The Shadowed Mind

by Julie Cave

  "Similarly, Darwin theorized that human beings are the result of millions of years worth of changes in life, from pond scum to man. In his second book, The Descent of Man, he suggested that certain races of people were more evolved than others, thereby contributing to diminishing the value of certain people groups even further.

  "So we have an environment where traditional morality was turned upside-down, naturalism was gaining widespread popularity, progressive thinking was fashionable and science believed in itself to explain how mankind came to exist without the need for God. It was Darwin's cousin, Francis Galton, who first conceptualized the idea that the human race should be proactively improved — coining the term eugenics. In an environment that had rejected God and morality, his ideas quickly became popular among scholars."

  "Therefore, if human beings have no intrinsic value — certainly no more than any other type of animal — it seemed perfectly logical to get rid of the undesirable elements holding the human race back from continuing to evolve. Am I right?" Dinah summarized.

  "I'm afraid you are," said Andy, taking a long drink from his glass. "And so these undesirable elements of society were further classified into race, income, the presence of illness or disability, and so on. The belief that humans were just a result of evolution led to the conviction that white people were more evolved than black people, for example. It was during this time, in the 1920s, that evolutionists believed that the Australian Aborigines were the missing link, so to speak, between our ape ancestors and modern man. Biologists from England and Germany began to hunt them, as you would an animal, as research specimens. They were even given specific instructions about how to skin them and preserve their skulls for display in museums around the world. Aboriginal graves were robbed and desecrated so that their remains might be studied.

  "That's awful," said Dinah, shaking her head. "How could they justify treating people like that?"

  "Well, because they didn't think of them as people. And remember, it doesn't matter if you are a person — humans have no more worth than animals anyway. It doesn't get any better in this country. Perhaps you've heard of Ota Benga, an African man bought as a slave, brought to this country and displayed in a cage as a half-man, half-ape at the Bronx zoo. It was evolutionary thinking, the idea that Africans and Aborigines were less evolved than the white man that led to such horrific abuse and injustice. It is simply an example of the strong exploiting the weak."

  Dinah was mute with indignation. It seemed like such outrage would happen in other places that were far less civilized than the United States. Yet the bloody history of this great nation suggested otherwise.

  "The truth is that humans all came from one origin. We are all descended from one man and one woman: Adam and Eve. Our Creator God placed phenomenal variability in our genes; the sheer amount of information in human DNA is mind-boggling. Racism is often manifested based on the shade of a person's skin. Skin shade is determined by the amount of melanin our body produces, and that is dependent upon our genetic makeup. We know that skin shade is determined by at least 7 genes and possibly up to 40 genes. And you should keep in mind that the isolation of people groups on certain continents for many generations has led to certain physical characteristics associated with certain people groups we now see — such as dark-skinned people living in Africa and light-skinned people living in Norway. People groups whose skin produces more melanin tend to fare better in hot climates, while people groups who skin produces less melanin thrive in cooler climates. That's the explanation for all the differences we see between us, not because some are more evolved than others.

  Andy shrugged and pointed a rib at her to emphasize his point. "I think it's also important to mention that evolution also relies on genetic mutations happening over a time period of millions of years as a dominant mechanism. Mutations are permanent changes in the DNA, and all observed mutations involve the loss of information from DNA. This is different from the loss or gain of structure and/or function. Sometimes losing DNA information ends up being beneficial, but it doesn't change the fact that that information is lost. For evolution to work, there needs to be a gain in new information within the DNA that results in a new structure or function. For example, a single-celled amoeba would need to acquire the DNA code for new structures and new functions in order for it to evolve into a more complex organism. Furthermore, this would need to happen billions of times for a complex human being to have evolved. The truth is that when we observe genetic mutations happening, we often see devastating results, not beneficial ones."

  Andy devoured a rib with astonishing speed, then said, "You know, things like racism and social injustice happened before Darwin came along. But evolution really is a belief system established on inequality, racism, and exploitation of the vulnerable. You'll see as you learn about eugenics that it really was the helpless who suffered most under its regime — defenseless babies who weren't born perfect, the disabled, the elderly, and the diseased, the homeless, and those living in poverty."

  Dinah sipped her root beer and thought for a moment in silence. "Did you know that we found a modern-day eugenics society operating here in the city?" she said. "They operate under a philosophy that says that intelligence is the greatest human ideal."

  "I didn't know that," admitted Andy, "but it doesn't surprise me. By extension, those who are not considered to be intelligent shouldn't be allowed to reproduce. Just as there are plenty of social Darwinists propagating their beliefs, too."

  "What's social Darwinism?" Dinah asked curiously.

