Sherlock Holmes: The Shadow From Beyond (9 page)

Further symbols, images and diagrams are also included in the journal. One of these diagrams is that of the

‘Elder Sign’; A ward of great protection against the evil powers of the beyond. It comes in the form of a five pointed star, carved out of a mysterious grey stone that originates in the fabled city of Mnar.

“Are those the stones you removed from Harper’s study earlier?” Watson asked.

“Yes. Here take one and keep it on your person at all times.” He passed one of the star shaped items over to his friend, who in turn looked it over curiously. “They are said to be able to protect the bearer from occult magic and such, and although I don’t see how, it would be safer to once again err on the side of caution in this matter.”

Watson took up the stone and looked it over. It was a roughly shaped five pointed star with what seemed to be a crude image of a flaming eye carved at its center. The composition of the stone was unknown to him but felt light in weight and was porous like pumice. He shrugged and placed it deep within his coat pocket.

Holmes then dissected the other journal entries, comparing the items mentioned within to those taken from Professor Harper’s home earlier and certain artifacts listed in the Necronomicon, and eventually to the amulet on the chain that had been removed from both the professor and then Cowley’s corpses. Holmes held the artifact out in front of them by the chain, it swayed back and forth in his grip as the ship rose and fell upon the waves.

The pendant was round and flat like a medallion, composed of some unknown silver colored metal. At its center an amber gem gleamed with a deep golden glow, the surface of which was multifaceted, cut to emphasis that the rays were extending outward from its center. It was devoid of any markings at all accept for around the gem’s circular metallic outline where lay a few small star shaped engravings and the single word ‘Algol’’. Holmes was somewhat baffled by what it meant, and after another half hour of study, placed the journal and the amulet down upon the table. He stretched his long, lanky arms while yawning. “How about a brief stroll for some fresh air, Watson? I could use a change of scenery.”

Watson nodded his approval and reached for his tobacco and waistcoat.

They locked the cabin securely behind them before ascending up to the main deck.

After filling their pipes and lighting up, they gazed over the dark yet calm waters of the English Strait that now lay about them. Few words passed between the two comrades as they smoked, Holmes obviously in deep thought.

Watson eventually broke the silence with a note about the weather. “Usually one would expect rougher waters with a full moon out, but all is rather still.” he said. “The stars, at least, are finally becoming visible in the sky as the midnight hour approaches and the coastal mists disperse.”

Seconds later Holmes cried aloud: “That’s it Watson! How could I have missed it? Quickly back to our room before it rises to its full apex, we have very little time left!” A slightly confused Watson followed in Holmes’ footfalls as they raced back to their berth.

Holmes held back Watson as they approached their room, the door was visibly unlocked and ajar, yet no sound could be heard from within. Cautiously the detective pushed the door inward. The berth was vacant but evidence that an intrusive search had been made was obvious by the opened drawers and upturned baggage. A quick check of their possessions revealed that the only item missing was the amulet.

“Gone Watson! The amulet! And with only an hour left before the moon and stars reach their full height! It must be recovered at all cost!”

“But why Holmes? I do not understand.”

“No time now Watson! Trust me in the importance of finding and destroying that amulet. I will explain all to you later. Come with me, we must find the Captain!”

Good Samaritan

Captain Briggs was notified of the robbery and a thorough search of the ship was ordered.

“I will find your missing personal effects, Mr. Holmes, of this I guarantee. Unless the thief is a fish that can swim away, he has nowhere to go. He will be caught.”

After some ten minutes of chaos the thief was brought before them as Briggs promised, amulet in hand. Many other crewmen, including Hassan were also milling about when the robber was dragged before the travelers. The Captain openly chastised the crewman who stole the amulet and confined him to quarters with promises of harsher punishments to come, he then apologized to his passengers for the intrusion and robbery.

“Some of dees boys don’t think I pay em enough wages me guess, so they take a little extra.” He fixed his burning gaze on the rest of the crew at this statement. “Let it be known dat sticky fingers will be washed, in the sea!” He then motioned to return the amulet to the detective, but with wide staring eyes, enchanted by it somehow, hesitated. Sherlock Holmes noticed this reaction and quickly retrieved the amulet from out of Biggs’ hand.

“Now to be rid of the cursed thing!” he declared triumphantly. “It is a beacon for death and soon the messenger will come in reply, the artifact must be thrown overboard immediately!”

The crew and captain gasp at this insane statement. “Are you mad Mr. Holmes? You ‘ave me search high and low for dis stolen item only to throw it into da sea to be lost forever!” Captain Biggs bellowed. “Why the concern to ‘ave the thief return it if only to give it up again? What was the purpose?” He glared into the detective’s eyes seeking answers before questioning further. “Why waste such a beautiful object to destruction? And what’s dis talk of death and messengers? Is sea sickness takin’ over your senses?” “The item is cursed Captain Biggs,” replied Holmes in a stern voice. “It is an object of dark power, a thing of pure evil! Do not let its beauty deceive you of its true value, which is only death.”

“The necklace is cursed? It has powers of destruction? It’s but a trinket sir! An inanimate bit ‘o metal and glass, surely it can possess no will of its own. Although we sailors can be an overly superstitious lot, we’re not easily frightened. I do not know why ya wish to be rid ‘o it, but I do not believe in yer ghost stories!”

Ironically this statement wasn’t lost on the detective as his beliefs in the supernatural were also of similar mind, yet for some reason he was compelled to remain steadfast in his decision to be rid of the item.

Captain Biggs then offered Holmes a decent sum for the amulet, stating he can at least please one of his port of call ladies with the bauble. “Surely free passage on me ship and a handsome wad ‘o notes can change your mind in this matter?”

