32.
“Doctor Watson, you are …… an asset to
Sherlock. It is obvious. As an asset to the other, you are a liability to me. You invade my privacy at
home, and now……. my academic chamber.” The professor placed his lecture notes.
He had just completed his lecture on the complex question of Z.
“I just explained to my students the issue
of Z; to solve for 𝑧 ((where
“Complicated? I believe so for you are a
man of medicine while mathematics does not……”
“It does, Professor. I have to be precise
to remove the abscess from the …… Posterior Interosseous Nerve; we do refer it
as the pin which is the terminal motor branch of the radial nerve, deriving
from cervical segments C7 and C8. It supplies motor innervation to all the
extensor muscles in the posterior compartment of the forearm except for the
extensor carpi radialis longus, and provides sensory fibres to the dorsal wrist
capsule.”
“Not a bullet wound, but as a doctor in
the field, I have to undo almost every ……. Injury.” Doctor Watson smiled.
“Viola, not ……. I stand corrected. Equally
challenging like my equation.” Professor Moriarty adjusted the papers on the
desk and then took his seat behind the desk. He reached down to the side of his
desk, where he kept the revolver, and found it missing.
“Oh, that was the abscess earlier. It may
hurt your wrist.” Doctor Watson smiled. “Now shall we be civilised””
“Oh, I am always.” Professor Moriarty
smiled, and leaned back on the seat. “If I am to deduct your reason, may I ……”
“Deductions are Sherlock’s forte. Mine is
fast and decisive moves.” Watson smiled. “Now I am here to talk on Ian
Masterson.”
“Ian Masterson? Heard of him but never
met. He was an ……” Professor Moriarty was cut off.
“Stay to the issue, Professor. You knew
Ian Masterson is the Yomi Devils ....”
“Adviser, Doctor. We never met but he made
overtures towards me. He offered me riches beyond mine. My paltry wages as a
Professor of Mathematics are miniscule to the amount offered.”
“Paltry it may be, but your wealth as the
crime lord exceeds the Royal treasury.” Doctor Watson added.
“Standard deviation measured, Doctor. I am
ever surprised that you rely on that ridiculous …… advises of those …….
Sub-standard academics from Scotland Yard.” The Professor laughed. “I taught
them those skills. Idiots indeed. No one who is a commoner can surpass the
wealth of the royalties.”
“Absolutely unless he is a lord by rank.”
Doctor Watson smiled. “Now, shall we talk on Ian Masterson?”
“Well, Ian Masterson is after the mining
rights for it will gain him great wealth. I do know that his personal worth had
been depleted in the Yomi Devils. He supported Ito Matsuke to gain a foothold
here but the arrival of the sensei had derailed it all. I was told that the two
will meet in a duel, as part of their ritual. If Ito Matsuke dies, the Yomi
Devils will …… dissolved.”
“Ian Masterson knew this, and took steps
to go to Africa to pursue the mining rights. He holds the lady in custody. And
even killed his …… step son, Gavin. He is merciless.” Professor Moriarty
sighed. “One reason, I hold no immediate family.”
“Why ……. “How do you know this?” Doctor
Watson asked.
“Obviously, you do not know me long enough
or in depth. I am the crime lord as said by your friend, Sherlock Holmes. I
will not deny nor confirmed it, but I have my sources to know what I need to
know.” Professor Moriarty smiled. “However, I am puzzled by your visit here.”
“Africa is
the focus next. I am in knowledge that Ian Masterson is going there, as
you had known. Among those going there ……” Doctor Watson was cut off.
“Nayland Smith, sent by his father-in-law,
Fu Manchu. I knew for the ticketing office reports to me. Lord Greystokes and
Mycroft too, for Ms. Kewala; Scotland Yard have ears for me, and Ian Masterson
too. He travels with his own men ready to do battle there.”
“And yourself, and Sherlock……” Professor
Moriarty looked at the doctor. “You are not travelling. Was it because of
myself, or was it ……. Sherlock may not have his supplier of cocaine in Africa
or you will not be here.”
“You are precisely right, Professor. Of
late the supply of cocaine had disappeared. So were the morphine’s and opium’s.
I was told that the dealers are short of the supply. I had my own deductions;
you bought it all.” Doctor Watson had searched all the places for cocaine; he
used it on his dying patience if morphine or opium was short, which it was
then. “You knew his addiction.”
“Yes, I do. It was not only me who bought
it but Fu Manchu. He took up much of it, and was …… to send it to Africa for
medication purposes.” Professor Moriarty smiled. “ A generous amount and knew
its value.”
“When?” Doctor Watson asked.
“Liverpool tomorrow.” Professor Moriarty
looked at the shipping schedule. “I will suggest Sherlock gets his alternative
or seek treatment.”
