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Chapter 10. De Profundis · The Land of Mist

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Chapter ten of the Land of Myst. This is a LibriVox recording. All
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LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer,
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please visit LibriVox dot org. Read by George Banfield, recorded in Somerset,
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England, October twenty twenty three. The Land of Myst by Sir Arthur Conan
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Doyle, Chapter ten De Profundis. They were still having tea when mister Charles
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Mason was ushered in. Nothing draws people together into such intimate, sold to
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sole relationship as psychic quest, And thus it was that Roxton and Malone,
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who had only known him in the one episode, felt more near to this
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man than others with whom they had associated for years. This close, vital
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comradeship is one of the outstanding features of such communion. When his loosely built,
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straggling, lean clerical figure appeared with that gaunt worn face, illuminated by
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its human grin and dignified by its earnest eyes through the doorway, they both
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felt as if an old friend had entered. His own greeting was equally cordial,
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still exploring, he cried as he shook them by the hand. We
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will hope your new experiences will not be so nerve racking as are last by
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jove Padre said Roxam, I've worn out the brim of my hat taken it
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off to you. Since then, Why what did he do, asked missus
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Maylie. No, no, cried Mason. I tried in my poor way
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to guide a darkened soul. Let us leave it at that. But that
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is exactly what we are here for now, and what these dear people do
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every week of their lives. It was from mister Maylie here that I learned
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how to attempt it. Well, certainly we have plenty of practice, said
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Maylie. You have seen enough of it, Mason to know that. But
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I can't get the focus of this at all, cried Malone. Could you
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clear my mind mind a little on the point, I accept for the moment
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to your hypothesis that we are surrounded by material, earth bound spirits who find
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themselves under strange conditions which they don't understand, and who want counsel and guidance.
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That more or less expresses it, does it not? The Melees both
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nodded their agreement. Well, their dead friends and relatives are presumably on the
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other side, and cognisant of their benighted condition. They know the truth.
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Could they not minister to the wants of these afflicted ones far better than we
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can? It is a most natural question, mainly answered. Of course,
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we put that objection to them, and we can only accept their answer.
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They appear to be actually anchored to the surface of this earth, too heavy
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and gross to rise. The others are, presumably on a spiritual level,
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and far separated from them. They explain that they are much nearer to us,
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and that they are cognisant of us, but not of anything higher.
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Therefore it is we who can reach them best. There was one, poor
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dear dark soul. My wife loves everybody and everything, malely explained, she
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is capable of talking of the poor dear devil. Well, surely they are
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to be pitied and loved, cried the lady. This poor fellow was nursed
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along by us week by week. He had really come from the depths.
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Then one day he cried, in rapture, my mother has come. My
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mother is here, we naturally said, But why did she not come before?
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How could she said he when I was in so dark a place that
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she could not see me. That's very well, said Malone. But so
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far as I can follow your methods, it is some guide or control or
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highest spirit who regulates the whole matter and brings the sufferer to you. If
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he can be cognisant, one would think other higher spirits could also be.
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No, for it is his particular mission, said Mailie, to show how
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marked the divisions are. I can remember one occasion when we had a dark
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soul here. Our own people came through and did not know he was here
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until we called their attention to it. When we said to the dark soul,
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don't you see our friends beside you? He answered, I can see
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a light, but nothing else. At this point the conversation was interrupted by
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the arrival of mister John Turbine from Victoria Station, where his mundane duties lay.
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He was dressed now in civil garb, and appeared as a pale,
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sad faced, clean shaven, plump featured man with dreamy, thoughtful eyes,
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but no other indication of the remarkable uses to which he was put. Have
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you my record, was his first question. Missus Maylie, smiling, handed
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him an envelope. We kept it all ready for you, but you can
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read it at home, you see, She explained, poor mister Turbine is
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in trance and knows nothing of the wonderful work of which he is the instrument.
