WEBVTT 1 00:00:03.960 --> 00:00:16.320 Had a hard day at the office, backache from bending 2 00:00:16.359 --> 00:00:20.120 over a hot stove all day. Want to get away 3 00:00:20.120 --> 00:00:20.600 from it all. 4 00:00:21.199 --> 00:00:30.000 We offer you escape. 5 00:00:34.560 --> 00:00:38.719 It is midnight and you are alone. Suddenly the room 6 00:00:38.799 --> 00:00:43.719 is plunged into darkness. You sit frozen with terror because 7 00:00:43.719 --> 00:00:47.520 something is there behind you, something you feared would come, 8 00:00:48.960 --> 00:00:50.840 something from which you must escape. 9 00:00:53.359 --> 00:00:57.240 Escape, produced and directed by William N. Robson, and carefully 10 00:00:57.280 --> 00:00:59.640 plotted to free you from the four walls of today 11 00:01:00.079 --> 00:01:01.880 for a half hour of high adventure. 12 00:01:07.120 --> 00:01:11.400 To night we escaped to London and a world made 13 00:01:11.480 --> 00:01:16.480 strange and terrifying by the workings of an ancient barbary curse, 14 00:01:17.359 --> 00:01:21.680 as Montague R. James tells it in his weird story 15 00:01:21.719 --> 00:01:22.760 Casting the Ruins. 16 00:01:36.599 --> 00:01:41.200 My name is Edward Dudding. I'm a scientist. I'm used 17 00:01:41.200 --> 00:01:44.799 to dealing with facts, not fairy tales. I'm regarded as 18 00:01:44.840 --> 00:01:48.599 Britain's leading authority on medieval life, and as such I've 19 00:01:48.640 --> 00:01:52.040 studied much of the ancient fears and barbaric superstitions of 20 00:01:52.040 --> 00:01:55.480 those times. I should have been the first to scoff 21 00:01:55.680 --> 00:01:59.280 at any suggestion of the ancient powers of evil. The 22 00:01:59.319 --> 00:02:03.519 black magic of Teutonic days could be believed and practiced in. 23 00:02:03.439 --> 00:02:04.599 The twentieth century. 24 00:02:06.040 --> 00:02:08.159 A few weeks ago, I should have laughed had you 25 00:02:08.240 --> 00:02:12.280 told me that a curse a hex could kill a man. 26 00:02:13.520 --> 00:02:18.120 Today I cannot laugh. It has happened to a man 27 00:02:18.400 --> 00:02:22.599 I know of, and now it's happening to me. 28 00:02:23.240 --> 00:02:27.479 Oh. 29 00:02:27.560 --> 00:02:30.080 My first presentment of danger came on that day a 30 00:02:30.120 --> 00:02:33.560 few weeks ago, when I dropped in to see Alfred's smile, 31 00:02:34.280 --> 00:02:37.639 secretary of the National Science Association, and found him in 32 00:02:37.639 --> 00:02:39.680 a state of irritation, lasted all darning. 33 00:02:39.759 --> 00:02:42.280 I almost wish you hadn't been so brutally honest in 34 00:02:42.319 --> 00:02:44.240 your report on that Carswell paper. 35 00:02:44.400 --> 00:02:46.680 Why what's the trouble? He's such a frightful fellow. He's 36 00:02:46.759 --> 00:02:50.159 raising a terrible row. You mean Carswell himself. 37 00:02:50.240 --> 00:02:53.159 Yes, it's bad enough of vicious charlatan like that calling 38 00:02:53.240 --> 00:02:56.879 himself a scientist. But now he's taking all his vindictiveness 39 00:02:56.879 --> 00:02:57.319 out on me. 40 00:02:58.800 --> 00:03:01.560 Sorry, old Jap, really me, he'd liked to get at. 41 00:03:01.680 --> 00:03:03.520 As a matter of fact, that's just what his last 42 00:03:03.599 --> 00:03:07.240 letter was about. He wants to know what supposed authority 43 00:03:07.319 --> 00:03:09.280 wrote the report rejecting his paper. 44 00:03:09.599 --> 00:03:11.319 You didn't give him my name, Hiddens. 45 00:03:11.400 --> 00:03:13.759 No, As a matter of fact, donning. I haven't and 46 00:03:13.800 --> 00:03:17.039 I won't, and for a very special reason. Call it silly, 47 00:03:17.120 --> 00:03:20.159 call it crazy, call it what you will. I have 48 00:03:20.199 --> 00:03:24.000 an uncanny feeling about that man Castle. And why do 49 00:03:24.000 --> 00:03:25.159 you know anything about him? 50 00:03:25.360 --> 00:03:29.080 Nothing. I've never seen him. I only know that he 51 00:03:29.159 --> 00:03:33.479 wrote a paper called The Truth of Alchemy. It was hopeless, precisely, 52 00:03:33.520 --> 00:03:34.680 and why was it hopeless? 