by Stan Mason
‘No, Hyati,’ returned the doctor. ‘I have too many assistants as well. Its a government scheme to establish more scientists for the future. No... I’m in a fix with my research. I’ve come up with a very useful concept which I’ve nick-named “mind-meld” but it’s so complicated I’ve come to an impasse.’
‘Mind-meld? What’s mind-meld, in the name of Allah?’ asked the other man.
Toptaz managed to produce a smile at the expression on Kemal’s face. ‘It’s a means by which one person can transfer his thoughts, and possibly his whole mind, to another person without doing any damage to either brain. The transfer of knowledge allows both brains to absorb the knowledge inside two heads. In layman’s terms, people would become twice as brainy. It would be very useful if the right brains could undertake such transfer but, eventually, everyone in the world would participate to better their knowledge.’
Kemal shook his head slowly. ‘How is that possible? I mean, an individual brain contains emotions, often of a genetic nature passed down through heredity. If the minds of two different people are transferred, it could create chaos in the human system. It could affect the central nervous system. And how does a person dispense with memories which relate to another person from that other person’s life?’
‘Naturally, there are risks. It’s a sensitive concept... a delicate one. But if you consider that problem and proceed no further you may as well bury it because it’s dead. I mean, the world might miss out on one of the most important developments of the millennium.’
‘Very well,’ continued the other doctor tolerantly. ‘Let’s hear the rest of the theory. But don’t expect me to be anything less than critical.’
Toptaz smiled easily. They had spent many hours, sometimes talking right through the night, discussing, debating and arguing about elementary theories. He knew there was no way Kemal would allow him the benefit of the doubt in an new concept if any doubt existed. He would always be there to challenge him. ‘It’s a well-known fact that the brain emits electricity, albeit the power is very low,’ he began slowly. ‘Consequently, such power can’t find anywhere to go and it drifts away... it’s lost. My method is to direct it to another similar unit generating electricity... another brain. I’ve developed a medicinal compound which helps to free brain cells in a semi-hallucinatory form... making them receptive for sending and receiving impulses as well as thoughts and memory of a diverse nature. After taking a dose, it’s necessary for the volunteer to undergo electric-shock treatment to a specific degree to stimulate transmission. Then, two heads placed together will generate electrical energy allowing a transfer of thought from one head to the other. I’d go ahead with the experiment without delay but it’s far too dangerous to perform between two human beings at this early stage. I’ve sounded out some people and they protested vigorously. Tell me, how can I proceed in this important research when my hands are shackled and fettered in this way?’
‘I don’t see any serious problem,’ returned Kemal. ‘All you have to do is to experiment with animals.’
‘If only that were possible. I’m afraid animals wouldn’t react in the same way as human-beings. I’m not certain what effect the medicinal compound or the electric-shock treatment would have on them. They may cause them not to react at all. And there’s no means by which animals could express what was happening at the time of the mind-meld.’
‘What about using an animal and a human-being?’
‘I don’t think so. I thought about it but there’s the danger of memory loss on transfer of thought. A person could end up with the mind of a cat or a rat or a monkey. Without control, one has to expect the worst scenario.’
‘Then try it with a human-being and an inanimate object.’
‘How can that work? How can one transfer thoughts to a lamp-standard or a statue?’
‘No, no, no! I’m talking about living objects... .like flowers, bushes or trees.’
The doctor thought deeply for a moment and stroked his goatee beard gently. ‘I don’t think it would work,’ he commented, ‘but I have to admit the idea is very tempting. A tree is unlikely to transfer thought and, almost certainly, human thought will not be accepted by it, but it may be a starting point. As you say, a tree is living... it has life. I’ll have to think about that one.’
‘Well don’t forget I was the one who advised you,’ laughed Kemal before he went on his way. ‘If you succeed you can put my name in the paper you write to the Central Medical Authority.’
It was a month later when they met in the corridor passing each other to attend different meetings at the University.
‘You used to look tired,’ commented Kemal whimsically. ‘Now you just seem very concerned. How’s the research going on the mind-meld project?’
‘Reasonably well,’ replied Toptaz, although he replied with a degree of hesitancy.
‘You sound as though you’re not terribly certain. Are you still having problems whether to use animals or human-beings? What’s been happening?’
‘I’ve written a log of events as they occurred,’ returned the worried doctor. If you’re really interested you can borrow the folder. You’ll find the contents are extremely interesting ... quite strange.’
‘Strange?’ retorted Kemal. ‘What do you mean by that?’
‘I suggest you collect it from my office later. I’d appreciate your comments after you’ve read the details.’
They continued onwards to their respective meetings but towards the end of the day Kemal visited his colleague’s office, collecting the folder containing details of the experiment eagerly.
‘I’ll let you have this back in the morning,’ he told Toptaz. ‘And don’t think I’m going to be soft or temper my criticism just because it was my idea that you should mind-meld with a tree. Expect the worst!’
‘Glad to hear it,’ laughed the doctor. ‘I’ll be interested to hear your comments.’
