2036 The Proof: A Thrilling Science Fiction Novel

by Speiser, Zvi

  “I’m still convinced those two stars are also absorbing mass from their companions, and that their mass has also surpassed the Chandrasekhar limit. Apparently, their orbital period is too long to produce a measurable motion in one night, even with the STA. We should measure them again in a few days.”

  “Please go on to the two remaining stars,” she prodded him.

  His gaze focused on the results of the latest calculations showing that the mass of the two stars was exactly 1.76 solar masses. Lia had expected his face to light up, or perhaps a roar of exhilaration. However, his actual reaction was quite different. Sheffy slowly examined the STA measurements for the last two stars, and then thoroughly went over the detailed calculations performed by the software Lia had written to facilitate her work. Only at that point, when she already feared that he had discovered a flaw in her calculations, did he look up, his face illuminated with joy.

  “HOORAY!” he declared loudly. “There’s something real here. As of now, I don’t have the faintest idea what we’ve found. How about you? You’ve been thinking about this for a while now. Surely you’ve considered some possible physical explanations for your results?”

  “Unfortunately, I really haven’t,” she replied. “I was so immersed in measurements and calculations that I didn’t put a lot of thought into possible explanations, especially since I think the answer should be provided by theoretical astrophysicists and not by astronomers like me.”

  “You’re probably right, but I don’t have any idea what’s going on here either, even though I am a theoretical astrophysicist. This is very interesting. Can you see anything these four stars have in common?”

  “Other than the clear fact that all of them are, of course, in our galaxy, the only shared and somewhat irregular trait I can see is that they’re all fairly close to us. Unlike the supernovas that have exploded in other galaxies and whose occurrence per galaxy is a lot rarer. Assuming each one of these has the potential to become a supernova, we have too many potential supernovas in a relatively small area of space. That really is odd.”

  With a strange, childish smile on his face, he said, “Well, didn’t you consider the possibility that some extraordinary power is preventing these stars from exploding because, due to their proximity, the consequences of any of them exploding would almost certainly be the total annihilation of all life on Earth?”

  The expression of disdain in her eyes was precisely the reaction he had been expecting.

  “Right,” he said, laughing out loud. “I didn’t think so, either. But it seemed worth it to check your reaction. Which brings us back to the theoretical astrophysicists. How do you think we should proceed from here? Would you like us to continue looking into this discovery with my research group in Israel? I have an excellent team seeking an interesting project. I’m sure they’ll dive right in. Or maybe you have a different team or a different idea in mind? The discovery is all yours, and you have the right to decide. Of course, I’d be very happy if you did us the honor of allowing us to investigate such a unique finding, but I’ll respect any other decision as well, and support you and your research.”

  Lia did not reply, looking pensive.

  “You don’t have to answer me right now. Take your time. You also have to make a decision about publishing the discovery, or refraining from publishing it. I’m sure you understand such a publication would have major reverberations in the astrophysicist community, and possibly in the mass media as well. Consider the implications.”

  “You’ve given me a lot of things to think about and decide on. The truth is, I’m a little confused. So many decisions to make, and all of them are top priority. You’ve said the conference ends tomorrow afternoon, and that you’ll be sticking around for another few days. Give me a day or two to think about it, and I’ll certainly want to meet you and decide on a resolution before you return to your home country.”

  “Excellent. I’ll be happy to meet with you and help you come to a resolution.”

  Sheffy walked her out of the lecture hall, where he parted from her with a warm handshake. Lia turned around and began to walk away when she stopped abruptly, spun on her heels, closed the distance between them and hugged him warmly, whispering in his ear, “Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your help and your friendship. You’ve been immensely helpful. I’ll get back to you soon.”

  Benny did not try to hide his joy, replying, “Like I told you, I’ll always be happy to help.”

  Lia had been baptized as an infant, but had never had any interest in Christianity and was not a churchgoer. Like most of her friends, her only connection to religion was during holidays and the vacations that accompanied them. She knew that Israelis had a deeper connection to the Jewish religion, and recalled asking a colleague about the meaning of the little cap that a few Israeli students at the university wore. She remembered him replying that the small cap symbolized the extent of their belief in the Jewish religion. He had also told her that different communities wore different kinds of hats; each of these communities had a different degree of religious devotion and observance.

  Sheffy did not wear anything on his head, and so she could not assess the extent of his devoutness or belief in an omnipotent creator. She had found his comment regarding the possibility of an extraordinary power preventing the stars from exploding odd, although her dismissive reaction had merely made him laugh. She would never have come up with such an idea. It would be interesting to discuss this topic in the future if they did end up working together.

  In any case, it was obvious to her that she was going to compose a detailed scientific paper regarding the discovery. She would credit Professor Sheffy as a research partner, and of course, carefully look into the work team he had mentioned. She might even visit the Weizmann Institute of Science and personally assess the researchers and their capabilities. Yes, she wouldn’t delay the publication for too long. She’d cooperate with Sheffy in verifying the article and, once they were satisfied with it, she would publish it, which would surely contribute to her career at the university. She would not let Sheffy wait too long for an answer. She would get back to him this very evening, she decided.

