My idea was simply this: using man's own definitions of
evil, in my opinion, to an objective observer~perhaps a being
from another planet~all so-called good men would appear to be
evil. On the other hand, Dr. Langly was of the opinion, that some
men, regardless of the degree of scrutiny, would retain halos.
I'll explain further: During the summer vacation, Professor Langly,
who holds a PHD in Criminal Psychology, and myself, a noted criminologist,
decided to settle a scholastic battle that had been raging between
us for some years. But I must confess, the contest agreed upon
also gave us perfect excuse to escape the classroom, and get far
away from the constrictions of academia as was practical to do.
For some time Langly has owned a rustic cottage, just North of
Phoenix, deep in the White Mountains. Accompanied by the Reverend
Roberts, who was unknowingly to play a starring role in an intricately
contrived drama, we arrived just at dusk
I remember how particularly beautiful was the evening. The sky~afire!
Ribbons of light blazing between the trees; sparking foliage on
the distant mountain peaks~making it appear as though the entire
world around us was an infernal of illumination~and our too perfect
hideaway, this small, secluded, hillside of forest, the center
of the all-seeing-eye. From the Reverend Roberts point of reference,
I imagine, he felt compelled to iterate: "God's perfect little
Eden!"
But to get back to Langly's and my own plan~what we hoped to accomplish
was this. We intended to disclose, after a well-staged hoax, the
answer to the question: 'Do all men, under certain kinds of stress,
react in a very basic and primitive way?' My contention was that
they did. In fact, I suggested on many earlier occasions to Langly,
that even the most primitive form of outbreak, cold-blooded murder
was vented by all of us, on a daily basis, in one representative,
sly form or another. Take for instance the automobile, and the
noxious, deadly fumes we consciously spew-out, knowing it will
lead to the deaths or disfigurement of untold millions, yet we
persist, ignoring the consequences for mobile convenience. While
on the other hand, Langly was certain that some men, forgiving
them their fondness for gas guzzlers, on close inspection would
appear to rise above all base, animal instincts; and express their
lives entirely on idealistic plains~where murder was not only
unacceptable, but unthinkable regardless of circumstance.
To prove one or the other right, we had hired two actors to help
us with an elaborate hoax. Both actors were youthful. The female
especially appeared helpless and vulnerable~innocent in the purest
sense~child-like in effect. We wanted the dependent type~who,
if injured, would evoke a maximum of sympathy. While in the case
of the male actor, he was chosen for exactly the opposite reasons.
The male had to be large~brutish in appearance...more the animal
than human~a Neanderthal who was capable of the most aggressive
if not entirely savage-behavior. However, the weight of our experiment
depended on the female's ability to be convincing.
The idea was for Langly and I to make an excuse~something that
wouldn't arouse the Reverend's suspicions~for going off into the
woods. Langly commented that he needed help carrying some canned
goods stored in a shed not far away. While we saw to this chore
the Reverend agreed that he would stay behind and tidy up the
Cabin, seeing how it hadn't been used since last summer.
Shortly after our departure, in badly abused condition the female
actress came stumbling to the door. Naturally, the Reverend promptly
took the poor, shaking child in as Langly and I had anticipated.
So far things were going just as we had planned.
Once inside, she proceeded to tell a tale of how she had been
abducted from the roadside by a raging man, who dragged her deep
into the woods where she was assaulted repetitively. He seemed
a crazed maniac, capable of everything foul and loathsome.
A microphone was hidden in the cottage. While concealed behind
a cluster of bushes not far from the scene, Langly and I listened
to all. In fact, so convincing was the girl's acting, as the magnificent
tale of horror unfolded one could swear the gruesome details were
gospel.
To be certain, as we had foreseen the Reverend did everything
in his power to comfort the trembling victim. He explained that
there was no telephone, but as soon as Langly and I returned,
we would drive her into town. There, at the local hospital she
could be treated, and the authorities would be notified.
Langly scratched his head, in a meditative manner as he listened.
I had the habit of toying with a pen top during times of deep
contemplation.
