Its been several days since I last wrote and, with the help of Mr. Young and our own research, I feel like we are finally starting to see the light - as frightening as it is to look at. I can see why so many have warned us to turn away but now it seems we can't. After spending time reading this arcane book, I am troubled by the connections to our affairs and the references to strange Native American deities. Oddly, I always feel profoundly tired after reading but driven to push on. I am still not ready to fully disclose the contents to my friends until I have a greater understanding of its power.
Chuck, Ringo and Collin returned from their meeting with Wilbur in the forest and evidently the poor chap intends to help us now that his wife is lost. Intending to meet up with him at another time, I spent the days reading and looking into the disappearance of Ms. Helen Dutton - one of those mentioned in Ward's initial packet of safe materials. The reliable Arkham Library held a newspaper article that indicated her body had been stolen after burial and Collin's connections indicated that Edward Kelly (son of Senator Kelly) may have dragged the body to Townsend and the police just simply stopped looking when Kelly was connected. Young later confirmed that Kelly was in fact a ranking member of the Black Hand. Chuck followed up on the whereabouts of the artifact but learned little beyond the name of Dunham's assistant professor - Thomas Brighton currently on sabbatical in South America. Brighton likely knows what happened to the artifact but without the ability to contact him, it seems a dead end. We have always assumed the artifact is being pursued by the Hand but perhaps they already have it. That night, Young failed to show up at the rendezvous point in the forest.
Further research the next day revealed that the Black Hand is several centuries old, originated in Britain and has a midatlantic chapter as well. This makes sense with all the references to the Roanoke Colony and the pictures of trees. Max, while looking into information on Native American weaponry, found nothing that indicated knowledge of this cudgel artifact but passing references to ceremonial rods etc. Later, Young arrived at the meeting place in the library, we secured a study corral on the fifth floor and our eyes were opened further.
Young recognized Dutton as another vessel sacrificed to what he called "the Cold Wind" - it is apparently common to sacrifice women to the Wind since they put up more of a resistance and are therefore pleasing. We mentioned the telegram from Cavendish and Young immediately identified him as a leader of the Hand and "not human". I shudder even writing such words. Even a week ago that seemed unfathomable but after what I have seen and read, I find myself able to believe without hesitation. Young told us that the trees could be used as "doors" to bring in the Cold Wind. We have to destroy these trees. We agreed to meet again next Saturday.
Desiring to follow up on the Goodrich's shop in case we missed something while running out, we drove back to Acton and decided to visit the diner across the way before venturing right into the shop's rear door. Unfortunately, it was clear very quickly that members of the diner staff recognized us and we were forced to leave as quickly as possible. We drove back to Arkham and are finally planning a night of rest since it is already the early morning hours of Sunday. Tomorrow/Today I intend to spend more time with this book. Maybe it will start to make some of these pieces make sense.
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