Who: Adrien Green, Merrick What: A conversation Where: The Lionhart When: 9 August, 1888 Rating: PG
Notes taken on conversation with M., 9 August, 1888, subsequently encrypted using a Nihilist cipher.
Author’s note: I have done the best I can to be faithful, and represent the conversation word for word, as I believe this transcript is potentially of vital importance. There are currently only a handful I would trust with its contents -- and by my reckoning, only one I currently know of those few whom I believe would be both capable and possibly willing to act on the intelligence contained therein. Should I encounter misfortune, I believe what I know should not die with me. I have arranged for the key to this cipher to be sent to the personage in question should that event occur before I can act on what I have learned. I have attempted some authorial insights into the expressions and intent of M, as several portions of our conversation were non-verbal, but these interpretations may be fanciful, and for that, I apologize. In addition, I have maintained my own interjections and tangents, despite the fact that some of them are personal, for I believe maintaining the integrity of the entire conversation is vital.
A: Some ground rules are in order, I believe. I was planning on taking notes throughout. I shall do my utmost to ask questions in such a way that they can be answered, and I’ll assume a lack of a response, either verbal or non, is either because there is no possible way to answer in a yes or no manner, you do not wish to disclose, or answering it would cause you trouble due to the question being too direct. If you can answer easily, please do so -- it will help me know your limits. In exchange, I swear on my life that I will keep what I learn today in the strictest of confidences until I hear otherwise from you. Would those terms be acceptable to you?
M: Yes.
A: Are there any other terms you would require?
M: There are no other terms. Thank you.
A: It ought to be said that you can stop at any time, of course.
M: [A nod] Thank you. I appreciate your discretion.
A: I was debating where would be best to begin -- whether it would be more immediately useful for you if we discussed more of your current situation, and what might be done about it, or if we spent our time revisiting our earlier conversation about tools. Would you prefer the former?
M: The former is preferred.
A: I figured as such, yes. From what I can determine, there are certain… restrictions on your movements, and on what you can and cannot say…
M: [whispered] Yes.
A: I’ve heard before of the power of hypnotic suggestion, but I suspect this might be of a far more binding nature.
M: [whispered] Yes. [Looks away for a moment and then looks back at A]
A: A magic, then. A spell of sorts. With clear boundaries and regulations.
M: [a softer whisper] Yes.
A: There are sometimes rings, or objects, or marks made on the body that can bind…
M: [whispered] Yes.
A: Currently on your body?
M: [whispered] No.
A: At the Institute, then.
M: [One deliberate blink]
A: Right. Properties. I admit -- I only have a passing familiarity with magical theory, and am not a practitioner myself, so my questions may be deeply naive, and for that, I apologize. From what little I know, binding can take many forms. There’s blood binding and soul binding, but that wouldn’t necessarily cover the restrictions on speech. Other forms I am aware of can include written spells, or spells that are spoken aloud, or a specific object can be utilized as a tool of control.
M: [whispered] They were not the ones that did the binding.
A: But the specific restrictions on speech and motion were done by them.
M: [looks away for a moment, but immediately returns to eye contact and blinks once]
A: If the binding is separate from the restrictions… I’m going to focus on the latter first. Can the restrictions be altered or changed?
M: [Blinks once, slow and slight lower lip biting]
A: Would that alteration require magical capabilities?
M: [Blinks twice.]
A: Would that alteration require a specific identity -- so that only a specific individual or set of individuals could make it?
M: [one slow blink]
A: So to alter the restrictions, I couldn’t do it myself -- it would be necessary to… to compel one of those people to do it?
M: [Two slow blinks]
A: So I might be able to alter the restrictions, then?
M: [One slow blink]
A: But I may have to gain a specific identification or classification to do so.
M: [One slow blink]
A: Is there a ritual of some kind?
M: [Two blinks]
A: Access, then. To the spell or object of binding.
M: [One slow blink]
A: Are you aware of where it is currently located?