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So after each sitting, my husband and I drew up an account for
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him. Very much astonished I am when I read it, said Turbain,
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and very proud I should think, added Mason. Well, I don't know
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about that, turban answered humbly. I don't see that the tool need be
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proud because the worker happens to use it. Yet it is a privilege,
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of course, good old Turbine, said Meylie, laying his hand affectionately on
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the row woman's shoulder. The better the medium, the more unselfish. That
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is my experience. The whole conception of a medium is one who gives himself
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up for the use of others, and that is incompatible with selfishness. Well,
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I suppose we had better get to work, or mister Chang will scold
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us. Who is he asked malone, Oh, you will soon make the
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acquaintance of mister Chang. We need not sit round the table. A semicircle
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round the fire does very well lights half down. That is all right.
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You will make yourself comfortable. Turbine snug among the cushions. The medium was
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in the corner of a comfortable sofa and had fallen at once into a doze.
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Both Mainly and Malone sat with notebooks upon their knees, awaiting developments they
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were not long in coming. Turbane suddenly sat up, his dreamy self transformed
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into a very alert and masterful individuality. A subtle change had passed over his
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face. An ambiguous smile fluttered upon his lips. His eyes seemed more oblique
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and less open, his face projected. The two hands were thrust into the
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sleeves of his blue lounge jacket. Good evening, said he, speaking crisply
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and in short, staccato sentences. New faces, Who these Good evening,
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chang, said the master of the house. You know mister Mason. This
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is mister Malone, who studies our subject. This is Lord Roxton, who
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has helped me today. As each name was mentioned, Turbain made a sweeping,
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aurear gesture of greeting, bringing his hand down from his forehead. His
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whole bearing was superbly dignified, and very different from the humble little man who
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had sat down a few minutes before. Lord Roxton. He repeated an English,
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malrd I knew Lord Lord mac cart. No I cannot say it alas
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I called him foreign devil. Then Chang too had much to learn. He
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is speaking of Lord McCartney. That would be over a hundred years ago.
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Chang was a great living philosopher. Then Meily explained, not lose time,
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cried the control. Much to do today, crowd waiting, some new,
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some old. I gather strange folk in my net. Now I go.
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He sank back among the cushions. A minute elapsed, then he suddenly sat
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up. I want to thank you, he said, speaking perfect English.
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I came two weeks ago. I have thought over all. You said,
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the path is lighter. Were you the spirit who did not believe in God?
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Yes? Yes, I said so in my anger, I was so
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weary, so weary. Oh the time, the endless time, the gray
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mist, the heavy weight of remorse, hopeless, hopeless, And you brought
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me comfort, you and this great Chinese spirit. You gave me the first
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kind words I have had since I died. When was it that you died?
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Oh? It seems an eternity. We do not measure as you do.
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It is a long, horrible dream without change or break. Who was
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king in England. Victoria was queen. I had attuned my mind to matter,
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and so it clung to matter. I did not believe in a future
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life. Now I know that I was all wrong, but I could not
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adapt my mind to new conditions. Is it bad where you are? It
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is all all gray, That is the allful part of it. One's surroundings
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are so horrible. But there are many more. You are not alone,
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no, but they know no more than I. They too scoff and doubt
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and are miserable. You will soon get out, for God's sake. Help
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me to do so, poor soul, said missus Maylie, in her sweet,
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caressing voice, a voice which could bring every animal to her side.
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You have suffered much, but do not think of yourself. Think of these
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others. Try to bring one of them up, and so you will best
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help yourself. Thank you, lady. I will. There is one here
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whom I brought. He has heard you. We will go on together.
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Perhaps someday we may find the light. Do you like to be prayed for?
