Sinus Headache edition. Note to Darwin: there is no longer an evolutionary advantage to being able to predict - with a high degree of certitude - that precipitation is headed one's way. We have online weather for that.
Previous chapters:
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Chapter 39
Chapter 40
Chapter 41
Chapter 42
Chapter 43
And now the antimacassar before Chapter 44. There's something sort of penultimate about it.
Sherlock Holmes in Space -- The Knower -- Chapter 44
a story by jabney based on (the now public domain) characters created by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
...
There was but a moment's pause then we all agreed. We would take the stairs, despite the fact that they were going in exactly the wrong direction. "Fact?" What indeed could be considered a fact in such a place as Hell? As for direction, who could say with certainty that up was the proper direction? Why not down? Or sideways.
"Stop it Watson," said Sherlock Holmes aloud, "I need to have the monopoly of thought before we start on the stairs." The mind-share was not diminished despite our proximity to the portal which could mean that it was not a portal which..." "Still your part of the mind Watson! I find your participation at the moment to be most disconcerting"
"Sorry Holmes," I said and tried to make my mind a blank slate.
"Bah! It's useless Watson. Now you've dredged up a schoolboy's memory of an examination for which you were woefully unprepared."
"But Holmes, that is where you are wrong. I merely thought I was unprepared. In fact, the experiences I had had in that very classroom provided all the answers I would need that day. I simply needed to realize it."
"Of course!" said three voices in unison. Holmes then added, "Watson you are a genius." Evan and Otis showed youthful courtesy, and the modern speech habit of contraction, by saying, "Doctor Watson you're a genius." I thanked them all, though I was not completely sure what for.
"But you are sure, Watson, give yourself some credit for a change," said Holmes. "Now who shall go first?"
"I will, Mr Holmes," said Otis, and you should be right behind me. Evan, you follow Mr Holmes, and Dr Watson you can guard the rear. Makes sense?"
"Agreed," said Holmes. "The advantage of youth seems to have given you, and Evan as well, mental agility."
"It's the games, Mr Holmes. Otis and I each grew up with something of an addiction for playing computer games. Got me in a lot of trouble."
"Me too," said Otis, "Let's hope it will help get us out of trouble this time."
"Seems only fair," I said. "Any last words before we begin?"
There were, but the words came not from any of us four, rather they came from a familiar voice on yet another overhead loudspeaker, "Otis for you a riddle to ponder on the stairs: what do a black box and a black hole have in common? For you Mr Holmes, you have done well. And you will do well to remember that wisdom can also come from minds that are less prodigious than your own. For you Evan, your time as Knower need not be bound by strict adherence to the ways of your predecessor, nor those of his good friend Cody. Especially with two such scrupulous gentlemen as Sherlock Holmes and John Watson, MD. And as for you Dr Watson, keep a lookout for your friends. Now farewell to you all and please accept our apology for the Hell we've put you through. Our intentions were good. Our execution of them less so."
The loudspeaker went silent and Otis started down the stairs. I stared straight ahead with my freakishly placed mid-abdomen eyes and watched as Holmes and then Evan followed. Finally I put my right foot on the first stair. As I did so, I was aware of a sound behind me. The door was closing behind us. This was a momentary cause for alarm, but that feeling was overwhelmed by the realization that when I turned my head to look over my shoulder, my eyes turned with it. I may die on these stairs, but at least the undertaker will know where to put the pennies.