Sherlock Holmes: The Shadow From Beyond (15 page)

“Here, in reference to the Suez Canal, the modern marvel of engineering that has opened the flow of trade goods from Europe to the areas of the Orient, Lebda has re- labeled it ‘Invader Canal’. The not so subtle reference should not be overlooked. Let us not forget how military forces could be transported aboard those ships just as easily as produce.”

“So what you are saying Holmes, is that Lebda feels threatened by the increasing amount of major Islamic cities falling under the control of Western interests, and cites the Canal as one of the ways facilitating the Empire’s rapid expansion?” Watson continued, “His xenophobia is quite apparent, and well justified in my opinion. As an avid reader of the news events of the world, I can say that our Empire, as well as those of France and Italy, is well underway at establishing mandates in many those far flung regions. Eventually it will be very difficult for those countries to resist being enveloped in political turmoil.”

“Exactly!” replied the detective “One can see that Western influence continues to be forced upon those cultures even today. Our oppression did not end with the Crusades but moves onward at a steady pace. I can safely say that a few of these expansion rumors have even been confirmed by my older brother Mycroft, who’s position as adviser to many top government officials allows him access to further details concerning these policies and agendas. With the ongoing speed of modernization, and our continuing dependence on fossil fuels to power these marvelous new wonders, the global approach to acquiring natural resources will change radically. I see war and strife on the horizon Watson, and the pain and suffering that accompany them not far behind.

“Being a fervent follower of Islam, Lebda is probably enraged beyond reason at these recent developments, and each incident adds fuel to the fire that is his motive for revenge!”

Another map of interest featured France and its border countries Spain and Germany. Around some locations within these countryside’s, scattered about the map, are red circles drawn with a colored pencil, similar to the prior map. None of these marks circle specific towns or cities, instead lying more in rural areas. A few locations have tourist markers referring to archaeological or historic scenes of interest. A few of the circles have been crossed out, obvious markings of trails gone cold. Three circles have check marks beside them, possibly referring to those of more significant import. The astrological charts are as Holmes earlier explained; chronological notations concerning the displacement of stars, moons and constellations that cover a time-line spanning the last few months and in greater number over the last few weeks. Some dates indicated the near future as well, as a range of three consecutive days in the upcoming week have been underlined.

The papers discovered by Watson were the most intriguing of the lot, with many written in Lebda’s personal hand, while others being of ancient origin and rather fragile in state. These documents, in foreign languages unknown to both, had translated notes pinned to them. Holmes noticed by referencing Professor Harper’s journal that the handwriting is identical to these transcriptions. This folder then, contained the final workings of Harper’s toils for Lebda.

Many transliterations within discuss pagan religions, cults, rituals and ceremonies. Some pages included rough diagrams, graphics, symbols and various odd hieroglyphs. One folio is a collection of incantations, whose almost unpronounceable words proclaimed to hold both powers of destruction and protection alike. Dimensional gates and summation are mentioned frequently, with convoluted directions on how to create, maintain and close these portals to other parallel realms.

In a collection of Lebda’s personal notes was a description, including a drawing, of the amulet that had been sent to Harper and later found on Cowley corpse, the very same amulet that also brought doom to the Aurora only a few nights ago. The drawing was an exact representation of the amulet down to the finest detail and the brief description of the relic that accompanied the drawing explained some recount of its history: Know specifically as The Beacon, this amulet was one of many created long ago by the evil mage Katif Zebda who’s powers over the dark arts were feared and unchallenged. Claimed to be forged from the metals and minerals of an alien meteor that crashed to Earth long ago, the amulets were enchanted with multiple spells of soul binding; the power to capture and retain living souls within the actual gem, as sort of prison. One amulet is said to possess the actual life energy essence of the demon Orzzatt. This demon had been summoned into a protective gate and tricked into relinquishing some of its soul into the gem at the center of the talisman and thus into the eternal service of Katif Zebda, or anyone else with the power to manipulate the arcane object. It is noted that the souls of many horrific beasts have also been entrapped within the various gems over time, perhaps dozens within one talisman alone. How one or more of these amulets wound up in the possession of Count Lebda remains unknown.

In a folio labeled Mythos strangely spelt names were listed and accompanied by vague descriptions: Nyarlathotep, the Dark One; Yog-Sothoth, the Gate; Shub- Niggurath, the All Mother, and one referred to as Cthuga: the Servant of the Eye. Other almost unpronounceable beings were also listed, but seemed of no great import in comparison to the prior four.

“This Cthuga entry is of some interest,” Holmes stated. “Described as ‘a continually morphing shape of energetic mass,’ it is the first entity to emerge out of any major gateway created between dimensions, and it is Cthuga’s duty to cleanse the immediate area around the gateway from obstacles that may impede its masters’ passing. Simply put, its task is to purge the space and ready the way so the Great One may follow. ‘The One that follows will then re-create the world through its own desires and ideals, but only after laying waste to all’. I have seen this Cthuga name somewhere before,” Holmes mentioned as he flipped through earlier journal entries before finally settling on a page. “Ahh, here it is; Cthuga is one of the beings that revolted against the Great Old Ones and was subsequently banished to a dimensional prison in the far cosmos behind the star Fomalhaut.”

“One of the stars Lebda had listed in his astrological notes,” indicated Watson.

“You are correct old boy. And just like the demon star Algol, Fomalhaut also has an Arabic translation; Fum al Hiiit, meaning ‘Mouth of the Fish’. I assume it may be a metaphor, as in what travels before the fish?.. Its mouth? Or is it in reference to the description offered of the deity Cthulhu as being a tentacled beast that dwells in the darkest oceans. Is that the fish in question? Anyway this Cthuga being is probably involved in Lebda’s nefarious plan, and if I link up the information correctly it would involve the opening of a dimensional gateway that would allow for The One to infiltrate our realm after Cthuga cleanses the entry! I still seek the exact identity of The One that will come through the gate. It is most probably of the greater and more powerful types of entity in the mythos canon, like Cthulhu or another.”

