Up In Smoke.P1
Doom Train
Essie Vance [Whitney], Peter Graves [Jordan], Phillip Vance [Aaron]
Recap: They ran off the mad German sorcerer from Cauzerte and
in the process, rescued the Beaumont family. Marina the mother of Phillip’s
child. After days trying to restore what they could of the town, gendarmes
finally arrived and took over. Days for Phillip to convince Marina and family
to come to America. They drove to Paris to begin the immigration paperwork
and to call London for a pickup by Flt Lt Kingsley.
28
February, 1922 Train Ride: The airfield was east of London and thus required a 45
minute train ride into town and to the British Museum to meet with Sir Leonard
Wooley. “Excuse me, I couldn’t help but notice your American accents. I’ve lost
me accent years ago, but I’m actually American too. From Arkham, Mass. Ever
heard of it? My mum still lives there; I hope to be buried there when I die. My
manners; name’s Henry Stanley, train enthusiast. What brings you to London; bit early if
it’s for the Waterloo Station dedication. The entryway ‘Victory Arch’ is a
memorial to the company staff killed during the Great War. Scaffolding hide sit
for now. The grand opening is 21 March with Queen Mary herself presiding.
Once-ina-lifetime experience. Hope you come.” Henry talked non-stop as he
blathered on and on about the station and trains.
Peter
escaped for a smoke and walked to the dining car for a drink. He missed out on
more trivia, “American railways use a 1600mm gauge track which interestingly is
also used in Ireland. But London uses a 1435mm (4ft 8+1/2 in) gauge track
system. At least after the 1846 Railway Act. There was a brief moment when the
Brunel 2140mm gauge was used for the Great Western Railway. Anyway, much of the
London system was electrified in 1915. Uses a 3rd rail in the middle
to supply a 600 DC current.” Essie was the only one brave enough to listen… a
captured audience… as Phillip turned his attention to Marina and Anna. And Henry
paused a moment to hand a small train replica to Anna to play with.
Which gave Essie a chance to change
topics, “There’s other fascinating transportation in America. Such as horses. The
Pony Express…” Henry interrupted her, “Did you know trains are sometimes called
the ‘iron horse’?” But soon Henry realized his monopoly of time, “How rude of
me. I never did let you say why you are in town. Here is a map of the London
railway system. Use it to help get around. Electric tracks are marked but we
also have regular coal train services. I have to transfer to one to get home. And
if you ever want to learn more about trains, I’m a member of the London Train Spotter’s Association.” Essie used the opportunity to bury herself in the map
which quieted Henry who pulled out a magazine to busy himself for the rest of
the trip. Soon Henry donned his
overcoat and tipped his hat goodbye as he exited the train at the Waterloo
station as the others continued on north toward the British Museum.
3-Week Lull: Sir Wooley was pleased to see them again. He
gushed about the magnitude of their archaeological find in Iraq at the Kizzah
site. “Would you be so gracious as to stay and help inventory/catalog the
artifacts? We can offer you a nearby 3-bedroom house for your stay.” He was
mainly asking Essie who agreed. Phillip was occupied with getting the Beaumonts
to the American embassy to start more paperwork to get them overseas. Which
began with quarantine for concern of any ‘diseases’ they might be carrying.
Peter excused himself from manual labor of uncrating the museum boxes. He kept
busy adding notes and sketches to his growing journal of his adventures. Rough
drawings of the monsters they encountered. During the 3-weeks,…
Essie [Library Use training] buried herself
in the museum library trying to research history of the finds so each piece
could be placed in the correct archaeological area of the museum display. And
when she needed a break, she researched London trivia as background for when
she might go sightseeing. She was surprised to learn the Great War wasn’t just
in France and Europe. London had been bombed! German Zeppelin airships carried
out bombing raids. She also came across newspaper articles detailing the
outbreak of influenza immediately after the Great War. Thought to be spread by
soldiers crammed into train cars returning from the war. [Ablutomania
flareup] Essie found herself dipping fingers
into her water glass to cleans her hands. An unconscious act as she remembered
touching surfaces throughout the train!
