Wednesday, August 26, 2015

Where I draw the line . . . .

This question. This question right here.

61. Out of the natural order of things, these villains, one committing assault and one committing murder, were themselves intended to be used as tools in the commission of other crimes. Which assaulter and which murderer?

Followed by it's clue.

“#61: The compendiums/encyclopedias of Holmes (Clarkson, Goodrich, Tracey) have compiled lists of ‘types of death’, or ‘murders’. I would focus on these deaths as these are very specific and fewer in number, perhaps, than assaults. “Out of the natural order” is provided as a clue for you to consider. For example, Sebastian Moran committing murder or assault would certainly not be out of the natural order of things–this behaviour from him would very much be expected. So you are looking for a death inflicted upon another by an entity that would not be expected to commit murder–a death caused by this entity would be very surprising; going against ‘nature’ so to speak. Once you add the surprise to the given information that the entity was to be used in the commission of another crime, the ‘murderer’ you seek should be much easier to find. You find this unexpected death, and a similar assault will come to mind perhaps.”



We're down to the last five days of the annual John H. Watson Society Canonical Treasure Hunt, and after doggedly pounding through the questions, one by one, flipping and twirling and cranking up old devices in search of answers, driven by sheer obsessive compulsive tendencies when all else fails, it's time to play arteest, wave my lace ponce hankey and go, "No, too much clew! Too much explanation! Too much! Too much! Too much!" (And they didn't even mention the Harrington! Good god, man, the Harrington! The quiet competitor to the Goodrich, the Harrington, which even now sits open upon my desk . . . along with the Clarkson and the Goodrich. Yes, kids, there was a time before Mr. Moonfind . . .)

I'm not done with the quiz, of course. Just refusing to answer that question. Taking that one percent of control of my life back. Letting my team-mates have a go, unless they, too, decide to stand with me in protest of that villainous number sixty-one. Let others win with one hundred percent! We shall stop at ninety-nine and retain our dignity!

Or not . . . who knows what mad answers may appear in the blanks after the questions when this month is done? Indeed, I cannot think why the whole bed of the ocean is not one solid mass of oysters, so prolific the creatures seem! Owen and George agree with me, don't you, boys?

Five . . . more . . . days. Five. But no matter what brain fever this hell-quiz wrecks upon my senses, it still won't be enough to convince me to watch another season of Elementary, I promise you that. 

Owen might. And Brenda will stare at whatever is on in front of her these days. But George? No way! You go, George!


2 comments:

  1. Hey, OT to your post, but you're a collector, yes? Want to own a series one slate of Sherlock signed by Steve Lawes?

    http://marybegone.tumblr.com/post/127770731296/mid0nz-heres-the-sherlock-series-one-slate-im

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    Replies
    1. Interesting, but "used to be a collector" is more appropriate. There comes a time when one looks at all the random stuff and goes, "Way too much!" and desires to be a monk of Sherlockian study, with but the smallest, most efficient library.

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