Jigsaw

by Tom McMorrow

ARRIVALS AND DEPARTURES

Spaceport Chicago, February 26, 2168…. DEPARTING–Spaceliner American Beauty, Galactic Spaceways, for Mars. Scheduled to arrive Spaceport New Dallas May 14. Eighty-seven passengers. Captain Anthony Kostov in Command.

FROM THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

BULLETIN

THE SPACELINER AMERICAN BEAUTY CRASHED IN FLAMES TODAY ON THE LANDING FIELD AT NEW DALLAS, MARS. OFFICIALS OF GALACTIC SPACEWAYS STATED THAT LOSS OF LIFE WAS QUOTE LIMITED UNQUOTE. NO FURTHER DETAILS IMMEDIATELY AVAILABLE.

TRANSCRIPT

May 27, 2168–The following conversation between the spaceliner American Beauty and GCA, Spaceport New Dallas, Mars, was recorded 5/14/2168 and played at the official inquiry today:

KOSTOV: Calling GCA. This is Kostov in American Beauty calling GCA New Dallas. Do you read me? Come in, GCA. Over.

GCA: GCA to American Beauty. You’re in the screen. Come in. All clear for landing. Over.

KOSTOV: Check. Coming in. Speed now ten thousand. Over.

GCA: You are now visible in northern sky. Will have drink ready. Over.

KOSTOV: That you, Ralph?

GCA: Yeah, Tony. Welcome back. Will you have that with soda or on the rocks?

KOSTOV: Straight, with a blonde chaser, if you don’t mind. You say you can see me?

GCA: Like Sirius on a clear night. Only one problem.

KOSTOV: What’s that?

GCA: You’re smack in between me and that girl in Omaha. I wish you wouldn’t block the view like that.

KOSTOV: I’ll take my hat off. Better?

GCA: Much. Say, what’s that light on your starboard side?

KOSTOV: Light? There shouldn’t be any….

(AN EXPLOSION, FOLLOWED BY SOUND OF ROARING FLAME)

GCA: Tony! What happened? GCA calling American Beauty!

JENSEN: Stewardess to pilot! Stewardess to pilot! The starboard fuel tank’s exploded! Fire in passageway!

KOSTOV: Activate all extinguishers–clear the passengers forward–I’m going to close the emergency bulkheads.

GCA: My God, it’s a ball of fire! Tony, can you make it?

KOSTOV: I can make anything. If it gets hot enough I’ll spit on it and put it out–Pilot to naviga-

NOTE: At this point American Beauty’s radio went out.

BOARD FINDING: Flippant attitude of ship-to-port conversation to be deplored. On the basis of this and other evidence, however, the official finding of this Board is No Negligence. Accident due solely to mechanical failure.

GALACTIC SPACEWAYS, INC.
Office of the Personnel Director
6/4/68

STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL:

Interviewed employee A. Kostov relative to the unfortunate business of 5/14/68 in which thirty-six passengers and two crewmen lost their lives. Gave him the news that he is through as a pilot, due to the fact that we feel the experience has broken his nerve. Offered him a desk job, which he declined as expected. Accepted his resignation, effective immediately.

COMMENT: Entire incident most unfortunate. Understand that the Line might lose passengers to Interplanetary Transport Service if the American Beauty pilot continued to operate our ships, but regret this loss of a valuable employee. Of course he will not be taken on by any other line, but the profession will be the poorer for the absence of this talented, fearless pilot. On the personal level, hope that this man of whom all associates were fond will not take out his understandable bitterness in any violent manner.

A. J. Bannerman,
Director of Personnel

FROM THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

DEATH KNELL OF SPACESHIPS SEEN POSSIBLE

New York, Sept. 12–Speculation was rife in scientific circles this week over reports that a workable converter-transmitter may soon be a practical reality. Should this prove true the spaceship, a travel fixture for two centuries, would soon be obsolete.

The principle of the converter-transmitter, long known to scientific enthusiasts, is that of television carried a step farther. As television converts voices and images into electrical impulses and beams them to a receiving set which reassembles the picture and voice which started out, solid objects are converted, transmitted and reassembled by this mechanism.

Clearly, workable converter-transmitters would quickly cause the spaceship to become outmoded, as they would transmit anything and everything at the speed of light. The moon could be reached in less than two seconds, Mars in four minutes.

The great question is whether humans could endure the stress of such an experience. The current speculation has been caused by rumors that a leading scientific foundation has secretly started human experimentation with a converter transmitter.

YOUNG MAN WANTED to Take Part in Scientific Experiment. Must Be Healthy, Intelligent, Accustomed to Dangerous Work.
Pay Is Generous.
Write Box W2714, Chicago.

