I’m not sure, Doctor, Mary Beth admitted, greatly hating to admit her uncertainty. I…, I have never seen anything like this before. This appears to be some sort of a dream that he is being forced to undergo, yet the burns and wounds popping up on his body are quite real. You can see them with your own eyes, can you not? She looked first at the doctor, then at Ludwig. Well mistress,he sincere love of God, his mercy and grace; but sadly for others, it takes harsher circumstances. I’Well mistress, Heidi began, with some hesitation, for some people, it is the sincere love of God which draws them, his grace and mercy; but for others, it takes harsher circumstances. I honestly do not know which will be the case for master Victor. He…, He’s such a self-sufficient man of science, and men of science often do not believe in God. It takes quite a bit to move them. We can only hope that he will come back to us, more impressionable, and willing to believe.
In the dream, Victor had finally been made to drink the blood, very much against his will. Oh…, Oh God! The words were a mixture of a desperate plea, coupled with notes of anger. The one called Vlad Chuckled in his most malevolent Manor, kitten, you don’t even believe in God; you don’t even believe in…, Me. I can see you, touch you, of course I believe in you, you’re a man. But what kind of man am I, he retorted, ?I would tell you, but then again, you wouldn’t believe me. He chuckled again, noticing that it made Victor extremely nervous. ?so I will just have to, prove it to you.
Vlad once more ran his fangs across Victor’s throat, and up and down, watching his fear, and smiling. He then pierced a part of his throat, but not too much. Just enough to cause some pain. Do you know how easy it would be for me to kill you, kitten? ?With that, Victor would feel Vlads lips, almost tenderly sucking up the small droplets of blood. ?Victor yelled, and tried to slap at Vlad, which earned him yet another malevolent chuckle. It also earned him an unexpected shot from scientist. The shot did not come from a gun as such, it shot out pins, which went into Victor, causing quite a few volts of electricity to flow through him. ?He convulsed, lightning maker! Please no more lightning.
I would kill you right here and now, with only a nod from my friends, but they wish to keep you alive, so very well. Scientist nodded, at least for now, she stated. ?But now kitten, do you know what I am? He looked expectantly at Victor when he said this, and Victor replied, yes, you’re a vampire! He said the words without hesitation. Vlad threw his arms in the air and laughed?triumphantly, what do you know, the?great victor Frankenstein, man of science, believes, in, vampires! What else, will the great victor come to believe in?
Scientist smiled,??aiming the taser at Victor, who cringed. I could kill him myself with this thing here, but then I couldn’t study him the way I want to study him. No, not that, Victor stated, then his tone became conversational. What is that called? Oh, this thing here? Scientist use her sweetest tone, this is called a…, None, of, York, business. She pronounce each word slowly, just
God loves you.
On Friday, February 4, 2022, 12:14 AM, Ishamael Moridin <ishamael13@...> wrote:
Ludwig found?relieved at somebody giving him
instructions, even if they were the kind he was already considering himself. It
didn't matter that he asked for them, it mattered more that he was confirmed in
his opinion by his superior. The footman curtly nodded and proceeded to summon
back Van Hoff.
?
In his haste he failed to explain what was
happening, and the poor doctor, giving up on his footman, inquired the about the
situation from the one he could trust, namely?Mary Beth.
?
"What is the meaning of all of this,?what is
the most urgent thing I should be doing," the doctor quickly corrected himself,
realizing how some bits of information were more important than
others.
?
***
"And what is the best process to bring the lost
soul back home? What must register within such a creature now that has not
before. What sips in, and how can it be done?" Elizabeth wondered.
?
She may not have believed in Victor's recovery, but
perhaps she could learn something useful from Heidi?yet, if for an entirely
different purpose. The main thing was that a lack of interest on her part could
be seen as suspicious, while honest curiosity would be entirely expected
instead.??
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Friday, January 21, 2022 7:33
PM
Subject: Re: [A-Twist-Of-Fate] Sweet
Dreams
Marybeth looked a mixture of horrified and sympathetic. It…,
Appears, she began with hesitation, to be some sort of an acting out of,
perhaps a dream? But if it is a dream, why are these burns coming up on him
for real? Yes Ludwig, I think you better get Dr. VanHoff?in here.
?these burns may well be the result of the fever, but I’ve never seen
anything like this before.
Of course, Victor had no idea that anyone else was watching what was
happening to him. ?it appeared to be two or three days later, this
particular scene was in the lab, in the afternoon, and one word filled
Victor’s mind, he thought he heard himself saying it. Hungry!! ?But his
own voice did not sound normal, even to him; he thought that it sounded
strangely between a fierce growl, and a piteous, animalistic wine, like a
starving cat or dog, begging for a crumb.
