Scene 34

Great Hall of X Marks the Scot

All the members were directed to the underground monorail. When it stopped, Jaime and Todd guided them upstairs to the main floor of the Great Hall.

As we entered the library we were greeted with an unusual apparition. Spasm, the manservant was waiting there for us. However, in addition to his normal attire, he was wearing a WWI era Doughboy helmet and what had to be a coast guard personal flotation vest. Around his waist he had strapped a Civil War cavalry saber and he had tucked a flintlock dueling pistol in the belt.

“Spasm, why are you dressed like that?” Panache asked.

Spasm snapped off a sharp salute. “I’m ready to help defend the Great Hall, Master Jaime. I overheard Master Todd telling the others that enemy forces had attacked the members so I wanted to be ready. All the necessary arrangements have been made.”

“Uh, what arrangements?” Panache asked.

“The Great Hall is secure, Master Jaime. All the windows have been boarded and the doors blocked. No one will get in here without a fight. The provisions have been moved to the emergency cellar. I also gathered up all the valuables and buried them behind the stables.”

“Buried?”

“Yes, to keep them from being plundered.”

I was almost in pain from trying to hold in the laughter. Jaime shot me a dirty look, and then turned back to Spasm.

“Spasm, the emergency is over. Please, put everything back in its place. We have guests to entertain.”

“Guests, Master Jaime? These aren’t reinforcements?”

“No, Spasm, they are our guests. And I am sure they are tired and hungry. Please see to their needs.”

“Yes, Master Jaime.”

As Spasm introduced himself to the others, I walked away with the Moderators.

Todd spoke quietly to Jaime, “Uh, Jaime, about the valuables.”

“I know, Todd,” he answered. “We don’t have any stables.”