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in 1827, could show up alive in the pocket universes of the
Lords, I don't know. Maybe Farmer will explain it in the
next book. What, if I may inquire, is your interest in these
two myth-makers, since you're a psychiatrist?"
"They figure in a paper I'm working on," Doctor Porsena
said. "If the paper is published, I'll send you a copy."
After he hung up, the doctor sat for a long time. He told
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PHILIP JOSE FARMER
RED ORC'S RAGE
himself: Take as a premise that parallel worlds and artificial
pocket universes were a reality. Premise that there really are
Lords. Premise also that Blake had somehow acquired some
knowledge of these. Jim's theory that Farmer had learned of
them through psychic "leaks" or "vibrations" in the walls
between those worlds and Earth's might have some
validity if the premise was valid. Accept for a moment
that Blake had also gotten images or some kind of data
through these leaks. They had formed the bases from which
sprang his Didactic and Symbolical Works.
Blake, an acknowledged genius and perhaps a madman,
had mixed his knowledge of the Thoan worlds with Judaeo-
Christian theology and other subjects. The result was the
Works, a mishmash of truth and poetry and mysticism and
allegory.
But how could Farmer, an American writer born ninety-
one years after Blake's death, have also tuned in, as it were,
to much the same data? There were certain similarities in
the lives of Blake, Farmer, and Crimson. All three had had
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vivid visions or strong hallucinations. Blake and Grimson
had first experienced them when very young. Fanner had
had them when he was an adult. He claimed to have seen
ghosts on two occasions and to have had two mystical
experiences. None of the three had been on drugs when
these happened.
Did this tenuous connection among the three mean
anything? Were there parallel universes which all three had
somehow "contacted"?
No, no, no! He, Doctor Porsena, could not accept as
valid either the premises or the conclusions therefrom. The
most rational explanation was that Blake had originated his
wild poetry with no help from vibrations, transmissions, or
leaks. Fanner had based part of his series on Blake's works.
And Jim Grimson had read at least some of Blake's words.
272
But he did not remember having done so. After all, Jim
admitted several times that he often read while he was
stoned or drunk.
Yet . . . there were the whiplash cuts. But there was no
reason stigmata could not produce incisions in flesh.
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There was his claim to be expert in flint-working and to
know certain data about advanced chemistry. These could
be tested.
Also, he claimed to be fluent in Thoan. That could be
checked. No eighteen-year-old ignorant of linguistics could
make up a language that would be self-consistent in syntax
and vocabulary and pronunciation. Nor would he have a
Lord word stock.
There was one disturbing fact. Porsena's keen ear had
noticed that, when Jim had rattled off those Thoan phrases,
he had pronounced the "r" in Ore in a most un-English
manner. It had sounded to Porsena like a Japanese "r,"
though not quite that. And his "t" when followed by a
vowel had not been aspirated. That is, the little puff of air
following the consonants had been missing. That was not
Jim's native pronunciation.
The doctor did not believe that Jim was faking anything.
Jim really believed his stories. However, the human mind
was capable of very strange and, indeed, unbelievable feats.
If anyone should know that, a psychiatrist should.
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If the tests were to be done, they would be carried out
discreetly. It would not be good for any psychiatrist's
professional reputation if his colleagues thought that he was
taking Jim's claims seriously. But if it did become known
that such tests were being conducted, some kind of satis-
factory explanation could be offered for doing them. Such
as a study of the psychological bases for the patient's
delusions, their history, and so forth. That was legitimate.
For the time being, such a project would be in abeyance.
273
PHILIP JOSE FARMER
What he had to concentrate on now was seeing that the
patient was "cured" or in remission.
Winnie's voice came over the intercom then.
"Mister Grimson is here. Doctor."
"Send him in, please."
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Jim entered the room and sat down after greeting the
psychiatrist. On the whole, he looked healthy and confi-
dent. The dark rings around his eyes were gone. He was
smiling. But Porsena knew that Jim could put up a convinc-
ing front. On the other hand, he might not be frightened. He
might even be eager to live with the Wyzaks and have a
near-normal life. His true attitude would be revealed during
the session.
"I still can't get over it!" Jim burst out. "Who'd've
dreamed that my father'd suddenly be sorry for what he's
done to me? I never imagined, no way, that he'd cry like a
baby and get down on his knees and beg me to forgive him!
I still can't believe that he really means it! Next time, he'll
be the same old son of a bitch he's always been!
"And I was overcome by emotion! I actually forgave
him, and I meant it! Then! But I still hold a lot of things
against him!"
"I've not treated your father. Thus, I have only a
superficial knowledge of his character and his motives. But
my own experience and reading of case histories convince
me that such reversals of behavior do occasionally occur."
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He was thinking that Eric's remorse and plea for forgive- [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]