Feeding time, the older woman stated, looking at scientist. Yep, the man
called Felix iterated, time for lunch. ?He mockingly smacked his lips, as
scientist picked up what appeared to be a very long skewer. Let me do
it?Dear,?flycatcher requested, and she nodded. Then, turning to look
at Victor, who was still lying on the table, scientist said, my husband wants
to feed you. ?flycatcher men reached into his pocket, and, pulling
something out, kept it carefully hidden from Victor, turning so that Victor
couldn’t see him, as he placed it on the long skewer. He held it out to him,
lunchtime, he stated, then smacked his lips at the creature on the table. Come
on, eat up now. Victor looked at what was on the end of the skewer, and almost
lost the contents of his stomach, Because what was on the end of the skewer,
was a very large, dead, grasshopper.
The entire room irrupt it in laughter and applause, as the creature that
was apparently now Victor, tried his best to keep from sicking up.
Get a bucket or pan, Scientist commanded, if he pukes all over the floor,
you, are?cleaning up the lab. Me??The man called Felix
exclaimed,?as another young man stood and volunteered, I’ll get it, you
stay there with the rest of your family and watch him. Thank you, Ingvar,
scientist said, as the one called Ingvar, ran to find a large bucket, as well
as a pan, and quickly brought it back. ?he held the pan?in front of
Victor’s face, and the specimen on the table made appropriate use of it. The
man known as Ingvar hurried to dispose of the contents, as flycatcher, stepped
forward, still holding the grasshopper on the skewer, and held it to Victor’s
lips. As Victor made a sort of mewling sound, flycatcher took the end of the
skewer, with the grasshopper on it, down a few inches, and prized Victor’s
lips open. Come on now you need to eat, he stated with mock?concern and
tenderness, as he punched a small button on the skewer, which would release
the grasshopper into victors mouth, then began rubbing his throat, to make him
swallow.
You might as well eat it, the man called Felix stated, as scientist
added, yes eat it and we will give you something to drink. As?she said
this, she glanced out of the corner of one eye,?at yet another person in
the lab that had been sitting in the background, but watching the entire
spectacle. This man smiled with undisguised malevolence, and gave?A deep,
evil chuckle, as he stated slowly, with pleasure. He slowly stood to his feet,
seeming to savor every moment of misery he could?cause for the man on the
table. His?steps were slow, meaningful strides;?In his hand, he held
a cup.
Victor finally was made to swallow the grasshopper, very much against his
will, as he muled,?oh…, God! His face was a contorted mixture of pain and
sickness, as it went from pale, to a ghastly green color.
Yes…, The man answered in a foreign accent, as he continued his slow,
meaningful stride toward the table. You may call me your God, and it is time
for the wine of wrath.
Scientist smiled, looked at Victor, and cheerfully inquired, do you know
who he is? He is, Vlad Teeps!
The name mint nothing to Victor, but his face was anything but blank, as
the thick, deep crimson content of the cup came into his view, ever closer.
?The one known as, Vlad,?placed a strong left arm under Victor‘s
neck, forcing him to sit up, as he took the cup with his right hand, and held
it to Victor‘s mouth. Victor knew that all his prayers concerning the contents
of the cup, that it would not be as it appeared to be, had fallen on deaf
ears. But that’s…, That’s, his voice was that sickening mewling growling cross
between animal and man, that is…, blood! He pronounce the last word with a
grotesque sort of wonder, so overcome was he by what he had recently eaten,
and what it looked as if he were about to drink.
Very good, the one known as Vlad, purred at him. ?you will learn
your place, beast-man, for as you have given life, so must you now receive
it.
In the dream, victors suddenly felt such strong repulsion for the being
standing in front of him, for the cup in his hand, and mainly, for the liquid
in the cup, that he thought to give a strong argument. But all that would come
out was a yowling, no! And even that, sounded more like the yowl of a cat,
then the intelligent protest of a man.
I, won’t,?I, wo,wowowwououount!!! ?I, wowwownt! The last word
drawled into a hybrid?of of human speech and cat like yowling.
Vlad reached up and stroked the back of victors now quite furry head,
?oh yes you will, kitty man, kitty, he purred, kitten, he added insult to
injury, seeing that Victor did not like being called kitty at all.
The newly formed quills, on victors body raised up automatically, as he
gave the low warning growl of a cat, showing, for the first time, is extremely
sharp teeth. ComeThe newly formed quills, on victors body raised up
automatically, as he gave the low warning growl of a cat, showing, for the
first time, is extremely sharp teeth.