[Urban
Survival training] With the Beaumonts quarantined, Phillip, with his
face buried in a map, found himself wandering the streets of London on his own
tour. “Cuse me govna.” Phillip paid little attention to the man bumping into him.
Then again, odd so few people in the streets. That’s when he realized he had
been pickpocketed… his rum flask missing! He put away the map and became more
attentive. And that’s when he saw the beggar on the push cart: a wounded
soldier with his legs blown away, asking for a handout. Phillip flipped a
dollar coin which the man bit into to confirm it real. And returned a
crooked/toothless smile. But more beggars saw the exchange and closed on the gift-giver.
Phillip ran. And looked back to see the cart man standing to show off his
prized coin.
[First Aid
training] Peter was interested in the age-old sport of pugilism… bare-knuckle
boxing. Most interested in how the trainer tended the cut eyebrows and
staunched the bloody noses. Peter pushed his way closer to the ring for a
better view. And in the process, knocked the beer out of another viewer’s
hands. The brute rose to his full almost 7ft height… as broad as a house… and
grabbed Peter by the shirt and lifted him off his feet. Eye-to-eye, Peter struggled
to break free as he offered [Persuade], “I’ll gladly get you another.” But the
foul breath and spittle response caused Peter to lash out with a fist (wearing
brass-knuckles) to the nose. [Hard Brawl] The brute released Peter, “You broke
my nose!” Peter grabbed a full beer glass from another nearby viewer and
offered it and a cigar to his foe. Blood dripped from Bronx’s nose into the glass
as he laughed and accepted the offer. Bronx displaced the man sitting beside
him and offered Peter the seat as he directed, “Lenny, get us some more beers.”
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March 21st: Even the museum closed for the grand event
of the Waterloo dedication. Thousands showed up to see the queen. But the
archway was in full view. Majestic. A
grand tribute to the fallen. Essie tried to ease her way closer, “Excuse me, excuse
me.” Barely 10 ft closer to the queen before others realized her American
accent and blocked the way, “You’re just a tourist. Shoulda come sooner.” But
she also heard a familiar voice (Henry), “Essie? Is that you? So glad you made
it. I’m so excited. Hope there’s no delays. I need to get home. I have a
special package arriving. A bought a new train set to be delivered later. It’s
a dedication to…” His words cut off as he was swept away in the crowd surging closer
as the queen arrived. The crowd hushed as the queen spoke… they clung to her every
word. And just like that, the ceremony complete. Essie not close enough to get
a handshake from the departing Queen Mary.
At least the day
memorable for Phillip as the Beaumonts were released from quarantine. Phillip
offered his room to Marina and Anna, while Peter offered his room to Pierre.
Both boys flipped a coin for the livingroom couch or chair.
March 22nd: The boys woke with a crick in their neck but
drawn to the kitchen by the wafting scent of cooking bacon and eggs. Marina at
the stove. Essie at the table with newspaper in hand. “Oh my! Henry Stanley
died last night! Up in smoke it says; his landlady says ‘spontaneous combustion’
possibly from a child’s toy trainset.” While Peter had no interest in the man
himself, the PI was drawn to the thrill of a mysterious case to be solved.
Essie called the operator, “Can you connect me to a Mrs. Constance Atkins of
Stoke Newington?” No phone listed, the operator could only provide an address: #3 Blithering Lane.
They jumped on the train east to the Liverpool terminal then changed to a coal
train ride north. They asked other departing passengers for directions to
Blithering Lane.
“See the Death Room… 6 pence”: The chalk
sign on the porch confirmed they were at the correct address. A “Room to Let” sign
in the window was icing. Constance answered their knock dressed in her night
gown with curlers in her hair. Peter flashed his police badge hoping to learn
more details. Constance surprised, “London police already been here. They
already contacted America? Guess you do have an embassy here. Almost forgot
Stanley was American. That’ll be 18 pence for the lot of ya. Come along. Gotta
make due for the 2-months’ rent the bloke still owed.”
10am: She straightened her curlers as she settled
into her routine from prior tours, “He came
home around 4pm teatime. Men arrived 5ish with a large, boxed train set they
carried up to his room. Imagine, a man his age playing with toys. Came down for
supper but he wolfed it down and rushed back upstairs at 7pm. Wasn’t too long
before I heard the toy in operation. Lights dimmed… poor house wiring ya know.
