a naturalist, to be present at such spiritistic séances. I shared that degree of distrust and suspicion which should always accompany the observation of the abnormal. Yet these telekinetic phenomena are incontestable facts – for I cannot deny what I have seen with my own eyes.”
He looked around the room.
“However, let me be clear. I do not believe in the supernatural, spirits of the dead, or the absurd doctrines of Spiritualism. The force which moved that bell was not a spirit from a non-existent afterlife. It was produced by the mind of Alessandra herself.”
He described Alessandra’s unhappy childhood, including being forced to witness the murder of her father, powerless to do anything about it. “My hypothesis is that her repressed, inner rage, focused on an object or person, produces the telekinetic levitations, raps, pinches, and blows frequently reported during her sittings. But her most dramatic telekinetic effects are produced when this
soi-disant
Savonarola personality emerges.”
He was used to dealing with psychopaths in his asylum for the criminally insane, but Alessandra’s transformation was unsettling, even to him. He could understand why an earlier, superstitious age believed in demonic possession.
“Frankly, I wasn’t prepared for the hatred which emanated from this Savonarola personality – a rage that was barely contained and, if let loose, appeared capable of wreaking severe injury.”
He stared into space for a moment, then shook his head.
“Many years ago, on a hike through the countryside, I knocked at a farmhouse hoping for a glass of water. The door was flung open, and I was surprised by a vicious dog on a short chain, fangs bared, eyes burning, mere centimeters from my face. Fortunately, the dog’s master had a good grip on his beast.” He grimaced. “I did not get the feeling that
Signora
Poverelli had a secure grip on hers. I hope to explore this with Dr. Freud in Vienna.”
Lombardi paced back and forth, throwing out questions which demanded Science’s attention. Were mediums like Alessandra freaks of nature? Or were we all capable, in certain extreme mental states, of moving objects with our minds? Did weather – temperature, barometric pressure, humidity – have any effect on telekinetic powers? There was so much to learn!
Andiamo!
Let’s go!
The crowd erupted in an ovation of approval, and Gemelli signaled to the waiters to serve the brandy. Lombardi returned his notes to his portfolio, then turned back to his audience.
“I’m sure some of you have questions. Shall we start with our host?”
Gemelli pointed his glass at Huxley. “I’ll defer to our English guest. I’m curious what he has to say about all this.”
Everyone looked at Huxley.
Chapter 23
H uxley stubbed out his cigar, rose to his feet and walked to the front of the room. He stood there for a moment, as if collecting his thoughts, then launched his devastating cross-examination.
“The first question I suggest we ask is not
how
Madame Poverelli’s telekinetic powers work, but whether she
has
any.”
He looked around the room, a condescending smile on his face. “Are we dealing here with telekinesis…or trickery?”
Lombardi stiffened.
Huxley fixed his gaze on Lombardi.
“I presume that Alessandra knew in advance that you would be coming to her apartment? Several days, or even a week before you visited her?”
Lombardi looked puzzled. “She was expecting me, yes. Professor Rossi told her.”
“And the séance took place in Alessandra’s apartment. Is that correct?”
“Yes. I was frankly surprised. I expected it to be held in Professor Rossi’s home.”
“And who changed the location?”
“Professor Rossi.”
“Did he say why?”
“Yes. He said Alessandra felt more comfortable there, and she performed best in familiar surroundings.”
Huxley raised an eyebrow. “So Alessandra knew in advance you were coming, and she picked the place for the séance, her own apartment
He looked around the room.
“However, let me be clear. I do not believe in the supernatural, spirits of the dead, or the absurd doctrines of Spiritualism. The force which moved that bell was not a spirit from a non-existent afterlife. It was produced by the mind of Alessandra herself.”
He described Alessandra’s unhappy childhood, including being forced to witness the murder of her father, powerless to do anything about it. “My hypothesis is that her repressed, inner rage, focused on an object or person, produces the telekinetic levitations, raps, pinches, and blows frequently reported during her sittings. But her most dramatic telekinetic effects are produced when this
soi-disant
Savonarola personality emerges.”
He was used to dealing with psychopaths in his asylum for the criminally insane, but Alessandra’s transformation was unsettling, even to him. He could understand why an earlier, superstitious age believed in demonic possession.
“Frankly, I wasn’t prepared for the hatred which emanated from this Savonarola personality – a rage that was barely contained and, if let loose, appeared capable of wreaking severe injury.”
He stared into space for a moment, then shook his head.
“Many years ago, on a hike through the countryside, I knocked at a farmhouse hoping for a glass of water. The door was flung open, and I was surprised by a vicious dog on a short chain, fangs bared, eyes burning, mere centimeters from my face. Fortunately, the dog’s master had a good grip on his beast.” He grimaced. “I did not get the feeling that
Signora
Poverelli had a secure grip on hers. I hope to explore this with Dr. Freud in Vienna.”
Lombardi paced back and forth, throwing out questions which demanded Science’s attention. Were mediums like Alessandra freaks of nature? Or were we all capable, in certain extreme mental states, of moving objects with our minds? Did weather – temperature, barometric pressure, humidity – have any effect on telekinetic powers? There was so much to learn!
Andiamo!
Let’s go!
The crowd erupted in an ovation of approval, and Gemelli signaled to the waiters to serve the brandy. Lombardi returned his notes to his portfolio, then turned back to his audience.
“I’m sure some of you have questions. Shall we start with our host?”
Gemelli pointed his glass at Huxley. “I’ll defer to our English guest. I’m curious what he has to say about all this.”
Everyone looked at Huxley.
Chapter 23
H uxley stubbed out his cigar, rose to his feet and walked to the front of the room. He stood there for a moment, as if collecting his thoughts, then launched his devastating cross-examination.
“The first question I suggest we ask is not
how
Madame Poverelli’s telekinetic powers work, but whether she
has
any.”
He looked around the room, a condescending smile on his face. “Are we dealing here with telekinesis…or trickery?”
Lombardi stiffened.
Huxley fixed his gaze on Lombardi.
“I presume that Alessandra knew in advance that you would be coming to her apartment? Several days, or even a week before you visited her?”
Lombardi looked puzzled. “She was expecting me, yes. Professor Rossi told her.”
“And the séance took place in Alessandra’s apartment. Is that correct?”
“Yes. I was frankly surprised. I expected it to be held in Professor Rossi’s home.”
“And who changed the location?”
“Professor Rossi.”
“Did he say why?”
“Yes. He said Alessandra felt more comfortable there, and she performed best in familiar surroundings.”
Huxley raised an eyebrow. “So Alessandra knew in advance you were coming, and she picked the place for the séance, her own apartment
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