The Arcturus Man

  “The correct role? What’s the correct roll,” asked Krissy.

  “Some professors believe that imparting knowledge is their mission. That is misguided and it affects their effectiveness. The correct role is to facilitate learning,” said Jared.

  “I don’t get it. Imparting knowledge is facilitating learning. What’s the difference?” asked Jake.

  “Let me explain it this way,” said Jared. “There is a bridge in Rome the crosses the Tiber River near the Vatican—the Ponte Vittorio Emanuele II. It’s right near Castel Sant’ Angelo.”

  “You’re shitting me, Jerr. You speak Italian too,” exclaimed Krissy.

  “One day I was walking across the bridge and I noticed that some workers had just finished patching a hole in the sidewalk with cement. It wasn’t done very well, but the hole was filled and it was more or less level. When I got to the far end of the bridge, there was a pile of cement on the sidewalk. It was almost hard and I’d say it was about a foot high. It was evident that the workers who filled the hole on one end of the bridge had cement left over so they dumped it on the other end, making a small mound.”

  “That begs an obvious Italian stereotype, but how does that story related to Professor O’Connor? asked Jenny.

  “It’s simple. The workers were told to fill a hole. That is exactly what they did. They were not told to improve the sidewalk to make it easier for people to use the pedestrian part of the bridge. Had they been given orders to do the latter, perhaps they wouldn’t have dumped the cement. They were given the wrong mission statement. Society in America is plagued with bad mission statements—especially in government. Actually, I said that wrong. Government bureaucrats are given tasks. They rarely pay attention to what the mission is. They think there job is to perform tasks.”

  “HEAVY,” said Krissy.

  “I get it,” said Jake. “O’Connor knows his mission, but I heard that he’s some kind of socialist. That’s why colleges always have anti-war stuff going on. The professors brain wash the students. That’s O’Connor’s mission.”

  “A man who is not a socialist at 19 has no heart. A man who is still a socialist at 30 has no brain,” said Jared.

  Jake cheered up. Was Jared backing him? It sounded like he was but it wasn’t clear.

  “Cool. I’ve heard that before. Who said it?” asked Krissy

  “Hard to say, Krissy,” said Jared. “Some attribute it to Otto Von Bismarck toward the end of the nineteenth century, and others believe it was François Guisot. Actually, there are a dozen or more celebrities who are claimed to have made that statement,” said Jared.

  “Wow, it’s almost 3. We gotta go,” said Krissy. “My honey bunny had at least five beers, but whose counting. Give me the keys Jake.”

  He handed Krissy the keys. No argument.

  Krissy turned to Jared. He leaned forward to air kiss in front of her cheek but she dodged him and gave him a very quick peck on the lips. Jenny was watching.

  “It was great to see you guys,” said Jenny. “Don’t be strangers.” She gave Krissy a hug and brushed her lips across Jake’s cheek. It was an air kiss.

  “I am so glad we finally met, Jared. You’re everything my sister said you were and then some,” said Krissy. “Bye Jerr. Bye Jenn. Call me tomorrow.”

  “You guys are great, man,” said Jake. He pulled on Krissy’s arm, moving toward the door.

  “It was a pleasure meeting you both,” said Jared. He pulled two one-hundred dollar bills from his wallet and dropped them on the money tray. It was evident that Jake wasn’t reaching for his wallet. Jared was paying and no one said a word about it.

  Krissy’s eyes got big. “Cool! Benjamins!” Jake tugged at her and they quickly left the restaurant. She spun around and ran back in.

  “Sorry. Forgot our doggie bags…ahh…boxes.”

  Krissy picked up the brown paper back filled with food cartons and ran out again.

  “Bye.”

  “Bye,” answered Jenny. Jared just smiled.

  Jenny gave Jared her claim ticket and he retrieved the bicycle wheel. He tipped the hostess a twenty dollar bill.

  “That’s too much Jared. I know you have money but I come here a lot. I don’t want them expecting that from me.”

  “Don’t worry about it. They won’t.”

