Weird Tales volume 38 number 03 Canadian (12 page)

Later some people with strange faces infiltrated, a little older than the majority. Their clothes were tattered and soiled. But of course they were welcomed. It made no difference. These unknowns, however, were not only strange of face, but strange in manner. Their enthusiasm was wild, lacking the buoyancy of the others. Coarseness crept into their hilarity; grimness was set on their faces.

These newcomers infused a changed spirit that spread through the entire group like some potent and unwholesome drug. Vulgarity invaded their bacchanalian antics. Contortions of body and face were unnatural, vocalizings were disgusting. Entranced by its own excite-

ment, the crowd was oblivious of the degree to which it was being carried away. In the vernacular of another age and another country, it would be said that the party was getting rough.

One of the few who sensed the condition rationally was Christian, and he slowly worked his way to the outer edge of the crowd. Mina stayed with him, though she protested—until she looked into his face by the light of the fires that were crackling high, and saw the fright in his eyes.

"Come, Mina," he said. "This is not good, and I don't understand it. The crowd is no longer merry, but crazy. It makes mc want to run away."

He guided her into a shadow, and they hurried along a narrow street toward their home.

Amid steep slate roofs, where the houses were all joined together, and gables nearly rubbed noses across the narrow cobblestones, they stopped in front of Mina's house which was but a few doors from Christian's. After whispered goodnights he kissed her and she ran in. He waited until her door was closed tightly, and turned thoughtfully toward his own door.

Little did he suspect the reception awaiting for him. His mother threw her arms about his neck, and his father and brothers and sisters stood in the corners with mixed expressions.

"In the name of every saint, what is the matter?" he asked upon catching his breath. "Prom your faces I can't tell whether you're joyful or anguished!"

Finally his mother held up something small and white.

"A letter from your Uncle Henri!" she announced with sustained excitement.

A few moments later Christian was back at Mina's house.

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"My uncle has accepted me!" he told her with trembling enthusiasm. "I am to be one of his pupils in the summer class at the University of Paris. A foot messenger brought the letter today. I am to leave by saddle at dawn tomorrow for Saint-Vith. There I will meet other students with whom I will travel to Paris."

Disappointment spread on Mina's face until she hid it in his tunic.

"I am glad for you," she said. "But sorry for myself. How soon will you return ?"

Christian took her in his arms. "That I cannot tell," he replied softly. "It depends, perhaps, on how well Henri Planquette is pleased with me."

"In that case, Christian, I hope you are very stupid I"

T ATE the following August, in a gray-•^ stoned room whose one side was an arcade opening into a court, a small bui solid old man was the central figure among a handful of younger men seated on rough stools and benches. Wearing a hoodlike gugel of soft leather which fell loosely behind his head, the old man was straight and alert for his age. His face, small and square, bearded with a thick curly mat through which he habitually ran his bony fingers, was bright, his eyes 1 snappy. Dr. Henri Planquette was addressing his students at the University of Paris. One of them had just asked for "the most modern remedy for the stone."

Dr. Planquette replied that there was nothing known better than the method of the late John Gaddesden, whose manuscript Rosa Anglic* at the Montpellier Medical School he had had the good

•First printed in 1492. Gr.CdesUtn iived lrom 1280 to 134L

fortune to peruse. "The prescription, he said, "calls for the collection of some of those beetles found in the dung of oxen; also some crickets. Of the latter, cut off their heads and wings. Deposit the beetles and crickets in a vessel of oil and boil them. Pound the residue and apply to the ailing part.

Several of the students assiduously were scratching notes.

"If there arc no more questions for discussion," said the teacher, "this will complete our studies for the day."

But another student arose, one with an uncommonly earnest face.

"So you, too, Christian Nohl, must tax your old uncle on an unpleasantly hot day in order to cram one mite more of knowledge into your head! Well, le L us hear."

"I am eager to know if you euterta ! *i any theory with regard to this new plague which is spreading out of the Empire from the east."

"You mean the dancers?"

"Yes, the dancers."