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Yes? Yes, indeed I do. I will pray for you,
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said Mason. Could you say the our Father? Now? He uttered the
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old universal prayer, But before he had finished, Turbine had clas again among
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the cushions. He sat up again as Chang. He come on, well,
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said the control. He give up time for others who wait. That
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is good. Now I have hard case. Ow. He gave a comical
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cry of disapprobation and sank back. Next moment he was up, his face
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long and solemn, his hands palm to palm. What is this, he
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asked in a precise and affected voice. I am at a loss to know
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what right this Chinese person has to summon me here. Perhaps you can enlighten
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me. It is that we may perhaps help you when I desire help,
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Sir, I ask for it. At present I do not desire it.
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The whole proceeding seems to me to be a very great liberty. So far
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as this Chinaman can explain it, I gather that I am the involuntary spectator
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of some sort of religious service. We are a spiritualistic circle, a most
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pernicious sect, a most blasphemous proceed read as a humble parish priest. I
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protest against such desecrations. You are held back, friend, by those narrow
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views. It is you who suffer. We want to relieve. You suffer
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what do you mean, sir? You realize that you have passed over?
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You are talking nonsense. Do you realize that you are dead? How can
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I be dead when I am talking to you? Because you are using this
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man's body. I have certainly wandered into an asylum. Yes, an asylum
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for bad cases. I fear you are one of them. Are you happy
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where you are happy? No, sir, My present surroundings are perfectly inexplicable
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to me. Have you any recollection of being ill? I was very ill,
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indeed so ill that you died. You are certainly out of your senses.
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How do you know you are not dead? Sir? I must give
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you some religious instruction. When one dies and has led an honor life,
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one assumes a glorified body, and one associates with the angels. I am
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now in exactly the same body as in life, and I am in a
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very dull, drab place. Such companions as I have are not such as
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I have been accustomed to associate with in life, and certainly no one could
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describe them as angels. Therefore, your absurd conjecture may be dismissed. Do
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not continue to deceive yourself. We wish to help you. You can never
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progress until you realize your position. Really you try My patience? Too far?
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Have I not? Said? The medium fell back among the cushions.
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An instant later, the Chinese control, with his whimsical smile and his hands
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tucked away in his sleeves, was talking to the circle. He good man,
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fool man, learn sense, soon bring him again, not waste more
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time. Oh my god, my god, help, mercy, help.
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He had fallen full length upon the sofa, face upwards, and his cries
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were so terrible that the little audience all sprang to their feet. A saw,
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a saw fetcher, saw, yelled the medium. His voice sank into
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a moan. Even Meylie was agitated. The rest were horrified. Some one
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has obsessed him. I can't understand it. It may be some strong evil
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entity. Shall I speak to him, asked Mason. Wait a moment,
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let it develop. We shall soon see The medium writhed in agony. Oh
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my god, why didn't you fetch a saw? He cried, It's here
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across my breastbone. It is cracking. I feel it. Hawkin, hawkin,
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pull me from under, hawkin, push up the beam. No,
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no, that's worse. And it's on fire. Oh horrible, horrible.
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His cries were blood curdling. They were all chilled with horror. Then in
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an instant, the Chinaman was blinking at them with his sla auntine eyes.
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What do you think of that, mister Maylie? It was terrible? Chang?
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What was it? It was? For him, nodding towards Malone.
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He wants newspaper story. I give him newspaper story. He will understand.
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No time explained, Now, too many waiting, sailor man come next,
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Here he comes. The chinaman was gone, and a jovial, puzzled grin
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passed over the face of the medium. He scratched his head. Well,
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damn me, said he. I never thought I would take orders from a
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chink, But he says hist and by crumbs, you've got to hist and
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no back talk, Heather. Well here, I am. What did you
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want? We wanted nothing? Well the chink seemed to think you did,
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for he slung me in here. It was you that wanted something. You
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wanted knowledge. Well, I've lost my bearings, that's true. I know
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I am dead because I've seen the gunnery lieutenant and he was blown to bits
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before my eyes. If he's dead, I'm dead And all the rest of
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us, for we are over to the last man. But we've got the
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laugh on our sky pilot, for he's as puzzled as the rest of us.
