The Escape
Let me begin by apologizing for my lack of updates to the Informatitron. Recently, my assistant in such matters has made significant improvements to the device, making it much easier for me to work with it. I plan to keep the information flowing in the future. Extraordinary events have made my life even more hectic than before, but also much more interesting to readers in the aether, I imagine.
So, I have inadvertently released a supernatural entity into the City. The photonic capture above was hastily made in an attempt to understand just what was occurring. I suspect I have unleashed something most foul into the streets. I must find the entity and capture it once more—but I should begin at the start.
Three days ago, while browsing among the junk merchant’s wares in the Lower Docks Bazaar, I happened upon a well-crafted tool case. It was dusty and looked to be as old as myself, if not older, but something about the craftsmanship captured my interest. The merchant explained that it was locked and he possessed no key. Sensing a deal, I haggled a much lower price than he would have otherwise required. I brought the case to my laboratory and set to work. I was very much looking forward to using it to carry my instruments into the field, replacing my decaying and well-worn leather pouch.
Astonishingly, the case resisted every one of my laboratory instruments. I poked, prodded, and pried, but failed each time to unfasten the latch. I failed to understand what mechanism hold the lid so fast, as there was no visible lock of any kind. In frustration, I threw the case to the floor, planning to kick it into the corner and leave it there with other embarrassing, failed projects.
It was upon impact with the floor that the case cracked open and began to emit a most frightening glow. As is always my first instinct, I made a photonic capture, and in truth, I was much too frightened to take any other action. The realm of the supernatural is not one with which I am comfortable. I had… unfortunate experiences as a child, ones that until recently I was convinced were products of my youthful imagination. That is all I will say about it.
Something within took advantage of the damage to the case and pried its way out. A pale gaseous substance poured forth much like smoke, or perhaps steam, and coalesced into a vaguely humanoid form. Flickers of humanoid shape coalesced within the fog, but faded rapidly. It glared at me with baleful glowing eyes before reverting to a primeval state and flowing out under the window sill into the night. The glow from the box faded, and I have examined it thoroughly since. I can find nothing unusual except for the cracked hinge on the lid.
After this examination, I penned a letter to my friend and old schoolmate, Dr. Finneas Welterschmidt, this world’s premier expert on matters of spiritology. I described the experience at length, as I have here, and sent it with extra postage to hasten its arrival in his hands.
Most alarming, there have been accounts in the papers of a shadowy figure menacing the gentlemen and ladies of the South Burroughs while they take their evening perambulations. I would have ignored such accounts as the products of superstitious minds if I had not seen the escape and even captured it to a plate.
I can do nothing until I receive Dr. Welterschmidt’s reply. If any of you dear aetheric readers have theories or suspicions as to the nature of the thing that I have freed, please share them with me without reservation, no matter how outlandish they may sound. I will entertain all thoughts at this moment.
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A Scholarly Discussion
I must remain Nemo
July 26th, 2008 at
2:30 pm
In matters of this kind, you must examine the method of containment itself. The glow inside the box is indicative of photonic methods as I am sure you are aware. So-called modernists have sullied Fermat’s Principle by stating without revision it requires intention on the part of the photon! Clearly a mind as great as his would not have left such an omission in one of his greatest theories.
In this case, I urge you to consider that light travels all paths simultaneously, and as your experiments in photonic capture demonstrate, light leaves its mark, or its entanglement, one might say.
I believe a closer examination of the interior of the chest, and an ellucidation of its residual photonic entanglements may reveal more. With thought and deduction one might ascertain the manner of creation of the box, and the manner of containment of the entity previously ensconced within.
A reconstruction or enhancement of those entanglements or resonances might very well re-entangle the entity with the chest.
The undertaking might be dangerous, and its mere examination contains peril. I implore you to exercise every caution, as I expect the box will also contain a resonance and entanglement to its creator and the circumstances that warranted the capture in the first place.
Mister Daniel Mortlewood
July 26th, 2008 at
7:12 pm
Regarding the container, check the hinges of the box. If they still can’t be swiveled you may be looking at a set of ’singing’ clasps. These hinges contain the locking mechanism itself and open only at the reproduction of a key phrase or tune (hence it’s name). My grandmother had a jewelery box that worked on the same mechanism.
I understand that you can reset them by immersing them in a viscous fluid and running an ever increasing sound wave though them from sub-sonic to high-pitched.
Regarding your apparition,.. I know not what. Good luck.
Tylor the lesser
July 31st, 2008 at
5:32 pm
In British folklore it is common for troublesome spirits to be disposed of by imprisonment in bottles, beer-barrels, snuffboxes and the like. It is something of a cliche to claim that there is truth in old tales, but sometimes there is truth in old cliches. It is all too possible that the skills for performing such exorcisms have long been forgotten, but I hold hope that they may survive in the quiet corners of this ever-speeding world.
Julius T. Roundbottom
August 3rd, 2008 at
8:40 pm
Thank you all for your comments on this matter. By the morning, I will have addressed your suggestions. Thank you again.
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