Under A Spell

While Gary was in Columbia, he made a very interesting discovery.

 

The borrachero tree grows there quite commonly.  The flowers of this tree are locally called ‘Devil’s Breath’.  The people down there say that the flower will ‘steal your soul’.

 

This same flower is where they extract the main ingredient to make scopolamine, which is truth serum.

 

Locally, the extract is used to make a zombie drug.  People who ingest the powder extract become susceptible to any suggestion made upon them.

 

People, under its influence, have been known to completely drain their bank accounts and gladly give the money to whoever asked them to do so.

 

People have also been known to help others to load up trucks with all their belongings and happily wave goodbye to them, as the robbers drive away.

 

This drug does not put the person into any kind of stupor or drunken state.  They act perfectly normal, except for their vulnerability to suggestion.

 

The drugged person wakes the next day with absolutely no recollection of having taken the drug, or of any actions they performed while under its influence.  Their memories of the incidents are completely erased.

 

“These pictures of the ancient gold artifacts, in the museum, are breathtaking,” says Janet.

 

“I can’t believe how beautiful and lush green the mountains are,” says Chrissy.

 

The girls are quite pleased looking at the photos.  They marvel at all the beauty and express their desire to travel there someday.

 

What they don’t realize is that the cotton swatches they washed in their mouths were contaminated with the borrachero tree flower extract.

 

After about fifteen minutes of viewing the photos, Gary makes an observation of the two girls.

 

Janet and Chrissy have been looking at the same photo for several minutes.  Their eyes are fixed on the pictures and they are not making any comments anymore.  They appear to be under a spell.

 

“I think it is time to quit looking at pictures,” commands Gary.  “Hand them back to me.”

 

Without saying a word, the girls put the pictures back in the envelopes and give them to Gary.  They both then just sit on the couch, with empty eyes.