I hadn't expected Holmes to be at our flat when I returned there, but he was, half-buried in dusty, old books and news articles. As I hung my coat on its rack, my companion exclaimed "Astonishing! Watson, were you aware that a short 25 years ago a satanic cult was disbanded in this very area? I knew that I remembered having read something on the subject, but I did not know how short a time ago it was! Most of the cult's prime members were sentenced to death after murdering a governor's wife in some sort of sacrificial ritual. However, what no one at that time knew was that the governor's wife was, in fact, a cult member herself."

"However did you conclude that?" I asked in great wonder. I had ceased to second-guess the great Sherlock Holmes in matters of his specialty. I asked in earnest curiosity.

"It was simple, really," said Holmes. "I came to this conclusion in much the same way that I deduced Elisabeth Godber's membership in the cult."

"She was a member as well?" I cried. "Why would they murder their own followers, and in such a barbaric manner?"

"That is a great question, indeed. I would surmise that Miss Godber was a willing participant in her own murder. She shows no signs of being drugged into willingness, and yet it appears that she did not put up a struggle throughout her torments. Such was also the unexplained case of the governor's wife 25 years ago."

"You're saying that Miss Godber volunteered to be lashed, murdered, raped –to have her finger severed – and for what? To please the cult?" I asked.

"Perhaps she was led to believe that she would receive great rewards in her afterlife, having made such a generous sacrifice," suggested Holmes.

I shuddered at the thought. "What an awful demise," I managed to say.

"Indeed," Holmes agreed. "Well, Watson, I shall be heading out to gather still more information. I believe I have determined all possible from these books." He took up his coat, hat and cane with the usual energy he had when on a case. Holmes always seemed to be in a whirlwind of activity when he was ensconced in a great mystery. Always at least two steps ahead of any other investigator, my friend never seemed to be lacking a steady stream of boundless information that was quite unbelievable to an outsider.

Fascinated though I was, I had to put my interest in the case aside so that I could look over a few of the medical files I was working at. Injuries healing nicely, scheduled surgeries upcoming, a case of pneumonia that was looking dire. I gazed absentmindedly at the large volume on cults left open on Holmes' desk. Perhaps it was procrastination, perhaps curiosity, or even good fortune, but I was drawn to the book and abandoned all my work 'til a later time.

--

Marill: Hmm, that was rather short…anyway, only two more chapters until it gets good (you know, in the way that we rabid fans so enjoy it).