Episode 2: An Honest Hunter
"Esteemed members of the Gallifreyan police,
I would like to report the theft of two TARDIS models, each of differing make and model. Though decommissioned and in storage, I believe this breach in security shouldn't go unnoted. I have security footage of the two assailants entering at different times and stealing two different TARDIS models, one being a Type 40, the other being a very similar Type 47. One of the trespassers appears to be an aged man with long white hair, while the other seems to be a young man with shorter blonde hair. Both appeared in near the same time, the former leaving before the latter.
I would like to request a formal investigation into these matters. With this sudden rise in TARDIS theft, I'd also like to request an increase in security for my place of business.
Thank you for your prompt response,
Nestralljastonichar"
- Theft Report to the Gallifreyan Police, Date Unknown
The inside of The Seeker's TARDIS sat quiet and vacant, the soft blue glow of the central column shining over the chrome silver interior. Holographic windows on the far walls displayed various planets and worlds, data streaming around each in circles of Gallifreyan writing. Books sat slouching on various shelves, but the remainder of the TARDIS was anything but neat and tidy. Books and scrolls taken from the shelves littered the lower-level TARDIS floor, some sitting in haphazard piles and stacks while others sat open and face down, a place in their pages trying to be saved without a bookmark. Surprisingly enough, a small glass on one of the shelves held numerous bookmarks available for use, but not one book showed a marker between its pages.
With a slowly growing hum, the TARDIS's control panel began to churn into activity. The glowing central column fluxed and shined, and the familiar grinding sound of the time machine's engine revved as the interior shook and trembled.
The double doors suddenly swung open, bright light pouring through the entrance. A powerful wind swept across the halls of the TARDIS, sending loose papers flying and the pages of open books flapping. The Seeker, seeming to fall down through the doorway from above, planted his feet firmly on the floor before reaching out the door and pulling Penny through the door behind him. Once they both had their footing, each of them grasped hold of a door and yanked it shut.
The TARDIS then seemed to reorient itself as well as the gravity of the interior, causing the two of them to flop down onto the floor. They brought themselves up, resting their backs against the firmly closed doors of the time machine. Breathing heavily, they looked at each other for a few moments as they caught their breath. Smiles gradually crept across both of their faces, and laughter soon echoed through the control room.
"So! What did you think?" The Seeker finally managed to say.
"Do I even need to say it?" Penny laughed. "That was incredible!"
"Told you the atmosphere of Aurion Fifteen was the best skydiving location in the universe. Higher water vapor concentration plus two suns and slightly lower gravity makes for a spectrum of experience!"
"That pun, on the other hand, was terrible," Penny said, getting to her feet. "But you're right. Though I did have my reservations when you didn't bring parachutes."
"Who needs parachutes when you've got the TARDIS?" The Seeker said, giving the console a confident slap. A metal panel on the console's underside fell out from under it, clanging loudly to the floor. After a beat, Penny burst out laughing once more.
"Oh, yeah! I trust it alright! Especially with you as the pilot!"
The Seeker stammered to make a clever retort, but only came up with an annoyed groan as he fumbled to put the panel back in place. Penny joined him by the console, helping to hold it in position while The Seeker fixed the latch that held it shut.
"These hatches were always a problem, though… I think they fixed it in the next TARDIS models."
"I like it," Penny said as The Seeker finished the patch-up. "Gives it personality. Like the ship's joking along with us."
"I suppose you're right," The Seeker said with a smile, clapping his hands together as he glanced over his work. "Plus it hasn't let me down yet."
The two of them stood up, The Seeker flipping a switch on the console that sent the TARDIS's engines churning again.
"With that exciting excursion out of the way, I'll let you choose where we go next. Where would you like to go? What do you want to see?"
"Well, I could go for something a little more reserved and relaxing this time around," Penny said, leaning over the console, thinking.
"You take your time to think," The Seeker said, looking over his reflection on one of the screens. "I feel like I need a hat of some sort…"
"What? Why?"
"I don't know. I feel like I'm missing a bit of an accent to my look. Hang on…"
He hopped over the railing down to the lower levels of the TARDIS.
"I'll be right back! You just think of where you want to go next!" he called up to Penny.
Leaning against the console, Penny tried to think of someplace to visit. Her shoulders slumped at the options available to her.
The sound of The Seeker's activity just below became more and more distracting by the second. Clanging footsteps against the metal grate floors of the lower level combined with the shifting of various boxes and slamming of locker doors made it decidedly difficult to focus on where to go. This irritation was brought to a head when something smacked Penny in the back of the head.
"What the-?"
A brown Stetson cap, somewhat worn and flimsy from use, sat on the console just behind Penny. She ducked as yet another hat nearly hit her in the head once more.
"No… no… no!" The Seeker's voice repeated as more and more hats began to fly up from below. Despite his not paying attention, he was surprisingly accurate in his throws. Almost all the hats he flung up managed to land on or near the TARDIS's control console.
A rather large hat was sent up with an enthusiastic "Oh, lord no!" from The Seeker. Penny caught it out of the air, walking briskly to the railing underneath which he was searching.
"Seeker, will you cut that out?!" she called down to him. "You're making a mess of the place! And you nearly took my head off with this-"
Inspiration blazed in Penny's head as she looked over the tall black top hat she now held in her hands.
"Seeker!" she exclaimed, smacking the railing excitedly. "I know where I want to go!"
"What?" The Seeker called back, appearing just below Penny with a bright red fez on his head.
"Please tell me you're not considering that," Penny said, stifling a laugh.
"N-No…" The Seeker stammered, yanking the fez off of his head and hiding it behind his back.
"Come on! I know where you can take me!"
Tossing the fez aside, The Seeker rushed up to meet his companion.
"Where to?" he asked, arriving at the controls.
Penny flipped on the top hat, giving The Seeker a wide smile.
"Two words: Abraham Lincoln!"
The Seeker smiled back. "Don't just stand there, then! Flip those toggle switches!"
Penny switched up each of the toggles in front of her as The Seeker maneuvered between various knobs and levers. The TARDIS writhed and jerked around as it sped through the vortex toward its destination, landing with a thud.
"November of the year eighteen sixty-three, the day of the famous Gettysburg Address!"
They both rushed to the door, throwing it open and stepping out into the world beyond.
No sooner had they taken that first step that an explosion rocked the ground right next to where they stood. Dirt and shrapnel burst from the earth, sending Penny and The Seeker onto their backs, shocked and dazed.