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Damned, poor pilot, I call him. We're all taking our own
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sounding. Now, what was your ship, the Monmouth she that went down
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in battle with the German? That's right, South American waters. It was
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clean hell, Yes, it was hell. There was a world of emotion
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in his voice. Well, he added more cheerfully. I've heard our mates
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got level with them later. That is so, sir, is it not.
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Yes, they all went to the bottom. But you've seen nothing of
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them this side just as well. Maybe we don't forget nothing, but you
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must said. Maybe that's what is the matter with you. That is why
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the Chinese control brought you through. We are here to teach you. Carry
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our message to your mates. Bless your hearts, sir. They are all
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here behind me. Well, then, I tell you and them that the
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time for hard thoughts and worldly strife is over. Your faces are to be
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turned forward, not back. Leave this earth which still holds you by the
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ties of thought, and let all your desire be to make yourself unselfish and
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worthy of a higher, more peaceful, more beautiful life. Can you understand?
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I hear you, sir, so do they? We want steering,
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sir, for indeed, we've had wrong instructions, and we never expected to
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find ourselves cast away like this. We had heard of heaven and we had
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heard of hell, but this don't seem to fit in with either. But
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this Chinese gent says time is up and we can report again next week.
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I thank you, sir, for self and company. I'll come again.
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There was silence. What an incredible conversation, gasped Malone. If I were
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to put down that man's sailor talk and slang as emanating from a world of
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spirits, what would the public say? Mainly shrugged his shoulders. Does it
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matter what the public says? I started as a fairly sensitive person, and
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now a tank takes as much notice of small shot as I do of newspaper
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attacks. They honestly don't even interest me. Let us just stick fast to
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truth as near as we can get it, and leave all else to find
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its own level. I don't pretend to know much of these things, said
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Roxton, But what strikes me most is that these folk are very decent,
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ordinary people. What why should they be wandering about in the dark and hauled
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up here by this chinaman when they've done no particular harm in life. It
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is the strong earth tie and the absence of any spiritual nexus. In each
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case mainly explained. Here is a clergyman with his mind entangled with formulas and
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ritual Here is a materialist who has deliberately attuned himself to matter. Here is
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a seaman brooding over revengeful thoughts. They are there by the million million,
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Where, asked Malone? Here Meilee answered, actually on the surface of the
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earth. Well, you saw it for yourself. I understand when you went
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down to Dorsetshire that was on the surface, was it not. That was
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a very gross case, and that made it more visible and obvious. But
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it did not change the general law. I believe that the whole globe is
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infested with the earth bound, and that when a great cleansing comes, as
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is prophesied, it will be for their benefit as much as for that of
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the living. Malone thought of the strange visionary Miramar and his speech at the
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spiritualistic church on the first night of his quest. Do you then believe in
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some impending event he asked, mainly smiled. That is rather a large subject
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to open up. He said, I believe. But here is mister Chang
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again the control joined in the common station. I heard you. I sit
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and listen, said he. You speak now of what is to come,
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Let it be, Let it be. The time is not yet. You
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will be told when it is good. That you know. Remember this,
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all is best. Whatever come, all is best. God makes no mistakes.
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Now others here who wish your help. I leave you. Several spirits
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came through in quick succession. One was an architect who said that he had
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lived at Bristol. He had not been an evil man, but had simply
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banished all thoughts of the future. Now he was in the dark and needed
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guidance. Another had lived in Birmingham. He was an educated man, but
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a materialist. He refused to accept the assurances of mainly and was by no
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means convinced that he was really dead. Then came a very noisy and violent
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man of a crudely religious and narrowly intolerant type, who spoke repeatedly of the
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blood. What is this ribled nonsense? He asked several times. It is
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not nonsense. We are here to help, said Mailie. Who wants to
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be helped by the devil? Is it likely that the devil would wish to
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help souls in trouble? It is part of his deceit, I tell you
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it is of the devil. Be warned. I will take no further part
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in it. The placid, whimsical chinaman was backed like a flash good man,
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foolish man. He repeated once more, plenty time. He learned better.
