In reply to Doctor Phillip Weston (msg # 442):

The Count seemed to loose colour as he replied to the Doctor:

"Sorry Doctor I would not involve any more of my friends in this endeavour. I will take to my grave the shame of what I inflicted on Mr Perkins and his family through the death of his brother."

He stopped for a minute and seemed to compose himself before speaking again:

"If we arrange transport for these things I believe they would go "missing" on the journey. It would seem this cult has entangled itself in every level of government and other sector and I would guess that the mosque has been infiltrated as well. By arranging for people to accompany the artefacts we give them our location as well as what they have lost."
This message was last edited by the player at 20:03, Wed 15 Jan 2014.

"I'm inclined to agree with the Count. I would prefer the artifacts destroyed than risk their being used against us, and transporting them will be treacherous. Yes, I was imagining they could help in locating Mr. Brady, but that hand-off would have to be very carefully managed. Meanwhile, I expect Mr. Carlyle is already quite dead, and scrying the interior of a shallow grave will do no one any favors.

Given the nature of these artifacts, I'm hesitant to put them to use at all. Even less-so now that we consider the additional risks."

In reply to John-Marc Falcon (msg # 439):

Molly looked up at John-Marc and smiled before lowering her eyes.  She liked his hand over hers so left it there as she gazed out over the river. "Magnificent." Molly commented in a soft voice.  "It looks so serene right now I can see how one would like to travel on the river at night."  Molly allowed herself to lean in a little towards John-Marc and rest against him as she looked out at the sites.  He had mentioned that "real treasures" were further up the river but she though that this moment in time was a 'real treasure'.  She just smiled and was quiet as she looked out.

In reply to Count Sigismund Bathony (msg # 443):

"Why, my good Count, I believe you already mentioned you believe these items would go missing in transit. I would never argue that it would be easy.

"In medicine we consider all tools and courses available to us, especially when matters are serious. It sounds like these artefacts could be of help but with little known repercussion. There could be unknowns, as always, but it seems we tie one hand behind our backs. It seems this has already cost us much. If we had used the mirror to watch Gavigan, perhaps kill or incapacitate him from afar, the outcome of our investigations in London may have ended differently."

He lit a cigar and drew on it, thoughtfully.

In reply to Doctor Phillip Weston (msg # 446):

"If God had intended for these items to come into your hands, then it would be fitting to use them to the utmost.

"As for transit, my good friend the Imam was quite emphatic. He and his parishioners were willing to risk their lives to assist us and fight the enemies of God. If you can get the items to them, I will take care of the rest."

In reply to Alexander Hussein Mahfouz (msg # 447):

"If it is a group decision to release the items and hope they arrive, then I consent and will wire the law firm to discharge them into the care of the Imam."

JM curled his hand a bit more around Molly's as they stood together so that he was more holding her hand than not.  "The river is more beautiful and mysterious in the dark.  You still have the lights of the cities but things become less distinct and more romantic like this."  As he felt her lean in toward him he shifted a bit to bring her more in against his chest.  "Here the river is broad and slow but further up at the cataracts the river foams and rushes through narrow valleys and over rocks and boulders.  Yet it is life, even a god to the people who depend on it for their survival."

"Well it seems we're at an impasse. Two vote on the side of caution, two for going forward. Where did Molly and Mr. Falcon get off to? Someone should call them down to cast the tie-breakers."

As the sun began to sink in the west behind the buildings of Alexandria, the Fatima turned in to the wide mouth of the ancient Nile river. Boat traffic was still very heavy, mainly sail and oar-powered craft, plus barges, many of which were made of reeds. The smell of smoke stayed with them as the breeze remained at their backs, as was usual this time of year.

"I think they are admiring the view.

"Speaking of the view, we should be finished our trip soon, by sundown at the latest."

In reply to John-Marc Falcon (msg # 449):

One of the crew came on deck to where the couple were admiring the scenery.

"A thousand pardons, effendi. Your gracious friends ask you join them in the lounge."

In reply to The Keeper (msg # 453):

Molly smiled up at John-Marc.  "It's nice to know that we were missed.  I guess we should go and join the others now.  Thank you for this moment of tranquility John-Marc."

JM glanced up as the servant approached.  He frowned for a moment and then nodded in agreement.  "Yes, it seems duty calls Molly." He squeezed her hand.  "I enjoyed the moment with you and hope to have more." He raised the glass; "To more time to get to know one another."

Dashing his drink back JM reluctantly released Molly's hand and with a little bow ushered her back down into the lounge area.  "After you Molly."

In reply to John-Marc Falcon (msg # 455):

Molly nodded her head at John-Marc, secretly smiling at his frown of being interrupted.  She walked with John-Marc and rejoined the others.

"Hello everybody.  Sorry to disappear but the fresher air up front as well as the view was too much to resist.  What have we missed?"

Molly took a seat and finished off her drink while waiting for the others to answer.

JM nodded to the others and headed to the bar as Molly sat down.  Looking at the serious expressions of the others he figured that they had been planning while he and Molly were spending time together.  "What news do you have?  We should be nearing Alexander's island if I have my bearings correctly."

He poured two more drinks and brought them back to the couch.  Handing one to Molly he sat down next to her and looked from one to another in the lounge.  "The peaceful time is about over I would think.  Once more into the breach it seems."

In reply to John-Marc Falcon (msg # 457):

"Thank you for joining us. We were discussing the artefacts we recovered from the cultists in England and America. The tomes and scrolls that seem promising we have brought with us. But there are the two statues, the painting, the mirror, several jars, the two sceptres and ankhs that we have left in safekeeping in London.

He poured himself a brandy and lit a cigar. When it was drawing nicely, he resumed.

