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#101
Old 06-16-2013, 09:42 PM

CHAPTER 49 (PART - A)


A speed boat continued racing along the ever rolling waves of the sea for hours as the occupants of the boat covered up in dark robes once again. The boat had six occupants as it bounced from wave to wave. The spray from each bounce splashed like a geyser from behind them with residual splash coming into the back part of the boat. The six men kept their hoods over their heads using the heavy material to try to keep dry as they continued their returning voyage back to the Sea Serpent. With the loud motor and the sound of the waves, conversation was difficult unless you stood really close; so, everyone stared ahead as the night cloaked their movement using only the light of the waning moon and the few stars to continue on their way.

Two of the men stand next to each other steering the boat as one leans over to say something secretively knowing that the noise from the motor and the splashing waves prevents anyone else from hearing anything said.

“So what are you going to tell the boss—boss?” Tom asked Allan.
“We didn’t get Tintin, but if I know him well enough, he will come” Allan said confidently.
“What about Gaspar? He wasn’t supposed to leave da ship!” Tom commented a little lower hoping the person in question would not hear him.
“That’s not our problem. If the boss asks, we tell him the truth. I warned him and I’ve already stuck my neck out enough for him—his behavior is reckless” Allan replied as they continued across the channel.
“I hope we get to the boat soon, it’s getting awfully chilly out here!” Tom complained.
“Quit your whining, we should be arriving soon enough. Now that we have our new guest to join us, I think the boss’s anger will be deflected off us since we followed instructions as he asked” Allan nodded with relief.

Tom turned around a moment thinking Gaspar was glaring at him from under his hood, but when he turned around he saw Gaspar carrying on with Mikhail about some exploit as they began shouting over the noise. Ivan and the other man who remained masked sat quietly while hooded.

“You know boss I hear rumors of evil bewitchment among the crew” Tom continued on.
“Aye! It’s nothing I care to involve myself in” Allan said adamantly.
“Those two prisoners they say were possessed by something—evil” Tom hesitated.

“Aye, the leaders of the Crimson Heads, those practices of witchcraft and devilry give me the chills, but it isn’t my place to question what Mr. Wagner does in secret for our group’s advancement. I only carry out his instructions and keep the conversations on business and normal activities” Allan explained.

The cold night sea air began to make Tom shiver as he pulled his heavy robe and hood tighter. The waves weren’t that bad this evening, but traveling fast on a smaller boat made for rough travel on the mildly choppy sea.

“So boss, who is this man we are taking to see the boss?” Tom asked.
“I swear! Sometimes you have curiosity worse than a child, don’t worry because I really don’t know myself” Allan admitted.

Gaspar and Mikhail began laughing really hard as Ivan and the unknown man sat silently shrouded in their hood and cloaks. Tom turned to look not sure what they were discussing and laughing about.

“Leave them be, I have a feeling the boss won’t be too happy with Gaspar, so let him laugh” Allan replied.
“So you think you may have killed two of them eh?” Mikhail laughed.
“Possibly…but not the one I wanted!” Gaspar said rubbing his busted nose still feeling injured from the last struggle with Captain Chester.
“Don’t worry, you already have the upper hand on him. He had help from Tintin and that other kid” Mikhail assured him.

“That’s right, next time Chester won’t be so lucky… I should have killed his entire family first” Gaspar said with wicked regret.
Tom nodded as he turned back around as they began to approach the Irish coast. Further ahead, the Sea Serpent seemed to be slowly making its way south.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXX

The speed boat was loaded back onto the Sea Serpent by the crew. Everyone watched as the crew seemed a bit more zombie like than usual. They seemed to be paying less attention to everyone around them, but instead were focusing only on the tasks at hand.

“Excuse me my liege…” Allan said insincerely.
The masked man regarded Allan without saying a word.
“The boss would like to see you immediately upon your arrival” Allan informed him.
The masked man nodded as Allan escorted him up to the bridge.

“Careful you scum! That’s an expensive boat you hear me!” Gaspar shouted removing his hood revealing his black bandana. The crew members didn’t even turn to regard him but only continued with the task of securing it back in place on the ship.

“What’s wrong with you lazy pieces of schizer!” Gaspar roared.
“Something is different with the crew” Ivan noted to Mikhail.
Mikhail looked at each of the crew members, especially ones that were notorious for complaining, but there were no indications in their facial expressions of any emotion.
“Strange…” Mikhail commented.
“Did you hear me you deaf numbskulls!” Gaspar shouted even louder.
“Gaspar! I don’t think they hear you, look at their faces!” Tom informed him.

Gaspar took a moment to look at them as they worked. Immediately Gaspar charged and acted like he was going to punch one in the face, but the crew member didn’t even flinch.

“Ya slum dogs better not have been eating up the profits you thieving scoundrels!” Gaspar said accusingly with still no response.
“Oi! Lay off em why don’t ya!” Tom yelled at Gaspar.
“Why don’t you shut your trap you follower!” Gaspar shouted back.
“Now come on you two! We got more important things to worry about!” Ivan cut in.
“Stay out of this Ivan! Mind your own business!” Mikhail defended Gaspar.
“What?!” Ivan looked at Mikhail with a funny look.
“All of you shut up! Gaspar! You’re wanted up on the bridge on the double!” Allan shouted out from above them.
Gaspar looked at Tom then to Ivan, “The lot of you are a bunch of sissies!” Gaspar spat as he made his way up to the bridge.
“Here it comes!” Tom laughed.
“What?!” Mikhail walked up to him.
“I don’t think the boss is happy with him!” Tom replied.
“Yea, I remember that he was told not to leave the ship, but decided to come with us anyway” Ivan added.

“So what! He was quite useful in dealing with that bothersome Captain Chester and his folk. I’m willing to bet we could have captured Tintin and put all of his friends in an early grave” Mikhail defended him.
“We weren’t even supposed to be going there! It was Gaspar’s sniveling and complaining to Allan that made put us there while we were waiting to pick up our guest” Ivan retorted.
“If it wasn’t for all of that, Tintin would still probably be running in circles” Mikhail laughed.
“All’s I know is that he disobeyed the boss…” Tom finished walking away.
“He’s a good ally” Mikhail complimented.
“Yea, but he’s reckless, and recklessness is not an endearing trait brother” Ivan explained.
“So what! He gets the job done!” Mikhail retorted angrily.
“We’ll see… we need to report back to Lento” Ivan replied.
“You go, I want to find out what they want with Gaspar” Mikhail waved him away.
“Humph!” Ivan sneered and walked away.
Mikhail walked up closer to the bridge at a distance trying to see if he could discern anything discreetly.


XXXXXXXXXXX



Allan led their newest member to the bridge. He said nothing to him as he followed quietly. Allan opened the door to the bridge as Herr Wagner stood there quietly reading the gages and monitors occasionally glancing down on the main deck.

“Allan, you’ve returned!” Herr Wagner replied without looking up.
“Yes, I’ve brought our newest associate sir” Allan answered.
“I wouldn’t say newest…” the masked man finally spoke up.
Allan regarded him curiously somehow thinking that the voice sounded just a bit familiar to him.
“Huh?” was all Allan could respond with as the man took off his long beaked bird mask.
“Dr. Mueller! How nice of you to finally join us!” Herr Wagner sounded a bit elated.
“Herr Wagner, I’ve heard you’ve moved up in the ranks quite a bit” Dr. Mueller smiled.

Allan could not believe it was Dr. Mueller and stood there dumbfounded.
“What’s wrong with you?” Dr. Mueller asked him a bit jocularly.
“Nothing…I just thought…” Allan responded not knowing what to say.
“Thought that I was locked away forever eh? Well we were waiting for the right time!” Dr. Mueller laughed.
“I hope you were able to accomplish what the less competent could not” Herr Wagner grinned adjusting his shades on the dimly lit bridge.
“Indeed I did…” Dr. Mueller said taking out a small sack setting two cubes on a panel.

Herr Wagner removed his shades for the first time in front of Allan. Herr Wagner’s right profile only revealed his ice blue eye as he thoughtfully examined each of the cubes. He picked up the cube with the green symbols inspecting its dimensions.

“Very good Dr. Mueller, I knew I could count on you!” Herr Wagner’s voice began to crescendo in excitement.
“So, I suppose you have a plan since we don’t have Tintin” Dr. Mueller commented.
“Let’s just say, I have several aces up my sleeve my colleague, hehehehe!” Herr Wagner smiled picking up the cube with the yellow symbols.
“Can I ask just one question sir?” Allan couldn’t take the suspense anymore.
“Very well…” Herr Wagner said quietly inspecting the other cube. Allan wanted to ask more questions but knew he’d better ask the most obvious one.

“These stones, I know they mean a lot to us…but what on earth does Tintin have to do with all of this?” Allan finally asked the burning question that had been bothering him for some time.
“Tintin? The question of the century! Hehehehehe!” Herr Wagner laughed.
“Hehehehehehe!” Dr. Mueller joined him cackling.
“There is history with the stones and…WHAT!?” Herr Wagner suddenly thundered.
“Is something wrong?” Dr. Mueller asked a bit confused.
“You idiot! Part of the yellow cube is missing!” Herr Wagner shouted pointing turning to look at both Allan and Dr. Mueller.
“Impossible!” Dr. Mueller shouted back completely annoyed by the sudden change in attitude.

“What is this?!” Herr Wagner said pointing to the corner of the cube.
Dr. Mueller was not intimidated by Herr Wagner’s red eye as he took the cube looking carefully at it.
“I can see you know! I’m not blind!” Herr Wagner said sarcastically as Dr. Mueller looked at it disbelief.
“You don’t have to shout! I’m not deaf you know!” Dr. Mueller shot back.
“Not to butt in but Tintin will be coming” Allan interjected.
“He must have the missing piece to this cube!” Dr. Mueller exclaimed.
“I don’t want excuses! Mr. Thompson is right, Tintin will be coming for certain” Herr Wagner’s frown turned up slightly.

“How can you be so sure?” Dr. Mueller looked at him suspiciously.
“Because… I have his brother” Herr Wagner said triumphantly.
“Oh! I see! Then we must prepare a fitting welcoming party for him!” Dr. Mueller clasped both of his hands in anticipation.
“Well then you just do that! Allan, call Gaspar for me and take Dr. Mueller to the conference room to prepare our plans” Herr Wagner instructed.
“One more thing Doctor…how did the specimens do?” Herr Wagner asked quickly.
“They’ve been eradicated… one by Tintin and that loathsome Chinese boy. The other you won’t believe…” Mueller licked his lips.
“Go on…” Herr Wagner prompted.

“A young woman, at the house where I found the cube with the green symbols” Mueller answered a bit impressed.
“Hmm… So young Benton must have a girlfriend or wife? She probably got lucky, she is of no consequence to me” Herr Wagner nodded also motioning for Allan to hurry.
“I would not dismiss her so easily… those specimens are capable of killing an above average strength man” Dr. Mueller advised.
“Very well, if she’s that foolish to come then she too will meet an untimely end with the others” Herr Wagner said whimsically.
“Aye sir!” Allan didn’t delay as Lento entered as Allan was leaving.
“Ah Lento, you must have ESP, I was just thinking I need to ask you something…” Herr Wagner smiled darkly.
Lento watched as Dr. Mueller and Allan left the bridge.
“Yes sir, what is it?” Lento asked curiously.
“When is the dark moon?” Herr Wagner asked looking up toward the waning moon.

“Shouldn’t be but a few more days, the moon as you can see is waning” Lento explained.
“Good, I think I may know a reckless and wicked candidate that might just be conducive for our next ritual” Herr Wagner said slowly.
“Hmmm… and who might you suggest?” Lento regarded him with intrigue.
At that moment, Gaspar entered the bridge.
“You called sir?” Gaspar asked crudely as he walked in.
“Why Gaspar, yes…yes indeed I did…” Herr Wagner smiled with a calm demeanor.
Lento looked at Gaspar suddenly taking off his shades in disbelief then looked at Herr Wagner as if the man was crazy.
“I’m sorry sir that I disobeyed your orders!” Gaspar said as if he were suddenly a soldier in the army.

“Well Gaspar… I may be willing to forgive this insolence if you agree to a task when I ask you” Herr Wagner’s voice replied cunningly.
Gaspar didn’t know what to think. “Of course, what would this task be? Killing someone? Abducting more women? Robbing more folk?” Gaspar asked fervently.
“Not this time… my murderous canon… when the time comes I shall let you know. Until then I need you to help us with a welcoming party for Tintin” Herr Wagner expounded.

“Aye sir!” Gaspar saluted.
“Good, go find Allan…dismissed!” Herr Wagner replied back crudely as Gaspar left.
Lento stood there almost dumbfounded unable to believe what he just saw.
“Is something wrong Master Lento?” Herr Wagner detected a sudden confusion from him.

“Um… just confused sir, nothing more…” Lento nodded.
“Trust me my eager friend…for now return back to the conference room…we have guests arriving soon” Herr Wagner said adjusting some of the gages.
“Guests?” Lento questioned.
“Tintin and his entourage…whoever they may be” Herr Wagner whispered.
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#102
Old 06-16-2013, 10:00 PM

CHAPTER 49 (PART - B)


The Fakir, Rastapopoulos, and Lady Ravena sat in the room looking over a map of the ship when Dr. Mueller suddenly walked in.

“Dr. Mueller!” Rastapopoulos greeted.
“Ah Mr. Rastapopoulos! We meet again” Dr. Mueller nodded taking a seat at the table.
The Fakir had his head down on the table grabbing his temples.
“What’s wrong with you?” Dr. Mueller asked.
“An extreme use of my abilities has severely weakened me” the Fakir answered meekly.
“Ah Dr. Mueller, it is a pleasure to see you once again…” Lady Ravena stood up.
“No need my lady!” Dr. Mueller said kissing her hand.
“So how did the experiment and stone collecting go?” Lady Ravena asked as if she was a bit more privy to more classified information.

“The experiment was moderately successful, but it did not achieve the desired effect… we need more tests” Dr. Mueller said darkly.
“And more tests you shall have Doctor” Lady Ravena smiled.
“I have the special cargo of subjects you have requested in the hold” Rastapopoulos commented.
“Excellent! We must get started right away…I have the cursed virus which came deep within the Soviet Chapter” Dr. Mueller acknowledged.
“Please don’t tell me I need to hypnotize anyone else…” the Fakir whined.
“No, you’re work is finished for now… go get some rest for now” Lady Ravena smiled.

“Thank you my lady, you are too gracious!” the Fakir smiled leaving the room.
“Yes…I know…” Lady Ravena said with a patronizing tone.
Shortly after that comment Lento entered the room and almost seconds later, Ivan began knocking behind him.
“Were all of you going somewhere?” Lento asked.
“We are going to prepare the new specimens for our arriving guests… would you like to join us?” Lady Ravena said almost seductively.
“Why of course…” Lento nodded with a smile.
“Boss…” Ivan whispered.

“Ivan, great timing, you will accompany us down to the hold” Lento nodded.
“The hold?” Ivan asked a bit puzzled.
“Yes…don’t ask questions, just come” Lento motioned as they all began to make their way down into the lower decks of the ship.
“Boss… I believe you may have gotten what you wanted” Ivan whispered as they walked.
“What do you mean? About Gaspar?” Lento carefully whispered back.
“Yes…” Ivan nodded.
“Things seemed to have backfired on me…” Lento replied regretfully.
“What was that?” Lady Ravena asked looking back.
“Nothing my lady, just getting some minor details” Lento smiled.
“I see…” Lady Ravena said unconcerned.
“Wow! The Fakir’s head must be about ready to explode” Rastapopoulos commented.

“Indeed” Lady Ravena agreed.
Crewmen were working like robots not paying them any attention.
“This is a bit eerie even for me” Dr.Mueller admitted.
“The All Seeing Eye knows and sees all…best to make sure you’re on the right side” Lady Ravena said slowly.
“We should only do two experiments… we don’t want to waste our most powerful weapons just yet… we could have not only Tintin’s allies, but also the law against us if they are foolish enough to try to intervene” Dr. Mueller sighed.
“Agreed…Herr Wagner has chosen his allies wisely…most of them at least…” Lady Ravena finished sarcastically.

They walked into one of the last holds that had a bay door. The room was dimly lit and there were only a couple of small portal windows high above. The hold was filled with many crates, then in the back, a cage hooked to a strong chain and pulley attached to the ceiling sat empty in the back. Lento jumped back startled by the sudden growling.

“Ah! My pets!” Rastapopoulos smiled.
“Just how many of those do we have here?” Lento asked.
“We have about six…two in each of these three crates” Rastapopoulos replied.
“I thought you would have gotten more of them?” Dr. Mueller looked a bit disappointed.
“These are top breed and mean! Hehehehe!” Rastapopoulos laughed.
“We’ll use what we have then, I will insert the vial when you feed them…say fresh meat?” Dr. Mueller smiled.
“Of course!” Rastapopoulos agreed.
“Herr Wagner has something even more sinister up his sleeve…” Lady Ravena replied mysteriously.
“What could that be?” Lento asked even more intrigued.
“Let’s just say from some old information that we know one of Tintin’s deepest fears…” Lady Ravena listened to the growling coming from the crates.
“What would that be?” Lento pressed.
“Patience…you’ll see my eager one” Lady Ravena concluded vaguely.
“Yes, now we only need to set the bait and wait for our prey” Rastapopoulos agreed heartily.

XXXXXXXXXXXX

Benton awoke again, but this time to smell of fire? He quickly jumped off his bed and looked around realizing he was back in his grandmother’s house so many years ago. Quickly he dashed out of his room and a blazing glow was coming from downstairs.

“I know you have it you old hag!” a man yelled.
“…I don’t know…what you’re talking…about…” an old woman answered.
Young Benton walked down the stairs slowly as he saw the fire blazing with two men standing over his grandmother.
“Grandmother!” Benton shouted out.

The two men looked up, but this time Benton saw the face of the closest one. He was a tall man wearing a black trench coat and hat. He removed his shades and looked at Benton dead in the eyes. He had an ice blue and a red eye. Benton grabbed his chest in fear never wanting to remember what he just saw.

“There’s the kid! He knows where it is!” the other man shouted.
“I’ll get him, you deal with the old crone” the other man shouted in a German accent.
“Run Benton! Take the heirloom and run!” the old lady forced out.
Benton turned back to retrieve what his grandmother was talking about while crying “grandmother!”

Suddenly Benton was at a window and he jumped falling into the bushes as the house began to burn brighter. The tall man stared at him from above. That look now burned itself in Benton’s memory as he woke back in his cabin aboard the Sea Serpent with a start. Benton took a deep breath remembering the details of the dream and then all the sudden things began to make horrifying sense to him.

“The heirloom! Lucille! The kids!” Benton whispered frantically.
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#103
Old 06-16-2013, 11:35 PM

CHAPTER 49 (PART - C) end of chapter 49

Benton looked out the dark portal. Very little light seemed to be coming from the ship elsewhere. The ship was moving, but in what direction he wasn’t sure. There would be no jumping ship in the middle of the sea. Benton began to understand why these people were after him and his brother, but had no clue what the significance of the heirloom meant. The more Benton thought, the stronger the memory became. Then he came to the revelation that the man who questioned him with the red eye was indeed one of the two responsible for the murder of his grandmother.

Benton decided he would do whatever he could to make sure that this man had the most trouble trying to get whatever it was he wanted out of him, albeit he had no clue what this man could want from him now that he had the stone. He would try to reclaim this heirloom if he could.

“Why after so many years does he want it now?” was all Benton could ask.
Benton inspected the room for anything useful that would aid him in possibly escaping and finding a place to hide on the ship. A small cot for a bed with a sheet, blanket, and pillow were some of the furnishings. A desk with a drawer, a lamp, and a wooden chair was the only other furnishing. Nothing was in the drawer.

“Think Benton! Think! You’re the brother of super sleuth investigator!” Benton said out loud in frustration.
“Guards!” Benton said loudly, but no one responded.
“Guards! I’m hungry!” Benton repeated, but still no response.
Usually someone would at least holler out “Pipe down in there!” but nothing. Benton jiggled the door knob and surprisingly it began to turn and the door opened.

Benton slowly opened the door and peeked around the corner. The guard who brought him food and watched his room was standing right there. Benton quickly back into the room. Benton was waiting for the man to come parading into the room to see what was going on, but nothing happened. Benton waited a few more minutes as he could hear the beating of his own heart. Two minutes, then three minutes passed, and still not one response or sound of any movement.

“Things just seem to get more and more stranger!” Benton thought.

Benton took a deep breath and decided to peep around the corner again. Quietly he slowly looked and the same man was standing there quietly leaning against the wall staring straight ahead it seemed. Again, Benton’s sense of self-preservation made him duck back into the room. This time Benton waited only another minute. After he heard nothing he decided to slowly move out into the hall. The man still stood quietly perplexing Benton. Any normal person would be able to see out of their residual sight that someone was movie beside them, so what was wrong with this picture?

“Um… sir?” Benton said in a low voice slowly walking closer to the man. The man still stood there quietly with his eyes closed. Benton’s curiosity wanted to figure out what was wrong with this man, but his opportunistic side told him to forget about it and not look a gift horse in the mouth.

Benton looked down the long dimly lit corridor. Several more cabins were on both sides and up ahead he could see a pair of double doors. Benton looked behind him to see if the man was following him and all was quiet. This was more than disconcerting to him as something unnatural seemed to fill the air which went against all logic he held firmly in. Benton quickly darted down the corridor towards the double doors. He couldn’t tell whether his steps really were echoing loudly or if it was all just in his head.

Benton pushed through the double doors remembering he came this way when he was moved from the previous cell. Then it dawned on him that he wasn’t the only prisoner on this ship. A moral dilemma hit him. He could try to sneak up to the top deck and perhaps find a life boat to try to lower into the water, or he could try to help the other prisoners in his initial cell. Benton wanted to reclaim his heirloom too, but knew it might get him caught; besides, his life was more important than some stone with strange green etchings on it. Too many choices demanded quick decisions as he had no clue how much time he would have before he would be missed.

Benton could feel the ship suddenly begin to slow down as the swaying of this ship subsided almost to none. It was late from what Benton could tell, but if they were going into a port, this will make his escape all the easier. Benton sighed one last time looking up the stairwell and looking down. The upward route looked much more appealing as it was much better lit than the downward route as it was almost dark. Benton could almost feel as if his mind was playing tricks on him, but he slowly began descending down the stairway. He hoped that all the unnatural feelings he felt were nothing more than his imagination running wild and that he wouldn’t later come to regret his decision.

He could hear each step he took as if it were magnified many times more. The paranoia crept into his mind about being discovered but he willfully ignored it. He counted four flights of stairs that he walked up from, then he was about to enter the double doors until he heard a loud laughing and a few pairs of foot-steps walking his way.

“Yikes! I’d better hide!” Benton thought as he began tip-toeing back up a flight of stairs. He peeked through the double doors up a floor and thankfully no one seemed to be in the corridor. He opened them just wide enough so he could slip through and close the door without making any noise and waited to hear which direction these people would be walking in.

“Those are my lovely birdies! Cute and obedient! Hehehehe!” a devious voice laughed as the double doors into the stairwell opened a floor below him.
“Whatever you say Gaspar, they’re not going anywhere” another voice said nonchalantly.
“You think I could have a turn with one of them?” a man with a Russian accent asked.
“Sure! For a Sterling pound that is…after we capture that Tintin” the devious voice responded crudely.
“Come on, I helped you out earlier… give me a better deal” the man with the Russian voice pleaded.
“Well…I’ll think about it!” the devious voice said as the steps began to echo in the stairwell.
“Things sure are getting stranger around here!” a forth voice said.
“You can say that again!” the first voice replied as the sound of the steps seemed little by little to diminish in volume. Finally Benton could no longer make out what they were saying as the sounds of the voices and steps seemed to mix together making the sounds undecipherable.

Benton sighed in relief when he heard a pair of double doors further below open and shut. Quickly Benton crept back down a flight of stairs and entered the corridor. This corridor was not long. It only had a few doors on the right side. Benton quickly crept to the end of the hallway putting his ear to the door to listen. Again, it was very quiet. Benton slowly proceeded to open the door. Two men stood slouched against the wall with their eyes closed and arms folded.

“What is happening on this ship!?” Benton wondered.

This room looked like a food storage area perhaps with canned goods and bottles of wine, but why have two men guard it? Benton kept looking around until it hit him where the man on the left stood. He slowly walked up to the wine shelf against the wall and looked behind the man to find a lever.

“Bingo!” Benton thought as he vaguely remembered the secret door.

Benton tightened his fists expecting the noise from the wall shifting to wake the sleeping men. The shelf slid to the left side revealing a small door. He quickly opened it and found a door with a valve mechanism on it. He turned the valve until the door lock released and opened. He could finally see the prisoners as the light from the room shone in.

“I’ve come to help!” Benton whispered.
The only response he got was some frightened cries.
“No! No! I’m not here to hurt you, I want to help!” Benton tried to explain, but it did no good.
Benton stood by the door and motioned for them to come out.
“Escape!” Benton whispered.
“Es…cape?” one girl whispered back.
“Yes! Escape! Freedom!” Benton whispered gently.

Another girl’s voice began speaking in a foreign tongue which he did not understand. After a minute the girls slowly came out of the cell as Benton found a long heavy flashlight that could be used as a club on a shelf. Benton looked at the two Asian girls. They looked bruised and malnourished. Benton figured communication may be a problem, so he began to use his hands hoping they would understand him.

“Shhh…” Benton motioned for them to quietly follow him.
As they walked through the secret door, the two guards caught the girls by surprise. One of them screamed instantly.
“Shh….!” Benton panicked as he saw their eyes open and instantly come for them.
“Shit!” Benton said out loud.

Each man grabbed one of the girls which were enough distractions for him. Benton quickly reacted using the butt of the flashlight to knock one of the crewmen out cold. The other quickly looked to Benton pushing the girl he grabbed aside so he could charge at Benton. Benton swung the flashlight as he ran at him but was pinned him to the wall. The man grabbed Benton’s arm trying to wrestle away the flashlight while grabbing his throat. Benton stomped hard on the man’s foot but the boots were too strong. By good fortune the man let go and crumpled into the floor. Benton looked up to see one of the Asian girls had grabbed the other flashlight.

“Thanks!” Benton coughed.
Benton didn’t waste any time. He quickly began dragging the two men into the cell and quickly sealed them in.
“Es…cape? Sorry…I no speak English…” one of the Asian girls replied.
“Escape!” Benton smiled while nodding.
“Attention receiving personnel! Return to your stations and prepare to receive cargo!” an announcement blared through an intercom startling all three of them.

Benton motioned for them to follow him after he tried to make the room look like nothing had happened. As Benton led them through the corridor he began to realize this was not going to be easy as doors began to open and suddenly he could hear a lot of movement.


XXXXXXXXXXX


The ride south along the Irish coast seemed to be long as everyone remained quiet in anticipation of what might happen next. A couple more hours passed and they had reached the port of Dublin. It was after midnight and not much activity seemed to be going on in the harbor. None of the ships in or outside the port resembled the Sea Serpent from what they could see.

