Dead Again: Or How I Saved Mankind (Chapter 8 of 13)
Chapter 8: The College Dean has a
fantastical theory
“It
is really quite special isn’t it?”
“I’m
afraid I don’t follow you Dean, is it something that I’ve missed?”
“No,
no not at all dear lady, I was musing aloud. But all this is quite special –
the garden, the sky, the greens, the blues, us and all that make up this planet
of ours. It is
so very, very special.”
I
was none the wiser, and I thought it best to let him free wheel and see where
his thoughts rested.
“You
know, John’s more recent discovery – about the two way traffic of information –
fascinating isn’t it. They think it was initiated by the initial blast of
energy from the “Boltzqubit” – that’s what started this “conversation” as John
likes to call it.”
The
Dean paused for a moment, picked up a dry leaf and powdered it between his
hands. He then opened them and blew the leaf particles into the air.
“But
they’re wrong. Oh yes, they’re quite wrong. Information was seeping into our
universe long before John began his work or your Research Council offered a
very bright young fellow of this college the funds to explore quantum
computation.”
This, if anything, was more incomprehensible
than what had preceded.
“I’m sorry Dean; I’m really not with you.” I
said, becoming rather uncomfortable about this one sided conversation. He just
smiled at me and continued to speak his thoughts aloud.
“Ever
since the first man walked on this Earth, information has been drip, drip,
dripping into our Universe. But why? That is the question. Was it just an
accident, the way things work, or was it something more than that?”
He stopped talking and looked at me in a
beseeching manner, as if I was expected to provide an answer.
“Dean, so many questions go begging. How do
you know that the information flow was there before John’s experimental work?
How do you know when it started – if it’s happening? Couldn’t it have been
around since the Big Bang or the very beginning of the universe?”
The
Dean let the dog end of his cigarette fall onto the path and he rubbed the butt
in with his heel. He smiled as if he held a secret and then began walking
slowly down the path towards the gate in the wall. The sun was quite low in the
sky by now and as he walked he moved into the shadow cast by the wall. He
shivered, stopped, turned round and as he walked back towards me coming out of
the shadow his expression changed, the smile had gone. He was expressionless.
“The
flow of information began when the universe had an intelligence; and that
intelligence was sensed.”
This
was too much. I was getting cold and this one way conversation was turning into
“feeble speak”.
“I’m going in now Dean, I’m getting cold.” I
said as headed back to the cottage.
“Certainly
my dear, a pleasure to have had your company.”
The
Dean replied in the most matter a fact manner as if nothing strange had
recently passed his lips.
The
others were deep in conversation as we entered the front room.
“Good,
you’re back; I was just about to send out a search party. Did the Dean appraise
you of his theory about the information flow? Fascinating isn’t it?”
With
that the Professor handed me a cup of tea.
“Thanks, and yes he did.”
“Peter,
the Dean has this idea, sorry, theory that the information seeping into our
universe started before we began our work. It was initiated, so the Dean
believes, when intelligence first appeared, when we became conscious. It is a
fascinating theory, but one which, I think, will be impossible to prove.”
Peter exchanged glances with Fritz and me. I
raised my eyes heaven wards but said nothing.
“Dean,
would you like to expand on your theory – it may benefit from further
discussion”.
The
Dean was occupied with tending to the open coal fire that had been lit as the
shadows lengthened. The room was lit by a couple of table lamps and the last
shafts of sunlight.
“Oh, I don’t know, I think my ramblings rather
non plussed Sarah here. But it’s not a fantasy or science fiction clap trap.”
“Come
on Dean, it’s not fair tantalising us in this way – give us the whole picture.
It can’t be any more fantastical than what we’ve learnt so far today.” said
Peter.
I
wasn’t so enthusiastic to hear the Dean expand on his theory after our
conversation in the garden.
“Oh
well, let me see. Now I know very few of you do, or will, agree with my theory
but I don’t think that should interfere with a good healthy discussion do you?”
It
was clear that the Dean welcomed this opportunity to expand on his ideas.
“Do
help yourself to more tea; or something stronger – maybe you’d prefer to leave
that until after our talk?”
With
that the Dean seated himself and began.
“First,
where does this idea come from? Let’s take the proposition that information was
seeping into our universe before John’s work.
