Samantha's Talent

by Darrell Bain

  "We've been over most of the reports by now. Nothing jumps out at you?

  "Not really."

  "I was looking at them again last night when I didn't feel like studying and it struck me again how much alike our minds are."

  "We've been over that, though."

  "Why not run through it again? We're not doing anything else today."

  He shrugged. "May as well. Where do you want to start?"

  Her brow creased in a furrow. "Do you remember much about the Orch theory of consciousness?"

  He chuckled. "I remember almost all of what I read, although I wish I could forget some of it. But, yes. It's the most prevalent theory right now, although another is making some inroads. Some physicists are beginning to think of consciousness as another state of matter. It's still being looked at in detail but it's extremely interesting."

  "I made a note about an article describing that approach but I haven't looked at it yet. Do you think it might have a bearing on my talent?"

  "I read some about it but haven't had time to really study it so I can't answer that question. I'll try to make time to get into it soon."

  "Okay, do that, but back to the Orch theory. I still have only a superficial understanding of it because I haven't studied enough of some of the fields involved. There was one part of it that struck me, though."

  "And... ?" He raised only one brow, a trick she was trying to learn.

  "Let me see if I remember it. Consciousness is a result of quantum vibrations. That means quantum bits, or "qubits," as helical pathways in microtubule lattices, in the microtubules inside neurons and their vibrations are what enables consciousness."

  "Right," he agreed. "Vibrations in microtubules, along with protein polymers also inside the brain neurons, both govern neuronal and synaptic function. They connect brain processes to very tiny organization processes and they in turn give us the quantum structure of reality, resulting in consciousness. Does that cover it?"

  "Better than how I told it," Samantha said with a chuckle. "It's still a theory though, and until I get deeper into quantum math it's not much more than words to me. I have no really deep understanding of it yet."

  "Right. Keep it in mind, though, because it's the best theory we have so far."

  "Okay. Now let's look at our similarities again."

  They were sitting together on a couch in his small living room with the printed summaries. They had found that it was easier to work with them rather than having to refer to the computer all the time, although both their notebook tablets were kept handy in case they needed to get deeper into a particular subject.

  Samantha picked out the paper covering the summaries of their brain patterns. "Okay, one more time," she began. "First point. Both of us have very high intelligence scores. Second point. Most adolescents lose up to fifty percent of their neurons and synapses in a sort of pruning process, supposedly making room for better ones. I kind of question that thought."

  "What, the pruning?"

  "No, the reason that's given for it. You have noticed that it apparently hasn't happened that way with us? Or not to the extent of most people, I should say. We've only lost about ten or fifteen percent of our synapses and neurons. Right?"

  "Yes. I couldn't find any significance to the fact, though."

  "Bear with me, sweetheart," she said, not even noticing what she'd called him as an edifying idea formed in her mind again, the same one she had been contemplating off and on for some time. "Besides those two major similarities there's another one. We both have a higher number of synapses per cubic micron in the same small area of the left hemisphere than most people. That's the side that's dominant for language ability, of course, and our aptitude testing showed we both scored extremely high in language aptitude and the ability to learn foreign languages. Still following me?"

  "So far. I think I know where you're going but I haven't reached any conclusions yet."

  "I haven't either but I'm getting there, I think." She paused for a moment as if musing then turned to face him. "Another striking similarity is that on both our EECGs that were done with the advanced instruments, they found the same kind of micro brain waves that are very uncommon, or perhaps just not looked for that often. In any case, those kind of waves appear to be associated with the microtubules of neurons. Ours both showed some other unusual microwaves that haven't been seen before. They were at the very limits of detectability, according to Lynn. Also, one of those new experimental instruments showed that we both have higher activity than other people at the quantum level of the microtubules in our neurons, at the very same location as the origin of the micro brain waves and the high concentration of synapses. My activity is more than yours, but yours is still much higher than the controls were. That fits the fact that I've been talking to animals for a long time, but it also gives an indication that you may have had the potential all along but didn't know it.

  "And one more thing. The neural mitochondria of the brain processes data in quantum packets, and that in turn is associated with the evolutionary wiring of brain synapses. Some of us are more advanced than others, but in either case the quantum thought processes are exercised unconsciously.

  "My whole point is that we have very similar brain patterns but we developed differently. Once I thought about it, I believe I know why. I was raised in Alaska and had no access to the internet but was able to immerse myself in many different kinds of books. One of the earliest I remember was one about mammals. I think that's about the same time I began learning to talk to animals. It's just a vague memory, and I'm aware of how memories can be altered by the mind over time, but I'm pretty sure of this one. Anyhow, my ability to talk to animals increased almost directly in proportion to my language ability."

  "Still following you." His expression resembled that of a student waiting for a test result that he was almost, but not quite certain he had aced.

  "You see? I went one direction because of my environment and you went another. It might have been different if I'd had access to the internet but I didn't. Reading is great but it can't compete with having most of the knowledge of the world at your fingertips. As it was, I read a lot and had lots of books on a large variety of subjects and had plenty of animals around me. Somehow, I learned to talk to them. You had the internet and you developed in that environment and became a polymath. But neither of our talents would have been possible without those similarities of our minds that we both possess."