“But to what ends Holmes? Why would Lebda desire such a thing to happen?” Watson asked in a nervous tone.

“Destruction.“ Holmes replied with grave concern in his voice. “Complete and utter destruction on a global scale.” Watson and Holmes continued working in relative silence for another hour or so before Holmes spoke up once again. “These notes also include rites and passages lifted from many of the forbidden tomes found in Harper’s home library as well as Lebda’s personal collections, ones similar in subjects as those found in the Necronomicon. A few of these, especially the chants of protection, may have great use to us in the future, therefore I will make sure to commit most to memory in case of later need.” He then gathered up some files from Harper’s translations, one titled Ortega the other Ahnke-keth and began to read the former while Watson continued to try and make sense of the many different elements of seemingly illogical information laid out before him.

After about another hour Holmes handed over the document titled Ortega to Watson, “Your opinion if you please.” He added.

“What have you got there? Does it shine some light on our situation?” the doctor questioned as he took the manuscript from Holmes.

“Very much so, I fear,” the detective replied in a grave tone.. “It explains the importance of a certain artifact, referred to as the ‘Eye of the Watcher’, an artifact often mentioned in both Harper and Lebda’s notes. It is the object at the center of this insane adventure and one that can possibly bring utter doom to the entire civilized world! The manuscript itself is an ancient tale involving the Christian Crusades to the Middle East in the late tenth century and the discovery of this ancient relic by a Franciscan monk by the name of Ortega, while returning on his homeward journey from the Holy Land.”

Holmes paused to light his pipe. “This diary must have been unearthed while Harper was researching the personal experiences of those who participated in those wars and documented their actions during that time. Firsthand accounts of the Crusades were hard to find after so many years, but worth great value as historic reference. How Harper managed to get his hands on this information is beyond me, but it is of major import.” he let out a thick cloud of tobacco that swirled about the room before it escaped through the slightly opened window.

Holmes elaborated; “Apparently found within a buried temple deep under the desert, the ‘Eye’, as it is sometimes referred, is of seemingly infinite dark power. The monk who found it thankfully never knew its true nature, and kept it merely as a keepsake from his travels. Lebda, on the other hand, seems to have been familiar with its arcane abilities and with Harper’s aid had it sought out. Part of Ortega’s personal journal had been translated by Harper and it explains the events that led up to the discovery of this relic and its subsequent whereabouts afterwards. Let me know your impressions Watson.” Holmes requested.

The doctor took up the account his companion had passed over and adjusted himself comfortably in his chair. He then re-filled his pipe with tobacco, struck a match, opened the small journal to page one and began to read.

The Journal of the Monk

The translation of the personal journal of Francesco Ortega, Friar of the Abbey of San Pedro de Siresa, Aragon, Spain.

The year was 1099 AD.

It had been a massacre. One of the bloodiest battles I had witnessed so far along our three year road of the so- called cleansing, the defeat of the Muslim savages at the Holy City of Jerusalem was brutal and unquestioned.

We wallowed in the carnage and celebrated in the victories. But in the end there were no winners.

I prayed for all those poor Muslim souls who had been butchered as well as for the brave knights of the Crusader army who fell in honor of the Christian standard. The brave ones mind you, not most of those murderous swine of the Knights Templar, who’s cruelty knew no bounds. Through them there was an unending red mist of savagery and slaughter rent upon those simple people of the Middle Eastern realms, justified by the word of God, our God, and I was his willing servant.

I had sworn my allegiance to the Good Book and its teachings; the Truth, the Light and the Way. At the beginning of our quest I was full of optimism and belief, yet in time the blatant contrast between the humanity and kindness preached by my religion and the death and suffering we caused in that same religion’s name was often too much to bear. I was weary of the constant cries of pain and misery from the wounded, the sad begging eyes of the orphaned children, the starvation and humiliation of a people, a nation. I had reached my limit and frequently came the point of abandoning my faith. This could not be what God wants for his children, could it? I thought. We must be in error, we have misrepresented his teaching in order to suit our favor, our twisted interests and desires. To kill humans in the name humanity, it was the essence of hypocrisy!

It was then that I decided to make the long journey home to Spain. To return to my abbey in Siresa, and re-focus on understanding the nature of my Christian religion so as to comprehend what is the true meaning of faith.

I had since joined a small legion of Crusaders who were on the march back from that one sided battle with the Muslim army at Jerusalem. Many fine Christian soldiers had been lost but success was eventually claimed and the Muslims rebels were sent fleeing into neighboring countries. Those that remained within the city walls were butchered by the Knights Templar, no quarter given. Women, children, the elderly and the in-firmed, all were put to the blade. It was a human tragedy on a mass scale. It was absolute horror.

Now our tired ranks returned along a long trail that would eventually lead back home to Europe, to loved ones and friends not seen in many years. The going made more difficult by heavy sacks overflowing with the spoils of war, plundered riches torn from the slit throats of previous owners. ‘Thou shall not covet thy neighbor’s goods.’ the Good book says. One of many commandments conveniently ignored for the moment, it seemed. The road the caravan followed was along the northern countries of the Middle Eastern Realms and Africa, then across the Mediterranean Sea by boat and back to continental Europe. The going was slow and arduous, along rocky hills and dry dessert plains. Our party was often besieged by harrowing sand storms that would quickly engulf stragglers, rending them lost to the desert, or worse: buried alive. In those circumstances it was imperative to remain close to the group at all times so as not to be separated, many would even lash themselves tightly to their pack animals as an added measure.