Ch. 16f Tomorrow is Another Day

[Philulhu]

Nashoba pulled a face. ”Six days is a long time,” he said. ”How much damage will be done in that time? My way is probably best.”

[Mr. Handy]

"You tried your way last night," says William. "It did not go well. It could be that Nakka Mur wants you to do things your way. Six days is a long time, but it's probably a lot less than they've already been drilling. Give us a chance to do it our way."

Persuade roll (65% skill) to convince Nashoba:
d%

[Philulhu]

Nashoba shook his head stubbornly. ”My way is a way of action, yours is of talking. And what happens in six days? The police talk to the oil company, money changes hands and everything continues as before. At least I got a response last night. You mean well, but nothing will change for my people,” he said firmly.

[jp1885]

"Mr. Nashoba is correct. That tentacle thing must be dealt with without delay," opines ivy.

"Dynamite, that's what's needed," she continues, suddenly an expert on all things monstrous. "Drive the thing out."

[Mr. Handy]

"We may be able to do something about the supernatural evil," says William. "The Sheriff and the courts aren't really equipped to deal with that, but we have experience in that area. That evil is the real threat, and at least one of the oilmen seems to be connected to it, but the oilmen are not the worst enemy we face. Take away their supernatural power, and they are merely men."

[Philulhu]

Ok, so what are your plans?

[Mr. Handy]

"We need to find out who that oilman is that I saw last night," says William, "and preferably find a way to talk to him alone and find out what he knows. He's in this up to his neck."

[Bullfrog]

Did we get a good enough view of that oilman last night that we'd be able to recognize him if we saw him again? If we just hang around the pits while the workers are coming and going, maybe we could pick him out of a crowd.

[Silver Priest]

"The oilman does seem our best lead," Alex nods in agreement. "It also is in our mutual interest to investigate him. If he's working with others in the company, that makes them all our problems-- and I'm willing to bet that if this involves into some sort of scandal that William can take to the press, the company will cut its losses and abandon the town."

[jp1885]

“I concur; let’s find this fellow,” says Ivy.

[Philulhu]

”Great. I will get to finish my meal in peace,” said Nashoba, waving them away as Bart brought him a fresh cup of coffee and the bill for William.

- - - - - - - - -

They made their way along the coast road, the breeze from the sea cooling as the day began to warm up. They drew level with the oil pits, which still stank of burning from the night before, and could see the oilfields ahead, with the wooden huts which provided accommodation and storage, as well as the drills that brought the oil to the surface.



A few men moved about behind the chain link fence, getting on with their work and not paying them any more than cursory attention.

[Mr. Handy]

William points out the building where he saw the oilman enter last night. "That's where he went, I think," he says. "That should be our first destination."

[Silver Priest]

"Any suggestions on how we should get in?" Alex asks. "The foreman's made his opinion of reporters known to Ivy and I, and its altogether dim."

[Mr. Handy]

"Everyone's ignoring us," says William. "We can probably just walk in the gate like we have every right to be here. If someone tries to stop us, we can talk our way inside. We'll say we're here to see that man we saw last night."

[Philulhu]

Are you all going in?

[jp1885]

“We should keep a low profile,” Ivy mutters. “The foreman will be most objectionable if he discovers our presence.”

Yep, Ivy’s going in.

[Silver Priest]

Alex also prepares to go in.

[Mr. Handy]

William is ready to go in too.

[Philulhu]

The main gate in the chainlink fence stood open and a rough dirt path lead into the oilfield itself, where the huts and the drills sat side-by-side. The air was thick with smell of oil and everything had a grimy look to it.

Sorry, I realised that I didn’t answer Bullfrog’s question about recognising the man from the church. Yes, you’d recognise him again.

I’m assuming that you’re stepping past the gate. Where are you heading next?

Bullfrog - Is Lawrence going with the others, or going to hang around the pits to see if the guy turns up?

[Mr. Handy]

Yes. To the building I pointed out where I had seen the oilman go.