"O patience, sister. Did you see
A young man tall and strong,
Swift-footed to uphold the right
And to uproot the wrong,
Come home across the desolate sea
To woo me for his wife?
And in his heart my heart is locked,
And in his life my life."--
"I met a nameless man, sister,
Who loitered round our door:
I said: Her husband loves her much.
And yet she loves him more."--
- Noble Sisters
[CLICK]
[SOUNDS OF A BUSTLING AIRPORT - CROWDS IN THE BACKGROUND, PERIODIC ANNOUNCEMENTS IN MULTIPLE LANGUAGES, OBNOXIOUS MUSIC PLAYING FAINTLY FROM SOMEWHERE]
GERRY
Finally. They’re almost done loading that group.
TIM
Nope, look, see those people charging over? Definitely Group B running late. We’ll have to wait for them.
GERRY
Just out of idle curiosity, purely rhetorical you understand, but is there any way we could maybe get on the plane faster next time?
TIM
We could always try breaking your leg.
[GERRY LAUGHS]
Or I guess I could book our next flight business class. It is work related. Might be able to get compensated for that. I’d love to see the look on Elias’s face when Gertrude sends him that bill.
GERRY
I don’t necessarily need to board first. You know, less time to sit around strapped into the Great Floating Temptation.
TIM
(Amused) You know the plane doesn’t take off just because we’ve got on it, right?
GERRY
Yeah, I know, it’s just…
(Surprised) You know, I never thought about that before. Mum didn’t fly much, we mostly took trains—cheaper and she could get off somewhere that struck her fancy if she wanted to—and Gertrude was always a lot more, uh, in a hurry than you are, so we were almost always running onto a plane that was about to close its doors and take off. I guess I just got so used to being the last one on the plane that I keep expecting it to take off right away.
Or at least not having to wait around in airport lounges for hours on end.
TIM
It’s been like thirty minutes.
GERRY
You okay?
TIM
Bit tight. I think I need to start cutting salt out of my diet.
GERRY
You know, if things swell when you go up in planes, maybe you should take that off for the flight.
TIM
I’m kind of afraid I’ll lose it. It’s fine, I’ll—
OVERHEAD TANNOY
Timothy Stoker, please report to the nearest white courtesy phone. Timothy Stoker, white courtesy phone.
GERRY
Huh?
TIM
…Weird.
Okay, be right back.
GERRY
Tim—
TIM
Don’t worry. There’s one right over there by the restrooms. I can see the gate, and I can hear the announcements, so if they do the final boarding call, I’ll drop it and run.
[HE STANDS UP, LEANS OVER, AND KISSES GERRY ON THE CHEEK]
Be nice to the flight attendants. Back in a flash.
[FOOTSTEPS ACROSS THE CARPET, THEN ACROSS TILE]
OVERHEAD TANNOY
Timothy Stoker, please report to the nearest white courtesy phone. Timothy Stoker, white courtesy phone.
TIM
Yeah, yeah, I’ve got it. (mutters) Should pick up the red one just to be contrary.
[PHONE LIFTS FROM RECEIVER]
Hello, Tim Stoker speaking.
GERTRUDE (ON PHONE)
Tim. When does your plane leave?
TIM
(Surprised) Gertrude?
[THE RADIO SQUEALS SLIGHTLY FROM ACROSS THE AISLE]
GATE ATTENDANT (OVER RADIO)
Now boarding Group D for flight 9543.
TIM
Uh—in like five minutes or so. We’re boarding now. Why, do you need us to stay?
GERTRUDE (ON PHONE)
No. I need you back in London.
TIM
(Instantly serious) Hold on. He’s getting on now, but if I hurry—
GERTRUDE (ON PHONE)
No need for quite that level of haste. Not yet, anyway. Get to—where are you heading?
TIM
Çukurova. Turkey. There’s a—never mind.
GERTRUDE (ON PHONE)
Can you get back to London from there?
