Too close to the forest
By Bryce Walton & Al Reynolds
The dazzling difference between failure and
success hung from a spidery thread. And
established a barrier no ESP could sever.
We roll out the red carpet for Bryce Walton and Al Reynolds. New to us—but not to you. Their's is the delicate tale of a sensitive mind, the mind of Dr. Marsten who tried frantically to reach his colleagues. Only to prove that over-familiarity with a subject, reiteration of detail, may obliterate the essential vital point to success of a great scientific experimentation.
[Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from
Fantastic Universe July 1954.
Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that
the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.]
I won't forget that evening of the big experiment. If the truth is ever known about that evening maybe the world will never forget it either. I got there first, and went into the hall they'd let Dr. Marsten have for the evening on the Revere University Campus. Dr. Marsten was sitting there alone behind a table with a few papers in front of him. A single lamp burned that spotlighted his face like some old classic sculpture in a gallery.
That's the way I remember him. Small, with delicate yet lined features, and his hair, still dark, and his eyes bright and even darker from peering beyond the frontiers of the human mind.
I never saw him again after that night, not in any way I want to remember.
He offered his hand. It was hot and damp and shaking a little. Tension had drawn his mouth tight, even when he managed to smile at me and indicate a chair. I sat down.