From Col. Mustard’s Correspondence File
08: Around Again
Col. Edward Mustard
c/o Mrs Midgely’s Lodging House
41 Cockspur Street
London
13th June 1769, Lisbon
Dear Ned
I concede it inevitable that you would ignore my Advice and return to that discombobulating Graveyard to further slake your unrelenting Curiosity. I acknowledge that I myself provided you with your initial Excuse for a Return – although I note you are silent on whether Dr. Whiteman and the ancient Sawbones, Parry, came to any Accord over the marble Slab with its remarkable curative Powers. I gather Whiteman was most impressed by its Effect on a passing Casualty but you left them discussing Matters medical, and availed yourself of Parry’s Neighbour’s Ladder once more, descending again into the damnably strange isolated Graveyard in the midst of the City, this time accompanied by the strange Hindoo fellow, Rao – and of course faithful Jacob.
So to precis your Adventures and see if I have it aright – in case I ever do get round to writing that Memoir. You decided this Time to be more disciplined in your Approach and so more carefully marked your Direction and upon completing each Circuit headed inwards to the Centre to see what might be there.
Checking inwards before circuiting you found all as before with the Statue of Death looming over what you took to be the missing marble Slab now in Parry’s Shop. You thought perhaps there had been some Movement of the Statue but could not be sure.
Returning to the Wall you begin a clockwise March. After the first Iteration, the Shrine in the Centre appears to be a simple Fountain with but a Trickle of Water and an inscription “In the Midst of Death, Life”. Being the Man you are, of course you drank of the Fountain and found it refreshing.
The second clockwise Circuit reveals a more substantial Fountain with the statue of some kind of pissing Satyr and the Legend: “Bringing Life to Death”. You forbear to drink from this one (Such unaccustomed Restraint! Or perhaps you were not thirsty? Or was it just the Thought of drinking from the Creature’s Cock?).
The third Circuit brings you to a yet another Fountain, this more elaborate yet, with Death emerging from a Pool carrying an Amphora from which Water gushes upon withered Arms emerging from the Ground and the Legend “Living Death”. It seems you were still not sufficiently thirsty to drink from this Fount either, but despite the increasingly sinister Aspects of these Water Features, choose to push on once more in a clockwise Direction.
Here there was no fountain, just a Statue of Death, scythe raised and the legend: “Death wins over all. Terminus Est.” As you read, the statue animates. You and your Companions flee, Death in hot Pursuit. You eventually outstrip your Fate but are aware of the Sounds of scything Destruction behind you. However, by the time you eventually return to the Ladder all is once more quiet.
Not satisfied with having narrowly avoided Death, in the most literal Sense, you then decide that in all good Conscience you cannot leave while there are Aspects of this hellish Spot still to explore. So you then apply the same methodical Principles to exploring in the opposite Direction.
After one anti-clockwise Turn, the Centre comprises an Archway decorated with Rat Motifs. Now in my experience, Rats are unpleasant Creatures in Life and are seldom invested with positive aspects in Tales. Of course, you decide the most appropriate Course of Action is to stride boldly through the Portal before you. Fortunately, you are at least cognizant enough of the Danger to be wearing some kind of protective Device and swift enough, when you feel it trigger, to jump back. After this Warning you wisely decide that Discretion will be the better part of Valour, at least in this Instance.
Moving on once more in a widdershins Motion, you come upon a pair of Wolf Statues facing one another in such a Way as to suggest another Portal. I confess myself mildly surprised that you did not on this Occasion stroll nonchalantly through, but it seems that some Glimmer of common Sense decided you merely to cast around the Vicinity of the Statues, an Activity rewarded by the discovery of a leather Pouch full of Gold Coins bearing the Device of a Wolfs-head and a Fortress, together with a Slip of Paper with three Names and London Addresses thereupon.
On taking another Turn about the Cemetery you return to the Tower of your original Explorations. This you now find to be bounded around by impenetrable Thickets. Only the White City appears accessible, a Path having been hewn, by main Force, it seems, through the surrounding Vegetation. Once more you forbear from further exploration of the White City. However, given the cut Path, can we not surmise that perhaps they may be exploring ours.
You turn once more around the Walls anti-clockwise until you hear the troublingly familiar Sound of scything Destruction ahead and approaching. You turn and march smartly back around the Perimeter until you reach the Ladder. Reconnaissance Objective attained you retire from the Field.
I concede the internal Logic of your subsequent Endeavour to follow up on the Leads offered by the slip of Paper. With benefit of Hindsight, I might posit that anyone of lupine Demeanour new arrived in London might first wish to visit a Barber and then a Tailors. However, being an empirical sort you visit the Hairdresser and drop heavy Hints about Wolves to see what might drop out. Nothing, as it happens, but a little defensiveness on the part of the Barber – although I gather that you were extremely satisfied with the servicing of your Wig, so it was hardly a wasted Effort. At least you didn’t squander any of your King’s Shillings upon the Tailor, but cut straight to the third Address – a Chinee Eatery in the Docks.
No doubt more subtle Methods might have been employed. However, flashing one of the distinctive Gold Coins from the Pouch you obtained Audience with Lord Wolfenden, who forbore to eat you, and instead shared a Cup of Wine with a fellow Defender of the Realm. If he and his fellow Wolfmen are so keen on defending the Realm, perhaps you could recruite a few for the Regiment – I’m sure they might be handy in a tight Spot. Though on second Thoughts, they might just frighten the Men and eat the Horses – or worse still, the other Way round.
Heard the dispiriting News that the Frogs have beaten the Corsicans in the Field and taken possession of the Island as French Territory. I gather there were some desultory Efforts made by our Politicos to support the Resistance, but consider the difference a Dragoon Regiment might have made on the Day. Mark my Words we’ll come to regret letting them have Corsica – we’re just breeding Trouble for Ourselves.
More damn Parades and Manoeuvres to attend. Formal Dispatches to follow.
Your Obedient Servant
Nathaniel Pepper
Lieut. Col.