back to Terror of the Seas, Part Two

Sunday, 25 February, 1934: Disembarking with the dawn, our Heroes notice a police raid on the wharf just as they leave, and decide it would be wise to quickly leave Marseille. Arriving at the main railway station, they are about to purchase tickets on the "next train out of town" when suddenly Qua Lin falls senseless to the ground, in convulsions; a few seconds later Bill Davis also keels over, nearly unconscious himself. While the group is tending to them, Major DeLacy and Miss Cullin suddenly rush off with a cry of "The Barnatos!" towards another side of the station. In a minute or so, Miss Cullin runs back, saying DeLacy was grabbed by a group of Americans in dark suits, and that he told here he'd "catch up with us later." With that in mind, and the French police too, Our Heroes quickly board a train. Qua Lin and Bill Davis soon recover from their "fits", with no idea how or why they were affected.

Over several days, the party crosses France by train, autobus, (stolen) trucks, etc. and passes into Belgium. By the 28th of February, they reach Chateau Hougoumont (18 km south of Brussels), and pass through the very intense security to enter the Long Bow base. Over the next eleven days, those addicted to Agent White are treated, and receive strange "hybrid technology" boxes which generate Agent White indefinitely, as long as they are fed with sugar. On the 4th of March, Delacy (apparently) sends a telegram to Chateau Hougoumont, for Our Heroes; he says the men who grabbed him in Marseille were apparently American, and that he'll be along in a week or so.

While the other members of the party are receiving mental and chemical treatments, Sergent Ivanov spends most of his time in the cafes and other interesting spots at the nearby town of Waterloo (pop. 5669 in 1937, 3 km from Hougoumont) -- drinking, eating, reading newspapers and magazines, attending movies, visiting the brothel, getting into fights, and other recreational stuff.

At the end of the party's stay in the bunker, Long Bow requests that Our Heroes undertake a dangerous mission. It seems that a team of their special agents have gone missing in a small town in Spain, along with some people sent to find them. The group agrees to look into what might have happened to the missing agents, and sets out on Friday, March 9th.

By the 14th, they've arrived at the small Catalonian town of Les Galdes de Boi in a sturdy truck, with a suppy of smuggled cigarettes as explanation for their presence. Cold weather gear, climbing equipment, a radio, code book, and other secret mission equipment has also been supplied by Long Bow.

Les Galdes de Boi: a few hundred inhabitants, known for its sparkling cider and scenic vistas. Altitude 1480 meters above sea level. Outlying orchards, quarries, forest mills and farms within ten miles or so bring the total population of the municipal area to nearly a thousand. There is a grade school and Catholic church (San Millán), an inn (also the post office) and a small bar/cafe. There is a small Benedictine monastery and orchard (San Miguel) in the nearby hills.

A foot or so of snow lies on the ground, and a snowstorm pursues Our Heroes into the village. After settling into the inn, Davis, Fury and Lotta explore the empty shop which was home to the local agents, finding signs of trouble and some hidden things. (details here please: coins)

Saturday, 17 March, 1934

After midnight, Fury doesn't wake up when called to stand watch ...

After breakfast ...

Qua Lin and Nora Cullin ...

Bill Davis and Ivanov ...

Bill Davis and Fury ...

Sunday, 18 March, 1934

We visit the mine. Gunplay ensues. Some Spaniards are driven off, some are killed, and others are rescued. A quick exploration of the mine proves interesting, but doesn't contain the solution to the "missing agents" problem. More exploration may be necessary

There  was a mysterious book referred to in some of the adventurers' research in Zizurkil.

A number of suspicious people have been seen in the cafe in town, wearing clothes that were not common for the area -- the "French Army" agents, among others.

On to ... A Shot In The Sawmill