by Tracy Krauss
"None taken," Mark replied.
"Well, let’s get at it, shall we?" Dr. Hazzard suggested brightly. "How about a tour, Dr. Graham? Dr. Krasinsky would be happy to oblige, I’m sure."
"That would be fine," Mark nodded. He stopped and added hesitantly. "I was wondering if I might go somewhere to clean up first, though? I’ve just spent two full days and nights in my car and…”
"Of course," Dr. Hazzard said. "How negligent of me. We have a room booked for you at the Ramada. Why don’t you go and clean up, have some breakfast or whatever and we can get started after lunch. Does that sound okay?"
"I’ll probably be ready long before that," Mark replied. "I’m kind of anxious to get started, myself."
"Excellent," Dr. Hazzard stated. "Don’t rush yourself. Just take whatever time you need."
◇ ◇ ◇
Mark arrived back at the college two hours later. He and Anthony had met for some breakfast in the hotel restaurant after he’s showered and changed. During that time he’d been able to fill Anthony in on his little encounter with Rocco.
"I still can’t believe it," Anthony was saying as they emerged from the elevator next to the lab. "Not only that Rocco is alive, but all that other stuff about a conspiracy. I mean, sure, there are lots of people out there with an agenda, but do you really think it’s that well backed, or that deeply entrenched?"
Mark shrugged. "I don’t know what to think any more. Maybe it would be interesting to get Dr. Hazzard’s take on it."
"You think that’s safe?" Anthony asked with a grin. "He might be in on it."
Dr. George Krasinsky was waiting for them in the lab. "Dr. Hazzard had a few other things to attend to this morning. I can take you on that tour now, if you like."
Mark hesitated, anxious to get started putting his presentation together.
"Come on. It’ll be fun. And informative," Anthony said brightly, looking in George’s direction. "Right?"
George nodded. "Uh… right."
As it turned out it was both. Mark was glad he’d agreed. Despite George’s rather bland delivery, he was fascinated by what Dr. Hazzard had earlier referred to as ‘very innovative interpretations of the creation model’. There was a whole gallery set up for that purpose. Some of the theories, backed up with corresponding evidence, he had already come across in his own research on the subject. But some others were new.
He stopped in front of one particular display. "Explain what’s going on here," he said to George, pointing. Inside the glass cabinet was a large replica of the earth with several cut away sections. The earth’s atmosphere was shown as a clear canopy which encased the globe. The label said "Creation in Symphony".
"Ah.” George nodded. "The work of a fellow Texan. Very convincing research into pre-flood atmospheric conditions."
"Another young earth model?” Mark asked.
"Yes, as most creationist models are," George agreed. "This one speculates that the earth was encased in crystalline hydrogen."
"Wait a minute," Mark interrupted. "Crystalline hydrogen? How is that possible?"
"Quite simple, actually," George replied. "Several Soviet scientists have been able to confirm the possibilities through quantum algebra. The superconductivity of such a substance would also relate to its suspension." He gestured to the model as he continued to explain. "The rakea effect would have intensified colours as well as magnified objects beyond. It would mean that everything outside the atmosphere; stars and so forth, would have been much bigger and brighter to the naked eye. Also, the fibre optic transfer of light and energy would conduct sound waves much like a short wave radio signal. So, solar sounds would have been broadcast during the morning hours - thus the name ‘Creation in Symphony’. It’s quite fascinating, since the Bible does record such examples in Genesis. The ancients seemed to have been very well versed in astronomy for not having the benefit of modern technological instruments."
"Interesting," Anthony mused.
"It also accounts for the green house conditions that would have been necessary to grow the large specimens that are evident in the fossil record, as well as explain the presence of tropical plants near the poles, etc."
"I suppose so," Mark said. "I have done a bit of reading on that myself. It’s hard to ignore some of the discrepancies in present evolutionary theory."
"That it is," George agreed. "Of course, once the canopy began to collapse, a whole series of cataclysmic events would have followed. The hydrogen would have liquefied, the great fountains of the deep would have opened as earth quakes racked the earth and what we know as Noah’s flood occurred."
"My favourite story," Anthony said. "Did you know that almost every society has its own version of a worldwide flood?"
"Yes, I knew that," George said. He turned away. "Come. There’s plenty more to see."
Mark and Anthony looked at one another and grinned. "Lead the way," Anthony quipped.
What George lacked in delivery, he made up for in knowledge. "Here is some fascinating research done by a very respected scholar, Dr. Robert Gentry. He found that halos in granite, found in the black flakes called ‘mica’, show evidence of radioactive material that could only have been recorded within minutes of formation - not the millions of years suggested by other scientists. Once again, evidence for a young earth."
Mark nodded. "I have read enough recently that it’s hard to dispute, although I must admit, I’m still a bit uncomfortable with the idea."
"Why dispute something when there is so much evidence in its favour?" George asked candidly. "Here’s more proof. The geomagnetic field is decaying exponentially, making it impossible for life to exist on the planet past a much younger age. The magnetic field would simply have been too strong."
"I know," Mark responded. "I guess it’s just hard to totally throw everything out the window that I’ve come to hold true for so long."
