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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/28543-h.zip b/28543-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..1b9746e --- /dev/null +++ b/28543-h.zip diff --git a/28543-h/28543-h.htm b/28543-h/28543-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..40a655d --- /dev/null +++ b/28543-h/28543-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,655 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en"> + <head> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=iso-8859-1" /> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Style-Type" content="text/css" /> + <title> + The Project Gutenberg eBook of Rex Ex Machina, by Frederic Max + </title> + <style type="text/css"> + + p {margin-top: .75em; text-align: justify; margin-bottom: .75em;} + h1,h2 {font-weight: normal; line-height: 2em;} + body {margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%;} + .trn {border: solid 1px; margin: 3em 15%; padding: 1em; text-align: justify;} + .dcap {text-transform: uppercase;} + .bk1 {margin: 1em auto 3em; border-top: solid 2px; border-bottom: solid 2px;} + .bk2 {float: left; width: 15em; margin: 1em 2em 1em 0;} + .pr1 {line-height: 1.5em; margin-top: 4em;} + .pr2,h1,h2 {text-align: right;} + hr {width: 45%; margin: 1em auto; visibility: hidden;} + .smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + + </style> + </head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Rex Ex Machina, by Frederic Max + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Rex Ex Machina + +Author: Frederic Max + +Release Date: April 8, 2009 [EBook #28543] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK REX EX MACHINA *** + + + + +Produced by Greg Weeks, Stephen Blundell and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +</pre> + + +<div class="bk1"><p><i><small>The domination of the minds of tractable Man is not new. Many men have +dreamed of it. Certainly some of them have tried. This man succeeded.</small></i></p></div> + +<div class="bk2"><h1><b>rex<br /> +ex<br /> +machina</b></h1> + +<h2><small><i>by ... Frederic Max</i></small></h2> + +<p class="pr1"><big><b>One final lesson—a dying man's last letter to his +only son that completes the young man's education.</b></big></p></div> + +<p><span class="smcap">My dear son:—</span></p> + +<p>The doctors have left and I am +told that in a few hours I shall +die. In my lifetime the world has +progressed from the chaotic turmoil +of the early Atomic era to +the peacefulness and tranquility +of our present age, and I die +content.</p> + +<p>For ten years I have instructed +you in all that you will need for +the future. One final lesson remains +to be taught.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>On the wall of my bedchamber +hangs a citation "from a grateful +government for services too +secret to be herein set forth." +In past years you have asked me +repeatedly about this citation, but +each time I have taken pains to +avoid a direct answer. Now it is +proper that you should know.</p> + +<p>Forty years ago I was an obscure +Army captain stationed at +the Armed Forces Language +School in Monterey, California. +I had at that time just completed +a tour of duty in Korea, a minor +skirmish of that era, and despite +an excellent reputation for resourcefulness, +I had drawn Monterey +as my next assignment. An +aptitude for foreign languages +had led to an instructorship in +the Russian department with additional +duties instructing in the +Slavic tongues.</p> + +<p>My life was pleasant and uneventful, +and it was with mixed +emotions that I received orders +to report to Washington for a new +duty assignment. The chain of +events which precipitated those +orders were to change the +world....</p> + +<p>For while you and I were playing +on the lawn of our Monterey +home, an unknown Hungarian +physicist working under Russian +supervision had made a startling +discovery. Within a matter of +days alarming rumors of his work +reached Washington. Our embassies +in Moscow and Belgrade +reported furious activity in the +field of psychic research and +large-scale experiments in mass +hypnosis. Four of us were selected +to investigate the rumors. +Before we could commence our +undertaking, word reached Washington +that the rumors were now +actualities. A device capable of +the mass hypnosis of great segments +of the world's population +was rapidly reaching perfection.</p> + +<p>After three months of intensive +grooming in the fields of physics +and psychology, we four agents +set out individually with orders +to track down and destroy both +the scientist and his machine. I +never saw the other three +again....</p> + +<p>During the three months of +schooling, other members of our +vast intelligence organization had +been engaged in laying the +groundwork for our efforts. In +December 1955, I slipped into +Russia and took the place of a +government official who felt +that Western civilization offered +greater reimbursement than Soviet +Communism.