Penny and Len show up on the police station together. They are quickly shown the way into Stuckey's office when the say they information about the Atwater case.

You can see that this case has begun wear on Stuckey. From his looks, it is doubtful that he has had sleep tonight. When he looks up and speaks to you, you think you can sense the smell of alcohol.

"Hello Mrs. Pritchard. How are you doing today?"

"I think I am doing well, thank you." She continues with a question, "How is the patrolman who was injured last night? I have been praying for his quick recovery." She holds in her hand a small Bible.

Detective Stuckey goes over to where Penny says and put his hands on Penny's hands and the bible, "We have both prayed tonight."

"His condition is still critical. He had suffered great blood loss and was operated in the evening. Now we can only pray. If he survives the day, his chances are good."

Len joins the conversation, "Detective, we have a request for you. We have located the book Bishop is so desperately searching. One of the persons that Bishop has on the list possesses the book. Luckily for us, he started on the wrong end of the list."

Stuckey interrupts, "Who is this person?"

"Alexander Pierce, sir. We called on him last evening. Unfortunately our visit did not go well with him and he refused to lend us his book. Now, this is unfortunate. We believe that this key could be the book to understand how Bishop thinks and reading it may give us what we need to know how to find him and neutralize Bishop. He said that we was willing to lend out the book to the police"

"I see. You want me to get this book for you." Stuckey scratches his chin while he thinks. "The book could be useful for other purposes also, you know. I will fetch the book, but it must be contained at the station."

"There could be a problem with that", Len says. "You see, the book is written in Greek. We have arranged a scholar at the university, to translate it for us. I don't think he is willing to sit on the police station to read it."

"I see. Ok, I guess the book will be in safe hands."

****'

The Liberal Arts Building on Miskatonic campus, constructed in 1861, four stories high, the old building houses the school of languages, literature, and the arts. The first floor is occupied by offices and classrooms dedicated to the massive English Department; other departments fit in on upper floors as they may. Dr. Peter Crownin, a former professor of English, is Dean of the School.

Dr. Aaron Chase, the chairman of the Classical Languages, receives his guests in his office. "I am sorry I have to disappoint you, but I cannot spare any of the teachers at this time." Doc is to speak when Dr. Chase continues. "But I can ask of the graduates to help you out. Since he will not be able to work on his studies while he helps you out, I think it is appropriate that you contribute with a small donation to his funds."

"A matter of course. He will be rewarded handsomely for his efforts."

"Good. I will show you the way to his study." Doc and Charles follow the man."

Godfried Mens has the looks of a smart, bespectacled student, whose probably only interest is books, which is correct on both accounts. He looks up on you with curiousness when you enter the study together with Dr. Chase. He accepts the assignment immediately, and Dr. Chase leaves you alone with the student.

Doc Slade instructs Godfried, "The content book we need translated, we believe, is the basis of the actions of the murder responsible for a current rash of murders around town. It is important to us to have a literal translation of what is written within. We may also need sections of the Greek phonetically copied out as well, as the murder may believe in the effect that these words are supposed to have. It is important that you report to us any strange happenings that occur to you from now until the murder case is concluded. I believe that the book deals deeply in the occult, and it is possible that it can have an effect on you and those around you. Also for your safety, as a murder is seeking the book, I want either myself or one of my companions present with the book at all times.

Godfried is, if possible, even more eager to start, but hesitates when Doc insist on being present at all times, but gives. "Ok, mister, but I demand silence from you as long you're here.

****'

Alexander Pierce didn't raise any objection lending the Carnamagos book to Stuckey, only pointing out that he expected to have the book returned undamaged.

Godfried's little study is filled, Doc, Charles, Penny, Len, Stuckey, Nick and Godfried Mens are present. "You understand, Godfried Mens, that what you discover in this book must be kept confidential. You must not speak to anyone, not present in this room, about your findings. This also applies when we have found and neutralized the murderer."

"I understand perfectly detective. I will devote all my time to this task. To be frankly, all this secrecy has made me eager to begin. If you will excuse me, I want to start immediately and I work best when I am undisturbed", Godfried pats the book passionately.

Penny eyes her fellow student and replies, "Would you be so kind as to let me remain here with you while you translate. As you may or may not know I am very interested in languages. Especially ones that deal with strange idioms." She adds, "I promise not to get in your way."

