Chapter 8

Posted by Michaelson from eeespace208.utsi.edu (150.182.24.208) on Thursday, July 18, 2002 at 8:04pm :

In Reply to: You know what I miss? posted by Goodsport from adsl-216-102-199-185.dsl.snfc21.pacbell.net (216.102.199.185) on Wednesday, July 17, 2002 at 2:11am :

We continue...

The draft that moved up toward him on the darkened steps caused Indy's candle to flicker and crackle as he slowly made is way down into the huge, common crypt area. Upon reaching the base, he caught a shadow movement in the corner of his eye, to his right, but all was still, and no futher movement could be detected. Indy looked around the base of the steps after detecting a faint odor of kerosene and found a lantern, apparently left by catherdral workmen.

"They already know I'm here, so why continue stumbling around in the dark?" he mumbled under his breath.

He raised the glass globe with it's wire bail, lit the wick, then held the lantern high, marveling at the scene.

For as far as the lantern light could reach, Indy could see elaborately carved stone burial vaults, each with a full life size representation of a fallen king, knight, bishop, or other notable of high enough ranking to warrent internment under the great edifice.

Indy pulled out the scrap of paper that Sir William had given him. He scanned the map on the paper under the yellow glare from the hissing lantern. The specific crypt he sought was near the middle of the maze of sleeping 'saints' and staring gargoyles. Indy glanced around at these silent spectors, their maouths agape in frozen yawns, seeming to watch Indy in amazed silence, silently marveling that their eternal sleep would be disturbed. Indy moved quickly along the aisle between the crypts, his eyes scanning the inscriptions and dates on the stone covers of each tomb. He could tell by the map that he was approaching the correct area, though he realised that there was a better than even chance he would be wrong, as even in death there were class diferences and clashes in philosophy in court that could prevent an elder of the church from being buried near a king due to having a common blood line, different than the blue bloods of the Winsors or Tudors. The map was sparse of details, and gave only general directions, guessed at by Sir William himself. He could be sending him in circles, as far as he knew. Indy stopped to listen for a moment.

He had been in London for less than 10 hours, had only known Sir Wiliams for a few of those hours, and here he was in the bowels of a great catherdral in the emiddle of the night, standing among the royal dead with a questionable map in hand, and something possibly waiting in the dark, just out of the reach of his lantern light, waiting to kill him. Indy felt a smile crease his lips as he thought 'Well, it beats book work.'

He double checked the map to confirm his location, discovering he was standing directly in front of an indicated 'landmark' that was at the turn to the aisle leading to Lord Curtain's crypt. The marker was a carved stone angel, staring upward toward the 'sky'. What made this particular statue stand out was a black stain that appeared flow fromthe top of it's head to it's waist, as if something had been spilled over the figure in some disatn past event. More than likely it was mold or mildew that had grown over it's surface. What ever the reason, it gave the angel an ominous cast and a darker presence than what the stone cutter had originally intended.

Indy started to make the turn down the aisle, when he heard a sound to his right from a parallel aisle. Indy immediately tossed the lantern down, pulled his revolver and went to a crouch in one motion. The inky blackness could almost be felt, his eyes and ears strained to detect any source of light or sound. Nothing further was heard, except his own heart beat. Indy was about to doubt his senses when he heard a sound again, but this time it was the unmistakeable metallic click of a revolver hammer being pulled back to full cock. Indy silently moved across the aisle, feeling his way along the crypt wall under the black angel, and felt his way around the corner.

He just made the turn when a sudden explosion and violent flash erupted from straight ahead of where Indy had been standing, the bullet shattering the lantern where Indy had dropped it on the floor. Momentarily blinded, Indy fired three times in the direction of the flash, once at the center of the muzzle flash, the two quick follow up shots, one to the left, the other to the right of center. He heard a grunt, then the clatter of a heavy metal object striking the stone floor, followed by the sound of running feet in the opposite direction of where Indy was crouched.

