Discovery

by Douglas E Roff

  “Novel. But if your argument rests on that, it’s pretty weak.”

  “Why? Because you think that only valid knowledge is knowledge that is empirically driven. You may be correct; but maybe you’re wrong. But I am willing to acknowledge that other phenomena may exist that aren’t empirically knowable and cannot be proven scientifically.”

  “Hedging, are we? ‘May exist?’”

  “Like I said, I experience it, but I don’t yet understand it. It was only when I accepted my gifts as a real phenomenon and stopped fighting with myself that I began to make progress. So, I went to people who have deeply explored the mind without needing to answer the mind-brain dichotomy and asked them. After a few years, I discovered two people who could help me. Ramesh Gupta, an Indian biologist and Buddhist monk and Sonam Gyatso, a Tibetan Buddhist monk both have had experiences identical to mine. I’m not alone.”

  “And they think what?”

  “They think I was born with a conscious and subconscious that may have merged. Just like them. They think my mind connects to my brain differently than in homo sapiens generally and that those connections are an evolutionary advancement. And they believe one more thing.”

  “Yes?”

  “They believe that I am the first modern human to have a significantly different additional set of genes switched on. The combination of physical and mental variations allows me to do more that the average bear.”

  “I see. How do you explain your mind tricks?”

  “I don’t. Like I said, I can do some parlor tricks, but I can’t really control them. I only understand the process of actuating them.”

  “Which is?”

  “I think physical contact is required. The mind excites the brain, converting a thought or emotion, or both, into an electrical charge. That charge can then be exchanged with a willing recipient through touch.”

  “Hence the big ‘O’, but not mental telepathy or levitation of objects.”

  “That would be fun and amazing, but no, not really. Perhaps someday. Just not today.”

  “And your one amazing parlor trick? How do you do that exactly?”

  “I think I can only communicate what we have already both experienced. So again, quite limited. I can access an instant of an experience from my mind memory, add in what I was feeling and then ask my physical brain to send that email electronically. It does, or it doesn’t. Not sure why.”

  “If we hadn’t, you know, ‘done it’, then you couldn’t do the mind trick?”

  “Not sure. Haven’t tried that experiment on random women yet.”

  “Poor them. And the gene ‘light switch’?”

  “That’s a little more scientific. I had an anonymous DNA workup on my personal genome. Apparently, a lot more of my ‘junk DNA’ is switched on. In you or Dad, it’s switched off. Might be junk and useless but the geneticist who did the workup doesn’t think so. He thinks that some genes have a primary function, like affecting eye color in conjunction with other genetic influencers but may also affect other genes in combination with my newly ‘activated’ set of genes. Some of the combinations have predictable outcomes; some have no apparent meaning thus far. What is true is that my brain function is different than most of my fellow humans. All my brain is turned on, just like yours. But my brain talks to itself differently than yours.”

  “Next you’ll be telling me I’m a chimp.”

  “No, that would be a judgment on utility. What I have is different but I’m not saying it’s better. It’s just different, that’s all. Not sure what that means for you, me or humanity. Not yet anyway.”

  “It means I’m a lucky girl and my husband has magic fingers. That’s all the utility I need for now. Is that translation done yet?”

  “Yeah, should be. I’ll go check.” Adam disappeared for a few minutes, then reappeared at her office door, intently reading what the new program had output. “It isn’t done yet, but maybe you should read this first.”

  “What is it?”

  “Trouble. A lot of trouble.”

  Chapter 65

  After events following their trip to Las Vegas had settled down, Misti asked Adam about what his plans for an announcement dinner meant exactly.

  “I’m not sure why we’re having this dinner or even the point of the evening. We came back from Las Vegas and told everyone that we are now engaged, so what’s left to say? I mean, your Dad now knows we’re married, so he’ll either keep it to himself or not. What’s the point in the rest of this charade?”

  Adam said, “The point is we have a chance to see our entire family and tell them first hand that we decided to get married. They will want to know all the details, which we still need to fabricate, and we need to get our stories straight. It’s less about the announcement and more about the cover story. Besides you know they want to hear the details from us personally, not just a phone call from Mom.”

  “So, we have to do more than one of these?” Misti was glum at the prospect of leaving Barrows Bay and venturing down to Seattle, even for a little while.

  “We do. One here in Barrows and at least one, maybe several more in Seattle. And we need to have dinner with your Papa too. So, quit whining and get on board with this wedding. Don’t you want to marry me?”

  “I did marry you already; so, what else do I need to do?”

  “It would be better if you didn’t think of yourself as completely married yet, at least until we have all the questions answered and the congratulations banked. Then just one more big ceremony and then the Eight Families can get back to normal. Please just do this for me and everyone who wants to be a part of our special day. Please.”

  “Waste of time and money on an archaic rite that I don’t really give a shit about.” Misti had been far more excited about the festivities before the trip to Las Vegas. Then it had been Adam who questioned the need for ‘archaic ceremonies’. But even though they had already tied the knot, Adam knew that the rest of the family would be excited; that this event was the kind that brought families closer together. Adam may not have emotionally felt the same things as his family, but he most certainly understood them.

