Play@YSDC

After being startalded by Ted, Paul ask "You ok Ted? What is it?"

Tony steps back, startled. "What was what?" he asks Ted.

Ted Nelson
.
"Sorry to startle you. A doll thats all. All this talk of ghosts has me hearing things." Ted shakes his head and goes over to check out the green luggage. "I think our best lead might be to talk to the Aussie."

Bridget Barrett (pJ),

For a few seconds the line is filled with crackling. Then a voice says in hesitant, barely understandable English, "Hai, a little yes"
Axelby looks at Ted with suspicion, "Doll you say?" He moves forward and flips the lid of the case open. Inside can be seen various womens garments but no doll. He closes the case and flashes Ted another suspicious look

The other cases, the Petersons, contain nothing of any interest.

Professor Krugman: "And just what was it that you thought you heard Nelson? It could be significant... as indeed was your reaction. He goes over with him to view the green luggage.

Paul continues to look over the room and any ajoining rooms.

"I looked through that case too," says Tony, "and I didn't see any doll." He shrugs. "Yeah, our best bet is to talk to the Ferret."

Ted Nelson
.
Ted walks back over to the suitcase, "What the hell do you mean there's no doll?" He dumps the suitcase open moving the clothes around. "There was a doll in there," Ted states as he looks over at their host. "So what this is some sort of magic trick?"

Professor Krugman: Are you feeling quite yourself Nelson? Perhaps a moment's sit down and a cup of tea?

Tony watches Ted carefully, wondering if maybe he's starting to lose his mind the way the Chadwicks have.

Professor Krugman: "Er.. Mr. Axelby. This may seem like a very strange question but did you happen to notice any... er dolls in the luggage, or in any of your customers' rooms? Scary dolls perhaps? Jack-in-a-boxes? Tribal fetishes? Puppets?"

Axelby scratches his head in thought at Krugman's question, "You mean like twenty five feet high with big white hands and a huge red nose?"
For a few moments he keeps a straight face as if serious, then he starts to chuckle, "Only when I've had a few" with that he pulls the door closed, locks it and leaves the corridor for the stairs.

"I'm fine, I don't know what this guy is up to, I don't trust him." Ted says as he lights up another cig.

"He seemed like an okay joe to me," says Tony. "What did you notice that I didn't?" Aside from a doll that wasn't there, he thinks

Bridget speaks slowly and deliberately into the receiver, enunciating as clearly as he possibly can.

"Oh thank goodness!" she says, "I need to be connected to The Brooklyn Eagle newspaper offices in Brooklyn, New York please."

Ted Nelson
.
Ted was starting to question whether he did see a doll. No one else did. It was one thing to have a bad dream, but here he was wide awake. He hadn't had decent whiskey in so long, maybe that was it. He had dealt with some weird cases before, and he had always said he wouldn't believe anything unless he could touch it. Well, here he was touching something and couldn't believe it. Despite his feelings Ted poured himself another drink straight, and downed it.
"Lets just go find this Aussie."

"Yeah, if he's in town," says Tony. "He could be out in the forest for all we know. Mr. Axelby did say he'd let Ferret know we want to talk to him."

Paul adds "Axelby can probably start us in the right direction on finding him"

Bridget Barrett, (jB),
For a few moments the line is once more a mass of static, then the voice returns, "Hai, I try. But International line not good. I will try to... connect, but might be long wait. I ring you back when connected... okay?"
Ted, Tony etc,
On you return trip to the lobby you that it’s getting noisy in the dining area..
Four young adults, all native Japanese, are placing candles on every horizontal surface. They are speaking animatedly and laughing. One orders a bottle of sake from Axelby, who puts it over the heat. They notice you watching them and all at once they wave you over, inviting you to join them.

As you approach the table four of the guests, two couples dressed in a slightly old fashioned Euro-American style, rise from their seats and bow politely. The mix of western and eastern culture is slightly amusing,
They introduce themselves as Toyotomi Yori and Sachi, and Yamura and Sué Kunihiko, it seems all four are fascinated by American and European culture so have come to the hotel in the hope of meeting, and talking with, westerners.

It seems they are playing a game and invite you to join them. Godo Sachi tells the name of the game, Hyakumonogatari Kaidankai (translated: A Gathering of One Hundred Supernatural Tales), and explains the rules.

“This is a very old-fashioned game, but still we enjoy very much. Not in fashion, but fun to play. Everyone takes turns to tell stories. Small stories, special ones. The stories are all… stories of ghosts and devils. Only most frightening stories allowed! Each time you tell a story you blow out just one candle. When all stories are told and only one candle is burning,the last one just tells one final story and blows out the final candle. And when that happens you see a ghost! The stories bring the ghost to the table, and the scared people run out of the room! If you are brave, you stay and the ghost sees you! May bring you a message from the land of the dead!” (Broken English is on purpose)

Tony bows in return. "Hi, I'm Tony Esposito," he says. "Nice to meet you. That sounds like a fun game. I'll play. I ain't afraid of no ghost."