Lunatics Library 15 - Christmas Ghost Stories

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<v Speaker 1>Hello everyone.

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<v Speaker 1>And welcome back to another episode of the Luna radio hour podcast.

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<v Speaker 1>I'm Abby Brinker.

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<v Speaker 1>I'm here with Alan Kuan.

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<v Speaker 1>Hello.

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<v Speaker 1>And today we have a very special Lunix library episode for you because it is all about holiday horror.

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<v Speaker 2>I'm gonna call you out on

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<v Speaker 1>Something.

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<v Speaker 1>Well, I always say it's special.

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<v Speaker 1>Everything is special.

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<v Speaker 1>I know.

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<v Speaker 1>I thought about it when I said it.

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<v Speaker 1>I was like, oh no, but it sort of feels like our Christmas special, right?

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<v Speaker 1>Like our spectacular.

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<v Speaker 1>Wow.

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<v Speaker 2>I don't know.

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<v Speaker 2>Right.

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<v Speaker 2>This is the lunatic Christmas trip.

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<v Speaker 2><laugh> this is the lunatic Christmas.

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<v Speaker 2>Spectacular.

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<v Speaker 2>Welcome to it.

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<v Speaker 2>I think you should name that.

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<v Speaker 2>That should be the name of this episode.

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<v Speaker 1>Okay.

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<v Speaker 1>Yeah.

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<v Speaker 1>Well click baby.

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<v Speaker 1>You know, that's fine.

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<v Speaker 2>So

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<v Speaker 1>Today we're going to share with you

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<v Speaker 2>Top 10 facts.

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<v Speaker 2>You'll never believe

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<v Speaker 1><laugh> holiday horror facts.

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<v Speaker 1>Now we spent a lot of time in last week's episode, which was the history of holiday horror, talking about the tradition of telling ghost stories, especially in the Victorian era on Christmas Eve mm-hmm<affirmative>.

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<v Speaker 1>And so today we're, we're gonna tell you some Victorian style ghost stories.

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<v Speaker 1>That's cool.

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<v Speaker 1>Yeah.

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<v Speaker 1>And I say that because one of them, I wrote the other two.

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<v Speaker 1>I'm not sure exactly where the dates sign up, but they are all holiday old time ghost stories that I think are gonna be really fun, kind of based off of the conversation that we had last week.

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<v Speaker 1>Well, you

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<v Speaker 2>Just outed yourself.

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<v Speaker 2>Why you're writing Victorian literature.

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<v Speaker 2>Yeah.

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<v Speaker 2>Abby's a vampire<laugh>

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<v Speaker 1>I love Victorian literature.

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<v Speaker 1>It's maybe my favorite time period for literature.

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<v Speaker 1>What's your favorite time period for literature?

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<v Speaker 2>Uh, that's actually a tough question.

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<v Speaker 2>I kinda, I jump back and forth between just

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<v Speaker 1>Like Moby Dick and modern and day.

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<v Speaker 1>Yep.

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<v Speaker 1><laugh>

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<v Speaker 2>Um, I mean, yeah.

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<v Speaker 2>Movie Dick is just kind of a very special, very special book.

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<v Speaker 2>Mm-hmm<affirmative> um, I read a lot of like very classic literature that like, even like, when it was written is kind of hard to pinpoint cause it's like, and this translation was done in this year.

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<v Speaker 2>Sure.

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<v Speaker 2>Yeah.

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<v Speaker 2>Uh, but the vast majority, uh, a certain event began at the end of 2019.

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<v Speaker 2>Uh, I found that I really just want super easy digestible, fun fiction stuff.

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<v Speaker 2>And it's all been mostly very modern novels specifically sci-fi and fantasy I'm

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<v Speaker 1>Actually definitely aligned with as well.

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<v Speaker 1>I think historically I've always liked Victorian literature, but in the past two years, I've definitely spent a lot of time reading, more modern stuff.

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<v Speaker 1>That's like thriller, you know, like digestible can't put down fantasy.

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<v Speaker 1>Like I think it's, that's totally right.

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<v Speaker 1>Like sometimes your brain just needs a little break,

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<v Speaker 2>But it's not even that it's just like, it's, it's really, really

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<v Speaker 1>Fun.

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<v Speaker 1>Well, yeah, I'm not trying to minimize it.

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<v Speaker 1>It's just maybe it's it rolls off the brain a little easier than, you know, some of the writing of, of the, of your,

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<v Speaker 2>Uh, yes.

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<v Speaker 2>The, the writing of your, I think what it boils down to is that we're just constantly looking for like escapist enjoyment.

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<v Speaker 2>Mm, totally.

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<v Speaker 2>And that's kind of hard to find.

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<v Speaker 2>I mean, it's not hard to find, uh, it's just a little bit more work to get that sense of fulfillment from classic

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<v Speaker 1>Literature.

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<v Speaker 1>Yeah.

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<v Speaker 1>I think that's fair.

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<v Speaker 1>It's a little more work.

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<v Speaker 1>I think you're right.

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<v Speaker 1>It is a little more work in general.

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<v Speaker 1>So, you know,

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<v Speaker 2>A as I'm reading, you know, yet another space opera you uh it's.

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<v Speaker 2>I, I don't, I don't have any guarantee that this book is gonna be around 200 years from now.

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<v Speaker 2>Right.

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<v Speaker 2>You know, it's probably not gonna be super impactful on society and shape, uh, our culture as we know it.

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<v Speaker 2>Right.

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<v Speaker 1>It's no catcher in therye.

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<v Speaker 2>You holding coffee.

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<v Speaker 2><laugh>

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<v Speaker 1>Exactly.

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<v Speaker 1>So, okay.

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<v Speaker 1>I, um, I wanna kind of preface what's gonna happen today because I'm super excited about all three of these stories.

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<v Speaker 1>And I wanna give everyone a taste of what's to come.

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<v Speaker 1>So the first story we are going to share is written by myself and our friend Miranda Waral is going to read it.

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<v Speaker 1>You'll remember Miranda.

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<v Speaker 1>She hasn't been in, in the podcast in a little while, but she was on the U episode that we released a year

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<v Speaker 2>Ago.

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<v Speaker 2>Which number one episode of all time,

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<v Speaker 1>It's not number one, but it is top five.

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<v Speaker 1>And it's, that was number one.

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<v Speaker 1>Number one is number one.

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<v Speaker 1>I think it's number two.

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<v Speaker 1>Oh,

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<v Speaker 2>That's just cause everyone clicks the first episode, even though it's terrible.

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<v Speaker 1>It's up there.

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<v Speaker 1>Yes, for sure.

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<v Speaker 1>And it's the

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<v Speaker 2>Honorary number one?

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<v Speaker 1>Sure.

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<v Speaker 1>And we are just such a fan of Miranda.

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<v Speaker 1>Her spooky reading voice is perfect.

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<v Speaker 1>She is like an ethereal human and it felt so nice to be able to collaborate with her on this and have her back on the show.

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<v Speaker 1>And we have some really fun projects in the works with Miranda for 2022.

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<v Speaker 1>And I can't wait for you guys to, to listen to those episodes, cuz it's gonna be so super spooky and fun.

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<v Speaker 2>We, you just checked all the boxes.

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<v Speaker 1>Exactly.

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<v Speaker 1>We also have our dear friend John Cook, some would say one of the experts in reading Victorian literature or, or oldtimey literature.

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<v Speaker 1>John Cook is going to read for us a really classic classic holiday horror Victorian story, like one of the all time, most famous.

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<v Speaker 1>And then I'm going to read one as well.

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<v Speaker 1>Is, is it Dickens?

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<v Speaker 1>It is not Dickens, but as we said, last time, you can head over to Fido to listen to John, read to Christmas, Carol, you can also watch him do it on YouTube.

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<v Speaker 1>So definitely support Fido because as we said earlier, old timey literature is a little bit more work and John makes it a little bit less work.

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<v Speaker 2>We should have just done screen record when he was doing it on show and then steal his billions of views.

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<v Speaker 2>Yeah, that's

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<v Speaker 1>Right.

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<v Speaker 1><laugh>

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<v Speaker 2>Okay.

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<v Speaker 2>So can we just jump on the first story?

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<v Speaker 2>Here we go.

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<v Speaker 3>The reckless invitation read.

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<v Speaker 3>I Abby Brer read by Miranda.

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<v Speaker 3>Orel

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<v Speaker 4>Charlotte sat at her writing desk.

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<v Speaker 4>Her candle had burned almost entirely down leaving a dwindle link flame almost too dim to illuminate the paper in front of her.

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<v Speaker 4>The scratching of her pen created a gentle hum in the quiet room.

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<v Speaker 4>Her sisters had gone to bed hours ago, but Charlotte couldn't sleep.

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<v Speaker 4>When her mind raced with ideas.

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<v Speaker 4>Scenes constantly played out in her thoughts and she had no choice, but to put them to paper, to bring them to life as best as she could the night before Charlotte had drifted to sleep with dark images in her dreams tonight, she wrote of ghostly spirits and haunted castles, her Tabby asleep on her lap.

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<v Speaker 4>What a tragic story to write on Christmas Eve.

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<v Speaker 4>She thought to herself, it wasn't until the candle burnt out and the room was plunged into darkness.

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<v Speaker 4>That Charlotte looked up from her work.

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<v Speaker 4>She had not noticed the time.

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<v Speaker 4>It must have been long past midnight Florence.

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<v Speaker 4>Her older sister would not be pleased that she wasted another their candle writing late into the night, especially as they would need them for Carol tomorrow.

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<v Speaker 4>But what other choice did she have?

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<v Speaker 4>Sleep would evade her until she practiced her craft.

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<v Speaker 4>She let out a sigh.

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<v Speaker 4>As she knew that explanation would do nothing to ease her sister's annoyance just as Charlotte exhaled.

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<v Speaker 4>She swore she similar sound from across the room.

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<v Speaker 4>She turned abruptly waking the Tabby from his slumber all was quiet.

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<v Speaker 4>Oh, silly girl.

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<v Speaker 4>Charlotte whispered to herself.

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<v Speaker 4>You're scaring yourself with your own stories.

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<v Speaker 4>A second later, her Tabby jumped from her lap and stood in front of her hissing into the darkness.

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<v Speaker 4>The Moonlight from the window only cast a shallow spread of light into the room.

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<v Speaker 4>Charlotte could not see anything on the far side of the space.

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<v Speaker 4>Hello?

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<v Speaker 4>She whispered meekly.

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<v Speaker 4>Blasted.

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<v Speaker 4>Why have I burned through my last candle?

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<v Speaker 4>She thought no one answered her at first.

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<v Speaker 4>But then a shuffling came Charlotte's voice shook.

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<v Speaker 4>Florence is that you are you trying to scare me?

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<v Speaker 4>But as her Tabby hiss again, she knew it.

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<v Speaker 4>Wasn't her sister Charlotte tried to make for the door, but a shadow floated in front of it.

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<v Speaker 4>All of the lingering warmth was drained from the space and suddenly she could see her breath, Charlotte shivered.

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<v Speaker 4>It was as if she was living through a scene from one of her stories.

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<v Speaker 4>Who are you?

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<v Speaker 4>She tried to sound brave.

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<v Speaker 4>Don't she show an ethereal voice returned.

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<v Speaker 4>Charlotte was too scared to scream.

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<v Speaker 4>She was frozen in fear.

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<v Speaker 4>What her voice failed.

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<v Speaker 4>Her shadows continued to swirl around her.

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<v Speaker 4>The intruder did not take a solid form.

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<v Speaker 4>Did you not summon me here?

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<v Speaker 4>I certainly did.

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<v Speaker 4>Not.

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<v Speaker 4>Charlotte said clearly emboldened by this preposterous accusation.

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<v Speaker 4>Did you not write a dark magic and summoning spells?

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<v Speaker 4>Did you not chant them out loud?

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<v Speaker 4>Well, Charlotte Gast oh my, that, that was fiction for entertainment.

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<v Speaker 4>A silly ghost story.

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<v Speaker 4>Be careful what you play with girl.

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<v Speaker 4>The demons of this Lander are ancient and timeless that they can ease.

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<v Speaker 4>Be awakened.

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<v Speaker 4>Tabby continued to hiss.

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<v Speaker 4>I, I didn't mean to.

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<v Speaker 4>I will be leaving now.

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<v Speaker 4>You are clearly not worthy of my presence, but I will take payment for my time.

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<v Speaker 4>Charlotte turned wildly around the room looking for any sort of lifeline, not you girl.

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<v Speaker 4>Your life is worthless to me as if a weight had been lifted.

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<v Speaker 4>The being dissipated Charlotte could barely see, but she sensed it was gone.

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<v Speaker 4>She lunged back for her writing desk, looking for spare runaway candle.

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<v Speaker 4>She had to make sure her family was safe.

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<v Speaker 4>What offering was this hell?

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<v Speaker 4>Being looking for Charlotte found a small lump of wax, a miracle.

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<v Speaker 4>She lit her flame and frantically rushed towards the door.

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<v Speaker 4>Come on Tabby.

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<v Speaker 4>Come with me.

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<v Speaker 4>Tabby didn't slink forward.

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<v Speaker 4>She turned casting warm light across the cold dark room.

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<v Speaker 4>Where was he?

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<v Speaker 4>Charlotte found Florence sleeping safely in her bed.

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<v Speaker 4>Snoring gently.

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<v Speaker 4>Their father was perfectly alive down the hall.

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<v Speaker 4>Martha was untouched.

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<v Speaker 4>Mary was fine, but no matter how long she searched, she never saw her dear Tabby again.

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<v Speaker 1>So what'd you think?

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<v Speaker 1>Oh, I mean, it's the best story ever written, right?

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<v Speaker 1>Didn't you write it?

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<v Speaker 1><laugh> I thought, I thought Marin did a great job, but I'm I wrote it.

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<v Speaker 1>So I'm curious what you think of the story.

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<v Speaker 1>It

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<v Speaker 2>Seemed like a pretty timeless story.

