All in the Mind
By Gene L. Henderson
Illustrated by Paul Orban
[Transcriber Note: This etext was produced from If Worlds of ScienceFiction April 1954. Extensive research did not uncover any evidence thatthe U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.]
Mel felt as if he were floating on clouds in the deepest, most intensedark he had ever experienced. He tried opening his eyes but nothinghappened, only a sharp pain. Little bits of memory flashed back and hetried to figure out what could have happened, where he was.
The last thing he could remember was the little lab hidden back in themountains in an old mine tunnel. Remote, but only an hour's drive fromthe city. What had he been doing? Oh yes, arguing with Neil again. Heeven recalled the exact words.
"Damn it, Mel," his partner had said. "We've gone about as far aspossible working with animal brains. We've got to get a human one."
"We can't," Mel had disagreed. "There'd be enough of an uproar if thepapers got hold of what we've been doing with animals. If we did getsomeone in a hospital to agree to let us use his brain on death, theywould close us up tighter than a drum."
"But our lab's too well hidden, they'd never know."
"It wouldn't work anyway. The brain might be damaged for lack of oxygenand all of our work would go for nothing. Worse, it might indicatefailure where a fresh, healthy brain would mean success."
"We'll never know unless we try," said Neil almost violently, dark eyesglittering. "Our funds aren't going to last forever."
Mel had turned his back and was leaning over the tank where the latestbrain—that from a dog—was lying immersed in the life-giving liquid, athin flickering line of light on the oscilloscope behind the tank theonly indication that the brain was alive.
What had happened then? He thought hard, until a sharp pain and growingheadache almost made him lose consciousness. Either he'd passed out orsomething had happened. Maybe the cave had collapsed the concrete wallsof their lab, although he didn't see how that could have happened.
He became aware of voices, faint at first, then growing stronger. Hestrained to listen and just when it appeared that the words would becomedistinct enough to understand, they faded away. He waited hopefullyuntil they came back. This time he could understand words and parts ofsentences.
"... connect this first and...."
"No, be careful. Too much voltage would ruin everything and we'd haveto...."
"Where does this connection go, here?"
The other voice boomed in then, deep vibrations feeling as if they wouldshatter his brain. There was a frantic quality in the words.
"No, no, you fool, don't...." A penetrating pain knifed through Mel'shead and he tried to scream but heard nothing but a loud buzzing. Hewelcomed the loss of consciousness as it blanketed him.
He struggled back to consciousness once more, a voice calling over andover in a monotone. "Mel, Mel Carlson. Can you hear me, Mel? Mel, MelCarlson. Can you hear me, Mel?" he list