Temptations of Pleasure Island by Gilbert L. Morris

Majesty. You have been so busy with your kingly duties. But I think it’s my duty as a physician to urge you to see that your whole family is on this medication.”
    “Medication,” the king muttered. He thought long about it. Lady Maeve spoke so persuasively that finally he said, “Indeed, I think you may have something. I’ll see to it immediately.”
    Later that same day, when the royal family were having a private meal, King Leo said, “I have something good in mind for the entire family. You have noticed the improvement in me since Lady Maeve came and put me on medication.”
    “Indeed, Father, you are so much more lively now,” Cosima agreed.
    “Well, all the credit must go to the doctor and to the medication Soma.”
    “The drug that she gives you.”
    “It’s a
medication
, not a drug, Derek!” the king snapped. “In any case, I have decided that we shall take it as a family.”
    “I’d rather not, Father, if you don’t mind,” the prince said.
    “I would rather not either, Leo,” the queen said.
    A family argument began, and in the end only Princess Cosima agreed to take Lady Maeve’s medication.
    The king was highly displeased with his wife and son. “You’ll come around to my way of thinking sooner or later. See if you don’t.”
    For some reason, things did not seem right in the royal household. Reb noticed a troubling change in the prince, and one day he asked him, “What’s the problem, Derek? I can tell that something’s wrong.”
    “It’s my father,” the prince said. “He’s changed completely.”
    “He sure seems lively enough now.”
    “Lively! He is betting money as if it were water. He wants my mother and Cosima and myself to go under the care of that doctor, too. I wish the woman had never come here! And now, as of this morning, Father has gone half crazy.”
    “What’s he done?”
    “You haven’t heard?” Derek exclaimed bitterly. “He’s put that woman on the king’s council.”
    “On the council! What does she know about running a kingdom?”
    “Not one thing!” Derek muttered. “But she’s gotmy father so tied up that he doesn’t know what he’s doing. Reb, I don’t know what to do. He wants all of us to take that Soma. So far my mother and I have refused, but—”
    “Good for you. What about the princess?”
    “Oh, she was happy enough to agree to it. She spent some time with Lady Maeve, and now she’s happy as a clam.”
    Two days later, as Josh and the other Sleepers were going by the council room, the prince came striding angrily out. He looked very upset.
    “What’s the matter, Derek?” Josh asked.
    “Do you know what he’s done now? Do you know what he’s done?”
    “What who’s done?”
    “My father.” Derek looked at the Sleepers and rubbed his forehead in frustration. “He’s commanded all the
council
to begin taking Soma.”
    “What did they say?”
    “What do you think they would say? All except Lord Denning agreed at once.”
    “The Master of the Council. What did Lord Denning say?” Sarah asked.
    “He advised against it. But everyone else all fell into place. I think they’re all afraid of Lady Maeve.”
    “Now, I think Lady Maeve is all right, Derek,” Abbey declared. “After all, see how she has helped your father.”
    “No, I don’t think she’s helped,” the prince said. “I think there’s something wrong with that woman. Oh, she smiles, and my father’s not depressed anymore. But he gambles more than ever. And he does irresponsible things like this.” He looked down at his feet andthen said quietly, “I don’t mind telling you that I’m worried sick.”
    He turned abruptly and walked off.
    As the Sleepers looked after him, Abbey said, “He’ll come around. He just hates change. That’s all.”
    “I don’t think so,” Josh said. “And I think he’s absolutely right. I think that woman is … evil. I think there is something badly wrong with Lady Maeve, and I think the king’s going to pay