Wednesday, 3 August, 1870

The discussion of how to confront Bopp and his agents went rather more quickly than usual. Everyone readily agreed that we should depart the train before it reached Konigsberg, where Bopp might well have an ambush awaiting.

We debarked at a town called Kammerstein. Sir Cosmo purchased carriages and horses. We were soon loaded aboard and making our way by a circuitous route to a place on the outskirts of Konigsberg called Witch's Hill. According to the research Miss Whitnell, Edward, and others had done in the library at Berlin, this had been, in previous centuries, the site where witches and other enemies of the Teutonic Knights had been burned at the stake. Mrs. Cuthbert, Miss Whitnell, and Mr. Ramsay believed that it would be possible to contact the spirits of some of those slain witches to ask their aid. Mrs. Cuthbert should be able to do so without first raising mystical energy and alerted Herr Bopp to our presence.

The plan of attack developed from suggestion from several members of the party. Mr. Hasan could transport himself and one other directly into the temple of the Teutonic Knights, bypassing all mystical barriers and wards, because of something he called, "the law of re-association." Whoever would accompany him would have to wear an amulet dedicated to the guardian statues (the Bull, Lion, Eagle, and Fish) and swear an other to protect the guardians. Of course, doing so would certainly alert Bopp to their presence. Mr. Hassan was counting on this, as he intended to demand that Bopp surrender the Bull. If (when) Bopp refused, then Mr. Hassan would feel no guilty at using force to subdue him. I volunteered to accompany Hassan, as did George, Sir Cosmo, Mr. O'Flaherty, Mr. Cuthbert, Edward, and Miss Sinclair. Eventually Mr. O'Flaherty convinced us he was the best choice.

Meanwhile, Mr. Frazer would lead a small group through a tunnel we had learned of which led from a tavern in the city to the sub-basement of the temple. Miss Sinclair and Edward volunteered to accompany this group, so Owen, Turgenov, and I were assigned to accompany them.

A coach, driven my Insp. MacGreggor, would, after receiving a signal, drive up to the main gate of the Knights' compound. The roof would be opened up, then Henri and Dr. Wilson, each wearing one of Dr. Wilson's rocket belts (or as Edward and some of the others keep calling them, the rocket pants) would fly up to the guard towers on either side of the gate, trailing a rope. They would need to be armed, as their would be guards to fight in the towers. As soon as the ropes were secured, Mr. Cuthbert, Lt. Wooster, Mr. Caine, and Insp. MacGreggor would climb up to secure the towers, and if need be, fire upon the forces of the knights within the compound.

Once Mr. Hassan and Mr. O'Flaherty were inside the temple, Mr. Hassan would call the Lion to him. The Lion would transform itself into the chariot, and carry Sir Cosmo, Mr. Ramsay, and George into the temple, where they could assist in subduing Bopp.

Just before all these things took place, Miss Whitnell, Mrs. Cuthbert, and Miss Metzger would begin raising power on Witch's Hill, and cast a spell at Bopp. The act of raising power would serve as a distraction while the other attacks commenced, and if the mystics were successful with their spell, might eliminate the need to have an all-out fight. Miss Chigwidgeon and Miss Bertilde would remain with the mystics to assist and guard them.

When we reached Witch's Hill, it was easy enough to find an empty house. Mr. Frazer said the neighborhood had a reputation for being haunted. Baron von Raalik, leader of the Order of St. Jerome, was awaiting us in the neighborhood. He had resigned his post, given up his artifacts, and come to assist. We were glad for his help, and he was assigned to the group with the chariot.

I went off with Mr. Frazer's group in search of the tavern. It did not take us long to find it, but we had a bit of trouble getting all members of the party into the tunnel, as the entrance was in the back room and the tavern staff didn't want customers back there.

Mindful that the tunnels might be rigged with traps I and the dogs led the way. We had little difficulty reaching the ladder that led into the subbasement. Edward climbed the ladder and listened at the door, then came back down and told us that he could hear two men, discussing in German some sort of project. Edward said one of the men had referred to some kind of explosive. Miss Sinclair and Mr. Frazer instructed me to try to sneak in and clear the way for the party to follow.

The trap door at the top of the ladder opened into a doorless chamber just off a corridor. Across this corridor was the door to the room in which the two men were working. It had the appearance of a laboratory, not unlike Sir Cosmo's. The older of the two men was busy with a strange device which contained several glass cylinders each filled with an oddly familiar green glowing substance. The younger man had gone down the corridor to fetch something from another room.

