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diff --git a/76114-0.txt b/76114-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..36dad31 --- /dev/null +++ b/76114-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,530 @@ + +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 76114 *** + + + +THE ARTIFICIAL MAN + +By Clare Winger Harris + + +[Illustration: Before David’s startled gaze the newcomer placed his +right hand to his left shoulder and removed the left arm. He then +proceeded to dismember himself until only a torso, head and one arm +remained.] + + +[Illustration: Clare Winger Harris] + + It is well established today that human beings can get along + without a number of their usual organs. We have seen men + deprived of their arms and legs who could still do useful + work. There are men living, and seemingly little the worse + for it, who have lost either an eye or a nose, or have only + one kidney, and it is now possible even to have an + artificial voice in case a part of the larynx and the vocal + chords have to be removed through disease. + + That science will discover more and more how to artificially + replace human organs is a foregone conclusion. How far this + process may go no one however knows. Recent experiments on + animals have shown that it is even possible for a cat to + live with an artificial rubber heart. These experiments are + all of vast importance to humanity, because we may be + deprived of a number of our organs by accident or disease. + + The author of the present story has taken these thoughts as + a basis of a most interesting narrative which is in its + entirety based upon excellent science, and there is no + telling that an exact counterpart of what she so vividly + describes may not come about sooner or later. + + +On the annals of surgery no case has ever left quite as horrible an +impression upon the public as did that of George Gregory, a student of +Austin College. Young Gregory was equally proficient in scholastic and +athletic work, having been for two years captain of the football team, +and for one year a marked success in intercollegiate debates. No student +of the senior class of Austin or Decker will ever forget his masterful +arguments as he upheld the affirmative in the question:—“Resolved that +bodily perfection is a result of right thinking.” Gregory gave every +promise of being one of the masterful minds of the age; and if masterful +in this instance means dominating, he was that—and more. Alas that his +brilliant mentality was destined to degradation through the physical +body—but that is my story. + +It was the Thanksgiving game that proved the beginning of George’s +downfall. Warned by friends that he would be wise to desist from the +more dangerous physical sports, he laughingly—though with unquestionable +sincerity—referred to the context of his famous debate, declaring that a +correct mental attitude toward life—he had this point down to a +mathematical correctness—rendered physical disasters impossible. His +sincerity in believing this was laudable, and so far his credence had +stood him in good stead. No one who saw his well-proportioned six-foot +figure making its way through the opponents’ lines, could doubt that the +science of thinking rightly was favorably exemplified in young Gregory. + +But can thinking be an exact science? Before the close of that +Thanksgiving game George was carried unconscious from the field, and in +two days his right leg was amputated just below the hip. + +During the days of his convalescence two bedside visitors brightened the +weary hours spent upon the hospital cot. They were David Bell, a medical +student, and Rosalind Nelson, the girl whom George had loved since his +freshman year. + +“I say, Rosalind,” he ventured one day as she sat by his bedside. “It’s +too bad to think of you ever being tied up to a cripple. I’m willing to +step aside—can’t do it gracefully of course with only one leg—but I mean +it, my dear girl. You don’t want only part of a husband!” + +Rosalind smiled affectionately. “George, don’t think for a minute that +it matters to me. You’re still you, and I love you dear. Can’t you +believe that? The loss of a bodily member doesn’t alter your identity.” + +“That’s just what gets me,” responded her lover with a puzzled frown. “I +have always believed, and do now, that the mental and physical are so +closely related as to be inseparable. I think it is Browning who says, +‘We know not whether soul helps body more than body helps soul.’ They +develop together, and if either is injured the other is harmed. Losing +part of my body has made me lose part of my soul. I’m not what I was. My +mental attitude has changed as a result of this abominable catastrophe. +I’m no longer so confident. I feel myself slipping and I—oh it is +unbearable!” + +Rosalind endeavored to the best of her ability to reassure the +unfortunate man, but he sank into a despondent mood, and seeing that her +efforts at cheering him were unavailing, she arose and left him. + +In the outer hall she met Bell on his way to visit the sick man. He +noticed her troubled mien and asked if George were not so well today. + +“Yes, David," she replied, a quiver in her voice, “the wound is healing +nicely, but he is so morose. He has a notion—oh how can I tell it—a sort +of feeling that some of his mental poise and confidence have gone with +his lost limb. You will soon be a graduate physician, won’t you assure +him that his fears are groundless?" + +“I don’t know but that his case is one for the minister or psychologist +rather than the medical man,” answered