Episode 204: Voices Carry
Alex: Welcome to Pacific Northwest Stories. I'm Alex Reagan.
This week, I'm sitting down with one of the leaders of the geocaching profession, Leo Krumpsten.
- Alex: Hi Leo, thanks for joining us.
- Krumpsten: Thanks for having me.
- Alex: For those of us who are unfamiliar with geocaching, can you describe what it is?
- Krumpsten: Well. Okay, the simple version is we hunt and find hidden objects using GPS coordinates.
- Alex: Great. Well, I'm sure we'll dig deeper as we move through. So, what made you decide to create a global geocaching network?
- Krumpsten: You'd be surprised how often I get asked that.
- Alex: I bet.
- Krumpsten: I like to think of geocaching as placing joy where you least expect it.
- Alex: Wow, I'm guessing most people haven't thought of it that way.
- Krumpsten: When I proposed to my wife, I geocached her ring. Guess where.
- Alex: Uh, I have no idea.
- Krumpsten: Our back yard. It was my way of saying "All attempts at finding treasure lead me back to you."
- Alex: Ah, how romantic.
- Krumpsten: She thought so.
Alex: So, Leo was a romantic. But are there other applications for geocaching?
- Alex: (sighs) I can't do this.
- Nic: Yeah, I know.
- Alex: Seriously.
- Nic: It's just a pilot test segment, I'm fully confident we'll be back on track in a couple days.
- Alex: You're fully confident?
- Nic: I'm pretty confident.
- Alex: Uh huh.
- Nic: To be fair, someone did just die a horrible death kind of on our watch.
- Alex: A death that had nothing to do with us.
- Nic: Right.
- Alex: The coroner ruled it a suicide.
- Nic: I think they're just concerned about the Hochmans going missing too. I mean, that was in the middle of the investigation.
- Alex: Right.
- Nic: And I know they want to avoid any potential legal complications with the whole thing. They did indicate they felt we were a little too close to the story. I mean, the whole thing makes sense if you step back and look at it.
- Alex: (sighs) I guess. It just feels like they're hedging.
- Nic: I know. It definitely sucks.
- Alex: It really does suck.
- Nic: So what do you want to do? Do we finish the segment or what?
- Alex: Oh, I think you know what I wanna do.
(Theme Music & Intro)
Alex: Our executive producers have a great sense of humor and were kind enough to allow Nic and I to play that excerpt at the beginning of the show. From Pacific Northwest Stories and Minnow Beats Whale, it's actually season two of The Black Tapes Podcast. I'm Alex Reagan.
This season we're continuing our exploration of the Strand Institute's enigmatic president and founder, Dr. Richard Strand.
We're telling the story of the black tapes in order, every two weeks. So if you haven't listened to the first few episodes, go back and start there. We'll be here when you get back.
- Alex: Okay, it's now 2:17 AM. I went to bed at 10:30. I made sure not to watch anything on any kind of screen after 8. I'm excited the Black Tapes are back, so maybe that's why I'm amped up. Nic said he wasn't really worried about the new pilot proposals, but I think he was just trying to put on a brave face. I think our executive producers worry about me too much. I had a heart to heart with Terry and Paul, they indicate that it was worry about me that led them to looking at re-piloting the show. Eventually cooler heads prevailed, everyone's a lot happier. Including our executive producers. They didn't want to change directions any more than we did. Not really. The black tapes have become just too... compelling.
- I took half a zopiclone before bed. It's not really helping. (sighs) I can usually fall asleep, that's not the problem. It's staying asleep that alludes me. This is now the (pause) third, no fourth consecutive night making a sleep note after 2 AM. (sighs) My head is just (sighs), I have what Dr. Bernier calls running thoughts: work, my family, should I buy new curtains tomorrow? I need to read more novels. I really should get more exercise.
Alex: As you've probably guessed, that's an excerpt from my sleep notes. I've been told by Dr. Bernier to keep a record of my sleep and sleep habits. So I keep a recorder by my bed. Sometimes, too often lately, I record in the middle of the night. As you heard, they're quite mundane.
