CARNACKI: The New Adventures (19 page)

As if on signal, Jessup, Arkright, Taylor, and I sprang to our feet and, virtually in chorus, exclaimed, “Out we go!” We could not hasten from Carnacki’s apartments fast enough and, without further discussion amongst ourselves, we headed off to our various homes.

(after William Hope Hodgson and H. P. Lovecraft)

Dramatis Personae

Protagonists:

Thomas Carnacki
, the ghost-finder. Late thirties. Hale.

William Dodgson
, a compatriot of Carnacki’s. Mid-thirties. Earnest.

Supporting Characters:

Mrs. Judith Allenby
, philanthropist. Late thirties. Formidable.

Miss Florence Allenby
, debutante. Late teens. Prickly.

The year 1912.
Thomas Carnacki
’s experimenting room, part of his apartments at 427, Cheyne Walk, Chelsea, London. Evening.

Carnacki
sits cross-legged on his instrument trunk. His eyes are closed. He is deep in concentration. Throughout the preset he murmurs the following mantra:

Colpriziana, Offina, Alta, Nestera, Fuaro, Menuet.

Alim, Jehoh, Jehovah, Agla, On, Tetragrammaton.

Adon, Schadai, Eligon, Amanai, Elion, Pneumaton, Elii, Alnoal, Mess as, Ja, Heynaan, Tetragrammaton.

Adonai, Zeboth, Adon, Schadai, Elion, Tetragrammaton, Eloi, Elohim, Messias, Ja, Hagios, Ho Theos.

Around his neck: a belt of garlic.

Tied to his wrist: a curious talisman made of feathers.

In his pockets: a box of matches; a loaded revolver; and a piece of parchment, blank on one side and covered on the other with illegible, esoteric script in strange vi
olet ink.

In the trunk: another belt of garlic; some chalk; a measu
ring-tape; a jar of water, sealed with wax and parchment over a rubber stopper; five church candles; half a bottle of good whisky; two tumblers; and the components of the Electric Pentacle (a battery, wires, five short and five long vacuum tubes).

Carnacki.
Murmurs.
Colpriziana, Offina, Alta, Nestera, Fuaro, Menuet.

Alim, Jehoh, Jehovah, Agla, On, Tetragrammaton.

Adon, Schadai, Eligon, Amanai, Elion, Pneumaton, Elii, Alnoal, Mess as, Ja, Heynaan, Tetragrammaton.

Adonai, Zeboth, Adon, Schadai, Elion, Tetragrammaton, Eloi, Elohim, Messias, Ja, Hagios, Ho Theos.

Dodgson.
Enters, carrying a lantern. In his pocket: a cigarette case and a box of matches. Dithers.

Carnacki.
Colpriziana, Offina, Alta, Nestera, Fuaro, Menuet.

Alim, Jehovah—

Dodgson.
Clears his throat.

Carnacki.
Starts. Opens his eyes.
Dodgson.

Dodgson.
Carnacki, you old fraud. I hope I’m not interrupting anything.

Carnacki.
How did you get in?

Dodgson.
Your front door wasn’t latched.

Carnacki.
And that lantern. Where did you get that lantern?

Dodgson.
Oh, I borrowed it from the porter next door. None of your lights seem to be working.

Carnacki.
No. I disconnected them all.

Dodgson.
Look, if you’re in the middle of something, I can come back—

Carnacki.
No, no, for heaven’s sake don’t go anywhere. You’re late enough as it is.
Hops off the trunk and opens it.

Dodgson.
I came as soon as I got your card.

Carnacki.
Which was when?

Dodgson.
Must have been just gone five.

Carnacki.
And what time is it now?

Dodgson.
Not long after six. Are your clocks not working either?

Carnacki.
Can’t trust them. Can’t trust myself to read them right, rather. Here, you’d better wear this.
Tosses
Dodgson
a belt of garlic from the trunk.

Dodgson.
Whatever for?

Carnacki.
Rummaging in the trunk for the chalk and measuring-tape.
Just a precaution. I doubt you’re in any danger. Just put it on, there’s a good chap, for my peace of mind.

Dodgson.
Hangs the garlic around his neck.
Have I got the wrong end of the stick here, Carnacki? Only when I got your card, I—

Carnacki.
Oh, you’d better stick some in your ears, too.

