Percy Marmont

[paradys]

"I never saw the men myself" says Percy. "But no one matching the descrition my neighbour gave me has been at the shop, I feel sure I would have remembered. I did make a few notes regarding the appearance of the dagger. The decoration seesm to follow an aquatic leitmotif - sea creatures, that sort of thing, but the style is unreconisable."

[welsh]

OC- Does Olsen or Bruno recall seeing the dagger? Bruno and Olsen try to remember what the dagger looked like or what they knew of the dagger's history- They roll Know- (1d100=33, 1d100=95) (Kabuki- some help here?)

IC- Olsen nods. "It would be helpful if you could draw them or be more specific, I think. Perhaps I might recall seeing it. Bruno? With a drawing we can speak to experts at the local university and they might be able to identify it."

[kabukiman]

They only looked briefly to the dagger but it remember them some carvings they saw in the pacific from an ancient culture who diseapear; it had miths about frogman and an aquatic deity. They need to read further to get any conclusions.

[Mr Zombie killer]

"hello? Is anyone there?" The Right Reverend Peter Tyler Jones asked as he waited for someone to answer on the other end of the phone.

[kabukiman]

"Hello, this is Miss Alyssa Valentine from the Arkham Advertiser. Is Mr. Marmont in?"

[welsh]

Olsen considers what he read in the paper earlier. Too bizarre not to drawn notice.

But then he considers what he read in the paper, and has a bad feeling. "Mr. Marmont. The newspapers have been quick to cover your story, but I worry that if the criminals learn that the abduction of Miguel is known, then they will be quick in killing the man. So, if you don't mind, I would appreciate your discretion. You have my word, that I will be informing the police about this matter this day."

Bruno nods. "Indeed sir. It is my experience that when someone abducts another, it is for ransom and information, and rescue is their only hope. What they want least is attention. The more attention, the more tense they become, and that makes it all the more easier to slit a throat."
Bruno draws a finger across his throat to be clear in the meaning."

Olsen considers the priest. It is possible the priest, being so well connected to the community, might have some clues about these criminals. "Priest," He says, "Have you seen these fellows before? Is their description known to you. Remember, a man's life may hang in the balance."

[Mr Zombie killer]

"Percy the phone is for you." " I saw them rush by me today but that is all I will say to you. You look like Commies to me and I will not talk to you hellbound folk. Good day sirs." He shuts the door in their face.

[paradys]

picking up the phone, the 'salvage experts' last few words linger in his head. whether these men were on the level or not, perhaps some discretion was in order. he certainly didn't want the villains on either side continuing to read his name in then papers. hence his voice is slightly frosty when he says -

"Hello, this is Marmont"

[kabukiman]

"Hello, Mr. Marmont," says a young women. "This is Miss Alyssa Valentine from the Arkham Advertiser. I may have a lead on the robbers who broke into your shop and home. A elderly-sounding man who would identify himself only as 'Jack' just telephoned me and asked if there is a reward, and I have reason to believe he may have important information. Are you prepared to offer a reward? If there is, I can let him know and he may be more forthcoming. I'm going to go meet him at the Benjamin Hotel shortly. I already have an escort, but you'd be most welcome to come along with us as well and work out the details of any reward with this man personally."

[welsh]

Olsen stands back as the door closes on his face. For a moment he thinks of reaching through the door, window or wood, grabbing the priest by the throat and dragging him through. Perhaps, thinks Olsen, this one will be a dog to which some bad accident will occur.

Bruno seems to read Olsen's mind and smiles.

"Do you think the priest would be missed?" Asks Olsen.

"Perhaps. By his flock, perhaps for a few days, by the most devote." Replies Bruno. "Perhaps." He adds with a shrug.

"So," Asks Olsen, "We could, theoretically, use him to bait sharks."

"Yes, but that would be impolite." Replies Bruno.

"What about fit him with concrete shoes?" Asks Olsen.

"It would make swimming difficult."

"Yes." Replies Olsen, smiling now. "But that might be an improvement. To the social order of things."

"Ah... but then, what about your ambitions of becoming a respectable businessmen?" Asks Bruno.

"I thought it would be a refreshing change from Africa and the whole gun for hire thing."
Says Olsen.

"And now?"

"This is another element entirely. I find my patience... lacking for these kinds of people. In Africa one could find ways of disposing of certain people and no one minded."

"Ah but priests are different. Pillars of the community. Besides," Bruno smiles. "Even Catholics can be judgemental."

Olsen does the sign of the cross.

"Patience," Lectures Bruno, "Is a virgin.. I mean virtue."

"Indeed." Says Olsen. "The police?"

"Makes sense, though I doubt they will get Miguel back." Replies Bruno. "We've got a better chance with Karl and Felix at our back."

Olsen looks at the door, "Commies? Do we look communist?"

"Well, you do look a bit proletariat." Bruno shrugs, "I am French, I assume they all think I am also a communist."

"Maybe its our sense of fashion." Says Olsen.

"Then again," Says Bruno with new interests. "Where did the priest see these three fellows that match the description? It is a clue. Suggests some history, perhaps some motive, perhaps some habit. The police would want to know."

Olsen nods, "Good question. Perhaps they might even have our Miguel stashed there."

Olsen raps on the door. "Come on priest. Where did you see these three villians."

[Mr Zombie killer]

Peter opens the door again at the knock, "First of all i am a pastor not a priest. Second of all I saw them near my church this morning but thought they were a bunch of hoodlims. I told the police this. Third of all, if you show good faith and come to the church this evening around 3 PM I will show you where I saw the suspects so maybe you can pick up their trail and leave my flock alone!"

