22/08/2021 – Henson Manufacturing (8)

Secrets of the Dark African Sects

Cassandra has now finished Dark African Sects. Towards the end, the author went back and told more about the mystical elements of the cult activities, including their worship rituals. Cassandra discovered that “M’Weru” was part of the chanting and is the leader of the Bloody Tongue Cult in Kenya. M'Weru was a member of the Carlisle Expedition and persuaded them to go to Kenya, where they were all apparently murdered by locals.

The author, Nigel Blackwell, also went into details about him eating human flesh and other bizarre and unsavoury things. It also outlines some supernatural spells that he learnt from the various cults at the end of the book. Cassandra wonders if Blackwell is still alive.

They also recall that Jackson Elias was after a different book that was held by the Penhew Foundation.

Planning a Trip

They look up how to get to Derby, the best way would be by train, the LMS service, which would take a couple of hours. Zalkador suggests they take a day trip on Monday to check the place out, which is agreed.

They consider driving, the possibility that they are being followed and the Penhew Foundation realising where they are going. They decide to drive to Watford and then get the train to Derby on Monday.

Sunday 27 January 1935

They have this day off.

Monday 28 January 1935

Derby

They drive to Watford in the morning, with Jeziah keeping an eye out for anyone following them, which does not seem to be the case. They get the train to Rugby and then change for the train to Derby. The train is delayed so they do not arrive until the afternoon.

Jeziah hails a taxi to take them the Uttoxeter Road, the address of Henson Manufacturing. It is actually on the edge of Derby, on the road to Mickleover. The road is in a rural setting with old Victorian brick buildings along the side. One of the buildings is Henson Manufacturing. Jeziah pays the taxi driver to wait for them.

They consider what to do. It is daytime and the place has employees working there at the moment. There is a man on the door, who looks to be Egyptian, although British workers are coming back and forth occasionally.

Charming the Locals

Cassandra and Jeziah propose asking locals more about the place before approaching, possibly sneaking or breaking into the building after it is closed.

As they are standing on the road, staring at the place, they decide to become less conspicuous and head to the local pub just up the road.

Along the way, the Great Zalkador decides to stop at a neighbouring building and talks to an employee who is stood outside. The man is taken aback by his bizarre appearance and Zalkador tells his fortune for him with Tarot cards. This is sufficiently convincing to persuade the man to tell him what he knows about Henson Manufacturing.

Henson changed about four years ago when they were brought out. They have since become rather secretive. One of their people in the pub claimed they were working secretly for the government, the Ministry of War. They also have a lot of funny-looking, Egyptians working there.

They use a lot more electricity than they used to use and on dark evenings you can see bright lights on in there. They used to make machines for other factories. They are not that nosy, but their furnace is lit most of the time these days.

Local Enquiries

Zalkador then catches up with the others at the pub and tells them what he has learnt. They are sceptical that the company is working for the government.

They take the waiting cab and return to Derby city centre, hiring rooms at the Railway Arms Hotel, by the train station.

Alex agrees to go to Derby Council and find out from the records who owns Henson Manufacturing. He discovers that the business was brought by E. Gavigan four years ago. He is able to obtain Gavigan’s private address in London. The previous owner, Mr Arthur Henson, sold up and retired to Cornwall.

Zalkador wonders if Tiger should go visit Gavigan’s home in London. Tiger says he’ll punch Gavigan in the face, which will help make him talk.

Jeziah goes to the library to look through the local newspaper, looking for stories in the local paper that might catch his eye. He finds a story about the Beast of Lesser Edale, an odd tail about a wild dog that was shot but killings appear to have carried on. They do not seem to be related to Henson Manufacturing though.

Breaking In

They meet back up at the hotel and discuss the implications that Gavigan owns the business. They discuss breaking into the place that evening. Tiger is keen to break some heads, punch some faces and get some answers.

Later that evening, they hire a taxi and head back to the pub down the road from Henson Engineering. Cassandra stays behind at the hotel. They have a couple of drinks, then head down the road. As they pass Henson’s, they go around the back of the building, where they see an electric light is on and there is an Egyptian security man.

Tiger walks up to the security man and punches him in the face a few times, knocking him out. He then takes the keys off the security man and opens the back door to the building.

Jeziah stays on watch outside, while Alex, Tiger and Zalkador enter the building. They find the place is empty, with lathes and desks. There appears to be a small production line across several machine positions.

Strange Machinery

They find evidence of packages being opened, that originated from Randolph Shipping Company, Port Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia. Inside appear to be bizarre glowing green tubes and other strange technology, which is being de-constructed and reassembled according some detailed plans.

Alex tries to make sense of it, but it is quite advanced. At one point, there are some designs for a machine that mixes aviation fuel and air at high speed and lights it as a form of propulsion. Complex stuff that he does not really understand. There are signs that the completed machinery is then shipped back to the Penhew Foundation.

They check the offices on the side of the workshop. They find a large, locked safe, but have no way to open it. The manager appears to be Frank Marshall.

Alex grabs some of the schematic diagrams, while Tiger grabs one of the odd, green glowing tubes. They leave the building. The security guard is coming round, but Tiger punches him out as they leave.

They walk back into Derby city centre, making out that they are a little drunk. They get to the hotel late and inform Cassandra what they found.

End of Episode Eight