“Do you recognize any of these ships?” Officer Jenkins asked as they slowed down riding around the port.
“No, I’m afraid not…” Thompson sighed.
“Alas, it seems they have given us the slip again!” Thomson sighed too.
“I’ve never seen it myself” Tintin commented.
Chang was outside the steering room walking along the front and back of the boat keenly observing. After almost thirty minutes of looking, Chang returned.
“See anything?” Officer Jenkins turned to Chang.
“It seems our enemy is more resourceful than we thought” Chang replied.
“They must know we’re on their trail” Tintin nodded until he spotted a smaller freighter ship continuing south.

“Officer Jenkins, I say we continue south. If they know we’re onto them, then they may be avoiding coming to a port near the main harbor” Tintin suggested.
“That makes sense” Officer Jenkins shrugged.
“That’s brilliant Tintin!” Thompson smiled.
“Indeed it it!” Thomson agreed.
Both of the Detectives knew when things became too complicated they could always count on Tintin.
“Maybe we can sneak up on them in the dark” Tintin commented.
“They’re expecting us Tintin. We cannot allow ourselves to sink into this kind of false sense of security” Chang disagreed.

“Why do you say that Mr. Chang?” Officer Riley finally spoke up.
“Because, they want us to come…” Chang said grimly.
Officer Riley lit a match to light a cigarette and began smoking.
“All of this talk of supernatural crap really sends chills up my spine” Officer Jenkins replied.
“Don’t worry Officer, just guard the boat when we arrive and wait quietly for us. I think we should be fine” Tintin said clearing the air.
“Let’s keep a distance from that boat then so they may lead us to the Sea Serpent” Thompson suggested.
“Indeed! They may be working for that other ship!” Thomson agreed.
“How do you know they will lead us to that ship?” Officer Jenkins asked curiously.
“Um…well to be precise…” Thomson started.
“They are heading towards Dublin so it makes sense!” Thompson nodded cheerfully.
“This is Dublin! How long have you two been Detectives?” Officer Jenkins asked a bit condescendingly.
"Well, they're heading south at any rate" Thomson said a bit embarassed.
“Just how vast a network is this cult anyways?” Officer Riley asked.
“It seems like their tentacles reach far and wide and is nothing to be taken lightly officer so we should proceed with extreme caution” Tintin voiced Chang’s sentiment.

They rode silently for almost another hour until a patch of fog seemed to rolling in from the coast. Before the fog began to lower the visibility, they could see another ship in the distance for short period which Chang recognized the outline. The fog began to thicken and it disappeared. Tintin swallowed in anticipation as he could feel his palms becoming sweaty. Both Detectives were adjusting their hats and fidgeting nervously.

The two HM Custom Guardsmen seemed to maintain their level of professionalism. Chang could feel the tension in the air but realized now was not the time to let fear hinder them. Tintin reached into his pocket and suddenly remembered the small part of the yellow marked cube. Tintin felt a splash of confidence thinking that perhaps maybe this small mysterious piece of stone could grant him some bargaining power should things not go so well.
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Last edited by Kole_Locke; 06-16-2013 at 11:59 PM..

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#104
Old 06-27-2013, 09:29 PM

CHAPTER 50 (PART - A)


Tintin clenched his fist as he put on a black coat and his small satchel that the Professor had given to him. He took out his utility belt which the Captain had mistakenly demonstrated in the lab. He reviewed the contents making sure that he knew each item and its use so he could is it in a moment’s notice.

Thoughts were flashing in his mind about what could play out even though he fought hard to keep his mind clear. Tintin was nerves were gnawing at his iron will. The HM Custom Guardsmen were closely watching the ships ahead and trying to navigate as close as possible without them noticing. Even Snowy began whining a bit sensing his master’s anxiety.

“Tintin? Is everything ok?” Chang whispered to him with concern.
“Yes…I’m fine…” Tintin said absent mindedly still seeing images in his mind of a not so good outcome.
Snowy continued whining and tried to jump up on Tintin.
Tintin ignored Snowy as he had one hand on his gun and the other on the belt of his satchel staring directly ahead.
“Snowy! What’s wrong?” Thomson said picking up Tintin’s little friend.
Snowy responded by whining a little licking Thompson directly on the nose.
“Now Snowy! You know that…tha—ah—ah aacchhooooo!” Thompson sneezed.
“For Pete’s sake Thompson!” Thomson said taking Snowy, but Snowy gave Thomson a kiss on the nose as well.

“Snowy…boy…you know…ah-ah ahhh choooo!” Thomson sneezed as well.
“Here Chang! Take him!” Thomson began frantically searching for a handkerchief.
“What’s wrong Snowy?” Chang asked sensing Snowy’s concern.
“Tintin, I think Snowy is trying to tell you something” Chang said handing Snowy to Tintin.
“Hehehe! Both of you aren’t allergic to my poor Snowy are you?” Tintin laughed briefly.
“I think Chang is right Tintin! Aaachoo!” Thomson sneezed again.
“Maybe we are allergic to his kisses…ah-ah!” Thompson started to sneeze but found a handkerchief and blew his nose hard.
“Hey Thompson! Don’t be so greedy with the hanky now will you!” Thomson scolded.
“Why Detectives, you’ve been close to Snowy like this before and you never sneezed like that” Tintin was amused.

“Well Tintin… I don’t think it’s Snowy so much you see…” Thomson started.
“Not so much Snowy…but the kisses on the nose…” Thompson finished wiping his nose handing Thomson the used handkerchief as Thomson gave him a disgusted look. Thomson blew his nose as one would a trumpet.
“I think Snowy accomplished what he sat out to do” Chang smiled.
“I’m sorry everyone… I will try to be a better…” Tintin said petting Snowy.
Officer Riley looked at the four of them and sighed, “What a hapless bunch you are”.
“Perhaps we are Riley, but we are the only ‘hapless’ bunch that will deal with these criminals” Tintin replied calmly.

“Suspected criminals, we didn’t actually see them get on the ship” Officer Jenkins corrected.
“Fine, we’ll do our job” Tintin didn’t want to argue.
“We’d better slow the ship down. Perhaps with this fog we won’t even be noticed” Officer Jenkins replied.
“I see the ship we’ve been following, it looks like it’s come to a stop” Officer Riley commented.
“Tintin! Up ahead just through the fog—that’s…the Sea Serpent” Chang whispered pointing at the lights ahead.

“Great Snakes!” Tintin whispered just able to see the outline of the ship.
The wind picked up a bit and the waves became just a bit choppier. The boat began rocking more even at their slow speed.
“That’s strange, for the weather to begin changing so quickly” Thomson observed glancing through the front.

“Indeed it is, one can never predict what the sea will bring” Thompson agreed.
“I think this is as close as we should get” Tintin suddenly suggested as they were now somewhere in between the cargo ship they were tailing and the Sea Serpent.
“I can see both ships silhouettes and their lit areas, I wonder if they can see us?” Officer Riley said a bit concerned.

“Chang, let’s step outside to see if we can see and hear better. Officer Riley, can I use your binoculars?” Tintin asked quickly.
“Sure, just be careful” Officer Riley said taking them off from around his neck. Tintin and Chang quickly stepped out near the front of the boot as Tintin tries to focus on what’s going on up ahead.

A couple of smaller boats went speeding by towards the Sea Serpent which was lit up on the opposite end. The boats stop barely visible next to the Sea Serpent. Voices shouting can be heard over the waves but not loud enough to be understood. Chang waits patiently next to Tintin trying to listen and watch. Tintin can’t see the railing so well, but sees something or someone being thrown overboard.

“Huh?” Tintin suddenly reacted a bit taken back.
“Look Chang!” Tintin whispers handing him the binoculars as the waves make it increasingly difficult to get a steady view.
“They just threw something overboard!” Chang exclaimed.
“Again?” Tintin asked bit worried.
“Yes…oh! Another!” Chang replied with a bit of disgust in his voice.
“Did you just see that?!” Thomson said a bit startled by the sudden movement.
“Indeed I did Thomson! What in blazes?!” Thompson echoed his sentiment.
“Shh…not so loud Detectives… if we do have any element of surprise we need to keep it. What did you see?” Tintin scolded.
“Oh sorry Tintin” Thompson nodded.
“Sorry we are Tintin we saw a bright bolt of lightning in the sky” Thomson frowned as he was trying to see what Chang was looking at.
“Chang give us a look” Thompson said holding his hand out for the binoculars.

“Ok but be careful not to drop them” Chang warned.
Thompson looked through noticing a couple of crates were being loaded onto the Sea Serpent. Nothing really seemed out of the ordinary.
“They seem to be loading some cargo of some kind” Thompson strained to look.
“It’s hard to tell what could be in those crates” Tintin commented.
“Give me a look now will ya Thompson!” Thomson said reaching to take the binoculars from Thompson.

“Now just wait a minute!” Thompson snapped.
After a few moments the boats began to speed back to the other cargo boat, and it was at that point Thompson noticed something odd as a wave caused him to look into the water near the Sea Serpent.

“Now ain’t that strange!” Thompson gasped.
“What do you see?” Tintin asked curiously.
“For a moment there I thought I saw someone swimming in the water, I looked again and they were gone” Thompson said with a perplexed look on his face.
“Who?! Could you see what they looked like?” Tintin asked a bit panicked.
“I couldn’t tell… it looked like they dived under water?” Thompson answered a bit confused.
“What are you talking about Thompson? It’s my turn now! You’ve had them long enough!” Thomson said impatiently.
“Wait! I’m not finished yet!” Thompson snapped back moving the binoculars out of Thomson’s reach. At that moment big wave came by rocking the boat a bit more than usual causing both of them to lose their balance as a result of their horseplay.
“Whoa!” both of them shouted grabbing onto each other about to fall into the water.
“Detectives!” Tintin whispered loudly.
Having only a moment to react, Tintin and Chang quickly reached out and grabbed both Detectives keeping them from falling into the water.

“Oh no! The binoculars!” Chang panicked as Thompson let go of them.
“You are a hapless bunch! The lot of ya!” Officer Riley scolded quickly snatching the binoculars in the air as Thompson dropped them.
Tintin and Chang didn’t even hear Officer Riley come out of the steering room.
“All of you are making enough noise out here to scare a ghost away! Now be still! The lot of ya!” Officer Riley continued to scold them as he took his binoculars back into the steering room.
“What’s wrong with him?” Thomson frowned.

“Yea, he needs to calm down a bit” Thompson agreed as Tintin and Chang made sure both Detectives had their balance back.
“No Detectives, he’s right! We may as well forget about the element of surprise now for sure” Tintin said a bit agitated.
“We’re your boss Tintin!” Thomson retorted back.
“Precisely, you should show us a bit more respect” Thompson nodded.
A surge of anger really came over Tintin as his face began to turn a shade of red.
“Respect!?” Tintin almost bellowed but caught his self.
“Tintin please” Chang interjected quietly.
Tintin took a deep breath after hearing Chang’s voice of reason.
“Listen Detectives, you do have my respect, but since you are both my boss it’s high time the both of you start acting like it!” Tintin said in a low voice.
Both Thompson and Thomson looked at Tintin in dismay as he walked back to the steering room.

“Come on Detectives you can do better than this, you must be more careful” Chang said tactfully.
“You see Chang a subordinate does not treat his boss like that” Thomson complained.
“I understand Mr. Thomson, but you must also understand not only do we have a mission, but for Tintin this is much more personal as we believe his brother is also a captive on board this ship” Chang quietly explained patiently.
“Tintin was very upset, what do you think Thomson?” Thompson noticed Tintin speaking to the HM Customs Guards.

“I wouldn’t say upset Detectives, just nervous and needs you to do your best—“ Chang paused looking over the boat sensing the sudden change in the air. Then Chang noticed a feint peculiar smell.
“Best what Chang?” Thomson questioned a bit annoyed knowing Chang was right.
“Shhh!” Chang quietly began looking around the edges of the front of the boat as it rocked around the waves.
Chang ducked down on his hands and knees grabbing a life saver with a rope attached.

“Is someone drowning?” Thomson whispered.
“Arm yourselves Detectives and be ready” Chang said more serious than usual. Thomson and Thompson looked at each other confused but got down on their hands taking out their guns. None of the Detectives saw anything suspicious but decided maybe Chang could be right.
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#105
Old 06-27-2013, 10:29 PM

CHAPTER 50 (PART - B) end of chapter 50


“Can all of you get us to the other side of the ship somewhat quietly?” Tintin asked.
“As long as it doesn’t get much foggier or the waves much choppier we should be able to” Officer Jenkins replied.
“Then let’s do it” Tintin said as they began slowly maneuvering closer to the opposite side of the Sea Serpent.
“One of the Detectives said they swore they saw someone in the water” Tintin commented.
“Maybe it’s the fog affecting their minds” Officer Riley dismissed as they slowly went around the big ship.
“We’re going to have to use torches because it is getting darker as clouds are starting to cover the moon completely” Tintin watched as the light was slowly diminishing.

Suddenly Snowy began looking towards the door growling with his ears perked up and tail sticking straight out.
“We have some in the box by the corner of the wall…what’s gotten into your dog all the sudden?” Officer Jenkins asked while carefully trying to get a little closer to the ship.

“Snowy? What is it boy?” Tintin asked looking at him as he kept backing away from the door. Tintin looked up suspiciously, but didn’t see anything far beyond since most of the boats lights were turned off.
“Time to shed some more light on the situation…ah, here they are” Tintin said picking up two turning one on as it shot a beam of light straight ahead revealing someone standing up on the back of the boat. It wasn’t either of the Detectives or Chang.

“Great Snakes!” Tintin gasped loudly holding the torch behind them.
“What did we tell you about—“ Officer Riley turned around to see what Tintin saw.

When Tintin first shined the light at this intruder, it looked like it could have been a person, until he noticed the green scaled skin and bugged out eyes. The creature stood over five feet tall and looked around as if it was trying to smell the air. Its webbed hands had claws at the end of each of its digits. As soon as the light hit it, it shielded its eyes and ran for the steering room.

“What the Hell is that!?” Officer Jenkins blurted out as soon as he saw it. The creature slammed itself against the door began trying to force it open.
“I don’t know what it is but this will light up its life” Officer Riley said taking out his gun.
“So much for surprises, looks like we’re the ones getting surprised” Tintin said taking out his gun as the door flew open. Snowy backed behind Tintin barking.

Officer Riley fired his gun immediately at the alien looking creature that reminded him of something that came from the black lagoon. Tintin kept his flashlight and gun trained on the creature as it was knocked back being hit in the shoulder. It screamed out showing its razor sharp teeth growling menacingly.

“Fire!” Officer Riley shouted at Tintin firing again snapping Tintin out of his initial shock. The creature was hit in the leg this time. Black ooze seeped out of the wound. Tintin fired his gun at the creature hitting one of its arms. It ran at all three of them with arms flailing wildly.

“That thing isn’t human!” Officer Jenkins declared.
Despite the injuries this creature had, it took a couple wild swipes at all three of them sending them flying for cover. The creature closed in on both Officer Jenkins and Riley growling as they were trying to take another shot, but suddenly a life saver was thrown over the creature’s head. Tintin was suddenly got a surge of adrenaline looking back as the creature spun around with an open clawed hand and swung at whoever was behind it. Chang easily dropped and tumbled toward Tintin.

“Now Detectives!” Chang shouted.
The creature suddenly was yanked by its neck out the door as it reached around trying to take off the life saver.
“Bravo Chang! Detectives!” Tintin praised.
“Don’t praise us yet!” Chang said as the creature turned around to face both Detectives holding the rope.
“Oh dear Thompson!” Thomson started to panic.
“It’s looking and coming right at us!” Thompson said frightfully.
“Move!” Tintin shouted as both Detectives ran to the opposite side of the boat.
The growling green scaled creature swatted at both where they just stood moments ago.

“I think he’s trying to kill us Thompson!” Thomson exclaimed.
“I do believe you’re right!” Thompson said as the creature paused a moment to decide which one of them to finish. Everything was happening so quickly that both of the Detectives clumsily dropped their guns as they ran. The creature eyed Thomson first then decided to go after Thompson instead.

“Oh no you don’t!” Tintin shouted firing another shot hitting the creature in the leg again this time causing it to trip towards Thompson. Black ooze splashed out on both Detectives as it was hit, but it still continued relentlessly crawling.
“Your canes Detectives!” Tintin shouted.
“What are they going to do?!” Thomson shrieked.
“Fire those tranquilizers at it!” Tintin quickly answered.
“Oh!” Thompson remembered crawling away from the creature as it quickly crawled towards him.

Thompson held the end of his cane towards the creature and pressed the button on the end of his cane sending a dart with poison on it flying and hitting the creature right in the mouth by wild chance. The creature continued crawling toward Thompson as it yanked the tranquilizer dart out of its mouth throwing it on the deck.
“Don’t worry Thompson! I’ll save you!” Thomson said firing one of his tranquilizers from his cane at the creature scoring a hit on its back. The creature growled loudly again, but still continued as Chang and Tintin ran outside to join them. Thomson ran over and whacked the creature over the head with his cane.

The creature grabbed the cane pulling it with amazing strength sending Thomson flying over towards Thompson landing on top of him.
“You see! I told you I would save you!” Thomson said a bit dopey after bumping his head.
The creature was only a few yards away from them, but the tranquilizer finally began to slow it down.
“Come on Chang, help me pull the rope!” Tintin acted quickly grabbing the bit of rope in the creature’s wake that it had now tangled itself in while trying to crawl towards the Detectives getting a bit too close for comfort. Chang quickly grabbed the rope with Tintin.

“Now! Pull!” Tintin shouted as he and Chang pulled with all of their strength just hard enough to keep it from getting any closer to the Detectives. It reached for them just inches away. It slowly turned to glare at Chang and Tintin, but slowly began dropping to the deck.
“Whew! That was a close one!” Thompson slowly stood up shaking his head.
“Precisely Thompson!” Thomson too was regaining his balance after crashing into his partner.
“What is that thing!?” Officer Riley demanded looking at the black ooze covered looking reptilian creature.
“I don’t know Riley, but something tells me we’d better radio for help and proceed with extreme caution ” Tintin said shining his light on the deck
“Come on Jenkins, give me a hand and let’s toss this freak of nature back into the water” Riley said giving the thing a disgusted look. Snowy finally came out of the steering room getting a look at the horrid creature.
The two guardsmen grabbed the creature by its arms and legs and tossed it overboard.

“I hope that thing won’t come back for us” Jenkins commented.
“As many times as we shot it I doubt it will” Tintin looked as the monstrous creature sunk beneath the waves.
Officer Riley ran back to the steering room momentarily. After a couple of minutes he returned with a worried look on his face.
“The signal seems to be jammed. I can’t get anything out” Riley said as it began to thunder off in the distance.
“Keep trying, we got to get on that ship” Tintin said surveying the railing.
“I do hope they don’t have any more of those” Thomson crossed his fingers.
“Just make sure you’re well-armed Detectives” Chang reminded them.
“Ok then, I’m going to use my gizmo to get aboard the ship and then tie this rope to the railing so the rest of you can climb your way onboard” Tintin explained.
“Ok Tintin, please be careful” Chang pleaded.
“I will, it won’t take long” Tintin reassured picking Snowy up.
Jenkins shined his torch toward the railing higher up. Tintin held a torch in one hand looking for a good place to aim his cable and claw until he found a spot he was satisfied with.

“Hold on Snowy” Tintin warned.
Instantly Tintin pressed the belt release as it shot the cable belt with the claw immediately extending to its full length. It spun around the bottom rail getting a good grip.
“I sure hope the Professor’s gizmo won’t mess up” Tintin crossed his fingers and Snowy covered his eyes with his paws as they both suddenly were pulled up. Tintin quickly reached out grabbing the railing to keep them from slamming into it. Tintin sat Snowy down on the deck and climbed over the top bar. At that moment Tintin could feel rain drops falling. Tintin looked around the deck to see if anyone was around, but luckily no one could be seen nearby. Could it be they were still oblivious to their presence?

“Watch my back Snowy” Tintin charged his companion as he began taking the rope back out of his satchel and securing a knot. Snowy stood firmly on all fours behind his master bravely, but hoped not to see another one of those “toadmen” Snowy mentally referred to them as. The back of the ship had almost no lighting which Tintin found really odd. In the back of his mind he hoped that the enemy was not trying to lull them into a false sense of security.

Snowy looked into the shadows with his teeth barred. His doggy senses told him there was danger everywhere. Snowy knew they were being watched and could sense other presences, but could not see them. The only thing Snowy knew to do was to bark as loud as he could to warn his master should anything visibly pose a threat. He began thinking about Haddock, Lucille, and Cocoa, wondered how they were doing, and if they were ok. Snowy didn’t want to stay another moment on that boat because he could feel with every fiber in his furry little body that they were now among something terribly dark.
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#106
Old 07-05-2013, 11:34 PM

CHAPTER 51 (PART - A)



Benton’s palms were sweating, his heart was racing, and every moment seemed like an eternity. The two young Asian women were close behind Benton feeling alive for the first time in weeks. Their thoughts were of getting off this dreadful ship and ending their nightmares. Slowly Benton opened the door into the stairwell poking his head out with one hand up behind him. Benton listened for almost a minute making sure it was perfectly quiet; and then he led them quietly up the stairwell. Each step they took seemed to echo loudly. Any second, his abductors were going to appear was all Benton could think of. He held tightly onto the club like torch until they reached the main deck.

Benton could see it was late at night and the front side of the deck was the only side illuminated. A crew was busy working with cranes and loading equipment; and, one man seemed to have a loud mouth over all shouting curses with every chance he got. Benton could see they were not too far from the coast, but thought better of simply just jumping off and swimming to shore. The two young women were nervously staying close to their savior.

“Good this makes things easy… now all we need to do is find a life boat” Benton thought.
“This way” Benton whispered and motioned with his hands.

Everyone’s attention seemed to be focused elsewhere for the moment as they crept to the other side of the ship. Benton kept looking over the railing hoping to see a life boat somewhere, but didn’t see any. Benton kept looking over his shoulder as they were frantically trying to find the means to escape. It was already dark and difficult to see trying not to use their torches. To make things more difficult a big patch of fog began to roll in.

“Great! The fog chooses a good time to come in!” Benton sighed.
The fog was quickly making more difficult to see. Benton suddenly could hear voices up ahead. Benton did his best to keep a clear mind. He looked around trying to find anywhere they could hide. The deck had crates stacked up and chained. Benton saw a single crate that could be used as a way of climbing the crates.

“Come!” Benton whispered.

The young women didn’t need to know English to understand what they needed to do. Benton dashed toward the center of the deck and began climbing the three to four crate high stacks. Each crate was just a bit over a meter high. Benton had no problem getting up on to the highest stacks near the center. The taller Asian woman was agile enough to climb without any help. The shorter young woman was not as skilled at climbing. The sounds of the footsteps and voices were getting louder. Benton reached down and helped pull her up and motioned for them to do what he was doing. Benton lied flat on the crates above not daring to make a sound.

“I hear Gaspar is one pissed off man!” a voice with a Russian accent said.
“I know…his girls are missing” another voice with a Russian accent replied.
“Who cares about them, it’s not our fault women want nothing to do with that bruto ragazzo. Tintin’s brother is missing and if Herr Wagner finds out it’s curtains for all of us…capisce!” a third voice with an Italian accent said a bit more urgently.

Benton knew that from that point on, things were going to get a bit hairy for them. If they were going to escape they better do it now. Benton couldn’t tell how many people were walking by, only that with the combination of it being night and the fog rolling in, they seemed to be undetected. The winds began to pick up, thunder began rumbling in the background, and flashes of lightning began lighting up the western skies.

“We’ve got to get off this ship and fast!” Benton said under his breath as he began scouting around for any sign of a life boat.
He continued looking as each flash of lightning in the distance became brighter. By the third flash he finally located a lifeboat.
“There’s a guardian angel watching out for us!” Benton thought as he tactfully decided to hang and drop off the other side of the stack of crates. The young Asian women were both frightened but anything else would be better than being locked away for the whims of a brutal pervert.

“Come on, I’ll catch you if you fall” Benton whispered realizing they couldn’t understand him except with his gestures.

Both young ladies were determined to escape and that determination gave them the drive to keep going. There were a couple other lifeboats Benton spotted but ran for the closest one. Benton began to unseal the covering of the lifeboat nervously watching over his shoulder. The two young Asian women both were watching behind Benton as he was trying to untie the knots until he finally was able to remove the covering allowing them to get in the lifeboat.

Benton was looking for the device that would lower them into the water but was having a hard time finding it. He turned on his torch and began searching around the apparatus it was hanging from. After a couple of moments Benton spotted the crank that would lower them into the water. At that moment once they got in, a couple of terrible growling Dobermans seemed to appear out of thin air. Both women screamed as the Dobermans barked loudly preparing to jump in the boat.

“Turn the crank!” Benton yelled using the butt of his torch as a club to keep the
Dobermans from jumping in the boat. One Doberman snapped at Benton over extending itself getting walloped by the end of the torch. The two women were cowering back away in fear as Benton had to stop turning the crank to fend off their assailants.

“Their over here!” a voice shouted.
“Hurry! Turn the crank!” Benton yelled again as he swung the baton like torch at the snapping Dobermans. The younger Asian girl quickly began turning the crank with some difficulty, but then the other girl began to help, and finally Benton could hear them turning it swiftly.

“Faster! I don’t know how much longer I can keep these blood thirsty hounds away!” Benton began sweating then saw the bigger threat coming their way.
“Shit!” Benton cursed under his breath as he saw a big buffed man with a black bandana and four crewmen running their way.
“Bite them you worthless mutts!” the bigger man shouted.

The two young women began turning the crank even faster and before they knew it the boat began dropping bit by bit until it was almost completely loose from the cables. The sudden jolts caused Benton to drop the torch in the bottom of the lifeboat. The Dobermans were still yelping loudly as they were no longer in reach, and a few more sudden falls, and the boat dropped the last several feet into the water causing all three of them to be knocked to the bottom.

“You stupid bastards!” the buffed man shouted.
“Sorry boss” one of the crewmen said apologetically.
Benton shook his head recovering from a minor daze. He poked his head out of the boat as the waves began carrying them away. He could see the buffed man with even more crewmen now and four Dobermans standing over the rail pointing at them. Then he saw the real danger as the buffed man pulled out a gun.

“As if things weren’t difficult enough already!” Benton complained under his breath.
Benton ducked back down looking for the oars. Each one was held in place on the insides of the life boat. Benton was feeling around the sides until he found one of the oars.

BANG! BANG! BANG!

Benton looked up to see they were being fired upon. BANG! Another bullet hit the very back of the boat as Benton frantically began trying to paddle further away from the ship.

BANG! BANG! A couple more rounds were popped off as Benton ducked down while trying to paddle. Benton knew they were sitting ducks as they were not moving fast enough. Suddenly their boat began to move faster away from the ship. Surprisingly the two young women were able to find the other oar and both of them were trying to paddle on the opposite side.

A couple more shots were fired off at them and more curses were shouted, but soon they were disappearing in the fog now as it was beginning to get thicker. Now they were more determined to use their reserve strength to try to paddle for shore. For almost thirty minutes they paddled furiously. Benton could see the few lights that lit the shore line but also could hear a motor boat coming from up ahead.

