The Aftermath

A Chicago hospital. 10³⁰, Wednesday, 3rd December 1921.

Natasha rises early, far too early than she ought too and she is not rested, but she feels she has to assume control of the situation. Natasha calls her banker in New York, and have them some money telegraphed over. In the mean time she has enough in her purse to pay for any immediate expenses. She agrees to pay for the medical care for Dr Cochroft and Penny Pritchard. She also agrees to a medical examination of herself, she would have the odd bumps and bruises too.

Natasha makes a reservation of a double suite at the best hotel in the city. Her lawyer in New York, recommends a colleague in Chicago with whom she makes an appointment with to meet later in the day. Natasha wants to spend as much time as possible with Penny and Dr Cochroft, for some reason she worries what might happen if she leaves them, but first she speaks to the doctor about their condition. Dr. Charles Winston Cochroft has suffered internal injuries. The injuries are not life threatening, but the doctor wants to keep the Archaeologist under observation for a week. Penelope Pritchard has only suffered a concussion of the brain. The doctor will keep her at the hospital one more day.

Natasha speaks to Penny and then Charles when they come around. The police have not arrived yet and Natasha gives then the cover up story. Charles is still tired and is not in a good condition, and Natasha chooses not to tell him. Penny, however, is deeply troubled and confused.

"Are you quite certain about this?" 

"Yes", Natasha answers. "I asked the nurse for the today's papers. It is the third of the December, 1921, the day we arrived in Boston by train."

Penny's mind is in turmoil, "I don't understand? How can this be possible? Are we both on the train and here?"

"I don't know, Penny. I cannot either grasp this. If only we had saved the professor. He could possibly have explained this for us."

"But what are we going to do?"

"Nothing, Penny, Nothing. What could we do? The prospect of facing myself, that there would be two of me, is very unappealing.

"But, we could save Doc."

"How Penny, how? By telling ourselves what is going to happen? Tell them not to go? How would you react if yourself came by this bed telling you what to do and what not to do? No, I don't dare anything. I'll try to cover everything up and hope that the evening comes without any complications. When we disappear with the Professor's lab, the world will be set right again. 

Penny shakes her, "I truly don't remember much after seeing Doc's poisoned body," she says as tears begin to well up within her eyes. Her mind begins to race with the mathematical theories of time manipulation. She wipes her eyes and pushes back her hair. "Couldn't we leave an antidote in plain sight for them? Then they'd have something for Doc when he's bitten." She squints her eyes in thought. "If our 'other selves' are entering the laboratory and the same results happen. We could be stuck in such a paradox that as long as it continues unabated, there will be an infinite number of 'us' in the world." She shakes her head, "No, we cannot allow ourselves to enter the lab. We must stop it now."

Natasha is nervous before encounter with he police, and it concerns her since her story will be very hard to explain if she is in two places at once. She can only hope that the policemen will not call and check on Boston or Arkham until AFTER they have made the time jump, once that is done Natasha can either claim that the message they get that she arrived in Boston on the 3rd must be some kind of mess up, or the police will assume so on their own. She would like to slow down the policeman somehow, show him the pictures that professor drew of the tower (as a means of helping persuade him the professor was not entirely sane), and maybe asking for an escort to her hotel (politely, and claiming that she is so shook up over the event that she'd rather not go alone just yet, which is perfectly true).

Her story is as follows: They were going to investigate this professor that had not been writing back to Miskatonic University. Or rather, she will admit, Dr Slade and Dr Cochroft were going to investigate, with Miss Pritchard accompanying them, and then she (Countess Natasha Boyarova, or rather Lady Boyarova) had decided to accompany them. They found the laboratory in Boston, but it was abandoned, however they found some evidence that he could have gone an underground laboratory in Chicago. So in a hurry they rushed to Chicago, they had to follow some garbled instructions the professor had left behind, and when they went down to where he had his lab Penny got a concussion at this stage when she slipped and knocked her head against a wall. Fortunately his lab was just nearby, so they decided to take Penny with them so that they could lie her down and call for help. They did indeed find the lab, and the professor. That is where the good news ended, for some reason there were several poisonous snakes there, and as they tried to fend them off one of them bit Dr Slade. Then there was an explosion.

Natasha says, "I am not really certain what caused it, but it was big enough to seriously injure both Doctors, and it killed the professor. After the explosion the only was out was through the sewers. This is how we ended up here." She admits, "It is so out there, so bizarre ... How did I get into this mess? I mean this is the real world, people are not supposed to die from snakebite, or be hit by explosions in hidden laboratories, or be forced to flee through sewers". She stops, "I mean this is in the middle of a big city, people are not supposed to die from snakebite ..." Natasha seems very distraught, and very truthful, "I barely knew him, but to die like that, it just seems wrong."

