Jack is pleased that his purchases seem to be good stuff, if Ben’s reaction is anything to go by. Jack tells him about the two items that got away, and also about the proprietors leaving immediately for a funeral.
“I did try looking at the journal and the ring through the crystal, but didn’t see much.”
While Ben is examining the items, Jack calls the concierge and asks if there are any prominent or unusual people being buried today. He will also inquire about whether Basil Rose died in Capetown, and any related particulars.

Spider grins at the woman and says, "I've got twins, a boy and a girl, and they're both fairly adventurous.  What have you got?"

Expedition part 10, Going Home pt 6

---Jack-----

"There's probably an activation incantation on the looking glass - which would hide its abilities.  Probably in ancient Gaulish, or Irish,"  was Ben's theory on the looking glass.
As for the two items that were already sold, Ben just shook his head.  "I don't like the idea of the stuff Rose collected being out and about.  And the shopkeepers are probably being vultures, looking to get first chance at the estate sale."

Ben started trying to herd, lead and jolly the huskies along to get them out of the room before they'd have to ring the front desk for cleaning supplies.  "You dogs, all of you, come on then, outside, walkies, AND you, let's go."  The dogs didn't listen to him like they listened to Fritz, but he was prepared to bribe them.  "Bacon for the good dogs.  Let's go. Bruno, you too, I'll put an illusion up."

Jack rang the front desk, pleased that the room had its own telephone, quite the extravagance in this day and age.  "Yes, sir, there's the burial of a town elder today, Elisa Sophia Steyn, who was related to the great Stephanus Kruger, 5th state president of the South African Republic. She was quite a philanthropist and collector of historical relics."

The concierge didn't know where Basil Rose had died, but knew he lived in Johannesburg, and had several times visited the Hotel.  "A rich man, an Englishman," was the comment.

----Spider------

Spider received a merry grin from the proprietress of the toy shop.  "Oh, many things.  I have kites, all kinds; I have camping kits for small children.  Butterfly nets, fishing poles, all kinds of footballs and throwing games."  She led Spider down one of the aisles, where the items were, though the kites of course were all above him.  "This one, I sell a lot," she showed him a board and beanbag game where the scoring was best if you could pitch the beanbag into the smallest holes. "The kites are all different prices, and I sell strong silk cord.  They are hand made, by a Japanese woman in town."  The kites were amazing - from bright geometric shapes, to fanciful birds, lions, dragons, butterflies, wolves and monsters.  There were also child-sized camping kits, fully functional with bedroll, shovel, compass, canteen, firestarter, and whistles, fishing poles for children, and small tents for camping out.  The items were all quality, too, but the prices reflected that.  There were also spinning tops, porcelain-headed dolls in lavish dresses, and all kinds of blocks made of wood and clay, toy soldiers, and complex electric trains for those with very good wallets.  There were board games, puzzles and domino sets, puppets and soft plush toys, and wind-up animals made of painted tin.  As he was perusing the merchandise, the door opened, the bell above it ringing; a middle-aged man in a banker's suit, walking into the shop.  "Goeie middag mevrou, het jy enige nuwe treine in ?  Ek het net 'n paar minute, jammer om haastig te wees."  the man asked, finding the proprietress in the store.  He seemed to be in a rush.
"Ja, ek het 'n lieflike nuwe treinenjin wat jy sal geniet,"  she replied.  She looked to Spider. "Are you all right to look for a moment ? Mr. Hoerval will have to go back to the office quickly."

The man hurried to the counter, where the train she'd been working on was sitting.  "Conrad's enjin, jy het dit al reggemaak ?"
"Ja, die onderstel was vasgekeer," the woman said. "Die nuwe treinwaens het vanoggend uit Duitsland gekom.  Ek sit die caboose vir jou eenkant."
She reached under the counter, producing a box with German print on it; the man was already reaching for his wallet, and forked over a wad of cash; he went out with his treasure, smiling.
"Mr. Hoerval loves his trains," she said to Spider, by way of explanation. "They are very expensive, but he is very happy to have them."

