It was the next day. And Doctor Julia Hoffman stood by Todd's bed in his hospital room. He'd been brought there only that morning in a barely conscious state. Now he tossed on the bed, talking incoherently in his semi- delirium. Julia and a nurse were giving Todd a blood transfusion. Julia said "He seems to be a little better since the transfusion began." "I've noticed that," the nurse agreed. "He's less rest- less." Julia looked at the almost empty transfusion bottle on its stand. "It will be finished in a few minutes," she said. "Yes." Julia watched the stricken Todd tossing and turning under the sheets with a professional eye. "It may take some time before the blood causes any real improve- ment." "What next, Doctor?" Julia was holding a hypodermic needle. "I have some injections to give him. There'll be a regular schedule. I'll begin them and leave instructions for the time they are to be given through the day and night." "Yes, Doctor," the nurse said seriously. Julia Hoffman had the reputation of being an unusually good doctor in cases of blood diseases. She had specialized in hematology at Cornell and practiced in Maine for some time. Julia gave Todd his first injection as soon as the nurse disconnected the intravenous needle. She was wiping the hypodermic needle when the door opened and Roger Collins came in, followed by Professor Stokes. Roger asked, "How is he?" "Responding fairly well," she said. "What happened?" "They found him wandering in the cemetery," Julia said. "He was barely conscious then and he became worse after they brought him in." Roger swallowed hard. "Carolyn?" "Yes," Julia said. "If you'll leave the room for a minute I have a second injection to give him." The two retreated quietly as Julia returned to her pa- tient and touched the needle to his arm, giving him the second injection. Then she watched his face. There was a fresh burst of perspiration on his brow. The bandage covering the evil fang marks on his neck appeared to bulge. His head, which had been rolling back and forth now became rigid. His face contorted into a mask of pain, the veins at his temples bulging. In a loud voice, he screeched, "Carolyn!" Then he suddenly went limp and still. The nurse on the opposite side of his bed gave her a what-does-this-mean look and asked, "What now?" "That was a reaction to the injection," Julia said calmly. "He'll be all right for a while, at least. He'll sleep." Then she left the nurse watching him and joined Roger Collins and Professor Stokes in the hospital corridor." "Did you hear him just now? The name on his lips?" she asked. Roger Collins looked pale. "Yes. He sounded de- mented." "He has been through a lot," was her reply. Roger's expression was somber. "I didn't believe but now I must. I saw the bandage on his throat. The marks were there?" "Yes," Julia said. "The professor warned him." "But he wouldn't listen to me," Stokes said in distress. Roger gave him a grim glance. "That's not surprising. None of us would." Professor Stokes sighed. "I can't say that I blame you." "So David did see Carolyn," Roger said. "Of course," Julia said. "Only he was luckier than Todd. he escaped." Professor Stokes gave Roger a meaningful glance. "Something must be done to stop her. You know that?" "It's very difficult," Roger lamented. "How to begin? What to say to Elizabeth?" "It might be better not to say anything," Julia advised. "Precisely," Professor Stokes agreed. "I'll need to contact the authorities," Roger said with a look of despair. "I can't simply break into the mauso- leum." "That is correct,"Professor Stokes said with a small frown. "These things can be awkward." Julia Hoffman said, "You'll simply have to visit the sheriff and tell him." Roger darted an impatient glance her way. "Tell him that I believe my niece is a vampire? I'm sure he'd be impressed." "You'll have to be more subtle than that," she ad- mitted. "You could begin by telling him you have a strange feeling about the burial." Professor Stokes nodded. "No need to confide com- pletely in him at this point." "That may come soon enough," Julia Hoffman said. Roger still hesitated. The whole business was extremely distasteful to him. He disliked any kind of publicity. Despite all the power we wielded in the small com- munity of Collinsport, he was careful to be little seen or heard. Now he was being forced to take the stage under a sensational spotlight. He gave the two a distressed look. "You're sure I should go through with this?" "You heard Todd just now," Julia reminded him quietly. Roger sighed. "Yes." "And you know the close call David had. You want to protect your son." "I do." Professor Stokes said gravely, "Then you must investi- gate her coffin. There is no other way." "Very well," Roger said, accepting the decision with a heavy heart. With a look of relief, Julia Hoffman told the professor, "You had better accompany him to the sheriff's office." Stokes glanced at Roger. "Would you like me to, Col- lins?" Roger nodded. "Yes. I may need you to support my plea."
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