In the days that followed I had come to label that glimmer in his eyes as something less than wholesome. It was no small coincidence that it always accompanied by that damnably dark passion.
It was not much longer until packages began to arrive. They were foreign in origin and queer in appearance. A thin envelop from Germany, a box labeled "fragile" several times over from a doctor in Paris. Each of these were hurriedly retrieved by my friend and brought back to his room.
Several weeks passed similarly until I was awakened late in the night by a piercing shriek. Still weary in the stupor of slumber I stumbled into A----'s room. I must point out that my friend had always valued privacy and I created a wont of leaving his things be.
If my companion hadn't been in such dire a situation I may have been shocked at the disarray and neglect of the room. Unfinished meals, among other things, had lain horridly askew. Now, none of those things did I notice when I entered. The sight of A----- lying on his back and twitching convulsively immediately sobered me. Rushing over I discovered a curious instrument worn about the head of the man. It appeared to be a receiver of sorts, and its cord ran a short distance to be connected to a large box.
Without hesitance I attempted to wake my friend by sharply shaking him by the shoulders. Proving nonresponsive, I carried him to the couch in the front room. I sat beside him for some hours before he began to stir, mumbling words of strange things and places that I had never thought him to have such knowledge of.
All at once he sat up with a look of confusion upon his face. I recounted the happenings of his misadventure. When I had concluded this I asked what it was that he had attached to the sides of his skull.
"I cannot begin to explain what I am doing, but I ask that you wait for me to finish my studies and you will be of the first to behold a beautiful advancement in neurology!"
With this he turned and retired to his room leaving my question unanswered.
