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"Alas, the empty mummery of your spiritless British sect will will avail you naught against the children of Adam's First Wife. They heed only the enigmatic power of the Shem ha Mephorash, which, or so the ancient sages of Babylonia inform us, once hovered above the primeval chaos in the form of a dove." Tolly bristles then quickly suppresses his urges for violence. "I don't expect a savage to understand that Jesus is the Almighty Lord incarnate, but I'll pray for your soul." He heads off in the direction of the ruins
The fact that this man, who pretends to be someone he is not and is trying to convince them not to investigate the ruins tonight, tells Tolly Something important. The ruins are exactly where they should be going to investigate. Tolly shakes his head and says, "Being a baptized Englishman, I can rebuke any demon in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. As far as more conventional threats. I trust the war tested Captain of Her Majesty's Expeditionary Force will prevail .
Tolly greets Angus with a hearty handshake in return. "The sounds may be a ruse for our benefit." He releases the captain's hand. He turns to look at Gedeyon while still speaking to Angus. "Things may not be as they appear."
Tolly watches the conversation between Elphinstone and Gedeyon with interest that then turns to amusement. "Please pardon my interruption, but are ghosts and goblins the only viable solution to a flash of light seen at the ruins?' He pauses for the other to reflect on the ridiculousness of the situation. "Maybe the light is from a flashlight from fortune hunters plundering the site." Tolly turns to Angus. Captain, are you sure the investigation can wait until morning. There's no telling what irreplaceable artifacts might go missing in the mean time."
None of this night made sense to Devlin. Something spooked the men, but no sign of what. If he weren't a man of science, he would have thought something supernatural was occurring. The only thing that was certain to Tolly, was that Mr. Gedeyon gave him the creeps. He examines him closely.
"Thank you for you gracious invitation. I know a smattering, I should be able to muddle through."
Devlin squints into the darkness behind her, then looks back at her. "Hmmmm." He says with a nod. "I sincerely doubt he needs me slowing his efforts." He locks eyes with the tall woman. "I certainly hope Herr Hauser is safe."
Tolly holsters his weapon, and moves out of the shadows. "A perplexed Englishman, Fraulein." Moving closer, he smiles. "Begging your pardon, did you happen to see something that might frighten workers pass this way?"
Devlin's torch illuminates a small area around him, but he still can barely see in the pitch blackness. Devlin continues to squint for the moment. His mind races that the predator will probably be scared away by his torch. He switches it off. and clips it to his belt. He pulls his weapon free from its leather holster. Tolly sneaks off using the cover of night towards the direction from which the natives ran.
Devlin stops short at the sight. His blood runs cold as adrenaline pumps up his 'fight or flight' response. His eyes scan the dark horizon from which the workers are fleeing. Squinting his eyes to better focus on the inky blackness, his hands frantically search his satchel for his torch.. Devlin uses the light to scan the area.
Tully's tent was simple white canvas. He was checking his transmitter housed in a leather suitcase for any damage during the move. A relay had been set up in Larkana situated 17 miles away. After insuring the device was ok, he closes the case and slides it under his cot. Out of a leather valise, he removes a portable camera and slips it into his breast pocket. Screams in Sindhi alert Devlin and arouse him from his tent. The whole expedition rush from their tents into the cool dry air of night. Looking around, Tully can see one of the native running in screaming about 'Monsters'. Under the confusion and cacophony, Devlin jumps on the opportunity. He would never get a better chance to search Herr Hauser's tent. Slipping away he sneaks towards their tent.
Tolly's black leather shoes scuff lightly across the massive embroidered wool rug that ran the length of a very long hallway. The oak paneling was stained cherry, and brass lighting fixtures with portraits spoke of a long English history. MI6 had appropriated the mansion from The Crown over two decades ago. It now housed operations for the London Branch, and Tolly was summoned to see the new Director of Operations. He could smell the old wood along with the faint remnants of cigar smoke from the previous Director. He arrives at the office door and opens without knocking. Katey, who had been an executive secretary longer than Tolley had been alive, was working diligently. The grey haired women glances up from her typewriter without stopping and motions with her head. "He's waiting for you. Go in." The interior office was large. The vaulted ceiling had 17th century frescoes decorating the ceiling. Gold leaf covered flourishes appeared as a growing weeds among the scenes of biblical destruction. Twenty foot bookcases filled with leather tomes flanked both sides of him as he walked towards the desk. Stopping, Tolley snaps to attention. The man behind the desk holds an open folder that he does not glance up from. "I've just been reading your file." He looks up and immediately his face twists into annoyance. "Oh, Do sit down Devlin. Don't force me to crane my neck at you." "Thank you sir." Tolly replies as he takes a seat in the stately leather chair. "So you were a cryptologist...ciphers based on Sanskrit? And later you were embedded with both Tesla and Edison?" "Yes sir, in succession. Your predecessor had a predilection for cutting edge science and engineering." Tully answered. "I dare say, you're right." The Director pauses for a moment. "Who was more clever?" "Who sir?" "Between Edison and Tesla, man" "Oh" Tully sits back and thinks of the best tactful reply. "Tesla Sir. Edison was a complete tosser. The Director takes the evaluation in stride. "Well the reason I called you in." He closes and sets Tolly's file down on the desk while leaning back in his chair. "That bloody idiot Neville is in negotiations with that madman Hitler. Meanwhile, we are getting reports of a massive military build up. That is bad enough, but we also hear that he is sending out his secret police, the SS, to Tibet and India for some ancient technologies. It sounds daft, I know. But they take it seriously, and so shall we. I've booked you passage with an archaeological expedition that is making it's way to Mohenjo-daro. We have reason to believe that the Gerrys have planted an SS spy on the dig. Your job is to find out who it is and what they are looking for."
Here's the expert build. I think he's pretty nifty |