Free The Innsmouth Syndrome by Philip Hemplow

shall bring thee down with them that descend into the pit, with the people of old time, and shall set thee in the low parts of the earth, in places desolate of old, with them that go down to the pit
     
    Beneath it, around the edges of the room, were stacked an assortment of chairs that would presumably be set out for the congregation at service time.  At the far end of the room a small wooden stage had been constructed in front of a broad altar decked with candles.
     
    To her right, flicking on the last of the light switches, was a hunched, tracksuited figure.  He was shorter than she was, and several decades older, his pallid skin mottled like that of a trout.  Even the simple act of flicking a switch seemed to require great concentration as he fought against a Parkinsonian trembling in his arm.  Finally accomplishing it, he let out another long, hissing sigh and turned to face Carla.
     
    “Well, Doctor Edwards.  I am Reverend Esgrith.” 
     
    His eyes were so cloudy with cataracts that Carla wondered if he could see anything at all.  Between his nylon tracksuit and bulky white trainers she could see rather grimy compression stockings on his feet.  Circulatory problems then, or a clotting disorder maybe.  She forced her eyes back to meet his rheumy stare.
     
    “Reverend.  A reverend of the Evangelical Order of David?”
     
    Esgrith tilted his head in acknowledgement.  “We are a small church here, but with many fellows ... elsewhere.  Throughout the world.”
     
    “It seems slightly odd that an `evangelical order’ would have a verse from Ezekiel displayed so prominently in church.”  She waved a hand at the stencil on the wall behind her. 
     
    Esgrith gave a sickly, leering smile, the tip of his tongue protruding momentarily between his teeth.  “God’s threats towards mighty Babylon.  I see you know your scripture, Doctor Edwards.  ` I will make thee a terror, and thou shalt be no more: though thou be sought for, yet shalt thou never be found again ’.  The wrath of our Lord to those who will not serve Him is infinite.  I would have my congregation heed this, in expectation of the imminence of His return.  But I am sure you did not come here to discuss Bible verses, Doctor Edwards.  Perhaps we should go to my office.”
     
    He moved painfully slowly, his feet barely leaving the ground as he shuffled towards a flight of wooden stairs that led up to the old warehouse foreman’s office.  It took even longer for him to lever his body up them, relying heavily on the handrail and wheezing with every step.  Carla forced herself to be patient.  Was Esgrith another victim of the syndrome she was trying to characterise?  The hunched back and visual problems, she had seen in some other individuals around town.  Were circulatory problems and spasms another feature of the disease?
     
    The office was undecorated, with one cheap desk, a telephone and a couple of chairs.  There was no sign of a heater, so Carla kept her coat on.  Esgrith bade her sit down and lowered himself slowly into the chair opposite.
     
    “So, doctor” he began, “what interest can the Centers for Disease Control possibly have in our quiet little part of Massachusetts? “
     
    Carla had prepared for this moment.  “Well, Reverend, I’m hoping you can help me actually.” - bright voice, engaging smile - “I’m investigating the deaths of four youths from this area – Wayne and Ramone Ramsgate, Shaznay Parker, Kara Ellis – maybe you knew them.”
     
    Esgrith squinted, regarding her suspiciously through creamy pupils.  “Yes, I knew them.  They died in a car accident, Doctor Edwards.”
     
    “Absolutely.  However the autopsies turned up some unusual findings. Findings that seem to indicate a degenerative process that pre-dates their deaths.”
     
    “I see.”
     
    “I’ve also seen similar symptoms in the Taub family, whom I believe you also know.”
     
    “Karen and Saul, and young Gary.  Indeed