The Devolutionist and the EmancipatrixFlint, Homer Eon
Science
The Devolutionist and the Emancipatrix
Flint, Homer Eon
Life on other planets -- Fiction; Science fiction
He indicated another of the little books. "I think we will do well
to investigate a planet which the Venusians call 'Sanus.' It belongs
to the tremendous planetary family of the giant star Arcturus. I
haven't read any details at all; I didn't want to know more than
you. We can proceed with our discoveries on an equal footing."
"But," objected Smith, recalling the previous methods, "how are we
to put our minds in touch with any of theirs, unless we know enough
about them to imagine their viewpoints?"
"Our knowledge of their planet's name and location," replied the
doctor, "makes it easier for us. All we have to do is to go into the
telepathic state, via the Venusian formula; then, at the same time,
each must concentrate upon some definite mental quality, some
particular characteristic of his own mind, which he or she wishes to
find on Sanus. It makes no difference what it may be; all you have
to do is, exert your imaginations a little."
There was a pause, broken by Smith: "We ought to tell each other
what we have in mind, so that we don't conflict."
"Yes. For my part," said the doctor, "I'd like to get in touch with
a being who is mildly rebellious; not a violent radical, but a
philosophical revolutionist. I don't care what sort of a creature
he, she, or it may be, so long as the mind is in revolt against
whatever injustice may exist."
"Then I," stated Smith, "will stick to the idea of service." Nobody
was surprised that the engineer should make such a choice; he was,
first, last, and all the time, essentially a useful man.
Van Emmon was not ready with his choice. Instead: "You say, doc,
that you know nothing further about Sanus than what you've already
told us?"
"I was about to mention that. The Venusians say that conditions are
reversed from what we found on Capellette. Instead of Sanus being
ruled by a small body of autocrats, it is--ruled by the working
class!"
"Under the circumstances," said Van, "I'll take something different
from what I got last time. No imperiousness this trip." He smiled
grimly. "There was a time when I used to take orders. Suppose you
call my choice 'subordinacy.'"
"How very noble of you!" gibed Billie. "My idea is supremacy, and
plenty of it! I want to get in touch with the man higher up--the
worker who is boss of the whole works!" She flashed a single glance
at her husband, then threw herself back in her chair. "Go ahead!"
And before two minutes were up, the power of concerted thought,
aided by a common objective and the special electrical circuit which
joined them, had projected the minds of the four across the infinite
depths of space. The vast distance which separated their bodies from
Sanus was annihilated, literally as quick as thought.
Neither of the four stirred. To all appearances they were fast
asleep. The room was quite still; only the clock ticked dully on the
wall. Down-stairs, the doctor's wife kept watch over the house.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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