Читать книгу Hanky and the Thousandsleeper - Marvin Roth - Страница 10

Rita Miller had since arrived at Doctor Ness’ office with Hanky. The doctor was awaiting them outside the door as he had already been briefed by Ben Johansson. Doctor Ness rushed down the short stairway in front of his house to meet the small group. Rita still had the children in tow, given that Hanky’s plight did not allow her to take them back to school first. Hanky, who was still holding Rita’s hand was shaking as if he was running a high fever.

“The boy must be in a state of shock,” the physician mumbled under his breath.

He thanked Rita for offering such prompt help and promised her that he would take care of the rest. He carefully took Hanky’s hand out of Rita’s and led him into his house. He kept talking to the poor lad in a soothing tone. Rita watched the two until they had disappeared inside the house. Then she took the pupils back to school.

As soon as the doctor and Hanky entered the practice, Hanky began to scream at the top of his lungs. “It’s coming, the evil thing is coming. Hanky scared. Doc, we have to run. Fast. The bad thing is coming.”

He ran around the room in circles, saliva dripping from his mouth. When the doctor finally managed to grab him by the arm, Hanky pushed him aside as if he were a doll. Doctor Ness rushed over to his medicine cabinet and pulled out a syringe and a small bottle of a strong sedative after a brief search. He drew the medication into the syringe, which he hid behind his back while holding it in his right hand and approaching Hanky. Hanky continued to scream and appeared to be unable to locate the door because he was in a state of panic. Wildly gesticulating with his arms he ran through the treatment room, causing a few objects to tumble and fall. When an aluminum bowl hit the ground, he was briefly distracted and stared at the silver item on the floor. The doctor seized the opportunity and gave Hanky the injection into his arm. The young man was so flabbergasted that he ceased his screaming for an instant. The medication worked almost instantly and Hanky dozed off. He fell hard against the ground and lay there with his limbs convulsing. Doctor Ness wiped the perspiration from his brows and went outside to get the nurse. A few minutes later, Hanky, tied down with leather straps, was resting in an auxiliary room of the practice. His lips moved as if they wanted to scream out a warning although the young man was sedated:

“The evil thing is coming........”