The Edge Of Beyond, page 13
`You mean, you took a recording,' said Rex.
`Oh no. This is direct reception.'
`How, without a record, can you hear what was broadcast some time ago?'
`The sound is only just reaching us. That is what I mean when I say that sounds are sometimes late, the period of the delay being in ratio with the distance the sound has to travel. In the case of Lodna transmissions are received a day late. Some are even later. All remote broadcasts lose a little in volume, too, how much depending on distance. We shall overcome these minor difficulties in course of time, no doubt, but at present we know of nothing that travels faster than our radio ray.'
`I would like to know how this miracle was achieved,' said the Professor.
`What is a miracle?'
`A manifestation for which there is no logical explanation within the limits of our knowledge.'
`Ah!' Multavo thought for a few seconds. 'I'm afraid the explanation is so technical, and would take so long to tell, that you would be confused before I had finished. I can only say that all these signals, both sound and vision, are beamed on natural rays. In other words, they are propelled on electro-rockets which occur everywhere in the Universe. The big problem is how to guide a sound in the desired direction.'
`A thought occurs to me,' said the Professor pensively. 'You say you suspect you have sometimes picked up signals from Earth?'
`Yes.'
`Then on Earth we may have picked up your signals.'
`Certainly, if your receivers have reached the necessary degree of efficiency. If at present they fall short of that the day will come, as your receivers improve, when you will hear us.'
`Then, having a mutual language, we shall be able to talk to each other,' said Rex, struggling to keep pace with such astounding possibilities.
`I do not see why we should not make such contact.'
`For some time I have had a suspicion that confused sounds picked up by our receivers were not what they were thought to be,' said the Professor. 'For want of a better name they have been called interference, or atmospherics due to abnormal meteorological conditions. It has more than once struck me that they might be miscellaneous transmissions from Outer Space, perhaps at the extremity of their effective range.'
`Interference would still be the right word,' said Multavo, thoughtfully. 'We know that electrical disturbances occur in space, and these would certainly affect reception except by the most perfect receivers. At times when transmissions are being made simultaneously by several planets any interference in transit would result in incomprehensible signals. Even we sometimes receive signals that are unintelligible. Where they come from we don't know. Once, for a time, we were receiving what were definitely spoken words from a region in which our astronomers could find no trace of a body of any sort.'
`How did you account for that?'
`There could be only one explanation. The transmissions were made some time in the past by a body that had ceased to exist. Either it had destroyed itself, or had been destroyed, by forces beyond its control. Such things do happen, as you must know.'
`Yes, we were aware of that,' agreed the Professor, soberly. `Our name for these exploding worlds is Nova.'
`It is a possible end that we all must face.'
`We know that, too, although most people on Earth choose to ignore it.'
`Well, as we are still here, so far we have been fortunate,' said Multavo, cheerfully. 'It is a strange thought that should disaster overtake Terromagna, Earth may at some future time receive signals transmitted by us here during our period of existence. But from what Vargo has told me you may be the first to go. You are, I gather, at the most perilous period of evolution, experimenting with forces you do not fully understand. But all must pass through that stage.'
What shook Rex was the calm way Multavo spoke of such shattering possibilities. That, he could only suppose, came with advanced knowledge and acceptance of facts.
`This is where you experts strain to the limit my mediocre intelligence,' said Toby, sadly.
`It is rather overwhelming, I must confess,' conceded the Professor.
`Then let us return to matters that put less strain on the imagination,' requested Toby. 'I have had about as many shocks as I can stand for one afternoon.'
Multavo smiled again. 'Very well. Would you like us to move on to a subject within your own particular province —what you call medicine?'
`I would at least be able to keep up with you.'
`Perhaps so, perhaps not,' replied Multavo, softly. 'That will depend on how far you have advanced in medical science. If it has gone no farther than the subject we have just discussed you should prepare yourself for further surprises.'
The Professor looked suspiciously at Vargo who, throughout the demonstrations, had remained unmoved. 'I believe you knew all about these things before you brought us here.' Multavo answered. 'Vargo has never been here although I have often pressed him to come.'
`When did you press him to come?'
`On occasional visits to my old home in Mino. There we were boys together. Lately we have talked much of what was being done here.'
`Vargo, why didn't you tell us of what was in store for us?' scolded the Professor.
Vargo registered one of his rare smiles. 'I couldn't resist the temptation of watching your surprise when you were shown these wonders,' he admitted, frankly. 'Don't begrudge me my innocent little secret.'
`I forgive you,' said the Professor.
`What would you like to do now?' inquired Multavo. `Would you like to continue, or would you rather retire to our guesthouse to rest for a while before doing so?'
`How long have we before darkness falls?' asked the Professor.
`A very long time. This is a big planet and we revolve slowly, so, as you will understand, our days and nights are periods much longer than those of the smaller worlds to which you are accustomed. Here, naturally, our periods of sleep have become adjusted to them.'
`In that case I suggest we carry on,' said the Professor, looking at the others for confirmation. 'On the way here we may have done more sleeping than was good for us.'
