Contents: My Myth of Vampires Goth and Horror History of SciFi in Horror Zombies on the Rise in Haiti Horror Religion

& Voodoo Torture from Limb to Limb

These are a set of articles that have been published online. They are an example of my writing style and I hope you check out my novel Rhinehoth available on Amazon.com both in Kindle and paperback. Thank you and enjoy, Brian E. Niskala Rhinehoth@Comp-U-Trader.com Copyright 2010 Brian E. Niskala

My Myth of Vampires by Brian E. Niskala

Vampires, everyone loves them, but what makes sense vs. the reality check. Stake in the heart: In the movies they are classically killed with a stake through the heart. When it comes right down to it, anything that gets a stake in the heart is going to die. This just makes sense and successful in most of the text and main stream movies. Holy water: Well if you are from the old world, something blessed is sacred by God. Holy water through the history of early vampires has represented a cleansing or spiritual awareness of God and his goodness. So thus in earlier times, blessed or Holy water was looked at as a good weapon against the Vampire. But today it burns them, mutilates them even blinds them. But make a little sense of it, can holy water really burn anything? Its just water right? But unless you have a super rare allergy to water, I really dont think this is

going to work by scalding a Vampire in his/her tracks. It will probably really piss them off! Last films I can remember this being a main stream weapon in was The Lost Boys 1987, Bordello of Blood 1996 with a much thinner, younger Dennis Miller and From Dusk to Dawn being a more recent release where Holy water was used with some success. Cross/crucifix: Representing the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ (Evil of man being defeated by the grace of God) used prolifically as holy water in early text and films. Lets face the reality check here, unless Vampires fear the cross is going to be staked into their heart, I say there is nothing to really fear here or for that matter of a Vampires hand touching it, turning it into flame as in Fright Night 1985.

Just think of it more rationally what we know about science as a whole. You need intense heat or a laser to spontaneously combust any wooden cross. Last two films the I can recall that a cross working in would be From Dusk Till Dawn and Dracula 1997 Anne Rice kind of killed the crosss power in Interview with a Vampire 1994 when Daniel Malloy (Christian Slater) asks Louis de Pointe du Lac (Brad Pitt) about his/vampires fear of crosses, Louis simply replies that he is actually quite fond of them. But a cross still shows up every now and then.

Garlic: Cloves of garlic around your doors, windows and around your neck, ok, I personally love garlic, but know people and animals that hate it, so really I think this one works, just hope you dont find one that likes to eat the stuff raw. Last main stream film to use this was Blade 2, 2002 earlier myths have been that garlic since it grows as a bulb in the ground and with such a pungent odor reminds the Vampires from which they came, from human mortal dead in the ground to immortal undead above ground. But garlic as a whole still has some good staying power on film and in text.

Sunlight: A clear cut good vs. evil, day-sunlight representing good, night-darkness representing evil. Since humans basically sleep during the night and a total opposite creature would roam at night (unless of course you work for UPS or FedEx loading and unloading trucks in the early hours) In older times before modern electricity and lights most humans were home before sunset and stayed indoors. They knew at night predators like wolves and vampires would roam the country side. But here is something that is really controversial; some say Vampires powers are weakened during the day light hours. Dracula 1992 as well as the Novel by Bram Stoker. Other extreme is they will burst into flame and turn to ash if exposed to sunlight or now the modern twist of UV light as used in 30 Days of Night. Logically, hey there are plenty of animals that hate the sun, including me personally. So this I believe to be true but to the fact, do we really believe they will burst into flames? A more modern take was used in Underworld where liquid sunlight bullets were used. Not sure how you would capture ultra violet light into a liquid, but then again science does do some serious almost magical things, but come on Hollywood, dont insult us all the time with this one. (but keep those movies coming!)

Mirrors: Early mirrors would have a thin coat of silver melted and poured to the back of a pane of glass. Silver also represented purity and as with werewolves and silver bullets, silver was also seen as a way to kill vampires or ward them off. Since most people had these mirrors with real silver on them, it was thought since silver was a purity metal that since Vampires represented evil that they would not cast their reflection since only a pure being could show its reflection in a pure metal. A big play on this was Dracula 1979 with Frank Langella and Laurence Olivier, perhaps my favorite film of the late 70s early 80s. Though the mirror not only did not cast a vampires reflection it also did not show their clothes either hmm how does that work?

Turning into bat/wolf: Well I have seen women turn into something else right before my eyes. Mind you, I love women but both male and female know what I am talking about here. Caterpillar into a butterfly, tadpole into a frog, so on that grounds, sure possible, as fast in the movies? See description of women. The transformation of Vampires in other forms of beings can easily be related into the thought of Satan being as other people, demons, ghost or beings. So it was only natural for literature and film pick this up as another dramatic representation of Vampires powers. Are Vampires real?: Great question, vampire bats, do exactly what Vampires are suppose to do, drink blood with fangs, wonder around at night and scary the heebie geebes out of us when you get a fly by. No questions there, easily enough to adapt to another creature doing it because they already have one that does. Have I met one, sure plenty, search Facebook to find hundreds, walk down the street at night or check at work for people who suck the life right out of you! Quick, short to the point, some light humor, to help bring us into the 21st century with are eyes wide open.

GothandHorror

ModerndayGothhasevolvedfromthe80spunktiesbeingfirstcoinedbyabandmanager AnthonyWilsonofJoyDivision.HedescribedthebandasGothiccomparedtothepop mainstreamthesceneeventuallystartedtakingonamoreGothiclook,dressingindarken clothing,mimickingthetallshadowfilledbuildingsoftheGothicPeriod. Gothtransformedfromitsmusicalsubculturetoawayofrebellingagainsttheaveragedaily grindofsociety.Todayithaspeoplefromallcultures,careersandmusicalgenre.Ithasbecome asmainstreamhastheHarleyDavidsonbikersnowwhoareDoctorsandLawyersamongstthem. ThecoreofGothinitsrelationtohorrorwasrepresentedinTheCrow1994withthenow deceasedBrandonLeewherethemaincharacterspawnedmakeupoflongrunningveinsof blackverticallyonhiseyesanddarkblackhairwithclothestomatch.Thistiedthetwotogether nicelyanditstuck. GothichorrororiginallywascoinedasGothicFictionwithitsknowstartwithanovelbyan EnglishauthornamedHoraceWalpolewithhisTheCastleofOtranto1764.Hisworkcanbe sceneandemulatedbysuchgreatsasBramStoker,AnnRadcliffeandthedrugdelusionand diseaseinfestedEdgarAllanPoe. GothreallycomesfromthetypeofarchitecturecalledGothic,whichflourishedduringthe medievalperiod.Itcanbedatedbackto12thcenturyFranceandlateintothe16thcenturybut obviouslyneverlostitsappeal.Gothicarchitectureisknownforitshighpeaks,pointedarches, ribbedvaultedceilingsandflyingbuttresses.Theirwindowswereoftenstainedglassasin churchesandcathedralswithlongcorridorsandhallways.Thisiswhatprimarilyledtothedark eerieshadowscastdownfromtheirstainedglassmimickingthebloodofChristastheredscast streamsofpooledredcoloronthefloorsandwalls. Dressofthedaywasbleakwithearthtonesanddarkenedcolor.Primaryreasonwastohidethe stainsofdirtandfilthwhichwascommonsincebathingandcleanlinesswasnothighonthelist, oneofthemainfactorsoftheonslaughtofbubonicplagueotherwiseknownastheBlackDeath. Thesedarktimesofdepressionanddeathcanstillbefeltinthearchitecturetoday.

AfterthecoinedtermofGothictoGoth,thedarkimagesofTheCrowlaunchedtheGothera intothemainstream.Outcastswhofoundthemselveswithoutanimagequicklyadoptedthe darkimageryandbegantheGothlookphenomena.Horrorseemedtogohandandhandwiththis darkdepressinglookandlifestyle.Gothfinallyfoundasubcultureinsocietyaplacewherethe differentcanfinallyfindasenseofcompanionship,certaintyandasenseofbelonging.Their clothingiswhatseparatesthemfromthenormofsociety,itisalwaysdark,depressingandwith atouchofoutrageousness.Tallblackboots,skintightblackpants,longblackdressesandchains toaccessorieswitharejustafewexamples.ThevampirescenealsofollowscloselytotheGoth scene;thetwoareoftenconfusedbutcloselyrelated.Bothcultureswearsimilardressbutthe mainseparationisusuallythevampiresceneworksveryhardonkeepingthemselvessheltered fromthesunlightandpridethemselvesonbeingaspaleaspossible.

ThismassofcertaingenrehaslaunchedfilmssuchasNosferatu1922PhantomofThe Opera1925,Batman1989EdwardScissorhands1990TheCrow1994TheCityof LostChildren1995SleepyHollow1999TheNightmareBeforeChristmas1993Dark City1998Blade1998QueenofTheDamned2002Underworld2003tonamemorethan afew.

TimBurtonDirectsmosthisfilmsinaGothicmanner,mostobviousareCorpseBride NightmareBeforeChristmasBatmanReturnsmostofhisfilmshavethisdarkGothfeelto them.Ashisfilmssoldmillions,theculturegrew.ThecurrentdirectorofAvatarJamesCameron alsotiedsometheculturetogetherwithSciFiGothicHorrorsAliens1986Terminatorseries andDarkAngel200002TVseriesthathelpedlaunchJessicaAlbascareer. HorrormaynotbethechoiceofallGothsbutithasbecomesynonymouswithit.

