Journey Through the Impossible Read Online Free PDF Page A

advance what I'm going to do and where
I'm going to go.
    George: And you say he follows you everywhere?
    Eva: Everywhere, and the strange thing is that he only stops when I
go into the church. There, at the threshold of the Holy Place, he
gets an even stranger look on his face. His lips are twisted with
bitter irony and an angry fire burns in his eyes.
    George: And when you are in the church?
    Eva: My soul becomes calm again, especially when Master Volsius
plays the organ.
    George: Master Volsius?
    Eva: Yes, the new organist. I believe he's attached to the cathedral at
Aalborg.9 He's a musical genius. I'd almost say he's a superhuman
artist. When he plays the accompaniment for the psalms of penitence, you can see the darkness of hell open up before your eyes.
When he sings of the glory of the Almighty, you are carried off to
Paradise itself. The walls recede, as if by some marvellous spell,
the church vanishes, and his genius calls forth a heavenly vision,
surrounded by the most sublime harmonies.
    Mme de Traventhal: Yes, Eva, yes. I've felt the same ecstasy as you
have while listening to him.
    Eva: It's more than ecstasy. You can see what that great artist is trying
to express. You can see it, grandma, you can really see it.

    Tartelet: And I've seen it too. Yes, yes, I've seen this miracle, and I've
been assured that this man is more than a peerless organist. He
produces the most miraculous sounds with my poor old violin. He
could make houses dance.
    (Enter Niels)
    Niels: Madam, the doctor is here.
    George (hastily): A doctor?
    Mme de Traventhal: Yes, my dears, I've sent for a doctor to come
and see me. I heard that there is a very famous doctor in Aalborg
right now, and I've asked him to come. He will give me some good
advice-and you, too, Eva, and George and Tartelet.
    Tartelet: But I'm not sick.
    Mme de Traventhal: People are always sick-more or less. I've
observed that doctors have the greatest success....
    Tartelet: With healthy people.
    Mme de Traventhal: Show in Dr. Ox.10
    George: Is this the Dr. Ox who carried out those extraordinary experiments that doubled people's vital capacity under the influence of
oxygen?
    Mme de Traventhal: Exactly.
    George: I'm curious to see him.
    Tartelet (aside): Mr. George doesn't need any extra oxygen, though.
He needs to have a little less of it.
    Niels (announcing): Dr. Ox.
    Tartelet: Some charlatan, no doubt.
    (Enter Dr. Ox, through the door at the back)
    Eva (aside, terrified): What's this I see? It's him, the man who keeps
following me!

    Ox (to Mme de Traventhal): You sent for me, madam. Here I am.
    Mme de Traventhal: Doctor, I heard that you were in Aalborg,
where your great reputation has preceded you, and I wish to have
your opinion....
    Ox: About this young lady, perhaps.
    Eva (hastily): No, no, not about me.
    Mme de Traventhal: Eva is in excellent health.
    Ox: Are you quite sure? See how pale and nervous she is. (He takes her
hand.)
    Eva: Oh!
    Ox: This delicate hand trembles in mine. (Eva quickly pulls her hand
away, but he seizes it again) It's like fear, or terror, even. But we'll
calm that.
    Eva (moving away from him): You're mistaken. I'm not frightened or
terrified. (Aside) My intuition tells me this man has brought misfortune to our house.
    George (to the doctor): Doctor, I'm happy to meet you. I've followed your
wonderful experiments-from a distance, but with great interest.
    Ox: Indeed?
    George: Increasing the oxygen content of the air, transforming the
body and the soul! Doubling, even tripling, the vital capacity!
That is magnificent.
    Ox: It's also very simple, sir. The human body is like a burning stove.
I simply found a way of putting on a little more coal. But let's get
straight to the point, sir. You're the one I'm here to treat.
    George: Me?
    Mme de Traventhal: Doctor, what are you talking about?
    Ox: There's no point in beating about the bush, madam. This young
man's health is a matter of great concern to you.

    Mme de