ONE OF THE LAST MEN

chapter 7 THE ORIGINS OF A MYSTERY

While the Americans were mobilizing their whole armament, there occurred the really

interesting event of the war. It so happened that an international society of scientific

workers was meeting in England at Plymouth, and a young Chinese physicist had

expressed his desire to make a report to a select committee. As he had been

experimenting to find means for the utilization of subatomic energy by the

annihilation of matter, it was with some excitement that, according to instruction, the

forty international representatives travelled to the north coast of Devon and met upon

the bare headland called Hartland Point.

It was a bright morning after rain. Eleven miles to the north-west, the cliffs of Lundy

Island displayed their markings with unusual detail. Sea-birds wheeled about the

heads of the party as they seated themselves on their raincoats in a cluster upon the

rabbit-cropped turf.

They were a remarkable company, each one of them a unique person, yet

characterized to some extent by his particular national type. And all were distinctively

"scientists" of the period. Formerly this would have implied a rather uncritical leaning

toward materialism, and an affectation of cynicism; but by now it was fashionable to

profess an equally uncritical belief that all natural phenomena were manifestations of

the cosmic mind. In both periods, when a man passed beyond the sphere of his own

serious scientific work he chose his beliefs irresponsibly, according to his taste, much

as he chose his recreation or his food.

Of the individuals present we may single out one or two for notice. The German, an

anthropologist, and a product of the long-established cult of physical and mental

health, sought to display in his own athletic person the characters proper to Nordic

man. The Frenchman, an old but still sparkling psychologist, whose queer hobby was

the collecting of weapons, ancient and modern, regarded the proceedings with kindly

cynicism. The Englishman, one of the few remaining intellectuals of his race,

compensated for the severe study of physics by a scarcely less devoted research into

the history of English expletives and slang, delighting to treat his colleagues to the

fruits of his toil. The West African president of the Society was a biologist, famous

for his interbreeding of man and ape. When all were settled, the President explained the purpose of the meeting. The

utilization of subatomic energy had indeed been achieved, and they were to be given a

demonstration.

The young Mongol stood up, and produced from a case an instrument rather like the

old-fashioned rifle. Displaying this object, he spoke as follows, with that quaintly

stilted formality which had once been characteristic of all educated Chinese: "Before

describing the details of my rather delicate process, I will illustrate its importance by

showing what can be done with the finished product. Not only can I initiate the

annihilation of matter, but also I can do so at a distance and in a precise direction.

Moreover, I can inhibit the process. As a means of destruction, my instrument is

perfect. As a source of power for the constructive work of mankind, it has unlimited

potentiality. Gentlemen, this is a great moment in the history of Man. I am about to

render into the hands of organized intelligence the means to stop for ever man's

internecine brawls. Henceforth this great Society, of which you are the elite, will

beneficently rule the planet. With this little instrument you will stop the ridiculous

war; and with another, which I shall soon perfect, you will dispense unlimited

industrial power wherever you consider it needed. Gentlemen, with the aid of this

handy instrument which I have the honour to demonstrate, you are able to become

absolute masters of this planet."

Here the representative of England muttered an archaism whose significance was

known only to himself, "Gawd 'elp us!" In the minds of some of those foreigners who

were not physicists this quaint expression was taken to be a technical word having

some connexion with the new source of energy.

The Mongol continued. Turning towards Lundy, he said, "That island is no longer

inhabited, and as it is something of a danger to shipping, I will remove it." So saying

he aimed his instrument at the distant cliff, but continued speaking. "This trigger will

stimulate the ultimate positive and negative charges which constitute the atoms at a

certain point on the rock face to annihilate each other. These stimulated atoms will

infect their neighbours, and so on indefinitely. This second trigger, however, will stop

the actual annihilation. Were I to refrain from using it, the process would indeed

continue indefinitely, perhaps until the whole of the planet had disintegrated.There was an anxious movement among the spectators, but the young man took

careful aim, and pressed the two triggers in quick succession. No sound from the

instrument. No visible effect upon the smiling face of the island. Laughter began to

gurgle from the Englishman, but ceased. For a dazzling point of light appeared on the

remote cliff. It increased in size and brilliance, till all eyes were blinded in the effort

to continue watching. It lit up the under parts of the clouds and blotted out the suncast

shadows of gorse bushes beside the spectators. The whole end of the island

facing the mainland was now an intolerable scorching sun. Presently, however, its

fury was veiled in clouds of steam from the boiling sea. Then suddenly the whole

island, three miles of solid granite, leaped asunder; so that a covey of great rocks

soared heavenward, and beneath them swelled more slowly a gigantic mushroom of

steam and debris. Then the sound arrived. All hands were clapped to ears, while eyes

still strained to watch the bay, pocked white with the hail of rocks. Meanwhile a great

wall of sea advanced from the centre of turmoil. This was seen to engulf a coasting

vessel, and pass on toward Bideford and Barnstaple.