TheHistoryofSciFiinHorror
Growingupinthe80sforthemostpart,IfoundmyselfaHorrorfanasmuchasthenextkid. MybestfriendWallyandIjoinedalocalmovierentalclub;wewouldrideourbikesdowntothe movieplaceandrenteveryhorrorfilmtheguyhad.Being1314itwasgreatbecausehewould letusrenttheRmovieswiththegratuitousnudityinthem.Lookingback,Iamstillnotsureif

werentedthemforthegoreorthegirls.ButIthinkitwasforthegirlswiththecoverofthe goretofoolourparents!LetsnotconfusegorewithAlGorewhotomeishonestlyasscary. LikemostoftheSciFiHorrorfans,Istumbledacrosstheircomplexitymerelybyaccident. AttractedtowardsthecheesyFirdayThe13th(1980s)filmswithalmostzeroplotandallgore, exceptfortheforementionedgratuitousnudity.ItwasntuntilourRentalGodsuggestedAlien 1979tousthatwereallythoughtwefoundsomething.Itrepresentedhorrorbutinawhole differentbackgroundwithspaceships,peoplebeingblownoutintothevastnessofspaceandone crazylookingpuppetthatcamescreamingoutofaguysbelly!Nowupuntilthattime,Iwas neversoscareduntilIsawthatscene.Surethecoolhackemupgorestuffwasplentyscary,but thisstuffmadeithardformetowalkhomeatnight!Crazy,IthoughtanAlienwasgoingto jumpdownfromatreeandeatme,obviouslyfarmorelesslikelythanahomicidalmaniac jumpingfrombehindthetreewithachainsawright??

SciFihorrorstimulatesourintellectualthoughtpatterns,weknowthetechnologicalbackdrop doesnotexist,butitcouldinthefuture.Itappliestoournaturalinstincttobuildsomething better,somethingfantastic.Thesenseofthehorrorbehindthatsomehowmakesitmore developmentallycredible. MaryShelleysliterarymasterpieceFrankenstein1818isprobablytheoldestmostwidely knownScifiHorrorthatexists.Itwaswayaheadofitstimeevenfortoday,butsomehowthe crudesciencebehindbringingFrankensteinsmonstertolifeissocredible.Eventodayweknow itisimpossibletoreanimatedeadfleshnomatterhowmuchReAnimator1985triesto convinceus!ReAnimatorbelieveitornotwasaveryloose,VERYLOOSEadaptationofHP LovecraftsstoryHerbertWest:ReAnimatorwhichisagoodreadifyoulikeLovecraftbut whodoesnt? RobertLouisStevensonwhowroteTreasureIslandalsowroteaSciFiclassicnovellaStrange CaseofDrJekyllandMrHydepublishedin1886.Thishasbeendoneandredoneaswellasthe maincharacter(s)havebeenseenthroughoutcinemaandliterature.Thisisoneclassicthateven todayweuseitsabridgedtitleineverydaylifeHe/shewentallJekyllandHydeonmeorany variantofthephrase.Iamsureweallknowsomeonewiththiscaseofoccasionalpsychosis.

The1930ssawthebreakthroughofvariousformsoftechnologicalinfilmography,makeupand specialeffects.Makingthe1931filmFrankensteinbyJamesWhalecometolife.Evenseeing thisfilminthe80swouldgiveyounightmares.Progressionmovedabitslowerafterthatledto otherreleasesbutnosignificantbreakthroughsuntilTheDaytheEarthStoodStill1951notthe remakedonewithKeanuReeveswhichIthoughtwasentertaining,butnothingcomparedtothe 1951classicwhichmusthavebeenimmenselyimpressiveontheearlysilverscreen.Withthe toweringrobotstanding,shootingoutitslightraylaser.Notimpressivebytodaysstandards,but stillagoodSciFiclassicthatwillbringagrintoyourface.

Almoststandinglightyearsaheadofitstimewasthe1953RadioremakeWaroftheWorlds doneinfilm.IhaveheardtheradiocastwhichwasoriginallydoneonOctober30,1938,soscary wastheoriginalSciFihorrorontheradio,ithadpeoplecallingtheirlocalpolicefranticofan actualalieninvasion!Canyouimagine!ThisHGWellsadaptationofhisnovelisaquickshow howhorrorandSciFiareamatchmadeinliteratureandcinemaheaven. Cinemamovedquicklywithliteraryhits,InvasionoftheBodySnatchers1956with3following remakes,1978andacloselyrelatedPupperMasters2002andInvasion2007allbasedonthe novelbyJackFinneyin1955.TheThing1951,1982basedonashortstorybyJohnW.

CampbellpublishedinAstoundingScienceFictionMagazine,August1938issue(goodluck findingit,Ihavebeenlookingforyears!)the1982filmversionisapersonalfavoriteofmineand mayactuallybemyfavoriteSciFiHorrornexttoAliens.

TwomoviesthatseemtoalwaysbeonthetopofmostofthetoplistsforcinemaSciFiHorror areTheFly1986andofcourseAlienthoughIpreferAliensforthedarkerdrearyfeel.The Flyalsoaremakefromthe1958withtheimmortalVincentPrice,thiswhichhasamore interestingtwisttoit Helpme!

WiththereleaseofAvatarwithitslifelikedigital3DitistobeseenwhatotherliterarySciFi HorrorwillseeitsremakeornewreleasewithspectacularcomputergeneratedSciFieffectsthat willmakethespacecreaturesjumprightintoourlapaswithallourintellectandreasoningwe willhavenodoubtthatcouldactuallyhappen.

ZombiesontheRiseinHaiti
Therecent7.0earthquakeinHaitionJanuary12th2010,whichcausedmassivedevastationin andaroundthecapitalcityofPortauPrinceisatragedyandmyheartgoestothepeoplewho havetosufferafterthisnaturaldisaster.Butitisfearedtherewillbeariseofzombies.

IamsureGeorgeRomeroisnotonthenextplanedowntheretocapturezombiesforuseinhis nextfilm,butinHaitiitisaknownfactoftheexistenceofzombies.SomuchsothereisaPenal codeforsuchevents. Haitian Penal Code: Article 249. It shall also be qualified as attempted murder the employment which may be made against any person of substances which, without causing actual death, produce a lethargic coma more or less prolonged. If, after the person had been buried, the act shall be considered murder no matter what result follows. As bizarre as the law may seem, it would not have been put into law, unless there was a considerable awareness of such facts and phenomena as zombies or a zombified state of being. People of Haiti truly believe there are zombies amongst them. Not a few or a hundred but in the thousands! Haiti is known for being the poorest country in the western hemisphere. With this comes the lack of financial revenues to build a school system that we are accustomed to in the United States or in most developed countries. With lack of education come the uneducated spreading rumors, fantastic stories and developing folklore. With their medical system being sub-standard to what we know as modern medicine, it is easy to believe people would be pronounced dead, but later come back from a comatose type state. Up to this most recent tragic earthquake people were still buried alive. The horror of being in a coma, to only wake being buried in the ground in a coffin gasping for air with the tons of earth over you pinning you into an eternal slumber silence & darkness. Voodoo is still a common practice in Haiti with their witch doctors performing miracle cures or tragic accidental deaths. The art of zombie making or witch doctoring was brought to cinema life with the release of Serpent and the Rainbow 1988 which brings you through a journey in this mystical art and its so called victims. Voodoo with its ties to Africa when Haiti was massively populated by the slave trade took on a life of its own. Witch Doctors would bring people back from the dead with ceremonies and witch craft. Some research was found that different type of native pharmaceutical compounds were used to put people into a coma type sleep, being dead and then resurrected by the witch doctor who then would seemingly be in control of the zombie who was indebted for returning them to a conscience state of zombieism.

From 1957 to 1971 the Haiti dictator Papa Doc Duvallier rumored to the population that he had an army of zombies under his control to tighten his hold of the uneducated population ruling by

fear. Since Duvallier was a devoted voodooist he was never challenged or questioned on this. People who were questioned always knew someone, a friend, someones father, a mothers cousin, ect. who swore they had seen one of these zombies but no had person to person of face to face. Most cases of people turning into zombies were results of high fevers that lasted days causing mild brain damage, so even when the person would recover from the fever, they were never quite right their speech would return to a degree but not their mind. So it was even more perceived they had died and turned into another form of human or turned into a creature or zombie. Rabies also wildly untreated because the lack of medication in the poor country would also create a state of someone suffering brain damage and never returning to a healthy state of mind.

Some more elaborate zombification used venom from a pufferfish would be used. This concentrated nerve poison would put a victim into a state where they are aware of their surroundings, but unable to move or obviously even communicate. If the dose is given in an improper amount, permanent paralysis can result. But those surviving the ordeal, would actual be brought to a hospital, clinically diagnosis as being dead even though just unresponsive. The voodoo practitioner would claim the body and have it buried while the whole time the victim is aware of what is happening and is fully perceived as being dead and buried. After a time the voodoo practitioner would dig up the victim and have them revived and perceived as rising from the dead as a zombie. The victim was then enslaved to do the zombie practitioners bidding for fear of returning to the death state Most would actually suffer nerve damage and have various symptoms of paralysis making them even more convince they had been changed. With this tragedy of the earthquake, with people being presumed dead and rising from near death, it will been seen by the Haitian masses as their loved ones being dead, buried and rising again.

Horror,Religion&Voodoo
WithHaitisdevastatingeventsstillinthenewsandasyoumayofguessedIamahistorianand lovetobuildtherelationshipbetweenmyloveofhorror,history,religionandofcoursepolitics, butIliketoforgothelatterinthisforum. Horrorhistoricallyalwaysseemstohoveraroundtheaspectofreligion,gooddefeatingevilfor thatmatterallearlywarsevolvedaroundreligionuntilthetruediscoveryofusingpetroleumasa fuel,nowwefightaboutreligionandoilbutIamalmostcrossingthelineaboutpolitics! The1791SlaveRebellioninHaitiisaclassicexampleofgooddefeatingevilsortofPeopleof thedayheldreligionastheirhighestpriority.Althoughowningslaveswasviewedasasimple businessdecisionwithnothoughtofhumanlifeexceptonhowtobreedslavestomakebigger strongerworkers. QuickhistoryofHaiti,HaitiwasoriginallyHispanolanamedbyChristopherColumbusDec5th, 1492.Itsnativepeopleweresmallinnumbersbutsoonoverranbyshipscarryingloadsofslaves toworkthefieldsgrowingsugarcane.OriginallyaSpanishcolony,itwastakenoverbyFrench buccaneerswhousedtheislandofTortuga(1625,anactualplacenotonlyinThePiratesofThe Caribbean),asalaunchinggroundforraidsonSpanishships.Francequicklymadeclaimtothe islandbuttheSpanishheldonintheareasthatbecameTheDominicanRepublicinlateryears. Sugarexpandedtoindigoandcotton.ThisflourishingbusinessgavegreatwealthtoFranceand theslaveownersdrovetheirslaveshardindarkenedmiseryofendlessdaysofwork.Voodoowas thechosenreligiouspracticechosenbytheslavessomethingthatthesocalledChristianslave ownerswouldtrytobeatoutofthem.