TIM
I think so. The direct route is only seasonal service, but if nothing else we ought to be able to get a connection out of Istanbul. Or we can not pick up our connection.
GERTRUDE (ON PHONE)
There’s a very steep fee for that. Just turn around in Çukurova and come back.
Make sure you ask for the fastest route, not necessarily the first plane out.
TIM
…
(Quietly) It’s happening, then? The Unknowing?
GERTRUDE (ON PHONE)
Not yet. It’s the Extinguished Sun.
TIM
The Dark? Where?
GERTRUDE (ON PHONE)
Here. In a sense.
I’ll explain everything when you arrive. Once you get back to London—
(Suddenly tense) Wait a moment.
GATE ATTENDANT (OVER RADIO)
This is the last call for Flight 9543 to Istanbul. Last call for boarding.
TIM
Shit—Gertrude, I’ve got to go. I’ll text you from Istanbul.
GERTRUDE (ON PHONE)
Wait—
TIM
Gotta go!
[PHONE DROPS CARELESSLY INTO THE CRADLE AND DOESN’T QUITE HANG UP]
[FOOTSTEPS HURRYING ACROSS THE AISLE]
GERTRUDE (ON PHONE)
(Faintly) Tim? Tim! They’re calling for a heavy fog in—Tim!
[CLICK]
[CLICK]
[FOOTSTEPS ECHOING THROUGH A TUNNEL]
JURGEN LEITNER
You’re certain this will work?
GERTRUDE
Yes, Jurgen, I’m certain.
JURGEN LEITNER
I just don’t understand why you’re so insistent on it being tomorrow. Why not right now?
GERTRUDE
In the first place, because…Elias will be paying attention tonight. I can keep him out of my head for the most part, but I can’t guard the whole Archives, and there’s too much of a chance of being observed. Tomorrow he’ll be distracted.
[A LONG PAUSE, PUNCTUATED ONLY BY THE ECHOING FOOTSTEPS]
JURGEN LEITNER
And in the second place?
GERTRUDE
Hmm?
JURGEN LEITNER
You said that “in the first place”, Elias would be distracted. That implies you had a second reason.
GERTRUDE
I do.
[ANOTHER LONG PAUSE]
JURGEN LEITNER
…I…assume you were going to let me know what that reason is?
GERTRUDE
You assume incorrectly.
JURGEN LEITNER
Gertrude.
GERTRUDE
(Obviously mimicking his tone of voice) Jurgen.
JURGEN LEITNER
…Very well, then. Keep your secrets. You always do.
I’m sure there’s a perfectly good reason you can’t enact…whatever it is you’re planning to do beyond simply not wanting the head of the Magnus Institute to know what you’re up to. And it’s none of my business, I’m sure.
GERTRUDE
Thank you for being so reasonable and understanding.
[JURGEN LEITNER SIGHS IMPATIENTLY]
[FOOTSTEPS GRADUALLY SLOW, THEN STOP]
JURGEN LEITNER
Well. (Sighs again) I suppose we part ways here, then. Until tomorrow.
[FOOTSTEPS BEGIN TO WALK AWAY IN OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS. ONE SET SLOWS TO A HALT]
GERTRUDE
You didn’t ask about the third reason.
[SOUNDS OF FEET SCREECHING TO A STOP]
JURGEN LEITNER
What?
GERTRUDE
I gave you my first reason. You asked if I had a second reason, and I said yes, but that it was none of your concern.
You never asked if there were more than two reasons.
JURGEN LEITNER
I had assumed that—
Ah.
GERTRUDE
You ought to know better by now.
JURGEN LEITNER
Yes. I suppose I ought to.
(Sighs a third time) Fine. What other reasons do you have for waiting?
GERTRUDE
The People’s Church of the Divine Host.
JURGEN LEITNER
Reyner’s cult? What about it?
GERTRUDE
Jurgen.
JURGEN LEITNER
(Attempting to match her tone) Gertrude.