"Once presented with the truth, it is hard to go back to believing a lie," George said.
"Now that is true," Anthony offered.
"Over and over again, the fossil record shows plants that extend through several layers," George continued. "Look at this. A whale was even found vertically on its tale."
Anthony moved in for a closer look at the display. "Would you look at that? Now if that isn’t something else. Poor Moby Dick would have had a hard time hanging out in that position for a few million years."
"Hey, guys," Mark interrupted. "I think I really need to get back to my own work, now." He turned to George. "Thanks for the tour. It was fascinating."
"There is a lot more to see. We’ve only just started on this section. There is still radiometric techniques, stellar-light velocity and time travel, Pangaea…”
"Thanks, but I think it’ll have to wait until later," Mark said. "You could continue the tour with Anthony, here, if you like. Then he could fill me in on the highlights later."
"Can we get to the section dealing with mythological creatures?" Anthony asked.
George looked confused for a moment. "Mythological creatures?"
"Dragons and so forth?" Anthony clarified. "I know there must be some scientific as well as Biblical explanation for that. Almost every culture also has dragon like mythology."
The two men had already wandered off, George seemingly more than happy to satisfy Anthony’s curiosity. Mark wasn’t sure why he’d felt so suddenly uncomfortable. He had been reading and researching many of the same things himself and had come to basically the same conclusions: that there were serious flaws in the present model of how the universe came to be. But there was something different here. Something else that had him feeling antsy, somehow. Probably just tired, he reasoned.
Chapter Twenty-Six
It had been a long but satisfying day. Mark had met with Dr. Hazzard once more to go over the logistics of his presentation, and was able to get everything in order for the next day’s event. Then he and Anthony had spent some time together, going over any last minute details. As far as he could tell, every
thing was on track and running smoothly. It almost seemed silly that he had been worried about anything bad happening.
He unlocked the door to his hotel room and stepped inside. He switched on the light by the door, untying his tie at the same time.
"Finally. I was beginning to think I had the wrong room."
Mark froze. "Laura?"
She smiled, nodding pleasantly as if it were perfectly natural for her to be waiting alone in his room. "You’re looking good. I guess a regular shave and a shower can do wonders."
"How did you get in here?" he demanded.
"It really wasn’t all that difficult.” She shrugged, not moving from her comfortable position in the one armchair. "They should really think about upping their security. I would mention it to the manager if I were you."
"I will, don’t worry," Mark said. "Now, may I ask, what are you doing here?"
"Oh, come off it," Laura scoffed. "You didn’t think you could keep your little bomb a secret, now did you?"
"Meaning?"
"Don’t play dumb. I know all about the presentation you’re giving tomorrow, Mark."
"And? What are you planning to do about it?" Mark asked.
"I haven’t decided yet," Laura replied, cocking her head to one side. "Nobody else from my team knows. Yet. I guess it all depends on you."
Mark sighed heavily. "Okay. Interpret that, please. I’ve had a pretty exhausting day and I’m not really in the mood for word games. Just what do you want?"
"I think I should be asking you that question." She rose and moved toward him as she spoke. "Obviously this whole thing is a ploy to ruffle some feathers back in New Mexico. Honestly, I thought you were above that kind of petty need for revenge. You must know that nobody within the scientific community is going to take you seriously. I mean, an obscure college with a misfit bunch of pseudo scholars for backing; artefacts that are questionable in origin, and a definite falling out from the institution that commissioned you in the first place."
"The truth needs to be told," Mark said quietly.
"Right. I forgot how altruistic you’d become." She sighed. "I miss the old Mark. The sensible scientist." She looked at him coyly. "Not to mention one terrific lover."
He felt his insides tighten. Was she trying to come on to him? After all this time and all that had transpired? "I’m going to ignore that last comment," he stated carefully. "Just know this. I will present my findings."
"I can’t persuade you?" She put her hand on his arm and stepped closer.
“I thought I made it clear that I wasn’t interested. In that way." He took a step away, further into the room.
"Really? I’m not convinced." She followed him, coming up behind him and kneading his shoulders.
Mark shrugged her off. "Stop."
"Why? You’re so tense…”
"I said stop," he grated, "before I call security."
She dropped her hands. "Look, I’m not that good at playing games, either. Forget the findings for a minute. I’m here because I still care, Mark. Despite everything; the fact that you abandoned us -"
"I abandoned you?" Mark spat, swinging around.
"Yes! Abandoned everything we’d been working on for - for some religiously motivated fantasy."
"Okay, just stop right there," Mark snapped.
"Don’t you see? I’m here because I still care, Mark. Plain and simple. I can’t stand by and watch you throw your entire career away. Come back to New Mexico with me. We can make a new start there. Together."
"I don’t think you get it. There is no chance of ‘together’ for us. Despite the fact that we’re operating from totally different frames of reference, I’m not interested, Laura. I’m seeing someone else."
Laura blinked. "Oh." She laughed self depreciatingly. "I guess I should be more careful about checking my sources."
"Who’ve you been talking to?"
"Never mind. I just had a tip that maybe you were still, you know - free. In any case, I need to make you understand the importance of cancelling. Don’t go through with this. Please."
