Artemis and Si left the cabin with the radio and code books.  The lights coming down the road were less than a quarter mile a way and closing fast, but the pair were long gone before the cabin roared into flame.

The pair made their way to the the barn outside the Lake Placid Lodge.  Old Steiner was there, looking after Mickey Callahan who had been injured in the attack a day ago.

   entered  . jerking his head towards  Artemis...we found something...we need to get Sparks here..

 he moved to the   back , where they could  set up the Machine , without being seen.

The Barn - Lake Placid
11:53 hours

Charlie had returned to the barn, he volunteers to go get Sparks.   He grabs the hitched sleigh and dashes into the heavy snow and returns driving the horses hard, snow flying up from their hooves, he drives the team right into the barn and makes a hasty stop racing against the clock.   Sparks appears to be over whatever spell the man had cast upon her.

She dismounts, and heads to the bunkhouse shack in the side of the barn.  She sits down and looks the equipment, her hands are moving quickly, she mutters to herself Model 92 Mark 2, Improvement 1 then she unrolls a length of wire, ordering, Charlie, string this along the rafters

She then sets up the headphones and asks for the magazine, turning to the page.  A minute before Midnight the warm electric glow of the lights on the radio slowly brighten, Sparks puts a finger to her lips calling for silence as she adjusts the headphones.


The last minute ticks by slowly, then the morse code taps of the wireless start coming in right on time.   Sparks goes listens intently, with the magazine she traces lines and paragraphs with her fingers, then rapidly moves to another page and does the same.

Her eyes open wide.  They want to know if the mission is complete ?
She looks at Artemis and Si not knowing what to reply.

   Si didn't heistate.. he  says softly,send..... 'asian's have failed...leader  might have  turned coat...how should be handle it? "

  Looking to the Other he says,..can't  hurt to turn them on each other...we had  peple do it to us...

"Evening," Artemis said as he followed Si into the barn set back behind the lodge.  He looked over at Steiner and shook his shoulders.  "Howe's Callahan doing?"

When Sparks joined them, she took command of the situation.  Charlie started stringing wire while she took the magazine and studied its pages.  As his Hamilton showed that it was midnight, the woman called them to silence.  He waited and watched as she moved her fingers over the pages.



He listened to Si's answer and nodded in agreement.

"I like his idea," Arty said.  "What if we tell them that mission cover was nearly blown with the cowardly flight of part of the team.  We want permission to attempt to continue.  Avise as to the best way to proceed?"

  Si takes his  hat off,  runs his fingers through his  hair, before replacing it...That  sounds good as well... Cowboy and I were in a movie  where  Cowboy turned  some rustlers against each other by saying the othergroup was helping the LAw....Should  put in that message, that the sender is worried for his life...It is hard to tell if there is another  such machine, but it should confuse them enough....The fact that the Machine is gone and cabin is on fire, will add some credence to the  claim.


 Giving a nod to Artemis  and Sparks...This is yourstyle of a Hunt..I will back you  as you think is most effective.

Sparks taps out the message, and listens for a reply.  And waits, and waits.

Then a message comes, she leans into the ear phones, listening intently.

Then relays the message.

BINGO...BINGO...BINGO


She pauses for a moment, monkeying with the radio tuner.
That's it, their gone.

That sounds like a pre-planned emergency message.  One that requires some kind of action.
But there's really no way to know what was supposed to happen.

I've got the feeling that message rattled whoever was on the other end.



She looks to Si and Artemis for answers.

  Si frowns..there's alot of spoons in this  Pot..The  Japanese  fellow , that i know. was hired..he is in this  for  something  that will be a big payoff, and....more importantly. something he wants....  The Japanese who are working for him, are most likely doing  this for their country...we have the  Holy ,man working with Mobsters, to push  hooch around..and there is no reason to think some of the police  are not  dirty..

 waving  a  hand in the general direction,..the fire is both a warning and a message.....it will scare  some..make other  rethink what they are doing.. We must be careful, we have no idea  whom we can trust..

 there  his a bit of a sigh , as he adds...there  must be  some Japanese, who are not  here to harm other  folks....But none of them, will be connected  with Danzo , shoukld be assumed to be on the darker side of the law....

 we have to eliminate  as many of them as we are able, without getting caught, or  eliminated ourselves.... I have a 'friend' he hunts me, he is a Mountie ..... he would be trustworthy enough , should we  find him..he..um...does not  like me well... but he has  yet to ctach me... whether  he is  here, or in  British Columbia... he travels  as much as I...but he has never been into America  or South America.

