enthusiastic and lacked any semblance of warmth. He nodded in acknowledgement, favouring me with a rather wintery smile.
"Well, well, James," he said, "we meet again in somewhat different circumstances. I suppose you had better come through," and with that he ushered me into his office and bade me sit down.
I was immediately taken by his appearance. The Arthur I had known had been slightly pudgy and of a somewhat sallow complexion. This was undoubtedly Arthur but somehow rejuvenated, athletic, glowing with health and redolent with vigour. "You are looking remarkably fit," I exclaimed. "Life seems to be treating you very well indeed."
"Exactly," he replied. "You have hit the nail on the head. Life itself is exerting a most beneficent effect." And he laughed as though at some private joke. "I wondered whether you would try to find me after my rather abrupt removal from college," he continued. "I congratulate you on your success. I had thought that I had managed to maintain a fair degree of anonymity."
"Had it not been for that newspaper article about this new organisation that you have founded," I told him, "it would probably never have occurred to me to try to contact you, but I must admit, the nature of what was implied, raised my curiosity and since I was down here for a conference I felt I should take the opportunity to pay you a visit. I just couldn't help but wonder if there was some connection between the work you were doing on the unconscious and whatever it is that you are doing now?"
An expression of annoyance flickered briefly across Arthur's face. "Yes, I made certain that no traces of my work were left behind and as you no doubt realise Roger came here with me. He's now quite an essential part of the group. It did occur to me that you would wonder what had prompted my leaving and speculate as to what my intentions were but I hoped that you would simply dismiss it as some eccentricity and assume that it was no longer something of any further interest. It is most unfortunate that that scurrilous article was published and that it prompted you to perhaps put two and two together. You really shouldn't have come; curiosity sometimes has unpleasant consequences as the apocryphal cat discovered."
His scowled and adopted a slightly threatening attitude. "I don't suppose that you know," he continued, "but the editor of the rag that attempted an exposé found himself moved to the sports page and the journalist who supplied him with the story lost his job and it was made clear to them both that any further discussion of our affairs would be most unwise. Unfortunately that advice was ignored. I know you were asking after him last night. I know you met him and got the address here from him. You may be interested to know that the poor man had an unfortunate accident afterwards. He was mugged and badly beaten. A broken jaw and several fractured bones. I think he will be somewhat more circumspect in future. Our members have a great deal of influence and we are determined to use it to preserve our anonymity."
I was somewhat shaken by this disclosure and felt the need to try to mollify him. I really didn't come to pry into your affairs," I told him. It was just a simple urge to renew an old acquaintanceship and see how you were getting on. I suppose I must admit I was naturally curious to see whether you had made any further progress in your work and whether you had discovered anything more about those creatures you christened as the Psychids."
Arthur seemed to come to a decision. "Yes, of course, you were well aware of the direction I was going in." He became a little more animated. "You remember when Roger called you to come to my help the time I collapsed in the laboratory? I had been trying to communicate with one of them at a mental level. Without any warning it invaded my mind and was lodged within my body. I struggled vainly to try to eject it but to no avail. When I managed to regain some degree of normality I discovered that its intentions were by no means inimical. We established a rapport and rather than being the unwilling victim of the sort of 'mind parasite' envisioned by Colin Wilson I became aware of the immense benefits that would accrue from what would be a symbiosis of equal partners. The Psychids had for long been aware to a slight degree of our physical world and had attempted to investigate it. I'm fairly certain that these probings are the cause of many of the recorded instances of visions and voices experienced by their targets, phenomena variously classified as ranging from religious revelations to schizophrenia. The modified EEG apparatus allows them to emerge fully from their plane of existence and to co-habit with a host. There is a temporary dissonance while bodily control is established but thereafter the effects are incredibly beneficial." His expression became animated and his eyes glowed with an inner fervour. "Don't you realise, these entities are composed of the very quintessence of life itself. The physical body is infused with an animate energy which permeates down to the basic genetic coding controlling cell metabolism and growth. Old age and death are the consequence of a gradual decline in the ability of the DNA to replicate properly. The body begins to deteriorate, metabolic pathways falter and mutational changes bring cancers, loss of mental faculties and organic failure. The Psychid has no wish to be returned to the substratum of the unconscious world it originated in at the death of its host and thus ensures that the processes of cellular regeneration are fully maintained. The resulting effect is an unimaginable prolongation of life and an incredible enhancement of health and well-being.
I struggled to come to terms with this astonishing revelation. "You mean you are harbouring one of these creatures now?" I asked him.
"Yes, yes, of course. So are Roger and all the other members of our organisation who have been selected to enjoy these benefits."
At this a horrible suspicion entered my mind. "You say 'selected', isn't this something that should benefit everyone?"
Arthur chuckled disparagingly. "What would be the point of giving immortality to the masses?" he relied. "It is for those of us best fitted to use it. Those who have influence in world affairs; those who have a position of power and have the means to exert it. Our members dominate industry, the media, economics and commerce and therefore can guide society for the greatest good. Can you not see how much of a disaster it would be if everyone were allowed to enjoy these advantages? How many would be happy to continue to work in the factories, the offices and shops, doing the mundane tasks necessary to keep society running? In any case the Psychids are not inclined to be restricted to such hum-drum activities nor to engage with those who lack the intellect to best utilise their new powers."
"So how do you select those who, are to receive this bounty?" I queried sarcastically. "Those with the most money?"
Arthur chuckled, an unpleasant smirk on his face. "It pretty much comes down to the same thing. We choose those who are both wealthy and are best fitted to be world leaders. Not the corrupt and incompetent politicians who infest governments, I hasten to add, but those who already have some control over the world's destiny."
I was aghast. "This is monstrous," I told him. "I cannot imagine the consequences when people learn of your schemes"
Arthur was unabashed. I told you, our control is widespread and growing. We have the means to silence any suggestion of our activities as your friend the journalist found out to his cost. We are careful in whom we invite to join our circle but once the offer is made there can be no refusal. If necessary the reluctant are restrained until the process is completed. After that their Psychid ensures compliance."
I struggle to conceal my alarm. The implication was clear. This was not quite the harmonious symbiosis that Arthur claimed but rather a relationship in which the invader was the dominant partner.
My panic must have been evident. Arthur sighed. "We were friends but you must understand that despite the gratitude that I feel towards you for the help you gave me in the past I cannot allow you to jeopardise the success of our organization. You have two options. You can elect to receive the benefits of hosting a Psychid or you can decide to return to the university and give me your solemn word that you will never reveal this conversation to another soul. If that is your choice then you will
find that promotion and academic recognition at the highest level will follow. However I must remind you that he slightest disclosure will have the most serious consequences.
My mind was in a whirl. I had no idea how to respond. I found the thought of some alien being inhabiting my body, insinuating itself into my thoughts and probably controlling my actions simply repulsive in the extreme even if the reward was immortality. On the other hand to mildly return to academe and enjoy the fruits of unearned fame was not something I felt able to square with my conscience.
Arthur patted me on the shoulder in an attempt to calm me down. "I know," he said, it is a lot to take in. Why don't you sleep on it and come back in the morning and tell me your decision?"
I stammered some sort of appropriate response and in a daze made my way back to my hotel. Ever since I have been sitting here in my bedroom for most of the night trying to make up mind as to what to do. Would it be best to leave well alone? I doubt if the majority of people will be any the worse off under the control of the Psychids and their hosts. These are simply the same sort of people who have been manipulating society for their own