  "And your conclusion?"

  "Just a minute more. I believe part of my talent depends on the way I look at animals as compared to other people. From as far back as I can remember I've thought of animals as furry people with four legs that think differently than us because they evolved differently. I couldn't have put it in those terms as a child, of course. That led to all kinds of difficulties as you know from studying my life. However, you probably understand me better now from knowing how I reacted to the problems."

  "Yes, I do and I can only admire the way you coped with the dichotomy you faced. I'm sure it was very hard for you as a child and young girl. You understood animals in the sense of them being as good as you, but different from people. You couldn't understand why other humans didn't have the same simplified moral and ethical attitudes displayed by animals, if I may use those human terms in association with them. They didn't lie or act irrationally the way humans do on all too many occasions. You noticed it and reacted to it by comparing animals to humans and often, I'm sure, to the detriment of humans."

  "Yes, that's true, but don't take it too far. Animals don't think in those terms even though their lives are often just as complicated as ours. They just live in very different environments. For instance, they accept the food chain with us at the top but they aren't deliberately cruel in their actions. Many of them love to play, especially when young, and their parent or parents encourage it because it's their way of teaching them about life. Some species never lose the desire for fun. If you've ever seen otters sliding down slick ban
ks into water and doing it over and over again, you know what I mean."

  "Indeed, I do. I'm really glad we sat down for this little chat, Sammie. I believe we've both learned more about each other this afternoon than ever before."

  "I agree, Juan. I feel very lucky that you were assigned to my case."

  "Thank you. There's something else you should feel lucky about, too. Your choice of parents helped you tremendously while you were growing up. You do realize that, don't you?"

  "Oh, yes! I knew from way back that Mom and Dad were really great parents compared to those of my classmates. They probably made the difference between me growing up with a supercilious, superior attitude I've seen in some students more intelligent than most others instead of the way I did turn out. I don't feel superior. Just different."

  "You don't feel a bit elevated by being so smart?"

  "I know I was fortunate in that aspect of my total being, but intelligence comes in many different flavors. My dad is thought of as an intellectual person, but did you know he's a natural genius with anything mechanical? He would have made a tremendous engineer had he not gotten interested in environmental issues."

  "Amazing the things that come out in little tete-a-tetes like this, isn't it? Next time I need an instrument constructed from scratch for an experiment, I know where to go!"

  Samantha laughed. "I'll tell him."

  "Great. Thank you, but we're getting a little bit off track. Where were we with the similarities we share?"

  "I think we covered everything we need to or that I understand, at least superficially, for now. That leaves the conclusion."

  "Which is?"

  She took a deep breath, causing Juan to suddenly become aware of her breasts pushing tightly against her blouse. He glanced hurriedly in another direction. Samantha was so absorbed that she didn't notice his momentary distraction. "Just this: given the great similarities, could I still become a polymath and could you still learn to talk to animals at our ages?"

  Juan's brow furrowed. He looked down at Shufus who was stretched out on the floor. Sheik was sitting on his back with his head tucked under a wing. When the humans began discoursing on subjects they couldn't understand they took advantage of the time to sleep or play with each other.

  "Sammie, I think you're already well on your way to becoming a polymath if you're not already there. You absorb information and data as easily as I do now, and as easily as I did when I was sixteen. That doesn't necessarily mean I can learn to talk to animals, though."

  She smiled with a raised brow. "Have you ever tried?"

  "You mean like you do? I'd be glad to try but I don't know how, and you can't explain it."

  "It may not need explaining for you to manage it. The thing is, you have to throw out the idea of animals as being inferior. You have to look at animals as species that are different from you but not inferior. Perhaps even your superior in some ways. Get that thought into your head and keep it there. I've thought of them like that ever since I remember, which is much different than how other people view them. That's what you'll have to do in order for understanding to flow both ways."

  He thought about it without speaking or looking at her for several minutes while Samantha waited patiently. Finally he said, "I believe I can do that much. You do realize that just relating to animals as equals doesn't explain what you do, despite all our theories about how the brain and consciousness works, don't you?"

  "Yes, but at this point understanding it isn't as important as the doing. If you really want my opinion, I'm coming to believe that once you have the attitude that's required fixed in your mind, then when you talk to an animal a quantum resonance flows both ways, intermingled with the sounds and body language. The three together make speaking and understanding possible. The degree is dependent upon the intelligence of the animal as well as that of the human, of course. I said quantum resonance but there's probably more to the 'how' than that. Take the so-called mob psychology, where whole groups of people's thoughts converge to one idea. It could be something like that except that just my one thought and the animal's thought goes back and forth. Then while I was considering those possibilities I remembered reading about couples who have lived together a long time. If they're close and don't argue with each other they began to practically read each other's minds. Finishing each other's sentences and thinking of the same thing at the same time. And last, how about telepathy? I realize psychic powers have never been proven despite claims to the contrary, but that doesn't mean it isn't possible. Quantum entanglement might be what's responsible for the couples who are so close practically reading each other's minds. Maybe it's all of those factors or a combination of several that accounts for it. We just don't know yet but I expect that once my talent becomes common knowledge, a few other people will find they can do it, too."