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<v Speaker 2>Mm-hmm<affirmative> I I wasn't you, I mean, I guess just like the written by candlelight is like what pinpoints it to be Victorian.

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<v Speaker 2>Yeah.

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<v Speaker 2>But you can like, you change a couple details.

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<v Speaker 2>You could put that anywhere.

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<v Speaker 1>Nothing like a versatile story,

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<v Speaker 2>Right?

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<v Speaker 2>That's right.

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<v Speaker 2>You know, this is a time will be re retold throughout the ages.

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<v Speaker 2><laugh>

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<v Speaker 1>Put it on my, uh, gravestone.

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<v Speaker 1>Right.

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<v Speaker 2>And that was a sassy ghost.

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<v Speaker 1>I mean, yeah.

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<v Speaker 1>I think ghosts are inherently sassy.

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<v Speaker 1>Do,

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<v Speaker 2>Do, do, go on.

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<v Speaker 1>Like, why wouldn't they be?

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<v Speaker 1>They have no societal norms to confine them anymore.

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<v Speaker 1>They're dead.

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<v Speaker 1>It's like, you.

00:12:31.450 --> 00:12:32.309
<v Speaker 1>You summoned me here.

00:12:32.311 --> 00:12:33.299
<v Speaker 1>I'm gonna take your cat cat.

00:12:33.919 --> 00:12:36.299
<v Speaker 2>Oh, why not ghost?

00:12:36.700 --> 00:12:36.860
<v Speaker 2>Well, right.

00:12:37.460 --> 00:12:38.980
<v Speaker 2>Actually I forgot that quote from the piece.

00:12:39.659 --> 00:12:39.860
<v Speaker 2>you.

00:12:40.279 --> 00:12:41.179
<v Speaker 2>I'm gonna take your cat.

00:12:42.659 --> 00:12:46.100
<v Speaker 2><laugh> missed opportunity if I do say so myself.

00:12:46.100 --> 00:12:46.379
<v Speaker 2>Yeah.

00:12:46.380 --> 00:12:46.539
<v Speaker 2>Well

00:12:46.539 --> 00:12:47.259
<v Speaker 1>We can revise.

00:12:47.260 --> 00:12:49.419
<v Speaker 1>We'll see if Miranda can do an emergency request, right?

00:12:49.419 --> 00:12:51.620
<v Speaker 2>Well, when it gets retold throughout the ages, right.

00:12:51.799 --> 00:12:56.090
<v Speaker 2>As it gets embellished around the camp for the oral tradition around the U logs.

00:12:56.090 --> 00:12:56.570
<v Speaker 1>That's right.

00:12:57.009 --> 00:12:58.850
<v Speaker 1><laugh> shall we move on to the next story?

00:12:59.169 --> 00:12:59.690
<v Speaker 1>I, yes.

00:13:00.269 --> 00:13:05.610
<v Speaker 1>So, um, this story from first published in Paul mall magazine in 1908, I

00:13:05.610 --> 00:13:06.730
<v Speaker 2>Love that publication.

00:13:07.169 --> 00:13:11.690
<v Speaker 1><laugh> by a very famous horror writer that John actually introduced me to.

00:13:50.629 --> 00:13:56.519
<v Speaker 2>So 19 0 8, 8 was four years after you were born.

00:13:57.059 --> 00:13:59.720
<v Speaker 2>My great-grandmother came to America.

00:14:00.100 --> 00:14:00.480
<v Speaker 1>Oh wow.

00:14:02.279 --> 00:14:02.279
<v Speaker 1>19 0 4, 19 0 4

00:14:02.309 --> 00:14:03.000
<v Speaker 2>From Hungary.

00:14:04.000 --> 00:14:05.039
<v Speaker 2>Uh, yes.

00:14:06.700 --> 00:14:06.919
<v Speaker 2>Yes.

00:14:07.389 --> 00:14:07.879
<v Speaker 1>Very cool.

00:14:08.419 --> 00:14:27.110
<v Speaker 1>So this next story, this one I really like because this one and the one that we're gonna end with both, I think are really good examples of what people would listen to, what they would read out loud, right on the, on Christmas Eves, like these classic spooky ghost stories from the time period that we're actually talking about.

00:14:27.169 --> 00:14:27.669
<v Speaker 1>So, okay.

00:14:28.009 --> 00:14:28.909
<v Speaker 1>The one I wrote right.

00:14:28.910 --> 00:14:35.059
<v Speaker 1>Was sort of an interpretation of that, but these next two are, are like public stories from the time.

00:14:35.120 --> 00:14:42.820
<v Speaker 1>So this is where you like gather around the fire, grab your hot chocolate or your hot, whatever you're drinking and pull the fam around the fire.

00:14:42.821 --> 00:14:43.139
<v Speaker 1>Right.

00:14:43.200 --> 00:14:46.539
<v Speaker 1>And, and, and sit back and listen to these spooky Victorian ghost stories.

00:14:46.610 --> 00:14:47.100
<v Speaker 1>That sounds

00:14:47.440 --> 00:14:47.860
<v Speaker 2>Lovely.

00:14:47.860 --> 00:14:48.419
<v Speaker 2>Here we go.

00:14:48.450 --> 00:14:48.740
<v Speaker 2>Okay.

00:14:54.610 --> 00:15:02.250
<v Speaker 3>The red by Alau Blackwood red by John C.

00:15:02.250 --> 00:15:02.250
<v Speaker 3>Cook.

00:15:05.100 --> 00:15:22.419
<v Speaker 5>When the words not guilty sounded through the crowded courtroom that dark December afternoon, Arthur Wilbraham, the great criminal KC and leader for the tri infant defense was represented by his junior, but Johnson, his private secretary carried the verdict across to his chambers like lightning.

00:15:23.470 --> 00:15:24.440
<v Speaker 5>It's what we expected.

00:15:24.639 --> 00:15:26.320
<v Speaker 5>I think said the barrister without emotion.

00:15:26.740 --> 00:15:28.600
<v Speaker 5>And personally I'm glad the case is over.

00:15:29.169 --> 00:15:37.240
<v Speaker 5>There was no particular sign of pleasure that his defense of John Turk, the murderer on a plea of insanity had been successful for no doubt.

00:15:37.240 --> 00:15:43.240
<v Speaker 5>He felt as everybody who had watched the case felt that no man had ever better deserved the Gallos.

00:15:44.299 --> 00:15:45.559
<v Speaker 5>I'm glad two said Johnson.

00:15:46.179 --> 00:15:51.669
<v Speaker 5>He had sat in the court for 10 days watching face of the man who had carried out with callous detail.

00:15:52.009 --> 00:15:55.230
<v Speaker 5>One of the most brutal and cold-blooded murders of recent years.

00:15:56.289 --> 00:15:58.309
<v Speaker 5>The council glanced up at his secretary.

00:15:58.860 --> 00:16:03.190
<v Speaker 5>They were more than employer and employed for family and other reasons they were friends.

00:16:04.269 --> 00:16:05.230
<v Speaker 5>Uh, I remember, yes.

00:16:05.370 --> 00:16:08.629
<v Speaker 5>He said with a kind smile and you wanted to get away for Christmas.

00:16:09.179 --> 00:16:11.179
<v Speaker 5>You're going to skate and ski in the Alps.

00:16:11.181 --> 00:16:11.539
<v Speaker 5>Aren't you.

00:16:12.000 --> 00:16:13.740
<v Speaker 5>If I was your age, I'd come with you.

00:16:14.529 --> 00:16:16.179
<v Speaker 5>Johnson laughed shortly.

00:16:16.639 --> 00:16:20.460
<v Speaker 5>He was a young man of 26 with a delicate face, like a girls'.

00:16:21.299 --> 00:16:22.860
<v Speaker 5>I can catch the morning boat now.

00:16:22.919 --> 00:16:24.659
<v Speaker 5>He said, but that's not the reason.

00:16:24.840 --> 00:16:26.059
<v Speaker 5>I'm glad the trial's over.

00:16:26.720 --> 00:16:29.059
<v Speaker 5>I'm glad it's over because I've seen the last of that.

00:16:29.230 --> 00:16:30.370
<v Speaker 5>Man's full face.

00:16:30.870 --> 00:16:39.049
<v Speaker 5>It positively haunted me that white skin with the black hair brushed low over the forehead is a thing I shall never forget.

00:16:39.429 --> 00:16:44.529
<v Speaker 5>And the description of the way the dismembered body was cramed and packed with lime into that.

00:16:45.100 --> 00:16:45.970
<v Speaker 5>Don't dwell on it.

00:16:45.971 --> 00:16:50.009
<v Speaker 5>My dear friend interrupted the other, looking at him, curiously out of his keen eyes.

00:16:50.399 --> 00:16:51.840
<v Speaker 5><affirmative> don't think about it.

00:16:52.350 --> 00:16:55.679
<v Speaker 5>Such pictures have a trick of coming back when one least wants them.

00:16:56.299 --> 00:16:57.240
<v Speaker 5>He paused a moment.

00:16:58.059 --> 00:17:00.799
<v Speaker 5>Now go, he added presently and enjoy your holiday.

00:17:01.559 --> 00:17:04.200
<v Speaker 5>I shall want all your energy from my parliamentary work.

00:17:04.201 --> 00:17:12.650
<v Speaker 5>When you get back and don't break your neck, skiing, Johnson shook hands and took his leave at, or he turned suddenly.

00:17:13.369 --> 00:17:15.170
<v Speaker 5>I knew there was something I wanted to ask you.

00:17:15.171 --> 00:17:18.089
<v Speaker 5>He said, would you mind lending me one of your kit bags?

00:17:18.799 --> 00:17:20.529
<v Speaker 5>It's too late to get one tonight.

00:17:20.530 --> 00:17:22.730
<v Speaker 5>And I leave in the morning before the shops are open.

00:17:23.670 --> 00:17:26.130
<v Speaker 5>Of course I'll send Harry over with it to your rooms.

00:17:26.630 --> 00:17:27.210
<v Speaker 5>You shall have it.

00:17:27.211 --> 00:17:31.549
<v Speaker 5>The moment I get home, I promised to take great care of it said Johnson.

00:17:32.450 --> 00:17:38.380
<v Speaker 5>Delighted to think that within 30 hours he would be nearing the brilliant sunshine of the high Alps in winter.

00:17:39.480 --> 00:17:42.819
<v Speaker 5>The thought of that criminal court was like an evil dream in his mind.

00:17:44.359 --> 00:17:52.180
<v Speaker 5>He D at his club and went on to Bloomsbury where he occupied the top floor in one of those old gaunt houses, in which the rooms are large and lofty.

00:17:52.910 --> 00:18:00.289
<v Speaker 5>The floor below his own was vacant and unfurnished and below that were other lodgers whom he did not know it was cheerless.

00:18:00.309 --> 00:18:02.289
<v Speaker 5>And he looked forward hardly to a change.

00:18:03.390 --> 00:18:04.970
<v Speaker 5>The night was even more cheerless.

00:18:05.230 --> 00:18:06.170
<v Speaker 5>It was miserable.

00:18:06.430 --> 00:18:09.289
<v Speaker 5>And few people were about a cold sleety.

00:18:09.290 --> 00:18:12.730
<v Speaker 5>Rain was driving down the streets before the keenest east wind.

00:18:12.730 --> 00:18:14.720
<v Speaker 5>He had ever felt it.

00:18:14.960 --> 00:18:18.400
<v Speaker 5>How dismally among the big gloomy houses of the great squares.

00:18:18.619 --> 00:18:26.539
<v Speaker 5>And when he reached his rooms, he heard it whistling and shouting over the world of black roofs, beyond his windows in the hall.

00:18:26.540 --> 00:18:32.440
<v Speaker 5>He met his land lady, shading, a candle from the drafts with her thin hand, this come by a man from Mr.

00:18:33.000 --> 00:18:38.720
<v Speaker 5>Woodrum, sir, she pointed to what was evidently the kit bag and Johnson thanked her and took it upstairs with him.

00:18:39.480 --> 00:18:42.000
<v Speaker 5>I shall be going abroad in the morning for 10 days, Mrs.

00:18:42.089 --> 00:18:42.440
<v Speaker 5>Monks.

00:18:42.441 --> 00:18:44.559
<v Speaker 5>He said, I'll leave an address for letters.

00:18:46.190 --> 00:18:47.740
<v Speaker 5>And I hope you'll have a Christmas, sir.

00:18:47.799 --> 00:18:52.380
<v Speaker 5>She said in a rock, a squeezy voice that suggested spirits and better weather than this.

00:18:53.259 --> 00:18:55.700
<v Speaker 5>I hope so too replied her lodger shuttering.

00:18:55.740 --> 00:18:58.700
<v Speaker 5>A little as the wind went roaring down the street outside.

00:19:00.089 --> 00:19:03.859
<v Speaker 5>When he got upstairs, he heard the sleet Bing against the window pans.

00:19:04.319 --> 00:19:09.809
<v Speaker 5>He put his kettle on to make a cup of hot coffee, then said about putting a few things in order for his absence.

00:19:10.509 --> 00:19:15.490
<v Speaker 5>And now I must pack such as my packing is he left to himself and set to work at once.

00:19:16.630 --> 00:19:26.569
<v Speaker 5>He liked the packing for it, brought the snow mountains so vividly before him and made him forget the unpleasant scenes of the past 10 days besides it was not elaborate in nature.

00:19:27.309 --> 00:19:35.200
<v Speaker 5>His friend had him the very thing, a stout canvas kit bag sack shaped with holes around the neck for the brass bar and bad luck.

00:19:35.700 --> 00:19:42.400
<v Speaker 5>It was a bit shapeless true and not much to look at, but its capacity was unlimited and there was no need to pack carefully.

00:19:43.140 --> 00:19:51.309
<v Speaker 5>He shoved in his waterproof coat, his fur cap and gloves, his skates and climbing boots, his sweaters, snow boots, and ear caps.

00:19:51.730 --> 00:19:58.029
<v Speaker 5>And then on top of these, he piled his Woon shirts and underwear, his thick socks, putties and Knickerbockers.