  What did that mean? She let it drop.

  They left the restaurant and reassembled Jenny’s bike. They walked it to a parking garage around the block. Jared took the bicycle apart again and stowed it in the back seat of his Lexus. He was careful not to tear the leather seats. They pulled out of the garage. After paying, they were on the road again.

  “We’ll be back on the island before sun down,” said Jared.

  Jenny was silent. He looked over at her.

  “Are you attracted to my sister?”

  Jared knew that he had much to learn about women. They were chemically quite different from men in so many ways. Their brains were so different. He did know, however, that to answer a question like that dishonestly would be so much worse.

  “Of course I am. She is beautiful or don’t you notice such things in a sibling? It would be unnatural if I wasn’t. That doesn’t mean that I love you any less or that I would ever act on that attraction. It’s just chemistry.”

  Jenny said nothing for a while. Jared knew that saying the least was best. They drove silently for a time.

  “Alright! Thank you for being honest about that. I guess I understand that.” She put her head on his shoulder. He popped her seat belt and pulled her closer.

  She snuggled closer. The embrace was calming and comforting.

  Jared was pleased that he had chosen his words wisely. He wasn’t being sincere, but she obviously thought he was. He wanted Jenny. That had never changed. But, who is to say that you can only love one person? He wasn’t sure what he felt for Krissy, but he certainly was sexually attracted to her. Jared was a polygynist at heart living in a sad and lonely monogamist world. No matter how many wives he would have, Jared would always be alone. The arguments clashed in Jared’s mind as he drove. Then he started to think about going to bed with sisters.

  Krissy had spontaneous qualities that he liked very much. Krissy’s sexual attractiveness was stronger than Jenny’s. These were things he planned on thinking about later so he could understand it all better the next time. It was clear to Jared that he didn’t understand love, but he was confident that he would eventually figure it out.

  Jenny lifted her head from his shoulder.

  “You were a real creep earlier today,” she said.

  “Yes I was. I’m sorry.”

  “You better be.” She turned down the A/C. She put her head back on his shoulder and closed her eyes. The warmth of his body comforting. She fell asleep. It was a tough day.

  Jared thought about telling Jenny that Krissy was pregnant, but Krissy didn’t know and it would break the good mood she was in. He decided to not tell her—maybe later—maybe another day.

  As they approached the Maine border, Jared’s senses peaked. Someone was watching them. He thought about the Hispanic man who attacked him at Old Orchard Beach. He didn’t sense Spanish thoughts. He looked in the mirror but couldn’t see anything unusual. He scanned the side of the road but it was empty as far as he could see. He didn’t feel any imminent danger. Someone was out there, but since he sensed no immediate threat he lost interest. He drove a little faster.

  A few miles later his senses peaked again. There was someone standing on the side of the road. Route 95 doesn’t have hitchhikers…or at least rarely. Jared saw that it was a small Negro woman. It was the woman from the restaurant. It was Mary Thomas.

  He was going too fast to stop and he didn’t want to risk backing up. The tourist traffic going north was heavy. What was she doing there? She stayed on his mind for a long time. Many miles later, as the car passed Biddeford, they drove into a cloudburst. The rain sheeted across the windshield faster than the wipers could keep up. A strong wind was howling. He
began to wonder whether he was hallucinating.

  Chapter Fifteen – Amber Message

  Eagle’s Head Island – Late September 2013

  It was late in the afternoon, almost evening. Jenny opened the front door just a crack. Marie’s shoes weren’t lined up at the stoop. The housekeeper wasn’t on the island. That was wonderful. She wanted to be alone with Jared today…all day. They had slept late, made love for a long time, and then lounged in bed for hours.