She went on to explain how she had gotten away from her abductor.
At length, he wearied~and as he slept, after untying the ropes
she was bound by, she slipped from the cabin where she had been
held captive. The story continued: She ran through the woods,
tears flooding from her eyes. She feared her abductor had awakened
and was close behind, tracking her as a hunter would pursue his
prey. She knew he was in possession of a machete that he had threatened
her with during her entire ordeal. And swore that if she ran away,
eventually he would catch up~and then proceed to slash her thin
body to shreds.
Now we grew nearer to knowing whether our little experiment would
be a success or not.
Before Langly and I had gone off into the woods we left a loaded
rifle~loaded with blanks of course~aside the table. At which time
we told the Reverend, that there was no need for alarm but on
occasion moocher bears came nosing around the cottage looking
for a handout. Most of the time they could be startled off with
a good shout. Never the less, it was wise to have a weapon on
hand just in case. No matter how truthful this may seem on the
surface, it was far from the real reason for having the weapon
on hand. To the contrary, when the Reverend was sufficiently baited
by the gruesome details of the girl's hideous experience~gorged
to the point where we felt certain that any man-so called, 'Good
Man' would want the fiend responsible, at the least, put behind
bars where he belonged. At this point, through a series of carefully
staged events the Reverend would be prompted to take up the weapon.
And then the climax~the answer to our question would quickly unfold.
There next came a rustling...just outside the cottage door. Naturally,
the Reverent and the Girl became silent...thus setting up a mood
of nervous anticipation. "Langly! Cummings! Is that you gentlemen?"
The rustling was then followed by a gruff voice; demanding that
the girl come out or it would go worse for her.
Pretending to be enraged by the silence coming from inside the
cottage, after a series of vulgar threats, using the machete the
actor began to slash his way through the flimsy cottage door.
And soon after, Langly and I hoped to have a definitive answer
for our ancient rivalry.
Our criterion for coming to a conclusion was simply this: When
the actor playing the part of the savage stands in the doorway
after having broken in, he makes no immediate lunge toward the
Reverend of the girl. But he does wave the weapon in a threatening
manner. Now this was the crucial point in our experiment: If the
Reverend warns the intruder not to move, or he will be forced
to shoot~then Langly wins. But on the other hand, if the Reverend
fires the weapon without first issuing the warning, then I win.
Though legally within his rights to protect himself and the girl
from what he may think an inevitable attack, morally he would
be wrong. For at that precise moment the villain posed no definite
threat; and the first impulse of a man of God, even at the risk
of his own life, should be compelled by faith to issue a warning.
And the Reverend's only reason for firing the weapon, would then
be murderous rage toward the perpetrator. And our instinctive
pacifier is always the spilling of blood. So if the Reverend pulled
the trigger, it was solely because he had been so sickened by
the girl's prior tale of atrocity, that the primitive impulse,
to kill, was resurrected.
And all was going according to plan. Right up to the man's slashing
through the cottage door. At which time, to our amazement, the
girl began screaming incessantly. That was not according to our
strict instructions. Above all else, she had to remain silent
if we were to clearly hear the Reverend's warning.
Instead there continued a horrible succession of fearful cries...and
the shouting of a wild man; followed by a barrage of riffle blasts.
And with the shouting and shooting, echoed and sounded the chopping
or grating of a machete against furniture or perhaps, the thought
sickened me, human bone.
As Langly and I finally overcame being, confused at first, and
then paralyzed with intense fear-we summoned up enough courage
to hurry toward the cottage. We approached just in time to catch
glimpse of a man, carrying a machete, dash from the splintered
doorway and off into the woods.
Let it suffice to say, when we entered the cottage...the slaughter...the
scene of dismemberment, was one to surpass all descriptions of
the grotesque. And when we later learned the truth, that our actors
had met with auto trouble and were forced to remain in Phoenix
and miss their engagement. Let me now say, the shock of that discovery,
combined with the nightmare of the incident, is something Langly
and I will take to our graves~and to our ever mounting fear~beyond!