- Brenda: I think I've found the source of your book of demons.
Alex: That's Brenda Miller, a book collector specializing in grimoires. She was recommended by our rare books dealer from two episodes ago, Gloria Cohen.
- Alex: Oh, we're calling it "book of demons" now?
- Miller: That's what Gloria Cohen called it.
- Alex: Lovely. So, you said you have something for me?
- Miller: More of a curiosity. We have an online forum for bibliophiles like myself. I reached out to the community and was quite surprised by the number and variety of responses.
- Alex: You found someone with information about the book?
- Miller: Well, I posted some of the scanned pages to the forum and some of the members claim to have heard or read similar phrasings. The consensus was that it was an urban legend. Good fun, but not worth digging into. But then this one poster sent me a private message asking if he could meet with me as soon as possible to see the book himself. I checked his history and it turns out he had just registered for the forum that day.
- Alex: And when was this?
- Miller: About a week ago.
- Alex: So, did you arrange to meet him?
- Miller: I told him the book wasn't in my possession. That it belonged to a recluse who was in police custody. He asked how I ended up with these pages and I told him about your show. Then our correspondence just stopped.
- Alex: Well, it sounds like he might have been interested in buying it, and then lost interest when you told him you didn't have it.
- Miller: Then why not ask me for more details? It's not like we were posting these comments publicly.
- Alex: I'm guessing you didn't get his real name?
- Miller: No. Unless his real name is "Boobliophile69."
- Alex: (laughing) Right.
- Miller: I did find something else, although I'm not sure how relevant it is.
- Alex: I'll take anything at this point.
- Miller: Okay. Well, one of the forum members is a dealer out of Poland. He claims that the spells and incantations from this journal sound very similar to a scroll he's been tracking since he first became a rare books dealer. It's called the Song of Omphalos.
- Alex: That sounds more than a little Game of Thrones, doesn't it?
- Miller: (laughs) Well, we're not even sure it exists. It's only ever referred to in other documents. But it's allegedly based on quite possibly the earliest piece of musical composition known to us, the Seikilos epitaph.
- Alex: Hm, I've never heard of it.
- Miller: It dates back to the time of Jesus. The lyrics and music were supposedly written by a Greek named Seikilos. He engraved it on the tombstone of his wife.
- Alex: What is the song about?
- Miller: Oh, it's actually quite lovely. May I read it to you? It's very short.
- Alex: Please!
- Miller: Oh, okay great! (pages rustling) "While you live, shine/ Have no grief / Life exists but for a moment / And time demands an end."
- Alex: That is beautiful. But this other song? The Song of...
- Miller: The Song of Omphalos, yes.
- Alex: Yeah.
- Miller: It was purportedly a Latin version of the Seikilos epitaph with a few... subtle variations.
- Alex: What kind of variations?
- Miller: Well, Omphalos is a religious artifact, most commonly a stone. It's tied to the idea that a specific place could be the center of universal power.
- Alex: And that's a song?
- Miller: So they say. My online Polish friend, he suggested that this book of demonic spells, it might not be just a book of spells but a book of songs.
- Alex: Songs? About demons?
- Miller: Yes. Consider it a Satanic hymnal. An apocalyptic one.
- Alex: Apocalyptic? How so?
- Miller: The Song of Omphalos is supposedly part of some larger grand plan to usher in an age of demonic rule. Eventually bringing about the end of the universe as we know it. And as far as eschatological poems go, this one is apparently the golden egg. Well, that's how the myth goes on the street, as it were (laughs).
- Alex: (laughs) Have you ever heard of something called The Cenophus?
- Miller: You know, I hadn't. Until I researched this a bit before calling you. It seems like another one of these apocryphal stories about sacred texts that are always floating around. The Song of Omphalos does sound like something this order would be interested in or aware of. That is, if it actually existed.
- Alex: You don't believe it exists?
- Miller: Not at all. But I wish it did!
- Alex: Why's that?
- Miller: It just makes for a more interesting world, knowing something like that might be out there. Don't you think?
