1 00:00:01,760 --> 00:00:09,440 Speaker 1: Al Zone Media. 2 00:00:07,040 --> 00:00:13,399 Speaker 2: Spooky Week, Spooky Week, Spooky Week, Spooky Week. Hello and 3 00:00:13,480 --> 00:00:16,160 Speaker 2: welcome to Spooky Week on gool Zone Media book Club. 4 00:00:16,600 --> 00:00:19,360 Speaker 2: I'm your host, Margaret Kiljoy, and every week I read 5 00:00:19,360 --> 00:00:22,200 Speaker 2: you a story, and this week, well this whole month, 6 00:00:22,440 --> 00:00:26,960 Speaker 2: I'm reading you spooky stories. In today's spooky Story, Okay, 7 00:00:27,000 --> 00:00:29,200 Speaker 2: I'm really excited about you can say that every week. 8 00:00:29,480 --> 00:00:30,440 Speaker 3: I'm still excited about it. 9 00:00:30,520 --> 00:00:32,839 Speaker 2: I'm excited about it every week, or I wouldn't anyway. 10 00:00:32,880 --> 00:00:33,160 Speaker 3: Whatever. 11 00:00:33,440 --> 00:00:37,240 Speaker 2: So you know how I like reading you about vampires. Well, 12 00:00:38,440 --> 00:00:42,000 Speaker 2: one of my favorite things about vampires is that it's 13 00:00:42,000 --> 00:00:45,360 Speaker 2: like every vampire story is a different metaphor. When you 14 00:00:45,360 --> 00:00:47,240 Speaker 2: go back far enough, when you read the newer stuff, 15 00:00:47,240 --> 00:00:50,840 Speaker 2: they get a little samey, say me, right, But I've 16 00:00:50,880 --> 00:00:56,400 Speaker 2: read to you about vampires that represent the idle rich, 17 00:00:57,240 --> 00:01:00,320 Speaker 2: siphoning the life force out of people who actually work. 18 00:01:00,520 --> 00:01:04,360 Speaker 2: And I've read to you about well, another rich group, 19 00:01:04,880 --> 00:01:08,119 Speaker 2: the aristocrats in general, and the like sort of playboy 20 00:01:08,800 --> 00:01:12,640 Speaker 2: lord Byron type that goes around and siphons out everyone's 21 00:01:12,680 --> 00:01:17,040 Speaker 2: life energy. And I'm going to read you a story 22 00:01:17,040 --> 00:01:22,039 Speaker 2: that represents vampires as a different metaphor, and we'll see 23 00:01:22,040 --> 00:01:24,199 Speaker 2: if you can figure out what kind it is, because 24 00:01:24,240 --> 00:01:27,559 Speaker 2: I'm going to read to you human Nisbits. The Vampire 25 00:01:27,680 --> 00:01:32,200 Speaker 2: Made first published in the Year of Our Lord nineteen hundred, 26 00:01:33,640 --> 00:01:37,320 Speaker 2: and I got sucked in the story because it opens 27 00:01:37,360 --> 00:01:42,200 Speaker 2: with a traveling artist, and I can identify with that 28 00:01:42,600 --> 00:01:44,800 Speaker 2: because I'm currently on tour. I guess I've said that 29 00:01:44,840 --> 00:01:46,520 Speaker 2: a lot. But more than that, it's because I used 30 00:01:46,520 --> 00:01:49,160 Speaker 2: to travel full time, and I don't know. There's like 31 00:01:49,200 --> 00:01:52,800 Speaker 2: a lot I resonate with in this story. So the 32 00:01:52,880 --> 00:01:57,920 Speaker 2: Vampire made by hum Nisbit, it was the exact kind 33 00:01:57,920 --> 00:02:00,760 Speaker 2: of abode that I've been looking after for weeks, for 34 00:02:00,920 --> 00:02:03,760 Speaker 2: I was in that condition of mind when absolute renunciation 35 00:02:03,880 --> 00:02:07,640 Speaker 2: of society was a necessity. I had become diffident of 36 00:02:07,680 --> 00:02:11,840 Speaker 2: myself and wearied of my kind. A strange unrest was 37 00:02:11,880 --> 00:02:15,800 Speaker 2: in my blood, a barren dearth in my brains. Familiar 38 00:02:15,880 --> 00:02:20,000 Speaker 2: objects and faces had grown distasteful to me. I wanted 39 00:02:20,040 --> 00:02:24,080 Speaker 2: to be alone. This is the mood which comes upon 40 00:02:24,160 --> 00:02:27,560 Speaker 2: every sensitive and artistic mind when the possessor has been 41 00:02:27,600 --> 00:02:31,040 Speaker 2: overworked and living too long in one groove. It is 42 00:02:31,120 --> 00:02:34,720 Speaker 2: nature's hint for him to seek pastures new, the sign 43 00:02:34,760 --> 00:02:38,280 Speaker 2: that a retreat has become needful. If he does not yield, 44 00:02:38,520 --> 00:02:42,160 Speaker 2: he breaks down and becomes whimsical and hypochondrical, as well 45 00:02:42,200 --> 00:02:45,280 Speaker 2: as hypocritical. It is always a bad sign when a 46 00:02:45,320 --> 00:02:49,919 Speaker 2: man becomes overcritical and censurious about his own or other 47 00:02:49,960 --> 00:02:52,880 Speaker 2: