Youth Without Youth Page #4

I'm very sorry. I heard he died

in a plane crash, an accident.

But we can talk about this

when my friend gets here.

I told him to come at 9:00.

Your friend?

Dr. Monroe.

The director of an important

gerontology foundation.

He's Swiss, like me.

Like you.

You know,

I do have a name.

Would you like to know it?

Be careful.

He knows who you are.

Hello, I'm Dr. Monroe.

Head of the foundation

investigating

the materials

of Professor Stanciulescu.

I'm afraid I have no idea

to what you're referring.

The belief that youth and life

can be prolonged in any way

other than by the purely

biochemical ones.

You do know

what I'm referring to?

No, I'm sorry.

Methods proposed

by that Nazi, Dr. Rudolf.

Electrocution by means

of a million or more volts.

Insane.

Fortunately, I believe

that method was never tried.

But our informants said

that Professor Stanciulescu

had worked with a somewhat

analogous case of rejuvenation

induced by a bolt

of lightning.

We know who you are,

Mr. Dominic Matei.

Now, I have a prior engagement,

I really must run.

I'm terribly sorry.

- I know.

Perhaps we could have dinner.

Later tonight?

Mr. Matei?

What do we do with time?

That question,

"what do we do with time"

expresses the supreme ambiguity

of the human condition.

I have no idea

what you're talking about.

An opportunity has been

given to us.

We, the human race.

"We"?

No.

You and I both know

what is coming:

atomic warfare,

cataclysmic destruction.

But unlike the others,

I'm trying to find a meaning

to this impending catastrophe.

Think of me as the last

European optimist.

This can be our life's work.

Please.

There are a few of us who since

The fact that you appeared

all of a sudden

means that you have

a special mission

and that you possess means

of knowledge much superior

to those available to us.

You are gravely mistaken.

What is indispensable

to a truly human existence?

For instance,

the Occidental artistic

treasury, music and poetry,

but also a part

of classic philosophy,

and above all, science.

Post-historic man

will be allergic to science

for at least

one or two centuries.

No, always science.

Science above all.

Dominic.

I'm surprised at you.

Dominic, don't believe

anything he says.

Shut up!

I will tell him the truth.

Come, Dominic,

join me in this work.

He is Dr. Josef Rudolf,

Hitler's most

dedicated scientist.

Adolf Hitler?

If you actually knew him...

If you had ever been with him,

in his presence...

If I could describe it to you...

Well, uh,

you will meet him soon enough.

No! The Gestapo

had Stanciulescu killed

and Rudolf was the one-

Traitor!

You have no choice

in the matter.

Dominic.

You were

the honey in my dreams.

Forgive me. Please, forgive me.

It's true what he says.

You really have no choice

in the matter.

Geneva 1955, 20th of August,

about 10:
31 a. m.

Dominic Matei.

I've decided to stop

making notes in English

and instead to use

an artificial language

of my own invention.

Now I can describe paradoxical situations...

impossible to express in any existing language.

This will permit me to reveal facts...

I have not dared to confess in writing.

This language will only be deciphered...

by means of a perfected computer.

So my testimony is addressed to the future...

let us say in the year 2010.

But to whom?

The coming nuclear wars...

will destroy many civilizations...

Undoubtedly, this will unleash...

a wave of deep pessimism, historically unprecedented.

A general despondency.

My testimony, deciphered in the future...

could counter the despair...

because it shows the potential of humanity:

a species superior to Homo sapiens,

born in a far-off future.

This depends on the preservation

of the material in the safe-deposit box.

I don't know how this will be assured.

But I do not doubt that the material

will be preserved.

Otherwise,

my life would have no meaning.

Hello!

Excuse me,

what's the best way

up to the top?

Is it Laura?

She's afraid of curvy roads.

I really don't think

you should go on.

There's a storm coming in.

We're used to mountain storms.

And anyway, we can't wait.

It is.

Our vacation will

be over in a few days.

Maybe I can help.

That's it.

That's it.

I'm Veronica.

What's your name?

Dominic.

With her,

you use your real name.

Thank you.

Be careful.

Goodbye, Dominic.

I can only guess what happened.

When the big storm broke out,

they were probably

on the road

that runs under

the mountain wall,

where most

of the lightning struck.

I'm afraid they could have

been buried in a rockslide

or a close strike of lightning

can cause a heart attack.

Your name?

Martin Audricourt.

Passport, please.

You know, I can always

go in a taxi by myself.

If I need help, I'll call

from the first service station.

I don't think they could

have had time to reach the shelter.

They could have taken refuge

in one of the crevices

in the wall.

Oh, there's their car.

There's a woman

over here.

She's dead.

Om, shanti

Shanti

Veronica?

What happened?

Are you all right?

Sanskrit.

How can it be?

She's had a shock.

She's suffering from amnesia.

What language is that?

What is she speaking?

It's an Indian language,

I think.

Her papers identify her

as Veronica Buehler, age 25.

Occupation:
school teacher.

Living in Liestal,

Canton Ble-Campagne.

Excuse me.

- Please.

You're the only one

who can calm her

and speak her language,

Mr...?

Audricourt.

I'm a student of linguistics.

Greetings.

What is your name?

It is a pleasure

to make your acquaintance.

My name is Rupini.

Thank you.

Good morning.

What can you tell us,

Mr. Audricourt?

The young woman believes

she is living

in northeastern India

She feels

that she has spent

several months

in a cave meditating.

Now, this is where she was

when a big storm broke out

and she saw lightning strike

above her on the mountain.

Many large rocks were dislodged,

blocking the mouth of the cave.

Is that all?

She asserts her name

is Rupini,

daughter of Nagabhatta,

descended from one of the first

families to convert to Buddhism.

She became a disciple

of the philosopher Chandrakirti,

which is why she was in the cave

copying down his works.

I see.

Would you mind if I discuss this

a moment with my colleagues?

Not at all.

We will invite

some doctors from, uh,

Zurich, Basel and Geneva

to come to see her.

I...

If I might make a suggestion?

Yes.

Perhaps some experts from

the Oriental Institute in Rome

might be necessary.

Necessary for what?

Well, to confirm

if what she's saying is fact.

Fact?

Exactly.

I present to

you Professor Giuseppe Tucci

from the Oriental Institute

in Rome.

I am Blasi, his assistant.

Professor

Tucci, it's an honor.

Before we begin,

who wrote the telegram

that included

some of the particulars?

I did, professor.

You're a Sanskritist?

Not exactly. Excuse me.

Uh, but I have an interest

in Oriental studies.

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