Inside Information
1
The sound was like a pack of hyenas giggling, barking, laughing. It echoed through the tunnels, unnerving the men waiting, watching the darkness. Harrison was reminded of Pickman's painting off a desolate subway overrun with ghouls. His Glock was locked and loaded, just in case. Once or twice a man would catch a glimpse of shining red eyes on hunched shadows, and shiver. One of the shadows moved out from the darkness and into the light.
Thomas Longtooth was not a particularly handsome man, and the dim light and dark tunnel did nothing to improve his appearance. He was gaunt, with a sallow complexion and scruffy hairs on his chin. His dark black hair was longer than fashionable, and his clothes were somewhat disheveled. His brown eyes gleamed with a restrained ferocity. His hands were rough and gnarled and his nails were long and thick. He was able to pass for human, but ghouls and most other non-humans everywhere recognized him for what he really was. He was a frightening looking man in any situation, but he was also an ally.
It was good to have an inside man, even when that man was a ghoul.
"Tonight." he said bluntly, "The Tcho-Tchos are going to try to summon Him tonight. Midnight. 153 Tsang street. "
The men were silent for a moment, the barking and giggling receding into the distance. Harrison didn't really know why the ghouls would rat out the Tcho-Tcho, maybe they were afraid of the competition. He didn't want to think about that. Ghouls were everywhere, like rats, almost nothing happened in the city without their knowing of it. They'd helped the Police Special Cases Squad solve dozens of crimes, and committed a few as well.
"If they succeed, what will it mean?" Harrison wasn't sure he wanted to know.
Longtooth shrugged, "Shugoran might come. He is The Herald of Death, so I imagine it wouldn't be very pleasant to be around him. Of course, even if he doesn't come they will sacrifice someone, so at least one life is at stake here."
"That's putting it mildly." Walker said nervously, "I've seen the case files. I know how Shugoran kills. He sucks his victim's lungs out of their mouth." Walker was a small, balding chubby man in plainclothes who carried an air of nervousness about him.
"He is also an avatar of Nyarlathotep." Harrison added, "And no good can come from anything associated with Him."
Longtooth stroked the hair on his chin, "It won't get that far." He paused, "If the police can't handle this, my people will."
Walker shuddered at the thought of ghouls pouring into a suburban home and ripping the occupants into tiny pieces. "It won't come to that," Harrison said, "We have a victim to worry about, and if your people come in they'll slaughter the Tcho-Tchos. They might not be fully human, but that doesn't mean we can just kill them off-hand."
"These are not. . ." Longtooth searched for the words, "Civilians? Not all Tcho-Tcho are evil monsters, but these particular ones are. And, unfortunately, they know spells. Their god, Derz-Hophza, Chaugnar Faugn, is a powerful and terrible one. There may be vengeance."
Harrison understood what the ghoul meant, but this was America, and people had certain Civil Rights. Most people believed the Tcho-Tcho to be fully human, and taking drastic action against them would draw unwanted publicity and cause a repeat of The Innsmouth fiasco of the '20's. Still, these individuals weren't innocent people being targeted for their race, they were evil people who happened to be Tcho-Tcho, and, as long as they lived, they could cast spells and curses in behalf of their gods and demons.
"If we spent time worrying about revenge, we wouldn't be able to do anything against them. We've taken on big hitters before, like those Cthulhu worshipers at the docks last year."
"Are your people worried?" Walker asked.
"Mordiggian will protect his people. But we do not want to ask too much of him."
"'You must not put God to the test', eh?"
"Exactly."
"I suggest we get the team together. We should strike as soon as possible." Harrison turned to Longtooth, "Do you know who the victim is?"
"They haven't decided yet. They'll probably snatch someone at random, preferably a young woman."
"Let's move out. We have enough for a warrant in any case. I'd be happy to stop this before any civilians get involved."
To be continued . . .
Notes:
Ghouls are basically human, just a different branch of humanity. The Tcho-Tcho are the product of humans interbreeding with creatures created by Chaugnar Faugn called the Miri Nigri.
Mordiggian, The Charnel God, The Great Ghoul, god of ghouls, death and decay. He cares only for ghouls and almost entirely ignores humanity unless they directly threaten his people. He's fairly benign, even noble at times, but his wrath is terrible.
Derz-Hophza is a name used by some cults in reference to Chaugnar Faugn, the evil, elephant headed, bloated vampiric god of the Tcho-Tcho.