…Wait. The Extinguished Sun? They’re—that’s tomorrow?
GERTRUDE
Yes.
It appears they plan for tomorrow’s sundown to be the final one.
JURGEN LEITNER
My God.
So why wait until then to destroy the Institute? However you plan to do that.
GERTRUDE
I told you, I will give you the details—
JURGEN LEITNER
—when they become relevant, yes. I know how you operate by now, Gertrude.
GERTRUDE
(Under her breath) Do you really?
JURGEN LEITNER
That does not answer my question. Why not take care of…this, and then worry about the Dark and its ritual tomorrow?
GERTRUDE
You mean, why is the fact that the ritual is yet to come one of my reasons for delaying?
JURGEN LEITNER
…I suppose that’s a more exact way of putting it.
After all, you did say Elias would be distracted…ah.
GERTRUDE
Precisely.
He’s interested in my methods of stopping the rituals. I suspect he has a good reason for that.
JURGEN LEITNER
Because if he becomes interested in a Beholding ritual, he wants to know how you might stop it so he can work around that.
GERTRUDE
…
Broadly, yes.
I intend to use that. Lay my groundwork, incite the Institute’s destruction, while he’s distracted. Hopefully he’ll go out with it.
JURGEN LEITNER
Will you have time to disrupt the Extinguished Sun afterwards?
GERTRUDE
I should have more than enough time to do what needs to be done.
[SEVERAL LONG BEATS OF SILENCE]
JURGEN LEITNER
…After all this time, I don’t know why I still expect more.
GERTRUDE
(Dryly) A mystery that may never be solved.
[CLICK]
[CLICK]
[RUMBLE OF AN AIRPLANE’S ENGINE, MURMUR OF VOICES, RATTLE OF A CART WITH SQUEAKY WHEEL]
FLIGHT ATTENDANT
What are you drinking, sir?
GERRY
Just water for me, thanks.
TIM
I’ll take a ginger ale, please.
[RATTLE OF ICE IN A CUP, POP AND FIZZ OF A SODA CAN OPENING, GURGLE OF LIQUID GOING INTO THE CUP]
FLIGHT ATTENDANT
Here you are, gentlemen. Enjoy.
TIM/GERRY
Thank you.
[SEVERAL LONG MOMENTS OF SILENCE, PUNCTUATED ONLY BY SIPPING]
GERRY
Stomach bothering you?
TIM
Nervous. The ginger’s helping the anxiety.
GERRY
(Dryly) First time?
TIM
No, I’ve been nervous before.
[GERRY GROANS]
GERRY
Walked right into that one, didn’t I?
TIM
I thought that was a deliberate setup.
GERRY
I’m not that clever.
Seriously. What’s bothering you?
TIM
Apart from the obvious?
GERRY
You mean the fact that we’re in a pressurized tube thirty-seven thousand miles above the planet’s surface held aloft by magic, fortune, and prayer that runs a distinct risk of drawing the attention of something that wants to keep us here forever?
TIM
I rather suspect you’re not fond of flying, Gerry.
GERRY
(Fervently) I can think of at least three dozen ways I’d rather die.
TIM
It’s not that dangerous. Comparatively.
No, actually, I’m just…worrying about whether we’re going to get back on time.
GERRY
If all goes well.
TIM
Yeah, that’s what I’m worrying about.
[SHORT PAUSE]
GERRY
You reckon we should have tried to find a flight out of Istanbul the first time we were there? Just dealt with the cancellation fees or whatever?
TIM
I mean, hell, we had a long enough layover. If there’d been a faster option, I’d have taken it in a heartbeat. There just…wasn’t one.
GERRY
Know that for a fact, do you?
TIM
Yeah, I looked the flights up.
[GERRY HUMS SKEPTICALLY]
Besides, when Gertrude called the airport in Prague, she specifically told me not to do that. She said it wasn’t that urgent.
I’m just not sure I believe her, that’s all.