Alex: Brenda had a point. I guess. Of course she would think of all of this as interesting. There's no genuine proof that any of this stuff is real. How many substantive leads did I actually have? And what is it that I'm investigating exactly? Is it Strand's past? Is it the black tapes? Or is it the macabre history of a little known monastery, possibly sending its minions out into the world to make strange shadowy cave paintings to some sinister end? But still, the threads continue to unwind. All of this talk about the Song of Omphalos, it just sounded too similar to Scriabin's Mysterium to be coincidental.
- Alex: Okay, it's now... 1:48 AM. I'm so tired (sighs). I felt like I actually fell back asleep for a minute or two. This was about an hour ago. But, the question of Coralee Strand woke me up. What are the chances it was actually her? What if Wendy in Lake Tahoe was making it up? It doesn't make sense. Why, and how (sighs), no it can't be that. And Strand, all of this has got to be messing with his head, right? It must be. Should I be worried about him? Is he going to get through this? Am I going to be okay? Should I be worried about myself? Jesus, I need some sleep. How many people in America are doing exactly what I'm doing right now? Trying to sleep, I mean, not worrying about missing persons and a theoretically demonic apocalypse. Did I put Dr. Strand in harm's way? (thumping noise can be heard) Did I put him in danger by making him the subject of our show?
Alex: I recorded that last night before I tried to fall back asleep. I did actually end up getting a couple hours of sleep, right before I had to get up and get ready for work.
Every morning I record my sleep pattern from the night before. I usually do this while I have my morning coffee. A few days ago I sat down to record my sleep patterns from the night before and I noticed something was ...off.
- Nic: What happened?
- Alex: Yeah, so I made this sleep note around 2 in the morning.
- Nic: Okay.
- Alex: Before I finally managed to fall asleep for a couple of hours. I had loaded my SD card into my computer the day before and completely wiped it. So this new recording was the only sleep note on the card.
- Nic: Yeah?
- Alex: Look how many recordings this says I made.
- Nic: Two.
- Alex: Yeah.
- Nic: So you probably hit the record button by accident.
- Alex: Well, only if I hit it in my sleep.
- Nic: That's a pretty small button to be hitting in your sleep.
- Alex: Yeah. Plus, you have to hold it down to record.
- Nic: So, what, sleepwalking?
- Alex: (sighs) Maybe, but. I've never done that before.
- Nic: Well it's not uncommon with Ambien or zopiclone.
- Alex: I'm not taking sleeping pills anymore.
- Nic: Okay, so. There's an extra sound file. Was there anything on it?
- Alex: Listen.
- (long pause)
- Nic: I can't hear anything.
- Alex: Yeah, there's nothing there. It's five and a half minutes of nothing.
- Nic: Well maybe the sleep recorder thing has become a habit and you were... sleep button-pushing, or you pushed it when you were on the edge of sleep, just falling asleep maybe. I mean, you turned it on somehow, right?
- Alex: Yeah, but. Who turned it off?
- Nic: I got a call from Ruby and she says she's getting really worried.
- Alex: Oh. Why?
- Nic: Strand's been sleeping at his office and barely eating, losing weight.
- Alex: Sleeping at his office?
- Nic: Yeah.
- Alex: How often?
- Nic: Ruby says he never leaves.
- Alex: Oh.
- (phone ringing)
- Strand: Hello?
- Alex: Dr. Strand.
- Strand: Alex. I was just going to call you.
- Alex: ...You were?
- Strand: Yes. I'm headed back to Seattle tomorrow morning, and I was wondering if you would be able to set up a meeting with Amalia.
- Alex: Amalia?
- Strand: Yes.
- Alex: What for?
- Strand: She was in Russia.
- Alex: Yes. She's Russian. She splits her time between Moscow and Seattle.
- Strand: I have some questions... well, I'd like to ask her about some things.
- Alex: Okay.
- Strand: Can you make that happen?
- Alex: Yeah, I'll see what I can do.