people's work, for it means that he is losing vital 48 00:02:52,919 --> 00:02:58,120 Speaker 2: portions of work, freshness, and enthusiasm. Before I arrived at 49 00:02:58,120 --> 00:03:02,400 Speaker 2: the dismal stage of criticism, I hastily packed up my knapsack, 50 00:03:02,840 --> 00:03:06,400 Speaker 2: taking the train to Westmoreland, and I began my tramp 51 00:03:06,480 --> 00:03:12,360 Speaker 2: in search of solitude, racing air, and romantic surroundings. Many 52 00:03:12,400 --> 00:03:15,400 Speaker 2: places I came upon during that early summer wandering that 53 00:03:15,480 --> 00:03:19,919 Speaker 2: appeared to have almost the required conditions, Yet some petty 54 00:03:20,000 --> 00:03:24,320 Speaker 2: drawback prevented me from deciding. Sometimes it was the scenery 55 00:03:24,440 --> 00:03:27,600 Speaker 2: that I did not take kindly to. At other places 56 00:03:27,639 --> 00:03:31,440 Speaker 2: I took sudden antipathies to the landlady or landlord, and 57 00:03:31,560 --> 00:03:34,040 Speaker 2: felt I would abhor them before a week was spent 58 00:03:34,200 --> 00:03:37,920 Speaker 2: under their charge. Other places which might have suited me 59 00:03:38,360 --> 00:03:41,240 Speaker 2: I could not have, as they did not want a lodger. 60 00:03:42,360 --> 00:03:44,880 Speaker 2: Fate was driving me to this cottage on the moor, 61 00:03:45,480 --> 00:03:51,000 Speaker 2: and no one can resist destiny. One day I found 62 00:03:51,040 --> 00:03:54,200 Speaker 2: myself on a wide and pathless moor near the sea. 63 00:03:54,520 --> 00:03:56,920 Speaker 2: I had slept the night before at a small hamlet, 64 00:03:57,320 --> 00:04:00,040 Speaker 2: but that was already eight miles in my rear, and 65 00:04:00,080 --> 00:04:02,400 Speaker 2: since I had turned my back upon it, I had 66 00:04:02,400 --> 00:04:05,800 Speaker 2: not seen any signs of humanity. I was alone, with 67 00:04:05,880 --> 00:04:09,640 Speaker 2: a fair sky above me, a balmy ozone filled wind 68 00:04:09,720 --> 00:04:13,520 Speaker 2: blowing over the stony and heather clad mounds, and nothing 69 00:04:13,680 --> 00:04:18,120 Speaker 2: to disturb my meditations. How far the more stretched I 70 00:04:18,160 --> 00:04:21,640 Speaker 2: had no knowledge. I only knew that by keeping in 71 00:04:21,680 --> 00:04:24,360 Speaker 2: a straight line, I would come to the ocean cliffs, 72 00:04:24,760 --> 00:04:29,320 Speaker 2: then perhaps after a time, arrive at some fishing village. 73 00:04:30,000 --> 00:04:32,880 Speaker 2: I had provisions in my knapsack, and being young, did 74 00:04:32,920 --> 00:04:36,160 Speaker 2: not fear a night under the stars. I was inhaling 75 00:04:36,200 --> 00:04:39,280 Speaker 2: the delicious summer air and once more getting back the 76 00:04:39,360 --> 00:04:43,600 Speaker 2: vigor and happiness I had lost my city. Dried brains 77 00:04:43,960 --> 00:04:49,320 Speaker 2: were again becoming juicy. Thus, hour after hour slid past 78 00:04:49,400 --> 00:04:53,200 Speaker 2: me with the paces, until I had covered about fifteen 79 00:04:53,200 --> 00:04:55,960 Speaker 2: miles since morning, when I saw before me in the 80 00:04:56,000 --> 00:05:01,080 Speaker 2: distance a solitary stone built cottage with a rough slated roof. 81 00:05:02,160 --> 00:05:04,760 Speaker 2: I'll camp there, if possible, I said to myself, as 82 00:05:04,800 --> 00:05:08,240 Speaker 2: I quickened my step towards it to one in search 83 00:05:08,279 --> 00:05:11,040 Speaker 2: of a quiet, free life. Nothing could possibly have been 84 00:05:11,080 --> 00:05:14,600 Speaker 2: more suitable than this cottage. It stood on the edge 85 00:05:14,640 --> 00:05:18,480 Speaker 2: of lofty cliffs, with its front door facing the moor 86 00:05:18,520 --> 00:05:22,279 Speaker 2: and the backyard wall overlooking the ocean. The sound of 87 00:05:22,320 --> 00:05:25,320 Speaker 2: the dancing waves struck upon my ears like a lullaby 88 00:05:25,440 --> 00:05:28,479 Speaker 2: as I drew near. How they would thunder when the 89 00:05:28,520 --> 00:05:32,080 Speaker 2: autumn gales came on, and the sea birds fled shrieking 90 00:05:32,160 --> 00:05:35,800 Speaker 2: to the shelter of the sedges. A small garden spread 91 00:05:35,839 --> 00:05:39,160 Speaker 2: in front, surrounded by a dry stone wall, just high 92 00:05:39,279 --> 00:05:43,200 Speaker 2: enough for one to lean lazily upon when inclined, the 93 00:05:43,240 --> 00:05:47,520 Speaker 2: garden was a flame of color, scarlet, predominating with those 94 00:05:47,560 --> 00:05:50,359 Speaker 2: other soft shades that cultivated poppies take. 95 00:05:50,200 --> 00:05:51,080 Speaker 3: On in their blooming. 