I wouldn’t do that, the one known as Felix, cautioned behind clenched
teeth, as scientist, laid a finger over her own lips. Quiet Felix, she
murmured, let’s see what happens; he doesn’t know everything there is to know
about Vlad, yet.
The one known as Vlad smiled, the young man speaks wisdom to you, kitty;
you should heed his warning. ?now you have grown some very sharp teeth,
and they are even somewhat elongated, who knows, perhaps in about…, Too, maybe
3 million years, your descendants will have choppers that look more like…,
This. With that, Vlad?opened his mouth,?revealing extremely, sharp,
fangs!
After allowing Victor to behold his fangs for a few seconds, Vlad spoke,
now the way I see it, kitten, you have two choices. You can either drink this
blood that I have brought for you here, which will probably give you strength;
or, he grazed one of his fangs gently across the throat of?Victor as he
concluded, you can drink your own.
I indeed also hope and pray for salvation for him, as I share in your
optimistic hope for him, mistress, Heidi stated sincerely, as she smiled and
nodded to Elizabeth. Who knows what he may be undergoing even now. And yet,
I’ve heard that oft’?times the worst circumstances, tend?to bring a
wayward soul to the foot of salvation‘s cross.???
God loves you.
On
Thursday, January 20, 2022, 11:50 PM, Ishamael Moridin
<ishamael13@...> wrote:
Far above the commotion, and yet so near that he could almost be
touched, a tall man with red hair was watching all the players in the dream
scape.
?
His father might have done something subtle, if the game allowed it.
His uncle might have done something more persuasive, whether or not the
dream gate was fully open and ready.
?
But he was neither of them, and he only chuckled at the spectacle,
enjoying the final touch. His final touch, if he could say so himself, and
he could, because of who he was.
?
"See, told you Franny, you are great when you put your mind to it. Oh
sorry, Keres.
?
A super bril old name by the way. I know you know, or you think you
know, ?but you still don't really get it, anymore than Ren does...you
really only get mom's?but not dad's or your own.?
?
Maybe if you dreamt more as you were told...still pretty good though, I
think that should distract Count?Nobody for a wittle while, which is
kind of all I need, told you you were awesome with dreams, and for that
matter Ren too, and look at Ig," the young man happily complimented his
sister who might or might not be able to hear him when distracted.
?
Though truth be told, the compliment was at his own expanse too. All
the harassment, all the nudges, they finally, finally materialized. And
right here, right now, at?a place that?belonged to this man. A man
who could have been, but never would be, his
grandfather.?How?ironic, how bril.
?
The young man wondered for a second if he should help his sister
reclaim the lab, considering who else was watching. But she had matters at
hand here.
?
"Well, maybe you don't know what you think you know either, dear
Count.?You thought you were safe from the prophecy???You
thought tricking your pawn into killing somebody important would be
forgotten? Because millennia passed, and the Carrier has been gone from the
world? You never thought then, that the old gods are never gone, that they
might return????Tiktok little count, tiktok," the young man
spoke to nobody in particular, smiling at his own inner
reference.?
?
?
He was happy and his associates should be equally pleased, he knew, the
smirk still playing on his face as he began vanishing from this layer
of?a well crafted slice of almost real reality.
?
He?may have preferred playing it like his uncle, but the last
touch was of course to honor his father, the man who had been known a long
time?ago as, and had knowingly embraced once more, the identity of
Captain Dance.
?
****
Ludwig stared at the patient's body, at Mary Beth, and with an
understandable tremor in his limbs, hesitantly inquired, "Mam, what is the
meaning of this? Should I call the doctor? What should I do?"
?
***
?
"Salvation, yes, after all, every soul needs it, and some can even get
it. Will Victor be the lucky one? I hope so, I hope so, dearest Heidi,"
Elizabeth emphatically explained, not certain if she engaged in a bout of
wishful thinking, or for the first time, had a bout of
premonition.?
?
?
?
???????
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Saturday, January 8, 2022 1:40
PM
Subject: Re: [A-Twist-Of-Fate] Sweet
Dreams
In his dream, Victor tried his best to fight the ghost of
Frank, to get Elizabeth away from him, but Elizabeth chose to fight with
Frank, against Victor. The two ghosts continued to laugh, as he was once
more held over the flames, and then fell, as if the ghost wanted him to
relive the scene of being dropped into the fire again and again. ?As
he fell,?the scenes of the dream changed to show what could be other
possibilities in Victor‘s life. He was aware of a hard thud,?And
that?he was on a?table. ?he blinked, then looked
around.?My science lab, he breathed,?his voice filled with
relief and wonder.