By1791theslavepopulationreachedastaggering790,000!Withonly32,000beingwhite. Someslavestriedplanningrevolts,butwereslaughtered,guttedandhungaroundthecitiesand plantationstowarntheotherslavestostayinlineothersweresosavagelybeatenbytheir Christianownersthattheywouldremaincrippledfortherestoftheirlives. Voodoowasapaganritualseenasatypeofdemonicpracticeorpactwiththedevilasthe recentPatRobertsonsoaffectionatelyyetirresponsiblyremindedusofandcausedourwonderful DaiGreentosendthatniceemailtothe700Club,PatRobertsonslaunchinggroundforhiscult likepracticeofevangelism.VoodooinfactisablendingofAfricanreligiousbeliefsand ChristianitywhichwasforcedupontheslavesastheybecamethepropertyoftheirChristian owners.Asthegenerationsofslavesprogressedsodidtheblendingwhicheventuallybecame knownasvoodoo. 1791ledtothebreakingpoint,BoukmanDuttyaselfeducatedslaveandvoodoohighpriest (witchdoctor)ledthesuccessfulslaughterofthewhitedominanceontheisland.Boukmanwas largeinstaturewitharageunlikeanythingtheChristianshadseen,leadingthemtobelieveeven morethatvoodoohadmadehisragesointensetoleadthehundredsofthousandsofhispeople intorevolt.HewasviewedasbeinginvinciblebyhisfollowersandmanyFrenchaswell.

SucharisingcouldonlybeseenasapactwiththedevilintheeyesoftheFrenchChristians. TheChristianslaveownerscouldnotfathomtheirGodwouldletsuchauprisingagainsthis Christianfollowers,theyonlyknewthishadtobethedevilswork.

Boukmanontheeveofthefirstorganizedattackslaughteredapiginsacrificeandcastasidethe imageoftheGodofthewhites.BeinginterpretedwronglyasarevoltagainstGodbutinfacta revoltagainstthewhiteGodwhowasseenbytheBoukmansfollowersaslettingitbeokfora humantobeslavedtoanotherhuman.Simplyput,practicewhatyoupreach.SaintDomingue sawsome1800plantationsburnedtothegroundand1000slaveownerssavagelykilledrippedto pieces,burnedaliveordraggedtotheirdeathinoneofthebloodiesthorrificuprisingstodate. Rumorsofslaveownerswerereportedtobeusedinhumansacrificeswithvariousbodyparts beingconsumedbyBoukmansfollowersaddingtotheintensestateofhorrorfeltbytheFrench colony.ItwasviewedasBoukmanwasdemonicallypossessedbythedevilhimself.

TheuprisingceremonyisrememberedasTheeventoftheBwaKayimanceromonyitforms theimportantpartoftheidentifyofthegenesisoftheHatianpeople.Stillviewedasapactwith thedevilbymanyChristianswhodonotunderstanditsmeaningorheritage. BoukmanafewmonthslaterwascaughtbytheFrench,brutalitytorturedinpublicuntilhis deathanddismembermentwherehisheadwasputondisplaytoshowhisdisciplesthathewas indeeddefeatedandhewasnotinvincibleaspreviouslythought. August29,1793slaverywasabolishedintheNorthernterritoriesofHaitiandeventually completelyby1794.TheUnitedStatestooknearly71years(1865)tofollowFrance.

TorturefromLimbtoLimb
IamnottalkingaboutSadismandMasochismoraffectionatelyabbreviatedS&Mafavorite pasttimeofwellthatisawholeotherstory Torturecanbeperceivedasoneoftheearliestformsofentertainment.Verypopularduringthe MedievalagesandstillpopulartodaywiththepopularityoftheSawSeriesofmovieswhose totalbudgetforall6filmswas$47Millionbuthastakeninacool$731million+orclosetoa Billiondollarsworldwide!Ohyes,onecannotfindenoughwaystotortureourselvesforthepure entertainmentofothers.

Anyhow,thelonghistorycanbedatedbackasfarasrecordedhumanhistoryandfarintothe futureaswecravetowatchthepainofothersasitshowshowvulnerableweactualare.Beenjoy oursafetyinoursocietybuttherushofpain,thepowerofinflictingpaintosomeoneelse,isto becravedbyall. Number1onourlistprobablythemosteasilyrecognizedandprobablyoneofthesimplestis theRack,nottobeconfusedwithaslangtermforapartofthefemalebody!

Thislargedevicewassimpletouse,yetinflictedenormousamountsofpainandsuffering. Eitherendofthedevicehadacrankthatwasturned,attachedtoeachlimb.Onesjointswould makethathorrifyingPOPasthejointswouldnearlyexplodeunderthestrain.Oftenusedin

Witchhunting(Anotherfavoritepastime;)ifthevictimwouldsurvive,theywouldbefreed. ThoughIdonotunderstandwhatwouldbeleft??Variousotherformsofthisareusedandfor varietysackpeoplewouldbeburned,skinned,boiledjustshortofdeepfriedandotherwise stabbedwhileleftinthesecompromisingpositions. 2.TheGuidedCradleAKATheJudasChair

Unclearhowlongasubjectwasmadetositonthishandypieceofworkmanship,butIamsure itwasnotverylongandifyousurvived,Iamsureconstipationwasneveraproblemagain. 3.TheSpanishDonkey

Usuallythevictimwasnakedwithvariousamountsofweightsattached,thelighteryouare,the moreweightwasadded,aninterestingwaytocureobesitybackinthedayIguessasyoucan imaginethevictimwouldsoonbesplitinhalfbetheirownweightorwiththeaddedhelp.I guessifyoucouldclenchyourasslongenoughyouwouldsurviveabitlonger,noStairmasters backthentohelp! 4.TheSaw

Probablythemostgruesomeandbloodspattering.Thiswouldrequiretwomenoneithersideto justdowhatlooksnaturalwhenyouhaveasawinoneshand.Itwasntuntilthechainsawcame outthatyoucouldsavesomemoneyonthelaboranduseoneguy. 5.RevolvingDrumAKACheeseGrater.

Thisdevicehadvariablespeed.Theslowerthemoretorture,thefasterthemorefun?FunnyasI wassearchingforthisone,Icameacrossthehandheldversionsocute! 6.TheChastityBelt

Wellnotreallyatorturedevice,butafterlookingatit,nosexualcontactorselfpleasureingcould bedoneapprently,sotortureinitself,womenmyheartgoesouttoyou.SomethingIalways questionedonthislittledeviceNumber1,okitjustleaksout,Number2??Againnotatorture devicepersaybutdamn!Thoughifyouwantalittlewebsearchingfun,justtypeinChastityBelt inGoogleforsomeintrestinglaughs!Maybealsoanearlywaytopracticeweightcontrol? Whattrullymademeclassifythisasatorturedeviceiswhenthemenwouldgoofftofitina warorthecrusades,theywouldbegoneformonthsifnotyears!Canyouimagine!? 7.TheChairofTorture

AboutascomfortableasachurchpewIwouldsay,butjustshortoftheendlessamountsoffun thisoneis,itwouldalwaysbecutshortontheamountofbloodtheguestwasabletoholdinuntil completeblooding. 8.TheHeadCrusher

Plain,simplewhatashow!Iamsurethisonehadalotofbetsonwherethebloodwouldcome fromfirst,theeyessocketsortheears,maybeeventhemouthasthebrainwaspushedintothe sinuses. 9.IronMaiden No,nottheheavymetalrockgroup,thoughoneortwosongstheyhaveweretorturous

Oneversionwasseeminglytoencasethevictiminthecoffinandletthemscreamtodeathfrom starvaion.Thoughlessfunthantheversionswithsharpobjectsstrategicallyplacetogougethe eyes,limbsandvariouspartsofthebody,whileinflictinggreatpain,butcausingthevictimto stayverymuchalivetoeventuallybleedout. 10.TheCrusifiction ThankyouRomansforthisone.EveryonewhohasgonetoChristian/Catholicchurchseesthis onerightinfrontofthem.

YourhearthastogoouttoJesusonthisone.Ifyouwantanideaofthetrueagony,rentPassions ofTheChristbyMelGibson,IguranteeyouwillbeshoutingatthescreenFortheloveofGod stop!Nomore!ifyoucanbeartowatch.Thiswillgiveyouanideawhatanyonewouldofgone throughattheearlytimesofChristandtheRomanEmpire. Victimswerealwaysbeaten,sometimesmadetocarrytheirdeviceandthenhungtodie.Ifthey didnothavetheirhandsandfeettiedtothecrosstheywerenailedintoplace.Whichhasstrucka lotofcontrevesy.Ifyouactuallynailedthroughthehands,theweightoftheindividualwouldbe enoughtoripthroughthehandsdelicatebones.Amuchmoreplacementofthenailwouldhave togothroughthewristrightbeforethehandjoint.Feetplacementwasnotthatcriticalbutallthe samepainful.ThoughitsoundslikeIspeakfromexpereince,neverthelessthereisanawefullot ofresearchdoneonthisprocess. Victimswoulddieinagony,slowlybleedingtodeathorjustdiefromexposure.Vitimswere sometimesfeedandwateredtoprolongthepainandsuffering.Butitalldependsonthecrime andmoodoftheRomansolidersatthetime.Thiswasafavoriteforcenturies.