 Looking to Artemis and Sparks......he  may listen to you....then...listen to me after you laid the ground  work..you might be able to contact him on that box...

Sparks looks at Si

I can certainly attmpt to contact this mountie, tell me his name.

His name is...Captain Patrick Hodgson- Royal Canadian Mounted Police...he is, as  some  might  say.' Overly  dedicated'...he is just as likely to put  us in lock up as he  would be  , for our  enemies... He  might be the only other  fellow who would  match Danzo, as far as determination. But he is not Danzo's match in combat.

there is a  sigh, from Si,still..his  being here  would, indeed , shake up those who are running the hooch, and those who might be playing a bigger game in the world of  diplomates  and such...In  effect, there would be a foruth player?...Us...the  rum runners,Danoz'[s group, and the Mounties....he should be told  to come withmore then himself...

Artemis wasn't sure what the reply meant.  He knew what Bingo was, but usually someone who says that when they filled their card and won.  How did what they sent as a response equate to a win?

"I don't know what their response means."  Artemis said with a sigh.  Then Scout started to offer a potential ally that they could reach out to and that was a needed distraction as he let his mind try to sort out the BINGO response.

"Alright, I am game, I mean do you know how to reach him?  He's a radio guy, I am assuming or you think he is?  Otherwise, we need to know a name and where he is living." Artemis explained.  He looked over at Sparks.  "That's what we need right?  Some info and see if we can get a message to him somehow?"

Awareness - Bingo = 18; Radio/electronic = 14

  Si sat down, for a moment, he looked at his rifle...you contact  the Mounties... you tell them you have something for  Hodgson, that  he's been looking for a long  time... don't answer any more questions, tell them he has a short time to get here....no more  answers... just  sign off...he will come....he can't help himself.

The Barn - Lake Placid
12:18 hours

Sparks taps out the message to Hodgson and then shuts down the radio.

There is a pause.


Silence.

Everyone is tired.  It's been an extremely busy 36 hours, and almost no one has slept much.  One of the groups members was in surgery fighting for his life.  A few members waiting in the tiny waiting room at the small town hospital.

The remainder of the members were here in the barn.  Two of their members were tortured by the Japanese agents, and were still recovering.  So much was going on, including a potential threat to the Governor of New York, Franklin Delano Roosevelt.  Then there was the mystic, Allister Crowley, who hypnotized or took control of Sparks, there were the Japanese agents, and the offer from Germans to join their archeological dig.

Everyone was exhausted.  Thirty Six hours felt like three and a half years.  It was time for sleep, and some rest.  The members of the party laid down and finally got some good sleep, sleeping in tile nearly seven AM when the wood stove in the sleeping area of the barn burned out and everyone got cold.  It was time to start a fire and get some coffee going.

  Getting  up,  Si went to the  stove  , took the   ashes out ,while starting a  new fire getting the Coffee started, he  managed to find a  pot to fill with snow  and set that down to  melt and become hot water .

 While he waited for the  'life giving' coffee to perk,Si  cleaned his  Longknife and  Tomahawk.. the rifle sat close  by for its turn to be looked after, but it had, had, a quiet night

"Well, now we wait," Artemis said with a yawning sigh.  "I think we all could use some sleep.  Well done folks, well done.

Arty yawned again and didn't argue at the suggestion that they find a place to lie down and recover.  He slept hard and it was when he got chilled that he started to fade out of the deep, dream-filled sleep and closer to being awake.  It was when he smelt smoke and heard movement that he slowly raised a still sleep ladened eyelid.  He saw that Si was sitting up and that there was a glow behind the grate of the cast iron stove.  Si was working a rag about his knife and tomahawk and Arty took a deep breath and let it out as he raised his head.

"Morning Si," he whispered.  He raised himself up off the hard floor and onto his elbows.  As he did so, he felt the need to address the necessities of nature.  He looked about and as the urge grew, he worked his way up onto his feet.  He slipped his shoes back on and made his way out the small doorway and found a place to address the pressing need of his bladder.  When relief was obtained, he took a few moments to breathe in the cold morning air and then adjust everything back into place.  He headed back into the barn and took up a seat near the fire.  He started rubbing the ache on his hip and leg.

"So, why does this mountie have an obsession with you?"

   Si smiles a bit wryly, He is a  lawman. I am not. He also sees me as  more  Indian, The a Half Breed...

 Canada is a  hard land... Trappers and Hunters  are very jealous of their territory, even when that territory was not theirs in  the first place. Over the  years, I have encounter such folks... and such folks as  we met at the Docks... Some times, I must make certain, no one else needs to encounter them.