GERRY
What did she say when you texted her about our flight back?
TIM
She didn’t answer. I know she saw it, but…
I suppose she’s busy. I mean, she’s probably getting all her ducks in a row, so to speak. But the fact that she ordered us home…
GERRY
…means she needs the backup.
TIM
…
You know? I don’t think that’s it.
I think she just wants to know where we are.
GERRY
What do you mean?
TIM
I mean that if she really needed us to help stop this thing, she’d have told us where to meet her specifically. As it is, I think she just wants us back in London so that she knows if this goes wrong, we aren’t caught out somewhere and unable to get back.
GERRY
Assuming there’s a “back” to get back to.
TIM
They’re remaking the world, not destroying it.
There would still be an England in a changed world. Still be a London. It would just be…plunged into eternal darkness, I guess? I dunno what a world that’s fitted for the Forever Blind would look like. But it’s got to exist.
GERRY
Sure of that, are you?
TIM
They exist on fear, right? What good is a world with nothing to feel fear in it?
And at this point, they’ve probably adapted so that they’re more satiated by human fear than animal. At least most of them have. I don’t know how much these things actually feel, or think or whatever, and I know damn well most of them aren’t big on foresight, but I can’t imagine they would create a world designed to let them starve.
GERRY
(Quietly) I just wish I knew more about what this ritual looks like, that’s all.
TIM
I’m hoping she’ll tell us when we get there. I—
[FAINT GRINDING NOISE]
GERRY
What was that?
TIM
It’s okay, Ger. If it were a problem, the captain would—
[CRACKLE OF THE OVERHEAD RADIO]
Ah.
CAPTAIN (ON RADIO)
Ladies and gentlemen, we are experiencing slight difficulties with our starboard engine.
GERRY
(High-pitched) What?!
TIM
Shh.
CAPTAIN (ON RADIO)
We will be making an emergency landing in Frankfurt. To that end, I am turning on the seatbelt sign.
[PLEASANT, LOW-TONED DING]
[SOUNDS OF SEVERAL SEATBELTS CLICKING INTO PLACE]
Please remain calm and remain seated, with your trays in an upright and closed position, and we will be at Frankfort Airport shortly.
[CLACK OF RADIO SHUTTING OFF]
[GERRY BEGINS BREATHING RAPIDLY]
TIM
Gerry. Gerry, shh, it’s okay, it’s going to be okay.
Here, have some ginger ale.
GERRY
I fucking hate flying, Tim.
TIM
(Gently and calmly) I know. I know.
It’s okay. We’ll take the train home from Frankfurt.
GERRY
(Acidly) You’re not worried about it being too late?
TIM
I’ll call when we land and find out.
At this point, Gerry, I think that’s out of our hands.
[CLICK]
[CLICK]
[SOUNDS OF A BUSTLING TRAIN STATION—CROWDS MURMURING, WHISTLES BLOWING, WHEELS SCREECHING]
[FOOTSTEPS ON TILE]
GERRY
Hey. Sorry about that, the line for the restroom was insane. We must not be the only people with the same idea.
TIM
(A little distractedly) With the weather, it’s probably faster for a lot of people than flying.
GERRY
Yeah, maybe. Think we’ll be able to get on the next train?
TIM
Change of plans. I finally heard back from Gertrude.
GERRY
False alarm? She doesn’t need us after all?
TIM
I don’t think that’s it. She’s just changing where she wants us to meet her.
GERRY
Let me guess. Istanbul? If she want us to backtrack, I’m going to kill her.
TIM
No, the Faroe Islands.
GERRY
What? Why?
TIM
Apparently, it’s as far north as we can get without flying.
Or, you know, at all. There’s no passenger service to Svalbard.
GERRY
Do I want to know why she wants us to go that far north? In March?
TIM
Probably because it’s one of the only places the total solar eclipse will be visible.
GERRY
…Fuck. How did I miss there was going to be an eclipse?
