Ch. 1The Black Clinic on the Corner
Key Plot Points and Events
- Sally Floyd visits a clinic on the corner of 147th Street and Broadway in Harlem, New York, at night.
- The clinic charges patients based on their weight, with a fixed fee for examination and additional charges for being informed of their condition.
- Sally is charged $100,000 for her minor fracture, leading her to threaten to expose the clinic in the newspapers.
- Dr. Sean White, the clinic's owner, is revealed to have a unique method of treating illnesses and injuries using source essence, and a magical ledger that records debts and allows him to gift illnesses and injuries to debtors.
Character Developments
- Sally Floyd: Initially skeptical of the clinic's pricing method, she becomes angry and determined to expose the clinic after being charged $100,000 for a minor fracture.
- Dr. Ava Ellis: The red-haired doctor at the clinic, she is lazy and indifferent to Sally's complaints, explaining that the clinic charges by weight as per Dr. White's instructions.
- Dr. Sean White: The clinic's owner, he is revealed to be a transmigrated soul from 21st-century China with a magical ledger that allows him to record debts and gift illnesses and injuries. He is described as a blackhearted doctor who prioritizes profit over patients' well-being.
Significant Themes
- Greed and exploitation: The clinic's pricing method is shown to be exploitative, with patients charged based on their weight rather than their illness or injury.
- Power dynamics: Dr. White's ledger gives him immense power over his debtors, allowing him to take anything he wants from them so long as their debt is large enough.
- Transmigration: Dr. White's soul is revealed to be from 21st-century China, and he has brought a magical ledger with him that allows him to record debts and gift illnesses and injuries.
Character Interactions
- Sally Floyd and Dr. Ava Ellis: Sally is angry and resentful towards Ava for charging her $100,000 for a minor fracture, while Ava is indifferent and unapologetic.
- Dr. Ava Ellis and Linda Carter: Ava and Linda discuss the clinic's pricing method, with Linda questioning why fees are calculated by weight rather than illness. Ava attributes this to Dr. White's unique character.
- Dr. Sean White and Zelda DuBois: Sean treats Zelda's pet snake, charging her $8.19 million. Zelda tries to negotiate other forms of payment, but Sean insists on cash. He threatens to gift her with illnesses and injuries if she tries to dodge the debt.