Morris Hollett and St Vernon’s Ward for Strange & Unusual Diseases

14. Fizzy Eyes!

  Anyone walking past Marvin’s Office at that very moment must have wondered why they hadn’t got an invite to the party that was going on inside as laughter and loud whoops of joy could be heard in the corridor.

  However, as quick as the merriment had started, it stopped, and if you pressed your ear to the door you would have only been able to pick up excited whispers.

  Inside, the small room was becoming rather warm with the enthusiasm of the creation of a cunning plan.

  ‘So now we have to wait for the next move,’ said the Doctor, ‘and that rather depends on you, young Morris.’

  The timing of the plan was crucial and actually depended on a number of things;

  a. how long it was going to take for the Yiddle’s spell to mature (current status – who knows? But it can’t be long now),

  b. the Eenimeeni spell and how long that was going to take to mature (current status – nearly there, and just as well because without this there wasn’t a plan),

  c. and finally, The Evil Gaston Dreebil and what his next move might be (current status – unknown).

  So, they had a plan but it depended on a certain amount of luck, and everything slotting into place at the same time.

  ‘Has Dreebil tried to do this sort of thing before?’ asked Morris as he and the Doctor ambled along the corridors later.

  ‘No, but we have known for a long time that he wanted to exploit the magic. It appears that his desperation now means we are faced with a situation where other’s lives might be at risk…’ the Doctor’s voice trailed sadly as they reached Morris’ room.

  ‘In case you’re wondering,’ said the Doctor, ‘Dreebil can’t do anything to you in this room, it’s wrapped in a bubble of magic that means if he tried to get in, or even transported himself in here somehow, he’d get a blinding migraine…which is a really bad headache…we’ve got Alwyn to thank for that! If there’s one thing I learnt when Gaston and I were good friends is that he simply cannot function when he has a headache!’

  The Doctor smiled and his hair waved goodbye as Morris shut the door shut behind him and for the first time he breathed a sigh of relief as he heard the familiar ‘click’ of the lock.

  Morris switched on the TV, pulled a bottle of banana split soda from the fridge, and opened a bag of popcorn before jumping on the bed and making himself comfortable.

  Five minutes later he was fast asleep.

  ***

  Unknown to Morris, who slept like a baby for rather a long time, the corridors were being patrolled by a secret army determined to ensure that he was protected. Creatures with many legs and eyes watched every passageway from high up corners, behind pictures on walls, hanging from light fittings on invisible silk, creeping on silent feet under doors, through keyholes and up walls. St Vernon’s Strange and Unusual Diseases Ward had never been so well watched.