by Antony “Scoop” Biscotti of the Summersville Inquirer.
June 13th, Gamealogical Institute
Within the musty and cluttered den professor Inga Binder calls an office; an ancient document lies limply across the only noticeably clean spot in the whole room. Resting as if in a position of honor on the large oak table in the center of Binder’s den, lay Al Uqsur scroll 3. Even in the nearly blinding white overhead illumination cast from a repurposed surgery theater light, the yellow of aging and natural beige would not be swept away. Professor Binder looked up as I entered without really seeing me, her eyes still focused on events in a place lost to the sands of time. “Is it 3:00 already?” she asked distractedly upon recognizing me.
And so began our review of the scroll. Binder quickly drew me back into the world she had momentarily stepped out of. “You see, so often we have only documents to tell how many stones were moved, how great the gods have been to this ruler or that pharaoh, but here we have the writings of just a someone.” Binder raised here eyebrows indicating that I should immediately appreciate the significance of the statement. I didn’t; but that was why I was there. Of course, there were potentially going to be new clues regarding Mister “X” as well…
But let’s start at the beginning, well, the beginning for us. In May of 2008, on a damp and already muggy morning, Paxton “Dodger” Collingwood of the Game Recovery Specialists organization arrived at the Institute with an old wooden crate. Receiving various and sundry items in the receiving department of the Institute is not an out of the ordinary occurrence. Nonetheless, considering the credentials of the courier and antiquated state of the crate, it was clear that this was an item of importance. Before being opened, the crate was moved to the Restoration department for its cleaner environment and to have preservation materials readily available.
“Dr. Speckles unsealed and breached the crate, I assisted. There were two distinct compartments inside; a large one containing some seemingly lumpy bundled items, the second smaller compartment was partitioned into four sections, each containing, it turned out, a carefully wrapped papyrus scroll.” Dr Binder went on to tell that they were very excited as they reached for items matching their respective specialties; Binder to the scrolls and Speckless to the artifacts.
Binder continues “Suddenly Dodger tells everyone to stop. Wait, he says. There is a message that goes along with these items.” Inga straightens in her seat, “Well, we were quite interested. There was silence in the Restoration lab, all of us eager to get more details on this mysterious package. Dodger continued, There are many more crates at the estate of Mister X. How quickly and well you work with this one will dictate the pace at which the others can be released to the Institute. Then, Dodger tapped a vague salute to the brim of his hat, turned and headed for the lab’s exit.”
“How much more does Mister X have to offer?” I can’t help but ask
“We really don’t know. I believe there is a substantial amount. Otherwise Mister X would not have provided the large endowment we received at the start of the year. Regardless, after exchanging puzzled looks, everyone set back to work. Of course Mr. Biscotti, you know the work of Dr Speckless and even the final production of the game, have already been posted to the Gamealogical Institute’s site.”
That was true. But I have been able to get ahead of the institute. I have the scoop on how anyone was even able to determine there was a “Scarab & Scorpions” game within the crate and how it should be played.
Part 2 of 3 coming next week