“You knew? Yet you …… Of course, you let
him have his supply to manage him.” Doctor Watson was upset. “You are a
bastard, Moriarty. I could never break his habit because of him.”
“Like many of us, we just need the right
incentive to keep us going. For me, it was always the complex questions of
getting the right equation. I need Sherlock to be my nemesis to keep me
working my mind. As you do on Sherlock,
curing him is one of yours but the real needs of yours was to wok with him to
keep your mind alive; the mundane task of a doctor in the country side is ……
mundane. That was why you did not give up your place at 22B Baker Street.”
“Now, Doctor Watson. I will be fair. Take
the box next to you. That is enough supply to get him going, and take the ship
to Africa. Nayland and Mycroft will need you there. Forget Lord Greystokes, he
is at home there. Stop Ian Masterson and …… by jolly, have fun.”
“England will not miss you all. I am here
to keep it …… royally glory.” Professor Moriarty smiled. “Care to toast with me
for the old Blighty?”
Doctor Watson took his leave with the
contents of cocaine. The Professor stepped to the desk where he keeps his
drink.
“Would you like a drink, Emperor Fu
Manchu?” Professor Moriarty asked. “Or a cup of tea?”
“Not yours, Professor.” Emperor Fu Manchu
stepped from the adjacent hidden chamber and sat at where Watson was seated.
The professor took back his previous seat.
“It was courteous of you to warn me of the
doctor’s visit but too late. He was in here.” The emperor who was there had
seen the doctor approaching the chamber. He took to the hidden chamber behind
the shelf of books; something that his informers told him of the professor’s
chamber. He left a note on the shipping schedule for the professor.
“I am aware. The note was to warn you that
I am here.” The emperor smiled. “It courteous for me to tell you that.”
“And of what reason that you sought me
out?” Professor Moriarty looked at the other.
“I came because of Ian Masterson matter. I
am to return to my land, Cathay as your people named it since Marco Polo
explored it.” The emperor smiled. “I much prefer to call it my homeland. I am
needed there, but the matter with Ian Masterson remains a pain. I am sending
one of my best to challenge Ian Masterson.”
“Nayland Smith?” The professor asked.
“No, not him but my daughter, Fa Lo Shue.
She was informed on the departure of Smith there to Africa in the pursuit of a
dangerous prey, and I had arranged her ship from Montreal to go there. My
message was clear; Smith is in trouble. She will be there soon after him.”
“You are a genius, Emperor Fu Manchu.” The
professor smiled. “I disliked that but I had to admit admirable.”
“I am to go now. I was just here to tell
you that I am leaving England to yourself…… for now. Do take care.” The emperor
took towards the doorway. “And I will tell my men to release your guards.
Careful as they were, but mine are better.”
The professor smiled. Colonel Moran
Sebastian had three guards at the academic grounds, and none were seen to
assist him. Then he knew why.
“Checkmate then.” The professor said to
the emperor when he opened the door.
“If
it is checkmate, it is called 将死 (Jiāng sǐ).” The
emperor stopped in his track. “We will play another set another day.”
Later
that day, Doctor Watson approached Sherlock Holmes and held the box in front of
him, the other rushed for it, but Watson stepped away.
“You
are addicted. You told me it was …….”
“Shut
up, Watson. I need that to think.”
Sherlock pulled himself up. “I am not addicted but recent events ……”
“Needed
more of your attention? You are not of that
need. Your needs are these. Cocaine have taken over your mind.” Doctor
Watson looked at the other. “Let it go and I will find the cure for you.”
“There
are none, Watson. Only …….” Sherlock looked out the window. “Shoot me, Moran. I
want to die.”
“The
Colonel is not there. He is with the Professor now…… reviewing his security
details.” Doctor Watson said. “I was with the professor, and he told me more
development on Ian Masterson.”
“Ian
Masterson……. Yes, the man works in my mind. He is elusive, but unlike many of
my adversaries, he does not act directly. He works through proxies.” Sherlock
looked to his pipe. “He will get it soon. Mycroft and Nayland are better at his
game. Greystokes…….”
“Sherlock,
stop talking. Your mind is …… away. You ae not yourself anymore. I saw that in
you when I asked you on the cocaine. You denied it but your recent actions were
……. Not yourself.”
“Stop
it, Watson. You are not my ……” Sherlock glared at the other.
“I
am not. I am your friend, Sherlock. Let me cure you.” Watson looked at the man.
“I will administer your ……. Cocaine, but on my …… call.”
“For
now, rest your mind. We will plan our journey to Africa later. The others will
need us.” Watson reached into the box, and withdrew a vial. “Sit back and
relax.”
End
of Book One; London
.
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