The Night of the Floundering Female
Chapter 10
The Expert
"That's great," Sweetie said, when he told her. "Doctor Webber is my father."
"How can that be when your name is 'Sweetman'?"
"Because he's my mother's second husband but I always refer to him as my father because he married my mother when I was very young. I don't remember my real father."
"But I thought you said your father was an army doctor."
"He was, during the war, but he is an expert in injuries to the brain, physical and psychological. He learned a lot from treating and studying wounded soldiers, while working for the union army."
Artie was obviously relieved. "You won't mind then if we take a detour to visit him then."
"Not at all, it will be nice to make a visit home, and I already told you, I'm not leaving Jim until he recovers."
"You are one stubborn lady," Artie said.
Sweetie frowned. "You know, people often say that about me; I don't know why."
Artie's eyebrows rose up at least half an inch at this comment. This woman really was oblivious to her own behaviour.
"We have permission to set off straight away," Artie said, so we should be there by tomorrow morning."
He turned to Jim. "It won't be long now, my boy," he said. "We'll soon have you back to your old, charming self."
Jim tried to smile, and failed.
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Dr Webber was a man in his early fifties, with short, greying hair, a trim beard and a prominent nose. He welcomed his daughter with a fatherly embrace and then looked at his visitors. "So, Sweetie, while I supposed you to be safely on the stagecoach, you have been travelling with two government agents," he said. "I think I deserve an explanation, don't you?"
"I'll tell you all about it later, father. I'm afraid I've been very stupid and you'll be ashamed of me."
Dr Webber looked at Artie askance. "I hope there has been no inappropriate behaviour or I shall have to call this gentleman to account," he said.
"No, father, Artie and Jim have been real gentleman. It's my actions that shame me. It's my fault Jim is in the state he's in now. Please can you help him?"
"I believe Colonel Richmond sent you a message, informing you of our visit," Artie said.
"Yes. I take it you are Mr Gordon and that is your fellow agent, Mr West. The Colonel didn't tell me what you wanted to see me about."
"I'd like you to take a look at my partner. He's been subjected to some sort of mind control and I'm hoping you can help him."
"Mind control, you say." Webber looked closely at Jim, noting the glassy stare and his rigid composure. "He looks almost imbecilic," he said.
"I should caution you to be careful what you say. There's nothing wrong with Jim's faculties; he can understand everything that' going on around him."
"Is that so? This is a most fascinating case. Do you know what was done to him?"
"No, neither Sweetie nor I were there when it happened. Can it be reversed?"
"I'm not sure. Have you ruled out hypnotism?"
"Yes."
"Bring him into my laboratory and I'll examine him. Not you, young lady," he said to Sweetie, who was following along.
"Please!" she said.
"It's all right," Artie said. "She's been a great help to Jim."
Dr Webber nodded reluctantly and the three of them followed the doctor into a small, well-lit room at the back of the house.
"Sit him on the bed, please."
Artie led Jim over to the bed and gently folded him down onto it. He squeezed his shoulder before stepping back to let Webber approach his patient.
Webber looked closely into Jim's eyes and used a small hammer to check his reflexes.
"He appears all right, physically," he said. "We just need to unlock his mind."
"Can you do that?"
"I have been looking into the subject of brain stimulation. Some of the soldiers I treated for head injuries were left in a permanent state of shock and I had some success introducing stimulus to break down the barriers formed by their experiences."
"Will it work on Jim?"
"I think it might. It's a shame Jim can't talk, he might be able to tell us what was done to him. Then we'd have better chance of reversing it."
"I don't think he knows," Sweetie said. "Whatever Doctor Loveless did, Jim was unconscious at the time."
"What are you going to do?" Artie asked.
"I'm going to put a probe into Mr West's brain," Webber said.
"How is that possible?" Artie asked.
"There are two ways. In layman's terms, one is through the nose, but I consider that very risky. I prefer to make entry through the ear."
"Will it cause Jim any pain?"
"Yes, but I can't give him anything for it because it would dull the sensitivity of his brain to the necessary stimulation."
"When will you begin?"
"I need to make some preparations; I should be ready after lunch. Sweetie, tell cook that we have two guests for luncheon and please bring something to me in the laboratory. I have work to do here."
Thus the three of them were dismissed and Sweetie went to the kitchen while Artie led Jim to the cloakroom so that they could both wash up before eating.
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After lunch the three of them waited in the parlour until they were summoned to Dr Webber's laboratory. They found him messing with a bank of Leyden jars, rigged to wires connected to a pair of electrodes.
"Ah, gentlemen, Sweetie, I'm ready to begin. Please seat Mr West on the bed again."
Artie did as he was instructed. He looked nervous. Again, he reassuringly pressed his hand on Jim's shoulder before standing back.
Webber turned Jim's head toward the window, where the light was best and lifted one of the electrodes in his right hand ready to place it in Jim's left ear. He pushed the wire into the opening.
"My goodness!" Webber proclaimed. "How odd!" he added, removing the electrode and grabbing a magnifying glass from the table top.
"What is it?" Artie asked, fear in his voice. "Is he hurt?"
"No not at all. At least I hope not."
"What is it?" Sweetie asked.
"There's something embedded deep in the inner ear; probably the mechanism by which control is being exerted over your friend."
"What? Can you get it out?"
"I should think so; it extends quite a way. Anyway, I'm going to try. But I have to warn you that it may destroy his hearing in that ear."
"Go ahead!" Artie said, fully aware that Jim would say 'get on with it!' if he could
Webber placed a white cloth on Jim's shoulder, below his ear and probed for the mechanism. "It seems to be spiked into his brain; I'm worried I'll cause damage if I continue," he said.
"Isn't there anything you can do, Father?" Sweetie asked, agitatedly.
Webber turned to Artie. "How much do you know about the man who constructed this thing, this Doctor Loveless? He must have a great mind."
"He has but unfortunately it's bent on evil. He once used a series of sounds to move human matter in and out of paintings. Is that any help?"
"Yes, it could be. It may be that the grip of this mechanism can be released with the correct sound. Did this man have a piano in his house?
"Yes, his wife is a talented pianist."
"I remember seeing a tuning fork on top of the piano," Sweetie said, excitedly.
"Then that's probably what he used. An A-sharp hopefully, as that is the one that I have. Sweetie, will you fetch it for me."
Sweetie nodded and ran from the room. She was back a couple of minutes later. "Here you are," she said.
"Thank you. Now, let me try out my theory."
So saying, Dr Webber struck the forked end on the bottom of his shoe and, as the tines vibrated, a high-pitched sound could be heard. He held it close to Jim's ear.
Jim let out an agonised cry and slumped forward. Artie was only just in time to catch him before he keeled over onto the floor.
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