  "Essentially, it's a belief that derives from evolution's survival of the fittest, which is applied to the problems faced by society," explained Andy. "It's a particularly dangerous way to think because it removes God totally from the equation. How do you address problems such as homelessness, drug addiction, declining morality, and other issues from a social Darwinist point of view? In short, you would have to eliminate those elements of society you found undesirable, for according to Darwinism the strong must always dominate the weak. Christianity believes the opposite — that we are to treat all human beings with kindness, compassion, and empathy, just as Christ did. Remember the Samaritan woman who approached Jesus at the well? The Jewish leaders wouldn't have anything to do with her because she was a Samaritan. Not only that, she was a woman, and she was considered immoral because she'd had four husbands. She was on the lowest rung of the social ladder, yet Jesus sought her out, spoke to her, and forgave her sins. Social problems are caused by sin, of which everybody is redeemable. Social Darwinism is basically the complete opposite to Christianity. Eugenics is just the natural progression of the evolutionary thought process. If we are to apply the principles of evolution to society, the only accurate interpretation ends in eugenics."

  "Do you think that we as a society would ever accept that way of thinking again?" Dinah asked, pushing her plate away and leaning back in her chair.

  "I think it's already happening. We have no more regard for human life today than then. We legislate for abortion and euthanasia under the guise that it's the kind thing to do. Instead of getting rid of so-called defective individuals after birth, we now abort them prior to birth. We watch millions of people starving to death in Africa on CNN and then put it out of our minds as if it were just a movie." Andy sighed and rubbed his forehead. "There will never be an answer, because the world is rotten through sin. There is only one solution: His name is Jesus."

  There was silence for several moments as each contemplated the discussion. Then Dinah said, "During my research, I've noticed that alcoholics are frequently mentioned as being one of these undesirables." She struggled to articulate how she felt. "I am trying to come to terms with the fact that I might have been sterilized or even killed under the eugenics program. I suppose …it makes me realize how low I feel, knowing I have this weakness. It brings back all the reasons that I wanted to commit suicide."

  She'd said it, the darkest thoughts that existed deep inside her. She saw Andy and Sa
ndra exchange worried glances, but she couldn't meet their gaze.

  "Do you think about suicide as an option?" asked Sandra carefully.

  Dinah saw what they were thinking. "No! No, I don't, I swear. It just brings back the terrible feelings that I had at the time. I just see the word 'subhuman' or 'undesirable,' and realize that I am both of those things."

  "Listen," said Andy, learning forward. "We are all undesirable, in God's eyes. We have all been ravaged and ruined by sin. Yet He loves us all equally, enough to send His Son as a sacrifice in our place. And you have accepted this free gift of grace, Dinah. You are now a precious child of His, worthy of receiving His riches. He no longer sees the person you feel you are, but a child free of sin or blemish."

  Dinah nodded, not trusting herself to speak. She knew this, but it was so difficult to bring her heart into line, her treacherous heart who would have her believe she was not worthy of life, who still identified herself as a useless drunk, who might have served as her own executioner. It was difficult to extricate herself from her past, which clung to her with deep claws and bloody maw, reminding her of failures and weaknesses.

  It was time to shelve the past, though it could never be entirely forgotten, and look to the future — a relationship with the living Christ, for that is where her redemption lay.

  ****

  The shrill ring of Dinah's cell phone interrupted the conclusion of lunch. She jumped, transporting suddenly from the world of barbecued ribs back to the investigation. She answered, knowing that it would be Detective Cage.

  "We've got another body," the big detective said tersely.

  "Okay," said Dinah, her heart sinking. "Where shall I meet you?"

  Cage gave her directions to an industrial section of the city, Hyattsville, and hung up. Dinah didn't know him that well, but she could tell he was getting frustrated with the mounting body toll and the lack of useable clues.

  She pulled up at the perimeter of the taped-off crime scene 30 minutes later and waited for Detective Cage to wave her through.

  Once inside, she studied the facade of the catering business, incongruous to the surrounding industrial and commercial buildings.

  "The body was found in the alley," Detective Cage said, showing her the small thoroughfare that ran down the side of the building. In spite of the early afternoon heat, he wore a crisp, French-cuffed shirt and tie, and didn't look to be suffering from the effects of the warmth at all.

  The body of the woman still, in fact, lay there, crumpled carelessly as though the killer had left her where she fell. She was a slight woman, in her mid to late thirties, and she bore a look of surprise on her face. Save for the aberrant angle of her neck, there were no indications of violence elsewhere on her body.

  "How long has she been here?" Dinah asked.

  "Medical examiner's office thinks roughly since the early hours of this morning. She was found by the staff of the catering business this morning, and it took a few hours for the news to filter through to me," explained Cage.

  "Who is she?"

  "Birth certificate says she is Ashleigh Colter. There was a backpack next to her with some clothes, toiletries, and a purse. We found a bus ticket stub from Florida, which is where she may have hailed from."

  Dinah squatted next to the body and carefully looked her over, not touching her. The woman looked careworn and tired, with a prematurely lined face. Her clothes were threadbare and cheap and her hard life was etched on her face. How many men have beat on you and told you lies? wondered Dinah. How many times have you accepted it because you desperately craved their attention?

  "Why do you suppose she was brought here?" Dinah asked.

  Cage glanced around. "If she was killed in the middle of the night, this is one of the quietest places to do it. There would have been nobody around. If you mean more specifically why next to this catering building, I don't know."

  A uniformed cop approached with a middle-aged man and said, "Excuse me, Detective. This man says he may have some useful information for you."