I waylaid the younger man in the corridor first. I knocked him senseless before he perceived my presence, then snatched the box from his hands before he fell to the ground. The older man heard something and called out. He came out into the corridor carrying a gun. Not an ordinary gun, but an etheric pulse pistol of the design Jerrold Moriarty had stolen from a Prussian inventor. I could hear the gun making its distinctive hum.

He did not perceive me in the shadows, but I had not had time to conceal the body of his assistant. As he stepped forward with the gun I snapped his neck, then carried both bodies to the alcove. I ascertained that no one else was in any of the rooms immediately nearby, then signalled the others to come up the ladder.

Mr. Frazer sent Owen and Turgenov to scout around for any guards and any prisoners. We had reason to believe that a Prussian constable called "Gruber" was held prisoner somewhere within the temple. Edward, Miss Sinclair, and Mr. Frazer searched the laboratory. The green glowing cylinders were Autunite batteries -- the same kind of battery that had exploded in Jerrold Morriarty's etheric pulse gun after Sir Cosmo returned it. Edward said that the large device was a bomb which should be disassembled immediately. Also in the lab was an etheric pulse gun of identical design to the one Jerrold Moriarty had tried to use to kill Sir Cosmo and Miss Chigwidgeon.

Mr. Frazer sent the ghost of his father off to Miss Cuthbert to tell them what was going on.

Edward began disassembling the bomb. Mr. Frazer and Miss Sinclair went to the next room and searched it. I was left on guard in the corridor.

Frazer and Miss Sinclair discovered several cabinets full of dozens of the etheric pulse guns, and scores of both Autunite and Terbenite batteries, along with several more conventional weapons. Miss Sinclair had also descovered more of the boxes, which contains velvet-lined compartment designed to cushion the batteries. Edward had us begin placing all the Autenite batteries he was removing from the bomb in the boxes.

Turgenov returned to report that there was an area to the west of our location in which a number of men were being held prisoner, and one of these men was Herr Gruber. There were also some guards.

Owen returned from the east tunnel and said a creature he could not identify was in a chamber that way. Whatever the thing was, it made the fur on Owen's neck rise.

Frazer suggested that he, Turgenov, and I should go rescue Gruber first. Owen stood watch at the lab as Edward worked on the bomb and Miss Sinclair moved all the guns and batteries out of the storeroom and into the tunnel. The guards were no difficulty. Herr Gruber was a bit disoriented, but after a few moments he recognized Mr. Frazer and was willing to come along.

When we returned to the laboratory, Edward was actually inside the metal framework of the bomb, almost finished removing the autunite batteries.

I sensed magic above us. Someone, presumably Bopp or his allies, was performing a ritual. Then, I sensed the arrival of Mr. Hassan. I informed my companions.

Mr. Frazer and Miss Sinclair agreed that we should investigate this other creature that worried Owen before we tried to reach the surface. As we advanced, I sensed a mystical battle overhead, but also a gathering of power ahead. I whispered this information to the others.

We found a strange chamber inhabited by a man-sized creature. It resembled a giant toad. The room had obviously be modified to accomodate him, with a tub of saltwater large enough for him to lay in if he wished, plus a small fountain spraying water, making the atmosphere quite moist.

The creature was a mage. He had drawn a magic circle and was standing inside, chanting. He glared angrily at us (at least, that is what I perceived; I have never met such a creature before, perhaps my interpretation of its intent was incorrect). I started to explain how much power he had raised, but Edward fired at him with one of the etheric pulse guns.

The creature was definitely harmed, but not immediately incapacitated. It gestured at us, seeming to aim the power of its spell toward us.

Miss Sinclair and Edward each fired again. That was enough to finish him. Unfortunately, the power he had gathered didn't dissapate harmlessly, but became a wild spell.

One of the spells of one of the mages above us had started running wild a few moments before. There sheer level of mystical energy boiling above us was like a thunderstorm. I tried to explain this to the others. We could also hear ordinary guns and explosions. Miss Sinclair seemed more interested in lecturing Edward about firing so quickly. I will have to speak to her later, she seems unwilling to admit that she sensed danger from the creature, just as the child did. Mr. Frazer cut the lecture short by suggesting we should either join the fight above or retreat.

Miss Sinclair and Edward wanted to join the fight, in case our friends needed help. Gruber pointed us to the stairs. By the time we reached the temple, more than just spells were running wild.

