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"No, he speculated that these other universes were nothing at alllike Earth's, that they had different physical 'laws,' that many of themwould be completely incomprehensible to Earthmen who might broach the 'walls'between the universes."
"Then he said that there might be 'gates' or 'breaks' in the'walls' and that occasionally a dweller of one universe might go into another?"
"He said more than that. He called his speculation a theory, buthe believed that the theory was a fact. He believed that there were temporarybreaks in the walls, accidental cracks, or openings which sometimes existed becauseof weaknesses or flaws.
"He said that creatures--sentient and non-sentient--sometimes entered our universe through these breaks. But they have forms so alien that thehuman brain has no forms to fit them. And so the human brain gives them forms toexplainthem. He said that it is not just a matter of humans seeing thealiens as such and such. It is a matter of the aliens actually being molded intothese forms because they ca
This man is really putting me on, Childe thought. Or else he isso insane that he actually believes this. But what is he leading up to, that heis one of the aliens?
The baron said, "Some of the extra-universals came hereaccidentally, werecaught in the flaws, and were unable to get back. Others were exilesor criminals, sent by the people of their world to this Botany Bay--thisEarth."
"Fascinating speculation," Childe said. "But why do these takecertain forms and not others?"
"Because, in their case, the myth, the legend, the superstition, call it what you will, gave birth to the reality. First, there were thebeliefs and tales about the werebeast and the vampire and the ghost and the etcetera. These beliefs and tales existed long ago, long before history, long beforecivilization. In one form or another, these beliefs existed in theOld Stone Age."
Childe shifted to relieve his discomfort. He felt cold again, asif a shadow had slid over him. That shadow was of a hulking half-brute figure, bulge-browed, ape-jawed. And behind it were other shadows of figures with longfangs and greatclaws and strange shapes.
The baron continued, "There is, according to Le Garrault, apsychicimprinting. He did not use the word imprinting, but his descriptionmeant that. He said that the aliens are able to survive for a short while in their own form when they come to this universe. They are in a state of fluidity, ofdyingfluidity."
"Fluidity?"
"Their forms are trying to change to conform to the physical lawsof this universe. A universe which is as incomprehensible to them as theirswould be to an Earthman. The effort sets up stresses and strains which wouldinevitably tearthem apart, kill them. Unless they encounter a human being. And, ifthey arelucky enough to be from a universe which enables them toreceive--telepathically, I suppose, although that term is toorestricted--enables them to receive the impressions of the humanmind, then thealien is able to make the adaptation. He is enabled because hecomprehends theform in which he can survive in this world. Do you follow me?"
"In a way. But not too well."
"It's almost as difficult to explain this as it is for a mysticto explainhis visions. You realize that my explanations no more fit the facts, the true processes, than the description of the atom as a sort of miniaturesolar systemfitted the true processes."
"I understand that, at least. You're using analogies."
"Strained analogies. But the theory says that the alien, if he islucky, encounters human beings who perceive him as something u
"And so the alien is given his form, and a certain part of hisnature, bythe humans. There is a process of psychic imprinting, you understand. And so, willy-nilly, the alien becomes what the human believes him to be. Butthe alien still retains some of his otherworld characteristics, or I should saypowers orabilities, and these he can use under certain circumstances. He canuse them because they are part of the structure of this universe, even thoughmost humans, that is, the educated, that is, the reconditioned, deny thatsuch powers, or even such beings, can exist in this universe."
"You were enjoying your filet mignon and your salad," Childesaid. "I thought vampires lived only on blood?"
"Who said I was a vampire?" the baron replied, smiling. "Or whosaid that vampires live on blood only? Or, who, saying that, knew what he wastalkingabout?"
"Ghosts," Childe said. "How does this theory explain ghosts?"
"Le Garrault said that ghosts are the results of imperfectpsychicimprinting. In their case, they assume, partially assume, the form ofthe human being first encountered or, sometimes, they result from the belief ofa human being that they are the ghost of a departed. Thus, a man who believesin ghostssees something he thinks is the ghost of his dead wife, and the alienbecomes that ghost. But ghosts have a precarious off-and-on existence. Theyare never quite of this world. Le Garrault even said that it was possible thatsome aliens kept shuttling back and forth between this world and the native worldand were actually ghosts in both worlds."
"Do you really expect me to believe that?" Childe said.
The baron puffed again and looked at the smoke as if it were asuddenlyrealized phantom. He said, "No. Because I don't believe the ghosttheory myself. Not as Le Garrault expounded it."
"What do you believe then?"
"I really don't know," the baron said, shrugging. "Ghosts don'tcome from any universe I am familiar with. Their origin, their modus operandi, are mysterious. They exist. They can be dangerous."
Childe laughed and said, "You mean that vampires and werewolves, or whatever the hell they are, fear spooks?"
The baron shrugged again and said, "Some fear them." Childewanted to ask more questions but decided not to do so. He did not want the baron toknow that he had found the room with the cameras and the Y-shaped table. It waspossiblethat the baron intended to let him go, because he could dispose ofthe incriminating evidence before Childe could get the police here. Forthis reason, Childe did not ask him why Colben and Budler had happened to be hisvictims. Besides, it seemed obvious that Budler had been picked up by one ofthis groupas a victim of their "fun." Magda or Vivie
The baron rose and said, "We might as well rejoin the others. From the sounds, I'd say the party is far from dead."
Childe stood up and glanced at the open doorway, through whichlaughter andshrieks and hand-clapping spurted.
He jumped, and his heart lurched. Dolores del Osorojo was walkingby thedoorway. She turned her head and smiled at him and then was gone.