by F. Habib
‘No…I did wonder why I was put through so many vocal tests in Khoen’s labs, but I had other things to worry about at that point. He must have been desperate…it’s a miracle he didn’t kill me immediately.’
‘He couldn’t,’ Perun said, ‘he had other plans for you – or rather your DNA.’
‘But you said it was some kind of survival tool. Why would it work on Khoen and not all the other people who’ve threatened me, us, over the years?’
Dr. Graeves rubbed his eyes and sat back in his chair. ‘I’m afraid I don’t know. Any suggestions?’
There was a rumble though the room. People looked at each other, then down and around, as though the answer was lurking nearby.
‘Does it work on Perun?’
Mimi turned along with the rest to see a man in military fatigues at the back of the room.
‘Hello, Commander Decker.’ Perun lifted a palm in greeting, ‘I’ve never felt any compulsion to obey her – even at her most enraged, as you may remember.’
‘Maybe it’s because you’re not a threat nor in any danger. I’d guess the mechanism is triggered if there is a real threat to the group - the people with this manipulation power. In hazardous situations, the decision-making powers transfer to her, if she chooses to take command. It could be a kind of leadership authority, a way to direct the group in times of crisis. A strategic survival tool, forcing them to work together. Together, they’d be pretty tough to beat. I think she’s a sort of team commander, genetically.’
Mimi’s grunt of laughter cut through the silent auditorium. All heads swivelled in her direction.
‘That’s the scariest thing I’ve heard since I got here. Lordy, if what you’re saying is true, we’re doomed. All of us.’ She nearly choked on a fresh guffaw.
Beth narrowed her eyes, ‘shut up, Mimi…though she does make a good point. Why would I be the leader? I don’t have manipulation powers. Perun would surely be better suited. He has powers, is far more level-headed and experienced with all this. And what is this group we’re now talking about? There is only us.’
‘You’re wrong. There were more, quite a few more. I grew up with twenty-eight others. They’re dead now, but I know Khoen wasn’t one of us. Where did he come from? I know I was made, bred from healers to enhance their powers. Did Khoen come from another group? There might be more of us out there.’
Mimi raised an enquiring hand.
‘Oh please stop,’ Beth protested.
‘No, hear me out. I have a question for our old friend here,’ she fixed a hard stare on Perun, ‘what made you seek out Beth in the first place, right at the start?’
Perun flashed a look at Beth who leaned forward.
‘Well, I was… told to.’
‘By whom?’
‘Um, this may be hard to understand, but by a snake, actually two – in a dream.’
Mimi covered her face with her hands and sank down in her chair with a groan.
‘You mean the twin serpents the shamans talk about?’ Beth blinked.
‘You know about it?’ Perun’s brows shot up.
‘Khoen’s people were going on about plant spirits and the source of shamanic medicinal knowledge. That’s what eventually led to our conscious matter hypothesis. Do you communicate with these serpents regularly?’
‘Um…No. I encountered them of course, during my training; they’re always keen to talk to anyone who’ll listen. They can be a valuable source of information for some things, but it takes a great deal of experience to communicate with them in any useful way. They mostly go on about being the creators of the universe and how wonderful they are, but it’s clear from other spirit sources that they are…exaggerating. They have power, but nothing like they try to claim. They always came across as a little pompous and I never needed to engage with them to achieve what I wanted, so I didn’t.’
‘You’re telling us that you communicate with spirits to do your healing?’ Mimi scowled.
‘Yes and no. They’re two separate things. Things that are alive can be used as a tool to open a channel of communication with other intelligences. Many trained healers do this through consuming plants. What I do is a variation of that. I change the behaviour of living things at a cellular level. I don’t really need to communicate with remote intelligences to achieve that. I communicate with the cells themselves…with their own intelligence. The others are left out of it.’
A long silence greeted his words. Only the frantic scratch of pen on paper could be heard.
Dr. Greaves was staring at Perun. ‘So where are these spirits? The ones with medical knowledge to hand out. Are they inside the plant? Inside their DNA? And if so, are they not inside all DNA?’
