Oswald does not ask if he has statistics on the number of people he's helped that have ended up in asylums because that question is insane.

"Exotic drugs are not my area of expertise anyway. At present I am focusing on some research in Ethiopia."

" - well that is either quite a coincidence or not a coincidence at all."

"Although I've been considering instead reorienting to some work on the Orkney Islands."

"What does your research into Ethiopia focus on?"

"I've been researching the Obelisk of Axum. Fascinating subject. Unfortunately, I am concerned it will be quite picked over by the time I convince the university to give me funding for an expedition."

He glances with confusion at the local Orkney for a minute but can conclude nothing in any direction.

His surname is also the name of a location; it happens.

"What makes this obelisk of interest to you?"

"The university is absolutely terrible, you know. The crew team gets as much money as it wants! But is there any money for academics? Absolutely not." Francis Hickering is NOT going to be helpful until he is DONE WITH HIS COMPLAINT.

Awkward sympathetic nod.

The rare books collection in the library says otherwise, Mordred does not say, with the patience of a person who has heard this argument many, many dozens of times.

"And those treasure hunters are coming! The Emporium of Bangkok Antiquities they're called. An 'independent research organization.' Pah! They'll melt down all the gold and break apart all the artifacts. No respect for academia whatsoever. Money-grubbing little philistines."

"Bangkok, huh?"

Man what is UP with this place.

Francis Hickering belatedly realizes he was asked a question. "The Obelisk of Axum is one of the stelae of Axum. The stelae were originally erected between the third and fourth century AD. Some are rough-hewn stone blocks three feet in length; others are nearly a hundred feet tall."

Anemone is just going to take out her notes right now and start scribbling.

"The Obelisk of Axum is one of the Seven Kings, the largest stelae in Axum."

Obelisks. Obelisks obelisks obelisks. He read a book about this.

"A fascinating subject! They appear to depict buildings that are ten to thirteen stories tall although of course actual Aksumite buildings were never more than three stories tall."

"We were actually planning to visit Ethiopia immediately after our visit to Miskatonic University. We're investigating another professor who who left to do some excavations in Dallol, about ten years ago."

"That's a rather long expedition, isn't it? Wouldn't he lose his funding?"

"His superiors don't actually seem to believe that he's alive anymore. He's been out of contact with them for some years."

"How do they get the obelisks nearly a hundred feet tall but not the buildings?" This is mostly to himself because it is irrelevant probably.

Francis Hickering is too much of a teacher to ignore this sort of opening. "Excellent question!" Francis says to Oswald. "We have no idea. It is one reason why it's so fascinating!"