TIM
I mean, we’ve been kind of busy.
GERRY
You think that’s…
TIM
A key part of their ritual? Almost certainly. What better time to bring on a world of eternal darkness than when things are literally as dark as they can get?
GERRY
And yet we still don’t know what this is going to look like?
TIM
Or not look like, as the case may be. Forever Blind, remember?
GERRY
Yeah, yeah, real funny.
[TIM CHUCKLES]
Did she say anything helpful, or just to go to the Faroe Islands?
TIM
(Reading aloud from his phone) “Head to the Faroe Islands. Get as far north as you can. Wait there for the eclipse. Watch and observe. I will be working in London. If I don’t meet you there, or otherwise contact you, once the eclipse ends, come back to the Institute.”
That’s all we’ve got.
GERRY
So when’s the eclipse?
TIM
Friday, which means we’ve got time. Lucky thing. We won’t get to Hirtshals until tomorrow morning, and from there it’s a thirty-seven hour ferry ride to the Faroe Islands, and probably another hour to Viðareiði.
GERRY
To where?
TIM
It’s the northernmost settlement in the Faroe Islands.
GERRY
Seriously, how do you know that?
TIM
I used to collect factoids about all kinds of extreme locations in Europe. Northernmost, southernmost, hottest, coldest, highest, lowest, you name it. I was going to visit them all someday.
GERRY
Well, we can scratch this one off your list, I guess. Did you already get our tickets?
TIM
No, my German is rubbish. I was waiting for you.
GERRY
Hmm. Glad to know there are limits to your vast knowledge.
[TIM LAUGHS]
Come on, then. Let’s go save the world.
[CLICK]
[CLICK]
[LONG, SLOW DRAGGING SOUND, LIKE SOMETHING INCREDIBLY HEAVY IS BEING PULLED ACROSS A STONE FLOOR]
[SOFT GRUNTING NOISE]
ELIAS
(Muttering) Perhaps I ought to have used a wheeled office chair for this. Or one of the library carts.
Although I suppose the steps would have been even more difficult.
[DEEP BREATH]
[LOOOOOOOOOOONG DRAG]
ELIAS
(Strained) You’re heavier than you look.
I think I understand the term dead weight now.
[SMALL GRUNT]
[CHAIR SCRAPES SLIGHTLY ACROSS A STONE FLOOR]
[HUFF OF RELIEF]
[SEVERAL MOMENTS OF SILENCE]
ELIAS
I’m sure you’re wondering why I bothered.
(Considers) Well, I’m not sure you’re aware of much, but…I rather hope you are.
At any rate. It certainly would have been easier to leave you where you were. Slumped across your desk, your heart’s blood seeping into the wood and the statements beneath…surrounded by petrol and a lighter. One could make a compelling argument that you surprised an intruder, who shot you, then ran in fear before starting the fire they so clearly intended to set.
But I’m afraid you don’t get easy answers like that.
No. I am going to leave you here, along with all of your tapes. I am going to clean up any traces of a trail I may have left. I am going to clean the petrol from the floor—oh, you’re surprised by that, aren’t you? Surprised I’m willing to do that much work? Well, I admit it’s not my preference, but I can hardly ask the cleaning staff to do it without revealing why it needs to be done. At any rate, I will clean up the mess.
I think I’ll leave the bloodstain on your desk, though. After all, we will need to have some sort of explanation for why I am forced to hire a new Archivist.
Oh, but why bother, I seem to hear you ask? Why go to all this trouble to conceal your death, if I am only going to replace you?
Well. It’s quite simple, Gertrude. And perhaps you know the answer already, but then again, you do sometimes miss the obvious. So, since there’s nothing you can do about it, I’m going to tell you.
I’m doing this for Tim.
[LOW, CRUEL, ECHOING LAUGHTER, GRADUALLY GROWING LOUDER AND LOUDER UNTIL IT FINALLY REACHES A FEVER PITCH]
[CLICK]