19. A River of Fear

“I shuddered to think how completely the insane were in the power of their keepers, and how one could weep and plead for release, and all of no avail, if the keepers were so minded.”

— Nellie Bly. “Ten Days in a Mad-House.”

My dear Watson,

We are at the beginning of the end. My undercover endeavour shows substantial audacious possibilities. A strong malevolence pervades this ziggurat, yet its villainous core has so far eluded me. More temerity is needed.

Thank you, Watson, for always being my rock bottom support, and I hope you do know just how much I need you, together we are formidable.

As you know me to be, dear friend,

Very sincerely yours,

S. H.

Monday proved to be my final day of employment as an orderly. At 8 a.m., Dr. Joey and I awaited Miss Marietta’s arrival at the entrance. “Doctor, your brother is an interesting man. Constantly assessing the temperature of the world around him and seems to be up-to-date with new methods.” I said.

“That’s Herman to a ‘T.” He turned and walked away.

Miss Marietta arrived and was allowed into Hudson to visit with Miss Rita. Her package and the clothing within were searched and returned to her. I offered my arm and led her through the grey hallways to her sister in the atrium. She went in to change, returned, and revolved for Marietta’s inspection. “What do you think?”

“Beautiful, you look like someone soon to be leaving this place.” She shook her finger at her sister. “Now, don’t laugh and please be your demure self. I’ll wait for you here. Cara’s schiacciata and Giuseppe’s sweet sausage are our picnic today.”

Orderly Newton played his part as her escort. “It’s a big day for you Mrs. Pinto.”

Acting her role she looked down at the floor. “Yes sir.”

I conducted her to a windowless, white-walled doctor’s office. Two doctors were heads together at the desk in the examination room. They did not introduce themselves, but I knew them. Dr. Feldman a small, thin, almost dainty gentleman, with immaculate hands and mild intelligence. Dr. Lacassio, handsome Roman features, tall, white maned, arrogant, he observed Miss Rita closely as she walked to her seat.

“We will be with you.” Lacassio waved me to another chair by the door.

“Feldman, your first time? Don’t worry, it’s not our confession. Here’s the Certificate of Lunacy, two copies. We sign here at the top and then again here at the bottom if we find her insane.” They turned to her.

Miss Rita had disclosed to me that she would present an image of the perfect gentlewoman: unassuming, quiet, witless, unquestioning, helpful, graceful, agreeable, and the model patient.

Lacassio dictated the instructions. “Mrs. Pinto, we will ask you a series of questions. Some may seem strange, just answer as best you can, my dear.” He lightly stroked her hair. “Now pay attention.” He cupped her chin, and growled. “Because your dear life is in my hand.”

She started.

“What is the day of the week?” He began walking slowly around her.

“Doctor it’s Monday, the 19th of March.”

“Where is this little love nest?”

“This is an examination room inside the Hudson River State Hospital, doctor.”

“Can you spell backward the word ‘kayak?” Feldman nudged him and whispered in his ear. “Well, ‘world’ then.”

“K-A-Y-A-K and D-L-R-O-W.”

Lacassio placed his hand on Miss Rita’s waist. “Not a Gibson Girl are we, you must have children, so much the better.” I cleared my throat and he glared at me.

He moved in front of her. “Please repeat this saying: ‘Is adultery sweeter than the same old thing at home?”

‘‘Is adultery sweeter than the same old thing at home?”

“Can you tell me what it means?”

“Like all proverbs, it can have different meanings. I think the most used is, ‘Hell is not worth a moment’s fancy.”

Lacassio laughed, and kissed Miss Rita’s hand. “You are of Italian descent, are you not Rita?”

“Yes, doctor, first-generation American. My parents were from Bari, Italy.”

Lacassio smiled, nodded his approval, and continued. “Do you always wear glasses?”

“Yes, doctor.”

“Would you take them off for me?” He dropped them on the floor and crushed them with his boot. Miss Rita gasped and then gained control.

“Do you have any other deformities?”

“No doctor.”

“Please tell us the plot of your favourite book.”

“I’d be happy to. The great detective, Sherlock Holmes, is hired by the King of Bohemia to recover a compromising photograph. Mr. Holmes dons many disguises as he attempts to trick Miss Irene Adler, the opera contralto, into showing him where it is. His masterfully created personas fool her, but she figures him out in the end and escapes with the photograph, beating Sherlock Holmes at his own game. It’s ‘A Scandal in Bohemia,’ by Dr. John H. Watson.”

