The child led me to a hovel about a mile away from our original encampment. I paid him what I promised for his help, and started walking up the path. The surrounding area was a bit swampy, but as long as I stuck to the dirt it wasn't so hard to get through.
There was a sign above the door that said, in very messy, scrawled-out handwriting, "Kein Zutritt!" Of course that wasn't going to stop me. I knocked on the door, and a gravelly voice shouted "Verpiss dich lieber!" I waited for him to say something else. "Ich hab ne Knarre!" I paused again, but nothing else seemed to be forthcoming.
"Klaus?" I called.
There was a grunting noise, a shuffling noise, and then the door opened. He was hunched over, and I knew it wasn't just for effect; his back was twisted from years of hermitage - or from something worse, maybe. His face was mostly hidden behind a thick, matted salt-and-pepper beard, but it wasn't hard to see the touch of madness in his eyes. For all his ways of discouraging visitors, he was well-dressed in a suit and tie, though I think his shirt was around backwards. In his arms was a long gun. "Was willst du?" he said.
"I'm sorry, I don't speak German."
"Huh," he said. "What do you want?" I couldn't find even the slightest touch of an accent in his words.
"My partner and I were on a dig, you see, a mile or so from here, and if you're Klaus Gage..."
"Yes?" He was looking at me suspiciously, like he knew what I was going to say.
"We found your trunk." He dropped the gun and grabbed me by the shoulders, wincing from the pain in his back.
"Get out. Get out now before it gets you, too."
"Mr. Gage, I just wanted to see if you could tell me anything about this...you see, my partner, Robert, has reacted badly to what was in the trunk, and I hoped you could help me show him the light."
"It's gotten him? This Robert? Then he's doomed. Get out now while you can. Go home!"
"Mr. Gage, please. I don't believe in fairy tales."
Then he slapped me. For an old cripple, he hit me pretty hard. He grabbed up his gun again and began limping about the hut, throwing several things into an old trash bag. "We must go. It is coming." I was very confused, but I helped him gather what he asked for. Klaus brushed past me and hobbled out the door, beckoning me to follow. I hadn't gone ten feet out of the door when the place erupted into flame. Klaus didn't even look back, but I couldn't resist. There was someone standing in front of the hut, watching it burn. He was at least eight feet tall. "Turn. Keep walking. If you can't see it it can't see you."
I thought that was pretty ridiculous too, but it seemed to be working well enough for Klaus, so I followed him back to town, and from there led him to the dig site. Robert's old watch was resting on top of my pillow, the face cracked, as if smashed by a knife, or perhaps a sword. The clock had stopped at 11:00 exactly.
Everett out.
Monday, July 18, 2011
Thursday, July 14, 2011
Arghhhhhhhh
Despite Robert's repeated denials that I will find Klaus, one of the village children believes that he can show me the way. It was difficult getting any information at all as the best I have to work with are a few stray words and a phrasebook. I plan on following the child's directions within the week, though probably nearer to the end of it. Until then I'll hope Robert comes to his senses.
Just a short update. To let you know I'm alive and kicking. And have a plan.
My God, Robert...what have we done?
Just a short update. To let you know I'm alive and kicking. And have a plan.
My God, Robert...what have we done?
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Well done!
He got it right!
The rest of you...Well you made quite a mess of yourselves there.
It was amusing...I will give you that.
Poor Kurt...11 years old...On holiday from England...
Taken by a strange man, forced to talk to the microphone and then...
Well you just don't want to know what He did to him.
And you wont even remember him.
If you want to know what it really said...Go ahead...Just do not expect it to mean anything any more.
I do hope you continue playing
The rest of you...Well you made quite a mess of yourselves there.
It was amusing...I will give you that.
Poor Kurt...11 years old...On holiday from England...
Taken by a strange man, forced to talk to the microphone and then...
Well you just don't want to know what He did to him.
And you wont even remember him.
If you want to know what it really said...Go ahead...Just do not expect it to mean anything any more.
I do hope you continue playing
What a horrible mess...
You are solving this task slower the you ought to have done...
Are you sure you are on the right track?
Are you sure you are on the right track?
Monday, July 11, 2011
Sunday, July 10, 2011
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
My head hurts
I voyaged into the woods at around noon. I had my lighter, my knife, a length of rope, a flashlight and a pack of extra batteries. None of which helped much. The woods were lit well enough, as it was the middle of the day, despite their moniker. After nearly an hour of trekking and not finding anything but the occasional insect, I heard a melody being played from somewhere to my right. It sounded like a piano. Needless to say, I waded through the leaves towards it. There was Robert; at least, I think it was Robert.
I saw him from behind at first, and it really just looked like a black oblong with a fringe of red hair upon it. It was obvious that whoever it was was the one playing the white piano. He turned, and it looked enough like Robert, if Robert put on a shapeless black robe. Then I blacked out.
Woke up...yesterday. Back at our camp. It looked as if nothing had changed, and closer inspection revealed that, in fact, nothing had changed. It was as if the place had frozen in time. The town hadn't, though. All the residents were bustling about and I swear I heard the odd gossip about Robert and I. Something tells me that at least some of them know about this "knight" thing, but they all refused to tell me.
Lastly I've tried to contact our sponsor, but I haven't gotten a single word. It's as if they've disappeared off the face of the Earth.
Next step, try to find out about this Klaus Gage guy.
Everett out.
I saw him from behind at first, and it really just looked like a black oblong with a fringe of red hair upon it. It was obvious that whoever it was was the one playing the white piano. He turned, and it looked enough like Robert, if Robert put on a shapeless black robe. Then I blacked out.
Woke up...yesterday. Back at our camp. It looked as if nothing had changed, and closer inspection revealed that, in fact, nothing had changed. It was as if the place had frozen in time. The town hadn't, though. All the residents were bustling about and I swear I heard the odd gossip about Robert and I. Something tells me that at least some of them know about this "knight" thing, but they all refused to tell me.
Lastly I've tried to contact our sponsor, but I haven't gotten a single word. It's as if they've disappeared off the face of the Earth.
Next step, try to find out about this Klaus Gage guy.
Everett out.
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