LEYLAND SMITH BACK IN THE FAR EAST
Shanghai, April 14th 1921
Leyland Smith, arch opponent of the infamous Fu Man Chu, is back in the Far East with his friend and companion Dr Petrie. They are accompanied on their trip by the eminent Shan Greville, purported to be the World’s leading authority on the Qin Dynasty, but better known as the former fiancée of Lady Doris Shaftesbury who is currently digging in the region of Xian. The rumour that Fu Man Chu was killed by Leyland Smith during FU’s attempts to gain the mask of Ghengis Khan from the Great Mongol’s hidden tomb is apparently ill founded. It now appears that Fu Man Chu is again plotting to take over the World, but this time with help of the long dead first Emperor of China, Qin Shi Huang.
Leyland Smith was alerted by the recent attacks on Lady Doris’s workers at Xian, by what has been described as Terracotta Zombies, or as the press has described them Terror-cotta Zombies. Lady Doris, who is recovering since her ordeal, telegraphed her family who brought the matter to the attention of Leyland Smith.
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'Zombies m'lady... thousands of em!'
Archaeologist, Lady Doris Shaftesbury and survivors retreat to the final redoubt.
Female Archaeologist, and Chinese Bandit by Copplestone Castings
http://www.copplestonecastings.co.uk
Leyland Smith believes that Fu Man Chu is behind the attacks and wishes to prevent Lady Doris from finding the tomb of the First Emperor. It appears a deadly secret has been buried with the Emperor, a secret that could ultimately destroy the free World. Prior to his death Qin Shi Huang sought the secret of longevity and he sent his ministers out across the world to find it. Leyland Smith believes one of them did but unfortunately he could not return in time and the Emperor died. The minister not daring to face the wrath of the Emperor’s son fled to the Himalayas where he established Shangri-La.
The minister Yang Fei, did, however return and with him took secrets from the Jewish book of life, the Sefer Yetzirah. The book told of how to make Golems, man like creatures made of clay, Yang Fei mixed with this the West African Voodoo practice of the Zombie, to overcome the problem that is inbuilt in Golems, in that although they at first do their masters bidding they soon seek to establish a will of their own. Yang Fei, according to legend, made an army of Terror-Cotta Zombies and surrounded his master’s tomb with them. Leyland Smith is convinced that Fu Man Chu has found the tomb of Yang Fei and is already in possession of a half-baked army. In order to keep his secret until he can conquer the World he must therefore disrupt the Xian dig.
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Chinese Reinforcements arrive! but were they too late?
Chinese Infantry by Copplestone Castings
http://www.copplestonecastings.co.uk
More interesting than the long time enmity between Leyland Smith and Fu Man Chu, will be the meeting again of Lady Doris Shaftesbury and Shan Greville. It is believed that Shan Greville is unaware of Lady Doris?presence at Xian and that Leyland Smith did not disclose the fact out of his need for Shan Greville’s expertise.
Leyland Smith?party leave for Xian tomorrow and one things for sure it going to be curtains for someone on the Silk Road.
By Lucan Snoop, roving reporter.