How do I arrive at this?”
“My
speciality is the history of science, and in particular observational science.
Any records we have are limited to the Sumerian and later literate and numeric
civilisations. However, ancient astronomical records consistently record
unusual celestial occurrences. I don’t just mean comets, novae or similar out
bursts.
There
are countless references in Jewish, Egyptian and South Asian texts to mention
but a few, to what I call “quasi – mystical occurrences (QMO’s)”. For example,
sightings of glowing clouds, rupturing of the skies and mysterious
disappearances.”
“I have “plotted” these and the result has
been a steady increase in these QMO’s over time. This rise in activity
continues uninterrupted until about 1600 years ago, when a dramatic change
takes place.”
“Before
then the way these QMO’s were described was in terms of reverence, awe and in
many cases joyous language. These changes were welcomed, they were positive.
After around 400 AD the tone changes. Along with descriptions of the darkening
of the skies, rending of time, a disjointed world there was a palpable sense of
despair and desperation which seemed to seep from the very skies.
One Medieval
scribe in 634 AD vividly describes how during that March the skies darkened and
the air itself became opaque. “It clawed at our lungs, our eyes and minds. It
was as if devils walked amongst us.””
“What
about before recorded history? Is there any evidence? Recently deep bore
samples from mid ocean trenches have revealed some fascinating data. The
samples stretch from around two million years ago until the last Ice Age."
"For
most of period there is nothing untoward in the records. Then about 450,000
years ago – at a time when we believe our species started its accelerated brain
development there is a spike in the data. It is the residual of decaying cosmic
rays originating in deep space. The spike rapidly subsides, but there is a low
level background noise, which increases over time."
"Independent evidence from fossilised tree
trucks, from changes in climatic conditions point to similar world wide changes
with extended periods of lightening of the skies, greater lunar intensity,
increased diversity and fecundity. More recent data from similar sources show a
reversal of this, corresponding with the written records of that period.”
“I
explain the data as follows.”
“
There is another universe which is conscious, what shape or form that
consciousness takes is not known. However, the consciousness was aware of its
uniqueness – and solitude. It became aware of other universes and the
possibility of similar consciousness existing besides itself. It was constantly
putting out feelers seeking to make contact.”
“About 450,000 years ago consciousness sparks
here on Earth. It is the first and as far as we know the only consciousness in
our universe. The other universe becomes aware of us – and communicates –
through flows of information which permeates our universe making changes to its
structure, which have a real and measurable effect on us.”
“To
begin with the flows bring about benign changes and this is shown in the data
from the mid ocean trenches and the written historical records. You might call
the flow as “gifts”, indicating the other intelligence’s good intentions. But
then about 1600 years ago this flow changes with malignant effects “devils
walked amongst us” as recorded in the seventh century. The malignancy grew, its
effect accumulating, bringing a darkening of our lives.”
“This
is because we did not respond to its calls, its generosity, and its gifts. We
ignored it. There was a damping of the
universe’s very being, a deadening of its creativity leading to a cold, and
silent, empty darkness.”
We
were silent and I for one was very embarrassed. I couldn’t believe that
Professor Chambers had deliberately set out to expose the Dean’s lunacy – but
that’s what had happened.
“Well, thank you Dean. I’m sure we’d all agree
that your theory is both imaginative and challenging. If not a little difficult
to swallow at one sitting.”
Peter,
bless him, had broken the spell and we all let out a collective sigh of relief.
“Oh,
one final thing”, said the Dean, “the “Boltzqubit” computer, it was never
intended to deliver the “quantum leap” in computing. No, its intention was to
generate huge informational flows which would disrupt and reverse the
malignancy coursing into our universe.”
“How
will you know if it’s been successful?”
I
recognised the voice that had raised that question. It was mine.
Chapter 9: Adrian’s visit to the
Building Society, a local difficulty with the typing and a trip to Cambridge
I
had stopped off at the Tesco Local to get something for supper. Sarah would be
back late in the evening and she’d be famished. I had taken the afternoon off.
There wasn’t much happening at the office and I had a few household tasks to
catch up with.
Re-financing the mortgage and tying down our friendly builder to
produce an estimate that was rational. I left the office at mid-day; cursing
myself that I hadn’t been brave and taken the whole day……
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