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Some day now I bring bad case, very bad case. Ah.
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He reclined his head in the cushion and did not raise it as the voice,
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a feminine voice, broke out, Janet, Janet. There was a
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pause, Janet, I say, where is the morning tea? Janet?
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This is intolerable. I have called you again and again. Janet. The
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figure sat up, blinking and rubbing his eyes. What is this, cried
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the voice. Who are you? What right have you here? Are you
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aware that this is my house? No friend? This is my house,
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your house? How can it be your house when this is my bedroom?
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Go away this moment, No friend, you do not understand your position.
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I will have you put out what insolence? Janet? Janet? Will no
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one look after me this morning? Look round you, lady? Is this
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your bedroom? Turbine looked round with a wild stare. It is a room
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I never saw in my life. Where am I? What is the meaning
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of it? You look like a kind lady. Tell me, for God's
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sake, what is the meaning of it? Oh? I am so terrified,
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so terrified? Where are John and Janet? What do you last remember?
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I remember speaking severely to Janet. She is my maid. You know
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she has become so very careless. Yes, I was very angry with her.
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I was so angry that I was ill. I went to bed feeling
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very ill. They told me that I should not get excited. How can
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one help getting excited? Yes, I remember being breathless. That was after
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the light was out. I tried to call Janet. But why should I
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be in another room? You passed over in the night? Passed over?
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Do you mean I died? Yes, lady, you died. There was
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a long silence. Then there came a shrill scream. No, no,
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no, it is a dream, a nightmare. Wake me, wake me?
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How can I be dead? I was not ready to die. I
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never thought of such a thing. If I am dead, why am I
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not in heaven or hell? What is this room. This room is a
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real room. Yes, lady, you have been brought here and allowed to
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use this man's body. A man. She convulsively felt the coat and passed
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her hand over the face. Yes, it is a man. Oh,
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I am dead. I am dead? What shall I do? You are
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here that we may explain to you. You have been, I judge,
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a worldly woman, a society woman. You have lived always for material things.
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I went to church, I was at since Savior's every Sunday. That
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is nothing. It is the inner daily life that counts. You are material.
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Now you are held down to the world. When you leave this man's
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body, you will be in your own body once more, and in your
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old surroundings, but no one will see you. You will remain there,
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unable to show yourself. Your body of flesh will be buried, will still
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persist the same as ever. What am I to do? Oh? What
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can I do? You will take what comes in a good spirit, and
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understand that it is for your cleansing. We only clear ourselves of matter.
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By suffering. All will be well. We will pray for you. Oh
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do oh I need it? So? Oh, my God. The voice
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trailed away. Bad case said the chinaman sitting up, selfish woman, bad
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woman, live for pleasure, hard on those around her. She have much
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to suffer, but you put her feet on the path. Now, my
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medium tired plenty waiting, but no more today have we done good? Chang,
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plenty good, plenty good? Where are all these people? Chang,
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I tell you before, Yes, but I want these gentlemen to hear.
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Seven spears run the world heaviest below, lightest above. First sphere is on
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the earth. These people belong to that sphere. Each sphere is separate from
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the other. Therefore, it is easier for you to speak with these people
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than for those in any other sphere, and easier for them to speak to
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us. Yes, that why you should be plenty careful when you do not
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know to whom you talk. Try the spirits. What sphere do you belong
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to? Chang? I came from number four sphere, which is the first
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really happy sphere number three summer Land. Bible Book called it the third heaven.
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Plenty sents in Bible book, but people do not understand. And the
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seventh heaven Ah, that is where the Christs are all come there at last
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you me everybody, and after that, too much question mister Maylie, poor
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old Chang not knows so much as that. Now good bye, God bless
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you. I go. It was the end of the sitting of the rescue
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circle. A few minutes later, Turbain was sitting up, smiling and alert,
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but with no apparent recollection of anything which had occurred. He was pressed
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for time and lived afar, so that he had to make his departure unpaid,
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save by the blessing of those whom he had helped modest little unveenal man.