‘They are not in the DNA, they are on the other side of it.’
‘What does that mean?’ Beth groaned. ‘Where is the other side of DNA?’
He shrugged, ‘I don’t know. The other places that are not here.’
‘You mean like another dimension or parallel universe?’ Beth suggested.
Perun looked sheepish, ‘I don’t know. I don’t have access to that information. It’s complex. In my training I tried to understand, asked for help to understand, but the spirits would largely ignore my attempts. Even those who helped me with achieving a task here, would dismiss any possibility that I could grasp even the smallest fraction of anything beyond my task. I don’t think human consciousness is rated very highly.’
‘So you’re saying there are other dimensions with more advanced consciousness entities who look down on us? Why do they bother with us at all?’ Mimi said.
‘I don’t think they do, in the main. When I’ve managed to communicate with them, they are surprised. Some are less than encouraging, some are helpful, some are even a little curious, but I always got the impression most entities on the other side have little regard for what we’re doing.’
‘That is the single most depressing thing I’ve ever heard,’ Beth broke the heavy silence. ‘And I’m not sure how that fits with what’s happening to us. Why would the twin serpents send you to me? What’s that about?’
‘They said it was important to achieve the solution. They implied you had it.’
‘The solution?’ Beth’s brows shot up ‘To what? And how did they identify me?’
‘They didn’t elaborate on the problem – I got the impression it was… above my pay grade, so to speak. They showed me your DNA imprint. DNA emits radiation. Once I had that, I searched for it. A bit like tuning into a faint but unique beacon. I was always able to locate you, to keep an eye on you and Galen. Unfortunately once you were near Khoen, the signal was lost.’
‘They’re hiding.’ Galen said. All eyes turned to him. ‘The snakes. I listened to them when I was little. They like to talk - a lot. They’re not really snakes, it is just the way we see them.’ He glanced briefly at Beth. ‘They’re hiding from an enemy. They say he’s terrible, but I don’t think they’re very brave. They created DNA in our universe as a place to hide. They made it…like an invisible lifeboat floating in a far corner of nowhere. So insignificant no one would think of looking for them there. They think it was very clever, what they did. Except, something happened.
Someone found their hiding place, the DNA. He loved it, loved all it could be used to create. He…convinced the twins to allow him to use DNA for his creations, told them it would increase their chance of survival, to have countless matter-beings carrying their essence through time and space. Copying their code in many disguises. He’s the one who really created us, all the DNA based life-forms in this universe. He created a way to make DNA evolve, just as the universe evolves. Everything everywhere evolves. That is what it’s all about. Every bit of everything is evolving.’
Mimi shook her head to make sure she was hearing correctly. Beth and Perun looked as stunned as she felt. Well at least I’m not alone in WackoVille.
‘How have you not mentioned any of this to me before, sweetheart? No, don’t say it – you thought I knew.’
>
Galen scrunched his face, ‘I thought everyone knew.’
Dr. Graeves thumped his mike with his thumb, shaking the audience from its daze. ‘Okay. Okay. I think we may be sliding away from the remit of this project. Creation myths are fascinating, but we must stay on topic,’ he glanced at his notes, ‘I believe we’d been talking about Beth’s innate leadership qualities.’
Beth scowled at him. Oh, oh.
‘Absolutely,’ Mimi filled her tone with concern, ‘I think all this hocus-pocus should be kept out of the discussion. We don’t want to confuse fact with fiction. We need to make the most of the team’s time. Debating mythology should be kept for after-dinner chats, don’t you think?’
‘Absolutely, I apologise for getting side-tracked.’ Perun nodded.
Beth stood abruptly. ‘I’m afraid I don’t feel very well. I’d ask to kindly be excused.’ She turned on her heel and tumbled off the platform. Perun caught her wrist as a gasp went up, breaking her fall before she hit the floor. He steadied her and supported her to the door; Mimi scrambled. She sprang to Galen’s side as he hurried behind his parents. Commander Decker appeared by the exit. He looked like he wanted to stop them, but as Perun approached, he held the door open. As Mimi passed, suspicion shaded his piercing eyes. She stopped just long enough to salute. Then with a wink flounced out.