Written by: Brian E. Niskala, Author of Rhinehoth, a Dark Gothic Horror Novel available on Amazon.com, Fan page on Facebook: Rhinehoth

RhinehothCopyright2009,BrianE.Niskala

Rhinehoth
CenturiesagoagreatcastlewasbuiltinthemountainsofGermanysBlackForest.Itsancient guardiansstillthriveinitswallsforeverprotectingitsdarksecrets,holdingcaptiveanenemythat threatenstheirveryexistence.Foretoldisastoryofanancientwarriorthatistoreturntothe castletofreethecaptiveVampirePrince. SimonRobertswasapettythiefwhofledEnglandtoescapeScotlandYardafteraseriesof unsuccessfuljewelrystoreheists.HewasrecruitedtodoajobinGermanywherehewasto simplydrivethegetawaycarwhileprovidingalookout.Hethoughtthiswasgoingtobeaneasy jobandawaytobreakintotheGermancrimescene.Butthingsgoterriblywrongandheended upbeingtheonlysurvivorofthebotchedheist.Simonisquicklysentencedtoaprisoncalled Rhinehoth.ThisiswhereGermanysenttheworstoftheworst,surelynotaplaceforapettythief suchashimself. RhinehothisagreatGermancastlethatwasconvertedinthelate1930stoaStalagforwar criminalsofWorldWarII.Theconvertedprisonsmoderndayinhabitantsarerelentlessly tortured,starvedandsleepdeprived.Thiscontributestotheprisonersdelusionalvisionsthat helphidethetruthandkeepsRhinehothssecrets.TheircaptorsarethearmyofWerewolveswho havesurvivedthecenturiesofftheveryfleshandbloodofGermanysworstforgottencriminals.

Simon,imprisonedbecomesplaguedwithvisionsfromhissubconsciousancientpastwith confusionofhismoderndayconsciousness.Hediscoveriesthroughhisvisionsthatheisthe ancientwarrior,GuthriewhohascometofreetheVampirePrinceandallthecaptiveswhile savingtheworldfromadarkplanofbiblicalproportionsthathasbeenorchestratedoverthe centuries!

ASpecialThankyoutothefollowing:

CoverArtist:
MichaelMcAlick

CoverDesign:
PrabhuDorairag

LayoutArtist:
SrinivasaRajaIyengar

ThefollowingespeciallyhelpedinmyresearchforLiteraryAgents,PublishersandeverythingelseIneededhelpwithduring theprocessofmyinsanity/writing.

ResearchAssistants:
JacqueleneSenaThelmaNuguidNeeluSreeArchanaRavindran

Thankyoutomyfamilywhohassupportedeverycrazybookidea,inventionoridea.

TomyWife,Cynthia,forbeingmypartnerineverything,motherofour4children,Kyle,Brandon,EmilyandOliviaand supportingmenomatterhowcrazyshethinksIam.

TableofContents

Chapter1:Court Chapter2:WelcometoStalagRhinehoth Chapter3:WashThoseFloors Chapter4:Discovery Chapter5:KitchenDuty Chapter6:TheVisitor Chapter7:BackintheInfirmary Chapter8:LostmyHat,ManchesterUnited Chapter9:IdentityTold Chapter10:DreamsofthePast Chapter11:Asmirelda Chapter12:TheJourneyBegins Chapter13:Crucifixion Chapter14:CastleRhinehoth Chapter15:DownIntoTheBowlsofHell Chapter16:TimeforaDrink Chapter17:BacktoHell Chapter18:DawnofaNewMoon

Chapter1:Court

Thedefendantisfoundguilty!asthegavelfellwithaloadBANG,fillingthecourtroom,thedefendantflinchedatthesoundof thegavelashetriedtoholdhisheartfeltsorrowback,heslouchedinhischairasthecurveofhisbackmetthechairasthegavel seeminglyinslowmotionhitthejudgesdeskonemoretime. SimonRobertsofManchesterEnglandwasjustfoundguiltybyassociationofmurder.Hedrovethegetawaycarforabandof hoodsthattriedknockingoffajewelerontheEastsideofBerlin. ButwhatSimonwasnotawareofwasthathissmallbandofbrotherspickedthewrongjewelertorobfrom.Thejewelerwaswell armedwithaferocioustemperaseeminglysmalldetailthatwasleftoutoftheplanning. Simonsatmotionlessasheslippedawayfromthemomenttothenightthatendedhimincourt. Simonslowlydrovethecaruptothefrontofthejewelrystore.Thecobbledroadwaspracticallyrightnexttothestorethathada verynarrowsidewalk.Simonrubbedupnexttheworncobbledcurbthatslightlyjostledthecar.Thestoreownercouldbeseen,walking towardsthebackofthestoreasthe3menpulleddowntheirdarkmasks,pumpedtheirshotgunsandleftthecar.Simonwithnomask, justasweatstainedManchesterUnitedballcapthathepulleddowntohelpcoverhiseyesandslouchedinthefrontseatjusttobeslightly outofsite. Gunfirebrokeoutalmostimmediately,asifthejewelerhadbeenexpectingthem.Thewouldbejewelthieves'openedfireatthe1st signofthejeweler'srageashereachedforhisgun,butitwastoolateforALLofthem.Thethreethieveseachgotmortallywounded,but notbeforeoneofthethievesgotoff1importantmortalshot,enoughforhimtoescapeandenoughforhisvictimtobreathhislastbreath. Simon,flinchingthroughthegunfirehadopenedthecardoorastheonesurvivingthiefleapedfromthestorewithhisverylife;he felljustshortofSimon'sgetawaycar.Simoncouldhearthedistinct,loudeningsoundoftheBerlinPolicecomingcloser.Heblinked, wipedhisfacewithhisbarebutsweatinghandanddroppedthecarinDriveashesawhislastremainingbrotherlayingonthewet pavement,takinghislastgaspoflife,hishandwasreachingoutforSimontosave

Simonhitthegaspropellingthecarforward,theopencardoorslammedshutfromthemotion.Alightmistthathadfallenmadeit impossibleforhimtokeepthecarincontrolandheswervedtoavoidablinkingconstructionsign,butitwastoolateandhewasfar beyondbriningthecarstraighttoavoidthecementpylonsblockingsomereroutedgaslines. Hehitthepylonswithsuchforce,itsplithiscarwideopenashewashurledoutmakingalargethudashehitthepavementlikea rawpieceofmeat.Hisheadcametorestonthecobbledcurbwithabonecrushingcrunch.Hehadbeeninthehospitalforweekstoheal hisinjuriesmostlygoinginandoutofconsciencesduetothebadconcussion.Surprisinghehadonlyasmallfracturetohishead consideringtheforceoftheimpactamongsthisotherbruisesandbumpsfromtheviolentejection. Simonblinkedbackintoreality,heleanedtowardhislawyer,aseedylookingmanwhoobviousasaStateappointedattorneylooked asthoughhehadforgothisrazorandabarofsoapforthatmatter.WhereamItogonowheasked Hislawyer,clearingthisthroat,leanedinclosetohimandsaid,theRhinehisbreathmadehisnosehairscurl,hepulledbackand coveredhishandoverhisnoseandmouthandmutteredtohisattorneyagain. WhatisTheRhine?Simonmutteredstillcoveringhisnose. Thedirtyattorneyjustleadedbackandshowedhisgnarledteethsobaditalmostappearedawormcrawledbetweeneachmolar, Simonwouldfindoutsoonenough. ThebackdoororthedarkgrayvanclosedwithametallicBOOM!Simonflinchedyetagain.Simon,shruggingbackintohisseat, triednottolookaround,buthiscuriositywasgettingthebestofhimashelookedtoseewhoelsewaswithhim.Hesawadarkfigure, wheezingasifhavingaterriblecold;Simonlookedhardertryingtogainfocusofthepeeringfigurefromthedarknessoftherearcabin ofthevan. Mustingupafewcourageouswords,Simonbegantoask,Whoelseisinhere?hisvoicequivered. Gnarlinginhisownsalivathevoicebegantospeak,Theycallmefathertimeasheleanedforwardintothedimlight,wipingsome ofthesalivathatwasdrippingfromascarinhislip.Themanhesitated;hepausedforamomentastorecognizeSimon.Siegfried,as namedbymybirthparents,SiegfriedUhrmacheratyourserviceironicallyashestuckouthishanditwasinshacklesbutoddlywith somesortofothermechanismthatlookedmechanicallygearedandclumsy.Simonwasnotsurewhattostareatorratherlookat,the strangeshackles,theoutreachedhandorthescarwheresalivaseemedtodripoutof. Oh,yes,mynameisSimon,SimonRoberts,Simonhesitated,wantingtoadd,asmybirthparentsnamedmebutfeltitwouldbe offcolorconsideringtheeventsbothweregoingthrough,nottomentiontherewasnoroomforhumorintheirpredicament.