</p> + +<p>I entered into my new role +with trepidation, but my fears +were unfounded. Thanks to a remarkable +resemblance (which +was the original reason for my selection) +and also due to a most +thorough briefing, I found myself +making the substitution with ease. +I pride myself on the fact that +by diligent application I was able +to increase my worth to the +Russian government to the extent +that I was shortly able to +secure my transfer to the psychological +warfare section of the +secret police. From there it was +a simple procedure to have myself +assigned to what was known as +"Project Parchak."</p> + +<p>The device was in its final +stage of development; only the +problem of increasing its effective +range remained to be solved. +Three weeks after my assignment +to the project, its successful conclusion +was accomplished.</p> + +<p>In June 1956, the Russian +government ordered me to a +small house on the outskirts of +Braila, Hungary, where I was to +attend a private showing of the +device. By design, I arrived one +day early and made my way to +the laboratory immediately. Dr. +Michael Parchak, the inventor, +stood facing me as I entered. On +a table between us lay a small +complicated mechanism resembling +a radio transmitter. But it +was infinitely more than that. +The device was a thought generator +capable of hypnotizing +every thinking creature on the +face of the earth. The power of +infinite goodness or evil which +the machine embodied was terrifying +to consider.</p> + +<p>I listened to Parchak's boasting +with revulsion. Although he +had the ability to work for the +ultimate good of mankind, this +creature intended, instead, to use +his newly found power for selfish +aggrandizement.</p> + +<p>I drew him out, let him explain +the inner workings of his +device—and killed him. My orders +were to destroy the machine. +I disobeyed them. Utilizing the +machine to make good my escape, +I left Hungary and returned to +the United States. The citation +which you have seen was only one +of the many honors which were +bestowed upon me.</p> + +<p>A few weeks later I resigned +my commission and retired to a +country hideaway to experiment +further with the device I was +supposed to have destroyed. The +peace and tranquility in which +we of the earth now live marked +the successful culmination of my +experiments.</p> + +<p>You will find the machine +walled up in the North alcove +of my bedchamber.</p> + +<p>Your education is now complete +my son, use it well. Be +kind to our slave peoples, the +world is yours.</p> + +<p>Your affectionate father,</p> + +<p class="pr2">FRANCIS I<br /> +EMPEROR OF THE EARTH</p> + +<div class="trn"><b>Transcriber's Note:</b> +This etext was produced from <i>Fantastic Universe</i> May 1954. +Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. +copyright on this publication was renewed. Minor spelling and +typographical errors have been corrected without note.</div> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Rex Ex Machina, by Frederic Max + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK REX EX MACHINA *** + +***** This file should be named 28543-h.htm or 28543-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/2/8/5/4/28543/ + +Produced by Greg Weeks, Stephen Blundell and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Rex Ex Machina + +Author: Frederic Max + +Release Date: April 8, 2009 [EBook #28543] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK REX EX MACHINA *** + + + + +Produced by Greg Weeks, Stephen Blundell and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + + + + + _The domination of the minds of tractable Man is not new. Many men + have dreamed of it. Certainly some of them have tried. This man + succeeded._ + + + rex + ex + machina + + _by ... Frederic Max_ + + + One final lesson--a dying man's last letter to his + only son that completes the young man's education. + + +MY DEAR SON:-- + +The doctors have left and I am told that in a few hours I shall die. In +my lifetime the world has progressed from the chaotic turmoil of the +early Atomic era to the peacefulness and tranquility of our present age, +and I die content. + +For ten years I have instructed you in all that you will need for the +future. One final lesson remains to be taught. + + * * * * * + +On the wall of my bedchamber hangs a citation "from a grateful +government for services too secret to be herein set forth." In past +years you have asked me repeatedly about this citation, but each time I +have taken pains to avoid a direct answer. Now it is proper that you +should know. + +Forty years ago I was an obscure Army captain stationed at the Armed +Forces Language School in Monterey, California. I had at that time just +completed a tour of duty in Korea, a minor skirmish of that era, and +despite an excellent reputation for resourcefulness, I had drawn +Monterey as my next assignment. An aptitude for foreign languages had +led to an instructorship in the Russian department with additional +duties instructing in the Slavic tongues. + +My life was pleasant and uneventful, and it was with mixed emotions that +I received orders to report to Washington for a new duty assignment. +The chain of events which precipitated those orders were to change the +world.... + +For while you and I were playing on the lawn of our Monterey home, an +unknown Hungarian physicist working under Russian supervision had made a +startling discovery. Within a matter of days alarming rumors of his work +reached Washington. Our embassies in Moscow and Belgrade reported +furious activity in the field of psychic research and large-scale +experiments in mass hypnosis. Four of us were selected to investigate +the rumors. Before we could commence our undertaking, word reached +Washington that the rumors were now actualities. A device capable of the +mass hypnosis of great segments of the world's population was rapidly +reaching perfection. + +After three months of intensive grooming in the fields of physics and +psychology, we four agents set out individually with orders to track +down and destroy both the scientist and his machine. I never saw the +other three again.... + +During the three months of schooling, other members of our vast +intelligence organization had been engaged in laying the groundwork for +our efforts. In December 1955, I slipped into Russia and took the place +of a government official who felt that Western civilization offered +greater reimbursement than Soviet Communism. + +I entered into my new role with trepidation, but my fears were +unfounded. Thanks to a remarkable resemblance (which was the original +reason for my selection) and also due to a most thorough briefing, I +found myself making the substitution with ease. I pride myself on the +fact that by diligent application I was able to increase my worth to the +Russian government to the extent that I was shortly able to secure my +transfer to the psychological warfare section of the secret police. From +there it was a simple procedure to have myself assigned to what was +known as "Project Parchak." + +The device was in its final stage of development; only the problem of +increasing its effective range remained to be solved. Three weeks after +my assignment to the project, its successful conclusion was +accomplished. + +In June 1956, the Russian government ordered me to a small house on the +outskirts of Braila, Hungary, where I was to attend a private showing of +the device. By design, I arrived one day early and made my way to the +laboratory immediately. Dr. Michael Parchak, the inventor, stood facing +me as I entered. On a table between us lay a small complicated mechanism +resembling a radio transmitter. But it was infinitely more than that. +The device was a thought generator capable of hypnotizing every thinking +creature on the face of the earth. The power of infinite goodness or +evil which the machine embodied was terrifying to consider. + +I listened to Parchak's boasting with revulsion. Although he had the +ability to work for the ultimate good of mankind, this creature +intended, instead, to use his newly found power for selfish +aggrandizement. + +I drew him out, let him explain the inner workings of his device--and +killed him. My orders were to destroy the machine. I disobeyed them. +Utilizing the machine to make good my escape, I left Hungary and +returned to the United States. The citation which you have seen was only +one of the many honors which were bestowed upon me. + +A few weeks later I resigned my commission and retired to a country +hideaway to experiment further with the device I was supposed to have +destroyed. The peace and tranquility in which we of the earth now live +marked the successful culmination of my experiments. + +You will find the machine walled up in the North alcove of my +bedchamber. + +Your education is now complete my son, use it well. Be kind to our slave +peoples, the world is yours. + +Your affectionate father, + + FRANCIS I + EMPEROR OF THE EARTH + + + + +Transcriber's Note: + + This etext was produced from _Fantastic Universe_ May 1954. + Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. + copyright on this publication was renewed. Minor spelling and + typographical errors have been corrected without note. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Rex Ex Machina, by Frederic Max + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK REX EX MACHINA *** + +***** This file should be named 28543.txt or 28543.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/2/8/5/4/28543/ + +Produced by Greg Weeks, Stephen Blundell and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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