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GM:  Actions, etc, for the next half hour of game time, please respond by Saturday 3 March, next post Sunday
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Jack will accompany Ben to walk the dogs, and tell him about the funeral for the lady who collected artifacts. Jack doesn’t feel a need to search for more esoterica to buy, but if Ben thinks going to her (hypothetical) estate sale might benefit their efforts against the Mythos, he will try to locate it and attend. Otherwise he will soak up the ambience of their hotel.

Spider allows the woman to deal with her hurried customer, and peruses a few items.  He thinks the children might really enjoy camping, but he then pictures Cressida out in the wilderness.  She could always take care of herself, but camping was not really her style.  He grins for a moment, then speaks with the owner.  "The kites are amazing, but fairly fragile.  Could we have them shipped?  In my bags they'd probably get crushed.  I'll take two wolves, a dragon and a peacock.  And 2 children's camping kits."  Maybe Cress would love it...

Expedition Part 10: Going Home pt 7

---Spider----

Spider shops, racking up a goodly bill, but thanks to Thorne's generosity, can afford to pay for the items.  The shopkeeper smiles.  "I can pack the kites very safely in sturdy boxes.  I mail them out all the time, if you want, for the extra shipping fee.  It will take about six weeks to send to Australia."

She begins packing up his purchases with care, taking time to secure them properly so that nothing will be damaged, and nods when he corrects the address.  "Maybe five weeks then, to ship.  You live in the Capitol of America !  That must be interesting !  Have you seen the President ? Have you met Nikola Tesla, or Thomas Edison ?"  She deftly knots string around the boxes so that Spider can easily carry them.

---Jack-----

Jack goes with Ben, the herding huskies.  "I can't afford anything with the spending budget this year for the Bureau," Ben says.  "This trip exhausted the account, and if Thorne hadn't gone ahead and bought a lot of the equipment with his own money, we'd never have made it.  As much as I would like to limit the arcane artefacts from being out in the world, there's only so much that can be done."  The dogs go bounding down the staircase, causing some startled yelps and shrieks from other guests, but are relatively well-behaved otherwise.  They head to the garden, stampeding past an irate woman in a grey dress, and then mob Thorne and Fritz, before galloping off to attend to their business.  The gardener will NOT be happy.

Neither, apparently, is Fritz.  At the look on his face - icy anger - Ben pauses, holding out his hand to pause Jack from approaching them.  Neither of the two men had noticed them, both looking at each other, Thorne grinning and Fritz scowling.

"Ten words.  Say one more and I will shoot you dead right now." Fritz says coldly, to Thorne, who looks about to launch one of his long-winded charming monologues.  Thorne sets his jaw, thinking, and nods ever so slightly.  Then he goes onto one knee, holding out a small jewelry box to Fritz.

"I am sorry.  Please forgive me.  Will you marry me ?"  Thorne flips the box open to present it to Fritz, who looked stunned, as Ben grabs Jack's arm and pulls him backwards behind a large piece of topiary.
"None of our business," Ben whispered to Jack. "So long as they don't shoot each other or anyone else.  We'll walk around the other side of the hotel and call for the dogs."

---later----

The Agents met again in the dining room, since Bruno was again in place on guard duty and the rest of the huskies were settled for the evening.  No bullets had been fired and everyone was alive.  The steak dinner was served in full splendour of a 5 star hotel, in a four-course session of great food well presented.

 Thorne had of course ordered champagne for the final toasts.
"To the success of the expedition and the gentlemen who went forth !"  He declared, raising his champagne flute.
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GM:  Actions, etc, for the next half hour of game time, please respond by Saturday, 9 March, next post Sunday
----------------------------------------------------

Spider assures the woman she has not met any of the political luminaries, nor Edison or Tesla, though he would be honored.  He thanks her and heads back to the hotel.

He raises his glass to Thorne's toast, and adds, "And to getting home safe.  Until then, we're not done."

