In reply to John-Marc Falcon (msg # 167):

Karlheinz laughed.

"Ya, true. Lots of sand in Egypt. But everyzing worth zeeing is along the zere is zee River Nile, ya? Everyzing worth zeeing ist along zere."
This message was last updated by the GM at 02:18, Wed 25 Sept 2013.

The Count watched as Mr Perkins walked off with Dr Weston;

"I too have suffered from the same nightmares. This cannot be a coincidence it must be to do with the cult."

He stayed close to the plane, finding a patch of shade until it was time to leave.

In response to the question on the dreams, JM frowned; "I had some upsetting dreams around that time but don't remember much of them.  When they occurred I put them down to recurring nightmares about the War."


JM nodded in agreement with his friend.  "That's true.  You could operate a flying boat or at least a smaller one along the river most of the length.  I wanted the flexibility of flying into Palestine and the Levant as well as further up river to Sudan and Ethiopia."
This message was last edited by the player at 21:34, Tue 24 Sept 2013.

Sitting down next to the Count, Alexander offers him his cigarette case and asks

"What are these dreams that everyone is talking about?"

In reply to Alexander Hussein Mahfouz (msg # 171):

The Count politely declines the offer of a cigarette and says;

"It would seem that on or about the first of April we seemed to have all shared the same dream an odd thing of mud, ooze and stone. I think it may have something to do with the cult."

In reply to Count Sigismund Bathony (msg # 172):

Grateful for a chance to smoke a pipe, Dr. Weston filled and lit a bowl of tobacco.

"Hmm. Indeed. It seems our friend from Egypt did not have any notable dreams. But neither did I or Karlhienz. Others had it to some extent. The lunatics in Paris did as well.

"You know, in the excitement of leaving Paris I forgot to mention that I met the American author, Ernst Hemmingway, in the Ritz hotel's Small Bar, last night. Over a nightcap, he also mentioned having unpleasant dreams a few days ago. I wonder how it's all related. Perhaps, yes, there was some kind of perturbation of the collective subconscious? I shall have to think on it some more."

"What? You think that they can influence your very dreams?" replies Alexander incredulously.



"Hemmingway? I have never heard of him, is he involved in this too?"

In reply to Alexander Hussein Mahfouz (msg # 174):

Dr. Weston fished in his carry-bag and pulled out a book, titled In Our Time.

"Ah! This Ernest chap gave me a copy of the Paris edition of his second (or third, depending on how you counted it) book. Short stories so far, I think. He's planning on starting his first book soon, a non-fiction work about bullfighting. Fell in love with the sport, he has been to Pamplona in Spain a couple times and is planning on taking his wife there again in June for more research on the topic.

"Handsome fellow, very manly, worked as a reporter and is a veteran of the war. I somehow believe he's a sensitive soul as well, perhaps these qualities made him more receptive in some unknown sense to whatever disturbed some of us in London and others in Paris?

"Whichever, such a mass phenomenon bears further study. It would upset the science of psychotherapy as we know it!"

He looked down at the book in his hand. "Well, the fellow signed it. Once I finish it, would anyone like to have it? I don't imagine it would fit into my library at home."

"Firstly, I wasn't aware that the insane were now called 'sensitive'. All of the insane people I've met weren't even aware of the country they were in, and seemed quite insensitive to the nature of their environment.

"Secondly, I wasn't aware journalists were lumped in with them." She winks at Molly.

"I think perhaps that, after staring at portraits of rocky and wet mountains, and speaking and dealing with such beastly people every day, it's no wonder we had the same troubling dreams. Anything further is superstitious flip-flop."

Dr. Weston laughed, delighted.

"I think that's something of a logical fallacy, my dear! Many of the lunatics had bad dreams, but not everyone who had bad dreams is a lunatic. (Although for journalists, who can say?) For example, the Count and Mr. Perkins had much the same dreams that you did.

"Some say the insane have insights the sane do not, although my area of expertise was the criminally insane and not neurotic artists, so my patients were as a rule beastly and not given to dreams or creativity of any kind. Facts are facts, miss. Very rarely, they align with what we think of as superstition and the supernatural, although most of the time they do not. I shall ask my colleagues further abroad. Perhaps when we get to Napoli this evening?"

Molly looked over at the Doctor.  "I would like the book when you are finished doctor.  I'm sure that there is room in my library for another one.  I do not think it is surprising if the cult is behind it somehow.  If they use drugs the smoke from certain drugs, if what some of my sources tell me, can cause dreams and illusions.  What is interesting to me is that we all seemed to have the same one.  I do not mind talking about it as much since others have seen it also.  At least if they deem me crazy I'm in the most delightful company.  I believe that is what separates us from those in any institution.  They do not share the nightmare.  We do.  Why were we chosen?  Was it by accident?  Was it done on purpose?"