Afterabriefhandshake,Siegfriedleanedbackonceagainintothedarkness,Oh,yes,SimonRobertsthebotchedjewelryheistget awaydriver,yes,dreadfuleventthatwholematter,howisityousurvivedthewholething?Siegfriedwipingsomemoredroolcoming fromhisscarredlips. Simon,stillpeeringintowhatlightispresentattheweirddeviceonSiegfried'swrists.Tryingtocontainhimself,butvisiblynot hearingthequestionUm,nottoberude,butwhatisthatgearthingonyourshackles? SiegfriedleaningforwardwithhisshacklesalmostrightintoSimon'sface,Wellyousee,Iamabitofanescapeartist,sotheyhave devisedthislittletoy,tohelpdetermefromtryinganything.Laughingunderhisbreath. Simonmovingbackabittobetterfocusthedevice,hemovedhisglassesabitfurtherdownhisnosetofocusonthecuffs.Hepeers throughalightbeamthatiscomingfromthefrontbaredwindow,butthedriversofthevanopentheirdoorsandshoutintotheback. Achtung,fastenyourseatbeltssweeties!Withthatthevanlungedforwardandthesmallbarredwindowthatgavelightwasslammed shutasthesheetmetalslide,slidacrossalmostsoundinglikearazorcuttingthroughpaper.Simontriedtopeerforanywiskoflightto bettersee,butitwashopeless.Siegfriedhadalreadyslippedbackintohisseat,gnarlingathissalivadripandSimon,hetoojustkindof fadedintohisseatedposition.Siegfriedbegantospeak,WelltimeforsomesleepSirSimon,thelastgoodsleepyouwillhaveforquit sometimeSimon,justexhaustedfromthedayseventsjustmumbledWhereisthisplace weregoing?Siegfried,inachuckleItisnotwhere,butwhatSimonjustfellasleepastherhythmofthetiresdrownedoutanyother audiblenoise.Afteraseeminglylonghoursdrive,Simonisawakenbythechangeintherythmatic rumbleofpavementtothecrunchingofloosegravelbelowthetires,groggyhedriftsbacktosleepwiththefaintsoundofSiegfried suckinginhisdroolfromhisscarredlip.HethoughtheheardoneoftheguarddriverssaySchwazwaldwhichwasaphrasemeaning BlackForrestbutSimonwasnotfamiliarnordiditregisterashiseyeslidsfelldrowsilyclosed. Afewmomentslaterasitseemed,Simonisawakenedbysomeeverincreasingbumpsandjumpsintheroadorwasitaroadany more.ThehatchbarredwindowhadslideopenfromtheturbulentdrivingsoSimoncouldpeerouttowhatseemedagreatstructurethat lookedasthoughitwasbuiltoutofthesideofthemountain.Thehalfmoonglowhungoverthestructureontheclearestofnights,yeta lowlyingfogseemedtoformintheheadlightsofthevan,asheleanedmoreforwardpeeringintothedrivercompartment,hecouldsee theclockshowingitwaswellafter4am,theyhadbeendrivingforhoursallnightlong.Thevanbegantoslowtoastopwiththe pavementcrisplycrackingunderneathitswheelsandtheslightbrakesqueal.

Atchung!theguardsshoutedthroughtheopenbarredwindow,SimonglancedoveratthewayofSiegfriedwhohadafowlstench ofwetdog,hecouldhearhimsnickerandhisshacklessoundedasiftheyhitthefloorjustastheweirdgearedmechanismmadea whizzingnoiseasitsoundedlikeitwascollapsingontoitself. Simonjumpingbacktryingtomakeoutthesilhouetteinthedarkness,wastherealargedoginthevanwiththem,hadhemissed something,didtheypickitupontheway?Hitadogonthewayputtingtheinjuredbodyinwiththem,howcouldheofmissedthat.Was hedrugged?? Siegfried!?Simonshouted CalmdownSimon,itisISiegfried'sdroolinggnarlingvoicesaid,Alliswell Thesilhouetteseemedtofadeinthedarknessregainingitsform,Simon'seyeshad obviouslybeenplayingtricksonhimintheearlyhoursofthemountainsdawn. Thefogseemedtostretchintothebackofthevanastheguardsopenedthereardoors.Toeveryone'ssurprisetheshackleslaidothe floor,withtoughsofblackhairentangledinthemasSiegfriedleapedforwardattheguardstacklingontothegroundashelunged forwardbutstillhisankleswhereshackledtightlyintohisskin,withburpsofbloodoozingfromthem,ithadlookedasiftheyimbedded themselvesintotheskinandthegearsonthesetoowheremakingaclickingnoiseashelunged. SiegfriedwhinedTheytwistintomybone,releaseme! Theguardsquicklyrosetotheirfeetastheypushedbackalmostintofearastheypulledforththeirlugersanobviousantiqueweapon butseemedtoservethemwell.Theirleatherblackglovesmadethewringing,tighteningsoundasthegrippedtheirpistolsfordearlife, butthelookintheireyeswasfear,clearunwaveringfear.Butwiththembotharmedatthegatesoftheprisonwithsnipersinsightinthe raisedturrets,Siegfriedshackledtightlybyhisanklestothevan,whatwastheretofear? Simonjustglanceddownatthelooseshacklesthatoncewhereonthisoldman'swrists,hethoughtWhereandhowdidhegetout ofthosethingsandwheredidthoseblackhairscomefrom? MoreguardscamefromthenowloweringdrawbridgetohelpassistinFathertime'sreintroductiontoStalagRhinehothsomehad pistolsdrawn,moreothershadriflesallaimingatSiegfried'sheadallwhereshoutingZurckkommen!,Zurckkommen!!,repeating thephraseaslooselySimoncouldtranslateasGetback!Simonstillsittingwatchingthewholespectacleunfold,justsatbackinhis chairandturnedhisheadforheknewwhatwouldcomenext.

TheguardsgotcontrolofFathertime,hesatbackinhisseat,theguardsmovedinquicklytoremovehischockinglegshacklesthat hadimbeddedthemselvesunderneathhisskin.Withanunhumanhowlnotmadebyanyknowncreature,theshackleswherepriedfree fromhisbody.Simonflinchedthewholetime,grippinghiseyesclosedasthesoundsofpainandanguishpouredfromhisroadtrip mate'sthroat. Siegfriedwaspulledfromthevan,withnoosesthrownaroundhisneckandbodywithlongbatonsusedbydogcatcherstokeep theirdistancefromarabiddog.Simonfinallyturnedtoviewwherethebloodyshackleslaidthereissomuchblood,from1man, fromanoldermanhowisthatpossible?Simongaspsashetriedtalkingtooneoftheguards. TheguardonlysneeredatSimonandrepliedheisnonormalmanbuttheguardwasquicklyslappedbyKlausWacheahugeman withaslightlycurvedupperbackfrommoretimespentpumpingirononhisupperbodythanhislower.Hehadadarkbeardthatseemed thickandnomatterhowoftenheshaveditwouldbegrowninafewhourslater. KlausglaredatSimonandsaidareyouwaitingforaspecialinvitationinmate?!Simonfroze,Klausstaredathimwithalmostred eyesGETOUT!Simonstumbledtostandbutendedupfallingoutofthebackofthevan,sincehehadbeensittingsolong,theblood hadrushedoutofhisheadtohislowerextremitiestotrytofunctionhislegs. KlausbentoverwithhismassivehandsandgrabbedSimonbythehead,pullinghisbodyintheerectuprightposition.Simoninhis BritishwhitrepliedThankyouuubutyoucouldhearthestraininhisvoice. Klaus,laughedatthesiteofthisfeebleman. AsSimonturned,thefogseemedtoliftshowingthelongfallfromanapparentmoatbutashestarreddeepthroughthemist,itwas notamoatatall,butratheracavernousfallsofaritwashardtoseethebottom.AsSimontriedtostareupwardsalightmistfallingmade himsquintandhardforhimtoseethetopoftheprisonthatwasmoreshapedlikeacastlethanaprisonandbehindthathecouldseethe longstretchingmountainsfilledwithsnowcoveredpines.Asbreathtakingasitwas,notimetosightsee,hewasbeingshovedforward bytheguardstowardsthedrawbridgethathadbeenloweredforthem. Thedrawbridgewasoldwroughtironwithdarkheavytimberflanks,weatheredbutalmosthardenedlikesteel.Therewhereso manyironstripsinit,itwasmoremetalthanwood,itlookedcenturiesold.Theironlinksthatloweredthedrawbridgewheremassive, thechainsleadthemselvesupintothemouthsofGriffinswhosewingsstretchedacrossthemassivedoor.Theguardslookeduptonodat theguardswhoworkedthecapstan'sthatraisedthebridge.Ittook8guardsintotaltoraisethebridge,4percapstanoneithersideofthe massivedoorthatwasthebridgetotheoutsideworld.

Simonwonderedhowthatitwasmanualratherthananelectricwinchorhydraulicpiston.JustthenKlaussmackedhimintheback oftheheadwithhisleathergloves,Yousee,ittakes8largementowinchupthedoor,probably10prisoners,alothardertoget10 prisonersuptherewithoutbeingshotratherthansomeelectricbutton! Simontryingtoreachhisheadtosooththesmack,SimonthoughtHadKlausreadhismindoristhatwhateveryonethinks? AsthecrossedtheThresholdtoRhinehothitwasapparentthiswasnotordinaryprison,thecourtyardwasantique,cobblestoned, weathered,darkandgrey.Thewatchtowerswhereblocksofgranitecarvedwithvariousdemons,dragonsandthesuch.Eacheyeofthe creatureswherethelookoutwindowswheretheguardspeeredthroughwiththeirrifles.Everysooftenyoucouldseethelasersights streamacrossthefloorofthecourtyardjustenoughtoletyouknow,theywhereupthere,watching,staring,studying. Klausstoppedhimsomewhereinthemiddleoftheyardasthedrawbridgecameslammingshut.Simonlookedoverhisshoulderto seethemassivedoorcreateawhirlingmistoftherainfallingdownonthem.Afogbegantorollourofadooracrosstheyardasalarge blackhorse,lookingtobebellowingsteamfromitsnostrilsapproachthem.Itwassaddledandmassive,everymusclecouldbeenseen ripplingasitcanteredtowardthem.Simonflinchedyetagainasitbecameeversoclose.Klausreachedoutandgrippeditsreigns.Patting thehorseonthenose,Klausrubbedit,reachedinhispocketandpulledoutacubeofsugartofeedtohim.ThisisArnie,herubbedthe horsesnoseheisthebesthorsehere.Heisoneofmany,wekeepthemtopatroltheroughforest.NotthatyouwillescapeHftling! SimonthoughtHftlingwasGermanforgentlemanorsomething,butheknewitwasnothingmoreromanticthatPrisonerhe lookedfurtheraroundasKlausguidedhimwithhispointinghands,showingeachoftheguard'stowers,machinegunturretsandthe flickeringofthelasersightsonthegroundandwallsastheguardsroutinelyprojected. Simonjustlookeddownathisfeetinsubmissionknowingtherewouldbenowayout.Butwhatofhisnewlybefriendedvanmate? Siegfriedwhowasescortedinaheadofthem,therewasnosignofhim,surelyhehadescaped,therewashopebutKlaustookaswing withhisBillyclubtothebackofSimon'slegs,THUD!Ohwhere'smymanors,WelcometoStalagRhinehoth! SimonwasdraggedonhiskneestoadarkcorneroftheyardwhereheenteredadoorwithanabruptSLAM.Hiswelcomebeating hadbegun.