This was agreed, Vargo remarking that as they could not stay for very long they might as well see as much as possible.
`I will lead the way,' said Multavo.
14 More wonders
Subdued by what they had seen, as obedient as a class of students the Professor's party followed Multavo out to the car, which at a touch sped away with its curious gliding motion due to a complete absence of vibration. It kept on the big broad thoroughfare, which presently skirted one of the astrodromes. Here there was a good deal of activity. Three large ships were on the ground, being unloaded, and another was just coming down.
A little to one side was what looked like a long, covered, but open-sided market, where, on stands, was being stacked fruit and vegetables of many colours. These were being examined, and apparently taken away, by a small crowd of women whose bright-hued, robe-like dresses, lent an atmosphere of animated gaiety to the scene.
`Please go slowly,' the Professor requested. 'What is going on here?'
Multavo brought the car slowly to a stop. 'This is one of our several markets,' he announced. 'This is the hour the produce comes in from our neighbour Lena, and, as you see, the housewives come to collect what they require.'
`Can't you grow enough on this big planet to supply your needs?'
`It isn't a matter of quantity,' explained Multavo. 'It happens that Lena is closer to the sun than we are, with the result that it is able at all times to produce fruit which here would perish during our cold season. One of the advantages of constellation unity and interplanetary transportation is that one is always able to supply the needs of the others. Between us all we cover every possible variation of weather. The seasons vary, both in temperature and duration, so it would be a remarkable coincidence if the harvest were bad everywhere at the same time.'
`Wonderful ... wonderful,' breathed the Professor. 'You are opening my eyes to the possibilities, the realities, to which a sane civilization can aspire.'
`We are not yet perfect,' replied Multavo. 'We still have a few problems to solve. You cannot have a perfect world until the people on it are perfect.'
`Are you all perfect here?'
`No. Most people are happy and contented, but there sometimes appears one who lapses back to one of the bad old impulses. We shall get over that in time. You will see.'
The car moved on.
`Before I leave I'd like to see what sort of engine you have in this car,' said Tiger.
`There is no engine,' answered Multavo. 'We don't use engines here.'
The car glided on, soon to pull up before another imposing building fronted by immaculate beds of exotic-looking flowers. The same procedure as before was followed, their guide leading the way to a spacious corridor with doors on either side. Here he hesitated for a little while as if in doubt about something.
Then, addressing Toby he said : Not knowing how much knowledge you have I don't know whether to make a demonstration first or prepare you by an explanation of what you will see.'
`I must leave that to you,' answered Toby.
`We will go on,' decided Multavo. 'We can discuss any matters not clear to you as we proceed.'
He opened a door and took them into a hall in which the most outstanding furniture consisted of what looked like a row of dentists' chairs. There were at least a dozen of them, each one surrounded by dials and meters and a maze of wires of different sizes and colours. Over each seat was suspended what appeared to be an inverted metal basin. On the back of each chair was a large label carrying what was presumably a symbol in the Terromagnian language. This, of course, meant nothing to Rex.
Multavo stopped by one of the chairs and the others gathered round him as he began to speak.
`I think it is unlikely that you have anything like this on Earth,' he said, looking at Toby.
`No.'
`You will not be able to read the labels so I will translate them for you if I can find the right words. That should give you an inkling of the purpose of this apparatus. Reading from left to right the notices read: Avarice, Conceit, Jealousy, Envy, Untruthfulness and Malice. That is the first group. Here in the second group we have Timidity, Weakness of Will, Inconsistency and Indefiniteness — if that is the right word. Now let me explain.
`Even here on Terromagna not everyone is born perfect. Some of the ancient imperfections remain. There is also a risk that on reaching maturity some mental weakness may appear. It may only be slight, but if it is not checked it may develop into a more positive, acute condition. These primitive instincts will no doubt disappear in time, but they still persist, and the process of curing them has been a long one. Here, in what we call the School of Correction, we deal with such mental ailments.
`Are you going to tell me that here you eradicate these instincts ? '
`Not exactly. But here it was recognized long ago that a true civilization is impossible while such weaknesses exist. Consider that most dangerous state called ambition. It can only be realized by inflicting trouble on others. It is the primary cause of that hideous thing called war. If such ugly impulses can be removed without detriment to the man affected it is surely better for the community that it should be done. So it comes to this. Group One removes from the mind the destructive impulses named. Group Two is for character building.'
Multavo studied the faces of his audience to confirm that what he had said was understood.
The Professor spoke. 'But by this method is there not some risk of destroying personality, of reducing everyone to the same level of intelligence?'
`No. Only evil influences are treated. In all other respects a man may go his own way. Proof of the result may be seen here, where everyone is happy and contented. Without the elimination of animal tendencies our civilization could not have been achieved. One bad man can undo the good of many. Our ultimate goal is absolute truth. There can be no progress without truth. Without truth nothing is worth while. How can you have truth while some men are addicted to falsehood?'
`How indeed,' murmured the Professor.
`Do you force people to undergo this treatment?' asked Toby.