The figure which stood over him smiling, looked
much more solid than the ghosts of Frank and Elizabeth had looked. No,
stupid, this is not your, science lab, this is my lab.
But, who are you?
The woman smiled, you may call me…, Scientist, for you see that
is what I am. How did I get here, Victor wanted to know. We brought you
here, she answered, science, brought you here. And before we go any
further with this, I want to thank you for being such a great part of my
experiment.
What? Have I now become the science, Victor demanded. There was
a laugh coming from a young male voice which was somewhat behind the
woman, as yet another strange looking man caught a fly and proceeded to
eat it.
While?this was happening in the dream, real burns
began?to pop up on Victor’s body in the real world, so that MaryBeth,
Ludwig, and the doctor, would be able to see them. Marybeth
gasped,?what is the meaning of this? ?The others would be able
to answer her as to what they thought it was, as the dream unfolded for
Victor.
I don’t think he likes you Ren,?the young male replied,
the flycatcher chuckled.
Then the woman called, scientist, stepped back, as if to study
him clinically, and made a motion with her hands. An older woman, the
young male, the flycatcher, and another man stepped up, all of them
examining Victor. And then, to add to the nightmare, there he was, the
ghost of Frank.
Wonderful indeed, my daughter, the ghost stated, he’s changing
already. But what will we do with him, the older woman asked. I don’t know
yet, scientist said, I’m just having a lot of fun making him. Hey we could
always put him in the circus, the young male stated. ?scientist
frowned at the young male.
Shut up, Felix, she snapped. Circuses are made for peoples
enjoyment, not to scare people, like he’s going to do.
Hey I have an idea, the one called Felix continued, instead of
making him scary why don’t you make him look funny? You know so people
will laugh at him, like a clown or something. Because, scientist said,
most people love a clown, especially kids. I don’t want kids, or anyone
drawn to him; I want them repelled by him, just like they were with dad.
?Should I show him how he looks now, the one called Felix inquired,
and scientist nodded, sure go ahead. ??Felix Then
took up the mirror, allowing Victor to look in it. And in his dream,
Victor became very frightened indeed. No!! He screamed, get it away from
me! Get it away; please, take, that, thing, away! ? everyone in the
room laughed.
None of this was actually happening of course, but Victor was
being allowed to see what could very well be the future for him, although
he would not yet realize this.
Thank you, mistress, Heidi told Elizabeth. You see this way,
Victor will have a chance to explain what he has seen, and perhaps the
priest could counsel with him, and guide him into salvation. I would hope
so anyway.
God?loves you.
On
Saturday, January 8, 2022, 1:20 AM, Ishamael Moridin
<ishamael13@...> wrote:
"I s'ppose our patient also believes in something...What do you
reckon he is seeing, to make him move so, or is that just the fever
speaking? My Lady, do you believe people can get visions from beyond?
Our patient he might be a different kind than many, aye?" Ludwig
wondered, trying to turn his discomfort into words the best way he knew
how.
?
****
?
"Now that Heidi is a very good idea," Elizabeth admitted. Not sure
if the priest would be helpful to Victor, or would at least humiliate
him with his presence upon awakening, but it felt good.
?
And who knew, if Victor would be inspired by holy guidance, as only
a man coming back from the brink of death could, it?might be his
last chance to experience salvation, as far as she was
concerned.?
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Saturday, December 18, 2021
9:36 AM
Subject: Re: [A-Twist-Of-Fate]
Sweet Dreams
Oh yes, I do believe in the Almighty, Marybeth
confessed eagerly, her nod?equally eager, although I must admit I
don’t attend Sunday services perhaps as often as I should, mainly due
to work and the like.?But I think you are quite
perceptive,she continued, science often tries to explain various
phenomenon and workings of nature,?but how can
anyone truly know how these things
happen???It would appear there is
little or no explanation except…, Except for the fact that there is,
as you say, something else out there, someone, else, out there.
Victor had been having what some would call a fever dream. In the
first part of it, he had seen the gates, streets, and various aspects
of heaven, at least as much as he could imagine it, as much as his
imagination would allow. But now, his forehead suddenly broke into a
sweat, and he began to softly moan. No…, No, please, do not burn me.
I, I do Not, want to, want to go there! There was a look of terror on
his face at what he was seeing. He would later describe this as,
someone holding him directly above the very pit of hell, so close that
the flames licked at him, hungrily eager to devour him, like so many
living monsters. And the one holding him over the pit was none other
than…, His very own creation.