Whomever had fired the shot knew the layout of the room, as there was no hesitation in their negotiation of the maze. Indy slowly rose,listening to the retreating footsteps, and could just see a light and hear the distant sound of the opening and closing of a heavy door. He waited for a few beats, then moved across the aisle from where he had returned fire, as there could very well be another individual waiting in the dark, hoping to finish the botched ambush. Time seemed to pass slowly as Indy waited, but no further movement was detected. After what seemed an eternity, Indy pulled out his lighter that he habitually carried in his jacket pocket and struck it's flint, illuminating the area around him. His pupils had completely dilated in the total darkness, and the light from the Zippo seemed to cast a glare a powerful as a thousand candle search light. Twenty feet in front of him lay a Webley .38 revolver, as well as spots of blood heading away from where he stood. One of his shots apparently found it's mark.

Indy picked up the lantern, it's globe shattered in the violent handling it had received, but it's working parts were still intact. Indy relit the unit, but before being his search again, he retrieved the WEbley, ejected the spent shells and reloaded his Smith and Wesson. Tucking the Webley in his waist band, he picked up the lantern and started down the aisle that lead to the crypt he sought, his revolver level and ready in his other hand.

Walking another 40 feet, the shadowy shape of the ornate tomb slowly emerged from the dark shadows, it's shape dancing in the now flickering and dim lantern light. Indy walked to the stone sarcophocus and held the lantern up to the inscription, confirming the final resting place of Lord Curtain. Indy checked his notes in the notebook he carried in his pocket, and after confirming his thoughts, put the book away and slowly began to circle the crypt. As he walked around the stone box, his boot struck a metal object, it's metalic clank reverbrating throughout the room. A crowbar! Indy held the light higher to the rear of the box, discovering a large hole chiseled into a high corner, and that the lid had been totally breeched.

Indy climbed up on the rim of the stone lid, and relighting the lighter, extended his head and arm through the hole to view the last earthly remains of Lord Curtain. His bones had mostly reverted to dust, the skull staring up at him, it's empty eye sockets appearing to dance in the flickering light of the lighters' flame. Indy eased himself down into the box and quickly scanned the contents. The Lord had been buried with the usual trapments of a religious scholar and favorite of the court of King James the First, but Indy could see no book! The dark coven had apparently beaten him to this volume! Where was the 'watcher' assigned to this crypt?

Indy sat for a few moments, then pulled himself back through the hole. Climbing down from the lid, he continued his circle of the box, but stopped suddenly, his second search ended, but this time with dubious success. Laying face down, his head turned in a grotesque angle, was the apparent missing 'watcher' of the missing volume for the Black Book!

End of chapter 8

Indygear

Follow Ups:

