Communion wine¶
The communion wine is the fishy "local variety" of sacramental wine served by the Sons of Adam church in Marblehead, which turns out to be swimming with the worm parasite.
| Type | Item |
| Aliases | Blood of the Lamb; the wine |
| Holder | The Sons of Adam church, served at the colonial church |
| First appearance | Summer Service 01 |
Description¶
At the church service the only communion offered is wine, not wafer and wine. The priest hands over a small cup with the words "Blood of the Lamb", and the congregation nods in reply. The wine has a distinctly fishy note, and Andre likens it to the bad prison wine Kurt has had before. Asked afterward whether the church makes it, Amos Shaw answers, "It's a local variety" (Summer Service 01). The congregation takes communion three times a day (Summer Service 03).
Properties¶
McManley examined a sample under a microscope in his RV lab and found it swimming with worms resembling tapeworms or nematodes. He told Andrew to find a horse doctor for ivermectin and to avoid the wine, then said he would call the CDC (Summer Service 03).
Drinkers gain vigor, muscle and hair regrowth and a youthful look. The advanced stage is a translucent, bloated pallor, as seen in the new priest (The glow). Fish in the missing scientists' journal were hollowed out by similar worms yet still alive (Summer Service 03). The worms survive in the wine, though Andre rules that vodka, heat and heavy salt hurt them (Summer Service 05).
History¶
- The service. Huell and Kurt take the wine while Andrew and the Biz stay out of the line. Huell drinks all of it and ends up with a mildly upset stomach. Kurt pretends to finish it and feels sweaty and off. Kurt's Sharp roll (7) catches a flicker of reaction from Shaw when he mentions the flavor (Summer Service 01).
- The sample. Andrew goes back to a 7 a.m. service to obtain a sample. He holds the wine in his mouth, but his Manipulate Someone roll (6) fails, and the priest does not believe he swallowed. Outside, he spits it into an empty Crystal Pepsi bottle and delivers it to McManley (Summer Service 03).
- Effects. Huell, Kurt and Andrew fear they are infected, and Huell's muscle and hairline change visibly. The cure, ivermectin, later removes Huell's worm strength (Summer Service 03, Summer Service 06).
- Kitchen tests. In Summer Service 05, after Kurt notes that the worms survive being delivered in communion wine, Andre says they do not like alcohol, and Kurt wonders whether that explains why Ma Gramoire is fine (Summer Service 05).