"Back in the TARDIS! Now!" The Seeker yelled, scrambling to his feet.
Penny was already on her way back into the police box, hiding behind one of the doors for cover. The Seeker followed, slamming the second door behind him. Both of them peeked out the windows in the door, watching as two armies swiftly approached one another on a wide battlefield. Muskets and cannon fire reverberated softly through the walls of the TARDIS.
"Well… we're in the right place at least," The Seeker said sheepishly.
"Is this the best place to be parked, then?" Penny asked, wiping dirt from her hair.
"Good point."
The Seeker rushed back to the control console, pressing a few buttons and moving the TARDIS away from the battlefield a fair distance. Penny watched through the window as they seemed to float through the air above the battlefield and touch down on a nearby hillside.
"That should be far enough," The Seeker said, returning to Penny's side at the door. "We're well out of range of any gunfire."
Stepping back outside, the two time travelers watched as the armies of the Confederacy and the Union converged on one another, a brutal fight between seas of grey and navy blue that soon became indistinguishable in the chaos. While Penny looked on, The Seeker turned to his TARDIS, inspecting the exterior.
"I don't get it," he said, rapping the side of the police box with his knuckle. "I know I told her to bring us to the time of the Gettysburg Address."
"Seeker."
"I mean, I've been slightly off before, but by a factor of months? This is July, not November!"
"Seeker."
"Maybe a hat hit a knob earlier? Or a switch? Maybe that panel had something to do with-"
"Seeker!"
"What?! I'm trying to figure out-"
Looking out over the battlefield, The Seeker fell silent. He watched as several grey coats leapt yards into the air above the battlefield, bearing down on approaching ranks of Union soldiers. Upon their landing, muskets could clearly be seen flying through the air. Entire spaces opened up in the Union ranks as solders were swiftly felled.
"That's not supposed to happen…!" he said, rushing back inside the TARDIS.
"Wha… where are you going?!" Penny called after him, double-taking between the battle and the TARDIS entrance. Just as she arrived at the door, The Seeker came rushing back out again, binoculars in hand.
"Need these if I'm going to see anything clearly!" he said.
Penny gave an annoyed groan, walking back to The Seeker's side.
"Oh, my…" The Seeker sighed, staring intently through his binoculars. "Oh, my, that's incredible!"
"What is? Come on, let me have a look!" Penny said, yanking the binoculars from his grasp.
"Okay, fine! Could have just asked."
Through the binoculars, Penny fixed her sights on one of the superhuman Confederate soldiers that was wreaking havoc upon the Union troops that surrounded him. Increasing the zoom as much as she could, she was able to distinguish his facial features with some distinction. Three things stood out to her: red eyes, a mouth full of pointed fangs, and a ring of blood surrounding the soldier's mouth.
"Vampires?!" Penny exclaimed. "Are you kidding me?!"
"What do you mean?"
Penny gave a halfhearted chuckle. "There's a book called Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter back home. Heck, they made a movie out of it."
"Any good?"
"Seeker!"
"Right. Vampires. Got to do something about it."
The Seeker rushed back toward his TARDIS, stopping in the doorway as he turned back to Penny, who still gazed out at the battlefield.
"Come on! Let's go!"
Penny slowly turned around, her features suddenly going pale. A hand at her side covered a slowly growing scarlet patch on her waist. She gave The Seeker a look of sheer fright before collapsing to the ground.
In the fading clarity of her vision, Penny could see the figure of The Seeker rushing towards her. The soft echo of his voice calling her name was barely discernable as she drifted into unconsciousness.
Penny stood in a totally unfurnished and blank single bedroom apartment, pale light streaming through the drawn window shades and illuminating the dust floating in the air. She walked along the walls, looking for décor and photographs that weren't there. She looked through the open doorway leading to the bedroom, more vacant walls sitting numb in the dim light.
The click of the apartment door startled her. She spun round to see a familiar face walking into the room.
"Pat!" she exclaimed, anticipating some annoyed response.
He said nothing.
"Oh, Patrick?" she said, waving at him. "Don't think ignoring me will work."
He walked towards her, not saying a word.
"Oh, come on! Patrick!" Penny groaned. She reached out and hugged the non-responsive young man.
Her arms returned to her chest as he passed straight through her. She stood for a few moments, unsure of how to react. She turned to face him, his back now facing her.
"Pat, it's me!" she said, a knot starting to form in her stomach.
"Penny," he said, slumping down onto his knees. "Where did you go?"
"I left, but I'm back!"
She moved in front of him, looking him straight in the eye. Even so, his eyes seemed to gaze right through her, and her heart sank as his eyes welled up.
"Penny… where are you?"
She tried to answer, but her voice no longer came from her throat. She yelled louder and louder, but no sound came. The knot in her stomach tightened as a lump formed in her throat.
"I'm here!" she kept saying. "Patrick, I'm right here!"
"Patrick!" Penny yelled, sitting up straight in bed. A bolt of pain shot up through her side from her abdomen, and she winced and fell back onto her pillow.
"Penny!" The Seeker said, rushing to her bedside. "Penny! It's me. I'm here. Just relax, you're going to be fine."
Feeling a single tear slide down her cheek, Penny quickly wiped it away, pretending to rub the sleep from her eyes.
"Oh, my head…" she groaned. "Where am I?"
"District of Columbia General Hospital," a nurse said, arriving at Penny's bedside and inspecting the bandages. "You had a piece of shrapnel from a cannonball stuck rather deep in your side. Had your friend not gotten you here when he did, I'm not sure we would have been able to save you."
"This is my fault. I'm so sorry, Penny," The Seeker said, clenching her hand firmly in his own and kneeling down next to her. "I'm so sorry."
"Hey, come on," Penny said, doing her best to sit upright. "Don't go bawling over the fact that I'm alive. Lighten up! I'm right here thanks to you."
"You're really alright?"
"I promise, I'm fine," Penny said, removing her hand from his grasp. "I'll just need a little rest, that's all."
The Seeker smiled, getting back to his feet.
"How long until she can be discharged?" he asked.
"If she's feeling up to it, she can leave tomorrow if she wishes. The shrapnel managed to cause quite a bit of bleeding, but no severe damage to any major organs that we could find. Stay fed and rested, and she should recover quickly."
"Thank you, nurse."