  Chapter 27

  Gerry Resigns

  Chicago, Wednesday, July 23, 2036

  The six days since the accident had been highly beneficial for Gerry. All the bandages had been removed and the cuts on his face were in the final stages of healing, thanks to the tissue regeneration cream he had applied daily. Had he suffered such injuries even in the near past, he would have had to stay in bed for weeks while his cracked bones knitted together. His thigh probably would have been in a cast for weeks as well, which would have limited his mobility significantly.

  Today there were no signs of the cracking in his ribs and thighbone, thanks to the electrodes he was required to place upon them, which reactivated the growth factors in the cracked bones. No surgery was necessary. All he had to do was run the device in his home for half an hour daily over three days. Truly amazing.

  He ate, rested, and grew stronger, able to move freely around the house. He had regained his wife’s full trust, while with everyone else, including his children, he maintained the façade of a man suffering from a brain injury.

  However, despite the physical improvement, his spirits were at an unprecedented low. He was eager to continue on the path from which the accident had diverted him. The academic desire to publish his discovery became almost an existential need for him. Every day that went by without any progress in this regard tormented him and left him sleepless. He was not perturbed regarding the risk to his own life. He didn’t care if they murdered him after the publication. The world would look completely different by then, in any case. Only the fear that his wife and children would be harmed prevented him from publishing his discovery immediately.

  This was the first day he had dared go online since the accident. He did so from his wife’s com
puter, and made sure his Web surfing would not look too professional. During the first few days, he tested his new abilities, successfully facing every challenge he posed for himself. Recalling yesterday’s paper, he saw page after page surfacing in his mind’s eye, and immediately compared them to the pages saved online. He could read any story or article, even starting at the end and going backward—the image in his mind was that clear.

  He mentally paged through the last book concerning quantum theory, which he had finished reading a month ago. He could see the page numbers, the images, and the diagrams, as if the book had actually been placed in front of him. Interesting, he thought. He could remember events that had taken place prior to the accident with absolute precision, such as the details of the car that had hit him, a book he had read long before the accident. It turns out our brain stores all the details of every image we see in our lives. We simply can’t usually retrieve this information. He wondered how far into the past he could delve and still retrieve such full details. He would have to test this soon.

  Returning to more urgent matters, he decided his first priority was to regain possession of the hidden copy of his work, a protection against any future complication that might compromise him. His physical condition now allowed him to leave the house, and of course, the first place he wanted to go was work. He wouldn’t be able to drive comfortably, but Ramona would be happy to do the driving for him. Yes, he would come for a social visit, meet his colleagues, and among other things, retrieve several tools from his toolbox, including the screwdriver in which he had hidden the copy of his presentation. He would use the excuse that some light household tasks might do him good.

  Ramona organized and coordinated everything. Ethan and Gerry’s other coworkers were glad, encouraging her to come soon, even immediately. Yes, they would clear their schedules entirely, so long as they could see him soon. Indeed, everyone loved Gerry.

  The drive went by easily, and he felt almost no pain in his ribs. The innovative medication to facilitate bone healing was working quickly and efficiently. His ribs still hurt a bit occasionally, and his thigh pained him with every step. The doctor had confirmed to Ramona that the more he moved around, carefully and with no sudden motions, the more his condition would improve.

  His friends met him in the department’s conference room, which was set up in a way that was somewhat too festive, in his opinion. Everyone was smiling and expressing their eagerness to hear him describe everything that had happened. And so he found himself sitting at the head of the table, with all his colleagues expectantly waiting for whatever he had to say.

  Briefly, he considered giving them a complete account of everything he had been through since the accident: waking up in the hospital in utter darkness, the initial impression that he was in hell, his aching ribs, and feeling his bandaged face, indicating that he was alive but injured, recalling the accident, his daughter describing the extent of his injuries, and his rapid recuperation, bringing him to the point where he was able to come and see them.

  Of course, it never occurred to him to mention his work, or the unusual mental acuity he was experiencing. He’d never say a word about the threatening call before the accident, or about his suspicion that the incident had been intentionally staged.

  However, he had to continue the masquerade that he had suffered a brain injury. Therefore, in a quiet, stammering voice, using somewhat inarticulate language, he began to describe what had befallen him during the last week. The attendees’ smiles and jovial expressions evaporated gradually. He was well aware of the glances they exchanged, which contained plenty of sadness and pity.

  They were good people, working at the forefront of technology and cosmology. Each was a world leader in his or her own field. It was hard for them to watch a colleague who, only several days ago, had been researching observations from the most sophisticated, costly apparatus that humanity had ever constructed, but today faced them with a brain injury that had stolen away his entire future as a scientist, all because of one brief accident.

