Secret Histories framing sequence (short story)

Secret Histories framing sequence
Main character(s):	Bernice Summerfield
Main setting:	Jovellia
Key crew
Writer:	Mark Clapham
Release details
Printed in:	Secret Histories
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Secret Histories framing sequence was the linking material in the Bernice Summerfield anthology Secret Histories. It was written by Mark Clapham.

Summary

Benny is on Jovellia to investigate a church that has beautiful stone tiles hidden under layers of plaster. She is to remove the plaster and record the mosaics, then preserve them until a team can arrive. One rainy day as she works on the scaffolding she falls off. When she hits the wood floor, she falls through into a tunnel. She explores a bit until she sees a humanoid skull in a graveyard.

Benny heads back to her room at a tavern and contacts Detective Jasmyn. He won't be able to get there for several days, so he deputises Benny to investigate what he considers a crimescene.

Back at the church, Benny examines the first skull. When she picks it up, there is something cold and flat on it which gives her a static charge when she touches it. She suddenly starts to hear a voice in her head.

The skull talks to her telepathically. It has optic implants that allow it to see, and it is part of a telepathic network. It wants her to dig up the other skulls or it will detonate. She agrees, and as she digs, she tells the skull about something similar she experienced before: a telepathic network connecting soldiers together.

Characters

• Bernice Summerfield
• Landlord
• Detective Jasmyn

References

• A storm across the Barrian Pass prevents Jasmyn from coming to investigate Benny's find.
• Jasmyn mentions one of Benny's previous expeditions on Tripelka.

Notes

to be added

Continuity

• Benny tells the first skull about the time she joined the Danpetro army, which had a telepathic network to connect the soldiers. (PROSE: A Game of Soldiers)