96 00:05:51,839 --> 00:05:55,640 Speaker 2: For this was all The garden grew that, and of 97 00:05:55,680 --> 00:05:59,200 Speaker 2: course it also grew whatever our sponsors are selling you, 98 00:05:59,640 --> 00:06:04,080 Speaker 2: because whatever is next also grows in a garden. It 99 00:06:04,160 --> 00:06:06,600 Speaker 2: just might be a metaphorical garden. It might be a 100 00:06:06,720 --> 00:06:09,719 Speaker 2: terrible garden, but who knows. 101 00:06:10,839 --> 00:06:24,599 Speaker 3: You'll find out. And we're back. 102 00:06:27,720 --> 00:06:30,520 Speaker 2: As I approached, taking notice of this singular assortment of 103 00:06:30,560 --> 00:06:34,320 Speaker 2: poppies and the orderly cleanness of the windows. The front 104 00:06:34,320 --> 00:06:36,840 Speaker 2: door opened and a woman appeared who impressed me at 105 00:06:36,839 --> 00:06:40,320 Speaker 2: once favorably as she leisurely came along the pathway to 106 00:06:40,400 --> 00:06:43,599 Speaker 2: the gate and drew it back as if to welcome me. 107 00:06:45,000 --> 00:06:47,760 Speaker 2: She was of middle age, and when young must have 108 00:06:47,800 --> 00:06:51,560 Speaker 2: been remarkably good looking. She was tall and still shapely, 109 00:06:51,960 --> 00:06:55,960 Speaker 2: with smooth, clear skin, regular features, and a calm expression 110 00:06:56,000 --> 00:06:58,919 Speaker 2: that at once gave me a sensation of rest. To 111 00:06:59,040 --> 00:07:01,479 Speaker 2: my inquiries, she said she could give me both a 112 00:07:01,480 --> 00:07:05,560 Speaker 2: sitting and a bedroom, and invited me inside to see them. 113 00:07:05,680 --> 00:07:08,440 Speaker 2: As I looked at her smooth black hair and cool 114 00:07:08,480 --> 00:07:11,720 Speaker 2: brown eyes, I felt that I would not be too 115 00:07:11,760 --> 00:07:16,160 Speaker 2: particular about the accommodation with such a landlady. I was 116 00:07:16,200 --> 00:07:19,400 Speaker 2: sure to find what I was after here. The room 117 00:07:19,480 --> 00:07:23,560 Speaker 2: surpassed my expectation, dainty white curtains and bedding with the 118 00:07:23,600 --> 00:07:27,480 Speaker 2: soft perfume of lavender about them, a sitting room, homely 119 00:07:27,880 --> 00:07:32,120 Speaker 2: yet cozy without being crowded. With a sigh of infinite relief, 120 00:07:32,160 --> 00:07:36,360 Speaker 2: I flung down my knapsack and clinched the bargain. She 121 00:07:36,560 --> 00:07:38,880 Speaker 2: was a widow with one daughter, whom I did not 122 00:07:39,040 --> 00:07:42,240 Speaker 2: see the first day, as she was unwell and confined 123 00:07:42,280 --> 00:07:45,080 Speaker 2: to her own room. But on the next day she 124 00:07:45,240 --> 00:07:49,960 Speaker 2: was somewhat better, and then we met. The fare was simple, 125 00:07:50,280 --> 00:07:53,600 Speaker 2: yet it suited me exactly for the time, delicious milk 126 00:07:53,640 --> 00:07:57,360 Speaker 2: and butter with home made scones, fresh eggs and bacon. 127 00:07:57,920 --> 00:08:00,840 Speaker 2: After a hardy tea, I went to bed in a 128 00:08:00,840 --> 00:08:05,040 Speaker 2: condition of perfect content with my quarters. Yet happy and 129 00:08:05,120 --> 00:08:08,160 Speaker 2: tired out as I was, I had by no means 130 00:08:08,160 --> 00:08:11,880 Speaker 2: a comfortable night. This I put down to the strange bed. 131 00:08:12,400 --> 00:08:15,920 Speaker 2: I slept certainly, but my sleep was filled with dreams, 132 00:08:16,320 --> 00:08:19,280 Speaker 2: so that I woke up late and unrefreshed. A good 133 00:08:19,320 --> 00:08:22,480 Speaker 2: walk on the moor, however, restored me, and I returned 134 00:08:22,480 --> 00:08:26,920 Speaker 2: with a fine appetite for breakfast. Certain conditions of mind, 135 00:08:26,960 --> 00:08:31,200 Speaker 2: with aggravating circumstances are required before even a young man 136 00:08:31,280 --> 00:08:34,040 Speaker 2: can fall in love at first sight, as Shakespeare has 137 00:08:34,080 --> 00:08:38,280 Speaker 2: shown in his Romeo and Juliet. In the city where 138 00:08:38,280 --> 00:08:41,880 Speaker 2: many fair faces passed me every hour, I