“But…” said Doctor Whitebeam, hardlydaring to believe what he’d just heard. Had the Apostles somehow changed over ahundred years? “You’re giving me a second chance?”
“Yes.”
“This is indeed a miraculousopportunity to complete my life’s work. A thousand thanks kind lady!”
The Apostles led Doctor Whitebeam outof the cellar and into the grounds outside Conatus Chapel. It was the daybefore Christmas Eve – a day chosen because Michaelmas term was over and allthe students had gone home. It was a bitter cold evening and a light snow wasfalling. Doctor Whitebeam was bare footed and shivering badly under his blanketso Beryl and Mordred wasted no time in saying goodnight to everyone and gettinghim into the Rolls. As they drove back to Brimstone Manor Doctor Whitebeambecame very excited about the car, asking Mordred about its method ofpropulsion and guessing it was not steam. When they got home, Beryl showed himto his room, which had a wardrobe full of Victorian style clothes, a Hex Boxwith a supply of Vita Dantis, and his journal on a cabinet beside thebed. A fire was lit in the grate and the Doctor got into bed, still shivering,exclaiming how he may catch a death of cold, but knowing this didn’t happen tothose that suffered the Curse of Og.
*
Overnext few months Doctor Whitebeam worked incredibly hard. He supplied Mordredwith details of the equipment he needed, including a pair of spectacles, andsoon had a fully working laboratory in the West Wing. Some of the Apostles withscientific training helped him with various experiments until eventually theDoctor’s Cabinet of Rebirth, the Scrinium Regenerationis, was built. A gas pipewas plumbed into the back, Feeder Jar One was filled with a gallon of blood andFeeder Jar Two was filled with a complex mixture of dangerous chemicals thatincluded sulphur and arsenic.
Eventually the cabinetwas ready for its first subject. The Apostles had a secret meeting to decidewhat to do next. They all agreed that they didn’t want the guinea pig to be theQueen. What if she was somehow destroyed? They would all surely be sent toprison for such a crime. After much deliberation, they decided that the firstsubject should be Doctor Whitebeam himself. He had assured them that it wasworking and forcing him to go inside would ensure his checks and measures werecorrect. Also, they believed this pagan creature from the past had no realright to exist in their time – so if something happened to destroy him thenthat was simply God’s will in action. They felt a kind of deep embarrassmentthat one of the foul pagan creatures, their sworn enemy, was about to savetheir reputation. Many of their number were very keen to put him to death butthey needed his expertise to ensure that the Queen would be safe when she wentinside.
Doctor Whitebeam agreedto be the first subject, desperately wanting to be rid of the curse as soon aspossible. He stood outside the cabinet on the night it was to be done with Beryland Mordred, preparing himself to go inside.
“I’m afraid, dear lady,”he said to Beryl, “that you must avert your eyes. The gas jets will burn up mybody and I require no chemical contamination from cloth.”
Doctor Whitebeam removedhis cravat and started unbuttoning his shirt. Beryl smiled at his old-fashionedmodesty and averted her eyes as the Doctor removed the rest of his clothes.
He took a deep breathand said, “For the glory of science!” then got inside the cabinet.
Mordred followed theinstructions he’d been given. He turned the heavy brass taps just below thefeeder jars. Blood and chemicals began running down pipes and into the machine.Then he turned another tap on the gas pipe and they heard the hissing of gas.After a couple of seconds, he pulled a large knife switch on the side of thecabinet. It crackled and sparked with electricity.
Beryl and Mordred hearda whoosh of ignited gas and a cry of anguish coming from inside the cabinet.They looked at each other, knowing that Doctor Whitebeam was being consumed bya white-hot ball of flame. Beryl felt a tear in her eye. Despite wishes to thecontrary, she’d grown very fond of the Good Doctor during their few monthstogether.
The machine continuedworking – making strange fiery whooshing sounds and occasionally rocking –until all the blood and chemicals had trickled out of the jars. Mordredswitched off the gas and the machine became still and silent.
“I think, Madam, it istime to open the door,” he said.
“I’ll do it,” saidBeryl, feeling very nervous.
She pulled the handle,opened the door and looked inside. The cabinet was hot and full of steam.Someone was in there but it wasn’t Doctor Whitebeam. The middle-aged man withlarge mutton chop sideburns and a quiff of thinning hair had been replacedby... a young skinny boy, no more than eighteen years old, who was curled up inthe foetal position at the bottom of the cabinet. Beryl studied his face. It wasDoctor Whitebeam, but he’d been transformed into a version of himself thirtyyears younger!
“Doctor?” she said.
“Where am I?” mumbledthe boy.
“You must bedisorientated. Try to concentrate.”
The boy got veryagitated. “I can’t remember! Who I am? What is this place?”
Beryl knew disaster hasstruck. The cabinet had failed. The Queen could not be saved.
“Mordred,” said Berylturning away furiously. “Take this boy upstairs and put him to bed. Maybe whenhe’s had a good long sleep he may remember who he is and what he’s doing forus.”
Mordred nodded, guidedthe boy gently out of the cabinet, helped him put on Doctor Whitebeam’s ampleshirt and took him away.
Beryl was frustrated andangry but also felt pity for Doctor Whitebeam, now transformed into a boy. Sherealised she liked the Doctor’s thoughtful considerations, courteous mannersand gentle concern for others. What if the procedure had partly worked and hewas now human? What were the Apostles to do with an eighteen year old boy withno family apart from themselves?
Beryl was shocked atthis unexpected turn of events. He’d been brought to life by her own blood. Shewas, in effect, his mother!
ChapterNineteen - The Good Doctor Goes