Dodgson.
I beg your pardon?

Carnacki.
Garlic. Just peel a bit and plug your ears with it.
Mutters.
You oughtn’t to be able to hear it, but best to be safe.

Dodgson.
Picking at one of the garlic bulbs.
I’m not sure about all this, Carnacki. When I got your card I expected the usual thing, you know, dinner, whiskey, and a yarn round the fire.

Carnacki.
You’ll have whiskey and a yarn before the night’s out. Come here, quick, help, before we lose the light.

Dodgson.
Approaches.
Help with what?

Carnacki.
Hands
Dodgson
one end of the measuring-tape and positions him in the centre of the room.
And douse that lantern.

Dodgson.
But it’s getting dark.

Carnacki.
Steps away, unrolling his end of the measuring-tape.
Stand on your end, would you?

Dodgson.
Obeys. Puts down the lantern, still lit, liberates a clove of garlic, splits it, and plugs his ears with it.

Carnacki.
Using the measuring-tape, begins to chalk out a circle on the floor around himself, Dodgson, and the trunk. The circle takes up most of the space. He is careful never to step outside the line he is drawing.

Dodgson.
Are you . . . ? You are, aren’t you?

Carnacki.
What?

Dodgson.
Constructing a barrier. A—a defence against the supernatural.

Carnacki.
Ab-natural. But yes. Perceptive of you. Shift the trunk for me, would you?

Dodgson.
Lifts the trunk over the measuring-tape so
Carnacki
can complete the circle.
What exactly are you expecting to happen here tonight?

Carnacki.
If the barrier holds, nothing.

Dodgson.
But it’s possible it won’t? What kind of apparition—

Carnacki.
Listen, Dodgson, you’ll have the whole tale before long, but I can’t be easy until we’re both properly protected.
Completes the chalk circle. Plucks a bulb of garlic from the belt around his neck and crushes it between his palms. Begins smudging a broad smear of garlic around the circle, just outside the chalk line.

Dodgson.
Rolling up the measuring-tape.
Oh, no, of course. I’m sorry. It’s just unexpected, that’s all.

Carnacki.
Not to worry. Just sit tight. I’ll not be much longer.

Dodgson.
Perhaps I can help.

Carnacki.
There’s really no need.

Dodgson.
We’ll be protected that much sooner. It’s a Water Circle you’re constructing, isn’t it?

Carnacki.
Pauses smudging.
You’ve been studying the Sigsand manuscript?

Dodgson.
Arkright got his hands on a copy at auction while you were busy with that Woeful Dagger case.

Carnacki.
Resumes smudging.
Did he now? And what has old Sigsand taught you about the Water Circle?

Dodgson.
Not much that we hadn’t already picked up from one or other of your yarns. There was a passage about the different ways you can arrange the candles to produce different effects.

Carnacki.
Do you recall a passage that begins, “There must be no light come from within the barrier”?

Dodgson.
That does sound—oh! I see!
Extinguishes the lantern.

Carnacki.
Thank you.

Dodgson.
Sorry.

Carnacki.
Better give me your cigarettes as well.

Dodgson.
All right.
Hands them over.

Beat.

Dodgson.
If I’m not mistaken, Carnacki . . .

Carnacki.
Yes?

Dodgson.
The Sigsand also says the barrier must be made around the ones to be protected.

Carnacki.
That’s right. So don’t step outside the circle, or I shall have to start all over again.

Dodgson.
But what about the others?

Carnacki.
The others? Where? I don’t—

Dodgson.
Aren’t they coming?

Carnacki.
Oh. I see. No, we’re a reduced party tonight, old chap. Ugh. Ghastly stuff.
Tosses the garlic out of the circle and dusts the debris from his hands.

Dodgson.
You mean to say I’m the only one you sent for?

Carnacki.
This circle’s a little cosy for five, wouldn’t you say?

Dodgson.
But if you’d only room for one—and if there’s some ab-natural danger abroad—then why—

Carnacki.
Yes?

Dodgson.
Well, why not Arkright? Or Jessop. He’s well salted in these affairs after that business aboard the
Mortzestus
.

Carnacki.
I think Arkright and Jessop are occupied with that conundrum of the ambassador’s, besides which—

Dodgson.
And what about Taylor?