"How did the professor die?"

"He looked strangely ill. He ... I ... You hear about people being ... mutilated ...seeing a human body ... seeing". Natasha gets visibly nauseous at the memory, and it looks like she might throw up, but instead she says, "He was dead." The Police don't press the issue, just now.

"What work was the Professor conducting, and why was he underground? Was the professor using the snakes in his work?"

Natasha actually lets go a half sob half laugh, then she says "I ... this ..." She finally regains her composure and says "He was a little ... he had written, spoken, about a machine that would ...", she moves her right index finger in a little clockwise circle as she says "Travel in time". At his stunned expression she says "I ... don't know why he was underground, I thought he was", she says something in French and then says "Word is tenured, like in Russia before those awful reds, where little old man that is ... eccentric, but no one can touch him, and he is allowed his little flights of fancy". She then adds "I can not explain what he was doing, I do not know why he would have the things he did, why it happened as it did, but ..."She just stops there, her lips quiver slightly, she is clearly trying to compose herself, but the shock of what has happened comes on her, she says "It was supposed to be just an adventure, find a silly little old man, something to tell friends about ..."She tries not to babble either, but she finds it quite hard not to, the shock is finally starting to catch up to her.

Natasha doesn't notice, but the police detectives give each other an expressive glance. That this statement will be included in their report is not very likely.

Natasha is polite; although she worries that the Police might contact the train station to find out when their train arrived. Instead she says "Detective, there is one thing ... We found some drawings in the lab, I am not sure if they are relevant" Among Doc's things she finds the map and comments, "It is not what I would call beautiful, more like something out of Dante, maybe he was drawing his nightmares. Detective, this will sound selfish, but ... I would rather that the press did not know about this, none of us are really in any shape to deal with them, I hope it can be discrete".

"Countess, we think likewise. It would not be desirable if it did become known to the public, that there are lethal snakes roaming free around in the city, it could create panic and anxiety. We want to avoid that." 

The Police go through all of Doc's personal belongings but find nothing of particular interest (The Plaques were left behind in the Throne Room). Finally police detectives address Natasha. "We need to find the Laboratory and the remains of the Professor. Could you please show us where it is?"

Natasha is uncertain of the address that the professor was at, but she say, "It can not be that hard to find out, I mean ... You are supposed to be able to find out these things". She is being honest, she knows he will find out, but as long as it takes him half a day or so she doesn't mind. She is really frustrated and tries to think clearly, but it is not easy. 

The police officer shows a small hint of irritation, "Believe me countess, we have tried to reveal his whereabouts, but the professor has been very discrete. Nobody in Chicago might not even have known that he was here or what he was doing, had it not been for the accident. Now, please tell us where his lab was, or show us the way."

Natasha explains that she doesn't know the address, or the approximate location, but that she might be able to show them the way through the sewers. She claims that Dr Slade brought them to the lab, and that she really doesn't know how to find it on the surface of the city. Natasha would like to talk to Penny or Dr Cochroft to see if they remember anything, or remember the path they took through the sewers.

(Un)fortunately, Penny remembers even less then Natasha and, anyway, in the interest of justice Natasha is willing to get into the sewers again to show the way, this time wearing rubber boots and all kinds of protective clothing. All the while wracking her mind to remember where they went. She just wants this over with as soon as possible, get it over with and forget all about it.

Natasha is unable to remember the route to the manhole cover from which they emerged into the street. The Police, however, have already spoken to the man who drove the investigators to the hospital, and soon Natasha and the two police detectives are there. 

In the sewer systems, the memories wash over Natasha again with great strength. Natasha falters and one of the detectives must grab her, or she would have fallen. 

"Are you all right?" he asks. 

"No." Natasha answers, "The memories became so vivid again. It's like I'm experiencing it over again. Are you sure we have to do this."

"I'm afraid so. Two people are dead. The sooner we can finish this the better both for you and us."

This was not the answer Natasha hoped to hear, but she bears the uneasiness and fear without flinching. Wading through the sewers with the two police detectives on tow, Natasha's mind grows finally set. The tower, or the access to it, must be destroyed. The thought of a possible infiltration of the awful serpent beast into her world makes her shiver.

Natasha takes the police officers in the wrong direction. How is she going to pull this off? Natasha's mind goes into overdrive. The tunnel to the tower can be collapsed with dynamite, possibly the entire tower. Charles is an experienced adventurer; he should surely be able to pull such a stunt off. That leaves the problem of getting rid of the police officers. Kill them? No, and how, and it would get her lots of trouble afterwards. Drop in the shit and fake unconscious? Could work, but the thought is not appealing. Natasha determines to walk around in the sewers until the fatigue gets her. 

