The Diagnosis

Strange mitosis and alien cells

My close friend Algernon Atwood had been seeing his physician about a strange illness that had developed inside him suddenly. He had visited the physician from the time that the symptoms had arisen, which I shall describe later. At the crucial moment when the physician had gained deeper insight into the problem, he telephoned me to ask me to warn Algernon for him. We both knew that it would scarcely be so easy. Algernon Atwood's illness was very strange indeed, and very uncommon. Until now, nobody ever suffered it. 

Algernon had described the symptoms to his physician, who recorded them for analysis, as the following: blurred vision, occasional and strange colour blindness [he said that he saw only green, shades of green and grey, which he supposed were shadows], a hunger for plants and leaves uncommon in our part of the world, thirst for water, and a hearing sensation of rustling like wind through undergrowth and grass. Furthermore, Algernon was thinning at a very rapid pace. His physician related these symptoms to me and I sat at home and wondered how I should tell Algernon, or whether I should tell him or not. 

Think about it, for a second. If you, or anyone you know, should learn of this malady, then how would you react to it? I was certain that Algernon would get scared. But he needed to know. I had to find the right words. As a writer, that was hardly a difficult task; but I had to break the news to him as carefully as possible.  The following night at seven PM, when I was sure that he was at home, I telephoned him. 
"Hello, Algernon, old fellow! How are you feeling now?"
"Oh! Hello, August! Well! Mostly, I feel okay. Why?"
"Mostly okay? Do you feel tired, weak, dizzy and such like?"
"I have been a bit tired lately, but I am sure that it is due to my change of diet."
"Algernon, your physician has some new results. We discussed how to tell you. Can you be ready?"
"I will try to be. Go ahead. What has he found?"
"To start with, he has discovered strange cells in your body which are conducting mitosis in a way which, with our own cells, would lead to cancer. However, he has determined that these cells are not yours at all; so there would be no risk of cancer."
"That is good. But what will happen to me?"
"Get ready. You know that cellular disturbances can cause other transformations, do you not?"
"Other transformations? You mean that I would transform into--?"
"Very possibly, yes! You would cease to live as you are, but not die. You would continue life as something different."
"OH MY GOD!"