Oswald is startled to be addressed and nods abruptly.

Maybe it's not irrelevant. "Have you heard of a thing called the Black Stone? I saw a reference to it in one of the books we've found, but wasn't at all sure what it meant."

"Ah! In Hungary. Yes. I haven't had a chance to research it myself but it is a fascinating monolith, isn't it? Totally indestructible. At least it won't be destroyed by treasure hunters." He sounds satisfied about this fact.

Notes notes notes. "I'm afraid we only have somewhat cursory information on it, do you know anything else about it?"

"Ancient monolith. All manner of fascinating superstitions about it. Anyone who lays a hammer to it will die horribly, it is said. Anyone who sleeps nearby will suffer nightmares for the rest of their life. But as I said, it's not my area."

"I'm sorry, I'm not sure I'm entirely clear on what your area is?"

"Ancient history. Well, I suppose it is ancient history. But I have not taken an interest in it."

"You're interested in the Ethiopian monoliths, rather."

"At the moment, yes. And the legends of the Orkney Islands as well."

"What legends, in particular?" She doesn't think they have a connection there yet but maybe it's related.

"I've only scratched the surface of the ocean myths, mind you. There's material for an entire book there. You'll want to talk to Professor Sims if you're interested in the subject, I've been corresponding with him. There are legends of the finfolk. Sorcerers, half-fish and half-man, with power over storm and sea. Unparalleled swimmers."

"Thank you very much. Where does this Professor Sims live, is he here or at a different university?"

"Oh, he's at Lyness University in the Orkney Islands. Rather far away, unfortunately."

"Yes, I understand. Was there a reason you were interested in these finfolk, in particular? Moreso than other myths?"

"They're very similar to our local legends here in nearby Innsmouth. I was planning to write a paper tracing the spread of the legends with Scottish immigrants."

Mordred feels some sort of way about that but is not sure what sort of way it is. "Huh," he says, doing his very best to sound interested and not freaked out.

"Anyway. I do so ramble on. Do you have any questions?"

"Is there anything else you can tell us about Ethiopia? Maybe a connection between these obelisks and the cult of" not Gol-Goroth ugh "the, uh, Liar from Beyond? Or, or there was another researcher involved, Bartolo Acuna, do you...?"

"Acuna, yes. He's the other archaeologist looting the obelisks. Taking them off to Italy, if you can believe it. As if there is no research benefit from seeing them in their original location! I understand there is a war happening soon but surely they can assign soldiers to guard the Obelisks. This is history! The common inheritance of humanity!"

"We happened to come across a book about the cults in the ancient kingdom of Axum, and their potential spread from there to Europe. Is that something you might know anything about? It was something that the professor who went to Dallol was looking into before he left. I suppose you might have heard of him? A George Ayers?"

"I don't know that the cults spread to Europe. But there were cults that sprang up along the Red Sea Coast in the fifth century BC, and a resurgence in the twelfth century during the Zagwe dynasty. Very interesting cults! Particularly popular among the aristocrats, which is quite unusual for cults."

"Cults of what, in particular?"

"Unfortunately, they were a mystery religion, so much information about their practices was lost. We do know a center of their worship is in Dallol. I hope you find George Ayers's notes and let him publish his paper. I was very interested in his work before he tragically disappeared. He was exploring fascinating territory. I am sure this is what he would have wanted."

"Yes, that's among the things we're looking into. Do you know anything else about the specifics of what he hoped to find there?"

"Unfortunately, I do not. The journals stopped publishing his work much before he disappeared. Dreadful tragedy. Their limited minds simply can't handle groundbreaking work!"