Durham CathedralThat evening the Investigators were looking for something to occupy themselves. Billy and Jimmy decided to hang out in the hotel's bar, which had a piano player entertaining the patrons. Billy overheard people in the bar talking about large birds, possibly eagles, being seen in the surrounding area. Max and Carl decided to head to explore the local hostelries, while Basil and Paul decided to check out the meeting of the local Music Society, after finding a flier for it in the hotel reception. The Music Society was meeting in a church opposite the cathedral and they seemed to be playing some kind of weird mix of modern classical music and jazz, however to their surprise Basil recognised a young woman who had been with the obnoxious Ashton Brown in the Flask Inn. He followed the young woman back to her digs in the Durham castle part of the university.  Next morning they went to see Professor Graham, who was affable enough, but wasn't really able to add much about the Cult of Azathoth other than confirm what they already knew. Somewhat at a loss about what to do they spotted a flier for a meeting of something called "The Azazel" in the Buffalo Head Pub that evening. Max commented on the similarity of the name with that of "Azathoth" and they decided to check it out. The Azazel, turned out to be some kind of historical society, that evening hosting Professor Mark Hooke, who was giving a talk the Sacred Geometry of British Cathedrals. Interesting though the talk was, more interesting was the presence of the obnoxious student they had met at the Flask Inn, Ashton Brown! Aston seemed particularly friendly with the president of the Azazel, Amelia Carter. After the talk, the Professor advises he will be giving a guided tour of the cathedral the next day and the Investigators sign up. In the bar after the discussion, somewhat oddly, Amelia makes a point of speaking to each of the Investigators. This arouses Billy's suspicions and he tries to keep an eye on her through the evening, but looses her as she goes to the Ladies and then does not return. Ashton Brown also manages to slip out unnoticed at some point. As things break-up, Paul escorts a somewhat inebriated Professor Hooke back to the Hotel. Next day they all assemble for the tour, noting that Amelia, Ashton and a small group of students who had been at the talk last night are all present. The tour takes them around the upper levels, up spiral staircases, through doors to walkways high above the ground, under the stained glass and finally down into a part of the undercroft. They are repeatedly warned to be careful, as some of the walkways are narrow and have no safety barriers. Billy is keeping a close eye on Amelia and Ashton of to discover as they walk round a pillar, Amelia has vanished! Billy confronts Ashton who denies that Amelia was even there and walks on. Billy was still trying to digest that when someone barges into him from behind, almost knocking him off the walkway! Whirling angrily, he sees one of the young students, smirk! Billy angrily confronts the young man, opening his jacket to display his holstered revolver. The young man suddenly lunged forward and pushed Billy off the walkway. To horrified screams from the onlookers, Billy slammed into the ground thirty feet below. Everyone rushed down to Billy. First Aid was administered and an ambulance summoned. Basil questioned the young student, who maintained that Billy stumbled and fell. Still suspicious, though he could not detect any overt lies, he reported his suspicious to the constable that turned up with the ambulance. Paul accompanied Billy to the hospital to ensure nothing else happened to him Billy, badly bruised and with a broken leg, was discharged later that night, Returning to the hotel, he informed the others exactly what had happened. |