having picked up a bit of Naacal himself.
He shakes his head though, having to trust Doctor Gonçalves' translation. But the archaeologist is finding himself extremely skeptical of how helpful their patrons will be - at least in terms of giving them the best chances for survival. Elliot doesn't relish the idea of being moved about like a pawn on a chessboard to those willing to sacrifice him for the 'greater good'. The precautions that they take are, in the archaeologist's opinion, highly suspect between the bomb that nearly killed them all and now the escape of the 'Sleeper' that they risked life and limb to bring back from Bolivia...
Dr. Gonçalves gives you a map of Bingham, Oklahoma (see link at top of page) and a file labeled "Most Secret." Opening it you find briefing notes and reference documents that provide slightly more context about Yig and his cults.
You learn that Caduceus believes the serpent-folk to be divided along the lines of an ancient religious schism. Some worship Yig, the Father of Serpents, while others worship Tsathoggua, another hideous elder god. The agendas of these two groups is opaque to the human researchers, but it is known that the Tsathoggua worshipers have a modern-day organization known as the Inner Night and are vicious enemies of mankind. The followers of Yig are thought to be less absolute, sometimes recruiting human allies and followers.
Dr. Gonçalves says "Whatever you find, please remember to be merciful to the people in that town. Their hearts are most likely in the right place and they're simply seeking relief from the ruin of their lives amid the Dust Bowl and the Depression. Whatever else they may be, they don't seem to be related to the Inner Night. They've lost their way, but aren't necessarily evil."
"Of course, Doc. But I'll tell you, getting in the middle of a religious battle among alien groups sounds like a recipe for disaster."
"Don't we need to be equipped with some sort of doomsday device before we go? Just in case?"
"Of course, Doc. But I'll tell you, getting in the middle of a religious battle among alien groups sounds like a recipe for disaster."
"Perhaps, Mister Forrester, but it appears preferable to the destruction or enslavement of the human race."
"Don't we need to be equipped with some sort of doomsday device before we go? Just in case?"
"No, Doctor. I don't believe that will be necessary."
_____________________________________________________________
"Don't we need to be equipped with some sort of doomsday device before we go? Just in case?""No, Doctor. I don't believe that will be necessary."
"One can never be too careful."
"If y'all'd like I've got a plane, I'll be taking it down and I've got easy room for three but I think we could all squeeze in if we'd like."
"I can fix 'em, but never flown one. Now a fast car on the other hand, I could get you there quick. But what's wrong with the train?"
”just figure having it nearby’ll be good in case we need to get back here fast. It’d be a hell of a lot faster than the train and have better views but if you’d rather take the train be my guest. More space for me.”
"Do you have any experience dodging dragons in that plane of yours?"
Eddie chuckles a bit and it’s hard to tell if it’s nervous or dismissive before he says ”can’t say I’ve dodged dragons but I’ve dodged other planes, don’t imagine they’d be that different.”
"I will fly with you, Edward. We need to see this imposter church and rescue anyone who they may have under their control. The demons cannot be allowed to spread."
Chakos shakes is head. "Mierda! If the Padre is flying, then I too will fly with you."
"Having the plane around could be handy, but I'll take the train there and meet you. It will give me some time to study those notes - and we won't run the risk of overloading the plane either."
Antonio tries to study the notes and understand the serpent-demons' language more.
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So what's the plan, heroes?
If we can all fit in the plane, we'll all go together that way - with Baby Face flying us. If the plane would be too cramped (especially to the point where flying would be dangerous), then Elliot will travel by train and meet them there - perhaps with someone else so he's not alone. Maybe Father Pena? We can spend the time studying those notes and familiarizing ourselves with the Naacal language.
The camera slowly pans out the window and across the city to Floyd Bennett Field in Brooklyn. There, the team boards Baby Face's sleek Junkers F13, its corrugated duralumin skin gleaming in the sun.
The screen fades to a weathered map of the United States and a red line swiftly leaves New York and stretches west, reaching Indianapolis, then turns southwest towards Oklahoma City.
Antonio grips Elliot's arm tightly as Baby Face directs the plane towards Bingham and begins to descend. The priest is trying to control his breathing, but it's still coming fast and shallow.
Baby Face, you're trying to put the plane down in a field. Give me a Pilot check!
Elliot pats the good father's arm reassuringly, his lips pulled back in a strained smile as he too recalls their recent disaster in the airplane...
Anyone, give me a Pilot roll for Baby Face!
Baby Face lands his aircraft in a field at the outskirts of Bingham. The dusty town lays a mile or so to the south. A large yellow dog of indeterminate breed barks madly at the taxiing plane, while an astonished farmer sets down a rake and mops the back of his neck with a red handkerchief as the plane slows to a stop.
Baby Face taxis over to a nearby dusty road and stops the engine.
As you disembark the aircraft the farmer strides up, red-faced. "Say! What's the meaning of plowing through my rhubarb like that? This is private property!"
"Apologies sir, that's my plane and we're down here on official US government business that demanded we get here as soon as possible, I can compensate you for any loss of crops you have." Eddie says as he exits the cockpit.
Chakos waits to see how the farmer takes this. He didn't create the problem, so he figured it wasn't for him first to fix it.
The farmer doesn't seem to buy Edward's story, but the offer of compensation seems to excite him.
"Well. We ain't just hicks out here, Mister. But if you can pay for the rhubarb, I guess I can let a little thing like this go."
He looks out over his field. "Most of it's not too bad, I guess. Twenty-five greenbacks?"