Steve Jackson Games Forums - View Single Post - The First Interbellum (1918-1939)

Johnny1A.2 · 08-17-2016, 09:58 PM

LATER.

"However," Bingham went on, after a long sip of his whiskey, "that is not
the most interesting story associated with this 'thing'. There's a story
associated with it that initially struck me as totally improbable, I was sure
it was a shaggy dog story, until this business in Harrystown unfolded."

Bingham fell silent for a long moment, finished off his whiskey, and set his
glass on the desk with a silent request for more. McLaird obliged, refilling
the glass with the liquid, and Bingham took another sip before setting his
glass back on the desk and leaning forward slightly, intently.

“This story has it that the thing was stored near a small town in Texas for
a while, back around 1890,” Bingham explained. “Same place as the cattle
problem, in fact. Supposedly it was stored there for over five years, and
each year the deformations and health problems of the herd worsened,
and the effects began to spread to herds of cattle, and other animals, on
surrounding ranch land, by the third year.

“The effect was getting bad enough, or so the story goes,” Bingham went
on, “that the then-owners began to think they needed to find a new hiding
place. But what apparently put them over the edge and led them to decide
to get rid of the ‘thing’ entirely, happened in the fifth year. Apparently,
that summer, in 1893, the thing suddenly got really active, flashing and
glowing a lot, more of the strange sounds and weird effects near it.

“But also about that time, somebody started tearing up the local cemeteries.”

Conners sat up straighter, sufficiently startled as to be unable to hide his
sudden reaction in spite of his determination to reveal as little as possible
by his manner.

Bingham nodded. “I thought that would get a reaction. I reacted more or
less the same way when I heard what was happening here in Harrystown.
Up until a few days ago, I was dismissive of this part of the story, but now
I believe it. The accounts we heard sound a lot like what the rumors
are saying about what’s going on right here and now. We’ve seen the police
reports, the ones they’re keeping from the public, and I assume you have
as well. If not, I’ll get you copies, I’ve got a line on the State Police here.
But either way, what’s happening here and now matches what we were
told eerily closely.”

“Could you get me copies of what your sources told you about this thing?”
Conners asked. “The grave desecrations, the weird effects, all of it?”

“I can,” Bingham replied. “Robert and I have decided that an…alliance
between our organizations might be in both our interests. As a gesture of
cooperation, I’ll provide you with written copies of that information, and
those sources that I feel I have the right to reveal.”

“I’d also like,” McLaird said, “for you to bring in your man Batson to meet
with one of our people, Howard Lake. He’s the closest thing we have to an
expert on this sort of thing.”

“Agreed,” Bingham said. “Your superior was referring to Fred Batson, he’s
an academic I hired to work for me to help me deal with crap like this.
Whenever something comes up that involves esoteric matters along these
lines, I bring in Fred Batson.”

MORE LATER.

08-17-2016, 09:58 PM	#222
Johnny1A.2 Join Date: Feb 2007	Re: The First Interbellum (1918-1939) LATER. "However," Bingham went on, after a long sip of his whiskey, "that is not the most interesting story associated with this 'thing'. There's a story associated with it that initially struck me as totally improbable, I was sure it was a shaggy dog story, until this business in Harrystown unfolded." Bingham fell silent for a long moment, finished off his whiskey, and set his glass on the desk with a silent request for more. McLaird obliged, refilling the glass with the liquid, and Bingham took another sip before setting his glass back on the desk and leaning forward slightly, intently. “This story has it that the thing was stored near a small town in Texas for a while, back around 1890,” Bingham explained. “Same place as the cattle problem, in fact. Supposedly it was stored there for over five years, and each year the deformations and health problems of the herd worsened, and the effects began to spread to herds of cattle, and other animals, on surrounding ranch land, by the third year. “The effect was getting bad enough, or so the story goes,” Bingham went on, “that the then-owners began to think they needed to find a new hiding place. But what apparently put them over the edge and led them to decide to get rid of the ‘thing’ entirely, happened in the fifth year. Apparently, that summer, in 1893, the thing suddenly got really active, flashing and glowing a lot, more of the strange sounds and weird effects near it. “But also about that time, somebody started tearing up the local cemeteries.” Conners sat up straighter, sufficiently startled as to be unable to hide his sudden reaction in spite of his determination to reveal as little as possible by his manner. Bingham nodded. “I thought that would get a reaction. I reacted more or less the same way when I heard what was happening here in Harrystown. Up until a few days ago, I was dismissive of this part of the story, but now I believe it. The accounts we heard sound a lot like what the rumors are saying about what’s going on right here and now. We’ve seen the police reports, the ones they’re keeping from the public, and I assume you have as well. If not, I’ll get you copies, I’ve got a line on the State Police here. But either way, what’s happening here and now matches what we were told eerily closely.” “Could you get me copies of what your sources told you about this thing?” Conners asked. “The grave desecrations, the weird effects, all of it?” “I can,” Bingham replied. “Robert and I have decided that an…alliance between our organizations might be in both our interests. As a gesture of cooperation, I’ll provide you with written copies of that information, and those sources that I feel I have the right to reveal.” “I’d also like,” McLaird said, “for you to bring in your man Batson to meet with one of our people, Howard Lake. He’s the closest thing we have to an expert on this sort of thing.” “Agreed,” Bingham said. “Your superior was referring to Fred Batson, he’s an academic I hired to work for me to help me deal with crap like this. Whenever something comes up that involves esoteric matters along these lines, I bring in Fred Batson.” MORE LATER.