  Adam continued, “We are parts of a larger mosaic that includes our family here in Barrows Bay, the family in Seattle and the Church.”

  “The Church. Really?” Misti sounded incredulous.

  “Yes really. It’s important to me.”

  “And your Mom, tia Aurelia and …”

  “Yes, and all the women folk. I get your point. But I do not consider us fully married until we’re married in the Church.”

  “Honestly Adam?” What was he thinking, anyway?

  “You bet. And we’re going to have to bring some folks down to Seattle from Victoria for the ceremony.”

  “Like who?”

  “Father Patrick, Father Ignatius and Sister Amelie. I grew up with them. They need to be included.”

  “Who officiates then? The in Franciscans in Seattle or the Jesuits in Victoria.”

  “The Jesuits. Always the Jesuits.”

  “And when are we doing this barbeque here in Barrows? Maybe Sunday, at dinner?”

  “Then Sunday it is. And try to get into the spirit of things.”

  “You should have been the girl, not me. This is a waste of …”

  “Nothing but a little time. And we can have fun when all our friends and family are in town for events, you’ll see.”

  “What events?”

  “Parties, bad behavior and interesting private events. You think this is all going to be boring. But you’re dead wrong. I’m inviting our friends for some special evenings with us. At the Lodge.”

  “So, not here and not in Seattle. What have you in mind?” Misti perked up.

  “Something you’ll very, very much enjoy. So, leave this to me and try to put a smile on your face. It’ll be over in June, then we can go back to business as usual. And we have a honeymoon to plan, which we haven’t taken, so you s
ee there still is work to do even if we’re married. It’s not really official until we have the honeymoon”

  “I married a girl. Can’t believe it but I did. I’m a lesbian.”

  “No, you married a traditional Catholic boy and your family is happy for you and for that. Your soul is safe with me.”

  “What are we doing at the Lodge again?”

  “That’s a surprise. In fact, several surprises. Consider it your high school and college mini reunions. I’m inviting some of your friends up for a few weekends at the Lodge between now and the wedding. I’ll fly them into Portland, then transport them to our place. It’ll be fun.”

  “Which friends?”

  “My secret, and your surprise.”

  “What are you up to, mister?”

  “No good, wife. No good.”

  ***

  Misti was now painfully aware that the wedding was unavoidable, and her second thoughts were causing her great anxiety. She had been all happy and in favor of the entire wedding idea until they got married. Then it seemed unnecessary. All she wanted to do was settle in with her new husband and begin her new life. Things were perfect as is and she didn’t believe the wedding would add any additional joy to her already happy life. In fact, the wedding was irrelevant, along with much of the family in Seattle.

  However, her husband was so into the idea of a June wedding, and all the planning and activities going along with it, that she couldn’t complain. This was very important to him and to their larger extended family, so why was she feeling so indifferent, so unmoved and already so tired? She didn’t understand herself and her abrupt change in attitude but decided that she would do as her husband asked, and, for the sake of the family, play along. After her experience with the family in Seattle when they started dating, she had no desire to paste on a happy face and go from cousin to cousin, aunt to aunt and repeat her story. Then, what she had said had mostly been true. This, however, would be an outright fabrication. She hoped she could keep her story straight but would leave that and its consequences to Adam.

  Adam said, “So I called everyone here in Barrows and we’re on for Sunday night.”

  “Who’s invited?”

  “Just family. Just the regulars.”

  “What about Mark and Julia?”

  “I didn’t invite them. Mark hates me.”

  “You can’t exclude them. Call Mark right this minute and ask them to be there. My request.”

  “I’d rather not.”

  “Then I will. I want them both with us for this big announcement.”

  “Go ahead then, make the call.”

  Misti didn’t know why she was being so tense and moody with Adam. He hadn’t done anything wrong, and she thought she should be happier about the big event. She went upstairs to do some work away from Adam and enjoy her peace and quiet. Adam could do all this busywork by himself. She was unenthusiastic and better off on her own; she didn’t want to be Debby Downer and her mouth was clearly not in sync with her brain; this could be their first real fight.

  Adam poked his head into her office and asked if he could come in. Misti grumbled yes but did not really want the company. She was aggravated and wanted to enjoy her moment of aggravation. Alone.

  “Three things, then I’ll leave you in peace. First, Aurelia called and said we have the Church for the second Saturday in June. Second, I called Mark and he was quite pleased to be invited. They would be happy to join the rest of the family on Sunday night for dinner and drinks.” Adam paused.

  “What’s the third thing?”

  “Our first weekend at the Lodge is in two weeks from this Friday.”

  “Who’s joining us?”

  “Patty Pinciatti and Ellen Yost. I think you know them?”

  “I do, but I didn’t think that you did. How’d you get their names?”

  “From Pammy Jensen.”

  “She is joining us?”

  “Weekend after. When her husband’s out of town.”

  “You sure you know what you’re doing?”

  “Of course, my love. You’re not the only one with a fertile imagination. Should be fun.”