Bell. “His physical wound is +healing, but it seems his mental wound is not. However, I will do my +best, not only for your sake, Rosalind, but because I am interested in +the happiness of my old college chum.” + +Rosalind smiled her gratitude and turned abruptly away to hide the tears +that she had held back as long as possible. + +Five months passed, and with the aid of a crutch George made excellent +headway in overcoming the difficulties of locomotion. If David and +Rosalind noticed a subtle change in the disposition and character of +their mutual friend, they made no further reference to it. + + +A Transformation +---------------- + +At length came a day when in the company of both of these faithful +friends George Gregory announced his intention of using an artificial +limb instead of a crutch. His sweetheart voiced immediate remonstrance. + +“No, George, I’d rather see you walking with the visible aid of a crutch +than to think of your using an artificial leg. Somehow it seems like +hypocrisy, a kind of appearing to be what you aren’t. I know my idea is +poorly expressed, but that’s the way I feel about it.” + +A peculiar light came into Gregory’s eyes, a light that neither friend +had ever seen there before. He straightened visibly, almost without the +aid of his crutch. “I’ll walk yet as well as any one and maybe it will +give me back my mental confidence. My mind shall triumph over my body as +well as it ever did!” + +The artificial leg was duly applied to the hip stump, and it really was +amazing to observe the rapidity with which Gregory mastered the art of +using it proficiently. Anyone unacquainted with his deformity would +never have realized that he did not possess two normal legs. + +And then came the automobile accident a week before the time set for the +Nelson-Gregory nuptials. How George Gregory’s car was struck by an on +coming truck, reduced to a junk-heap, and George thrown into a ditch, so +that one arm was finally caused to be amputated, never will be known, +for George had always been a careful driver. Even with his artificial +leg he declared he had no difficulty in putting on the brake. The fall +had, as was proved later, caused also internal injuries so that some of +the bodily organs did not function properly. + +The months that followed were to all who were closely concerned with the +accident, like a descent into Hades. Dr. Bell, serving as an interne in +the Good Samaritan Hospital, devoted himself untiringly to the tragic +case of George Gregory. A world famous specialist was summoned in +consultation concerning the internal injuries sustained by Gregory. Very +little hope was held out for the life of the unfortunate man, although +there was one chance; an artificial kidney[1]. The vigorous constitution +of the invalid came to his rescue. He not only survived the operation +but seemed to be in the best of health afterward. + +And it is not to be wondered that Rosalind began to doubt whether her +love for George Gregory could remain the same as before. Thrown +constantly as she was in the company of Dr. David Bell, observing his +devoted care and interest in George, she began to compare, or rather to +contrast, the two men. George’s rapid deterioration was no longer a +possible flight of the imagination. It was an actuality. It was no +longer possible to overlook the meaning behind his words. + +“God expresses Himself through the physical world,” he said when the +three were together at George’s apartment on Kenneth Drive. “He is a +Spirit, but He makes Himself manifest in the perfection of a physical +world. As much of physical perfection as I have lost, that much of God +or Goodness has left me and there are no two ways about it.” + +Remonstrance was useless, so convinced was the invalid that his theories +were correct. Also in his mind there grew steadily an ever increasing +dislike for the friend of his college days, the doctor. He could no +longer be blind to the fact that it was a struggle for Rosalind to be +loyal to him. He was also aware of the growing affection that existed +between David and Rosalind. From a dislike his feelings gradually +changed to those of implacable hatred for his former chum. + + 1. An “artificial kidney” has been invented recently, and tried out + successfully on dogs. A cylinder of glass contains a number of + celloidin tubes which strain the poisons out of the blood. + + +The Parting +----------- + +At length after weary days and nights of indecision Rosalind came to the +conclusion that she could not marry George Gregory. She longed to tell +David of her feelings, but could not because she was conscious of her +love for the young doctor. The subject of marriage had not been +mentioned by either George or Rosalind since the second accident, but +instinctively the girl felt that her lover’s previous offer at the time +of his lost leg, to release her from their engagement, was not to be +renewed; though he must have known that his qualifications as a husband +were now fewer than they could possibly have been before. + +The moment that Rosalind had dreaded came at last. They were strolling +together one evening toward the outskirts of the town. The moon +softened, with its silvery glow, objects that in the glare of noon stood +out in too bold relief. As they left the highway for the river-path +George said: + +“Let us set a day for the wedding. I’ve waited long enough.” As he spoke +he put around her waist an arm, not one with which nature had equipped +him, but one so cunningly wrought that a casual observer would never +have known. But Rosalind knew! She shuddered, and