53 00:03:34.840 --> 00:03:38.319 Well, besides being abominably written, was supposed to prove that alchemy, 54 00:03:38.439 --> 00:03:41.159 black magic and such rat actually exists. 55 00:03:41.199 --> 00:03:42.479 I think the man really believes it. 56 00:03:42.560 --> 00:03:45.400 Undoubtedly he does, And that's what I mean. He lives 57 00:03:45.400 --> 00:03:49.360 in an isolated old house in Warwickshire. He's rarely seen elsewhere, 58 00:03:49.400 --> 00:03:51.879 and in his whole career he's written only two things, 59 00:03:52.120 --> 00:03:55.759 this paper and The History of Witchcraft, published ten years ago. 60 00:03:55.919 --> 00:03:58.639 Of course I remember now. So that's the. 61 00:03:58.759 --> 00:04:01.560 Man, yes, and that was even worse than this paper. 62 00:04:01.840 --> 00:04:04.879 The man has a warped mind. I'm sure he's tried 63 00:04:04.960 --> 00:04:09.240 every unhealthy experiment in alchemy, witchcraft and black magic. There's 64 00:04:09.240 --> 00:04:11.840 no telling to what lengths of vindictiveness a man like 65 00:04:11.879 --> 00:04:12.479 that might go. 66 00:04:12.680 --> 00:04:17.120 Well, does sound a bit queer, it's not queer, dunning evil. 67 00:04:18.079 --> 00:04:20.680 Come man has a right to believe what he likes. 68 00:04:21.199 --> 00:04:23.920 He is right to be angry with me here I've 69 00:04:23.920 --> 00:04:25.959 blibly scoffed at the man's life's work. 70 00:04:26.120 --> 00:04:29.319 Well, perhaps I'm being overly suspicious and imaginative, but I 71 00:04:29.360 --> 00:04:29.959 think there's. 72 00:04:29.800 --> 00:04:31.519 More than anger involved here, Edward. 73 00:04:32.120 --> 00:04:35.680 This may sound fantastic to you, but well, John Harrington 74 00:04:35.720 --> 00:04:39.079 wrote the report condemning that witchcraft book of Caswell's ten 75 00:04:39.160 --> 00:04:44.480 years ago. Three months later Harrington was dead. But Alfred, 76 00:04:44.720 --> 00:04:48.800 what's the connection? Harrington died under very peculiar circumstances. He 77 00:04:48.920 --> 00:04:51.920 was walking home alone late one night, and suddenly he screamed, 78 00:04:52.079 --> 00:04:54.480 broke into a run, lost his hat and stick, and 79 00:04:54.480 --> 00:04:57.399 climbed up a tree. A dead branch gave way, he 80 00:04:57.480 --> 00:05:00.360 fell and broke his neck. No one's ever been able 81 00:05:00.399 --> 00:05:01.199 to explain. 82 00:05:00.920 --> 00:05:04.040 Why heaven come now out with Jolie. Are not suggesting. 83 00:05:04.040 --> 00:05:05.439 I don't know what I'm suggesting. 84 00:05:05.560 --> 00:05:08.480 I only know that after he reviewed Caswell's book, John 85 00:05:08.519 --> 00:05:11.879 Harrington didn't have a moment's piece. Now you've written an 86 00:05:12.000 --> 00:05:15.639 unfavorable review of this paper. If I were you, I 87 00:05:15.639 --> 00:05:18.519 should keep that fact well hidden or help it. 88 00:05:19.199 --> 00:05:32.920 Well, that's ridiculous. Yes, I laughed at Altwred Smile's fears. 89 00:05:34.160 --> 00:05:36.240 How could I have known then that I. 90 00:05:36.199 --> 00:05:39.959 As to feel the same terror, the same agonized fear 91 00:05:40.560 --> 00:05:43.160 which gripped the heart of John Harrington as he crouched, 92 00:05:43.360 --> 00:05:46.920 panting on the branch of a tree for another moment or. 93 00:05:46.839 --> 00:05:47.560 Two of life. 94 00:05:48.360 --> 00:05:56.639 While beneath him the thing came closer and closer. I'd 95 00:05:56.680 --> 00:05:59.600 almost forgotten the incident when a few nights later I 96 00:05:59.759 --> 00:06:03.120 was riding home on a late train. I was half 97 00:06:03.160 --> 00:06:05.839 drowsing in my seat, barely keeping awake by looking idly 98 00:06:05.879 --> 00:06:09.120 at the car card at worstness. Men directly opposite me 99 00:06:09.199 --> 00:06:12.160 must have been doing the same, because suddenly I had been. 100 00:06:12.040 --> 00:06:14.839 Saying, Hey, what can that want be advertising? 