Track 11: Spooky

[jp1885]

Still sulking a little at not getting to visit the real Venice, P nods curtly to the receptionist as Liz does the introductions.

[VictoriaSilverwolf]

After checking on her credentials, which are certainly impressive, Doctor North and her colleagues are introduced to a specialist in hematology, flown in from New England to consult on the case. Doctor Julia Hoffman is a serious, intense woman of middle years, whose only concession to fashion is a large, multicolored glass bauble she wears on a chain around her neck. She wastes little time on small talk, getting right to the point.

"I've never seen anything like this. There are no wounds, not even small ones, such as might be found on, for example, the throat. There is no sign of internal bleeding, no evidence of an autoimmune disorder, or some other way in which the red blood cells might be destroyed by the body itself. The staff here thought of pernicious anemia, of course, but injections of cyanocobalamin have been without effect. It's as if the children's blood were simply vanishing!

"Would you like to see the patients? I must warn you that they are very weak, and that the anemia has made them behave rather strangely."

[jp1885]

“By all means lead on,” P responds, his interest immediately piqued.

As they proceed, he whispers to Otto: “don’t be afraid; nothing can hurt you here. Please keep your senses alert: if you see, hear or smell anything wrong, let me know.”

[Mr. Handy]

"Thank you, Dr. Hoffman," says Liz, who is far more devoted to fashion. She currently wears a maroon minidress, in addition to her usual jewelry. "It isn't what I had suspected then." From Julia's statement, it was obvious that she too had suspected a vampire. "Yes, let's go see the patients. Examining them closely may reveal more information, and if they are communicative, their own observations may be invaluable."

[SunlessNick]

"Strange how?" Zara asks Dr Hoffman.

[VictoriaSilverwolf]

"Strange how?" Zara asks Dr Hoffman.

"I suppose I should be pleased by their state of mind," Doctor Hoffman answers, "but something about it disturbs me. Despite their condition, they all seem, well, happy."

[VictoriaSilverwolf]

2d4

The pediatric intensive care ward is occupied by two little girls and one little boy. One of the girls is a blue-eyed blonde, the other is obviously of Asian ancestry. The boy is dark-skinned and has tightly curled hair. Obviously the disease has no preference for one ethnicity over another. All are confined to bed, due to the monitors that record their vital signs, and the intravenous lines that are currently transfusing whole blood into them. Despite this, they seem in good spirits.

Seeing Doctor Hoffman enter, the boy says "What's up, Doc?" in an artificially high voice and giggles. She glances at the visitors and whispers "If I had a nickel for every time he's said that, I could retire."

"I'd like you to meet some of my friends," she says to the children.

"Look at the funny man," the blonde girl says, pointing at Otto. The movement of her arm seems to be accomplished only with great difficulty, but it does not appear to change her mood. "I'm Susie, that's my best friend Ann Marie, and that silly boy is Petey. Are you the TV people?"

[jp1885]

“TV people? Are you expecting to be filmed?” P asks.

“Otto is a funny-looking chap isn’t he? But he’s as gentle as a lamb really. Tell me: do you remember anything happening to you before coming to the hospital?”

[Mr. Handy]

"Hi, my name is Liz," Liz says to the children. "I'm chuffed to meet you. No, we're not the TV people. I'm a scientist, and I'm here to help Dr. Hoffman. Although people are always saying I ought to be on telly, or on film. Well, maybe I'll get my chance today. Who are the TV people that are coming?"

[SunlessNick]

"My name is Zara. I'm not in TV, but I am an artist. Do any of you draw?"

[VictoriaSilverwolf]

“TV people? Are you expecting to be filmed?” P asks.

"The 'porters are coming," Ann Marie says, with a slight lisp.

“Otto is a funny-looking chap isn’t he? But he’s as gentle as a lamb really. Tell me: do you remember anything happening to you before coming to the hospital?”

"I got real, real sleepy, then I woke up here." Susie yawns widely.

[VictoriaSilverwolf]

"Hi, my name is Liz," Liz says to the children. "I'm chuffed to meet you. No, we're not the TV people. I'm a scientist, and I'm here to help Dr. Hoffman. Although people are always saying I ought to be on telly, or on film. Well, maybe I'll get my chance today. Who are the TV people that are coming?"

"Chuff, chuff, chuff," says Petey, puffing his cheeks out and imitating a train. "Some grownup wanna --." He pauses for a bit. " -- inner-view us, or somethin'."

[VictoriaSilverwolf]

"My name is Zara. I'm not in TV, but I am an artist. Do any of you draw?"

Ann Marie raises her hand slowly. She points to a box of crayons sitting on the bed next to her.

[jp1885]

“What we’re you doing before you felt sleepy?” P asks Susie.

[Mr. Handy]

"Well, that should be fun," says Liz. "Which schools do you go to? Did you know each other before, or did you meet here?"

[SunlessNick]

"Can I see some if your drawings?" Zara asks. "You can see some of mine too if you want." (If Ann Marie says yes, Zara will show her some of her non-occult pictures of people - she's also interested in whether it looks like there are any pictures Ann Marie is reluctant to show her).

[VictoriaSilverwolf]

“What we’re you doing before you felt sleepy?” P asks Susie.

"Playin' with Ann Marie and Petey and some other kids. Hopscotch, and drawin' on the sidewalk. You know."

[VictoriaSilverwolf]

"Well, that should be fun," says Liz. "Which schools do you go to? Did you know each other before, or did you meet here?"

"We all go to Broadway El'men'try. Second grade. Miss Alvarez's class. She's real nice."

[VictoriaSilverwolf]

"Can I see some if your drawings?" Zara asks. "You can see some of mine too if you want." (If Ann Marie says yes, Zara will show her some of her non-occult pictures of people - she's also interested in whether it looks like there are any pictures Ann Marie is reluctant to show her).

Shyly, Ann Marie takes some sheets of paper from the desk by her hospital bed. They depict the usual things you'd expect from young children; animals, houses, a smiling sun, and so on. Although definitely childish, they show signs of early artistic talent, in the use of balance and color. There are also purely abstract designs, of geometric shapes.

[VictoriaSilverwolf]

While this goes on, there are some sign of commotion just outside the intensive care ward.

"Oh, dear." Doctor Hoffman winces. "That reporter is here. He's a nuisance, but his father is on the board of the hospital, so they have to let him in."

A husky man in T-shirt and jeans wheels in a large television camera, followed by a young man in leisure suit and tie, carrying a microphone. At a hand signal from the cameraman, he speaks into the camera.

"Good morning. This is John Shade, your host. Welcome to another segment of "Local Mysteries," where we explore the strange and the unexplained. With me today is our old friend, Doctor Julia Hoffman, along with some of her colleagues. Why don't you folks introduce yourselves, and tell us what you found out about the Venice Vampire."