Alex: So Strand was coming back to Seattle to speak with Amalia. I haven't seen much of her lately, she's been coming home quite late and leaving early in the morning. I did finally manage to speak with her about what happened in Russia. She indicated that she'd been covering political unrest, and that the separatists had her on some kind of watch list. Things with the government were worse. She was worried, so she dropped off the grid. She told me it didn't have anything to do with what she called my "ghost stories." But, I'm not sure. Something still feels... off about Amalia. I've known her for a long time. I was worried. I told Strand that she didn't have any additional information about anything black tapes related. But he told me he wanted to ask her some questions in person anyway.
Actually, it would be nice to have Strand here. Maybe a change of scenery would be good for him. Perhaps for both of us.
- Dr. Bernier: So, any progress?
- Alex: No, not really.
- Dr. Bernier: You're following the sleep hygiene program we discussed?
- Alex: To the letter.
- Dr. Bernier: How is everything going at work? Any new stresses there?
- Alex: Always.
- Dr. Bernier: That's not good, Alex.
- Alex: I know, I (sighs), it's a complicated time.
- Dr. Bernier: Any way to uncomplicate things?
- Alex: I'm not sure there is.
- Dr. Bernier: (sighs) Okay. I'd like to ask you to avoid the internet.
- Alex: Really? That's gonna be hard.
- Dr. Bernier: It's a really good way to declutter your brain. Just for a little while.
- Alex: Okay. But (sighs).
- Dr. Bernier: Just try it for one week.
- Alex: One week? Okay.
- Dr. Bernier: Great.
Alex: I made it about an hour and fifteen minutes before I was back online looking at something on Nic's computer.
- Nic: This was posted to a rather popular online forum.
- Alex: Okay, what is it?
- Nic: It's a countdown timer.
- Alex: (long pause) Oh...kay.
- Nic: Well it began as hexadecimal code, and when you converted that to text there was a URL that led to the countdown timer.
- Alex: Oh. Okay.
- Nic: It's counting down.
- Alex: Counting down to what?
- Nic: It's counting down from April 23rd, 2015 at 3:15 PM, to April 23rd, 2016 at 3:15 PM.
- Alex: Okay, that's pretty specific.
- Nic: It certainly is.
- Alex: And any idea what might be significant about that date?
- Nic: I don't want to say it out loud.
- Alex: Uh, what is it?
- Nic: Well, I feel like a conspiracy nut.
- Alex: Yeah, but now I'm really interested.
- Nic: (laughs) Okay, well.
- Alex: Jesus Nic, you're starting to freak me out a little here.
- Nic: Okay, well, it's not just a date. It's actually the time as well.
- Alex: Okay, what about it?
- Nic: April 23rd at 3:15 PM.
- Alex: Yeah! So...
- Nic: It's the exact date and time we heard The Unsound for the first time.
- Alex: (long pause) Are you sure?
- Nic: Positive. I double checked.
- Alex: Yeah, but, how could somebody else know that?
- Nic: They couldn't, not really. You and I were the only people in the room.
- Alex: And Strand.
- Nic: Right, and Strand.
- Alex: Well, this is all a little disturbing, isn't it?
- Nic: A little.
Alex: Dr. Strand is going to land in Seattle in a few hours. It's...uh, 3:04 AM. I'm starting to get used to this, feeling foggy, less alert. Not sleeping used to be terrifying, but now (sighs) it's become the norm. It's a dark cumulative effect now, not as immediately worrying as before. I guess I'm just getting used to it.
- Nic: What is it?
- Alex: I need you to hear something!
- Nic: Okay?
- Alex: Just...
- Nic: Is it more sleep recording?
- Alex: Just listen (sighs).
- Nic: Alright.
- (tape recorder button clicks)
Alex: ...ago. But, the question of Coralee Strand woke me up. What are the chances it was actually her?- (knock)
- What if Wendy in Lake Tahoe was making it up?
- (knock knock)
- It doesn't make sense. Why, and how (sighs), no it can't be that.
- (knock)
- And Strand, all of this has got to be messing with his head, right? It must be. Should I be worried about him?
- (knock)
- Is he going to get through this?
- (knock knock)
- Am I going to be okay?
- (knock knock)
- Should I be worried about myself?
- (knock)
- Jesus, I need some sleep.
