Charles Carter "The Great"

(Ryan Collier)  

                 You had prepared hard for your stunt of daring and magic. Suspended above the Thames in a wicker basket without food, just a chamber pot and several bottles of martini. The crowds had gathered to cheer (and jeer) as you were raised up. It was when you ran out of olives for your martinis that you knew you could not continue your feat of self sacrifice any longer - even though it had only been 6 hours. However despite your claims that it had been a great spiritual experience the newspapers still reported it in mocking terms. You needed something big for your next act of brazen self-promotion. The astronomer Richard Harker gave you the idea - and that was where things seemed to go down hill.

            You had heard of the comet, Aelfreds Comet it was called. Harker was something of an expert on them and apparently this one was going to be big and come very close. You put the arrangements in place, you would set up a stand and a stage in Hyde park and claim to use powers learned from reading your (fictional) ancient texts to will the Comet from colliding with the Earth; what better free publicity could you want? You even contacted Harker for the date when the comet would be closest to Earth and invited him along, though he was not interested in what you had in mind.

            At first public interest was slow, but as the comet began to appear in the sky, and just got bigger and brighter until it could even be seen in the daytime, interest flourished. On the night in question, 5th May, you had a good crowd and so began your act. You went into your elaborate "trance state" in front of a mesmerised crowd, and a few giggling children, and of course the comet did not hit the Earth (no danger of that anyway!), but then as often is the case it was pure chance that aided you further, for this was the night of the shooting stars. Apparently, as Harker later explained to those who were interested, the comets tail had passed though the Earth's orbit and so the fragments streaming behind it had fallen into the Earth's atmosphere causing the spectacular display. What is more, there were reports that some "meteors" had crashed to the ground over Britain and Ireland - reports even came in of one exploding above a forest in Wales. This made your stunt even better.

            Never giving an opportunity a miss you plan your next event. You decide that as people will believe anything, you will put out an advert for any meteor rocks that people find, if no one came forward you could always get a large stone from your garden and pretend it was a meteor. So on the 10th May you put your advert in the morning papers stating that Carter the Great requests any known fragments of the great comet in order that he may use them to harness the power of the cosmos! Unfortunately that Richard Harker chap had also placed an advert, but his was just for dull scientific research, yours at least should fire people's imaginations.

            It was not long before you receive a reply; a farmer in Kent had found one in a small hole in his field. He brought it to you in a box. The meteor (if that was indeed what it was, you not having a clue about such matters) was about the size of your fist, a dark grey colour, irregular but smooth. On its surface were small cracks from which a strange glow emitted. It gave of no heat, but upon touching it directly it singed your fingers. Whipping your hand away with a yelp the farmer helpfully comments that that is what happened when he touched it. You pay the man 10 guineas and send a press release about "your" find. You are photographed by a few of the tabloids with the meteor perched on an ornate stand and you standing next to it looking suitably mysterious.

            You try to contact Harker again to suggest a joint press conference when he can announce his scientific findings and you can announce your plans to unlock the secret forces of the cosmos. Unfortunately, he isn’t in but Harker’s assistant Mr Shannon sugguests trying a friend of the Professor’s, a Astronomer named Christian Ogilvie. Mr Ogilvie explains that Harker is on a field trip in Wales, and you put your proposition to Ogilvie. He puts the phone down on you. Thereafter you never get past Harker's assistant, a Mr Shannon.

            Matters took a turn for the worse after two gentlemen and a lady visited you. They said they were greatly interested in your beliefs about the powers of the comet. At first you let them in to talk as they seemed to have a genuine interest in the occult and you thought perhaps you could learn something of worth from your charade. They did however leave you feeling a little uneasy. They were interested in buying your meteorite. You advised it was of course not for sale. They asked to see it, but your experience of studying the psychology of people for your stage acts warned you against it and so you lied and said it was stored in a bank vault in the city and so was not to hand. The leader of this trio seemed to size you up mentally, much as you would a volunteer for your hypnotism act, you expected that he did not believe a word, but he seemed to accept your answer quite readily and then they quickly made their excuses and left.

            Two nights later you awoke in the dead of night. You do not recall hearing any sounds and are not sure what alerted you, but something seemed amiss. You pulled on your nightgown and ventured from your bedroom. Then you heard the sound of breaking glass in your props room. Determined to confront the intruder you make your way down stairs. The door to your props room is open, its lock smashed. You push open the door and amongst the maze of props and cabinets stored within stands a dark figure in loose hanging clothing and a hood; no, it was a robe! The figure turns to you and reaches into his sleeve pulling out a long sharp looking knife, you begin to wish you had stayed upstairs.

            "Heathen", a voice speaks from the darkness of the hood, "Where is the seed"? You are as baffled as you are scared and begin to back away, then you sense someone behind and note that another dark robed figure had entered the room. You turn to keep both intruders in your sights, then rush into the maze of cabinets- you head for your Chamber of Mystery cabinet and jump inside, fumbling for the catch to the back panel, you swing it open and squeeze inside breathing in as you close the door behind you - your assistant being a somewhat thinner female it proves a very tight fit. You hold your breath as you hear the front of the cabinet being pulled open leaving your assailants confronted by an apparently empty box. You hear the banging and crashes of other doors as they search for you amongst the mass of cabinets and boxes.

