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Jossem pushes forward, his coat unbuttoned and sweat pouring down his back. "Like, we're back in Palestine, eh, Dick?" He stops for a second to wipe his brow, but then continues forward. He looks up, trying to locate the sound of the chopping, but just points towards the small path. "Let's try this way and see if these boys know anything about where Mr. Watson might have come from."
Jossem nods in encouragement as Richard takes his medicine. "Dick, you know those Chinamen know their herbs. They have some strange, but powerful remedies. Tiger bones and dragon's teeth and the like." After the man has drunk the vial, Joss smiles at him and follows the Father into the mists. "He said it was a few miles east of the gates. A train accident. Maybe we can find some wreckage from it."
Jossem peers at the mists. "Well, what's the worst that can happen? We end up back in London? Or China? Or maybe just back with the gypsies." He laughs. "Come on, Dick. Let's see what's out there." He walks up and through the gate.
Jossem sighs "It seems our hostess is impatient to have this resolved." He glances at one of the kitchen staff. "Is there a reason Madam Corbeaux values Collette so much? At this point, I would think she might just be willing to be rid of her." He takes a long drink from the wine glass. "Well, fellows, are you up for a trek to see if we can find those plays for Mr. Watson? I'm hoping we can find out more about us being delivered here too."
Jossem wipes his mouth and shakes his head, trying to clear the first bit of effects from the wine. He stands to greet her. "I spoke to Mr. Watson, Madam. He is quite taken with young Collette. She is starring in his newest play. I was able to make your message heard, however. I think he is adequately motivated to pay out any debts he and Collette may have earned." "When his new play opens, I believe he can begin to pay you back. I'll remind him to visit you for a discussion of what he owes. In the meantime, he needs something done as well. Help him and it helps you. It seems worth effort."
"Well, best make ourselves presentable, eh? Especially if we're in the Madam's 'employ'." Jossem bows he head to the others and retires to his room to clean himself up and do his best to appeal to whatever company they may have at dinner.
"How did your search go? Were you able to find any herbs to help Dick?" "Let's return to the Madam and then we can go in search of a place to stay tonight." He smiles. [b]"Or we can stay there with the right incentive."
I'm still here.
Jossem nods slowly at the Father. "In a manner of speaking. Mr. Watson, who has so gallantly stolen away the lovely Miss Colette, hails from Higham, Kent. He too is trapped here and has little idea where we are." He looks around for a moment before continuing. "Mr. Watson has found quite the audience for Shakespeare's plays here in Port-au-Lucine. How these people have never heard Macbeth or Romeo and Juliet is beyond me. But he's running quite the scam pushing them off as his own creations and making a nice bit of coin. Really can't blame the chap. He seems to have fallen into it, but it's a beautiful scam." "He's agreed to pay off Madame Corbeaux for Colette's contract, but he needs some help. He was traveling with some of the Bard's plays, but after a train accident, he was found only with two of them. Macbeth and Romeo and Juliet. He's about to show Macbeth in a week and the other's run its course. If we can find some of the other plays, then he'll have the to pay off Corbeaux." He shakes his head. "It's a convoluted task, I admit. But he's an Englishman and one of the few links we have to home. Plus if we can do this, then it solves Corbeaux's request and could help us locate the Ripper."
"A criminal. Murderer. We chased him here. No idea where he is now." He shakes his head. "So I assume this 'portfolio' you mentioned is a book of Shakespeare's plays? Are they really eating it up here? And you fell in love with Colette after meeting her at La Fleur Rose." The last is a statement rather than a question.
"Ever since? How long have you been here? And have you seen any sign of the Ripper here?" Jossem cocks his head to one side. "With your charade, I take it you haven't met any others? Or are there more? Where do you think we are?"
Jossem considers his request for a moment, but then slowly nods. This was beginning to become more than just a small favor. "Fine, I'll see what I can do, but first you have to tell me where you're really from. Someone doesn't just dream up Shakespeare's plays. Are you from London or England? I assume this train accident brought you here, but you do you know how to get back?"
"Ah, 'Scotland'. What an imagination you have. Next thing you know you'll have the men wearing skirts and using sheep bladders for music." Jossem's tone has gone dry and lost some of the humor from before. He pockets the tickets before re-composing himself and flashing another smile to the playwright. "Now, Emmanuel, there is one more thing I want to ask you about. There are rumors of you frequenting La Fleur Rose. Is that true? I don't judge. I enjoy a tumble now and then myself! But there are rumors about you failing to pay your debts. My readers love juicy gossip like that!" he pauses and if just connecting two things. "Oh, is that where you met Collete?! Oh, what a story! Love and trysts!"
"Great Birham Wood is moving against Dunsinane Hill, chap. What say you?"
"Ah, would you allow me to see it?" He gestures to the pocketwatch. "I suppose you won't tell me who the woman is, but it would be wonderful to hold that."
"Now, what about the actors and actresses you are working with now on this new play? For instance, that young woman you were speaking with just a moment ago. What's her name? Is she the lead? Where do you find the talent for your shows and do you think they're up to the standards of your plays?" He chuckles at the last bit, making the question partly in jest.