Jack does as Ben says and minds his own business. He enjoys the dinner and champagne toasts that evening, and asks, “How soon will we be able to find passage home? Are there any sights we should take in before we go?”

Expedition part 10: Going home pt 8
---Spider----
The shopkeeper smiles.  "I hope your children are happy with your generous gifts !  Have a lovely visit in Cape Town."


---Everyone, at dinner---

Spider raises his glass to Thorne's toast, and adds, "And to getting home safe.  Until then, we're not done."

Spider's toast was honoured with some more champagne.  It seemed danger was a world away, after a day in civilisation.  Jack had three mysterious items stowed in his luggage, Ben looked as if he'd caught up on his sleep, and Thorne and Fritz seemed on normal speaking terms with everyone.

As for the return home, Ben responds, checking his watch.  "We're calling home in a few minutes, to find out what they've arranged.  I'm sure there's plenty to do around town, but we won't know how much time we have until we check with the office."

And then, one of the hotel staff hurried up to the table, wringing his hands.  "I beg pardon for this unseemly intrusion," he said. "There's a disturbance upstairs with your dogs.  They are - making noise, and some of the guests have complained."

----Upstairs-----

There were indeed huskies making noise in the rooms, specifically the one where the excavated treasure was stored.  The sound is a grating howl, made by several of the dogs, and a raspier one from Bruno.  Upon the Agents' arrival, the dogs quieted, still making concerned yowls and yips; several of them were surrounding another husky, which lay quiet and still on the floor.  The husky was dead - sprawled on the shredded carpet, and its mouth was open.  It had apparently had a seizure during its death.  Bruno stood guard over the stash, hackles raised.

"Son of a bitch," Thorne sounded mad.
"That's the dog that drank my lemonade," Ben said, standing very still.
"You - out." Thorne told the hotel staffer, who quickly retreated.  Fritz came closer to the dead dog, the rest of them shifting to allow him to approach.
"Poisoned.  Something that gave him seizures."  Fritz said, kneeling beside the stricken animal.  "Gums are pale, looks like asphyxiation.  How much did you drink, boss ?"
"Almost none of it, I took a sip then Jack told me news that made me spit it out.  The dog drank from my glass and didn't like it, then I tipped it out in the sink." Ben said.
"Macey told us that you 'would die' on this trip.  Was it a warning ?"  Thorne said.
"I really would rather not die," Ben said.
"We all ate the same meal tonight, apart from the turnips, which I hate," Thorne said. "It is less likely that we would all be poisoned at the same time, and we weren't the only guests eating the steak.  When did you order the lemonade ?"
"Room service said it was complimentary.  The waiter asked how many glasses I wanted, but you were all out and about, so I said, just the one.  Then I fell asleep on the balcony." Ben replied. "I forgot about the lemonade until Jack woke me up."
"Remember what that waiter looked like," Thorne said. "How should we handle this ?"
"First, check in with Edith to find out what our return will take," Ben said. "If someone is trying to kill me, that means they already know who I am, or were taking a calculated risk."
"I signed in under my own name, and so did Fritz," Thorne said.  "Spider sounds Australian, and Jack sounds Southern - Ben, you're the only Northern accent here, so they could easily place you as Ben Weintraub from Maine, especially if they have your physical description.  Too late to switch names.  You'd better stay in the rooms."  Thorne quickly checked the French doors that led to the balcony, then swung the curtains closed.

"All right," Ben said. "Jack, you'll go down to the telephone cabinet, that's the only way to make an international call.  Tell Edith Code Green - that means we may be in danger.  Find out the details on getting us home.  Who can guard him ?"

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GM:  Actions, etc, for the next few minutes of game time, please respond by Saturday, 16 March, next post Sunday
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Spider said, "I'll go with him.  The rest of you lot stay with Ben.  We won't be gone long."