The nurse glanced toward The Seeker nervously, giving a single nod before taking her leave. Settling into a nearby chair, The Seeker reached into his pocket and produced a small bottle of tablets. Popping the lid and pouring one out onto his palm, he passed it to Penny and replaced the bottle in his coat pocket.
"What's this?"
"Just a regenerative booster. Helps speed up the process of replacing damaged cells and healing wounds. Basically a mini cocktail of healthy energy boosters and vitamins. You'll feel rather hungry afterward, but it'll get you all fixed up."
"Why didn't you just give me one of these instead of bringing me here?"
"You were bleeding a lot. I tried to stop it, but I couldn't let that shrapnel fester. I'm no surgeon and I don't know much about the human body. I can help, but… I'm just not a doctor."
Penny nodded, and after a beat swallowed the tablet, washing it down with the glass of water on the countertop next to her bed.
"Thanks."
"No need to thank me," The Seeker replied. "You just rest. I'll be here when you wake up."
"But what about the vamp-"
"Shh!" The Seeker said, glancing around. "I've already had a difficult time trying to convince these people we're both human."
"What? Why?"
"I may have landed the TARDIS right in front of the building..." The Seeker said, almost sheepishly. "I had to get you here as fast as I could."
"So we need to get out of here before anyone starts asking questions."
"I think they'll respect our privacy for now, but that won't last forever. A night shouldn't be a problem, especially after that tablet you took."
Penny settled back into her bed, glancing up at The Seeker with a raised eyebrow and letting a moment of silence pass between them.
"This isn't going to become a thing, is it?" Penny asked.
"What?"
"You saving me all the time. First I'm nearly executed at the Salem Witch Trials, and now I'm in a hospital bed in Civil War America."
"Oh, believe me, there will be lots of times you'll be able to save me, too."
Another pause. Her thoughts drifting back to her dream, Penny's face became stoic.
"Hey… you sure you're alright?"
"Oh… yes," Penny said, snapping back to reality. "Just tired… and a bit sore."
"Understandable. I won't keep you up. Time we both got some sleep, I think."
She turned over in her bed, pulling the sheets up over her shoulder.
"Good night, Seeker."
"I'll see you in the morning, Penny," The Seeker said, settling into his seat.
The sound of a ticking grandfather clock presided over the now still halls of the hospital, and the rhythm lulled both travelers to sleep.
Penny stirred from slumber as her sense of hearing slowly returned to normal, the sound of rather pronounced chatter and voices bringing her out of the peaceful fog of sleep. An enthusiastic laugh that could only come from The Seeker caught her curiosity, and she turned back over to face his seat.
"What are you laughing so hard about?" she asked, rubbing her eyes.
Her vision sharpening, she was surprised to find that The Seeker wasn't in his seat. Glancing about her, she found him standing at the foot of her bed and speaking to a rather tall individual who was standing with his back to her.
"Oh, here she is! Hey, there, sleepy head!" he said, waving playfully at her. "Sorry if we woke you. Was just listening to a very good story! Oh, she'll love it! Can you tell her, too?" The Seeker said eagerly, giving the man a pat on the shoulder.
"Seeker, I'm not exactly ready for visitors, much less some storytelling-"
Her voice stopped short as the man turned to face her. Standing at the foot of her bed, a little over six feet tall with a dark comb over, a well-trimmed beard surrounding his chin, and top hat in hand, President Abraham Lincoln smiled over at Penny with the most warmhearted and gentle gaze she had ever seen in a man.
"My apologies for waking you in such a manner," he said with a polite nod. "Had I known he was prone to such boisterous laughter, I would have told a less amusing tale."
"Oh, no… it's fine…" Penny said, frozen in place. "It's… a pleasure to meet you, sir."
"The pleasure is all mine," Abraham said.
"I promised her we'd get to see you speak, but I didn't expect a visit, Mister President," The Seeker said.
"A large blue wooden box comes falling from the sky, lands in front of Washington D.C.'s best hospital carrying two individuals, one of whom is gravely injured and the other who claims to be a noble from Europe, and you wonder why I'm here?"
"Is that what it said?" The Seeker said, pulling the psychic paper from his pocket and glancing it over. "Huh… that's odd."
"If I may?" Abraham asked.
The Seeker handed the wallet with the psychic paper to the President, who furrowed his brow in confusion the moment he looked at it.
"You said this was your identification? It's just a blank piece of parchment."
Both The Seeker's and Penny's eyes widened, and they quickly exchanged glances with mouths slightly agape.
"It… must have fallen out in my rush…" The Seeker said, taking back the wallet.
"Please do not take me for a fool, sir," Abraham said, giving him a stern look. "It would take nothing short of God's power to try and deceive me at this point. I am a patient man, but in this case I must be frank towards you; tell me who you are and where you come from."
The Seeker fell severely silent at the President's words. After a moment, he motioned for the President to offer his ear.
"I must request the room be emptied. There are some here who are not ready to hear what I have to say."
Abraham nodded, and politely called the nurse so as to confer with the hospital staff. After a few brief words, the nurses set to work moving the patients in the room to other areas of the hospital. Once the room had been cleared, The Seeker told his story to the President, who listened intently.
"Time travel…" Abraham mused, sitting forward in his chair. "A blue box for a vessel. And this young woman is from a time decades ahead of our own."
"We really wanted to come here," Penny said. "Your prowess in public speaking is… well, legendary. In the time I'm from, you're known-"
"Please, no more on my legacy," Abraham said with a gentle raise of his hand. "A man shouldn't know the mark he will leave on the world before it happens. My primary concern is ensuring the future unity of this country."
"But you've been having some difficulty with that, haven't you?" The Seeker asked.
"Indeed we have. Somehow, the Confederate armies have employed incredible soldiers in their ranks. Strong, fast, vicious… we're barely holding the line."
"That's because they're not human," Penny said.
"That's right. They're the Hemavermis," The Seeker said.
"Yea- wait, what?"
"Hemavermis. They're a species of parasitic organisms that feed primarily on hemoglobin found in the blood cells of other species."
"So… they're not vampires?"
"Well, they do fit the mythos rather closely. Except that holy or blessed items have no effect, nor does silver, sunlight, a stake through the heart, or any other fictional means of vampire extermination. Decapitation, on the other hand, works wonders."
