GLOBAL MYTHS NO 1
Another story from the travellers' grapevine
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.A BRITON studying in Chicago went with a large group of fellow students, for a weekend in Las Vegas to celebrate the end of the exams.
The flight arrived on Friday evening, and the next two days dissolved into a Hunter S Thompson-esque haze of drink, drugs, and gambling. On Sunday afternoon, he awoke in his hotel room with a Satanic hangover. His two roommates were comatose and clearly likely to remain so. After 10 minutes he abandoned them and headed downstairs to a secluded booth in the hotel bar for a soothing Bloody Mary or three. Halfway into his second drink he became aware of a man dressed in the casino issue red blazer and dark glasses sitting at the next table.
Was he, the man wanted to know, a member of the student party from Chicago? The casino would like to offer him a complimentary drink as a way of thanking the group for their custom, he said, and produced a large glass of champagne which the student downed.
The next thing the student knew, he was lying in a bath filled with ice in an unfamiliar hotel room. Pinned to the wall facing him was a large sign saying: "DO NOT ATTEMPT TO MOVE. PHONE 911 AND ASK FOR MEDICAL ASSISTANCE." There was a phone on a table next to the bath.
As he explained his situation to the emergency operator, a note of suspicion crept into her voice. She asked him to reach behind him to see if there was a plastic tube protruding from his back. There was. She told him his call had been traced and an ambulance was on its way.
In hospital, the doctors found that both his kidneys had been removed, clearly by a qualified doctor. He had become the latest victim of an organ-trading ring which picked up unsuspecting punters in the town's casinos. Send in the stories you've picked up on your journeys to: Global Myths at the address below
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments