Westland, NY, Friday, July 19, 1929
At the Library
Feldman led Eric and Otis down a hallway deeper within the Restricted Collection vault to a small room containing a table and two chairs. He explained that they must not touch or write in the books, and that he would inspect any notes that they made before they left.
The first book he gave them Otis had seen before. Inviolati Conditori Pueri was a treatise on contacting otherworldly beings written in the fourteenth century in Brasov, Rumania, by a sorcerer named Aldric Drust. The text was written in fourteenth century Latin, Greek and Aramaic.
The other book was entitled Travelers from Beyond, and it was a partial English translation of Inviolati Conditori Pueri written by Meirion Colwyn, a Welsh philosopher, in 1749. Travelers from Beyond was augmented by woodcut illustrations.
Skimming the books they learned that:
- Durst claimed to have been captured by the Byzantines and taken to Russia as a Janissary before effecting his escape or release. Durst wrote of his travels during this period, where he observed ancient mystical rites involving the contacting and subjugation of otherworldly entities.
- Travelers from Beyond was augmented by woodcut illustrations of entities that Colwyn had allegedly contacted using the methods described by Drust.
- They deciphered Ben Gahzee’s Cloud.
- The Devil’s Moon was when the new full first falls in July, which will be Sunday Night.
- They deciphered Torturous Ruse.
- Realized that the Botany Department might know how to identify and/or find plants.
- There was no mention of fairies in either book. Brett Hanke had studied them in detail. Therefore he lied as to what they would summon, which may have had nothing to do with the amber.
- Eric recalled that the translation from the outside of the sarcophagus included the same entities mentioned in the Ben Gahzee incantation.
- Both fell asleep.
Feldman awakened them at 5PM. Otis claimed that the material was beyond his understanding on account of the language it was written in. “Sadly my skills in languages did not lend itself to this endeavor. I feel the dialects used were teasingly similar, yet too obscure for me.” Eric said that he had not realized how tired he was, and the quiet and stillness of the reading room was more than he could resist.
They graciously thanked Dr. Feldman for granting them access to the room. Feldman insisted on reviewing their notes. They showed him empty notebooks and disorganized ramblings. Feldman commented that the notes were as messy as the source material. He suggested rehydrating at the Tikhoosue Club on the lake. They thanked him again and left the library.
The Tikhoosue Club
Mookie asked Sheriff Wagner about the farm in Stuckley. He suggested speaking to Jack Barnes, the owner of the Tikhoosue Club on the lake.
Ken mentioned that Dr. Feldman recommended the place and got past the doorman. They were seated outside on the balcony. The buxom waitress in a scanty costume took their order for 4 teas. She mentioned that the club offered gambling, burlesque shows, and other entertainments. While they waited, they shared their information.
Sam asked why Eric and Otis had come to the club. Eric mentioned that Dr. Feldman had recommended that they rehydrate after falling asleep in the reading room. Sam told them that he and Mookie had been referred to the owner, who was a recent friend of Longborough.
When the waitress returned, she had four mugs full of amber liquid that was not hot. Sam asked if Mr. Barnes was available. She said she would find out. A few minutes later, a rough looking man came to their table and asked what their interest in Barnes was. Eric said that they were told that he had been a friend of Mr. Longborough. The man said that he would see if “da boss” was available.
They learned from Barnes that Longborough was a frequent patron of the club, playing backgammon with Barnes on the balcony overlooking the water on pleasant days. He was worried about the farm in Stuckley.
Eric mentioned that an insurance agent had been showing up in unexpected places since they were tasked by Longborough. That made Barnes and his colleague uncomfortable.
Barnes mentioned that Jason had felt guilty about the death of John and the commitment of Homer. He had thought he should have done something to stop it. Never said what ‘it’ was.
Eric asked if he had every associated with one of the girls or played backgammon with anyone else. Barnes said that he had not.
Otis asked if Barnes knew of anyone who worked with unusual plants. Barnes suggested the botany department at the university, but if they were looking for unusual plants, they should see Sue Wu at the Exotic Tea and Spice shop behind the China Palace restaurant.