00:19:58.609 --> 00:19:59.869
<v Speaker 5>The dress suit came next.

00:20:00.089 --> 00:20:05.630
<v Speaker 5>In case the hotel, people dressed for dinner and then thinking of the best way to pack his white shirts.

00:20:05.809 --> 00:20:09.579
<v Speaker 5>He paused a moment to reflect that's the worst of these hit bags.

00:20:09.640 --> 00:20:14.380
<v Speaker 5>He amused vaguely standing in the center of the sitting room, where he had come to fetch some string.

00:20:15.079 --> 00:20:20.500
<v Speaker 5>It was after 10, o'clock a furious gust of wind rattled, the windows as though to hurry him up.

00:20:20.920 --> 00:20:34.009
<v Speaker 5>And he thought with pity of the poor Londoners whose Christmas would be spent in such a climate whilst he was skimming over snowy slopes in bright sunshine and dancing in the evening with Rosie cheeked girls, ah, that reminded him.

00:20:34.109 --> 00:20:36.569
<v Speaker 5>He must put in his dancing pumps and evening socks.

00:20:37.069 --> 00:20:42.849
<v Speaker 5>He crossed over from his sitting room to the cupboard on the landing where he kept his linen as he did.

00:20:42.910 --> 00:20:45.609
<v Speaker 5>So he heard someone coming softly up the stairs.

00:20:46.269 --> 00:20:48.529
<v Speaker 5>He stood still a moment on the landing to listen.

00:20:49.349 --> 00:20:49.930
<v Speaker 5>It was Mrs.

00:20:50.680 --> 00:20:50.680
<v Speaker 5>Step.

00:20:50.681 --> 00:20:57.400
<v Speaker 5>He thought she must be coming up with the last post, but then the steps ceased suddenly and he heard no more.

00:20:58.430 --> 00:21:06.279
<v Speaker 5>They were at least two flights down and he came to the conclusion that they were too heavy to be those of his BOUs land lady, no doubt.

00:21:06.279 --> 00:21:09.200
<v Speaker 5>They belonged to a late lodger who had mistaken his floor.

00:21:09.700 --> 00:21:13.390
<v Speaker 5>He went into his bed room and packed his pumps and dress shirts as best he could.

00:21:14.490 --> 00:21:20.390
<v Speaker 5>The kit bag by this time was two thirds full and stood up right on its own base, like a sack of flower.

00:21:21.009 --> 00:21:29.759
<v Speaker 5>For the first time, he noticed that it was old and dirty, the canvas faded and worn, and that it had obviously been subjected to rather rough treatment.

00:21:30.380 --> 00:21:36.200
<v Speaker 5>It was not a very nice bag to have sent him, certainly not a new one or one that his chief valued.

00:21:36.819 --> 00:21:40.920
<v Speaker 5>He gave the matter of passing thought and went on with his packing once or twice.

00:21:40.921 --> 00:21:46.029
<v Speaker 5>However, he caught himself wondering who it could have been wondering to on below for Mrs.

00:21:46.119 --> 00:21:51.670
<v Speaker 5>Monks had not come up with the letters and the floor was empty and unfurnished from time to time.

00:21:51.670 --> 00:21:53.750
<v Speaker 5>Moreover, he was almost certain.

00:21:53.930 --> 00:22:09.069
<v Speaker 5>He heard a soft tread of someone patting about over the bear boards, cautiously steadily as silently as possible and further that the sounds had been lately coming inkling nearer for the first time in his life.

00:22:09.130 --> 00:22:10.990
<v Speaker 5>He began to feel a little creepy.

00:22:11.940 --> 00:22:20.630
<v Speaker 5>Then as though to emphasize his feeling, an odd thing happened as he left the bedroom, having just packed his recalcitrant white shirts.

00:22:20.970 --> 00:22:27.420
<v Speaker 5>He noticed that the top of the kit bag lopped over towards him with an extraordinary resemble to a human face.

00:22:28.720 --> 00:22:31.619
<v Speaker 5>The canvas fell into a fold like a nose and forehead.

00:22:32.079 --> 00:22:42.819
<v Speaker 5>And the bras rings for the padlock just filled the position of the eyes a shadow, or was it a travel stain for, he could not tell exactly looked like hair.

00:22:44.220 --> 00:22:56.180
<v Speaker 5>It gave him rather a turn for it was so thirdly, so out outrageously like the face of John Turk, the murderer, he laughed and went into the front room where the light was stronger.

00:22:57.670 --> 00:22:59.349
<v Speaker 5>That horrid case has got on my mind.

00:22:59.410 --> 00:23:03.950
<v Speaker 5>He thought I should be glad of a change of scene and air and the sitting room.

00:23:03.951 --> 00:23:13.259
<v Speaker 5>However, he was not pleased to hear again that S stealthy tread stairs and to realize that it was much closer than before, as well as unmistakably real.

00:23:14.200 --> 00:23:24.940
<v Speaker 5>And this time he got up and went out to see who it could be creeping about on the upper staircase at so late an hour, but the sound ceased, there was no one visible on the stairs.

00:23:25.980 --> 00:23:35.190
<v Speaker 5>He went to the floor below, not without reation and turned on the electric light to make sure that no one was hiding in the empty rooms of the unoccupied suite.

00:23:36.000 --> 00:23:39.230
<v Speaker 5>There was not a stick of furniture, large enough to hide a dog.

00:23:40.789 --> 00:23:42.680
<v Speaker 5>Then he called over the banisters to Mrs.

00:23:42.849 --> 00:23:44.039
<v Speaker 5>Monks, but there was no answer.

00:23:44.680 --> 00:24:00.819
<v Speaker 5>And his voice echoed down into the dark vault of the house and was lost in the roar of the Gale that howled outside, everyone was in bed and to sleep everyone except himself and the owner of this soft and S stealthy tread my absurd imagination.

00:24:00.940 --> 00:24:04.180
<v Speaker 5>I suppose he thought it must have been the wind after all.

00:24:04.539 --> 00:24:07.619
<v Speaker 5>Although it seemed so very real and close.

00:24:07.980 --> 00:24:16.779
<v Speaker 5>I thought him back to his packing, it was by this time getting on towards midnight, he drank his coffee up and lit another pipe.

00:24:17.000 --> 00:24:40.759
<v Speaker 5>The last before turning in it is difficult to say exactly at what point fear begins when the causes of that fear are not plainly before the eyes impressions gather on the surface of the mind, film by film, as ice gathers upon the surface of still water, but often so lightly that they claim no definite recognition from the consciousness.

00:24:41.470 --> 00:24:45.950
<v Speaker 5>Then a point is re each where the accumulated impressions become a definite emotion.

00:24:46.750 --> 00:24:54.230
<v Speaker 5>And the mind realizes that something has happened with something of a start Johnson suddenly recognized that he felt nervous.

00:24:55.119 --> 00:25:08.099
<v Speaker 5>Oddly nervous, also that for some time passed, the causes of this feeling had been gathering slowly in his mind, but that he had only just reached the point where he was forced to acknowledge them.

00:25:09.509 --> 00:25:12.690
<v Speaker 5>It was a singular and curious malaise that had come over him.

00:25:12.990 --> 00:25:14.490
<v Speaker 5>And he hardly knew what to make of it.

00:25:15.109 --> 00:25:22.970
<v Speaker 5>He felt as though he were doing something that was strongly objected to by another person, another person, moreover, who had some right to object.

00:25:24.259 --> 00:25:30.920
<v Speaker 5>It was some most disturbing and disagreeable feeling, not unlike the persistent promptings of conscience, almost.

00:25:31.019 --> 00:25:37.000
<v Speaker 5>In fact, as if he were doing something he knew to be wrong yet though he searched vigorously.

00:25:37.019 --> 00:25:42.160
<v Speaker 5>And honestly, in his mind, he could nowhere lay his finger upon the secret of this growing uneasiness.

00:25:42.539 --> 00:25:44.440
<v Speaker 5>And it perplexed him more.

00:25:45.130 --> 00:25:48.750
<v Speaker 5>It distressed and frightened him pure nerves.

00:25:48.829 --> 00:25:53.789
<v Speaker 5>I suppose he said aloud with a forced laugh mountain air will cure all that.

00:25:54.750 --> 00:25:59.069
<v Speaker 5>Ah, he added still speaking to himself and that reminds me my snow glasses.

00:26:00.130 --> 00:26:03.309
<v Speaker 5>He was standing by the door of the bedroom during this brief soliloquy.

00:26:03.410 --> 00:26:14.660
<v Speaker 5>And as he passed quickly towards this sitting room to fetch them from the cupboard, he saw out of the corner of his eye, the indistinct outline of a figure, standing on the stairs a few feet from the top.

00:26:15.759 --> 00:26:22.339
<v Speaker 5>It was someone in a stooping position with one hand on the banisters and the face peering up towards the landing.

00:26:23.559 --> 00:26:32.170
<v Speaker 5>And at the same moment, he heard a shuffle footstep, the person who had been creeping about below all this time, had it last, come up to his floor.

00:26:33.190 --> 00:26:34.529
<v Speaker 5>Who in the world could it be?

00:26:34.789 --> 00:26:41.230
<v Speaker 5>And what in the name of heaven did he want Johnson caught his breath sharply and stood stalk still.

00:26:41.779 --> 00:26:47.140
<v Speaker 5>Then after a few seconds hesitation, he found his courage and turned to a investigate.

00:26:48.000 --> 00:26:51.420
<v Speaker 5>The stairs he saw to his utter amazement were empty.

00:26:51.750 --> 00:26:52.660
<v Speaker 5>There was no one.

00:26:53.480 --> 00:26:56.299
<v Speaker 5>He felt a series of cold shivers run over him.

00:26:56.559 --> 00:27:02.660
<v Speaker 5>And something about the muscles of his legs gave a little and grew weak for the space of several minutes.

00:27:02.720 --> 00:27:08.210
<v Speaker 5>He appeared steadily into the shadows that congregated about the top of the staircase, where he had seen the figure.

00:27:08.950 --> 00:27:16.490
<v Speaker 5>And then he walked fast, almost ran in fact into the light of the front room, but hardly had he passed inside the doorway.

00:27:16.599 --> 00:27:30.119
<v Speaker 5>When he heard someone come up the stairs behind him with a quick bound and go swiftly into his bedroom, it was a heavy, but at the same time, a stealthy footstep, the tread of somebody who did not wish to be seen.

00:27:30.859 --> 00:27:46.349
<v Speaker 5>And it was at this precise moment that the nervousness he had hit or to experienced leaped to the boundary line and entered the state of fear almost of to unreasoning fear before it turned into terror, there was a further boundary to cross.

00:27:46.769 --> 00:27:49.789
<v Speaker 5>And beyond that again, lay the region of pure horror.

00:27:50.740 --> 00:27:57.150
<v Speaker 5>Johnson's position was an unenviable one by Jo, that was someone on the stairs.

00:27:57.151 --> 00:28:06.019
<v Speaker 5>Then he muttered his flesh, crawling all over and whoever it was, has now gone into my bedroom, his delicate pale face turned absolutely white.

00:28:06.079 --> 00:28:09.019
<v Speaker 5>And for some minutes he hardly knew what to think or do.

00:28:09.970 --> 00:28:14.180
<v Speaker 5>Then he realized intuitively that delay only set a premium upon fear.

00:28:14.599 --> 00:28:23.529
<v Speaker 5>And he crossed the landing boldly and went straight into the other room where a few seconds before the steps had disappeared, who's there.

00:28:23.710 --> 00:28:26.450
<v Speaker 5>He called again in a voice unnecessarily loud.

00:28:26.710 --> 00:28:28.369
<v Speaker 5>And that only just held firm.

00:28:28.839 --> 00:28:29.890
<v Speaker 5>What do you want here?

00:28:31.109 --> 00:28:32.890
<v Speaker 5>The curtain swayed very slightly.

00:28:33.069 --> 00:28:44.079
<v Speaker 5>And as he saw it, his heart felt as if it almost missed a beat, yet he dashed forward and drew them aside with a rush, a window streaming with was all that met his gaze.

00:28:45.059 --> 00:28:50.839
<v Speaker 5>He continued his search, but in vain, the cupboards held nothing but rows of clothes hanging motionless.

00:28:51.019 --> 00:28:53.440
<v Speaker 5>And under the bed, there was no sign of anyone hiding.

00:28:53.940 --> 00:29:05.470
<v Speaker 5>He stepped backward into the middle of the room and as he did so something all but tripped him up, turning with a sudden spring of alarm, he saw the kit bag odd.

00:29:05.690 --> 00:29:07.789
<v Speaker 5>He thought that's not where I left it.

00:29:09.170 --> 00:29:13.009
<v Speaker 5>A few moments before it had surely been on his right between the bed and the bath.

00:29:13.589 --> 00:29:15.289
<v Speaker 5>He did not remember having moved.

00:29:15.290 --> 00:29:15.450
<v Speaker 5>It.

00:29:15.990 --> 00:29:16.970
<v Speaker 5>It was very curious.

00:29:17.960 --> 00:29:40.160
<v Speaker 5>What in the world was the matter with everything where all his senses gone, a terrific at gust of wind tore at the windows, dashing the Slee against the glass with the force of a small gunshot, and then fled away howling dismally over the waist of Bloomsbury roofs, a sudden vision of the channel next day, rose in his mind and recalled him sharply to realities.

00:29:41.309 --> 00:29:42.920
<v Speaker 5>There's no one here at any rate.

00:29:42.980 --> 00:29:45.829
<v Speaker 5>That's quite clear, exclaimed aloud yet.

00:29:45.849 --> 00:29:47.069
<v Speaker 5>At the time he uttered them.

00:29:47.070 --> 00:29:51.789
<v Speaker 5>He knew perfectly well that his words were not true and that he did not believe them himself.

00:29:52.809 --> 00:30:00.069
<v Speaker 5>He felt exactly as though someone was hiding close about him, watching all his movements, trying to hinder his packing in some way.

