The trap is filled with dead and dying locusts. Most of them aren't moving anymore. You…
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The trap is filled with dead and dying locusts. Most of them aren't moving anymore. You still can't see a phasmid anywhere.
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The reeds whisper around the sepulchral trap, as though suddenly filled with fear. Even the snow does not quiet them.
The reeds shudder in the falling rain, whispering. It is as though the sepulchral trap has filled them with some strange, novel fear.
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The lieutenant's gaze follows yours and lingers on the reeds, the sand, the water beyond. Then he turns back to you expectantly.
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"Let's go." [Leave.]
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All the traps are stocked now -- and still no sight of the phasmid. Return to Morell and let him know.
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Morell's trap stands empty, just like the boathouses around it. The wind ruffles your sweaty hair.
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Morell's trap stands empty, just like the boathouses around it. The reeds susurrate softly amidst the falling snow.
Morell's trap stands empty, just like the boathouses around it. The reeds chafe against one another while the rain falls.
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The locusts, dazed from being transported, slowly begin to acclimate to their new surroundings.
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"Good. Now that's done. When do you think we will return to our impending apocalypse of a murder investigation?"
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He doesn't want to, but if there is one more cryptozoological run-around, he must force the investigation back on track. This better be it...
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The locusts aren't doing all too well, but they're still in there. This isn't the empty trap. That must have been another one.
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The locusts aren't doing all too well, but they're still in there. This isn't the empty trap. That one was by the canal.
The locusts aren't doing all too well, but they're still in there. This isn't the empty trap. That one Morell was setting up, near the cryptozoologists camp.
The locusts aren't doing all too well, but they're still in there. This isn't the empty trap. That one was in Land's End, in the northern tip of this peninsula.
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- The locusts aren't doing all too well, but they're still in there. This isn't the empty trap. That must have been another one.
- You've checked all the traps now. There's nothing else to do with them. The cryptozoologists await your report.
- Nothing has changed about this trap. You need to check the others.
- There's nothing else to do with the traps at this time. They're all just lying around, gathering dust and rainwater.
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There's nothing else to do with the traps at this time. They're all just lying around, gathering dust and rainwater.
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You've checked all the traps now. There's nothing else to do with them. The cryptozoologists await your report.
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It takes you a moment, but finally you spot the last of Morell's traps. This one's partially obscured by the reeds...
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- Continue
- There's a trap in the reeds at your feet. Looks like the same one you saw Morell set before -- same mesh, same wiring.
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- A familiar apparatus lies among the reeds -- another one of Morell's traps, weighed down by stones to keep it in place.
- This trap's not too hard to spot -- once you know what to look for. Keeping it hidden has not been a priority for the cryptozoologist.
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- It takes you a moment, but finally you spot the last of Morell's traps. This one's partially obscured by the reeds...
- Continue
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Behind you, the ruins of a residential building rise over the reeds, shielding them from the wind. The reeds rustle confidentially.
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The reeds rustle confidentially, while the residential building, menacing in the darkness behind you, shield them from the wind.
Behind you, a ruined residential building looms over the reeds, shielding them from the wind. They rustle confidentially, in tune with the pitter-patter of the rain.
Behind you, the ruins of a residential building loom over the reeds. They whisper amongst themselves confidentially. Snowflakes cling to their shivering stems.
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When this district was booming, the reeds were kept at bay. Nothing obscured the freshly painted façades, nowhere for drunks and adventurous teenagers to hide. Now only the wind blows...
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The trap feels light -- and silent -- as you pick it up. Something is different here...
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The lieutenant studies the trap with you. "Well, the bait worked on something. This doesn't mean it was a reed-monster, though. Unless you see one in there? I just see an empty trap..."
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The netting is a little untidy, messier than the others. Like someone or something picked up the trap and shook it before dropping it back down on the ground.
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- "I do get the feeling that someone or something may have messed with the trap..."
- "But what if it was the phasmid? What if it ate them and got out?"
- "You're right. This crypto-research has been stupid."
- "Yeah, it probably wasn't the phasmid, but still. Morell needs to know."
- "You're right. But I still need to tell the cryptozoologists about this."
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He purses his lips. "Perhaps our cryptozoologists have competition in the form of an actual entomologist? Or someone else is sabotaging them? I could present more theories, but then I would be taking this on as a case -- which I'm not."
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"Right." It does not look like he thinks you're right. "Anyway, that's for the cryptozoologists to figure out now." He adds, for clarity: "We're not cryptozoologists -- we're cops."
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- "We did sort of promise to tell them, didn't we..." He seems to regret the fact.
- "Right." It does not look like he thinks you're right. "Anyway, that's for the cryptozoologists to figure out now." He adds, for clarity: "We're not cryptozoologists -- we're cops."
- "Okay. But after that we get back to our own assignments. We've done a thorough survey of the coast now -- just running around is no longer useful."
- "Good, good. We should be courteous and tell the cryptozoologists that one of their traps was empty, but then we can get back to our assignment here."
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A cold gust of air dries your sweaty face and you look to the dark shadow the Feld building in the distance, drawing you to it. What a strange sensation... Once this is done, should you ask the wind again?
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"Good, good. We should be courteous and tell the cryptozoologists that one of their traps was empty, but then we can get back to our assignment here."
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"Okay. But after that we get back to our own assignments. We've done a thorough survey of the coast now -- just running around is no longer useful."
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"Okay. But after that we get back to our own assignments. There really is no explanation for why we're taking such a detour at this point in the investigation -- none whatsoever."
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The reeds continue to hiss around you as you put the empty trap back on the ground. Time to consult the professionals -- Morell and Lena.
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Nothing but locusts in this trap as well. Definitely no cryptozoological monstrosity.
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"Empty as all of them..." he pants. "One more of these and we're done..." His face is red from the cold sea air. He crouches to catch his breath.
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"I'm just..." he breathes out. "Glad we haven't found some poor cat trapped in one of these."
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- "No-no. I'm fine. I didn't mean to complain, it's just..." He's short-winded. The sentence ends there.
- "I'm just..." he breathes out. "Glad we haven't found some poor cat trapped in one of these."
- The lieutenant stretches his back.
- "Of course. Noted." He looks at you, incredulously, as you place the trap back in the reeds.
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"One more time, I must stress that I did not expect a cryptozoological monstrosity to be in this trap."
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"Of course. Noted." He looks at you, incredulously, as you place the trap back in the reeds.