FP-S1: Did They Forget About Us?

Oct 12, Saturday 9am: The clickity-clack of the wheels slowed as the train pulled into the West Haven station. The porter unloaded the professors’ baggage while the students insisted upon carrying their own. Carrying contraband? Prohibition stretched out here too. West Haven was a small town, about 120 residents. Most of its population involved in Logging. Which was evident once the train pulled out and its coal fumes wafted away, leaving the pleasant smell of fresh sawdust in the air. And the faint sounds of large circular saws buzzing in the distance. 

A city map posted at the train station laid-out the town. They walked north between the school and garage toward the Penman hotel where they were greeted by 2 young boys in uniforms,

“George and Ernest Penman sirs; Let us take your bags.” Prof Coppersmith flipped them each a quarter. Jonathan Penman himself at the desk, “Welcome to the Penman sirs. We’ve been expecting you. Did you want rooms upstairs or down? Dr. Baker? No, they’ve been camping in the field this last week. They left a few things in their rooms and stored some equipment. Anyway, The Hungry Jack diner next door serves meal 3 times a day. My wife Mary can fix cookies and coffee/tea, breakfast and other meals as needed.” 

First surprise Dr. Baker’s team wasn’t staying at the hotel at night; rather, camping in the field. Then surprise no-one here to greet us, “When was the last time any of the team was here?” Jonathan scratched his chin, “They rented 2 trucks from Harold’s garage. Haven’t seen them since last Saturday when they brought that young boy in to see the doc. Injured? You’ll have to ask the doc. My 8yo boy Matthew used to follow them to the ‘dig’ as you call it. But once they moved camp further north, it was too far for him to walk out there.  Not here right now, out fishing.” 

Which got them going in separate directions once they dropped their bags in their rooms. “Listen up for a car horn if/when they arrive.” James doing a walk-about, starting at the doctor’s office. Byron to the diner, Harold to the town library, Marcus checking with the maid, and Clive doing inventory of supplies. When they all met back up for lunch at the diner, they compared notes: 

•  James, “Dr. Wiess says it was young Henry Bates his patient. Not an injury, just a strange 2^nd degree burn on his thigh, about the size of a potato. Woke up just feeling minor discomfort, no pain. Best he could figure, almost frostbite. But it hasn’t gotten that cold yet. Anyway, I stopped at the garage. I had to give Simon a decent bribe for a truck. An old 1910 Mack truck up on the lift. Hopefully ready by tomorrow if we’re not picked up today.”
• Bryon, “Good waitress at the diner. And the food was good too. As for Baker, he was always excitable. If he DID find something, he’s probably forgotten all about us. That or car problems.” Clive noted, “Victoria managers the camp. She wouldn’t forget. Could have sent a student to come get us. I doubt both cars broke down.”
• Harold, “When he called in before he sent the telegram, Dr. Baker said something about ‘opposable thumbs’. Which is why I’m here; so, I’d think he’d be on pins-and-needles waiting for me to analyze. Anyway, Edna Miller, the librarian, was so startled to have a visitor, she ‘shushed’ me. Town sprung up with lumber then news of the rail coming thru resulted in the large Penman hotel. That didn’t pan out. Not many if any tourists, nothing to draw them here. Other than a few Lakota Indians that wander in off of the neighboring reservation to the northeast.”
• Marcus, “The maid Rebecca didn’t have any gossip regarding Baker’s team. Other than Stewart and Lynch arguing about their dinosaur extinction theories. She got a hoot out of Tucker’s jokes. Always tipped her well. I stopped by the cemetery behind the church but nothing noteworthy…same ole section of typhoid and cholera deaths. Babies and kids.”
•  Clive, “No spare tents in the surplus. I’m guessing they setup a smaller tent for the 2 women (Victoria and Clara) and a large tent for the 6 guys. Unless they put the students (Henry and Martin) in a small tent. I stopped at the General Store and Ma Peters said to order tents would take weeks. I was surprised she didn’t have a food order ready for Baker’s team to pick up. So, I arranged one and a half of the same order from their prior list. I had to wait for a disgruntled customer, Peggy Flemings, complaining about rotten eggs. Ma insisted they were delivered fresh just yesterday. 

And that’s when Harold noticed the young boy walking up the street with a fish-stringer over his shoulder. “That must be Matthew. Let me go ask if he knows Baker’s whereabouts.” Before they broke up, Clive coordinated, “6pm is too late. If no-one arrives by 3pm, we’ll plan to stay at the hotel, we already have rooms. Listen for a car-horn signal that they’re here.” 

Harold and James hustled to the hotel where they learned, “Looks like Mary will be cooking you boys fish tonight. Fresh trout thanks to Matt.” James asked, “Mind if we speak to the boy? He may be the only one who knows where Baker is. We’re hoping he can lead us out there tomorrow.” Jonathan hesitated, “Sunday? We got church. But since you got a truck, sure. Just have him back in time fer supper. Matthew! Come here boy.” From the back room, “Yah Pa?” Soon a shirtless, barefoot boy in overalls appeared, “I’m Matthew. I’m 8yo. Baker? Sure, but there ain’t no road up yonder. But I can point out their path. Maybe Mr. Tucker still has some candy left.” 

Clive and Marcus headed to the library. Whispering to Edna, “Do you have any old papers that mention anyone from around here finding and selling a small dinosaur bone? Probably 5 years ago?” Edna shaking her head. Marcus focused his camera, “Smile. Just want to make sure you’re mentioned as a big help when our discoveries are announced.” But his flattery and Persuade fell on deaf ears, “Sorry boys. Wish I had something to share.”

Meanwhile, Byron walked across the street to the church in hopes of climbing to the bell tower for a grand view of the surrounds. Locked. And the stairs inside. So, he returned to the diner to flirt with Nina and the other young female waitresses. Harold arrived to point out, “You do know that’s her husband Sam in the kitchen. You represent the Biology Dept. Keep your zipper up and remember your duties. IF you hope to get a good report out of this trip.”

NEXT SESSION: https://rigglefp.blogspot.com/2020/10/fp-s2-what-in-tarnation.html