Archivist note: This article is from an older recovered archive and might be obsolete or in need of updating.
Most recent revision is shown below, by Galactic Baroque.
Tinus Koskinen, Journal Entry – The Sixteenth Day of February, the Ten year after the….
It has been sometime since I have taken to pen my observations of the city as I have been busy with the charity work associated with maintenance of our library. It is in the conduct of this project that a stumbled upon a mystery which has left me puzzled over the nature of a friend.
A word of explanation, I was asked to help the Babbage Ladies’ Fire Brigade with a charity calendar highlighting some of our men. On special request from those great dames, I was set to capture a candid photograph of the Mayor for inclusion in our fine production. Perplexed on how to accomplish taking a picture of a man notoriously shy with cameras, I called upon the true masters of the city, the urchins. I was in my gallery, finishing up the final entries of my calendar when a young urchin barreled into my shop out of breath.
“Master Gilhooly, did you get it?”
“Bliegh me, M’ster K, I thought he would catch me at anytime.”
Laughing with the boy, I slapped him on the back, “Not you Master Gihooly, you are a sly little one. Now lets see what was the deal, a picture of the Mayor for….”
“Ten boxes of chocolate, ” it was actually five, “and a fort in your new building.”
“Six boxes and access to the building’s attic,” I motion over to the boxes on my desk and watched him fly out of the room, likely out to grab his friends to set up fort in my attic.
I prepared the developing compounds and developed the photograph, hanged them to dry and head over to the pub for a drink. In the morning, I quietly made my way home and back to my studio.
I pulled the old man’s picture off the drying line and almost dropped it. Seemed taller in the picture but that could have been the angle…but his face..skin pulled tightly at highly arched skeletal cheek bones. It was his eyes, yellow and almost glowing. The deadline looming I decided to cover up the photograph blemishes with my paints as I went to print..but I could not let it go.
Yesterday, I caught Gilhooly setting up a hammock in my attic. “I got a job for you, Master Gihooly.”
Hidden in the loft, Master Gilhooly waited while I baited the Mayor to my office again. He looked normal, without evidence of the odd findings on the photos… I handed a copy of the photo to Clockwinder and his face blanched in horror. “No one will see these”, he bellowed. stomping off toward my fireplace. “Take it easy old boy,” I said, “Take it easy old boy, I doctored up the picture for the calender” No the Clockwinder is more like an angry bobcat, more than a gentle kitten but what I saw in his demeanor was shock…perhaps fear. He threw the photos into the fire. He shot me an glance of anger masking deeper emotions.
I deep in thought when Gilhooly caught my attention, “Got it Mister K, now how about those chocolates.” I passed him a couple of boxes which Gihooly attacked immediately. Through a mouthful he continued. “Boy the Mayor guy was mad.” I started unloading the camera, “Aye, little one, not sure I understand that all.”
I place here a copy of the photos for safe keeping.
Perhaps I should break my aversion to Mr Underby and approach him with my findings. I cannot believe I find myself waiting for the return of that ghoul.
”’ Victor on February 17, 2010 at 10:57pm”’
hmmmmm…ive seen something like that before, long time ago though, very long time ago.
”’Grendel Footman on February 17, 2010 at 11:02pm”’
Knew the clockwinder was something else, plain old midgets don’t get high positions in office.
”’Stargirl Macbain on February 17, 2010 at 11:48pm”’
Don’t you DARE Tinus! You bring all those photos to me immediately!
”’Odnar Halberstadt on February 18, 2010 at 1:40am”’
“plain old midgets don’t get high positions in office. ” They don’t do they? I might need to bloody your nose for you Footman.
”’Odnar Halberstadt on February 18, 2010 at 1:44am”’
And as for you Tinus. You helped me rescue Tenk from Underby. Shame on you.
Burn those pictures, and be done with this nonsense.
”’Ilianexsi Sojourner on February 18, 2010 at 2:03am”’
”cannot help but be wildly curious”
”’Phaedra Wickentower on February 18, 2010 at 2:40am”’
You may come and speak to me, Mr. Koskinen, if you wish it. I am afraid I do not have all my husband’s knowledge, but certainly I could help you in your investigation.