in that act, George +Gregory knew that his doom was sealed. + +“I can’t marry you, George,” she pleaded in a hoarse, unnatural voice. +“I am sorry that it is so, but I cannot do it.” + +The man laughed and the tones chilled the heart of the girl. “You said +once that my identity remained, no matter what the physical +imperfections of my body. Now you deny it!” His voice rose in his +excitement. + +“Listen, oh George,” she cried now thoroughly panic-stricken. “You are +yourself allowing your mental attitude toward life to be altered. You +have admitted it. Had you remained unchanged mentally, I truly believe +your physical difference would not have mattered. I loved you for what +you were, but, George, you are so changed!” + +“Yes I am changed,” he shrieked, “but my desires and passions are no +different, unless intensification indicates a difference.” + +He reached toward her, but adept as he was in the use of his two +artificial limbs, she eluded his grasp and was off with a bound up the +rough river-path and toward the highway. She heard distinctly the sound +of pursuit. Could he outrun her handicapped as he was? + +Once he fell, and the sound of muttered oaths came to her ears. On and +on she flew, not daring to look back though she suspected that he was +gaining. Just within the border of the town where the houses were +somewhat scattered he caught her and simultaneously she fainted away. + +When consciousness returned a dear familiar face was bent near her own. +With a sob of joy she put her arms about David’s neck, and in a few +endearing words they plighted their troth. + +David, on his way back from a professional call, where he was +substituting for old Dr. Amos who was ill, had witnessed from a distance +the two running figures. Before he arrived upon the spot with his car, +the pursuing form had overtaken the other. + +To rescue a maiden from the arms of her lover seemed a very peculiar +service to render—but one look into the eyes of George Gregory proved to +the doctor beyond the question of a doubt that he was not dealing with a +sane man. The contest was an unequal one, though the agility displayed +by the cripple would have done credit to a normal man of more than +average prowess. David tried to reason with his antagonist, but the use +of logic at that time was unavailing. It was a hard struggle, but George +was finally willing to admit himself defeated. + + +A Man Obsessed +-------------- + +About three months following this incident Dr. Bell (now in possession +of the office of the late Dr. Amos) was about to lock up after the +afternoon consultations when he heard the approach of a belated visitor +in the hall. Looking up he beheld Gregory who passed quickly through the +waiting-room and into the inner office, closing the door behind him. The +peculiar look of a fanatic, that had become more marked since his second +accident, was evident now as he seated himself and turned wild eyes to +the doctor. + +“Don’t be scared, doc,” he jeered at sight of Bell’s white drawn face. +“I didn’t come to blame you for winning Rosalind’s love, though I +confess the thought of your wedding next week goes considerably against +the grain. I came for another purpose and I want you to help me.” + +He rose now and advanced toward the physician. The latter observed the +perfect mastery of the artificial limbs, a mastery that proved how well +the brain can be trained to control nerves and muscles under unusual +conditions. Was all the effort of this brain being turned in that +direction to the detriment of a well-balanced reasoning power? + +“Here’s my proposition, Bell,” the words jangled harshly, bringing to a +swift conclusion the doctor’s thoughts regarding the changed mental +status of his one-time friend. “I have decided what I want done. I’ll +admit that what I’m about to tell you will prove I have a mental quirk +which, by the way, corresponds to my physical quirks, but this thing has +become an obsession with me.” + +The speaker leaned forward and held the other’s attention with a steady +gaze. He then resumed. “I am going to try out an experiment, or rather +have it tried out on me, for I shall be a passive factor in this case. I +am going to find out how much of this mortal coil I can shuffle off and +still maintain my personal identity as a piece of humanity here on +earth. In other words, as much of my body as can be removed and +substituted by artificial parts, I wish to have done.” + +During Gregory’s recital David’s eyes had dilated in horror, and he +unconsciously recoiled from his visitor until the width of the room was +between them. Not a word could he utter. The seconds ticked away on the +little ebony clock on the desk and still the two men regarded each other +with unquestionable antagonism. + +“Well, will you do it, Bell?” The man pointed significantly to the +surgical instruments and the operating table. “I have ample means to pay +you handsomely. I’m going to find out about this mortal body and its +relation to the soul before I die. You’ve robbed me of one desire of my +heart, but this you shall grant!” + +At last Bell spoke, and with the sound of his voice his courage +returned. “George, whether you believe it or not, you are a madman and I +refuse to comply with your request. If, as you yourself maintain, with +the loss of every bodily member, your mental and spiritual powers have +waned, what in heaven’s name tell me, would you be with only enough of +your body left to chain your spirit to earth? I will not aid you in this +mad project of yours. Go, or shall I have you taken to the hospital for +the insane?” + +George