Jack checks his .45 and holsters it under his jacket, and pats his pocket where the wand is no doubt resting, then immediately heads for the lobby with Spider.
   “If we meet any resistance or see anyone suspicious, let’s keep at least one alive to question.”
   He will call Edith and give her the code, as well as getting the info on their departure.
   If everything seems normal, he will approach the concierge and ask about any strange activity in the hotel today, however seemingly unrelated.

Expedition part 10: Going home pt 9

Jack prepares for visiting the hotel lobby in order to make an international telephone call to the Grey Building.   He is armed and ready, and Spider likewise prepares for the worst.  They head downstairs, cautiously.

The hotel lobby seems quiet and relaxed; the night clerk is shuffling some paperwork and looks up to greet them in polite English.  "Good evening, gentlemen, is there anything I may assist you with ?"  Upon hearing they want to make a telephone call, he goes to the cabinet and holds the door open, then returns to the desk, where he sorts the papers and puts them into different slots on the wall.  One person might sit comfortably within the telephone cabinet, but two men would be stuffed.  Spider has the option to lean by the ajar doorway to the cabinet, near a tall potted plant, or to place himself across the room.  Both are good vantage points and offer a view of the front door and the entrance to the dining room and corridor.

The lobby has a generous array of seating, with understated electric lighting.  Only one guest is seated in the lobby, an elderly woman in a Prussian blue dress, a feathered hat pinned to her grey curls, a cane leaning on the cushion next to her.  She has a pair of gloves that she's fussing with, apparently waiting for someone.  There is ambient noise from the dining room, where food and drink is still being served.

Jack goes to the cabinet and dials up the international operator, spending some time to get through; the connection is somewhat scratchy.  "Yes, Sir, I have your party on the line," the operator tells him, and he is connected to the Grey Building.
"Mr. Sterling !"  Edith's voice is warm and cheerful.  He can hear Mills the Mouse in the background, talking to someone.  There was also a clicking sound on the line.  "I have good news about your travel details.  We have arranged for Mr. Gruber to collect you in three days."
Jack relayed the message about Code Green; there was just the slightest hesitation as Edith processed the information.  "Of course.  Wonderful.  I'll see about necessary arrangements.  I trust everyone is all right ?  It is my fondest wish that you are all well.  Mr. Macey presents his compliments to everyone."

Spider sees someone approaching the hotel's main doors, staggering.  It is a woman in a black dress, her long chestnut brown hair straggling from a bun; she is quite pretty but seems to be drunk.  The night clerk also notes the woman, and goes to the door, speaking in concerned Africaans. "Is jy reg, jong dame ? Kan ek jou help ?"  Spider knew something was very wrong with her.

She didn't respond to the night clerk, but lurched forward, stumbling over the carpeting.   The night clerk went to meet her, trying to catch her before she collapsed; she reached out towards Jack, her hand red with blood, and sagged into the night clerk's arms; blood smeared from her over his light grey suit.  The old woman screamed, pointing - there was a dagger in the young woman's back, dug deep.  It was Annika, from the Curiosity Shop, and she was trying to tell Jack something.  "Kyk glas...gevaar..."  Annika coughed, blood staining her lips.

The night clerk yelled towards the dining room, catching the attention of one of the wait staff.  "Is daar 'n dokter in die kamer ?!"
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GM:  Actions, etc, for the next few minutes of game time please, Spider, let me know if you're standing by the telephone cabinet or across the room, as the two vantage points will give different perspectives, and Jack, anything you want to tell Edith or otherwise deal with, please respond by Saturday, 23 March, next post Sunday
------------------------------------------------------------

Jack has nothing else to tell Edith. When Annika arrives, Jack likewise runs toward her. As Spider and the night clerk try to help her, Jack runs out the front doors, pulling the wand out, and looking for any threats or escaping parties. If he sees anyone on foot, he will hit them hard with a Magic Fist. If there is a vehicle speeding away, he will use the same spell to try to deflect its path into a light pole or building corner. (Keeper please make any rolls needed.) Either way he will try to subdue the perpetrator so they can't escape.
   If no threats are visible, he will run back inside and join the others trying to help Annika. He'll try to use the wand to stop the bleeding, putting his body between the wand and any curious onlookers if possible.