Later in the dream, as he was dropped into the pit,?he would
feel as if he were eternally falling, falling with nothing under him
to catch him, no one around him to catch him, or even to Care. In his
sleep, he cried out, Elizabeth! But of course, Elizabeth was not there
to help. And the one which seemed to be the overseer of this dreadful,
fiery place was of course, none other than…, His own creation, it was
Frank. ?he was moaning that he was sorry, but in the dream, he
was screaming with all the voice he had, which because of the initial
sickness, was temporarily taken from him. ?The ghost of Frank
mocked him, moaning just as he did, laughing at him, as it stood arm
in arm with another ghost, the ghost of his own wife. ?The two
ghosts laughed at him, as the ghost of Frank actually transformed into
something quite beautiful, something which greatly resembled one of
the angels that Victor had seen in the heaven part of the dream.
This…, Is how some people see me, the ghost of Frank said,
turning from side to side, floating near him, to make certain Victor
got a good view. But this…, Is how you, have always seen me. The ghost
transformed again into the figure very much believed to be the
appearance of…, No! Victor screamed in the dream, only barely managing
a moan, as he be held the familiar appearance of the devil.
The ghost gave an ominous chuckle, you called me the devil, but
it was you, who created me, you are my father, what does that make
you? He moaned again, screaming in the dream. ?then he murmured
four words which he thought he would never say in his waking hours. Oh
God, save me!
Heidi nodded, it is a scarce hope, mistress, but when he awakens
as I believe he will, we should probably have a priest on hand or
nearby, to either assist him in this change, if there is indeed a
change, or else, to pray for him that’s such a sickness does not
befall him again in future. It is up to you though of course.
??? God loves you.
On
Friday, December 17, 2021, 8:35 PM, Ishamael Moridin
<ishamael13@...> wrote:
"Yes Mam, and there are things we do not...know about. After
all, surely despite your understanding of medical matters, you do
believe in the Almighty?
?
Well, the other day, I took Bethany out, to listen to this
young new preacher," Ludwig admitted with some embarassement,
realizing he was saying too much perhaps, out of discomfort.
?
"This young priest was so passionate the the pulpit, he was
talking about how none of us truly understand what the Holy word
means. How when the Grace seizes you and flows through you, it is
not only inspiring, not at all flattering, but could be frightening.
As frightening as any Angel.
?
And I started thinking, maybe, well just maybe, some of the
things we know about, don't quite act as we know they should,
because there is something else out there, I beg my lady's pardon.
?
I just feel like I haven't chosen to misplace the patient...I
swear he somehow slipped out of my hands and...there is more to
that, and Mr Doctor might not understand what it is that has been
happening, or how to stop it, if the patient is...I am not sure what
I am saying m'Lady, you might have better words for all of this,"
the footman?hopefully offered.
?
****
"Changes, Heidi there. Sometimes they just happen, even if we
did not choose. Circumstances can alter a person's path, the gentle
or not so gentle hand of Fate. I fear that?our Victor has
experienced something untoward in his life.
?
Maybe he would have chosen to become the man he has, but
perhaps not. Perhaps he just did not know how to handle the cards
dealt him..." Elizabeth suggested, noting that she was fairly
uncomfortable at describing Victor as hers
alone.???
?
She surely had the right to do that but wished to avoid
thinking of him in such terms, even for the sake of an easily
understood communication between them. She supposed, when it came to
that, no such communication could be remotely easy for the things
being described, were too extraordinary for ordinary polite words.
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Saturday, November 27,
2021 11:24 AM
Subject: Re:
[A-Twist-Of-Fate] Sweet Dreams
Mary Beth looked uncertain, I must admit, Ludwig,
that I have passing we wondered such things. Yet, our place is not
to ask such questions, but as I understand it, to do everything
and all we can to heal the patient, to bring him out of whatever
is holding him captive. ?Head she just said that? She reason
to herself that it could be some sort of physical maladies holding
him captive, but usually, when people thought of someone being
held captive, it was either by other human beings, or something
perhaps much more sinister than even physical diseases?could
be.
Oh, mistress, do you truly think that he could be changed?
Maybe this, sickness, whatever one might call it,?has been
brought about for just such a thing as this, she suggested. And
yes, I will do what I can to make him talk, to make him tell us
what he has felt and saw, what has happened. That is, if he seems
indeed to be changed. God loves you.
