Automata

Chapter 2

Oliver was walking out of the lecture hall of the university, surrounded by several other students milling about and discussing what the professor had said during the class. In his mind, he was going over and over again what the professor had taught them about amputation. It was incredibly fascinating that a man's hand or arm or leg could be cut off and he could still live. Oliver's mind began pondering about taking it a step further, as his mind often did. Could a man's heart be removed? Or his head? Could his body possibly still shamble on without a brain?

His thoughts were interrupted by a familiar voice approaching him. It was Lester.

"Moreau! I thought you would be in this class. Come with me, I want to introduce you to one of the professors of surgery. I had been talking about you, and he thought he ought to meet you, since you have such high ambitions."

"Of course," Oliver said, and followed Lester across the grounds to a brick building with tidy bushes out front. He entered to find a large room with a high ceiling and a few bookshelves lining the walls. Lester led Oliver down a short hallway to an office with a bronze sign reading "Doctor Edward P. Bennett". Lester turned to Oliver.

"Now, be sure to be polite. Professor Bennett can be a very intimidating man," he said, suddenly very serious looking.

Oliver paused, then nodded. "Alright."

Lester's demeanor suddenly changed. "Ah, I'm just clowning with you, Moreau! I'm sure Professor Bennett will seem like an old mate in no time." Lester grinned and knocked on the door. A slightly gravelly but invitingly warm voice came from the other side.

"Come in, Mr. Chapman."

They entered the room to see a small, cozy office. The walls were lined with books, likely pertaining to anatomy or something similar, and it definitely gave the impression of being highly scholarly. Yet, it still had a homely feeling, with furnishings and knick knacks dotted around that could remind a person of their mother's house.

Professor Bennett was sitting at his desk, smiling up at the students who just entered. He was a slightly short, stocky man, with a roundness in his face that made one think of an optimistic child. But his greying beard and the glasses perched on his nose gave him an older, wiser presence. When he spoke, his voice was deep and hearty, like it was full of a life of fulfillment.

"Ah, so you're the Oliver Moreau I'm told about," he said.

"Yes, sir, I am."

Though Oliver had taken English through grade school, Professor Bennett still noticed his slight accent.

"Oh, French I see! Well what could you want in gloomy old London, boy?" He laughed haughtily.

"I want to become a surgeon, sir. One of the greatest." Oliver paused for a moment, then added, "like you."

Oliver glanced at Lester who grinned and nodded, though Oliver thought it was a little too eagerly. Almost insincere. Almost.

Professor Bennet smiled and looked at Oliver.

"And why do you want to do this, Mr. Moreau?"

Oliver paused, slightly puzzled by the question. "To... make great discoveries and change the face of scientific thought."

"Wrong," the professor said immediately. "The first reason is to help people. To look a sick man in the eyes and tell him, 'I am going to save you.' The changing science comes next."