the unknown guest(陌生客)-第33章
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perhaps； because it is a huge； rough； undisciplined force still struggling in
the darkness and coming to the surface only by wild fits and starts；
because it is an enormous expansion of a spirit striving to collect itself； to
achieve consciousness； to make itself of service and to obtain a hearing。 In
any case； for the time being； it appeals just what we have described； and
would be unlike itself if it behaved any otherwise in the case that puzzles
us。
34
Lastly； to close this chapter； let us remark that it is nearly certain that
the solution given by calculating children and horses is not of a
mathematical nature at all。 They do not in any way consider the problem
or the sum to be worked。 They simply find the answer straight away to a
riddle； the guessing of which is made easy by the actual nature of figures
which keep their secrets badly。 To any one in the requisite state of mind； it
becomes a question of a sort of elementary charade； which hides its
answer only from those who speak another language。 It is evident that
every problem； however complex it may appear； carries within its very
enunciation its one； invariable solution； scarce veiled by the indiscreet
signs that contain or cover it。 It is there； under the numbers that have no
other object than to give it life； coming； stirring and ceaselessly
proclaiming itself a necessity。 It is not surprising therefore that eyes
sharper than ours and ears open to other vibrations should see and hear it
without knowing what it represents； what it implies or from what
prodigious mass of figures and operations it merges。 The problem itself
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speaks； and the horse but repeats the sign which he hears whispered in the
mysterious life of numbers or deep down in； the abyss where the eternal
verities hold sway。 He understands none of it； he has no need to
understand； he is but the unconscious medium who lends his voice or his
limbs to the mind that inspires him。 There is here but a bare and simple
answer； bearing no precise significance； seized in an alien existence。 There
is here but a mechanical revelation； so to speak； a sort of special reflex
which we can only record and which； for the rest； is as inexplicable as any
other phenomenon of consciousness or instinct。 After all； when we think
of it； it is just as； astonishing that we should not perceive the solution as it
is that we should discover it。 However； I grant that all this is but a
venturesome interpretation to be taken for what it is worth； an
experimental or interim theory with which we must needs content
ourselves since all the others have hitherto been controverted by the facts。
35
Let us now briefly sum up what the Elberfeld experiments have
yielded us。 Having put aside telepathy in the narrow sensewhich perhaps
enters into more than one phenomenon but is not indispensable to it； for
we see these same phenomena repeated when telepathy is practically
impossiblewe cannot help observing that； if we deny the existence or the
influence of the subliminal； it is all the more difficult to contest the
existence and the intervention of the intelligence； at any rate up to the
extracting of roots； after which there is a steep precipice which ends in
darkness。 But； even if we stop at the roots； the sudden discovery of an
intellectual force so similar to our own； where we were accustomed to see
but an irremediable impotency； is no doubt one of the most unexpected
revelations that we have received since the invisible and the unknown
began to press upon us with a persistence and an impatience which they
had not displayed heretofore。 It is not easy to foresee as yet the
consequences and the promises of this new aspect which the great riddle
of the intelligence is suddenly adopting。 But I believe that we shall soon
have to revise some of the essential ideas which are the foundations of our
life and that some rather strange horizons are appearing out of the mists in
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the history of psychology； of morality； of human destiny and of many
other things。
36
So much for the intelligence。 On the other hand； what we deny to the
intelligence we are constrained to grant to the subliminal； and the
revelation is even more disconcerting。 We should then have to admit that
them is in the horseand hence most probably in everything that lives on
this eartha psychic power similar to that which is hidden beneath the veil
of our reason and which； as we learn to know it； astonishes； surpasses and
dominates our reason more and more。 This psychic power； in which no
doubt we shall one day be forced to recognize the genius of the universe
itself； appears； as we have often observed； to be all…wise； all…seeing and
all…powerful。 It has； when it is pleased to communicate with us or when
we are allowed to penetrate into it； an answer for every question； and
perhaps a remedy for every ill。 We will not enumerate its virtues again。 It
will be enough for us to recall with what ease it mocks at space； time and
all the obstacles that beset our poor human knowledge and understanding。
We believed it； like all that seems to us superior and marvellous； the
intangible； inalienable and incommunicable attribute of man； with even
better reason than his intelligence。 And now an accident； strangely belated；
it is true； tells us that； at one precise point； the strangest and least foreseen
of all； the horse and the dog draw more easily and perhaps more directly
than ourselves upon its mighty reservoirs。 By the most inexplicable of
anomalies； though one that is fairly consistent with the fantastic character
of the subliminal； they appear to have access to it only at the spot that is
most remote from their habits and most unknown to their propensities； for
there is nothing in the world about which animals trouble less than figures。
But is this not； perhaps because we do not see what goes on elsewhere？ It
so happens that the infinite mystery of numbers can sometimes be
expressed by a very few simple movements which are natural to most
animals； but there is nothing to tell us that； if we could teach the horse and
the dog to attach to these same movements the expression of other
mysteries； they would not draw upon them with equal facility。 It has been
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successfully attempted to give them a more or less clear idea of the value
of a few figures and perhaps of the course and nature of certain elementary
operations； and this appears to have been enough to open up to them the
most secret regions of mathematics in which every question is answered
beforehand。 It is not wholly illusive to suppose that； if we could impart to
them； for instance； a similar notion of the future； together with a manner of
conveying to us what they see there； they might also have access to
strange visions of another class； which are jealously kept from us by the
too…watchful guardians of our intelligence。 There is an opportunity here
for experiments which will doubtless prove exceedingly arduous； for the
future is not so easily seen and above all not so easily interpreted and
expressed as a number。 It is possible； moreover； that； when we know how
to set about it； we shall obtain most of the human mediumistic phenomena；
rapping； the moving of objects； materialization even and Heaven knows
what other surprises held in store for us by that astounding subliminal to
whose fancy there appears to be no bounds。 In any case； if we accept the
divining of numbers； as we are almost forced to do； it is almost certain that
the divining of other matters must follow。 An unexpected breach is made
in the wall behind which lie heaped the great secrets that seem to us； as
our knowledge and our civilization increase； to become stronger and more
inaccessible。 True； it is a narrow breach； but it is the first that has been
opened in that part of the hitherto uncrannied wall which is not turned
towards mankind。 What will issue through it？ No one can foretell what we
may hope。
37
What astonishes us most is that this revelation has been so long
delayed。 How are we to explain that man has lived to this day with his
domestic animals never suspecting that they harboured mediumistic or
subliminal faculties as extraordinary as those which he vaguely felt
himself to possess。 One would have in this connection to study the
mysterious practices of ancient India and of Egypt； the numerous and
persistent legends of animals talking； guiding their masters and foretelling
the future； and； nearer to ourselves； in history proper； all that science of
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augury and soothsaying which derived its omens from the flight of birds；
the inspection of entrails； the appetite or attitude of the sacred or prophetic
animals； among which horses were often numbered。 We here find one of
those innumerous instances of a lost or anticipated power which make us
suspect that mankind has forestalled or forgotten all that we believe
ourselves to be discovering。 Remember that there is almost always some
distorted； misapprehende
