USH'S MATRIX GAME: SECOND ASSIGNMENT: 'Ghost Hunt'

Well, as some of the Doctors move to one side, you can see the device for what it is.

It is a large iron cylinder, a couple of feet longer than a man and a few times as high and wide. The contraption looks exceedingly heavy.

At one end, just visible, is a man's head, resting on supports., The man looks pale and sickly. He cannot move. Angled above his head is a mirror, allowing him to see what is directly behind him.

This is an iron lung. It was used in the first half of the century primarily to aid tubercolosis sufferers who were left with damaged lungs without the power to draw breathe, The unfortunate sufferer would be entombed inside the lung where the environment for his chest would be re-pressurised allowing the subject to breathe, and giving a life of sorts. Rows of children in iron lungs are some of the most striking pieces of archive footage you can find, in advance of the use of mass antibiotics to treat such diseases.

But fifty years out of date by the time period the Matrix simulates.

"Ah," says the man. "You are here. Please. if you would..."

There is a sssssssssshhhh... noise as he pauses to draw breath in the pressurised environment.

"... move to a place where I can more easily see you, that would be appreciated."

"Hmm...this would explain the decontamination..." San says quietly.

Oh, those,
It was Polio Ush, at least in the US.

*Moves th the side of his head*

If polio paralyzed your breathing system you got the exact same effect, except without having your ribcage broken open first (treating TB was really harsh).

"Thankyou," he says. "Though I am sure my butler has already done so, I must apologise for the actions of Ni Zhan. It was exactly for such reasons that I..."

...ssssssssssssssssshhhhhhhhhhhhhhh...

"... ceased having dealings with him."

Yea, I only learned about poili here but we didn't have a TB epidemic, we had a poilo one.

"Wise decision, if I do say so myself. You seem to be a well informed man, you you possibly tell us about Jerico?"

(there was TB in the US, Burn...polio is completely different. I gotta go now, I'll see everyone later, and Merry Christmas!)

"If you do not mind," he says "before we talk..."

...ssssssssssssssssshhhhhhhhhhhhhhh...

"...business, I shall ask for this to be a private audience."

His eyes flick to the Doctors.

"Please leave," he says. The Doctors gather up their tools and head for the door.

...ssssssssssssssssshhhhhhhhhhhhhhh...

"All of you," he says. The musicians stop playing, pack their instruments, and leave also, alongside the Butler.

You are left in almost dead silence, punctuated only by the man's laboured breathing. You feel quite odd, 14 heavily armed individuals holding an awkward audience with a cripple.

"Now," he says. "First things first. My name is Melitus. And whom is it I am addressing, may I ask?" he says, saving his breath until the end of the sentence.

"I go by Burn"

"Burn," he says. "I see. Well, it is interesting to meet you all. You caused quite a stir tonight."

"Thank You"

GTG, see yall later!

Ok, we shall leave the others to catch up with all this later then! Should intrigue/confuse a few people...

"My name would be San." San says. "And it wouldn't quite be entirely our fault that there was, such a stir tonight, as you put it."

(okay, now I really gotta go...so bye!)

Aww, bye!

"Of that I do not doubt," says Melitus, "but nonetheless, a stir you have caused. Most impressive."

(Wow...go away for a few hours and miss all the friggin twists and turns, thank god for reading....lol...)

"My name is Castor...."

His shades were still on and he leaned against one of the walls keeping to himself as usual.

"My name has no importance.." speaks Rade, simply

Am I alive/well/with the rest of the group again?

"I'm Fire" pointing out the others: "Ares, Heph, Barbarossa, Azrael, Celsius, Mors(?) and Cloud (?)... ... The one in the corner is Rade"

Cloud, yes, you are here.

"Very well," says Melitus. "Now then, what was it you gentlemen wanted to..."

...sssssssssshhhhhhhhhhhh...

"...talk to me about?"

"jerico.." says Rade

"Yes, what of him?" he asks.