Extraterrestrial beings -- Fiction; Life on other planets -- Fiction; Mars (Planet) -- Fiction; Science fiction
The ape nodded, and then, very laboriously: “I will not harm you.”
At a sign from Ras Thavas the attendants removed the bonds and the
creature sat up. It stretched its limbs and slid easily to the floor,
where it stood erect upon two feet, which was not surprising, since the
white ape goes more often upon two feet than six; a fact of which I was
not cognizant at the time, but which Ras Thavas explained to me later in
commenting upon the fact that the human subject had gone upon all fours,
which, to Ras Thavas, indicated a reversion to type in the fractional
ape-brain transplanted to the human skull.
Ras Thavas examined the subject at considerable length and then resumed
his examination of the human subject which continued to evince more
simian characteristics than human, though it spoke more easily than the
ape, because, undoubtedly, of its more perfect vocal organs. It was only
by exerting the closest attention that the diction of the ape became
understandable at all.
“There is nothing remarkable about these subjects,” said Ras Thavas,
after devoting half a day to them. “They bear out what I had already
determined years ago in the transplanting of entire brains; that the act
of transplanting stimulates growth and activity of brain cells. You will
note that in each subject the transplanted portions of the brains are
more active—they, in a considerable measure, control. That is why we
have the human subject displaying distinctly simian characteristics,
while the ape behaves in a more human manner; though if longer and
closer observation were desirable you would doubtless find that each
reverted at times to his own nature—that is the ape would be more
wholly an ape and the human more manlike—but it is not worth the time,
of which I have already given too much to a rather unprofitable
forenoon. I shall leave you now to restore the subjects to anaesthesia
while I return to the laboratories above. The attendants will remain
here to assist you, if required.”
The ape, who had been an interested listener, now stepped forward. “Oh,
please, I pray you,” it mumbled, “do not again condemn me to these
horrid shelves. I recall the day that I was brought here securely bound,
and though I have no recollection of what has transpired since I can but
guess from the appearance of my own skin and that of these dusty corpses
that I have lain here long. I beg that you will permit me to live and
either restore me to my fellows or allow me to serve in some capacity in
this establishment, of which I saw something between the time of my
capture and the day that I was carried into this laboratory, bound and
helpless, to one of your cold, ersite slabs.”
Ras Thavas made a gesture of impatience. “Nonsense!” he cried. “You are
better off here, where you can be preserved in the interests of
science.”
“Accede to his request,” I begged, “and I will myself take over all
responsibility for him while I profit by the study that he will afford
me.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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