101 00:06:15.040 --> 00:06:17.120 I followed his eyes to the window beside my head. 102 00:06:17.959 --> 00:06:20.680 What I saw brought me bolt upright in my seat. 103 00:06:20.680 --> 00:06:26.000 In memory of John Edrington Dodd September eighteenth, nineteen thirty seven, 104 00:06:26.079 --> 00:06:31.800 by falling from a tree. Three months were allowed. Come, 105 00:06:32.079 --> 00:06:33.240 won't you say that means her? 106 00:06:33.680 --> 00:06:41.959 I don't know, but I did know Smife had been right. 107 00:06:42.959 --> 00:06:46.079 The affair with carswell was not over, but only begun. 108 00:06:47.360 --> 00:06:49.879 I asked the conductor about the card, but he was 109 00:06:49.920 --> 00:06:52.720 as possitive as I was. He had never seen it before. 110 00:06:54.000 --> 00:06:57.079 The card must have been put there expressly for me. 111 00:06:58.399 --> 00:07:00.720 That meant that carswell knew it was I who would 112 00:07:00.720 --> 00:07:06.839 reviewed his paper. How have you found out? I got 113 00:07:06.879 --> 00:07:10.079 the answer the next day. I was in the select 114 00:07:10.160 --> 00:07:13.279 manuscript department of the British Museum, doing some research in 115 00:07:13.399 --> 00:07:15.199 the quiet, almost deserted room. 116 00:07:16.240 --> 00:07:18.040 I had been working steadily for an hour. 117 00:07:17.839 --> 00:07:21.839 And oblivious to my surroundings, when suddenly, adjusted at my shoulder, 118 00:07:22.279 --> 00:07:22.759 I heard. 119 00:07:22.639 --> 00:07:27.959 A voice Edward donning you were allowed three months. 120 00:07:28.160 --> 00:07:31.360 I swung around my seat. There was no one within 121 00:07:31.480 --> 00:07:32.279 twenty feet of me. 122 00:07:33.680 --> 00:07:36.519 I sat for a moment, shaken, and then I stooped 123 00:07:36.560 --> 00:07:38.360 to pick up the papers I had brushed to the floor. 124 00:07:39.560 --> 00:07:43.759 I straightened up to find a stout, elderly gentleman standing 125 00:07:43.839 --> 00:07:44.360 in front of me. 126 00:07:44.720 --> 00:07:48.000 Excuse me, sir, Yes, may I give you this paper? 127 00:07:48.519 --> 00:07:51.519 I think it should be yours? Well, yes, so it is. 128 00:07:52.519 --> 00:07:54.720 I thought I had the more. This one seemed to 129 00:07:54.759 --> 00:07:57.839 have slide across the floor. Thank you very much, not 130 00:07:57.959 --> 00:08:03.240 at all, sir, Good afternoon. He walked slowly away and 131 00:08:03.360 --> 00:08:03.959 out of the door. 132 00:08:05.000 --> 00:08:09.120 A kindly, stout old gentleman, but there was something about 133 00:08:09.240 --> 00:08:11.319 him that made me feel strange. 134 00:08:12.560 --> 00:08:13.680 I went over to the attendant. 135 00:08:13.959 --> 00:08:16.360 Yes, mister Dunning, did you notice that gentleman I was 136 00:08:16.439 --> 00:08:19.040 just speaking to Oh, yes, of course, but can you 137 00:08:19.160 --> 00:08:19.879 tell me his name? 138 00:08:20.000 --> 00:08:20.160 Why? 139 00:08:20.319 --> 00:08:24.240 That's mister Carswell. As a matter of fact, he was asking. 140 00:08:24.000 --> 00:08:26.519 About you only the other day, asking about me. 141 00:08:26.879 --> 00:08:30.639 Well, he asked who were the great authorities on medieval science? 142 00:08:31.000 --> 00:08:33.000 Of course I told him you were the only one 143 00:08:33.039 --> 00:08:36.519 in the country. Ah, I see, would you like to 144 00:08:36.600 --> 00:08:39.000 meet him, mister Dunning, I'll see if I sell? 145 00:08:40.600 --> 00:08:41.120 No, thank you. 146 00:08:41.759 --> 00:08:54.000 Well it was as simple assay. Now Carswell knew what 147 00:08:54.200 --> 00:08:57.639 would be his next move. What was I to expect? 148 00:08:59.600 --> 00:09:03.120 I read tom at dusk and trouble stood on my 149 00:09:03.240 --> 00:09:06.519 doorstep in the long face and stooped form of my family. 