Gene of Isis

Now that was an easier premise to stomach. His daughter needed a psychiatrist not a priest!

LESSON 2

INSANITY

A deep peace and tranquillity lingered over my being as I began to stir from my slumber. I didn’t want to wake, for there was a wise and loving presence in my dreams that I desired to remain with. Consciousness erased the details of the character and with the scene that greeted my awakening my inner tranquillity departed, the message and existence of my celestial friend forgotten.

My parents were standing over me. My mother appeared tormented, her hands stroking each other nervously. My father wore a frown deeper than any that had ever shadowed his face, in my memory. Nanny Beat was at my side, and although she clearly wanted to speak and ask how I was, she did not dare speak first.

‘You have shamed me deeply, daughter,’ my father told me, in a voice calmer than one would expect. Clearly I had caused my father great worry, for there was a large muddy patch in his light-body that encompassed his entire head and there was another over his heart. ‘But I do not blame you, child, as I believe your mind is ailing, and so I have called upon a doctor to examine you.’ Father motioned to a round, elderly man who stood at the foot of my bed. ‘This is Dr Rosen. He specialises in disorders of the young mind.’

Every part of this man’s light-body was dark, with some spots very black. Around him stood a multitude of dead children that were ghosts in the true sense of the word. I suspected they had died a quick, untimely and traumatising death and so were trapped in the physical world, not knowing they had passed on, or they had some other grave reason for hanging around on earth to haunt this man.

We named him Black Rose, said a boy, aged about twelve.

Do not let him near you, warned a little girl, not much older than myself. His true interest in children is unnatural—

More interested in your private parts than your mind, said another lad, a few years older, who really did seem rather deranged. Know what I mean? He winked.

I gasped and began to tremble. I did not know what he meant and I didn’t want to know.

‘Come now, there’s no need to be afraid,’ said Father, ‘this is for your own good. We just want you cured of whatever this affliction is.’

That’s what they all say, a frighteningly sane lad added. And once the Black Rose pronounces you round-the-twist, it won’t do no good to tell anyone what he really gets up to, ‘cause you’re MAD!

He’s got all manner of restraining devices at his disposal, said an older girl, aged in her early teens. And if you resist or make trouble then… Her head suddenly jerked to one side and fell loose to her shoulders, like a necked animal!

I screamed, and continued to scream as every child in turn repeated the violent motion of having their necks broken.

‘Leave her with me,’ said the doctor calmly, whereby I screamed even louder and grabbed for Nanny Beat.

‘No! Nanny, don’t leave me, don’t leave me with him. He’s the darkest ever.’

Nanny knew what this meant, and although she would normally have complied with my father’s direction to leave, her resolve hardened like stone. ‘I beg pardon, lord, but I believe Miss Granville needs someone to reassure her during the doctor’s visit—’

‘Dr Rosen requests that we leave, Mrs Winston.’ My father had a cautionary tone to his voice. ‘He comes very highly recommended, I assure you.’

Aye, for getting rid of problem children, commented one of the younger lads, to the morbid amusement of the others, as their heads returned to normal.

‘And why should it be necessary to see the child alone and in distress?’ Nanny looked at the doctor accusingly.

‘Because a child will behave and respond differently with familiar people around, people who are probably already giving support to the delusions. And when I am assessing a child patient, any adult present will be tempted to answer on behalf of the child, which can influence their answers. Need I go on?’

Nanny knew nothing about psychology, and she knew she risked dismissal by protesting further. Still, if they carted me away and locked me up, then she’d lose her position anyway. ‘Beg pardon, lord, but it is my job to see to your daughter’s best interests and I cannot see how distressing her further will aid her condition. Please allow me —’

‘Mrs Winston.’ My father’s voice got quieter when he was really angry. ‘I do not wish my child to be mollycoddled any longer. That is why she is now in this state!’

I had seen my father dismiss servants for much less and to forestall the risk of losing Nanny, I calmed myself. ‘I was just startled,’ I announced, trying to stabilise my breathing, although my heart was pounding in my throat. ‘I shall be fine,’ I assured Nanny. ‘I am sorry to have caused distress, papa.’

‘That sounds more like my offspring.’ He was reassured and his frown lifted.

I watched Nanny and my mother and father leave the room, with a feeling of terror in my heart.

Find a weapon, urged one of the younger girls.

The truth is my weapon. I quietly decided this was how I should combat the dark doctor; the truth seemed to hurt everyone else, so it was certainly worth a try.

‘Now, Miss Granville…’ The doctor came forward to seat himself on the bed beside me, whereupon I pointed to a chair. Sneering, he complied, as I threatened to retreat to the other side of the large four-poster bed if he did not. ‘Why is a sweet little girl like you so fascinated with dead people? Hmmm.’

‘And why are dead children so fascinated with you, doctor?’ My response shook him a little, for his dark spots churned and blackened even further, although I would have thought that impossible.