Goblin Moon by Teresa Edgerton Read Free Book Online Page B

efficacious and salutary minerals, along with a
judicious mixture of ground glass and iron filings.”
    Cousin Clothilde appeared suitably impressed. “And
how do you administer the benefits of this device?”
    “Through a human agency.” The doctor replaced the lid
of the vat, reached into a coat pocket, and produced a short iron
rod. “I have many trained assistants—men and women of the first
quality, I can assure you—who, possessing the required gift, donate
their services to relieve the sufferings of their fellow beings.”
He bowed in the direction of Jarl Skogsrå. “Perhaps you were not
aware that your gallant escort is among them.”
    Mistress Vorder eyed the Nordic nobleman with
surprise and a little resentment. “You told me nothing of this,
sir,” she said coldly. “I had no idea you were one of the doctor’s
magnetizers.”
    “But dear lady, I had no notion of deceiving you,”
replied Skogsrå. “Indeed, I believed my connection with this
establishment well known. It is the very reason why I insisted on
accompanying you. The Duchess knew of it, certainly.” He limped
over to Elsie and raised one of her hands to his lips. “I hope, in
the future, to play some small part in effecting your cure.”
    As they spoke, more people came crowding into the
room through the same door. The atmosphere was growing close. Sera
knew that Elsie had difficulty breathing in hot, confined spaces,
so taking the younger girl with her, she maneuvered a path through
the crowd, heading for the nearest window. After a futile struggle
with the casement, she concluded that it was sealed in place. But
at least the air was a little cooler near the glass.
    “It is time for the demonstration to begin,” the
doctor announced. A number of men and women, including the matron’s
three gaunt daughters, seated themselves around the vat. Several
others, including Jarl Skogsrå, produced iron rods similar to the
doctor’s and positioned themselves between the chairs, with the
rods extended horizontally in front of them.
    “You understand,” said the doctor, speaking for the
benefit of the Duchess and Mistress Vorder, “that my assistants
have a marked affinity for the magnetic waters, which they have
helped me to magnetize, as well as possessing a natural empathetic
sympathy. For this reason, they are able to direct the healing
influences into and through the rods, and thus effect a cure.”
    As he spoke, those in the chairs reached out, each
one grasping the iron rods to either side. The effect was almost
instantaneous. Some closed their eyes and began to breathe harshly;
others threw back their heads and fastened their gaze on the
ceiling, moaning as if in pain. Most stared straight ahead, as if
into some imaginary distance, their faces etched with expressions
of the most sublime ecstasy.
    “This is the most appalling nonsense I ever saw or
heard of in my life,” said Sera, reaching instinctively for Elsie’s
hand. Several people turned to glare at her, but Sera continued on
boldly,”Magnetic influences, indeed! I daresay in most of these
cases the cure just as much as the complaint is entirely
imaginary.”
    “I feel certain you must be right,” Elsie whispered.
But then she felt the blood rush out of her head, and she was
barely able to force out the words: “Oh, Sera, do look!”
    Two of the girls had begun to twitch spasmodically,
and a white foam had appeared on the lips of one of the ecstatics.
As Sera and Elsie watched in horror, three women went into violent
convulsions.
    “Sera,” said Elsie, “I think I am going to faint.
Please take me out of here.”
    Sera tore her gaze away from the twitching figure in
the nearest chair. Elsie trembled as though stricken by a palsy,
and her eyes were wide and dark.
This is
monstrous . . . they have made her really ill. Why, oh why, had I
not the wit to remove her earlier?
    She offered her cousin the support of an arm and led
her toward the door.
    Elsie clutched Sera’s