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31 December, 1933

     Sergeant Ivanov departed from Sousse aboard the tramp steamer La Forficule, bound for French Somalia via the Suez Canal.

2 January, 1934

     La Forficule was attacked by Lotta's Pirate Gang; the detachment of Legionnaires aboard wounded several of the pirates. Alas the pirates escaped 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 could only be used in French Somalia). Some "special weapons" were also taken.

5 January, 1934

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

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

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

     Eventually, Lotta agreed 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, 1934

     Our Heroes board Lotta's tramp steamer, which set sail, heading over to the Suez Canal, and then down towards the Red Sea.

10 January, 1934

     Our Heroes arrived at the Red Sea port of Massawa (controlled by Italy), bought horses, and headed for Lake Tana, in Ethiopia ...

17 January, 1934

Ramadan ended.

19 January, 1934

     ... arriving after an arduous journey among the crags, war-ravaged villages, and hostile wildlife. While the party restocked provisions and had a hearty meal in the lakeside town, Delacy contacted a mysterious friend who provided crucial information about the Italian-controlled militia group holding Lord Leavitte's party.

20 January, 1934

     The Italian militia camp was attacked in the early morning. Apart from an unexpected explosion in an ore-cart, all went well; Our Heroes enter the strange mine and rescued Lord Leavitte's party. Also held prisoner was a Belgian mining engineer, who seemed to be suffering from "African Scurvy"; he had been at the mine for three years, but was captured by the militia and imprisoned several months ago. He told Our Heroes about Element X, which seemed to be good news for Lotta and her Gang. Concerned that the Italian military would arrive at dawn, Our Heroes and the rescued captives quickly departed, 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, 1934

     Our Heroes arrived in Massawa, and boarded the tramp steamer, undisturbed by the Italian authorities.

2 February, 1934

     Lord Leavitte and his party were 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, 1934

     The tramp steamer reached the northern end of the Suez Canal, and turned west towards Alexandria ... only a few hours away ...

on to Terror of the Seas, Part Two