Gregory saw that further persuasion was useless. He walked toward +the outer office but at the doorway he turned and faced Bell. “There are +other surgeons in the world, and mark my words, I shall find out yet by +how slender a thread body and soul can hang together.” + + +The Artificial Man +------------------ + +Five years passed. David Bell married Rosalind Nelson and built up a +splendid reputation as a surgeon. Nothing had been heard in those years +of George Gregory. His memory passed as an evil dream and his name was +never mentioned. Then one day (it was shortly after the erection of the +new county hospital) David and a young interne by the name of Lucius +Stevens were putting away the instruments after an operation, when they +felt rather than heard the approach of an individual. Turning they +beheld the unfamiliar form of a stranger. He was a little under average +height. A cap covered the upper portion of his face and a long loose +overcoat concealed most of his figure. + +“What can we do for you, stranger?” asked Dr. Bell of the silent figure +in the door. + +“Stranger!” exclaimed the hollow, metallic voice that issued from +somewhere beneath the visor of the cap. “I am no stranger, though +possibly you do not recognize me. Do you remember your rival George +Gregory, Dr. David Bell? I am he.” + +“You—it is impossible,” exclaimed the amazed doctor. “Gregory was a tall +man, altogether different in appearance. You—” + +“Nevertheless I tell you I am George Gregory and I have come to settle +old accounts with you. Clear out,” he shouted to the frightened Stevens. +“My trouble is not with you.” + +Lucius lost no time in following the stranger’s suggestion. After his +departure the two men in the operating room faced each other for some +moments in silence. + +“Before I have done with you,” came the metallic tones again, “I will +explain a few things that may puzzle you.” + +Here he walked to the office door, locked it and put the key into the +overcoat pocket. “Now, sit down, David Bell, don’t be in a hurry, for +you are not going to leave this room alive. I promise you that, and I am +accustomed to doing what I promise.” + +Bell did as he was bade. The curiosity of his analytical mind was +aroused and he wished to find out more about this stranger whose +identity he could in no way associate with Gregory. Fascinated, he +watched while the man removed his cap and overcoat, and then before +David’s startled gaze the newcomer placed his right hand to his left +shoulder and with a slight manipulation removed the left arm which he +propped up in the chair nearest him. He then seated himself and +proceeded to dismember himself until nought but a torso, head and one +arm remained, all of which were scarred with countless incisions. A +mirthless laugh jarred to the depths the doctor’s overwrought nerves. +The features of the intruder were not recognizable as those of his +former friend, Gregory. There was no nose, only two nostrils flat upon +the surface of the face. The head was bald and earless, the mouth a +toothless gap. + +A shudder of disgust went through David, and again the dry laugh of this +monstrosity echoed through the room. + +“I’m not exactly pretty, eh? But I’m finding out what I wanted to know. +After I left you five years ago I went to a famous German surgeon and +put my plea to him. He was as interested as I in the experiment, and you +see the result. The operations required a period of two years in order +to give nature a chance to have the body recuperate in the interim +between experiments. As you see me now I am without any parts except +those absolutely essential to life. One exception to this however, are +my eyes. I did not yet wish to be shut off from the outer world by all +of the senses. The artificial internal organs I dare not remove as I do +my appendages for they are necessary to my life. The crowning operation +of all was a pump replacing my heart. This pump is a simple double valve +mechanism which circulates the small amount of blood required for my +torso, head and arm. Look here!” + +As he spoke he proceeded to reattach the artificial members. After he +had again thus assumed semblance to human form he called attention to +something David had not noticed before, a flat object lying upon his +chest. + +“This is the control board,” he explained. “With the exception of the +right arm I now move my body by electricity. The batteries are concealed +within a hollow below the hip of my right leg. Behold in me an +artificial man who lives and breathes and has his being with a minimum +of mortal flesh! My various parts can be mended and replaced as you +would repair the parts of your automobile.” + +During Gregory’s recital David had not withdrawn his fascinated but +horrified eyes from the mechanical man. Invulnerable and almost +immortal, this creature was existing as a menace to mankind, a self-made +Frankenstein. When he was again complete he stood before David, a +triumphant gleam in the eyes which alone, unchanged physically, were yet +scarcely recognizable as Gregory’s, for the soul that peered through +these windows was transformed. + +In the gathering gloom Bell could see the automaton staring at him. He +moved slowly toward a window hoping to elude his antagonist by a sudden +exit in that direction, but Gregory crept toward him with a clock-like +precision in his movements. The doctor noticed that the right hand was +kept busy manipulating the control board at his chest. If this were the +case, the interloper possessed only one free arm, but little had Bell +reckoned on the prowess of that left