00:30:01.049 --> 00:30:06.660
<v Speaker 5>And two of my senses, he added keeping up the pretense have played me the most absurd tricks.

00:30:07.240 --> 00:30:10.859
<v Speaker 5>The steps I heard and the figure I saw were both entirely imaginary.

00:30:11.920 --> 00:30:22.680
<v Speaker 5>He went back to the front room, poked the fire into ablaze and sat down before it to think what impressed him more than anything else was the fact that the kit bag was no longer where he had left it.

00:30:23.140 --> 00:30:25.079
<v Speaker 5>It had been dragged nearer to the door.

00:30:26.380 --> 00:30:35.349
<v Speaker 5>What happened afterward that night happened of course, to a man already excited by fear and was perceived by a mind that had not the full and proper control.

00:30:35.660 --> 00:30:37.349
<v Speaker 5>Therefore of the senses.

00:30:38.180 --> 00:30:52.059
<v Speaker 5>Outwardly Johnson remained calm and master of himself to the end, pretending to the very last that everything he witnessed had a natural explanation or was merely delusions of his tired nerves, but inwardly in his very heart.

00:30:52.799 --> 00:31:14.970
<v Speaker 5>He knew all along that someone had been hiding downstairs in the empty suite when he came in, that this per had watched his opportunity and then stealthily made his way up to the bedroom and that all he saw and heard afterwards from the moving of the kit bag to, well, the other things this story has to tell were caused directly by the presence of this invisible person.

00:31:16.809 --> 00:31:33.779
<v Speaker 5>And it was here just when he most desired to keep his mind and thoughts controlled that the vivid pictures received day after day upon the mental plates exposed in the courtroom of the old Bailey came strongly to light and developed themselves in the dark room of his inner vision.

00:31:34.549 --> 00:31:37.819
<v Speaker 5>Unpleasant haunting memories have a way of coming to life.

00:31:37.820 --> 00:31:47.930
<v Speaker 5>Again, just when the mind least desires in the silent watches of the night on sleepless pillows during the lonely hours spent by sick and dying beds.

00:31:48.589 --> 00:32:12.319
<v Speaker 5>And so now in the same way, Johnson saw nothing but the dreadful face of John Turk, the murderer glorying at him from every corner of his mental field, the vision, the white skin, the evil eyes and the fringe of black hair low over the forehead, all the pictures of those 10 days in court, crowded back into his mind unbidden and very vivid.

00:32:14.200 --> 00:32:15.849
<v Speaker 5>This is all rubbish and nerves.

00:32:15.851 --> 00:32:18.569
<v Speaker 5>He exclaimed at length springing with sudden energy from his chair.

00:32:19.130 --> 00:32:20.730
<v Speaker 5>I shall finish my packing and go to bed.

00:32:21.069 --> 00:32:29.920
<v Speaker 5>I'm overwrought retired, no doubt at this rate, I shall hear steps and things all night, but his face was deadly white, all the same.

00:32:30.619 --> 00:32:35.519
<v Speaker 5>He snatched up his field glasses and walked across to the bedroom, humming a music hall song.

00:32:35.520 --> 00:32:37.960
<v Speaker 5>As he went a tri too loud to be natural.

00:32:39.259 --> 00:32:42.119
<v Speaker 5>And the instant, he crossed the threshold and stood within the room.

00:32:42.339 --> 00:32:44.349
<v Speaker 5>So turned cold about his heart.

00:32:44.809 --> 00:32:47.710
<v Speaker 5>And he felt that every hair on his head stood up.

00:32:49.009 --> 00:32:53.869
<v Speaker 5>The kitbag like close in front of him, several feet nearer to the door than he had left it.

00:32:54.210 --> 00:33:02.430
<v Speaker 5>And just over its crumpled top, he saw a head and face slowly sinking down out of sight as though someone were crouching behind it to hide.

00:33:03.460 --> 00:33:12.460
<v Speaker 5>And at the same moment, a sound like a long drawn sigh was distinctly audible in the still air about him, between the gusts of the storm outside.

00:33:13.569 --> 00:33:18.599
<v Speaker 5>Johnson had more courage and willpower than the girlish in decision of his face indicated.

00:33:19.140 --> 00:33:28.799
<v Speaker 5>But at first, such a wave of terror came over him that for some seconds, he could do nothing but stand and stare a violent trembling, ran down his back and legs.

00:33:29.059 --> 00:33:38.829
<v Speaker 5>And he was conscious of a foolish, almost hysterical impulse to scream allowed that sigh seemed in his very ear and the air still quid with it.

00:33:39.130 --> 00:33:43.430
<v Speaker 5>It was unmistakably a human sigh who's there.

00:33:43.769 --> 00:33:45.630
<v Speaker 5>He said at length finding his voice.

00:33:46.130 --> 00:33:48.589
<v Speaker 5>But though he meant to speak with loud in decision.

00:33:49.009 --> 00:33:54.630
<v Speaker 5>The tones came out instead in a faint whisper for, he had Heartly lost control of his tongue and lips.

00:33:56.049 --> 00:34:00.220
<v Speaker 5>He stepped forwards so that he could see all around and over the kit bag.

00:34:01.119 --> 00:34:12.940
<v Speaker 5>Of course there was nothing there, nothing but the faded carpet and the bulging can, besides he put out his hands and threw open the mouth of the sack, where it had fallen over being only three parts full.

00:34:14.199 --> 00:34:23.090
<v Speaker 5>And then he saw for the first time that round the some six inches from the top there ran a broad smear of dull Crimson.

00:34:23.789 --> 00:34:25.929
<v Speaker 5>It was an old and faded blood stain.

00:34:26.869 --> 00:34:31.929
<v Speaker 5>He uttered a scream and drew back his hands as if they had been burnt at the same moment.

00:34:32.030 --> 00:34:37.130
<v Speaker 5>The kit bag gave a faint, but unmistakable lurch forward towards the door.

00:34:38.610 --> 00:34:51.650
<v Speaker 5>Johnson collapsed backwards, searching with his hands for the support of something solid and the door being further behind him than he realized received his weight just in time to prevent his falling and to shut two with a resounding bang.

00:34:52.309 --> 00:34:58.489
<v Speaker 5>At the same moment, the swinging of his left arm accidentally touched the electric switch and the light in the room went out.

00:34:59.050 --> 00:35:02.809
<v Speaker 5>The, it was an awkward and disagreeable predicament.

00:35:03.070 --> 00:35:09.409
<v Speaker 5>And if Johnson had not been possessed of real pluck, he might have done all manner of foolish things as it was.

00:35:09.411 --> 00:35:15.329
<v Speaker 5>However, he pulled himself together and groped furiously for the little bras knob to turn the light on again.

00:35:15.829 --> 00:35:26.480
<v Speaker 5>But the rapid closing of the door had set the coats hanging on it, a swinging and his fingers became entangled in a confusion of sleeves and pockets so that it was some moments before he found the switch.

00:35:27.099 --> 00:35:36.360
<v Speaker 5>And in those few moments of bewilderment and terror, two things happened that sent him beyond recall over the boundary into the region of genuine horror.

00:35:37.340 --> 00:35:44.750
<v Speaker 5>He distinctly heard the kitbag shuffling heavily across the floor in jerks and close in front of his face.

00:35:44.751 --> 00:35:52.039
<v Speaker 5>Sounded once again, the sigh of a human being in his anguished efforts to find the brass button on the wall.

00:35:52.099 --> 00:36:27.849
<v Speaker 5>He nearly scraped the nails from his fingers, but even then in those frenzied moments of alarm, so swift and alert are the impressions of a mind keyed up by a vivid emotion.

00:36:28.429 --> 00:36:36.210
<v Speaker 5>He had time to realize that he dreaded the return of the light and that it might be better for him to stay hidden in the merciful screen of darkness.

00:36:37.389 --> 00:36:50.570
<v Speaker 5>It was, but the impulse of a moment, however, and before he had time to act upon it, he had yielded automatically to the original desire and the room was flooded again with light, but the second instinct had been right.

00:36:51.710 --> 00:37:12.210
<v Speaker 5>It would have been better for him to have stayed in the shelter of the kind darkness for there close before him bending over the packed kit bag, clear as life in the merciless glare of the electric light stood the figure of John Turk, the murderer, not three feet from him.

00:37:12.230 --> 00:37:40.619
<v Speaker 5>The man stood the fringe of black hair marked plainly against the power of the forehead, the whole horrible presentment of the scoundrel, as vivid as he had seen him day after day in the old Bailey, when he stood there in the dock, cynical and callous under the very shadow of the gallows in a flash Johnson realized what it all meant, the dirty and much used bag, the smear of Crimson within the top, the dreadful stretched condition of the bulging sides.

00:37:41.440 --> 00:37:50.769
<v Speaker 5>He remembered how the victim's body had been stuffed into a canvas bag for burial that gly dismembered fragments forced with lime into this very bag.

00:37:51.710 --> 00:37:53.769
<v Speaker 5>And the bag itself produced as evidence.

00:37:54.349 --> 00:38:02.030
<v Speaker 5>It all came back to him as clear as day, very softly and stealthy his hand groped behind him for the handle of the door.

00:38:02.570 --> 00:38:18.760
<v Speaker 5>But before had actually turn it, the very thing that he, most of all dreaded came about and John Turk lifted his devil's face and looked at him at the same moment that heavy sigh passed through the air of the room formulated somehow into words.

00:38:19.909 --> 00:38:20.800
<v Speaker 5>It's my bag.

00:38:21.619 --> 00:38:30.320
<v Speaker 5>And I want it John, and just remembered clawing the door open and then falling in a heap upon the floor of the landing.

00:38:30.739 --> 00:38:48.860
<v Speaker 5>As he tried frantically to make his way into the front room, he remained unconscious for a long time, and it was still dark when he opened his eyes and realized that he was lying stiff and bruised on the cold boards, the then the memory of what he had seen rushed back into his mind.

00:38:48.960 --> 00:38:50.539
<v Speaker 5>And he promptly fainted again.

00:38:51.730 --> 00:39:06.730
<v Speaker 5>When he woke the second time, the wind tree Dawn was just beginning to peep in at the windows, painting the stairs, a cheerless dismal, gray, and he managed to crawl into the front room and cover himself with an overcoat in the arm chair, where at length, he, he fell asleep.

00:39:08.219 --> 00:39:09.780
<v Speaker 5>A great clamor, woke him.

00:39:10.119 --> 00:39:11.219
<v Speaker 5>He recognized Mrs.

00:39:11.320 --> 00:39:14.460
<v Speaker 5>Monk's voice loud and VO watch you.

00:39:14.460 --> 00:39:15.380
<v Speaker 5>Ain't been to bed, sir.

00:39:15.599 --> 00:39:17.139
<v Speaker 5>Are you ill or has anything happened?

00:39:18.000 --> 00:39:19.860
<v Speaker 5>And there's an urgent gentleman to see you though.

00:39:19.860 --> 00:39:20.900
<v Speaker 5>It ain't seven o'clock yet.

00:39:20.960 --> 00:39:22.179
<v Speaker 5>And who is it?

00:39:22.181 --> 00:39:23.739
<v Speaker 5>He stamered I'm all right.

00:39:23.740 --> 00:39:24.099
<v Speaker 5>Thanks.

00:39:24.289 --> 00:39:25.340
<v Speaker 5>Fell asleep in my chair.

00:39:25.420 --> 00:39:27.570
<v Speaker 5>I suppose someone from Mr.

00:39:27.820 --> 00:39:30.489
<v Speaker 5>Wilms and he says, he ought to see you quick before you go abroad.

00:39:30.550 --> 00:39:32.489
<v Speaker 5>And I told him, show him up, please.

00:39:32.550 --> 00:39:37.610
<v Speaker 5>At once said Johnson, whose head was whirling and his mind was still full of dreadful visions.

00:39:38.880 --> 00:39:39.099
<v Speaker 5>Mr.

00:39:39.380 --> 00:39:53.610
<v Speaker 5>Wilber's man came in with many apologies and explained briefly and quickly that an absurd mistake had been made and that the wrong kitbag had been sent over the night before Henry somehow got hold of the one that came over from the courtroom.

00:39:53.829 --> 00:39:54.329
<v Speaker 5>And Mr.

00:39:54.349 --> 00:39:57.489
<v Speaker 5>Wilber only discovered it when he saw his own lying in his room.

00:39:57.949 --> 00:39:59.880
<v Speaker 5>And I ask why it had not gone to you.

00:39:59.940 --> 00:40:03.360
<v Speaker 5>The man said, oh, said Johnson stupidly.

00:40:04.489 --> 00:40:11.230
<v Speaker 5>And he must have brought you the one from the murder case instead, sir, I'm afraid the man continued without the ghost of an expression on his face.

00:40:11.889 --> 00:40:14.909
<v Speaker 5>The one John Turk packed the dead body in Mr.

00:40:14.911 --> 00:40:16.429
<v Speaker 5>Wilber's awful upset about it, sir.

00:40:16.650 --> 00:40:26.000
<v Speaker 5>And told me to come over first thing this morning with the right one, as you were leaving by the boat, he pointed to a clean looking kit bag on the floor, which he had just brought.

00:40:26.500 --> 00:40:30.679
<v Speaker 5>And I was to bring the other one back, sir, he added casually for some minutes.

00:40:30.681 --> 00:40:33.559
<v Speaker 5>Johnson could not find his voice at last.

00:40:33.619 --> 00:40:35.239
<v Speaker 5>He pointed in the direction of his bedroom.

00:40:35.869 --> 00:40:43.909
<v Speaker 5>Perhaps you would kindly unpack it for me, just empty the things out on the floor or the man disappeared into the other room and was gone for five minutes.

00:40:44.219 --> 00:40:49.630
<v Speaker 5>Johnson heard the shifting to and fro of the bag and the rattle of the skates and boots being unpacked.

00:40:50.360 --> 00:40:53.750
<v Speaker 5>Thank you sir said the man returning with the bag folded over his arm.

