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jack@pachuta.com
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It is September 17,
1945
A
gathering occurred last night at Highview, the secluded Beverly Hills estate
of movie star Maurice Mason and his wife, Dianna Darien - one that proved to be both intriguing and tragic. For, this morning, the body of
Maurice's twin brother, famed archaeologist Myron Mason, was founded draped across the
thorn bushes that grow in profusion around the grounds.
The death added a morbid
punctuation to an event that had been conceived as a lark ... a gathering to
disprove an ancient curse. For, last night also, the
comet Hopkay made its first appearance in the heavens in 400 years.
The celestial
messenger was last seen the year that the native Central American leader Hopkay met an
untimely demise. His people, the Intecs, interred him in a tomb which, they said, must be
sacrosanct for all time.
Yet, 10 years ago, Myron
Mason found that tomb and robbed it of its treasures. An inscription on the wall of the
crypt proclaimed that whoever desecrated the spot would be cursed. When the comet
named after Hopkay reappeared in the heavens, the desecration would be revenged.
The motley group of
attendees toasted the archaeologist as the comet entered the solar
system. Was the curse a remnant of an ancient religion, or the
uneducated ramblings of a primitive people? The answer would soon be
apparent - and deadly obvious. |
One
of these suspects is a murderer ... Maurice Mason Myron's twin brother and an actor who made it big in small
movies.
Dianna Darien An actress and Maurice's wife. Lately, she's been studying the
teachings of Hopkay.
Professor Willard
Goodfellow An astronomer and man of
science. He was hired to provide the expert commentary on the return of the comet.
Sister Natasia Leader of the group known as The Followers of
Hopkay. Little is
known of her background.
Cheryl Shay Myron's lab assistant. She worked closely with Myron to learn
everything about life.
Ramon Hopkins
A mysterious man who took a special interest the
teachings of Hopkay.
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