The Fall of the House of Heron (Prologue Science Fiction)

by Eden Phillpotts

  When he did return, therefore, the wind was somewhat taken out of Faraday’s sails to hear his secret one no longer, and during dinner on the eve of his arrival, Sir Hector at a fitting moment broke into the subject in his usual genial fashion. Talk had been general and, after declaring pleasure at his son’s unexpected visit, the elder discussed the times, hinted at clouds already darkening international horizons and inquired after Faraday’s own intentions.

  “You will soon be leaving the hospital now,” he said. “Is a date for your farewell to the healing art at hand and your future scene of activity determined? Did you ever think upon politics, Faraday?”

  “Very often, Father. An unpleasant subject, but not to be escaped by any thinking man. A time is coming when science may have much to say in politics and answer vital questions arising from its own discoveries. Science is in sight of mightier powers than any as yet granted to humanity and will not be likely to cede those powers to certain nations that already hunger for them.”

  “You imagine that chemists rather than soldiers and sailors and airmen will win our future wars for us?” asked Sir Hector.

  “If future wars there must be, science can be counted to turn the scale,” replied Faraday. “When Nobel invented dynamite, everybody thought that any future war would destroy civilization; but it did not. Dynamite played its part in the field of battle and proved valuable in industry also, but evolution never sleeps and when still more tremendous energies are discovered, everybody will say again that civilization is about to come to an end. It won’t — not if science keeps those forces under iron control and at no time liberates them save for the rational purposes of civilization. Be sure those great enough to discover such things will also be great enough to deny their application to the filthy business of war. If we are not capable of that much, then let mankind go to a perdition of his own creation; and no loss to the cosmos when he does.”

  “The danger of such a discovery is too obvious for science to overlook it you think?” asked Greta.

  “And the likelihood of such a discovery is surely too remote to be worth a second thought,” added her father. Then he laughed and continued.

  “But now we see where a certain, brilliant young man’s Gold Medal of the Royal Society came from — for his solution of many problems on the structure of proteins and other fearful wild fowl and for his investigations into ‘nuclear energy,’ whatever that may be.”

  Faraday’s pale face took a tinge of colour.

  “How did you hear about that?” he asked blankly.

  “I can still read, my son. We were all intensely gratified to learn of your distinction.”

  “You’ll write ‘F.R.S.’ after your name some day soon,” prophesied Greta and her brother declared such a distinction to be the highest in his view.

  “Now the murder’s out,” he said, “let us shut up about it. But I haven’t finished with you, Father. You will have to hear some more yet.”

  “I fear so,” admitted the elder. “Meanwhile take your ease for a while, rest your busy brain and get an appetite. You look as white as a maggot and are probably neglecting your health on which your usefulness depends in any case.”

  “You speak so positively, Faraday,” said Greta. “And now you’ve come home to bully father again, I’m afraid.”

  “What’s doing down your street to make you so uppish?” inquired Alfred. “I haven’t heard of anything stupendous on the way.”

  “You wouldn’t be likely to,” replied his brother. “Science doesn’t occupy much of your mental activites. But things are happening that will soon wake interest for the world in general.”

  He reflected a moment and continued.

  “There is a telescope growing in America which, when completed some years hence, will bring the surface of the moon so close that, if there were any buildings as large as St. Paul’s cathedral upon it, we should discover the ruin. To the astronomical world this telescope represents incalculable new knowledge; while, to go from one scientific extreme to the other, in this country a microscope will soon be in hand far surpassing any microscope yet imagined. A nine-foot microscope, Alfred, with fifty and more radio valves, electron-operated. In that microscope an object as small as one millionth part of an inch will be come visible to human eyes, and if lens aberrations can be conquered — a big ‘if’ no doubt — then we shall behold the structure of the atom!”

  “Wonderful toys, of course,” agreed Alfred, “but I don’t see how they get the world any forwarder, old chap.”

  Faraday turned to Sir Hector.

  “What more I’ve got to say is for you, Father, and in a manner of speaking, confidential. You’ve rather deflated my approach by knowing about the gold medal, but that’s nothing to the point and doesn’t matter. I’ll go on with that to-morrow. For the moment I’d rather like to claim a score for science: that it should have discovered something it couldn’t see and arrived at atomic energy before it reached any power of beholding an atom. A wonderful story — showing how science demands quite as much faith as religion — faith founded on the rock of truth.”

  “What is truth” asked Sir Hector.

  “It is the pursuit of truth that I am really come to see you about,” explained his son and, on the following morning, Faraday drew his parent out-of-doors to a little, marble gazebo erected on the highest grounds of Cliff to the west. It offered a magnificent view of the Channel southward and Dartmoor’s frontiers to the north. They sat here and the elder listened with his usual patience to another and more fervent appeal. He issued something in the nature of a caution, however, before the young man started.

  “I guess what’s in your mind and know you have the family gift of sticking to your point,” he said, “but I cannot feel the case is much altered, Faraday. You have evidently done a very fine piece of work and made your mark in a way that greatly gratifies me; but I cannot feel you are going to present me with any practical proposition. However, tell me what you may have to say more than you said last time.”