Godfried looks first to Doc and then back to Penny before he reluctantly says yes.

Doc comments to the detective, "Some of us will be present with him and the book at all times during the translation, and when we are done each day, we will bring it back to the police station for safe keeping."

Then turning to Godfried, Doc states, "Godfried, start at the beginning and provide us spoken & written summary in English of what you read. When we need to have something written down verbatim we will let you know."

After the detective departs, Doc adds, "When you get to the section with the pages sealed with wax, we will need to carefully remove the wax without damaging the book. We also will need to reseal it in wax, so the owner can get it back in the shape he provided it in. How much time do you think you need to read aloud the entire book for us?"

Godfried leafs through the first pages studying the texts before he estimates, "15 to 20 hours, I guess."

Charles swears, "That's more time than we have." Charles goes over to Godfried and put his hand on Godfried's shoulder. "Look, it is very important that we know the content of this book as soon as possible. Tomorrow may be too late. We will pay you very handsomely if you are willing to spend the night here in necessary.

Godfried nods, "I will."

"Good, very good, Godfried. I guess that Doc and Penny will be occupied for the rest of the day and evening and I propose that we all me tomorrow morning at my place for a briefing. For the rest of us, I have some ideas of how we can spend the day productively.

*****

Charles and Pierre are both astonished when they see Atwater. He has changed considerably since you last saw him. Though he is still the old man you remembered, his deformed spine is completely gone. The doctors are astonished. They have absolutely no explanation. Atwater also looks much healthier, his body overcome the stress, undernourishment, and with tender care from the nurses, you would guess that the man in front of you was a normal man in the fifties.

Charles regains the ability of speech, "Mr. Atwater. You look well." Charles immediately regrets his choice of words, but Atwater doesn't seem to have taken notice, instead he becomes agitated.

"You believe me!?" he says with relief in his voice.

"Yes we do. We do believe that an old and evil wizard escaped, going under the name of Sermon Bishop, from his confinement and stole your body. But first, allow me to present us once more. This is Mr. Pierre Clandine and Mr. Nick Berone, and I am Charles Winston Cochroft. Both shake Atwater's hand.

Now we are going to tell you what has really happened, but before we begin, we beg you to keep this for yourself. Talking about it can bring you into trouble, most likely into an asylum.

-----

An hour later.

"So, our plan is to incapacitate Bishop and force him to return his present body to you. Then we kill him, for good!" Charles folds his hands, "Praise God I hope we succeeds, otherwise, Arkham may have evil times coming for her.

*****

His vision is blurred, and fatigue is spreading through his body. Only a last short sweep before he gives in. Nothing. Enough is enough. He kicks with his legs and is rewarded when air fills his lungs.

"I think we have what we need, Len. You can come ashore now." Daria says. "You must be freezing."

*****

"This is the closest I can come, both judging from the pieces of the stone symbol and the photograph in the book from the Historical Society." Penny again carefully compares the sign she has made to the original. Content she leaves her magnifying glass to Len.

"Well done, Daria. This is as good as the original.

*****

Relating the entire book will be to a hopeless job for the Keeper, so only adequate information comes into print.

As related by Clark Ashton Smith, the original manuscript of Carnamagos was discovered over a thousand years ago in a Graeco-Bactrian tomb. Two copies in Greek, were said to have been transcribed by an apostate monk using the blood of an incubusspawned monstrosity. The original has not been seen since that time and the other known copy is thought destroyed by the inquisition. This version has suffered water damage but is still legible.

"This is really heavy stuff." Godfried says as he has completed a third of the book. So far you have learned of vague deities, seremonies and rituals. It is difficult to get a clear picture because it seems to you like only a little part of things are told here.

Reading the book have taken its toll not only on the reader but also on Doc and Penny. Every joint in the body aches from the hours of close concentration. Finally Godfried comes to the relevant stuff.

These pages disclose the existence of a being rated as one of the great old ones /Whoever they may be). He goes under the name of Quachil Uttaus, or only "the Treader of the Dust" Quachil Uttaus is interested in, attuned to, or possibly connected with time, death and decay. Quachil Uttaus can be summoned to grant immortality.

