Pepsianstein, the True Story...

[reg...@aol.com]

Vampire spaniel?

***

Gresham College...1666...

"You may murmur if you will..."

Murmur, murmur, murmur...

"Right..." Mr. King fumes but continues... "But I foresee a day when
this experiment in the transfusion of blood will be followed by
others."

"Others..." Mr. Coxe echoes.

"Til one day the brains of smart people will be kept alive by
transfusion into the bodies of dumb people..."

Murmur, murmur...

Say...Several take pause...

Would be nice to live another fifty in some dumb young footman.

Still...Some one is sure to...

"Unholy!!...Papist!!!...Out with them!!" cry is raised.

Hmmn...Somehow...Hooke thinks, monitioning for King and Coxe to exit,
stage left, post-haste with surprisingly frisky spaniel...

That juxtaposition just doesn't...

"This is not over!!" King shakes fist.

(Spoiler...Halt now or like Dr. Praetorius of "Bride of Frankenstein"
risk knowing too much...)


November 1669...

A drunken, broke King is grabbed by two men as he stumbles back to his
lodgings...

And finds himself covered in hood, dragged to coach, and after a
rather short ride, dragged into a building and sat in a chair. His
hood jerked off to reveal a short, bug-eyed man in periwig looking
anxious and jotting notes.

"Mr. King? I apologize for having you brought here under such
circumstances but time was of the essence."

"Sir?"

"Best not to identify myself just now Mr. King...Wouldn't want to have
to have you deposited into the Thames for my safety should you refuse
my request...The request, Mr. King, of a desperate, desperate man.
And a loving husband..."

"Hic...Sir?"

"Water!" Bucket thrown at King...

"Sorry, Mr. King...Time as I said. Mr. King, I learnt of your
transfusion experiments in '66 and have followed your work since. I
understand you have continued your efforts, though without proper
support. Though you have achieved such results as might astound...Or
horrify...The world were they to be known?"

"Hic...Have me at a disad..hic..vantage, sir."

"Mr. King...You once said you dreamed of transfusing the human brain.
And I understand that you have worked in secret to make that dream a
reality. Without sanction, I should say."

"Sir?" King snaps alert at the implied threat.

"Not to worry, Mr. King. In fact...I have a subject for you."

Sam waves to servant who reluctantly pulls curtain...

***