“No!” Insisted Holmes once again. “You must understand that death comes to those in its possession, we are all doomed if it is not lost at once! I insist that we be rid of it immediately!”

Biggs was now quite agitated, somehow possessed by a madness not his own, he could keep his eyes off the amulet dangling from Holmes’ fist. “I must have it!” he muttered and orders the crew to restrain the travelers. Half a dozen seamen grab the two struggling companions and quickly secure their arms behind their backs. Biggs then pried the amulet from Holmes’ vice-like grip and stated, “I will take this necklace as payment for your journey ‘cross the Channel. You will be confined to your room until we arrive. No ‘arm will come to you if you comply and if questioned later by the law, your tale will be denied by myself and my crew of witnesses.”

He then ordered the two taken back to their compartment. Holmes shouted out his objections and warnings once again but the words were lost to the air as they were dragged down the corridors and back below deck within the firm hold of some deckhands. The last thing they saw was Biggs admiring the amulet, wide eyed and fascinated.

Soon both were secured in their compartment again, the heavy steel door locked from outside. It is then that Holmes explained his theory to Watson.

“The amulet is a beacon for death!” he noted. “Those in possession of it seem to have met their end on nights when the moon or certain stars are at their apex, usually at midnight on the hour or soon after! The symbol represented by the amulet’s gem is that of a star, the facets engraved indicating the light that emanates from it! Watson, when you spoke of the weather and the moon and stars it all of a sudden became clear to me of the engraved word ‘Algol,’ it is the name of star in the Perseus constellation of the sky often referred to as the ‘Eye of Medusa.’ The amulet was worn by Harper the evening he was murdered, and was in Cowley’s possession when he was attacked at Scotland Yard. What actually brings death is still unknown to me, some messenger, force or entity, but it arrives just after midnight when the star Algol is at its height in the heavens. From the horrific state of both Harper and Cowley’s corpses it is obvious that the messenger possess great and evil powers.

“It was this very amulet that was enclosed in the envelope with the letter Lebda sent to Harper. The gifted amulet and its promise of death was a way for the Count to cut his ties to the professor, and ensure his silence in their business matters. After his tasks were completed and his services no longer needed Harper was gruesomely removed from the picture by this emissary…quite a parting gift indeed. The envoy that was intended to meet Harper with the final payment was in fact this dealer of death!” Watson gasped at the statement, his eyes full of wonder.

Holmes continued, “As witnessed, Cowley was also still in possession of the amulet when he died in jail just after midnight. The messenger was summoned by that accursed relic to bring doom upon any who bear it upon their person, it does not matter whom. And tonight, in about an hour, the moon and stars will be at their apex and the menace will surely appear once again! Curse that Captain Biggs and his insatiable greed! He has doomed us all!”

Watson did not reply but his pale countenance spoke volumes toward his concerns.

About twenty minutes later Holmes and Watson are aroused by a soft knock on the outside door of their berth. They hear a key slide into the lock and a moment later the door was slowly opened inward. It was Hassan, and after nervously glancing around the hallway he slipped into the room and closed the door behind him.

“I have come to return the favor from early this evening when you helped me in the alley. I do not trust Captain Biggs to deliver you safely even though he has promised you so. His mind has been altered since he took your amulet, it fascinates and mesmerizes him. I have overheard him mumbled under his breath about doing you both in to keep you from reporting on him to the coastal guard. He will then dump your weighted bodies overboard to be lost to the deep of the Channel. As there are no official records of your boarding the ship, nobody will think to even suspect him of your disappearance, and the crew will not speak up against him out of loyalty.” Hassan seemed to be ashamed and embarrassed by the whole affair. “You saved me from a nasty beating back at the waterfront, perhaps even my life. May I now do the same for you as my religious beliefs demand? I am in your debt.” he added resolutely.

“There is a lifeboat I have prepared and we are not very far from shore, you can make it in about forty minutes rowing. You will not arrive exactly at Le Havre as we are still more than an hour out of port, but at least you will be safe across the Channel and away from Biggs. Quickly prepare your possessions and follow me!”

Holmes asked Hassan what had become of the amulet as he and Watson gathered their belongings.

“The Captain wears it around his neck and it gleams more brightly with each passing minute.” Hassan replied.

“How are we to retrieve it Holmes? The odds are not in our favor with so many crewman about.” asked Watson. “There is nothing we can do about the amulet now.” Holmes replied sternly. “May Biggs enjoy his trinket while he can, his fate may be sealed but ours is not. Hurry we must all flee at once, Hassan will join us of course.”

On deck the trio prepared to descend the lifeboat to the waterline when some crewmen noticed them. The crewmen shouted alarm as they approached. Hassan jumped from the lifeboat and screamed back at his new friends; “Hurry and be off as I hold them back! Now is your only chance! Hurry I say!” And with that remark the grinning Arab bounded into the approaching group of deckhands who all went crashing to the floor in a heap of entangled limbs.

Watson could do nothing to help Hassan so he did as was told and released the rope that secured them to the ship. It slipped quickly through his hands, and the lifeboat, after rapidly descending to the waterline, escaped in the wake of the steamer and diminished quickly into the semi-darkness.

Holmes and Watson observed the struggle on deck of the departing Aurora as the deckhands easily overpowered Hassan and beat him down. More shouts and alarms were sounded as the crew tried to make out what has befallen them; a few leaned over the rail pointing to the receding lifeboat that held the now freed captives.

From The Depths

Within moments of their flight, the clouds overhead parted, revealing a bright moon slowly climbing to its apex. The stars appeared, sparkling brightly against the inky void beyond. “Midnight!” Watson cried as he examined his pocket watch. “We have escaped just in time it seems Holmes! Look over there!”