Medicine Mask
Medicine Mask
Iowa State University
Copyright c 1960 by the authors. Sketch is produced by The Berkeley Electronic Press (bepress). http://lib.dr.iastate.edu/sketch
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1960
Preliminaries accomplished, Dr. Jensen stepped for
ward, turned the machine on and then inserted the white
tape into the small slot. Silently the machine digested the
four-word question and then began its work. A loud hum
startled viewers, but the scientists nodded knowingly to one
another. Unconcerned, Dr. Jensen reached forward to press
the anti-loop control, but stepped back in amazement as the
machine reversed itself. The silence continued, scientists
eyed their watches; way beyond the usual ten or fifteen
thousand millisecond range, still the silence continued.
Noisily the printer began chattering to itself. Quickly Dr.
Jensen tore the yellow answer tape from its roll, mentally
translating the answer to himself. "There was no god/' . . .
his knees were firm, his mind was blank, yet his eyes con
tinued, "but there is one now/' He stood woodenly, his back
to the cameras. Quickly his disbelieving mind reread the in
comprehensible reply. Suddenly his steel grey eyes lifted to
face his machine and with a sudden urgency he reached for
ward to press the red emergency stop control.
All the audience saw was a large blue arc which jumped
from the PRODIGY and left Dr. Jensen's body lying on the
white tile floor. A second spark flashed on the yellow answer
tape which began to burn. Finally the small flame flickered
and then died as mankind crossed itself and waited.
Milo Schield, Sci. & H. Soph,
tfledicihe ftlajk
This grotesque and twisted plaque
Hangs upon the wall
Of carved and painted wood
Serving no seeming good.
Dust always seems to collect
In folds too hard to clean,
And cobwebs often add
A certain aging sheen.
The Direction
Knowing the direction from before W h e n , with sincere callousness, Those who loved me turned me away, Does not help now.
I look back with hunger,
Longing to be with their love and laughter —
T o hold them close.
Resolved in independence
I strive, I strain, I stall.
I fan thick volumes
A n d t h u m b precious pages
For help.
Yet I cannot hide from those around me —
T h e accusing stares,
T h e bony fingers yet point
T h e direction. (...truncated)