  ***

  The Sunday dinner was more fun that Misti wanted to admit. She had grown up with Cindy and her parents, traveling together across Canada and the western United States for ju-jitsu competitions. Mark and Julia had always been kind to her and stepped in whenever Carlos couldn’t go along. As an ex-felon, Carlos could not enter Canada, so either Misti had to forego competing or she needed a chaperone. Edward couldn’t take the time, so the Eagans were often asked to pitch in. They were always available and the family of three would be a family of four, one weekend at a time.

  After the Eagans left, Adam and Misti remained behind at Moms to help with the dishes. Cindy pulled the pair aside and whispered, “We already know your secret.”

  “What, that Misti is pregnant with triplets?” Adam smiled, loving his little joke.

  “Really?”

  “No, of course not,” Misti said. “What secret?”

  “What you did in Vegas, of course.” Cindy was beside herself with top secret information.

  “What did we do in Vegas, Cindy? We didn’t videotape anything, I swear.”

  “You got married,” Cindy said. There. It was out.

  Misti and Adam stopped right in mid thought, as if caught with a hand in the cookie jar. Adam spoke first, “Why do you think that?”

  “It’s true then, isn’t it?”

  “Why do you think that Cindy? Did someone say something?”

  “Didn’t have to. We looked up marriage licenses issued online for Clark County, Nevada. They post that stuff real fast. Then we made a call to a friend of the Mayor, who called the Mayor, who called in the LVPD who sent a Detective to your hotel to talk to the Manager. The Manager talked to staff, who talked to each of you several times. You were amazingly indiscreet with such a big secret. You seemed happy to talk to several waiters, a couple of maids and there was the honeymoon suite upgrade. So, you got married.”

  “Whose idea was all this?” Adam’s tone was less happy by this point and Cindy realized at that moment that she had just stepped in it.

  “Mine. And Rod’s.”

  “And Dad?” Adam was very annoyed, and his voice and tone gave his mood away.

  “No, not your Dad. He stayed out of it.” Cindy now wanted nothing more than to change the subject and go home. It was too late for that, unfortunately.

  Adam was perturbed. “Well, your information is not correct. And you shouldn’t have done that. I would never do that to you or Rod.”

  “I’m so, so sorry for intruding. We were just excited. And curious. We didn’t mean to …”

  “No harm done. You just didn’t get it right. We didn’t get married and the wedding is on June 14. Please mark your calendar.”

  “We’re sorry and we’re leaving.”

  Adam continued. “One last thing. Who did you tell?”

  “Just us. Here.” Cindy pointed around the house. “I promise.”

  “Please don’t ever do that again. Please. You might discover things you don’t really want to know.”

  Cindy looked sheepish and mouthed to Misti, “Call me.”

  Adam was annoyed, which wasn’t unusual when his plans failed to work out as intended. He thought he had been so smart but clearly spy craft wasn’t his forte. If he and Misti could be found out that easily, what chance did the ordinary citizen have when confronted with DL Main, and its ability to probe even deeper into the private affairs of regular folk. His joy for the evening had been crushed and now he just wanted to go home. To sulk and to reflect.

  Misti looked at her troubled hubby, and asked “Happy now?”

  “I’m an idiot. And I thought I was so clever. Fuck!”

  “No, it’s just the family here in Barrows. You can’t expect them not to do things like this. They want to know. There’s history.”


  “Maybe you’re right. Maybe we should stop this now before we hurt someone’s feelings.”

  “No chance. In for a penny, in for a pound now. We can’t let one little mishap ruin this for you and the whole of Seattle. Shake it off. Man, up and all that other crap. We have a wedding to plan and weekends to enjoy.”

  “Go ahead and say it.”

  “Say what?”

  “I told you so.”

  “Let’s go home, Adam. We can pretend we’re still single. And I need to call my girlfriends. Seems you have been up to no good.”

  “I excel at causing mischief.”

  “You have a big heart and a beautiful mind. Leave everything else up to me.”

  A disconsolate Adam said, “From now on. I promise.”

  THE CRYPTID TRILOGY

  CRYPTID: DISCOVERY

  FATTI E FEDE

  Chapter 1

  Adam stared blankly at his computer screen, trying to figure out what part of the code he had just written had not worked as imagined. Adam saw code in his mind just like an electrician saw the schematic of a building about to be wired. He could visualize when something wouldn’t work and could intuit a solution. He gave huge credit to his father’s belief that mental elasticity coupled with specific task assignment to the unconscious mind would inevitably result in a solution to any problem, given time and sufficient relevant knowledge. To this end, he read incessantly and broadly into disciplines he sometimes found so dry and dull that it was a sufficiently excruciating task just to finish a short article.

  “Extend those neural pathways, laddie.” His father would say. “You never know when you’re going to need them.” For too many years Adam thought his father was just fucking with him but sometime around age twenty he realized his father had been both dead serious and absolutely correct.

  So, when the familiar ring tone on his cell erupted to the old Addams Family theme song, he was happy to take a break.

  It was his brother. “Hey Rod, what’s up?”

  “Everything! And did I mention everything?”

  Adam noted his brother’s enthusiasm for his news, whatever it was, “Yes, you just did. What news from the Shire?”