Somehow the mystics that were supposed to be on Witch Hill were here, trying to shutdown the spell. Miss Bertilde, George, Sir Cosmo and Mr. Deveril were busy fighting a rather large group of soldiers coming through one door. Mr. Ramsay, Baron von Raalik, and Miss Metzger were casting a spell. Mr. Hassan seemed to be casting yet another spell. Miss Chigwidgeon had been possesed by Kali (and managed to get herself covered with blood, again). Mr. Flaherty appeared to have been possessed by a similar force. Both of them were fighting a demon--or perhaps it was another god. In form it was like a man carved from the blackest rock. Miss Chigwidgeon and Mr. O'Flaherty punched the black being right through the stone wall of the building.

Standing in the temple was like standing in the center of a fierce storm. Magickal energies from many sources raged wildly around us. I could scarcely hear the words shouted by my companions. I concentrated on the Seed of Peace, the only mantra I thought had any hope of keeping me focused in the tumult.

Mrs. Cuthbert and Miss Whitnell were trying to pull Sir Cosmo from the fight. Miss Whitnell was shouting, trying to be heard over the sound of battle. She wanted him to try to kiss Miss Chigwidgeon, in order to awaken Kali's love and turn the goddess from destruction to creation. They were pulling him outside, where the battle had relocated.

We had little choice but to follow.

The black demon (Mrs. Cuthbert later called him the Black Pharoah) had grown to be taller than the steeple on the temple. And Mr. O'Flaherty was growing to match his size. Sir Cosmo was trying to reason with Kali.

I could see that Lt. Wooster and Mr. Caine had control of one of the guard towers, Mr. Cuthbert and Henri had the other one. Both were aiming the tower cannons toward the Black Pharoah. Miss Bertilde was dodging in-between the Black Pharoah's feet and trying to stab him with her sword.

Sir Cosmo had finally kissed Miss Chigwidgeon. He was engulfed in the power of Kali, which took the form of lightning and fire. Most of the soldiers and other inhabitants of the compound appeared to be running way. Mr. O'Flaherty and the Black Pharoah were wrestling, which at their size meant more buildings were being destroyed every moment. The Baron, Mr. Ramsay, and Hassan were trying to pull the remaining wild spell under control, but not having much success. I joined Miss Whitnell and Mrs. Cuthbert standing guard over Sir Cosmo and Miss Chigwidgeon, though the goddess' power was coming through so strong, I'm not sure they needed it.

Lt. Wooster's cannon misfired, nearly destroying the tower he was in. Mr. O'Flaherty was distracted, rescuing Miss Bertilde from the falling debris. The Black Pharoah plucked Wooster's wounded body from the smoke and flames. Somehow, he had survived, and was actually yelling insults at the Pharoah, demanding that he surrender. I was somewhat confused by this, not certain whether Wooster was being unbelievably brave or simply confused and delusional. I was informed, later, that the Black Pharoah had manifested out of the dying body of the evil sorcerer, Bopp. Bopp's memory and personality seemed to be in control of the manifestation. Wooster's insults were aimed at Bopp, who had (in life) a deep abiding hatred from Wooster.

The lieutenant's ploy kept the Black Pharoah distracted for a while -- long enough for Mr. Caine to carry Dr. Wilson's unconscious body out of the ruins of the tower, and long enough for Kali to physically manifest.

Miss Whitnell and Mrs. Cuthbert's plan had worked. As Miss Chigwidgeon and Sir Cosmo embraced, Kali separated from Miss Chigwidgeon, rising from her form like an enormous cloud of smoke, which took solid form, towering above us all. I had been reciting the First Mantra for several moments at that point. Nothing else could match the immensity of forces arrayed around us. As I repeated the single syllable, I found myself sinking to my knees. What else could I do in the shadow of my goddess?

Kali stepped forward and grasped the Black Pharoah around the throat from behind with two of her hands. With her other hands she grasped his hips, then lifted him from the earth. It was so like the painting of Kali's defeat of the demon, Raktabija.

The great mystical storm was still churning above our heads, and now I perceived that the wild spell had merged into an older, more powerful hole in the fabric of the world. Kali strangled the life out of the Black Pharoah as easily as she had slain the demons, Chanda and Munda. Then Kali shoved the corpse of the Black Pharoah through this hole. Then, grasping the sides of the opening, pulled it shut. The wild spell disappated. Everything became very quiet.

And Kali was gone. Mr. O'Flaherty was his usual size, once more. Wooster was alive, though badly injured, laying on the ground. Miss Chigwidgeon and Sir Cosmo were dazed and no longer bathed in mystical fire. Miss Bertilde was looking as dazed as many of the others. George was limping toward me through the rubble.

