KICKED OUT THE CAB!

Dr Hu screams, "OMIGOD! THEY KILLED KENNY!" (okay, i apologize... that was probably only funny to me... but what the hell.)

Dr. Hu checks her baggage, cursing not-so-nice-guy-psychopath-loon-eddie for possibly having broken some expensive equipment that he couldn't possibly understand... like test tubes.

From her luggage Dr Hu finds some medical instruments (hopefully intact) to perform some medical diagnosis for Kenny, er, Jimmy Raven's condition.

Grace seems to think this is all very funny. "I think we should go through the park. We'll be there in less time then if we'd stayed in the cab. And if we're lucky, Jacky boy might even show up along the way." She starts off.

Beowulf somehow restrains the incredible urge to kill Dr. Hu for making such a cliched, completely un-hip comment, and suggests we get a move-on to the hotel, since he's getting tired of this city shots and cataonic bodies only have limited photographic appeal (and tend to draw negative attention in crowded streets)

The silent researcher checks for vital signs on Raven's body and then signals for Karl to help him carry the body.

As Grace Clemence walks off through the arched park entrance and into the dark grounds the rest of the news team attempts to handle the situation with Jimmy Raven...

Dr. Hu rushes over to her baggage and rummages through it looking for signs of damage. She is dismayed to learn that indeed, the inside of the bags are littered with glass indicating some delicate things were broken. It would also appear that the portable polygraph machine is dented. Cursing she gathers a few small medical instruments and performs a quick examination of Jimmy Raven. At the same time the silent researcher is also checking the Raven's pulse and eyes. His heart is still beating, blood running, eyes respond to light, etc. He just remains frozen in his awkward posistion.

Suddenly Jimmy Raven's voice (Albeit with a flawed English accent) erupts onto the area shouting, "Dear God, the Queen Mother has been assassinated! Your country calls on you bring the villain to justice. He has been identified as Nice Guy Eddie."

He then gives a brief description of Nice Guy Eddie.

"He was last seen driving a cab by the park near the Four Seasons Hotel. Spread the word. The French cannot be allowed to get away with this!"

Several cars on the road skid and then crash into each other creating a rather gruesome four car crash approximately 17 feet down the road from the group's position. More and more vehicles rush down the street only to stop because of the wreck soon creating a traffic jam of measurable proportions. People begin to get out of their cars, some to aid the victims ahead and others to cavort and banter with each other. A chaotic scene is unfolding before the assembled news team's eyes.

The cameraman Beowulf appears to be ready to grab his bag and follow in the direction Grace Clemence went but is divided on whether or not to leave Jimmy Raven behind in his current state.

As if in answer to the debate Jimmy Raven blinks his eyes and collapses off the luggage and onto the sidewalk. He lays there sprawled for a moment and then slowly begins to sit up.

Raven gets up, and begins to gather all his luggage. "Right-o. That took care of the curse quite nicely. Let's get to the hotel before things really get ugly." With that, he heads off through the park.

Silent Researcher picks up some grass and then drops it in the air to test the wind. A look of horror crosses his face as the grass hits the ground. He then picks up his backpack and begins running through the park towards the hotel.

Keenly looking around for any weirdness that would make a good cover photo, beowulf follows the group through the park, carrying his own bag but never straying too far from his camera.

Karl helps pick up some luggage and starts heading towards the hotel. He also mutters something about weirdness.

Jimmy Raven rushed onward into the park and Karl, Dr. Hu, Jack Beowulf and Silent Researcher followed luggage in tow...


IN THE PARK

Making slow but steady pace through the park's multi-winding main path the group is keenly observant of the area's state and condition. The park is vast and expansive with many offshoot smaller paths which lead onward into the unknown woods. There are very few streetlamps to light the main road which leads through the middle of the grounds. Nobody else seems to be enjoying this park at the moment.

As the group of five turn a corner they are mildly surprised to see Grace Clemence walking down the brick road towards them. A few seconds later the group is reunited as a whole.

"Noooooooooooooooooooooo!"

Jimmy Raven draws in a deep breath after such a herculean undertaking. He can't believe the insanity of the park. Why did this have to happen to him? Doesn't he have enough problems to deal with? What about him? What about Raven?

"Noooooooooooooooooooooo!"

"Ok, now that I have that out of my system I will attempt to solve this puzzle. While I walk back along the path I followed to get to this point, I will use my vast knowledge of the realm of magic to determine exactly what it is we face in this park. Fortunately I have my lucky Gambler's Bag that will enable me to make the correct choice in this scenario."

As Raven walks down the path you notice him gouging a line in the dirt with his ever present oriental rake.

Grace says, "Oh you guys are coming. I was beginning to think you weren't. Oh, Jimmy, you're up. Umm, would you mind explaining what just happened?"

Dr. Hu mumbles something about her not seeming to enjoy the park at this moment, what with the luggage and all... upon seeing Ms Clemens rejoin the group, she says, "Hi. I'm mildly surprised to see you here." Dr. Hu pauses for a few seconds and says, "It's good that the group is reunited as a whole."

"I don't mean to complain, but how much further is it to the hotel? This luggage is heavy." And looking at Jimmy Raven, who is assuredly some sort of mental case escapee, "what is psycho boy doing with the rake? Am I the only one who thinks this is weird?" Not expecting a response, Dr. Hu shifts her gaze to Silent Researcher...

"Hi, Mr. Silent Researcher. Do you know a name to go with that august title? Whadda ya research, if I may ask." Dr Hu smiles.

Silent researcher gives Dr. Hu the "peoples' eyebrow" for about half a minute or so and then points to a stone lying on the ground.

Dr. Hu, looks down to the stone, and then looks back up at Slient Researcher. "Oh, I get it! You're as dumb as a rock, eh? I'm sorry, I didn't know that you couldn't speak. Can you hear?"

Karl walks up and puts a hand gently on the silent researchers shoulders. "I'm sorry. How hard for you." Then turns away and starts rifling through his pockets.

As the group conversed amongst themselves they started to become wary as they heard the sounds coming from the path up ahead. A broken branch here...a footstep there...several people at least.

Muffled but still distinct a voice curses, "Bloody hell! I stubbed my toe."

"Quiet my friends and friends of friends. They'll hear us," another voice hisses. Then it's eerily silent in the woods again.

"What about meeeeeee? What about Raaaaaaaaven?" Raven hollers at this interruption as he continues down the path which he originally followed into the park.

Silent researcher prowls off the path and into the woods.


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Part 6 coming soon...