"To go to such lengths…" Abraham said, heavy with contemplation. "Soldiers willing to turn themselves into monsters. Give up their humanity…"
"Give up their lives," The Seeker said grimly. "No one can survive a fully developed Hemavermis infection. The species camouflages by infecting the neurological system of its host, imitating them almost perfectly. In doing so, they cut off the brain stem and spinal cord, killing the host body before reanimating it and taking control. They can interpret memory, learn language; but make no mistake, Mister President. Anyone who has become a host for Hemavermis is now a walking corpse. Poor saps probably thought they'd be reborn."
Abraham's face became slightly pale, but his brow furrowed with undeniable anger.
"Sacrificing the lives of those young men just to spread further bloodshed…" he said with grave countenance. "There are boys out there on that battlefield. Does cessation really mean that much to the Confederacy?"
"I'm always amazed at the lengths humans will go to protect what they believe in. Still, it makes me sad when that determination goes too far. Racing forward, chasing some grand goal or ideal, not realizing the effect it has on those they leave behind."
Abraham breathed a stern sigh. "Regardless of how or why, the fact remains that there are monsters among us. I do not know if it is by chance or the grace of God, but I'm grateful you're here, Seeker."
"I'm sorry?"
"You obviously know the weaknesses of these creatures. I'd like you to advise my Cabinet members so that we might fully be able to defend ourselves."
"I'll give you the information you need, but I'm not going to do any more than that."
"That's all I ask." Abraham said, standing and replacing his top hat on his head. Preparing to leave, he caught a glimpse of Penny, who was looking slightly saddened by the seriousness of the conversation. "Oh, and of course your companion is welcome to join us."
"Wouldn't dream of leaving her out of the loop!" The Seeker said, smiling at the two of them.
"Wait, you mean… you mean I've just been invited to the White House?" Penny said excitedly.
"If you're feeling well enough to go, that is," Abraham said.
"Oh, I feel fine… I just think I'd be a bit out of place. I mean, I'm just an average, odd, awkward girl."
"Oh, don't talk down about yourself, Penny! We both know-"
The Seeker's words were stopped short with a gesture of Abraham's hand. Giving a polite nod to his sentiment, the President silently requested that he have the final word on that matter at hand.
"You know, a friend of mine visited me in Washington recently. A good man, the two of us grew up together, you see. I wanted to find a position for him and asked him if there was any particular area he had interest in. He immediately requested to be made Superintendent of the Mint. And good a man as he is, he has little to no experience in public affairs or business. 'Good gracious!' I said, 'Why didn't he ask to be Secretary of the Treasury, and have done with it?' Now, I never thought my friend had anything more than average ability, when we were young men together. But, then, I suppose he thought the same thing about me, and… here I am!"
All three of them smiled warmly, a sense of comradery filling the air between them as the sunlight began to shine in through the windows of the hospital in the coming afternoon.
"Well," continued Abraham, turning to leave, "I'll expect to see the two of you this evening. Please notify the staff upon your discharge and they'll provide you with the necessary transport."
"Thank you, Mister President, but I think we'll be fine with the ride we have," The Seeker said.
This elicited a chuckle from the President. "I suppose so. I'll be awaiting your arrival."
With that, he took his leave, Penny and The Seeker watching him go until the doors shut behind him. Both stood in astonished silence for a few moments.
"Penny?"
"Yeah?"
"…We just met Abraham Lincoln!"
"I know!" Penny almost squealed, rejoicing along with the jovial Time Lord. "Oh my God, I don't think I've ever met a greater man in my life."
"Hey- well, alright, I'll give you that one," The Seeker said with a submissive shrug. "Of all the people to hold the position of President, he is one of the most deserving in my mind."
Later that night, The Seeker's TARDIS materialized just outside the White House, much to the astonishment of the servants and guards assigned to greet anyone who entered the White House premises. Even as the President moved to greet the two individuals who stepped out of it, they were shocked that their Commander in Chief didn't make any mention of the blue police box's appearance. Nevertheless, they quickly pushed these concerns to the backs of their minds as Abraham reassured everyone and broke the tension with one of his witty anecdotes. The Seeker and Penny followed the President into the White House, a short distance between themselves and the towering gentleman.
"Seeker…" Penny said softly.
"What?"
"…We're in the White House!"
"I know!"
Stifled laughter from the excited pair brought a grin to Abraham's face. "If you will follow me right this way, my Cabinet members are waiting for us just through this door on the right."
Following the President's lead, they moved upstairs and down a short hallway, then entered a small conference space with a single rectangular table at its center. Seated in chairs around the table were three men of distinguished appearance. They all looked on with a sense of skepticism as The Seeker and Penny joined them, as by all outward appearances the pair didn't seem very relevant to their concerns.
"Allow me to introduce-"
"Edwin M. Stanton, Salmon P. Chase, William H. Seward," The Seeker recited, pointing toward each respective individual before pulling out a chair and taking a seat. "Pleasure's all mine! Here, Penny, sit next to me."
All other eyes in the room blinked at this unsuspected recognition. At the sight of the blank stares of his Cabinet members, the President stifled a chuckle before taking his seat at the head of the table towards the far end of the room.
Delayed due to this genuinely confusing introduction, Stanton's temperament quickly grew indignant at the rash behavior of this new arrival.
"S-Sir, I don't know who you think you are," he said angrily, rising from his seat, "but this is an esteemed assembly of the President's trusted advisors!"
"Oh, Stanton, save your rants and raves for a matter of real urgency," Abraham interjected, waving his Secretary of War back into his chair. "Regardless of his character, this man holds information that could turn the tide of this titular conflict. So if you would please enlighten us, Seeker."
"Thank you, Abe- can I call you Abe?"
The President smiled keenly at the Time Lord.
"Excellent! Well. Where to begin…" he continued, standing from his seat and pacing the floor.
"No matter how you try to start it, saying we're fighting vampires is going to sound ridiculous anyway," Penny said.
"True," The Seeker said with a nod.
This statement was met with disbelieving and annoyed sighs from all but the President.
"Mister President, with all due respect," William Seward said, "we have far more important things to attend to than the stuffs of myths and childish nightmares."
"You think it's so ridiculous," The Seeker said, "then please, give me your explanation as to the downright inhuman strength, speed, and ferocity of the Confederacy's newest soldiers."
"I-It must be some sort of… experimental drug or medical process."
