;Sir Henry Newbolt;Take my drum to England, hang et by the shore, Strike et when your powder's runnin' low; If the Dons sight Devon, I'll quit the port o' Heaven, An' drum them up the Channel as we drummed them long ago.
Devon, England, 8 April 1940
The moon is perfectly round and casts its luminance over Buckland Abbey where a lonely vicar walks from his manse. It is cold this April as the shadow of war descends over Europe.
The glimpse of a shape catches the priest's eye and the wind picks up in the trees nearby. He pulls his overcoat tight, suddenly anxious, and turns back toward the cottage. In the gloom of an oak in the courtyard it seems there is the form of a man, barely visible in the blackness. "Hello?" There is no answer. Moonlight breaks through the leaves providing a brief view under the canopy. There is nothing to be seen.
He continues his stroll around the grounds, coming closer to the main building, originally a thirteenth century Cistercian Abbey until Henry the Eighth's dissolution of the monasteries. In the windswept shadows he has the feeling of something following. His pace quickens toward the great door. Looking back, terror confirmed, he sees a line of figures fan out from behind the cottage.
As the priest reaches the door something seems to cross the moon causing a momentary eclipse. He does not look around, frantically fumbling a large key into the lock. A few seconds later he is inside, pulling down a wooden plank into brackets to bar the door.
It is totally silent in the Abbey and he rapidly flicks a switch to provide some small comfort, but there are still many unseen dark corners in the hall beyond.
The vestibule has been converted into a museum of sorts, displaying relics of the history of the area. The centrepiece, quickly passed by, is a glass cabinet with a large snare drum.
He shuffles down the central aisle, approaching the pulpit and muttering hastened prayers to the Nazarene watching from a stained glass panel overhead. In the background a figure drops noiselessly from the ceiling to the ground, landing with inhuman precision. Instantly its cloaked face turns toward the fleeing clergyman.
Finding a back door locked the priest starts again for the front of the building, hoping to find a key in the desk at the entrance. To his horror he sees the nocturnal visitor unbar the door and sweep around, snarling. There is only the briefest opportunity for making out a face in the half light but it is grotesque. He backs up to find a large golden cross as a means of defence.
Running past the stranger four other men move into the church, quickly spreading along the walls, to prevent any escape.
Now at a font adjacent the pulpit the priest holds the cross in front of him as a shield. The creature is there in an instant, cloak flurrying in the speed of its approach. Long teeth gleam and its face contorts to reflect the priest's doom. In a moment of bizarre recognition the clergyman whispers, "No. You cannot be...." But spindly fingers close over his mouth pushing him back into the holy water. He struggles, gagging.
The other men draw closer, seeing their master pull a device from his pocket. Already half drowned, the priest shudders as the assassin pushes something against the base of his neck. A scream is cut short and the body goes limp, slumping to the floor.
Gathering its henchman the tall creature strides toward the vestibule. They near the roped-off glass cabinet in almost reverential steps. The drum is inside. It is Drake's Drum.
London, Morning of 9 April 1940
The news in the papers this morning is that Denmark and Norway have been invaded. However, the British people still have a quiet confidence that the Nazi War machine will come to a halt in France. Surely the Wehrmacht is no match for the superior numbers of the combined Anglo-Frankish army?
In a stately apartment Wotek is reunited with his father. A debrief of sorts takes place where a picture of Aldon Radowski is shown; the Polish scientist with advanced knowledge of German encryption techniques and devices. Wotek recognises the man as having been a prisoner at the Soviet camp, but does not know what happened to him. He presumably fled into the countryside in the chaos that followed the break-in.
A man sits in the corner making notes. He is Nathan Roseby who later introduces himself as a "civil servant" of His majesty's government. Jachowitz joins them outside and Roseby explains that the girl should be taken out of London; in case the city is bombed. He assures that Illiana will be well taken care of. Reluctantly, Wotek admits this does seem to be the most responsible solution.
A uniformed boy approaches with a message for Roseby. He reads intently, takes a moment and then says, "Can you meet me at The Dorchester Hotel this afternoon? Please bring the girl." They agree.
The rest of the unit is rounded up, having had barely a few days leave after the mission in Poland.