00:40:54.289 --> 00:40:56.630
<v Speaker 5>And can I do anything more to help you, sir?

00:40:58.130 --> 00:40:58.739
<v Speaker 5>What is it?

00:40:58.760 --> 00:41:04.210
<v Speaker 5>Ask Johnson, seeing that he's Jill had something he wished to say the man shuffled and looked mysterious.

00:41:05.349 --> 00:41:05.570
<v Speaker 5>Meg.

00:41:05.570 --> 00:41:06.210
<v Speaker 5>Pardon sir.

00:41:06.230 --> 00:41:10.250
<v Speaker 5>But knowing your interest in the Turk case, I thought you'd maybe like to know what's happened.

00:41:11.309 --> 00:41:11.530
<v Speaker 5>Yes.

00:41:12.800 --> 00:41:19.170
<v Speaker 5>John Turk killed hisself last night with poison immediately on getting his release and he left a note for Mr.

00:41:19.190 --> 00:41:22.639
<v Speaker 5>Wilber, him saying, he'd be much obliged if they'd have him put away.

00:41:22.989 --> 00:41:25.880
<v Speaker 5>Same as the woman he murdered in the old kit bag.

00:41:27.539 --> 00:41:29.750
<v Speaker 5>What time did he do it?

00:41:29.809 --> 00:41:30.269
<v Speaker 5>Ask Johnson.

00:41:31.530 --> 00:41:32.949
<v Speaker 5>10 o'clock last night, sir.

00:41:33.050 --> 00:41:33.750
<v Speaker 5>The water says,

00:41:36.710 --> 00:41:37.150
<v Speaker 1>I loved

00:41:37.179 --> 00:41:38.469
<v Speaker 2>That same here.

00:41:38.769 --> 00:41:40.190
<v Speaker 2>John's read a lot of stuff for us.

00:41:40.269 --> 00:41:40.949
<v Speaker 2>I think this is my favorite.

00:41:41.179 --> 00:41:41.469
<v Speaker 2>Yeah.

00:41:42.099 --> 00:41:43.340
<v Speaker 1>I, the story is so good.

00:41:43.480 --> 00:41:43.900
<v Speaker 1>Excuse

00:41:43.900 --> 00:41:44.099
<v Speaker 2>Me.

00:41:44.199 --> 00:41:45.059
<v Speaker 2>Our favorite so far.

00:41:45.480 --> 00:41:45.699
<v Speaker 2>Yes.

00:41:45.840 --> 00:41:46.219
<v Speaker 1>So far.

00:41:46.250 --> 00:41:46.539
<v Speaker 1>Yeah.

00:41:46.869 --> 00:41:47.780
<v Speaker 1>Story is so good.

00:41:47.809 --> 00:41:49.460
<v Speaker 1>John did such an amazing job.

00:41:49.719 --> 00:41:51.179
<v Speaker 1>It was, oh, I mean, I don't know.

00:41:51.181 --> 00:41:52.059
<v Speaker 1>It was a really good story.

00:41:52.139 --> 00:41:55.460
<v Speaker 1>I was, we were just listening to it together and we were like super captivated.

00:41:56.539 --> 00:42:01.420
<v Speaker 2>I mean, it's a horror story about packing it just your life.

00:42:01.500 --> 00:42:07.889
<v Speaker 2>I can, I, I can relate<laugh> if that, that, you know, it's like the best horror is the one that hits close to home.

00:42:08.000 --> 00:42:08.289
<v Speaker 2>Yeah.

00:42:08.469 --> 00:42:08.769
<v Speaker 2>You know?

00:42:09.280 --> 00:42:09.570
<v Speaker 2>Yeah.

00:42:10.030 --> 00:42:16.250
<v Speaker 2>And if all the times I've been, you know, overwhelmed and scared while packing, you add ghosts in.

00:42:16.630 --> 00:42:17.170
<v Speaker 2>No, thank you.

00:42:17.849 --> 00:42:18.329
<v Speaker 2>Well, we should tell

00:42:18.489 --> 00:42:22.570
<v Speaker 1>Everyone, you, you have to pack equipment like almost every day for your job.

00:42:22.920 --> 00:42:26.880
<v Speaker 1>And so that's why packing can be high pressure for you.

00:42:27.030 --> 00:42:27.320
<v Speaker 1>Sure.

00:42:27.510 --> 00:42:27.800
<v Speaker 1>Yeah.

00:42:27.800 --> 00:42:29.559
<v Speaker 1>Especially when you're going on travel jobs.

00:42:30.030 --> 00:42:30.519
<v Speaker 2>Exactly.

00:42:30.699 --> 00:42:31.119
<v Speaker 2>So, yeah.

00:42:31.280 --> 00:42:32.639
<v Speaker 2>I travel quite a bit.

00:42:32.780 --> 00:42:38.460
<v Speaker 2>I'm constantly packing repacking sometimes multiple times a day, if it's like different jobs in the same day.

00:42:38.610 --> 00:42:38.900
<v Speaker 2>Yeah.

00:42:39.130 --> 00:42:39.619
<v Speaker 2>It's a lot.

00:42:39.849 --> 00:42:40.300
<v Speaker 2>It's a lot.

00:42:40.360 --> 00:42:41.579
<v Speaker 2>And I'm glad there's no ghosts.

00:42:42.019 --> 00:42:42.019
<v Speaker 2><laugh>

00:42:42.619 --> 00:42:42.619
<v Speaker 1>That?

00:42:42.849 --> 00:42:43.139
<v Speaker 1>Yeah.

00:42:43.141 --> 00:42:45.659
<v Speaker 1>But maybe, maybe after today there will be ghosts.

00:42:46.440 --> 00:42:46.659
<v Speaker 2>Why?

00:42:47.329 --> 00:42:50.780
<v Speaker 1>Because it's Chris getting closer to, to the winter solstice.

00:42:50.929 --> 00:42:51.219
<v Speaker 1>Sure.

00:42:51.699 --> 00:42:52.539
<v Speaker 1><laugh> okay.

00:42:52.541 --> 00:42:52.739
<v Speaker 1>Yeah.

00:42:52.780 --> 00:42:52.900
<v Speaker 1>I,

00:42:53.300 --> 00:42:58.050
<v Speaker 2>I mean, I don't think anyone, I don't think there's ever been murder victims inside my Pelican cases.

00:42:59.650 --> 00:43:00.489
<v Speaker 2>So ready for the next story.

00:43:01.000 --> 00:43:01.289
<v Speaker 1>Yeah.

00:43:01.389 --> 00:43:01.769
<v Speaker 1>I'm nervous.

00:43:02.170 --> 00:43:03.250
<v Speaker 1>Cuz I'm gonna have to read this one.

00:43:03.269 --> 00:43:07.210
<v Speaker 1>And after going, going after John is gonna be a tough act to follow.

00:43:07.650 --> 00:43:08.170
<v Speaker 1>Ah, you're gonna do great.

00:43:08.610 --> 00:43:09.730
<v Speaker 1>I wanna set this up a little.

00:43:09.869 --> 00:43:16.329
<v Speaker 1>So our friend, friend of the pod Avi Dobkin sent me a text actually a few weeks ago.

00:43:16.331 --> 00:43:17.960
<v Speaker 1>Maybe I'm few months ago, actually.

00:43:17.960 --> 00:43:22.039
<v Speaker 1>He was like, it was a Paris review article about Victorian ghost stories.

00:43:22.219 --> 00:43:27.000
<v Speaker 1>And it's kind of what kicked off this whole holiday horror, little special that we're doing here.

00:43:27.880 --> 00:43:29.280
<v Speaker 1>The, the kit bag was featured in that.

00:43:29.300 --> 00:43:31.000
<v Speaker 1>And so is a story that I'm about to read.

00:43:31.500 --> 00:43:35.440
<v Speaker 1>And the description of this story, which we talked about last week just gave me goosebumps.

00:43:35.440 --> 00:43:39.510
<v Speaker 1>So I haven't read the story before I'm gonna read it for the first time live on the show.

00:43:39.610 --> 00:43:41.269
<v Speaker 1>The description really scared me.

00:43:41.271 --> 00:43:43.869
<v Speaker 1>And I'm hoping that it will be a really creepy story.

00:43:44.030 --> 00:43:48.070
<v Speaker 1>I will also say that it is featured on a website called like scary for kids.

00:43:48.530 --> 00:43:52.989
<v Speaker 1>So if you have kids listening to this show, I, I don't think it's gonna be like inappropriate or anything for them.

00:43:53.369 --> 00:43:55.429
<v Speaker 2>Oh, I thought I was saying like, this is gonna be scary.

00:43:55.880 --> 00:43:56.909
<v Speaker 2>Especially for kids.

00:43:57.059 --> 00:43:57.349
<v Speaker 2>It's

00:43:57.349 --> 00:44:01.380
<v Speaker 1>Like here's stories you can read to your kids that aren't super graphic or whatever.

00:44:02.090 --> 00:44:02.380
<v Speaker 1>Okay.

00:44:02.679 --> 00:44:05.699
<v Speaker 1>So we're gonna read it and hopefully you've stoked.

00:44:05.701 --> 00:44:07.539
<v Speaker 1>The fire you've refreshed your hot chocolate.

00:44:07.760 --> 00:44:11.219
<v Speaker 1>You've gotten your, your mittens and your hats.

00:44:11.239 --> 00:44:13.539
<v Speaker 1>And you're ready to go for the final spooky

00:44:13.539 --> 00:44:15.340
<v Speaker 2>Story down, down your shots and done your lines.

00:44:15.730 --> 00:44:18.139
<v Speaker 1>Your shots of eggnog yuck.

00:44:25.849 --> 00:44:30.449
<v Speaker 3>My a amage red, my breaker,

00:44:32.869 --> 00:44:35.409
<v Speaker 1>No said Jackson with a Detory smile.

00:44:35.869 --> 00:44:36.250
<v Speaker 1>I'm sorry.

00:44:36.889 --> 00:44:38.010
<v Speaker 1>I don't wanna upset your game.

00:44:38.489 --> 00:44:38.769
<v Speaker 1>I should.

00:44:38.920 --> 00:44:43.480
<v Speaker 1>Can't be doing that because you'll have plenty without me, but I'm not playing any games of hide and seek.

00:44:44.019 --> 00:44:49.199
<v Speaker 1>It was Christmas Eve and we were a party of 14 with just the proper Laing of youth.

00:44:49.579 --> 00:44:50.280
<v Speaker 1>We had dined.

00:44:50.280 --> 00:44:54.960
<v Speaker 1>Well, it was a season for childish games and we were all in the mood for playing them.

00:44:55.500 --> 00:44:56.840
<v Speaker 1>All that is except Jackson.

00:44:57.469 --> 00:45:01.989
<v Speaker 1>When somebody suggested hide and seek, there was a RTS and almost unanimous approval.

00:45:02.690 --> 00:45:04.269
<v Speaker 1>His was the one dissonant voice.

00:45:04.889 --> 00:45:08.989
<v Speaker 1>It was not like Jackson to spoil sport or refused to do as others wanted.

00:45:09.909 --> 00:45:11.750
<v Speaker 1>Somebody asked him if he were feeling CD.

00:45:12.250 --> 00:45:13.070
<v Speaker 1>No, he answered.

00:45:13.510 --> 00:45:14.510
<v Speaker 1>I feel perfectly fit.

00:45:14.510 --> 00:45:14.829
<v Speaker 1>Thanks.

00:45:15.050 --> 00:45:21.539
<v Speaker 1>But he added with a smile that softened without retracting, the flat refusal, I'm not playing hide and seek.

00:45:22.119 --> 00:45:23.380
<v Speaker 1>Why not someone asked.

00:45:24.079 --> 00:45:29.659
<v Speaker 1>He hesitated for a moment before applying, I sometimes go and stay at a house where a girl was killed.

00:45:30.280 --> 00:45:32.059
<v Speaker 1>She was playing hide and seek in the dark.

00:45:32.880 --> 00:45:34.300
<v Speaker 1>She didn't know the house very well.

00:45:34.869 --> 00:45:37.219
<v Speaker 1>There was a door that led to the servant staircase.

00:45:37.730 --> 00:45:40.460
<v Speaker 1>When she was chased, she thought the door led to a bedroom.

00:45:41.159 --> 00:45:44.300
<v Speaker 1>She opened the door and jumped and landed at the bottom of the stairs.

00:45:44.639 --> 00:45:45.460
<v Speaker 1>She broke her neck.

00:45:45.659 --> 00:45:47.219
<v Speaker 1>Of course we all looked serious.

00:45:48.199 --> 00:45:48.420
<v Speaker 1>Mrs.

00:45:48.980 --> 00:45:49.940
<v Speaker 1>Fernley said, how terrible.

00:45:50.599 --> 00:45:52.019
<v Speaker 1>And were you there when it happened?

00:45:52.409 --> 00:45:53.699
<v Speaker 1>Jackson shook his head.

00:45:53.909 --> 00:45:54.260
<v Speaker 1>Sadly.

00:45:54.869 --> 00:45:56.929
<v Speaker 1>No, he said, but I was there.

00:45:56.931 --> 00:45:59.010
<v Speaker 1>When something else happened, something worse.

00:46:00.130 --> 00:46:01.090
<v Speaker 1>What could be worse than that?

00:46:01.679 --> 00:46:05.289
<v Speaker 1>This was said, Jackson, he hesitated for a moment.

00:46:05.679 --> 00:46:12.409
<v Speaker 1>Then he said, I wonder if any of you have ever played a game called me, it's much better than hide and seek.

00:46:12.949 --> 00:46:14.769
<v Speaker 1>The name comes from it's me.

00:46:15.059 --> 00:46:18.599
<v Speaker 1>Of course, perhaps you'd like to play it instead of hide and seek.

00:46:19.260 --> 00:46:20.679
<v Speaker 1>Let me tell you the rules of the game.

00:46:21.409 --> 00:46:25.880
<v Speaker 1>Every player is given a sheet of paper, all the sheets, except one are blank.

