Chapter 6
Doctor from MARS
But nothing disturbed the slumbering figures. CLEO decided that her charges were in a hypnotic trance which might only be broken by a practicing anti hypnotist.
The computer then scanned through many gigs of data, searching for an anti hypnotist located anywhere. She finally found a name. The Eminent Anti Hypnotist Dr Lao Sao Mao Tse Tung. Dr Tung was shown as resident on MARS. A note stated that: “MARS is the Magical Acolyte Recovery Station, a special mental hospital facility located on an asteroid in Universe One. It is funded by Central Power. Physians are on call for serious cases in any universe…”
CLEO immediately z-waved the number and enquired if Dr Tung could make a house call ? The call was successful. Dr Tung was willing to visit Earth.
About ten minutes after CLEO’s call, the doctor arrived on the railway platform. His arrival coincided with in a flash of brilliant indigo light accompanied by a clap of thunder. He had transferred directly from MARS using a personal, pocket sized matter transmitter.
Dr Tung was a smallish man, with definite Asiatic features. He was dressed in a tailored black suit, a shirt without a collar and a black hat with a narrow brim. Long oiled pigtails stretched down over his back. Carrying a small black bag, the doctor stepped lightly across the platform.
He arrived at a carriage door. He knocked and was admitted by FIDO. The doctor did not appear to be at all put out by the sight of a robot opening the carriage door.
He merely asked if he might see his patients.
FIDO indicated the sleeping dwarves and elves. The doctor then asked: “Have the patients consumed something which may cause them to lose consciousness? Are they intoxicated? Zonked out? Loopy?”
In his gravelly voice, FIDO replied to the negative.
“What has caused them to become hypnotised?” said the doctor.
FIDO replied. “Man has off planet equipment stolen from this train.”
The doctor then took the pulses of each patient. His method involved taking three pulses simultaneously. His long, slender fingers covered an area from the palm to a position on each patients forearm. However, the pulses apparently gave him very little information as to the cause of malaise. The doctor remarked that all five patients appeared to be in good health, apart from the fact that they were all currently unconscious!
The doctor then opened his black bag and produced a small, metal globe. He placed the globe on the table and proceeded to rub a wooden stick around the circumference of the globe. This action generated a strange, whining noise which grew in volume until the entire interior of the carriage seemed to vibrate. The globe generated an overwhelming volume of sound.
The three dwarves sat up, mumbling incoherently.
“Good evening,” said Dr Tung politely. “I am Dr Lao Sao Mao Tse Tung I am normally a resident physician in the MARS special recovery facility.body MARS is funded by Central Power, which is why your party got top priority service. It appears that you have all been hypnotized by a trainee wizard. We currently have him on our hospital waiting list. He is Alfred Garret, formerly a steam engine driver. May I suggest that you sit somewhere while I attend to your companions?”
The dwarves all moved over to a table. The doctor now inserted a number of needles into various areas of the two sleeping bodies. He vibrated some needles but there was no response. “Acupuncture has failed!” said the doctor. “Moxibustion?”
He placed small jars over various body parts. Each jar appeared to contain some kind of burning material. The jars left bright red circular marks when removed. But there was no other response.
“This is certainly a deep enchantment,” said the doctor.”Very deep. I suspect that a powerful hypnotic jewel has been used.”
“It is, or was part of our escape equipment,” said CLEO. “Volcano is a self programming matrix with excellent hypnotic powers. It will even change molecular properties so that an enchanted individual actually assumes physical charactaristics of the form that has been suggested. We have already seen this physical change in the form of an infant troll and some adult trolls.”
Her tinny voice came from a case on the luggage rack.
The doctor stroked his chin and stood deep in thought.
Finally he asked: “Where is the young lady who just spoke?”
“I am here!” said CLEO. “I asked you to visit this train!”
“Why are you hiding in the luggage?” said the Doctor.
“I am not hiding, doctor! My hardware is resident inside the pack above your head,” said CLEO. “I am computer CLEO. Do you wish to conduct an electronic binary search on this current medical matter?.”
“Well, computer CLEO! I would certainly love to employ you as my assistant,” said the Doctor. “In any event, I have never required any computer except my abacus! But we must get this train back to the point of contact with the trainee wizard. He has to be confronted. And he may be victorious, in which case we will be enslaved!”
CLEO immediately instructed FIDO to raise steam and reverse the train back to Homewood. The computer instructed Little Sam to operate the I/I device. In a short time the train was rumbling down the deserted railway. Once they were clear of Kerridale, Little Sam was told to turn off the I/I device. The usual engine noises returned. Eventually they reached Homewood station some 5 miles down the line. The train screeched to a stop with its safety valve blowing off steam. Dr Tung left the carriage and walked up the platform to the engine. He told FIDO to leave the heating device switched on at minimum heat.
The robot was to then wait inside the carriage.
The doctor returned to the carriage interior.
Jake and Alaric still lay entranced.
“Should we contact this trainee wizard to ensure he comes here?” asked Little Sam. “If he doesn’t know we are here he will not come.”
Dr Tung was now enjoying a cup of Elvish tea prepared by Stumpy. “I do not believe it will be necessary to make contact with him,” said Dr Tung. “He will be informed of our arrival. He has this entire neighborhood enslaved! Many formerly honest, hard working citizens have been enchanted. They are now compelled to act as his eyes and ears. We will simply wait. in comfort.”
Chapter 7
Eve of Battle
Jake X (1) Multiverse Fugitive Page 6