            You wait for what must be an hour before venturing out of the cabinet. You switch on the lights and note the damage done to many of your stage props. The rest of your house has faired no better. You call the police and they duly attend. A Detective Spencer from Scotland Yard arrives - a very cordial man in dark clothes and a bowler hat. He seems most interested in your description of the intruders and their curious use of language. You confess you have no idea what "the seed" was. Spencer notes your collection of occult books with further interest. "They published a photo in the newspapers of you with a meteor rock that you say fell during the meteor shower the other week?" he asks. You confess you did. He asks if you still had the meteorite, you lie to him and say it was a fake for publicity. Spencer talks to another plain clothes policeman, "It could be linked to the others" you hear him remark, "No doubt we will be called off this one as well" Spencer makes some more notes then excuses himself and leaves.

            Once the locksmith has been and secured your doors it is early morning. You make your way to your bedroom, bath and dress then slide aside the picture of Houdini on the wall and open the safe and remove the box containing the meteorite. Looking inside the faint glow of green can still be seen through the cracks. You hear nothing further from the police. They do not even seem to require a statement from you.

            On the 19th May you read in the newspaper about the brutal murder of an Edward Shannon at the place where Richard Harker works. You recall speaking to Shannon during your attempts to reach Harker. Drawn to know more you visit the Astronomical Society but the police have barred access, you ask after Harker from people close by but no one can give you an answer. You see a visible shaken man talking to police who is taking notes, and you hear the officer say “Thank you Mr. Ogilvie, we will keep you updated.”  So this was Ogilvie!

            You follow the astronomer when he leaves and he drives to a house near Greenwich - you assume it is his home. You intended to try and talk to him but you are concerned now is perhaps not the best time.

            The next night you stay at home, fearful to retire to bed, the box with the meteorite close to hand. What did the assailants want? Why did Spencer show an interest in the meteorite? What did he mean about the break-in being linked to "the others"? Why have the police brushed aside your enquiries?

            The next day you decide you need to get out of the house and will attend your club, as is usual for you on a Friday. As you leave your keen eye, another product of your profession, spots a car with two men sitting inside. You hail a cab, as you intend to have a good drink and so will leave your own car behind, and notice the car follows you to the club. You stay all afternoon and have lunch and dinner there before finishing with some more drinks. As you leave the car with the two men in is parked outside. You hail a cab and again the car follows. The cab stops at a crossing opposite a small gated green. You fling open the door and leap from the cab running into the green with the cab driver shouting curses after you. You rush out the other side round some back streets, spot another cab and hastily hail it asking the driver to take the long route to your house. You stop the cab two streets away from your home and walk from there. Checking the coast is clear you enter your house. You call the operator and ask to be put through to Greenwich Observatory - strangely for night-time, you feel, the operator can get no reply. You gather some belongings and then, again checking the way is clear, you get in your car and drive to Greenwich.

            You arrive at Greenwich observatory. No one is to be seen. The door is open and so you enter the main hall. The place is in disarray. Cabinets are smashed and broken pieces of displays strewn upon the floor. You rush from the building and drive to Ogilvie's home, wishing you had never come up with the comet stunt in the first place and had stuck with your earlier plan to play Russian roulette live on the radio. You arrive at Ogilvie's home. A cab pulls up and you see Ogilvie and anther man jump out and rush into the house - they both look very disheveled. You go to the house and ring the doorbell. A maid answers and you ask to speak to Ogilvie. A voice shouts down from upstairs that he will see no visitors and she is not to answer the door to anyone. The maid apologises and closes the door on you.

            You wait outside. What else can you do? And wait, and wait… You are awoken the next morning by Ogilvie and his companion rushing out to a waiting cab, looking like to men on a mission. You follow them, looking for a chance to introduce yourself and hopefully find out some answers. They arrive at another house, but before you can get out of your door Ogilvie and his companion have lept into another car and are driving away. You follow a distance away, briefly wondering if you are doing the right thing before deciding you are – you need to know what was going on and Ogilvie was your only hope of finding out. Their car drives away from London heading northwest, heading into Wales. Before long you note you are following signs to Llangadfan - the site of the reported explosion during the meteor shower!

            At midday you reach the village of Llangadfan. Ogilvie and his companion park in the car park of The Cann Office public house and go inside. Gingerly you follow.

            Inside Ogilvie and his companion are speaking to a young lady and two men. You hesitate, and then approach Ogilvie. He is not too pleased to see you. You explain about the meteorite that you have and the burglary. You feel from the comet that these are connected. You advise that you are aware of the break-in at the observatory. Ogilvie remarks that as your hear now you may as well tag along - they have come to look for Harker who has gone missing since coming hear on a field trip to find meteorites two weeks ago. Just then Ogilvie spots someone and motions them over, it is a police constable who is accompanied by a rather shady looking chap. Ogilvie introduces himself and his companion, a Arthur Catt, to the constable. He then introduces the lady as Miss Mayland, Richard Harker's cousin, and her two companions, Mr Biggs and Mr Donahue. He then curtly introduces yourself. The constable, PC Gray, introduces the man with him as Thomas Moore, who will be guiding them to the cottage Harker had rented in the nearby forest.

            Just as you make a move to leave the pub another gentleman approaches PC Gray and introduces himself as Peter Roberts, an estate agent. Mr Roberts motions towards a rather wealthy looking couple seated in the pub and explains he has been appointed by the estate of the late Mr Joseph Lewis to sell his land and property and the Earl and his betrothed were to view it today. However the key holder has advised him that the chap who recently rented the property for a week has not returned the key and by all accounts may still be there, he wants PC Gray to help with directions to the cottage and if necessary evict the trespasser. It turns out the cottage he speaks of is the one you are heading for, the "trespasser" being Richard Harker.

            Setting off with your eclectic entourage you all drive in your vehicles to the entrance of the forest before setting off on foot in search of Harker...