"No such drug exists… yet. And you're nowhere near capable of surgery of that degree. For goodness sake, you still lop whole limbs off because of a scratch!"
"Claiming that these men are vampires is just as ridiculous!"
"I totally agree! But then we're not dealing with vampires."
"But you just said-"
"I didn't. She did."
Penny leered up at The Seeker, lips pursed.
"They're called the Hemavermis," The Seeker continued quickly. "Parasitic leech-ish organisms that infest and overtake freshly-dead corpses. You know that pitch black maw those soldiers have been sporting? That's the leech. Makes its home right in the base of the head, using the human jaw as a tool to hunt."
"So you say these things are like vampires," Salmon Chase said, "but why hasn't the sunlight destroyed them if that's the case?"
"Did you not just hear me? They're not vampires! Immune to sunlight, stakes, crosses, silver bullets, the whole shebang."
"The whole what?"
"Lingo from where I'm from."
"Lingo?"
"Focus! The only way to kill them is either decapitation or incineration, though I'd honestly recommend you do both to avoid any collateral damage."
"Why burn the bodies if they're dead?" Stanton asked.
"Glad you asked! You know why the blood of the Hemavermis host is black? That's not dead blood. Those are larvae. Hundreds of thousands of them coursing through the veins of the body, feeding on the remaining blood for a short period of time. The Hemavermis isn't just supporting itself with its feeding; it's nurturing the next generation.
"Now, a bite won't be able to change anyone into a host. However, exposure to an infected host's blood is fatal. A drop contains hundreds of those little swimming larvae, and with an untainted bloodstream it doesn't take long for them to gorge and grow. Trust me when I say that death by a Hemavermis infection is not a pleasant way to go. So be incredibly cautious when dispatching a host body."
"Stanton, send word to the generals to instruct our armies on these details," Abraham commanded. "Convince them any way you can."
Not saying a word, Stanton stood with an angry huff and made his way to the door. Before he could exit, however, a young man opened the door, flaunting a telegram in his hands.
"Oh! Excuse me, Mr. Stanton, sir…" he said, sliding past and glancing about the room. "Report from the front lines, Mister President."
Abraham stood, The Seeker transferring the telegram to his waiting hand. His brow furrowed as he read the message.
"Seeker…" he said at length, "…these soldiers are more formidable than any we have faced before. So can you explain to me how it is we've managed to hold the line at the Gettysburg battlefront?"
"What?" The Seeker said, taking the page offered by Abraham. Penny stood and joined The Seeker at his side, reading the message as well.
"Well, this is good news, isn't it?" she asked, glancing about the room. "They don't need our help after all."
"No, this is not good. Not good at all," The Seeker said, beginning to pace swiftly, reading over the message again and again.
"They've held the front line, so that means those host soldiers must be-"
She froze, the realization striking her as she and The Seeker shared a glance of mutual understanding.
"Alright, you. Messenger. Out. Now," The Seeker commanded.
Glancing at the President, Abraham gave a stern nod to obey, and the young man departed. Stanton shut the door and returned to his seat, followed by Penny and The Seeker.
"Penny, if you don't mind, please inform everyone here of what I'm very sure you've already figured out, as I have."
"These soldiers," Penny started, "can only be killed by getting their heads lopped off or by burning to a crisp. No one at Gettysburg knows this right now. Unless some soldier made a fortunate and miraculous discovery and passed it on to the other soldiers, there's only one other reason that your troops managed to hold the line."
"The vampires left," Abraham said, staring ahead solemnly.
"Why retreat and let the battle reach a stalemate? They could have won that battle. What's more important right now?"
"Winning the war," Stanton said.
"And how do you do that?"
All eyes turned to the President, who breathed a heavy sigh.
"How long until they arrive?"
"Not long. Perhaps within the hour," The Seeker said.
"What are our options?"
"The two options available to any species with a sense of survival: fight or flight."
A foreboding silence followed this statement. Finally, The Seeker stood and moved for the door.
"Everyone follow me. Gather as many people as you can. We're going to the TARDIS."
"The what?" Chase asked.
"The blue phone box outside."
"Blue what bo-"
"More lingo, can we all please just get a move on?!"
Holding the door open, The Seeker gave each person a firm pat on the back as they swiftly filed out through the doorway, the last two people to leave being Abraham and Penny.
"It's parked right out front!" The Seeker called toward the front of the group.
"I must see to my family!" Abraham called back, taking a swift turn into one of the bedrooms adjacent to the main hall.
"Quickly, now, Abe!" The Seeker yelled after him as he passed the doorway. "Seward! Can I count on you to gather the servants and guards?"
"Consider it done!"
"Everyone else, follow Penny!"
As the group descended the stairway, Seward moved to the kitchens to notify the White House staff. Penny took the lead, rushing to the front of the remaining group of four as they neared the front door of the estate.
"Alright, it's just outside!" Penny said, throwing open the door.
Just as she took a step outside, she froze, causing a pileup of followers behind her.
"What? Penny, what's wrong?"
Staring at her from the dark, with eyes gleaming from the light streaming through the White House windows, were several pale soldiers dressed in Confederacy grey. Corpses of Union soldiers were strewn about the White House lawn, and a faint shimmer of blood glistened on each soldier's lips.
Penny's gaze glanced toward the TARDIS. Her skin went cold as she distinguished three soldiers standing guard over the blue time machine, crimson grins lining their maws.
"Back inside," Penny said, pressing back against the people behind her. "Back inside now!"
The four of them retreated, slamming the doors shut behind them.
"Seeker! They have the TARDIS!"
"How many aside from those guarding it?"
"I think I saw somewhere between five and seven."
"That's a lot…" The Seeker muttered, scratching his head and pacing furiously. "That's a whole lot…"
"Running isn't an option. We have to fight," Stanton said.
"Are there any weapons?"
"There are extra weapons stashed in the east room, just in case."
"Those will help. Let's move!"
Stanton and Chase led the way towards the east room, barely making it out of the main lobby area before a tremendous slam of the front door announced the entry of the Hemavermis.
"Guns won't be enough!" The Seeker yelled as they sprinted down the corridor. "Is there anything else?"
"A few swords for the cavalry officers."
"That's it?!" Penny exclaimed.
"Vampires weren't necessarily planned for, if you didn't notice!"
"Then we can use makeshift weaponry. Hammers, pipes, anything!"
"Shattering the head works just as well," The Seeker interjected.