PEIFFER SCIENCE FOUNDATION

PROGRESS REPORT
PROJECT 3889,
NICHOLAS GARSKI,
DIRECTOR
12 SEPT., 2168

Concluded interviewing of volunteers. Believe the right man has been found. Name–Anthony Kostov. Claims to be a former space pilot. Feel that he is the perfect subject–age 28, physically and morally tough. Most important, however, he is obviously under a compulsion to prove his courage, due to some incident in his recent past. This compulsion should prove helpful in case he learns what happened to Sartorius–Garski.

REPORT

FROM: Council Member #7

TO: The Science Council

SUBJECT: Peiffer Converter-Transmitter

1. Verified rumor that Nicholas Garski, director of experiment, plans to use human subject again, despite Council ruling after the Sartorius incident. He admits this intention, defies Council to stop him.

2. Ruled that all activity in connection with this experiment be halted pending investigation and ruling of the full Council.

3. Strongly urge that:

MEMORANDUM

FROM: The Science Council

TO : Anthony Kostov, c/o Peiffer Science Foundation

The attached medical record is forwarded for your attention.

(Signed) Robert Shepard,
President

STATE NEURO-PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITAL
EVANSTON, ILL.

Case History: 8739

Name: Sartorius, Steven

Date of Admission: Dec. 18, 2166

Age at Date of Admission: 25

Patient was employed by Peiffer Science Foundation as electronic engineer for six years, following graduation summa cum laude from Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Worked under Dr. Nicholas Garski on the Peiffer converter transmitter for the three years immediately prior to his mental collapse. No evidence of psychiatric disturbance during these years, in college or in childhood.

On Dec. 15, 2166, Sartorius placed himself in the converter-transmitter and acted as a human guinea pig in an experiment. Appeared dazed but unhurt after the experience and was placed in bed. Arose late at night, however, and returned to the laboratory.

Questioned by a night watchman, he attacked and strangled the man. In the morning he was found, in excellent spirits, working on the machine. At his feet was the dead body of the watchman.

Patient cannot be classified as paranoic, as there are no persecution delusions, nor does he exhibit symptoms of hebephrenia or catatonia. Is cool, lucid at all times, but totally unable to distinguish right from wrong. Inclines toward capricious violent outbursts of the most vicious sort, as above.

Diagnosis: Insane, Unclassified. Dangerous.

Prognosis: Incurable.

PEIFFER SCIENCE FOUNDATION

PROGRESS REPORT
PROJECT 3889,
NICHOLAS GARSKI,
DIRECTOR
27 SEPT., 2168

Those bumbling amateurs on the Science Council are throwing every possible roadblock in my path. But they will not stop me. A Council member inspected the laboratory last week, ordered me to suspend all operations, even took care that the complete medical dossier on Sartorius was sent to my volunteer. When the volunteer showed it to me I freely admitted the accuracy of the record. Told him that if he were afraid, he could withdraw and I would understand. This brought him quickly into line. My theory as to his compulsion was evidently well-founded. As to the suspension of operations, I shall see to it that it is strictly temporary.–Garski

PERSONAL

To: Mr. Robert Shepard

It is regrettable that your organization has seen fit to interfere with my work. If it comes to the hearing before the full Council, I suppose I shall be forced to bring out the facts about some unfortunate medical experiments at the University forty-two years ago. Of course this might not bother the august President of the Council. Perhaps he likes to be reminded of carefree student days….

G.

DIRECTIVE

FROM: THE PRESIDENT OF THE SCIENCE COUNCIL

TO: All Members

29 SEPT., 2168

SUSPENSION OF OPERATIONS ON PROJECT 3889, PEIFFER SCIENCE FOUNDATION, IS REVOKED EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY AND EXPERIMENTATION WILL BE PERMITTED TO PROCEED UNHINDERED.

SHEPARD,
PRESIDENT.

PERSONAL

Mr. Ralph Watson
Ground Control Approach Division
Spaceport New Dallas, Mars

Dear Ralph:

I may be seeing you sooner than you expect. Maybe you’ve read the rumors about converter-transmitter experiments in the facsimile papers. Well, that’s me, baby. I’m the human cannonball that they’re going to shoot through space.

You’ve heard of the Peiffer Foundation. They turned out that stepped-up atomic fuel a couple of years ago. Well, they’re my new bosses, and an old bird by the name of Garski is getting ready to load me into his cannon. And the target is Mars.

So if you hear somebody go shooting by your window one of these nights, hollering, “Look, Ma–no rocket ship!” that’ll be your old buddy.

I’m not exactly crazy about this Garski character–he looks at you like you were an interesting smear under a microscope–but I’m not getting paid to love him. I’m getting paid to take a chance, and the money’s good–enough to buy me a tramp ship so I can start my own little line when this is over.