00:46:26.659 --> 00:46:29.440
<v Speaker 1>On the last sheet of paper is written SME.

00:46:30.300 --> 00:46:33.880
<v Speaker 1>Nobody knows who SM is except SME himself or herself.

00:46:34.699 --> 00:46:38.829
<v Speaker 1>You turn out the of lights and SME goes quietly out of the room and hides.

00:46:39.400 --> 00:46:41.869
<v Speaker 1>After a time the others go off and search for SME.

00:46:42.170 --> 00:46:43.989
<v Speaker 1>But of course they don't know who they're looking for.

00:46:44.659 --> 00:46:48.429
<v Speaker 1>When one player meets another, he challenges him by saying SME.

00:46:48.969 --> 00:46:51.989
<v Speaker 1>The other player answers SME and they continue searching.

00:46:52.849 --> 00:46:54.789
<v Speaker 1>But the real SME doesn't answer.

00:46:54.820 --> 00:47:02.099
<v Speaker 1>When somebody challenge, the second player stays quietly beside him presently, they will be discovered by a third player.

00:47:02.639 --> 00:47:06.219
<v Speaker 1>He will challenge and receive no answer and he will join the first two.

00:47:06.730 --> 00:47:09.500
<v Speaker 1>This goes on until all the players are in the same place.

00:47:10.400 --> 00:47:13.099
<v Speaker 1>The last one to finds me has to pay a forfeit.

00:47:13.530 --> 00:47:18.849
<v Speaker 1>It's a good, noisy amusing game and a big, so it often takes a long time for everyone to finds me.

00:47:19.239 --> 00:47:20.570
<v Speaker 1>Perhaps you'd like to try.

00:47:21.239 --> 00:47:24.329
<v Speaker 1>I'll happily pay my forfeit and sit here by the fire while you play.

00:47:24.909 --> 00:47:26.090
<v Speaker 1>It sounds like a good game.

00:47:26.210 --> 00:47:26.730
<v Speaker 1>I remarked.

00:47:26.920 --> 00:47:28.130
<v Speaker 1>Have you played it to Jackson?

00:47:28.789 --> 00:47:29.010
<v Speaker 1>Yes.

00:47:29.150 --> 00:47:29.730
<v Speaker 1>He answered.

00:47:30.409 --> 00:47:32.130
<v Speaker 1>I played at the house that I was telling you about.

00:47:32.630 --> 00:47:33.449
<v Speaker 1>And she was there.

00:47:33.550 --> 00:47:34.409
<v Speaker 1>The girl who broke?

00:47:34.989 --> 00:47:36.570
<v Speaker 1>No, no said someone else.

00:47:37.260 --> 00:47:41.280
<v Speaker 1>He told us he wasn't there when she broke her neck Jackson thought for a moment.

00:47:41.960 --> 00:47:43.239
<v Speaker 1>I don't know if she was there or not.

00:47:43.500 --> 00:47:43.960
<v Speaker 1>I'm afraid.

00:47:44.059 --> 00:47:44.519
<v Speaker 1>She was.

00:47:45.079 --> 00:47:49.239
<v Speaker 1>I know that there were 13 of us playing the game and there were only 12 people in the house.

00:47:50.019 --> 00:47:51.559
<v Speaker 1>And I didn't know the dead girl's name.

00:47:51.909 --> 00:47:53.679
<v Speaker 1>When I heard that whispered name in the dark.

00:47:54.099 --> 00:47:58.710
<v Speaker 1>It didn't worry me, but I tell you, I'm never going to, to play that kind of game again.

00:47:59.130 --> 00:48:01.150
<v Speaker 1>It made me quite nervous for a long time.

00:48:01.909 --> 00:48:03.590
<v Speaker 1>I preferred to pay my forfeit at once.

00:48:04.769 --> 00:48:05.710
<v Speaker 1>We all stared at him.

00:48:06.170 --> 00:48:07.789
<v Speaker 1>His words did not make sense at all.

00:48:08.849 --> 00:48:10.750
<v Speaker 1>Tim Vos was the kindest man in the world.

00:48:11.210 --> 00:48:12.349
<v Speaker 1>He smiled at us all.

00:48:13.219 --> 00:48:14.909
<v Speaker 1>This sounds like an interesting story.

00:48:14.969 --> 00:48:16.389
<v Speaker 1>He said, come on Jackson.

00:48:16.889 --> 00:48:22.340
<v Speaker 1>You can tell it to us and set of paying a forfeit very well said, Jackson, and here is his story.

00:48:23.289 --> 00:48:24.780
<v Speaker 1>Have you met the sang stones?

00:48:25.610 --> 00:48:26.780
<v Speaker 1>They are cousins of mine.

00:48:26.780 --> 00:48:29.019
<v Speaker 1>They live in Surry five years ago.

00:48:29.021 --> 00:48:31.019
<v Speaker 1>They invited me to go and spend Christmas with them.

00:48:31.519 --> 00:48:35.139
<v Speaker 1>It was an old house with lots of unnecessary passages and staircases.

00:48:35.739 --> 00:48:37.619
<v Speaker 1>A stranger could get lost in it quite easily.

00:48:38.690 --> 00:48:44.420
<v Speaker 1>Well, I went down for that Christmas violet Sans and promised me that I knew most of the other guests.

00:48:45.050 --> 00:48:50.539
<v Speaker 1>Unfortunately I couldn't get away from my job until Christmas Eve, all the other guests had arrived there.

00:48:50.559 --> 00:48:55.849
<v Speaker 1>The previous day I a last to arrive and I was only just in time for dinner.

00:48:56.329 --> 00:48:58.289
<v Speaker 1>I said, hello to everyone I knew.

00:48:58.789 --> 00:49:00.929
<v Speaker 1>And violet saints and introduced me to people.

00:49:01.010 --> 00:49:03.610
<v Speaker 1>I didn't know that it was time to go into dinner.

00:49:03.920 --> 00:49:11.289
<v Speaker 1>This is perhaps why I didn't hear the name of a tall, dark haired, handsome girl, whom I hadn't met before everyone was in rather a hurry.

00:49:11.789 --> 00:49:13.880
<v Speaker 1>And I am always bad at catching people's names.

00:49:14.539 --> 00:49:16.039
<v Speaker 1>She looked cold and clever.

00:49:16.900 --> 00:49:19.360
<v Speaker 1>She didn't look at all friendly, but she looked interesting.

00:49:19.699 --> 00:49:20.840
<v Speaker 1>And I wondered who she was.

00:49:21.599 --> 00:49:27.199
<v Speaker 1>I didn't ask because I was sure that someone would speak to her by name during the meal unluckily.

00:49:27.199 --> 00:49:29.400
<v Speaker 1>However, I was a long way from her at the table.

00:49:30.000 --> 00:49:30.960
<v Speaker 1>I was sitting next to Mrs.

00:49:31.099 --> 00:49:31.519
<v Speaker 1>Gorman.

00:49:31.860 --> 00:49:33.000
<v Speaker 1>And as usual, Mrs.

00:49:33.320 --> 00:49:35.230
<v Speaker 1>GOM was being very bright and amusing.

00:49:35.690 --> 00:49:41.309
<v Speaker 1>Her conversation is always worth listening to, and I completely forgot to ask the name of the dark proud girl.

00:49:41.840 --> 00:49:44.869
<v Speaker 1>There were 12 of us, including the Sans sins themselves.

00:49:45.610 --> 00:49:47.909
<v Speaker 1>We were all young or trying to be young.

00:49:48.789 --> 00:49:52.110
<v Speaker 1>Jack and violet Sanson were the oldest and their 17 year old son.

00:49:52.110 --> 00:49:53.429
<v Speaker 1>Reggie was the youngest.

00:49:54.199 --> 00:49:56.019
<v Speaker 1>It was Reggie who suggested me.

00:49:56.130 --> 00:50:03.900
<v Speaker 1>When the talk turned to games, he told us the rules of the game, just as I've described them to you, Jack Sans, didn't warned us all.

00:50:04.480 --> 00:50:10.300
<v Speaker 1>If you're going to play games in the dark, he said, please be careful of the back stairs on the first floor, a door leads to them.

00:50:10.639 --> 00:50:17.130
<v Speaker 1>And I've often thought about taking the door off in the dark stranger to the house could think they were walking into a room.

00:50:18.010 --> 00:50:20.210
<v Speaker 1>A girl really did break her neck on those stairs.

00:50:21.289 --> 00:50:22.250
<v Speaker 1>I asked how it happened.

00:50:22.869 --> 00:50:28.090
<v Speaker 1>It was about 10 years ago before we came here, there was a party and they were playing hide and seek.

00:50:28.670 --> 00:50:30.289
<v Speaker 1>The girl was looking for somewhere to hide.

00:50:31.150 --> 00:50:34.289
<v Speaker 1>She heard somebody coming and ran along the passage to get away.

00:50:35.260 --> 00:50:37.320
<v Speaker 1>She opened the door, thinking it led to a bedroom.

00:50:38.059 --> 00:50:40.599
<v Speaker 1>She planned to hide in there until the seeker had gone.

00:50:41.230 --> 00:50:44.280
<v Speaker 1>Unfortunately it was the door that led to the back stairs.

00:50:44.980 --> 00:50:47.119
<v Speaker 1>She fell straight down to the bottom of the stairs.

00:50:47.699 --> 00:50:51.239
<v Speaker 1>She was dead when they picked her up, we all promised to be careful.

00:50:51.820 --> 00:50:52.039
<v Speaker 1>Mrs.

00:50:52.099 --> 00:50:54.519
<v Speaker 1>Gorman even made a little joke about living to be 90.

00:50:55.360 --> 00:51:00.469
<v Speaker 1>You, you see, none of us had known the poor girl and we did not want to feel sad on Christmas Eve.

00:51:01.139 --> 00:51:03.230
<v Speaker 1>Well, we all started the game immediately.

00:51:03.230 --> 00:51:09.389
<v Speaker 1>After dinner, young, Reggie Santon went around, making sure the lights were off except the ones in the servants rooms.

00:51:09.489 --> 00:51:13.269
<v Speaker 1>And in the sitting room where we were, we then prepared 12 sheets of paper.

00:51:13.849 --> 00:51:17.579
<v Speaker 1>11 of them were blank in one of had a SME written on it.

00:51:18.079 --> 00:51:19.420
<v Speaker 1>Reggie mixed them all up.

00:51:19.440 --> 00:51:20.420
<v Speaker 1>And we each took one.

00:51:21.039 --> 00:51:24.059
<v Speaker 1>The person who got the paper with SME on it had to hide.

00:51:24.860 --> 00:51:26.699
<v Speaker 1>I looked at mine and saw that it was blank.

00:51:27.300 --> 00:51:30.739
<v Speaker 1>A moment later, all the electric lights went out in the darkness.

00:51:31.059 --> 00:51:33.340
<v Speaker 1>I heard someone moving very quietly to the door.

00:51:33.949 --> 00:51:37.500
<v Speaker 1>After a minute, somebody blew a whistle and we all rushed to the door.

00:51:38.139 --> 00:51:41.460
<v Speaker 1>I had no idea who was SME for five or 10 minutes.

00:51:41.559 --> 00:51:48.059
<v Speaker 1>We were all rushing up and down passages and in and out of rooms, challenging each other and answering SME SME.

00:51:48.389 --> 00:51:50.650
<v Speaker 1>After a while the noises died down.

00:51:51.070 --> 00:51:52.969
<v Speaker 1>And I guess that somebody had found SME.

00:51:53.380 --> 00:51:56.730
<v Speaker 1>After a time I found a group of people all sitting on the narrow stairs.

00:51:57.489 --> 00:51:59.170
<v Speaker 1>I challenged and received no answer.

00:52:00.030 --> 00:52:01.250
<v Speaker 1>So SME was there.

00:52:01.889 --> 00:52:03.170
<v Speaker 1>I hurriedly joined the group.

00:52:03.880 --> 00:52:05.690
<v Speaker 1>Presently two more players arrived.

00:52:06.039 --> 00:52:08.210
<v Speaker 1>Each one was hurrying to avoid being last.

00:52:08.840 --> 00:52:11.840
<v Speaker 1>Jack Sanson was last and given a forfeit.

00:52:12.239 --> 00:52:13.360
<v Speaker 1>I think we're all here now.

00:52:13.360 --> 00:52:14.960
<v Speaker 1>Aren't we, he remarked.

00:52:15.300 --> 00:52:21.400
<v Speaker 1>He lit a match, looked up at the staircase and began to count 9, 10, 11, 12, 13.

00:52:21.460 --> 00:52:22.960
<v Speaker 1>He said, and then laughed.

00:52:23.300 --> 00:52:23.960
<v Speaker 1>That's silly.

00:52:23.989 --> 00:52:25.000
<v Speaker 1>There's one too many.

00:52:25.579 --> 00:52:28.519
<v Speaker 1>The match went out and he lit another and began to count.

00:52:28.980 --> 00:52:33.550
<v Speaker 1>He got as far as 12, then he looked put, there are 13 people here.

00:52:33.550 --> 00:52:35.710
<v Speaker 1>He said, I haven't counted myself yet.

00:52:36.170 --> 00:52:37.030
<v Speaker 1>Oh, nonsense.

00:52:37.150 --> 00:52:37.590
<v Speaker 1>I laughed.

00:52:37.969 --> 00:52:39.510
<v Speaker 1>You probably began with yourself.

00:52:39.789 --> 00:52:41.150
<v Speaker 1>And now you want to count yourself twice.

00:52:41.769 --> 00:52:43.349
<v Speaker 1>His son took out his electric torch.

00:52:44.050 --> 00:52:45.909
<v Speaker 1>It gave a better light than the matches.

00:52:46.250 --> 00:52:47.429
<v Speaker 1>And we all began to count.

00:52:47.929 --> 00:52:49.030
<v Speaker 1>Of course, there were 12 of us.

00:52:49.579 --> 00:52:55.860
<v Speaker 1>Jack laughed while he said, I was sure I counted 13 twice from halfway up the stairs.

00:52:56.380 --> 00:52:58.059
<v Speaker 1>Violet Sans and spoke nervously.

00:52:58.699 --> 00:53:00.940
<v Speaker 1>I thought there was somebody sitting two steps above me.

00:53:01.449 --> 00:53:03.260
<v Speaker 1>Have you moved captain ransom?

00:53:03.480 --> 00:53:04.780
<v Speaker 1>The captain said he hadn't.

00:53:05.119 --> 00:53:07.059
<v Speaker 1>But I thought there was somebody sitting between Mrs.

00:53:07.199 --> 00:53:11.420
<v Speaker 1>Sanson and me just for a moment, there was an uncomfortable something in the air.

00:53:11.860 --> 00:53:14.090
<v Speaker 1>A cold finger seemed to touch us all.

00:53:14.750 --> 00:53:21.050
<v Speaker 1>And for a moment we all felt there was something odd and unpleasant that had just happened and was likely to happen again.

00:53:21.920 --> 00:53:25.409
<v Speaker 1>Then we laughed at ourselves and at each other and we felt normal.

00:53:25.411 --> 00:53:25.730
<v Speaker 1>Again.

00:53:26.460 --> 00:53:27.690
<v Speaker 1>There were only 12 of us.

00:53:27.750 --> 00:53:29.650
<v Speaker 1>And that was that still laughing.

00:53:29.829 --> 00:53:32.210
<v Speaker 1>We marched back to the sitting room and began again.

00:53:32.730 --> 00:53:37.519
<v Speaker 1>I, this time I was SME, violet found me while I was searching for a hiding place.

00:53:38.099 --> 00:53:41.840
<v Speaker 1>The game didn't last long, soon, there were 12 people in the game was over.

00:53:42.480 --> 00:53:44.280
<v Speaker 1>Violet felt cold and wanted her jacket.

00:53:44.860 --> 00:53:46.760
<v Speaker 1>Her husband went up to the bedroom to fetch it.

00:53:47.179 --> 00:53:49.519
<v Speaker 1>As soon as he'd gone, Reggie touched me on the arm.

00:53:50.019 --> 00:53:52.280
<v Speaker 1>He was looking pale and sick quick.

00:53:52.380 --> 00:53:54.469
<v Speaker 1>He whispered, I've got to talk to you.

00:53:54.471 --> 00:53:56.070
<v Speaker 1>Something horrible has happened.

00:53:57.050 --> 00:53:58.309
<v Speaker 1>We went into the breakfast room.

00:53:58.369 --> 00:53:59.789
<v Speaker 1>What's the matter I asked.

00:54:00.869 --> 00:54:02.590
<v Speaker 1>I don't know you were SME last time.

00:54:02.590 --> 00:54:03.030
<v Speaker 1>Weren't you?

00:54:03.380 --> 00:54:05.389
<v Speaker 1>Well, of course, I didn't know who SME was.

00:54:06.110 --> 00:54:09.070
<v Speaker 1>Well, mother and the others ran to the west side of the house and found you.

00:54:09.110 --> 00:54:09.630
<v Speaker 1>I went east.

00:54:10.099 --> 00:54:12.150
<v Speaker 1>There's a deep, close cover in my bedroom.

00:54:12.769 --> 00:54:14.300
<v Speaker 1>It looked like a good hid spot.

00:54:14.699 --> 00:54:16.380
<v Speaker 1>I thought perhaps SM might be there.

00:54:16.780 --> 00:54:19.699
<v Speaker 1>I opened the door in the dark and touched somebody's hand SME.

00:54:19.980 --> 00:54:21.539
<v Speaker 1>I whispered there was no answer.

00:54:21.820 --> 00:54:22.940
<v Speaker 1>I thought I'd found SMI.

00:54:23.650 --> 00:54:27.099
<v Speaker 1>Well, I don't understand it, but I suddenly had a strange, cold feeling.

00:54:27.739 --> 00:54:30.460
<v Speaker 1>I can't describe it, but I felt like something was wrong.

00:54:30.679 --> 00:54:33.619
<v Speaker 1>So I turned on my electric torch and there was nobody there.

00:54:34.159 --> 00:54:38.980
<v Speaker 1>Now I'm sure I touched a hand and nobody could get out of the cupboard because I was standing in the doorway.

00:54:40.050 --> 00:54:42.940
<v Speaker 1>What do you think you imagined that you touched a hand?

00:54:43.139 --> 00:54:45.019
<v Speaker 1>I said he gave a short laugh.

00:54:45.619 --> 00:54:46.619
<v Speaker 1>I knew you'd say that.

00:54:46.621 --> 00:54:48.300
<v Speaker 1>He said, of course I imagined it.

00:54:48.829 --> 00:54:50.130
<v Speaker 1>That's the only explanation.

00:54:50.139 --> 00:54:50.570
<v Speaker 1>Isn't it.

00:54:51.369 --> 00:54:52.050
<v Speaker 1>I agreed with him.

00:54:52.769 --> 00:54:55.210
<v Speaker 1>I could see that he still felt shaken together.

00:54:55.349 --> 00:54:57.809
<v Speaker 1>We returned to the sitting room for another game of SME.

00:54:58.110 --> 00:55:04.210
<v Speaker 1>The others were already and waiting to start again, perhaps it was my imagination, although I'm almost sure that it was not.

00:55:04.789 --> 00:55:11.719
<v Speaker 1>But I had a feeling that nobody was really enjoying the game anymore, but everyone was too polite to mention it all the same.

00:55:12.159 --> 00:55:13.719
<v Speaker 1>I had the feeling that something was wrong.

00:55:14.460 --> 00:55:16.000
<v Speaker 1>All the fun had gone out of the game.

00:55:16.269 --> 00:55:19.920
<v Speaker 1>Something deep inside me was trying to warn me, take care.

00:55:19.940 --> 00:55:21.559
<v Speaker 1>It whispered take care.

00:55:22.289 --> 00:55:25.800
<v Speaker 1>There was some unnatural, unhealthy influence at work in the house.

00:55:26.619 --> 00:55:27.800
<v Speaker 1>Why did I have this feeling?

00:55:28.190 --> 00:55:35.789
<v Speaker 1>Because Jack Sans to and had counted 13 people instead of 12, because his son imagined he had touched somebody's hand in an empty cupboard.

00:55:36.469 --> 00:55:39.269
<v Speaker 1>I tried to laugh at myself, but I did not succeed.

00:55:39.659 --> 00:55:39.949
<v Speaker 1>Well.

00:55:39.969 --> 00:55:48.190
<v Speaker 1>We started again while we were all chasing the unknown SME, we were all as noisy as ever, but it seemed to me that most of us were just acting.

00:55:49.010 --> 00:55:50.900
<v Speaker 1>We were no longer her enjoying the game.

00:55:51.639 --> 00:55:55.739
<v Speaker 1>At first, I stayed with the others, but for several minutes, no SME was found.

00:55:56.300 --> 00:56:00.179
<v Speaker 1>I left the main group and started searching on the first floor at the west side of the house.

00:56:01.219 --> 00:56:05.420
<v Speaker 1>And there, while I was feeling my way along, I bumped into a pair of human knees.

00:56:06.179 --> 00:56:08.780
<v Speaker 1>I put out my hand and touched a soft, heavy curtain.

00:56:09.849 --> 00:56:11.329
<v Speaker 1>Then I knew where I was.

00:56:12.219 --> 00:56:14.889
<v Speaker 1>There were tall, deep windows with window seats.

00:56:14.891 --> 00:56:18.050
<v Speaker 1>At the end of the passage, the curtains reached to the ground.

00:56:18.889 --> 00:56:22.010
<v Speaker 1>Somebody was sitting in a corner of one of the window seats behind a curtain.

00:56:22.969 --> 00:56:22.969
<v Speaker 1>Aha.

00:56:23.250 --> 00:56:24.690
<v Speaker 1>I thought I've caught SME.

00:56:25.269 --> 00:56:28.210
<v Speaker 1>So I pulled the curtain to one side and touched a woman's arm.

00:56:28.590 --> 00:56:30.489
<v Speaker 1>It was a dark moonless night outside.

00:56:31.119 --> 00:56:34.639
<v Speaker 1>I couldn't see the woman sitting in the corner of the window seat SME.

00:56:35.159 --> 00:56:39.239
<v Speaker 1>I whispered there was no answer when SM is challenged.

00:56:39.300 --> 00:56:40.960
<v Speaker 1>He or she does not answer.

00:56:41.699 --> 00:56:43.719
<v Speaker 1>So I sat down beside her to wait for the others.

00:56:44.309 --> 00:56:46.280
<v Speaker 1>Then I whispered what's your name?

00:56:47.059 --> 00:56:55.190
<v Speaker 1>And out of the darkness beside me, the whisper came, Brenda, I did not know the name, but I guessed at once who she was.

00:56:55.869 --> 00:56:58.110
<v Speaker 1>I knew every girl in the house by name except one.

00:56:58.809 --> 00:57:00.670
<v Speaker 1>And that was the tall pale dark girl.

00:57:01.329 --> 00:57:06.110
<v Speaker 1>So here she was sitting beside me on the window seat, shut in between a heavy curtain and a window.

00:57:06.869 --> 00:57:08.230
<v Speaker 1>I was beginning to enjoy the game.

00:57:08.789 --> 00:57:10.550
<v Speaker 1>I wondered if she was enjoying it too.

00:57:11.269 --> 00:57:15.059
<v Speaker 1>I whispered one or two rather ordinary questions to her and receive no answer.

00:57:16.500 --> 00:57:17.539
<v Speaker 1>SME is a game of silence.

00:57:18.119 --> 00:57:23.780
<v Speaker 1>It is the rule of the game that SME and the person or persons who have found SME have to keep quiet.

00:57:24.489 --> 00:57:27.300
<v Speaker 1>This of course makes it harder for the others to find them.

00:57:28.119 --> 00:57:32.739
<v Speaker 1>But there was nobody else about, I wondered therefore why she was insisting on silence.

00:57:34.099 --> 00:57:35.780
<v Speaker 1>I spoke again and got no answer.

00:57:36.219 --> 00:57:37.940
<v Speaker 1>I began to feel a little annoyed.

00:57:38.530 --> 00:57:43.179
<v Speaker 1>Perhaps she is one of those cold, clever girls who have a poor opinion of all men.

00:57:43.260 --> 00:57:45.219
<v Speaker 1>I thought she doesn't like me.

00:57:45.320 --> 00:57:48.650
<v Speaker 1>And she is using the rules of the game as an excuse for not speaking.

00:57:49.119 --> 00:57:52.849
<v Speaker 1>Well, if she doesn't like sitting here with me, I certainly don't want to sit with her.

00:57:53.409 --> 00:57:54.329
<v Speaker 1>I turned away from her.

00:57:54.809 --> 00:57:56.090
<v Speaker 1>I hope someone finds us soon.

00:57:56.369 --> 00:58:01.369
<v Speaker 1>I thought as I sat there, I realized that I disliked sitting beside this girl very much indeed.

00:58:02.039 --> 00:58:02.849
<v Speaker 1>That was strange.

00:58:03.429 --> 00:58:07.199
<v Speaker 1>The girl I had seen at dinner had seemed likable in a cold kind of way.

00:58:07.800 --> 00:58:16.239
<v Speaker 1>I noticed her and wanted to know more about her, but now I felt really uncomfortable beside her, the feeling of something wrong, something unnatural was growing.

00:58:16.880 --> 00:58:19.480
<v Speaker 1>I remember touching her arm and I trembled with horror.

00:58:20.159 --> 00:58:21.559
<v Speaker 1>I wanted to jump up and run away.

00:58:22.039 --> 00:58:24.199
<v Speaker 1>I prayed that someone else would come along soon.

00:58:24.670 --> 00:58:30.349
<v Speaker 1>Just then I heard light footsteps in the passage, somebody on the other side of the curtain brushed against my knees.

00:58:30.809 --> 00:58:34.230
<v Speaker 1>The curtain moved to one side and Oman's hand touched my shoulder.

00:58:35.230 --> 00:58:37.710
<v Speaker 1>SME whispered a voice that I recognized at once.

00:58:38.170 --> 00:58:38.710
<v Speaker 1>It was Mrs.

00:58:38.849 --> 00:58:39.269
<v Speaker 1>Gorman.

00:58:39.809 --> 00:58:41.110
<v Speaker 1>Of course she received no answer.

00:58:41.610 --> 00:58:45.070
<v Speaker 1>She came and sat down beside me and at once I felt very much better.

00:58:45.860 --> 00:58:46.630
<v Speaker 1>It's Jonie Jackson.

00:58:46.800 --> 00:58:47.230
<v Speaker 1>Isn't it.

00:58:47.231 --> 00:58:47.829
<v Speaker 1>She whispered.

00:58:48.480 --> 00:58:48.699
<v Speaker 1>Yes.

00:58:49.019 --> 00:58:49.739
<v Speaker 1>I whispered back.

00:58:50.079 --> 00:58:51.059
<v Speaker 1>You're not SME.

00:58:51.199 --> 00:58:51.619
<v Speaker 1>Are you?

00:58:52.239 --> 00:58:53.900
<v Speaker 1>No, she's on my other side.

00:58:54.880 --> 00:58:56.219
<v Speaker 1>She reached out across me.

00:58:56.860 --> 00:58:59.579
<v Speaker 1>I heard her fingernails scratch a woman's silk dress.

00:59:00.150 --> 00:59:01.099
<v Speaker 1>Hello, SME.

00:59:01.199 --> 00:59:01.780
<v Speaker 1>How are you?

00:59:01.840 --> 00:59:02.380
<v Speaker 1>Who are you?

00:59:02.880 --> 00:59:04.179
<v Speaker 1>Oh, it's against the rules to talk.

00:59:04.530 --> 00:59:06.780
<v Speaker 1>Nevermind Tony we'll break the rules.

00:59:07.079 --> 00:59:07.739
<v Speaker 1>Do you know Tony?

