The Andreasson Affair (13 page)

Our time was up, but many intended questions remained unanswered. We wondered about the strange bird, the dazzling light, and the heat that Betty had begun to describe in vivid terms. Could this have been real? Was she hallucinating? The answers would have to wait until the next session, scheduled for June 23, 1977.

Betty Ann Andreasson. Courtesy of Fred R. Youngren
.

Becky Andreasson. Courtesy of Fred R. Youngren
.

Dr. Harold J. Edelstein, who conducted the hypnosis sessions. Courtesy of Fred R. Youngren
.

Back row (from left to right): David Stanton, Raymond E. Fowler, Virginia Neurath, Betty Andreasson.

Front row: Nancy McLaughlin, David Webb, Joseph Santangelo.

The investigative team. Courtesy of Fred R. Youngren
.

Back row (from left to right): Deborah Vaillancourt, May Ellen Brady, Harold J. Edelstein, Becky Andreasson.

Front row: Jules Vaillancourt, Fred R. Youngren.

Joseph Santangelo and Jules Vaillancourt prepare to tape-record Betty's recollections under hypnosis. Courtesy of Fred R. Youngren
.

Betty's face registers the fear and discomfort she experienced during the physical examination. Courtesy of Fred R. Youngren
.

Still in hypnotic trance, Betty produces sketches of what she saw during her CE-IV experience. Courtesy of Fred R. Youngren
.

Based on Betty's sketches and recollections, Fred R. Youngren and his daughter Faith constructed this three-dimensional “mug shot” bust of Quazgaa, the apparent leader of the entities who abducted Betty. Courtesy of Fred R. Youngren
.

The author, Raymond E. Fowler, with the Youngren model. Copyright Ralph Tourcotte
, Beverly [
Massachusetts
] Times.

June 23 was a Thursday. Our next hypnotic regression session was scheduled for that evening. The summer sun still shone as investigators and witnesses filed into the offices of the New England Institute of Hypnosis. We were totally unprepared for what was about to take place. Betty was about to undergo the most painful and emotional segment of her total experience. Her suffering and ecstasy would be contagious. What we were about to witness would become etched indelibly on our minds, and in some hearts.

Betty lay back in the familiar chair. In a few minutes, she was in a deep trance. I sat at her feet, clipboard in hand, as Harold gave instructions to Betty.

Harold:
Betty, I want you to take yourself back to just before we ended the session. Are you there? I want you to continue from that point on. Please do!

Betty:
Just before we entered, or where we left off?

Harold:
Do you need a little refreshing? To the incidents leading up to where we left off?

Betty:
Where we left off? Where I was before that bird?

Harold:
Okay, fine.…

Betty began describing where she had left off at the last session. She started in the role of an observer, but quickly became an actual participant.

Betty:
I'm standing before that large bird. It's very warm.… And that bird looks like an eagle to me. And it's living! It has a white head and there is light in back of it—real white light. Very, very big. And it has brown features.… And it's very, very hot here.… [
Heavy breathing
] The bird is just standing there, and it looks like it is holding back the light somehow. I'm just standing in front of it, and it's so hot. The bird, the feathers are just fluffed out. The light seems so bright in back of it. It's beautiful, bright light. [See
Figure 33
.]

Betty began to perspire and pant.

Betty:
Oh, it's just standing there, and I see gold, gold specks flying around…like little tiny gold specks. Oh-h-h-h-h, it's hot! [
Blows her breath out
] The specks just keep on flying around, and that bird just keeps standing there. The light just keeps sending out rays. They keep on getting bigger and bigger. The rays keep on getting bigger and bigger. Oh, the heat is so strong! Oh-h, ow-w-w—makes me weak.

Betty cried out for help and writhed in agony.

Betty:
Oh, Lord Jesus, I'm hot. Help me. Oh-h-h-h-h. [
Heavy breathing
] Oh-h-h-h. [
Begins to cry
] I'm so hot! Oh, oh, oh, oh-h-h-h!