Patchwork Universe

Dr. William T. Odom · Good Joined: 01 Dec 2003 Posts: 67 Location: The Museum

"Dr., would you say that what you have found could be construed as evidence?" Dr. Odom looked as if he felt unwell. He looked, in fact, as if he was in worse health than the two women.

Dr Jewel · Posted: 02 Apr 2004 01:08 pm Post subject:

"I think it would definitely be construed as evidence."

Dr Jewel looked at Dr Odom with concern. She turned back to Enid Holloway and forced herself not to sound worried.

"I think we've taken up enough of your time now Enid." She said. "Perhaps we'll come back either later or tomorrow and take you on a tour of the site. However, I believe Dr Odom needs to return to the museum now."

She stood up.

"Certainly." Enid also stood. "I'll look forward to seeing your work for myself. It would make a huge difference to my studies if Sir Waters really had done half of the things he had been accused of. But I must see for myself."

Dr. William T. Odom · Good Joined: 01 Dec 2003 Posts: 67 Location: The Museum

Dr. Odom's good-byes were polite it a trifle hurried and distracted while he reinstalled the helmet and truncated as he tightly closed the faceplate. He led the way to the door and rather rudely (he would have thought himself in Miss Holloway's position) left himself out, pausing for a last wordless bow of farewell before leaving the ladies to finish their conversation if they were of a mind to do so. He was determined to find that arrow and the direction to the left of that to which it was pointing, which was, if he remembered correctly, the way he had come through this perplexing environment.

Dr Jewel · Posted: 02 Apr 2004 06:50 pm Post subject:

Dr Jewel smiled briefly at Enid, before hurrying after Dr Odom.

She caught up with him on the edge of the village green, absently noting that Enid's front door still swung open.

"It shouldn't take us long to get back to the Museum steps." She said encouragingly.

She turned to look at the new signpost again.

Dr. William T. Odom · Good Joined: 01 Dec 2003 Posts: 67 Location: The Museum

Dr. Odom fumbled at the faceplate and gasped at the fresh air when it was opened. He looked very greenish-grey.

"It occurs to me that there may be nastier surprises in store for anyone who survives breaking the first seal. It also occurs to me that I may be only one of two entities currently in this place with the means to breach further seals. If you are willing I would like for us to return to my office or to the canteen so that we may consider our options. If you are not then I would like to return briefly alone to compose myself."

Dr Jewel · Posted: 02 Apr 2004 10:41 pm Post subject:

"Nastier surprises ?" Dr Jewel looked worried. "I sincerely hope that you are wrong. Also that other entity, particularly when it comes to the question of corporeal state, remains something of an unknown. However, I agree it is something better considered outside of this area."

She looked at the signpost yet again.

"I will come back to the Museum with you, if you do not mind." She replied. "By the way, is it my imagination, or has that signpost changed ?"

Patchwork Universe · Posted: 03 Apr 2004 12:30 am Post subject:

As Dr Jewel and Dr Odom turned away, there was a small sproing of noise, drawing their attention to the sign. With a regular ticking sound the sign rotated until the arrow pointed west.

Dr Jewel · Posted: 03 Apr 2004 06:55 am Post subject:

"Huh ?" Dr Jewel took a step back. "I assumed that someone came and moved it. I didn't realise that it was automated. Besides, if it doesn't say where it is pointing in the first place, why move it ? I don't understand at all."

She glanced up at the sky, took in the position of the sun.

"Now it's pointing west." She said. "Which is where the Museum is."

Dr. William T. Odom · Good Joined: 01 Dec 2003 Posts: 67 Location: The Museum

"For the moment that's all I need to know," Dr. Odom laughed in a pitiable attempt at good humor. He closed the faceplate with deliberate calm and set off with all the disregard for twigs and brambles that the suit allowed him.

Dr Jewel · Posted: 03 Apr 2004 10:10 pm Post subject:

Dr Jewel spared one last, worried look at the signpost. Then she hurried after Dr Odom.

"Might the Museum have some information on Sir Waters ?" She queried. "Or do you think he is too obscure ?"

She absently noted that they were passing the last set of houses and leaving the village at a good pace.

Dr. William T. Odom · Good Joined: 01 Dec 2003 Posts: 67 Location: The Museum

The question was lost on Dr. Odom who could hear nothing but his own harsh breathing inside the helmet. Eventually, though, he staggered to a halt and threw open the hinged plate. He sucked in huge gasps of air, trying to ease the burning in his lungs and banish the little grey midges that fluttered about in a dense, sparkly cloud somewhere between his eyes and everything else.

He lurched back into motion, heading for the wall of mist that was still quite far off by his reckoning, breathing raggedly and glistening with perspiration.

Smiling weakly, he said, "Loud in there," in the sort of unnecessarily loud voice used by people coming out of a loud place.

Dr Jewel · Posted: 04 Apr 2004 01:22 pm Post subject:

"Yes." Dr Jewel smiled slightly, deciding to save more detailed conversation for the other side of the mist.

She looked up ahead, saw the familiar white wall.

"Not much further." She added by way of encouragement.

Dr. William T. Odom · Good Joined: 01 Dec 2003 Posts: 67 Location: The Museum

Dr. Odom began searching for a trampled-looking spot with signs someone had been standing there smoking. Every so ofter he would glance nervously at the mist; instead of looking like it might have an enormous wall behind it it looked like it might not.

Dr Jewel · Posted: 05 Apr 2004 09:39 pm Post subject:

Jewel Hart also stared at the mist. There was something... different about it. She decided not to mention this to Dr Odom.

"Try slightly further south." She suggested.

She moved a few paces spotted something in the grass, then pointed.

"Is that the place ?"

Dr. William T. Odom · Good Joined: 01 Dec 2003 Posts: 67 Location: The Museum

"Ah! Excellent!"

Dr. Odom visibly became more cheerful. It was as if a previously unnoticed shadow had suddenly moved off of him, he grew several inches taller and a few years younger (or, perhaps, had been gradually shrinking and aging and had suddenly recovered), and had learned he was absolutely guaranteed a favorable abode in the afterlife of his choice.

"The first thing I am going to do is going to be to find a broomstick and a brightly colored rag so I can plant a flag in the ground about here and avoid all of this searching on future occasions. No, on second thought, the first thing I will do is find a clean shirt. I'm sorry, I suppose that was rather more than you wanted to know. I suppose I'm prattling. I'll be all right in a moment."

Heaving the helmet off of his head and dangling it casually from one hand, Dr. Odom stepped eagerly through the mist.

[OOC: cont. somewhere in Jones' Public House]