- (knock)
- How many people in America are doing exactly what I'm doing right now? Trying to sleep, I mean, not worrying about missing persons and a theoretically demonic apocalypse. Did I put Dr. Strand in harm's way?
- (knock)
- Did I put him in danger by making him the subject of our show?
- (knock)
- Nic: Okay, that's weird.
- Alex: Huh, you think?
- Nic: It's pipes, maybe?
- Alex: I didn't hear it.
- Nic: Well you were pretty tired, I'm sure, to be fair.
- Alex: True.
- Nic: Still (laughs). That's...
- Alex: Simon.
- Nic: I didn't want to say it out loud.
- Alex: But you thought it?
- Nic: One knock for yes, two for no.
- Alex: Yeah.
- Nic: Simon. Okay, before we get too freaked out...
- Alex: Yeah, it might be a little late for that (laughing nervously).
- Nic: I'm gonna make a copy and I'm gonna look into it. 'Cause that's weird.
- Alex: Okay.
- Nic: Okay.
Alex: I was feel like I was almost in too deep. As if I waded out too far and now was at risk of drowning, drowning in a sea of my own thoughts. The subjects of my investigation had begun crowding my mind, preventing mem from sleeping. I felt like I wanted to make a change, to investigate something I could wrap my head around. But it didn't look like that was forthcoming, so I opted to go the other way and embrace the magic. So to speak.
- Braun: Hello?
- Alex: Hi, is this Tannis Braun?
- Braun: Yes?
- Alex: Hi, this is Alex Reagan.
Alex: We last heard from Tanis Braun in season one. That's Tannis with two "n"s, not to be confused with Nic's show, Tanis with one "n." Our listeners might remember Tannis Braun as a well regarded psychic with a frankly stunning record of finding missing persons. He agreed to speak with me from his home in Oregon.
- Alex: Thanks for making the time.
- Braun: My pleasure. I understand you have some questions about our friend Richard Strand?
- Alex: I do.
- Braun: How's he doing?
- Alex: He's... complicated.
- Braun: (laughing) He's certainly that.
- Alex: So, I've been calling everyone I can find who's been connected in some way to Strand. I'm trying to make sense of a few things.
- Braun: I'll do what I can.
- Alex: Thank you.
- Braun: What would you like to know?
- Alex: I hate to be... blunt, but I'd like to know what happened to create such tension between you and Strand.
- Braun: I believe Richard is unsettled by my abilities.
- Alex: Because he can't... because he hasn't been able to disprove them?
- Braun: Well, he's positioned himself quite nicely, never really having to disprove anything.
- Alex: What do you mean?
- Braun: Well he's placing the burden of proof on people claiming supernatural gifts.
- Alex: But... isn't that where the burden of proof belongs?
- Braun: I don't believe it does.
- Alex: Well, what about charlatans taking advantage of the gullible? Bilking them out of their life savings?
- Braun: Strand called me a charlatan?
- Alex: No, not exactly.
- Braun: Really?
- Alex: Okay, exactly.
- Braun: Richard set himself up as a target, challenging the world of paranormal researchers. So he's not only positioned himself at the center of a lot of negative energy, he can't really back his claim that these things don't exist.
- Alex: Well, I think he would argue that he doesn't have to.
- Braun: The scientific method, right.
- Alex: It's been working pretty well so far.
- Braun: Has it?
- Alex: What do you mean?
- Braun: Well, those black tapes of his? What if they're not really unsolved cases? What if they're evidence?
- Alex: Evidence? What, that the paranormal is real?
- Braun: Yes.
- Alex: Okay, well. Do you have any theories on Dr. Strand's black tapes? (pause) Hello?
- Braun: I'll say this. I have a sense that you're exploring the outer edges of something much bigger than you, or me, or Strand. But to connect everything, you're going to have to go deeper, not wider.
- Alex: Is this the psychic speaking?
- Braun: This is me speaking. There's one tape in particular.
- Alex: What tape?
- Braun: The tape's labeled "Cheryl."
- Alex: And what's special about that one in particular?
- Braun: You should watch it.
- Alex: Okay. But could you be more specific?