Spider would have been across the room.  Unless something really distracts him, he will try to render first aid to the woman.

Expedition part 10: Going Home pt 10

---Spider----

Spider, stationed across the room and having a good view of the front of the hotel, the corridor and the garden, sees a dark-clad figure running after Annika, but the person halted before they were within the lights of the foyer.  There was enough motion there to suggest a person taller and wider than Annika.  He is able to communicate this to Jack and go to see Annika, who is slumping to the carpet.

The old woman has stopped screaming but is shaking in terror.  From the dining room, a portly, balding man in a dark grey suit comes hurrying out, still clutching his linen napkin.  "Ek is 'n dokter," the man said, quickly moving to assist Spider.  He used the napkin to wrap the knife hilt, keeping it in place.  And, fortunately for Spider, he spoke English.  "Keep the hole plugged, I will try to judge what we are looking at here," he said.  "My name is Soren Hesselink, I am a doctor of osteopathy, but I served in the War.  Hai, Sophie, kry my sak," he called to a woman looking at them from the dining area.  She nodded and rushed off through the lobby, heading towards the car park.  She quickly returned with a black leather doctor's bag, placing it on the carpet next to Hesselink and kneeling by his side.  Annika was choking, blood dripping from her mouth.  "Bleeding is bad."  Hesselink said, telling Sophie to keep the knife steady, "We turn her on her side, try to get her breathing better.  Miss - we will turn you now.  I will need to find what is bleeding, seal it off. Dieter, water and soap and towels !  And lamps !"  The night clerk ran off to fetch, and so did one of the wait staff.    "Sophie, get the chloroform.  No time to get her to hospital."

Spider's first aid was tasked to its ultimate trying to keep Annika alive, but the doctor seemed competent and ready to deal with the matter, his companion Sophie also, who was loading a cloth with drops of chloroform.  "Between fifth and sixth rib, close to spine," Hesselink said.  "Miss, breath in.  Sophie, carefully.  Young man, keep her steady."  The doctor splashed alcohol onto his hands, then went for his scalpel.  The old woman fainted away onto the sofa she was seated on.

Jack darts for the door, looking for a shadowy figure, and thinks he sees movement in the garden that suggests someone is there.  The garden is a winding, sumptous bounty of flowers and trees, the path a pleasant pattern of brickwork.  The faint rasp of a shoe on the brickwork leads Jack onward.  The wand is again in his hand, unbidden.
"Daar is jy, klein towenaardaar," came a deep breathy voice at his back, all too close. "Ek wil my vergrootglas hê."
Jack whirled, casting the Fist of Yog Sothoth; the punishing invisible punch, but his target, a large figure in dark robes, merely exploded into wisps of black mist.  Harsh laughter echoed through the garden, and Jack was uncomfortably aware that there were more than one person out there; he heard footsteps from two different directions.

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GM:  Actions, etc, for the next minute of game time, please respond by Saturday, 30 March, next post Sunday
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Not keen to offer his back to either enemy, Jack crouches a bit and starts stepping quietly backward, perpendicular to a line between the two points where he heard them.  He hopes to keep both in front of him (though widely spaced) and put his back toward a wall or fence. As he moves, he shifts the wand to his left hand, keeping it pointed outward but near his body, and draws his .45 with his right hand. He will then cast a Deflect Harm on himself as he keeps moving. He is expecting that one enemy will make a distracting feint or attack and the other will try to blindside him immediately thereafter, so he concentrates on keeping his perception wide and unfocused. His intention is to fire his pistol at the first enemy he sees, and then immediately turn his attention to his open side and blast another Fist at whatever is coming that way. (If they don’t appear, he will move back to the garden entrance keeping alert, and head quickly inside.)

Expedition Part 10: Going Home pt 11

-----Jack-----

Jack crouches beside a large bush, then steps backwards as stealthily as possible, trying to figure out where the two people he heard were moving.  They were getting closer.

