For the next five days and nights in the City of Light, the sights they saw, and their hard-earned money they did spend!

Those doing research found that their time wasn't wasted, when it came to their own materials. But they found the most arcane works were unavailable. Perkins was able to locate more stock for the shop without much trouble. Karlheinz took in some shows and reviews as his meagre budget allowed.

Those five days, they flew by! But now it's time for us to fly. We could spend one more day ... no, no we have the wellbeing of the universe to consider. We can visit Paris again on the way back.

JM considered the aircraft as he stood in the rented hangar waiting for the others to arrive in a couple of hours.  A strong pot of coffee was brewing as he and KH prepared the craft.  "That wasn't a bad visit although I do hope we won't rue the times spent.  Let's double check the fuel and oil as well as the belts before the others get here."

Alexander arrives by cab, rested and raring to go. His wallet is far lighter than when he arrived, thanks to his companion's adroit spending of his money on presents for his wife and children.

"John-Marc! We are ready to depart?"

He indicates the many parcels, hat boxes and dress bags appearing from the taxi's interior.

"I'm afraid our weight will be that bit heavier...."

Molly gave Alexander a "don't exaggerate" look but smiled while doing so.  "Heavier?  Why would you say that?  Oh yes, I know.  It's because we all put on weight from the excellent food we've recently had.  It was so delicious wasn't it."

She patted Alexander's arm in sympathy to his plight.  "We told you that you needed more than one present for your wife.  You've been gone long enough you had to make up for it.  It will be worth the effort."

She then watched the last of her own packages being loaded into the plane and smiled.  All was well, for the moment, with the day.

Karl spread out the aeronautical maps on the lower wing of the Brisfit.

"I bought some supplies like a pair of chessboards, and chalkboards for communicating between planes.

"OK. We have almost a thousand miles range. We can make Marseilles-Toulon if we fly due south, then turn southwest and overfly Corsica on our way to Rome. We fly down the coast of Italy, we have enough fuel to make Naples."

The Count helped unload their luggage from the taxi and made sure it was loaded on to the plane. He was eager to depart their research had been rather fruitless, but not a total loss with the materials they already possessed starting to look clearer.

Mr Perkins had been much more successful with a large number of tea chests returning to London. Nothing unique or overly rare, but some fine pieces nevertheless.

"Chalkboards, very good idea Karlheinz.  We even used signal flags and lights when needed."  He smiled;  "You'll have to spot me at least a pawn if you want to play chess however." 

JM examined the aerial charts with KH in great detail.  "I've not flown in the south of France or Italy much but this route seem very doable.  I'm a bit nervous about too long of a flight over water with the Brisfit as it has only the one engine. However the engine is sound and we have the second plane to signal rescuers if something goes wrong.  Let's be sure we have the frequencies of the coastal rescue stations in the event something goes wrong."

As the others approached he greeted them individually. "Welcome back, welcome back from the sophisticated luxuries of Paris.  I'd expect things to be less comfortable as we proceed." He motioned to the plane.  "Let Karlheinz and I help stow the luggage Alexander.  We've got to be very conscious of the center of gravity on the aircraft to avoid inducing control issues, especially as we burn off fuel."

In reply to John-Marc Falcon (msg # 150):

"Ya, I vas thinking of that. If zere is zee engine failure, we can perhaps tow zee smaller aircraft behind the larger one. Getting zee line attached mit safety while in flight can be difficult, but not impossible. One would haff to approach from above und use a line mit undt drogue parachute."

He helped John-Marc load the aircraft so that they were balanced correctly.

The day Mr Perkins had been dreading arrived. He was certainly not looking forward to the plane flight and this one was much longer.

He waited by the plane and went over his notes. His endeavourers to find stock for the shop had been very successful. Ms Sylvia Beach had after a wonderful lunch pointed him towards several obscure book shops around the left bank and had even supplied several from her own stock.

His most fruitful discovery had been a tiny shop across the square from Notre Dame cathedral. He would have missed it completely if he had not tripped on a cobble stone while admiring the structure. A small sign in French and Latin had been attached to  the entrance way to an alley. The shop it lead to was small and very cluttered, when Mr Perkins told the old man what he was after he scurried off and it sounded like he went up stairs.