Chapter2 WelcometoStalagRhinehoth

Simonawokeafewdayslater,toadrippingsoundcomingfromsomewhereoffinthedistant.Hefeltcoldandcouldfeelthecold enterhischestashetookadeepbreath.Hiseyesbegantofocusandhepeeredaroundwithhisstillwearyeyes,hesawaratinthecorner gnawingatastalepieceofbreadthatmayhavebeenhisbreakfast,buthewasnotsure,maybetheratwashisbreakfastforallheknew. Hepushedhimselftohisfeet,weakfromthebeatingsadayortwoago,hishandsandkneeshaddriedbloodfromsomethinghecould notrememberandhiscellremindedhimofsomethingfromabookhehadoftenreadasaboy,TheCountofMonteCristo,abook,he willsoonwanttoforgetasitstartsoffasamanimprisonedforlife,themanisannuallybeaten,starvedtoabagofbones.Heeventually escapesmorethanadecadelaterbuthisfamilyandfriendshaveforgottenallabouthim.Simoncouldnotbearthethoughtofoneyear, letaloneadecadeorevenlifeforthatmatter.Abookheonceenjoyedreadingwithhisimaginationishisimprisonedreality.Hetriedto standuprightbutstruggledfromlayingonthefloorunconsciousforafewdays.Hisbackwasbruised,hewashungryandweak.He lookeddownataplateandbowlnexttowherethebreadwastakenfrombyhisrodentvisitor.Thebowlwasshallowbutlookedto containsomesortofsoup,green,almostaflorescentgreen.Heheldhimselfbackfromgaggingasitseemedarathaddrownedinit, somethinghehadnotseenateyelevelcrouchedonthefloor. Heturnedhisheadtotheoppositesideofhiscell.Itappearedhehasabedonthefloor,amattress,pancakeflat,thatmoldedtothe contoursofthefloor.Itappearedtohaveastainedshroudofallthemenwhohadslepttherebefore.Heknewwhyhehadprobably unconsciouslychosentosleeponthestonefloor. Aholeinthecobbledfloorwasusedashistoilet.Waterranfromtheopenwindowdownagroovecutfromyearsofwear.Theflow ofwaterranrightintohistoiletanobviousmodernconvenienceofturnofthecenturyplumbing.Thewaterinthetoiletlookeddeepand muddy.Itcertainlywasnotmudfromitssmell.Awindowletinstaleairfromthejaggedhillsandspikedpeaksofthemountainrange behindtheprison,oddlyenoughbeingwinter,heiscold,butnotfreezingdespitetheopenbarredwindow,hehastostandonhistoesto seeoutofthewindowbuthenoticesthatitseemstobemidmorningbutthebackoftheprisoncastsoutthesun,nottomentionthe constantcloudcoveratthealtitudetheywhereat,hislungsfeltthethinnessoftheair.Simoncanseethelightsonthehillshowingeach individualcell,almostpaintingapictureofeachcellasyoucanseetheinhabitant'sshadowsalivewithanimation.Afewcells,itwas apparentprisonerswherepacingindespair,thoughhecanseeonlyseetheshadows.

Simonfallsbacktoflatsofhisfeetashehearstheguardscomingdownthehall,his cellopens,thelargeirondoorhadasmallwindowlettinginsomecrosslightingtojustilluminatehisroomfromdarkness,itopenedto exposehimtohisnewoutsideworld.Hestandssoftlyhopingnottobebeatenanymore. Kommen,Klausmotionedwithhishandsforhimtocomeout.Simonobeyedskittishlyflinchinganticipatingmorepain.Outin thehall,itwasunimaginablybrightconsideringitlookedtobeononeofthelowerlevelsthathecouldtellfromlookingoutsidethrough hissmallbarredwindow.Hesquintedfromthebrightness.Hewasnothandcuffedorshackledasheexpected,butjustwalkingdownthe hallthatseemedtoodimashewalked,hewasconfusedbecausethelightfirstseemedtocomefromoldlightfixturesandnowlookedas thoughitwascomingfromtorchesmountedtothewalls,thesmellofkerosenewasalsopresentaswellasavialputridsmell.Hecould hearotherprisonerssufferingfromeachdoorhewalkedpast,theirmoanswentrightthroughhim.Somewheremakingsoundsofdeep gutwrenchingvomitingashecouldhearvolumesoftheliquidhitthefloor. OneoftheguardshadaskedSimonrepeatedly,genieenSieIhrFrhstck?Simonjustshruggednotknowingwhatthemanwas asking.Klausbarked,Heisasking,genieenSieIhrFrhstck?,didyouenjoyyourbreakfast?Klauslaughedwholeheartedlywithhis menjoininginonthehumorastheyheardanothermanvomitnearthedoorastheliquidranouthittingSimon'sbarefeet.Thesmall wavehadwashedseveralbugswithit,stickytohisfeet.Hisshoeshadbeenremovedlettinghisbarefeethitthecoldcobbledstonehall andnowsoakedinsomeone'sstomachbile.Corpsesofrodentslinedtheedgesofthehall.Simonwastryingtotakecareineachofhis steps,aswellasdraggingthemtoscraptheliquid&bugsoffhisfeet.Klausbecameimpatientathispaceandshovedhimeveryso politely!Aftertheywalkedabit,theycametoafreightliftwhichhadanelectriclightinit,butthefixturewasasoldashewas.Thelift movedquicklyupwardswhichcaughttheguardsandSimonabitsurprised,butKlausseemedathomewithit.Asitrosehecouldseethe differentfloorsastheypassedthroughawireportholecutintothelift'sdoor.Simoncouldseefloorafterfloorofcells,menwashing floors,guardsonpatrol,itseemedalmostendlessthehallwaysandfloorsthatwhizzedby.Theliftcametoanabruptstopandasthe scissorlikedoorsopenedfrommiddleinoppositedirections,hesawsomethingthatstartledhim,acreature,butalovelycreature,itwas ayoungwoman,verybeautiful,thinbuttonedashecouldtellfromtheskirtshewaswearing,shewasprofessionallydressedbuthadthat latenightcallgirllookabouther,justabitroughandusedaroundtheedges.Shequicklyputherhandout,theblueveinsshowedup againstherpaleskinaswellasthesupplelinesofherbonesthroughherfingers.Hernailswherepaintedahighglossred,bloodredthat shimmeredinthelight.Simonmadenoattemptatahandshake.

Shewithdrewherhandslowlyrubbingafewofherfingerstogetherto coverupthegesture.ShebegantospeakHello,IamDoctorHeulen,theKommandant'sdaughter,ImeanWardenasyouBrit'smaybebe moreacustom.Simonlookedather,hefelthehadseenhersomewherebefore,shefeltittoo,butwhere?Inhereyesheseemedtolose himself,theywherepaleblue,moreofanicedblue, withslitsforpupils,almostcatlike.Doctor?isallSimoncouldmutter.Takenbackbyhisstaresathereyesandtheuncomfortable feelingofsomehow knowinghim,shepulledherhandbackquickly,Itisabirthdefectasshetriedtoconcealhereyes. Simonstillstaringdeeplyintoherwonderingeyes,Birthdefect?heslowlyexhaledandthencaughthimself,Oh,yes,birthdef ummsosorry,yourjuststunning,toostunningtobeinaplacelikethisSimonlettinggoofhissituationandlettingsomeBritishcharm shineout. ShegotagirlishgrinonherfaceandquicklychangedthesubjectbackYes,IamaDoctorofPhysiology,Istudyandhelpsomeof theinmateshere,Itrytohelpthem.HereyesseemedtowonderoffyetagainWelllet'sgothiswaytomeetmyfather. Shesignalstotheguardstostaywithahandmotionlikeyouwouldtelladogtostay.JustKlausaccompaniesthemdownthehallto awelllitreceptionarea,whereitlookedliketherewheremuffins,croissantsandwhatlookedliketobebrewingtea! IsthatTea?Simonaskedsniffingintheair. Yes,indeed,wewillpouryouacupbeforeweenterhisofficemotioningwithherhandthelocationoftheKommandant'soffice, herlonglinesandpaleskincaughtthelightandalmostglowedoffherpaleskin. Simongraspsononeoftheteacupsasthoughhehadneverhadteayetthisyear,hecuppedit,smelleditandalmostlookedasifhe wheregoingtomakelovetothecupitself,hegrabbedacroissantandfollowedtheseductiveDoctorintoseeherfather. SimonwasshownachairpulledoutjustabitbyKlausashesattohisdelightathandsreachwheresomemoresugarcubesthathe fumbledtograbtosweetentheteajustabitmore. TheKommandantwasfinishinguponaphonecall,hewassmokingalargecigarthatseemedtofoguphisglasses,behindhimwas anantiquewiredfan,movingeversoslowly,itmadethatannoyingrubbingmetallicsoundasoneofthefinsrodeagainstitswiredcage wantingtogetout.ThefanwasmovingairjustenoughtowhiskthesmokefromthecigarinthedirectionofSimonandcompany. AstheKommandanthungthephonehestooduprightwhichstartledtheskittishSimonandhespilledabitofteaonhislap.He begantowipeitoffashestarredtohisleftwheretheDoctorwassittingandgrinningathisslightmisshap.Henoticedabeauty markonherthighthathadbecomevisiblewithhersittingasherskirtnaturallyroseupabit.Themarkseemedoddlyfamiliar.The Kommandantlookedasifhewasgoingtoputhishandoutingentlemanlygreeting,Simonplacedhisteaonthetablenexttohimas theKommandantmadehisintroduction.SimonwasstillcaughtinastareofMaxine'sbeautymark.