[paradys]

returning to the door, Percy addresses the two 'salvage experts'.

"I have some news that may interest you" he says.

"that was Miss Alyssa Valentine from the Advertiser. She says a man called Jack has information on the robbery and is willing to share it for a small reward. As I am a bit...er, strapped for cash at the moment, I thought perhaps we could er..pool our resources and check out this chap together."

[welsh]

Olsen steps into the room and looks at the pastor, "Well then pastor, perhaps you should join us at the police station and give a full description to the police? There is a man's life at stake here. Wait until 3 pm and he may no longer have it. If these three have plans around your church, then..."

Bruno says simply, "from my experience, a man who will kidnap another is not beyond more extreme forms of taking a life."

Luke looks to Marmont. The man's business had been damaged and he will no doubt suffer out of pocket expenses. "Certainly. I can offer money and protection. I have two other men who can help."

[Mr Zombie killer]

"The police already have the info from me. They came around and asked. Much nicer then you are doing I might add, Socialist scum."

[welsh]

Olsen's hands clench his fist but his eyes turn deadly cold.

Bruno taps Olsen, as if reading his mind, and Olsen relaxes, turns to Marmont and says, "Tell the journalist I will pay for information." Then steps away to inspect the damage done to his property, looking for clues to the crime and impatient to get on with the recovery of his lost man.

Bruno turns to Peter, his voice low. "Padre, Luke can be a bit hotheaded. Its best not to provoke him. As for socialist or communist, I can assure you he is neither. Luke is from Maine, is French Canadian, and a former officer who served in the war. It is where we met. He spent the war chasing German commerce raiders and, later, planting mines under German ships. Since the war, he and I and a few others have been working in colonial spots all over the world putting our naval and military skills to use, frequently against those communists and socialists you are accusing him of being. It was the business of war, something only a capitalist can really appreciate. But we are out of that trade and now looking for less violent business. It was a messy business. Salvage, maritime construction and commerce are respectable trades, are they not?"

Bruno looks at his friend and business partner, then continues his voice still low, "That said, I should caution you. He is a man of considerable violence. One does not plant a mine under a German warship without knowing that you may be killing many people. I can also tell you that Africa and Asia today are often violent places where one learns to do business in a violent, and personal way. You are familiar with Conrad's Heart of Darkness perhaps? I have been a colleague of Luke for a long time, and I can tell you, when he does kill, it is done in a cold but determined way."

"It is better for one such as yourself," Says Bruno with a smile, "not to aggravate the tendencies of such a man. After all, you have seen these villians as well. You may even be the next target of them. They were near your church? Perhaps they have designs of their own for your church? Perhaps this too is a clue. Regardless, at such times it might be useful to have a friend like Luke."

[Mr Zombie killer]

Peter says, "I am sorry to both of you. It has been a long day. You say you fought against the Hun in the war? This is where I lost my foot. The trenches. Let me make up for my stupid comments and for the service you did in the late war by buying both of you a drink at the tavern down the street? There I can tell you more perhaps about what occured this morning outside my church."

[paradys]

a bit put out by all this talk of cold blooded killing, Percy nervously gathers up his tweed coat and takes a walking stick from a stand next to the door. decidedly, these fellows made him more nervous than the villains who robbed his store! Still, they seemed determined...perhaps it were best for now to have them on our side. Smiling in what he hopes is a casual and friendly way he says:

"Ah a drink yes. Trouble at your church, reverand? But you never mentioned it. Lets see if we can't solve all our problems in one fell swoop and get this over with, eh?"

[welsh]

OC- I don't think the phone call was finished.

Luke accepts the pastor's apology and looks at the phone. "Mr Marmount? Isn't there someone on the phone?"

[paradys]

"Oh yes of course" says Percy, returning to the phone.

"Miss Valentine? myself and a few....er, associates will meet you in the Benjamin Hotel in about forty five minutes. Would that be okay?"

[welsh]

Olsen considers the distance to the boat.

Olsen nods. "Bruno, best to bring Felix up. Karl should watch the boat in the event that Miguel returns. Make sure he's packing."

"A meeting at the dry bar of a hotel between a man and a woman? Strange that there is no.... alcohol." Says Bruno, his eyebrow arched.

"We've still got a bottle of Canadian Club aboard?" Says Olsen, "If so, might as well bring it. It might make our friend's tongue a bit more loose."

"Of course. I shall bring money as well."

The two men look to the Reverend and storekeeper, waiting to see if they have other suggestions.


Luke has a thought and decides to talk to the Reverend while Marmount takes the call with the reporter, "Reverend? How well do you know the area and its local history? I am curious. You saw these fellows near your church? Do you think they might be trying to do something to your church? Perhaps rob it or burn it? Were these young fellows?"

"You said they looked alike. Would you think of them as brothers perhaps, sharing a common family trait? If they are juveniles or some kind of inbred monsters, then they might have a desire to challenge what they see as institutional morality, your church. Are you new to the town or the church?"

Thinking about religion gets Luke to consider another angle. "Its odd that these fellows would steal a dagger with strange markings and be near your church. Let's say that the dagger might have... I don't know.. historical or anthropological significance, perhaps it was some kind of ceremonial dagger with some religious implications? I am not sure. But what if that dagger is a religious device that they would be willing to steal to hold on to."

"I had thought the crimes were monetary in nature, but perhaps they are motivated by something else, a devotion to some religious idea and they are zealots of some kind."