Italy Post 03

The situation's taken yet another turn.

I followed Mittelwerk into town this morning, hoping this would be the moment of truth... that the world would finally lay eyes on the mysterious Enzo Valenzetti.

But it wasn't to be. Pretty soon, I realized we were heading elsewhere, and I have to admit, I was more than a little confused when we pulled into the parking lot of Sanremo Mercy Memorial Hospital (at least, I think that's the translation).

Mittelwerk went into the hospital - entered the Alvar Hanso Center for Advanced Medical Sciences (yeah, this is one of those HANSO HOSPITALS) along with a couple of his black-suited minions. A couple hours later, he came out. Shook hands with a nurse, let's call her Sophia, and left.

Nurse Sophia wouldn't talk to me. In fact, she tried to usher me out. But I think you know as well as I do. Everyone has their price. Listen to THIS.

Not sure what's worse... the fact Mittelwerk just had all the blood in his body replaced? Or, the fact that I'm not really all that surprised?

Of course, the question on everybody's lips (or the one that should be) is, "WHY WOULD HE DO THAT?"

It's a head-scratcher, I know.

And, while I haven't had too much time to wrap my brain around this one, as I see it, there are at least a few reasons why you might get an exchange transfusion:

1) You have a legitimate medical condition, like jaundice or sickle-cell anemia.

Let's assume this ISN'T the case for Mittelwerk.

2) You're a crazy health-nut who has unlimited funds and access to the world's more experimental life-extension technologies.

Not TOO far-fetched, considering, but still... I think there's more to it, like -

3) You have something inexplicably wrong with your blood, maybe not a disease per se, but... If you remember, ALVAR HANSO seems to have a problem with HIS BLOOD - could whatever it is be "going around" at The Hanso Foundation?

Now, while I kinda like this explanation, the writing on the wall points to this one, as well:

4) Along with an insane number of inoculations, you're preparing your body for some sort of hell-on-earth conditions.

Yeah. So, that's all I've got. If you've got other theories, I'd love to hear them... but...

Whatever the reason or reasons for Mittelwerk's little out-patient hospital visit, if we take a step back and examine all of this, it's pretty clear Mittelwerk is going to this island he referenced in that email (see Monday's post).

Now, why an island requiring six hundred injections and an exchange transfusion would be the desired location for this SPIDER PROTOCOL eludes me. But, I think I just heard the starter pistol.

I don't know if I can stop them.

If Nurse Sophia hasn't informed on me already, it's only a matter of time before she does. I've checked out of the hotel, and I'm duct-taping myself to Mittelwerk's every move.

We can't lose him again. GidgetGirl, if you know any more, NOW is the time to tell.

The rest of you, you know the drill. Post those comments!

Nurse: Did you bring the money?

Rachel: Yeah, I brought it.

Nurse: That’s all of it? Give it to me.

Rachel: Just, Just wait a second

Nurse: No money, no information.

Rachel: Look, I’m going to give you the money, but I need to know you’re for real first. What was Mittelwerk doing at the hospital.

Nurse: I don’t know a Mittelwerk.

Rachel: Do you have any idea what these people are doing?

Nurse: Why should I care?

Rachel: I guess you shouldn’t, thanks. Good bye.

Nurse: Wait..he was getting treatments.

Rachel: What kind of treatments? Why?

Nurse: You don’t want to be looking into these people. I’m sure you have a mother that cares about you.

Rachel: My mother’s dead. She cared very much about me, but--she’s gone.

Nurse: Is that why you’re doing this?

Rachel: Yes, it is.

Nurse: We gave him a blood treatment, an exchange transfusion.

Rachel: Is that what it sounds like?

Nurse: We replaced all his blood with fresh blood.

Rachel: Why would someone do that?

Nurse: I need my money.

Rachel: You said treatments, what else?

Nurse: We gave him injections, vaccinations mainly. Hep A, B, DTP, measles, different kinds of flus, typhoid, yellow fever, and they were proprietary formulation.

Rachel: I don’t understand, where would you be going that you would need so many vaccinations?

Nurse: You don’t have enough money for me to tell you that.