Thank you for reading Sherlock Holmes In Space. This particular story is at an end. But there are several opportunities for spin-offs. So please watch this space for further developments. Over the next week or two I'll try to pick your respective brains for some guidelines as to handling subsequent serialized storytelling. But for tonight, please read on!
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
Chapter 44
Chapter 45
And thank you also to dkos for providing a place to publish and for the old reliable orange antimacassar (below which is the final chapter of this part of the saga).
Sherlock Holmes in Space -- The Knower -- Chapter 46
a story by jabney based on (the now public domain) characters created by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
...
Holmes paused for a moment then laughed, "Mrs Hudson, the young gentleman you speak of is hardly a manservant, rather, he is our esteemed guest."
"Sorry Mr Holmes, it's just that with him being coloured and all, well naturally, I assumed... Well, you understand."
"Yes Mrs Hudson, I am ashamed to say that I do understand."
I felt my face flush as I realized that one of our unexpected visitors might be Jerome. But why here? Why would he journey back in time, long before he was born, and why back on earth? A time and place that had treated people of his complexion so shabbily. And who was with him?
"Questions, Watson?" said Holmes.
"Yes. And since you know I have questions, that must mean the mind-sharing effect has not worn off yet."
"I think it has Watson. But even under our rather primitive lighting I can easily read your face. But not your mind. At least not any more so than I was able to before our journey into Hell."
"Journey into where! Mr Holmes?" said Mrs Hudson, "And are you saying that Hell has better lighting than I provide here in Baker Street?"
"Metaphors, Mrs Hudson, merely metaphors. And now if you would, please inform our other guests that Dr Watson and I will be joining them shortly."
As Mrs Hudson exited the room, Otis and Evan looked at each other with raised eyebrows. Holmes must have noticed because he said, "Our unexpected visitors have come a long distance. Are your tri-folds programmed for expedient travel, in case their visit is not friendly?" Holmes silently motioned them toward the wardrobe
As he and Evan squeezed in, Otis muttered as he was closing the wardrobe's door, "If we only knew for certain who they were..."
Suddenly, the door to the room flew open and in came Jerome and Control, "Mr Holmes! Dr Watson! Thank Heavens you arrived OK," said Control.
Jerome said, "We came to warn Otis and Evan, but I suppose you must have gotten separated from them."
"Warn us of what," said Evan as he and Otis tumbled out of the wardrobe.
"Man oh man, it's good to see the two of you," said Jerome.
"Yes it is very good to see you both," said Control, "And by the way, the two of you are wanted for questioning concerning the murder of the Knower. And Cody too."
"Yeah," said Jerome, "Oh, and congratulations on being selected as the new Knower too, Evan. Great timing, eh?"
I said, "Holmes and I can both vouch for Evan and Otis! We saw the old Knower and Cody depart on their own."
Control said, "Coercion and manipulation. At least that's the trial-balloon that Admiral Helen and the S.I.T. is floating these days."
Holmes said, "I am not particularly surprised. What of the Captain?"
"House arrest," said Control, "Although it's being officially described as a stint of rehab."
"That's just great," said Otis, "No sooner does young Evan here get his big break, than those idiots in the S.I.T. go and try to spoil it for him."
"Bummer," said Jerome, "I was looking forward to Evan treating us to drinks for a change, now that he's had a level bump."
"What do you mean, 'for a change' Jerome," said Control, "I don't recall your pockets being all that open in the past."
Evan said, "That's not important now. Tell him what you and Otis figured out Mr Holmes."
Holmes and Otis Ferg spent the next few minutes explaining how the builders of the ships managed to capture a black hole and encase it in the black box computer. A device of seemingly unlimited bounty that the passengers of the SS Oligarch had begun to take for granted. Actually, Holmes and Otis said nothing about how they did it, more it was that they did in the first place. And this wondrous achievement was now leaking.
"You're very funny, Otis," said Jerome, "Though I'm not surprised at that sort of stuff coming from you. But how did you get Sherlock Holmes to play along with you?" Control said nothing, but looked concerned.
Evan said, "Jerome, I didn't believe it at first, either. But imagine the implications for the ship if it's true."
"For the ship?" said Holmes, "Imagine the implications for the cosmos if it's true."
"The cosmos?" said Otis.
"Yes," said Holmes, "For one must assume that each of the vessels is similarly structured. A leaky structure built around a black hole."
"So if that's true, then the originators had an ulterior motive in getting a big chunk of the human race to board their 'free' vessels, right Mr Holmes?" said Control.
"Evan and Otis could tell you far more than I about the physics involved, but based on the information those two have given me, the originators were simply trying to rectify a egregious error. They are trying to put as much distance between the leaking black holes as is possible."