When he arrived home, Kemal poured himself a drink and sat comfortably in an armchair. He opened the folder and glanced briefly at the first page. It was different in respect of the other experimental reports written by doctors at the University. Instead of using the official documentation, Toptaz preferred to write a full report on lined paper which bore the simple heading “Mind-meld Project”. Kemal took a deep breath in his excitement and began to read the contents.
‘MIND-MELD PROJECT: EXPERIMENT - ONE
On the sixteenth of September, the very first experiment of mind-melding, of a man with a tree, took place at the far end of Gumbet beach, near Bodrum in Turkey. Ideally, the experiment should have taken place between two human-beings, either two men or two women to avoid complications, but the inherent dangers of exposing two minds at such an early stage in the theory were too great to risk. Ultimately, it was decided to attempt to establish a mind-meld between a man and a tree, on the grounds that both are living entities. However, thoughts and emotions differ so vastly it was anticipated that little would be achieved in such an experiment. It was then that I, Dr. Baris Toptaz, a research professor at the University of Ankara, went to the main hospital in Bodrum where I swallowed a specially-prepared chemical compound which acts similarly to Lycergic Acid Diethylamide (LSD). Its purpose is to free the mind of all inhibitions. (The formula is identified in Appendix A). Shortly afterwards, my assistant supervised the amount of electro-shock treatment (identified in Appendix B) which endorses the effects of the chemical compound. A taxi took me immediately to the far end of Gumbet beach. I was placed beside the selected tree having recovered sufficiently to place my hands on the trunk. Nothing transpired either mentally or physically and, seemingly, the experiment failed. However, within a very short time, I moved my hands and fell forward slightly, still faint from the electro-shock treatment. My head rested on a spot where the bark of the tree had been removed from the trunk and I began to hallucinate in a way expected from the mind-meld
experiment. There were no thoughts transferred to the tree from me or vice versa
...at least I know of no such thought transference ... which is the prime directive of this experiment. Nonetheless, there were sensations and feelings I had never experienced before in my life. Initially, there was knowledge of freedom. Not the sort of freedom one takes for granted in the free world but something which was exciting and glorious... .a constant euphoria enjoyed by people smoking cannabis. Then came the sense of joy which happens when the wind blows and one raises one’s arms and rushes forwards into it. I presume that happens when the wind blows through the branches and leaves. But most of all there existed an inert strength so powerful it was stronger than the might of all the world! After that there was the sense of colour which made everything appear beautiful. It is impossible to explain such feelings in any great detail because there are no words in our language which represent such features. The only danger in such comments is that they may not exist. My mind may have been overwhelmed by the chemical compound and the electro shock treatment which caused me to imagine what happened. All I know is that when I removed my head from the tree-trunk, the sensations vanished immediately. Therefore, I consider that the tree and I were in mind-meld for some minutes before I broke away. I have no idea what effect there would have been had two human-beings taken part in such an experiment. There seems to be no loss of memory or any brain damage whatsoever on my part. Resultantly, it is an experiment which must be repeated and I am prepared to do so again.”
The information fired Kemal’s imagination. What a fantastic experiment? Just imagine if it were possible to transfer important information from one brain to another! Could Toptaz be right? Was it really possible? As the evening wore on he could hardly contain himself. At the stroke of ten o’clock he could stand it no more. He telephoned his colleague for more information.
‘I’ve read the details of your project,’ he told him. ‘It’s absolutely remarkable. Did that really happen in the way you wrote it?’
‘Of course,’ replied Toptaz, surprised at the remark.
‘You say you want to repeat the experiment. That you’re prepared to do it again. When? When? I’d like to be there.’
There was a long pause at the end of the line. ‘The second experiment has already taken place.’
This time it was Kemal’s turn to pause. ‘Well... what happened? What happened?’
‘I’m just writing the report now.’
‘Did it work... like the last time? Did you feel similar responses?’
‘I told you. I’m writing the report now.’
‘Well can I read it in the morning. I have to know!’
‘You can read it in my office in the morning if you want. But I’m not sharing it with anyone but my assistants and yourself. I want you to be quite clear on that.’
‘Then you are making serious progress,’ spluttered Kemal excitedly. ‘Otherwise you wouldn’t keep this under wraps. I’ll be in your office first thing in the morning. First thing!’
He was true to his word. In fact he was waiting outside Toptaz’s office at eight-thirty in the hope that the doctor would be there early that day. When the great man arrived and opened the door, Kemal burst inside like an excited child.
‘Here’s the folder I took yesterday,’ he said, passing it back to the other doctor. ‘Where’s the next episode.’
‘Episode? You make it sound like a television ‘soap’,’ riposted Toptaz indignantly. ‘It’s a project of major importance.’ He undid his briefcase and removed a sheet of paper containing the second experiment which he handed to his colleague. Kemal almost snatched it out of his hand and sat down to read it.