“Certainly we would have heard them pass by?” Benton thought. The fog was making visibility even more difficult as he used a torch to look ahead every few strokes. The shoreline lights were now the only thing visible as the clouds began blocking the night light from the skies. Benton noticed both women were shivering as they paddled so he took off his grey trench coat and handed it to them.

“Here, this should keep you warm” he said holding it out in front of them.
One of the young women looked up and took the big trench coat trying to wrap it around both of them as they continued to row. Luckily Benton had on a nice thick green sweater underneath with a linen shirt underneath. Even near the beginning of summer it could be quite cool out at sea where they were. The waves continued to become rougher requiring them to paddle with more strength. It was tiring and the water was not warm when it splashed out up on them occasionally. Benton could feel the chill affecting him too. They could finally see a light approaching as it became brighter through the fog.

“Ahoy there!” a man’s voice shouted as the boat approached.
“Ahoy!” Benton replied.
“What are ya doin’ out here in the middle of the night?!” the voice demanded.
“We are trying to get to shore” Benton said carefully not wanting to divulge their situation so quickly.
“I see that, but why are ya out here?” the voice asked again.
“We were out rowing until we got caught in some rough waters” Benton fabricated.

The voice didn’t respond and Benton was starting to think it might be safer if they continued to shore unassisted. The two young women were huddled close together covered with Benton’s trench coat with both helping the other to continue to row. Benton hesitated for a moment then put more power into his strokes. Benton noticed the bigger speed boat approached them from the right until they were finally right there.

“We can take ashore if you like” a short man dressed in simple fisherman’s clothes said.
“We’re fine, I think we will be able to make it ourselves” Benton quickly replied rowing with more vigor.
“I insist” the man said a bit forcefully.
Benton looked up and saw the short man had some other fishermen companions standing there with a gun trained on them.
“What do you want?” Benton suddenly demanded.
“I was radioed and informed that some cargo had fallen off its ship and needed to be returned” the man said calmly, but Benton and the young women ignored him continuing to row.

“Stop rowing!” the man suddenly shouted firing a warning shot in the air.
The two young women began crying clinging together as Benton helplessly held the oar in his hands.
“What do you want us to do?” Benton demanded.
“Like I said, I’m going to return some lost cargo back to its ship” the man smiled
“We’re not cargo!” Benton shouted as they were bobbing up and down in the water.
The other two men took out their guns cocking them back.
“I’m afraid you’re the cargo, now if ya don’t mind, you’ll be boarding my ship now and no shenanigans” the short man said with his Irish accent coming on a bit thicker.

One of the fishermen used a hooked pike to pull the boat close enough for them get on.
“Come on now, we don’t have all night!” the short man prompted.
The two Asian young women were crying. One of them looked to Benton not sure they knew what to do. The waves began splashing against their boat and they were getting soaked. Benton frowned and slowly began to board the boat while having guns pointed at them.

“Ok lasses get on!” the short man yelled.
“They don’t speak English” Benton defended them.
“I’m sure they understand sign language hehehehe!” the crude little man laughed pointing his gun at the young women motioning for them to come on board.

The taller Asian young woman tried to help keep the younger one keep calm as they slowly with Benton’s help got on the other boat. Benton pitied the two young women wondering what fate would befall them. One of them couldn’t have been older than seventeen. They looked so distraught with sorrow and fear. He didn’t know to what extent what they had endured and for how long.

“Hey why don’t you let these two go, they’ve suffered enough” Benton spoke up.
“I’ve been told specifically three, and I don’t want to suffer the wrath of the Lieutenant” the short man said as he had his men prod them near the front of the boat when suddenly the younger Asian girl began repeating a phrase in her native language crying. The other young woman tried to console her.

“What’s she saying!?” the short man asked suspiciously.
“I don’t know, but whatever she’s saying I can assure you she doesn’t want to go back to that Hell hole” Benton emphasized.
“Well too bad!” the short man replied coldly as they began to return back to the Sea Serpent.

The ride back was swift and they were brought up and prodded onto the main deck. There were at least twenty crewmen standing around like mindless zombies staring straight ahead. The two young women were clinging to Benton when a buffed man came stomping up to them. They were cold, wet, hungry, and tired. The buffed man looked at them with contempt.

“So you’re the cause of this!” he said shaking his finger in Benton’s face.
Benton didn’t respond but stood stoically.
“I should kill you right now! I’ve killed for less you know!” he shouted spraying Benton’s face with spittle.
Benton wiped his face, and then the man grabbed him by his green jumper sweater.
“Are you pokin’ fun at me punk!?” he demanded.
“Enough!” a voice thundered over the buff man’s.
“You’re lucky! Next time you’re a dead man! GOT IT!?” he said throwing Benton down to the deck licking his lips.
“No! No!” the younger Asian girl screamed as the buff man reached out to grab her and the other girl.

“You little tramps are coming with me! How dare you try to escape!” he growled as he dragged them away.
“Coward!” Benton spat.
The buffed man spun around with both of the young women in each arm.
“I’ll deal with you later you little punk!” the buffed man eyed Benton menacingly before disappearing below the deck.

“A coward is he?” a familiar voice said.
Benton looked up to see Herr Wagner walking around in his General’s outfit. A few other people dressed in black robes and masks stood not far behind him.
“You!” Benton began to feel rage.
At that moment Herr Wagner quickly glided up to him and back handed him across the face knocking him back down to the deck.
“I warned you what would happen, but you young people have strange ideas of being heroes” Herr Wagner said with disappointment in his voice.
“It’s not my fault your men are all doped up on drugs” Benton said sarcastically shaking his head slightly dazed.
Herr Wagner glided up to him again with ease and delivered another harsh back hand knocking him back down.

“You have anything else idiotic you would like to say?” Herr Wagner said adjusting his glove.
Benton crawled up and gathered his jacket with one of the torches in lying underneath it. Benton took more time to recover from the blow but quickly sprung up to his feet with the baton like torch in his hand and ran at Herr Wagner.
“Murderer!” Benton screamed.

Some of the robed men and crewmen moved in to stop Benton but Herr Wagner waved them off as Benton came rushing in and swung the bottom of the torch at him. Herr Wagner caught the bottom of the baton in his hand and used the momentum of Benton’s swing to pick him up by the back of his sweater and toss him several feet across the deck. Benton lied there wincing in pain trying to catch his breath, but his anger gave him reserved strength to slowly get back up on his feet.

“I hope that’s not all you’ve got” Herr Wagner said mockingly drawing laughter from everyone around him.
“You murdered my grandmother you nazi bastard!” Benton spat.
“Oh dear, such stinging words” Herr Wagner frowned mockingly drawing more laughter.
“You’ll pay!” Benton shouted.
“You amuse me young man with your antics… now show me some more of your stupidity” Herr Wanger continued to mock him until another robed man with a bird mask on approached him.
“Oh…I see…” Herr Wagner nodded thoughtfully.

Benton looked for anything around on the deck that could be used as a weapon desperately until he spotted a small bolt. He quickly grabbed it and chucked it at Herr Wagner hitting him in the back of the head. Herr Wagner scratched his head regarding Benton disapprovingly, and almost instantly was standing next to Benton as he grabbed him by the throat lifting him off his feet.

“You know, I’ve killed for less insolence than that” Herr Wagner whispered as Benton choked dangling his legs. His grasp was cold.
“Lucky for you, you still play a big role in what’s about to take place you worm!” Herr Wagner finished dropping Benton back down to the deck as he lied there coughing and gasping for air.

“Take him down below and put him in place, we have a very important shipment to pick up!” Herr Wagner announced.
Benton tried to sit up but was whacked on the back of the head. Everything began spinning and darkness took him once again.
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#107
Old 07-06-2013, 12:08 AM

CHAPTER 51 (PART - B)end of chapter 51


Lucille sat in the corner of the small sheltered room quietly holding Cocoa in her lap. Yates and Ballard were slowly going about their tasks as Captain Haddock was trying to bite his tongue knowing this wasn’t his ship. There wasn’t a whole lot of work to be done to get the boat going, but there was a lot of work in making room so there was a place for each of them to sit and move around on the boat. Old fishing nets, rods, tackle boxes, and other various fishing equipment was strewn about. Empty whiskey bottles were also ubiquitous. Lucille knew that most fishermen weren’t well known for their high standard of living.

A couple hours moving across the channel kept both Haddock and Lucille anxious hoping that they wouldn’t miss Tintin and the others. Cocoa slept with one eye open on Lucille’s lap watching things around them. Lucille sat quietly as Ballard stood at the wheel. The night sky began to get darker with contrasting flashes of lightning ahead.

“Ah! It looks like a storm is coming up eh?” Ballard commented.
“Shouldn’t we reach the coast before it gets too bad?” Lucille asked a bit unconcerned.
“That depends lass…” Ballard said taking a drink from the flask he was given.
“Depends on what?” Lucille asked suspiciously.
“Well, how fast ya move, how fast the storm is movin’, and in which direction you and the storm are movin’” Ballard said keeping his eye ahead.
“Aye, and it looks like we’re not too far from Belfast… we’ll need to refuel there hehehe!” Ballard laughed.
“As long as it’s to only refuel the boat and not your addictions” Lucille said petting Cocoa growling.
“Your father sure raised you cheeky didn’t he? You’re a cute one you are!” Ballard laughed.

Lucille looked out behind her seeing Haddock and Yates outside sitting on the back catching up on old news.
“How much longer until we arrive in Dublin?” Lucille asked wanting to get off the boat as soon as possible.
“Again lass it all depends…” Ballard said taking another swig.
“Don’t be making too much love to that bottle, we want to arrive in one piece” Lucille chastised him.
“Oi! Now mind yer business lass, this be my ship!” Ballard said shaking his fist at her annoyingly as Cocoa growled hearing him raise his voice.
“Ya brought that mangy mutt…a lot of good it will do ya” Ballard ridiculed Cocoa.
“I didn’t see you bringing your ‘Scurvy’ mutt” Lucille sighed not wanting to go outside and deal with the spray from the water.

Ballard ignored her taking another swig muttering unintelligibly under his breath. Lucille nodded shamefully at him.
“I hope Tintin and his friends are having better luck than we are” Lucille thought as she leaned against the window petting Cocoa. Cocoa licked her hand and lied watchfully.

XXXXXXXXXXX

“So ya say Allan’s behind everythin’ eh?” Yates blabbered taking a swig of the whiskey.
“He’s only part of the problem mate” Haddock said as they were approaching the bay in Belfast.
“So you and this Tintin have been on the run for some time now eh?” Yates said watching as they passed some of the other ships in the bay.
“Yea, but now he’s going head-long after ‘em” Haddock lamented.
“This Tintin sounds like a son… is he yer son?” Yates asked a bit confused.
“You could say that…” Haddock kept staring across the bay.
“Aye! Ya got ta look after yer best mates ya know?” Yates said taking another swig.
“Aye!” Haddock agreed.
“Are ya sure we can get fuel at this hour?” Haddock asked a bit unsure.
“Of course we can! Who do ya think yer talkin’ ta?” Yates said as if he was offended he was even doubted then offered Haddock a drink.
“Na, I’d better not…” Haddock shook his head.
“Ah come on, it ain’t like the ole Captain Haddock I know ta turn down a drink!” Yates bellowed.
“Alright, ya twisted my arm” Haddock said snatching the bottle from Yates taking a nice long swig.

“Y’know, I think I recall hearin’ ‘bout that man by da the name of Gaspar you mentioned… right wicked he was” Yates suddenly remembered.
“You did?” Haddock said with a bit of surprise.
“I heard some other folk who used ta work on the Sirius fer ole Captain Chester, that he was a buccaneer to the third degree!” Yates declared.
“Is that so?” Haddock said taking a look back to make sure Lucille was fine.
“Yea! Don’t know why he did what he did according ta what other blokes said about him kidnappin’ and…” Yates trailed off.
“That body snatcher’s day is coming really soon” Haddock said adamantly.
“Well it looks like we’re here. We’ll refuel and be back ta sea before ya know it!” Yates said as they approached the harbor.
“I appreciate it y’know” Haddock said thankfully.
“Ya can thank me by settin’ me up on a date wif yer daughter hehehe!” Yates laughed.
“Forget it Yates!” Haddock replied sternly.
“Hey! Ya can’t blame a bloke fer tryin’!” Yates protested.

“We’re finally here! I need to get off the boat and take Cocoa for a quick stroll” Lucille said with a sigh of relief coming out of the sheltered room.
Yates and Haddock began securing the boat to one of the piers near a refueling area.
“Alright, but don’t ya stray too far ya hear?” Haddock warned.
“I’ll be fine” Lucille said confidently as she picked Cocoa up and carefully stepped up onto the pier with Haddock standing next to her just in case she slipped.
“You’re not harassin’ my daughter are ya?” Haddock asked Ballard suspiciously.
“Yer daughter’s a cheeky one! I don’t think no bloke will be gettin’ anywhere fast wif her” Ballard complained.

“Well she’s married!” Haddock almost yelled.
“Yea, she made it perfectly clear!” Ballard snapped back.
“Well good, get this tub refueled so we can get back on the trail” Haddock ordered.
“Yea sure Captain…” Ballard said for a moment then realized he was no longer working under him.

“Now wait a minute! This is my boat! You refuel it!” Ballard barked back.
“Ya mutinous…” Haddock began to curse him but realized Ballard was right, and Tintin’s life may very well depend on it.
“Fine ya pirate!” Haddock said getting off the boat to go find the man at this hour who operated the refueling pump.
“…Captain Haddock…” a voice whispered in the wind.
“What is it ya scoundrels!?” Haddock turned around annoyed at both Yates and Ballard as he was walking away.
“We didn’t say anythin’!” Yates threw up his hands.
“Yea! Not a word! So get off our backs will ya!” Ballard protested.
Haddock liked that he still had that domineering effect on his former crewmen and smiled as he turned around.

XXXXXXXXXX

Lucille walked down on the dockside with a heavy heart worried about her husband. After seeing what happened to Benton’s friend and Enzo, she was unsure about what the outcome of this expedition would be. Cocoa trotted proudly next to her as they continued down passed a pub that was still open in the early hours of the morning. It wasn’t loud inside as it seemed like there wasn’t much going on at this hour. Just a couple of late night fishermen on the piers were the only other people out. Lucille could hear distant thunder rumbling in the background as the breeze began to pick up. Cocoa finally found a little area with a couple of trees she felt comfortable enough to do her business in. Lucille waited patiently watching around her vigilantly.

After Cocoa finished she looked around, and then thought she saw a familiar face down an alley.
“Snowy?” Cocoa thought as she darted further down the lane towards the alley she thought she saw Snowy.
“Cocoa!” Lucille whispered loudly trying to not to be too loud, but Cocoa quickly dashed away.
“Where does she think she’s going?” Lucille wondered as she began running after her.
Cocoa got to the alley but didn’t see Snowy. She began sniffing the air for his scent but couldn’t detect anything. “Strange” she thought looking around until she saw Snowy poke his head out from behind a corner.
“Snowy!” Cocoa barked running farther down the lane.
“Cocoa! You get back here this instant!” Lucille scolded.

Cocoa ran until she reached the corner then thinking maybe it was Snowy, she caught a much different scent. It was a scent that she remembered back in Brussels when she and Snowy went with Tintin to Mrs. Finch’s apartment, but where was Snowy’s scent? Cocoa’s sense of danger instantly went off. Not even bothering to look up, she instantly turned around and began running back the way she came.

Not too much further behind her, Lucille caught u trying to catch her breath and then began scolding her.
“Cocoa! What are you doing!?” Lucille whispered sternly.
Cocoa’s ears were laid back and her tail was tucked between her legs as she whined. Lucille picked Cocoa up and regarded her strangely.
“What’s wrong with you all the sudden, I’m not going to hurt you!” Lucille couldn’t understand what the problem was. Lucille looked ahead and finally saw what it was that scared her.

“Oh not again!” Lucille whispered to herself with Cocoa in her arms backing up.

There were two Dobermans again barring their teeth at her. Lucille didn’t think twice, she turned and ran as fast as she could back down the alley. The Dobermans were barking and snarling at her as they gave chase. Lucille sprinted for about twenty seconds without letting up, but could feel her side beginning to catch a cramp.

“Of all the times to get a cramp!” Lucille cursed.

She knew she couldn’t out run them for long. She wished she’d brought her satchel with her that had her father’s revolver in it. Lucille screamed loudly running with Cocoa as she looked back seeing those evil looking Dobermans with red eyes trained on her. Just as she felt her leg was going to give out on her she bumped into someone.

“Lucille!” Haddock looked at her with concern.
“Run!” Lucille turned around but there were no Dobermans.
“Run from what?” Haddock asked her with a confused stare on his face.
“Um… I don’t know… I mean” she didn’t know what to say.
“What are you doing here?” Lucille suddenly questioned as she realized she was back in front of the only pub open.
“Um well ya see lass…” Haddock smiled.
“You wanted a drink… fine! Let’s just get back to the boat before…” Lucille looked back nervously.

Haddock opened his mouth but said nothing and just patted her on the back as they began to return to the boat.
“The boat is being refueled right?” Lucille asked with concern.
“Don’t worry, it’s all being taken care of” Haddock reassured her. “We need to get back to our search now” he finished.
“Agreed!” Lucille said petting Cocoa holding her like a stuffed animal.
Haddock and Lucille both felt a bone chilling breeze rush by them as they were returning to the boat. When they arrived Yates and Ballard were sitting on the pier waiting for them.

“We thought ya’d jumped ship” Yates said almost accusingly.
“Of course not! Yer not callin’ ole Captain Haddock a mutinous turncoat are ya!” Haddock raised his voice.
“Of course not, we just thought ya wanted to be on yer way swiftly” Ballard explained.
“I do but I got us another flask full” Haddock smiled.
“Now ya really are da Captain!” Yates laughed.
“ ‘Bout time ya come back ta us” Ballard smiled.
“Let’s fire da engines up! Dublin awaits!” Haddock announced.

Haddock steered the boat out of the bay as they sat in the small sheltered steering room of the boat. Drops of rain began to fall, the waves began to become rougher, and the flashes of lightning became more frequent.

“Well that’s the direction we’re headin’ so no turnin’ back now” Haddock laughed.
Lucille sat quietly with Cocoa in her lap and grasped her satchel thinking she would never leave without it again. Lucille was terrified but determined at the same time. Haddock knew something was going on but decided talking about it right now in front of Yates and Ballard wasn’t a good idea. He hoped Tintin and everyone else with him would be ok until he could arrive.
“Don’t worry lad, Captain Haddock’s coming!” he thought valiantly as they left the Belfast bay heading south toward Dublin.
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#108
Old 07-17-2013, 07:54 PM

Chapter 52 (Part A)



As the plane landed in Glasgow, Professor Calculus felt he needed to find Tintin realizing just how crazy this group seemed. Too many things just didn’t make sense, especially with the cult. The Professor felt at the very least he should be at the ready to support his two closest family members. They were all the family he had left and he couldn’t just sit back at Marlinspike waiting to hear the good or bad news. The Professor didn’t really understand most of what he researched because he was a man grounded in science.

During the whole incident with the mummy and the crystal balls, the Professor thought he had been drugged and was hallucinating. There was absolutely no way a mummy could come to life and just leave, or could a fireball with any kind of mystical powers start zipping around him in the room. Captain Haddock and Tintin both swore that it really happened, but the Professor thought they were joking. Even after all the explanations Tintin and Captain Haddock spent countless hours recounting the events, the Professor just wasn’t totally convinced.

Captain Haddock had become furious with Cuthbert several times throwing up to him how collected he was during their whole adventure to the moon and how he thought that was unbelievable. The Professor only laughed at the Captain for that comment. The Professor knew there was truth to that, everyone’s life was in his hands while in the other situations he knew Tintin and Captain Haddock were quite capable of dealing with whatever obstacle confronted them. The Professor was usually busy pondering his next project or thinking about a new possible invention. His eccentricities infuriated the Captain very much, but luckily Tintin was the equalizer who ninety-nine percent of the time kept the peace through it all.

During the late nights of readings on different cults, demonology, and conjuration, the Professor seemed more than a little disturbed. He had some old inventions that he finally found a use for, so he quickly modified some of the less time consuming ideas and made his way to Glasgow. Only taking a couple changes of clothes and his briefcase, he rushed to join Tintin and Captain Haddock. When he arrived at the airport he spent almost an hour trying to find a cab that knew where the Sea Breeze Bed and Breakfast was located.

He arrived late in the evening and was famished from only eating a paltry snack on the plane. Perhaps he, Tintin, and Captain Haddock would go out for a late dinner. The Professor arrived and paid his cab fare collecting his belongings stepping onto the walkway. The evening air was pleasantly cool as he inhaled the fresh air. He began thinking of anything he could do to improve the gadgets he gave to Tintin and Captain Haddock until a sudden barking brought him back to the concrete world.

“Oh what a pretty dog” Calculus thought as he walked by.
“Shhhh!” a young woman wearing a lavender trench coat did pulling the brown fox hound terrier back into the car. The Professor walked a few steps and took one last look back.

“That dog really looks a lot like Snowy” The Professor thought as he continued. There were a couple of people relaxing in the lounge as the Professor shuffled up to the main desk.

“May I help you sir?” the owner said evenly looking up from a book.
“Excuse me, I’m looking for a Captain Archibald Haddock, and a young man who goes by the name of Tintin” the Professor asked politely.
“Who are you looking for?” the owner looked at the Professor a bit suspiciously.
“A middle-aged man with a well-dressed young man, you haven’t seen such a pair have you?” the Professor patiently repeated.
“Hmm… do you have any identification to prove who you are? A lot of queer things have been happening around here as of late” the owner said a bit seriously.

The Professor set his briefcase down in front of him and put his suitcase on the counter. As he was trying to open his suitcase, it fell off onto the floor scattering its contents all over.

“I’m terribly sorry” the Professor apologized bending down finding his passport handing it to the owner then returning back to putting his other personal articles back in his suitcase.

The owner took the Professor’s passport and began reading over it. While they were distracted, Captain Haddock appeared racing down the stairs running out the door. The owner looked up in time to see him making his exit.

“Excuse me sir!” the owner shouted but was not heard.
“What?! What?!” the Professor stood up just finishing picking up his articles of clothing.
“I believe the man you are looking for just ran out the door” the owner pointed.
“Oh no!” the Professor dropped his suitcase again making a dash for the door as his clothes spilled out again.
Just as the Professor made it out the door he saw the Captain driving off with that young woman and brown fox hound terrier he saw earlier.
“Captain! Captain!” the Professor shouted as he ran until he stumbled over his feet and tripped.
“Oh dear!” the Professor sat up straightening his glasses as he sat up dusting himself off. The owner came outside to offer the Professor his assistance.

“Are you a friend of this man?” the owner asked.
“Yes indeed, I live with them at Marlinspike Hall” the Professor nodded.
“Where do you think they’re going?” The Professor asked as the owner helped Calculus back up to his feet.
“I really couldn’t tell you, they are an odd lot” the owner nodded. “Can I set you up with a room?” he asked very business-like.
“That will be fine…they have to be back sometime. I wonder what he’s doing with that woman?” The Professor asked curiously.
“That woman was attacked last night, I believe she’s a friend of the young man the Captain was with” the owner explained.

“Oh that’s right! Where’s Tintin?” the Professor asked suddenly.
“The young man? I believe he left with a couple of men who dressed and looked alike along with a young Chinese man” the owner replied.
“Oh no! I’m too late!” the Professor cried.
“Now, now, it’s late and you’re not going to find much more at this hour. Let me set you up with a room and perhaps the Captain will return later” the owner reasoned.
The Professor stood staring off in the direction the car went then nodded in agreement, “Fair enough”.

XXXXXXXXXXX

The Professor woke very early the next morning. He quickly jumped out of bed putting his slippers on, and ran out into the hall knocking on Tintin and Captain Haddock’s door.

“Tintin? Captain Haddock?” the Professor said in a low voice but got no response. The Professor knocked a little louder but still no response.
“Tintin! Captain!” The Professor almost shouted. The Professor began to worry that perhaps there was a reason why the Captain left in such a hurry.
The Professor returned back to his room and threw his clothes on. It was almost five in the morning and still no Captain. This could only have one explanation; he has gone to follow Tintin.

“Oh fiddlesticks!” The Professor said gathering his belongings. It was still dark as the Professor was clumsily rushing around trying to formulate a plan on how to catch up with the Captain.

Calculus ran out into the hall only to bump into someone out in the hall.
“Ooff!” The Professor explained getting a slight grunt out of the other man. The Professor’s glasses were knocked off. The hall was not lit, so the Professor looked up while he began feeling around the floor for them. The Professor thought he saw a familiar looking silhouette.

“Captain is that you?” The Professor squint his eyes in the dark trying to make use of the residual dim light coming from the staircase.
The man walked back down the hall and turned a lamp on near the staircase, but Calculus was still on the floor searching for his glasses. The man bent down and picked up the Professor’s glasses and handed them to him.
“Oh thank you Captain, I was about to say where have you—“ the professor stopped once he got a good look at the man.

“Oh I’m sorry, I have mistaken you for somebody else” the Professor apologized.
“No need, you are right, I am a Captain” the man said pulling the Professor back up to his feet.
“Wait a minute, aren’t you?” the Professor asked starting to recognize him.
“Yea, I’m Captain Chester, so let me guess, you don’t know where Haddock is?” Chester assumed.
“Unfortunately I don’t, but I saw him leave yesterday evening with a young woman” The Professor replied.

“So he’s with Lucille” Chester said rubbing his red mustache.
“Oh that’s her name, who is she?” The Professor stroked his goatee.
“That’s the wife of Tintin’s supposed twin brother” Chester replied.
“Wow, Tintin really does have family” The Professor said a bit surprised.
“So I’m going to take another guess that Tintin is not here either” Chester continued.

“That’s what I believe too” The Professor agreed.
“Well I was going to offer them a ride on my ship, but I guess they found their own way as usual” Chester said roughly turning away heading back downstairs.
“Oh wait!” the Professor chased after Chester.
“You need a ride too eh?” Chester said as they were heading out the lobby door.
“It would be most appreciative. I can compensate you well” The Professor said hopefully.

“I can’t promise you we’ll find them…I got deliveries and cargo to pick up. My job has to come first unfortunately” Chester said evenly.
“Where are you going first?” The Professor asked.
“First stop will be in Dublin, then we’re going to New York City” Chester sighed.
“Well perhaps we will find them” The Professor sounded hopeful.
“If you want, I will let you help operate our radio room” Chester replied to let the Professor retain his optimistic attitude.
“That would just be splendid!” Calculus smiled enthusiastically.

Captain Chester glanced at Calculus a bit strangely, but realized he probably didn’t know all that had transpired. Chester felt more than a bit bitter, but knew his friends should not be the target of his rage.
“Perhaps we will…” Chester replied a few moments later as they got in the cab waiting for them. Chester reached into his coat pocket and grasped the handle of his gun and nodded.
“Yea…maybe we will…I’ll be ready this time…” Chester said almost in a low growl.
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#109
Old 07-17-2013, 08:27 PM

Chapter 52 (Part - B) end of chapter 52


“Chang! I’m going to toss something down to you, make sure you catch it please, and tell Officer Riley to hold on to it for us” Tintin replied.
“Ok Tintin I’m ready!” Chang said keenly watching what Tintin took out of his pocket. Slowly, Tintin underhandedly tossed a small object down towards the boat. The wind blew it to the right, but Chang was impressively swift enough to follow the object catching it right in his hand. Tintin cringed a little out of fear that it would fall into the water and be lost forever, but sighed with relief when Chang held it up high.

