The Infinite when it was Two Digits Old

by Allen Fleishman

  Martin smiled, “Don’t ask me, ask Eagle One.” Corey bent down and asked, “May I look under your bandanna?” The bird nodded, said “Yes.” It then turned around to let her touch him. The bird continued, “You may look, Doctor Rogers, but remember, it’s all connected, so probe gently.”

  Corey lifted the bandanna up and a postage-stamp sized computer was revealed under the feathers, she traced the wire to a place behind the bird’s neck. “There is no speaker here at all. I see what I think is a computer and it’s attacked to the bird’s neck going anterior to the scalp. So who is controlling the bird, how many behaviors can you mimic.”

  David sighed, “No one is controlling the bird or Hansel or Hilda. This is all real. The computer is a computer. I apologize if I’m a bit short, but I drove in from Oslo Norway yesterday evening, and neither Phyllis nor I had much sleep. But no, there are no speakers, except for the earplugs worn by the humans. No one is controlling them. We can talk to them. But it is up to them to act and say what they want. They are who they are. Just what you see.”

  Corey looked incredulous, “then do you understand me?” Eagle One shook his head yes, “I think she’s got it,” the bird replied facing Martin.

  Bill looked around, “Next you’ll be telling us that the dog can do calculus.”

  Hilda jumped to the floor.

  Hilda: I’ve never had a formal class in it, but I’m willing to give it a try.

  Bill guffawed, “What is the derivative of X squared plus X?” Hilda jumped to the floor, tapped twice then crossed her paws. She then tapped again.

  Hilda: Two X plus 1.

  Hilda walked up to Corey, turned around and sat there.

  Janet whispered, “Sidney, these animals are really enhanced.”

  Corey looked at them, “What did the dog say?”

  Sidney looked at Corey, “He got the calculus correct. Two X plus one. Janet, you’re right.”

  Bill looked at the Ryans and Corey, “You’re bullshitting us. The next thing you’re going to do is have the dogs parade around and start to dance.” Hilda got off the floor, stood on her hind legs.

  Hilda: I wouldn’t dream of dancing, nor of demeaning myself. This position is terribly uncomfortable for me as it is. Do I look like a trained bear? I’m a quadruped. Next you’ll ask me to wear a funny hat.

  Hilda went back to the chair.

  Sidney turned to Bill, “Bill, I think this is real, on the up-and-up.”

  Rebecca Norris stood, “This is like I’m in a horror movie. I’m scared. This whole set up is terrifying. These are mad scientists. What the Ryans did was bad enough for Lepto-Molecular. Getting involved with these people is worse. This is a horror movie.”

  David turned red, in a loud voice he said. “Bullshitting you? Horror Movie? You stupid shit-for-brains! You’re as unenlightened and as ignorant as those cows holding up their signs outside your office and homes. Like a horror movie? Like a horror movie? Let me tell you about a horror movie. It’s seeing your business fail. That is a horror. Being saved by complete strangers is a salvation. Driving 28 hours from Oslo Norway to help strangers, that is a horror. Seeing your son born to a lethal condition, that is a horror. Watching him being stolen from you by the police is a horror. Knowing you can and will help is a salvation. Being told that your entire existence is wrong by people, perhaps the only people, you hoped to trust; now that’s a real horror. We thought you would understand. You’re as bad as the torch wielding mobs. Bah.”

  David stormed out of the room.

  Martin said, “I apologize for my son; at times he has quite a temper. Like he said he didn’t get much sleep last night.”

  Janet asked, “Did he say drove in from Europe?”

  Martin nodded and pointed out the window. Two headlights slowly descended from the sky and landed on a knoll that faced the patio windows. The Fiat was clearly seen descending from the sky, lit up by the floodlights of the resort. Out of the car came a young woman with short brown hair carrying a number of packages. Phyllis walked to the rear door, opened it and put the packages down on a chair. The room was deathly silent as she entered. Phyllis put her phone over her ear and said, “Did I miss much?”