150 00:09:06.600 --> 00:09:08.200 Doctor had to have. 151 00:09:08.279 --> 00:09:11.279 Set your household arrangements. I'm sorry to say, Dunning. I've 152 00:09:11.320 --> 00:09:15.399 had to send both your servants to hospital. But what happened? 153 00:09:16.240 --> 00:09:19.799 Something like to main prisoning. I should think it's nothing serious. 154 00:09:20.200 --> 00:09:21.799 Well, what could have caused it? 155 00:09:22.559 --> 00:09:25.879 Well, that's the rather odd thing. They tell me. They 156 00:09:25.919 --> 00:09:28.559 bought some shellfish from a hawker and headed for lunch. 157 00:09:29.120 --> 00:09:31.799 I've made inquiries, but I can't find that a hawker 158 00:09:31.919 --> 00:09:34.120 called it any other house on this street. 159 00:09:41.759 --> 00:09:45.120 Was this the next move? If so, it had succeeded. 160 00:09:46.240 --> 00:09:49.360 I was alone in the house, and my nervousness increased 161 00:09:49.360 --> 00:09:52.159 as darkness closed in and the hours advanced toward midnight. 162 00:09:53.120 --> 00:09:56.240 I went to bed, but almost immediately I thought I 163 00:09:56.360 --> 00:10:01.759 heard something my study door opening downstairs. I went out 164 00:10:01.799 --> 00:10:05.919 and leaned over the banister. There was nothing moving, nothing visible. 165 00:10:07.120 --> 00:10:10.679 There was only a sudden, surprising gust of warm air. 166 00:10:10.639 --> 00:10:11.679 Playing about my legs. 167 00:10:13.799 --> 00:10:15.960 I went back into my room and locked the door. 168 00:10:17.480 --> 00:10:21.120 Suddenly the lights went out. No doubt it was only 169 00:10:21.159 --> 00:10:24.240 a blown fuse, but the chills were playing up and 170 00:10:24.320 --> 00:10:27.559 down my spine. I went over to the bed and 171 00:10:27.720 --> 00:10:30.480 reached for my watch under the pillow. I suppose I 172 00:10:30.559 --> 00:10:32.200 want to find out the time. I don't know why, 173 00:10:33.279 --> 00:10:38.120 But fumbling on the pillow, my hand touched something far 174 00:10:38.399 --> 00:10:42.559 different from a watch. It was like a mouth with 175 00:10:42.759 --> 00:10:46.000 sharp teeth and hair around it. Not human at all. 176 00:10:50.600 --> 00:10:52.879 I fled from my bedroom and spent a long and 177 00:10:52.919 --> 00:10:55.399 miserable night locked in the spare room, my ear to 178 00:10:55.519 --> 00:10:59.799 the door, but nothing came. I was not disturbed to 179 00:10:59.799 --> 00:11:02.919 gain In the morning, I searched the house and found 180 00:11:02.919 --> 00:11:06.000 nothing unusual, but the mark of fear must have been 181 00:11:06.039 --> 00:11:06.799 stamped on my face. 182 00:11:07.039 --> 00:11:08.440 Smife noticed it next day. 183 00:11:08.960 --> 00:11:11.639 Because if you hadn't slept for weeks, is anything wrong? 184 00:11:12.320 --> 00:11:20.120 I don't know, Alfred, I, yes, there is Carswell knows 185 00:11:20.559 --> 00:11:21.919 how they told him at the museum. 186 00:11:22.200 --> 00:11:25.399 Of course we should have thought of that. Has anything 187 00:11:25.440 --> 00:11:25.960 happened yet? 188 00:11:26.000 --> 00:11:26.399 I don't know. 189 00:11:26.720 --> 00:11:30.360 It's too fantastic. It's probably my mind hypnotic suggestion of something. 190 00:11:30.440 --> 00:11:34.200 But like that man Harrington, I have three months left. 191 00:11:34.879 --> 00:11:37.279 Edward must have been hearing things. 192 00:11:37.879 --> 00:11:39.879 I'm all on age. I don't know what to think. 193 00:11:40.559 --> 00:11:44.039 John Harrington had a brother, Henry. Perhaps I'd better get 194 00:11:44.080 --> 00:11:46.759 you in touch with him. He might know more about 195 00:11:46.840 --> 00:11:47.519 this man Cars. 196 00:11:47.679 --> 00:11:51.039 Yes, yes, do it and quickly. Three months there's not 197 00:11:51.120 --> 00:12:00.759 a lot of time. It was arranged. 