“Climb up, it’s secure!” Tintin said trying to be loud enough for his companions to hear him but not loud enough for anyone else.
“Be my guest!” Thompson bowed to his partner.
“By all means, be my guest!” Thomson mimicked.
Chang returned to the steering room while the Detectives were deciding who was going to climb up first.

“Here, Tintin wants you two to hold on to this” Chang explained handing it to Officer Riley.
“What is this—this little cube?” Officer Riley said examining it off the dashboard light.
“It’s very important, that’s all I know. Please don’t lose it” Chang finished.
“Fine, hurry up and get this mission over with, this ship gets creepier by the moment” Officer Jenkins commented.

Chang nodded and returned back outside only to see the two Detectives still arguing over who would climb the rope first. Chang took the initiative and jumped onto the rope and began climbing with great agility.
“Wow look at him go!” Thomson was amazed.
“That kid’s got spunk!” Thompson commented.
Within fifteen seconds, Chang had climbed twenty feet and easily got on board.
“Bravo Chang!” Even Tintin was amazed.

As soon as Chang stepped foot on to the deck he could instantly sense the dark energy all around him. At first it was overwhelming for Chang to be in such an unholy place as he closed his eyes for a moment mentally pushing back the negative energy that threaten to consume him. It almost felt painful for Chang.

“Come on Detectives!” Tintin urged.
The two Detectives looked at each other with apprehension.
“You two call yourselves detectives?!” Tintin taunted in a bid to spur them into action.
Thompson immediately felt insulted and took the rope and began to climb fast at first repelling against the side of the ship, then slowly.
“Come on Detective you’re almost here!” Tintin encouraged.

Thompson gave it his all, and the last few feet up as Tintin helped him on board.
“I knew you could do it! Now you’re turn!” Tintin pointed to Thomson.
“I’m getting too old for this” Thompson commented then noticed Chang’s unease.
“Are you ok Chang?” Thompson asked walked up close to him.
“…I’m fine, just need to get used to…” Chang said as if he was carrying a heavy weight on his shoulder.
“I’m coming!” Thomson almost pouted.
“You couldn’t be any louder could you?” Officer Riley almost frightened Thomson out of his stupor as he jumped onto the rope and began to quickly climb traversing the side of the ship.

Tintin gave the ok signal to Officer Riley and Officer Riley signaled back to Tintin meaning they would rendezvous in an hour.
“Tintin, something is wrong with Chang?” Thompson asked as Chang seemed to be in pain.
“Chang! What’s wrong!?” Tintin rushed to his side with concern.
“I’m sorry to worry you Tintin, but this ship has so much evil on it and I can feel the pain that victims have endured on here” Chang explained.
“Well you’re with us now Chang” Thompson smiled.
“Nothing to fear, we’ll protect you” Thomson declared.
“Thanks Detectives, we need to hurry and complete our mission” Chang nodded but still kept feeling this persistent pain in his head sensing ill intentions almost all around them.Snowy stood with his tail tucked between his legs smelling in all direction and growling quietly.

“What is it boy?” Tintin asked Snowy.

Snowy too seemed overwhelmed by his canine sense of danger.
Tintin took out his gun as did the Detectives scanning the ship. There were crates in the middle stacked almost four meters high chained down to the deck. Tintin could hear movement on the other side of the ship which was well lit but the fog made it difficult to see clearly.

Tintin motioned for all of them to follow him as he led them closer to the lit side of the ship where some crates were being lowered into the hold. The crewmen seemed to be working tirelessly. Tintin spotted a couple of ways they could get to the lower decks. One way was just up ahead without anyone guarding it. The other way was not too far from the bridge but there were a couple of crewmen standing nearby with one of those Doberman Pincers. Tintin motioned for them to go back as they hid behind some crates.

“So what did you see?” Chang asked Tintin
“There are two ways, one seems like it is unguarded, but who knows how many corridors or rooms we may have to pass before we are able to descend. The other is just below what I think is the bridge which is guarded not only by crewmen, but by those—Doberman creatures” Tintin informed everyone.

“We knew this wouldn’t be easy” Chang said acceptingly. “Should we split up to search?” Chang followed up with a question.
“No, it’s too dangerous, we stay together…” Tintin shook his head.
“We can’t just waltz by them” Thompson whispered.
“Yea, they’ll alert the others for sure…and what about that dog!” Thomson added in quietly.
Tintin stood quietly as Chang too was trying to come up with a solution; and, suddenly it hit them.
“Let Chang and I borrow your canes” Tintin suddenly got an idea.
“Those tranquilizers in their canes!” Chang whispered in triumph.
“Exactly!” Tintin smiled.

“I’ll go to the other side and tranquilize the dog first” Chang volunteered.
“I’ll go with you” Thompson put a firm hand on Chang’s shoulder.
“No Mr. Thompson, I have to move silently. It’s better I go alone” Chang explained politely as Thompson handed him his cane.

Chang quickly disappeared into the darkness behind them. Tintin took Thomson’s cane and moved closer. Tintin waited anxiously hoping to see Chang on the other side, but the fog made it difficult. A couple of minutes passed and without warning the Doberman began barking moving towards Chang’s side.

“Oh no!” Tintin put his hand over his mouth thinking that the poison may not be strong enough.
“Who goes there?!” one of the crewmen said following the dog, and within a few moments the dog became silent.
“What’s wrong with this—“ the man stopped in mid-sentence. Tintin knew it was his turn to act.
“Hey!” the other man shouted turning his back to Tintin giving him the perfect opportunity.
Tintin aimed the end of the cane and fired a sleep-poisoned dart hitting the man directly in the back. The man reached around grabbing at the dart pulling it out.

“Ouch!” he turned around pulling out a gun looking behind him. He saw Tintin and was about to fire at him, but as soon as he took a step the gun fell out of his hand and he passed out on to deck.
To Tintin’s relief, Chang emerged from the other side with Thompson’s cane.
“Come on, let’s continue” Chang urged. Both Detectives were watching closely with their guns armed.

“You kids definitely are something else” Thomson commented.
“Indeed! Good work!” Thompson complimented.
“Don’t thank us, thank Professor Calculus because without your canes it wouldn’t have been so easy” Tintin replied.
Footsteps could be heard approaching as they were walking in the corridor that led to one of the stairwells to the bottom. Tintin wondered just how much time they would have until the alarm would be sounded announcing their arrival.
“Quickly Tintin!” Chang urgently spurred his friend into action.
As they were running into the stairwell a blood curdling scream was heard from down below. All of them stopped dead in their tracks. Snowy’s ears perked up.
“That’s my brother! Hurry!” Tintin exclaimed running ahead of Chang as they blindly rushed down the stairs.
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#110
Old 08-04-2013, 04:51 AM

Chapter 53 (PART - A)

The weather began to slowly get rougher as Captain Haddock’s group approached Dublin. The calm waves were beginning to get choppier and the wind was growing stronger. Yates and Ballard were both hardy seamen who worked on the waters most of their life so none of this seem to give them any fear in the slightest. The boat was beginning to rock a bit more which Lucille paid close attention to as Cocoa stayed right on her lap.

Ballard lit a cigar up fogging the small room with smoke. Lucille was coughing and trying to fan the smoke away from her but it was a losing battle. Lucille put Cocoa down looking for a window to slide open to let some of the smoke out.

“My smoke botherin’ ya?” Ballard asked almost sarcastically.
“Just want some fresh air” Lucille answered finally finding a small window to open.
“You may have to close that soon once the waves start getting bigger y’know” Ballard replied not even looking at her.
“What do you mean?” Lucille gave him a funny look.
“Don’t ya know lassie? When da sea gits rough, and the wind picks up, the waves get big!” Ballard emphasized.
“I understand Ballard, my husband is a fisherman y’know” Lucille said absently sitting back down in her corner watching Yates and Haddock get wet as overspray was splashing up.
“Is he now?” Ballard almost scoffed.

Lucille ignored him not interested in getting into a battle of wits with someone whom she deemed not worth her time. She was preoccupied with her husband’s safety wondering where and how he was. She watched how Haddock seemed to get Yates a bit more under his thumb which she thought was a bit amusing. The look on Haddock’s face reflected her own worries. She knew he was just as worried about Tintin as she was worried about her husband. She knew a little bit about being out at sea, but had never been out during a storm. The pending danger ahead made her anxious, but knew it was too late to turn back now. Cocoa walked up to her and cocked her head looking up.

“Don’t worry, we’ll find them soon Cocoa” Lucille whispered.
“This rocking is strange” Cocoa thought as she lied next to Lucille’s feet.

Captain Haddock and Yates were busy outside tying equipment down and putting nets and other fishing gear down below locking it up. It wasn’t much longer until Haddock and Yates put on old dingy rain coats and hats in an attempt to lessen how wet they were getting. Thunder began rumbling in the background as distant flashes were lighting up the far horizons. Lucille glanced back at Ballard who seemed to be steering the boat forward taking swigs of whiskey.

“Are you sure that’s a good idea to be drinking that since we have bad weather to contend with now?” Lucille asked almost a bit sarcastic.
“Are ya kiddin’!? This is the best time to be drinkin’ and livin’ it up!” Ballard laughed.
“Have you gone mad?” Lucille asked calmly looking out hoping that Haddock would come back in.
“Na Lucy, yer just a lassie who has her knickers in a twist” Ballard laughed.
“I think any lass would have her knickers in a twist if the man driving this fisherman’s ducky on a rough sea” Lucille shook her head disapprovingly.
“Relax, Dublin is just ahead” Ballard smirked.
Lucille looked ahead and could not see more than fifty feet away from the boat.
“I can’t see anything, the fog is obscuring my view” Lucille said as they were continuing on.

Haddock and Yates came in soaking wet, and even Yates had a worried look on his face.
“We’re just about in the Dublin harbor” Ballard informed them.
“It’s a good thing too!” Haddock exclaimed as the rain began falling really hard.
“It’s the storm” Lucille said as the waves noticeably became bigger.
“Not so much that lass, it’s da fog! Ya can’t see where yer goin’!” Yates blurted out as his nerves were beginning to get to him.
“Ya need to calm down mate! Here, take a drink” Ballard said handing Yates the whiskey bottle.

“Uh!” Lucille gave a look of disgust and disbelief.
“Now, now, a drink isn’t going to make him worse off lass, it might help him to do some good” Haddock held up a hand as they watched Yates take more than just a “drink”.
“Ahhh! I can feel me nerves calming down already!” Yates smiled after a few gulps and his red beard dripping whiskey.
“Thunderin’ Typhoons pass it over here!” Haddock said reaching for the bottle.
“Here ya go Captain!” Yates smiled as Haddock took a long drink as well.
“I give up…” Lucille sighed burying her head in her hands.
“I want off this boat” Cocoa began whining.
“I’m sorry girl, we’re on a boat with a bunch of crazies” Lucille said taking Cocoa in her lap.

The boat began rocking more and more.
“It really does feel like I’m drunk now!” Yates laughed.
“Probably because you are” Lucille commented quietly holding on to a rail on the wall.
“Put yer sea legs on, it’s only gonna git rougher from ‘ere!” Ballard laughed.
Captain Haddock was looking ahead with his sea eyes carefully scanning what he could see. Thirty minutes passed as the weather gradually went from bad to worse.
“I think you’d better let me get us to shore” Haddock suggested to Ballard.
“I respect yer ability to guide a ship, but I’m da captain of this tub” Ballard declared.
Yates was looking out as the waves were crashing over the deck of their boat.
“Maybe ya should let ‘em y’know” Yates said a bit nervously.
“Don’t tell me you’ve turned coat on me too!?” Ballard said accusingly.
“No, no brother…I just think maybe we should let ole Captain here for old time sake do it” Yates suggested.

“Sit down! Yer makin’ me nervous!” Ballard said obstinately taking another long drink finishing the bottle.
Lucille kept looking out, but still could not see much ahead. Despite the whiskey drinking, the situation became more intense. A loud foghorn could be heard not far off creating a stressful atmosphere. Haddock looked ahead and glared at Ballard who ignored Yate’s and Haddock’s pleas.
“Ballard! Turn toward the starboard!” Haddock barked suddenly.

“I told ya I’M da captain of my boat! It may not be wat ya have and it may not be much, but it’s my boat and I’M da captain!” Ballard ranted stubbornly.
Five minutes later another louder sound of a foghorn blared out startling everyone. Lucille, Yates, and Cocoa turned to their left and looked to see a merchant ship slowly coming up on them.
“Ballard!” everyone screamed.
“This is mutiny! I’M da capt—!“ Ballard shouted back in defiance only for Haddock to charge and shove him out of the way knocking him to the floor taking control of the boat.
“I don’t care if ya are a captain! This means war!” Ballard protested as he started to get up.
“Look there ya mad man! Yer pride’s gonna git us all killed!” Yates shouted angrily at him.
Finally Ballard glanced over to his left and saw the merchant ship ten times the size of their ship.

“Where in blazes did that warship come from?!” he exclaimed standing up.
“Billions of blisterin’ barnacles! Ya rat! Look what ya did!?” Haddock thundered angrily.
“Oh no! We’re not going to make it!” Lucille gasped.
“Oh-oh…I-I-I’m sorry…” Ballard started stuttering remorsefully.
“Don’t just stand there sniveling! Make yerself useful ya yellow-bellied whale!” Haddock ordered.
“Yates, is there a raft on this old ducky?” Haddock demanded.
“Yes, I’m getting it right now!” Yates said rummaging in down in the access door below.
“Hurry up! We don’t have much time until we collide!” Haddock warned.
“A-are we sinking?” Ballard asked drunkenly.
“Thunderin’ typhoons! Get up and help Yates find that damned raft!” Haddock yelled picking Ballard up by his collar.

Lucille picked Cocoa up as she was whining loudly while she was frantically gathering her satchel and Haddock’s bags. Haddock’s brow was full of sweat as he tried to divert all of the boat’s engine’s power to moving out of the way.

“By Davy Jones Locker hurry the hell up Yates!” Haddock cursed loudly.
Lucille knew it was going to be much longer until they had impact. Yates came up a few seconds later pulling the huge raft through the trap door. Below was nothing more than storage space with a couple of crudely made hammocks with only enough space for a child to stand. Haddock was turning the wheel as fast as he could but it just wasn’t enough.

“Brace yerselves everyone!” Haddock shouted.
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#111
Old 08-04-2013, 04:57 AM

Chapter 53 (PART - B)

BAAASSSHHH! BOOOOOM!!

Their little fishing boat collided with the merchant ship, but thanks to Haddock’s quick maneuvering, it wasn’t a direct collision. Nevertheless, the fishing boat tipped over to the opposite side causing everyone to fall and tumble on the floor.
“It’s not going to be enough… this old little wooden antique can’t take a hit like that!” Haddock assessed as they were being bowled over.
Water could be heard below down the trap door seeping in. Yates looked down shining a light and had grim look on his face.

“We got BIG problems!” Yates reported.
“Ya don’t say!? Of course we do! This boat hasn’t been maintained like it should!” Haddock began gathering things of importance such as flashlights and oars. Then he doled out the other raincoats to Lucille and Ballard.
Lucille put on the raincoat but kept panic from taking hold of her. She knew it was only a matter of time by the look on Haddock’s face before they were going to sink.
“Is there a flare gun on here?!” Haddock demanded to know.
“Fl-fl-flare gun?” Ballard mumbled as Yates helped him put his coat on.
“Oh dat’s right! We got drunk one night and fired all the rounds up in da air thinking they were fireworks” Yates explained.

“Yea, we ended up in jail for a couple nights too!” Ballard remembered with a smirk.
“Um can you tell us your story later, below seems to be filling up rather fast!” Lucille reminded them as she could hear the water pouring in from a hole.
“Open the door and get the raft out on the deck and get in it!” Haddock ordered. Lucille helped Yates pull the raft out the door.
“Hold on to the raft in case ya get knocked off!” Haddock shouted.
Ballard stood up grabbing on to the rail.
“You wait until right there ya incompetent flounder!” Haddock bellowed at Ballard.

The boat was rocking even more and the waves were crashing up on the deck drenching both Yates and Lucille as they waited on the deck. Lucille was holding onto their things as well as Cocoa who was now barking. The wind and the waves were hard to shout over. Haddock grabbed the oars in one arm and grabbed Ballard by his arm dragging him outside to get on the raft.
“Take these!” Haddock shouted tossing them to Yates in the raft.

Just as they were about to get in the raft the merchant bumped against their boat tipping it on its side again causing the raft and everyone in it to go over the side into the water. Unfortunately for Haddock and Ballard, they didn’t make it in the raft.

“Captain! Ballard!” Lucille and Yates shouted once they had landed on the surface of the rough water.
Yates and Lucille lit their flashlights shining them down into the water as Haddock and Ballard’s head popped up out of the water and was dog paddling trying to stay above water with Ballard.
“Help! He--!” Ballard shouted as a gulp of sea water went in his mouth as he was vainly trying to swim.
“Stop flailing!” Haddock shouted struggling to keep them both afloat as some waves were crashing over them. Haddock didn’t have it in him to keep yelling needing all his strength to try to keep them both above water as it was cold.
“Use the oar to get us closer to them Yates!” Lucille shouted.
Cocoa hid under the bags as Lucille scanned the raft until she found a life saver. Yates was having a hard time trying to get closer to them as the waves separating them.
“Toss this to them! They need to be able to stay above water!” Lucille shouted holding onto the rope.

Yates tossed the life saver as far as he could, but it was still a yard out of their reach. A rogue wave came and crashed over their raft causing Cocoa to come out coughing up water from behind the bags.

Lucille and Yates both wiped off their faces trying to keep the light on Haddock and Ballard as Haddock was struggling to reach the life saver. The waves were carrying them up and down almost a couple of meters. Ballard was gurgling water the whole time as Haddock tried to reach out, but still was not close enough. Ballard may as well have been a lead weight. If Haddock tried to overextend himself he may lose Ballard. It was becoming increasingly difficult as the waves were crashing around them and taking them up and down in swells.

The boat was beginning to sink just as Lucille was afraid Haddock would not be able to get the life saver. A wave looked as if it was going to swallow Haddock and Ballard, but at the last moment Haddock and Ballard emerged above on a high swell six feet above holding on to the lifesaver. Yates pulled the rope finally closing the gap between them. Lucille helped Yates pull the rope as Haddock passed the unconscious Ballard’s hand to Yates. Lucille helped Yates yank Ballard onto the raft allowing Haddock to grab on to life saver with both arms almost exhausted. Lucille compressed Ballard’s chest, and after a couple compressions Yates coughed up the salty water.

Haddock was able to be pulled onto the raft shortly after. He was still spitting up sea water as Yates pulled him in with the rope and life saver. Ballard was starting to revive as Haddock and Yates were trying to get everything situated in the raft. The would-be captain sat up adjusting his dingy yellow raincoat. He looked at his boat remorsefully as Lucille tried to keep everything from being bounced out of the raft from the waves.
“There goes my living!” Ballard pouted.

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#112
Old 08-04-2013, 05:02 AM

Chapter 53 (PART - C) end of chapter 53


“Blisterin’ Barnacles! You just sit down and shut up you fool! You nearly cost all of us our lives!” Haddock blasted him out.

“We’re safe aren’t we?!” he shouted resentfully.
“We need to keep the torches going Lucille so boats may see us so we can get into the port! Yates! Help me row!” Haddock ordered ignoring Ballard.
“Yes Captain!” Yates obeyed taking the other oar.
“I’M da Captain!” Ballard shouted as they were riding wave after wave as the rain fell and the wind blew.

“I wouldn’t antagonize him anymore if I were you! We may die from pneumonia! Now sit down and keep quiet!” Lucille scolded him noticing Haddock was about ready to pummel his face.
Ballard sat in the middle of the raft resentfully. Everyone was cold and wet using all they had to reach the port.
“Ahhhh! It’s a monster!” Ballard suddenly screamed out.
Haddock stopped paddling, “Thunderin’ typhoons! If I have to turn around!” he muttered under his breath as a bright flash of lightning lit up the sky drawing another wail out of Ballard.

Haddock reached out and grabbed Ballard by his coat in frustration ready to punch him. Lucille noticed something behind them in the water that resembled a person but looked almost like a fish in the flash as well.
“No! Captain wait!” Lucille turned around with both flashlights in here hands.
“Don’t tell me this heathen saw something!” Haddock said almost disbelievingly.
“I don’t know what it was, maybe in the lightning it was an optical illusion of some kind” Lucille shouted.
“Captain I need yer help to keep us going! If we just push a bit further the waves may carry us into port” Yates suggested.
Haddock let go of Ballard and began quickly paddling in sync with Yates. Lucille kept looking out behind them when the lightning would flash, but she couldn’t see anything. Ballard kept looking with paranoia.

“I see lights up ahead! Just a bit further!” Lucille shouted.
Haddock and Yates paddled vigorously until they were navigating through using the light from the light house and the other residual lighting from the port. Luckily, the port was hardly active at this hour and the waves knocked them almost into a pier. Haddock and Yates used their oars to steady the raft so one of them could get out. Lucille began tossing their bags to Yates and carefully Lucille and Haddock helped Ballard step out of the raft.

“I can walk!” Ballard shouted with his pride being hurt as Yates helped him on the pier.
“You go next lass!” Haddock prompted. Lucille took Yates hand and steadied herself onto the pier.
Haddock tossed the other oar on the pier and carefully tried to step off. A rogue wave about caused him to slip and fall, but fortunately Lucille and Yates were able to catch him.
“Thanks you two, I owe ya one!” Haddock nodded.
“Quickly! My raft!” Ballard complained.
“Ok ya landlubber! Help Lucille carry the bags off the pier so we can get out of this horrible weather!” Haddock ordered.

Haddock and Yates slowly pulled the raft out of the water. They drug the large cumbersome raft off the pier.
“Where are we goin’ ta put this thing?” Yates asked unsure.
“Wherever we can, we got ta get out of this weather!” Haddock yelled.

They stashed the raft behind an old building as the thunder rumbled loudly and the lightning flashed illuminating everything. As the lightning illuminated everything Ballard turned around again with his drunken face contorted in fear unable to speak.

“..uh bu-bu-bu-bu-bu!” Ballard stuttered.
“Quite! I’ve heard enough out of you!” Haddock yelled at him as they were continuing trying to find an inn or somewhere to get out of the rain.
Yates turned finally curious to see what Ballard kept having outburst about. After noticing an odd shadow, he walked close up to Haddock.
“Don’t look now, but me thinks we gots’ a meddler behind us” Yates whispered to Haddock.
“Is that so?” Haddock muttered. “We’ll show ‘em” Haddock finished.
“Just give me da word and it’s done” Yates whispered as they continued walking with Ballard stuttering and Lucille shaking her head unable to see clearly who was behind them following.
“Don’t look behind Lucille…keep moving!” Haddock whispered loudly to her ahead.

Lucille didn’t question him, but an eerie feeling was overtaking her as she anxiously kept hoping they would find an inn or even a pub at this hour in the business district as they walked inland. Ballard looked terrified. Cocoa trotted briskly by Lucille’s side turning around with her ears lying flat as she would show her teeth growling.

“Come on Ballard no lagging!” Lucille whispered to him. “Come Cocoa!” Lucille called out.
They continued for several blocks turning and crossing streets and still the figure seemed to be trying to follow them poorly trying to conceal his or her presence.
“I see a building that looks as if it may be open” Lucille sneezed.
“Aye, Yates is our pursuer still tracking us?” Haddock asked.
Yates looked behind them and could see what appeared to be a person wearing a raincoat and hat in the light coming from a block behind them.

“Stop…let’s deal with this right now!” Haddock growled annoyed.
“No Captain! I have a bad feeling about this! Let’s just keep moving!” Lucille pleaded with him as Cocoa was echoing her sentiment continuously growling and barking now.
“Boulderdash! I’m a Haddock and don’t fear anything!” Haddock affirmed.
“Aye aye Cap’n!” Yates echoed.

Suddenly Haddock and Yates turned as the figure finally emerged out of the shadows.
“Show yourself and tell us why yer following us!” Haddock demanded.
The figure came to a stop and stood just under ten paces away from them. A deep growl and breathing could be heard. It stood there silently for a moment.
Lucille began noticing strange features about this mystery person. Whoever it was looked like they hadn’t cut their nails in years. Cocoa was barking and growling more intensely showing her teeth as if she was going to attack if the person dared to come any closer.

“The devil’s come fer us!” Ballard began babbling.
“Answer me ya ignorant savage!” Haddock cursed.
The mysterious person began slowly walking towards them growling.
“Ya think we’re playin’!?” Yates yelled jumping in front of Haddock brandishing his knife at this unseen individual.
“Grraarr hisssss!” was the only response that came and Yates slashed at the person.
Only the tip of the knife cut some of the person’s raincoat ripping, but the creature quickly grabbed Yates wrist squeezing hard causing him to drop the knife. Yates swiftly came back with a left hook knocking the raincoat hat off its head revealing a hideous looking lagoon creature.

“Ahhhhh!” Yates screamed out suddenly caught off guard not expecting to see such a thing. The creature opened its mouth showing its razor sharp teeth.
Haddock jumped back caught by surprise as well.
“I knew it was the devil! By God’s name I banish you devil!” Ballard said pulling a small wooden crucifix from around his neck brandishing it in the creature’s face.

The creature reached out and swiftly clawed Ballard across the face leaving four scratch marks causing Ballard to fall down screaming in pain. Yates took advantage and took another left hook at the creature’s face barely phasing it. Cocoa couldn’t take it anymore. She dashed at the creature too.
“No Cocoa!” Lucille cried out.

The creature focused on Yates letting go of his right wrist. It grabbed him by the throat choking and showing its teeth again growling only to be distracted again by Cocoa biting its ankle causing it to growl. Yates struggled trying to get the clawed hand of the creature off his throat.

The creature retaliated against Cocoa by kicking her with its other foot sending Cocoa reeling back towards Lucille not moving.
“Cocoa!” Lucille cried out again drawing her gun as Haddock did likewise.
“You hold it right there ya monsterous animal abusing instigator!” Haddock shouted brandishing his gun.
The creature lifted the choking Yates off his feet tossing him a couple yards to the side into a barrel now focusing its attention on Haddock.
“Stop right there or I’ll shoot!” Haddock warned, but the creature began to run at Haddock.
Haddock pulled the trigger but nothing happened. Haddock pulled the trigger again and again and still nothing.

“What in blazes!?” Haddock gasped jumping back as the creature clawed at him. Haddock threw the gun at the creature hitting it in the side of its scaly head.
The creature redoubled its effort to go after Haddock reaching out overextending itself. Haddock countered with a strong right and left hook and stomped hard on the creature’s webbed feet getting it to roar out in pain. The creature recovered much faster than Haddock anticipated. It blocked Haddock’s third and fourth furious strike. It countered by grappling Haddock’s arms opening its mouth wide showing its razor sharp teeth.

“No!” Lucille screamed aiming her father’s revolver.
“Please by all that’s good FIRE!” BANG! Lucille screamed pulling the trigger hitting it in the thigh.