`No force is necessary. As soon as a man recognizes a symptom in himself he comes to us. People are taught from childhood that that is the right thing to do; that it is for his own good. Few actually have a mental disease. They merely lack control of their emotions. Take the case of a man or a child who yields suddenly to the temptation to tell a lie. Realizing that he is in moral danger he comes to us.'
There was a short silence.
Multavo went on. 'Our forefathers, who laid the foundations of our civilization, had their share of trouble. They realized that there could be no peace, domestic or national, while people were a prey to evil influences. These conditions are infectious. One bad character can influence others of lower personality. Without some form of treatment the moral character of the entire nation would be likely to deteriorate. The grooves in the minds of those afflicted would become set, and once that happens they cannot be altered.'
`I can't imagine how you first set about this problem,' put in Toby.
`It was first ascertained that nearly all phases of mental activity are external. They occur in the first place outside the brain. The brain is merely the instrument, the vehicle, for keeping them in a concentrated form.'
`You mean, the brain is exposed to an external force?'
`Yes. What these forces are we still do not know except that they appear to spring from a form of electrical impulse. There are men with brains unable to receive these impulses. Alternatively, there are brains strong enough to repulse them. Let us apply the principles of what you call radio. Reception depends on the quality of the receiving apparatus. The failure of a radio receiver to produce results does not necessarily mean that no stations are broadcasting.'
`You are likening a brain to a radio receiver?'
`Yes.'
`If there is no reception it means that something is wrong with the receiver.'
`Exactly. Or put it like this. A receiver out of order can at the best only produce distortions. In the same way, the brain of a man can be so far out of order that it can only receive impulses that are either wicked or ineffectual. If you can repair that brain as you would a radio receiver you get the result desired. So, in brief, the object of the instruments you see here is to eliminate evil thoughts and so leave the brain pure. Is that clear?'
`Yes. I now understand the purpose of the apparatus I see here,' said Toby. 'What I don't understand is how it is possible for a piece of mechanism to sort out the particular characteristic with which it is labelled, without others being affected.'
`Naturally, that would seem puzzling,' conceded Multavo. `How can I explain? Let us return to the radio analogy. You know that several simultaneous broadcast transmissions must each be made on a separate wavelength?'
`Yes.'
`Very well. The different characteristics named on these chairs are carried on different wavelengths — or rather, wave forms. Our instruments can be tuned in to receive or intercept any one of them.'
`I see,' said Toby, slowly.
`Actually they are seldom used nowadays because fewer and fewer people suffer from mental instability or weakness of character. For that satisfactory state of affairs these instruments were responsible. What do you do with a bad man?'
`We put him in prison.'
`Does that cure him?'
`Very seldom.'
`Surely it is more likely to aggravate the disorder?'
`I'm afraid you are right.'
`I could see from the expressions on your faces that you were alarmed by the idea of interfering with a man's brain.'
`Frankly, I was,' admitted the Professor.
`But surely you now agree that our methods of dealing with mental sickness are better? Think what such sickness leads to on some other worlds. I have seen many. War, disease, misery, all brought about by ignorance. It is ignorance that leads to crime. Here there is no crime. But Terromagna is a large world with a large population, not including our neighbours, so it is inevitable that we should sometimes find people not as mentally fit as we would like them to be, or they would like to be. Here they can be treated in the appropriate chair.'
`Then what happens?' asked Toby.
`He stays here, usually for a short time, until the cause of the disorder is removed. There is no pain, although a patient sometimes falls asleep from exhaustion. That is a good sign, because when he awakes he is cured.'
`That is truly marvellous,' said the Professor, with admiration in his voice.
`Are your patients all equally easy to cure?' Toby asked Multavo.
`No. Homicidal and suicidal cases are the worst and must at first be closely watched for fear they might injure the operators. Fortunately such cases are now rare.'
`You appear to have achieved perfection,' opined Toby.
Not yet. But we are perfectionists and hope eventually to reach the ideal state. What you see here is part of our plan to achieve that, for there is no worse form of misery or loneliness than that suffered by those who are mentally ill.'
`But have you no physical ailments?' asked Toby.
`Practically none. We can cure any of those that do occur. But remember, nearly all physical diseases spring from a defect in the brain. It is no use trying to make a body well if the brain is out of order. There are admittedly a few diseases that are purely physical but cures for those were perfected long ago.'
`Well, you have certainly given me plenty to think about,' said Toby. 'I am tempted to ask permission to stay here for a course of study for the benefit of humanity in my part of the Universe.'
`You would be welcome,' asserted Multavo. 'That is what I am doing. I am sure you would be allowed to stay as long as you wished. The more worlds that share our knowledge the less becomes the risk of interplanetary war, which is now our one and only fear. You may be able to teach us a few things. But do not jump to the conclusion that the application of our methods would be easy on a world as backward as Earth. First you would have to educate your people to a high standard or it is unlikely that they would accept proposals which to them would probably sound ridiculous. You might even encounter opposition from members of your own profession who, suffering from pernicious jealousy, would themselves be prospective patients.'