00:59:07.969 --> 00:59:09.969
<v Speaker 1>This game is beginning to annoy me a little.

00:59:10.489 --> 00:59:12.090
<v Speaker 1>I hope we aren't going to play it all evening.

00:59:12.630 --> 00:59:15.969
<v Speaker 1>I'd like to play a nice quiet game altogether beside a warm fire.

00:59:16.590 --> 00:59:17.130
<v Speaker 1>Me too.

00:59:17.449 --> 00:59:17.889
<v Speaker 1>I agreed.

00:59:18.900 --> 00:59:20.409
<v Speaker 1>Can't you suggest something to them.

00:59:20.800 --> 00:59:23.489
<v Speaker 1>There's something rather unhealthy about this particular game.

00:59:24.110 --> 00:59:27.769
<v Speaker 1>I'm sure I'm being very silly, but I can't get rid of the idea that we've got an extra player.

00:59:28.530 --> 00:59:30.159
<v Speaker 1>Somebody who not to be here at all.

00:59:30.789 --> 00:59:33.920
<v Speaker 1>That was exactly how I felt, but I didn't say so.

00:59:34.150 --> 00:59:36.000
<v Speaker 1>However, I felt very much better.

00:59:36.380 --> 00:59:36.599
<v Speaker 1>Mrs.

00:59:36.679 --> 00:59:38.960
<v Speaker 1>Gorman's arrival had chased away my fears.

00:59:39.420 --> 00:59:40.159
<v Speaker 1>We sat talking.

00:59:41.000 --> 00:59:43.280
<v Speaker 1>I wonder when the others will find us said Mrs.

00:59:43.340 --> 00:59:43.760
<v Speaker 1>Gorman.

00:59:44.010 --> 00:59:47.880
<v Speaker 1>After a time we heard the sound defeat and young Reggie's voice shouting.

00:59:48.289 --> 00:59:48.639
<v Speaker 1>Hello?

00:59:48.889 --> 00:59:49.239
<v Speaker 1>Hello?

00:59:49.630 --> 00:59:50.309
<v Speaker 1>Is anybody there?

00:59:51.050 --> 00:59:51.949
<v Speaker 1>Yes I answered.

00:59:52.329 --> 00:59:52.750
<v Speaker 1>Is Mrs.

00:59:52.809 --> 00:59:53.590
<v Speaker 1>Gorman with you?

00:59:53.889 --> 00:59:54.110
<v Speaker 1>Yes.

00:59:54.940 --> 00:59:55.869
<v Speaker 1>What happened to you?

00:59:56.250 --> 00:59:57.590
<v Speaker 1>You've both got forfeits.

00:59:57.590 --> 01:00:01.349
<v Speaker 1>We've all been waiting for you for hours, but you haven't found SMI yet.

01:00:01.469 --> 01:00:03.429
<v Speaker 1>I complained you haven't.

01:00:03.431 --> 01:00:07.030
<v Speaker 1>You mean I was SME this time, but SMI is here with us.

01:00:07.110 --> 01:00:07.510
<v Speaker 1>I cried.

01:00:07.610 --> 01:00:07.829
<v Speaker 1>Yes.

01:00:07.849 --> 01:00:08.269
<v Speaker 1>Agreed.

01:00:08.329 --> 01:00:08.550
<v Speaker 1>Mrs.

01:00:08.610 --> 01:00:09.030
<v Speaker 1>Gorman.

01:00:09.650 --> 01:00:14.059
<v Speaker 1>The, a curtain was pulled back and we sat looking into the eyes of Reggie's electric torch.

01:00:15.019 --> 01:00:15.659
<v Speaker 1>I looked at Mrs.

01:00:15.760 --> 01:00:20.860
<v Speaker 1>Gorman, and then on my other side, between me and the wall was an empty place on the window seat.

01:00:21.420 --> 01:00:22.300
<v Speaker 1>I stood up at once.

01:00:22.809 --> 01:00:23.900
<v Speaker 1>Then I sat down again.

01:00:24.139 --> 01:00:27.820
<v Speaker 1>I was feeling very sick and the world seemed to be going round and round.

01:00:28.309 --> 01:00:29.659
<v Speaker 1>There was somebody there.

01:00:30.019 --> 01:00:32.099
<v Speaker 1>I insisted because I touched her.

01:00:32.840 --> 01:00:34.099
<v Speaker 1>So did I said Mrs.

01:00:34.199 --> 01:00:35.739
<v Speaker 1>Gorman in a trembling voice.

01:00:36.360 --> 01:00:41.699
<v Speaker 1>And I don't think anyone could leave this window seat without us knowing Reggie gave a shaky little laugh.

01:00:42.460 --> 01:00:45.130
<v Speaker 1>I remembered his unpleasant experience early this evening.

01:00:45.800 --> 01:00:47.130
<v Speaker 1>Someone's been playing jokes.

01:00:47.230 --> 01:00:48.889
<v Speaker 1>He said, are you coming down?

01:00:49.309 --> 01:00:50.130
<v Speaker 1>We were not popular.

01:00:50.239 --> 01:00:57.690
<v Speaker 1>When we came down to the sitting room, I found the two of them sitting behind a curtain on a window seat, said, Reggie, I went up to the tall dark girl.

01:00:58.030 --> 01:00:59.610
<v Speaker 1>So you pretended to be SME.

01:00:59.630 --> 01:01:00.489
<v Speaker 1>And then went away.

01:01:00.889 --> 01:01:01.570
<v Speaker 1>I accused her.

01:01:02.070 --> 01:01:04.090
<v Speaker 1>She shook her head afterwards.

01:01:04.150 --> 01:01:09.599
<v Speaker 1>We all played yards in the sitting room and I was very glad sometime later, Jack wanted to talk to me.

01:01:10.119 --> 01:01:12.039
<v Speaker 1>I could see that he was rather crossed with me.

01:01:12.260 --> 01:01:14.960
<v Speaker 1>And soon he told me the reason Tony.

01:01:15.019 --> 01:01:17.199
<v Speaker 1>He said, I suppose you are in love with Mrs.

01:01:17.300 --> 01:01:17.719
<v Speaker 1>Gorman.

01:01:17.739 --> 01:01:20.599
<v Speaker 1>That's your business, but please don't make love to her in my house.

01:01:20.601 --> 01:01:23.039
<v Speaker 1>During a game, you kept everyone waiting.

01:01:23.041 --> 01:01:27.070
<v Speaker 1>It was very rude of you and I'm ashamed of, but we were not alone.

01:01:27.230 --> 01:01:27.949
<v Speaker 1>I protested.

01:01:27.960 --> 01:01:29.309
<v Speaker 1>There was somebody else there.

01:01:29.789 --> 01:01:34.309
<v Speaker 1>Somebody who was pretending to be S me, I believe it was a tall dark girl, Ms.

01:01:34.309 --> 01:01:34.309
<v Speaker 1>Ford.

01:01:34.769 --> 01:01:36.110
<v Speaker 1>She whispered her name to me.

01:01:36.489 --> 01:01:38.469
<v Speaker 1>Of course she refused to admit it afterwards.

01:01:39.219 --> 01:01:40.630
<v Speaker 1>Jack Sandston stared at me.

01:01:41.150 --> 01:01:41.389
<v Speaker 1>Miss who?

01:01:41.650 --> 01:01:43.510
<v Speaker 1>He breathed Brenda Ford.

01:01:43.510 --> 01:01:46.539
<v Speaker 1>She said, Jack, put a hand on my shoulder.

01:01:46.969 --> 01:01:47.780
<v Speaker 1>Look here, Tony.

01:01:47.920 --> 01:01:51.579
<v Speaker 1>He said, I don't mind a joke, but enough is enough.

01:01:52.039 --> 01:01:52.940
<v Speaker 1>We don't want to worry.

01:01:52.960 --> 01:01:53.380
<v Speaker 1>The ladies.

01:01:53.960 --> 01:01:57.099
<v Speaker 1>Brenda Ford is the name of the girl who broke her neck on the stairs.

01:01:57.679 --> 01:02:00.300
<v Speaker 1>She was playing hide and seek here 10 years ago.

01:02:03.170 --> 01:02:03.980
<v Speaker 2>Well, that was cool.

01:02:04.659 --> 01:02:05.460
<v Speaker 2>I liked that

01:02:05.510 --> 01:02:06.260
<v Speaker 1>Story a lot.

01:02:06.829 --> 01:02:07.250
<v Speaker 1>Me too.

01:02:07.530 --> 01:02:09.530
<v Speaker 1>I really love a midnight game like that.

01:02:09.590 --> 01:02:09.889
<v Speaker 1>You know?

01:02:10.289 --> 01:02:10.530
<v Speaker 2>I mean,

01:02:10.980 --> 01:02:11.769
<v Speaker 1>We've all done it.

01:02:12.070 --> 01:02:15.889
<v Speaker 1>I'm gonna make Avi play that game with us when we go upstate in a few weeks, we should.

01:02:16.329 --> 01:02:16.889
<v Speaker 1>Uh, absolutely.

01:02:16.900 --> 01:02:17.769
<v Speaker 1>We'll film it too.

01:02:18.710 --> 01:02:18.929
<v Speaker 1>Why?

01:02:19.570 --> 01:02:19.929
<v Speaker 1>I don't know.

01:02:19.949 --> 01:02:22.849
<v Speaker 1>So people can see if there's a ghost that's playing with us, right.

01:02:23.449 --> 01:02:24.250
<v Speaker 1><laugh> either way.

01:02:24.409 --> 01:02:25.809
<v Speaker 1>I, I really like that.

01:02:25.811 --> 01:02:27.760
<v Speaker 1>That was, I don't know.

01:02:27.980 --> 01:02:31.719
<v Speaker 1>It was like a little predictable, I would say, but it was still fun and spooky.

01:02:32.079 --> 01:02:32.280
<v Speaker 1>I think

01:02:32.280 --> 01:02:34.039
<v Speaker 2>The biggest shocker of the story were people's

01:02:34.150 --> 01:02:34.440
<v Speaker 1>Ages.

01:02:34.869 --> 01:02:36.280
<v Speaker 1>What were, what were their ages?

01:02:36.460 --> 01:02:37.039
<v Speaker 1>You thought they were

01:02:37.039 --> 01:02:37.199
<v Speaker 2>Kids.

01:02:37.320 --> 01:02:39.400
<v Speaker 2>I thought everyone was kids and now people are married.

01:02:40.000 --> 01:02:41.119
<v Speaker 1><laugh> I will say too.

01:02:41.121 --> 01:02:46.760
<v Speaker 1>The part in the story where the host was upset and thought he had been making love to the woman.

01:02:46.960 --> 01:02:48.670
<v Speaker 1>I was like, I thought this was a story for kids.

01:02:49.070 --> 01:02:50.789
<v Speaker 2>I mean, kids are made from that.

01:02:51.050 --> 01:02:51.989
<v Speaker 2>So there you go.

01:02:52.050 --> 01:02:52.590
<v Speaker 2>You know, maybe I

01:02:53.300 --> 01:02:54.630
<v Speaker 1>Full circle sex positive.

01:02:55.409 --> 01:02:59.989
<v Speaker 1>So those are our selections of holiday, Victorian ghost stories for you.

01:02:59.990 --> 01:03:00.869
<v Speaker 1>You hope you enjoyed them.

01:03:00.871 --> 01:03:01.150
<v Speaker 1>That

01:03:01.150 --> 01:03:01.989
<v Speaker 2>Was a great selection.

01:03:02.420 --> 01:03:02.710
<v Speaker 2>Yeah.

01:03:03.030 --> 01:03:03.909
<v Speaker 1>I liked them very

01:03:03.909 --> 01:03:04.070
<v Speaker 2>Much.

01:03:04.389 --> 01:03:06.630
<v Speaker 2>I hope they enjoyed our holiday Christmas spectacular.

01:03:07.090 --> 01:03:07.309
<v Speaker 1>Yes.

01:03:07.940 --> 01:03:09.739
<v Speaker 1>Thank you guys so much for listening.

01:03:10.050 --> 01:03:15.820
<v Speaker 1>Just so you know, we have some new designs in our merch store and we're going to have a few more by the end of the month.

01:03:15.920 --> 01:03:19.739
<v Speaker 1>So head over to Lunix project.com and click on March to check that out.

01:03:19.740 --> 01:03:21.139
<v Speaker 1>It's a, they're really cool.

01:03:21.500 --> 01:03:22.780
<v Speaker 1>We're we're super jazzed about them.

01:03:23.420 --> 01:03:25.420
<v Speaker 1>Are, are any of them holiday themed?

01:03:26.300 --> 01:03:32.019
<v Speaker 1>Uh, there is a, a shirt that is green and red, so that could definitely be holiday themed.

01:03:32.030 --> 01:03:32.380
<v Speaker 1>Great.

01:03:32.849 --> 01:03:33.940
<v Speaker 1>It's got a snake on it.

01:03:34.199 --> 01:03:34.420
<v Speaker 1>Wow.

01:03:34.489 --> 01:03:35.059
<v Speaker 1>It's the leak.

01:03:35.061 --> 01:03:36.059
<v Speaker 1>Christmas classic.

01:03:36.289 --> 01:03:37.460
<v Speaker 1>Cool holiday snake.

01:03:37.800 --> 01:03:44.090
<v Speaker 1>If you celebrate holidays this time of year happy holiday to you, and if then happy new year to you.

01:03:45.449 --> 01:03:49.849
<v Speaker 1>I think we'll be, we'll have another episode before new year's, but still happy new year's to you.

01:03:49.969 --> 01:03:52.289
<v Speaker 1>I love new year's traditions as well.

01:03:52.750 --> 01:03:53.889
<v Speaker 1>And that's all for this week.

01:03:53.891 --> 01:03:58.369
<v Speaker 1>Thank you guys so much for being here and we shall chat with you very soon until next time.

01:03:58.590 --> 01:03:58.809
<v Speaker 1>Bye.

01:04:10.239 --> 01:04:10.360
<v Speaker 6>I.