Transcript of this chapter:

crystal: Where are we now?
alex: This is... er, appears to be, the private office of Dr. Sawbones.
alex: If there's any mention of a cure to the curse, it's going to be in here.
crystal: Let's ransack the place.
alex: What are we looking for?
crystal: Maybe the doctor left behind a journal or some other type of personal records about his experiences.
alex: I'm sure he did, but we don't need to search. It's right there.
crystal: Where?
crystal: Where do you suggest we look first?
alex: Well, we could check the doctor's diary.
crystal: I don't see a diary anywhere...
alex: It's right here...
crystal: What's missing in this room?
alex: I don't see anything missing.
crystal: Well, take a seat for a minute and think about it.
alex: We don't have time to sit down! Barlow's in grave danger and we have to... oh...
alex: Oh, I get it. There aren't any chairs in this room.
crystal: Exactly.
alex: Let me explain...
alex: When many of the original buildings in Spider Cliff were built, a whole lot of modern conveniences were built right into the buildings. You know, things like electric hookups and water closets.
alex: One special device that's unique to the town was a voice-activated wax cylinder recording mechanism. It was used to record speeches and other recordings.
alex: This is one of them, right here. I bet the Dr. Sawbones used it to record diary entries. Let me show you how it works...
alex: All you have to do is shout orders at it, and it'll work on its own. Watch this...
alex: PLAY THE LAST MESSAGE!
machine: ....the journal of Dr. Kibble Sawbones... August 30, 1951...
machine: ....Today I prescribed some balm made from screaming nettles for the old Partridge woman... unfortunately, I found that my supply of screaming nettles had run out, so I started checking various corners of the building for an extra scraps...
machine: ....in the corner of the attic, I came across that missing demon-hunter manual, the one we gave up for loss years ago... If I remember, I'll need to tell Vedalia that it's still up there...
crystal: Alex...
alex: I'll... uh, I'll be right back...
crystal: What about Barlow?! We're on a mission! What was all that you said about dedication?
alex: But it's the lost book... THE lost book! I... I promise I'll be right back once I find it!
crystal: Fight the temptation, Alex! Fight it! You're being tested!
alex: Crystal... I really need to... go... find.... that... book....
crystal: You are weak.
alex: I promise I'll be right back...
crystal: Go, then. See if I care.
crystal: What IS it with everyone?! We're trying to save someone's life, here...
crystal: Well, I guess it's all up to Crystal.
crystal: Let me see... How do I make this thing play back stuff from 1923?...
crystal: PLAY AN ENTRY FROM 1923... SOMETHING ABOUT THE CHICKAREE CURSE!
machine: ... the diary of Dr. Kibble Sawbones... November 29, 1941...
crystal: No, that's not right.
machine: .... Today, against the wishes of the others, I used my medical skills to heal a demon who sought refuge in Spider Cliff...
crystal: Wha?...
machine: ....Her name is Esmerelda, and she is quite civil and agreeable... I do not believe that she poses a danger to the town...
crystal: Exactly!
machine: .... I took the opportunity to perform a little experiment, and my hypothesis was verified.... there is NO such thing as a demon nature that impels her to perform evil acts...
machine: ....A wrote up my findings in a monograph, which I stored away in the-
crystal: What?! Where?! Oh, the machine cut off too quickly!
crystal: There's a note that someone left on the desk...
crystal: Hmmm... it's an inventory of medicine stored in the laboratory in this office. Gee, the doctor likes to keep a lot of screaming nettles in stock.
crystal: There's a long list of items... herbs... some special balm for his chapped fingertips...
crystal: Oh! It says, "I always maintain a stock supply of antidote to the curse of the purple chickaree." He's got it! That's just what I'm looking for!
crystal: There are some old paintings on the wall...
crystal: One painting is of a middle-aged woman and a paper mammal...
crystal: The other painting is titled "Esmerelda".
crystal: Well, there's no denying that I've found the answer to my quest.
crystal: I just hope I find it in time.
crystal: REPLAY THE MESSAGE!
machine: You have chosen to erase this message...
crystal: NO! NO, STOP!
machine: This message has been erased...
crystal: PLAY NEXT MESSAGE AFTER THAT ONE!
machine: ....the diary of Dr. Kib-Kib-Kib-Dr. Kib-Kib-Kib...
crystal: Oh, great, now it's broken!
machine: Kib-Kib-Kib-to perform a little experiment, and my hypothesis was verified.... there is NO such thing-such thing-such...
machine: -wrote up my findings in a monograph, which I stored away in the hidden space above my bedroom closet...
crystal: Aha!
crystal: Well.... since everyone else seems to be pre-occupied... I guess it's okay to slack off on our quest for a little while.
crystal: But once I find that book, I'm going right back to looking for Barlow's cure. Yes indeed!
crystal: I seem to have a conflict of interest...
crystal: Well... do I really need a doctor's book to tell me that I make my own decisions?