  It was a wonderful day, but was it a vainglorious day? Her strong Scandinavian Lutheran upbringing made her feel guilty about wasting most of the day—all those idle hours. The devil makes use of idle hands. That’s what her grandmother used to say. She didn’t really believe that but it was part of how she was raised and she could never shrug it off entirely. That is probably why Jenny enjoyed listening to the Prairie Home Companion on the radio every Sunday. It made her feel normal and allowed her to laugh at herself. Of course the Lutheran bachelor farmers were Norwegian—but that was alright. That’s almost like being Swedish. Close enough! Jared never went to Church. She missed Church. The radio was a poor substitute, but it had to do.

  She was wearing a shear white baby doll peignoir that Jared gave her when they made up in her apartment Saturday night. The peignoir was very expensive and very seethrough. She felt more naked than if she was wearing nothing at all. She would have been especially mortified if the housekeeper saw her like this. Anyway, Jared seemed to really like it. It was harmless and she decided early in their relationship to tolerate innocent things that made him happy. It did, however, make her feel a little sexy and that wasn’t to be taken lightly by any good Lutheran girl.

  As importantly—especially since their last big fight—and maybe because the make-up sex was stupendous—she was finally beginning to lose her inhibitions and selfdoubt. Jared could take the credit for a lot of that. At last she thought she looked pretty good in the peignoir and she was sort of proud of her figure. These things came easily for Krissy, but not for Jenny. She would have never thought that way before. She had always seen herself as a geek but Jared had convinced her that she was really beautiful, and more importantly, desirable. She was beginning to believe it. She had never been a girly girl before. Now that she might be one, it was growing on her. Suddenly, feminine clothing appealed to her. She wasn’t ready to throw out her sweat pants and Patriots jersey, but the peignoir stays.

  Jenny walked to the kitchen. She could smell that Jared was making coffee. She walked in. Sure enough, he was. Thank goodness it wasn’t Marie.

  She walked back out to the porch and went over to one of the large white plantation rattan rocking chairs and sat down. It was a beautiful day. It was high time for Jared to serve her for once. She would sit here until he figured that out.

  Jared came bounding out of the house. The screen door slammed behind him. He was carrying two gigantic cups of coffee.

  Jared heard his cell phone ring, but the sound was muted. Jenny was sitting on it. It was wedged behind her seat cushion. She inched up so he could get it.

  “Yes, Hamid.”

  Jenny was listening intently.

  “Jared, I have packet of patent documents for you to sign. A messenger will bring them out to the island,” said Hamid.

  “This is Sunday Hamid. Have them delivered tomorrow,” said Jared.

  “Of course.” Hamid hung up.

  “You don’t work on the Lord’s day?” asked Jenny.

  “I don’t work on my day off,” he said. “What do you want to do today?”

  “Great coffee, honey. You’re like Mr. Starbuck,” said Jenny.

  Jared finished his coffee quickly. Jenny was sipping it slowly.

  “Come on! I’ll race you to the lake.” Jared picked up two beach towels from the junk table and started for the door.

  “Not happening!

  “I am walking. You can run to your heart’s content.”

  He grabbed her hand. “We can walk, Princess.”

  Jenny showed a mouthful of perfect white teeth. It was an exaggerated grin, demonstrating that she had triumphed. She knew that Jared was big on body language.

  He held her hand and they strolled down to the small lake on the interior of the island. Fresh water lakes were rare on these islands.

  There was a small area at the lake that Jared had bottom raked to create a short beach and a narrow area of water that had a sandy bottom. The rest of the shoreline was rocky. Except where Jared had raked, the bottom of the lake was covered with decaying leaves and sodden branches that fell into the lake with each storm from the overhanging trees. There was a sturdy pier that went out twelve feet into the lake. A swimming float was anchored to the bottom about thirty feet further out.

  Jenny and Jared sat down on the sandy beach. The setting sun was in her eyes. Jenny closed her eyes and moved her face to meet the warmth. Summer was hanging on.

  “Could anything ever be better than this,” she thought. She was so happy they made up. Jared was so nice to her now. Maybe the big fight had hidden benefits.