On
Tuesday, November 23, 2021, 9:43 PM, Ishamael Moridin
<ishamael13@...> wrote:
"Pardon mam, but can the patient be...haunted? Me knows it
sounds strange, yet I doth not like what's, I don't now, as if
he can watch us while being asleep. Something odd about our
patient, do you fancy?"
?
Ludwig did not know what even prompted him to ask this
superior woman who knew so much and intimidated him and made him
wonder if she wanted a conversation at all. And realize that
perhaps he needed one all the same. A pity he did not even know
how to ask the right question.
?
Even Bethany might be confused at what it was he wanted to
know, so he would not blame Mary Beth if she did too.
?
***
?
"Oh, well then my dear. It shall be easy to ascertain that
Victor does indeed seek God. For the change in him would then be
significant. I would urge you then to make him talk. Explain
what brought about the change.
?
If there were,,,say, just as an entirely random example,
some hands squeezing his neck, anybody whispering words into his
ears. If he remembers being shrouded by darkness, of feeling
remorse over not doing more with his life.
?
After all, God has many mysterious agents working for him,
you know. I suppose if the change in Victor is real and
he?was graced with God's presence, perhaps he can tell us
about it.
?
And then we would all be one happy household once more,
because we would know the change in him is permanent, you see,"
Elizabeth offered though she had to wonder if even the
mysterious hands choking the life out of Victor or the?face
of God itself could challenge him into changing his life style
and views.?She was not going to hope too much for it
herself, but if Heidi needed the hope, well then, it was not
Elizabeth's duty to dissuade her.???
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Monday, November 8,
2021 11:51 AM
Subject: Re:
[A-Twist-Of-Fate] Sweet Dreams
Mary Beth gave Ludwig a slight look of
exasperation. She had almost started to caution him in an
annoyed tone to be careful, but then he apologized for
bruising the patient even more. Just let’s just get him
settled, Mary Beth told him, doing her best to keep patients
in her tone. ?And of course, she continued, I will need
you to transport him back to bed, at least such is most
likely, unless of course, he happens to come out of this
seemingly in trapping ailment.
It was now Heidi‘s turn to look thoughtfully at her
mistress before stating, if he does come out different, it
likely can’t help but be for the good, his?good, as well
as ours.
Her eyes widened, and her mouth dropped open?with
surprise when Elizabeth actually asked her about caring for
Victor. I…, I shall do my best for you, mistress, as I am
always happy to help in anything you need. ?but if it
turns out that he does indeed have more of a heart and
thoughts toward God, and actually helping his fellow man, what
then? What would you have me do? God loves you.
On
Saturday, November 6, 2021, 1:19 AM, Ishamael Moridin
<ishamael13@...> wrote:
"Yes...Maa'm," Ludwig spoke obediently his prolonged
sound a sign of his deep concentration. He felt odd in a
manner of speaking, as of something strange and outside
pulled at him. Pulled him to move?in the physical
direction his own instinct would have avoided.
?
As if in mockery of his sincere words, he had managed
to bruise the patient a few more times before he settled the
body down completely. "Begging your pardon Mam," Ludwig
apologized hastily.?Normally he would have addressed
the patient, but then the patient was not available to
apologize to,?so Ludwig chose this smallish woman to
address instead, to rectify his mistake.
?
Perhaps if she has been a friend, he would have
admitted the strangeness to her and hoped for some council
that only women seemed to have. But then, even somebody like
his Bethany might not have understood or believed him, so
perhaps Mary Beth would merely consider him a slacker, he
could not take the chance of her bad mouthing him to the
doctor, so he determined to keep doing his best no matter
what pull he has experienced towards wrong motions with the
patient, or otherwise.
?
Elizabeth?cautiously regarded Heidi and finding no
subtle undertones of?disagreement or rebuke, finally
nodded her agreement. "Your words are most enlightening my
pet," she complimented the maid.
?
"But do you think that means Victor would come out even
more different than?previously, after he is healed,
which is of course to be presumed by those who cherish his
well being.
?
If he is any different, I fear I?may not know at
first how to attend to him best. Perhaps I shall have to
enlist you and your wisdom in helping me.
?
I rely on Abigail in many affairs, but those mysteries
of the heart I worry she would not pierce any?better or
faster than myself. You might be our best hope, darling
Heidi.
?
I know this may put too much?pressure on your
slender shoulders and am sorry in advance. Would you object
greatly to taking personal care of Victor when he is back
and is recovering? I hope not for you seem to have such
insights," Elizabeth complimented, sincerely surprised that
she found such a good conversationalist in the girl she had
previously dismissed as dull. ???
