The Time Travelers' Club: Chapter 41 -- A Special Assignment

Dr. Herkeimer and Fulop Farkas went to the basement of the Doctor's mansion.

They entered a well-equipped laboratory with a long table with beakers, test tubes in stands, and a couple of Bunsen burners.  There were bottles with unrecognizable substances and liquids in them.

"I want you to work on these."  Dr. Herkeimer handed Fulop several sheets of paper. "I have copied them from the book. They are potions. This is my old research lab. You can use it. You will have to get the ingredients.  Here is some money."

The Doctor handed Fulop an envelope with cash in it.  "Let me know if you need more. There's a thousand dollars there.  Enough to get started."

Shuffling the sheets of paper, Fulop read over the first one and turned it over.  "Is this it? Where's the rest of the potion?"

Dr. Herkeimer brushed off his question.  "You are to make them so we can use them."

Fulop read over the next few pages.  Scratching his head, he turned to asked the Doctor the same question.  The Doctor was leaving the room.  As he shut the door behind him, he said.  "Let me know when the first batch is finished and ready to use."

After the Doctor left, Fulop read over each, then walked around the laboratory.

"Life saving potion."  Fulop read aloud the top paper.  "First, you will need some blood...   Oh that's just great...  What kind of blood... Fresh? Dried? Human?"   

As he continued to read, he became more confused about the recipe and exactly what he needed.

"Mix it with a straw from a witch's broomstick...  Now where am I..."  

A mouse ran across the table.  Fulop shook his head and walked around the laboratory, picking up various bottles and jars, trying to decipher what was written on the labels.

When he picked up a book of herbal medicines, a small photograph fell out onto the table.  Fulop picked it up.  

It was of three children -- two boys and a girl.  On the back was a handwritten note.  "Taken at the cottage.  Summer."   He tucked the photograph back in the book and continued to look around.

"There is no way that these can be made.  Especially not here.   I'm going to need more money."  Fulop crumpled the envelope.  "A lot more.  And cleaning supplies.  This place is filthy.  Nobody's used it in years."  

He ran his hand over the dust-covered worktable in front of him.

"Insane.  The Doctor is very insane."