Molly chuckled and held out her hands in a apologetic manner.  "Forgive my barrage of questions.  Sometimes I can't help it.  My uncle would say it is an "occupational hazard"."

The Count scratched his chin before he replied;

"If the cult were able to pull dragons into reality, a little dream would be an easy task to enter. Could it be by our association with the cult we have a tangible link to what ever they were worshipping. It does not explain the asylum though..."

The Count trailed off as he seem to be thinking about something.
This message was last edited by the player at 07:37, Thu 26 Sept 2013.

JM listened to the conversation, the mention of Hemmingway catching his attention as he had heard of the up and coming author.  When the Count spoke up JM nodded.  "I would say that the cult definitely has power and reaching into our dreams would be the least of what they could do.  Something terrible must have happened to spread so widely.  The only good thing is that it is spread so widely is that it was not directed at us."

He moved next to Molly.  "After you are done I would like to read the book. I promise to return it to you when I'm done."

Alexander tries to hide his concern at this uncomfortable news of cult made dreams, then smiling he asks of Jean-Marc

"So how is the plane? Will we be here for long?"

In reply to John-Marc Falcon (msg # 180):

Molly looked up at John-Marc and nodded.  "Of course you can read it.  If you wish to read it before me then go ahead.  My schedule doesn't always allow me huge blocks of reading time."

She was glad that John-Marc asked about the book.  It was a good diversion and while part of her would like to figure out how everybody could have the same dreams at the same time, it was also very disconcerting.  A drink.  Yes that's it.  She needed another drink.

Molly looked at her empty glass and then up at John-Marc again.  "Did I hear you offer to do refills?"  She hadn't of course but she also knew that being the type of man that he was, she doubted that John-Marc would leave her with an empty glass for long.

"A tangible link to them? I do rather think not. I'll share no part of their works or their spirit. Targeted, perhaps, with chemicals and paintings, but I refuse to accept that they're anything but dead."

In reply to Cynthia Jane Holloway (msg # 183):

"I have a feeling these were not the only chaps that were part of the cult. If there's one place I can think of that worships the Dark Pharaoh, it will be Egypt! In "Life as a God", the mad Englishman wrote of participating in forbidden rites there, before returning to England. I shan't be surprised to find more of their foul brethren waiting for us."

He nodded to Molly as he handed over the slender book written by Hemingway. "Here you go, my dear. I am finished it already. Take it in good reading."

In reply to Doctor Phillip Weston (msg # 184):

Molly took the book and nodded her head at Dr. Weston.  "Thank you sir.  I shall indeed read it.  Perhaps only during daylight hours since reading at night, lately, hasn't been as enjoyable as it used to be."

JM smiled in response to Molly's offer.  "Thank you miss Mungo, I appreciate your generosity.  I would not dare interrupt your enjoyment of the book.  When you are done I would gladly read it and perhaps compare notes with you."  Seeing her glance at her empty glass JM hastened to bring out a battered silver flask.  He poured a full two fingers of an amber liquid in her glass. "Forgive me for leaving you dry miss Mungo.  I'm failing at my gallantry it seems.  But the whiskey is quite good.  I have water unless you would prefer it neat."

He listened to her talk with Dr. Weston.  "If you desire someone to sit up and talk with I would be happy to help miss Mungo.  Perhaps we might talk books?"

To Alexander he nods. "The aircraft are ready to depart as soon as everyone is aboard.  The sooner we leave for Egypt the better in my mind."

Karlhienz squinted up at the sky, then looked at the wind sock.

"It is goot that we have refuelled, ya? Ve haff zee range to make it over zee water, but I think it could be more a matter of how much light we haff left. Mit und head wind our range is reduced."

Once the planes were ready and all their luggage had been loaded, the Count entered and took a seat. He had several trade catalogues he perused as the other entered.

Mr Perkins left it to the very last moment before entering the plane and taking his seat. He was breathing steadily and had his eyes closed as he sat back. This was the pose he maintained for the rest of the flight.

Looking at the small plane, and then to the Vimy Commercial, Dr. Weston said, "I think I'll fly in the big one for this leg of the trip. I want to get some reading done."

JM nodded.  "You are more than welcome to fly in more comfort Doctor.  We owe you certainly for helping Karkheinz."

In reply to John-Marc Falcon (msg # 191):

The Doctor smiled as he climbed into the larger aircraft, valise in hand. "That was my pleasure. You've all seen some pretty horrifying things of late, not just in the War."
This message was last updated by the GM at 08:02, Sun 06 Oct 2013.