had remained 139 00:08:42,000 --> 00:08:44,640 Speaker 2: like a stoic. Yet no sooner did I enter the 140 00:08:44,679 --> 00:08:48,880 Speaker 2: cottage after that morning walk, than I succumbed instantly before 141 00:08:48,920 --> 00:08:55,160 Speaker 2: the weird charms of my landlady's daughter, Ariadne brunel. She 142 00:08:55,320 --> 00:08:57,800 Speaker 2: was somewhat better this morning and able to meet me 143 00:08:57,840 --> 00:09:00,400 Speaker 2: at breakfast, for we had our meals together while I 144 00:09:00,440 --> 00:09:04,840 Speaker 2: was their lodger. Ariadne was not beautiful in the strictly 145 00:09:04,920 --> 00:09:09,080 Speaker 2: classical sense, her complexion being too lividly white and her 146 00:09:09,120 --> 00:09:13,240 Speaker 2: expression too set to be quite pleasant at first sight. Yet, 147 00:09:13,280 --> 00:09:15,880 Speaker 2: as her mother had informed me, she had been ill 148 00:09:15,960 --> 00:09:19,520 Speaker 2: for some time, which accounted for that defect. Her features 149 00:09:19,520 --> 00:09:22,520 Speaker 2: were not regular, her hair and eyes seemed too black 150 00:09:22,559 --> 00:09:25,959 Speaker 2: for that strangely white skin, and her lips too red 151 00:09:26,080 --> 00:09:27,960 Speaker 2: for any except the decadent. 152 00:09:27,559 --> 00:09:29,520 Speaker 3: Harmonies of an aubrey beardsleep. 153 00:09:30,840 --> 00:09:33,960 Speaker 2: Yet my fantastic dreams of the preceding night, with my 154 00:09:34,080 --> 00:09:36,680 Speaker 2: mourning walk had prepared me to be enthralled by this 155 00:09:36,840 --> 00:09:42,200 Speaker 2: modern poster like invalid. The loneliness of the moor with 156 00:09:42,280 --> 00:09:45,000 Speaker 2: the singing of the ocean had gripped my heart with 157 00:09:45,040 --> 00:09:49,360 Speaker 2: a wistful longing. The incongruity of those flaunting and evanescent 158 00:09:49,440 --> 00:09:52,880 Speaker 2: poppy flowers dashing the giddy tints in the face of 159 00:09:52,920 --> 00:09:55,960 Speaker 2: that sober heath touched me with a shiver as I 160 00:09:56,000 --> 00:09:59,920 Speaker 2: approached the cottage. And lastly, that weird embodiment of startled 161 00:10:00,240 --> 00:10:06,880 Speaker 2: contrasts completed my subjugation. She rose from her chair as 162 00:10:06,880 --> 00:10:09,800 Speaker 2: her mother introduced her, and smiled while she held out 163 00:10:09,800 --> 00:10:14,600 Speaker 2: her hand. I clasped that soft white snowflake, and as 164 00:10:14,600 --> 00:10:17,920 Speaker 2: I did so, a faint thrill tingled over me and 165 00:10:18,000 --> 00:10:21,800 Speaker 2: rested on my heart, stopping for the moment its beating. 166 00:10:23,120 --> 00:10:25,640 Speaker 2: This contact seemed to have also affected her as it 167 00:10:25,679 --> 00:10:29,440 Speaker 2: did me. A clear flush like a white flame, lighted 168 00:10:29,520 --> 00:10:31,800 Speaker 2: up her face, so that it glowed as if an 169 00:10:31,800 --> 00:10:35,680 Speaker 2: alabaster lamp had been lit. Her black eyes became softer 170 00:10:35,840 --> 00:10:39,480 Speaker 2: and more humid as her glances crossed, and her scarlet 171 00:10:39,480 --> 00:10:43,240 Speaker 2: lips grew moist. She was a living woman now, while 172 00:10:43,280 --> 00:10:48,800 Speaker 2: before she had seemed half a corpse. She permitted her white, 173 00:10:48,840 --> 00:10:51,840 Speaker 2: slender hand to remain in mind longer than most people 174 00:10:51,880 --> 00:10:55,520 Speaker 2: do at an introduction, and then she slowly withdrew it, 175 00:10:56,080 --> 00:10:58,959 Speaker 2: still regarding me with steadfast eyes for a second or 176 00:10:59,040 --> 00:11:05,120 Speaker 2: two afterwards. Fathomless, velvety eyes these were, Yet before they 177 00:11:05,160 --> 00:11:08,320 Speaker 2: were shifted from mine, they appeared to have absorbed all 178 00:11:08,360 --> 00:11:13,160 Speaker 2: my will power and made me her abject slave. They 179 00:11:13,160 --> 00:11:16,679 Speaker 2: looked like deep, dark pools of clear water, Yet they 180 00:11:16,679 --> 00:11:20,080 Speaker 2: filled me with fire and deprived me of strength. I 181 00:11:20,200 --> 00:11:22,560 Speaker 2: sank into my chair almost as languidly as I had 182 00:11:22,640 --> 00:11:25,319 Speaker 2: risen from my bed that morning. Yet I made a 183 00:11:25,360 --> 00:11:29,560 Speaker 2: good breakfast, and although