  The mosquitoes were still staying mainly in the shady areas. They would be out soon but they weren’t here now. She opened her eyes. She saw colorful dragon flies skimming across the water. She could see ripples in the water where fish broke the surface going after small flies. She saw a loon at the far side of the lake. It was a female. She had four chicks on her back. The male surfaced beside them. It was a family. Jenny wanted a family.

  This was their private paradise. It was all so breathtaking. Jenny and Jared didn’t speak for a long time. She squeezed his hand and moved closer. For the moment she felt deep affection and contentment. He didn’t respond. He backed away just slightly. Jared didn’t like being smothered. She let go of his hand.

  “That’s alright,” thought Jenny. She wondered if he sensed that.

  She closed her eyes again and lay back on the sand. The peignoir rode up, but she didn’t care. Looking elegant was not important right now. Jared lowered himself next to her. He put is hand over hers. Their fingertips touched lightly…almost floating. The air was calm. She could hear a distant wind moving the large pines on the far side of the island. It would be a while before it reached them.

  “Look, the sun is about to set,” said Jenny. “The clouds are glowing. It looks like a melting cream-sickle. It is spectacular. The lake is reflecting the orange sky…joining together. The sun is harvesting diamonds from the water. It is so beautiful, Jared.”

  “It’s dirt in the atmosphere that causes the coloration,” said Jared. Jenny ignored him. He wasn’t going to kill the mood.

  The air was still and the lake looked like a mirror. A loon called. It must a different loon than the ones she just saw. One is calling to find its mate. Jared would say that it was a male chasing away another male. She liked her interpretation better. She knew that her thoughts were rambling but she felt so good. No inhibitions.

  “Jared…when you know what people are thinking, how does it come across to you? I’m curious about that,” she said.

  “I sense moods and thoughts. People don’t conveniently think about the things that I want to know about. Sometimes it’s images. Sometimes it’s words. It is not reading minds. It’s not like watching a movie. It is hit and miss and very disorganized.” he said.

  “What does it sound like or is it something you see? Describe what happens.”

  Jared just sighed.

  “Let me explain it this way. “Close your eyes.”

  “No, Jared. No more games.”

  “It’s not a game. I want you to understand.”

  Jenny closed her eyes.

  “Visualize the color red.”

  “OK, I’m thinking about red,” said Jenny.

  “Now tell me what you see. Describe the color red so I can understand what you see.”

  Jenny was silent for more than a minute. She couldn’t think of how to describe a color. She was stumped.

  “Red is red! I don’t know the ri
ght answer…what is the right answer?” she asked.

  “That’s precisely the point. Red is a word that describes something you sense. You can’t compare it to anything else. There is no right answer. There is no way for you to communicate to me exactly what you are seeing. It could be different for both of us but we would never be able to explain to the other how it’s different or to even know if it is different. We would both see something different but we would still use the same word to identify it.”

  “How is it that we all use the same word for the same color?” she asked.

  “Let’s suppose I put a red apple on a rock and I bring ten strangers to the rock and tell them that from now on, whenever they see that color, they must use the word, red. I know you know that the eye’s photoreceptors include about 6 or 7 million rods that sense color and that red has a very specific wavelength in the electromagnetic spectrum. Nevertheless, we could postulate that each of the ten strangers translates the signal entirely differently in their brains. Suppose, for example, that one sees a color that you would call green and another yellow and the rest red. Once I name what they see, all ten of them will use the word “red” each time they see that color. It will seem like they all see exactly the same color,” said Jared.

  “Interesting! I never thought of color that way,” she said.

  “The reason I’m getting into this lengthy explanation is to find a way of showing you how difficult it is for me to convey what the signals in my brain are when I sense what someone is thinking about, feeling, or seeing,” said Jared.

  “I think I understand,” said Jenny.

  “Nothing in life is really simple. If anyone thinks something is simple, they have made a mistake. It isn’t just focusing on what people are feeling and thinking. I sense everything around me—all at once. Some of that can be learned by simply being aware. You can do some of that too if you opened yourself up to it.”

  “That’s the kind of B.S. that you hear people say who wear crystals on their heads,” said Jenny.