Lovable Savage

About the Book

The Institute for Psychic Research (IPS) based in Princeton N.J. gathers together a group of proven exponents for the purpose of conducting telepathic research.  Unwittingly this interferes with the communications of an extraterrestrial society located on a distant galaxy.  A disembodied id is dispatched by this society to Earth to locate and passively terminate the interference which is quickly identified.  The id is delighted to discover that one of the junior technical assistants involved in the research project (Tod Randle) is telepathically adept and attempts to establish communications with him.  This leads to some frightening moments for both parties but eventually the id succeeds in enlisting the aid of the young researcher.  The two hatch a scheme to discourage the organizers and financial supporters of the project.  Tod, insists that his fiancé, Ellen, be appraised of their plan in order that she should not be alarmed by some of the actions it would require of Tod.  Her initial disbelief, fear and objections are eventually overcome when the id demonstrates his reality to her.

Their scheme involves arranging for Tod to become an active participant in the psychic research rather than just a technical assistant.  With the id’s assistance he goes into a trance during a research session and utters words which, at that time and place, seem meaningless but which reveal knowledge, gained by the id, of international intrigue at the highest levels of government.  And the id arranges for these words to be transmitted on nationwide television!  The resulting embarrassment extends all the way to the White House and the response is immediate as the full resources of the FBI and the CIA and eventually the President are brought to bear.  The conspirator’s objective, to have IPS activities suspended, is temporarily thwarted as the FBI insists that IPS sessions continue under their close supervision in order that they might identify a culprit and explanation for Tod’s awareness of highly secret communications between the President and the Russian Chairman.  Tod was understandably the prime suspect.

The results of this continued activity only compound the FBI’s problem as even more detailed knowledge is revealed by Tod in a second trance.  But with the id’s assistance, including the manipulation of a polygraph examination, the FBI is totally frustrated in its efforts to incriminate Tod.  Likewise the collaborative efforts of the CIA and Russian Intelligence are fruitless.  Throughout this experience the id becomes disgusted with the morality and ethics of human society while, at the same time, he is greatly impressed by the faith demonstrated by Tod and especially by the beauty of the Tod-Ellen relationship.  He perceives mankind as morally bankrupt (savages) but individually capable of the purest emotions (lovable).

Subsequent developments include the transmission of Tod’s utterances on Russian television which precipitates an international crisis.  The psychological strain on the President proves too much and he has a nervous breakdown.  The Vice President assumes control and orders the immediate closure of IPS thereby fulfilling the id’s mission.  But at what cost?

About the Author

C.A.Peer is a retired scientist and entrepreneurial businessman who was educated at the University of London and awarded a Post-Doctoral Fellowship with the National Research Council of Canada. He holds four patents and has authored over thirty scientific publications in such prestigious journals as NATURE. His technical skills were applied in business ventures ranging from novel induction melting systems to ceramic fibers. This is his first fictional effort.