by Ron S. Nolan
"You mean it? Really? That's fantastic! A pair of dolphins and full funding?"
“Yes, the whole package. I'm over at General Houston's house right now and you wouldn't believe the shindig. Every who's who in defense contracting is here. These defense guys really love their fireworks and firewater. Anyway, the General took me to his study, unlocked his private bar and brought out a special twenty–year-old bottle of scotch. I knew that was a good sign, but I was still surprised. Lots of very happy defense contractors here tonight. Congratulations!"
Only a few minutes earlier General Pratt Houston, a staunch Republican and an unyielding supporter of President George Scott, had announced to Robert in his typical patriotic fashion, “I spoke with Commander Cummings about the dolphin proposal that you provided us. You know I have found that timing is the key to success and this seems to be one of those occasions. It turns out that supporting this project would help us in a very pressing diplomatic matter that has been causing all sorts of problems. Our Military Application of Marine Mammals Program has come under fire by animal rights groups and we need to show that we have cleaned up our act so we will fund this project through the National Science Foundation as an unsolicited proposal. Robert enjoy this fine whiskey and use my private line to give Dr. Grant the good news."
In a lower tone of voice after giving Robert a joyful slap on the back on his way out, the General confided, "And tell your boys at Richoh that they are looking good for the semiconductor contract. Would'a taken it down today, but those lame brains in the General Accounting Office need some other kind'a damn disclosure form or something. It’s just a technicality–not to worry.”
******
Sandra hugged herself with joy. Nearly a two million-dollar federal commitment to pursue her studies in dolphin behavior. Plenty of funds for travel and equipment–and to outfit a dolphin research lab including study animals. Fantastic!
Sandra Grant was young, brilliant, single and much sought after by Randamount College's cadre of bachelors for whom she could spare no time and had little interest. In fact, she had no steady lover or felt that she needed or wanted one–an occasional overnighter was enough. Her work was her life and she was already recognized as one of the pioneers in the new and begrudgingly accepted field of parapsychology. She possessed rare, dual Ph.D.s from the University of Miami. Her first doctorate was in probability mathematics. After completing the requirements for her doctorate in math in a brief three-year period, Sandra had surprised her graduate adviser by continuing on and winning a second degree in theoretical psychology.
Her training in math provided a crucial foundation for her work in parapsychology. By employing the exacting discipline of probability analysis, she was gaining insight into the phenomenon known popularly as ‘coincidence’. In fact, Grant called her work the 'quantification of coincidence'.
Not on close personal terms with her adviser, she had only revealed that she wanted to be certain that she could find a job when she graduated. But really, all was unfolding according to a plan laid long before she had moved up the coast from Key West to Miami for her college education and on to Santa Rosa for her first faculty position. She had always been extremely careful never to mention that she possessed paranormal abilities–or that she had been raised in a pet shop of all places and by a psychic grandmother! She reckoned that there was only so much eccentricity that the university establishment would tolerate as she tried to make her way through the system.
Now in her second year on the faculty at Randamount College, she was venturing for the first time beyond number crunching and the painstaking analysis of mounds of probability data into the study of the causal mechanics of paranormal events. But to avoid the skeptical reaction of her colleagues, she only revealed that her new project would be focused on understanding dolphin behavior–especially the means by which they communicate with one another.
However, Sandra lusted to discover the mechanisms responsible for telepathy and to learn the ‘how’ and ‘why’ of ESP. Her telepathy experiments might even break the communication barrier between man and animal–something that her Grandmother seemed to have achieved long ago.
With this new major source of research funding, her new experimental subjects would be Pacific bottlenose dolphins. Now she just needed to hire lab assistants and building contractors. At last she would be able to test her theories in a controlled environment without the strain of worrying about project funding.
Sandra moved to the old oak table in her cozy kitchen. She knew every scratch and stain on its surface. The table had been a graduation gift from her grandparents when she had moved to an apartment in Miami. Sitting at the table brought back memories of her college days when then, like now, the table served as her connection to her grandmother.
She made sure that both of her feet were firmly planted on the linoleum floor, and then pressed her palms against the grain. Within moments, she felt pressure as the smooth wood gripped her skin. Her palms tingled electrically.
The table tipped upward at a sharp angle braced on two legs. Then it pulsed slowly up and down, barely touching the floor with the tips of its front legs.
Sandra asked, "It's you, isn't it Grandma? I can feel your presence." The table slid forward towards Sandra until it nudged softly against her waist. She could feel a sensation of warmth around her navel. The table nuzzled like a loving pet greeting its master.
"Thank you, Grandma, for the healing. You know my project has been funded. I am so happy. Look I'm crying." The table lifted and then made a series of fast, light taps that sounded much like laughter. Closing her eyes, she could see her Grandmother's smiling face and bright blue eyes.
"Tell Grandpa that I love him too. Thanks again for all you do. I'll be thinking of you both always."
The table fell lifelessly from her palms and banged to the floor. What only minutes before seemed alive and full of energy was now just an ordinary kitchen table. Her grandmother had gone.
Just sitting at the table brought back so many wonderful memories. Sandra leaned back in her chair and closed her eyes...
E book and Paperback Versions of the Telepathic Dolphin Experiment are available at
Planetropolis Publishing
www.planetropolis.com.