Part 2 - Asylums on every corner; Life is like a box of nuts.

Saturday, 20 October, 1928: The haunting experience at the seance had Oliver retreating to Hyde Park to seek spiritual guidance from his father who was murdered near the same park bench. [Failed SAN check even with bonus die] His father appeared only to torment him, “Did I raise a crybaby? Face your fears…and quit drooling on yourself. Life is hard; your patients show you that.” So much for self-healing. Oliver decided a trip to seek professional counsel elsewhere. Why not East Anglia where the 1925 deaths occurred. There is an asylum there. Treatment AND research; two birds with one stone. “Ring, ring. Evie, I’ll be out of the office a few days tops. I’ll call if I get held up. But I should easily be back in time for our 29 Oct meeting.”

Evie was planning her own phone call; long distance…Trans-Atlantic…to America. “Yes operator, Boston; Penguin Publishing…. Hello? Yes, I’m trying to get in contact with Mr. Chambers. Author of romance novels? No, I’m looking for the Chambers who translated ‘The King in Yellow’. The same author?! My, what different topics. I know it’s Saturday. Fine, then PLEASE have him telegram me soonest. We saw a play here in London based on his book translation of ‘The King in Yellow’. The audience reacted quite… Well, I was hoping he could tell me the source of his story; his inspiration. Anything to help us solve this dire mystery. By the way, is there an outlet here in London that sells his romance novels?”

Part 1: Tatters of the King

Wednesday, 17 October, 1928: The car rocked awkwardly as John (all 340 lbs) stepped out to make room for the new passengers to climb into the back seats, “Evie, Bartholomew. I am so glad you could join me for this new play. I had a hell of a time convincing Oliver to come socialize. Harder still helping him find a clean shirt. I told him if he drove, I’d get the drinks and snacks. I didn’t tell him those are free with this opening night production tickets my office passed out. It’s an adaptation of a French play now titled ‘Carcosa’ or ‘The Queen and the Stranger’. Here’s the flyer that came with the tickets.”

One thing can be said about Oliver’s 1921 Bentley: with two 300 lb men in the front seats, it has solid traction in this harsh London winter. While Oliver could be considered a slob, he does pamper his car he got for a steal after its wreck. Refurbished with extra strong suspension.

Oliver pulled up to the front of the Scala Theater on Charlotte street and let the valet service park his baby. The three men escorted Evie up the steps and paused to shake the snow off their heavy winter coats before entering the theater lobby where they found a small crowd of fellow patrons. John seemed disappointed, “For an opening night I was expecting more. But then I don’t really know anything about this play. Ah, here’s a program listing the cast.

Now what does everyone want to drink?” A timely question as a waiter approached with a tray of champagne glasses. “Bubblies. Oh Oliver.” Oliver tried to explain, “I’ve never had this before. The bubbles tickled my nose.” Which explained the champagne stains on his once clean shirt [DEX 94].

Character Introductions

	[Denny] Bartholomew Barstow, scientist, egghead, professor.  Gadget maker and weird sciences are my back ground.  I spend most of my time in my physics lab at the University of London where several students seem to always be under foot.
	[Brian] John Roberts, museum curator of the Wallace Collection housed at Hertford House in Manchester Square. A libertine originally from America, he divorced his wife due to infidelity on his part. He has a 10 year old son and intends to live his life to the fullest.  He is also selfish.  He truly appreciates art but cannot produce anything artistic, drawing mostly darker subjects.
	[Bill] Oliver Richardson, parapsychologist at the Chiswick Asylum in the London Borough of Hounslow. Driven to understand what drives the madman, for a madman killed his father who also was an asylum doctor. Too buried in his patients to care for himself. Thus, disheveled with rumpled clothing and food stains on his shirt. Skilled hypnotist using his father’s gold-chain pocket-watch as his focus. Works with the police identifying serial killers.
	[Angela] Evie. mystic artist. I not only draw what I see in reality, but in the mystic world as well!
	[Tony] Oded Fehr. He is a Persian and that is all we know so far.

 

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