The creature then refocused its attention toward its newest deadly threat, Lucille. It then grabbed Haddock by the color and swung him around making Haddock hit the wall head first. He landed on top of Yates. Now with no one else to get in its way, it would incapacitate its last threat and do away with all of them in a fell swoop.

Lucille nervously tried to aim firing hitting it in the leg instead of its head. Lucille could see Ballard was grabbing his face lying in a fetal position on the ground seemingly in excruciating pain. Yates was out cold probably from hitting his head on the barrel and being chocked. Cocoa lied just behind her just breathing slowly. Haddock didn’t show any signs of movement either as he lied on top of Yates. Lucille fired again this time missing. She turned and ran.

“HELP ME!” she screamed running towards the lit building ahead. The creature gained on her quickly, but Lucille turned and fired again grazing it on the shoulder.
“Somebody please help me!” Lucille called out to anyone.
A night patrol officer came out of the lit building, “Whose there!?” he shouted.
“Officer! Help me!” Lucilled cried out.
“What are you--!?” the officer answered his own question as she ran towards him and he saw the thing that was pursuing her.

“By the banshee’s curse!” the officer said taking out his club trying to be brave.
“Now you hold it right there ya Blarney kisser!” the officer said swinging his club hitting the creature antagonizing it even more. It slowed down and fiercely backhanded the officer knocking him out instantly.

“No!” Lucille screamed continuing to run but the creature got its clawed hand on her coat jerking her back. Lucille swiftly turned with her coat and fired her last shot hitting the creature in the chest weakening it this time, but not enough for it to let go. It slowly pinned her up against the building as Lucille struggled in vain to get out of its grip. The creature slowly opened its mouth again and Lucille put her arms up in a last defense; but, the creature roared out in pain instantly letting Lucille go.

“Ya thought ya could put ole Haddock down eh?” The Captain screamed from behind the creature. It turned to face Haddock as he pulled his right hand back coming up with what seemed to be an uppercut which was Yate’s knife stabbing through its chin.
“I’m gonna gut me a fish tonight!” Haddock roared back fearlessly. Lucille was amazed at Haddock’s sudden rush of adrenaline despite their exhaustion. The creature flailed blindly at Haddock as he pulled the knife out and gutted it in the stomach then kicked the knife deeper.

“Die ya fiendish devil! That will teach ya to mess with my friends” Haddock said triumphantly.
Lucille breathed a deep sigh of relief once the creature finally quit struggling and moving all together.
“Officer! Are you alright?” Lucille woke him.
“Ugh…what in devil’s name was that?” the officer asked slowly.
“Don’t know” Lucille answered honestly.
“Something that can’t possibly be of this world!” Haddock nodded confidently.
They all took a look at it and right before their eyes its flesh melted right off and it turned into a small puddle of dark green goo.
“I’ve got ta lay off da whisky” the officer replied.
“Whiskey?!” Lucille looked surprisingly at him.
“Did I say whisky? I mean…my fiancée works here at this tavern inn” he explained.
“Drinkin’ on the job and seeing your girlfriend…but you said it’s an inn! Good, help us get a few rooms and we’ll forget this whole incident” Haddock said expediently.
“Right away…I don’t even want to think about what just happened” he officer agreed disappearing back in the inn.

“We need to get inside in dry off by the fire and let our clothes dry” Haddock said as they walked back to help their companions.
“What a night!” Lucille sighed still shaken by this new monstrosity.
“I’m da captain?” Ballard asked as they walked in the inn drawing a quick reproachful stare from Haddock.
“Yes Mr. Ballard, you’re the captain” Lucille said patronizingly looking at Haddock.
“I hope Tintin and the rest are ok…” Haddock’s tone of voice changed to that of worry.

Lucille was too tired to converse any further as they helped Ballard who was finally able to walk now and a still dazed Yates and Cocoa to the inn. Shortly after getting their rooms weariness overtook them. It was already in the early hours of the morning. They would rest and worry about tomorrow when it arrived.
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#113
Old 08-12-2013, 12:08 AM

Chapter 54 (Part - A)


After Tintin heard his brother scream, he lost to his rationality momentarily to his emotions running blindly ahead of Chang who tried to stop him. Both Detectives tried to grab Tintin in his fit of irrationality but weren’t fast enough. The only thing Tintin could think about was getting to his brother. That moment, what sounded to be some drill alarm began ringing out all over the ship. He dashed ahead through a long corridor with shut doors until he reached the end with a door that led into a one wider hallway until there were two huge bay doors ahead which were slightly ajar as well a few guy watching them.

“Tintin!” Chang tried to shout out without being too loud.
“He’s going to get us killed!” Thompson exclaimed as they ran behind Chang.
“Indeed he is! He lectures us, then pulls this stunt!?” Thomson ridiculed.
“Tintin! It’s a trap!” Snowy thought as he barked right on Tintin’s heels.
“Well too late now!” Thomson said sarcastically.
“Yea I know! They already know we’re here!” Thompson echoed.
“Out of my way!” Tintin shouted at the three crewmen blocking the huge door ahead that led into the main storage area.
The crewmen took out their guns and began firing as Tintin instinctively pulled out his gun while going into a somersault rolling behind a crate. Snowy dived right behind him.

“Put your guns down and your hands up!” Thompson shouted.
“We have you surrounded!” Thomson continued drawing gunfire towards them.
“Take cover!” Chang warned as they ran to the opposite of side of Tintin behind another stack of crates.

Thompson fired his gun at one of the crewmen’s feet causing them to take cover. Tintin suddenly got a brazen idea. While both Detectives were exchanging fire with the crewmen Chang suddenly made eye contact with Tintin around the corner. Tintin made hand signals going up diagonally and down a couple of times. Chang returned a puzzled look at first but quickly nodded in agreement for Tintin to execute his plan.

Tintin looked up to the ceiling as he crept as close as he could towards the door under cover; until he clicked his belt buckles and a cable claw shot up around a beam above the crewmen wrapping itself around. One of the crewmen saw the cable looking Tintin’s way.
“Keep them distracted Detectives!” Chang encouraged.
“Hope you’re ready Snowy” Tintin said picking him up.

One of the crewmen was about to take a shot at Tintin as he and Snowy suddenly was pulled into the air, but the Detectives kept them on the defense for that moment allowing Tintin to quickly disappear above them. Before the crewmen could look up, Tintin hit the release on the other side of his belt buckle causing the claw to let go from its hold dropping Tintin on top of two of his adversaries. The startled third crewmen was about to take a point blank shot at Tintin.

“Oh no you don’t!” Snowy barked as he leaped up biting the man’s wrist causing him to drop his gun.

“Good night!” Tintin smiled letting his fist be the last thing the crewman saw before he was knocked into slumber land.
“This kid is full of surprises!” Thompson commented.
“I know ain’t he?” Thomson agreed.
“I’m not a kid anymore Detectives, get their guns…I have a feeling we may need them” Tintin instructed.

“Hopefully we are prepared for what that scary captain and his minions can throw at us” Chang said taking a gun putting his staff away.

The Detectives confiscated the other two guns and drug them behind the crates.
Tintin peeked out the door and could see towers of crates stacked in various areas. No one seemed to be out and about. When he looked above he noticed a swinging cage high up with his brother in it. His brother’s back was turned with his attention elsewhere. Only a couple of the overhead lights were lighting the large warehouse like room leaving shadowed corners.

“It’s Benton!” Tintin informed the rest of them.
“It’s a trap Tintin, we must proceed with caution” Chang warned.
“They obviously know we’re here!” Thompson
“They’ve sounded the alarm!” Thomson pointed out the obvious.
“So we may as well hurry on out there!” Thompson said as both Detectives began giving Chang and Tintin a nudge out the door.
“Indeed!” Thompson agreed.
“Fine!” Tintin said rushing out the door with his gun drawn darting from stack of crate to another.
“Get back!” Benton screamed.
The Detectives, Chang, and Snowy began following suit.
“Benton!” Tintin shouted once he was in his brother’s field of vision.
“Fenton! Look out! It’s a trap—and--!” Benton said frantically not knowing what to say first.

They almost reached midway through the main storage area when the main bay doors closed behind them and the rest of the room was lit up. Tintin and his party turned around to see the doors slam shut quickly scanning the room looking for the culprit.

"Don’t worry Benton! We’ve come to rescue you!” Tintin declared.
“Ah! Mr.Tintin! At last…” a voice over an intercom system sounded.
“Who’s there!?” Tintin demanded.
“Hehehehehe!” the raspy yet full voice over the intercom taunted.

Thompson and Thomson looked in the corner of the far wall of the room and immediately shrank back petrified grabbing onto each other. Chang was about to ask what was wrong until he too spotted the source of their terror. Goosebumps began forming all over Chang’s skin as he pulled out his gun and took aim grabbing his fear by the throat.

“T-T-Tin—T-T-Tin!” both Detectives chattered.
Snowy began whining and immediately hid behind the Detectives seeing this new horror. Benton was watching his brother and constantly watching the far wall looking pale with terror himself.
“Show yourself you coward!” Tintin shouted defiantly.
“Welcome to our web Tintin!” a familiar voice cut in on the intercom.

“Rastapopoulos!?” Tintin yelled in disbelief.
“I think you have more pressing issues to deal with at the moment Mr. Tintin hehehehe!” the other voice replied just as Tintin began to hear the rhythmic thumping than a loud thud on the floor about sixty feet ahead of him as Benton’s cage swung from the ceiling. Goosebumps plagued Tintin, and he froze momentarily suddenly realizing once again, one of his worst fears had come to fruition. Chang saw Tintin freeze as the eight legged creature began quickly crawling towards them.

“Tintin!” Chang shouted shaking Tintin.
“How are we supposed to deal with that?!” Thompson panicked.
“I don’t know Thompson, I was hoping you would have the answer to that!” Thomson echoed his sentiment.
“Tintin! Snap out of it! We need you!” Chang said standing his ground next to Tintin.
Tintin was remembering what happened back on that meteorite that he was supposed to explore and was remembering how a giant apple tree saved him.
“Run Fenton!” Benton shouted.
“Great snakes!” Tintin shouted looking at the spider that stood almost four feet off the ground. It had Tintin right in target of its many eyes.
“Tintin! Get a hold of yourself!” Chang shouted as he finally fired the first shot which seem to do only a small amount of damage hitting it getting a slight scream out of it as began crawling faster to them.

Tintin took a deep breath and suddenly began firing with Chang emptying their bullets on it. The spider screamed loudly as they hit two of its legs severing them. Its exoskeleton seemed to be protecting from any fatal damage on its body. It stumbled as Tintin and Chang kept backing up with the Detectives still recovering from the initial shock.

“Come on Detectives fire your—“ Tintin started to say as the spider in a desperate attempt crawling on now six legs came charging at them.
“Hit its eyes! Blind it!” Chang shouted.
They didn’t have time but to only get a few more shots fired until Tintin realized he was out of bullets.
“Split up! Chang! Take Thompson to the other side of the room and climb a stack of those crates!” Tintin said swallowing back his fear but still shaking.
Tintin grabbed Thomson by the arm and dragged him to the other side of the room with Snowy behind while Chang led Thompson to the opposite side beginning to climb the stacks of crates and drums. A row of drums lined the wall with a high stack of crates in the center.

“On top of those drums Thomson!” Tintin shouted picking Snowy up.
Thomson looked behind to see the spider chose to come after them instead.
“Sakes! It’s coming after us!” Thomson shrieked.
“Keep moving!” Tintin shouted back.
“If things weren’t bad enough already!” Tintin thought as he saw they were being backed into a corner with nowhere to go.
The spider was not as agile without all eight of its legs, but it was still coming.

Thomson turned around and took a pot shot at it with his gun missing hitting one of the drums beneath it as it climbed on top.
“Aim for the eyes Thomson!” Tintin said as he was trying to figure out how to climb the four column crates.
Thomson fired a couple more shots before trying to follow Tintin up the stack of crates.
“Put your foot on the right corner, just keep climbing!” Tintin shouted to Thomson.

The spider’s legs buckled for a moment. Tintin swiftly made his way to the top, but Thomson wasn’t as fast. He went to grab one corner of a crate and lost his grip, but Tintin grabbed his wrist helping him steady himself as he was looking for a foot hold. Tintin realized the spider was still able to move fast once back up on its legs. It scurried right under Thomson’s foot as he used its pincers to give him the boost he needed up on the four crate plateau in the corner.
“Yikes!” Tintin was startled.
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#114
Old 08-12-2013, 12:25 AM

Chapter 54 (Part B) end of Chapter



“What is it?” Thomson was almost afraid to ask.
“Distract it Thomson! I have to reload my gun!” Tintin said frantically rummaging through his satchel for more bullets.

Chang and Thompson were watching as Tintin and Thomson struggled to keep the giant spider at bay when suddenly the speaker came on the intercom again.
“I see you and your accomplices need more of a challenge!” the voice thundered.
Thomson looked just below him as the pincers were less than a foot away. Thomson fired his gun and hit it right in the center hearing a loud snap as the spider fell and screamed kicking its remaining legs in the air before slowly ceasing.
Tintin was putting the few bullets he had left in his gun only glancing up.

“Stop! We’ll give you whatever you want!” Benton pleaded swinging in his cage hanging from a chain.
Chang and Thompson looked up at the hole above to the main deck as a glass jar was thrown down shattering on the center of the floor. Right before their eyes another spider began growing in size.
“What kind of devilry is this!?” Thomson demanded grabbing on to Tintin almost causing him to drop his gun.
“Calm down Thomson! Good job stopping it!” Tintin praised.

“Right on brother but there’s another one of those growing spiders!” Benton shouted.
“It’s another one!” Thomson shouted.
Tintin looked up and saw another spider, “How on earth!?” Tintin thought. He soon figured out the answer to his own question. It wasn’t on earth they figured out how to enlarge beings.
“Could it be?” Tintin thought wondering if perhaps there were other samples of the meteor that crashed still out in circulating.

“The Peary!” Tintin blurted out connecting the dots.
“Watch out Fenton it’s another giant spider!” Benton shouted out.
BANG! BANG!
Tintin looked over to see Chang and Thompson with their hands full with the other spider. This spider looked bigger and perhaps poisonous as well.
“Y-You think i-it’s d-dead?” Thomson asked nervously looking down at the dead spider.

“I sure hope so! We just fired half of all of our ammo in it!” Tintin said feeling his heart racing again.
“Y-You think they can handle it?” Thomson asked Tintin waiting to see what was next.
“Get a grip, the others need you!” Tintin thought as he struggled with his inner fear of spiders.

“For Pete’s sake Tintin! Chang and Thompson won’t last more than a couple of minutes if we don’t do something really soon!” Thomson finally spoke up.
Tintin finished reloading his gun taking a deep breath. He looked on as Chang and Thompson were already firing upon what appeared to be another giant spider. The bullets seemed to only make a dent on its exoskeleton. It would pause momentarily and then it would continue toward them.

“Did you two bring more ammo?” Tintin asked Thomson.
“I’m afraid we forgot in all the confusion, but we have those other guns” Thomson frowned then smiled half-heartedly.
“Here, take my gun!” Tintin said handing his gun quickly digging back into his satchel.
“What about you?” Thomson asked curiously as Tintin finally pulled out another gun.
“What is that?!” Thomson looked a bit puzzled.
“What’s it look like? It’s a flare gun, an extremely bright flare gun made by the Professor” Tintin said scanning the ceiling.
“Looks like Chang has ran out of bullets, we’d better do something quickly!” Thomson pointed out frantically. The spider was getting too close to the stacks of crates they were sitting.

“Hold on to me Thomson! Stay in my bag boy, this could be bumpy” Tintin warned putting Snowy in his satchel. Thomson grabbed on to Tintin’s side as Tintin aimed for a metal beam not too far behind the spider. Tintin hit both release buttons on each side of his belt and this time two pronged cables shot out and wrapped around a beam.
“Hold on tight Thomson we’re going to jump” Tintin warned.
“Jump!?” Thomson asked nervously.

Without much more warning, Tintin jumped with Thomson hanging on to him off the stack of the crates swinging across the area. The spider was now at the bottom of the five stacks of crates where Chang and Thompson were taking refuge. Thompson was successful in shooting one of its eyes, but it seemed more determined to get to them. It began spitting out web at them missing hitting the wall behind them.

“That spider’s spitting poison at us!” Thompson warned.
“No, it’s webbing! Don’t let it hit you!” Chang warned as he through his now empty gun at the spider below as it harmlessly bounced off its pincers.
“This other gun is just about empty too!” Thompson panicked.
Chang took out his staff and was preparing to engage the spider should it try to climb their stack.
“I only got a couple shots left Chang! I think we may be finished!” Thompson went on.
“We’re not going out without a fight!” Chang said bravely watching the other eyes of the spider as it was preparing to come climbing up after both of them.
“Chang! Thompson! Cover your eyes!” Tintin shouted from behind the spider.
“What?!” Thompson looked.

“Just do as he says!” Chang warned.
Thomson fired Tintin’s gun behind hitting the two hind legs of the spider. It quickly spun around to face them.
“Now!” Tintin yelled as he fired his flare gun right at its center eye. Tintin and Thomson looked away as a flaming trail of bright red flame went blazing the thirty yards across from the spider making a direct hit. The room illuminated brightly for a few seconds and Benton covered his face with his jacket.

XXXXXXXXX

Everyone in a private control room above watched the spectacle. Herr Wagner, Lento, Lady Ravena, Rastapopoulos, Allan, Dr. Mueller, and the Fakir watched Tintin’s party’s resourcefulness.
“What if the spider kills Tintin?” Lento asked.
“Then we will have to do without Tintin” Dr. Mueller laughed.
“His brother may not be able to solve the entire puzzle or have all the memories. All of you place a dangerous bet with what we need” Lady Ravena commented.
“I’m sure whatever Tintin knows, his brother will also have the knowledge” Dr. Mueller said confidently.

“I wouldn’t be so sure…” Lento nodded. A sudden bright light blinded them all catching them off guard.
“What in the devil is that!?” Rastapopoulos pouted rubbing his eyes.
“Looks like they had a flare gun!” Allan surmised trying to recover from the sudden brightness.
“I told you that Tintin is more resourceful than you think Herr Wagner!” Dr. Mueller reminded him.
“Some of them are missing…” Lady Ravena said softly.
“Pardon Frau?” Herr Wagner regarded her.
“Not all of Tintin’s friends are present” Lady Ravena repeated.

“Yea, I don’t see that blasted Captain Haddock around. He’s usually not too far wherever Tintin is” Allan scoffed.
“You’d think it was his lover or something…” Rastapopoulos laughed.
“Enough! Time to end this game and close in on our prey now that we have them in our web” Dr. Mueller redirected them.
“Fakir, order everyone to surround Tintin and his party” Herr Wagner ordered.
“As you wish” the Fakir nodded getting on the intercom.


XXXXXXXXXXX


The spider began screaming out rushing toward Tintin.
“Haven’t had enough yet huh?” Tintin said firing another blast before the spider could get more than a five yards closer. The hit knocked the spider on its back as it caught on fire, and began shrivel as its legs curved back towards its abdomen. Tintin, Thomson, and Snowy turned back to see the aftermath as the giant spider was being consumed in the flames.

“That is one powerful flare gun!” Thomson commented.
“I know… this ship has a horrible insect problem” Tintin agreed.
Chang and Thompson came running. Chang and Thompson had their staff and came poised at the burning spider as they passed it.
“Attention! Attention all personnel! Surround and Capture the intruders!” another voice over the intercom system announced.
“Now what?” Thompson said looking around hoping not to see another spider.
“I hope there are no more spiders!” Tintin began to sweat.
The bay doors opened and crewmen came rushing in.
“Lower your weapons and surrender or your brother is dead Tintin!” the voice announced.

“Don’t worry about me Fenton! Blast them away!” Benton shouted down to him.
“There’s at least thirty of them” Chang counted them as they entered with guns trained on them.
“I don’t want them to hurt my brother” Tintin told Chang digging through his bag pulling out the black comb.
“Tintin now isn’t the time to be combing your hair!” Chang seemed not to understand Tintin’s actions.
“Officer Riley! Officer Jenkins! If you can hear me! Get out now!” Tintin repeated a few times.
“How are we going to get out of this?!” Thompson pressed Tintin.
“Precisely! We can’t allow ourselves to get captured!” Thomson agreed.
Tintin fired another flare into the ceiling blinding everyone entering the room.
“Come on everyone run!” Tintin shouted.
“Bad move Tintin! Bad move!” another voice announced as a shot was fired hitting Benton’s suspended cage.

“Ahhh!” Benton jumped as the bullet hit the bars on one side.
Just as Tintin was about to lead his companions out of the room, a tall man in a general’s uniform wearing shades stood blocking their way. The crewmen around were still recovering from the bright flash.

“I’m afraid I cannot let you leave, shameful that you would abandon your brother” Herr Wagner almost glided across the floor as his crewmen surrounded them with guns trained.
“Who are you anyway?” Tintin demanded.
“You don’t remember do you? Of course you don’t remember…you don’t even remember your own name” Herr Wagner scoffed.
Thompson and Thomson had their backs to Tintin and Chang watching as the crewmen very robotically had their guns trained on them ready to shoot on command. Snowy remained growling with his ears flat at Tintin’s feet.
“It’s him Tintin” Chang whispered.
“It’s really rude to whisper in front of company Mr. Ying…or should I say Chang!” Herr Wagner laughed.
“What do you want with us?” Chang asked.
“Now I can’t be divulging all my secrets in such a place now can I?” Herr Wagner said casually. “You’re prowess is impressive, but unfortunately it won’t be enough to help you” he finished.

“Return my brother and let us off this ship!” Tintin demanded.
“Such manners! I want all of you to follow me” Herr Wagner prompted them. “No more hero game or this time I really will have your brother shot and wouldn’t that be a pity?” Herr Wagner said as the bay doors opened leading them down the hall. He opened a door and motioned for them to go in.
“Now please gentlemen, go in and have a seat…you don’t really have much choice” Herr Wagner smiled.

“You won’t get away with this you fiend!” Thompson said defiantly.
A loud explosion could be heard off in the distance startling everyone.
“It seems your way of escape no longer exists” Herr Wagner gave them a mock frown as they entered a room with a couple of tables and chairs having the door slammed behind them.

“I hope Officer Jenkins and Riley are ok” Tintin shook his head.
“I hope so too” Chang said assessing their situation.
Thomson immediately tried to open the door but it was locked. Thompson and Tintin immediately began inspecting the room when Chang noticed a gas coming in from a couple of holes in the wall.
“It’s gas!” Chang pointed out.

They quickly began trying to find a way out but the gas quickly spread through the room. Both Thompson and Thomson fell victim to the gas passing out on to the floor unconscious.
“It’s sleeping gas!” Tintin realized.
Chang and Tintin tried covering the holes but to no avail, and soon Tintin and Chang were both feeling groggy and were soon on the floor. Snowy barked and nipped his master trying to wake him up but soon Snowy too began to feel light headed and passed out on top of his master.
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#115
Old 08-18-2013, 06:39 AM

Chapter 55 (Part A)


The rest of the night was full of bright flashes of lightning, loud rumbles of thunder, strong gusts of wind, and heavy downpours of rain. The night always seems to play tricks on the imagination if one lets it. The rooms were simple but well lit. The patrolman stayed with his fiancée who worked as the overnight attendant watching for any suspicious activity at Captain Haddock’s request.

Getting out of their wet clothes and into something dry happened shortly after. Everyone was given old linen night gowns to sleep in. After tending to Haddock’s old shipmate’s wounds, everyone had hot tea before retiring to their rooms. Little to no conversing went on between the party members. Yates and Ballard shared a room while Haddock and Lucille’s room were adjoined.

Haddock dedicated his last waking thought hoping wherever Tintin was, that he would be safe. Lucille, like Haddock, reserved her last waking thought to her husband’s and everyone else’s safety. Cocoa slept with her ears perked and one eye open at the foot of Lucille’s bed; however, the sleep they got was plagued with worrisome nightmares.

The next morning Captain Haddock woke thinking he heard his name.

“I’ll do it later…” Haddock mumbled with his head in his pillow.
Another knock sounded at his door and finally he stirred.
“Give me a moment!” Haddock shouted in frustration.
“It’s ten in the morning” Lucille’s voice said outside the door.
“Ten…” Haddock mumbled to his self while lying there for a moment then sat up quickly feeling the sudden anxious feeling which made him get out of bed. He began looking around for his clothes unable to find them.

“Blisterin’ barnacles! What thief came in and stole my clothes!” Haddock cursed out loud.
“Captain! Your clothes!” Lucille said knocking outside his door.
The Captain quickly opened his door standing in his long linen gown to see Lucille holding his freshly pressed clothes on hangers.
“What are you!?—“ Haddock suddenly stopped and realized his clothes were clean and dry.
“I mean…thank you!” he said taking his clothes into his room getting dressed.
Haddock quickly washed his face and came out of his room.
“Good morning Captain” Lucille said bent down petting Cocoa.
“Who dried and cleaned our clothes?” Haddock asked curiously.
“I did, I’ve been up since a quarter before eight. I washed and pressed our clothes” Lucille finished.
“You did?!” Haddock seemed a bit impressed.
“I’m a mother…I’m used to it” Lucille said nonchalantly.

“Are the other two seadogs up yet?” Haddock asked as he straightened his hat and coat.
“I’ve tried with even less success, I’ve been trying to get you up for the past hour” Lucille said calmly.
“I’m sorry Lucille, I didn’t sleep all that well…I’m still tired” Haddock trailed off shaking his head showing a couple more wrinkles and darkness under his eyes.

Lucille could see the worry in his eyes even though he kept up a strong front.
“It’s ok, I am too” Lucille said as they walked over to Yates’ and Ballard’s door. Haddock noted Lucille looked a bit more worn down than usual too.
“Wake up ya lily-livered landlubbers!” Haddock said pounding on their door. First there was no on answer so Haddock continued pounding on their door.
“Go away! We don’t want any!” Ballard’s voice finally responded.
“I’m going downstairs for another cup of tea if you need me” Lucille turned away with Cocoa following.
“Don’t ya make me bust in there ya lazy sea slugs!” Haddock shouted.

A moment later Lucille returned with Ballard’s and Yates’ pressed clothes, “Here, give them these as I assume they’ll be needing them” Lucille disappeared again.
“We’re still sleeping! Go away!” Ballard shouted this time.
“You’ll get yer lazy carcasses out of the bloody bed now! You don’t want me to come in there!” Haddock threatened. Yates could still be heard snoring despite their bantering.
Haddock walked down the hall and found the janitor’s closet taking a bucket out. He returned to his room and filled it up with cold water.
“This is your last chance!” Haddock warned.

“Captain, the desk manager asked me to ask you not to bust the door down, but instead to use the door key” Lucille returned another time handing Haddock a key.
“Um…sure lass” Haddock regarded Lucille curiously as she returned downstairs once again.

“I’m givin’ ya ten minutes to get up!” Haddock warned returning to his room.
He took a few minutes to take inventory of what he had in his bag that the Professor had given him, and it was all still there. Haddock unloaded his gun for the time being leaving one bullet in the third chamber. He gathered the few belongings he didn’t leave behind in Scotland and marched downstairs. Lucille sat in the dining area with only a few tables out by the front near the main door. Haddock quietly sat his belongings down by where she had hers. Cocoa began wagging her tail as Haddock bent down to rub her head.