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Friday, October
1, 2021 7:39 AM
Subject: Re:
[A-Twist-Of-Fate] Sweet Dreams
Thank you Ludwig, Mary Beth replied, her
own tone somewhat distracted, until he missed the second
wall. Be careful with him, we may not know what is wrong
with him yet, but he is still a patient which has come
into our care. How could she expect him to have the same
care for the man that she and the doctor had. ?She
only wondered this, and contemplated it, as she watched
the forward progress of Ludwig, carrying the patient.
Heidi regarded Elizabeth with a thoughtful
expression. It is not that you are without influence in
his life, mistress, for I believe you are not without
such, but I think often times, men will listen to someone
else telling them something, before they listen to those
closest to them; perhaps you could confirm what the other
person was saying, the priest or whomever you choose to
speak with, but sometimes, two or three People saying the
same thing, confirming one another in their assessments, I
think often times this can?help one to get ones point
across.
She studied Elizabeth’s expression, hoping
that?what she said offered some genuine comfort and
hope to her mistress. Then again, she continued, who can
say what if this present set of circumstances might not do
it for you. People many times have near brushes with
death, and come out of it much different, thinking more of
God, and their own mortality. God loves
you.
On
Friday, October 1, 2021, 12:29 AM, Ishamael Moridin
<ishamael13@...> wrote:
"Yes Mam,"Ludwig obediently took on the little man
and carried him, not truly paying attention to the new
of his fever.?But his thoughts, of missing time
with Bethany because of this unexpected change in the
doctor's routine, made him upset, and distracted.
?
Though he failed to avoid the sharp edge of the
wall he was crossing with the patient, he did notice his
error on time. He didn't think the patient noticed any
damage, and?could only hope Mary Beth didn't
either. Trying to think of distracting her attention
from the patient with something witty to converse about,
Ludwig could only think of something little to ask the
doctor's assistant.?
?
"So, have you found anything good at the grocery
market," Ludwig gruffly wondered, the effort of
thinking?of a topic evident in his voice. And then
he realized with a start that his own question
distracted him instead, prompting him to unintentionally
miss another wall.
?
A good thing it was a small man he was carrying, a
larger load?could have slept away from him by now,
Ludwig well knew. He shuddered at the very thought of
being fired by Van Hoff and loosing all access to the
lovely Bethany. Now there was a girl he could easily
talk to, about anything.???
?
***
"But Heidi,?Victor was encouraged to think of
God. I encouraged him myself, and so did his father.
Victor did not really object. I don't know that he
thinks there is no God.
?
I don't know that he is not interested in God at
all either. I just feel that all thoughts about God
would still direct Victor to think about his own
greatness.
?
The disturbing thing for me is that Victor's mind
is great. But perhaps, not the rest of him. His moral
core does not have the same remarkable capacity. His
emotional strength, it is...not the strength of a real
man. Of a scientist, but not a man.
?
I don't mean that he is not a man," Elizabeth
explained, though in her heart perhaps she did mean
that. "Only that some people are different from others
and don't have the same strength. And Victor is smart,
but not overall strong the way his peers would have
been."
?
"It's not that I hold it against him," she
speculated, and then decided that maybe she did hold it
against him. "Only his greatness means all the more to
him, when he is feeling weaker. So he insists on his
greatness, he cultivates it through his scientific
accomplishments, and does not accept his
limitations.
?
Oh Heidi, I fear for him. For his body and the
physical toll it has taken. For his mind, that may not
be able to handle much more. And for his very soul that
is so uninterested in God but?which without the
idea of God at least, seems to fall prey to folly. I
just don't know how to convince Victor that he needs
something else. Something that is greater than him and
is no part of him. Do you think he would listen to
somebody else better than he does to me?" Elizabeth idly
wondered.??
----- Original Message
-----
Sent: Friday,
September 17, 2021 8:15 AM
Subject: Re:
[A-Twist-Of-Fate] Sweet Dreams
Mary Beth nodded to the doctor. All
right Ludwig, she stated with a sigh why don’t we sit
?him up in a reclining position, so that even if,
when…, He awakens, he will be still comfortable. We
don’t want to make him uncomfortable, just get him in
a position more conducive to awakening. She checked
his fever, it’s gone up, she told Ludwig, and the
doctor also, if he were listening.
Victor was quite frail, so should prove
relatively easy for Ludwig to carry. And now,
especially without his daily enhancement potions, the
age in his face showed.
Perhaps he rarely, if ever, thanks of God at all,
Heidi suggested. Maybe he has never thought about
whether or not he is greater than God, because he’s
never really thought of God in the first
place. God loves you.
