I'll See You In Your Dreams (7 page)

“Extrapolated is to take some rules about known things to figure out some unknown things. Like when you’re trying to pick up a chick, and you know something about her, if you see a wedding band on her finger you can use the rules surrounding marriage to understand more about her, right!”

“I’m with you.” Charlie said.

“Now if you see a woman without a wedding band, you can extrapolate that she’s single and have the odds on your side of being right, right?” asked Stanley.

“Okay, I got it.”

“So if we can mutually create a black cat with words in a mutually viewed universe, we may extrapolate that it wouldn’t be totally unreasonable that the physical universe was simply spoken into existence with, say, words like let there be light, and there was light! Or boom, or exist, if you will. So, Charlie, if that was how it happened, and we know that sound and light are wavelengths, then here is a puzzle for you, Charlie, like the chicken and the egg thing. Which came first, sound or light?”

Charlie thought a moment. “Light?”

Stanley smiled. “Well, how about the words, Let there be light? Sounds, right.”

“Oh, yeah, sounds came first.”

“I’m afraid not, Charlie. If sound is defined as a sound wave that travels through some sort of medium like a gas or liquid or solid like an eardrum. Well at the first moment there were no eardrums, so no sound.”

Charlie looked puzzled. “It was light?”

“Afraid not, Charlie. There wasn’t a space to light up. Remember, space is part of the physical universe.”

“Okay, okay, okay! Oh, wise-ass one, what’s your theory?”

Charlie got up and sauntered to the kitchen, rummaged through the pantry and retrieved a bag of Cheetos. He went back and sat down on the couch. He offered the open bag to Stanley, but he waved it off.

“I’m glad you asked.”

Charlie rolled his eyes. “Anything to end this interrogation!”

Stanley seemed to mellow out and said, “before the beginning of the physical universe was simply consciousness.”

Charlie raised a finger, “of what, since nothing existed?”

“Of being conscious,” said Stanley.

“Sounds boring.” Charlie faked a yawn.

“Exactly, until someone made the first decision to start something to create a little interest!” said Stanley.

“Okay, Stanley, I’ll bite. What do you think was the first decision and the beginning of the physical universe?”

“It could only be one thing.”

“What?” asked Charlie.

“Hamlet had it right.”

“What?”

“The first decision was ‘To Be!’”

“To be?” Charlie repeated, perplexed.

“Yep, someone decided to exist and needed a place to exist in. To do that, that someone created an idea and said something in the order of ‘Let there be light’ or the equivalent. If I’m right, it would have taken quite a strong intention, and I am betting that the first entry into the physical universe was simply a small orb of light!” said Stanley.

“A small orb of light, not a big bang?” inquired Charlie.

“I should say a small wave of energy,” answered Stanley.

Charlie looked suddenly alert. “Then what is the wave of energy made of?”

“Now that is the question. I’m relatively certain that the thinker or consciousness simply created the physical universe by its will. So, just as a particle is condensed energy waves, condensed energy waves are condensed thought,” Stanley stated confidently.

“So, Anne wills herself into her room? Hmmm, then orbs and portals are, uh, consciousness points?” Charlie asked tentatively.

“Bingo!” Stanley said emphatically.

Charlie’s eyes widened.

“Quantum physics!”

“Exactly!”

“Holy smokes, that would make science substantiate religion!”

“You got it, Sherlock!”

“What about the big bang?”

“That dawned on me, too. Think about it. Before the big bang, there was simply consciousness. When someone made a decision to be, what they actually did is separate from the mass-less group.”

“Group?”

“Well, technically not a group yet, but when someone created that first orb or light, then it fragmented the consciousness. It had to view its creation or universe. Of course, it follows that the other fragments became instantly points of view themselves, now able to create independently. Now at that first instant with all the points of view suddenly aware of the point of light there was a tremendous explosion as unlimited power converged on one spot!”

Charlie looked awestruck.  “Who are you, Stanley?”

“Easy, Charlie. Before you drop to your knees, I’m only a curious researcher who refuses to be put off the trail of truth by dogmatists of religion or science. Many in science have become almost that which they despised, and religionists burned scientists as heretics. They’ve refused to acknowledge one half of the equation.

“All that is changing as Quantum Physics and the best metaphysical philosophers are now starting to work together. Huge changes in common held reality are happening. The days of dogmatic sociopaths and authorities without a clue are numbered. I believe we’re on the verge of the theory of everything that Einstein sought. It is obvious that consciousness and the physical are the two halves of the whole.”