"Miss Holloway has spend several days studying these tomes, and she believes that at least the mirror, the contents of the jars, and the statue of the man-bat all have some kind of sacred or even supernatural power.

"The mirror, for one, allows one to "scry" or see at a distance if one substance is used, much like the crystal ball or tarot cards of the psychic mediums or other charlatans. If the second substance is used then a person viewed in the mirror may be attacked, even killed. This could explain how Gavigan knew to raid our rooms at the Park hotel in London while we were away. The third powder can be used to reveal that which is hidden. The statuette is some kind of repository or battery of magical energy.

"Now, I suspect these powers are not the raving of a madman but are factual, otherwise why would the cult seek to steal them? The question is what to do with these items, and the others. If they remain in London the cultists may try again, and it might be better to destroy them.

"I suggest a vote, should we try to transport some or all of these items here or allow them to remain in London for safe-keeping? I abstain, as I am of two minds on the matter."

In reply to Doctor Phillip Weston (msg # 458):

"I abstain as well. It is not for me to say how these items are used. I did not suffer any to gain their possession, after all.

"Reading the scrolls in Arabic, I can tell that two contain rituals. Magic spells, if you will. I believe I can learn them, perhaps I may pass them along to those who are interested in learning them for themselves. One spell purports to send dreams, the other to summon those beings who walk beyond the walls of our dimension.

"Nothing is guaranteed. Before I left, Imam Muhammad Al-Nasir was emphatic that he and his parishioners would risk their lives to assist us. The brothers Faruk and Haji Basara were officers Egyptian Cavalry Corps in the War. I knew of them even if I did not serve directly with them, and they have sterling reputations for bravery. Nothing is guaranteed but I think they have a good chance of making it here with at least some of the items."

JM considers as he sips his gin.  The sudden return to the threat and horror of their mission served wonderfully to sober him up and calm his more amorous urges.  He glanced regretfully at Molly for a moment and then back to Doctor Weston.  "I'd as soon destroy it all but it seems that we might use some of it without too badly corrupting ourselves.  The mirror, the powders certainly would be useful to have.  As for the statue, do you have an idea how it stores this power and of what use it might be?"

He shook his head.  "Those two men are stout fellows.  I would trust them more than any other to bring the materials here safely.  I say we bring the mirror, the statue and the powders here for our own use."

"And Molly? Do we retrieve them? And do we aim to get them here, in Egypt, or to a safer third location? I have a suspicion we'll be going to Hong Kong next, so taking them to some intermediary point, perhaps Turkey, may be worthwhile."

Molly held her drink that John Marc had refilled for her but didn't take a sip.  She just stared into the liquor and watched it slowly swirl around as she tipped the glass.  Finally she look up as Cynthia mentioned her name.

"Oh how I would love to be able to say we are done with this whole business but alas, I cannot.  We are at an impasse. We can't leave the items where just anybody can get to them.  Yet if we use them too much ourselves we risk turning into the monsters that we are fighting.  The family would disown me if they ever heard my next thought.  It is...it is almost as if I want to say that one should stop reading because of the danger to your mind."

Molly threw back her drink and clanked the glass down on the table as she let the liquor go down her throat and as she clenched her muscles to keep a shudder from wracking through her body she finally smiled and pretended once again that Mungo was in charge.

"Well!  With all that being said we, of course, just have to retrieve some of the things don't we.  I mean, I can't let it be known that reading is dangerous.  Why that would set the human development timeline back to the stone age!  So let's see.  The mirror definitely and the powders but I do think we need to be extra careful with them.  I used to scoff at things like Magic spells and being able to spy on people through mirrors, although that would have explained how Uncle found out about....oh...umm..never mind that.  Different time and different place.  The thing with magic is that it is...well magic.  Do any of us really know how to wield it?  I would hate for us to activate something just because a scroll said so only to discover that the scroll didn't give us all the information.  Sort of like reading about taking a swim in the lake only to discover that the article didn't mention there were piranha's in the water.  I'm afraid that in this venture we are almost at a sink or swim phase and I would like to swim instead of sinking if you don't mind.

I don't think that we should carry them with us.  I like your idea, Cynthia, of a third destination.  Although if we had non magical duplicates made, we could carry those.  I'm sure we're being followed enough that people will know if we carry something like that and it might give our friends time to get to turkey unmolested."

"Then it's decided. We'll contact the Imam and ask that he discreetly gets his friends to escort them to a safe third location. They have military service, likely they have somewhere they feel they know. The mirrors, the statues, and the scepters; the things we can likely use. But prepare them to be destroyed at the slightest hint of threat."

In reply to Cynthia Jane Holloway (msg # 463):

"It shall be done. I shall send a letter, in code. It will contain instructions on where we should like them to take the items, and on making some decoys. The question in, where would we like them to take them? Beirut? Istanbul?

"Looking at a map, both Crete and Cyprus are within range of the Commercial.

"Or Kenya? That's where the Carlyle expedition seems to have met its end, and that is where your friend Jackson found something or someone that convinced him there was more to the story than met the eye."

"Well then I will wire the firm and have them release the objects into the care of the Imam. The second statue should we dispose of it ?"

"We should have the objects sent to us in Cairo, in that way we can take possession in the shortest amount of time. Also it is the couriers home country."

"I am more concerned about them moving safely than about convenience to us. Kenya would be perfect for us, but will they be able to operate there?"

In reply to Cynthia Jane Holloway (msg # 466):

"There are some Indians and Arabs. But if they were to deliver the items there, it would take longer than if they were to deliver it here. And they would need to transit the Suez Canal, passing through Egypt, just the same."