Rushing into the large east room, Stanton made his way over to the curtains draped over the windows. Reaching behind them, he produced a pair of Henry rifles, tossing one to Chase. He then reached into the opposite curtain on the same window, lifting a pair of swords from behind them, namely one infantryman's sabre and an artillery sword. These he handed to Penny and The Seeker.
"Do any of you know how to wield a blade?" Chase asked, glancing over his weapon.
"No idea!" The Seeker said, grasping his sabre firmly. "Quick! Help me brace the doorway!"
Slamming the door shut, everyone quickly gathered what few pieces of furniture were available in the room and wedged them against the door frame.
"There are other doors leading into this room, you know!" Chase said, bracing his rifle against his shoulder.
"The Hemavermis may look like vampires, but they're still not the brightest things in the universe. Very one-track mind when it comes to-"
A loud slam announced the arrival of the vampires at the door.
"… tracking."
A second slam splinted the wood of the door, sending slivers flying across the floor. Stanton and Chase took aim at the cracks splitting across the hall entrance.
A third slam sent an entire chunk of wood tumbling to their feet. Shining, bloodlust filled eyes scrambled to peer through the opening and force their way in. Insidious hissing was now clearly audible, as well as the splitting of wood as multiple bodies pressed against the barricaded door.
Stanton and Chase opened fire. Pronounced gunshots echoed through the room, and cries of alarm responded from behind the door. Not dissuaded for long, the vampires did their best to stay clear of the gaping hole in the door but still attempted to weaken the remaining pieces of the barrier.
"If you must use guns," The Seeker said, drawing his blade, "aim for the eyes."
Stanton and Chase both cocked their rifles in acknowledgement, never taking their eyes off the door. Penny drew her blade. The Seeker caught sight of a slight smile on her face out of the corner of his eye.
"…don't tell me you're enjoying this!"
"What? I like swords."
Slam after powerful slam weakened the barricade. The mad scrape of nail against wood and the creaking of the hinges as they began to give way set everyone on edge. One slam nearly knocked the door loose, but it held.
Then all was silent.
Everyone in the room held their breath. Perspiration lay glistening on the brows of the four people waiting in the blue room. No one moved an inch.
In one final explosive slam, the vampires blasted their way into the room, sending sharp splints of wood flying in all directions.
For Penny, time seemed to slow down. In those few moments, she could see the dark maws of the Confederate soldiers lined with pointed teeth. Stanton and Chase had both fired their weapons, Chase clipping one in the shoulder, Stanton striking another square in the chest. Even with the limited space of the doorway, three had managed to force their way in at once. The third was now flying straight toward The Seeker, who brought up his blade to guard.
Then everything resumed. Stanton ducked out of the way of the vampire that had charged him, gripping the rifle in his hands like he would a club, and swung it round, cracking the soldier's skull open with one swift stroke. Dark blood splatter covered his face, glasses, and long grey beard, but the Hemavermis merely laid there twitching on the floor.
Chase hadn't fared quite as well. Though he clipped its shoulder, the vampire managed to land a swift hit to his jaw, resulting in a very distinct crack.
In this same instant, The Seeker was pinned down by the third soldier, having guarded against the strike but had ultimately been tackled and sent sliding across the room. He now held the sword's edge to the soldier's jaws, trying to keep the Hemavermis from digging into his throat.
As Penny rushed to The Seeker's aid, Stanton took aim at the vampire going after Chase, delivering a precise shot to the soldier's left eye. It let out a screech of surprise, and, utilizing a broken chair leg from the original barricade, Chase drove a concussive blow into the creature's brain. It strove to stand again, but a barrage of strikes from the chair leg assured it would not get up again.
Meanwhile, The Seeker was beginning to falter beneath the brute force of the Hemavermis, its toothy maw coming dangerously close to his neck.
This was brought to a decisive halt when Penny yanked the vampire back by its collar and subsequently slashing its head clean off. Black blood boiled from the open orifice that was its neck, and the body collapsed limp to the floor, the head rolling to a stop a few feet away.
Still dazed and trying to recollect himself, The Seeker looked up at Penny with astonishment.
"I like swords," she said with a shrug, offering her hand to the stunned Time Lord.
Grasping her hand with enthusiasm, The Seeker stood and surveyed the room. Stanton and Chase both brushed themselves off, checking over their weapons.
"Three out of seven," Penny said, glancing between the Hemavermis corpses who now sat in pitch black puddles.
"They're not after us," The Seeker said, making for the door. "Come on!"
"They'd have gone upstairs. Through the door on your immediate right!" Chase advised, motioning out of the demolished doorway.
Rushing through the door, the four unlikely warriors' footsteps echoed up through the stairway. Before even reaching the top of the stairs, loud crashes and cries of sheer terror could be heard through the walls. Upon opening the door leading toward the main corridor of the upper level, everyone stopped dead in their tracks.
President Lincoln stood with a large felling ax in his right hand, his left hand held up and telling everyone who had just entered to stop. At the far end of the corridor stood three more Hemavermis-infected Confederate soldiers, each of them holding a hostage in their hands: Lincoln's wife, Mary, along with their son, Tad, and William Seward.
"Now hold on!" The Seeker interjected, despite motions from Abraham telling him to stay quiet. "What is this nonsense? Hostages? That's so unlike the Hemavermis I've learned about."
At the sound of their name, all vampire eyes focused on The Seeker. One took a deep, raspy, gargling breath in, which caused each of the hostages to noticeably shudder in disgust.
"We're… promised… blood…" it half-wheezed, half growled at him. "Blood… of… the ages…"
"By who? Those Confederate generals? That's another thing, why in the wide world are you taking orders from people who you see as food anyway? I mean, sure, there's the matter of willing submission and volunteers, but why did that stop you? You leeches tear into anything and everything with a pulse!"
"Told… a man… would be… in the pale house… with blood… like no other…"
"Is a president's blood really that rare? I mean, no offense, Abe, but you're still human like the rest of us. Oh… besides me, I mean."
"Seeker, for God's sake, this is not the time!" Stanton yelled, taking aim with his rifle.
"Stanton, don't!" Abraham shouted. "They've threatened to infect them if anyone strikes!"
His temper getting the better of him, Stanton continued to point the barrel of his gun towards his undead foes. As if to prove Abraham's claim, one of the soldiers took his knife and slid it across Seward's forearm, bringing a fresh stream of crimson blood to the surface.