The spectators leaped to their feet and clamoured, while the young author of this fury

watched the spectacle with exultation, and some surprise at the magnitude of these

mere after-effects of his process.

The meeting was now adjourned to a neighbouring chapel to hear the report of the

research. As the representatives were filing through the door it was observed that the

steam and smoke had cleared, and that open sea extended where had been Lundy.

Within the chapel, the great Bible was decorously removed and the windows thrown

open, to dispel somewhat the odour of sanctity. For though the early and spiritistic

interpretations of relativity and the quantum theory had by now accustomed men of

science to pay their respects to the religions, many of them were still liable to a

certain asphyxia when they were actually within the precincts of sanctity. When the

scientists had settled themselves upon the archaic and unyielding benches, the

President explained that the chapel authorities had kindly permitted this meeting

because they realized that, since men of science had gradually discovered the spiritual

foundation of physics, science and religion must henceforth be close allies. Moreover

the purpose of this meeting was to discuss one of those supreme mysteries which it

was the glory of science to discover and religion to transfigure. The President thencomplimented the young dispenser of power upon his triumph, and called upon him to

address the meeting.

At this point, however, the aged representative of France intervened, and was granted

a hearing. Born almost a hundred and forty years earlier, and preserved more by

native intensity of spirit than by the artifices of the regenerator, this ancient seemed to

speak out of a remote and wiser epoch. For in a declining civilization it is often the

old who see furthest and see with youngest eyes. He concluded a rather long,

rhetorical, yet closely reasoned speech as follows: "No doubt we are the intelligence

of the planet; and because of our consecration to our calling, no doubt we are

comparatively honest. But alas, even we are human. We make little mistakes now and

then, and commit little indiscretions. The possession of such power as is offered us

would not bring peace. On the contrary it would perpetuate our national hates. It

would throw the world into confusion. It would undermine our own integrity, and turn

us into tyrants. Moreover it would ruin science. And––well, when at last through

some little error the world got blown up, the disaster would not be regrettable. I know

that Europe is almost certainly about to be destroyed by those vigorous but rather

spoilt children across the Atlantic. But distressing as this must be, the alternative is far

worse. No, Sir! Your very wonderful toy would be a gift fit for developed minds; but

for us, who are still barbarians––no, it must not be. And so, with deep regret I beg you

to destroy your handiwork, and, if it were possible, your memory of your marvellous

research. But above all breathe no word of your process to us, or to any man."

The German then protested that to refuse would be cowardly. He briefly described his

vision of a world organized under organized science, and inspired by a scientifically

organized religious dogma. "Surely," he said, "to refuse were to refuse the gift of God,

of that God whose presence in the humblest quantum we have so recently and so

surprisingly revealed." Other speakers followed, for and against; but it soon grew

clear that wisdom would prevail. Men of science were by now definitely

cosmopolitan in sentiment. Indeed so far were they from nationalism, that on this

occasion the representative of America had urged acceptance of the weapon, although

it would be used against his own countrymen. Finally, however, and actually by a unanimous vote, the meeting, while recording its

deep respect for the Chinese scientist, requested, nay ordered, that the instrument and

all account of it should be destroyed.

The young man rose, drew his handiwork from its case, and fingered it. So long did

he remain thus standing in silence with eyes fixed on the instrument, that the meeting

became restless. At last, however, he spoke. "I shall abide by the decision of the

meeting. Well, it is hard to destroy the fruit of ten years' work, and such fruit, too. I

expected to have the gratitude of mankind; but instead I am an outcast." Once more he

paused. Gazing out of the window, he now drew from his pocket a field-glass, and

studied the western sky. "Yes, they are American. Gentlemen, the American air fleet

approaches."

The company leapt to its feet and crowded to the windows. High in the west a sparse

line of dots stretched indefinitely into the north and the south. Said the Englishman,

"For God's sake use your damned tool once more, or England's done. They must have

smashed our fellows over the Atlantic."

The Chinese scientist turned his eyes on the President. There was a general cry of

"Stop them." Only the Frenchman protested. The representative of the United States

raised his voice and said, "They are my people, I have friends up there in the sky. My

own boy is probably there. But they're mad. They want to do something hideous.

They're in the lynching mood. Stop them." The Mongol still gazed at the President,

who nodded. The Frenchman broke down in senile tears. Then the young man,

leaning upon the window sill, took careful aim at each black dot in turn. One by one,

each became a blinding star, then vanished. In the chapel, a long silence. Then

whispers; and glances at the c******n, expressive of anxiety and dislike.

There followed a hurried ceremony in a neighbouring field. A fire was lit. The

instrument and the no less murderous manuscript were burnt. And then the grave

young Mongol, having insisted on shaking hands all round, said, "With my secret

alive in me, I must not live. Some day a more worthy race will re-discover it, but

today I am a danger to the planet. And so I, who have foolishly ignored that I live

among savages, help myself now by the ancient wisdom to pass hence." So saying, he

fell dead