 Cowboy and I have  also run into some ...less-the-savory  people in our  travels..and..had to kill some folks, so they do not kill us... All that leads to an overy eager Mountie, who is now a captain,  wanting to move up the ladder a bit more, as he brings  certain folks  to 'justice'.


The smile  wanes  as he Looks at Artie,Justice , is  what the lawman feels it is at the time...People I have killed,,either  Killed   other folks, or  tried to kill me and those i was hired to protect..I do not have  a Big enough  name, or fat enough wallet, to  sway Lawmen ,as to who is 'the right bad guy'  to lock up.

 Sheathing the    Blades,  Si begins  to  work on his rifle.My Life style , allows  me  one big boon.... I have  read many  books in my life... I even have some  stored  away in a place that accepts me, more for who i am, then what i am... But the Book..Moby Dick?  I am this  Captain's  white  whale...or.. sanguine Whale, if you perfer.. he grins  slightly.

The Barn - Lake Placid
06:48 hours  4 February 1932

Si and Artemis got up late, later than usual.   A little sore from all the acitivity.  They talked a bit and were just getting their first sip of coffee when the outer barn door opened.

Looking through the window from the sleeping quarters into the barn were two tall men, in good suits and well groomed.  One had the look of an administrative person, an accountant or lawyer, the other of someone more serious, he had a hardness in his eye, they see Si and walk up to the door, knocking politely.  Upon entering the slightly shorter bookish man thanks Si for letting them in and has a surprising request.

The Governor, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, has asked that you come to his room and have a conversation over breakfast in his room.

 Si's   eyebrow raised, and   he does not hide his Mistrust...You mean  us?... or  Just me? because... Mr Roosevelt   and I have never met, save for a glance across the room?

 The man replies, Yes, you Si and Mr. Artemis Richter, he would like thank you for you tip last night.


Then he extends his hand.   I'm Hank Hopkins, the Governor's Chief of Staff, this is Mister Fellows, he provides security.


The Governor eats breakfast promptly at 7 AM every morning. Meet us in the Foyer in 10 minutes, we will escort you to his room

 Si  nods  slolwy,I giess  I can't  bring  my riflr, just in case?

 if he is permitted, he will bring it, if not he;ll leave  it  safly wraped  and tucked away.

  He Looked at Artemis... I ...hope  this is  straight talk, and  not some form of trap...I am far from trusting   since i started this  journey.

"Well, if he read the same version of Moby Dick that I did Si, I think he would abandon his quest." Artemis shrugged as he spoke.  He looked over at Si and continued.  "The whale wins as I recall, or rather Ahab goes down to Davy Jones Locker to feed the smaller fishes."

Artemis was a bit surprised by the knock at their door and he glances at Si.  They really didn't get a chance to even get to the door to let the two men that were peaking inside.  When they walked in and said their purpose, Artemis' right eyebrow raised upward.  He stood and walked over to the two men.

"It would be a pleasure to join the Governor," Artemis said with a smile and extended his hand first to Hopkins and then to Fellows.  "I suspect we shouldn't keep the Governor waiting Si."

Artemis gave a slight side-to-side shake of his head when Si mentioned his rifle.

"Si, it's not the muscle here that should worry us, it's this guy," he waives his thumb at Hopkins with a wink at the tall visitor. "Hope the Governor doesn't mind us all well, less than polished."

---

Spoiler text: (Highlight or hover over the text to view)
Rolled for an assessment of the visitors using high society for 20; awareness roll as well for 20 regarding their reaction to our responses.

---

 As they  head out the door, Si's   sheepish look, had the  coloring  of a wolf, as his  eyes looked  around at the   area as they walked., he tries to check  for  any smoke coming, from where the Cabin caught fire.... and  if  any   cars  were parked  , where they were not parked  last night.

The two men arrive in the foyer to see Hopkins and Fellows waiting for them.  Mister Fellows seems to relax when he sees that Si isn't carrying his rifle.   The Artemis and Si didn't get a chance to shave, barely wash their face and hands.   Artemis has a short but noticeable bristle, Si not as much.  However, Artemis hides it well, years as a well dressed man come through as he tidies up quickly.

They are escorted to the Governors room. Hopkins opens the door, steps in holds it open.  Si and Artemis enter to see a large empty room, save for black man dressed in a white culinary coat working at a table along the side.   But the first sense that hits them when the door is opened is the wonderful smell of breakfast. They are escorted through the room to a table near french doors letting in the morning sun.  Sitting at the table are an older man with small round glasses, a naval officer, Artemis would know he carries the rank of Captain and Amelia in a nice dress.