arm! Like the grip of a vise the +metallic fingers clutched at his throat. One thought pervaded his mind. +If he could get that right hand away from the control and damage the +connections to the various appendages and organs! But he soon realized +how futile were his weaponless hands against the invulnerable body of +his adversary. Down, down, those relentless claws bore him. The darkness +fell about him like a heavy curtain. A throbbing in his temples that +sounded like a distant pounding. Then oblivion. + + +The Thread Snaps +---------------- + +When David Bell regained consciousness he was lying in his bed. The +bright sunlight shining through the curtains made delicate traceries +across the counterpane. His first thought was that this was heaven by +contrast to the events of his last conscious moments. Surely that was an +angel hovering above him! No—at least not in the ethereal sense—but an +angel nevertheless, for it was Rosalind, her sweet face beaming with +love and solicitude. + +“Mr. Stevens and I have been watching by your side for hours, David +dear,” she said as she placed a cool hand upon his brow. “You have him +to thank for saving your life, not only at the time of the attack, but +during the uncertain hours that have followed.” + +David turned grateful eyes toward his rescuer. + +“Tell me about it, Lucius,” he said quietly. + +Stevens seated himself in a chair by the bedside and proceeded with this +narrative. + +“After that demon you called Gregory ordered me from the room, Dr. Bell, +I turned over in my mind what had better be done to save you from his +vengeance. I thought it advisable to say nothing at the time to Mrs. +Bell because I did not wish to alarm her unnecessarily, but I knew that +when I forced entrance into the room, it must be with adequate +assistance, and within a very short period of time. I made my way to the +office as quickly as I could without arousing suspicion. Miss Cullis was +at the desk. Knowing I could rely on her natural calmness of demeanor +and self-possession, I told her briefly of the danger which threatened +you, then I phoned police headquarters. Before ten minutes were over +Copeland and Knowles had arrived armed with automatics and crow-bars. I +carried an axe. Cautiously we made our way to the door of the operating +room and stood without, listening. We heard no sounds of voices and +Copeland wanted to force entrance immediately, but I held him in +temporary restraint. I wanted to obtain some cue as to conditions on the +other side of the door before taking drastic measures. But thanks to +Copeland’s impatience we broke down the door and saw—I shall never +forget the sight till my dying day—that fiend of hell with his talons +gripping your throat. He was evidently somewhat deaf for he heard no +motion of our approach. We closed in on him from the rear, but he swung +around with such force in that left arm that we all went down like ten- +pins. Knowles, as soon as he was on his feet again, struck him several +times with the bar, but his efforts were wasted, for he might as well +have rained blows upon a stone wall. Copeland aimed for his head in +which he knew was encased a mortal brain, but that blow was avoided by +the monster’s ever active legs and arms. I was reserving my axe for a +telling stroke, when it came upon me with sudden clarity of +understanding, that the man governed his movements by manipulating the +fingers of his right hand upon a place of control at his breast. His +right arm and the switch board! These were the vulnerable parts. At last +I had found the heel of Achilles! + +“While Gregory was occupied with his other two antagonists I dealt a +sudden stroke with the axe at his right hand, but missed, the weapon +falling heavily upon his chest. My first emotion was disappointment at +having missed my mark but in another second I realized that the blow had +disabled him. The left arm hung useless at his side, but what prowess it +lacked was made up in the increased activity of the legs. He ran, and +never have I seen such speed. He would have made Atalanta resemble a +snail! However, three against one put the odds too heavily in our favor. +Between lurches and thrusts at the flying figure I managed to convey to +the two policemen my discovery in regard to his mortal points, and we +soon had his trusty right arm disabled. The rest was comparatively easy. +We dismembered him. We did not want to kill him, but it was soon +apparent to us that the damage done to the control board would prove +fatal. He wanted to speak, but his voice was faint, and stooping I could +barely get the words. + +“‘Tell David,’ he said, ‘that I’ve been wrong, dead wrong ever since I +was carried off the field in that football game. I had been right at +first. Mental perfection does make the physical harmonious, and with the +right mental attitude after that accident, I could have risen above the +physical handicap. It was not the physical loss of my leg that brought +me to this. _It was the mind that allowed it to do so._ Tell David and +Rosalind I am sorry for the past, and I wish them much happiness for the +future!’ Those were his last words.” + +David Bell and his wife looked at each other with tear-dimmed eyes. + +Next day the “slender thread” which had held George Gregory to this +world was laid in its last resting place, but the soul which had +realized and repented of its error, who knows whither it went? + + +[Transcriber’s Note: This story appeared in the Fall, 1929 issue of +_Science Wonder Quarterly_ magazine.] + + + + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 76114 *** |