SUMMARY 35 - The Voyages
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[Excerpts from Elizabeth's personal diary, from 21 May to 30 June]

[21 May]

What a horrid day! Most of us are somewhat comfortably resting in a suite at the Eastern Exchange, in Port Said. Bloch is resting perfectly comfortably in the Army Base Hospital; they've got him on enough morphine to put me under for good.

I would that those pig-headed, misogynistic doctors of his were having unthinkable nightmares in which they are subject to the sexism they flaunt so carelessly, though. To think that I had to stoop to low social bullying to get the Base Commander to allow me access to Bloch! Some day, God save the Queen, it will not be so, at least in England. They have me so angry I cannot eat!

(Sent a telegraph to 'Katya', through Barrington. Perhaps we've fooled MI-5 into thinking that we're going to Crete instead of Barcelona.)

[22 May]

Interesting, this- Bloch seems to be healing normally! Of course, he's still completely soused with morphine, but his tissue is knitting just fine, and the inflammation is going down, if not gone completely. Perhaps my worst fears are not true; perhaps some of the nightmares will stop, now.

Adrian exchanged our tickets for a ship that leaves seven days hence; Bloch should be ready to travel by then. He also, I believe, sent out an inquiry to the Museum about those artifacts Kalfour asked us to look after. I believe these artifacts are potential weapons against the cult? If so, can we ally with the Sons of Mamluk in their use? I don't know if any of us are really strong enough to withstand the 'favors' of Isis / Yog-Soggoth, though we must be prepared to try, I think.

Other than that, more reading. I'm still working on the shape-shifting spell. I'm sure the fact that I find it so distasteful is not helping my progress; after a scant hour or two of studying, I feel soiled and must bathe. I can't imagine actually casting it. Also, a heavy day of studying seems to make the nightmares worse.

[23 May]

Adrian got a reply from the British Museum today. Nothing about the head piece or collar, but the dagger mentioned is 'almost certainly' at Hermitage. Perhaps a trip to Russia is in our future.... though I wonder what that would do to Katya.

[29 May]

Well, here we are, on a ship to Gibraltar. We forged a letter giving me power of attorney over Bloch and got him out of that God-forsaken place. And just in time, too, to prevent a heavy sulfite treatment. His healing proceeded normally to the point where the injury was no longer life-threatening, and then stopped completely. Very disheartening. I begin to have an idea about how he could be healed, but am afraid to speak it.

[1 June]

I found a doctor here in Barcelona; we've taken rooms at a local hotel, and dropped Umba and Nyiti off at the hospital. They will proceed with the operations on her esophagus and such, and fitting her with prosthetics. I feel strangely elated that we can help them; as though our help is working against There-Is-No-Peace..., somehow. Foolish fancies of a foolish girl, as Emma would say.

[3 June]

We have been slowly, tortuously weaning Bloch off of the morphine. It horrifies me, and yet intrigues me at the same time, to see his mind attempt to deal with the pain. How much can a human stand?

Thankfully, I was not the only one to think of using the shape-shifting spell to heal Bloch, and Adrian tried casting it on Bloch today. It failed, though it was amusing to see Bloch's reaction at seeing a perfect replica of himself. We must now try and teach the shape-shifting spell to Bloch, so that he can cast it on himself. I believe Katya and Smythe are going to join in the lessons.

[15 June]

Bloch has finally learned, and he cast the spell on himself today. He's healed! Perfectly back to normal. His genitalia have been restored, and though he would not let me touch him to examine, from walking him through the process, his internal organs seem to have righted themselves. Absolutely amazing.

Casting the spell, though, seemed to have a deleterious effect on his psyche: for a number of hours after, he honestly believed he could fly. This led to a sobering realization on my part that this 'miraculous' alternative to my... condition.... will only work if I can still speak.

[16 June]

Nyiti still has not woken. The surgeries went well, but in order to properly use the prosthetics, she needs training. And we feel we can wait here no longer. The hospital has released her to Umba's care; I think she may not wake again.

Still, Umba seems to have high spirits. He has already fallen in with the Arabic crowd here in Barcelona and has several friends he rooms with, a job, and not a small interest in the local Arabic women. He seems happy and grateful for the chance to provide a better life for his children. I feel glad that we could help him and his mother; I left him with a not small amount of money, and a letter to Emma which will provide him with help, should he need it.

I envy his ignorance of our plight. I wish I could be so sure of having children.

[30 June]

These two weeks in Vienna have done me no end of good. The psychotherapist here worked wonders; I haven't felt this solid since before we arrived in Cairo. If only the nightmares would stop, I would feel myself again.

Of course, this book cannot be helping my stability any, either. Though I am excited by what I'm reading- today, I skimmed the instructions for the Voorish Sign. Perhaps we do have a chance after all...

We have spoken and argued at length, and have decided to go to Shanghai, by way of Cairo. There are a couple of errands we should run in Cairo; pick up Hatch's telegrams and send him one detailing our intent, talk to Kalfour, telling him about the dagger and attempting to gain some closure there, checking after Saul, etc.

I wonder what Shanghai is like. Father would never let me accompany him to the Orient...