198 00:12:01.600 --> 00:12:04.360 That night I found myself walking down the dark street 199 00:12:04.399 --> 00:12:06.519 that led from the railway station to the Harrington home. 200 00:12:07.960 --> 00:12:10.159 It must have been along the same street that John 201 00:12:10.200 --> 00:12:13.240 Herrington had walked that last night where. 202 00:12:13.120 --> 00:12:13.960 He had broke and run. 203 00:12:14.679 --> 00:12:17.039 It must have been one of these trees bordering the 204 00:12:17.120 --> 00:12:20.759 lonely road in which he had spent his last horrible moments. 205 00:12:25.159 --> 00:12:28.120 The way was dark, and there was no living soul 206 00:12:28.240 --> 00:12:30.960 in sight, and suddenly. 207 00:12:31.200 --> 00:12:32.759 Complete terror gripped me. 208 00:12:33.480 --> 00:12:36.399 Somehow, I knew that I was being followed. At first 209 00:12:36.440 --> 00:12:41.960 I only felt it, and then I heard it. I 210 00:12:42.039 --> 00:12:44.360 walked steadily on for a moment, my stomach like ice. 211 00:12:45.000 --> 00:12:48.480 It was getting louder, coming closer. Unconsciously, my step quickened. 212 00:12:48.480 --> 00:12:50.639 I could fairly control myself. I wanted to scream and run. 213 00:12:51.039 --> 00:12:51.600 The thing came. 214 00:12:51.559 --> 00:13:02.200 Closer, closer. Yes, I broke and ran, ran madly for 215 00:13:02.320 --> 00:13:05.080 my life. I was at a little side street I 216 00:13:05.159 --> 00:13:07.000 turned down at doubling back to the railway station. I 217 00:13:07.000 --> 00:13:09.159 thought I would never make it, But finally, bright lights 218 00:13:09.200 --> 00:13:10.879 loomed before my eyes, and I think that I never have. 219 00:13:10.960 --> 00:13:13.320 Been so grateful for human companionship. 220 00:13:13.679 --> 00:13:16.159 There's no need to run, Sir the I thought he 221 00:13:16.159 --> 00:13:17.919 won't be along for another five minutes. 222 00:13:21.480 --> 00:13:23.159 I felt very foolish. 223 00:13:24.519 --> 00:13:27.039 I couldn't bring myself to walk back down that street 224 00:13:27.080 --> 00:13:31.080 to Harrington's. I could only take the train home furtively 225 00:13:31.600 --> 00:13:35.120 and call Harrington next morning to beg his forgiveness. He 226 00:13:35.200 --> 00:13:39.399 seemed very understanding and asked no questions, and doubted his 227 00:13:39.440 --> 00:13:41.720 smile had told him something about me. At any rate, 228 00:13:41.799 --> 00:13:44.080 he agreed to visit me at a place two nights later, 229 00:13:44.879 --> 00:13:47.600 and when he arrived and was made welcome, he began 230 00:13:47.679 --> 00:13:48.519 to talk about his brother. 231 00:13:49.000 --> 00:13:51.960 Yes, mister Dunning, John was in a very bad state 232 00:13:52.039 --> 00:13:55.639 for weeks before the accident. If that's what it was. 233 00:13:56.320 --> 00:13:58.120 The principal thing seemed to be the notions he was 234 00:13:58.159 --> 00:14:00.000 being followed became an obsession. 235 00:14:00.360 --> 00:14:04.360 Yes, I know, I don't think his death was an accident. 236 00:14:04.600 --> 00:14:06.399 Then perhaps you can explain it. 237 00:14:06.600 --> 00:14:08.879 No, but I have one clue. 238 00:14:09.879 --> 00:14:12.679 Your brother reviewed a book very severely not long before 239 00:14:12.679 --> 00:14:16.600 he died. Just lately, I happened to cross the path 240 00:14:16.679 --> 00:14:17.480 of the man who. 241 00:14:17.360 --> 00:14:18.000 Wrote that book. 242 00:14:18.279 --> 00:14:22.039 And his name, of course is Carswell. That's right, for 243 00:14:22.120 --> 00:14:23.360 as far as I'm concerned. 244 00:14:24.000 --> 00:14:24.440 That does it. 245 00:14:25.360 --> 00:14:28.000 Before he died, John was beginning to feel, much against 246 00:14:28.039 --> 00:14:30.559 his will, that Carswell was at the bottom of his trouble. 247 00:14:30.720 --> 00:14:34.679 Why well, it doesn't make sense, None of this does. 248 00:14:35.039 --> 00:14:35.480 But tell me. 249 00:14:36.200 --> 00:14:38.960 My brother liked music. He went to all the concerts 250 00:14:39.000 --> 00:14:41.440 in town, and he made a hobby of collecting the programs. 