"The ABC Affair- Stonehenge, Chapter 17, Letter R

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Prompt: Ritual

As they watched, the sun rose behind the Sun Stone, the ancient entrance to the Stone Circle, rays of sunlight channelled into the center of the monument.

A half-dozen white-robed figures appeared, walking from between the sarsen and bluestone archway. One of them was limping, presumably it was Davies.

Their ritual began and they all raised their hands in supplication as the light streamed onto them.  Chanting in the unfamiliar language, it was obvious they were calling on some unseen force or what they believed to be a Celtic god or goddess perhaps.

The agents and Ellery stepped out of their vehicles to get a better view as they felt they were at a safe distance, though they had no idea what would happen. The doctor donated her lab coat to the Russian since he was barely clothed...not that she minded looking at his lithe, muscular body.

There seemed to not be an ounce of fat on him.

Though Illya had no qualms about standing there in his boxer shorts, he gratefully accepted the lab coat from Ellery.  Seeing her without it, he could finally discern how shapely she actually was.

Still he dismissed those thoughts for the moment and returned his attention to the goings on in the henge.

It looked as if the white robed men began to glow as they were bathed in the sunlight of the Solstice. It looked rather magical, though the agents had their doubts about that.

It had to be an optical illusion. 

And then it happened, what looked like a giant ethereal hand appeared from between the sarsens.  The light of the sun made it look as if it were on fire. It reached out, enveloping the druids in its grasp.

The men screamed as the hand seemed to be crushing them and as it disappeared back through the archway, it took the men with it.

“Well crikey,” Kit said,”don’t that beat all. Someone or something didn’t like them.”

Behind the agents a small crowd of people crept forward. By their manner of dress they appeared to be hippies. They were dressed in tie dyed clothing, and fringed leather vests and jackets.   The men wore bandanas and the women had headdresses made of leaves, grasses and flowers.

“We’ve got company,” Mark said. “Looks like the flower children have arrived to celebrate the Summer Solstice.

Not far behind them were the local constabulary and Napoleon headed straight for them.

“It’s not safe to go near the henge,” he said after flashing his UNCLE identification and introducing himself. 

“There’s been murders, sacrificial victims by a cult of men who thought themselves druids, if you can believe that.”

The Sergeant removed his hat, scratching his head for a moment.

“And where are these alleged murderers and the victims, may I ask sir?”

“That’s a long story, in the meantime you need to keep these people away from the scene of the crime as there’s lots of evidence to be gathered. I would suggest Scotland yard be contacted.  My agents and I will be available to help with the investigation.”

“Mister Solo, we were already contacted by a chap named Alexander Waverly. He said Scotland yard would be here shortly, and we were to help you in any way we can.”

“Why is that no surprise?” Napoleon mumbled.”Ahem, yes...Mister Waverly is our boss, and when he speaks...we listen.”

“Yes sir Mister Solo,” the Sergeant turned his attention to his men and the hippies.”

“Oy, no one is to go near the Stonehenge,”the Sergeant called out.

”There’s been a crime committed and the scene cannot be trod upon. Is that clear?”

The officers nodded and immediately started moving the flower children back. though there was little resistance as they were pretty mellow.

“He man, it’s cool. We’re just glad to be here. Peace and love, peace and love,” the hippy handed a daisy to the officer blocking his way with outstretched arms.

Napoleon saw the interaction and merely shook his head as returned to the cars and spoke to the others.

“I think we’re overdue in contacting the Old Man. As usual though, he’s one step ahead of us. Apparently he’s requested the presence of Scotland yard, who’ll take over the investigation.

“What did he say when you told him what happened here? Illya asked. He was now dressed in a pair of black jeans, black tee shirt and a pair of loafers as he had tucked away some extra clothing in the boot of his and Napoleon’s car.

His gun, holster and wallet were unfortunately lost somewhere in time on the other side of the sarsen gateway in the henge.

“I told him it was better that we gave our report in person as it was umm...complicated,” Napoleon shrugged.

“I suspect no one will believe what happened here,”Illya said. “It is quite inexplicable.”

“You’ve got that right mate,” Mark snickered as he walked over to them.

Once the sun rose higher in the sky the band of hippies, played their guitars, and thumped away on drums while dancing.  After a while they finally packed up and left, singing as they walked off down the road.

“To everything ...turn, turn, turn. There is a season, turn, turn, turn. And a time to every purpose, under heaven. A time to be born, a time to die. A time to plant, a time to reap. A time to kill, a time to heal. A time to laugh, a time to weep…” *

A short while later the detectives of Scotland Yard finally arrived.

“Here we go; this is going to be interesting,”Napoleon stood, shooting his cuffs and smoothing back his hair with his hand. He’d been sitting off to the side with April, having a private conversation.

“Darling, I’m sure you’ll be able to explain things so they’re believable,”

“Moi?” Solo’s eyes widened.”I think this one is going to have to be a group effort, because I’m not going to put myself out there and sound like a lunatic.”

“Napoleon dearest, that’s just not possible...you sounding like a lunatic that is…”

He gave her a gentle peck on the cheek before heading over to meet the detectives.

* Lyrics from the song “Turn, Turn, Turn,” by the Byrds.