  ***

  Phyllis served the food that they had slow cooked in the oven.

  She then sat down at the awkward dinner. As she ate she had the Teacher give a synopsis of the last half hour, including when David walked out. After the quiet dinner, Martin turned to the Ryans, “I think we’ve demonstrated that we are the only people on Earth who could help Joshua.” Turning to Bill, “The offer to assist you is freely given, but is yours to refuse. However I’m also tired. The last two days have been exhausting. So please excuse me. I think you five need to talk to each other.” Martin left the room.

  Phyllis finally said, “I must admit you took things quite well Dr. and Dr. Ryan. I wasn’t as adroit as you were when I first met the menagerie. Did you meet Masseur Le Cook?” Phyllis looked at Janet.

  “No, I don’t think so, only the Kleins and yourself, and the dogs and parrot. Did the young man really mean it when he said he could help?”

  Phyllis laughed then said, “You mean David? One thing that I’ve learned in the three years I’ve known him is David is pathologically honest. It’s a character defect. If David says something, you can believe it.”

  Bill said somewhat satirically, “Like driving from Oslo?”

  Phyllis looked at Bill and Rebecca, feeling a touch of exhaustion and anger. She paused, slowly closed her eyes and then a few seconds later opened them. “Yes, like driving from Oslo. A day and a half ago I was in Oslo with David; we drove here in that black Fiat. Ever hear of C H Motors?”

  Rebecca said, “The police car people? Of course. Did you steal one of their cars?”

  Phyllis stood and took two deep breaths. She paused again and took a third deep breath then said, “Of course not. That car outside is THE first flying car. It was built before C H Ford was in existence. Until today, C H, Martin, David and I were the only ones who knew about this first prototype. And David and I were its only drivers. Yes, we drove in from Oslo Norway.”

  Rebecca put her fork down and sat up straight, with a bright smile she said, “Do you know C H, that old man behind C H Motors?”

  Phyllis put her napkin down and with a sly smile, “I know him very, very well.” Phyllis paused, “I think I’ve said too much. I have to go talk to David. You five need to talk. If you want, tomorrow morning or even tonight, we can drive you back. To anywhere you want to go, including the Somerville police department to hand over your son. Perhaps you’d prefer to take one of the larger cars and drive yourselves. Ask and I’ll get you the keys.” Somewhat bitterly she said, “I have a feeling that David and Martin might have made a very bad mistake. So, if you’ll excuse me.” Phyllis stood and left.

  Rebecca put her napkin down. “I’m glad she’s gone. I was feeling quite uncomfortable with all of them.” Turning to the Ryans and Corey, Rebecca said matter-of-factly, “Bill and I think this was all a scheme to take over Bill’s company.”

  Janet bitterly looked at Rebecca, “Becky, shut up.” Rebecca did a double take. Janet continued. “Do you have the faintest idea of the power that was put into our laps? We have truly computer enhanced intelligent animals, who know calculus, no less, even if they do poor Elvis impersonations.” Janet smiled. “They know C. H. of C H Electricity and Motors. Not even the President of the United States could get an audience with him. They have a personal working anti-gravity car. There are NO public anti-gravity cars. The only flying cars made are Ford emergency or police vehicles, not Fiats. I believe that kid when he said he drove here from Norway. You saw the car land. It’s too preposterous to be made up. They have money, gobs of it. They arranged this entire getaway – for our benefit in a day’s time, complete with clothes that fit me. Corey, take a glance at the packages Phyll
is put down and see if it’s your clothes style.”

  Corey got up and looked through the package. She looked very puzzled. “Not only is it my size, but they picked out my favorite Naturalizer shoe, in my color, and my brand of toothpaste too. And they only knew about me since this morning. How did they do that?”

  Janet continued looking at Bill, “Think of the power to put this all together. Bill, they offered twenty million for your company, did you notice how trivially they mentioned that number, almost like they were throwing the money away, like it meant nothing to them. Even after the Joshua incident blows over, how much would it be worth? If they wanted to arrange a buyout of twenty million, before all of this, would you take it? Would you have hesitated? We don’t have any viable products in Phase II Bill. Hell, we’re still writing up the Phase I and pre-clinical results. They wouldn’t need to go to this trouble and the press to buy you out.”