The attack came swiftly; just as he pulled the .45, he heard the pounding of footsteps to his left side.   The hissing voice came from above his head, now speaking in English.  "I have you now, little mage !"

The figure rushing towards him on the path to his left was dressed in dark clothes, possibly a robe; Jack's wand flicked up and out, and the attacker tumbled off the path like a bouncing ball, landing in some topiary.


Jack's attention was then drawn to his right, and he fired at the onrushing person in a dark robe, prompting a shrill shriek of pain; the person tripped and rolled, sprawling onto the brickwork path in an untidy sprawl.  The report of the firearm echoed against the hotel walls.  The voice above him screeched then, a violent sound that resonated in Jack's bones, but the wand was already whipping in the Deflect Harm spell, faster than Jack had ever cast before. He caught his breath as three black daggers raining down from above impacted on the spell's shielding and froze there, embedded in the spell.

A man's voice, on the path off to Jack's left, maybe twenty paces away, in surprise, "Wat de hel gaan hier aan ?"

Jack was simultaneously happy - and concerned - to see a policeman.  This one was wearing a khaki uniform with black boots, a pith helmet, and had one hand on a truncheon handle, the other on the grip of a holstered handgun.  The handgun was swiftly drawn and pointed at Jack.  "Polisie !  Laat sak jou wapen !  Ek plaas jou in hegtenis !"  The meaning was unmistakeable - the policeman wanted Jack to lower the weapon, and it looked like there might be an arrest in the near future.  The policeman looked fierce; not particularly big and strong, but tough like old leather.

The daggers remained suspended in the air above Jack's head, though he could no longer hear the mocking voice.

---Spider----

Trying to keep Annika alive, the doctor, his assistant and Spider are busy, while the staff hurries up with towels, water, and extra lamps to provide light for an impromptu operating theatre.  The night clerk holds a lamp steady for Hesselink, who is rapidly cutting open Annika's dress to reveal the wound.   "I have called police," Dieter the night clerk tells them, "And for ambulance."

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GM:  Actions, please, for the next minute of game time, please respond by Saturday 6 April, next post Sunday.
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Not wanting to interfere with a true professional, Spider finally backs away and wipes his hands on a towel.  He then notices Jack has vanished and goes in search of him.

Jack lifts his hands, but does knot empty them, and speaks rapidly but clearly.
“Be careful, there are two of them. They attacked a young woman. Stabbed her with a knife. She’s in the hotel with a doctor. I’m trying to catch them.”
He continues to watch for attacks while he speaks, and will not hesitate to fire the wand or pistol again, including to defend the policeman.

Expedition part 10: Going Home pt 12

---Spider----

Spider leaves the hotel foyer, while Hesselink and his assistant are working to save Annika's life.  He thought he'd heard a gunshot outside, and Jack was missing.

--Jack---
Jack raises his hands, the wand emitting a bright white glow that outlined the shapes of the daggers above his head.  The policeman didn't seem to understand much English, but was able to pick up a few words, though he did not lower his weapon or change his stance - and he did glance up briefly and see the suspended daggers.

There was the sound of footsteps on the brickwork path, heading away fast, and another pair of footsteps heading towards them.  Jack noticed the policeman heard this also, with a slight grimace.

"Hokay, Cowboy,"  the policeman said in rough English, again glancing at the daggers in the air.   "Put...gun on ground.  I am Policeman.  You shoot the man ?  You see..die mesaanval...die cut of the...knife ?"

---both-----

Spider skidded around a corner featuring a very pleasantly groomed topiary, nearly tripping on a crumpled body clad in a dark robe sprawled across the brickwork path.  There was no question that the person was dead, no one could survive that much blood loss.  Up ahead, he could see Jack's back; Jack's arms were raised, his right hand holding his sidearm and his left holding the wand, whose white glow illuminated three daggers - the same style as the one in Annika's back - frozen in the air about two feet above Jack's head; facing Jack was a man in a khaki uniform.  The set of the man's stance said 'military' or 'policeman', and he was holding a handgun on Jack.  Spider could hear the man speaking to Jack, but half of it was in Africaans.

