An Adulteration Act

Dr. Frank Carson awakens from a vivid dream of cooling, effervescent concoctions to find himself sprawled on the deck of a creaking vessel. The ceiling of his bedroom has vanished, replaced by the stifling air of a ship’s forecastle, and his pajamas have morphed into ragged seafarer’s garb. Disoriented, he pieces together a fragmented memory of warning his solicitor friend, Harry Thomson, about drinking too much, only to discover both of them adrift on the barque Stella.

As Carson stirs the groggy Harry, he confronts bewildered officers who regard his sudden appearance with a mix of suspicion and astonishment. The doctor’s fierce insistence on returning to Melbourne and meeting the captain only deepens the mystery, while the ship’s grim atmosphere hints at unseen dangers lurking below deck. In this surreal opening, humor and dread collide, pulling listeners into a strange maritime adventure that promises both scientific curiosity and uncanny intrigue.