Hard to read the paper with the lights flickering. Anyway, wasn’t long before I
heard rumbling sound, dust from the ceiling falling. Him cry out. I rushed
upstairs. Door locked, had to use my key. The room full of smoke and him gone.
Window closed and bolted from inside. Just gone! Spontaneous human combustion I
say. Burnt to a crisp he was!” Peter listened intently, writing down every
detail in his shorthand.
They stifled a snicker when
Constance stopped to unlock the room. You’d think she’d leave it unlocked for
the tours. Phillip was the first to associate the smell as that from their
coal-train ride out of the Liverpool terminal. The same kind of soot covered
all surfaces. That had to be one-hell-of-a-realistic trainset the man bought!
Essie became distracted by the sight of the piss-pot pushed under the foot of the
bed. It was Peter who stooped to checkout the two parallel black lines on the
faded carpet floor that stretched from the corner water basin table to the far
wall. Essie picked up on the observation, “You do realize the lines over 4ft
separated… the same width as a standard gauge train track!”
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They continued to look around the
room. And spotted the bubbled wallpaper as if almost steamed off. They also
noticed another wide black soot streak across the ceiling that followed the
lines on the carpet. Peter studied a picture on the wall of a train labeled “2LCV.”
On the nearby nightstand, top drawer, he found a scrapbook dedicated to the pictured train. “Apparently Stanley was quite fascinated by this particular
Brighton-Special train that was
involved in an 1897 derailment. The locomotive and first 2 passenger cars sunk
into the muddy bank of a river. Killed over
100 passengers and injured more. Accident site 30 miles northwest, in Northampton
shire region.”
Essie asked about the trainset. “The
delivery truck was labeled Camden Emporium. The police took it for
investigation. Possible faulty wiring they said.” And that’s when the front
doorbell clanged. Mrs. Atkins hustled them along, “Got another tour.” Only because
she was the last to leave so she could lockup, did she notice Peter carrying
the scrapbook. He apologized for his absentmindedness. Truthfully, he hoped to
walk out with it even though he didn’t try to hide it from sight.
Mehmet’s Emporium: Once again Essie relied upon the telephone operator for
an address. It was easier for a short 2.5 mile taxi ride northwest to #27 East
Camden Road, Camden. The sign on the door read “CLOSED.” Phillip cupped his
hands to his eyes and peered thru the large display window to notice surfaces
covered in dust. “Not just closed for lunch break.” Peter tried the door and
found it locked. Essie was impatient and pulled her coat cuffs to cover her
hands about to punch the door glass with her elbow. “Can I help you? Mr. Mehmet’s
gone. Out shopping for more artifacts again.” It was a neighboring shop owner,
Gladys. “He’s been closed for weeks now. Few customers although I do remember
one gent exiting his store weeks ago with a broad smile on his face. Then the
delivery truck that arrived yesterday for pickup. Had their own key. Boxed up
the big trainset display in the front window.”
Essie easily recognized Peter’s
wink; so, she engaged with Gladys, “Gladys’ Sweet Tooth. That’s a
decadent name for your store. And I DO have a sweet tooth. Care to show me your
ware?” While the 2 women entered the store, the boys rounded the Emporium for the
backdoor. Took a while, but they managed to unlock it. [leaving obvious scratch
marks behind if the police needed to come investigate.] Leaving the store
lights off, and using his flashlight, Peter concentrated his search for a sales
ledger: the office desk. “Found it. March 5th: sold- one Brighton-Special-Commission trainset to a Mr. Henry Stanley. Delivery set for 21
March.” But Phillip flipped a few pages prior and found another entry. “1
January, 1922. Auction purchase of train set from the
Alexis estate sale. The penniless widow Alexis auctioned her late husband’s
estate. A Randolph Alexis.”
And that’s when Gladys asked Essie,
“Did you see that flash of light in the Emporium store?”
PART 2 Conclusion: https://wjr5oakley.blogspot.com/2022/11/up-in-smoke-doom-trainp2-conclusion.html
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