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Where will he stand when we all find our real places in the order
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of creation? Upon the further side. The circle did not break up at
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once. The visitors wanted to talk, and the mailies to listen what I
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mean, said Roxton. It's deuced interestin and all that, But there is
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a sort of variety show element in it. What difficult to be sure it's
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really real if you take what I mean, that is what I feel,
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also said Malone. Of course, on its face value, it is simply
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unspeakable. It is a thing so great that all ordinary happenings become commonplace.
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That I grant. But the human mind is very strange. I've read the
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case Morton Prince examined, and Miss Beecham and the rest also the results of
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Charcot the Great Nancy Hypnotic School. They could turn a man into anything.
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The mind seems to be like a rope which can be unraveled into its various
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threads. Then each thread is a different personality, which may take traumatic form
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and act and speak as such. That man is honest, and he could
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not normally produce these effects. But how do we know that he is not
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self hypnotized? And that under those conditions one strand of him becomes mister Chang,
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and another becomes a sailor, and another a society lady, and so
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forth. Malee laughed, every man his own Jinqua Valley said he. But
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it is a rational objection and has to be met. We have traced some
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of the cases, said, missus maylie. There is not a out of
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it. Names addresses everything. Well, then we have to consider the question
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of Turbain's normal knowledge. How can you possibly know what he has learned?
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I should think a railway guard is particularly able to pick up such information.
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You have seen one sitting mainly answered if you had been present at as many
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as we and noted the cumulative effect of the evidence, he would not be
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skeptical. That is very possible, Malone answered, and I dare say,
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my doubts are very annoying to you. And yet one is bound to be
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brutally honest in a case like this. Anyhow, whatever the ultimate cause,
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I have seldom spent so thrilling an hour. Heavens if it only is true.
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And if you had a thousand circles instead of one, what regeneration would
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result that will come? Said mainly in his patient, determined fashion. We
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shall live to see it. I am sorry. The thing has not forced
28:56
conviction upon you. However, you must come again. But it so chanced
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that a further experience became unnecessary. Conviction came in a full flood, and
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in a strange fashion. That very evening. Malone had hardly got back to
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the office and was seated at his desk drawing up some sort of account from
29:15
his notes of all that had happened in the afternoon when Mailey burst into the
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room, his yellow beard bristling with excitement. He was waiving an evening news
29:25
in his hand. Without a word, he seated himself beside Malone and turned
29:30
the paper over. Then he began to read accident in the city. This
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afternoon, shortly after five o'clock, an old house said to date from the
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fifteenth century suddenly collapsed. It was situated between Lesser Coleman Street and Elliott Square
29:48
and next door to the Veterinary Society's headquarters. Some preliminary crackings warned the occupants,
29:55
and most of them had time to escape. Three of them, however,
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James Beale, William Mawson, and a woman whose name has not been
30:03
ascertained, were caught by the falling rubbish. Two of these seemed to have
30:07
perished at once, but the third, James Beale, was pinned down by
30:11
a large beam and loudly demanded help. A saw was brought and one of
30:17
the occupants of the house, Samuel Hawkin, showed great gallantry in an attempt
30:22
to free the unfortunate man. Whilst he was sawing the beam, however,
30:26
a fire broke out among the debris around him, and though he persevered most
30:30
manfully and continued until he was himself badly scorched, it was impossible for him
30:36
to save Beale, who probably died from suffocation. Hawkin was removed to the
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London Hospital, and it is reported tonight that he is in no immediate danger.
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That's that said maylie folding up the paper. Now, mister Thomas Didymus,
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I leave you to your conclusions. And the enthusiast vanished out of the
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office as precipitately as he had entered. End of Chapter ten