Arthur Hailey - Strong Medicine

"I've noticed something about you," he said.”You never miss a chance to learn. The same way you did by working at John Locke. Have you read any more from him lately?" "Yes.”

Yvonne hesitated, then said, "I found something he wrote which kind of fits those 'animal-rights' people. About enthusiasm.”

Martin said curiously, "I'm not sure I remember. Can you find the passage?" Locke's Essay was across the room, but without bothering to get it, Yvonne began:

"Immediate revelation being a much easier way for men to establish their opinions and regulate their conduct than the tedious and not always successful labor of strict reasoning, it is no wonder that some have been very apt to pretend to revelation, and to persuade themselves that they are under the peculiar guidance of heaven in their actions and opinions...”

As she recited, obviously from memory, Martin regarded her with astonishment. Observing him, she stopped, blushed slightly, then continued. "Their minds being thus prepared, whatever groundless opinion comes to settle itself strongly upon their fancies is an illumination from the Spirit of God and presently of divine authority; and whatsoever odd action they find in themselves a strong inclination to do, that impulse is concluded to be a call or direction from heaven...”

Yvonne stopped, giggled, then said with embarrassment, "That's enough.”

"No, no!" Martin urged, "Go on, please! If you can.”

She said doubtfully, "You're making fun of me.”

"Not in any slightest way.”

"All right.”

She recited again.

“....enthusiasm, which, though founded neither on reason nor divine revelation, but rising from the conceits of a warmed or overweening brain... men being most forwardly obedient to the impulses they receive from themselves... For strong conceit, like a new principle, carries all easily with it, when got above common sense, and freed from all restraint of reason...”

Yvonne concluded the passage, then stopped, those blue, innocent-appearing eyes fixed on Martin, making clear she was still wondering about his reaction, doubtful of herself He said, his tone incredulous, "I do recall that quotation now. And I don't believe you got a single word wrong. How did you do it?" "Well... I remember things.”

"Anything? And always in such detail?" "I suppose SO.”

It reminded Martin that even when reporting trivial gossip, Yvonne always seemed to have the details right-names, dates, places, sources, background facts. He had noted that subconsciously, but without significance until now. He asked, "How many times do you have to read something until you've memorized it?" "Once, mostly. But with Locke it was twice.”

Yvonne still looked uncomfortable, as if Martin had uncovered a guilty secret. He said, "I want to try something.”

Going to another room, he found a book he was sure Yvonne had not seen before. It was Locke's The Conduct of the Understanding. Opening it to a page he had once marked, he told her, "Read this. From here to here.”

"Can I read it twice?" "Of course.”

She put her head down, her long blond hair tumbling forward while she frowned in concentration, then she lowered the book. Martin took it from her and instructed, "Now tell me what you read.”

He followed the words as she repeated them.

"There are fundamental truths that lie at the bottom, the basis upon which a great many others rest, and in which they have their consistency. These are teeming truths, rich in store, with which they furnish the mind, and, like the lights of heaven, are not only beautiful and entertaining in themselves, but give light and evidence to other things, that without them could not be seen or known. Such is that admirable discovery of Mr. Newton that all bodies gravitate...”

She went on for several paragraphs more, Martin finding each word exactly as printed in the book he held. At the end, Yvonne pronounced, "That piece is beautiful.”

"So are you," he told her.”And so is what you have. Do you know what it is?" Again that unease, the hesitation.”You tell me.”

"You've a photographic memory. It's something special and unique. Surely you must have known.”

"In a way. But I never wanted to be different. Not a circus freak.”

There was a break in Yvonne's voice. For the first time since he had known her, Martin sensed tears not far away. "Who, in God's name, ever said you were a freak?" "A teacher at school.”

Under Martin's tender questioning the story came out. She had written an examination and, because of that photographic memory, many of her answers were identical with material in textbooks. The woman teacher who marked the paper accused Yvonne of cheating. Later, Yvonne's denial was disbelieved. In desperation she had given an example of memorizing similar to the one Martin just witnessed. The teacher, angry at being proved wrong, had scoffed at Yvonne's ability, describing her as a "circus freak" and her kind of learning as "worthless.”

Martin interrupted.”It isn't worthless if you understand what you've learned.”

"Oh, I did understand.”

"I believe that," he assured her.”You've a good brain. I've seen it function.”

But after her clash with the teacher, Yvonne not only concealed her gift, she attempted to discard it. When studying, she consciously tried not to memorize sentences and phrases and, in part, succeeded. But doing so also lessened her understanding of what she was required to learn, with the result that she did poorly in examinations and failed the one that might have got her into veterinary college. "Teachers can do a lot that's good," Martin said.”But stupid ones can do great harm.”

Yvonne, looking sad as she remembered, said nothing, and a silence followed during which Martin concentrated, thinking. At length he said, "You've done so much for me. Maybe, for a change, I can do something for you. Would you still like to be a vet?" The question took her by surprise.”Is it possible?" "Many things are possible. The point is: do you want it?" "Of course. It's what I've always wanted.”

"Then let me make some inquiries," Martin said.”Let's see what I find out.”

It did not take long. Two days later, after dinner at home which Yvonne prepared, Martin said, "Let's sit and talk. I have things to tell you.”

In the small living room, he relaxed in his leather armchair while Yvonne curled up on the rug in front. Despite her good intentions, she still had not shed her surplus weight, though Martin made clear it didn't bother him; he liked the fullness of Yvonne's body and its curves, which he regarded fondly at this moment. He told her, "You can apply to veterinary college, and the chances are good that you'll get in. Also, some financial aid, which you'll need to live reasonably, is possible, even probable, with help from the institute. But if you don't get helped financially, I'm sure I could work something out.”

She said, "But I'd have to do other work first and pass exams.”

"Yes, and I've found out what you need. You'll have to pass three 'A' levels--one in chemistry, another in physics, a third in zoology, biology or botany. With your experience, zoology makes most sense. "Yes, it does.”

A note of doubt crept in.”Would it mean giving up my job?" "Not necessarily, while you're preparing for the 'A' levels. You can study during evenings and weekends, I'll help you. We'll work together.”

Yvonne said breathlessly, "I can hardly believe it.”

"You'll believe it when you find out how much there is to do.”

"Oh, I'll work hard. I promise. I really will.”

Martin smiled.”I know. And with that memorizing mind of yours, you'll sail through it all, and you'll pass the exams without trouble.”

He paused, considering.”One thing you'll have to learn is to change the textbook language so it isn't identical when you sit the exams. No sense in making examiners suspicious the way your teacher was. But you can practice that beforehand. And there are techniques to passing exams. I can show you those too.”