"Of course Holmes, that must be what the voice from the loudspeaker was apologizing for."
"You've heard the voice from the loudspeaker too?" said Jerome laughing, "Damn, I don't get an exclusive on nothin'"
Mrs Hudson interrupted us to announce that the soup would be ready in fifteen minutes. "And what is tonight's entree, Mrs Hudson."
"The only thing I could find on such short notice, was a joint of mutton, Mr Holmes. And it will be some time before that's ready."
"Mutton. That will be quite an initiation into English cooking for our guests, Mrs Hudson. The only meat they are familiar with is chicken. I hope we have mint sauce."
"Mint sauce with chicken?" Mrs Hudson muttered on the way out, "And a woman that could pass for Mrs Patrick Campbell and ..."
"We are indeed back in our London, Watson. I have no doubt as to that."
"But Holmes, what of these four, surely we cannot send them back to the SS Oligarch. That would be certain doom."
Jerome said, "Assuming that you and Otis are right, Mr Holmes, I calculate that Control and I are in no personal danger should the black hole go critical. We'll probably die of old age before that happens."
"Speak for yourself, grandpa Jerome," said Control, "I'm not feeling that old, myself. And I'm not sure I believe the theory. But I definitely know this, we can't let Otis and Evan be railroaded by the S.I.T."
"I'm afraid that means they will need to stay here. In our time," said Holmes.
A sudden breeze wafted the odor of roasting mutton from the kitchen, and Evan, sniffing the air with a barely disguised grimace said, "In your time, yes, but need we stay in England?"
"What about France?" said Otis, "The food is supposed to be very good."
"And my French is very bad," said Evan, "We'll need a place where we can understand the language".
I said, "There is Australia, I always wanted to go there."
"No Watson, you saw how Evan reacted to a single joint of mutton roasting, imagine millions of sheep roasting, grazing, and doing all sorts of other sheep-like things. I'm afraid it has to be America."
"America?" said Jerome, "Don't they still have lynchings there."
"And England burned women that they thought were witches not long before that. I'm afraid that wherever Otis and Evan go, there will be the stains of past and present injustices."
"And if we try to change things too drastically, we risk rupturing the time-line," said Otis.
"Oh that reminds me," said Holmes, "Am I not scheduled to have my memories of the future and the SS Oligarch totally erased? Better get started Evan. I suppose your tri-fold has an app for that?"
"It does, Mr Holmes, but as the new Knower for the SS Oligarch, even though I am unlikely to ever set foot on that vessel again, nevertheless I do get to make at least one executive decision. And that decision is that you as well as Dr Watson are to be trusted with guarding the integrity of the time-line."
Jerome started looking as if he wanted to get back to SS Oligarch immediately, but Holmes said, "There is no particular hurry, in fact, you may wish to say nothing to the general population. Unless, of course, somebody attempts to change the course of the vessel in order to rendezvous with one or more of the other vessels. That could be disastrous. Besides, Mrs Hudson would be hurt if she thought you objected to her hospitality.
Over soup we discussed at some length the further ramifications of what these latest developments might mean. Jerome and Control would share their new knowledge only with the regulars of the Smiley Grill, and with the docents of the Parade of Homes. Even said, "You know this is the kind of story that might best be tended by some sort of quasi-religious group."
"How would you like to be a cult leader Jerome? Or you Control?"
Control said, "You mean a modern vestal virgin. Why not," she said sadly looking at Otis.
Jerome changed the subject, a bit abruptly I thought, though the interruption was quite welcome, and said, "Please let Mrs Hudson know how much I enjoyed her delicious soup. The only thing better would be if we had a pipe and some hashish now. Enough of that and I imagine even the mutton would taste delicious."
"No problem," I said. "I'll send round to the chemists for a bolus or two. Green or blonde?"
Evan said, "Perhaps the past will have its advantages as well."
Otis smiled faintly, but his attention was on Control. After a smoke and after what turned out to be an uncommonly good supper, Holmes said, "Evan, over the next few days Watson and I will have a chance to show you and Otis some of the things you will need to know now that you are in our time. In the meantime, perhaps Watson and I can be allowed to take you and Jerome to Wilberforce's tomb. I belive Jerome said something about Watson putting some flowers on it."
I said, "But what about Control and Otis. Don't you think we should invite ... oh, never mind."
"You guys enjoy yourselves," said Otis, "No need to rush."
"That's right," said Control, "Take your time."
"That is the one thing time is best suited for" said Holmes.
"Time is best suited for what, Holmes?" I said.
"The taking, Watson, the taking."