Uncertain discoveries of S Mouse XVIII

(Exploder of His Incredulous Majesty)

RETURNED TO TAVERN LAST NIGHT IN ATTEMPT TO FIND MORE INFORMATION. IT WAS CLOSED. BASED ON STATE OF REPAIR IT APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN CLOSED FOR SEVERAL YEARS. CURIOUS. ENQUIRED AMONGST LOCALS AS TO WHEREABOUTS OF AFOREMENTIONED OLD SAILORS: WAS TOLD 'OLD BILL' FREQUENTED THE CHURCHYARD. ON INVESTIGATION DISCOVERED GRAVE OF ONE 'WILLIAM HARVEY, SAILOR, 1938-2010, LOVED BY ALL WHO KNEW HIM'. I SPOKE TO HIM IN THE TAVERN YESTERDAY.

A GAME IS BEING PLAYED; WHO THE PLAYERS ARE I DO NOT KNOW AND DARE NOT GUESS. I AM BUT A PAWN OR, PERHAPS, ROOK OR KNIGHT. THE RULES OF THE GAME ARE UNKNOWN TO ME AND, I FEAR, ALSO TO THE PLAYERS.

SHIP FINALLY SAILING TODAY. AWAIT DEVELOPMENTS.

TRANSMISSION ENDS.