"Stanton," The Seeker said, his tone suddenly icy cold, "put it down. Now."
Worried by her friend's sudden change in demeanor, Penny quickly pulled the barrel of Stanton's gun down, keeping a firm hold of it until he resigned.
"Now you all listen to me!" The Seeker called over to the Hemavermis. "You're going to hand over everyone you've got, and I'll give you something well worth your while."
At this, he slid his saber's blade over his trench coat, clearing away any residue from the previous Hemavermis attacks, and grasped the blade firmly with his hand.
"Seeker, what are you doing?!" Penny nearly shouted.
"Clear a path behind me," The Seeker whispered.
Penny, though concerned, motioned for Stanton and Chase to move away from the door. As The Seeker closed his hand around the sabre more tightly, red drops began to seep from between his fingers. He then removed his hand, opening his blood-stained palm wide open. The Hemavermis suddenly tensed up, losing focus of the situation as they caught this new scent.
"Who wants the blood of a Time Lord?!"
Letting out a near deafening siren of a screech, the three Hemavermis soldiers immediately dropped their captives and charged toward The Seeker, who quickly spun round and sprinted back through the door and down the stairs. As they ran by, Abraham took advantage of their mad fixated focus and swung his ax at the oncoming bodies, managing to cleave the head off of one body. Stanton, Penny, and Chase set their backs to the wall as the two remaining soldiers rushed past, paying no attention to them. Penny, not missing a step, made for one of the guest rooms that was directly above the entrance to the White House.
"Wait, where is he going?" Chase called after her.
"The safest place on the planet!" Penny yelled back, hurrying to the window and quickly followed by Stanton and Abraham.
Arriving at the window just in time, Penny watched as The Seeker bounded through the White House's now broken front doors, running as fast as he possibly could with his sliced hand held high in the air. He was quickly followed by the two Confederate vampires from inside, but was also caught in the sights of the three that guarded the TARDIS.
"WHO WANTS SOME?!" The Seeker yelled at the top of his lungs, snapping the fingers of his other hand, unlocking and opening the TARDIS doors. Before the Hemavermis guards understood what was happening, The Seeker dove inside, snapping his fingers mid-leap and slamming the doors shut behind him. Unable to slow down in time, the two vampires in pursuit smashed face-first into the blue doors of the call box, an impact that still failed to move it an inch.
Clawing frantically at the nearly impenetrable doors, the Hemavermis screeched and hissed ferociously, trying everything in their power to gain access. These sounds came through the closed doorway of the TARDIS, though muffled, barely reaching the ear of the panting Time Lord inside.
"I've got to… work on my… cardio!" he gasped, getting to his feet and running to the control panels. Producing his sonic screwdriver from his trench coat pocket, The Seeker swiftly made a few adjustments to the holographic control monitors.
"Come on… and… yes!"
Outside the TARDIS, the lamp atop the call box began to glow brighter and brighter, until an electric blue sphere radiated from its center and surrounded the TARDIS completely.
"Hold on…" Chase said, looking from the window, everyone else now gathered in the same room and struggling to see outside. "…did he just trap those things in there with him?"
"No, they still can't get into the TARDIS…" Penny said, just as confused.
"I don't understand, what is he planning to… to…?"
Everyone, save Penny, watched with wide eyes as the little blue police box slowly lifted off of the ground. The sphere of a force field moved along with it, tearing up a circular chunk of the ground with it as it took off, along with every single one of the Hemavermis that now clung to the box's exterior. One lost its grip and fell, but was caught by the force field.
Picking up speed, the TARDIS flew swiftly up into the sky and out over the horizon, eventually shooting straight into the night sky. Everyone at the window waited anxiously, but an awkward stillness now settled over the White House.
"Where did he go?" Abraham asked, looking down at Penny.
"I… don't know…" Penny said, finally backing away from the window.
"Will he be back?"
"I sure hope so!" Penny said with a laugh. "I can't get home otherwise!"
A smile spread across Abraham's face. He then turned to his family, who had also tried to see the spectacle from the same window, though rather unsuccessfully. He embraced his wife and child tightly, thanking God and fortune that they were unharmed. Hearty laughs and hugs from Stanton, Chase, and Seward soon joined the mix, everyone realizing the calamity was over. Penny remained by the window, tapping her fingers on the windowsill nervously.
"Penny," Abraham said, placing a hand on her shoulder, "I never did tell you that story I told Seeker back in the hospital."
"Oh, no, you don't need to-"
"I spoke once to Governor Saunders from Nebraska about an Indian settlement near a stream in his state called Weeping Water. 'Weeping Water!' I said, 'I suppose the Indians out there call it Minneboohoo, don't they? They ought to, if Laughing Water is Minnehaha in their language.'"
Somewhat dumbfounded that the President could be telling a joke at a time like this, the anecdote nonetheless brought out a genuine laugh from Penny. Abraham simply smiled down at her with his gentle smile, giving her a reassuring pat on the shoulder.
"If that man, or lord, or whatever he is knows what's good for him, he'll be back."
Sure enough, as if on cue, the familiar grinding of the TARDIS's engines resounded from in front of the White House.
"Speak of the devil!" Abraham said, grinning.
Beaming, Penny rushed downstairs, making it outside just as The Seeker stepped out of the TARDIS. Wrapping him in a hug, The Seeker did his best to hug her back with one arm.
"Sorry… hand's still kind of… bloody," he said.
"Shut up and let me hug you," Penny groaned sarcastically.
"Not objecting!"
"Come on," Penny said, releasing him. "Let's get that hand fixed up."
They walked back to the White House, where Abraham and the others were awaiting their return.
"Seeker that was quite a sight!" Chase exclaimed, grasping his good hand in a firm handshake. "Where did you go?"
"The sun."
Everyone, save Penny, stared at him with baffled faces.
"You just saw a police call box fly through the air carrying vampires in a force field, and you're surprised that it can make it all the way to the sun and back without issue?"
At this, everyone couldn't help but chuckle.
"It has indeed been a trying day," Abraham said. "However, I do think we might choose to retire to somewhere a little less… raw."
"Would you all care to step into my home?" The Seeker asked, motioning towards the TARDIS.
"Father, can we?!" little Tad spoke up.
"I don't see why not," Abraham said, smiling down at his son. "Though are you sure-"
"Trust me!" The Seeker said, waving everyone towards the police box. "Come on! Come on!"
