# XXIX: Scopolamine for Satan explained — The Dark Other > Chapter companion for The Dark Other by Stanley G. Weinbaum. ## What happens Dr. Horker arrives at Nick's apartment to rescue Pat, but she refuses to leave Nick. After a tense confrontation, Horker agrees to use scopolamine to induce a hypnotic state in Nick to probe his subconscious. As the drug takes effect, Nick's demonic alter ego emerges, revealing the terrifying duality within him. ## Themes in this chapter ### Duality of Self The scopolamine injection triggers the emergence of Nick's demonic alter ego, highlighting the internal battle between his human and monstrous selves. ### Science vs. Superstition Horker uses a scientific drug (scopolamine) to confront what appears to be a supernatural possession, blending rational method with irrational phenomena. ### Love and Sacrifice Pat's refusal to abandon Nick and her plea for Horker's help demonstrate her sacrificial love, even as she faces the horror of his condition. ## Character check-ins ### Patricia Lane Pat is emotionally frayed, alternating between defiance, despair, and hope. She refuses to leave Nick despite Horker's insistence, pleading for him to help. ### Nicholas Devine Nick is passive and miserable, having dashed the poison from Pat's hand. He submits to Horker's scopolamine injection, and his demonic aspect surfaces under the drug. ### Dr. Carl Horker Horker arrives angrily to rescue Pat, but relents and agrees to use scopolamine to probe Nick's subconscious. He prepares the injection and initiates the procedure. ### The Other The demonic entity emerges as Nick's eyes turn ruddy under the influence of scopolamine, speaking in icy tones. ### Mueller Mueller is mentioned as the source from whom Horker obtained Nick's address. ## Key lines > The glass was struck from Pat’s hand, and the water-clear contents streamed into pools and darkening blots over the table and its litter of papers. Nick knocked the glass of poison out of Pat's hand, spilling it across the table. _Nick prevents Pat from drinking the poison, interrupting their suicide pact._ > “I can’t let you, Pat!” he muttered, answering her unspoken query. Nick said he couldn't allow her to go through with it. _Nick explains his intervention, showing his protective side._ > “It’s that illusion of hope again,” she murmured. “That’s all it is, Nick⁠—and it means now that it’s all to do over again!” Pat bitterly called hope an illusion, dreading having to endure everything again. _Pat expresses despair at the prospect of continuing their struggle._ > “Where’s Pat?” The words drifted up in low, rumbling, ominous tones. Dr. Horker's deep voice demanded to know Pat's whereabouts. _Horker arrives at the door, searching for Pat._ > “I spent nearly the whole night doing it,” he growled at last. “It took me hours to locate Mueller and get this address from him.” Horker said he had spent the night tracking down Mueller to find Nick's address. _Horker reveals the effort he made to rescue Pat._ > “You come up like a hero to the rescue!” she taunted the doctor. “Hairbreadth Horker!” Pat sarcastically mocked Horker as a last-minute hero. _Pat's frayed nerves lead her to lash out at Horker._ > “Dr. Carl, Honey,” she said in apologetic tones, “I’m sorry. You’re very sweet, and I’m really grateful, but I can’t leave Nick now.” Pat apologized to Horker but insisted she couldn't abandon Nick. _Pat's loyalty to Nick overrides her gratitude to Horker._ > “What do you expect?” roared the Doctor. “Can I diagnose it by absent treatment? I haven’t had a chance to see the condition active yet!” Horker angrily said he couldn't diagnose Nick without observing the condition firsthand. _Horker defends his inability to treat Nick without direct examination._ > “All right!” said Pat, her strained nerves driving her to impatience. “You’re here and Nick’s here! Go on with your diagnosis; get it over with, and let’s see what you can do.” Pat challenged Horker to proceed with his diagnosis now that he was present. _Pat pushes Horker to act, demanding a solution._ > “Damnation!” he exploded. “Prussic acid⁠—or cyanide! What in⁠—” He caught sight of Pat’s tragic eyes, and suddenly replaced the container. Horker cursed upon discovering the beaker contained cyanide, then stopped when he saw Pat's distress. _Horker realizes the poison Pat and Nick intended to use._ > “Scopolamine! This’ll do the work.” Horker declared that scopolamine would serve his purpose. _Horker selects scopolamine as the drug to induce a hypnotic state in Nick._ > “Now!” said the Doctor briskly, approaching the youth. “This will make you drowsy, sleepy. That’s all it’ll do. Don’t fight the effect. Just relax, let the thing take its course, and I’ll see what I can get out of you.” Horker instructed Nick to relax as the scopolamine would only make him sleepy, allowing Horker to probe his mind. _Horker prepares Nick for the drug-induced interrogation._ > “Yes, I can hear you,” came in icy tones from the figure on the couch. Pat started violently as the voice sounded. The eyes opened, and she saw in sudden terror the ruddy orbs of the demon! Nick responded in a cold voice, and when his eyes opened, Pat saw they were the red eyes of the demon. _The scopolamine triggers the emergence of Nick's demonic alter ego._ ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_dark_other_se/chapters/xxix-scopolamine-for-satan - Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_dark_other_se - All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_dark_other_se/chapters