Carnacki.
Taylor? Taylor, I fancy, hasn’t the stomach for this sort of thing.

Dodgson.
And you fancy I do?

Carnacki.
I know full well you’ve loads of pluck.

Dodgson.
Really?

Carnacki.
Rummages in the trunk for the jar of water.
We’re losing the light. Can you construct the Inner Star while I finish the circle?

Dodgson.
You trust me to get it right?

Carnacki.
Well, you’ll be in as much trouble as me if you don’t, so do you trust yourself to?

Dodgson.
I think so.

Carnacki.
Then so do I.
Hands
Dodgson
the chalk. Breaks the jar’s seal and removes the stopper.

Dodgson.
You’ll look over it when I’m finished, though?

Carnacki.
Can’t promise anything.
Dips his left forefinger in the water and goes around the circle again, daubing the Eight Signs of the Saaamaaa Ritual on the floor, just within the chalk line, at the eight major compass points.

Dodgson.
Oh. Well then. All right.
Pauses to recollect and calculate. Rummages in the trunk for the five candles. Using the measuring-tape, begins positioning them at equal distances around the circle, just outside the chalk line.
It’d be hard to credit if you hadn’t proven it so often, wouldn’t it? I mean, that this works. That wax and chalk and water need only the application of geometry to form such an impediment to such immense powers.

Carnacki.
I’m sure it seems like superstitious mumming to you, Dodgson, but do allow me to concentrate while I’m about it.

Dodgson.
Come, there’s no need to be like that. I don’t think it’s silly. I think it’s a marvel.

Carnacki.
Please, shush, just for a minute.

Dodgson.
Draws chalk lines on the floor from candle to candle to form a pentacle, its points touching the chalk circle.

Carnacki.
Finishes the Eighth Sign. Look. The light.
Quickly, now.
Strikes a match. Lights candles.

Dodgson.
Strikes a match. Lights candles.

Night falls.

Carnacki.
Slumps, relieved.
I think it’s about time for that whiskey, don’t you?

Dodgson.
Let me.
Rummages in the trunk for the whiskey and tumblers.

Carnacki.
Sorry I had to be short with you.

Dodgson.
Not at all.

Carnacki.
I’ve been in a towering funk since last night.

Dodgson.
Pours.
I’m sure it’s not without reason.

Carnacki.
Ordinarily I’d agree with you. You remember in that Grey Dog case, what saved my life was what most men would simply call nerves.

Dodgson.
Yes. You told us it’s as well never to neglect that sort of feeling.

Carnacki.
So I did.

Dodgson.
Sometimes it’s more than just cowardice, you said. Sometimes it’s something warning you, and fighting for you.

Carnacki.
Yes. I may have to rethink that little pearl of wisdom before we all sit down to dinner again. If we ever all sit down to dinner again, I should say.

Dodgson.
Come now, it’s gloomy enough in here without that sort of talk.
Hands
Carnacki
a tumbler.

Carnacki.
Gloomy, you say?

Dodgson.
Yes. Best keep our spirits up.

Carnacki.
Of course. The sun’s gone down, hasn’t it?

Dodgson.
Making it high time for a drink. Cheers.

Carnacki.
Cheers.
Clinks. Drains his tumbler and puts it down.

Dodgson.
Drains his tumbler and puts it down. Splutters. Ugh. Can I take this garlic out of my ears now? Starts to winkle it out.

Carnacki.
No!
Claps his hands over
Dodgson
’s hands and ears.

Beat.

Carnacki.
Releases
Dodgson
.
I am to be Odysseus tonight, Dodgson. I have to endure the Siren’s song. You must be my helmsman. Deaf to the seducer’s voice, keeping us to the right course, eh? Do you understand?

Dodgson.
To a degree.

Carnacki.
You’re sure?

Dodgson.
It’s like that Luck Ring case—you expect our judgement to be affected by something?

Carnacki.
Yours, no, but mine already is being. My senses are not my allies tonight. Do you see this?
Meaning the talisman.
No matter how I try to justify the act, you must not let me take it off. And I will try. I may reason with you, or simply slip it off while your back’s turned, or I may try to leave the circle. If I succeed, I shall be as good as dead. Or rather, perhaps I’ll wish I were dead. Do you begin to grasp the gravity of your duty?