Preys and Predators Part 1 Chapter 11

 

11            A coincidence

 

The conversation at Holmes’ living area became more cordial when Mrs Hudson brought the tray of scones and pot of tea. The four sat down to the interlude of refreshment, and it was then Professor Challenger raised a pertinent name.

“Holmes, I meant Sherlock.” Professor Challenger bashfully smiled. “Sherlock, since we are on the case of the murders. The peculiar act of it was the savagery of the attack; the organs removed.”

“I had seen some acts of these but never in the same context. Some tribes do take the organs of the dead but it was more ritualistic or at times, mutilate the dead so that if they are reborn, they would not be complete.”

“I was told some take the heads, and have it shrunk it to wear as trophies.” Mycroft interjected.

“Yes, those are head hunters but I have not met them as yet.” Professor Challenger then return to his tale. “Savagery exists in the wild, as a form of action to intimidate the enemies from attacking them. Just like the head hunters, the trophies are like a totem of strength.”

“In which, the murders here, the trophies are the organs. They are collected to show their prize, but the crucial point was the act of the killing. The victims are sliced opened and left there. That to me is another form of trophy display.” Professor explained. “But the act is still savage.”

“Decapitation is savage.” Doctor Watson cut in. “At the Frontier, savagery may come in the form of torture or leaving a dying man to be staked alive in the hot sun.”

“There are many forms of savagery. Removing the pinkie finger is equally savage.” Professor Challenger smiled.

“Or making one a eunuch is as bad.” Mycroft tried to get into the flow of the discussion.

“Mycroft, that was a choice for them to get into the palace in the Far East.” Doctor Watson snapped at the other.

“As I was indicating the acts of savagery comes from the acts, and how does these acts can be performed. A normal person may not be able to do it unless in anger or in some, a necessity.” Professor Challenger shifted the matter.

“Your flow of the mind then, Professor?” Holmes cut in.

“Recently, I was to witness the influence of some medicine …… pardon my reference, Doctor. The …... so named doctors there used the potion from the flower to create the strength in the warriors, that they became …... intoxicated.” Professor Challenger tried to find the correct term to use.

“Are you saying extreme show of strength? I have seen it in some when they are in a trance or at times, in a wild state of emotions.” Doctor Watson added his view. “It is the result of the medication.”

“It may be so, but have you seen their physical form increase in size?” Professor Challenger held out his right fingers. “They grew double their shapes. That was noticeable.”

Mycroft looked to his groin and with wild imagination it grew.

“I saw them personally. The warrior of a timid built became twice his build. The unique part of it was his emotions were …….”

“Scrambled? That is the drug induced state, but to grow has never been recorded.” Doctor Watson explained medically.

“Exactly! I was bewildered by the act. I then took some sample of the flowers with me.” Professor Challenger smiled. “It was unethical but curiosity overcome me.”

“Do you have it here?” Holmes asked.

“Not any more. I am not a chemist so I handed it over to a good friend, Doctor Henry Jekyll three months ago.” Professor Challenger looked at the Doctor. “He was to test it.”

“Henry Jekyll? I knew him. He was my junior in the faculty where we learned Chemistry. He is a genius but his experiments were radical. Once he tried to induce the apes’ codes into the chimpanzee to make them bigger but he was reprimanded for being foolish.” Holmes recalled the younger chemist.

“I knew him too.” Mycroft recalled the eccentric chemist who was later recruited by the Intelligence to make some experimental projects. The government was desperate to find new works to rival some of the other minds like Nikola Tesla or George Westinghouse; both are inventors in the realm of electricity. The works of Jules Verne had gotten the imagination of many to find new discoveries.

“Well, by name.” Mycroft shot himself in the toes there. He could not disclose the works of Doctor Jekyll without getting him locked away at the sanatorium or the Tower of London.

“Jekyll?” Holmes was intrigued. He recalled seeing Doctor Jekyll there at the murder scene. It was more than a coincidence.

“What did you do?” Holmes asked.

“I gave him the flowers to test. He was curious on the effect of the mind and body when incorporated with enhanced chemicals.” Doctor Challenger smiled. “He was fixated on it. He also believed that Nephilim exists and they were created.”

“Most interesting.” Holmes frowned over his facial expression. “And did Doctor Jekyll mentioned anything on the flower’s experiment?”

“No, we have not met since then. I was away and when I returned, he had not seen me.”

“And it was three months since we met.” Professor Challenger smiled. “I returned with Jon Roxton. We met at the ship returning here. He was on another expedition there.”

It was about three months period when the murders had taken place.

“Jon is in the city this week; meeting someone he had not seen for some time. It was a lady. Her name is Mary Reid from the other continent.” Professor Challenger smiled. “He is a ladies’ man, and a hunter. Both skills he is good.”

“Mycroft, I was to tell you to get Jon to replace me, but he may not be available. He is due to sail with me next week. We just met this this morning. He is just here to warm his toes with the lady.” The Professor smiled.

“Sherlock, do you know Professor Moriarty? He used to teach at your university. He is a professor of Maths. He is Mary Reid’s uncle.” Holmes heard from the Professor with interest. The coincidence became more intertwined.

‘Mary Reid? I heard of the name but I cannot place the face.” Doctor Watson cut in.

“She is a renowned ……. Or rather a bounty hunter for the vampires and werewolves, by reputation.” Holmes said to Watson.