"I already told you, I have to."
"Mark, if I can’t persuade you any other way, think about your own safety. And the safety of your loved ones. Including that someone you’re seeing now."
"Whoa. Now you’ve got my attention. Just what are you getting at?"
"My ‘sources’, so to speak.” Laura laughed nervously. "I have it on, well, reasonably good authority that Sangeruka is still out there. If you do this you could be putting all of us in danger."
"He wouldn’t do anything after the fact. Once the information is out there, what would be the point? And as far as your sources go, why should I trust you? I’ve got some sources of my own." Mark looked her square in the eye.
"I have absolutely nothing to hide.” Her gaze flicked downward.
"No? What do you have to say about that wing bone? The very first one found that went missing while I was away?"
“I… I’m not sure. Which one was that?"
"You’re lying," Mark stated calmly. "You claimed that you knew nothing about its disappearance. That’s not true, is it?"
"I did send it away without waiting for your go ahead," she finally admitted. "But only because I knew it was important and couldn’t wait."
"Then why did you lie about it?"
"I was scared when I saw how angry you were. Things hadn’t been going exactly as I’d hoped between us. I was afraid you would just call it quits."
"And how did you suppose I would react when I did find out?"
"I don’t know.” She threw up her hands. “I guess I wasn’t thinking straight. Maybe I was afraid of what it actually might be, and I was trying to shelter you. All of us. Look, I think I’ve made enough of a fool of myself, already, don’t you?"
"That’s no excuse. I trusted you."
"I know you did.” Laura looked down at her feet. "And now, in retrospect, I can see that not telling you was a big mistake. But that was it, Mark, I swear. None of the other stuff that happened on sight was me."
"How can I believe that?" Mark asked.
"I don’t know. I guess I don’t expect you to. I just wish I could make you see. Everything I did - back in Africa and afterwards, was because I care. I love you, Mark. I know I’m a fool to be telling you that, especially now after everything that’s happened. But it’s true. I love you and there’s nothing that can ever change that."
Mark felt his insides tighten, but it wasn’t with desire. It was pity that he felt for Laura right now. She was a pathetic creature and he wished he could release her from the hold that she claimed he still had of her heart. "I think you better leave," he said quietly.
"Mark -"
"I mean it. Leave now," he repeated firmly.
Laura turned and left on a sob.
◇ ◇ ◇
Mark woke with a start. It was pitch black in his room and his eyes were slow at adjusting to any light that may have been creeping in below the door or beneath the drapes. He had been startled out of his sleep by what he thought was a noise. But now, listening intently, there was nothing. Probably just edgy after what Laura had said earlier.
He settled back into the comfort of the large bed. Just as he was drifting off again, the telephone beside his head rang shrilly.
"Hello," he said into the receiver. "Hello?" he tried again when there was no immediate response. He was about to hang up when he heard breathing on the other end of the line.
He sat up. “Hello? Who’s there?" he demanded.
"Your girlfriend has a nice -" followed by some crude remarks concerning the female anatomy.
"Who am I talking to?" Mark cut in, enraged. "Coward! If you so much as dare -"
"I’m just watching - for now."
Click.
Amy. He had to call to make sure she was alright. He dialled the number and waited impatiently as it rang several times. He swore under his breath. Maybe she had her cellphone turned off. It was late there, as well. He tri
ed to remember her parents’ house number but couldn’t. He’d never had reason to call it before and it wasn’t in his contacts.
Going back to sleep was an impossibility. Who was behind such a threat? Sangeruka? Laura? He hated to think that she would stoop that low, but he wouldn’t be surprised by anything anymore.
Maybe he should phone his father. He would at least be able to look out for Amy.
He dialled the number. This time, someone picked up. "Dad?"
"Mark?" There was a slight pause, as if his father was still half asleep. “Do you know what time it is?”
"I know it’s late - or early, which ever the case may be. But I need you to check on Amy for me."
"Now?"
Mark took a deep breath. “Someone just called here. They made some crude comments about her. It’s probably just hot air, but I need you to make sure she’s alright. She’s not picking up her cell, but maybe you could call her parents?"
“Alright. I don’t relish the thought of waking them, though. Hopefully it’s just a prank.”
“I hope so, too.”
"I take it you made it safely, then. To where ever it was you were going."
"Yeah. I’ll be able to tell you more about it after tomorrow. Just make sure Amy is safe. And the rest of you, too. Call when you confirm.”
Mark hung up the phone. His worst nightmares were coming true. It was going to be one long wait.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Mark squinted as he stepped out of the hotel foyer and into the light. He had a nagging headache already - not the best start for the day of his big reveal. His father had called back within minutes, saying that everything was alright. Mark had then called Amy himself the earliest he dared and had been relieved that she sounded normal. There was no mention of anything untoward, and when he cautioned, casually of course, that she be careful and not go out anywhere unaccompanied, she seemed miffed. She took it to mean he was treating her like a child again, and it had ended up in what could technically be called their first real fight. He didn’t want to tell her the truth - that he had received threatening phone calls concerning her, and so he had to leave it at that. Not a wonderful beginning to his big day.