Chapter Nineteen
Beth peeked through the crack and pushed the door a little wider as Mimi’s soundless soles danced along the linoleum corridor. Unfortunately, a large plastic bag crackled against her legs. So much for stealth.
‘Why are you making such a racket?’ She hissed as she squeezed the door shut. She took in Mimi’s silk nightgown, and then her own pyjamas billowing around her bump.
‘It’s 3am. How can you look ready for a fashion shoot?’ The pile of snacks Mimi heaped onto the central table allayed her irritation. ‘Wow, how did you get hold of burritos at this hour?’ Perun and Galen smiled at the abrupt change of tone. She snatched up the roll as though she hadn’t eaten in a week.
‘Ways and means, chica. Ways and means.’ Mimi plunked down at a workstation. She withdrew a USB chip and plugged it in. ‘Ok folks, I’ve been Googling my ass off and am armed to blow you away.’
‘Hang on; let’s start with the boys’ stuff first. No disrespect to Google, but I’d rather hear from the horse’s mouth. You found anything new?’ She gulped down a cheesy mouthful, and waved Perun on.
‘I’ll recap the latest, but emphasise that I’m relying on a language of images I’m not that experienced with. Having said that, I’ve verified my findings against other shamanic sources and there seems to be an overarching consistency about hierarchies in the spirit world.
As you know, they tell the story of an entity that was able to move between worlds. Worlds isn’t really the right word. The images convey more like…um layers, frequencies. His powers were rare even amongst his kind. Very gifted and creative, he was their Leonardo de Vinci. He could transform himself and other entities at will, even altering their level of consciousness. He is known by many names, but the shamans of South America know him as Avireri.
When he stumbled on our realm, he realised the rules here made it harder for him to transform and create, until he found the perfect tool: DNA. Through it he created many matter-beings by spreading DNA through the universe, but there was a problem. He was irresponsible with his powers, arrogant and inconsiderate of the havoc he often produced in this and other realms. They say he caused the careless death of many and specifically his sister’s child.’
‘I still don’t buy the sister thing.’ Mimi raised a brow.
‘I don’t know if it means the same as we understand it, I’m just telling you the story. I guess it could just mean another entity of his kind.’ Perun shrugged.
‘Ok, let him finish.’ Beth waved an empty wrapper.
‘She, the sister, heard his boasts about his wonderful creations, and tricked him into showing her. She then caught him off guard when he was intoxicated and imprisoned him within DNA. Well…He was said to have been pushed down a deep hole, and trapped in a long vine from which he could not escape. I’m guessing that vine is DNA.’
‘Ah, caught in his own trap.’ Mimi bit into her chocolate, ‘nothing beats sibling revenge.’
‘There’s no word about him getting out. In fact the story specifically states that he remains there to this day, caring for his creations.’
‘Yep, it’s still creepy, no matter how many times I hear it. And what I have isn’t going to help. So can I talk now?’
‘No.’
Beth was studying Perun as she chewed. ‘Ok, let’s break a few things down. I know that Crick’s Panspermia theory could account for the arrival of DNA on Earth from other parts of our universe, and as no one has come up with a plausible account of how it could have evolved by chance, I’m for now, rolling with this idea that it was designed as a form of biotechnology. The ability of Tardigrades to survive and successfully reproduce in a vacuum also suggests interstellar travel of life isn’t impossible.’
‘Panspermia?’ Galen said.
‘It just means the spreading of DNA throughout the universe via things like asteroids and comets. The ancient creation myths contain a recurring theme of life on earth having a snake-like cosmic source. If we accept that this may correspond to Panspermia and DNA, then we might also explore a literal interpretation of the story about Avireri and the twins.
My primary concern is how this involves us and the powers we are witnessing now? There’s been talk of a “solution” that I am apparently to provide. Trouble is, I don’t know the problem.’ Beth tapped her fingers together.
