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ExGreg Moore, chief of the Spirit Council, was in a bad mood. For a ghost, that was something unusual indeed, but under the circumstances his annoyance was readily understood by the other members of the Council. "It is intolerable," Moore said. "The fools flatly refuse to believe that we exist." "How can they ignore us!" ExPhil Mason muttered from his left. "I have personally shown myself in thirty-seven different locations during the past month." "It is something deeply ingrained in their very nature," Moore continued. "It mat be tied up with their fear of death, although, as we all know, there is nothing to fear from it. Best day of my life was when I died." He chuckled. "However, all this is clouding the issue. The fact is that those damned mortals refuse to believe that we ghosts exist. What I want from you are a few suggestions as to how we go about changing that." ExMary Donnellan rose from her seat, her transparent white body glowing with a rare radiance in the darkness of the Spirit World. "I have made an exhaustive study of the phenomena," she stated. "As you know, in my earthly existence I was a psychologist, and, without bragging, I can honestly say that I was one of the best. The attitude of the mortal population is, on the whole, one of undecidedness. It is not that they are totally unwilling to believe in our existence. It is more a case of their society being ruled totally by science and, as things are at the moment, their science says that there is no life after death. Therefore, there can be no such thing as ghosts." "What stupidity," muttered one spirit. "Our existence is perfectly scientific." "Yes, yes," ExMary agreed impatiently. "We know that - but mortal science denies it. Why, there are those of you who, back when you were alive were scientists yourselves. Can any of you deny that you were hopelessly biased against the spirit world during your mortal existences?" Silence followed and several of the ghosts shifted uneasily in their seats. "I have found, however," ExMary continued, "that only the narrowest of psychological blocks remains to preclude the fact of our existence being acknowledged by the vast mass of mortal humanity. The balance is so fine that if we could tip just one great scientist to believe in our existence and make him state publicly that he believed in us, then the tide would turn. It would be a gradual process, agreed, but in the end, we would be accepted by those still living." "I don't see," muttered a surly looking phantom, "why we want the mortals to believe in us. We've got along without them alright so far. Why bother?" "The advantages are numerous, as any thinking spirit would see readily," ExMary replied sarcastically. "It would banish the fear of death from the mortal world and we spirits would be able to exist side by side with the living, instead of being constantly afraid of showing ourselves for fear of causing insanity in the living population." She glowered at the objector and he subsided, muttering to himself. "Well, what do you suggest':'" enquired ExGreg. "I have discovered that the biggest influence against our recognition is a Professor Samuel Farrar," said ExMary. "Time and time again he has denounced, in the name of science, all spiritualist societies and enthusiasts. He commands a wide public. If we could convince him of our existence - give him some item of unassailable proof, then our battle would be as good as won." "What you wish then," a spirit broke in, "is for one of us to show ourselves to him." "Bah!" ExMary exclaimed impatiently. "That wouldn't prove a thing. Even if he let himself see us - and it's more likely that his conscious mind would simply put up a block that would make him ignore any ghost he saw - he would simply put it down to an illusion, or rationalise it in some other way. He'd probably rather admit to being insane than to having seen a ghost." ExGreg looked disconsolate. "Then what?" "By the Holy Ghost," ExMary snapped. "That's what I'm waiting for one of you bright boys to tell me. I've worked it out so far- now it's your turn to do a little thinking. I suggest you go away and consider it. When one of you has a solution we can reconvene and discuss it." She sat down. The Spirit Council broke up slowly. One by one its members got up and floated out of the chamber, deep in thought. At length only ExMary and the surly looking ghost who had opposed the project remained. "You know that this whole idea is ridiculous," the spirit said. "I knew Professor Farrar when I was a mortal. No force on Earth - or in the Spirit World - could get him to change his mind." "I can only hope that you're as wrong as I think you are,'' ExMary replied coldly. "His conversion is essential to our recognition. We must not fail." "Ah, well," the other said, thoughtfully. "As it is the will of the majority I must do what I can. Yes. I will." ExMary stared after him as he drifted off. She hadn't liked his tone of voice. He would help, would he? A sudden conversion indeed - too sudden for her liking. But, at least there was nothing he could do to sabotage their plans. Or could he? ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ It was almost a week before she saw the surly spirit again. She was sitting in her office when he floated in. He looked triumphant - it was a look she didn't like. "I did it," he cried exultantly. "I converted him!" ExMary floated from her seat, startled. "You did what?" she said. "I converted Professor Farrar. He believes in us now." ExMary was stunned. "But how...?" "Simple. I showed myself to him." "But ... his psychology. We agreed that wouldn't work." "No. But we were wrong. It did work - under the circumstances." ExMary had a horrible feeling of impending disaster. "What circumstances?" she asked. The ghost grinned. "I waited for the right moment. He was taking a vacation. He always goes up to a cabin he's got in the mountains. I knew that, from when I was a mortal. He likes the view from the edge of Green Canyon. That was when I showed myself to him." ExMary strove to fight the sinking feeling that was forming in the pit of her ghostly stomach. "Go on," she whispered. "Oh, I converted him all right. I gave him proof," leered the spirit. "Anywhere else and he'd've had time to rationalise my appearance, but I caught him off guard. The surprise was so great he stepped back a couple of paces. Of course, as he was right on the edge of the canyon he went straight over. Killed outright, naturally. But even you must admit that I have succeeded. He's got to believe us now - he's a ghost himself!" |