TURN SIX (a)

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The three of you gather across the street from the Mission to plan your next move. After Caine has brought the two scholars up to date on his experiences in the Mission, Professor Hodgeson frowns. "I wonder who is informing, possibly even, controlling the police. For them to take orders from anyone is almost unthinkable...! "

"And More Importantly," the Pantomime Beggar Elucidated, "Who Else Could Possibly have Learned that the Limehouse Killer's Identity is Andrei Shalko?" Caine directed his Sooty Visage towards the Professor. His Voice was politely insistent. "Pray, Sir, Is there Anyone Else you have Relayed this Information to? Anyone at all?"

" Not I, Sir, " rejoins the Professor " Although it is not beyond the bounds of possibility that others have learned of the dread events of the past….though why they would exert their influence from the shadows is a mystery"

"However, be that as it may, we are now back to square one and time is marching on." He consults his fob watch, " It is now Half past Ten, we have ninety minutes before all hell breaks loose on London." He pulls out his kerchief and mops his brow. Casting his eyes around wildly, he spies a public house and moves towards it, bag in hand. "Please excuse me, gentlemen, I must make use of their convenience." He quickly walks across the road and into the pub.

"Good Professor O'Shaunessy," Caine said, "Would you be so Good as to Accompany Professor Hodgeson to that Establishment? I would do so Myself, were it not for the Current Curious State of My Appearance and Garments. There's a Good Chap."

After about ten minutes the Professor returns, looking slightly wild about the eyes and breathing rather heavily. He rejoins you and looks around him. "Well, gentlemen, how should we proceed from here?"

Caine brought the Corners of his Dirty Elegant Mouth Down. His Harsh Whisper said: "Professor, I Rather Think the Time has Finally Arrived for You to Come Clean With Us, Don't You? Have You No Sense of Obligation, at all, to We who would Risk Much based only upon Your Bloody Word?" a Motion of Caine's Hand Indicated his Ridiculous Attire. "Confound You, Sir. Out with It!"

"You FOOL!!" snarls the Professor with, what seems to you, an almost bestial edge to his voice, "What more can I tell you?? You talk of obligation….you know nothing of obligation. If you no longer believe me, or you no longer wish to consider the possibility that I may be right about Werewolves, I cannot hold you here. However, " the harsh edge goes from his voice," I beg you to see out this night's work with me. I do not think I have the strength to do it alone….." He straightens his shoulders and gestures at the pub, and takes off his coat. Handing his coat to O'Shaunessy to hold, he rolls up the sleeve of his shirt to just above his left wrist. "I am forced to inject myself on a fairly regular basis to keep the dread sickness that ravages my body at bay for a while longer. " Looking closely it is possible to see the mark left by a needle…amongst many other, older ones.

O'Shaunessy reviews the damage to the Professor's arm, knowing that no good can come from this. "I think perhaps the Professor hasn't told us everything." he says, agreeing with Caine. "And perhaps we ought to hear why he feels it necessary to administer such drugs to himself......something that rough Yank said, back at the house, about not being told the whole story. I, for one, am ready to follow this evening's excursion through to completion....but I think some explanations are in order, Professor."

Caine was Motionless and His Voice Barely Audible. "Professor, I Implore You, What in Heaven's Name is This Sickness, and What Sort of Medicine have You Just Administered to Yourself from that Black Bag?"

The Professor looks Caine straight in the eyes and there almost seems to be a yellowish tint to his eyes. "I received a wound in Rumania….it became horribly infected due to the lack of decent medical care in that country and I am forced to administer a solution that retards the spread of infection. " As he talks, his voice deepens and sounds almost like a growl. "What more can I tell you?? I have told you the name of the killer, what he looks like and what he is…!!!" He shrugs and tightens his grip on his bag.

Caine's Blue Eyes calmly returned the Professor's Gaze. His Face Held No Particular Expression, But His Voice was both Sympathetic and Reassuring when it said: "There is but One More Thing you can Tell Me, Professor. Did you receive This Wound from Andrei Shalko?"

"I think we know the answer to that question." says O'Shaunessy, calmly. "He was bitten by the werewolf, and he's hoping for revenge......Am I right, Professor ? I should like to be wrong....but I don't think I am, this time. Perhaps the wrong part of this evening was to let you participate in this exercise, Professor. Perhaps we ought to take you someplace where you can be kept securely....that you shall not be a danger to yourself, or others....."

Caine did not yet Break Eye Contact with Professor Hodgson, clearly waiting for The Answer to His Question.

"I WILL see this thing through, " replies the Professor, in a dangerously calm tone of voice. He consults his watch again, " Ten Forty-Five, gentlemen, time is against us…to answer your questions, though. The wound was inflicted with a hunting knife a few weeks before the attack in the village. As to revenge, perhaps that IS my motivation, I am no longer certain…all I know is that I am somehow responsible for this creature being in London and I must do everything in my power to bring its reign of terror to an end." He stares both of you in the face and then moves on, "Our next action should be….." he breaks off and looks down the road nehind you. Turning around you see three men walking towards you in a rather hurried fashion. From this distance they appear to be your three colleagues.