And speaking of lines, tell our friend Bannerman I’ll be glad to hold him on my lap on the return trip–that is, if he’s got the nerve.

See you soon, buddy.
Tony

PEIFFER SCIENCE FOUNDATION

PROGRESS REPORT
PROJECT 3889,
NICHOLAS GARSKI,
DIRECTOR
4 OCT., 2168

All is in readiness for the final step in the experiment. The volunteer has signed a waiver of all claims save that of payment, the mechanism has been triple-checked in test runs with inanimate solids. Tomorrow at approximately 2:30 p.m. Central Standard Time the Earth will come into the ideal juxtaposition with Mars. I am confident that the adjustments I have made in the resistor coils and elsewhere will eliminate all shock to the subject and success will be mine. But twenty-four hours from now and a galaxy will echo to the name of–Garski

PEIFFER SCIENCE FOUNDATION

FINAL REPORT
PROJECT 3889,
NICHOLAS GARSKI,
DIRECTOR
5 OCT., 2168

(Note: This report made by Laboratory Technician D. J. Williams in the absence of Dr. Garski, for the record. Complete report will be made by the Doctor upon his return.)

Project 3889 was today completed. Result: Failure. The subject Kostov has been found insane and removed under guard. Dr. Garski left the laboratory in a highly agitated state immediately after the experiment and has not returned. It might be observed by one who was present at both experiments that the eyes of the subject Kostov were of the same lifeless glassiness as those of Sartorius after the first experiment in ’66.

FROM THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

UNIDENTIFIED BODY DISCOVERED

Chicago, Oct. 6–The body of an elderly man was found floating in Lake Michigan this morning by fishermen. There was no identification on the body, but the clothing seemed to indicate a hospital or laboratory worker. Suicide was indicated by an unsigned note in a pocket reading, “I know now what I have done and it is unthinkable.”

THE JOURNAL OF STEVEN SARTORIUS

Oct. 6, 2168…. There is another nearby like myself. I can feel its presence. This is great news–the time approaches! Soon I will no longer have to while away the hours by writing these pages and then destroying them before the guards come around. For this other must sense my presence too, and working together, we will quickly escape this house of madness.

They have put it in the compartment next to mine. That is excellent. I will communicate with it by wall-taps, and we will soon devise a code. Once this is done, I will communicate to it my plan for overpowering the night guard and we will be away from this place.

Away–free–free of these fools who class us with lunatics. And of them all, Garski was the greatest fool. I hear the guards in the hall saying he destroyed himself when the second experiment failed.

Failed, he thought! A fool to the end. It succeeded! Just as the first one did, it succeeded.

An answer so beautifully simple, and he never saw it. Garski the perfectionist, meticulously checking each last detail. And not seeing the most important fact of all.

Of course the machine works–up to a point. The body that is assembled in the receiving set is physically complete. Atoms and molecules can be converted into electrical impulses and beamed through space, for atoms and molecules are solids. But a soul is not.

There is more to a man than atoms and molecules, and that is why I am not a man, although I have a man’s body. Thanks to Garski’s machine, I am the first of all time to be free of that foul encumbrance men call a soul. The chains of conscience struck off, I am free to destroy those who oppose me, to kill–to conquer!

Yes–conquer. For there will be more of us when we have escaped this prison. I know how to build the machine. And I hear the guards saying this other is strong and bold. That is well. What a combination we will make, I to create the supermen of tomorrow and my new brother to lead them! A terrible army of soulless creatures to enslave these weaklings that call themselves men.

Wait! Do I hear a faint tapping? Yes, it is trying to contact me already. I come, brother, I come…!

STATE NEURO-PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITAL

Evanston, Illinois
Nov. 7, 2168

To All Staff Members–CONFIDENTIAL

The escape of the inmates Sartorius and Kostov will not be discussed with members of the press. The salient facts, i. e. vital statistics on the dead guard Rasmussen, exact time of the escape, etc., have already been announced by this office and it is felt that further discussion of the matter would only lead to unnecessary speculation.

Louis Ashley,
Administrator.

CRASHAW, KY

Augest 22, 2170

Deer Bessy,

How you ben? i am fine hope to See you Soon. Caint see you nex Sardy nigt tho. am gon up with a bunch of the boys to see them funny fellows Tony an Steve. They got som graet tricks you kno. Best ones a big black box wher one sets in it and tother pushes a swich an he dispears. Aint nowhers about–you can hunt all you plees. Then all at wonce hes back alaffin like all get out.

Corse they ack kinda crazy but there a barel of fun. Next Sardy nigt they say there gon let me an the boys set in the box. So when i see you i will let you kno how it feels to dispear. Hope i dont lose nothin in the prosess if you kno what i mean. Ha. ha.

Rufe

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