- Braun: I wish I could, but I'm afraid that's all I have.
- Alex: Cheryl?
- Braun: Right.
- Alex: And you're sure Strand has it? I don't remember seeing a tape case labeled "Cheryl."
- Braun: He has it.
- Alex: What am I gonna find on that tape?
- Braun: There's a web of darkness at the center of everything.
- Alex: Of the black tapes?
- Braun: Yes.
Alex: I'll "have to go deeper, not wider." I had no idea what that meant. I was already doing everything I could to find Keith Dabic, Percival Black, Thomas Warren, and the Brothers of the Mount. And I believe my investigation into the ...shadow things, into Simon Reese and Sebastian Torres, was fairly thorough as well. How much deeper could I go?
When Strand arrived in Seattle, I told him what Tannis Braun had said, leaving out the part about the tape labelled "Cheryl" for now.
- Strand: That's exactly the kind of thing those people say. It's like astrology: it's just relevant enough to reel you in, but vague enough to avoid being wrong. No matter what happens, he'll be right in some way.
- Alex: Okay, so, switching gears.
- Strand: Yes.
- Alex: Have you heard of an ancient text called The Song of Omphalos?
- Strand: I've heard of it, yes.
- Alex: Could you expand on that, maybe?
- Strand: My father told me about it. A sacred stone, a baetylus, a place marking the center of the universe, bringing together Heaven and Earth. There are several iterations of it throughout the west. Jacob's Ladder from the book of Genesis is probably one you're familiar with.
- Alex: It sounds a lot like the Mysterium from Scriabin, the Russian composer?
- Strand: Well, that's probably where Scriabin got his inspiration.
- Alex: Right. So, I have a theory.
- Strand: I'm listening.
- Alex: Ready?
- Strand: Yes.
- Alex: Okay so, what if the Order of the Cenophus is trying to usher in the apocalypse by opening gateways between our world and Hell? Kind of an age of demons. And they're trying to do it by having Brother Black complete Scriabin's Mysterium.
- Strand: You think the Mysterium actually has some kind of power?
- Alex: No, of course not. But I think they believe it does.
- Strand: The Order of the Cenophus?
- Alex: Yes. Well, what do you think?
- Strand: It's possible they believe this.
- Alex: Really?
- Strand: Yes. But, I'm not sure all that is much of a revelation.
- Alex: No?
- Strand: Not really. Of course the Order of the Cenophus is up to something apocalyptic. The order of anything is up to something apocalyptic. Every cult or religion thrives on two things: claims of secret sacred knowledge, and some kind of apocalypse myth or apocalyptic power. The Order of the Cenophus is no different than all the others, I'm afraid.
- Alex: So where does that leave us?
- Strand: Amalia.
- Alex: Amalia?
- Strand: You told me I could speak with Amalia.
- Alex: You're just gonna sweet all of this under the rug and...
- Strand: Let me cut you off there, Alex. I'm going to assume you're convinced that the Order of the Cenophus has branches all over the world and is somehow involved with these distinctly separate sacred geometrical incidents that you've been investigating.
- Alex: Those sacred geometric symbols are quite similar. You don't feel like it's at least...
- Strand: It's worth looking into.
- Alex: (surprised) What?
- Strand: I believe that there are enough similarities to at least consider a connection of some kind.
Alex: And there it was. Sure, not an admission of anything paranormal, but acquiescence to the possibility that we're dealing with some conspiratorial in the realm of the paranormal. It's not a lot, but I'll take it.
Alex: Strand was very keen to speak with Amalia, so I asked her to speak with us at the studio. He wanted to speak with her in private, so I let them have the control room. Nic and I were outside in the studio lobby. I told him I wished I could have hidden my phone in there to record their conversation. He told me that wouldn't be responsible journalism, but, I dunno.
- Alex: I can switch on the talkback mic in the control room, it's just one button.
- Nic: That would not be right. That's not cool.
- Alex: It worked on The Jinx.
- Nic: Well that was an accident.
- Alex: It's a documentary. Nothing's an accident.
- Nic: Um, cynical? I'm gonna set up Studio A for Tanis narration, five minutes okay?