“How’s my lassie doing today?” he smiled at her.
“She’s a good dog” Lucille complimented.
“Snowy knows how to pick his friends” Haddock laughed.
“So have you figured out where we’re going next?” Lucille suddenly asked shifting back to a serious tone.
“No…I’ve been thinking about that all morning” Haddock hung his head down unsure. “Well I’m sure somebody had to have seen something!” Haddock said almost pouting.
Outside light rain was still falling as the damp cool air permeated from outside slightly fogging up the windows as the fireplace burned.
“Are you sure you don’t know anymore “seadogs” from your travels?” Lucille asked with a slight smile. “What’s that bucket of water for?” she suddenly noticed it sitting on the opposite side of the Captain.
“Oh, that reminds me…I’ll be right back” Haddock almost smiled picking up the bucket returning upstairs.

“I’m not even going to ask…” Lucille said quietly to herself sipping her tea.
“Is he always like this?” the morning shift desk clerk at the inn asked.
“I’ve only known him just under a fortnight” Lucille shrugged.
The young desk clerk regarded Lucille strangely then looked back upstairs not making a connection until a few other guests arrived to check in. The guests looked like a small group of businessmen. They were dressed in long trench coats carrying briefcases. They shook their umbrellas and took off their hats. While Lucille looked up, one of them made eye contact with her and winked giving her the old charming smile routine.

She took out her book to see how badly damaged it was. Surprisingly, it seemed quite resilient with its hard leather back and thick pages which she had hang out in her room to dry before she went to bed. Only on some of the pages the ink was slightly smudged.

“So what brings you gents all the way from Belfast?” the desk clerk asked.
“Sorry young man we’re not at liberty to discuss that” one man said professionally.
“Well, we’re not supposed to talk about it” one man said in a hushed tone.
Lucille was inspecting her book, but suddenly her interest was piqued over hearing the conversation.
“Well I have noticed a lot of police activity today” the desk clerk commented.
“Three separate rooms please” one guy asked as the desk clerk took out a few cards.
“Just fill out the cards” he said handing all of them one.
Each of them waited patiently for his turn with the pen while the others scratched all the information down that was required.
“Are you sure you can’t…give me a hint of what’s going on?” the desk clerk asked.
“Well…” one of them looked at the other two.
“There were two men who washed up ashore on some debris” the reporter said in a low tone.
“Were they alive or dead?” the desk clerk asked.
“They were alive…barely” the reporter replied.
“Where are they now?” the desk clerk asked.

“I imagine they are at the hospital” another reporter shrugged his shoulders.
“What were they doing floating on debris and from what?” the desk clerk pressed.
“We have heard a few rumors but they haven’t been confirmed” one reporter said.
“…and they are?” the desk clerk asked.
Out of nowhere shouts and yelps broke the conversation from upstairs. “Damn you Haddock!” one voice shouted as a few thuds and stomps could be heard.
“He did!” Lucille laughed to herself.

“What was that?” one of the reporters asked.
“One of the guests…they’re leaving shortly” the desk clerk assured.
After another five minutes, Captain Haddock came marching down the stairs and took a seat at the table as the reporters went to their rooms.
“I assume you woke them up?” Lucille smiled.
“Sure did!” Haddock said taking out his pipe and lighting what little tobacco he had left in it.

“Blisterin’ barnacles, this is the last of that good old cherry tobacco Chester’s daughter made” Haddock lamented.
“It’s Monday, I’m sure we can find some tobacco here” Lucille replied.
“I need some tobacco yea, but I’m more concerned how we’re going to continue on...” Haddock’s mood shifted to one of preoccupied.
“I know, we’ve seem to hit a snag in our travel plans” Lucille agreed.
A few minutes later Ballard and Yates staggered down from their rooms begrudgingly joining them at the table.
“Tea anyone?” Lucille offered.
“Yea!” Ballard said with his hair still wet.

“Make that two” Yates replied with a linen bandana wrapped around his head.
“I’ll be right back” she said leaving.
“I’m glad ya finally decided to join us” Haddock said nonchalantly smoking his pipe.
“That was uncalled for Haddock” Yates said in low tone still wringing out his red beard.
“We’ve had a rough night Haddock! The least ya could ‘ave done was let us sleep a bit longer!” Ballard complained.
“Time waits for no man, but you should be thankful that my daughter was kind enough to wash and dry your clothes” Haddock replied.
Lucille came back with a tray after stopping by the desk clerk and asking a couple of questions.

“I lent you me boat and was willin’ ta come with ya all this way, and now I don’t have one! How am I supposed to make a livin’ now?!” Ballard pouted.
“Shhh!” Lucille said putting the tray down as other guests arrived.
“You only have yourself to blame with your reckless behavior… you should be thankful we’re all still alive!” Haddock reminded him.
“What was that ‘thing’ that attacked us last night?” Yates cut in.
“Ya mean it really happened?” Ballard almost immediately clammed up.
“Drink your tea, you’ll feel better” Lucille urged Ballard.

“He is right Haddock, his fault or not, we came out ta help ya” Yates agreed.
“Ya turncoat, you saw how bad off he was” Haddock was getting annoyed.
“Shhh! Please keep it down, we don’t want the guests knowing our business” Lucille reminded them.
“If that’s what you’re worried about, I can buy a better one for practically nothing when we return” Haddock shook his head.
“Wat do ya mean we?!” Yates finally spoke up.
“Well I thought since you don’t have a boat to return…” Haddock was cut off in mid-sentence.

“No! Ya still haven’t answered my question about that ‘thing’! What’s goin’ on Haddock!?” Yates demanded.
“I don’t know what that ‘thing’ was” Haddock admitted.
“It’s a demon! That’s wat it was!” Ballard said.
“Could have been with how strong it was…but somehow I don’t think so…” Lucille disagreed.

“How do ya know missy? You carry book about demons and superstition with ya?!” Ballard said almost accusingly.
“The books I read are none of your business Ballard, but I will say superstition does run in the family” Lucille replied mysteriously.
“At any rate we have no boat to travel with” Haddock said with frustration.
“Even if we did, where would we go?” Lucille asked.
“That’s a good question” Haddock said taking his last puff before putting his pipe out.

“Well, we definitely need another fishing boat” Ballard reminded.
“Yea yea yea! I get it!” Haddock waved him off.
“Actually Captain, I did hear something earlier that may be of interest to us” Lucille finished her tea setting her saucer and cup back on the silver looking tray.
“I’m listenin’” Haddock bent down picking Cocoa up in his lap petting her.
“Two men were recovered near the shore early this morning and are at the hospital” Lucille replied.

“Did you hear who they were?” Haddock’s eyes opened wide giving Lucille his full attention.
“That’s what I just asked the desk clerk who spoke with a group of reporters” Lucille revealed her source.
“Well we’re going straight to the hospital to find out” Haddock said instantly jumping out of his chair.
“We’re not…” Ballard started to protest.
“I don’t care what you two do but I’m going to the hospital” Haddock disregarded them gathering his belongings.
“You heard the Captain, either you’re coming or we say good-bye” Lucille spelled it out for them.
Ballard and Yates looked at each other momentarily and gulped their tea down and followed them out the door.
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#116
Old 08-18-2013, 07:19 AM

Chapter 55 (Part B) end of chapter


When they arrived at the hospital it was still fairly quiet. A couple of police officers were walking out the door too preoccupied with other business to notice the group walking in. A couple of people were waiting in the admissions room to be seen and a receptionist looked busy filling out paper work.
“This could be difficult…we’re not relatives” Lucille whispered to Haddock.
“What do you suggest?” Haddock asked.
Lucille scanned the area and saw a doorway that led to a stairwell and a cart full of linen.

“Hmm…I have an idea but you three best wait outside. Give me about thirty minutes” Lucille whispered.
“Ok, but I’m coming in if you’re not back in thirty minutes” Haddock warned her.
“Fair enough” she said nonchalantly walking over near the cart full of linen. She looked around the area to see if she was being watched. When no one was looking she grabbed and arm full of linen and quickly disappeared into the stairwell. She saw a closet under the stairs and went in.

It was a small room with a laundry-shoot. She searched through the pile of linen until she found a nurse’s skirt and top that would fit her. There were some white leggings which she found as well. Once she was satisfied with what she found, she quickly changed into her nurse’s outfit hiding her own clothes and satchel in a small cubby hole in the room. She left the rest of the linen lying on the floor near the shoot and made her way upstairs a couple of floors.

“You there!” a voice startled her.
“Yes?” Lucille turned around to another nurse dressed a bit differently.
“Why aren’t you wearing your cap?” she asked bit perturbed.
“Um…I lost mine” she answered innocently.
“This way” the other nurse led her down the hall. She opened a door and pulled out a nurse’s hat.

“Don’t lose your hat anymore, and those men they plucked out of the sea need to be checked on” what seemed to be the nurse supervisor replied. Her voice did not have an Irish accent, but one of that of someone just north of London.
“Oh…um, I forgot where there room is” Lucille said afraid she was going to be found out.
“You beginners don’t pay any attention do you?” she said sternly.
“I’m sorry madam” Lucille apologized.
“Seriously young lady, how do you expect to keep your job if you don’t familiarize yourself?” she scolded.
“I’m sorry, it’s just…” Lucille was trying to think of a reason.
“You’re not used to living here in Dublin yet most likely…I know it took me time. Ok I’ll tell you once more. Go down the hall and make two left and it should be the third door on your right, got that?” she pointed her long finger.

“Yes madam” Lucille nodded.
“Good, now carry on” she nodded and disappeared down the opposite end of the hall.
“That was close!” Lucille thought wiping her brow. She didn’t waste any more time and found the two HM Customs guards’ room. She politely knocked on the side of the door.

“Aachhoo! Come in” one replied in a sniffling voice.
Lucille entered seeing them both in hospital gowns. One of them was tucked under his blanket asleep recovering, while the other seemingly lied there sleepless. Their faces looked pale with rosy noses. Lucille had been in the hospital a few times and even though she never worked there, she knew some of the duties a nurse would perform.
“Here to check your vital signs and take your temperature” Lucille tried to sound like a nurse.

“I just want to sleep” the one under the covers mumbled.

“We got to check on how you are so we know what to give you” Lucille said sounding convincing.
Lucille picked up the instruments that were lying on the shelf and began checking their blood pressure.
One of them made an effort to sit up in bed as she took their blood pressure and temperature at the same time.

“Put this under your tongue and keep it there please” Lucille said professionally.
“So that was a real scare both of you suffered” Lucille commented hoping to loosen their tongues.
“Achooo! Scare? What do you know?” one of them said sniffling.
“I heard both of you washed up on the shore early this morning” Lucille said picking up the clipboard at the end of each of their beds.
“ That’s true, but there was something out there…” one said as Lucille wrote down the readings.
“What was out there?” Lucille asked curiously already having an idea of what she
would hear.
“Jenkins, that’s enough…” the other one began sitting up.
“You’re turn now” Lucille said beginning to take Riley’s readings.

“This is classified information young lady” Riley insisted.
“Hmm… let me guess what it was you saw…Lucille said putting the thermometer in Riley’s mouth.
“Mnot a –ord –enkin” Riley mumbled.
“It didn’t happen to be a green scaled creature with claws, bugged out eyes,
claws hands, and webbed feet did it?” Lucille said matter-of-factly.

“-enkins!” Riley’s eyes became wide thinking he had already told her.
“I swear it Riley, I didn’t tell her anything” Jenkins shook his head.
“It stood up like a man too if I’m not mistaken…oh time to take out your thermometer” Lucille checked the temperature and his vital signs filling out the chart.
“Jenkins! *cough*cough” Riley yelled.
“Mr. Riley, I can assure you that Mr. Jenkins here has not told me one word…I’ve seen it myself” Lucille said candidly.
“Impossible, we killed it” Riley blurted out.
“Did you? Or were there more?” Lucille asked.

“You saw it or another one?” Jenkins asked.

“I did, so what happened to the others?” Lucille finally asked.
“Just who are you anyway?” Jenkins finally asked her suspiciously.
“I’m the girl whom you refused passage to when you left Scotland” Lucille revealed herself.
“What are you doing here?! Are you a spy?!” Riley asked getting paranoid.
“No, I want to find my husband, brother, and their friends” Lucille simply answered.
“Well they got on the Sea Serpent, and Tintin radioed us in a nick of time to go get help, but they torpedoed our boat” Jenkins explained.
“You shouldn’t be meddling in business like this girl, aren’t you afraid?” Riley asked her seriously.
“I’m more afraid of losing loved ones” Lucille quickly responded.
“Well you should be afraid” Riley told her.
“So they’re still on the Sea Serpent?” Lucille asked.
“As far as we know” Jenkins nodded.
“Do you know where they were heading?” Lucille asked quickly hearing voices out in the hall.
“Due south but that is all we know” Jenkins concluded.

“I see…”Lucille said taking a moment to take it all in.
“Lunch time!” a young man came rolling a cart with covered trays of food.
“Well gents, I wish you a speedy recovery” Lucille winked as she nodded quickly returning their charts and moving past the lunch man.
“She was in a hurry” the lunch man said trying to get a look at her.

XXXXXXXXXX

“It’s been over thirty minutes” Ballard said impatiently.
“I know, I’m going to go in and look for her” Haddock said when Cocoa began wagging her tail barking as Lucille came running with her satchel and another sack.
“Why are you dressed like a nurse?” Haddock looked at her curiously.
“Don’t ask…I got the information we needed” Lucille smiled.
“…and?” Haddock prompted her to continue.
“Yes, what I heard was true. Those were the HM Customs men that they found. They look traumatized and sick, but I think they’ll live” Lucille paused a moment as they began walking.

“Y’know ya really look nice dressed like that” Yates complimented.
Lucille immediately took out her lavender trench coat and put it on.
“So what about Tintin?! Where’s Tintin?!” Haddock asked anxiously.
“All they said was, Fenton and the others boarded the Sea Serpent. They ran into some unexpected trouble more than likely and Fenton tried to send them away. When they tried to go for help, they blew up their ship with a torpedo” Lucille finished.

“Kind a like what happened ta us?” Ballard said almost sarcastically.
“No! Not like what happened to us, if it was a torpedo that hit us we’d all be dead numbskull!” Haddock snapped a bit.
“So what do ya suggest we do? We got no car, no boat, no nothin’!” Yates spoke up.
“Thunderin’ typhoons! Would ya pipe down and let the lass speak!?” Haddock shook his fist.
“They said the ship was heading due south. We should hurry to the docks and see what all we can find” Lucille suggested.
“I was already thinking the same thing, let’s find a cab. Maybe we may learn something else?” Haddock said bit hopefully.
Captain Haddock and his party members were able to flag down a cab ten minutes later and return to the harbor. When they arrived, the docks were full of police and reporters.

“Looks like they’re collecting debris” Haddock noticed a ship hauling in some wreckage.
“Well at least we know that neither Fenton nor anyone else was on the ship” Lucille smiled.
“It doesn’t give me much more comfort to know they’re on board the Sea Serpent” Haddock said crudely.
“Maybe we could ask one of those cargo ships for passage?” Yates suggested.
“Yea! Dat be easy ta do” Ballard laughed at the notion.
“Captain! That ship over there!” Lucille instantly pointed.
Haddock looked closely unable to see for a moment then a smile crept on his face.
“Why! It’s the Sirius!” Haddock sounded excited.

The sky was still cloudy and the winds still hadn’t completely died down. The rains had lightened up to a drizzle, but still the droplets were cold. The fog had just about completely moved out, and in the far distance, rays of the sunlight were peeking out as if they were rays of hope.
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#117
Old 08-26-2013, 08:56 PM

Chapter 56 (Part A)


Tintin slowly began to wake, but realized as he woke that his location made no sense. His environment was foggy and obscured and could not see much detail. He stood in front of a small closet with clothes in a room with two small twin beds. Why was he here? What happened to the Detectives, Chang, and Snowy?

“Fenton, hurry and finish getting dressed…” Tintin hears a familiar voice which he has not heard in years. Tintin knew that none of this could be right, but nevertheless went along with the events that were somehow triggered.

Tintin is holding his dress coat in his hand with dark dress pants, shirt, and shoes. He puts on his coat and sees the other young boy sleeping in the other bed. All of this seems so familiar that Tintin is almost mesmerized trying to take in everything he is seeing. Even though the general environment still seems foggy and obscure, it’s more defined than he remembers it in his dreams. He looks at his brother and instantly a pang of sadness hits him. Tintin holds up his hand as if to say good-bye.

He walks down the dimly lit hall into the kitchen with a small table for four. A few tin cans and an ornate salt and pepper shaker sit in the middle of a table covered with a yellow cloth. He takes a seat and his mother puts a steaming hot bowl of oatmeal with just a touch of butter in front of him. He picks up his spoon to take a taste, but it’s still too hot for him. His mother pours a little milk to cool it down for him, and he begins to eat.

Tintin wants to ask questions, but something inside him is preventing him from doing so. He looks over to the quaint sink and stove by the kitchen window. His mother has her back turned as she is wearing a long lavender dress that comes almost to her ankles, and her auburn hair is swirled in a bun with some of her hair running free below her shoulder. She seems to be busy preparing breakfast.
His mother turns around, and in detail he sees her hazel eyes and the few freckles on her cheek. Her demeanor appears to be sad as she lays a comforting hand on Tintin’s shoulder.

“Eat your breakfast dear, it will be a long trip…” his mother says to him.
“Where am I going?” Tintin finally was able to overcome the compulsion to remain silent.
“Your father says it’s best for you Fenton dear” his mother says trying not to cry.

“But mother!” Tintin suddenly feels the desire to plead but his mother only
responds with a finger on her lip. At that moment the tea kettle begins whistling loudly, and his mother quickly tries to silence it. His mother pours tea in a pot and brings it to the table, fills Tintin’s tiny teacup, and puts just one lump of sugar.
A few moments later, the other sleeping boy in the room awakens and slowly enters the kitchen. Tintin sees him as the other boy gives him a confused look. What happens next is not exactly how Tintin dreamed it.

“Mom, why is Fenton dressed up? I thought we were on holiday from school?” the boy in the long blue pajamas and sleepy cap says.
“Benton, you’re supposed to still be sleeping” his mother explains softly.
“What’s going on mom?” Benton asks curiously.
His mother puts one hand on her face as she is standing by the sink turned away from him.
“Mother?” Benton persists.
“Your brother is going away…” was all his mother would say.
“I thought…you know, Fenton and I would be kept together if you and dad sent us away…” Benton reasoned.

The sight for Tintin of what was unfolding before his eyes was heart wrenching. This memory was coming back to him bit by bit. It felt odd being in the body of a seven year old child, but having the mind of a twenty-five year old man.
That moment a man, just a couple inches taller than his mother came running in.

He had sandy blond hair and bright blue eyes. He was athletic, but not really robust. His hair was combed and laid sideways with one bang falling over his left brow. He sported a thin mustache and goatee. He was dressed in a pair of brown trousers with suspenders, and a white button up shirt with a light brown puffy hat.
“They’ll be here any minute, I have your suitcase already packed Fenton” the man replied.
“Dad, you promised you would send us together!” Benton protested.

“They wouldn’t take both of you together…I tried” his father said in a defeated tone.
“But you promised!” Benton said a little louder.
A knock at the door was heard shortly after.

“They’re here…come Fenton” his father said somberly.
Tintin got up and followed his father to the front door. A man with gray hair and mustache wearing a black trench coat stood with a black umbrella at the door. Another man with thin dark glasses and blond hair, dressed similar to the other man was there too.

“Professor…it’s a pleasure once again” Tintin’s father said trying to sound welcoming.
“I’m really sorry, we are running behind and don’t have time for chatter, is your son ready?” the gray haired man said with an attitude. His accent was unmistakably German.
“Come on Fenton, get your suitcase” his dad told him.

Tintin looked at both guys as they eyed him with pretentiously with smiles. He suddenly feels sick at his stomach and doesn’t want to go.
“Dad, I-I really don’t want to go…” Tintin tells his father.
“Now son, we’ve discussed this, it’s what’s best for all of us right now” his father said putting both hands on his shoulders.
“We have a wonderful facility with all kinds of…technology that will…fascinate you” the blond haired man said slowly.
“You see Fenton, it’s time we have you utilize your gifts to their fullest extent” his father looked him in the eye.

“Dad! What about me?!” Benton came dashing up behind him.
“We’ll be back for you…” the grey haired man said a bit unnervingly.
“You’re scary!” Benton said looking at the man for a moment. “Both of you!” Benton whispered.
“Enough Benton!” his father scolded him.
“Don’t worry brother, I will write you and mom and dad” Fenton assured his brother.

“It’s ok, most children do not like to be separated from their home” the blond haired man replied almost sarcastically.
“Time grows late, we must be on our way” the gray haired man said grabbing little Tintin by the hand.

Tintin watched as his mother cried silent tears and his father kept Benton from running after them. Tintin suddenly remembered the man’s iron grip on his wrist. As if almost by some static shock, Tintin was suddenly in a place that seemed unfamiliar, yet familiar. The high ceilings in a room full of desks brought a feeling of dread. The room was dark as there were children sitting around him in desks mindlessly watching a film with some kind of propaganda.

Obedience, confidence, and sacrifice were the three main words that kept being repeated. When the film was over, a man in a general’s outfit with a long ruler stood up and began lecturing which Tintin could not seem to hear a word of. A couple minutes later when he stomped his feet, Tintin was walking out of a room in line with the other children. Everyone was walking in a line until someone startled Tintin.

“Fenton!” a familiar whisper suddenly got his attention.
“Benton! What are you doing here?”Tintin suddenly asked seeing his brother in a similar uniform.
“We got to get out of here brother! They’re saying we won’t be able to go home for the upcoming holiday to see mom and dad! Each year they take away more of our privelages…this year everything has changed ” Benton whispered.
“What are you talking about?” Tintin asked truly confused having no prior memory of what was going on that moment.

“They’re asking us lots of questions about our father’s work over and over…and at night…some of the boys have disappeared from the room only to come back later and have no memory of what happened to them” Benton tried to whisper quickly.
Tintin looked shocked at his brother also in a similar uniform. Benton’s hair was disheveled, his clothes looked all wrinkled, and he was sweating with a distraught look on his face. Tintin didn’t know what to say because he was unable to recall the recent happenings during that period of time.

“You there!” a deep voice suddenly said startling Tintin and Benton.
“I want to go home Fenton” Benton pleaded just as a tall blond haired mustached man grabbed him from behind dragging him away.
“That’s the third time you’re not where you’re supposed to be boy!” the tall man said picking up the struggling boy.
“Let me go!” Benton yelled.

“This time you’re going to learn your place boy…and more testing…” Tintin heard the tall man say as he disappeared down the hall with his brother struggling. Tintin wanted to help his brother, but could not.
“Move!” another man shouted out. “Schnell!” the man emphasized.
Tintin caught up with the other boys and suddenly everything once again disappeared and he was in a room with a chair and a light hanging above it.

Tintin, still a young boy in body but adult in mind, began walking around the room exploring the perimeter looking for some clue. A steel door and a glass that appeared to be a mirror were the only things in the room.
“We didn’t say you could get out of that chair boy” a man’s voice said as the door swung open.

Tintin saw the same blond haired man with the mustache and a pair of shades. A couple other dressed looking soldiers came in and stood by the door.
“Sit down!” the man ordered.
Tintin backed up and almost fell over the seat.
“What do you want?” Tintin asked.
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#118
Old 08-26-2013, 09:42 PM

Chapter 56 (Part - B) end of chatper


“I want to know the same thing we’ve asked you every night…where are the cubes!” the man’s mouth being the only expression under the blond mustache he could read.
“I’m sorry sir, I don’t know what you’re talking about” Tintin said sincerely.
The tall man smiled and walked closer quickly grabbing the back of Tintin’s head.
“My patience grows very, very, thin…” he whispered.
“Your brother has been very uncooperative and we’ve had to punish him…if you don’t cooperate, you will be too” the man said tilting Tintin’s head back to look at his covered eyes.

“What is this place?” Tintin finally asked.
“You really try my patience!” the man said grabbing Tintin’s jaw with his other hand.

“I don’t remember anything! Honestly!” Tintin pleaded and his words distorted.
The man let go of him and quickly came around with a backhand knocking him and the chair backward. Everything became dark once again. Tintin was in a stairwell until a steel door was at the bottom. It took all of his strength to open it. Down the dim lit hall were six doors with small sliding windows. Tintin quietly crept down the creepy hallway quietly looking into the rooms. The first two were empty, but the third and fourth rooms were occupied each with a boy his age. When he checked the window of the fifth room, his brother sat on his bed in his pajamas, night cap, and slippers.

“Benton!” Tintin whispered.
“Fenton!” his brother was excited to hear his voice.
“Shh…we’re getting out of here and going home” Tintin whispered pulling a key out of his pocket which what he was doing and saying were now involuntary.
Tintin unlocked the door and mustered all of his strength to pull the door open. Benton came running out.

“We have to get the other two boys out, they’ve been doing horrible things to them as well” Benton said gravely.
Tintin quickly unlocked the other two doors freeing the other boys.
“Where are we going?” one of the boys asked anxiously.
“We’re getting out of here” Benton said.
“I want to go home” the other boy cried.
“Don’t worry, my brother and I discovered a secret exit, follow us” Benton said as he and Tintin led the others back to the stairwell opening up an air vent.
“That’s scary down there” one of the boys commented.
“It’s scarier here, now go!” Benton whispered.

The four boys went in the air duct system as Tintin closed the grate behind them. Shortly after, sirens began sounding and the memory began to fade once again.
This time Tintin was on a train in a compartment with his brother and two other boys sitting across from them with the shades drawn shut. The scene was only momentary and changed once again, and they were in a dark shadowy forest with a full moon shining its luminescent light through the canopy.

“I hope the other two are able to find their way” Benton replied as they moved.
“Do you remember how much further it is?” Tintin asked.
“Shouldn’t be too far aheead, our safe place is nearby which means we should be no more than a half hour’s hike away” Benton explained.

The forest looked creepy at night. It felt as if there were a thousand eyes watching the two of them. Night owls were hooting and distant howls could be heard. Tintin had part of a broken branch in his hand like his brother as they moved through briars and brush when they couldn’t find a suitable path. They both walked quietly not speaking for a couple minutes until Tintin could hear voices off in the distance.

“Shh…don’t move” Tintin warned his brother.
After a minute of not moving and listening intently, Tintin could hear the unmistakable German language being spoken.
“They’ve found us!” Benton gasped quietly.
“Come on, we have to run!” Tintin prompted his brother.
They dashed through the woods occasionally receiving a scratch form the passing briars. Tintin turned around to look and listen again.
"Come on, they'll find us, we got to keep moving!" He looked anxiously around. Tintin could hear dogs and the men's voices now.

"They're coming!" the Benton cried. Tintin kept up as quickly as he could. The briars were cutting up his face, hands, and Sunday looking jacket and the pajamas the boy leading him was wearing were getting small tares and rips all over. "They won't find our safe place, we just got to make it there!" the Benton gasped for air as they kept running.