The pact of Quachil Uttaus:

The spell protects the signatory from all forms of death. To never die the caster must contact and bind the Great old one to a pact. The spell costs the caster 1D50 magic points, 3 POW, and 3 CON, and his sign of Quachil Uttaus usually deforms the contractors spine.

Once the pact is completed, the contractor neither ages naturally nor can be killed by any force physical nor most magical forces.

"It is time to open the seal." Godfried says. Doc is carefully removing the seal, and when Godfried starts to read again, the pages of the forbidden words unveil. If the forbidden words are uttered in the presence of a contractor, Quachil Uttaus appears and takes that person known to him. If contacted with no contractor present, the Great Old One takes whoever has uttered the words.

"Anyone of you want to read these words?" Godfried writes down "exklopios Quachil Uttaus."

Nearing the end of the book Godfried comes over the last interesting item.

This is a spell that creates an emblem whose touch or attachment to renders inactive any human being of POW 21 or less. The target can think, perceive, and breathe normally, but cannot initiate movement or cast spells. The sign of Barzai can be learned in eight hours. A page in the testament containing the diagram of the intricate sign is badly damaged and incomplete.

Finally Godfried closes the book. It is read from cover to cover and it is 3 A.M. in the night. "Dear almighty, I feel like I am an old man.

"Me too, Doc says. Better get to bed all of us I think." Doc is wrapping the Carnamagos book when he noticing something strange. "This is odd. Have you noticed the room and the smell? Look how dirty and covered with dust the room has become. When was this room last cleaned, Godfried?"

"A couple of days I guess." Godfried says as he looks around.

The room is covered with dust, like it had unused for several years. Cobwebs have accumulated in every nook and corner.

"Look at these sheets." Godfried says, "They have all yellowed, and the picture of me, taken this summer, it has faded.

Penny draws a deep breath, "I need to go to the bathroom", she says and leaves the room.

Standing up straight she turned and headed into the bathroom. Reaching for the doorknob she saw a hand that is not her own turning the handle. She pulled back quickly then realized the hand was her own. The skin dry and slightly wrinkled and seemingly a bit sunken. Quickly opening the door she entered the bathroom.

Penny's worst fears are true when she looked into the mirror in the bathroom. Her reflection was that of a woman in the late twenties or the early thirties. This and the horrors she has become aware of through listening to Godfried readings caused her to shiver uncontrollably for she no longer saw herself as a young woman but an old crone with hands that were shrivelled and ached with the pains of old age. It was then she began to scream...

Doc asks Godfried, "Do you perhaps have a mirror?" Godfried's rummages through his lower drawer and finds a small round mirror. Doc gaze into it with shock. The hair at his temples is grey, and there are lines and folds in his face that weren't there when he looked into a mirror last time. It is at this time he hears the screams.

Doc gets up, taking the wrapped book with him and rushes towards the source of the screams. When he reaches Penny he sees her sitting on the floor in catatonia. "Penny, I don't know what to tell you except that might not be permanent and you may, over time, return to your youthful self. This is a side effect of hearing and comprehending the contents of that foul book. My best recommendation is that you turn to God, and ask him to help restore you." He takes her in his arms to console her.

After a long pause, Penny begins to shake and then to sob. Doc speaks in a loud & authoritative tone, "O Heavenly Father, O Jesus Christ, Our Lord & Savior, O Holy Ghost and Santifier, grant to us, Your humble and obedient servants, protection from all things evil, and heal the damage done to each of us in listening to and comprehending parts of the book dedicated to evil. It was in Your service that we read the book so that we can heal others damaged by it and those who follow the ways of evil. Protect us, Guide us, and Santify us for those to come and so that we can complete your mission. We ask these things in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. AMEN."

Godfried enters the bathroom and he is frigthened and in despair. "What have you DONE? What has happened to us?" Godfried looks at himself in the mirror, "I've grown older, at least by ten years!"

Doc answers, "I am not sure and did not suspect it would happen, but I believe it is a side effect of hearing the contents of the book. Whether it is permanent, or will fade, and whether it is deeper that just the surface is unknown to me. We will have to wait, observe, and pray."

Godfried accepts the explanation and then walks home expecting to wake up from this dream in the morning.

Please read the hunt for Sermon Bishop or go back to the table of contents.