ClearinghisthroatUmmma,IamKommandantAdolfHeulen,youhavemetmydaughterMaxineandKlausCaptainofthe guard.Adolfmotionedwithhishandsinpresentation,Simonbegantostandashetookthequeueashistimetoshakehands.Klausdove hislargehandintoSimon'sshouldertoremounthimonhischair. SimonglancingoveratKlauswhoisstillstanding,YeswehavemetSimonbegantorubhisshoulderwhereKlaus'smassivehand hadlanded.SimonalsobegantorubhisjawwhereKlaushadlandedalovetapononeoftheinitialwelcomebeatings. Adolf,chuckledquickly,YesKlausdoesgetquiteareactionheclearedhisthroatquicklyandthenstartedagainWellquick historyandthenontoyoursituationStalagRhinehothasnamedbyHitlerinWorldWarII,itwasawarprisonforallthehighofficials thatHitlerwantedtogoaway,spiesthatwherecaughtandjustnotsuitableforgeneralpopulationattheotherStalagsthroughout German,Polandandthesuch.Hepausesamomenttotakeaquickhitofhiscigar.WealwayslikethefeelofthenameStalagsowe keptitnamedassuch,thisisacastleontheedgeoftheBlackForrest,itisfulloflegend,fullofallsortsofghoststories,butnoquestion, youwillserveyourtimeherewithnohopeofescape. Simoninterruptedquickly,Fathertimedid KlausmovedintoslapSimonasSimonflinchedathisbraveryformutteringwhathedid. Adolfjustreplied,Yes,dearestSiegfried,yousee,hewasCaptainoftheguardyearsago,butwentmadonenight,alotofprisoners andguardsforthatmatterwentdead.Shamehewaslikeabrothertome.Adolfwaslookingoffataphotoonanearbyshelf. Makenomistake,youwillnotdothesame.Siegfriediswhatweliketo,calluniqueclearinghisthroatoncemoreWemake manyupgradeshere,especially security.Thatisaremainconcern,moreforyoursafety.Endingwithagrin. Simon,politelyinterrupting,oursafety? Yesyoursafety,youseethemountainsareadesperateplace,manydangerouslay beyondthesewalls,believemeyoursaferinthesewalls.Adolfbeginstositdown WellthisleadsmetoanotherquestionIhavenotbeenabletoaskwhyamIhere? AdolfwithabitofagrindevelopingonhisfaceThisisamaximumsecurityprison; youhavebeenconvictedofyourcrimes

Yes,butyousee,Ididnoharmanyone,IjustdroveagetawaycarAdolfsmirking,takingalonginhaleofhiscigarthat'ssmokewas makingSimonillfromthesmellandconstantsmoketrailgoinghisway.Wellyousee,inGermany,someonehastopayforthecrime, youwheretheonlyaccompliceleft.Agoodhardworkingcitizendied,Germanswantjustice,someonealwayspays.Besidesyoudid causeharm, youwheretheonetobringthementhatcausedtheharm,thismakesyoujustasguilty.ButIamnotamurderer.Adolflooksathis daughter,wellwewillseeexactlywhatyourcapableof,fornow SimonRobertswebidyougooddayandwewillshowyouyournewquartersAdolfmotionstoKlaustotakehimaway. KlausleadsSimonwhoisstillinshockofwhereheisandtheblanketofvagueinformationofwhyhewasinwithmaximum securityprisonersinthemiddleoftheBlackForrest,milesawayfromanycivilization. Klausalwayswalksbehindtheprisonersandhassomeofhisotherguardsleadthewaydownthemazeofhallsandcorridors.It seemseasytogetlostinthemaze,allthestonewallsareweatheredfromtimewithnodefiningmarks,thereisapeculiarlargeamountof littorchesdownsomehallsandotherhallsarelitwithcrudeelectriclighting,Simonrecalledastheywalkedthattheycontinually upgradedtheprison,butwithkerosenelittorcheswhatwheretheyexactlyconstantlyupgrading? Aftertheyhadbeenwalkingforseveralminutestheybegantowalkpastthemainpartoftheprisonwhereitwasvisiblethatthiswas moremodernthanthecellhespentafewdaysin.ItwasmodernasprobablyAlcatrazwasinthoseoldmovies,thoughthebarsthatheld theprisonerswherefreshlypaintedadarkgrey,thewallswherestilloldasthemountainsthatsurroundedthem.Thecellslookedtight andcramped;eachlookedtohaveanoldruststainedsinkandatoiletthathadnoseatbutatleastitwasnotinthefloor.Theceiling lookedtohavestalactitesgrowingwithadampmustysmellyoucouldfellthecoldcomingoutofeachcell. KlausspokeanumberinGermantotheguardsinfront,theyshoutedbackandstoppedatacellthatwaslitwithalightinthecenter oftheroom,ithadawindowastheothersalsowithabackviewoftheprison.Hissinkastheothershehadseenwasdrippingwitharust markfromwherethewaterdripped,henoticedabitofsteamcomingfromthebackwallbythetoilet,KlauspointedandlaughedYou haveaheater!hepushedSimonintothecellandslammedthedoorshut,Klauswenttowalkawaybutstoppedandturned,please forgivemymanorshesaidinhisthickGermanaccent,WelcometoStalagRhinehoth! Simoncroucheddowntositonhisbed,itwasabunkbed,butthetoplookedasthoughitdoubledasadresserforblanketsandhis prisonuniforms.Oddlyenoughtherewasaslightlywornhatthatwasfromhisfavoriteteam,ManchesterUnitedafootballteamfromhis hometown.Hequicklyputitonforacomfortofhomeandwonderedwhohadputittherehelaiddownpullingablanketoverhisbody ashejustwantedtogotosleepagainandmaybewakefromthisnightmare.

Simonwasawakenbyabellheheardringing,analarmclockhethought.Hethoughthesmelledafaintsmellofcinnamonbread andsawanoutlineofhismotherusingherapronasapotholderassheremovedthefreshlybakingbreadfromtheoven.Hiseyes regainedfocusontoacold,agedstonewall.Therealityquicklyhithim.Helookedoutofhiscell,upsidedown,whilelyinginbedand sawitwas6pm,dinnertime.Ashestaredataclockanupsidedownfigureappeared,Simonrightsidedtheimagebystandingupoutof bedtobegreetedbyafellowcellblockmate,hewasasmallmanthatsharplyintroducedhimself,GutenAbend, Simonquicklyinterrupted,IdonotspeakGerman,doyouspeakEnglish?Themanquicklychangedtoneashewasshovedbya passingprisonerandhestumbledintoSimon'scell,uuahummm,themanclearedhisthroatEnglishman?Inhere?puzzled,he scratchedhisheadandbeganagain,IamMaus,orMouseinyourEnglishtongue.Quitepuzzled,anEnglishmaninourGermanhell, quitepuzzling.SimonsuspectedahintofEnglishaccent,Areyoufromhere?heaskedMouse, whochuckled,No,IamGerman,quitcertainofthat,butstudiedatOxford.Simonnowreallypuzzled,Howdidyouenduphere? Catchinghimself,Where aremymanners,IamSimonRobertsofManchester.SimonExtendinghishand.Mousetookitinafirmhandshakeforthesmallstatureof hisman,Delightedtomeetyou,asforthe1stquestion,Ilovewomen,probablyabittoomuchastheycan'tstandmypassion,oneof themhadahusbandthatfollowedmehome,I,fearlessinfight, prevailedSimonlookedathimfromheadtotoe.MouseshruggedHetripped,felldownthestairsandbrokehisneckIlethimstay therethenightbeforeIreportedhowwasIsupposetoknowhewasamemberofparliament?withasheepishgrin.Iaminnocent! Simonlookedathimstillkindofpuzzledatthewholemomentofthemeeting,Iaminnocentaswell.Simonmutteredlooking backintohiscellatmaybeanotherglimpseofthemirageofhismother. Mousetookhimbythearm,Come,wecannotbelateforweshallnoteat! Theybothwonderedintothehallofcellsalmostthelastonesinline,whichisagood thingattimesasnottobeshovedbacktotheendofthelinebytheharderinmates. HeyMouse,doyouknowwheretheyhadmethepastfewdays? Mousewithabitofagrin,Oh,thatwasourwelcomecenter.Simonwasnot grinning.

Uponarrivingtothedinninghall,itopenedupintoavasthall,longtablessplitintosections,dividedtheroominto4equalpartsbut waslargeenoughtoholdalltheinmatesatonetime.Itlookedtobeaconvertedgrandballroomwithoperalikebalconiesfromwhich theguardshadlookoutstationswiththeirriflesaimed,lasersightsofftogivetheinmatessomecalmingmomentsinwhichtodine.As theywhereinline,hecouldseesomeoftheguardsinaseparatelinegettingwhatlookedtobeblackpuddingafavoriteofSimon's.He tappedMouseontheshoulderandaskedhimHey,howdowegetsomeofthatblackpudding? Mouselookingveryannoyed,youdon'twantanyofthatshhhnotawordmore!Mousewasmakingcalmdowngestureswithhis handstryingtodistractSimonfromstarring.Itwastoolate,theyhadbeenspotted. Klauswasintheguard'slineonhissideofthedininghall,hehadaplatefulloftheblackpuddinginlinks.Thelinkswherefatand dark,Klaustookthestringofsausagesgrippedaroundhishand,droppedhisplateinlineandmadehiswaytowardMouseandSimon. MouseinterjectingKlaus,eristneu!MousewastryingtoshieldSimonbutmousewastosmalltoevenslowKlausdown,Klaus heisnew!,pleasesparehim!Freizeitihn! Butitwastoolate,KlausdraggedSimonbythenecktotheflooronhisside,pullinghimoverthefoodservicecoolersandheaters knockingdownflatwareanddishesintheprocess,Klaus'massivebicepsrippingthroughhisshirt,heheldSimondownonthefloorand dangledthelinksofsausagesoverhismouthyellingEssen!Essen!EatyourBritishdog,EAT!!thesmellwasunlikeSimonhadsmelt before,itwassweeterthanhehadeaten,thedarkdripswrungoutfromKlaus'grip,drippeddownontoSimon'slips,makinghimgagfor itwasnotthefamiliartastehehadhoped. Simon'shandshadbeengrippingKlaus'aroundhisneck,butheletgohopingKlauswouldlethisgripgo,hedidnot.Assoonas Simonfelthisvisionbegintofadeheheardawoman'svoiceyellingfromanearbybalcony, StopjetztKlaus!Haltestelleaufeimal!afemalevoicebeckoned. KlausstoppedandletSimongoashegaspsforbreathasMouseranbacktohisaid. Dr.Heulenjumpedoverarailingtoanearbystairwell,agoodjumpforaDr.inheels.SherandownthestairstotheaidofSimonas well,Klaus'fingermarkscouldstillbeseeninhisneck,shelookedupatKlausthatlookedasifhewasputtinghistailbetweenhislegs sheshoutedathimafteraquickexam,DummHund!shebarkedoutatKlaus,meaningStupidDog. Klausinhisshamelookedaroundthedinehallateveryonestarringandshoutedzurckzuessen!backtoeating! MouseandtheDoctortriedtogetSimontohisfeet,hewasstaggeringandshetold

