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31 December, 1933: Sergeant Ivanov departs from Sousse aboard the tramp steamer La Forficule, bound for French Somalia via the Suez Canal.

2 January, 1934: La Forficule is attacked by Lotta's Pirate Gang; the detachment of Legionnaires aboard wounds several of the pirates. Alas the pirates escape with a fortune in colonial ("cote francaise des somalis") Franc notes ... a month's payroll for two companies, each employing 3,000 natives for 5 centimes per day: total value, about $3,600 US (but can only be used in French Somalia). Some "special weapons" are also taken.

5 January, 1934: La Forficule arrives in Alexandria, and reports the attack by Lotta's air pirates, a previously unknown group -- or at least under-reported. Ivanov and his surviving Legionnaire are told by the French Consulate to remain in Alexandria until further orders. Another tramp steamer arrives about the same day, bearing Lotta and her Gang.

That evening, Major Delacy, Nora Cullin, Qua Lin Worthington, and Bill Davis are strolling through the Arab quarter of Alexandria; so are Sergeant Ivanov and his remaining Legionnaire; and so are Lotta and Mick Fury, one of her minions. They all happen to be in the same souk when a riot breaks out; it is a very confusing event. The police eventually take away several corpses, and gather accounts of yellow fogs, green beams, red rays, and fireballs; along with automatic weapons fire, bombs, etc. Lotta, Fury, and Ivanov meet again, and also meet Delacy's group; they agree to meet later for dinner.

At the Exeter Hotel, Ivanov introduces Lotta and Mick Fury to Our Heroes. Over a long and amazing meal, they find some common ground -- Delacy's group needs help with their investigations; and Lotta's group needs cash. Around midnight, the entire dinner party finds itself on the Alexandria docks, visiting Lotta's ship, and being given a demonstration of the Flapters.

Eventually, Lotta agrees to help with the rescue of Lord Leavitte and his party, held captive in Ethiopia near the head of the Blue Nile. Lord Leavitte was captured about 29 December.

6 January, 1933: the tramp steamer sets sail, heading over to the Suez Canal, and then down towards the Red Sea.

10 January, 1933: Our Heroes arrive at the Red Sea port of Massawa (controlled by Italy), buy horses, and head for Lake Tana, in Ethiopia ...

17 January, 1933:  Ramadan ends.

19 January, 1933: ... arriving after an arduous journey among the crags, war-ravaged villages, and hostile wildlife. While the party restocks provisions and has a hearty meal in the lakeside town, Delacy contacts a mysterious friend who provides crucial information about the Italian-controlled militia group holding Lord Leavitte's party.

20 January, 1933: The Italian militia camp is attacked in the early morning. Apart from an unexpected explosion in an ore-cart, all goes well; Our Heroes enter the strange mine and rescue Lord Leavitte's party. Also held prisoner is a Belgian mining engineer, who seems to be suffering from "African Scurvy"; he has been at the mine for three years, but was captured by the militia and imprisoned several months ago. He tells Our Heroes about Element X, which seems to be good news for Lotta and her Gang. Concerned that the Italian military may arrive at dawn, Our Heroes and the rescued captives quickly depart, with a truckload of Element X ore, plus a strange drilling machine owned by "Aeroflug GmbH" which the Italians had recently brought to the mine.

1 February, 1933: Our Heroes arrive in Massawa, and board the tramp steamer, undisturbed by the Italian authorities.

2 February, 1933: Lord Leavitte and his party are dropped off at Suakin, a British-controlled port along the Red Sea (I'm presuming Lord Leavitte doesn't like cramped quarters and dirty pirates, plus he makes it hard to talk freely).

5 February, 1933: The tramp steamer reaches the northern end of the Suez Canal, and turns west towards Alexandria ... only a few hours away ...

on to Terror of the Seas, Part Two