The doctor’s smile faded, but only somewhat. ‘Evidently you have reason to question her sanity, else you wouldn’t be here. In what regard?’
‘She mentioned ghoulies,’ Lorne told him. ‘If she is to be believed, she really believes in them.’
‘Ms. Algood is a simple, superstitious woman,’ the doctor told him. ‘Lots of people believe in ghosts. And in angels and in the devil and in God and in myriad other forms of superstitious nonsense. No offense intended, in case you’re religious yourself.’
‘Yes, well, she claims to have seen them,’ Lorne said.
Dr. Craven shrugged. ‘Lots of people claim to have seen all manner of things. It’s just simple, common, garden-variety hysteria. Ever thought you saw something out of the corner of your eye, then couldn’t find it when you looked for it and got this sort of creepy feeling?’
‘I suppose everyone has at one time or another,’ Lorne admitted.
‘Well, there you are then. Except people like you have a sceptic’s mind. People like Ms. Algood have a credulous mind. Your figment, to her, would represent something quite real.’
Lorne frowned. ‘But it isn’t real.’
The doctor was smiling once more. ‘Which is why down through the ages sceptics and the credulous have always been at odds with one another. More than two thousand years ago this was called Hellenism and Hebraism, which refers to the Logic of the Greeks and the Faith of the Hebrews. Later this was simply referred to as the never-ending schism between Reason and Faith.’