#elsewhere

As much as it may not feel like home, the classes are college are amazing, at least some of them. Professor Shrine is not a sluagh, and it's hard to believe. Because the history class she teaches should be called History is full of terrors that teach.

Zara doesn't - can't! - sit in the front... but her dark eyes are rapt as Dr. Shrine delves into today's topic.

"It has been labeled by some as the forgotten pandemic, imagine, three to five percent of the Earth's population just.. gone. This happened, thanks to the Influenza flu pandemic of 1918..... or Spanish Flu as some called it.. news so grim in some cities they tried to discoruage reporting of it.... " She paces back and forth "But the horseman of pestilence will not be ignored. Ignorance always comes with a price. Our price maybe that if.. when it returns, maybe utterly unprepared."

Scribble scribble!

"Most influenzas are almost wolf like... targeting children, or the very old. But the Spanish Flu pandemic took out young adults in great amounts. It attacked those we think of as healthiest, hardiest and won...." She smiles, "Say... college student age?"

a few nervous laughs. One person coughs.. and gets flipped off by the girl who jumped next to him.

A smile!

"And why was it labeled the Spanish Flu ? Was it more prevalent there? No, oh no, during a time of war, Spain was Neutral... and its papers published freely. Because of this, it was unfairly associated with the pandemic and is to this day. No good deed goes unpunished, as they say. And yet the Influenza may have shaped the war itself. Some have conjectured that because it hit the central powers first, and perhaps harder... it affected military and therefore political history. Influenza killed more people than mustard gas." She goes on, delving into the stages, and handing sheets back "These are copies of notes taken by nurses regarding the progression, what they saw...warning, some of it is heart rending, but it is.... " A pause, "Fascinating."

"If anyone would like a chance to read the journal in its original writing, see me after class. "

Zing! Eyes up!

The class ends. One girl is talking to aanother "I think I need to throw up" //"I think I'm getting my flu shot"/ Others are like "Why is she making world history a horror show?"// another guy says "Well, not like I'm falling asleep in that class. Too big a risk of nightmares"

Indeed...Dr. Shrine has almost primed them all for sluagh preferred musings. Half the work is done

Zara lurks shyly near the lectern, waiting for the class to clear.

One by one, the students clear out

"... ah, Doctor Shrine?" Softly.

"mm? Oh, hello. Miss Scwhartz right?"

Nod-nod!

"Yes. I noticed your first paper, very promising. Now, what can I do for you?" Then realization, "Oh, do you actually want to read the book?"

Blush. Nod!

"You're the first student in four years to take me up on that," She heads to a cabinet, "Most barely skim the notes I copy. No stomach for history's shadows the lot of them," She mmphs. She takes out a small key and unlocks it, "This journal should have been plucked up by a medical association at the time, but because it was written by a woman and not even a doctor at that, the observations contained there in were left be until I stumbled upon it at a yard sale. Can you imagine?" A sigh "The journal is a hundred years old now and it was at a yard sale." She takes the journal out and lays it before Zara "Do you know how to be careful with old books?"

A soft huff, sympathetic outrage!

She nods again. "...I'm a library science major..."

"Oh..well then.. " She smiles, "Tell you what. You return this to me in as good or better condition than it is within a month, and with your insights... 10 pages should do. And I will grade that paper. That grade will replace your lowest other test or paper"

"Oh, you would wish me to do some restoration?" She checks the binding for signs of wear. "It will decrease its value as an artifact..."

"But of course, improve its longevity as a document...."

"If I were in this to make money I'd write self help books" A thin smile

"However, if you think I do history better credit leaving it as is? I'm willing to listen"

She considers.

"I... well, I think usability matters. Not as many people can handle the book in its current state. It needn't be re-bound, nor lose all of its character..."

Dr. Shrine listens

"But, ah... reinforce it here... here... repair that tear..."

"I'm getting the feeling this is not your first labor of libram love"

"No ma'am."

"All right. Now ,if you render this illegible, I'm going to be cross. So the gamble is yours. Interested?"

"otherwise you can read it safe and sound here in the class between your other classes."

"Oh, I shall tend it well!"

"mm good. Ah, when you read that, I warn you, the young woman did not hold back. She describes the varying shades of color change and worse" But it appears the Doctor is okay with Zara taking it.

And a whole grade substitute? that could be invaluble if she ends up questing and missing one

"It sounds fascinating."

"I think you're just the sort of young woman to appreciate it then" The Professor smiles, "Take it away, it's all yours for a month"

"Thank you so much!" She scurries off with her prize.

Earl might understandibly be perplexed when Zara almost walks by him in her urge to get home.

"Hey, thought I'd escort you from college to..." He watches her walking by "Lo?"

Nose in a book!

"Ah" he nods following her, "So how was today, Zara?" He nods as if she spoke, "yes yes. I also had a nice day thank you for asking."

Zara hip-checks him, a gentle bony bump, and holds the book out so HE can see it too!

A grin "I think one of us needs to keep our eyes on the walkway or ..is that as old as it looks?"

"A century, nu?"

"They had such good hand writing back then" he says

"I have excellent penmanship."