I'm hooked... - Micah 9:51pm 07/18/2002

Still two more chapters... - Michaelson 12:25pm 07/19/2002

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: We continue... : The draft that moved up toward him on the darkened steps caused Indy's candle to flicker and crackle as he slowly made is way down into the huge, common crypt area. Upon reaching the base, he caught a shadow movement in the corner of his eye, to his right, but all was still, and no futher movement could be detected. Indy looked around the base of the steps after detecting a faint odor of kerosene and found a lantern, apparently left by catherdral workmen. : "They already know I'm here, so why continue stumbling around in the dark?" he mumbled under his breath. : He raised the glass globe with it's wire bail, lit the wick, then held the lantern high, marveling at the scene. : For as far as the lantern light could reach, Indy could see elaborately carved stone burial vaults, each with a full life size representation of a fallen king, knight, bishop, or other notable of high enough ranking to warrent internment under the great edifice. : Indy pulled out the scrap of paper that Sir William had given him. He scanned the map on the paper under the yellow glare from the hissing lantern. The specific crypt he sought was near the middle of the maze of sleeping 'saints' and staring gargoyles. Indy glanced around at these silent spectors, their maouths agape in frozen yawns, seeming to watch Indy in amazed silence, silently marveling that their eternal sleep would be disturbed. Indy moved quickly along the aisle between the crypts, his eyes scanning the inscriptions and dates on the stone covers of each tomb. He could tell by the map that he was approaching the correct area, though he realised that there was a better than even chance he would be wrong, as even in death there were class diferences and clashes in philosophy in court that could prevent an elder of the church from being buried near a king due to having a common blood line, different than the blue bloods of the Winsors or Tudors. The map was sparse of details, and gave only general directions, guessed at by Sir William himself. He could be sending him in circles, as far as he knew. Indy stopped to listen for a moment. : He had been in London for less than 10 hours, had only known Sir Wiliams for a few of those hours, and here he was in the bowels of a great catherdral in the emiddle of the night, standing among the royal dead with a questionable map in hand, and something possibly waiting in the dark, just out of the reach of his lantern light, waiting to kill him. Indy felt a smile crease his lips as he thought 'Well, it beats book work.' : He double checked the map to confirm his location, discovering he was standing directly in front of an indicated 'landmark' that was at the turn to the aisle leading to Lord Curtain's crypt. The marker was a carved stone angel, staring upward toward the 'sky'. What made this particular statue stand out was a black stain that appeared flow fromthe top of it's head to it's waist, as if something had been spilled over the figure in some disatn past event. More than likely it was mold or mildew that had grown over it's surface. What ever the reason, it gave the angel an ominous cast and a darker presence than what the stone cutter had originally intended. : Indy started to make the turn down the aisle, when he heard a sound to his right from a parallel aisle. Indy immediately tossed the lantern down, pulled his revolver and went to a crouch in one motion. The inky blackness could almost be felt, his eyes and ears strained to detect any source of light or sound. Nothing further was heard, except his own heart beat. Indy was about to doubt his senses when he heard a sound again, but this time it was the unmistakeable metallic click of a revolver hammer being pulled back to full cock. Indy silently moved across the aisle, feeling his way along the crypt wall under the black angel, and felt his way around the corner. : He just made the turn when a sudden explosion and violent flash erupted from straight ahead of where Indy had been standing, the bullet shattering the lantern where Indy had dropped it on the floor. Momentarily blinded, Indy fired three times in the direction of the flash, once at the center of the muzzle flash, the two quick follow up shots, one to the left, the other to the right of center. He heard a grunt, then the clatter of a heavy metal object striking the stone floor, followed by the sound of running feet in the opposite direction of where Indy was crouched. : Whomever had fired the shot knew the layout of the room, as there was no hesitation in their negotiation of the maze. Indy slowly rose,listening to the retreating footsteps, and could just see a light and hear the distant sound of the opening and closing of a heavy door. He waited for a few beats, then moved across the aisle from where he had returned fire, as there could very well be another individual waiting in the dark, hoping to finish the botched ambush. Time seemed to pass slowly as Indy waited, but no further movement was detected. After what seemed an eternity, Indy pulled out his lighter that he habitually carried in his jacket pocket and struck it's flint, illuminating the area around him. His pupils had completely dilated in the total darkness, and the light from the Zippo seemed to cast a glare a powerful as a thousand candle search light. Twenty feet in front of him lay a Webley .38 revolver, as well as spots of blood heading away from where he stood. One of his shots apparently found it's mark. : Indy picked up the lantern, it's globe shattered in the violent handling it had received, but it's working parts were still intact. Indy relit the unit, but before being his search again, he retrieved the WEbley, ejected the spent shells and reloaded his Smith and Wesson. Tucking the Webley in his waist band, he picked up the lantern and started down the aisle that lead to the crypt he sought, his revolver level and ready in his other hand. : Walking another 40 feet, the shadowy shape of the ornate tomb slowly emerged from the dark shadows, it's shape dancing in the now flickering and dim lantern light. Indy walked to the stone sarcophocus and held the lantern up to the inscription, confirming the final resting place of Lord Curtain. Indy checked his notes in the notebook he carried in his pocket, and after confirming his thoughts, put the book away and slowly began to circle the crypt. As he walked around the stone box, his boot struck a metal object, it's metalic clank reverbrating throughout the room. A crowbar! Indy held the light higher to the rear of the box, discovering a large hole chiseled into a high corner, and that the lid had been totally breeched. : Indy climbed up on the rim of the stone lid, and relighting the lighter, extended his head and arm through the hole to view the last earthly remains of Lord Curtain. His bones had mostly reverted to dust, the skull staring up at him, it's empty eye sockets appearing to dance in the flickering light of the lighters' flame. Indy eased himself down into the box and quickly scanned the contents. The Lord had been buried with the usual trapments of a religious scholar and favorite of the court of King James the First, but Indy could see no book! The dark coven had apparently beaten him to this volume! Where was the 'watcher' assigned to this crypt? : Indy sat for a few moments, then pulled himself back through the hole. Climbing down from the lid, he continued his circle of the box, but stopped suddenly, his second search ended, but this time with dubious success. Laying face down, his head turned in a grotesque angle, was the apparent missing 'watcher' of the missing volume for the Black Book! : End of chapter 8

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