A strong feeling of fear and anxiety overwhelmed his senses. All he knew was that it wouldn't be good if he and his brother were to get caught. Suddenly the ground gave way and they both fell into an old sink hole. They both hit the bottom with a hard thud. "We got to climb out of here before they find us!" the boy said climbing roots and vines sticking out of the ground.

Tintin followed his same route climbing out of the hole desperately trying to keep up with his brother. When he got out he saw two men and one had his brother struggling to get free with one hand over his mouth. "We're not going to hurt you boy" one man said walking closer to him. This time Tintin could see the man’s face. It was the man with the blond hair and mustache. The other boy bit the other guy's hand, "Run brother! Run! Don't let them get you!" he screamed. Tintin turned to run but almost fell back into the sink hole.

“Run if you like, but you won’t escape!” the blond haired man laughed taking off his shades.
Tintin looked back as he saw his brother able to wiggle his way free and disappear through a thicket.
“Get them!” the blond haired man said setting the two dogs loose.
Tintin was running as fast as his little feet could carry him. He wanted to rejoin his brother, but that option didn’t seem available at the moment. This time the fogginess of the surroundings was not present and he could see many different paths he could take to evade.

"Get back here you little rat!" the man shouted.
He could hear a dog barking ferociously several yards behind him. Tintin's small body allowed him to go and craw through places which the man pursuing him could not access so easily. It was almost as if he knew these woods. Faster and more nimble, his feet carried him as he went through patches of brush. The dog had problems burrowing through. The dog seemed to be further behind than the man. Tintin noticed a small clearing up ahead as there were a few large trees sitting in a semi-circle. He quickly climbed up one of the large trees finding a small hallow just big enough for him to get in and hide as the heavy foliage seemed to block most of the view from below.

It wasn't much longer afterwards the man and the dog arrived in the small clearing.
"Find him!" he ordered the dog. Tintin could not see as he was crouched in the hollow.
"You stupid dog! Find him!" the man shouted with much frustration. After a couple of moments of searching the area frantically, he heard the dog and the man scamper off.

He began to try to climb down the tree but his foot got caught between two strong twigs on one of the branches. He frantically reached for another branch to grab onto but missed. He began falling but fortunately was able to grab another branch and swing down onto the ground.

Tintin listened and went the opposite direction of the barking and the voices. The full moon was shining illuminating a familiar path that somehow he seemed to know. Suddenly he heard a sudden rush of movement not far behind him and as soon as he turned around someone bumped right into him.
"Fenton!" a young boy's voice whispered.

"Brother? How did you escape?!" Tintin whispered back.
"Yes it's me…no time to lose we must get back to our safe place" his brother told him.
Tintin had no idea exactly what would happen next so he followed his brother wearing a long night shirt and slippers through the woods. His brother seemed to know where they were going. They finally found a small hill where a set of ruins were in the middle of the forest. It looked as if it were the remains of some old tower outpost from days gone by. There were old vines and many trees secluding its presence. The walls of the tower were no higher than eight feet around in some places where it still stood. The grey stones were riddled with cracks and covered with vines and the full moon gave it an eerie glow through the tall trees. Thickets, vines, and brush seem to mask them to those who weren’t looking for them specifically.

"Where are we now brother?" Tintin asked.

"Help me move these branches and bushes" his brother instructed.
Tintin helped him shuffle things around until an old wooden trap door was found. Benton pulled some of the branches back on top of the trap door taking the padlock that lied on top and locked it securely once they were inside.
"What is this place?" Tintin asked curiously.

"Don't be silly brother, it's our safe place remember?" his brother whispered.
"No I don't remember anything brother" Tintin said sadly.
There was a narrow stairway that went down a couple of flights and it was completely dark.
"Benton, I can't see anything" Tintin whispered.
"Hold on to my shirt, I remember the path in my sleep" he whispered back.
Benton led him through a series of twist and turn until they both saw a luminous blue light up ahead.
"What is that?!" Tintin exclaimed.
"That's why those horrible men are after us Fenton" his brother said leading him into a circular room where a cubed dark stone with bright glowing blue sigils were illuminating the room.

"Brother what is this glowing stone?" Tintin asked.
"Don't you already know that brother? Those men didn't do stuff to you already did they?" Benton gasped.
"I don't know… I don't remember any of this" Tintin lamented.
"It doesn't matter; no one will get us here, not even the man with the evil eye. We're safe here…this is our safe place brother, don't forget it!" Benton said in the bright illuminating blue light.
“Benton! Fenton!” a woman’s voice could be heard echoing through the hidden underground ruins.

“It’s mom?” Tintin looked a bit confused.
“…but she doesn’t have a key, I took the padlock and locked it from the inside” Benton said just as confused.
The young looking woman with a long lavender dress and auburn hair became visible in the flowing blue light.
“Mom! What are you doing here!? Where’s dad?!” Benton ran to her.
“He’s getting help” she answered with concern.
“How did you find us?” Benton asked with amazement.

“You’re father told me where to find you” she answered quickly.
Tintin looked at her and something just didn’t seem right.
“More importantly, how did you get in?” Tintin began his line of questioning.
“That’s not important…tell me what direction you got here from the house” his mother asked.

“You found the place, so why are you asking us now?” Tintin asked suspiciously.
“Brother! Don’t talk to our mom like that!” Benton seemed a bit shocked by his brother’s sudden suspicious attitude.
“Because, she’s not our mother” Tintin declared.
“How can you say that?!” Benton was flabbergasted.
“What’s our father’s name then?” Tintin asked.
“Why Tintin…I mean Fenton, I don’t think this is the time or place. You should just tell me how to get here from the house so I can bring your father here” she explained a bit hesitantly.

“Wait a minute! You’ve never called Fenton by that name before!” Benton said a bit shocked looking back at his mother.
Within a moment, the disguise melted away revealing a long black haired lady with piercing green eyes. She wore a long black dress that came down to her ankles.
“If you know what is good you will tell us how to find this place” the woman’s voice changed.

“We won’t tell you anything!” Tintin said defiantly.
Everything melted away and a bright light was turned on and both Tintin and Benton woke up strapped to a cot in a dark room. Their arms and legs were restrained and the woman who appeared to them in their dream state was sitting between them waking from her state of subconscious as well.
“That was not a very bright move for you to make Tintin” Allan commented lighting up a cigarette.
“You will tell us where that cube is” Rastapopoulos said sternly.
“We will tell you nothing!” Benton spat.
“On the contrary, the more time it takes for us to dig it out of your altered memories, the more time your friends will suffer” Herr Wagner said quietly seated behind an altar that Tintin could barely see when he could turn his head to his left.

“The Detectives! Chang! Snowy!” Tintin exclaimed.
“Yes, I assure you, that all of them are not having a pleasant time with our person in charge of the torturing…” Herr Wagner said quietly.
“What did you do with those Asian girls!” Benton demanded.
“They are with him as well” Herr Wagner yawned.
“Asian girls?” Tintin turned his head to look at his brother.
“Yes, these perverts abduct young ladies for their sickly pleasures” Benton blurted out.

“We’re not the perverts, that’s Gaspar you want!” Lento quickly corrected.
Tintin or Benton could not see everyone who was talking.
“Gaspar is here!” Tintin gasped.
“Which color was the cube my lady” Herr Wagner asked.
“It was the blue one” Lady Ravena confirmed.
“Great job, but we’ll save that conversation for later we have an idea where another cube may be located” Herr Wagner said confidently.
“What do you need these cubes for anyways?” Tintin suddenly demanded to know.

“We will tell you when you tell us what you did with the corner of the yellow cube” Herr Wagner offered as everyone else watched in silence.
“We gave it to the other two whom you murdered on our boat” Tintin said accusingly.
“Hmm…how do we know he’s not lying” Rastapopoulos interjected.
“He didn’t have it on him nor did the others when we searched them” Allan confirmed.

“So you had a cube as well?” Benton turned to look at his brother.
“No, someone else close to me had it. I had no knowledge of its existence. The cube wasn’t whole when they stole it, I discovered the last piece in the market back home” Tintin mentioned.
“All of that is true…I was there” Dr. Mueller nodded.
“So are you going to tell us why you need these strange stones?!” Benton asked sarcastically.

“You’d do well to tone your attitude down, you’ll only make it more difficult for your friends” Herr Wagner warned ominously.
“What are you doing to them?!” Tintin asked with great concern.
“You two should concern yourself with digging in those mind altered memories of yours and tell me where this blue cube can be found; and to answer your question, maybe you should ask your mother and father what they are used for” Herr Wagner said evoking laughter out of everyone in the room.
“My mother and father?!” Tintin suddenly tried to lift his head.

“Where are they?! Are they alive?!” Tintin asked with a burning desire to know. Benton too was trying to look.
The more this situation went on, the more intriguing and dangerous it became. The prospect of Tintin possibly finding his mother and father only made his desire to escape even stronger. Some of the memories that had been blocked for years were finally coming back to Tintin and Benton. Time that seemed to have been stolen from them was beginning to seep back as the present situation, key words, and the invasive dream probing were filling in missing pieces of a giant jigsaw puzzle that had been scrambled for so many years.
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#119
Old 09-15-2013, 03:17 AM

Chapter 57 (Part A)


Snowy was in a light sleep, but for how long he wasn’t sure. Snowy could see Tintin, the Detectives, and Chang were on the floor in a deep sleep. Snowy began licking his master’s face trying to wake him.

“Come on Tintin wake up!” Snowy barked.

He ran over to Chang and the Detectives trying to wake them, but it was futile. Snowy kept running back and forth to them licking and barking until finally he heard loud footsteps and voices coming from outside the door. Quickly he began scanning the room for anywhere to hide. He looked under a table or a chair, but those places were not concealed enough to hide him from view.

Just as the door knob began to turn Snowy spotted a small ventilation hole in the corner of the room just obscured from view. Snowy knew it was now or never, so he ran and was barely able to fit into the ventilation shaft. As soon as he went in, the surface was oddly slippery and he went sliding as if on a sliding board. Snowy frantically tried to gain traction with his paws but slipped on his back until he came to a stop almost thirty seconds later where there was scarcely any light.

The air was cool and damp, but luckily with Snowy’s canine eyes, he was able to see further ahead. He kept crawling through the ventilation shaft until a few more yards ahead it finally began to widen.

Snowy was able to move slowly standing on all fours. Several yards ahead he detected a horrible stench that smelt like fish and something rotting. The scent was overwhelming as he tried to look through the almost completely dark grate, but could see outlines of crates and bags. Not wanting to linger, Snowy moved as quickly as he could away from the bigger vent not wanting to have his sense of smell overtaken.

Snowy finally moved several more yards ahead and noticed the vent branched off in different directions, so Snowy decided to stop and listen. He could hear the sound of something slimy sloshing around from another grate up ahead. The smell wasn’t as bad as the previous grate, but it wasn’t one Snowy cared to continuously sniff.

When he looked he could see a table with some caged rats. One cage particularly caught his attention. There was a cage with four rats, and three of them were on the opposite side of the cage as the forth rat was lying on its side as its chest seemed to be heaving up and down furiously. The other rats were squeaking as if they were frightened clawing the side of the cage trying to get out. Snowy cocked his head not quite understanding what was going on until the other rat began having violent spasms. A splash of blood and a tentacle flew out of the rat’s chest. The other rats were squealing loudly trying desperately to escape their cage.

The rat with the tentacle from its chest now was snaking almost half the length of the three and half feet cage. It still seemed to be somewhat coherent but was behaving much more violently as it slowly began to go after the other rats. Its tentacle lashed out as it crawled closer to them causing them to scatter in different directions hoping to stay out of the tentacle’s reach, until finally it caught one of them and snapped its neck. Snowy quickly moved on a bit disturbed wishing he wouldn’t have observed.

Wanting to go back to check on his master, Snowy began to back track his steps. After he returned to the area where the ventilation shaft began to get smaller he could sniff a familiar smoke. It was too dark to see it, but he knew that it was meant for him. Unable to try to decide what he should be doing Snowy continued
exploring cautiously hoping to find his master or his companions.

When he returned back to the area of the ventilation shaft where it broke off a few different ways, Snowy had a hard time trying to decide which way to go. Snowy stood quietly sniffing the air in each of the four directions. Snowy couldn’t get any distinctive scent or sound coming from any of the shafts.

“Now what would Tintin do in a situation like this?” Snowy thought.

Snowy sat down and waited for some scent or sign for the next fifteen minutes until he heard something unusual behind him. Snowy’s ears perked up, and he could hear scurrying echoing on the shaft behind. Snowy thought carefully not perfectly sure what was coming from behind so he quietly moved ten yards down the shaft to the left and urinated. When he was satisfied he’d left his mark, he quietly and quickly made his way down the right shaft. His canine senses were telling him to keep moving.

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#120
Old 09-15-2013, 03:36 AM

Chapter 57 (Part - B)


Thompson finally began to stir as he felt the chilly air in the room cause him to shiver awake. He realized he had his arms tied behind his back and his legs bound. Thompson was still struggling to wake up still feeling the effects of the sleeping gas. He could see frost covered boxes of food and hanging hams and beef swinging on meat hooks.

"Thomson!" Thompson whispered able to see his own breath in the air.

"Thomson!" Thompson spoke up as he struggled to sit up.

There was no response, the room was dimly lit only in the back. Thompson began to worm his way toward the light. The cooler was fairly big, and there were barrels of different foods blocking his way, so he had to crawl around them.

"Thomson! Do you mind giving me hand!?" Thompson said half agitated and half hopefully.

After almost ten minutes of squirming around he was able to get through a plastic covering that protected the back which was the walk-in freezer. Thompson stopped for a moment to catch his breath and looked up. The back area was noticeably colder than the front.

"Thomson! I do declare this is...!" Thompson stopped in his tracks after getting and eye full.

"Yikes!" Thompson recoiled back as far as the rope binding him would let him.

There were three dead bodies slumped sitting against the wall with their heads looking do the ground. Thompson had seen things like this in his career, but this situation was a bit unique for him. He quickly mustered all of his energy and began wiggling his way quickly back to the unlit front of the freezer with only the plastic covering separating them from the back.

Once the fear had passed Thompson began trying to use what light there was to find some sharp object to try to cut his ropes. Jars, boxes, and other perishable items were the only things Thompson could find. He saw the door and decided to try to see if it was open. He pushed on the handle, but it would not budge.

"Oh dear... what a pickle we've landed ourselves into..." Thompson lamented.

"What will become of Tintin and his brother, Chang, Snowy, and Thomson..." Thompson sniffled but ended up sneezing.

It was only a few minutes later the door swung open and a big guy came in grunting to himself.

"Ok mustache brain! I believe you're needed!" a gruff voice responded as he shined a light on Thompson.

"I'm afraid I can't walk..." Thompson answered honestly.

"...and they say you're Interpol agents?! Pwsha!" the man said grudgingly picking Thompson off the ground carrying him out slamming the cooler door behind him.

"Where are you taking me? And what have you done to my friends?" Thompson asked almost afraid to hear the answer.

"Hmph! You'll find out! Hehehe!" he laughed as they exited the galley.

"Do you realize you have corpses in your freezer?!" Thompson mentioned.

"Nevermind that...you'll be joining them soon, now shut your mouth!" the big man replied.

Another five minutes of being dragged around in a the corridors occasionally bumping his head on some of the sharper corners.

"If you don't mind...please watch those corners!" Thompson pleaded.

"Shut yer mouth, I aint going to ask you again!" the buffed man warned.

Finally he kicked open a door and threw Thompson on the floor.

"Do be careful with these gentleman Gaspar, they are agents of Interpol after all..." the Fakir looked distastefully at him.

"Yea! That's MY point exactly! They're the enemy!" Gaspar shook his fist.

"Thompson!" a familiar voice gasped.

Thompson curled up in pain from suddenly being thrown on the floor, but was able to turn around and look up. It was Thomson.

"I don't just see why we don't just... kill 'em!" Gaspar smiled with a smug look on his face.

"As I said Gaspar, they are agents of Interpol, and probably know classified information just as Dr. Mueller has requested for us to get out of them. Please set him up on the chair" the Fakir explained carefully.

Gaspar yanked Thompson up and placed him firmly on the seat.

"Now you listen up mustache brained brothers! If you try anything funny, don't think I won't pulverize ya!" Gaspar said grabbing both of them by the throat.

Both were intimidated, but relieved at the same time seeing each other alive.

"So where are the others Fakir?" Gaspar walked over to the porthole looking out.

"They are busy with the brothers... but they are not our concern, let's focus on the task given to us" the Fakir said calmly.

"Who are they talking about?" Thompson whispered as the Fakir and Gaspar moved to the opposite side of the room.

"Can't be us?" Thomson shrugged his shoulder also tied up in the same fashion as his partner.

"What makes you so sure?" Thompson asked quietly with his eyes darting back and forth to Gaspar and Fakir who both had their backs to them at the moment.

"We're not brothers" Thomson shook his head quietly.

"True, but they don't know that" Thompson pointed out quickly lowering his voice as they approached them.

"So Detectives Thompson and Thomson, why are you here?" the Fakir took a seat behind a table.

"We're here to sa-" Thomson was about to say but was cut off by Thompson.

"Don't tell him anything" Thompson told him.

"What did I tell you!?" Gaspar jumped in front of him backhanding Thompson across the face causing his nose to bleed. Thompson's eyes were watering from the pressure as well.

"You're going to shut that damned mouth or I really will give you something to cry about!" Gaspar said in a hushed tone pulling Thompson back up from falling back.

"You! Leave him alone!" Thomson said defiantly.

Gaspar immediately turned his attention back to Thomson grabbing him by the throat choking him.

"You want to die now or later?!" Gaspar simply said.

"Please don't hurt him anymore" Thompson pleaded unable to move.

"Shut up!" Gaspar stopped and gave him a look of disgust.

"Please answer the question" the Fakir replied again.

"Could you-*cough cough*- repeat it again please?" Thomson asked gasping and coughing.

"Why were you following us?" the Fakir reworded his question.

"Um...uh...uh" Thompson began to think nervously as Gaspar stood with his fist ready to pummel their faces.

"We had heard...this ship...was had interests of the...All Seeing Eye" Thomson gasped trying to quickly get out.

"See, that wasn't so hard was it?" the Fakir smiled.

"It's all what a little bit of persuasion will do!" Gaspar laughed stomping his feet intimidating both the Detectives.

"So what makes you think we have any association with The All Seeing Eye?" the Fakir continued.

"Well... to be precise..." Thomson said slowly breathing a bit labored.

"we were told that..." Thompson continued.

"You two are really annoying the Hell out of me! Only one of you need to answer at a time! Or do I need to give both of you more persuasion!" Gaspar shook his fists menacingly.

"Yikes!" both Detective were quaking in their seats at the prospect of being beaten more.

"This clearly is not going to work!" the Fakir shook his head disapprovingly.

"What do you mean!?" Gaspar turned around giving the Fakir a confused yet annoyed glance.

"I may not care for the Detectives, but they cannot respond properly with the likes of you terrifying them. We will be interrogating them the all day and all night!" the Fakir explained.

"Well what do you suggest we do rag head!?" Gaspar said insultingly.

"We'll do things my way..." the Fakir said condescendingly ignoring the blatant insult.

"You try any of that hypnotical shit on me and I'll make sure you meet the same fate as these two worthless Interpol agents" Gaspar threatened.

"My hypnotism doesn't work on everyone or have you forgotten the sweep we made?" the Fakir reminded Gaspar.

Thompson slowly made the connection about the people he found in the freezer. Most likely people who were unable to be under hypnotic suggestion.

"Fair enough!" Gaspar warned.

"Now put on this mask and make sure the Detectives pay attention to my gaze" the Fakir said handing Gaspar a bird beaked mask without eyes.

Gaspar put the mask on and walked behind the Detectives turning their heads forward forcing them to gaze into the Fakir's eyes.

"Look into my eyes... you are getting sleepy..." the Fakir said calmly.

"Don't look into his eyes!" Thompson said.

"We can do it this way Detectives, or I let Gaspar do it his way...your choice" the Fakir folded his arms.

"Now...where were we?" The Fakir smiled as Gaspar hardened his grip on each of the Detectives.

Slowly, they both fell into a light sleep only aware of the Fakir's presence listening to his suggestions.

"You will answer all of my questions" the Fakir replied.

"Yes sir" both Detectives replied in unison.

Gaspar thought how dangerous the Fakir could be and made note that should things ever go awry between them not to look into his eyes or listen to anything he had to say.
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#121
Old 09-15-2013, 04:05 AM

Chapter 57 (Part - C) end of chapter


Down lower on the ship Chang was shackled by his hands and feet to a wall. He lied on top of blanket as the chains allowed him enough slack to lie down. Chang was dreaming as they placed him there. He dreamed about being home again back in Shanghai with his family being a kid again. His father smiling warmly at him as his mother rubbed his head in her lap. Didi bringing a tray of tea. The feeling was very comforting. Chang also began to realize just how much he was missing his family during all of this.

"Chang dear, you must wake..." his mother whispered.

"Wake up..." his mother said again.

Chang shook his head and slowly began to open his eyes in the almost completely dark room.

"Wake up...please!" a whisper pleaded in his native language.

Chang was suddenly shocked there was someone from his native land and soon realized he partially achieved his objective.

"Please, don't leave us!" another voice sobbed.

Chang slowly began to sit up trying to get himself oriented in his present environment. It was still dark and only a sliver of gold light filtered through the cracks allowing only minor details to be seen. Chang was still wondering if he was still dreaming since people were speaking his native language.

"Wake up!" the whisper said a bit louder.

Chang shook his head and looked carefully on the other side.

"Oh! Is your last name Lam?" Chang asked.

For a moment the voice was silent, then some shifting could be heard on the other side of the room.

"The other girl says her last name is in fact Lam. You are Chinese too! I'm so glad someone can actually understand me now" the older girl almost sobbed.

"Why are you here?" the older girl asked.

"I was sent by her mother to find and bring her home...I promised" Chang
whispered.

"I didn't realize she came from a rich family..." the older girl sighed.

"I don't think she necessarily comes from a rich family" Chang nodded.

"Oh, I don't know if we will ever get off this ship alive Mr." the older girl paused for a moment.

"I'm Chang" he said leaning his back against the wall.

"I am Yan, and this is Ling" the older girl replied.

"How long have you been captive?" Chang asked.

"I have been a prisoner for over two months. Ling arrived a month ago...I am not sure if I am correct but it has been so long and so much has happened" Yan replied.

"Take heart Yan, Ling, we will escape" Chang said cheerfully.

"Don't make promises you cannot keep Chang, many have tried to save us and met a horrible end, and both of us suffer greatly from..." Yan began sobbing some.

"I will keep this promise, I promised her mother, and I will save you too" Chang said with a conviction.

"...I want to believe you Chang" Yan was sniffling.

"Are you chained up too?" Chang asked checking his wrists and ankles.

"Yes, our wrists are bound in shackles which chains us to the wall" Yan answered.

"...how is...my mom?" Ling finally spoke up but softly.

"Your mother is worried about you, and I promised her that you two will see each other again" Chang said boldly.

"...mom" Ling was crying.

"You came alone thinking you would be successful?" Yan asked Chang a bit cynically.

"No, three of my companions have also been captured, I must save them too" Chang nodded.

"How are you going to save all of us? Please tell us how?!" Yan said even more skeptical.

"I will find a way" Chang whispered.

"Everybody tries and everybody fails!" Yan whispered loudly across the room.

"My friend Tintin is brave, if I cannot do it, then he will" Chang said with much faith.

"It's easy for you to say so, you haven't been locked up for months and abused in every way...I'm sorry..." Yan hung her head down.

"I'm sorry for both of you having to go through such an ordeal" Chang waved his hand with the chains slightly clanking as he moved.

"Were there others?" Chang asked.

"...yes, there were three others when I was taken from Taiwan. One was a girl from India, one was from Malaysia, and the third was from somewhere in North Africa" she paused to reflect on her own situation.

"What happened?" Chang prompted her to continue.

"I don't know what fate became of them, maybe that horrible man sold them or worse..." Yan finished.

The three of them fell into silence only to be disturbed by heavy boots hitting the floor outside. Chang could see the girls almost instantly huddle together. Chang stood up in a defensive position, but didn't have much slack to move around which his shackles were chained to. The door handle started to turn until a voice interrupted the sound.

"You have a message to meet the boss on the sixth deck in one of the conference rooms sir" one of the crewmen replied.

"Is that a fact?" the gruff sounding voice replied confidently.

"I was hoping to have some time to play with my new prisoner" the man almost laughed.

"The message seemed pretty urgent sir" the crewmen nodded.

The handle turned back the other way, "That aint no fun, now what do they want!?" the gruff voice growled in agitation.

"What's he saying?" Yan asked Chang while huddling next to Ling.

"He's being called off somewhere else, so we have been spared for now" Chang translated.

"You just don't know what we've endured" Yan sighed in relief.

"Who is this guy?" Chang asked.

"His men call him "sir" or "Gaspar" I've heard..." Yan answered.

"Gaspar!" Chang gasped remembering what had happened on the Sirius.

"You know him?" Yan asked almost incredulously.

"I just know he is a very evil man" Chang said.

"You don't even know the half of it" Yan sighed.

Chang tried to look at his shackles trying to look at their mechanism. The chains seemed firmly attached to the walls. Chang began feeling on the floor for any kind of item that could be used to pick the lock on his shackles. He only could find some straw, splinters, and dust. Chang looked up above but couldn't too much.

"...will he disappear too?" Ling whispered to Yan as Chang thoughtfully tried fo figure a way to get out of his shackles.

"...I don't know, the fate of the last man was most likely a certain death...don't get your hopes up too high" Yan warned.
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#122
Old 09-23-2013, 07:52 PM

Chapter 58 (Part - A)



In the meantime, the Sirius is docked in Dublin unloading cargo for its first stop. Captain Chester is busy checking off everything that they are supposed to unload is unloaded. The crew is in full swing doing their duties while a couple crewmen run into town to pick up a couple of mechanical parts. Professor Calculus finishes his lunch and steps outside to see the cranes, the crew, and Captain Chester carefully unloading cargo onto the dock.

The weather is nice as the clouds are clearing away from the storm the other night. He walks up to Captain Chester who barely even notices he’s standing next to him. The Professor sees a couple of boats recovering some debris which slightly alarms him.

“A little higher!” Chester shouts out as he looks up from a clipboard with a pencil in his hand.
“Excuse me Captain…” the Professor politely interrupts.
“What is it Professor?” Chester asks looking back down at his clipboard as the crane successfully lowers a huge crate onto the docks.
“I think I’m going to take a quick stroll into town, it’s a really nice day” Calculus says taking a sniff of sea air.
“Crate number three hundred forty-eight!” Chester looks up and shouts to the man running the crane.
“Don’t be gone too long Professor, I don’t plan on being here long…” he pauses tallying up how many more crates that need to be unloaded.
“I won’t, I just would like to get off the boat for a bit and find out why so many officers are around” the Professor explained.

“Fine, but don’t stick your nose in business it doesn’t belong in and don’t be gone too long. I plan on raising anchor in two hours with or without you” Chester replied.
“Very well, I’ll see you when I return” Calculus nods as he makes his way down the gangway.
“Be careful!” Chester warns.