  Detective Cage turned to look at the man. "Yes, sir?"

  The man gestured at the catering company building. He was a short, powerfully built man in his forties, with thinning silver hair and hooded dark eyes. "I'm Lorenzo, I own the business there," he said. "We have a surveillance camera mounted on the front. We put it there to discourage burglars."

  Cage exchanged a look with Dinah. "That's excellent news. Can we see the footage?"

  "Come into the back," invited Lorenzo.

  Dinah and Cage followed him, allowing the crime scene techs to finish combing the scene before the medical examiner's office took the body to the morgue for autopsy.

  In a small office-cum-lunchroom, Lorenzo rewound last night's tape and then pushed play for them. Detective Cage had been right: the area was deserted and still after the work day was finished and they fast-forwarded through several hours of nothing before they got what they wanted.

  At about midnight, a white van parked directly outside the building. The camera wasn't of the highest quality, but they could still make out the words on the side of the van: Drug Response Team. Then the driver of the van got out and they all held their breath, wondering if they could see him.

  They were disappointed. The camera angle meant that the top of the van and the man were cut off. All they could see of the individual was from the chest down.

  Then Ashleigh Colter appeared from the other side of the van. She was much shorter than the man and so most of her face was visible. She hugged her backpack to her chest and seemed to be talking happily with the man.

  The man opened the back of the van and seemed to be digging around in there for something while Ashleigh Colter waited. Finally, he closed the van door and pointed toward the alley.

  Ashleigh seemed to be wary. She stopped and spoke to the man with a frown on her face. He must have reassured her, for she then moved on out of the picture.

  Dinah and Cage waited with bated breath to see what would happen next. About ten minutes later the man reappeared but Ashleigh Colter didn't. He quickly got behind the wheel of the van and drove away. Although they both strained their eyes to see a license plate, the camera image was too grainy to give up anything of use.

  The rest of the tape showed nothing of use. Cage thanked Lorenzo and took the tape into custody as evidence.

  As he put it into a plastic evidence bag and sealed it, he said, "Well, I think we've finally seen our killer."

  "Yeah," agreed Dinah. "Too bad we couldn't see his face."

  "Do you know what sort of van that is?" Cage asked.

  Lorenzo nodded. "That's a Ford Econovan for sure."

  Cage nodded. "I think so, too."

  Dinah suddenly spotted a crime scene technician waving them over. Dinah and Cage hurried back to the body.

  "We found this, shoved right down inside the victim's jeans," the young woman said, handing them a card.

  Cage carefully took the card in one gloved hand. Like the cards found on Lakeisha Tennant and Benjamin Steffan, this card was of the plain, generic sympathy variety with a picture of a bird in flight on the front. Inside, a typed message said:

  Science has proven that just as in nature the struggle for existence is the moving principle of evolution and perfection, in that the weak are worn away and must make room for the strong, so also in world history the destruction of weaker nations through the stronger is a postulate of progress. Whoever it may be, he must stride over the corpses of the vanquished, that is natural law.

  Detective Cage and Dinah glanced at each other.

  "Wow," said Cage, shaking his head. "This is one mean dude."

  Chapter 10

  With her father safely tucked into bed for the night, Ella Barnett decided to place a phone call she'd been dreading. Her brother Micah lived in Portland, too far away to give her much day-to-day help. He felt much the same about his father as Ella and sent financial help regularly, although he didn't have to handle the daily care.
/>
  "Hey, sis," he said cheerfully, when he picked up the phone. "How's things?"

  "Uh…." Ella was dismayed to find that she was already on the verge of tears. She swallowed hard and tried to repress her emotions. "Well, we're struggling through."

  There was silence on the other end of the phone. "What's wrong?" Micah asked, concern diffusing his voice.

  "I just don't know if I can do this for much longer," said Ella, in a sudden rush of words. "I'm so tired. Dad is becoming very difficult."

  "Tell me what's happened," suggested Micah.

  Ella told him about their father's increasing disorientation and confusion, and his growing hostility toward her. She finished by relating the incident in which John Barnett had thrown his shoes at her, convinced that she was an intruder.

  "Wow," said Micah, when she had finished. "I didn't realize things had gotten so bad. I'm sorry I'm not there to give you a hand."

  Ella sighed. "It's okay. I wanted to talk to you about looking into a nursing home for him."

  Again there was silence. "Didn't we talk about this?" Micah said, at length. "We decided we didn't really want to do that. We wanted to look after him, just as he did for us."

  "Yes, I know we agreed on that," admitted Ella. "But I guess I didn't realize how bad it would get …and it's only going to get worse." She wished she could be more assertive, and just tell Micah what she wanted to do. Instead, she knew she would allow him to talk her around, and nothing would change.

  "I just don't know if I want a stranger looking after Dad," argued Micah. "They wouldn't do as good a job as you do."

  "Yeah, but you don't know how hard it is, day after day," said Ella, on the verge of tears again. "I'm exhausted, Micah."

  "Okay, I hear you." There was silence as her older brother tried to decide what to do.