The Mind's Eye.P1

The Mind's Eye (In a Different Light), by Dean Engelhardt

Essie Vance [Whitney], Peter Graves [Jordan], Phillip Vance [Aaron]

Recap: Aboard the HMS Adriatic, bringing the body of Henry Stanley home to his mother, Helen. They encountered serpentfolk bent on consuming Joseph Taft to get one of their own in a position of power within the human race.

20 April, 1922: During those last days, they cabled ahead (per ship’s telegram operator) to let Mrs. Stanley know of their projected arrival. On Thursday, the ship docked at Boston’s Harbor for unloading. Peter and Essie signed for Stanley’s casket and escorted it to the waiting hearse. Meanwhile, Phillip escorted the Beaumont’s thru immigration as their sponsor. Thus, it was almost 5 hours before all gathered and hailed a cab for the hour drive north to Arkham.

2pm Sunday, April 23^rd: At Helen’s insistence and Essie’s gracious acceptance, they all attended Henry Stanley’s 2pm funeral service at the Hangman Hill Cemetery. Except things delayed. Helen approached Essie, “My brother Michael is late as usual. Do you think one of your friends would mind filling in as pallbearer?” Phillip got volunteered. He nervously held on to the casket bar as he shuffled along with the other 5 men toward the open grave. Sweat formed on his brow as Phillip envisioned the casket falling and out rolling Henry’s body along with the possible real remains of Joseph Taft hidden away by those serpent trio from the encounter crossing the Atlantic.

It was close to 4pm when they joined the wake held at Helen’s house. Peter thought attending the funeral was enough; so, he sat on the front porch to brood in private with smoke and drink in hand. And occasional nodded at new arrivals to the wake. All strangers to him. Inside, Phillip politely stood and nodded at the random mourner looking his way. He only spoke/interacted when he had to. Essie was more engaged as she helped Helen refill the food dishes while telling all who asked about Henry’s train enthusiasm in England. She remembered some of the details Henry spouted.

Peter perked up when he heard distant police sirens that seemed to grow louder. And saw beat cops walking across the street as if searching the brush. Meanwhile, Essie escorted Helen into the kitchen to retrieve more food and drinks when she heard a noise out back. The rattle of trashcans and mumbling. She cracked open the rear door and peeked out to see the back of a man paused near the cans. “Excuse me, are you lost? Need help?”

Essie loudly gasped in fright when the man turned around: his eyes a bloody mess. His eyes missing as had been scratched out! Yet the man not in pained expression; rather, calming staring at her. Directly at her! Helen stepped to the door in wonder what was going on… “MICHAEL? Oh God, Michael, what happened?!” Phillip heard Essie’s raised voice and came to investigate. He too gasped in fright. Meanwhile, Peter stood and stomped out his cigarette as him now curious about the beat cops who suddenly crossed the street and ran toward the back of Helen’s house. He too heard the commotion and followed the cops.

Everyone drawn to Michael’s missing eyes, they failed to notice him wearing a straight-jacket. Ceaseless muttering, “Huge…stars…living…waiting…waiting…” When the 3 police officers arrived thru the back gate, 2 lead Michael away restrained while the other (sergeant) reassured the now gathered crowd. “Everything is under control folks. Please return inside and let us do our business.” [Persuade] Peter did not recognize the officers from his days on the force. He pulled out his expired police badge (versus his PI badge) and asked them for details. Sgt Brown quietly whispered, “Michael Farr. Escaped from the ambulance carrying him from St Mary’s hospital to the Sanitarium.”

Helen had to hold onto the door frame, she so distraught as she wailed in tears. First her son dead, now brother mutilated. She looked at the trio who seemed best able to handle themselves, “PLEASE! Find out what happened to my brother!”

NEXT SESSION: https://wjr5oakley.blogspot.com/2022/12/the-minds-eyep2.html