Everyone followed behind him and Penny, each of them taking a spot on either side of the blue box's doors.
"Ladies and gentlemen… I give you… the TARDIS!"
Both Penny and the Seeker snapped their fingers, but the TARDIS doors didn't move.
"...what happened?"
"Oh, we both snapped, so it registered two snaps, so it opened and closed again. So… just let me snap."
"Why do you get to snap?"
"Okay, fine! You snap. Ladies and gentlemen… the TARDIS!"
Penny snapped her fingers, and the blue doors swung open, letting bright blue-green light pour out into the dark. With gasps of astonishment, everyone stepped inside, The Seeker smiling the entire time. A few times, people stepped out to remind themselves that it was still a small blue box on the outside.
"I don't believe it!"
"How is this possible?!"
"It's bigger on the inside!"
"There it is!" The Seeker exclaimed. "That's the line I always love to hear!"
"This is absolutely remarkable," Abraham said, passing a hand over the smooth metal of the control panel. "To be able to travel anywhere in time and space according to your choosing. That's a lot of power for one man."
"Normally I don't use this to intervene. Only to explore, to see, to experience and learn."
"A noble pursuit. I can say I'd do the same if it were possible for me to do so."
"Mister President," The Seeker said, pulling Abraham aside, "you know why I brought you all here, don't you?"
"If I were in your position… I'd imagine that experiences as abnormal as this aren't meant to be recorded in human history. And therefore, our memories of these events cannot be allowed to remain."
"I'll be able to repair the small amounts of damage done by the Hemavermis to the White House. Simple limited temporal shift, shouldn't be a problem."
"Thank you, Seeker," Abraham said, grasping his good hand earnestly. "While you still exist in my memory, I will hold you in the highest regard."
The Seeker smiled warmly, shaking the President's hand with enthusiasm.
"I am sorry about this…" he said, giving Abraham a pat on the shoulder.
Abraham nodded his understanding, turning to join his family and friends once more.
"Penny, might I have a word?" he asked, taking her aside for a moment.
"Yes?"
"When we met, you mentioned my legacy. I admit, my curiosity has gotten the better of me. Tell me, does this war end? Do I get elected to a second term?"
"Oh… well, the war ends, but…"
"Don't tell me I'm not re-elected. That wouldn't seem likely."
"No, it's not that… you…"
Abraham sighed. "I'm killed, aren't I?"
Penny gave a solemn nod.
"I've already had one attempt on my life. Would make sense someone would try again."
"I'm sorry."
"Never you mind, my dear," Abraham reassured her, smiling. "I won't remember any of this anyway."
"Everyone!" The Seeker called, getting everyone's attention. "If I could ask you to look at the central column of the TARDIS, I think you'll see something you'll find to be rather… enlightening."
Penny took cover in the lower level of the TARDIS control room, closing her eyes while a brilliant light soon filled the upper level.
"Is that everything?" Penny asked as The Seeker shut the TARDIS doors behind him.
"Both doors repaired, Hemavermis bodies cleaned up and incinerated, and all witnesses accounted for. Hit that toggle and let's go!"
Penny flipped the nearest toggle switch, sending the TARDIS engines spinning and the central column pulsing.
"So! Where do you want to go next? Just name it!"
"Home."
"Huh?"
"Can you take me back home, Seeker?"
"Well, of course I can, but may I ask why?"
Penny was silent for a few moments.
"Penny, are you okay?"
"I almost died, Seeker."
"I… I know. It was a close call-"
"I dreamed I had died," Penny continued, turning to face him. "I dreamed I died out here with you and no one at home knew what happened to me. My brother was alone and scared and…"
"Hey, hey, come on," The Seeker said, walking over and embracing his companion. "Don't think like that. I'm not going to let anything happen to you, okay?"
"I trust you, but that's not the problem. When I left with you, I didn't consider that I might not make it back. And… it scared me, Seeker. It scared me so much."
The two of them stood there for a short while, The Seeker holding Penny close until she calmed down.
"Can I just… stop by home and make sure my brother is alright?"
"Sure."
"Thank you."
"But… first…" The Seeker said, flipping a few switches, "…will you allow me to take one small detour?"
"Please make it quick," Penny said, picking up her sword from beneath the control panel.
"Wait… you kept the sword?!" The Seeker exclaimed.
"Yeah. Why wouldn't I?"
"You can't just take souvenirs! You could mess up all of history!"
"It's one sword! I doubt they'll miss it. Besides, no one remembers we were there! Or do you want to go through the process of explaining and brainwashing again?"
"It doesn't matter if- you can't just- I'm not going to-"
The Seeker sighed, giving Penny a raised eyebrow.
"I know. I know. You like swords. But that's it! You won't get to take anything else, understood?"
Penny smiled and nodded, drawing her sword and examining it keenly. The Seeker, glad to see Penny smile again, pressed a button that sent vibrations from the engine shaking through the whole ship.
Abraham looked out over the assembly before him on the torn and battered battleground that was Gettysburg. Speech in hand, he removed his hat from atop his head out of respect. Not able to bear the silence of the crowd for much longer, he softly cleared his throat.
"Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal…"
The crowd was enamored. Everyone listened intently, craning to hear their President speak. Abraham's voice carried long and far, and in those moments everyone before him was united in thought, feeling, and faith.
"…It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us - that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion - that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain - that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom - and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth."
Surprisingly enough, there wasn't much of a reaction from the crowd. Some scattered applause returned as Abraham finished his speech. Replacing his top hat on his head, he glanced out over the crowd.
Standing straight out before him, towards the back of the congregation, were two rather unusual looking characters: a thin, blonde-haired man and a young redheaded woman. He could not place their faces nor did he understand what it was they were wearing, but something stirred in his mind as he observed how they looked at him. Even from that distance, he could feel in their gazes a powerful sense of admiration, longing, and even sadness. Not unusual emotions to experience in a time of war, and yet they seemed out of place. At the same time, the President could have sworn he knew them well, and that they knew him in return.
These thoughts soon faded as he returned his attention to the dedication of the lives lost at Gettysburg. They resurfaced once more, briefly, and when he shifted his gaze to try and find the two strangers once more, they were gone.
A slight sound, an unearthly grinding and vibrating whistle, touched his ears. Bringing a hand to his face, Abraham found that he was smiling, though he did not understand why.