251 00:14:42.159 --> 00:14:44.919 One night, about three months before his death, he brought 252 00:14:45.000 --> 00:14:47.600 one home and showed it to me. I nearly missed 253 00:14:47.639 --> 00:14:50.799 this one, he said, it seems he'd lost his and 254 00:14:50.919 --> 00:14:53.159 was hunting for it under his seat, and a neighbor, 255 00:14:53.480 --> 00:14:56.519 a rather stout, elderly gentleman, off to give John his. 256 00:14:57.240 --> 00:14:59.240 The kind gentleman was mister Caswell. 257 00:15:01.320 --> 00:15:03.240 I started to lead through the program and noticed on 258 00:15:03.279 --> 00:15:06.759 the second page some rather curious letters, carefully written there 259 00:15:06.799 --> 00:15:09.600 and black and red ink. Mother of us couldnake much 260 00:15:09.639 --> 00:15:13.159 of it, except that the letters seemed to be runic ruins. 261 00:15:14.559 --> 00:15:17.639 Ruins. Of course, for John thought it might. 262 00:15:17.559 --> 00:15:20.320 Be important, and debated whether he shouldn't try to return 263 00:15:20.399 --> 00:15:22.919 the program to the stout gentleman. But just then the 264 00:15:23.039 --> 00:15:26.120 door blew open, and a gust of air, of strangely 265 00:15:26.279 --> 00:15:28.919 warm air, blew into the room in a fresh It 266 00:15:29.000 --> 00:15:31.039 took the proge and blew it straight into the fire. 267 00:15:31.399 --> 00:15:33.919 Yes, your brother was right, he should have returned it. 268 00:15:34.480 --> 00:15:36.559 There was nothing to be done then, perhaps none. 269 00:15:37.720 --> 00:15:39.519 But do you know what runic letters mean. 270 00:15:40.240 --> 00:15:44.480 Well, their old pre Druid script. I believe the kind 271 00:15:44.519 --> 00:15:47.440 of writing the Barbaric tribes used long before the Romans 272 00:15:47.480 --> 00:15:48.720 invaded britainly says. 273 00:15:48.639 --> 00:15:51.720 Right, casting the ruins. They used to call it in 274 00:15:51.720 --> 00:15:54.279 the old days, casting the ruins? 275 00:15:54.720 --> 00:15:55.320 What do you mean? 276 00:15:55.960 --> 00:15:59.559 But it was a curse a hex In primitive England, 277 00:15:59.600 --> 00:16:02.159 people thought by casting the runes, that is, handing a 278 00:16:02.200 --> 00:16:04.600 person a piece of paper with certain runic letters on it, 279 00:16:04.679 --> 00:16:07.000 that he could put that person out of the way, 280 00:16:07.240 --> 00:16:07.840 destroy him. 281 00:16:08.320 --> 00:16:09.360 It's an old superstition. 282 00:16:10.279 --> 00:16:12.039 The only way to lift the curse was to return 283 00:16:12.080 --> 00:16:13.360 the paper to the one who gave it to you, 284 00:16:14.200 --> 00:16:15.639 to give it back without. 285 00:16:15.399 --> 00:16:19.080 His knowing it. I don't believe that kind of nonsense, 286 00:16:20.200 --> 00:16:20.679 neither do I. 287 00:16:21.480 --> 00:16:23.200 Then, what was it to kill John? 288 00:16:23.799 --> 00:16:24.279 I don't know. 289 00:16:25.919 --> 00:16:28.679 Perhaps his fear of the runs, perhaps brooding about it, 290 00:16:28.960 --> 00:16:32.159 becoming neurotic, thinking he saw things and heard things, and 291 00:16:33.559 --> 00:16:35.759 touched things that weren't there. 292 00:16:36.919 --> 00:16:39.639 Perhaps his own mind drove him to death. And what's 293 00:16:39.720 --> 00:16:44.000 the difference on your dead? No difference at all? Casting 294 00:16:44.120 --> 00:16:51.039 the ruins what rubbish, yes, of course, But good heavens, 295 00:16:51.200 --> 00:16:53.879 what is it? I just remembered that day at the 296 00:16:53.879 --> 00:16:57.519 British Museum he cast the runs on me. 297 00:17:00.240 --> 00:17:01.240 Well, why. 298 00:17:06.039 --> 00:17:08.759 I went swiftly to the writing table Harrington close behind me. 299 00:17:09.799 --> 00:17:11.960 My portfolio was there, full of the scribbled notes I 300 00:17:12.000 --> 00:17:14.640 had been working on that day in the museum. And 301 00:17:14.720 --> 00:17:16.720 as I took it from my shaking hands and began 302 00:17:16.799 --> 00:17:20.079 leaping desperately through them. One strip of thin white paper 303 00:17:20.160 --> 00:17:22.680 slipped and fluttered toward the open window with uncanny quickness. 