Scene 13


Underground laboratory beneath the Great Hall of X Marks the Scot



The elevator doors opened to a vast underground chamber, filled with a variety of stainless steel cabinets and tables. Next to the elevator was a glass-enclosed office. We stepped into the office and found a desk with two computers on it, a steel table with documents scattered across it, and a large chalkboard.

Written at the top of the board were the words “Underwater Sentries.” Drawn under that was a picture of a shark with a device mounted to its head. The device was labeled ‘Laser.’

Looking through the papers, we found they had simple write-ups for several ideas that David must have been working on. Among the papers were ‘death ray,’ ‘underwater complex,’ ‘earthquake machine,’ and ‘moon base.’

Moving into the main area of the complex, we found what looked much like a large telescope pointed at a target made of twelve-inch thick steel.

In one corner of the cavern was a large device with several displays. One of these read ‘field strength’ and we decided this was what generated the interference field.

In another corner of the cavern was an enclosed workshop, containing many pieces of leather and tools for working it. On one table was a partially finished sporran. Against one wall was a set of shelves; on which sat many different items of highland wear accessories.

Next to that was another set of shelves holding a variety of devices that were of small size, perfect for carrying in a sporran.

“Here we are ladies,” I told them. “Look through what’s here and select whatever you think would be helpful. After all, Mike said we could.”

As my associates went through the shelves, I selected a few items for myself. First I chose what looked like a normal sgian dubh. Twisting the base of the handle revealed that it came off and contained a small charge of plastic explosive within.

What looked like a normal sporran strap actually turned out to be long strands of strong nylon cord secured together, which could be unwound to form one long cord.

A standard cap badge unfolded to reveal a razor sharp blade within. A buckle for a kilt belt contained a compartment for hiding documents.

An item on another shelf could only be described as a Swiss Army knife gone crazy. It easily fit into my sporran.

After we had taken what we wanted, we continued to explore the chamber. Everywhere there were partially started projects. Occasionally we came across something charred that was an obvious failure.

On the far side of the chamber we came across a door which, when opened, revealed an entire underground rail system. Just to our left was an ornate elevator leading into the shadows above.

We entered the train and settled into the maroon crushed velvet seats. Ms. Falcon found the button to activate the train and, once she pushed it, the train sped into the tunnel.

Once the train stopped, we stepped out into an extremely large cavern, with a large set of double doors against the far wall.

“This looks like a hangar,” I said. “I wonder what they keep here.”

Ms. Falcon was looking over the whole chamber. “See the big metal hoops set in a circle around the middle of the hangar. It looks to me like they’re for tyin’ down something big; something that might move around a bit if not tied down. I reckon it’s probably something like a dirigible.”

“A dirigible, huh? I’ll bet Panache had something to do with that.”

We returned to the train and took it back to the elevator, which we then entered to return to the Hall.

Ms. Starling did a bit of calculation and stated, “I’ll bet it comes out at the Library.”

Sure enough, when the elevator stopped, we found that the passageway at the top came out from behind the large walnut grandfather clock in the Library.