The Laughter Virus

"Did you interview a young man named Terrence Weld in this connection?"

"Young 'Genial'? Yes I interviewed that specimen."

"He was genial?"

"Impeccably so. I considered him directly responsible for Harrison's death. When I told him so he said

"'What and me so young?'

"Exactly. And then he laughed."

"Interesting sound."

"Very."

"You recorded it?"

"Of course."

"Rather stupid on his part wouldn't you say so?"

"Not stupid exactly. He simply doesn't think the way we do. Perhaps he can't help laughing like that even when ti would seem to be very much to his disadvantage to do so."

"I would suggest that 'Genial' is that laugh...only existence 'Genial' has."

"Infectious laughter what? Yes he's a disease..a virus . There have been other cases. We try to keep it out of the papers." 

--  William Burroughs, The Ticket That Exploded