The Case of the Russian General (Part 2)

A Patrick Midnight/Reverend Blackstone tale by Arbogast

Van Sloan’s crew proved to be as motley and cruel as predicted. Their brown, lean, and hungry faces never smiled, and when Midnight tried to offer pleasantries, they stayed as mute as stones. The yacht left at midnight. Midnight walked from the forecastle to the stern as the ship left behind the glimmering lights of Hong Kong. He counted the armaments: a Colt-Browning machine gun mounted on the starboard side, one or two Winchester rifles kept in a makeshift locker near the captain’s quarters, and dozens of harp billhooks scattered throughout. Van Sloan went everywhere with a Colt automatic, and most of his crew had ready access to Chinese-style hatchets. For his own protection, Midnight cracked open the Society’s crate and made himself busy with inspecting and cleaning the automatic rifle. It was his first time holding such a novel instrument of war, and his ghost noticed the look of love in his eyes.