she hardly tasted anything, this strange 184 00:11:29,600 --> 00:11:32,960 Speaker 2: girl rose much refreshed, and with a slight glow of 185 00:11:33,040 --> 00:11:36,520 Speaker 2: color on her cheeks, which improved her so greatly that 186 00:11:36,600 --> 00:11:41,040 Speaker 2: she appeared younger and almost beautiful. I had come here 187 00:11:41,080 --> 00:11:44,680 Speaker 2: seeking solitude, but since I had seen Arianne, it seemed 188 00:11:44,720 --> 00:11:47,840 Speaker 2: as if I had come for her. Only she was 189 00:11:47,880 --> 00:11:51,200 Speaker 2: not very lively. Indeed, thinking back, I cannot recall any 190 00:11:51,240 --> 00:11:55,880 Speaker 2: spontaneous remark of hers. She answered my questions by monosyllables 191 00:11:55,920 --> 00:11:59,000 Speaker 2: and left me to lead in words. Yet she was 192 00:11:59,040 --> 00:12:01,920 Speaker 2: so insinuated and appeared to lead my thoughts in her 193 00:12:01,960 --> 00:12:05,640 Speaker 2: direction and speak to me with her eyes. I cannot 194 00:12:05,679 --> 00:12:08,840 Speaker 2: describe her minutely. I only know that from the first 195 00:12:08,840 --> 00:12:12,040 Speaker 2: glance and touch she gave me I was bewitched and 196 00:12:12,080 --> 00:12:16,559 Speaker 2: could think of nothing else. It was a rapid, distracting, 197 00:12:16,640 --> 00:12:21,000 Speaker 2: devouring infatuation that possessed me all day long. I followed 198 00:12:21,000 --> 00:12:23,640 Speaker 2: her about like a dog. Every night I dreamed of 199 00:12:23,679 --> 00:12:28,160 Speaker 2: that white glowing face, those steadfast black eyes, those moist 200 00:12:28,240 --> 00:12:31,800 Speaker 2: scarlet lips, and each morning I rose more languid than 201 00:12:31,800 --> 00:12:35,360 Speaker 2: I had been the day before. Sometimes I dreamed that 202 00:12:35,440 --> 00:12:37,839 Speaker 2: she was kissing me with those red lips, while I 203 00:12:37,920 --> 00:12:41,160 Speaker 2: shivered at the contact of her silky black tresses as 204 00:12:41,200 --> 00:12:44,880 Speaker 2: they covered my throat. Sometimes that we were floating in 205 00:12:44,920 --> 00:12:48,079 Speaker 2: the air, her arms about me and her long hair 206 00:12:48,200 --> 00:12:51,440 Speaker 2: enveloping us both like an inky cloud, while I lay 207 00:12:51,559 --> 00:12:56,800 Speaker 2: supine and helpless, much like you can lay supine and 208 00:12:56,840 --> 00:13:03,440 Speaker 2: helpless before this onslaught of advertising for various goods and services. 209 00:13:04,160 --> 00:13:18,000 Speaker 3: Here you go, and we're back. 210 00:13:19,880 --> 00:13:22,040 Speaker 2: She went with me after breakfast on that first day 211 00:13:22,080 --> 00:13:24,360 Speaker 2: to the moor, and before we came back, I had 212 00:13:24,360 --> 00:13:27,679 Speaker 2: spoken my love and received her assent. I held her 213 00:13:27,679 --> 00:13:30,000 Speaker 2: in my arms and had taken her kisses in answer 214 00:13:30,000 --> 00:13:32,800 Speaker 2: to mine. Nor did I think it strange that all 215 00:13:32,800 --> 00:13:36,400 Speaker 2: this had happened so quickly. She was mine, or rather 216 00:13:36,480 --> 00:13:40,360 Speaker 2: I was hers. Without a pause, I told her it 217 00:13:40,400 --> 00:13:42,640 Speaker 2: was fate that had sent me to her, or I 218 00:13:42,679 --> 00:13:45,080 Speaker 2: had no doubts about my love, and she replied that 219 00:13:45,160 --> 00:13:50,079 Speaker 2: I had restored her to life, acting upon Ariadne's advice 220 00:13:50,679 --> 00:13:54,080 Speaker 2: and also from a natural shyness. It did not inform 221 00:13:54,120 --> 00:13:57,400 Speaker 2: her mother how quickly matters had progressed between us. Yet, 222 00:13:57,400 --> 00:14:01,040 Speaker 2: although we both acted as circumspectfully as possible, I had 223 00:14:01,040 --> 00:14:04,240 Speaker 2: no doubt Missus Burnell could see how engrossed we were 224 00:14:04,320 --> 00:14:08,199 Speaker 2: in each other. Lovers are not unlike ostriches in their 225 00:14:08,200 --> 00:14:12,000 Speaker 2: modes of concealment. I was not afraid of asking Missus 226 00:14:12,040 --> 00:14:14,760 Speaker 2: Burnell for her daughter, for she was already showing her 227 00:14:14,760 --> 00:14:18,719 Speaker 2: partiality towards me, and had bestowed upon me some confidences 228 00:14:18,760 --> 00:14:22,200 Speaker 2: regarding her own position in life. And I therefore knew 229 00:14:22,280 --> 00:14:25,920 Speaker 2: that so far as social position was concerned, there could 230 00:14:25,920 --> 00:14:29,360 Speaker 2: be no real objection to our marriage. They lived in 231 00:14:29,400 --> 00:14:31,960 Speaker 2: this lonely spot for the sake of their health, and 232 00:14:32,040 --> 00:14:34,360 Speaker 2: kept no servants because they could not get any to 233 00:14:34,400 --> 00:14:38,880 Speaker 2: take service so far away from other humanity. My coming 234 00:14:38,920 --> 00:14:41,600 Speaker 2: had been opportune and welcome to both mother and daughter. 