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GM:  Please respond with actions, etc, for the next minute of game time, by Saturday, 13 April, next post Sunday.
________________

[OC: Sorry so late, not feeling well.]
Jack steps to his right and drops the pistol a short distance onto soft ground while maintaining the protective spell. If the daggers remain over the spot where he was, he will relax the spell and let them continue to the ground. On the other hand, if they move with him, or point at anyone else, he will try to think of a way to dispel them or fling them away. Failing all of that, he will step behind a tree so they fly into the trunk.
After dealing with the daggers, he will cooperate fully with the policeman except that he will not give up the wand if asked , simply sliding it into a pocket instead.

Expedition part 10: Going Home pt 13

Jack stepped carefully out from under the knives and dropped the protective spell and his firearm onto the grass.  The three black daggers immediately drove deep into the bricks, hilts quivering, where he had been standing.

The policeman observed this with only a grimace, and nodded to Jack to step back a few paces, so that the policeman could retrieve Jack's M1911a.  From the courtyard outside the hotel, there were screeching tires and shouting.  "Oi, Hey, hier in die tuin !"  The policeman yells, still holding his handgun on Jack.  There were more sounds of footsteps on the pathways, both coming and going, and abruptly, Spider had two policemen shouting at him while a third ran past him.

"Hey, Kees," the policeman who was now behind Jack.
"Sander, vertaal asseblief vir hierdie man," the first policeman said, and rattled off a lot of South African.  The other officer, younger with a thick brown mustache, began translating.
"Sir, I am placing you under arrest for suspicion of assault, place your hands on your head, turn around and stand there, I am going to hand cuff you.  The - " there was some discussion between the two about the wand, Jack figured, then, "Please put the glowing thing away - carefully."  Confident that it would return if he needed it, Jack set it back into its case.

He was handcuffed, as was Spider, their weapons were confiscated, and they were walked back to the hotel lobby under police escort, where Annika was being loaded onto a rolling gurney and headed towards an ambulance.  One policeman remained behind to observe the daggers, still stuck deep in the bricks.  Hesselink and his companion Sophie looked to be heading with the emergency responders.   Spider and Jack were walked into an office room and sat down on two sturdy wooden chairs.  The desk opposite them was clean, empty of all but a notepad and a pencil, which one of the lower ranked policemen took up and made ready to write down things.  The tough one, Kees, that arrested Jack seemed to outrank the other two police in the room, and began speaking in Africaans.  His manner was efficient and brusque.

Sander, the policeman that spoke good English translated.  "I need your names, your addresses, the reason why you are here at this hotel, what you were doing out in the garden, and we are confiscating your passports until such time as we have cleared you of any involvement in a crime.  A young woman has been seriously injured, but her uncle was killed.  Since neither of you were at the initial crime scene, we know you were not responsible for the murder, but we need to know more.  Did either of you hear or see the assault on Annika Vrees ?"

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GM: Actions, or rather explanations, for the next fifteen minutes of game time, please respond  by Saturday 20 April, next post Sunday, hope you feel better J.
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Jack complies fully. He gives his name and address, the number of their suite in the hotel, and tells Officer Sander truthfully when they arrived here from their university expedition in Antarctica. He offers further the approximate time he entered Annika's uncle's antique shop and bought some expensive curios, and that Annika translated for the transaction. He mentions that they shooed him out because they were in a hurry to go to a funeral. He also mentions the poisoned lemonade just earlier.
   "I did not see either of them after that until Annika appeared at the front door of the hotel as I was talking to our secretary in America on the lobby phone. She came through the door in obvious distress, so Mr. Mallory, the desk clerk, and I all moved to help her. She appeared to be reaching toward me, and said something in Afrikaans; the clerk might know what it was. Then she collapsed and we saw the dagger in her back. Mr. Mallory said he had also seen a large, shadowy person just outside the light of the doorway. I ran out to try to apprehend the person and heard him run into the garden. He yelled something at me in Afrikaans. Then I heard a second set of footsteps, and realized there were two of them. They came at me from both sides, so I shot one. The other I knocked into the bushes, but I heard him run away." Jack adds the direction he heard the retreat.