  Janet turned to Rebecca then her husband, “They offered to help Joshua. The only help I’ve heard to date was to unplug him permanently. And you know what that would mean, Josh’s death. I don’t know about you, but I’m staying here and I plan to apologize for our ungracious and parochial attitude.” Sidney Ryan nodded and put his hand on Janet’s shoulder. Corey walked over behind Janet and put her hand on Janet’s other shoulder.

  “Well I’m not going to stay here overnight. I don’t want to wake up with electrodes in the back of MY neck.” Rebecca started to stand.

  Bill gave her one look and said, “Becky, shut up and sit down. Forget those stupid Grade B horror movies and think for a minute. If they wanted to put electrodes in anyone, it wouldn’t be you. Those silly movies would select that sexy young woman Phyllis, not the middle-aged wife of an executive in the spotlight of the news. No offense, dear. Furthermore, none of the animals was hostile in the slightest. They were gentle. If Corey wanted to harm any one of them, or even kill them, all she needed to do was give a yank to those wires. You know what would happen if Janet disconnected Joshua. As Janet said, this place is practically humming with power. Did you see the cars full of guards? There may have been twenty of them. For some completely unknown reason, perhaps the progress that the Ryans have made with Joshua, they want to give, no throw money at us. Why, I have no idea, I think the research underlying Dr. Klein’s animals is decades ahead of the Ryans. No offence Janet, but that boy of yours has been in an autistic coma for four years, as complete a medical failure as there ever was. Didn’t you say Klein pioneered it twenty years ago?”

  Bill turned to his wife, with a knowing smile. “Rebecca, did you think that this Phyllis woman was telling the truth when she said that she knew that reclusive genius Charlie Haines? I mean the car and all.”

  ***

  David was lying on his back, with his feet over the edge of the bed, while Phyllis was trying to do a deep massage of his back muscles. Usually, he was able to relax it with a single mental subroutine, but somehow it was beyond him tonight. He had been in the room for an hour when he heard a knock.

  David quickly put on his sweatshirt over his bare shoulders hiding the computer and cable, “Come in.” Phyllis unlocked the door.

  Corey poked her head in. The tall black woman with the short hair and the business suit smiled, “I hope I’m not intruding.”

  David sat up. “No, not intruding at all.”

  In David’s room, there was only one chair by a small table and a single dresser. Corey remained standing after looking around. “We want to apologize, you seem to have gone to tremendous pains to help us and we spit in your face. I want to apologize to you and your father and Dr. Haines, for being ungracious and parochial. Although there is no excuse, we were all under tremendous strain. We, Sidney, Janet, Bill, myself, and even Rebecca think we were being complete asses. Could you find it in your hearts to forgive us? We were acting out of stupid fear and adrenaline. By the way, any idea what happened in Somerville?”

  Corey watched Phyllis mutter something to herself, and then was lost in concentration. Phyllis looked up. “At three PM, the police arrived at the Ryan’s residence and attempted to take Joshua. It was a sham; they already knew from the news reports that the Ryans had fled. It was all for the cameras. The mayor made an announcement an hour later that they were doing all they could to help the poor little boy and track the Ryans. However, we’re certain that he was very relieved that it’s no longer his problem. There are no criminal complaints out, nor are there any federal warrants either. Nevertheless, there are forces being mobilized by the religious right and the Republicans to kick it back into high gear.”

  David looked at Corey, “I would personally recommend that Joshua go underground as it were.”

  Corey looked at both and nodded. Phyllis looked at her for a few seconds. Corey was a woman of average height, with mixed ancestry. Her skin was light brown, almost Negroid; her nose was also somewhat wider. However, her hair was black to very dark brown, with more than occasional wisps of grey, but straight. Her brown eyes had a slight oriental appearance. Phyllis asked, “Excuse me Doctor Rogers, but will your absence cause any problems? Do you need to make any phone calls?”

