THE ULTIMATE EXPERIMENT: A SCIENCE FICTION SHORT STORY, PART VI

                    THE UNTIMATE EXPERIMENT: PART VI

                                Restarting The Ultimate Experiment

                                      An unpublished short story

                              THE UNLIMATE EXPERIMENT 

Ball knew this conversation would be extremely difficult.  He had practiced what he would say since he first conceived the idea, when he first heard of Stewart’s condition. 

Motioning for Ball to take a seat, Stewart asked the nurse’s aide to bring some tea.

When they were alone, Ball began to explain his visit.  “Professor Stewart, I have always respected you as an outstanding scientist.  No, respect is the wrong word.  I have always been in awe of your intellect.  And I have always respected you as a man, a person of honesty and integrity.”

Stewart smiled, “I appreciate your comments, he said, “but I’m sure you didn’t travel three thousand miles just to compliment me on the life I have lived.”

 “Professor, I am here because you have three qualities I am seeking in an individual, someone I need to help me prove a theory of mine.  It is a theory that goes beyond science to the essence of our very existence.  You meet my criteria.  You are a highly intelligent physicist; you have led an honorable life, and you are dying.”

Stewart said, “This conversation is becoming more and more bizarre.  I presume you can explain your comments.”