Spider gives them his personal details and says, "We saw someone do something to the woman.  My mate here went after him, and I moved to help the young lady.  I've got some basic medical skills from the war, so thankfully the doctor came to take over."

---both----

The policemen confer with each other in whispers, and the night clerk, Dieter, was called into the office room.

"The young lady said something about glass, and danger," Dieter reported.  "This guest -" he nodded at Spider, "Was trying to help treat the young lady.  The other guest was at the telephone cabinet.  He ran into the garden, and then they were both in the garden, after I had telephoned from the office for police and ambulance."

There was another conference, with Dieter being sent out to talk to the hotel manager, who looked ruffled - he was still fixing the studs on his sleeve cuffs.  It was about eight o'clock now.  The furor had calmed down and the dining room was back in business, while two handymen went to work at clearing up the mess in the foyer.  The fainting little old lady had also been whisked away into the ambulance.

The policeman in charge, Kees, departed the room, while Sander looked over his notes.

"You purchased items from the Curiousity Shop, Mr. Sterling.  Was one of them made of glass ?  And the person who got this lemonade, they are all right ?  The hotel only delivers drinks ordered by guests to their rooms, and there is no record of anyone delivering lemonade to your rooms."

But before he could get answers, there was a thunderous pounding on the door, with a familiar voice - Thorne, declaring something in loud Africaans. "Maak hierdie vervloekte deur oop, ek is hulle regsadviseur !"
"I speak English, Sir," Sander the policeman said politely, and went to open the door.  Thorne looked angry, but after a quick look at Spider and Jack - handcuffed, but not damaged, he subsided.

Sander stepped back to sit behind the desk.  "These gentlemen have not been arrested yet - not formally.  The handcuffs are a precaution, but Sergeant Kees will find out what is going on."
"I will stay in this room and answer for them if you ask them anything else," Thorne said.
"It's really not necessary, Sir."  Sander said.  "But if you feel you must, then please remain.  In fact, it might be safer if you are in the company of the police if indeed an attempt was made on one of your lives.  May I have your name for the records ?"
"Very well," Thorne replied.  "My name is Captain Thomas Thorne the Third, and I am the expedition facilitator.  These men are my responsibility."
It took a moment, as Sander was jotting down the notes, then his jaw fell open.
"YOU ?"  Sander pushed back from the desk like the Devil himself had just spoken, staring at Thorne.  The candlestick telephone on the desk rang, a local call; the policeman fumbled for the receiver, picking up the transmitter, eyes not leaving Thorne.  "Uh huh....uh huh....Calabar gif....so, wat wil jy hê moet ek doen, Sersant ?"  He listened for a moment, then nodded, and disconnected the call.
"Sergeant Kees will be down immediately," he said, still watching Thorne, who merely raised one eyebrow and glared back.

Kees came into the room, eyes narrowed, taking in Thorne and the tableau.  He went to stand beside Sander, and folded his arms, eyeing the three Agents. "Sê vir hulle dat hulle vanaand in hul kamers moet bly en ons sal wagte plaas.  Vra hulle wanneer hulle gaan."
"Sergeant Kees requests you stay in your rooms tonight and we will post guards, and when are you leaving ?"  Sander translated.
"The cuffs come off now," Thorne said. "Haal die boeie af. Gee hul eiendom terug.  Give them back their weapons."
"Albei die duiwels is hier," Kees said to Sander, who was sweating as he wrote on the notepad.

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GM: Actions, etc, for the next few minutes of game time, please respond by Saturday 27 April, next post is Sunday
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This message had punctuation tweaked by the GM at 01:11, Mon 22 Apr.