Mousetobringhimtotheinfirmary.SeveraldayshadgonebyandSimonwasstillintheinfirmarywithabandagedneck,withanalmost crushedlarynx,histhroatwassoreandhadtroublespeaking.Mousecametovisithimbrieflywithaplateofsnacksofsweetdrieddates. Obviously theywheresmuggledinsomehow.Iborrowedthesefromthekitchen;Idon'tthinktheywillmissafewSimonmotionedthathewas tryingtospeak.Thankyou.hestruggled.Mousetoldhim;noworriesgetbettersoonhepattedhimonthechestandleftthe datesinSimon'sopenhand.Simonjustlookedatthem,wonderingifhewouldbeabletochewthemandthenswallow.Hewasdrinking somethickmeatycocktailthattheorderlieshadbeenmixingandblending.Theytastedawful,buthedidfeellikehewasgettingbetter. Simon'sbedwassoft,cleanandblue,veryblue,somewhitelinens,butfreshlypaintedwhitewalls,very,VERYbright.Simon squintedashelookeduptowardsthelightsandrolledovertohisrightwherehesawanoccupanthedidnotrecallseeingearlier. Thestrangerbegantospeak,Hi,IamMichael,hishandoutreachedtoshakeSimon's.I'mSimon,SimonRobertswithhishad alsoextendedtomeetMichaelsinafriendlyhandshake.IseeyouhavemetKlaus,withasmirkonhisface.Swallowinghard,Yeah, heissomethingelseHeisanogreMichaelsaidlessthansoftlyWhatisthisplace?SimoninquiredHlle,Hellmyfriend,Hell Simonstarreddeepintohiseyes,Ihaveneverheardofsuchaplace,IstudiedaboutWorldWarIIquiteabitandneverremember readingthisplace. Michaellookedoverhisshouldertomakesurenoonewaswatching,Dr.Heulenwasineyessight,butnotcloseenoughtohear, therewasanorderly,buthelookedtoobusydoingsomesortofinventoryandtheotherpatientsseemedfarenoughawaynottohear. Simon,letmetellyouastoryRhinehothwasonceruledbyaBavarianPrincewhodesperatelywantedtobeKingofAustria& Bavaria.Hepausedamomenttoglancearoundtheroomoncemore,HekeptasecretcovenofwitchesfromtheBlackForest,he practicedinsorcery,theoccult,lookingforimmortality.SomesaidheevenmadeapactwithLuciferhimself.HebuiltanArmyof werewolvesashissoldierstoovertakethecountrysideandthenthecities.Butwhenthewitchesbetrayedhim,the

werewolvesroseupagainsthim,imprisoninghiminhiscastleforeternityheisstillaliveinthedungeonsofthisverycastle!Simon lookedathimwithafeeblesmile,SothisisRhinehoth?MichaelwithaquickglanceoverhisshoulderYes,Michaellookedso seriousSimonjustbegantolaugh.Simonstilllaughing,MichaelIthinkyourmorphinedripisgoingabittoofast MichaelstillinaseriousstatelookedattheeversoslowdripofhisIVandbegantolaughathowoutlandishhemustseemtellingof thedarksecretsthatthecastleheld.Especiallytoaforeigner.Hewouldlearnsoonenoughonhisown. Michaellookedathimsquareintheeye,notasmileonhisface.Simonfrozedeadinhislaugh,MichaelbegantospeakDoyouplay checkers?bothmenbrokeoutinlaughterasMichaelswungaroundpullingthenightstandcloseforagameofcheckers. Theyplayedcheckersandthenontochesstolateintheevening.Thesuncouldbeseensettinginapicturewindow,oneofthefew notbarredfromtoptobottom,thereasonastheinfirmaryoverlookedthecentercourtyard,thoughinthistoweritwashighenoughto notlookatthewroughtirongatethatcoversthedrawbridgeortheguardswalkingtoandfroonthetoweringwallsoverthecourt.The sunsbeamsseamedtopiercethroughthewindowandontoacrossontheothersideoftheroom,illuminatingitasthegoldcolor shimmeredonthefloorandwalls. Wow,whataviewSimongaspsasheplacedhisQueeninfrontofhisKing,Checkmate Whataview,Michaellaughedashepushedoverhispiece.Thesundippedbehindthemountainsandyoucouldseethelastbeam ofduskdisappearasthenearfullmooncastsitownbeamsacrossthemajesticmountains. Thesunhardlyevershinesaroundthesemountains.Itisararesiteindeed.Enjoyit,youmaynotseethesunforawhile! Youcouldhearthewolvesoffinthedistancehowlingatthebrightlylitmoon,butthehowlsseemedtogroweversoclose.The howlingwasbecominglouderasitalmostappearedtobeinsidetheinnerwalls. Whydoeseverythingseemsodarkinthisplace?SimonaskedasheturnedtothesurprisepresenceofDr.Heulen. DarkSimon? Umm,yeah,HiMaxineSimonrepliedinsurprise Maxine?DrHeulenreplied Oh,pardonme,ImeanDr.Heulenforthebriefmomentheforgothisplaceashemomentarilylosthimselfinhereyes.

Heretakethis,shehandedhimasmallcontainerwithafewpillsTheywillhelpyousleeptonight,youreturntoyourcell tomorrow Simondidashewastoldandswallowedthemhard;hetookasipfromtheglassofwatersheheld.Heswallowedhardashecould feelthepillssticktohisbruisedthroatlikechalk.Itburnedandputhiminexcruciatingpain.Hedroppedtheglasstograsphisthroatto helpease&subduethetortureoftheslowfallingpills.Theglassfellanditshatteredontothefloor,hequicklytriedtograbthebigger piecesbutcuthisindexfinger.Thebloodbegantodriponthefloor,shequicklydartedherhandtocatchtheblooddripinmidair.She grabbedhishandandbegantosuckhisfingerasthebloodrandownhishand;shestoppedherselfasshebegantolickdownhisfingerto hishand.ShefoldedhishandtightlyForgivemesheshieldedhereyesfromhis,MichaellookedatSimonwithanalmostthumbsup highfive,butSimonfoundthisstrange,embarrassingbutmorethanstrangebehavior.Michaeljustfounditerotic. Oh,that'sokSimonrepliedtohergesture,Clumsymehashedrewhishandback. Anorderlyhadcomeoveraboutasquickastheglasshitthefloortosweepupthemess.Dr.Heulenquicklystoodupandretreatedto herofficechurningherhandsofanybloodthatwasonthem.OddlytheorderlylookedSimonsquareintheeyesashesweptperfectlythe messonthefloorwithoutevenaglancedown. HefinallyspoketoSimon,mindyourclumsiness,accidentscankillyouaroundherehiseyesalmostglowedalmostbrightgreen, maybethemoonlightcomingthroughthewindow? SimonswallowedwithagulpandMichaeljusttuckedhimselfintohisbed. Simoncrawledunderhiscoversasthepillsbegantotakeaffectquickly,helookedoverattheorderlywalkingaway,hisimagewas sidewaysfromSimon'spositionsoitseemedeerieashecontinuedtowalk,hisstepsseemedtofastforwardeverycoupleofsteps.The wholetimetheorderlywaslookingoverhisshoulderatSimon,watchinghimdrifttosleep. ThatnightSimondreamed,deepdarkdreamsofdread,hesawhimselfrunningthelongtorchlithalls,tryingtocatchhisbreathas largebeadsofsweatfellasheran,hesawalightaheadthathewasdesperatelyrunningto,itwasthecrossintheinfirmary,litbythe moonlight,heranfastertogettoit.Hisbluescrubsthatheworeaspajamasintheinfirmarywheresoakeddarkwithsweat,stickingto him,makingitevenharderforhimtorunintherestrictedfashion.Shadowsofdogsrunningdownthehallathimlargemountainwolves, snappingastheyran,theirgreeneyespiercedthedarknessastheyran. Simonranfasterastheendofthehallseemedtolieoutofhisreach,hestretchedhisarmsouttograbtheendofthehallthatseemed nevertocome.Theimagesflashedasthe

imageofMaxineseemedtoappeartohim,shelaidnakedunderthecrosstryingtocoverherselfinanimalskinsthatwhereblackasthe mountainsatnighttime,withthicktuffsoffur.Shecoveredherself,butmovedinecstasyasshecrossedherlegsbackandforth,feeling thefurbetweenhersoftsuppleskin.HerbreastsspilledoutfrombehindthemasshereachedoutcallinghisnameSimon,Cometo me Suddenlyheawokewithagasp,hewasstillintheinfirmarybutitwaslate,helookedattheclockthatsaid3:03am,howisithe wokewiththemedicinethatwassupposetomakehimsleepthroughoutthenighttillmorning.Hegotupandwalkedtothebathroom. Heflushedthetoiletandwashedhisfaceinthebasin.Herubbedthesweatoffthebackofhisneckashelookedupinthemirrortosee theimageofanudeMaxinecoveredinbloodoutreachingtohim,bloodwasrunningdownherbodyandoffheroutreachedarms,so muchblooditlookedasifastreamofbloodwasjustflowingdownfromherlongflowinghairwitheachstrainactinglikeastrawto carrythethickredfluidofblood.Heyelledoutandyetawokeagain!Adream,withinadream.Whatkindofdrugswheretheygiving him.Whatkindofplacewashein?

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