235 00:14:42,680 --> 00:14:45,200 Speaker 2: For the sake of decorum, however, I resolved to delay 236 00:14:45,240 --> 00:14:47,840 Speaker 2: my confession for a week or two and trust to 237 00:14:47,880 --> 00:14:53,520 Speaker 2: some favorable opportunity of doing it discreetly. Meanwhile, Ariadne and 238 00:14:53,600 --> 00:14:56,880 Speaker 2: I passed our time in a thoroughly idle and lotus 239 00:14:56,880 --> 00:15:00,000 Speaker 2: eating style. Each night I retired to my bed medae 240 00:15:00,520 --> 00:15:04,040 Speaker 2: starting work next day. Each morning I rose languid from 241 00:15:04,080 --> 00:15:07,920 Speaker 2: those disturbing dreams, with no thought for anything outside my love. 242 00:15:08,640 --> 00:15:11,440 Speaker 2: She grew stronger every day while I appeared to be 243 00:15:11,480 --> 00:15:14,240 Speaker 2: taking her place as the invalid. Yet I was more 244 00:15:14,280 --> 00:15:17,520 Speaker 2: frantically in love than ever, and only happy when with her. 245 00:15:18,080 --> 00:15:21,920 Speaker 2: She was my lone star, my only joy, my life. 246 00:15:23,440 --> 00:15:26,040 Speaker 2: We did not go great distances, for I liked best 247 00:15:26,080 --> 00:15:28,880 Speaker 2: to lie on the dry heath and watch her glowing 248 00:15:28,960 --> 00:15:32,240 Speaker 2: face and intense eyes while I listened to the surging 249 00:15:32,280 --> 00:15:35,520 Speaker 2: of the distant waves. It was love made me lazy, 250 00:15:35,600 --> 00:15:38,640 Speaker 2: I thought, for unless a man has all he longs 251 00:15:38,680 --> 00:15:41,640 Speaker 2: for beside him, he is apt to copy the domestic 252 00:15:41,720 --> 00:15:46,040 Speaker 2: cat and bask in the sunshine. I had been enchanted quickly. 253 00:15:46,880 --> 00:15:50,880 Speaker 2: My disenchantment came as rapidly, although it was long before 254 00:15:50,880 --> 00:15:55,920 Speaker 2: the poison left my blood. One night, about a couple 255 00:15:55,960 --> 00:15:59,080 Speaker 2: weeks after my coming to the cottage, I had returned 256 00:15:59,120 --> 00:16:02,960 Speaker 2: after a delicious moonlight walk with Ariadne. The night was 257 00:16:03,000 --> 00:16:05,520 Speaker 2: warm and the moon at the full. Therefore I left 258 00:16:05,520 --> 00:16:08,000 Speaker 2: my bedroom window open to let in what little air 259 00:16:08,040 --> 00:16:11,800 Speaker 2: there was. I was more than usually fagged out, so 260 00:16:11,840 --> 00:16:14,200 Speaker 2: that I had only strength enough to remove my boots 261 00:16:14,200 --> 00:16:17,040 Speaker 2: and coat, before I flung myself wearily on the coverlet 262 00:16:17,440 --> 00:16:21,680 Speaker 2: and fell almost instantly asleep, without tasting the nightcap draft 263 00:16:22,000 --> 00:16:25,160 Speaker 2: that was constantly placed on the night table, and which 264 00:16:25,400 --> 00:16:29,320 Speaker 2: I had always drained thirstily. I had a ghastly dream 265 00:16:29,400 --> 00:16:32,640 Speaker 2: this night. I thought I saw a monster bat with 266 00:16:32,680 --> 00:16:36,120 Speaker 2: the face and tresses of Ariadne, fly into the open 267 00:16:36,160 --> 00:16:39,320 Speaker 2: window and fasten its white teeth and scarlet lips on 268 00:16:39,440 --> 00:16:42,520 Speaker 2: my arm. I tried to beat the horror away, but 269 00:16:42,600 --> 00:16:45,880 Speaker 2: could not, for I seemed chained down and thralled, also 270 00:16:45,960 --> 00:16:49,480 Speaker 2: with drowsy delight, as the beast sucked my blood with 271 00:16:49,560 --> 00:16:53,600 Speaker 2: a gruesome rapture. I looked out dreamily and saw a 272 00:16:53,640 --> 00:16:56,680 Speaker 2: line of dead bodies of young men lying on the floor, 273 00:16:57,240 --> 00:16:59,800 Speaker 2: each with a red mark on their arms, on the 274 00:16:59,800 --> 00:17:04,040 Speaker 2: same part where the vampire was then sucking me, And 275 00:17:04,119 --> 00:17:06,840 Speaker 2: I remembered having seen and wondered at such a mark 276 00:17:06,880 --> 00:17:11,000 Speaker 2: on my own arm the past fortnight. In a flash, 277 00:17:11,359 --> 00:17:14,479 Speaker 2: I understood the reason for my strange weakness, and at 278 00:17:14,520 --> 00:17:18,000 Speaker 2: the same moment a sudden prick of pain roused me 279 00:17:18,480 --> 00:17:22,720 Speaker 2: from my dreamy pleasure. The vampire, in her eagerness, had 280 00:17:22,760 --> 00:17:25,639 Speaker 2: bitten a little too deeply that night, unaware I had 281 00:17:25,680 --> 00:17:29,360 Speaker 2: not tasted the drug draft. As I woke, I saw 282 00:17:29,400 --> 00:17:32,600 Speaker 2: her fully revealed by the midnight moon, with her black 283 00:17:32,640 --> 00:17:37,160 Speaker 2: tresses flowing loosely, with her red lips glued to my arm. 284 00:17:37,400 --> 00:17:40,879 Speaker 2: With a shriek of horror, I dashed her backwards, getting 285 00:17:40,960 --> 00:17:44,720 Speaker 2: one last glimpse of her savage eyes, glowing white face, 286 00:17:44,760 --> 00:17:48,040 Speaker 2: and blood stained red lips. Then I rushed out to 287 00:17:48,080 --> 00:17:51,440 Speaker 2: the night, moved on by my fear and hatred. Nor 288 00:17:51,480 --> 00:17:53,639 Speaker 2: did I pause in my mad flight until I had 289 00:17:53,680 --> 00:17:57,520 Speaker 2: left miles between me and that a cursed cottage on 290 00:17:57,600 --> 00:18:05,440 Speaker 2: the moor. The end. So, Okay, I like that story. God, 291 00:18:05,440 --> 00:18:06,960 Speaker 2: I always say the same thing. I always say, I 292 00:18:07,040 --> 00:18:08,399 Speaker 2: like that story for a lot of reasons, and then 293 00:18:08,440 --> 00:18:10,399 Speaker 2: I tell you the reasons. But I guess that's just 294 00:18:10,440 --> 00:18:12,399 Speaker 2: the format of the show, that the reasons. 295 00:18:12,440 --> 00:18:14,040 Speaker 3: I like the thing. Okay. 296 00:18:14,080 --> 00:18:16,240 Speaker 2: So by the time I was about two thirds the 297 00:18:16,280 --> 00:18:18,440 Speaker 2: way through, I was like, oh, this is about drugs, 298 00:18:19,359 --> 00:18:20,760 Speaker 2: and I was like, oh, this is kind of cool. 299 00:18:20,760 --> 00:18:23,760 Speaker 2: I mean, like, you know, I don't do drugs. I 300 00:18:23,760 --> 00:18:26,600 Speaker 2: don't recommend other people do drugs, but also they don't 301 00:18:26,600 --> 00:18:32,600 Speaker 2: deserve to be literally demonized, right, but I just find 302 00:18:32,600 --> 00:18:35,560 Speaker 2: it interesting when there's like a new way that well 303 00:18:35,560 --> 00:18:37,000 Speaker 2: maybe it's not new, it's new to me. It's one 304 00:18:37,080 --> 00:18:38,440 Speaker 2: hundred and twenty four years old. 305 00:18:38,680 --> 00:18:39,359 Speaker 3: The very least. 306 00:18:40,000 --> 00:18:43,440 Speaker 2: I like when there's new metaphors about what vamporism means 307 00:18:43,480 --> 00:18:45,960 Speaker 2: and what different monsters and demons mean, and I like 308 00:18:45,960 --> 00:18:48,960 Speaker 2: how vampires are just like there's just so many things 309 00:18:48,960 --> 00:18:51,760 Speaker 2: that they've been. And when I was reading it, the 310 00:18:51,800 --> 00:18:53,960 Speaker 2: first sign was I was like, why do they only 311 00:18:54,000 --> 00:18:56,679 Speaker 2: grow poppies? And I was like, oh, maybe this doesn't 312 00:18:56,720 --> 00:18:59,320 Speaker 2: reference anything. Maybe just poppies are really common and like 313 00:19:00,040 --> 00:19:03,320 Speaker 2: Scotland or wherever this takes place. The author is Scottish, 314 00:19:03,760 --> 00:19:06,240 Speaker 2: although he mostly writes about Australia because he spends some 315 00:19:06,320 --> 00:19:09,560 Speaker 2: time there. But you know, so I'm like, Okay, maybe 316 00:19:09,600 --> 00:19:12,280 Speaker 2: it's just people grow poppies and poppies are really pretty. 