Encounter in the Meadows

Throckmorton decided to head for Edinburgh to do some research at the local museum. It would not do to go blindly into this adventure. He wrote to the curator of Egyptology there to arrange a meeting before getting ready. He also sent a telegram to Cordelia to meet him at the museum; he would almost certainly need her specialist knowledge.

His flight left late on a rainy Wednesday afternoon; it was typical Scottish summer weather. He could tell that it was summer because the rain was vertical instead of horizontal. The plane was small and the other passengers were not particularly unusual, except for one man. This swarthy gentleman looked decidedly uncomfortable. It was clear that he did not like flying at all as he gripped the arm rests of his seat tightly. In fact, the look of relief on his face was so great when they landed again that Throckmorton nearly burst out laughing.

He noticed the strange gentleman again at the hotel. The man was checking in shortly after Throckmorton had done so. Coincidence? Possibly. Still, looking at the chap, he really did not fit the typical mould. Although he dressed well and his clothes fitted him well, the man managed to look completely out of place in them. It was as though he were wearing a costume. Perhaps something was up. Throckmorton made a point of noticing which room the man was booked into. Then, after his supper he decided to take an evening constitutional in the Meadows.

The park was largely empty when Throckmorton walked through it and it was easy to see the swarthy man trying to inconspicuously follow him. The man looked nervous, as though he had to do something that he did not really want to do. Throckmorton bided his time and led the man further into the open, where he could not retreat easily into a crowd of people. Suddenly, Throckmorton turned and raced towards the man, who stood stunned, completely caught out by this sudden action. Although ferocious, Throckmorton's assault was clumsy and the man managed to fend off the first assault, but failed to stop an uppercut that laid him out unconscious. The Colonel carried the man back to his hotel room, pretending that the man had drunk too much. With the man tied up, he splashed water in his face and brought him round from his faint.

“You will never make me talk,” the man blustered, “and you must not answer your friend’s call. It will go the worse for you if you do. I am just here to warn you to stay away.”

The Colonel digested this information and proceeded to question the little man. It was soon clear that he knew very little, but there was enough to be going on. He returned the man to his own hotel room and left him there, tied up. The maid would find him in the morning, but it would give the Colonel a bit of time to get on with his own investigations.

This was a travel encounter with a Rep 3 Civilian. The Colonel gained the Upper Hand on that table and then only just managed to wound the man, who was immediately out of the fight. He then beat the man on an opposed task test to get 1 clue.
Clues: 1