Read Online Acceptable Risk by Robin Cook - Free Book Online Page B

mood as biochemical, and I’ve reevaluated my attitude toward clean psychotropic drugs.”
    “What do you mean, ‘clean’ drugs?” Kim asked.
    “Drugs that have little or no side effects.”
    “All drugs have side effects,” Kim said.
    “I suppose that’s true,” Edward said. “But some side effects are quite minor and certainly an acceptable risk in relation to the potential benefits.”
    “I guess that’s the crux of the philosophical argument,” Kim said.
    “Oh, that reminds me,” Edward said. “I remembered those two books I’d promised to loan you.” He reached in the backseat, grabbed the books, and slipped them into Kim’s lap. Kim leafed through them, jokingly complaining that there weren’t any pictures. Edward laughed.
    “I tried to look up your ancestor in the one on the Salem witch trials,” Edward said. “But there is no Elizabeth Stewart in the index. Are you sure she was executed? Those authors did extensive research.”
    “As far as I know,” Kim said. She glanced in the index of Salem Possessed. It went from “spectral testimony” to “Stoughton, William.” There was no Stewart at all.
    After a half-hour drive they entered Salem. Their route took them past the Witch House. Edward’s interest was immediately aroused, and he pulled to the side of the road.
    “What’s that place?” he asked.
    “It’s called the Witch House,” Kim said. “It’s one of the prime tourist attractions in the area.”
    “Is it truly seventeenth century?” Edward asked as he stared at the old building. “Or is it Disneyland-like recreation?”
    “It’s authentic,” Kim said. “It’s also on its original site. There is another seventeenth-century house nearby at the Peabody-Essex Institute, but it had been moved from another location.”
    “Cool,” Edward said. The building had a storybook appeal. He was enthralled by the way the second story protruded from the first, and by the diamond-shaped panes of glass.
    “Calling it cool dates you.” Kim laughed. “Call it ‘awesome.’~”
    “OK,” Edward said agreeably. “It’s awesome.”
    “It’s also surprisingly similar to the old house I’m going to show you on the Stewart family compound,” Kim said. “But it’s technically not a witch house since no witch lived in it. It was the home of Jonathan Corwin. He was one of the magistrates who conducted some of the preliminary hearings.”
    “I remember the name from Salem Possessed,” Edward said. “It certainly brings history to life when you see an actual site.” Then he turned to Kim. “How far is the Stewart compound from here?”
    “Not far,” Kim said. “Maybe ten minutes tops.”
    “Did you have breakfast this morning?”
    “Just some juice and fruit,” Kim said.
    “How about stopping for coffee and a donut?” Edward asked.
    “Sounds good,” Kim said.
    Since it was still early and the bulk of the tourists had yet to arrive, they had no trouble finding parking near the Salem Commons. Just across the street was a coffee shop. They got coffee-to-go and strolled around the center of town, peeking into the Witch Museum and a few of the other tourist attractions. As they walked down the pedestrian mall on Essex Street, they noticed how many shops and pushcarts were selling witch-related souvenirs.
    “The witch trials spawned an entire cottage industry,” Edward commented. “I’m afraid it’s a little tacky.”
    “It does trivialize the ordeal,” Kim said. “But it also stands as testament to the affair’s appeal. Everybody finds it so fascinating.”
    Wandering into the National Park Service Visitor Center, Kim found herself confronted by a virtual library of books and pamphlets on the trials. “I had no idea there was so much literature available,” she said. After a few moments of browsing, she purchased several books. She explained to Edward that once she got interested in something she usually went overboard.
    Returning to the car, they drove out