- Alex: Yeah, I'll be right there.
- Nic: Okay.
- Alex: (alone) I'm switching on the talkback mic.
- Strand: Were there any others involved in the bidding?
- Amalia: There were certain interested parties.
- Strand: Anyone from Malta?
- Amalia: Not that I recall.
- Strand: There was a woman. Blonde, tall, striking.
- Amalia: Yes. There was a woman. I would definitely consider her striking.
- Strand: She won the auction.
- Amalia: She did. How did you know that?
- Strand: Can you remember, did she say anything?
- Amalia: It was a party. I was working, trying to get information from a diplomat. I was preoccupied, but I do remember talking to her a little bit. Small talk, nothing stands out.
- Strand: The woman, she spoke Russian?
- Amalia: Fluently.
- Strand: Thank you.
Alex: I did manage to get Amalia's permission to use her voice on the show, but Nic wasn't happy.
- Nic: I don't know, Alex.
- Alex: You don't know what?
- Nic: I'm just not sure that eavesdropping on Strand and Amalia was... okay. I see a line being crossed again.
- Alex: Okay but, Nic, we've been through this before. It's... this was... this is worth a conversation. It's nothing we haven't done before to get a story.
- Nic: I dunno, it just feels wrong this time.
- Alex: What's your problem?
- Nic: (offended scoff) I don't have a problem, and you know I don't wanna create unnecessary drama. I'm not gonna make any suggestions, other than please listen to the last few interviews before you cut them into the final show, that's all.
- Alex: That's all??
- Nic: Okay. Something's wrong. What's going on?
- Alex: Yeah, I'll say. I... I know you wouldn't be against this if Strand was in that room alone.
- Nic: What does Strand in the room have to do with anything?
- Alex: Are you seeing Amalia again?
- Nic: Jesus, Alex, that's not. I'd feel the same way no matter who you were evesdropping on.
- Alex: I don't think so. I know you, Nic.
- Nic: Could you please stop recording?
- (recorder button clicks, tape winds)
Alex: Nic and I made up. Don't worry, it's not the first time we've have a disagreement, and (laughs) I'm pretty sure it won't be the last. A few days later, I met Nic in Studio A. He said he had something to show me.
- Nic: There was something that we missed on one of your sleep note recordings.
- Alex: What is it?
- Nic: Okay. I'm gonna play something, just... don't freak out, okay?
- Alex: No promises. More knocking?
- Nic: Not knocking, no. This is the other file, the mystery recording we thought was blank.
- Alex: Right, the five and a half minutes of nothing?
- Nic: Yeah, well, it's not nothing.
- Alex: What is it?
- Nic: Here, I'll turn it up.
- (very quiet whisper, almost too quiet to hear: Azazeel, Azazeel, Azazeel, Azazeel)
- (recorder button clicks)
- Alex: What the hell?
- Nic: Yeah, it's definitely more than room tone.
- Alex: It's Amalia.
- Nic: Amalia? What makes you say that?
- Alex: It has to be! She's been staying at my place.
- Nic: Uh, I don't think it sounds like Amalia.
- Alex: It's her!
- Nic: It's not Amalia.
- Alex: How can you say that?
- Nic: Well, this was recorded on Friday night.
- Alex: Yeah? So?
- Nic: Amalia slept at my place Friday.
- Alex: She did, did she?
- Nic: (sighs) She did. Um. Yeah.
- Alex: Okay. So. If it's not Amalia, then who...?
- Nic: You're telling me you don't recognize that voice. (long pause) It's you.
Alex: We'll have more of what happened with my sleep note recordings next time. Plus, I ask Strand about the tape labelled "Cheryl."
It's The Black Tapes Podcast. I'm Alex Reagan. We'll be back again in two weeks.
The Black Tapes Podcast is a Pacific Northwest Stories and Minnow Beats Whale production. Recorded in Seattle and Vancouver. Produced by Nic Silver. Mixed and engineered by Nic Silver and Madison Cruise. Edited by Nic Silver and Alex Reagan. Executive producers Paul Bae and Terry Miles.