The Professor gets almost to the bottom of the gangway but manages to trip down the rest of the way. Chester rushes over looking down as Calculus is straightening his glasses.
“Are you alright? I told you to be careful!” Chester scolded.
“Sorry… I must be intoxicated with the wonderful weather” the Professor said dusting himself off.
“Remind me not to give you anything to drink…” Chester rubbed his forehead returning back to his work.

The Professor saw an officer standing in the docks keeping people moving along.
“Good morning officer, was there anyone on that boat?” the Professor asks curiously.
“No bodies have been recovered if that’s what you’re askin’ now move along…” the officer waved him away.
The Professor sighed in relief hoping whoever was on the boat survived. He slowly made his way into town.

XXXXXXXXX

The sun began peeking out from behind the clouds as a warm breeze brought the smell of the fresh sea air. Captain Haddock couldn’t believe it, for a moment he was just about to share with Lucille and her sudden mirth; but was quick to reel back in his new found joy. Ballard and Yates were indifferent to Lucille’s sudden outburst. Cocoa stood next to Captain Haddock with a confused look on her face. The Sirius was in the middle of unloading cargo.

“Captain Chester may help us” Lucille started to run towards the Sirius.
“Woah! Hold your horses lass! We can’t just march on the Sirius and expect Chester to just drop what he’s doin’!” Haddock said grabbing Lucille before she could get a step away.

“What else are we going to do?” Lucille turned to him defensively folding her arms.
“Blisterin’ Barnacles lass! You know the reason!” Haddock said with frustration.
“Do you want to save Fenton?” Lucille asked throwing her hands up.
“Of course I do but I just can’t expect Chester to help me after…” Haddock turned around walking back the other way.

“Listen! What happened to Enzo was not your fault! I thought Fenton and I had convinced you” Lucille began following him.
“Well ya didn’t!” Haddock turned to her abruptly.
“Do ya always row with yer daughter?” Yates butted in.
“She ain’t…” Haddock stopped himself putting a hand up.
“She ain’t what?” Yates asked as Ballard watched quietly.
“She ain’t… right about the situation!” Haddock quickly backpedaled.
“What situation?” Yates threw his arms out hitting someone walking up from the dockside by him.

“Oooff! Please watch where you’re going sir!” an irritated older gentleman said.
“Cuthbert!?” Haddock suddenly noticed the Professor.
“Captain! My word! What luck!” the Professor ran up to him giving a hug.
“Yea, yea, yea, what are you doing here?” Haddock said awkwardly patting him on the back.
“Whose this ole man?” Ballard demanded.
“An ole friend…” Haddock quickly answered.
“Wait a minute! I saw you at the Bed and Breakfast!” Lucille exclaimed.

“That’s true, and I recognize that dog and thought of Snowy” Calculus agreed.
“Cuthbert, you saw Cocoa when we brought her home?” Haddock asked.
“I did, but my mind has been on so many different things Captain” Calculus explained.
“So tell us what you’re doing here” Haddock repeated his question.
“Well I came with Captain Chester in hopes that I would find you and Tintin” the Professor looked back over to the Sirius.
“Well isn’t Chester in the middle of a job?” Haddock asked a bit confused.
“Yes he is, but where’s Tintin?” the Professor asked noticing Tintin’s absence.
“We didn’t find him…” Haddock said with much disappointment in his voice.

“That wasn’t your ship that looked like it had been blown up was it?” Calculus asked a bit concerned.
“No, it was a couple of HM Customs men who accompanied Tintin, the Detectives, Snowy, and Chang this way” Haddock explained.
“Well where’s your ship?” the Professor continued his barrage of questions.
“She’s sunken down below” Ballard spoke up spitting on the ground.
“Wha-?” the Professor started but was cut off by the Captain.
“Don’t ask, we’re all fine” Haddock straightened his hat.

“We only found the two HM Customs guards at the hospital, Fenton…or Tintin and the others boarded the Sea Serpent and that’s the last we’ve heard anything about them” Lucille explained.
“This is most distressing…” the Professor stood quietly for a moment pondering the present situation.
“What now Captain?” Yates asked.
Haddock took out his pipe and small pouch of tobacco quietly giving the situation some thought. Ballard, Lucille, and Cocoa regarded both the Captain and the Professor carefully.

“Captain, take me to see the guardsmen who accompanied Tintin, I need to make sure they aren’t infected” the Professor spoke up after a couple minutes.
“I can’t Cuthbert, we had to sneak in earlier to see them” Haddock objected.
“Then we’ll do whatever we have to do, it is absolutely imperative that I go and see them” the Professor insisted.
“Thunderin’ typhoons Cuthbert! Do you not have your hearing aid on? What makes you think they’ll let you in?” Haddock argued.

“Let me deal with it…” Lucille finally spoke up.
“Both of you are going to get in a world of trouble, then what?” Haddock lit his pipe shaking his head.
“I only have a couple of hours. Will you take me to the hospital?” Cuthbert asked Lucille.

“It’s Lucille, and we can try” Lucille shrugged her shoulder looking at Haddock helplessly already seeing the determination in the Professor’s eyes.
“Fine…” Haddock exhaled a plume of smoke.
“We should probably get a cab” Lucille suggested.
“Good thinking young lady. Then let’s be off then” the Professor began marching away. Lucille shrugged her shoulders at the Captain as she followed the Professor. Cocoa took off after Lucille.
“Cocoa sweetie you stay with the Captain, I’ll be back soon” Lucille bent down petting her.

“You should probably go talk to Captain Chester” Lucille suggested before she got out of earshot.
Haddock nodded staring out into the bay.
“Guess we can go hit a pub or somethin’” Ballard mumbled to Yates.
“May as well, looks like we’ll be here for a while” Yates agreed.
“Come on ya lazy blokes…” Haddock mumbled walking past them.
“Where are we going?!” Ballard asked acting as if he was surprised.
“I’m going to the Sirius…” Haddock said in a low voice keeping his calm.

“Do we have to come with you?!” Ballard complained.
“I don’t care what you do…I know what I’m doin’ and that’s that!” Haddock replied without turning around.
Yates shrugged his shoulders as he followed Haddock. Ballard stomped his foot and followed suit pouting. Haddock was a bit leery of seeing Chester at that moment, but knew realistically he was his only chance at getting to Tintin. The more he thought about it, the bigger and more confident his stride became.

XXXXXXXXX

The Professor and Lucille promptly made their way back to the hospital, but Lucille was a little wary of returning.
“I think I will just sit down here in the waiting room, someone may recognize me” Lucille told the Professor as they entered.
“Of course they will recognize you, you’ve been here already young lady” the Professor didn’t see her point.

“I disguised myself as a nurse to get access to them, I think it may be best if I wait down here” Lucille explained.
“Oh I see…” the Professor thought for a moment.
“Well come with me anyway, you know how to find their room. I’ll just end up getting lost” the Professor suggested.
“Ok, but don’t look at me if we get sent away?” Lucille said adjusting her purple bandana so no one would recognize her instantly.
“Come on, we’ll go up the stairwell” she said watching the staff careful not to make them suspicious.
The staff seemed to be occupied when they arrived on the proper floor, so they took full advantage to return to their rooms. They were both surprised to see Lucille when she returned.

“What are you doing back here?” Riley asked taking a sip of water.
“Gents, this is…?” Lucille introduced.
“I am Professor Calculus, I understand that you may have been introduced to a foreign poison and wanted to make sure that you had the proper antidote to counteract any reactions” the Professor explained.
“Well if you’re asking if we were cut and infected, the answer is no” Riley answered quickly.
“So you didn’t encounter any ‘alien’ like beings?” the Professor asked in a low voice.
“So they ARE aliens?” Jenkins asked incredulously.
“I don’t know…what did you see?” the Professor asked.

Both of the patients in their beds buried their faces in their hands.
“Professor we need to wrap this up…I’ll tell you on the way back” Lucille said peeking down the hall.

The Professor took out two small vials and placed them on the stand next to the beds.

“What are those?” Riley asked a bit confused.
“Antidotes just in case you were infected by those things… if you feel funny and what you’re getting isn’t helping, take these” the Professor said for lack of better terms.
“We’ve got to go!” Lucille alerted the Professor.
“Wait!” Jenkins spoke up.
“What?” Lucille and the Professor turned around.
“Tintin gave this to us for safe keeping, take it” Jenkins said tossing it to Lucille.
“Someone has been in here searching for something…the security guards arrested him and are busy restoring order. Best we not have it, now go before they catch you here!” Riley quickly replied.

“What is this thing?” Professor asked looking curiously at the small yellowish cube.
“No time! Let’s go!” Lucille said grabbing the Professor by the arm quickly dragging him to the stairwell. All the way at the other end of the hall a group of nurses and a couple of security guards seemed to be engrossed in discussion.
“Ms. Lucille, why is that little cube so important?” the Professor asked as they rushed down the stairs.

“Honestly, I couldn’t tell you…but my husband had something similar…” Lucille said suspiciously as they rushed out of the hospital.
__________________
Art by Lost Writer

Kole_Locke
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#123
Old 09-23-2013, 08:21 PM

Chapter 58 (Part - B)


“Hey wait up!” Yates shouted at the Captain.
“Pick up your feet then!” Haddock replied as he maintained his stride.
“Why are ya so ready ta get back out ta sea after all we’ve been through?” Ballard complained.
“If you don’t want to come, you can stay…” was all Haddock would respond to that question.
“What about me boat?” Ballard pressed.
Haddock stopped short right as they reached the bottom of the gangway of the Sirius.

“I will compensate you when I finish my business, until then you will just have to wait” Haddock said then took a long huff on his pipe and continued up the gangway. Haddock spotted Chester fairly quickly and walked up to his side without saying a word.
“So I see you’re still alive…I’m glad” Chester said quietly not even looking up as he gave the signal for the crane operator to pull out the next piece of cargo.
“What do you mean I’m still alive?” Haddock asked a bit confused.

“I had heard over the radio that a fishing boat banged up against a merchant ship and sank last night...I feared the worse. They didn’t say whether they survived or not” Chester finished.
“You don’t think something like that would do ole Captain Haddock in did ya? Ya know me better than that!” Haddock nearly laughed.
Chester abruptly turned around looking behind him with one hand in his pocket regarding Ballard and Yates suspiciously as they joined them.
“Who are they?” Chester’s eyes darted back to Haddock.
“These two worked under me for a few years on my old ship the Karaboudjan.

Ballard, Yates, meet Captain Chester of the Sirius” Haddock said crudely introducing them.
“Sir” both Ballard and Yates nodded.
“So who was responsible for the fishing boat going down?” Chester looked at all three of them checking back on his crew every few moments.
“I don’t think that’s important…” Haddock nodded.
“It was me! OK?!” Ballard barked.
“Calm down! It’s none of my business anyways…” Chester shut him down quickly.
“Thunderin’ typhoons! Can you help us?” Haddock asked bit flustered.
“I’ll take you where you need to go as long as it doesn’t mean taking my ship off course” Chester said succinctly.

“Where you going next?” Haddock asked.
“New York City” Chester said turning around looking at his clipboard.
“Follow me to the bridge” Chester said making direct eye contact with Haddock.
“Do you two mind waiting here?” Haddock asked knowing Chester wanted to talk privately.
“Fine…” Ballard shrugged while Yates was already walking around the deck busy with his own thoughts.
Chester closed the door behind them as they walked over to the window looking out over the ship. Cocoa found herself a corner and decided to take a nap.
“How’s Enzo?” Haddock immediately asked as soon as they were alone.
Chester was quiet for a moment as he put his clipboard down.

“He’s alive…barely…it’s a miracle…” Chester started loudly then ended his sentence with a whisper.
“That’s good to hear” Haddock nodded.
“Listen, I’m not blaming you for what happened to him, my daughter, or my son-in-law…” Chester paused.
“Blisterin’ barnacles! Your daughter and son-in-law?!” Haddock acted a bit surprised.

“Don’t act surprised Haddock, you were there. Kevin has to use a crutch for now, and my daughter got walloped across the face a good time by that monster” Chester seemed detached.
“Well I knew their injuries weren’t life threatening…” Haddock explained.
“Still… it just gives me more reasons why that bloody son of a bitch should pay if we come across him again” Chester emphasized.
“That devil! I don’t blame you” Haddock nodded.
“Are those two to be trusted?” Chester asked Haddock seriously.
“I don’t think they have anything to do with that group…a bit obnoxious, crazy and unruly at times; but I don’t think it’s anything to get too alarmed over” Haddock said stroking his beard.

At that moment Professor Calculus and Lucille returned.
“That didn’t take too long” Chester said to the Professor.
“I did what I needed to do” the Professor said.
“Apparently they had a breach in security at the hospital” Lucille interjected.
“What do you mean?” Haddock narrowed his eyes.
“Somehow I think they were looking for this yellow cube. Show them Professor” Lucille told him.
The Professor showed them the small stone cube with yellow markings on it.
“What’s this have to do with everything going on?” Chester shook his head a bit confused.

“This is a very light stone, yet it doesn’t have any characteristics of any stone I’ve ever seen” the Professor said turning it around.
“I have a feeling these stones are the key to everything” Lucille replied.
“It looks like nothing more than some painted stone” Haddock commented.
“Do you mind if I run some tests on it?” the Professor asked Lucille.
“Science seems to be your department Professor” Lucille bowed.
The Professor takes the stone and leaves the bridge.
“A little cubic stone is the reason why The All Seeing Eye is after Tintin?” Chester asked in almost disbelief.

“We don’t know that for sure” Haddock shook his head.
“But my husband had a similar stone, but was about four times bigger, and it had green markings instead of yellow” Lucille clarified. Cocoa stood up and stretched trotting over to Lucille’s side.
“Ok, I need to finish unloading…I have just under ten more pieces to unload. If you will make yourselves comfortable and you can tell me what has happened up to this point once we set off” Chester stopped them returning back out on the deck.

Kole_Locke
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#124
Old 09-23-2013, 09:07 PM

Chapter 58 (Part - C) end of Chapter


Captain Chester and his crew finished unloading, and by late afternoon they were setting off for North America. Ballard and Yates ended up filling in a couple of spots for Chester’s crewmen who were injured during Gaspar’s attack. Captain Haddock, Professor Calculus, Lucille, and Cocoa were sitting at their own table in the cafeteria quietly eating soup with bread until Captain Chester showed up half way through their meal.

“So Enzo is still alive?” Lucille whispered to Haddock before Chester arrived getting a nod as a response.
“You know they could be going to the Mediterranean, Africa, or South America” the Professor reminded them. Haddock nor Lucille acknowledged his comment.
“Finally decided to join us?” Haddock tried to smile.
“I don’t have the luxury you have to just sit back, I have duties to perform” Chester said almost robotically as he sat his tray down taking a seat.

“So how are Yates and Ballard working out?” Haddock asked in a low voice.
“Yates is quiet, a little slow but will do, but Ballard seem more than a bit out there; yet he’s able to work fast” Chester almost chuckled.
“I see…” Haddock observed taking a peek at the two sitting with some of the other crew members at a table nearby.
“Sounds like he’s missing his alcohol…he becomes a captain when he has too much” Lucille chuckled too.
“He’s not the only one missing it” Haddock commented.
“Oh speaking of which…” Chester took a bottle out of his coat placing it on the table. The contents was a clear liquid in a clear bottle with a torn off label topped off with a cork.
“Just what you need…” Lucille looked away.
Chester took out a smaller bottle and carefully filled it up a quarter-way.
“This is what I call Captain Courageous” Chester smiled.
“It looks like medicinal spirits” the Professor squint his eyes.
“It’s homemade clear whiskey” Chester finished.

Captain Haddock took a swig with his eyes getting wide and his mouth puckering up as he shook his head putting the bottle down.
“Now that is what I would call Pirate’s Pyro!” Haddock said just about losing his breath.
“Yes, it’s strong, and I remember you calling it that at one point” Chester pointed out.
“Oh remember the stunt we pulled when we were in St. Petersburg?” Haddock laughed out loud.
“Oh yes, it was one way of warming up, so tell me what’s happened…” Chester cracked a good smile.
“Well it happened liked this…” Haddock began to retell what had happened from leaving Glasgow to arriving in the harbor of Dublin. The rest of the crewmen had already finished eating and were returning to their duties. Chester was quietly listening as he began devouring his food until they reached the part about the aquatic lizard man creature.

“You can’t be serious?” Chester said disbelievingly.
“I’m dead serious” Haddock hit the table getting a bark from Cocoa who was waiting patiently for table scraps.
“It’s true, but please don’t use the word dead…” Lucille shivered.
“I haven’t seen any such thing, but with what Tintin came down with and Ms. Lucille ended up getting I can say something really foul is at work” the Professor finally spoke up.
“Ask Yates and Ballard… they were there too” Haddock added.
“Both of them are chronic alcoholics Haddock, Ballard from what you’ve told me sounds like a superstitious nutcase. Yates just seems to have a one track mind” Chester discounted.

“I need to get back up to the bridge and make sure we’re on course” Chester said looking up at the clock on the wall.
“Here you go Cocoa!” Haddock said throwing her a few pieces of fish.
“Thank you! Finally!” Cocoa barked quickly filling her belly.
“I guess I should get back to the radio room and do some more testing with that cube, so far all tests are coming up inconclusive” the Professor sighed.
“Cocoa and I will join you. That sounds a lot more interesting than just standing around on the bridge” Lucille nodded.

“A life of science is one with much fulfillment” the Professor smiled.
“I wouldn’t go that far…” Lucille smiled kindly.
“Very well, I’ll join Chester to the bridge” Haddock said getting up from the table leaving with Chester.
The radio room wasn’t too far from the bridge. Everything seemed exactly in order until Haddock rushed into the radio room with a serious look on his face.
“Cuthbert! Lucille! Are ya alright?!” Haddock looked as they were about to ask the crew member operating the radio in their absence for any new messages.
“We’re fine Captain, but you don’t sound fine” the Professor quickly noted.
“What is it?” Lucille said quickly grabbing her bag.

“The man on the bridge is unconscious with two slashes, I need you to come” Haddock said in a low voice.
Lucille and the Professor quickly followed the Professor, followed by Cocoa.
“Good Lord!” Lucille exclaimed seeing the man had been brutally clawed twice. Chester was looking for the first aid kit.
“How long do you think he’s been out?” Lucille and the Professor quickly began checking his vital signs.
“Hmm…it doesn’t seem like he’s been down too long…” the Professor said as Chester handed them the first aid kit. Lucille took out some bandages and medicinal spirits dressing the man’s wounds.

“Captain, I’m afraid we’ve got another one…” Lucille said looking at the deep gashes the man had already fearing what made them.
“I need to run a test on these wounds” the Professor said examining him carefully.
“Not now Cuthbert, we got a monster on the loose here!” Haddock said taking his gun out of his pocket.
“You two better come with us” Chester said taking out his gun as well.
“This man needs us though” Lucille argued.
“Safety in numbers lass. We won’t be any good to him if we go down as well” Haddock said grimly.

“Sit him up against the wall in a corner” Chester whispered.
Haddock carefully dragged the crewman into a corner sitting him upright. Chester led them quietly out on the deck. The sun had already disappeared behind the horizon. Haddock and Chester led them down onto the starboard side of the ship until a shouting broke the silence.
“Help! Help!” a man screamed running towards them.
“Ballard? What’s going on?!” Haddock demanded.
“It’s that demon I tell ya! It’s back for revenge!” he warned.
“Quit your blathering you fool! What happened?” Chester scolded him.
“It got Yates and another poor bloke and it’s coming after me!” Ballard gasped.
Cocoa’s ears laid flat on her head again as she began snarling and showing her teeth like never before.

“Cocoa!?” Lucille looked at her with concern, but then saw why she became defensive.
“Behind us!” Lucille said taking out her father’s revolver aiming it.
“It looks like a man to me?” the Professor said straightening his glasses.
“It’s no man!” Haddock said aiming his gun.
Chester looked closely but suddenly saw what everyone had said was the truth, “Of all the banshees! What on earth!?” Chester exclaimed unable to believe his eyes.

The bug eyed, aquatic looking lizard man came running at them with his webbed feet pounding against the deck.
“Give it all you got! This thing shows no mercy!” Haddock shouted.

Haddock and Chester began firing round after round only knocking it back a little as it got closer. Lucille pulled her father’s trigger but nothing came out, she was out of bullets. The Professor stood there almost too dumbfounded to act when the creature was able to be seen in the ship’s lights. Haddock noticed this one was bigger than the last one. He emptied all six chambers into this creature’s ghastly hide. Chester was in disbelief, but wasn’t going to let something out of the ordinary prevent him from acting accordingly. He emptied all six bullets into this creature as it bled dark ooze profusely. Lucille looked in her satchel hoping to find some more ammunition. The creature stumbled a few steps back and paused opening its fanged mouth wide growling.

“Billions of blue bilious blisterin’ barnacles! I’m out!” Haddock continued to back away.
“If twelve rounds won’t slow this thing down I don’t know what will? Run!” Chester shouted.
Chester and Haddock each grabbed Lucille and the Professor by the arm retreating while Ballard had already hi-tailed it. As Lucille was running with Haddock she was able to pull out something she hadn’t remembered putting in her bag. She pulled it out in front of her flabbergasted. Cocoa’s brown fluffy tail led the way as they ran.
“This is no time for toys Lucille” Haddock scolded her as they ran.
“My word! This is my first time seeing such a thing!” the Professor gasped as they ran.
“Yea, and it will be your last if you don’t pick up your feet!” Chester said almost dragging him along.

The heavy webbed feet of the creature made a loud thump with each stride it took towards them leaving a trail of dark ooze that it bled. Just as they were about to reach the other side of the ship the Professor stumbled and fell.

“Professor!” Chester shouted trying to jerk him up and continue dragging him.
Haddock, Lucille, and Cocoa stopped several yards ahead realizing what had happened as Chester turned to defend the Professor.
“Come on you freak!” Chester taunted taking out his long baton flashlight.
“RAAAWWR!” the creature roared at Chester seeing the Professor in the background trying quickly to get back on his feet. It advanced on the Professor ignoring Chester. It stood between six to seven feet tall.

“I said come on you freak of nature!” Chester jumped at it swung the back of the long flashlight hitting it in the arm and followed through with a left hook to the side of its jaw.

The creature clawed Chester and batted him several feet back behind the
Professor. Chester struggled to get back on his feet as the Professor had only his umbrella to defend himself with.

“I’m coming Cuthbert!” Haddock said running throwing his empty gun hitting the creature in the face.
The creature had twelve small holes in its chest and side oozing slow viscous dark fluid.
“Get away from me!” the Professor shouted swinging his umbrella at the beast in a vain attempt to defend himself.
It jerked the umbrella right out of the Professor’s hands and tossed it aside grabbing Calculus by his coat hoisting him off the ground opening its mouth showing its razor sharp teeth.

“Oh no you don’t!” Lucille cried out as she let the boomerang she found in her bag go flying from her hands up above the creature barely missing it. Haddock was able to hit the beast in its teeth chipping one of them with his empty gun. The beast regarded Haddock with a snarl only to be distracted again by a perfect whack in the back of the head snapping Lucille’s boomerang in two. It dropped Calculus to the deck focusing its attention now on Haddock.

Chester was now getting on his feet a little bloodied. He saw Haddock getting ready to try his hand at the creature.
“Haddock! Our trick! Captains Courageous!” Chester shouted taking out his bottle of high potency whiskey and a lighter.

The creature clawed at Haddock in frenzy of slashes. Haddock dodged the first five swipes but as he was taking out his bottle, the sixth swipe got him in the back cause him to stumble forward. The creature then kicked Haddock in the back sending him sprawling forward to the ground.

“This doesn’t look good Cocoa! What to do? What to do?” Lucille panicked looking through her bag as Cocoa continuously growled at the creature standing by her side.
“I still got scrap left in me you troglodyte!” Chester cursed as the creature came charging at him to put him down.

Chester quickly took a swig of his whiskey and began spitting it as he lit his lighter in front of him. The air in front of Chester suddenly ignited sending a blaze scorching and stunning it momentarily.

Haddock recovered swiftly and ran to his friend’s aid doing likewise spitting an instant blaze at their assailant as it screeched and wailed in agony. It stumbled forward and began swinging its clawed webbed hands at both Captains. Winded from their blaze attack, the creature was able to swat them both down to the deck.

“No!” Lucille screamed.
“Grrrr…!” Cocoa stood at her fullest alert on all fours as they rushed to the Professor’s aid as the creature came stomping toward him.
“Stay back Lucille, I’ve about had it with these aliens!” the Professor had both arms spread apart.
“What are you doing Professor?! That thing will rip you to shreds!” Lucille cried out.
Lucille could see reinforcements as she looked behind. Some of the crew members were beginning to finally arrive to help, but the creature was already upon them.
“Where’s the cube?!” the creature said in the most unnatural voice they had ever heard.

“I won’t be intimidated!” the Professor said defiantly.
“Then die!” the creature said through its long sharp teeth preparing to come at the Professor with a frenzy of clawing and biting.
“Professor!” Lucille cried out.

Before the creature could take its third step seven feet away from the Professor, blue and white electrical bolts went flying from his hand electrocuting the creature stopping it in its tracks. It began jerking violently from the high voltage.
“Ms. Lucille, stand back” the Professor warned.

Lucille was so figuratively shocked by what she just saw, she did as she was told and grabbed Cocoa. The creature tried to continue to reach out to grab him, but the Professor let another blast of high voltage lightning bolts escape from his right hand again bringing the creature roasting to its knees as currents began illuminating, buzzing, and swimming all over its body.

“This isn’t over! Just wait until…the black moon…” then the charred creature went forever silent. Moments later the body turned to ash and most of it blew away in the wind.
“Black moon?” Lucille whispered to herself.
“Are you ok Ms. Lucille?” the Professor turned to her.
“How did you?” Lucille looked at him in amazement.

“Oh hehehe! A special gizmo I have been working on for a while to discharge electricity; but, I’m afraid I will need to repair it after giving that alien the highest amount of voltage” the Professor explained.
“Captain Haddock! Captain Chester!” Lucille ran to them with Cocoa as the rest of the crew came to their assistance.
“I’ll steer the ship while you take care of everything else” Ballard suddenly reappeared.
Lucille had an urge to reach out and slap him but restrained herself.
“You’d better not wreck my ship!” Chester warned him.
“I’m sorry Captain but you will need to take the night to recover, and I have just the antidote that will help you recover from any poison that alien may have inflicted” the Professor explained.

“I can steer the ship! I’m a captain too!” Haddock said slowly getting back up to his feet gritting his teeth.
“I’m afraid you will need to take the night to recover as well…those things may be poisonous too, we can’t take any chances” Lucille informed Haddock.
“Hopefully the antidotes will neutralize any poison if there is any” the Professor agreed.

The injured were taken to a makeshift recovery room with cots and most of the first aid kits on the ship. Lucille and the Professor were busy caring for the injured through the night. Five other crewmen including Yates had been attacked. Haddock and Chester lied on their cots still feeling the strong sting of the creature’s claw. Haddock thought more about what Tintin may be facing up against without his help. He was determined to help his partner whatever the cost may be.
__________________
Art by Lost Writer

 


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