The Kingdom of the Blind
By GEORGE O. SMITH
[Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from
Startling Stories, July 1947.
Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that
the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.]
CHAPTER I
Amnesiac!
Doctor Pollard, psychologist, seemed puzzled.
"This has happened before," he remarked.
"Too often," said the director of the laboratory.
Doctor Pollard nodded in silent agreement. He faced the well-dressedman seated asprawl in the chair before him and asked, "You have neverheard of James Forrest Carroll?"
"No," said the other man.
"But you are James Forrest Carroll."
"No."
The laboratory director shrugged. "This is no place for me," he said."If I can do anything—?"
"You can do nothing, Majors. As with the others this case is almostcomplete amnesia. Memory completely shot. Even the trained-in mode ofspeech is limited to guttural monosyllables and grunts."
John Majors shook his head, partly in pity and partly in sheerwithdrawal at such a calamity.
"He was a brilliant man."
"If he follows the usual pattern, he'll never be brilliant again,"Doctor Pollard continued. "From I.Q. one hundred and eighty down toabout seventy. That's tough to take—for his friends and associates,that is. He'll be alone in the world until we can bring his knowledgeup to the low I.Q. he owns now. He'll have to make new friends for hisold ones will find him dull and he'll not understand them. His family—"
"No family."
"None? A healthy specimen like Carroll at thirty-three years? No wife,chick nor child? No relations at all."
"Uncles and cousins only," sighed John Majors.
The psychologist shook his head. "Women friends?"
"Several but few close enough."
"Could that be it?" mused the psychologist. Then he answered his ownquestion by stating that the other cases were not devoid of spouse orclose relation.
"I am about to abandon the study of the Lawson Radiation," said Majorsseriously. "It's taken four of my top technicians in the last fiveyears. This—affliction seems to follow a set course. It doesn't happento people who have other jobs that I know of. Only those who are nearthe top in the Lawson Laboratory."
"It might be sheer frustration," offered Dr. Pollard. "I understandthat the Lawson Radiation is about as well understood now as it waswhen discovered some thirty years ago."
"Just about," smiled Majors wearily. "However, you know as well asI that people going to work at the Lawson Laboratory are thoroughlychecked to ascertain and certify that frustration will not drive theminsane.
"Research is a study in frustration anyway, and most scientists arefrustrated by the ever-present inability of getting something withouthaving to give something else up for it."
"Perhaps I should check them every six months instead of every year,"suggested the psychologist.
"Good idea if it can be done without arousing their fears."
"I see what you mean."
Majors took his hat from the rack and left the doctor's office. Pollardaddressed the man in the chair again.
"You are James Forrest Carroll."
"No."
"I have proof."
"No."
"Remove your shirt."
"No."
This was getting nowhere. There had to be a question that could not beanswered with a grunted monosyllable.
"Will you remove your shirt or shall I have it done by force?"
"Neither!"
Tha