** A young woman sees a walking dead in the open streets of Whitby. A train full of corpses crashes into Kings Cross. In an Asylum, a gruesome nightmare becomes horrible reality.
All this should have been a warning to Kyle and his partner Benjamin...
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England, London, Trafalgar Square Order of the Seekers of Truth and Knowledge Hall of Silence 03 October 1899, 08:53 a.m.
A finely dressed gentleman from behind a massive reception table awaited Kyle and Dr Archer as they returned to the entrance hall. The so-called Chamberlain raised his hand to attract the attention of the two gentlemen and then, with a fluid, silent gesture of his hands and features, transmitted a soundless message:
His right hand, with an outstretched index finger, first traveled to his left shoulder, then, with a smooth movement, ran queerly across his chest and ended at his hip on the right. In this way, he simulated a sash—the hand sign that unmistakably indicated the title: "Lord."
Then followed a name in a silent but equally precise dance of the fingers: S, U, N, D, E, R, B, R, A, N, D, Y—each letter was formed nimbly but carefully and presented one after the other as if the hand were writing the characters legibly in the air. As if to ensure the two seekers understood, Chamberlain made eye contact and only continued when both had given a brief nod to indicate their agreement.
To show that the lord was already waiting, the servant formed his hands into an open position with his fingers slightly apart and held them at chest height. The hands moved gently up and down in an undulating motion - a calm image of waiting. Finally, he pointed his outstretched index finger at the visitor to address "you" and pulled his hand forward from his chin with a slight move as if to confirm an existing situation. Then, the mute servant gestured towards the large round entrance behind him, which led into the Hall of Silence. The message was clear and well known to the two gentlemen: 'Lord Sunderbrandy is waiting for you.'
"At least we're punctual for once," Benjamin murmured, glancing at his partner sideways.
"We're almost always on time," Kaylee replied, again as nonchalantly as if nothing had just happened and as if they hadn't just had an almost violent argument. Kaylee received her walking stick from the Chamberlain, which she had given him for safekeeping before the mission, and then casually glanced at the display of her pocket watch.
Kaylee displayed the typical attitude of young men not to take being on time too seriously. A characteristic that the young Seeker had already shown during her first encounter with the Doctor. On the other hand, Benjamin Archer, for whom it was good manners to arrive on time and schedule, literally heard every "tick" and every "tock" of the open watch, which quickly slipped back into Kaylee's west pocket.
The doctor was in the prime of his life, in his early thirties. But ever since he had been mortally wounded in Egypt and mysteriously returned from the dead, he constantly had the feeling that time was slipping through his fingers like sand. There was a strange tension in his chest, almost like something was trying to push his steps in a specific direction. It was an unsettling thought, but he shook it off for now.
Crowford had stepped into the Hall of Silence before him and was now walking a good seven feet in front of Dr Archer. The sound of their shoes on the cold marble floor announced the two gentlemen even before they appeared in person. The Hall of Silence, the heart of the Guild Hall, was always an impressive sight. Whether looking at it for the first time or after ten years, it still left seekers holding their breath in silent awe.