  “I have more to say,” began Faraday. “I can now assert that far greater possibilities arise from what is in my mind than were there six months ago. My essay shows that, as you will find if you have time to read it, and some of my new ideas came while I was actually writing it. Nuclear energy is no new thing, of course. It has occupied science for years and now a tremendous advance can soon be counted upon, because people see how to reach it, what it might mean and its terrific possibilities. Had some individual enthusiast come forward in the past — some amateur chemist perhaps with a love of science and unlimited money behind him to further the cause — then, by this time, we should probably had got the secret and released atomic energy; but no such benefactor appeared and a very great deal of money has yet to be expended upon enterprise before complete success can be hoped. Great philanthropists still devote their superfluity of millions to good causes no doubt; but none is prepared to help science with what may be the best and most vital of good causes before long. A time will surely come when we shall liberate the energy and control it, but that time looks remote and no deep attempts into this unexplored region are being made. They would be most dangerous without prodigious machinery to control them; but when were scientists frightened of danger? The only thing they fear is untruth. Still, despite the fact that a keen race for precedence in this discovery is beginning and the best brains in every civilized country preoccupied with it, no kingdom as yet finds the idea sufficiently attractive to expend national money on the cause. Some say that the Germans are far ahead of us and some think the Americans, with their huge wealth, are doing something; but as yet there seems no world incentive to quicken action.”

  “Which suggests to any practical mind that the results cannot promise very much of value.” replied his father.

  “Seeing so clearly as I do, it rather suggests an amazing blindness in practical minds,” answered Faraday. “The practical mind is often the most pig-headed and limited. Science scorns the practical.
But surely none can fail to see the universal and intensely practical significance of a new, cosmic power, as much greater than electricity as electricity is greater than steam — something so terrific that it may well be the actual driving power of the universe”

  “Dreams, Faraday.”

  “No, Sir. We have reached beyond any shadow-land of dreams. This is not a castle in the air, but a reality that might enormously increase prosperity on earth,” answered the younger earnestly. “In the domains of our production and distribution, in our industry, commerce, progress, it would advance human welfare. It is in fact the most practical proposition that could challenge any millionaire with goodwill, for if the surplus wealth of the world were poured into such a quest, our gold would quickly serve to reveal something far more precious than itself. All the old values might perish under such an energy and a new dispensation sweep, like a lustral spring tide, to cleanse the whole earth — even morally as well as physically. The point is to be first in the field, to proclaim our achievement and declare the supreme position that such a possession would bring us. A few millions spent now might place in our hands the power to lead the world in twenty years.”

  “A million is a conceivable sum even to those accustomed only to operate in thousands,” admitted his father, “but to what immediate purpose could science apply millions?”

  “To the productive facilities at present necessary. These are gigantic,” answered Faraday, “but only demand money to create them. If you could but see the size and complexity of the machine at present needful to smash the atom, you would realize the cost of such machines on a big scale. All the engines used for perfecting steel that you have seen are playthings to what we want, for we are hung up at the first crude stages as yet. In time you may count upon evolution to develop simpler and cheaper means to create and harvest the new power. I already suspect other channels than are yet known from which it may be drawn; but at present only a few, comparatively rare substances can be employed, though the search for others is full of tremendous promise in my opinion. That is my own special province in science and, if I possessed a laboratory properly equipped and furnished, I might and probably should one day, single-handed, make a contribution to our knowledge destined to be historic. At present the pitiful lack of recognition and want of means is handicapping this tremendous business; yet if money were only forthcoming — who knows? A space of centuries in evolution might be shortened to ten years. Then why not be a pioneer, Father? Why not lead the way and trust our leaders to follow your example, once they perceived that national prosperity and security are within our reach?”

  Sir Hector regarded this unusual enthusiasm with a smile, but gave no sign that he could share it.

  “At present we are a prosperous people,” he said, “but prosperity and security are two different states of being, my boy, and if, as often happsns, prosperity blinds us to security, then the day of reckoning is not far to seek. Whereupon we soon find ourselves without either. Nothing demands more foresight and caution than to safeguard prosperity, or security. Eternal vigilance is the price of both, and vigilance does not characterize our present statesmanship.”

  Faraday concealed his impatience before these commonplaces and applied them to the purpose.

  “Atomic energy might well cut that knot,” he answered. “The nation in control of these stupendous powers need fear no enemies and might well, among other vast benevolences, put a stop to war once and for ever. The most deadly weapons man has ever forged would stand no chance against it and, for that reason alone, you can see what a blessing it must be if peace-lovers like ourselves attain the sovereign secret before all others.”

  “That is no argument,” pointed out Sir Hector, “for it is not to be supposed that such a discovery once made can remain withheld from civilization at the will of the discoverer. You yourself have told me that science speaks a universal language. Science, like mercy, or music, should admit no boundaries if it is to be respected. Its wonders need no more visas than does human compassion to travel from pole to pole. Such a terrific thing as you conceive atomic energy to be cannot lie hid in a napkin or concealed beyond the reach of inquirers all the world over; but there arises a very serious doubt indeed whether such a revelation would bring boom or bane along with it. Now I shall tell you what I feel, Faraday, and you must not take my dictum in bad part.”

