head reeled, and through a blurred mist he saw the figure of the white rabbit. The white rabbit was growing . The furry body was larger. It slipped out of Barsac's hands and crouched on the floor, looming upwards as it swelled and grew.
Its long white ears were melting into a skull that in itself was changing. The pink muzzle blended back into the face. The rabbit's eyes were moving farther apart and a mouth sprang into prominence above a suddenly protruding chin.
There was something terribly familiar about the rabbit's face. Jerome strove to cleanse his mind of loathing and concentrate upon recognition. He had seen that face before and he knew that he must remember whose it was.
Then, in a wave of supreme terror, he recognized the face upon the rabbit.
It was his own —
Doctor Jerome didn't tell Barsac about his dreams. But Barsac must have noted his pallor and the dark pouches under his eyes, and drawn his own conclusions.
"I fear my accommodations are not of the best," he said, over the breakfast table. "It is my hope that you will soon become accustomed to the simple life. After we begin working together, things will probably adjust themselves, no?"
"No," said Doctor Jerome. "And what makes you think I'm going to work with you?"
"But of course you are going to work with me, my friend," Barsac declared. "It was for this reason I asked you to come here. I appreciate your brilliance, my friend, and I need your talents badly here.
"I have waited for you before resuming my experiments so that we could complete the final steps together. I realize that you were shocked by what I showed you last night, but I trust your reason has prevailed over your emotions.
"Together we can carry this experiment to its ultimate conclusion. Up to now I have produced monstrosities — and then managed to reproduce my own physical characteristics in a group of animals. I can go farther than that, I think. I have evolved a refinement of my technique. Using other animals than rats, I hope to make the changes and keep them alive.
"Then I can determine whether I have transmitted a portion of my mind as well as a force that changes the bodies to resemble me. You perceive the significance?"
Doctor Jerome did not look as though he perceived anything except a most unpleasant prospect. He shook his head slowly. "I — I can't," he murmured.
"Wait, you misunderstand! I shall not ask you to submit to hypnosis if you do not wish to. I shall take that risk myself. All I desire is that you remain here and help to supervise the work, take notes, and act as a scientific witness to corroborate my findings."
"It's no use, Barsac." Doctor Jerome did not attempt to disguise the disgust that worked in his features. "I can't stand it — I won't set foot in that laboratory again."
Barsac clucked sympathetically. "You will get over your aversion," he predicted. "And, I hope, soon. For I shall now proceed with the last experiment. If it succeeds — and I know it will — you must be convinced. And if you are convinced, you can carry on alone."
"Carry on? Alone?"
Barsac lowered his head. The little fat man addressed the wall rather than his breakfast companion.
"Yes. I am not long for this earth, my friend. The doctors, they tell me of my heart. The strain of long experimentation has taken its toll. And this last one may well prove to be the end of further work, if not the end of my life itself. No, Jerome, a man cannot give of his soul and retain life for long."
Doctor Jerome stared at Barsac's earnest face. Barsac avoided his gaze and continued.
"That is why I invited you and asked you to consider working with me.
When I die, I wish that you will carry on my work. For the sake of our friendship, and because of my respect for your abilities and brilliance. Have no fear, whether you choose to enter the laboratory or not, I have compiled all of the notes and data necessary for you to take over.
"And one thing more." Barsacs voice was quite faint. "I
Its long white ears were melting into a skull that in itself was changing. The pink muzzle blended back into the face. The rabbit's eyes were moving farther apart and a mouth sprang into prominence above a suddenly protruding chin.
There was something terribly familiar about the rabbit's face. Jerome strove to cleanse his mind of loathing and concentrate upon recognition. He had seen that face before and he knew that he must remember whose it was.
Then, in a wave of supreme terror, he recognized the face upon the rabbit.
It was his own —
Doctor Jerome didn't tell Barsac about his dreams. But Barsac must have noted his pallor and the dark pouches under his eyes, and drawn his own conclusions.
"I fear my accommodations are not of the best," he said, over the breakfast table. "It is my hope that you will soon become accustomed to the simple life. After we begin working together, things will probably adjust themselves, no?"
"No," said Doctor Jerome. "And what makes you think I'm going to work with you?"
"But of course you are going to work with me, my friend," Barsac declared. "It was for this reason I asked you to come here. I appreciate your brilliance, my friend, and I need your talents badly here.
"I have waited for you before resuming my experiments so that we could complete the final steps together. I realize that you were shocked by what I showed you last night, but I trust your reason has prevailed over your emotions.
"Together we can carry this experiment to its ultimate conclusion. Up to now I have produced monstrosities — and then managed to reproduce my own physical characteristics in a group of animals. I can go farther than that, I think. I have evolved a refinement of my technique. Using other animals than rats, I hope to make the changes and keep them alive.
"Then I can determine whether I have transmitted a portion of my mind as well as a force that changes the bodies to resemble me. You perceive the significance?"
Doctor Jerome did not look as though he perceived anything except a most unpleasant prospect. He shook his head slowly. "I — I can't," he murmured.
"Wait, you misunderstand! I shall not ask you to submit to hypnosis if you do not wish to. I shall take that risk myself. All I desire is that you remain here and help to supervise the work, take notes, and act as a scientific witness to corroborate my findings."
"It's no use, Barsac." Doctor Jerome did not attempt to disguise the disgust that worked in his features. "I can't stand it — I won't set foot in that laboratory again."
Barsac clucked sympathetically. "You will get over your aversion," he predicted. "And, I hope, soon. For I shall now proceed with the last experiment. If it succeeds — and I know it will — you must be convinced. And if you are convinced, you can carry on alone."
"Carry on? Alone?"
Barsac lowered his head. The little fat man addressed the wall rather than his breakfast companion.
"Yes. I am not long for this earth, my friend. The doctors, they tell me of my heart. The strain of long experimentation has taken its toll. And this last one may well prove to be the end of further work, if not the end of my life itself. No, Jerome, a man cannot give of his soul and retain life for long."
Doctor Jerome stared at Barsac's earnest face. Barsac avoided his gaze and continued.
"That is why I invited you and asked you to consider working with me.
When I die, I wish that you will carry on my work. For the sake of our friendship, and because of my respect for your abilities and brilliance. Have no fear, whether you choose to enter the laboratory or not, I have compiled all of the notes and data necessary for you to take over.
"And one thing more." Barsacs voice was quite faint. "I
Similar Books