----- 

An hour later.

"I'm sorry, detectives. I can't remember where this place was and I'm exhausted from fatigue and the smell, I can't get used to it."

"Right." The police detectives are not pleased. "We'll continue tomorrow then. You will lodge at the Hilton, right? Please stay at the hotel until we make contact with you tomorrow. Where do you want us to drop you off? At the hospital or Hilton? "

"The hospital, please. I need to get my belongings and say goodbye to my friends", Natasha answers.

----- 

Later at the hospital.


"My Goodness, it still hurts a lot." Charles is walking around in his hospital room, supported by Natasha

"But you can still make it, can't you?" Natasha pleads.

"I don't know, Natasha, but I have to try. I can get the explosives, but I'm in pretty bad shape. Every muscle in my body is aching. There is also the matter of the doctor told me. I should keep to the bed for still some days. My internal wounds may open again."

Natasha is to mouth a 'but, but Charles continues, "But we must do it. It is imperative to our safety, to the safety of all mankind. The time technology is evil and must never fall into the hands of the authorities or any of mankind. If my life is the price to pay, I'll gladly sacrifice it. But I need your assistance, Natasha. If I fail, you must complete the task."

Natasha squeezes Charles' hand, "Yes, I will. You can be sure."

"Right then. I have a few contacts in Chicago. One of them should be able to supply me with dynamite and no questions asked, within the evening. If we don't make a fuss, we will get away with it. I'm not a demolition expert, but I've picked up a bit about explosive during my many expeditions. I'll make some calls now, and then you pick me up at eight P.M., right?"

*****

The Arkham Chapel, 1800, Wednesday, 10th December 1921.

The first snow of the winter is falling over Arkham. Professor Charles Winston Cochroft, Countess Natasha Boyarova, and Ms. Penelope Pritchard have just taken goodbye with Doctor Stuart Slade. It was a beautiful funeral ceremony and Charles gave a moving commemorative speech.

"I feel so sorry for his wife and children. It feels so unfair that they have to pay for the sacrifice that Doc gave. They won't even know why he died. I will establish a trust for his wife and her children, and I'll make sure that they never will have economic worries. It is the least I can do for them."

"I'll make contributions", Charles says.

"No, no. You're a rich man, Charles, but your fortune is not match to mine. I still feel guild for emerging from this thing virtually unharmed, compared to the rest of you. The establishment of the fund will ease disburden my conscience" Natasha replies.

Charles smiles, "Well then, let it be so."

You walk in silence for a while. There wasn't a crowd at the funeral, some relatives from out of town, the employees in his firm, and a few of his clientele. 

It is Penny that who first speak, "I still feel responsible for Doc's death. We needed so little time extra time, and he could have been saved."

"We don't know that, Penny", Charles says. "It isn't sure that the new antidote they came up a half hour later would have worked. This was a type of poison they never had encountered before, remember."

"But, I have gone over this in my mind innumerable times. We could have moved quicker and got to the hospital later. We spent to long a time in the Throne Hall after the explosion."

"Penny, don't blame yourself. Both you and Natasha did all that could ever have been expected from you, even more, and you were injured too, remember?"

"Yes, that stupid concussion of the brain. I wonder what happened to that caged monster? It was so - unearthly. I wonder where it came from."

"So do I", Charles says. "I often wonder if we made a wrong decision when we left it in the cage, but it was difficult to do anything else. Everything we had encountered at the time was so unknown and strange. I guess it was too much for us too cope with already."

Natasha says, "I'm just glad it is over. After we blew up the tunnel leading to the tower, everything has gone our way ever since. It is strange, Charles, that nobody noticed? And the police, they dropped the investigation when they couldn't find anything in the sewers."

"The tunnel was deep underground, and most people are asleep in the night. But I wouldn't be too sure that this case could blow up in our face again, sometime. The cave-in will be discovered sometimes or later and we could have to answer a lot of awkward questions. The reason why they dropped the investigation so easily is because we are celebrities and that makes us trustworthy."

Penny speaks again, "It's one thing, though, which still troubles me a lot. The serpent people that got away, what have become of them?"

Charles says, "This is also my greatest worry. I've been paying attention to the Chicago newspapers every day. There have been disappearances but I cannot conclude with certainty that it is the Serpent People that are behind them. But they are in our world now and we have to deal with them in the end. "

Natasha just nods again "I just wanted it to be over, we were weak and sick, and now these creatures have a foothold into our world", she then sighs and adds "One day we will deal with them, it seems that no one else is willing to seek them out, but now let us try to restore our lives to normal".

Natasha pays for a memorial dinner for Doc, though only Charles, Penny and herself are invited. It will be a quiet affair.

The end

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