  “Oh, no. The only one who might have waited up for me was my cat, and she died of old age two months ago. I guess I will have to tell my mother that I’m fine, but otherwise the people who I care about are all here.”

  “I take it that you and Janet are close.”

  “Very. I have a secret that I think I can trust with you. I assisted Janet and her husband in the original planning of the surgery. I also helped with the operation.”

  David smiled, “I think you and my Dad would have a lot to talk about. Why don’t we go downstairs?”

  Corey asked, “Should I personally apologize and get your father?”

  David grinned and cryptically said, “No need.”

  ***

  The entire group reconvened in the salon. Corey told the Ryans about the Somerville police, the mayor and the ominous threats from the fundamentalists. Rebecca had been watching TV in the corner; she confirmed the police raid, and the statement by the mayor. It was obviously national news. The news also interviewed religious leaders, who said that women, like Janet Ryan, were not fit to be mothers. The man-in-the street interviews were also uniformly against the Ryans.

  After they all got together, this time David, Martin and Phyllis were seated. Janet started, “I’m so sorry I, we were so childish. We couldn’t have gotten away without your help. Thank you Martin, David, and Phyllis. The police would have custody of Joshua at this very moment. Dr. Klein your work on these animals is incredible. Did you do all the work on your own?”

  Martin smiled, it was an incredible segue. “Actually I’ve been very lucky to get the assistance of someone with hands probably more skilled than mine. A good friend over the years, Dr. Mgumba. He’s an adult ape.” Moments later, the door opened and Dr. Mgumba, an adult four and a half foot tall chimpanzee, entered. Much of his fur was white. The ape was wearing a dark suit, with a pair of glasses in his the front pocket. All eyes fell on Rebecca. She squirmed for a second, “I didn’t say anything. Uhh, pleased to meet you Dr. Mgumba.” Rebecca stood and put out her trembling hand. Dr. Mgumba took it and shook it gently.

  Dr. Mgumba: It’s good to meet you too.

  He was looking deep into her eyes as he spoke into her earphone.

  David smiled, “I think we are in luck, we’ve been able to find some after dinner drinks and Masseur Le Cook, an adult hog, has been able to whip up some zablione, a light Italian dessert.” A robot entered with a tray, being lead by a hog. All eyes fell on Rebecca. “I didn’t say anything.”

  After the drinks and desserts, which everyone raved about, the discussion fell back to the future. Martin began, “Well, we’ve been thinking. Our idea is that Bill should let all employees go - at least one is a mole. All disloyal employees would not be rehired. The severance
pay would be four months salary. Individually, you should tell all your key people they have an all-expense paid vacation at the Bahamas for three months for themselves and their family. You should tell them that they are free to leave, but please don’t look for another position during the next 3 months. However, don’t give any offer to Margo Waite. We believe, we strongly believe, that she’s the one who broke the story about Josh and even took that picture that appeared in all the papers from her cell phone.

  “In three months, Bill will start a new company which could focus on LPH research, and other orphan drugs. In addition, you can continue with your old research, if you wish. Your key people can then be rehired.”

  Bill interrupted, “Who will support such research? We’ll never get any funding, especially for ultra-rare genetic diseases. The big pharmaceutical companies avoided that area like a plague.”

  Martin smiled, “Just name your amount, one, ten, one hundred million. Charlie Haines will pay for it. You might have guessed that Charlie is guiding us. Second, many family practice physicians never do genetic testing, especially for very rare conditions. There is no cure for LPH so why bother telling a parent that their child is doomed. There was an orphan condition called Gaucher Disease which overnight became a billion dollar market for Genzyme. At the worse, it will be a charitable contribution for C H Electricity.”

  Bill looked incredulous, “Are you sure you can convince the board of directors?”

  Martin, David, and Phyllis all grinned. Martin said, “I have their ears. I will personally guarantee it.”