New York to London - 05

[TheUdjat]

Rebecca, Thurman, Grey-

After getting settled and heading out to dinner with Col. Grey, the dreaded topic is eventually broached—why the sudden contact from Thurman? But to Grey’s surprise, Thurman and Rebecca both seem insistent on secrecy and privacy for the matter, and so it is tabled for the time being, until the pleasant meal can be finished.

[You may skip ahead to the Important Talk if you like, as Vemu suggested, or continue to get acquainted.]

---

Sam, Tommy-

Tommy keeps busy during the trip, doing some work around the ship to try and pay off part of his passage. In the end he’s able to work off most of it, and even seems to make friendly contact with some of the other hands on board. In the off-time, he looks over the ledger and his other clues, trying to find anything he might have missed.

And he does.

Overlooked during his first examination, the ledger does have one singular entry related to China, that seems to have been routed through Mombasa, like the other shipments to Ju-Ju House. It is listed as ‘Ho Fong Imports, c/o Ahja Singh.’

It seems there is another connection, after all.

In asking about the captain about Emerson Imports, he shrugs a little. “Sure, we’ve carried stuff for them before. They’re pretty reputable. Why?”



List of clues

[Japic]

{Post meal is more than fine.}

Once they were safely away to a private location, Thurman will wee if he can get a drink. The States were experiencing prohabition, but there should be plenty opf stiff drinks to be found in London.

"Here's the deal James. We're tied up in a bigger mystery than any I've ever seen. You know all about what I do; Miss Deveroux here is someone I met in the states while being contracted to do a private investigation. Seems that someone needed some bright and inquisitive minds, and the scholarly lady found herself among the invited."

Taking a drink, he continues in his confidence, "Since it's easier, I'm gong to hit you with the big news first, then work back to the lesser items. Our would be employer was murdered nearly before our eyes; and now we're tied up with a nasty cult and trying to figure out this mess before we get killed too."

Realizing that he'd just said a mouthful and the words were not to be taken lightly he lets them sink in a moment. "We were hired to investigate the disappearance of Penhew, you know the guy. Him and that whole expedition. There's more going on than we can know, and we need your help because this trail is leading us into Africa. I can fill you in on the details, but I need to know if you're still willing to help. Please James, I need your help."

[VemuKhaham]

James listens to Thurman, and when the words hit him in the face his eyes repeatedly widen briefly, but he keeps his usual face in check, his lips pursed underneath his moustache. When Thurman literally begs for his help, Gray sits back in his chair for a while, silent.

"Penhew... that is more than, what? Five years ago?" James shakes his head, but it is more out of disbelief than his unwillingness to help. He then leans back in over the table, regains his confidence and says: "Africa, you say? It's a big continent, but I guess you mean those parts where the expedition went. But, weren't the murders solved already? There was a trial, and some Nandi tribesmen were convicted. Dr. Osgood, do you presume that their execution was a mistake?"

Colonel Gray poured another small glass of cognac down his throat. He was quite shocked at what he heard, but he kept his immediate worries for his friends live's as they expressed them in check. Regardless, his further questioning could clearly be seen as a sign of interest, and possible acceptance to help, if he can.

[Japic]

James' first reaction seemed to be that of disbelief, and his words an obvious attempt to debunk Thurman's unlikely story.

"I know it sounds crazy, and that's precisely the problem. It sounds too outlandish to be true. But there have been eye witnesses that have seen 'dead' members of the expedition alive and well. His inquisitiveness is what got our employer killed; and now we're hot on the trail of his research, and in too deep to walk away. Since that first night two of the hired investigators have been killed or taken for unknown, and probably unholy, purposes. Besides Rebecca and I there are two more bound here by cargo ship next week. We're here to do some preliminary research. That includes enlisting your help if possible."

"We need a guide into Kenya, someone that knows what they're doing. We'll obviously be outsiders there and can ill afford to walk in unprepared. Will you help us?"

{If the answer is yes, Thurman will relay all that he knows of their clues (see the list) and go from there.}

[VemuKhaham]

Gray had heard and seen many strange things indeed, and he had looked dead in the eyes before. Still, he found it hard to believe the things Thurman was telling him. But Thurman was a serious man, and not one to simply buy any folklore tale, so much did the colonel know. Neither did it seem like the pair went all the way to London to tell him fairytales.

"If what you say is true," Gray began very slowly, as he scrutinized one more time every word Thurman had said, "then..." he hesitated... Suddenly, Gray slipped out of his usual calmness and looked them both straight in their eyes: "By God, what have you gotten yourselves into?" His voice was clearly worried. He then stood up from his chair. "Cultists, murders, and now you want me to lead you into Kenya? To retrace the steps of Penhew's expedition?"

Colonel Gray walked about the room, and could be seen shaking his head in doubt. He stared out of a window for a while. He was thinking about anything he remembered from the expedition five years ago, or whether he knew anything about any of the things Thurman mentioned. "Dr. Osgood," he finally stated, "it seems like you wish to enlist me on a more dangerous mission than any I have yet undertaken, and I have a wife and child to worry about." The colonel again turned to face miss Devereux and dr. Thurman. "I need time to consider what I have heard. Tomorrow the congress will begin, and I will see many people who might help. Of course, your secrets are safe with me, but I will ask around if any convenient options to travel through Kenya present themselves. Otherwise, we will need to set up our own expedition."

"Please, Thurman, understand that I must take my time to consider this. You are a friend of mine and I would help you, as I am not afraid myself, but I have a family. You will hear my decision as soon as possible, alright?"

With that, Colonel Gray prepared to leave. He was tired and needed to think. Taking his coat, he went to his car and drove home. As he sat in his car, he already began to formulate clear thoughts in his mind: his usual desire for adventure, the opportunity to help a friend in need, and of course an investigation that was very interesting, if Thurman's words were true. His dilemma almost no longer was whether he should go, but how he could go without neglecting his responsibilities to his family any more than necessary.

[Unless either Rebecca or Thurman wishes to say something before then. The next few days, as said, Gray will attend a congress of the Royal Geographical Society, and will ask around if in the near future, any opportunities may present themselves for easy travel; any expeditions being undertaken, any people able to help him, and indeed he will think about what he already knows of the matter, read into the old newspapers and any other sources he may find about the matter. He wishes to retrace Penhew's expedition and the exact path they traveled. He won't speak to anyone of any secrets that have been entrusted to him.]

[Yakumo]

"I was asked by the officer to make note of whether this freighter ever carried goods from Emerson Imports, I guess they had a break in a few days ago. Nothing you need to worry about I imagine." Tommy thinks for a moment, "What about Ho Fong Imports? Or the Ju-Ju house, know anything about them? Sorry to badger you like this, just the cops' questions, Seems like they were just taking a survey of the importers rather than a full scale canvassing, I guess they don't expect anything from it."

Tommy makes his discovery known to Sam, but otherwise doesn't do much for the rest of the trip.

[Japic]

Thurman will give James all the time he needs; or at least until the rest of their group arrives.

He will spend the next few days either showing Rebecca around town (if she'd prefer) or reading books if they want to stay low profile and quiet like. He doesn't want to follow up on any leads until the team arrives in force and can make informed decisions. Certainly he doesn't want to stir up trouble when his backup is days away.

{I'd almost rather continue to read these books, to get the rest of the information and see if there was some small clue or tie in that might help the investigation.}

[Aegea]

Rebecca agrees that laying low until the rest of the group arrives is a good idea. She spends the time reading the books, hoping that some small clue or bit of information could shed some light on their investigation. Although sometimes she feels as if she's forcing herself to read them, as they give her an inexplicable, uneasy feeling.