He returned with several volumes their covers made of old velum and the pages yellow and cracked. The old man then grabbed his arm and dragged him upstairs he indicated several large trunks and kept pointing to the cathedral. They seemed to be part of a provincial church library and dealt nearly exclusively with demonology and witch craft. They were not overly rare, but there was still a market for them. The haggling was short and Mr Perkins though he may have started to high but the deal was done.

He entered the plane and found a seat and buckled himself in closing his eyes.
This message was last edited by the player at 02:31, Wed 18 Sept 2013.

JM nodded to Karlheinz. "A line and drogue?  That's an excellent idea.  Let's go ahead and rig that up now.  We'll need to mount the hook on the upper wing away from the propeller just in case.  If we get the engine restarted we don't want to foul the prop in the line." 

Once they were done he looked about at the passengers. "Is everyone ready for the next leg?  I have a picnic lunch, water, wine and beer for the trip."

In reply to John-Marc Falcon (msg # 153):

They mounted the ring on top of the Brisfit's upper wing, to keep it away from the propeller. As for the Vimy, it had a roof hatch in the rear fuselage, as well as a port side cargo door. A line with drogue chute attached fed through a downward-swinging arm from a hand-cranked reel was mounted on brackets inside the port cargo door. The portside passenger door being immediately in front of the propeller and the rear roof hatch too high to be of use or else in danger of fouling the tail plane.

This work was the simple matter of a half-hour, and most of that time was locating the components. Karlheinz spent the time procuring 2 large "night landing" parachute flares, one for each plane.

The flight could take upwards of 10-12 hours in total, wind depending. Although they could easily make pit stops along the way in Marseilles and Toulon, there was a long stretch over water to the northern tip of Corsica, then another over water stretch to Rome and then down the coast to Napoli (Naples).
This message was last edited by the GM at 07:24, Wed 18 Sept 2013.

In reply to The Keeper (msg # 154):

"I suppose I can accompany our Robert in the Brisfit. It would be an honour and a pleasure!"

He began pulling on cold-weather clothing in preparation.

Once the modifications were made, the passengers and crew boarded their respective planes. Karlheinz again assisted in starting the motors. The two machines were soon roaring into the sky.

In reply to The Keeper (msg # 156):

As they flew, Dr. Weston leaned forward so his mouth was near Bedford's ear.

"So that was a jolly good time! What did you get up to? I took in some shows, but I confess I made some inquiries of my colleagues at the Sorbonne and at the Charenton Lunatic Asylum! It seems a few days ago all bedlam broke loose, so to speak. All the patients were agitated for a three day period, some became catatonic! Do you recall having bad dreams beginning about the 1st of the month and continuing to the 3rd?"
This message was last updated by the GM at 07:36, Fri 20 Sept 2013.

Alexander reclined comfortably in his seat, not missing the smaller plane at all. Reaching into his suit pocket he removed a jewellery case, opened it, and admired the necklace within.

Expensive? Yes, but worth every Franc. Unbeknowest to his travelling companions it was to be his wedding anniversary not long after they arrived in Cairo.

Then looking out of the window he began to reminisce....

Bless the gentlemen, but Cynthia enjoyed the opportunity to drink and shop with more progressive company. Those in the party who cared for it were welcome to come along for shopping until after 8, then eating, drinking, and dancing. In fact, the music options of Paris were so overwhelming, Cynthia nearly ran out of time to see the stage show she had insisted as cause for staying in Paris in the first place! But a frantic taxi ride through the city and a nicely sum of money secured seats for herself, Molly, and their companions.

Now Cynthia had to face perhaps a greater challenge; hours and hours in a bumpy aeroplane, with her stomach already doing back flips. The hair of the dog, sal volatile, and aspirin were already working their magic, but hopefully they'd be sufficient to match the good Captain Falcon's flying. At least Cynthia could depend on being off her aching feet for a long while.

