On the night of April 4th, the residents of Morganton, North Carolina were awakened by a loud uproar that they believed to be either an earthquake or a volcanic eruption coming from the Great Eyrie mountain. Flames were seen leaping from the mountain and illuminating the sky. Complete chaos ensued among the terrified humans and animals. The federal police department head inspector, John Strock, was commissioned to investigate the mysterious events, which included unexplained noises, lights and panic among citizens. Strock had no idea that his investigation would uncover shocking secrets and connect several strange incidents around the country.
2. On the night of 4th April, the good folk of Morganton,
North Carolina, were woken by a sudden uproar. They
thought that the mountains were falling upon them.
It's an
eruption!
Help!
Where is it
coming from?
It's an
earthquake!
It's coming from
the Great Eyrie!
Flames leapt up above the rocky wall of
the Great Eyrie . Reflected off the clouds,
the blaze illuminated the sky for miles.
The panic was overwhelming.
Nothing could stop it.
Complete chaos resulted from this
confused mass of humans and animals.
God in
Heaven! Someone
save us!
The earth itself was threatening to disappear
from under the feet of the residents!
Look! Itâs
doing it again!
We're all
doomed!
Momma!
Would they have time to save themselves
if a river of glowing lava came rushing down
the slope of the mountain towards them?
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3. I have always felt the strong desire to investigate and
understand everything which is mysterious. So, as head
inspector in the federal police department at Washington, I
became very interested in these remarkable occurrences.
Yet, what I initially thought was a waste of my
time, proved to be one of the most curious
and dangerous cases I have ever investigated.
Itâs hard to believe how this one
incident, on this one night, would
create such chaos in my life.
If I hadn't witnessed the events with my own
eyes, I wouldnât have believed them myself.
Yet, everything youâre about to read is true.
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4. Deep amongst the Blueridge Mountains rises the summit
known as the Great Eyrie. Its huge form can be distinctly
seen from the little town of Morganton on the Catawba River.
The Great Eyrie appears rocky and grim
and inaccessible and, on certain days, it
has a strange blue and distant effect.
It was from this mountain that rumblings began to be
heard. They were accompanied by heavy clouds and
flickering lights at night. And people began to realise
that the Great Eyrie was a serious source of danger.
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5. On 25th April, I was called to the
office of Commissioner Ward.
Come in,
Strock.
Are you as
fond of riddles as
ever? As eager to penetrate
into mysteries as I have
known you before?
Iâm sure youâve
read about that fuss
down in North Carolina,
Strock. It's been in all
the newspapers
of late.
I am, Mr
Ward.
The volcano
near Morganton,
sir? It would arouse
anyoneâs curiosity.
What about it?
Youâll be
investigating it,
Strock. Thatâs
what.
Bu-But itâs a
waste of your
time? Sit down,
Strock. Let me
explain.
The day after the
explosions that terrified the
locals, a man with one of
those hot-air balloons was
in the area.
The local mayor
asked this man to go up
and see what he could see.
Everything was going well, but
then the wind took a turn and
pushed the balloon in the
wrong direction.
Wouldnât this be
more of a case for a scientist?
Iâm sure there are some
geologists at the Smithsonian
who would leap at the chance
to investigate this.
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6. There is no history
of any volcanic activity in
that area. There have hardly been
any seismic disturbances in that
mountain range before.
Oh?
So we must know
what is inside that mountain,
Strock. If we are helpless in the
face of some great force of nature,
people must be warned of the
danger in time.
We must find
out what is causing
the booms and
the flames.
Some of the
press seem to
think itâs the Devil
himself.
Hogwash!
Superstitious nonsense.
Do you think I would send
my top investigator off on
such a cock-and-bull
fancy as that?
Something
caused this. Or
rather, someone
caused this.
Such a panic and
such a violent disturbance as
this presents a clear threat to
the well-being of this
nationâs citizens.
And it is the
duty of the federal
police force to
investigate it.
I therefore
commission you to get
to the bottom of this.
Investigate it, and if there is
a criminal element involved,
bring him to justice.
CAMPFIRETM
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7. A sleepy American town is woken up in the
middle of the night by horrifying noises.
Terror-stricken citizens claim to have
heard unexplained rumblings and there
are reports of bright lights emanating from
a nearby mountain.
As the head police inspector in Washington
DC, John Strock is assigned to investigate
the mysterious happenings. He sets out
on the case, having no idea what shocking
secrets will be discovered.
During his investigation, reports of other
inexplicable events around the country
start to come to light. Unusual boats, fast
cars and ďŹying machines all play a part
in the mystery as it unfolds. Strock starts
to suspect that all these incidents are
connected in some way, and strives to get
to the bottom of it.
Will he succeed in his quest? Or will the
Master of the World live up to his name?
ISBN 978-81-906963-4-0
9 788190 696340
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