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Chapter 9
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"FAME" Chapter IX "He who receives a benefit with gratitude repays the first instalment of it. If we only feel as we ought, our thankfulness will be shown in our countenances." Anon. The next day following the flight with Alice was a day of rest and recreation for me. Dr. Karoll was a tennis enthusiast and had a fine court on the grounds near his home. He was pleasantly surprised to find that I had developed a pretty fair game of tennis and although I did not have the stamina to go more than one set, he found my service was a challenge to his control and agility. When I wondered how he could take time from his normal routine to be with me, Dr. Karoll pointed out that I was probably unaware of my status in relation to his family and society in general. This statement naturally stimulated my curiosity. "What do you mean, Dr. Karoll?" "Well, David, can you visualize what would have taken place in your day if someone who had been unconscious for more than one hundred years was brought back to life?" "Well, sir, I guess that I'm hardly able to believe fully that this is my status. However, if it had happened in America in the 1970's, why, yes, I certainly can. There would have been so much publicity given the incident that every school boy in the nation would have known about it. The man's name would have become a household word to the millions of families that watched television and listened to radio. Why, it probably would have been difficult for such a man to survive the strain of the publicity that he would have been subjected to. His opinion would have been solicited upon all kinds of things and the commercial interests would've vied with each other to have him endorse their products. As long as his story held interest as a news item, there would've been pictures and interviews to the limit of his endurance. Perhaps the lack of this treatment of myself is one reason that I hardly can believe what you say has happened to me." "Yes, that could be true, David. Our approach, you see, is different, for while your discovery and revival to life has been given international notice, your personal welfare as a fellow human being is also given every consideration. Your care has been assigned to me as a sacred charge, you might say, and you will suffer no exploitation for private gain or for curiosity or as a news item. Your survival of suspended animation is regarded as an important event to the scientific world. As soon as you were discovered, a consultation was held among our leaders so that immediate steps would be taken to provide suitable care and surroundings for you. My family was selected for these purposes and we will be devoting our time to aid you to make the adjustment to our society. You are considered a valuable person who can help us acquire a better understanding of your times and you are thought of as a scientific pioneer worthy to receive the finest care we can offer. In due time you will be highly honored for your courage and initiative in a public ceremony." "You mean to tell me that the story of my experience has been broadcast throughout the world and that you and your family were chosen to devote your time just to taking care of me?" "Yes, David, and we feel privileged to have been given this opportunity," Dr. Karoll answered. "This is very humbling for me to think about," I said self-consciously. "The last details of my release from regular duties have been cleared and I shall spend much of my time with you until you are physically and mentally prepared for exposure to the various scientific groups that will want to study your case. Eventually, we expect you to become a competent member of our society." "I am beginning to appreciate what it means, Dr. Karoll, to have been taken into your household. Your family has already shown me the kind of thoughtful consideration and affection that one could not take for granted even from his closest relatives. It will be a small thing upon my part to cooperate with you and your family and any group, scientific or otherwise, that is interested in my story." "We were sure you would feel that way, David." "Where do we start," I said, feeling thankful that I might offer some useful service in return for the kindness being shown to me. "There's no hurry, David. Your physical and mental health will be our first concern for some time. If it suits you, we will spend the next five days at outdoor sports and hiking, with plenty of time allowed for rest. Then we will plan to have another evening of discussion in our home on the sixth day, which will be the coming Saturday. For your benefit as well as theirs, we will arrange to have some scholars versed in several different areas of study to be present for this gathering." I agreed enthusiastically to Dr. Karoll's suggestion and felt much enlightened about my status with his family. It wasn't difficult for me to imagine that if I had been unconscious so long my case would be very unique. On this basis I could easily see that a person like Dr. Karoll would be selected to give me his full attention and would take me into his family. I was still trying to adjust to the idea that I had actually survived a hundred and twenty years of suspended animation. Regardless of the circumstances, it was only logical for me to accept gratefully the wonderful treatment and interest shown in me by these superior people. However, my ego had so responded to Alice's attention that it was deflating for me to imagine that I might only be an object of academic interest or, perhaps, of pity to her, rather than someone she responded to in a personal way. Five days of hiking, rest and recreation in beautiful mountain country went quickly. I observed many changes in the types of trees and shrubbery in the area which gave clear evidence of warmer climate. Brilliant colors of autumn were just beginning to touch the highest peaks of the surrounding Great Smokies. Mountain streams, with that crystal clearness characteristic of them during early Fall, and the invigorating coolness in the morning air made camping out a delightful experience. It reminded me of some long hikes in Hawaii through the mountains on the big island. I enjoyed the thrill of watching the sunrise from a mountain top campsite and we had unforgettable evenings of story telling in front of our campfires. Dr. Karoll's yarns sounded like science fiction I read in my teens. I liked the lighter and simpler camping equipment. Dr. Karoll easily carried our tent, which was entirely contained in a small, light pack, and he was able to set it up in seconds because its design eliminated all ropes or poles. Its shape was something like an elongated igloo and the fabric was a fine weave cloth as light and flexible as silk. The seams contained the supporting mechanism which was a series of bead-like segments strung upon highly flexible braided glass cables. When the cables were drawn tight by a small winder, the seams became rigid and the tent took form; but, when it was relaxed, the tent folded into a small package. On our way back from the camping trip, Dr. Karoll asked me about the discussion he had planned to see if I thought I was equal to the occasion. He was so natural in the way he treated me, like a member of his own family, that I began to feel he had adopted me as a son into his heart. "Yes, Dr. Karoll, I feel fine," I responded. "However, the instability of my emotions in the past few weeks forces me to question my own judgement in the matter. I'm sure that you will stop any discussion, if need be, so that I won't make a fool of myself by becoming over emotional." "Of course, David. Of course, I will." "Uh...will...will Alice be there?" I was trying not to reveal any feelings by my words or by the tone of my voice. "Oh, yes. She's taking her work with you quite seriously and has her own data to prepare." The doctor answered matter-of-factly but I caught the slightly quizzical look on his face at the manner in which I asked about Alice. His answer raised further questions in my mind about the personal interest which I thought Alice had shown in me. |