Miss Sinclair pulled Miss Chigwidgeon aside, then made the suggested we should leave. Several others voiced their agreement. Mrs. Cuthbert was trying to see to the wounded. I and several others began helping her. Insp. MacGreggor and Mr. Cuthbert went off in search of carriages or wagons. Baron von Raalik had collapsed at the end of the battle. He was dead when we reached him. Mrs. Cuthbert said there was nothing she could do for him.

George asked if I knew where Edward was. I looked around at all the wounded and limping people. There was no sign of the child. There was also no sign of Miss Sinclair. Before we had searched far, we heard Miss Sinclair's voice raised in great consternation. Mr. Frazer ran toward the sound. George and I followed. I could then perceive Edward's voice along with Miss Sinclair's.

We found them coming up the stairs from the sub-basement. Miss Sinclair shouted something about Edward setting a bomb. Edward said we should all leave, immediately.

Mr. Hassan transformed the Lion and the Bull into chariots. He took up the reins of the Lion. Mr. O'Flaherty took up the reins of the Bull. Mr. Cuthbert and the Inspector had both found wagons. It took only a few moments to get all of us, including the body of the Baron, loaded into one vehicle or the other. And then we running away.

As soon as the Lion and Bull landed on the hill, Miss Whitnell called the remaining mystics together and started chanting. They raised an enormous amount of power by the time the first explosion happened beneath the temple. Miss Whitnell poured all the power into the spell she uses to put out fires, and aimed it at the compound.

I could see the wagons with the rest of our party driving as fast as the horses would go, about halfway to the hill.

There were more explosions. And more. And more. I lost count long before it was over. Each explosion seemed larger than the previous. Fire seemed to be coming up from the depths of the earth and destroying everything on the surface.

The spell formed a barrier around the compound, holding the destructive force of the explosions inside. By the time it ended, all that remained inside the boundaries of the former headquarters of the Teutonic Knights was smouldering rubble.

Edward was enthralled.

Miss Sinclair and Miss Whitnell were beside themselves.

We eventually learned that, as the tide of battle seemed to turn our way, Edward had gone back to the laboratory and improvised a detonation device on one of the autunite batteries, which he set on some sort of timer. Edward's reasoning was that all that autunite was too dangerous to leave lying around and too dangerous for us to carry away. The terbenite batteries and etheric pulse guns were not so dangerous to transport, but there were too many of them for us to carry. He decided the best way to make certain no one re-assembled the bomb and destroyed a city was to destroy the autunite and all the rest.

Miss Whitnell and Miss Sinclair berated him for some time, trying to persuade him to show some remorse for his actions. Mr. O'Flaherty made what I thought was a rather astute observation. We had already destroyed several of the buildings long before the bombs were detonated.

As it became clear the discussion would not be productive, I sat with Miss Chigwidgeon and discussed the problem between the Inspector and Miss Whitnell. As always, Miss Chigwidgeon's perspective was valuable. She suggested that they just need time to work things out for themselves. It is quite clear to me that he is a far more deserving match for Miss Whitnell than the other possibility she contemplates. But it is not my decision where she places her affections. And now that I have looked at it from this vantage, I realize that I was two quick to see the pain of his disappointment, and overlook the resilience of his soul. Besides, I must place my own house in order before offering advice to others.

Finally, Sir Cosmo intervened, taking Edward aside to discuss the consequences of his decisions, and to explore other ways the same problem could have been solved. Miss Whitnell and Miss Sinclair didn't seem satisfied with Sir Cosmo's solution. Miss Sinclair, in particular, seems obsessed with trying to make Edward show some outward sign of guilt. But that is not in Edward's nature. Maybe it is because she watches Edward, but doesn't look beneath. Maybe it is because I have known other Moriarties for so long. I could see the moment, while Sir Cosmo was talking, when Wilhelmina realized that innocent people had been needlessly endangered by her actions. I also saw the firm decision in her eyes not to make this particular mistake again.

Maybe I should try to explain.

No. I must place my own house in order, first. I have been unbalanced since the encounter with the vengeance demon. I have to find my path again. I have to let this new me find it's place on that path. I think I will spend the night, as the others sleep, concentrating on Namaste's Paradox. I am connected in new ways. I believe I must learn and accept all those connections before I can find the balance again.

Proceed to Another break from routine

Return to the Others Index

Return to Main Menu

Contents this page copyright 2004 by Gene Breshears. All Rights Reserved.