At The Dorchester Hotel Roseby explains that a destroyer sunk, in the early hours of the morning, what is believed to be a submarine of some type, suspected to have German origins. Moreover, there has been an heinous attack on a priest at Buckland Abbey where 'Drake's Drum' is kept. They are all to go and investigate. There may be a connection. The government man is characteristically vague. He has read Wordsworth's report of what happened at the Soviet prison camp and appears to know of Captain Frost's orders, passed on to Hunter, for assassinating Commander Kalapov. In fact, it was he who photographed Kalapov in London a few years previous, alerting British Intelligence to this man's strange nature.
The meeting at The Dorchester Hotel is short. Roseby proceeds directly to business and provides train tickets from Paddington to Plymouth. A 'Mr. Brown' and a young Eastern European woman arrive with Roeby to take Iliana into foster care. There is a brief opportunity for a hug goodbye. Mr. Brown assures Wotek that he can visit whenever needed. Iliana's new home is in the countryside around Ipswich.
More discussion occurs on the train, in private. Roseby hopes to verify Lieutenant Wordsworth's report by speaking with Private Hunter. Initially Hunter will not discuss the mission as Roseby is a civilian. He cannot be sure of his inquisitor's credentials. Growing irritated Roseby storms out of the dining cart they have requisitioned and seeks out the Lieutenant. Shortly thereafter Wordsworth puts his head around the door and asks, "Be a good chap and tell Mr. Roseby what went on in Poland."
Once under orders Hunter is quite happy to discuss the events before, during and after the rescue of Wotek from the Soviet prison camp. Roseby is particularly interested in the unusual aspects of the girl. Hunter was the only one who directly heard her speaking English. He is also interested in the strange pistol-shaped weapon used by Kalapov. He makes a note to have the device seized from Hunter's quarters.
The train journey passes relatively uneventfully. They disembark: Roseby, followed by Wordsworth, Hunter, Dragomir and Jachowitz. Wotek appears to have become a de facto member of the unit, with the approval of his father keen to keep a close eye on British Operations. Smith was unable to be reached at short notice as he appears to have taken his family on holiday.
At Plymouth station they are met by a local policeman accompanied by a young officer. Roseby appears to recognise him (from his file), "Second Lieutenant Bainbridge, pleased to meet you." He briefly explains to the others that Alistair Bainbridge is a recent medical graduate with a particular interest in the fledgling field of forensic medicine. He is on loan from the local Army head quarters and might be useful in the present investigation. The Second Lieutenant also has first aid training which could come in handy if the events in Poland are anything to go by.
Buckland Abbey has an almost Norman appearance. Waiting to greet them in its driveway is another policeman. Inside a woman sits, nursing a cup of tea. The parishioner was the first to find the body this morning when she arrived to do flower arrangements for Sunday's service (it is now Friday mid-afternoon).
Bainbridge immediately sets about taking a pulse to confirm the priest is dead. He is. The face is grotesquely contorted...as if from fear. Hunter notices a small puncture wound in the back of the man's neck, immediately arousing suspicion.
Wordsworth and Roseby question the woman while Dragomir checks the doors. Jachowitz and Wotek view the museum pieces and notice the smashed glass of a cabinet. The church in general is superficially vandalised but nothing else appears to have been taken. The information panel refers to 'Drake's Drum'.
While examining the cabinet Jachowitz reels backwards as if struck by lightning. He sees a vision of the drum in its cabinet being approached by a ghastly tall figure, surrounded by shrouded men. Wheezing, he opens his eyes and it take a few moments for the shapes to fade. The evil stare of the vision haunts him. He recounts his experience to Wotek.
A tall robed man strides into the building, interrupting their conversation. He is followed by a smaller balding man. They appear to have concluded a heated conversation, "don't bother me any further with your heathen ramblings, Drake."
The policeman recognises him as the Rural Dean, a bishop in charge of the religious wellbeing of the South West of England. He moves quickly to the fallen priest and looks shocked. "So it is true. Who would do such a thing, a defilement of the church and her humble servant." He mumbles a prayer.
"They came for the Drum, don't you see?!" The other man pipes up. "It is a spiritual shield for the Realm. I tried to get further help for my research but every University has shut its doors! It's a conspiracy!"
Wordsworth and Roseby speak with the man, a distant heir of Sir Frances Drake, as the Bishop speaks to the policeman, offering any help he can.
Drake explains that the drum belonged to his ancestor during the first circumnavigation of the globe. Legend has it that Drake, on his deathbed, asked for the drum to be returned to his home in England and, should the Realm ever be threatened, the drum should be beaten, arousing him from Heaven to return and save the land. "But, I believe the magic of the drum goes back further than that and Sir Frances knew it. The drum is tied to Britain....and now it's gone. We're doomed!"
