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the mind's reach. Then if we could learn to impart John's ability to other people but that's getting a bit
ahead of my story.
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I talked to John. He saw my point, realized the service he might render mankind, and gladly agreed to
undergo some experiments.
But at the first attempt a snag appeared. John could not produce any symptoms by a conscious effort,
no matter how hard he tried. As I said before, you can't consciously fake a psychosomatic illness, and
that was what I was asking John to do. And since he'd undergone psychiatric treatment his subconscious
mind was so well behaved that it wouldn't yield to any ordinary blandishments.
At that point we almost gave up the project. But then I thought of a way we might be able to get around
the snag: suggestions given directly to the subconscious mind through hypnotism.
John proved a good hypnotic subject. We tried it and it worked!"
Max's eyes looked bright as stars as he said that.
That's about how matters stand today, he finished off, sinking back in his chair. We've started a little
special work on arterial tension, the lymphatic glands and their nerve supply, one or two other things.
But mainly we've been perfecting our setup, getting used to the hypnotic relationship. The important
work still lies ahead."
I exhaled appreciatively. Then an unpleasant thought struck me. I wasn't going to voice it, but Max
asked, What is it, Fred? and I couldn't think of anything else to say, and after all it was a thought that
would have occurred to anyone.
Well, with all this creation of extreme symptoms, I began, isn't there a certain amount of "
Max supplied the word. Danger? He shook his head. We are always very careful."
And in any case, Fearing's bell-like voice broke in, the possibilities being what they are, I would
consider almost any risks worth running. He smiled cheerfully.
The double meaning I momentarily fancied in his words nettled me. I went on impulsively, But surely
some people would be apt to consider it extremely dangerous. Your mother, for instance, or Velda."
Max looked at me sharply.
Neither my mother nor Mrs. Redford know anything of the extent of our experiments, Fearing assured
me.
There was a pause. Unexpectedly, Max grinned at me, stretched, and said to Fearing, How do you feel
now?"
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Perfectly fit."
Feel up to another little demonstration?"
Certainly."
That reminds me, Max, I said abruptly, out in the corridor you mentioned something about "
He shot me a warning glance.
We'll go into that some other time, he said.
What disease are you going to have me do this time? Fearing queried.
Max wagged his finger. You know you're never told that. Can't have your conscious mind messing
things up. We'll have some new signals, though. And, Fred, I hope you won't mind waiting outside while
I put John under and give him his instructions acquaint him with the new signals. I'm afraid we still
haven't gotten far along enough to risk the possibly disturbing presence of a third person during the early
stages of an experiment. One or two more sessions and it should be all right, though. Understand, Fred,
this is just the first of a large number of experiments I want you to witness. I'm asking a great deal of
you, you see. The only tangible compensation I can offer you is exclusive rights to break the story to the
public when we feel the time is ripe."
Believe me, I consider it a great honor, I assured him sincerely as I went out.
In the corridor I lit a cigarette, puffed it a moment, and then the tremendous implications of Max's
experiments really hit me.
Suppose, as Max had hinted, that it proved possible to impart Fearing's ability to other people?
The benefits would be incalculable. People would be able to help their bodies in the fight against disease
and degenerative processes. For instance, they could cut down the flow of blood from a wound, or even
stop it completely. They could marshal all the body's resources to fight local infections and stop disease
germs before they ever got started. Conceivably, they could heal sick organs, get them working in the
right rhythm, unharden arteries, avert or stifle cancers.
It might be possible to prevent disease, even aging, altogether.
We might look forward to a race of immortals, immune to time and decay.
A happy race, untroubled by those conflicts of body and mind, of instinct and conscience, that sap
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Mankind's best energies and are at the root of all discords and wars.
There was literally no limit to the possibilities.
I hardly felt I'd been in the corridor a minute, my mind was soaring so, when Max softly opened the door
and beckoned to me.
Again Fearing lay stretched on the table. His eyes were closed, but he still looked every whit as
vibrantly healthy as before. His chest rose and fell rhythmically with his breathing. I almost fancied I
could see the blood coursing under the fair skin.
I was aware of a tremendous suppressed excitement in Max.
We can talk, of course, he said. Best keep it low, though."
He's hypnotized? I asked.
Yes."
And you've given him the instructions?"
Yes. Watch."
What are they this time, Max?"
Max's lips jerked oddly.
Just watch."
He rapped with the pencil.
I watched. For five, ten seconds nothing seemed to happen.
Fearing's chest stopped moving.
His skin was growing pale.
There was a weak convulsive shudder. His eyelids fell open, showing only the whites. Then there was
no further movement whatever.
Approach him, Max ordered, his voice thick. Take his pulse."
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Almost shaking with excitement, I complied.
To my fumbling fingers, Fearing's wrist felt cold. I could not find a pulse.
Fetch that mirror, Max's finger stabbed at a nearby shelf. Hold it to his lips and nostrils."
The polished surface remained unclouded.
I backed away. Wonder gave place to fear. All my worst suspicions returned intensified. Once again I
seemed to sense a strain of submerged evil in my friend.
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