Lacassio helped her out of her suit jacket, whispered in her ear. “What would I mean if I said I was feeling blue? Seeing red? Or was hot under the collar?”

“Feeling blue is sad, seeing red is anger. Hot under the collar is upset or angry.”

“Or it could be arousal.” Lacassio sneered.

I jumped up and from the back. “Doctor, decorum, please!” Lacassio stared at me for a moment. “Are you new here, orderly?”

“Yes doctor.”

“Good, this will be your education. At a word from me, you will lose that new job!”

I nodded.

“Now Dr. Feldman and I will perform a physical examination, then you can go, Mrs. Pinto. But I can see you may need more time with me before I give my final decision.” He licked his lips.

Feldman led her to the examination table and closed the curtains. “Mrs. Pinto, would you disrobe and step up onto the table for me?” He went through the short physical and wrote down his findings.

Lacassio yanked off his lab coat and jacket, pushed Feldman away, leaped onto the examination table and began to unbutton his trousers. “You know Mrs. Pinto it’s rare to get another chance at this exam.” I ran to her. “And you a married woman must feel it too.”

I ripped the curtain open and one uppercut decked Lacassio, knocking him off the table.

Miss Rita fastened her skirt and blouse. “I believe this examination is over.” She said. I retrieved her jacket from the chair and draped it round her shoulders. At the opened door she showed more of her immense courage. “Dr. Feldman, would you give me an idea of the test’s outcome?”

“We will let you know.” Feldman said.

I brought Miss Rita out. She nodded to me, and walked to her sister in the solarium. I then brought Nurse Nancy into the examination room. The curtains were open, and Lacassio was probing his chin. He pulled on his lab coat.

“You can sit, nurse, if you’d like.” Feldman said. “Just one question for you: Do you think Mrs. Pinto can perform the activities of daily living, such as dressing, eating, and bathing?”

“Yes, Mrs. Pinto has no problem with daily living activities, as she has taken care of herself since she arrived here. And she has helped other residents.”

“Thank you, nurse.” As she left, Lacassio said. “Orderly, stay a moment.”

He swiftly grabbed my jacket front, and slapped my face hard. “What you experienced is easily forgotten, make sure you do.”

I tore his hand off me. “Mrs. Pinto is clearly not insane, doctor. If you care as much as you seem to, surely you can help her to go home to her loving family.”

“When this hospital allows a lowly orderly to make a doctor’s diagnosis, then I will listen to what you have to say. Your days are numbered, and your show of violence has consequences.”

I walked out. Dr. Edwards hastened out of Simons’ office, charged past me and into Lacassio’s examination room. A moment passed and they re-emerged. Lacassio angrily approached me and shouted to the other attendants: “Come, gentlemen! This dangerous and violent man is in need of some restraint!” Edwards signalled to an orderly, who grabbed my wrists. A simple Baritsu escape move freed me, and I ran toward the front exit. Another orderly arrived with a straitjacket and I decked him with a hard left. Another attendant appeared. I tripped him, and threw him at the first one. Dr. Edwards plunged a needle into my thigh, and I swiftly moved away, using his fingers to pull it out.

“Newton, by this time tomorrow, your life will take a very different turn.” Lacassio laughed and waved on more attendants.

A third grabbed me from behind, and I threw him over my shoulder, but the last two instantly thrust the jacket over my head and began to strap me into it. I used the as yet unattached arms as whips and beat them away from me. My escape was now clear and I sprinted for the entrance but the yellow pine floor had become a soft gelatinous caramel, and the last thing I remembered was hitting it.

* * *

Groggily I climbed the ladder toward cognizance and heard menacing whispers: “Nice little show you put on! Almost made it, but my men stood the test. You think you can fool me? I’ll teach you! How in hell did you get those slashes? Are you an addict, Newton? No matter, what are you but meat to be fired?”

