A Genealogy of the Extraterrestrial in American Culture

tenor of the abduction experience in that it invites identification on the part of the abductee. By
and large the abduction scenario offers little or no purchase for identification—its surfaces recall
stainless steel and its dramatis personae offer no words or affect. This is a far cry from the
warm environs and generous hosts of Adamski and the familiar textures of heaven. The doctor
figure repeatedly assured Betty that they just wanted to run some tests on them and then she and
Barney would be returned to their vehicle unharmed. Just as Dr. Simon repeated to Betty
throughout her session, the creature continued, albeit ineffectually, to tell her “You don’t have to
be afraid.”
Once on board, Betty was subjected to an examination. The creatures took a series of
samples—skin, earwax, hair—all of which were wrapped in what Betty recalled as pieces of
cellophane or plastic. These samples were stored in the top drawer of a device, “something like
a microscope, only a microscope with a big lens,” through which the creatures observed her.
They manually examined her as well, running their hands over her head, neck and shoulders as
well as her arms, hands, and after she had been told to remove her shoes, her feet. All the while
she was seated on a stool with a head brace, “like a dentist, not like a dentist, something like, you
know, the brace of a dentist’s chair.” 265
She was led to a table and laid down on it.
So they roll me over on my back, and the examiner has a long needle in his hand. And I
see the needle. And it’s bigger than any needle that I’ve ever seen. And I ask him what
he’s going to do with it (She is beginning to be upset again)...And I ask him what, and he
said he just wants to put it in my navel, it’s just a simple test. (More rapid sobbing) And
I tell him, no, it will hurt, don’t do it, don’t do it. And I’m crying, and I’m telling him,
‘It’s hurting, it’s hurting, take it out, take it out!’ And the leader comes over and puts his
hand, rubs his hand in front of my eyes, and he says it will be all right. I won’t feel it
(She becomes calmer) And all the pain goes away. The pain goes away, but I’m still sore
from where they put that needle into my navel. Because I told them they shouldn't do
it...I asked the leader, I said, ‘Why did they, why did they put that needle in my navel?’
265 Fuller, 160.
179