Rose’s pulse had steadied. Johnson watched the monitors compulsively, like a father concerned for his daughter–except it was nothing like that.
“Were tranquilizers necessary, Doctor?”
“You tell me, Johnson.”
“Do you have any idea what you’ve created?”
“I believe I do.”
“Please enlighten me.”
“The soul is polytheistic in nature, meaning its divisions are original and natural. Psychoanalysts have attempted to identify these divisions since Freud named the ego, the id, and the superego, but his names were only the first. Jung, Hilman, Lacan – and many a lesser man have attempted to split the psyche. Are you familiar with any of these theorists?”
“Jung identified the animus, the shadow, and the self.”
“Impressive, Johnson. In all these iterations, despite their many differences, there is included the darker side of human nature, the shadow as Jung describes it. That untamed darkness, that animalistic passion exists beneath the surface of the unconscious mind, and we, I believe, have unearthed it.”
“We have created …a shadow?”
“No, no, not a shadow. ‘To call this unformed void of psychopathic darkness in one’s nature the shadow does it only partial justice, because shadow tends to mean moral evil as seen from ego. But chaos refers to a prima material, indicating a peculiar inherent
connection between the worst inert sludge of human nature.’ Do you understand the distinction, Johnson?”
“We’ve unearthed the sludge of human nature?”
“Exactly. The prima materia, what all else is made from.”
“But will you do?”
“Bring them together again.”
“And that will fix her?”
“We’re on the edge of discovery. I will not go back now.”
“Not even if you’ve permanently damaged one of your subjects?”
“They knew the risks.”
“With all due respect, Doctor, I don’t believe you knew the risks.”
“Science calls for sacrifice.” A pause.
“What is it, Johnson?”
“You know, I’m really beginning to dislike that blasted book of yours.”
Nihilistic Porcupine 