M: [Two blinks]
A: Do you know of someone who does?
M: [One slow blink]
A: An employee at the Institute?
M: [One slow blink]
A: Last name starts with an A… B… C… D… E…
M: Last person’s last name started with a W.
A: Wilson. Worman. Williamson. Wilhelm.
M: [whispered] Wilhelm.
A: I can use my… I can persuade him to tell me where it is, make sure he doesn’t remember after. It may take some time to sort out how to get him alone, and I need to know more about it. Specifics help. Is it something written on a piece of paper?
M: Perhaps. But I do not know where.
A: I shall find out where from Wilhelm. Do you know what it is? What the binding object is? Is it a spell written on a piece of paper?
M: [One slow blink] [One slow blink] [Two blinks]
A: A physical object then.
M: [One slow blink.]
A: A ring, perhaps? Or a stone?
M: [Two blinks]
A: [Begins by holding hands a foot apart, and slowly closes the distance]
M: [Blinks once as A's hands are 3 1/2 inches apart.]
A: [Holds hands above and below, and brings them slowly together vertically]
M: [Blinks once as A’s hands are 3 inches apart.]
A: Is it a box?
M: [Two blinks.]
A: A container of some sort?
M: [One slow blink. M’s heart rate has increased in the last ten seconds.]
[There is a lengthy pause.]
A: Goddamn. Are you a djinn?
M: [flinches]
[There is a lengthy pause.]
M: [One slow blink. Looks away. Heart rate and breathing are increased.]
A: It makes a great deal of sense. Of course it does. Goddamn. When you said they had a tool… I… I believe I understand now. What we’ve got to do to get you out of there. What they’ve done. How… how long?
M: [Breathing slowly begins to calm, looks over at A again. Sniffs softly but looks calm. Takes a long sip of their bourbon and a small cautious smile starts but fades] [whispers] Fifty years.
[There is a lengthy pause.]
A: Fifty years.
[There is a lengthy pause.]
A: I’ll find out what I can. I’ll have to be careful -- there’s only so much research I can do at the Institute -- if they see what I’m reading up on -- right. First step is to get to Wilhelm, and I’ll see what I can learn from him about the location of your vessel, how to access it, what the security is like. I can do that without leaving a trail.
M: [whispers, hesitant] Do not put yourself at undue risk.
A: We’ll know more about the risk once I talk to Wilhelm.
M: [whispers] Like all corrupt places, the Institute will fall one day.
A: I’m not sitting around and holding my breath. You’ve been there fifty years, M____. Fifty years of… I know what I saw[1]. I’m not… I’m not waiting for one day to come along, damn it.
M: And I have not found a way out in those fifty years. [stops and breathes, then downs the rest of their bourbon. Taps for another] I’ve tried. [emotion is pushing through - anger, sadness, hope]
A: And I’m saying it’s worth the risk. You. You are worth the risk. If I… damn it. I… I realize that I am allowing my emotions, my… personal experience… that you don’t… you don’t know me well at all, that I work for the bastards, but I will do the best I can.
[Pause as bourbon brought over to table]
M: And trusting you is a risk. Trust...is something I don’t give at a mere idea of being from the Institute. [sips the newly brought over glass of bourbon] That’s all I can ask. And I hope I have not misplaced my trust.
A: My mother, father, and sister died in bondage. I tried for years… I offered all the money I had, and when that wasn’t enough I should’ve crossed over the border and taken them by force, and damned the consequences but I was too late. I should’ve… I can do something here. I can, and I will.
[Lengthy pause]
M: …Forgive me. [softer voice] I am sorry to hear of your family. ...Please, do what you can. And I know it will be more than enough.
A: We’ll talk again after I know more from Wilhelm. It may be a week or two before I can get him alone, ensure I’m not seen. And after fifty years, I wouldn’t trust me either. But I’m what you got.
M: [nods] I appreciate your willingness to free me from the Institute.
[1] See Field Notes of First and Second Institute Encounter