JM grinned at KH and worked diligently to prepare both aircraft.  He made a last check of everything and then let the Brisfit lead them off to the south and the sea.

Not having any recollection of strange dreams in the past week, Bedford couldn't give a response. Otherwise, it was a pleasant enough flight.

The two planes climbed over the snow-covered mountains of the Massif Central, then soared down the far side. They passed ancient villages and medieval farms connected by dirt roads, more modern towns connected by macadam strips. Wide swaths of desolate mountainside and valleys carpeted with green forest.

Hours later, they made Marseilles. There was a small underused airstrip. Most of the flights out of Marseilles were flying boats and seaplanes of different types, parked in the harbour. One massive plane, a massive Felixstowe Aeromarine 75, came in for a landing as they flew over, throwing up a wake as it touched down on water as it flashed past steamers tied up at the harbour wharfs and fishing boats bobbing in the bay.

They landed without incident, everyone climbed out to stretch their legs.

Dr. Weston awoke from his doze, and after they landed climbed out of the Brisfit's rear cockpit.

Yawning and stretching, he wandered over to the other plane.

"I must go find a loo, forthwith! Everyone else will be doing the same, I expect.

"But I have a thought... I visited an old colleague of mine, he's a doctor at the Charenton Lunatic Asylum. He related that the patients there suffered amazing and terrifying nightmares on the night of the 1st of April.. They got worse for the next 2 nights, in that time three inmates became catatonic, one killed herself on the 3rd. Then the dreams completely vanished by the 4th. I had no unpleasantries whilst asleep this week, but I was wondering if any of you experienced something similar?"

In reply to Doctor Phillip Weston (msg # 162):

The young German stretched and yawned in response, then shook his head.

"Nein, I was not haffing any such dreams zee nights in question.

"Say, did you see that large seaplane? Such a beauty! I miss flying them, as I learned in zee Imperial Navy."

"The ones who were catatonic - did they awaken?"

If no one else is doing anything more interesting, Cynthia will head out and get some tea for her head and stomach. A bouncing airplane certainly didn't help her atttitude much, and while the Riviera is perfect, she has little patience for anything more than a nap on the beach.

In reply to Doctor Phillip Weston (msg # 162):

Molly was looking out the window when Dr. Weston asked his questions.  She nodded her head and in an almost timid voice answered him.

"Mine started on April 1st.  I almost had convinced myself it was just an April Fool's joke...or hoped it was.  Perhaps it was because of what happened at al Misr House or just something I ate, as Mr. Scrooge would say.  It only lasted three nights but by the third night..."

Molly shuddered at the memory and swallowed hard before turning troubled eyes to the group.  "I would tell you more but I have no wish to change my residence to a "lunatic" asylum.  It was...it was very realistic."

Molly took a deep breath and finished what was left in her drink in one shot.  She held up her empty glass and looked at whomever held the bottle a clear indication she wanted a refill.  She then looked over at Doctor Weston with an arched eyebrow.  "Don't take too long in the facilities Doctor.  At this rate I'll be the next in line and if you're like other males, a little airing out time might be nice."  She grinned and winked at the Doctor, trying to pull off her usual care free attitude although those who had traveled with her before knew that she was still a little shaken up from recalling the nightmares.

Mr Perkins addressed the group once Molly had finished;

"It is the damndest thing, but I too have been suffering from the nightmares you describe. I just assumed it was something to do with the war brought on with my Brothers death, but they are as you said so not he normal nightmares."

He felt he was not being clear so trailed off. He joined the Doctor in his search for a lavatory.

JM watches with admiration as the flying boat lands and taxis up to the ramp.  "Now that is a fine craft Karlheinz.  They are excellent passenger craft but given we're headed to the desert they are of little use.  Someday I would like to learn to fly one though, perhaps if we expand."

As the others disembarked he called out. "Don't wander far ladies and gentlemen.  We'll fuel up, check the engines and aircraft and then head out.  If someone wants to gather up a picnic basket or two for the next leg of the flight that would be welcome so that Karlheinz and I can focus on the craft."