On
Thursday, September 16, 2021, 1:15 AM, Ishamael
Moridin <ishamael13@...> wrote:
"I do wonder if the essential salts used in one
experiment by Reuss would amount to something, or
but a fanciful way to add?a semblance of
originality he has uncovered elsewhere.
?
No matter. I will omit them for
now,?unless the patient fails to respond to the
treatment. Ludwig will help you by carrying the
body, but perhaps you shall instruct him on how to
arrange it perfectly, so the patient reaches a
somewhat satisfactory position. Whether he is aware
for now or not, matter not for his level of comfort.
Ideally he would wake, and then we would be
prepared...Yes, let us proceed, Ludwig," Van Hoff
nodded, though he named the one doing the manual
labor, he rather included both in his order. If
anything Mary Beth was going to play the more
crucial role on the matter. If he could have three
of her, his job would have been so much easier, as
well he knew.
?
?
Elizabeth could not take umbrage with herself.
Despite the difficulties of conveying her outrage to
somebody who in all likelihood even resisting
understanding the truth of the matter, she has done
fairly well in explaining the issue. If it did not
fully work, the fault could not be?completely
ascribed to her.
?
"I don't know, Heidi. You might be right. Some
of them invoke the name of God in their
introduction, which is sometimes the one piece of
their writing I end up caring about. Could they be
facetious in their show of respect? Perhaps if they
believe their publication would be met less
favorably. But I don't know why in our rational age,
they would need to profess their loyalty to God if
they don't feel it.
?
However, assuming that most of them are devoid
of the religious sentiment, the problem remains. Not
only with the men of science departing from any idea
of godhood. What bothers me is when some seek to
replace it with the idea of their own, equal, or
possibly superior greatness.
?
At least that is how Victor seems to think a
lot of the time. Perhaps such attitude is necessary
for him to succeed in such a frightening enterprise
as his. Perhaps his attitude was encouraged by his
educators and is shared with them. I cannot say. All
I know is, even if it has some benefits, the
drawbacks of such thinking are too intimidating for
the rest of us, who do not particularly delight in
creating science.
?
I can see the necessity for utilizing its
wisdom, but perhaps, when one ventures too far into
the gaping maw of the unknown, one should withdraw
and recover. All Victor wants to do, is to forge
even further. And for all such things as pride and
ambition serving the greater good, I must wonder
where such emotions in their purest form would lead
him. And if perhaps that in itself does not account
for his mysterious ailment," Elizabeth
considered.
?
She had believed herself to be done with the
subject but with frustration realized she has been
wrong. There were still matters unresolved, matters
she has not touched upon, and voicing them?out
loud?did seem to make them
better.??
?
----- Original
Message -----
Sent:
Wednesday, September 15, 2021 1:51 AM
Subject: Re:
[A-Twist-Of-Fate] Sweet Dreams
Yes
Doctor, I shall go and heat the water right away,
Mary Beth replied, waiting?only a moment to
see if he needed anything else, before hurrying
away to heat the water in the tub. ?Of
course, she had to fill the tub first, but it
wasn’t all that long before that was done, and the
water was heated, not too terribly hot, but warm
enough to hopefully start to increase the
circulation, and bring the feeling back into this
comatose man. She then returned, the tub is ready
Doctor.
Heidi‘s
eyebrows shot up in surprise when Elizabeth
addressed her as, my pet, she said nothing,
supposing there were far worse things to be called
by one’s mistress or master. I…, She hesitated, I
doubt if he even thinks of such things. I think,
probably most men of science think of religious
matters rarely at best, if even at all. Perhaps he
does think of himself as a new Lord, but then
again, who can say without a direct answer from
him; all we have?are?his actions. I
would hate to believe such things of him, but it
does seem as though you are very important to him,
yet it would appear that he spent so little time
with you before. Perhaps you are right, perhaps he
indeed deserves what he gets. Her voice sounded
distracted as she mused on the entire matter.
?But somehow, I don’t think even he, could be
quite that arrogant as to consider himself a new
Lord, although you say that he did decline the
offer of holy counsel. It may be though, she
continued, that he considers himself a hero of
sorts, someone who saved you from the clutches of
death, but does he feel he has overcome death now,
that is the question. And who knows what the
answer will be, once he returns to us.
For
her own part, Heidi could not see how she could
ever love such a man, one whose?mind seemed
tremulous, on the very fringes of reality. I
think, that I should enjoy very much making him
pay for how he has caused you to suffer,
mistress.?
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