Mexico Again

The party determine to return to Carmen's Hacienda to find and release the other prisoners of the necklace before Quetzelcoatl is released

Over to America

First phase of the journey involved the overnight LNER sleeper train from St Pancras to Glasgow. After quick stop for breakfast with (the much happier) Douglas (and a quick discussion of business between Marco and Douglas) they boarded the RMS Tuscania for New York on the morning of September 11th. 

The stark reality of the war was evident as they picked up a Royal Navy destroyer escort as they left the Clyde. The journey lasted 8 days and was peaceful (and still luxuriant) until the 19th as they entered American waters. They received a distress signal from the RMS Athinai which left New York a few days earlier with 438 passengers and crew of 70 and a cargo of coffee, rice, cotton and newspaper had a fire in her sealed lower hold and a general SOS was issued on the ship's wireless set. A number of ships including the Tuscania answered the distress call and passengers and crew were rescued with just 1 death.

A few days in New York were spent in New York which included wining and dining of some of the cities residents (bankers, politicians, journalist and an industrialists) and purchase of a loverly new blue Ford truck and red open top car as well as a number of other items which Marco arranged to be transported by rail. "How long are we going to be here?" Nell asked. "About 16 years for some of us at least" Marco replied. 

By train across America

Then they set off by train from Grand Central Station. They travelled by rail down to Washington (where Marco spent some time and money) and Atlanta to New Orleans, over 1000 miles by rail but surprisingly quickly and in great comfort. 

Marco insisted that a few days stay was needed (for no good purposes according to Nell) and he was certainly late returning and looking rather haggard. This included a visit to to the Stag bar in Harry Ramos' Imperial Cabinet saloon for New Orleans Fizzes where 35 shakermen would shake the drink until their arms were tired, then pass it on down the line. "What are we doing here?" Nell asked. "Raising the stakes" replied Marco as the party spread out to find out more about Charles Porter and possibly the mysterious Charles Villeroi. 

Next stage involved a quick trip to Baton Rouge and then rather less luxurious trains across the deserts of Texas and New Mexico, through the towns of Houston and San Antonio to the frontier town of Las Cruces. There they collected horses and a motorised lorry for the overland trek to Jaurez, across the Mexican border, and then to Jaurez and finally on to Estacion San Pedro near Casa Grandes (locals informed them that the region was known for the ancient Paquimé civilisation). The horse trek was over 400 miles and took nearly 4 days.

Arriving at the Hacienda

At Carmen’s Yucatan hacienda, Lyris notes that there are the confused ghosts of the recently dead… A surviving servant says that ‘Americanos’ came and killed everyone… Most were Texans… The house has been ransacked… The descriptions fit the group Marco remembers being with Carmen (Cajun, Texan and Mexican Federale general – the Texan is Henry Hodges and the Cajun is Charles Porter III)…

Carmen kept some of her necklace-links free range (3 plus Marco – including a journalist and a politician) and some in weave mazes… The Texan took all of the mazes (12)… According to the Professor, her Mayan astronomical calendar suggests that events are about to shift to the pacific and the USA… Nell finds the secret door to Carmen’s shrine to her father but it is protected by a demon so the party flees… George gathers the remaining servants and arranges for the estate to be tidied up and the legal aspects dealt with (Carmen left no will)… 

In search of allies

Marco visits Pancho Villa and after describing the raid asks him to assist by attacking the Five Rings lair near Columbus, New Mexico… As Villa desperately needs supplies after his defeat at the Second Battle of Agua Prieta and is eager to make President Wilson pay for allowing Carranza to transport troops across Arizona (plus US companies sold Villa defective bullets), he agrees – on the understanding that the party scout the house… 

Diego Rodriguez and Izabella Sanchez accompany the party to the Columbia for the Downfall of Henry Hodges…