304 00:17:22.960 --> 00:17:25.039 But Harrington was even quicker and slammed the window. 305 00:17:24.799 --> 00:17:27.079 Shut just in time. Got it well, Thank heaven. 306 00:17:28.400 --> 00:17:30.720 If it were lost, are destroyed like your brothers, then 307 00:17:30.799 --> 00:17:34.400 you wouldn't be able to return it to mister Carswer. Yes, 308 00:17:35.240 --> 00:17:38.599 look at it. It's identical with the one jart gout. 309 00:17:39.480 --> 00:17:40.720 I looked at the climsy paper. 310 00:17:41.720 --> 00:17:45.160 The characters carefully traced in red and black were runs, 311 00:17:45.240 --> 00:17:49.079 all right, that ancient language used for the Aborigines of 312 00:17:49.119 --> 00:17:50.039 prehistoric Britain. 313 00:17:50.880 --> 00:17:51.880 I couldn't decipher them. 314 00:17:52.599 --> 00:17:55.039 But as Harrington and I stood looking into each other's eyes, 315 00:17:55.640 --> 00:17:59.440 each of us could read the other's thoughts. Science or not, 316 00:18:00.359 --> 00:18:03.680 twentieth century or not. This sheet of foolscap spells death 317 00:18:04.079 --> 00:18:04.880 for its possessor. 318 00:18:05.119 --> 00:18:07.920 It spells death for yours. Be returned. 319 00:18:08.319 --> 00:18:10.880 Yes, I know, let's go back in such a way 320 00:18:10.920 --> 00:18:14.240 that it doesn't. But he doesn't know he's received it. 321 00:18:14.319 --> 00:18:16.240 That means we constantly mail it. 322 00:18:16.400 --> 00:18:17.519 No, we can't. 323 00:18:17.880 --> 00:18:21.279 We must do it personally. That'll take doing. 324 00:18:21.799 --> 00:18:23.960 He knows you by sight doesn't take this. You must 325 00:18:23.960 --> 00:18:27.759 shave your beard, re'll alter your appearance. He might strike 326 00:18:27.880 --> 00:18:28.440 any time. 327 00:18:29.079 --> 00:18:33.119 I had three months as with the warning said, we've got. 328 00:18:33.000 --> 00:18:35.799 To make good on miss Dunning. I have searched ten 329 00:18:35.920 --> 00:18:40.400 years for my brother's murderer, and now he must not escape. 330 00:18:48.839 --> 00:18:52.480 I dare not go near carswell, so Harry volunteered to 331 00:18:52.559 --> 00:18:54.400 keep a watch on him, to let me know when 332 00:18:54.440 --> 00:18:57.119 our chance came to return the rooms, if it was 333 00:18:57.160 --> 00:18:57.880 ever to come. 334 00:18:59.640 --> 00:19:00.599 It is only a night or. 335 00:19:00.559 --> 00:19:04.079 Two after Harrington was there that I arrived home and 336 00:19:04.200 --> 00:19:07.599 found the calendar had come in the mail. When I 337 00:19:07.720 --> 00:19:12.400 examined it, I found everything after November nineteenth had been 338 00:19:12.519 --> 00:19:17.440 torn out. The next night I had another envelope of 339 00:19:17.480 --> 00:19:17.799 the mail. 340 00:19:19.240 --> 00:19:21.000 This time it was a woodcut an. 341 00:19:20.880 --> 00:19:24.680 Illustration torn out of a book showing a dark moonlit 342 00:19:24.880 --> 00:19:28.680 road and the man walking on it, and right behind 343 00:19:28.799 --> 00:19:33.839 him came a huge dark shape some awful demon creature. 344 00:19:35.960 --> 00:19:38.440 Under it were written some lines from the ancient Mariner, 345 00:19:39.440 --> 00:19:42.599 And as I sat alone and read them aloud, I 346 00:19:42.720 --> 00:19:46.319 felt that now familiar gust of warm air playing about 347 00:19:46.359 --> 00:19:53.720 my legs. The man walks on and turns no more 348 00:19:53.839 --> 00:19:59.119 his head, because he knows a frightful fiend duck close 349 00:19:59.279 --> 00:20:12.400 behind him. True, now I knew the face of my terror, 350 00:20:13.400 --> 00:20:16.240 and it was with me always walking down the dark 351 00:20:16.319 --> 00:20:19.920 street at night. I heard its footsteps behind me in 352 00:20:20.039 --> 00:20:23.079 my lonely house at midnight at rome the halls. 