All students were attemive, for stories about this new plague were disturbing everyone. Furrowing his brow. Dr. Planquette said: "I am of the opinion, and it is a very strong one, that this is not entirely a medical matter. I am prone to delegate it to one of the sub-sciences beneath the dignity of medicine. . . ."

An anaemic youth of Slavic accent, named Hynek Zero tin, who was habitually aggressive, interrupted:

"You don't think it might be a nervous disorder of some kind?"

Dr. Planquette shook his head. "Early in the year I was visiting Dresden," he said, "Where through a remarkable chance I had a most unusual encounter. But I shall not go into it at this time."

''But Doctor," insisted Hynek impetu-

THE MAD DANCERS

ously, "don't you think it important that you tell us what you saw? This, after all, primarily is a medical matter if it cencerns the health of the people."

Several students voiced agreement, but annoyance crossed the aged teacher's face.

"You think your judgment is sounder than mine? Is that what you are saying?''

Hynek quavered with embarrassment. "I beg your pardon. But I was hopeful I might throw some light on this problem. You see I have connections in Dresden and have spent a good deal of time there. As you suggest, there is a source of influence there that could be connected to this terror."

"In that case," replied Planquette, "might the name Zcertiebok of the Wends mean something to you?"

Hynek looked startled. He hesitated. "That's it! You know, then!" he said tensely. Turning to his student mates: "This evil disease can be exterminated I am sure. If the doctor thinks so too, I for one shall volunteer to cooperate in whatever manner he deems best."

/CHRISTIAN arose again: "I know ^* something of what a terror this epidemic can create," he said, "though what I saw in Aix-la-Chapellc last St. John's Eve was before it had advanced to this state. I too would cooperate."

The others arose as a body.

So it was that only two months after he had left Aix-1 a-Chapel le, Christian was on his way back to Germany. But now he was one of a band. Dr. Planquette and seven students were on their way, mounted knights from a court of learning, pledged to destroy the Dancing Mania at its source.

Through the influence of Planquette the University secretly had underwritten

the expedition and provided the steeds. Planquette had* discussed his plans but meagerly, asking only for confidence in the preliminary stages of the mission. He left his students with no doubt, however, as to whether he knew what he was doing. He provided them with pellets which he compounded in secret, with instructions that they were to be taken only if symptoms of the mania were certain.

Through St. Denis and Soissons their journey was uneventful, but at Reims they encountered the first spectacle of Mad Dancers.

The streets were crowded with" men and women of all ranks and ages dancing in a wild and frantic manner. Most seemed to have lost complete control of themselves. Some frothing at the mouth had dropped to the street. Others were dashing their heads against walls and buildings—killing themselves. Here and there were stomachs (mostly of women) repulsively extended, and the desperate souls were trying hysterically to bind their midriffs tight with long strips of cloth. The students discovered later that the victims had brought the swathing with them in expectation of the need. Some groups formed circles. A few stood about by themselves looking heavenward, wildeyed, describing with extravagance the visions they beheld.

Before a church the travelers saw a party of priests conducting the rite of exorcism.* But a band of the delirious

•Exorcism, the act of conjuring evil spirits in the name of God out of the person possessed, is a rite of the Catholic Church. Its use in cases of possessions, commonly practised in the earlier centuries, now is extremely rare and in many diseases is prohibited except with special permission of the bishop. (New International Encyclopedia.)

THE MAD DANCERS

approached them with curses and drove them into the church—where the priests hurriedly barred the doors.

Those unaffected remained indoors frightened nearly out of their wits. Many of those who ventured forth out of necessity were encumbered with all manner of talismanical paraphernalia for protection. And when the band from Paris reached the cathedra) they were admitted only after guards ascertained that they were free of the disease. The great edifice was serving as a refuge. Groups were praying. Not until after their admittance did Dr. Planquette learn with shock that one of their own number had joined the dancers, even though a pair of his companions did everything in their power to stop him. Choosing a citizen of good appearance, Dr. Planquette approached him and queried: "We have just entered the city and are appalled by the sights. What do you make of it?"

