Book Two - Undertows of Disbelief

[Mant72]

Dr. Morgan:

"I know nothing of these "echoes" of myself, other than what I have previously shared. I also know there is a shroud of suspicion that drapes over me and I understand why, but I swear to you I have done nothing nefarious to bring harm to this group or the investigation. Now, I suggest we try to work together, otherwise we are headed to certain failure. What we face here is otherworldly and much larger than ourselves. David is correct about the crystal. It needs to be studied, but it should be locked away until that time for study comes to prevent it falling into the wrong hands." Turning to Father Vaughan, "Father, can you provide any council and reason to our discourse?"

Although Frank understands the group's hesitancy to accept his word, he is obviously frustrated about the whole ordeal.

[Grognardsw]

Father Vaughan assures Marius he is not a socialist. "I can put the crystal in the hotel safe, or give it to the police if they have a safe. But what if the "other" Dr. Morgan should retrieve it? Perhaps I should just hold it for now."

The investigators, joined by the three additional BOI agents, drive over in several cars to Konstantin Chertovski's "Shunned House."

During the drive, Archer recalls the information his friend Det. Sipowicz told him about Chertovski.

Det. Sipowicz takes a sip of coffee and answers Archer. "There is no local police file on Konstantin Chertovski. That means he hasn't been convicted or connected to any crimes. Chertovski is a retired man in his early 50s, allegedly a philosopher and supporter of the arts. The "Shunned House" is an old sprawling Victorian known as the site of a double murder 25 years ago. Chertovski is the current owner of the house. This 'Shunned House' is long reputed to be haunted. Accidents and ill-fortune over the years, with a double murder 25 years ago of a couple. The house was supposedly abandoned at that time. Why the couple was in there and who killed them is unknown. Ten years later Konstantin Chertovski purchased the house He bought the Shunned House not long after the double murder. Brought it back from decrepitude and enlarged it with gables, dormers, odd porches, and doors opening up to open air. And that's only what you can see from the outside. Also put up a stone wall around the property. Today he uses it as a residence and also social center, art gallery and meeting place."

Archer recollects reading Chertovski's letter letter to Ubaid Hazrabad (found on The White Ship): "Received the goods and will distribute as discussed. Sources tell us it has been found. Get to Mt. Latmos and secure. Give greetings to our colleagues, they shoukd go if necessary.
Cthulhu fthagn brother,
Konstantin"

Given the evidence of a letter from Konstantin Chertovski letter found in Carcosa's apartment, on letterhead from the Shunned House (16 Shady Lane, Brooklyn, NY), Archer strongly suspects Chertovski to be involved in Carcosa's operation. From there, he assumes the cult. Chertovski's letter to Carcosa references import and export of unspecified goods in the U.S. (Boston, New York, New Orleans, Phoenix) and abroad (Amsterdam, London, Brugue/Belgium, Instanbul/Turkey). The Russian cites particular museums and collections that match those that were victims of thefts.

The property grounds are a whole city block, surrounded by a low stone wall with iron work extending up to make it 7' tall. Inside are trees, bushes and landscaping shaggy and ill-kept. The investigators circle the block to get a view from all angles, though the house itself is set back in the middle and partially obscured by trees. Through open iron gates a long driveway weaves and circles in front of a large, old rambling Victorian. It is larger still by additions and extensions, which remain in progress judging by the scaffolding in the rear and the swarthy foreigners working on them.

There is a rear service entrance with a driveway leading to a garage behind the house proper.

Front View


Rear View


"I have an agent out front and back," comments Agent Mulder.

He drives by the front and picks up the agent, who reports: "The visitors haven't come out. There are a crew of six workmen on the scaffolding out back."

[Inferno]

Sam Archer, private eye:

Dr. Clarke:
"And this is why we keep the crystal secret. Nothing but suspicion and superstition. You'd rather destroy it than learn from it. We already know it has the power to transport a person across the globe in an instant... And don't be so quick to accuse Frank of betraying us or his double for that matter. You have no proof that his double has done anything wrong. His previous echo have not done harm to us, so why should this last one be different."

Archer looked directly at Mulder as his crack team of special investigators kept talking. Then he grinned wolfishly, "I have to admit, you're even more 'trusting' than I thought."

"There are a crew of six workmen on the scaffolding out back."