I was awakened fully by someone yelling in the voice of Sherlock Holmes. I couldn’t move. I opened my eyes to excruciatingly bright daylight, closed them again. Not a coffin then. I was on my back, lying face up on a mattress, painfully crammed into a tightfitting box. My eyes opened to slits. It was 12 inches high, 3 feet wide, and not long enough for me. There were slats on all sides and a slated top that locked to close me inside what I knew to be a Utica Crib. The crib was a restraint device for out of control or violent asylum patients. I could move my arms slightly but my knees were bent to fit into it, I could only see out through the bars in the direction I lay. A feeling as foreign as surprise, to me stood my hair on end. The only defence I had was the wondrous practice the Lhasa monks had taught me. Automatically I took a meditative breath, and let the fear pass. I took another.

The whitewashed room was familiar, I looked at my right hand and dark animal fur grew up my arm while long raptor claws projected from my fingers. Logic told me I must be drugged. Probably morphine mixed with something. That is fortunate for I have some tolerance for morphine. Again I attempted to get out but to no avail, I was held fast, it was spring-locked on the outside. I will be released and take it from there. I breathed again.

I heard far-off screams. Directly above this room were those who made their displeasure known. There were one hundred beds rammed up against each other: rolled up mattresses on hardwood planks and a pillow for each one, but no blankets or bedding. Windows filled two walls, but they were locked and barred with no curtains. There were two ways in and out, I knew, front and back stairs.

My brain was wrapped in cotton, I was intensely thirsty, my body screamed for release from this bondage, and a cigarette would be most welcome. I wondered how Houdini would approach this. Probably the addition of a small saw to the lock pick in his mouth and a studied practice of the lock. What did I remember about it? One was located by my feet and these spring locks could only be opened from the outside. Could I escape? Not enough room for a solid kick or to get my hand through. It was designed for the frenzy of the insane. Houdini’s size would allow him to move around and he could probably pick the lock with his toes. The idea of that brought me to laughter.

Dr. Joey had related that inhabitants became calm and quiet after a time. Pure energy shot through my arms and legs. With all my strength my arms forced against the slats of my cage to no avail. I searched for a weak slat and kicked repeatedly with my knees. Could I escape? Without money, coat, or my boots, I’d have to find a cab before freezing to death. But all obstacles can be overcome. As I’ve asked innumerable terrified clients, “Trust in me, Holmes.”

I took another breath and Will appeared. “My dear sir, are you all right?”

“Will, get me out of this coffin!” He quickly released the locks and threw wide the lid. I leapt out of the monstrous chamber, holding onto him for support. “Thank you, and do you know what they have planned for me?”

“If you’re here, they will keep you drugged like a violent patient. I think that’s for now. This is a tough place to wake up. Is there anyone I can contact for you, family, or friends?”

“Where is the lavatory? I’m going to need to lean on you to get there.” I stood and stretched my legs, arms, and my back. “Oh, that is good!”

“I’ll help you.”

“Thank you.” I washed my face and hands in the trough-like sink, and drank my fill of the ice cold water.

“How is your shoulder?”

“Thank you, the nurse took care of me.”

“Did you suffer any repercussions from my report to Simons?”

“I will not walk through that door again. Simons is now my doctor.”

“Now, what is my protocol? I am starving and a cigarette right now would be beneficial.”

“In this ward, you are confined to this facility, except for meals down in the dining room.” He looked at his watch. “Lunch is in half an hour. You are not allowed out and I would keep far away from doctors. If you do see them act drugged. Going outside will get you time in the south wing. As a violent patient, that’s experimental surgery. But the orderlies’ locker room is just down those stairs.”

“You seem like a fine young man. Why are you here?”

“I’m homosexual.”

“That’s it?”

“I like women, too.”

I shook my head. “But such generosity of spirit is not a reason to be in an asylum.”

“It’s better than castration. From what I can see, very few of the inmates belong here. There are children, too. Most are just dumped off by their families because like me they are different or they’re poor. I try to help them as much as I can.”

“That’s most commendable. You’re British, what are you doing here?”

“I was studying acting, which my family thinks is an abomination, so they sent me to Riverview Military Academy in town. And they sent me here. One good thing about that is when I leave here it’s only a short train ride to Broadway. But the pills I take bloat my body like this, so how can I continue as an actor?” He sighed. “Do you want to stop for a smoke before lunch?”

I ignored my shaking legs as we walked down. “I know it’s difficult in this place, Will, but, our dreams are what make us who we are. If I can, I will help you, you must not lose faith.”