  He stopped, reflected, lighted his pipe and uttered his opinion.

  “I see nothing in your ambition but a very vague and questionable enterprise destined to end more likely than not in a vast disappointment and waste of time and money: a mountain of gold producing a very doubtful mouse. I cannot even admit your calculations sound, for upon what have you erected this vast issue? What proof exists that the atom may be counted upon — a thing so small as to be invisible — to produce results so fabulous when it is destroyed? A man, or a nation, before embarking on any enterprise so costly, may fairly ask for proof positive that the goods are all that is claimed for them. But I take your word for that. I agree to believe science is aware this discovery may be enormously potent. I will grant the power, but is science to echo the story from ‘Arabian Nights’ and liberate a monster from a bottle again? Are we to emulate Frankenstein and create something destined to destroy his creator? To expedite such a fate, at cost of vast expenditure, would be to flout reason; while if in truth nothing but good can result to mankind from such a discovery, then surely we may safely leave its advent to Almighty God, who will bestow it upon us at His own accepted time. That appears to be the reasonable and righteous course to take, for if your new power is to benefit humanity, then it is my conviction it will sooner or later by vouchsafed to us, when we are ready for it; while if it can be harnessed to no high civilized purpose and at best become only a destructive agent, then it would be an abomination to release it. I conclude, my son, that we do not know enough to tamper on this doubtful ground and feel quite unable to support any attempt to do so.”

  Faraday made no reply but rose and prepared to depart.

  “I am sorry for this,” added the elder. “You have displayed unusual animation. You have been almost rhetorical, which was unexpected from one of your habitual reserve, and I honestly regret that I cannot see eye to eye with you. On the contrary, I deeply mistrust any such enterprise and find myself actually opposed to it.”

  “I don’t blame you, Father: I only blame my lack of words to convince you,” answered his son slowly. “You will regret it.”

  They parted, and, at a later time, walking with Greta in the grounds, Faraday told of his defeat.

  “Drawn blank again,” he said. “The governor won’t see it. Never a rich man had a better chance to identify himself with something worth while; but I’ve bungled my line of approach. I haven’t inspired him. I’ve done little more than terrify him. Strange that such a powerful mind should turn so incredibly stupid when the wind blows from my quarter of the compass.”

  “Won’t he let you have your laboratory?”

  “Or anything else. He’s not frightened of the big money, but doubts whether the temptation to spend it comes from God, or the Devil. Will never fork out unless he’s sure.”

  Faraday pointed to a gracious dell that spread before them — a little combe cradled in great trees and clad with fern from which, under the summer sunshine, there rose fragrance.

  “That’s were I wanted to build. That’s where I should build if I had the power. Not near London, or any district distracted by human houses and the mess of human beings. I should like it isolated, out of range, secure against sightseers, where I could be free to devote every energy to the vital thing.”

  “Father would never tolerate it here in any case.”

  “In the event of sharing my opinion and realizing the immensity of my goal, he would have agreed all right. But that’s off. I must join up under somebody else.”

  “Have you ever thought of trying to interest some other millionaire who might be won over?” asked Greta.

/>   “I have considered the possibilities and don’t find in their limited ranks anybody who would listen to me for a moment. As a matter of fact, one or two of our leading physicists have tried and failed. To them I shall offer my services and find work, probably at Cambridge.”

  “But you’ll keep your own secrets to yourself?”

  “Yes — until they take a more definite shape than at present. Work in a decent laboratory and a lecturing job is all that I can expect: what comes of it is up to me. I known where the kindred spirits are — both here and in Germany. I may quite possibly go to Germany on a voyage of discovery — to learn how far they have got there. My friends believe they are already well ahead of us.”

  “If they are, they won’t be in a hurry to show you what they are doing,” suggested his sister.

  “Should that be the case, one can draw pretty sound inferences from the fact,” he answered. “Science is only theoretically a universal language, as father said this morning. The Great War showed that scientists can be quite as bigoted nationalists as other people. German chemists — any chemists belonging to a ‘have not’ nation like Germany — would be pretty rabid and patriotic if they found the secret.”

  “And keep it close for themselves alone?”

  “Naturally. We should be just the same — or any other great nation — until all it meant to the world at large was considered. There are innumerable angles from which to look at it when it comes. You might say roughly that if the energy can only be applied to good purposes, then the quicker the world has it, the better; but if, as looks probable, it will be equally easy to apply it to absolute destruction, then the case is complicated. It might end war and be a good thing, or it might end us which might probably be quite a good thing too. We don’t know yet in what shape atomic energy will open the eyes of the world, or whether our limited reasoning powers are capable of handling it when it does. If it were turned over to the politicians and fighting forces, then we may be actually in sight of the end.”