"This tip-off keeps getting worse by the minute," Archer complained to Mulder. "How long have we known about the six strongarms?"

Then the detective looked at the others: "This is one bad hand. Is there a reason we need to apprehend Chertovski this minute? If not, I say we fold.
"We let his visitors leave, tail them and see where they lead us.
"This evening, once the 'workmen' knock off for the day, we serve the old man his warrant. We want him alone in his labyrinth of a haunted house when we go in."

[Fulci]

Isaiah Bartlett, wise old man

"Mr. Archer is right. We cannot strike now, with 9 extra people present."

Father Vaughan assures Marius he is not a socialist. "I can put the crystal in the hotel safe, or give it to the police if they have a safe. But what if the "other" Dr. Morgan should retrieve it? Perhaps I should just hold it for now."

"With all due respect, Father Vaughan, if this "other" Dr. Morgan can retrieve the crystal from a hotel safe or from the police, he can take it from you as well. Or do you have some guarantee that you can guard this nefarious gem?"

[SocraticLawyer]

Reginald Wilkins, bookdealer and occultist
"I agree with the others," says Reginald. "We cannot go in now. We must have some semblance of surprise, which we clearly do not at present."

If Reginald has any thoughts about the crystal, he keeps them to himself.

[Inferno]

Sam Archer, private eye:

Archer was relieved that at least the mental patient and the librarian were on his side.

Reginald Wilkins, bookdealer and occultist
"We cannot go in now. We must have some semblance of surprise, which we clearly do not at present."

Archer said, "You're right, Wilkins. And we won't know if we can surprise them until we hash out whether or not this cult of brainwashers has themselves another inside man."

[Starbeard]

Marius Albertoni

"You said it. We need to wait until we have the advantage. We should keep a watch on the place and confront him when he's alone. It wouldn't hurt either for someone to trail those workers and visitors when they skidaddle. It might put us onto the scent of their contact, if they have one."

Marius turns to Agent Mulder. "You said you got an agent out front and back? Have you found any other ways off the property? Have you looked into underground access? This guy's fixated on his weird building, I wouldn't be surprised if some of those extensions go down instead of up—and I hear New York's got some impressive drain tunnels underneath the roads."

[Grognardsw]

"We can wait," says Agent Mulder, looking at his watch at the 1:00 pm time. "But this isn't a raid, like Club Zothique. We have a search warrant, not an arrest warrant. So expect for us to talk with Chertovski, and anyone else there, to the extant they're willing. And search the house. I will call in some more agents though, given the size of the place. I don't expect a shoot-out."

Agent Mulder asks the BOI detail how long the workmen have been here. "There has been construction going on since we started watching the place a few weeks ago. Today's crew is smaller than usual. They usually go home around 4:00. Chertovski has lots of visitors. We know he gives lectures to groups, and has students and others stopping by frequently. Not exactly a shunned house I'd say. He doesn't leave too often, except for his daily visit to a cemetery several blocks from here."

The investigators recall seeing, on their first day in Red Hook, Chertovski visit the cemetery gravestone of his wife.

"Mr. Albertoni, we haven't looked into underground tunnels, but certainly our search warrant would enable us to do so. As to other ways out, the wall isn't so high one couldn't climb out at any point. I'm not so sure Chertovski is tipped off. It could just be business as usual going on there."

Father Vaughan turns to Isaiah. "I understand your concern about the safety of the crystal. All I can say is that I will try my best. As a priest and exorcist, I do have experience resisting the temptations and evils the devil sets before Man. Of course if you all feel better keeping it in a safe, then that is what we will do."

[Mant72]

Dr. Morgan:

Frank chimes in, "Being an archaeology professor, I know nothing of search warrants, stake-outs, and such, but I say we proceed with things as planned. Let us go speak with Chertovski and those within the house now. Strike while we have the chance; however, if the consensus is that we should wait, I will yield. As I said, this is far from my area of expertise. As far as the crystal is concerned, I believe Father Vaughan should retain it for the time being."

[Fulci]

Isaiah Bartlett, wise old man

After some consideration, Isaiah sighs and agrees.

"All right, Father. May God be with us," he says and adds to himself - "Father Vaughan does seem more trustworthy, than the Doctor with the evil reflection..."

"I hope Chertovski and his crew won't put up any resistance, seeing they are overpowered. Let us head inside."