353 00:20:24.599 --> 00:20:27.400 Like the ancient Mariner and John Harrington, I never turned 354 00:20:27.440 --> 00:20:31.079 to look. I couldn't. My nerves were going, and I 355 00:20:31.119 --> 00:20:36.079 could do nothing but wait the days. The week slipped by, 356 00:20:36.359 --> 00:20:37.759 and still Harrington had no plan. 357 00:20:39.039 --> 00:20:41.079 I checked off the days on the calendar cars while 358 00:20:41.160 --> 00:20:45.680 had sent now the eight days remaining, then six, then three, two. 359 00:20:47.039 --> 00:20:53.079 One. It was the evening of the eighteenth. My last 360 00:20:53.279 --> 00:20:56.160 day on earth was to begin. At midnight. 361 00:20:58.680 --> 00:21:02.279 I was sitting alone in my living room, daved in perspiration, 362 00:21:02.759 --> 00:21:04.319 fighting to keep my nerves and check. 363 00:21:05.920 --> 00:21:11.559 Suddenly I felt that warm gust of air. I listened. 364 00:21:13.160 --> 00:21:17.039 There were soft footsteps, A shadow seemed to cross the 365 00:21:17.119 --> 00:21:21.079 hall door, and then the footsteps landed into a loud banging. 366 00:21:21.759 --> 00:21:24.319 No, no, not yet, I still jump one day more 367 00:21:24.400 --> 00:21:26.279 knock yet, don't. 368 00:21:29.240 --> 00:21:30.759 It's me? Oh? 369 00:21:32.000 --> 00:21:36.559 Oh h then Harry, what's the matter, man? What is it? 370 00:21:37.200 --> 00:21:37.559 It's you? 371 00:21:37.759 --> 00:21:40.680 You can knock your footsteps is. 372 00:21:40.759 --> 00:21:45.119 Of course, thank him, I thought, I look, man, you've 373 00:21:45.160 --> 00:21:48.640 got to pull yourself together. It's tonight. We have our chance. 374 00:21:49.759 --> 00:21:51.519 What chance? 375 00:21:51.960 --> 00:21:54.519 Cars will leave Victoria station by boat train to night 376 00:21:54.599 --> 00:21:57.599 at ten. I'll get on with him there. You take 377 00:21:57.680 --> 00:21:59.839 the car I brought and drive to Croydon. Get on 378 00:22:00.079 --> 00:22:02.839 a train there and be sure to bring the paper. 379 00:22:03.119 --> 00:22:04.519 Yes, yes, I heard it. 380 00:22:04.799 --> 00:22:09.119 You've shaved already. Good. Everything depends on his not recognizing 381 00:22:09.200 --> 00:22:10.160 you this Harrington. 382 00:22:11.359 --> 00:22:14.440 Suppose he changes his mind, Suppose he doesn't take that trip. 383 00:22:14.480 --> 00:22:15.640 My time runs out tomorrow. 384 00:22:15.720 --> 00:22:19.119 He'll be there and you'll do it. You'll do it well, 385 00:22:20.200 --> 00:22:20.839 you've got to. 386 00:22:26.200 --> 00:22:28.240 I stood on the platform across in my mind in 387 00:22:28.319 --> 00:22:30.839 a daze. I thought the train would never come, but 388 00:22:31.000 --> 00:22:34.960 it did. I saw Herrington at the window. He stared 389 00:22:35.000 --> 00:22:36.920 coolly at me. Of course, there was to be no 390 00:22:37.000 --> 00:22:39.920 sign of recognition. I entered the coach and slowly made 391 00:22:39.920 --> 00:22:41.799 my way down the aisle to the compartment, where Harrington 392 00:22:41.880 --> 00:22:45.799 sat opposite him, staring full into my face. Was car's well. 393 00:22:46.640 --> 00:22:49.599 He looked up as I sat down, His eyes when 394 00:22:49.640 --> 00:22:53.000 heavy did it, his face bland. It was impossible to 395 00:22:53.079 --> 00:22:58.039 tell what he knew. The train started. The next stop 396 00:22:58.160 --> 00:23:00.519 was Dover, at the end of the line. My last 397 00:23:00.680 --> 00:23:09.960 chance that was trying to cast the rooms. There was 398 00:23:10.000 --> 00:23:13.119 a strange riot. Caswell and I see the face to face, 399 00:23:13.160 --> 00:23:16.200 staring into each other's eyes. Harrington off to the side, 400 00:23:16.240 --> 00:23:19.319 pulling in his face and putting his fingers. If I 401 00:23:19.359 --> 00:23:21.000