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_Feb. 3._
The transmitter is ready for operation. I have constructed a pair of
metal disc-electrodes which clamp tightly to my head and press upon my
temples. This device will pick up the thought impulses from my brain,
feed them directly into the radio-frequency amplifier, where they will
be amplified, and then radiated in a tight directed beam.
My two ants were in their little enclosure under the microscope when I
threw the switch to the "send" position. I pictured myself as I looked
as a man, and sent the thought, "I am a man."
Hastily, I threw the switch to the "receive" position. I looked through
the microscope.
The ants were lying on their sides. Somehow, I felt that the power was
too great, and had stunned them. Keeping my eye to the microscope, I
again threw the switch to "send," and cut the power to half.
"Get up, friends ... get up," I thought, as I pictured them rising. Sure
enough ... the ants slowly regained their feet. They looked about in
apparent bewilderment. Back again, in "receive" position, I was
conscious of the thought image,
"The man ... he is the man. The man holds us here. He is killing us. We
must kill the man."
They gnashed their fierce-looking mandibles. I snapped back to "send"
and thought.
"No ... you must not kill the man. The man will not harm you ... he is
your friend. He will help you."
As I watched, the ants seemed to become less excited. From the larger of
the two, I received the thought,
"We are dying. The man is killing us with his strong vibrations. We
must kill the man."
Then a very powerful thought impression burst upon my brain.
It seemed to come from the colony, three feet away.
"Warning to the man. Stop your thought transmissions at once! Your
vibrations are killing us. We want nothing from you. We have everything
we need. You will learn nothing from us. You will stop _at once_!"
I threw the switch to "send." Viewed through the microscope, the two
ants were lying on their backs ... dead, to all appearances.
"What if I don't stop?" I sent the thought question, "I want to learn
the secret of your communication. In return, I will teach you many
things. I can't stop now!"