Hopkins announces,  Governor, at your request, Mr. Richter, Mechanical Engineer from Philadephia and Mr. Darkshadow of the  Siksiká Blackfoot.   The Governor waves them over and greets them, Come in boys.  Have a seat and something to eat.

Artemis and Si are seated.  Then Mr. Roosevelt says, I understand you already are aquanted with Amelia Farrington, and this is Captain Bill Pullestown  Food is brought to them, Lobster Scrambled Eggs with Hollandaise, pan fried potatoes, fresh grapefruit and bacon.  Coffee, rich fresh ground and brewed coffee.

There is some small talk between the people at the table while everyone eats.  But a long time passes with no indication of why Artemis and Si are there. A look is exchanged between the Governor and the Naval Officer.  Then Captain Pullestown says, Miss Farrington her works for the British government, and with the US as allies. She reported to us from radio intercepts she made in Canada, that the Japanese were sending agents to these games.   Then yesterday The Governor was made aware that one Goro Adachi of the Japanese contingent wanted to speak to the governor.   Hours later he was dead.  We suspect an assassin of the Black Dragon Society, one Kato Danzo of killing him.  But we don't know what Mr. Adachi was going to tell the governor. The Captain takes a sip of coffee, and pauses to let everyone digest what he said.  Then he continues.

Lady Farrington has told us of your encounter with Danzo, and his escape in an odd aircraft.   We will be wanting as many details and speculation about the craft as possible form you Mr. Richter, and you thoughts, Mr. Darkshadow on what you think Danzo will do next.

We did not know about you are your group of ad hoc travellers as of early this morning.  But you got our interest by sending the message to Captain Patrick Hodgson- Royal Canadian Mounted Police.  We were wondering who you were working for, until Lady Farrington was contacted and briefed us.

Lastly, let me say on behalf of the Governor, we are sorry for you man that was injured by Danzo.  The Governor sent his personal physician to care for him early this morning.  Your man is currently on his way to the hospital in Albany.

    Si Removed his hat when they where  Brought in. when they reached the table  he  took off his Longcoat, , the  knife  and tomahawk locked in the leather  sheaths  with a 'peace knot'.

 Taking a healthy helping of  potatoes , a smaller   scoop of  the eggs,  and a decent  helping of bacon, he looked  for toast or  Biskets . But focused on  Coffee with a bit of  milk and  3  sugars.

 I will excuse myself  for Artiemis... and toss out my simple  thoughts on this. I think this  is more his forest to hunt in then mine.

 he  sips his  coffee, very much enjoying 'real coffee'.Then he  speaks,we  came here, trying to escape some hooch runners who had set us up to take a fall , double-crossing  their   folks  and letting us   get killed in the process... some folks died, none were us.

 as the  snowball rolled down its hill,  we  ran into more and more..um..undesirables... he chuckles as he looks at how  he is dressed,I know that may  seem  comic, coming from me, Governor. But  I do not always live in a teepee  or  skin animals. My Friend  'Cowboy' and I worked the  Movies for a few years...though he was more the star..i was the Indian  who got shot about  5 times a film, or played  the  'extra  sidekick'.. he sipped his coffee and   had a thin lined smile.perhaps? that prepared me  for this.

 There are elements that are working  with the  Mob here..elements  you may or may not  know are doing so, though  they are as dark folk as any other..they are not the main problem here...

 There is a Dig going on...I understand or  perhaps, mistakenly, was influenced , that Kato and whomever he is  working for,  has  designs  on what  may be found there.... I also feel, That Danzo is here to help weaken any resolve , for America  to step  up, and  enter the arena  to oppose the Japanese Empire...On our way from  LA  to  the North, we have heard  many   news bits on the  west coast, of Japanese 'threats'

 he held his   cup to the servant for a refill asking 'please' and  making sure to thank the man before turning his attention back to the table.

 Danzo and I?  we are not friends... his type of people, and My type of people do not like   each other...and yes, it was he who killed the man..could i testify in court? no. There is no solid  proof, other  then i know he was there when  i went to the stairs, and he  escaped.  I feel...and  i could be mistaken, That he is here for two reasons...one, is  the Dig..the second is, to cause  disruption, in these games, and... in politics...

  he reaches around , pulling a Battered  Notebook from his inside pocked  and a  pencil... he begins to  sketch...as he draws he says...slowly...It was  my thoughts to Call Hodgson.... The man is  beyond reproach as  far as i know... I also know he and I are  enemies, as he   tries  to hunt me  down.. I know his reasonings  for why..and Most of them are true... But? I will need some form of  'protection' from being locked up or sent away, by him... if  i cannot get that protection, I will have to leave....I do not wish to kill the man. He is forthright... but in the end? One must look out  for one's self...