Hunter hears the raised voice from the bell tower where he has been investigating any points of entry into the church. Troublingly, he notices some wooden slats broken through and scratching on the stonework, outside the window opening. He can see Dragomir pacing in the courtyard below. He makes his way back downward.
In front of the group the bishop denounces the speculation as Godless nonsense. Roseby, on the other hand registers interest and suggests he might be able to get funding for further investigation and open some doors when previously they had been closed.
The first policeman comes back from his patrol car and announces to Roseby that wreckage from the machine sunk last night in the channel has been recovered. It is in a warehouse at the naval dockyard. Roseby suggests that Wordsworth and his men go to view the submarine. He wishes to stay a short while longer to talk with Drake.
The warehouse is casually guarded by two Military Policemen. One of them shows Wordsworth, as commanding officer, into the large building. There voices echo off the tin walls. "Here it is; exactly as it was towed in. Nets were cast out to gather any floating debris and a dredge picked up a few leftovers. They think they got most of it. You are the first people to take a look at it, on orders from London. It is definitely German, but they think it is a completely new model."
The submarine is long and missile shaped; approximately fifty feet long. Two large ballast tanks flank the main hull with two torpedo tubes visible both fore and aft. The main damage is a rip adjacent the conning tower, presumably as a result of shelling by the destroyer. Some internal explosion may have occurred popping a hold door open underneath the machine.
Dragomir is drawn to the underside where he hauls out a large iron cage. Within it he is shocked to see a dead wolf-like creature. It is massive by natural standards.
Jachowitz ventures into the open portal in the conning tower. Inside the submarine he finds a locked strong box and a strange radio transmitter type device. He reaches to retrieve it and, for the second time that day, has an unsettling vision. In his mind he sees the image of a vaulted room. It is pillared and circular with a flame that burns brightly in the centre, extending toward the ceiling. He drops the radio. Imprinted in his field of view is a symbol on the roof of the vault.
Wordsworth says to Hunter, "Go and find a telephone. We need to report back to base. There could be a Gerry on the loose." The lieutenant had noted that safety equipment, presumably an inflatable dinghy, was missing.
Hunter walks to the door across the warehouse and peers outside. He sees the feet of an MP behind some piled tires. A quick investigation reveals both guards dead. As he pulls his pistol, at once he hears the cracking of gunfire from within.
All men are pinned down, in and around the submarine. Wordsworth and Bainbridge are stuck behind roughly bailed fishing nets while Dragomir and Jachowitz alternately return fire from a position within the conning tower. Wotek crawls into the hold of the submarine as bullets stray dangerously close.
A shot glancing off the conning tower sends Dragomir ducking for cover and off-balancing Jachowitz just as he brings down one of the enemy. Both fall into the submarine and the Pole comes face to face with a key. The solution for entering the strong box.
Hunter makes his way across the warehouse, taking cover and firing directly at their attackers. He is able to shoot down two and Wotek takes out the last as the man approaches the Lieutenant's position.
A blood trail leads from behind a forty gallon drum, seeking an open side door and escape. Hunter pins the man down with his boot. He then pulls him over "who are you?" That man merely laughs, coughing up blood. Looking around, before the others arrive, Hunter kneels down and whispers malevolently, "you might not laugh if I use one of those brain sucking devices. Stick it in the back of your neck and...BAM! Pretty scary stuff!"
The man looks shaken at first but then attempts to relax himself. Smiling gently he says, "When I am with the Vril I will have no fear." He begins to convulse.
Disgusted, the American searches the body and has retrieved a bible as Wordsworth arrives and says, "Is he alive?"
"Not anymore." Then, reflecting, Hunter comments, "He spoke with a British accent."
Out of the window Mr. Drake sees Roseby's car disappear down the drive. It was good for him to talk to someone who would listen to his theories; incomplete as they were. Then there is a knock. Uncertain as to who it could be; he rarely received visitors; he opens the door. He smiles slightly, "Oh, hello...." But before any further conversation can take place a ringed hand shoots out straight for Drake's throat.
"We also found this." Jachowitz holds out an iron bound glass case, standing next to Dragomir who now carries the strange radio device. Inside the glass, in murky green liquid but unmistakable, is a human brain. Hunter hears a whisper, "you're just like one of us!" as he stares at the ugly shape.
