would accept that situation clinically. I would humorhim, as you put it, in the hope that he'd be encouraged to talk freelyand perhaps give me a clue to his delusion so I could help him loseit. I would speak to him--or to you, if that were his concept ofhimself--just as I am speaking now.
"On the other hand, if I were convinced by the many unusual nuances ofour conversation that the mind I was addressing actually was that ofan alien being--I would still talk to you as I am talking now."
The doctor smiled again. "I trust I have made my answer sufficientlyunsatisfactory."
The visitor's reaction was spoken by Mersey. "On the contrary, youhave unwittingly told me what I want to know. You'd want your answerto be satisfactory if you were speaking to Mersey, the lunatic. Butbecause you'd take delight in disconcerting me by scoring apoint--something you wouldn't do with a patient--you reveal acceptanceof the fact that I am not Mersey. Your rules would not permit you togive him an unsatisfactory answer."
"Not quite," contradicted Dr. Cloyd, still smiling. "To Mersey, mypatient, troubled by his delusion and using all his craft to persuadeboth of us of its reality, the unsatisfactory answer would be thesatisfactory one."
* * * * *
Mersey's voice laughed. "Dr. Cloyd, I salute you. I will leave yourworld with a tremendous respect for you--and completely unsure ofwhether you believe in my existence."
"Thank you."
"I am leaving, you know," Mersey's voice replied.
The traveler by now was resigned to letting the patient be his mediumand speak his thoughts. Thus far, he had spoken them all truly, ifsomewhat excessively. The traveler thought he knew why, now, andexpected Mersey to voice the reason for him very shortly. He did.
"I'm leaving because I must report failure and advise my people tolook elsewhere for a new home. Part of the reason for that failure Ihaven't yet mentioned:
"Although it might appear that I, the visitor, am manipulating Merseyto speak the thoughts I wished to communicate, the facts are almostthe opposite. My control over either Mersey's body or mind ispractically nil.
"What you have been hearing and what you hear even now are thethoughts I am thinking--not necessarily the ones I want you to know.What has happened is this, if I may borrow your theory:
"My mind has invaded Mersey's, but his human vitality is too strong topermit him to be controlled by it. In fact, the reverse is true. Hisvitality is making use of my mind for its own good, and for the goodof your human race. His own mind is damaged badly, but his healthybody has taken over and made use of my mind. It is using my mind tomake it speak against its will--to speak the thoughts of an alienwithout subterfuge, as they actually exist in truth. Thus I amhelplessly telling you all about myself and the intentions of mypeople.
"What is in operation in Mersey is the human body's instinct ofself-preservation. It is utilizing my mind to warn you against thatvery mind. Do you see? That would be the case, too, if a million of usinvaded a million minds like Mersey's. None of us could plotsuccessfully against you, if that were our desire--which, of course,it is--because the babbling tongues we inherited along with the bodieswould give us away."
The doctor no longer smiled. His expression was grave now.
"I don't know," he said. "Now I am not sure any longer. I'm notcertain that I follow you--or whether I want to follow you. I thinkI'm a bit frightened."
"You needn't be. I'm going. I'll say good-by, in your custom, andthank you for the hospitality and pleasures your world has given me.And I suppose I must thank Mersey for the warning of doom he'sunknowingly given my people, poor man. I hope you can help him."
"I'll try," said Dr. Cloyd, "though I must say you've complicated thediagnosis considerably."
"Good-by. I won't be back, I promise you."
"I believe you," said the doctor. "Good-by."
Mersey slumped back on the couch. He looked up at the ceiling,vacantly.
* * * * *
For a long time there was no sound in the room.
Then the doctor said: "Mersey."
There was no answer. The man continued to lie there motionless,breathing normally, looking at the ceiling.
"Mersey," said the doctor again. "How do you feel?"
The man turned his head. He looked at the doctor with hostility, thenwent back to his contemplation of the ceiling.
"Drop dead," he muttered.
--RICHARD WILSON
* * * * *
Thank you for reading books on BookFrom.Net Share this book with friends