 The Scout  began to make Little  dots  on the  picture.. and he  added  some of the 'undercarriage'... then ripped the page out of the notebook, handing it to the   servant to give to the Captain...

 It came out of the water  when i first saw it.... i do not  rightly know if  it  was under the whole time or not..you would be advised to send  divers in that area, to see if there is a base or dock of some kind, under the water there,,,,the worst that could happen, is there wouldn't be anything. But if you find evidence..then your search
 could widen.... I did not have my rifle..had i had it? I am most certain i  could have
 shot the  pilot, or damaged the engine with   one or two  well placed shots...

 Sipping from his coffee  once more.The  Thompson i had, did  some damage, but the range was a bit too far for me  to get concentrated  bursts into it..and yes? that weapon is from  two  Japanese folks who are now dead, because they tried to make us dead.

 as an addendum  he  said,It took off into the air, stayed  rather low, but it was dark? I know not, how much, if any damage i did.... i do know? if you find that  somewhere along the river, you need to question , whomever is  giving it shelter... I have not seen anything like  that, short of  some of the  space movies  in Hollywood, and all those  where plywood and couldn't fly.

 Looking apologetically at  Artie,you're up.., i am certain you have a sharper  prospective on this.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:58, Tue 19 Apr 2022.

"It's a true honor to meet you sir, very grateful for the opportunity."  He offered up his hand and then looked about the rest of the diners.  He smiled when he saw that Amelia was back with them and gave the Captain a polite nod as well. "Pleasure Captain.  Glad to see you Ma'am.  It's been an adventure hasn't it?"

He found the offered seat at the table and spread his napkin out over his lap as the food was served.  He focused his attention on the eggs and enjoyed the first bite.  He smiled and continued eating trying not to make too many approving noises over the delicious tastes.

"So, right, where to start.  Alright, I deal with airships and such, Governor. Work for Goodyear in their lighter than air division and here as part of their delegation."

Arty looked at the Governor and then the Captain.  He dropped his left hand onto his napkin-covered lap and then took a deep breath.  "Today was the first time I have ever seen anything like that airplane.  It was part U-boat and part mechanized floatplane.  Never seen anything like it, sir.  Could be an indication of what their empire could deploy, well actually anywhere.  If you cannot control the skies, well then the enemy can easily trap you on the ground.  Here, it seemed to be something built for stealth and speed, but if they can land and hide it in the lake here, makes the Potomac that much easier to do the same I would think."

"The fighters we encountered in the Lodge were able to move as swift as the wind and hit with the punch of a prizefighter if not a wrecking ball.  We searched their place, took their codebook and radio." Arty gave a simple shrug as if indicating that there was no other real option but to do what they had done.  "Si's idea to contact the Mountie, but we figured we needed as much potential firepower here as we could gather.  Si deserves the protection he is asking for Governor.  He's straightforward and jumped to try to stop those that have their sights on literally taking some folks out there."

He paused for a bit and listened to what Si was sharing.  He nodded a lot and added a few "yea" or "that's right." He raised his head from looking down at his plate and focused on Si's reference to a dig.  He raised an eyebrow and when he finished swallowing, he interjected himself into Si's conversation.

"Now, this dig, can you let a history guy in on some of the details.  Family has a bit of tradition you might say with some of the odder myths and legends."

Then he went back to listening and nodding a lot as he finished off his breakfast.  When Si described the way the plane flew off, Artemis again interjected.

"Suspect that they were going to fly close to the landscape.  Makes it harder for other planes to find them if there were other planes to send out looking for them.  Equally hard for anyone on the ground to take them out that way, they would fly quickly over any troops - that was even the case in the trenches, Sir. So, I suspect it could drop down into another lake, or maybe fly low like that towards Canada.  Drop in to one of the great lakes, sink it, and jump a ship heading out to St. Lawrence.  Or, maybe land it next to a cargo liner, load it up, and off it sails."

He took a brief pause to catch his breath and make sure he had shared what he could.  Then shifted slightly in his chair and continued on.

"We got that codebook.  Anyway, we could put out another "opportunity" that might see if any others of that group are still hanging about?  Or, do you two think that they are long gone at this point?"

Arty waived his two fingers at Amelia and the Captain.