It is again shaped like an 'L' with one open plan end opening out onto the library and gallery spaces. There is another window that reveals the view from the back of the house. It is similarly bleak to the view from the front.
Standing out against the bare, white walls is a large, highly polished, ebony dining table, surrounded by high backed chairs made of black lacqured metal. There are five of the chairs. two on each side, and one at the head of the table. They seem spaced out, as if the table should accomodate more settings than this.
On the wall above the table hangs an officer's sword from the Great War.
There are set of double doors on the opposite side of the table, again made of burnished metal, like the single door in the gallery, and the larger front doors of the house.
From behind the double doors, there can be heard, over the footsteps of the passengers, a dull hissing sound, accompanied by a rhythmical thud, a sound of something heavy and metal hitting something more yeilding.
Kurt says to the other "Do we want to see who or what's behind the door?" Entering the room behind Hal, Roland turns to Kurt.
"Absolutely, it's about time we found out what's going on here."
Kurt takes out his Luger, although he has the sneaking suspicion it won't be of much use here. Roland is pleased and frankly, a little excited at this turn of events. He doesn't show it though, maintaining a look of seriousness and capability as he strides up to the doors, turns to ask Kurt if he's ready, and attempts to open them (dramatically if possible).
Richard, momentarily distracted by the officer's sword on the wall, jumps slightly as Kurt pulls out the pistol. He's always been wary of firearms, respectful of how easy it is to cause unfathomable destruction with one. Even though he's handled one briefly in the past, it was an experience he'd hoped was never to be repeated. Seeing the luger now brings some of that back to his mind, and he unconsciously clenches and relaxes his hands, before shaking them as he snaps his focus back to the door, and the odd sound emanating from behind it.
He moves towards the door, eyes searching for the door hinges, noting which way they open. Once his hand grips the door kob, he looks up at Kurt, his eyebrows raised in the universal body language way of saying "Ready?". Richard waits for a nod from his armed companion, ready to open the door swiftly should the signal be given.
Kurt looks at Roland and Richard and say, "I'm ready if you are."
"Ok, here goes nothing."Richard looks once more to Kurt and Roland, glancing also to Manny to see if there's any dissent, before opening the door in a swift, but (hopefully) smooth manner.
The rhythmic noise continues behind the door, as the five men take up positions on their side. Richard and Roland stand at either side of the double doors. Their hands tensed on the handles waiting to pull the doors open. Kurt stands directly opposite the doors, the barrel of his Luger pistol jutting forward at the doors, waiting for whatever lies beyond. Hal and Manny are stood behind Kurt, watching.
On a nod from Kurt, the door is pulled open.
It moves smoothly on well-oiled hinges. In the space beyond there are a a set of short steps. These steps lead down from the dining room, to the lower space of what appears to be a modern, high quality kitchen.
The manservant is stood behind a central, steel topped work counter. He holds in his right hand a large butcher's cleaver. He continues to raise and lower this instrument with mechanical tempo, cleaving through whatever sits on the chopping block.He is watching the door as it opens, but does not falter in his work for one moment.
His chopping completed, he turns and slides the contents of the block, some cut of meat, into the large boiling pot, sitting upon hissing gas jets. The kitchen smells, somewhat uncomfortably, of boiling meat.
The kitchen features a large, modern refrigerator and other conveniences. There is another window in this room, and a further steel door on the far side. A large rack of knives hangs on the wall behind the manservant, who regards the group, impassive behind his small dark glasses, and silent. He does not seem taken aback by their rapid entrance, nor by the pistol pointed in his direction.
He retains the cleaver in his right hand
The group is caught momentarily inactive by the scene of apparent normality behind the door of the Kitchen. The manservant appearing to be preparing a dinner for them.
The pale, hairless butler continues to stare impassively at them for a moment or two, as each member looks to the others to be first to say something about their intrusion. The drive that had brought them here seems to have, perhaps momentarily, faltered. Perhaps it is embarrassment, perhaps a deeper caution. When no-one speaks, the butler continues with his work.
Then they hear a coughing sound amidst their number. It is Kurt. The unexpected sound draws their attention to him. He looks pale and the luger in his hand wavers.
He coughs again, and there is a sudden blank and unseeing look in his eyes as his throat convulses and his lungs heave.
He drops to his knees, falling to the carpet with a poorly controlled thud. His back remains ram-rod straight however. The luger drops from his hand and slides to the floor.
There is something more complicated about the expression on his face. It carries something, something that can perhaps be uncovered, and understood.
The manservant remains in the kitchen unreacting. He seems to be watching the rest of the party intently.
He retains the cleaver in his right hand
The group is caught momentarily inactive by the scene of apparent normality behind the door of the Kitchen. The manservant appearing to be preparing a dinner for them.
The pale, hairless butler continues to stare impassively at them for a moment or two, as each member looks to the others to be first to say something about their intrusion. The drive that had brought them here seems to have, perhaps momentarily, faltered. Perhaps it is embarrassment, perhaps a deeper caution. When no-one speaks, the butler continues with his work.
Then they hear a coughing sound amidst their number. It is Kurt. The unexpected sound draws their attention to him. He looks pale and the luger in his hand wavers.
He coughs again, and there is a sudden blank and unseeing look in his eyes as his throat convulses and his lungs heave.
He drops to his knees, falling to the carpet with a poorly controlled thud. His back remains ram-rod straight however. The luger drops from his hand and slides to the floor.
There is something more complicated about the expression on his face. It carries something, something that can perhaps be uncovered, and understood.
The manservant remains in the kitchen unreacting. He seems to be watching the rest of the party intently.
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