Psychic ability -- Fiction; Science fiction; Telepathy -- Fiction; United States. Federal Bureau of Investigation -- Fiction
Talk like this passed away nearly a half-hour, until Malone finally
felt that it was the right time to introduce some of his real
questions. “Tell me, Sir Lewis,” he said. “Have you had many instances
of a single man, or a small group of men, controlling the actions of a
much larger group? And doing it in such a way that the larger group
doesn’t even know it is being manipulated?”
“Of course I have,” Sir Lewis said. “And so have you. They call it
advertising.”
Malone flicked his cigarette into an ashtray. “I didn’t mean exactly
that,” he said. “Suppose they’re doing it in such a way that the
larger group doesn’t even suspect that manipulation is going on?”
Sir Lewis removed his pipe and frowned at it. “I may be able to give
you a little information,” he said slowly, “but not much.”
“Ah?” Malone said, trying to sound only mildly interested.
“Outside of mob psychology,” Sir Lewis said, “and all that sort of
thing, I really haven’t seen any record of a case of such a thing
happening. And I can’t quite imagine anyone faking it.”
“But you have got some information?” Malone said.
“Certainly,” Sir Lewis said. “There is always spirit control.”
“Spirit control?” Malone blinked.
“Demoniac intervention,” Sir Lewis said. “‘My name is Legion,’ you
know.”
Sir Lewis Legion, Malone thought confusedly, was a rather unusual
name. He took a breath and caught hold of his revolving mind. “How
would you go about that?” he said, a little hopelessly.
“I haven’t the foggiest,” Sir Lewis admitted cheerfully. “But I will
have it looked up for you.” He made a note. “Anything else?”
Malone tried to think. “Yes,” he said at last. “Can you give me a
condensed report on what is known—and I mean _known_—on telepathy
and teleportation?”
“What you want,” Sir Lewis said, “are those cases proven genuine, not
the ones in which we have established fraud, or those still in doubt.”
“Exactly,” Malone said. If he got no other use out of the data, it
would provide a measuring-stick for the Society. The general public
didn’t know that the Government was actually using psionic powers, and
the Society’s theories, checked against actual fact, would provide a
rough index of reliability to use on the Society’s other data.
But spirits, somehow, didn’t seem very likely. Malone sighed and stood
up.
“I’ll have copies made of all the relevant material,” Sir Lewis said,
“from our library and research files. Where do you want the material
sent? I do want to warn you of its bulk; there may be quite a lot of
it.”
“FBI Headquarters, on 69th Street,” Malone said. “And send a statement
of expenses along with it. As long as the bill’s within reason, don’t
worry about itemizing; I’ll see that it goes through Accounting
myself.”
Sir Lewis nodded. “Fine,” he said. “And, if you should have any
difficulties with the material, please let me know. I’ll always be
glad to help.”
“Thanks for your co-operation,” Malone said. He went to the door, and
walked on out.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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