317 00:19:12,320 --> 00:19:14,840 Speaker 2: And I'm like, but I don't know. I mean, like, 318 00:19:15,080 --> 00:19:17,520 Speaker 2: you know, opium is a thing. And then by the 319 00:19:17,560 --> 00:19:21,960 Speaker 2: time it talks about them living like lotus eaters, and 320 00:19:22,000 --> 00:19:24,840 Speaker 2: I'm like, oh, I love weird old timey ways of 321 00:19:24,920 --> 00:19:28,480 Speaker 2: talking about like altered states of mind and stuff. And 322 00:19:28,520 --> 00:19:31,199 Speaker 2: then like a little later I was like huh, like 323 00:19:31,280 --> 00:19:33,520 Speaker 2: biting him on the arm like usually it's the neck, 324 00:19:34,080 --> 00:19:40,320 Speaker 2: And I'm like, oh, yeah, it is about drugs, and uh, 325 00:19:40,359 --> 00:19:42,639 Speaker 2: that's interesting to me. I don't know. I mean, like 326 00:19:42,760 --> 00:19:45,040 Speaker 2: some of y'all might know more about most people know 327 00:19:45,119 --> 00:19:49,320 Speaker 2: more drugs than me. But I just think it's interesting. 328 00:19:49,480 --> 00:19:51,600 Speaker 2: It's still doing the same thing, right, you know, it's 329 00:19:51,640 --> 00:19:56,160 Speaker 2: representing the vampire drug person as a woman, but it's 330 00:19:56,200 --> 00:20:01,520 Speaker 2: like most vampires doing the draining people's life forces aren't women. 331 00:20:01,560 --> 00:20:04,119 Speaker 2: I don't think that that's like a specifically misogynistic trope. 332 00:20:04,160 --> 00:20:07,480 Speaker 2: I think I'm more drawn to stories about women personally. 333 00:20:07,840 --> 00:20:10,440 Speaker 2: But you know, if y' all listen back long enough, 334 00:20:10,440 --> 00:20:13,880 Speaker 2: you can hear me reading The Vampire by Polodari, which 335 00:20:13,920 --> 00:20:17,400 Speaker 2: is the first recognizably vampire story of like an aristocrat 336 00:20:17,520 --> 00:20:20,880 Speaker 2: in history, and it was written about a man who 337 00:20:20,960 --> 00:20:24,359 Speaker 2: was going around and draining people's life forces. And just like, yeah, 338 00:20:24,359 --> 00:20:26,720 Speaker 2: the idea that like one person grows strong while the 339 00:20:26,760 --> 00:20:29,199 Speaker 2: other person grows weak has like a certain just like 340 00:20:29,560 --> 00:20:33,000 Speaker 2: hauntingness to it. It's really funny, Ma that like vampires 341 00:20:33,000 --> 00:20:35,000 Speaker 2: so much because I am so squeamish and do not 342 00:20:35,160 --> 00:20:38,520 Speaker 2: like blood, and like I struggle to watch vampire movies 343 00:20:38,560 --> 00:20:42,399 Speaker 2: because they're like bloody, you know, which makes sense because 344 00:20:42,480 --> 00:20:46,879 Speaker 2: vampires need blood. But that's why it would be so 345 00:20:46,960 --> 00:20:48,920 Speaker 2: hard to decide whether or not to become a vampire. 346 00:20:49,800 --> 00:20:52,840 Speaker 2: I'd be like, but if I become a vampire, I 347 00:20:52,880 --> 00:20:56,480 Speaker 2: get all these superpowers, and I feel like morally obliged 348 00:20:56,760 --> 00:20:58,439 Speaker 2: that if I was asked to become a vampire, I 349 00:20:58,440 --> 00:21:02,480 Speaker 2: feel morally obliged to say, yeah, right, because how better 350 00:21:02,600 --> 00:21:05,160 Speaker 2: to serve turning the world into a better place than 351 00:21:05,320 --> 00:21:08,399 Speaker 2: the ability to live a really long time and have 352 00:21:08,480 --> 00:21:11,160 Speaker 2: all of these powers and be able to, you know, 353 00:21:11,200 --> 00:21:14,120 Speaker 2: accomplish a lot of things. This is my way of saying, 354 00:21:14,119 --> 00:21:16,159 Speaker 2: if I was a vampire, I'd totally eat cops. But 355 00:21:17,440 --> 00:21:22,280 Speaker 2: you know, it'd be really hard because I'm squeamish. Anyway, 356 00:21:22,880 --> 00:21:25,440 Speaker 2: that's oh my god, that's the end of spooky Month. 357 00:21:26,240 --> 00:21:26,800 Speaker 3: Don't worry. 358 00:21:26,840 --> 00:21:29,800 Speaker 2: I'll bring you more spooky anyway. I'm not done yet. 359 00:21:30,040 --> 00:21:33,119 Speaker 2: There's so much more spooky. Every day is Halloween. 360 00:21:43,359 --> 00:21:45,840 Speaker 1: It could happen here as a production of cool Zone Media. 361 00:21:45,920 --> 00:21:48,600 Speaker 1: For more podcasts from cool Zone Media, visit our website 362 00:21:48,640 --> 00:21:51,760 Speaker 1: cool zonemedia dot com, or check us out on the iHeartRadio, app, 363 00:21:51,760 --> 00:21:55,160 Speaker 1: Apple podcasts, or wherever you listen to podcasts, you can 364 00:21:55,160 --> 00:21:57,880 Speaker 1: find sources for It could happen here, Updated monthly at 365 00:21:57,880 --> 00:22:01,120 Speaker 1: coolzonemedia dot com, slash sources. Thanks for listening.