Sir Dallyho's Arc

Chapter 3 of 7

Sir Dallyho stood at the edge of town, looking toward the distant cliffs. The museum sat in one direction, but his proof needed more context. He thought about the academic council and their closed minds. They wanted evidence that fit their view of Hunky Dory's past. But what if he showed them something they couldn't ignore? He needed to reach the people first, build interest before the presentation. The thrift store sat just down the street, its windows full of curiosities. An idea formed in his mind. He could create a display that would make people stop and wonder. Something that connected his discovery to the town's strange history. Sir Dallyho hurried toward the shop, his boots kicking up dust with each step. Inside the thrift store, he found exactly what he needed. A taxidermy jackalope sat on a shelf, its rabbit body frozen mid-hop with antelope horns rising from its head. The creature was mounted on a circular wood stand, perfect for display. He grabbed a blank plaque from the wall of frames and trinkets. Back at his hideout, he wrote out the key points of his theory in simple terms. The symbols he'd found. The timeline they suggested. The connection to Hunky Dory's founding myths. He attached the plaque to the stand beneath the jackalope. The strange creature would catch eyes, and the text would plant questions in people's minds. When he presented his findings at the museum, they would already be curious. The council could dismiss him, but they couldn't dismiss a whole town asking for answers. Sir Dallyho held up the display and smiled. This was how he'd win. The next morning, he carried the jackalope display through town. He spotted the wooden stage near the museum, its red curtain bright against the desert. Cacti and desert flowers surrounded it. This was where the town held public discussions and community reviews. He climbed the steps and placed the display at center stage. The plaque caught the sunlight. People would gather here to read it, to ask questions, to debate his theory before the council even met. Sir Dallyho stepped back and watched as the first few townspeople stopped to look. They leaned in, reading the plaque, pointing at the symbols he'd described. One woman called to her neighbor. More people approached. The stage had given him exactly what he needed—a place where the town could see his work and decide for themselves. The council couldn't ignore a crowd demanding answers. By afternoon, word had spread through Hunky Dory. Sir Dallyho walked to the hot springs at the town's edge, where ancient dinosaur fossils jutted from the ground. The warm, mineral-rich waters steamed in the desert air. This was where neighbors gathered to talk and share ideas. He found a dozen people already there, standing in the shallow pools and sitting on the rocks. They called him over immediately. Questions came fast. Where had he found the symbols? What did they mean? How did this change the town's history? Sir Dallyho answered each one carefully, pulling out his journal to show sketches and photographs. The hot springs gave him something better than approval—it gave him honest debate. People challenged his timeline. They asked for more proof. They wanted to see the actual stones. This was perfect. When he faced the council, he would know every weak point in his argument. He would be ready for every question. The town was helping him build an unbreakable case.