Page:Weird Tales Volume 45 Number 3 (1953-07).djvu/57

 to help in our cause. When he left that night I felt an overweening desire to shout. My mission, at last, was consummated

May 6:

When the news had finally gotten around the dormitory that Samson had been stabbed, I was amazed at the outbursts of indignation and the derogations against Tweed. They tell me that he is in solitary confinement and that he will be sent to another hospital. It is, however, a small loss in return for what he has given the world. The everlasting end of all evil. The Source of It is destroyed! And these fools rage against the emancipator! But I must have patience. What I have done cannot easily be appreciated. It is too immense a deed for those without the gift. Soon they will understand. As the shadows of iniquity recede from their brains, free of the evil sustenance of the Source—then will they hear the words of purity and goodness. Already I have made observations around the dormitory. While it is too early to judge, I expect a gradual receding of the shadows.

This is truly a day for rejoicing!

May 7:

I have conducted further observations around the dormitory today. It is so discouraging but I am much too impatient, I'm afraid. I have not noted any signs of the loosening grip of the shadow. But, as I say, I am just overanxious. I know sincerely that this cannot have been done in vain.

Tomorrow (so the grapevine says) the detectives are coming.

May 8:

Today we were questioned by the detectives—and a stupid lot they are. They have not come to me yet so I cannot evaluate them scientifically. Tomorrow they will get to me for certain. I am not the least bit concerned. What I am concerned about, though, is that the shadows have not at all lost their grips on the people I have observed. On the contrary, in some cases it has even increased its dominance. What can be the matter? I must be more methodical tomorrow. Perhaps my measurements have not been dispassionate enough.

May 9:

Something has come up that has made me quit my dormitory observations. It is not pleasant but I must face up to it. Today I was questioned by the chief detective, a Mr. Henry. I had forgotten to mention yesterday (I was so engrossed in the dormitory observations) that he was a very bright fellow with a large shadow on his brain. Well, judging by today, that's only the half of it. Oh, he wasn't bright enough to get any evidence on me, but I was with him long enough to observe carefully the shadow. The most tremendous shadow I have ever seen. Even larger than Mr. Samson's. That is why this whole business is so distasteful. It proves why the tentacles of evil have not receded. I have not got to the real Source. But from my observations (and they were scrupulously objective, I can tell you) Mr. Henry is the real Source. It is such a pity to lose poor Tweed in an abortive cause but, as I said before, one must face up to it, take the bull by the horns as it were. It is surely fortuitous, too, that Mr. Henry wants to see me tomorrow at his office. That will give me the chance I need to destroy him. Of course, I shall be apprehended but that does not matter, considering the great service I will have rendered the world. I shall receive my just rewards in eternity from far wiser councils. It is in this that I rejoice and in the anticipation of my act tomorrow.

I have but few regrets. Tweed is one of them (although his act was valiant); Mr. Samson was another. Considering, however, the enormity of his evil I may safely list him as expendable.

So tomorrow it will all be over.

There is another thing I wish to express. I suppose I can allow myself a foolish whimsy. There was an assistant detective to Mr. Henry whose shadow is nearly as large as Mr. Henry's. Yes, I should like to observe the assistant detective before I destroy the Source. This leads me to a final comment that future historians may glean from my vast experience in this matter: evil is rather a complex phenomenon.