Jossem smiles as the man agrees to be interviewed. He looks around for a spare room as he shakes his hand. "George Efferson. Let's talk over here, Mr. Watson. I don't want any of those other papers to overhear!" He chuckles, escorting Emmanuel into the room.
"Ah, Master Watson! I'm not with the normal pages! You see, I've come to interview you, not review the show. My readers are enamored with your work and they want to know more about you in person! It would be wonderful to get a few moments with you and your leading lady and then just a few questions with you yourself. You may not know you have adoring fans, but you do, and they want to hear from you personally!" He flashes a charming smile.
I'm willing to continue, though it's sad to lose Clive.
"Excuse me, Sir. We are looking for Mr. Watson, the playwright? Where could we find him?"
"Simple, Detective. We pretend to be adoring fans. Then we can put the screws to him, 'Macbeth'? It would seem our playwright is something of a thief as well." Jossem muses for a bit. "Actually, if this man knows the Bard's work, then perhaps he's from England.
No problem. I will likely be unable to post next week (family in town), so if this does start back up then, please run Jossem as you all see fit.
Joss looks over at the girls and then back to the Detective. "I suppose, Clive. Might be good to see more of this city anyway." He stands and straightens his clothing. He grabs his steel capped cane and motions for the Detective to lead on.
Jossem laughs. "Forgive me! We seem to be chasing a monster and it has made me a bit jumpy. Of course, our own city of London has basic miscreants at night too. We certainly can wait until morning to find Mr. Watson." "Now, perhaps a room and bath, Madam? We've come a long way and it hasn't been as nearly pleasant as this place." He winks at her.
Joss looks at Clive and his eyes sparkle. "We have a room for the night here. I imagine it will be much more...comfortable than on the ground by a fire." He stops and looks back at Corbeaux. "Madam, is there something wrong with this place after dark? Is there something preying on people?" he asks with the Ripper clearly on his mind.
"If she doesn't have half the city's clientele already, she's doing something wrong. A place like this, I would wager she sees a lot of wealthy and influential patrons." He looks to Ang and nods. "Good. I'll go with Tommy and the Detective. We'll see if we can earn a bit of goodwill from the Madam. Plus, maybe this chap knows something about the Ripper too."
Joss sighs and then shrugs. "Well, Chinaman? Would you be willing to go with Richard or do you want to go with the Detective here? I figure we should keep the groups even just in case we run into trouble. If you don't want to go with Dick, then I'll go with him and the Father."
"Father, she may also know of those girls who aren't part of her establishment. Either keeping tabs on them as competition or simply as contacts. I know you would rather not lend anything part to her business, but she's entrenched in this work. If girls have seen the Ripper, she can probably find out."
"Father, we know very little about this place, and while I'm happy to try and take the first ship out of here, if we plan to find the Ripper then we may need all the help we can get. A Madam such has she will have stores of secrets and knowledge of this city that you wouldn't believe. We could do with a far worse friend on our side." "Plus," he adds, "Some of us haven't taken vows of celibacy"
Jossem looks back with some regret as they leave the alluring girls behind. Quite direct, aren't we? I suppose Detective Clive must keep distractions to a minimum. I doubt I would make a good investigator. He looks over to the woman. "Madam Corbeaux, was it? You may want to see if any of your girls has notices an odd tall man with a top hat lurking about. Perhaps following them home or something." His hand rest lightly on his cane, hoping to at least look like he might belong here rather than with the ragtag group he entered with.
Well, this is a pleasant surprise! And I thought we were going to be dealing with some dockside waifs turning tricks. This is more like it. If I had know, I would have bought that sailor another drink! Jossem grins as they approach the place. He looks at the Father with feigned shock. "I never have such intentions at all, Father. But the girls do have such an inviting air." He grabs Dick's arm as the man rushes up to the door. "Decorum, dear chap." He nods, then releases him and waits for the man to open the door.
"Excellent! I'm sure he will have a wonderful time." Joss smiles. "How about a place for a room? It seems we might be here for a while." He looks to the others. "Shall we try out luck at La Fleur Rose, gentlemen? Perhaps the madam there knows something, and I could do with some better looking company."
"My apologies, chap. I was just stretching my legs. The Father is right, the least I can do is buy you a drink for your troubles." Jossem waves to the bartender for another ale. He smiles at the man, not even glancing at the knife. "Where are you from, mate? We're from a place called London or England. Ever heard of it? " He waits until the ale is brought. "So maybe you can help me. We're new in town, but it's my friend's birthday. I'd like to get him some fun, you know? Maybe a girl for the night. You know a good place to find one? You must, right? I'm sure they love sailors!" He laughs knowingly.
Joss shrugs and kicks the sailor hard under the table. "Ey! You awake, Chap?"