"They are demoniacs," replied the citizen. "Their misfortune is due to unworthy priests whose baptism had not sufficient validity to expel the demons. You see, most of the dancers when first possesstd, attempt to invoke St John the Baptist, It is the prevailing opinion."

Planquette and his students rested at the cathedral, and started their journey anew the next dawn. It was one hundred miles to the next city, Dinant, and they were weary when they arrived, but the doctor had a friend here in whose home they rested. There were demonstrations in Dinant, too, and another of the party was lost to the dancers.

TT WAS the same story at Huy, Liege, and Maestrucht. By the time they reached Aix-la-Chapelle Planquette, Christian and Hynek Zerotin were the only survivors of the band.

When they entered Christian's native city throngs were reaching the peak of dissolute orgy.

The horrors here were worse than anything they had yet seen. Bloody garments littered the gutters. Men and women were rending their clothes. Many were naked and bleeding. Profligacy was rampant. They leaped into the air shrieking invocations which only the Devil could understand. Their contortions were lascivious and gruesome. Exhausted victims lay about trampled upon while unmolested criminals went about looting and ravishing.

Christian, his uncle, and Hynek became separated, but they had prepared for this contingency by planning to meet at the cathedral. Intent now only upon finding Mina and his home, Christian evaded the congestion, slipping through the side streets of which he was familiar.

Suddenly in one of these narrow ways a figure on horseback swung from around a corner, approached and passed him at a terrific pace. The rider wa3 attired in a flowing black cape with a heavy hood. A white encircled swastika was patterned on the breast of the cape.* As he passed Christian the rider ducked his head as though to avoid being seen, but Christian caught one fleeting glimpse of the face. What a face it was!

It was a visage that never would leave Christian's memory. It was blacker than charcoal and the eyes were solid crimson. The mouth, a round puckered hole without lips. The nose, a mere ridge separating the nostrils, like that of a skull

His breath taken by sheer awe, Christian stopped for a moment. Then,

•The swastika Is an ancient symbol, even as old as the Bronze Age, and has been used in many countries.

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65

his heart still beating from the encounter, he went on, approaching the square near his home. The macabre bacchanal was there too. But suddenly he stopped as he beheld a familiar figure: Mina ! He caught his breath, fear and joy contesting in his heart. But no, she was not dancing. He thanked the saints for that. She was merely standing. Someone was talking to her. Christian hurried. He could not run fast enough. She should nut be out, he was thinking; not even out of the house at a time like this!

The man talking to Mina was making gestures. Now he was taking her hands. Mina was swaying. Now he held her by the shouldt.s—was looking forcefully into her eyes.

Christian shouted. Then he recognized the man—to his amazement, Hynek Zerotin. He had both her hands now, and they were swirling. In an instant Christian reached them and with all the power of his arm his fist crashed into Ilynek's jaw. The student fell to the ground senseless. Christian seized Mina and half dragged her until she stumbled and then he carried her to her home.

Mlna's mother, her face blank, saw then coming. She opened the door and quickly bolted it again after they entered. Christian carried his senseless Mina to a cot and tenderly placed her on it while others of the family came gaping about. He pressed his Iip3 on hers, and spoke, and finally her blue eyes opened slowly hut she didn't reply.

"Why did you let her out?" demanded Christian, arising suddenly.

"She all at once became possessed," said her mother, "and we couldn't control her."

"Give her these pellets. Keep her in bed. I will return within the hour—

*-5

after I have seen my family. But even then my visit wjll be brief, for I am with others on a mission to destroy this scourge."

After greeting his family and explaining, Christian returned to Mina.

Restored, she was sitting up, her face, prim and sweet, nestled in a wealth of golden tresses.

"Oh, I am glad to see you, my Christian. They told me you kissed me before. But I didn't know it!"

Christian leaned over. "Then, my love, here is one for you to remember. But now listen, sweetest Mina. My time I count in minutes. With my famous uncle I am en route to seek out and destroy the source of this evil. More on that later. Tell me first and quickly how you knew this Hynek—the man I found seeking liberty with you."