Turning away, Hunter produces the bible and shakes out two keys which fall to the floor. Wordsworth moves over to take a closer look. Inside the front cover is written in a steady hand '10 St John'. Hunter flicks through to the Gospel of John, chapter 10. He reads it aloud.
The Parable of the Sheepfold 10 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. 2 But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. 4 And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice. 5 And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers. 6 This parable spake Jesus unto them: but they understood not what things they were which he spake unto them. Every man in the group is speechless for a short period. Jachowitz voices what they all are thinking, "That passage seems to describe what happened at Buckland Abbey last night....the priest: a shepherd, a robber..."
"I especially like the last bit regarding not understanding what it is about. I am as confused as a follower of Jesus," Hunter muses.
Bainbridge steps forward. "Let me see that inscription....there is a 'John Street' not far from the docks on the other side of town."
Suddenly Roseby bursts into the warehouse, flanked by more military policemen who had gathered in response to the earlier gunfire. They quickly see the situation is under control. Wordsworth takes the book and hands it to Roseby. "The plot thickens."
The team follows a lead to 10 John Street in Plymouth, from the scribbling on the inside of the bible recovered from a fallen assailant.
When they arrive to John Street, the house is relatively non-descript and semi detached. A dim light is seen in a top window. Hunter is about to try the key found with the bible in the front door but thinks better of it. Instead he scouts the backyard, where a tool shed and out-house are visible. He returns to report.
Wotek breaks into the neighbouring house and makes his way upstairs. After listening carefully at the wall, mumbling can be heard in the adjacent room.
The others generally mill around the front garden of the neighbour's house which draws attention and movement at number 10 is noticed behind a front window. Roseby takes the key and opens the front door as Hunter runs for the backyard. Opening the door sets off a spring-loaded trap and Roseby is pinned to the entranceway `- knocked out but luckily not punctured.
The bible verse was a test for new recruits. It warned against going through the front door (which has unusual markings on the frame).
Silenced gunshots pepper the corner of the shed as Hunter reaches the backyard. He is pinned down. Wordsworth and Dragomir come up behind him to give support, randomly firing round the corner while Hunter smashes a window and leaps into the shed. There is nothing of interest other than a can of kerosene which he uses to smash the opposite window. He can see a figure firing from next to the out-building, takes aim and hits the other man, possibly in the arm.
There is a brief silence before Jachowitz exits from the back door, having been through the house. Bainbridge, the medic, is aiding Roseby, gradually coming to his senses.
Hunter wastes no time and sets off in pursuit of the wounded man. From a high window, Wotek, having climbed through a roof crawlspace between properties can see the escaping man, but is otherwise examining a makeshift shrine he has found in the top bedroom. There is a hexagram shape with a flower in the middle painted on a mirror and a Book of Thelema.
Roseby and Bainbridge (who is now carrying the keys) assess the situation from the others and take a car to drive around the block and try to head off the running man.
Hunter loses the trail. However, the bleeding man is behind a tree, pulling his gun to shoot at Hunter. Then there is a flash of headlights as a car accelerates to squash the man against the tree. Roseby and Bainbridge exit the car. Hunter examines the body. No distinguishing marks.
In the backyard chaos has erupted as Jachowitz attempted to shoot out the lock on the reinforced steel door of the out-house (an unusually well armoured toilet). The shot was answered by heavy machinegun fire from within. Large holes have been punched in the metal and spray the second story of the house.
Hunter and Co. arrive from behind the out-house. The others are generally taking cover in the backyard for fear of being shot, but it is clear that there is no opportunity for the machine gunner to take proper aim. He shoots blindly.
The can of kerosene is retrieved from the shed and, as Jachowitz gingerly opens the mangled out-house door with a stick, Hunter throws in the can. It bursts under the machine gun fire but does not explode as was hoped. However, kerosene has been sprayed all over the interior of the building.
"Got a light?" Jachowitz winks at Hunter as he produces a cigarette. The lighter is thrown into the open door and the ensuing inferno causes panic and screams of terror from within. Fire, like the gentle caress of a lover, envelopes and consumes the structure. A flaming figure erupts from the door and runs into the open. Wotek, emerging from the house, shoots the human torch with his sidearm.
They wait for the flames to die down and make their way into the building, descending the burnt-out stairs, leaving Dragomir to guard the yard. The wooden out-house frame has mostly been incinerated revealing a concrete bunker below.