Joss finds the meal quite enjoyable. Peasant food, clearly, but the thick stew and the ale held quite an appeal especially when they hadn't had much to eat all day. Joss shakes his head at Clive. "I doubt it. Unless we're out in Indian country, people have still heard of the Crown. And these don't seem like redmen to me. Too civilized. I was thinking perhaps a French colony in the East, but if that were true, then our friend here wouldn't look out of place." He nods towards Ang. "Perhaps the Father is right. We've been swept up in some witchcraft." He chuckles at the thought.
"Some food would be excellent. Zherisian? Never heard of it. I guess we're new here. Do you know if we can get passage to England" Jossem waits until the food is presented and then he helps carry it to the table. "Something is odd. I've been to a lot of places around the world and 'England' is fairly well known, especially by places with French background. We don't seem to be in some backwater village, so the Crown should hold some recognition."
Joss comes up to the bar behind the Detective. "Excusez-moi. Parlez-vous Anglais?" He waits for some response from the man before showing a gold piece. "Drinks for my friends?"
Jossem sighs as Richard is dumped out on the street. "Might as well. The best place to find answers is usually where people are drinking. This place does seem French. Perhaps they have decent wine." As they walk, Joss tries to listen for any English or Arabic being spoken. He stops wi Clive around the markets to see what kind of wares people were selling.
Jossem stops beside Roland. "Well, finally some civilization. Perhaps we can find passage home." He looks at Roland. "It would have been nice for Madam Eva to have left us some food when she departed in the middle of the night." He shrugs and starts walking towards the city again.
Jossem listens to the Father's service attentively. Even though he was a Papist, it felt good to hear some holy words after the events of yesterday. He glances over to Richard's slumped form. I hope we can drive out whatever demons Dick is harboring too. Joss rises after the service and shakes Paidraig's hand. "Good work Father. We may need a measure of the Lord's grace in this place." He brushes off his clothes, trying to get the dirt and dust off the fine cotton and silk. "Now, let's find this city and a respectable place to spend tonight. I'm not spending another night on the ground if I can help it."
Jossem stands over Richard's unconscious form. "Really, Mr. Ang? Did you have to beat him senseless?" He makes an exasperated sound, and picks up the bag of herbs. He tosses it at the Chinaman. "I know poor Dick has had a hard go of it, and he's not the most agreeable fellow anymore, but it doesn't have to come to violence."
Jossem comes over to the two men as Tommy screams at them. "Dick, please! A measure of decorum! Mr. Ang may have secured our safety last night with those herbs." "Since it seems the gypsies have gone in the night, we need to be taking care of each other rather than at each other's throats. We still don't know where we are or how we can get back home. I suggest we begin trying to find this city Madam Eva spoke of."
Jossem wakes up and quickly realizes the gypsies are gone. He looks over and sees the China man and Richard wrestling on the ground. "What the hell are you two doing?! And where did the gypsies go?" He checks his pockets, but still finds his coin and pocket watch, much to his relief.
"Madam, these visions and nightmares. Are you sure we're safe here?" Jossem asks. His eyes dart to the pitch black woods.
Jossem wakes with a start as the Father's screams penetrate his own dreams. "Wha- What's going on?!" He grabs his cane and slides the blade out, whirling to face any attackers. Not seeing anyone, he sheathes it and lock it into place before rushing over to the man. "Father, are you alright? What was it?"
Jossem looks back to the others who are fast falling asleep. These gypsies could rob them all in their sleep. Whatever they call themselves, gypsies generally weren't to be trusted. Still, sleeping by the fire was far better than being alone out in the woods in a place he didn't know. He sits back by the fire and tries to secure his pocketwatch and ring inside his vest where he would feel it if someone tried to take them. He slips his hat off, placing it beside him. The blanket was rough and itchy, not at all like the clean linens he was used to. Just imagine you're back in Egypt. It was no picnic there either. It takes a while, but soon Jossem is asleep, having succumb to the rigors of the day.
Jossem takes the blanket from the young woman, giving her a charming smile. "Thank you, miss. We're happy to share your fire for at least a night." He wanders over to where Roland is talking with the musket guard. "Roland, we may not even be in England anymore. Don't ask me how. these people don't seem to recognize any of the names we use, and I don't recognize this city they name. Perhaps we're elsewhere in Europe or...there was something unnatural about those mists."
Jossem looks around indignant. "What, we can't sleep in the wagon?" He looks down at Richard curling up on the ground. "Not even a proper bedroll." He sighs and sits on the ground, leaning against one of the logs. He hunches down and tries to sleep
Jossem sat quietly as the others tried to pay Madam Eva. That's not what she wants. They value money differently. He smiles a bit when she refuses. He is surprised when the Chinaman speaks up. Herbs and the skill to use them could certainly be a fair enough bargain, but only if they had no such healer among them. Still a trade of herbs might do it. Joss fingered his family signet ring. If the Chinaman's offer doesn't work, this certainly will. Still, the man stayed silent for the time being.
"Sounds good to me. The less we're out in those mists the better." He glances toward the entrance to the wagon where the girl had left. "Yes, Madam Eva. Would you happen to have a place for us for the night? We'll be gone tomorrow morning." |