‘So, I started thinking about who’s looking for a solution. The twins? Avireri? Or both? The twins’ camouflage story would imply they fear discovery and extinction. If that’s their problem why do they keep talking so much about their true identities?’
‘That’s easy - Ego.’ Mimi said. ‘People who talk about themselves all the time are egomaniacs. Psych 101. They probably can’t stand that they don’t get credit for their work. And billions of years sure is a long time for an egotist to be overlooked,’
‘And what about Avireri?’ Beth frowned at the group, ‘He sounds like a sociopath. A creative genius who cares about little beyond his creations, happy to use the fears of the twins to his benefit, with a reputation for moral and social irresponsibility. His problem I’d guess is getting released from DNA. But how the hell would that happen, and what use would I be? I know nothing aside from a little mathematics, right?’
‘Right.’ Mimi nodded slowly.
‘However, this genetic voice thing, plus your transformative powers leads me to consider that the solution might not come from me directly, but from the group I-’ Beth’s nose creased, ‘lead. It’s disheartening, but crucial to note that these powerful entities don’t seem much more evolved than us mere humans. Enemies, fear, cowardice, revenge, thoughtless violence. Perhaps their power and knowledge is simply a result of their elevated perspective on the nature of the universe, rather than innate wisdom or superior enlightenment. I think we need to stop thinking about these entities as necessarily being better than us. I think they’re just different. It struck me as interesting that Avireri found that in our universe, his powers were limited by the ‘rules’. That’s why he needed the DNA. What if our universe has a different physics to many of the others, limiting his powers to transform? Maybe, the powers we see in you guys and Khoen is simply a breaking of the rules. Perhaps those are some of Avireri’s own powers flowing through your DNA. What do you think?’
Perun rubbed his forehead. ‘I find it difficult to think of them as being the same as us, even though I take your point that their story doesn’t paint them in the best light. Seems arrogant to equate ourselves to our creators. But maybe that’s just their arrogance shining through. What if the human need for survival and fear of annihilation is their nature evidenced in us, built into the DNA.’
&n
bsp; ‘What about love and kindness?’ Galen said. ‘It’s not as obvious as fear, but it’s far more powerful. It easily beats fear. Wouldn’t that also be from them too.’
Beth blinked, ‘Good point. Hadn’t thought of that. What do we know about love from your spirits, Perun? Where is God in all this? I’ve little knowledge of scriptures, but if Avireri created our bodies using DNA, then where is God? What is our consciousness? Are the conventional religions correct in their claim that we are embodied spirits? If so, where have we come from and what the hell are we doing here?’
‘I might have something on that.’ Mimi threw up her hand like a first-grader. Beth nodded.
‘Ok, check this out. I’ve been digging around the dead, and talk about consistency…’ She rubbed her hands together. ‘Well, you know the white light stuff you see in movies, when someone dies and a shaft of light takes them away to heaven or whatever…’ her eager smile wavered as she met three blank stares. ‘Oh, for crying out loud, you’ve never seen a ghost movie? Have any of you seen any movies of any sort?’
She thumped her head with her palm, ‘You guys might as well be damned aliens. Ok, forget movies. I’ve been researching the spirit world but from a different angle – near death experiences. So, people who have died, and then been brought back to life. The data and reports are phenomenally consistent across cultures and over human history.
People generally report leaving the body and witnessing their death from nearby with a sense of disconnection – as though watching a movie. They then usually experience a benevolent light through which they travel a path, river or tunnel that crosses a ‘darkness or void’ and they are met by other beings where they undergo a life review. They witness, super-fast but with complete clarity, every moment of their lives, not just from their own perspective, but they also live the experience of all those they affected.
This review is seen as their opportunity to reflect on their life experience, gain enough perspective to judge their own performance and learn from it. They don’t feel judged by the guiding beings but comforted. They are allowed to reflect on their behaviour without guilt. Pretty much all of them also insist they gain the insight that they are part of everything else. Some report flying over cities of great beauty and gain access to instant and unbounded knowledge and love. They talk about certain spirits seeming to be of higher authority than others, which matches with the spiritual hierarchy thing.