Behind an unlocked door is a large room, roughly the area of the backyard and part of the house. A light switch is thrown and the contents of the bunker are illuminated; a basic floor plan with a table and some chairs and rudimentary experimental equipment. At the far end is a bench where rests the Drum. A magnifying glass is set up on a clamp over markings on their prize.
Hunter examines the Drum to see an arcane symbol, coincidentally very similar to a sign on the radio found by Jachowitz in the submarine, except instead of a skull at the lower band there is a heart-in-sun motif.
Roseby is interested in a curtain on the wall, moving it aside to find a door. The door is unlocked but on the other side is simply the concrete wall of the bunker, however, a corridor is painted on its coarse surface.
Suddenly the single electric bulb cuts out, plunging the room into darkness; the only light now comes from the flickering of the torch carried down into the bunker.
There is a rush of air and a body is propelled at the concrete wall next to the smoking machine gun and wood embers. It is Dragomir, instantly knocked senseless by the force of the blow. Wordsworth shouts for the bunker door to be closed, leaving Dragomir outside, but it is too late. Hands, like talons, grip the door frame and a humanoid figure in black robes casts aside Bainbridge as he attempts to crush its fingers on the frame with his pistol handle. A second figure, not far behind, but entirely more human, enters and bashes down Wordsworth.
As the creature reaches the centre of the room it shrieks, seeing the drum on the bench. Hunter, protecting his objective, runs for the artefact but, in a step, the figure is there and clawed fingers seize the soldier. Hunter is face to face, for the second time, with a gruesome visage of gnashing teeth, half paralysed by the pain burning in his chest.
A shot rings out and a bullet from Roseby's service revolver slams into the creature and distracts it, dropping Hunter. It then swirls to grab the drum. At the same time two shots from Jachowitz bring down the second man. He falls, face down.
In mere seconds the creature has the drum under an arm and bolts for the "open" door at the far end of the room. Impossibly it flees through the door into the corridor painted on the concrete. Symbols around the door glow briefly. Wordsworth, approaching Roseby, both fire at the creature disappearing down the passage but bullets bounce off the wall harmlessly.
The local fire department shows up soon after.
In a room somewhere else entirely the drum is placed down on the cold ground. It is a round room with multiple passages converging, each next to a high backed chair. A few figures sit in the chairs watching the Bishop holding Drake's Drum. "We have the prize. But I think our friends have not been entirely honest with us about its significance. Perhaps we should hold onto this for awhile."
Days later, recovering in hospital, Hunter receives a phone call from a military acquaintance he served with in Spain. He had been trying to contact André Marty since returning to England to see if the man, now in Soviet Russia, was aware of any rumours or knew anything about the strange events they had encountered in Poland. Now he has the strange events of Dorset to add to the list of topics.
They speak in Spanish. Marty is surprised and interested to learn that Hunter is working as a mercenary for the British Army. The veteran somewhat brags about his position in the Red Army and suggests that Hunter might really enjoy working for the Russians, especially with the "friends" that Marty has become acquainted with. "These are our kind of people, Mark. We are about to receive another shipment of Poles tonight. It will be beautiful. Like lambs to the slaughter." Marty then has an idea, "Actually, and I do not mean to sound foreward, but your position with the British could prove most fortuitous. My associates would be curious to know what is going on within the ranks of that dying empire. If you help us it could be most lucrative for you, on so many levels."
Hunter barely hesitates, "that sounds like something I would be very, very interested in."
"Good man, Hunter. We will be in contact soon. You know, you really are just like one us! Farewell."
In an adjacent room a doctor who has been treating Hunter and suspicious of his wounds and demeanour, is listening to the conversation and puts down the phone. It was in Spanish and so hardly anything was understood, but unfortunately for the doctor the phone makes a characteristic "click" as it is returned to its hooks.
In Katyn forest in the USSR André Marty also hangs up his field telephone. About him is a vast prison camp crudely erected. Loud music is playing: the 1812 Overture.
In a small temporary building a man faces the final stages of his interrogation. "You have been found a hardened and uncompromising enemy of Soviet authority". A rough looking officer reads the charges and an assassin steps behind the prisoner who is blindfolded. There is a gunshot and the slumped body is pulled out from a building and dragged some distance. Behind the men carrying out the grisly work another muffled gunshot is heard. The body they are dragging is thrown into a pit where a lantern hanging from a pole shines on the bodies. The new body falls face up. It matches the picture shown to Wotek in his de-briefing. The lost scientist, Aldon Radowski.