[Starbeard]

Marius Albertoni

The hunter burns through another cigarette as he eyes the premises.

"If nobody minds, I'd like to stay right here with Mulder's stakeout agents, and keep an eye on those builders. You guys won't be able to see what they're up to once you enter. They may just be doing honest work, or they may be here as disguised strong arms—or they may be doing honest work and still just happen to be the man's strong arms, too. If they start acting suspicious after you all enter, we need to signal an alert. Three honks on the car horn, something like that. If they check out fine, I'll come in and join you."

[Grognardsw]

The investigators cool their heels for a while, chatting about the case. Agent Mulder smokes four cigarettes before three extra BOI agents show up, bringing the total to six agents to help search the meandering Victorian. Marius Albertoni takes watch at the rear, using a pair of binoculars provided by one of the agents to watch the workmen on the scaffolding. Sam Archer checks his case of prosthetic attachments for his missing left hand, which include a wooden hand, hook and other implements.



Two hours go by and Chertovski's guests don't leave. Agent Mulder starts grumbling. "I don't want to lose the light."

Marius doesn't note anything unusual about the workmen. They're installing circular windows into a wall, and a door that opens up outside to air from the second floor. Then at 3:45 pm they knock off work. A decrepit Model-T pick-up truck rattles into the back entrance and the swarthy foreigners pile into the back.

"Okay let's go," orders Agent Mulder.

[Fulci]

Isaiah Bartlett, wise old man

Isaiah follows the agents and the others into the house. He lets them do the talking. In the house, he looks for symbols, occult paraphernalia, any weird stuff.

[DadsAngry]

Dr. Clarke:

David stays close to Dr. Morgan.
"Lets not be to hasty Frank. Stay to the rear and let the agents do their jobs. If things get ugly and guns get pulled make for the car like me. Pulling out a gun will only get you killed. Remember what happened to Mr. McClain at Mt. Latmos. Don't make that mistake."

[Mant72]

Dr. Morgan:

Frank turns to Dr. Clarke, "Yes, David, I completely agree. We are academics. I have no delusions of the Wild West here. I recognize that we are here more for support than anything. We will definitely stay to the rear and allow the professionals to hold their ground." Frank also stays close to Dr. Clarke as the group proceeds.

[SocraticLawyer]

Reginald Wilkins, bookdealer and occultist
Reginald enters with the group, his BOI-issued pistol at the ready. He makes sure that there is a BOI agent in front of him.

[Grognardsw]

The BOI men and investigators pull the cars into the front driveway and drive in. As they get three-quarters the way down the long twisty driveway Isaiah spots a disturbing sight. On the left through some trees the old man spies a set of six standing stones in circular pattern. He has seen such before, and points it out to Reginald who catches but a glimpse as the cars pass by and stop in front of the Shunned House. It begins to drizzle. A pair of crows flap off a front window copolla into the trees.

"Okay men, standard search procedure," says Agent Mulder. "Stay in pairs, it's a big place. Anything unusual, holler and collect. I'm not expecting resistance. You investigators, keep eyes and ears open for the stuff only you'd appreciate or recognize. Some stay with me and Chertovski. You may have questions for him that are informed by your investigations. Don't hesitate to ask these. Some can join the search."

[Mant72]

Dr. Morgan:

Frank gives Dr. Clarke a nervous look and proceeds to follow along with Mulder's orders. "Remember as you suggested David, we stay together and return to the car at the first sign of violence."

[Fulci]

Isaiah Bartlett, wise old man

The BOI men and investigators pull the cars into the front driveway and drive in. As they get three-quarters the way down the long twisty driveway Isaiah spots a disturbing sight. On the left through some trees the old man spies a set of six standing stones in circular pattern. He has seen such before

How far is the "stone circle" from the Shunned House?

Can I roll Mythos / Occult / Knowledge / something to recall more information about the stone circle?

I'm adding a general d100 roll... which probably fails...
[1d100] = 70

[Grognardsw]

Isaiah sees the standing stone circle is about 300' from the house, down the drivewway some and through the trees and vegetation of the overgrown property.



Isaiah remembers old stories of Stonehenge and Celtic druidic rites. He knows such stones can have more and different meanings than that classic textbook explanation, but can't recall them at the moment. These senior moments, he thinks ruefully. Perhaps a close-up examination may yield more insight.