  "That was a mouthful but you could well be right. That's as good an explanation as any of us so-called big brains have come up with."

  She laughed. "Right. Juan, tell you what. I'm going to go into your bedroom and lie down for a while and talk to Sheik. While I'm gone you try talking to Shufus. Don't try to think about the method or that he's a dog. Just talk to him as an equal. I'll explain it to him before I leave."

  "Alright," he said dubiously.

  She poked Shufus with her foot. The dog blinked his eyes open then stood up when he saw that she was standing. Sheik flew to Samantha's shoulder.

  "Shufus, I'm going into another room with Sheik. While I'm gone Juan is going to talk to you like I do. Try your best to understand him and talk to him the same way you do to me. Got it?"

  The German Shepherd nodded his head. His mouth opened and his tongue lolled in a doggy grin. He gave an enthusiastic but not loud bark.

  "Have fun," she told Juan but included Shufus in the admonition. She left them alone and went into Juan's bedroom. His bed was neatly made, as always. She had taken naps there with and without him during short breaks in their studying or idle time, the periods when they weren't working directly on the project, that of understanding her talent.

  Chapter Forty

  "You're a smart bird, Sheik. Do you think they can talk to each other like we do?"

  "Yes they can! Yes they can!" the parrot said enthusiastically in a voice remarkably like her own. Many times it amused itself by mimicking her voice when backs were turned. Sheik almost always fooled the ones he was playing the trick on.

  "Sheik, can you talk to Shufus like you talk to me?" It was a sudden thought, one that hadn't occurred to her before. She wondered why, since she thought it should have. Too busy, she thought.

  "Maybe, Shufus smart dog. Try," Sheik said in avian. He flew toward the door, intending to turn the knob and immediately go try.

  "Wait, Sheik! Let him finish talking to Juan, first." She realized after telling the parrot this that she was already assuming success, even though she didn't have a really good reason for the assumption other than their recent discussion.

  Sheik flew back to the bed. "Cracker?"

  "You'll get fat," she said but pulled the little sandwich bag of small bird treats from her pocket and gave him one. "Eat it on the floor," she admonished. No crumbs in the bed."

  Sheik obeyed although she knew he thought she was unreasonable on the subject.

  After his treat she and the parrot talked some more. Samantha was simply trying to pass the time and not become too impatient with Juan and Shufus, while Sheik loved to talk to her and have his head and back feathers rubbed. He liked to be tickled under the wings when he spread them for her and squawked in everyday parrot utterances when she did. He also laughed, sounding just like her own laugh when she was tickled. The parrot was a remarkable bird, especially when she considered that he was only a few years old and might possibly outlive her. Most parrot species were remarkably long lived for their size.

  A knock came on the door, then was opened before she had a chance to say anything. Shufus bounded into the room and barked lustily. Juan was grinning foolish
ly.

  Samantha's heart jumped in her breast at the serious hilarity of the two. Then they went into an act.

  "Shufus, lay down on your belly," Juan said.

  He obeyed, but that was a trick anyone could ask of him. "Now cross your forepaws."

  Again the dog did as he was asked. He kept his eyes glued to Juan, waiting on the next command.

  "Lay your head down on your paws."

  "Now roll over on your back. Good," he complimented as Shufus continued to carry out his every command. Samantha and Sheik watched avidly, her with rapidly growing hope.

  "Cover your eyes with your paws, Shufus," Juan said. After the dog obeyed he commanded, "Now move your back legs apart. Now put them together. Roll over on your stomach. Stand up. Go give Sammie a kiss. Hurry!"

  Shufus bounded toward her and stood on his hind legs and stretched his head and front paws as far upward as he could. She only had to lean her head down very slightly for him to place his paws on her shoulders and lick her across one cheek, her nose and the other cheek then slurp her twice under the chin.

  "Now down, Shufus. Thank you. Ask Sammie to give you a biscuit."

  Instead Samantha ran to Juan and grabbed him around the neck, stood on tiptoes and planted a kiss squarely on his lips. She kept them there until she felt his hands on her waist. She parted her lips and met his tongue for a moment when he responded. He slid his arms on around her and pressed her body to his. A thrill shot through her body like she had never felt before. She pressed closer to him but suddenly he released his hold on her. Very gently and with obvious reluctance he took both her wrists and removed her arms from around his neck. He looked into her shining eyes, brilliant with unshed tears of happiness.

  "Juan, why did you stop? Please kiss me again."

  "Sammie, we can't. We just can't. It's not right. You're too young to be doing this with me."

  "No I'm not. You know I'm just as mature as you. The tests prove I am!"

  "Sammie, dear, you know what would happen if we let this kind of thing go on." He pointed to the bed. "That's where we'd wind up before long and you know it."