Moreover, I gave him credit for an
exceptional amount of insight. Call it super-instinct, or what you
will, the fellow's intellect was transcendental.
Once having decided that it must be a battle of wits I took a step
which may seem, at first, a little peculiar.
I called upon a certain lady to whom I shall give the name of
Clarke, since that is not the correct one. I took her fully and
frankly into my confidence. It is the only way, when dealing with
a practitioner. And since, like most of my fellow citizens, she
had heard something of the come and go, elusive habits of our men,
together with the Holcomb affair, it was easy for her to
understand just what I wanted.
"I see," she mused. "You wish to be surrounded by an influence
that will not so much protect you, as vitalise and strengthen you
whenever you come in contact with Avec. It will be a simple
matter. How far do you wish to go?" And thus it was arranged, the
plan calling for the co-operation of some twenty of her
colleagues.
My fellow engineers may sneer, if they like. I know the usual
notion: that the "power of mind over matter" is all in the brain
of the patient. That the efforts of the practitioner are merely
inductive, and so on.
But I think that the most sceptical will agree that I did quite
right in seeking whatever support I could get before crossing
swords with a man as keen as Avec.
Pages:
162
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
170
171
172
173
174
175
176
177
178
179
180
181
182
183
184
185
186