“MIND-MELD PROJECT: EXPERIMENT - TWO
On the fifth of October, the experiment of mind-meld with a selected tree on Gumbet beach was continued. The same advanced preparation was carried out as that on the sixteenth of September. Once again, I, Dr. Baris Toptaz placed my head directly on to the bald patch on the trunk of the tree to re-establish the mind-meld. To my surprise, the tree immediately responded offering images of friendship and trust as though delighted that I had made contact with it once more. There was a sense that we were lovers. The same sensations prevailed as before, albeit they were much stronger this time, causing me exhilaration and joy and enabling me to “see” brilliant colours and assume strength. Then I came to realise that in the deep dark recesses of the human mind there lurks a kind of uniformity which occurs among all living entities whether they are flora or fauna. It is a series of sensations which binds them through the element of life itself. It is definitely sensory rather than thought-driven which means that the intelligence inherent in man, and his development, has caused him to become conditioned to:
a) express himself in terms of vocabulary, veering him away from the sensory role experienced in his distant past;
b) deviate from nature in favour of progress... to create, invent and develop materially and systematically, so that he aligned himself to scientific advance which led him away from pure nature;
c) experience substantial loss of sensory power in his development over a period spanning approximately some ten thousand years; and
d) separate from the natural instincts of flora and fauna in the sense of images, colours, aromas and feelings.
On this occasion, the tree began to express itself in a different form. It provided information by sensory transfer but my brain was capable of interpreting it as though a special code existed between the tree and myself. I learned its age, its feelings... if one can use that expression with regard to a tree... of all the four seasons, as well as incidents with birds who made small holes in its trunk, a squirrel long gone, and an ambitious woodcutter who swung an axe at the trunk only once. Such knowledge helped me to understand that the experiment is progressing effectively and that it is not a mirage in my mind because I do not believe I would be able to imagine such things. However, it is possible I was hallucinating and creating such facts in my own mind. Only time will tell on this point for I intend to return next week to continue the experiment.”
Kemal looked up at the other doctor thoughtfully as he placed the folder on the desk. ‘And have you?’
‘Have I what?’ asked Toptaz in a sombre voice.
‘Returned to continue the experiment of course.’
‘Yes. A week later. I didn’t want to be adversely affected by regular intervals of electric-shock treatment. It was best to wait a week before repeating the process.’
‘And what happened the next time?’
Toptaz inhaled deeply as though having difficulty recalling the incident. ‘The tree recognised me as a human-being with whom it was in contact. More information was transferred between us and I felt drawn back deeply into nature. It was a wonderful experience. You see, in the progress of civilisation we’ve lost a great deal. We still have our five senses but they’ve been driven down to a very low level. We don’t really see colours as exciting as they really are, or acknowledge odours or aromas in the way other animals still do. We fail to hear movements in the way we should, or find touch exhilarating except in sexual encounters. And really nothing tastes the same as it used to do. The enjoyment of taste has been hidden by chemicals used to grow and mix with our food. It’s gradually becoming lost. The tree, however, in its immobile state, enjoys all the senses in an ancient unadulterated form. It can feed all the time from the ground to make its sap sweet, and it actually touches the mist in ecstasy.’
‘I notice a slight discolouration of the skin on your forehead,’ commented Kemal, cutting in sharply. ‘It’s obviously where your head rests on the tree, isn’t it?’
Toptaz held up his hands to show the palms. ‘It’s the same where I touched the tree.’
‘Aren’t you concerned?’
‘Why should I be? Most probably it’s a sap stain. My skin reacts to it, t
hat’s all. I think the experiment is going very well. The only problem is that I don’t know whether the tree is able to benefit from my knowledge. Perhaps mankind has veered so far from nature it prefers not to do so. How about some coffee?’
Kemal left the office about twenty minutes later with a worried expression on his face. Something strange was happening to his colleague, both mentally and physically, and he felt distinctly responsible. He was the person who had suggested the mind-meld with a tree, and the subsequent effect on his colleague was disturbing. He considered trying to influence Toptaz to persuade him to end it, or at least to think of an alternative method of procedure in the project, but he knew the doctor would ignore his fears. He was not to know at that moment he would never see his colleague alive again. He discovered the reason just over a month later. During that time, Dr. Toptaz continued with his experiment with unwise rapidity. In the space of four weeks, he returned to the tree no less than six times as though drawn to it by a magnet. He discounted the dangers of swallowing the medicinal compound and the effects of repeated electric-shock treatment even though his assistants implored him to slow down or stop. Students at the University began to comment that the famous doctor had begun wearing gloves and a burnoose all the time to hide his hands and face. His movements were observed to become more sluggish as though he had difficulty walking but his devotion to the project remained as undiminished as ever. His disabilities became even worse after he had visited the tree four more times, notably struggling to walk even short distances thereafter. Then, one day, there was a flurry of excitement at the University as rumours became abundant concerning the welfare of the doctor. Some of them reached Kemal and he left his office without delay to drive to Gumbet beach as fast as he could, accompanied by one of Toptaz’s junior assistants.
‘Have you seen a photograph of the tree?’ asked the assistant calmly as they sped on their way.
‘No, I haven’t. I presume it’s an ordinary tree. The usual straight tree-trunk, wide branches, leaves, and the like.’