IC Ch 8: Off to Visit the Church

[Mr. Handy]

"I don't think it's a good idea to use the phone here," says Eddie. "The local operator could always listen in, and word might reach the opposition. Likewise, we don't want to obtain guns or dynamite locally. Back in Boston, we could just walk into a hardware store and buy it. If anyone asks, we can just say we're going to blow up some stumps. There are also plenty of places to buy guns there."

[Silver Priest]

"Shall we return to Boston then?" Norman asks. "Better we prepare than encounter more of those... things while wielding so little ammunition."

[Tabs]

"Yes, they mustn't know about the coming storm," said Alyssa. She had her doubts about the Colonel's trustworthyness, but obviously kept it to herself at the moment.

[Mr. Handy]

"Agreed," says Eddie. "We can also bring the people we rescued back with us, so that they'll be safe and can get help, and we can check in with MAPS and fill them in on what we've discovered so far."

[BenTheRat]

So what are you guys going to do?

[Tabs]

"Then let's go back to Boston today and get what we discussed," said Alyssa; "and return as soon as possible."

~

She draws Eddie to one side and talks privately: "I'm having my doubts about the Colonel--his involvement with the cult. I mean, that secret tunnel is suspicious. Why is it there, maybe some kinda communication?'

[Mr. Handy]

"I haven't had any reason to suspect Colonel Hall," says Eddie. "When we first met him, Scott pretended he was in Rockport because of occult things, and that led him to suspect us of being part of the cult, at which point he ended the conversation. When I crawled through the secret passage and set off his alarm, he thought I was a cultist who had found his tunnel and threatened me with his shotgun, and it took some convincing to get him to realize that we were on the level. He explained to me why he dug the secret tunnel. It's so he can get into the cult's tunnels and snoop around without them knowing. The entrance was concealed on the other side in order to keep the cult from spotting it. If you have other reasons to suspect him, though, I'd be interested in hearing them." He stares into Alyssa's big, lovely eyes. "I'm glad I got the chance to talk to you in private, Alyssa. I...when I was in that horrible cave, my lungs filling with water, I thought I was going to die. There was something I wanted to tell you, and I didn't think I'd ever get the chance..."

[Tabs]

She nodded, accepting their history with Colonel Hall.

"Keep it, keep the thought, Eddie," said Alyssa when he confessed his affection; her voice softened, "say it again after all this is over."

[BenTheRat]

After the Colonel heard the story, "Well there are only 4 ways out of town. The main road to Gloucester, the one that runs along the coast, the train and by boat. If they are onto you, it may not be so easy to escape. They don't know where you are right now, I'd recommend you rest here for the night. Let me see what I can arrange for dinner."

[Mr. Handy]

"All right," says Eddie. He worries that he might never get the chance to say it again, as one or both of them could die before it's over, but he is comforted by the fact that Alyssa knows how he feels about her even if he hasn't spoken the words. "In that case, for now I'll just say thank you for the care you showed for me when I thought I was dying."

[Tabs]

"Let's take some sandwiches and go now; the sooner the better, I say," said Alyssa. She thinks about the routes out of town: "The Gloucester road?"

[Mr. Handy]

"They'd probably be watching the road," says Eddie. "They'd expect us to go that way. I wouldn't take a boat either. Those...creatures are very at home in the water. I agree that we should leave as soon as possible, before they have time to organize and hunt us down."

[Tabs]

"So which way do you suggest?"

[Silver Priest]

"Perhaps the way we came," Norman interjects. "Would they be expecting us to leave by the road we came in? Especially since this Phil was uh, waiting for us on our entry. He may expect us to find an alternative means of extraction."

[Mr. Handy]

"Maybe," says Eddie, "but maybe he is waiting for us to return that way with another trick. I think we should take the train. There will be plenty of people around, so there's a limit to what they can do without showing their hand, if they're even looking for us yet at this point. We killed the Reverend and his goons when they pursued us, so it may be some time before more of them are alerted to what we've done. If we hurry, we can catch a train before they move to stop us. Phil could still use his illusions, but I think we can see through them now. If regular people don't react to it, that's a good indicator that it isn't real."

[Tabs]

"Okay, by train then."

[BenTheRat]

OOC: So what is the plan

[Mr. Handy]

OOC,Well, two of us want to take the train. I prefer that we do so without delay.

[Silver Priest]

Spoiler:

Works for me. Also would prefer heading off immediately.

[Tabs]

ooc,I hope we are not waiting on me. Alyssa wants to escape by train pdq. :)