<div align="center">(https://www.hampshire-history.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/IMG_20140425_0001-001.jpg)<br/></div><br/><strong>MS. SYSSIAH BINT KALISH EZAB</strong>, having just arrived from the Continent by way of the English Channel, was just sitting to breakfast when she saw the biggest steamship she had ever seen in her entire life commence its docking sequence.  Little did she know that one of that day's companions, one Dr. Brockman, would be arriving on that ship.<br/><br/>Sitting across from the beautiful black-haired Persian sat a very tall blonde by the name of<strong>MS. MARTA LINDGREN,</strong>who was also eating breakfast.  Unlike Ms. Ezab, Ms. Lindgren had conformed to the heavy English breakfast cuisine of beans, sausages, and eggs from her time in the United Kingdom.  The sight of the gigantic ship had not startled the Scandinavian, as she had previously traveled aboard the<em>Majestic</em>on at least two occasions.  But Ms. Lindgren probably wanted to forget those times...<br/><br/>Though the women had become friendly throughout their journey, it hadn't been until they reached Southampton that they discovered that they were traveling to see one J.A. Smith, Professor of Languages at the University of London.  Ms. Lindgren had known the gentleman on a professional basis in her capacity as a nurse, but Ms. Ezab did not know him at all.  Indeed, Ms. Ezab could have never imagined that so much of her life would be disturbed because of a man she did not know.  But Ms. Ezab could not elaborate on exactly why she had traveled from so far away to meet a stranger.  For indeed, Ms. Ezab did not know why.  She never could have even guessed.  But it had something to do with her father's folio...<br/><br/>Ms. Lindgren had been summoned by her former employer by letter.  The letter said:<br/><br/><div class="quoteheader"><div class="topslice_quote">Quote</div></div><blockquote class="bbc_standard_quote">Marta,<br/><br/>You are to return to me at once.  I require your services, and by my estimate, you should be well again by now.  I have wired you the necessary funds to terminate your lease and to fund your passage to the United Kingdom.<br/><br/>Give Aline my best.<br/><br/>Smith.<br/></blockquote><div class="quotefooter"><div class="botslice_quote"></div></div><br/>Marta, you are still in possession of that letter.<br/><br/>You may both commence play or make inquiries as you see fit.