  It became clear to him that there was no point continuing to describe the recent events in detail. They wouldn’t be able to stand it, and it would be hard for him, as well. Therefore, he gave them a brief summary of what he’d gone through, emphasizing his speedy recovery and his hope for an improvement in his cognitive state. His coworkers’ uncomfortable fidgeting and whispering made it clear to him that they had exhausted their ability to listen. This was the moment he had been waiting for.

  He stopped speaking, raising himself slowly from his seat. His assembled colleagues stopped squirming and whispering, their eyes focusing upon him.

  “I w-w-want to in-inform you that d-d-due to my c-c-condition, I’m re-resigning be-because I d-d-don’t want to b-b-be in your w-w-way,” he concluded, sitting down again.

  Everyone was clearly surprised. They were not expecting this, although they appeared to appreciate his decision. Ramona, who had been sitting quietly on the sidelines throughout, also seemed surprised. Slowly, his coworkers rose from their seats, shook Gerry’s hand warmly, and left. No one touched the refreshments.

  Once everyone but Ethan had left, Gerry and Ramona got up as well, heading for the door, when Ethan pulled him aside and said, “You still owe us a presentation about your last research topic. You’d mentioned a discovery that would affect humanity as a whole. Considering the improvement in your condition, maybe you can tell me about it briefly now, or sometime soon?”

  Gerry wasn’t surprised. He had been anticipating this question, and had prepared his answer in advance.

  “I w-w-want to st-still ch-check it f-f-first. M-m-might he-help m-m-my br-brain.”

  That’s it. He sighed internally. The hard part was behind him. He had handed in his resignation. Whoever had known about his work and had hurt him would surely find out that he had quit and, even more importantly, about his cognitive condition, and perhaps he would be able to go on with his life without fear, at least until the moment he published his discovery.

  “I’m really sorry,” Ethan replied. “I hope you get better soon and can come back to us. We’ll always have a place for someone like you.”

  “I sin-sincere-l-ly th-thank you,” Gerry responded, shaking Ethan’s extended hand then exiting the room, with Ramona following.

  As they headed out, Gerry turned in the direction of the mechanics’ workshop. The place was nearly empty other than two technicians he knew, who were tuning the milling machine and paused to greet him. It appeared as if no one had touched his toolbox, which lay on the right side of the second shelf next to two other toolboxes, exactly where he had left it several days ago.

  He opened it and extracted the long pliers and two regular screwdrivers. He handed these to Ramona, who put them in her purse. Finally, he reached out for the old, worn-down Phillips screwdriver in which, about a week ago, he had hidden a copy of the presentation, just in case.

  Suddenly, Gerry realized he was still entrenched in the patterns characterizing his former life. He didn’t even need the presentation he had hidden. With his enhanced brain and his perfect memory, he could reconstruct all of it, down to the smallest detail. He briefly considered returning the screwdriver to its place, but on second thought, handed it to Ramona, who buried it in her purse among the other tools and the entire inventory of items that filled every woman’s handbag.

  Who knew what might happen to him? Perhaps he hadn’t managed to fool those who had injured him. Perhaps they knew about his new cognitive abilities. They might try to harm him again, this time intending to kill him rather than merely warn him. He would do anything to ensure his work was not lost; he would not relinquish its publication even if it cost him his life. He would tell Ramona about the screwdriver and the presentation, and ask her to give it to Ethan if he was hurt or unable to function for any reason. Hand in hand, the two of them slowly headed out to their car.

  “Since we’re al
ready out and about, and I see that you’re not exhausted, how about eating out somewhere? It might do you good to be around people,” she suggested.

  Gerry nodded in affirmation. He preferred not to talk when there were so many people around.

  The illustrious Alinea was one of the restaurants that did not follow the latest technological trends. In its distant past, it had been rated one of the ten best restaurants in the world, and had even received three Michelin stars. At its peak, it had been booked six or eight months in advance.

  But the passing years and new ownership had had a cumulative effect. It was still considered a good restaurant today, but it was now possible to find a free table for lunch during the week. It did not feature robot waiters or electronic menus, but rather human waiters and printed menus. Surprisingly, the patrons were not exclusively older people. Apparently, there were quite a few young people who enjoyed the restaurant’s old-fashioned, more personal style. Perhaps, to them, it resembled a visit to a museum of history.

  Gerry was about to give the young waitress his order. Briefly, he debated whether even here, away from his home and work, where no one knew him, he still had to keep pretending to be brain damaged in order to fool a possible tail. The temptation to resume regular human speech was great, enhanced by the calm environment in his home during the last few days.

  He had already opened his mouth, having decided to speak normally and order whatever he wanted, when a dark-skinned man wearing a suit entered the restaurant. Gerry ignored him for a split second. Then, from the outskirts of his mind, the image of the van that had been following him and later hit him, as seen in his rearview mirror, floated to the surface of his consciousness. He had been able to see a blurry image of the driver through the windshield. His skin had been dusky and he had been wearing a suit, or at least a formal jacket.