“So you think the creationists are more right than evolutionists?”

“No, Charlie, both are right. God created the first point of light that combined into particles, then into all forms of the physical universe. It did that by following the blueprint called the original intention, idea, vision, dream or whatever you want to call it. That wouldn’t exclude evolution, which says that that which exists, evolves.”

“Who is God?”

“The word God is just a group of sounds that we call a word. It points to the ultimate force that created it all. You can call it God, universal mind, Yahweh, Allah, or any other word, and it would still point to the first cause, the creator, etc. Jesus never used the word God, as he didn’t speak English.”

“So, God is that first someone and is responsible for it all?”

“Actually, each of us is responsible. Each of us decided to agree with that point of light. That’s why we have volition or free will. We made the decision to be as well. The truth of most all religions and science will line up to this.”

Charlie smiled and added, “Yeah, which makes sense, like why we are the children of God or made in his own image thing, free will, or if the creator were from Texas, the first words could have been, ‘hey, ya’ll, watch this!’”

CHAPTER ELEVEN

The ride home from the Hughes Hotel was something of a dilemma for Anne. It was a beautiful evening, and Paul’s light chit chat, ranging from his desire to help mankind, to the wonders of pharmacy, was almost hypnotic. She knew she should be happy and falling in love, but as their carriage approached her home, she saw her six foot four inch dilemma.

It was Colton, their groomsman. He took care of the family horses and carriage. He was twenty-two years old and had worked for the Meux family for two years. He lived in a room attached to the carriage house. He worked during the day at a livery service he co-owned with Samuel Novak, a black gentleman he’d met in San Francisco when Colton emigrated from England. Samuel had also emigrated from England five years previously.

Colton closed the carriage house doors as they pulled up. He looked up, nodded, walked to the door of his living quarters, and disappeared inside. Anne sighed. Paul helped her from the carriage. He walked her to her door and then, after thanking her for her company and kissing her hand, he left.

Anne extinguished the lantern that her father had left for her. She stood in darkness and turned toward Colton’s quarters. She leaned against the cool clapboards and remembered the first time she had seen Colton. Her father had been interviewing applicants to replace the groomsman who was retiring.

It was late afternoon when this confident nineteen-year-old, with dark blond hair slicked back under a black Stetson hat, rode up on a beautiful Arabian horse.

He dismounted his horse in a fluid movement and removed his hat as he did so. He let go of the reigns of his horse and strode toward Anne’s father. The horse followed. He shook her father’s hand with a firm grip.  Even though Anne was just fifteen-years-old, she felt that pang of love seize her heart.

Anne watched as her father showed Colton their carriage and horses. She noticed how intently Colton listened to every word her father said and seemed only to speak when asking a question for clarification. She watched as her father asked him questions while gesturing toward the carriage. Colton would confidently point out different parts of the carriage while her father nodded in agreement. Colton was soon directed to the corral where the horses came up and nuzzled him like a long lost friend. She saw her father’s approving smile. A bit more chatting, and the two men shook hands.

Colton moved into the room attached to the carriage house the next day. Anne followed him around asking questions on any subject she could think of just to be near him. He was always patient and listened to her with respect and would always try to answer her as best he could. She would often peek out various windows of the house just to catch glimpses of him working. She always wondered what he was thinking of as he worked. She loved those days when he took off his shirt, and she could see his muscles covered in sweat. He would always put his shirt on if he saw her approaching.

Anne would often stop by Colton and Sam’s livery and corral and watch them work with the Arabians. Sam and Colton always treated her with great deference, and she came as close to feeling like a princess as a young woman in Fresno could.

Anne wondered at Colton’s uncanny abilities with horses. He seemed to have this tremendous instinctive ability when working with them. Never mean, he seemed to love them so much that they would do anything to keep it. They communicated without words in another universe unknown to her. She dreamed of entering that universe on a daily basis.

Anne knew all too well that Colton viewed her as a child for the first few years. Now, at nineteen, her breasts had fully filled out and her face had lost any vestiges of a child’s. Colton, she noticed, now looked at her differently.

Anne brought herself out of her reverie and thought of Paul. She then thought of Colton. Sadness crept over her as she realized her love for Colton could never be. He was a servant. It would disgrace her parents if she married so far below her social standing, and she wouldn’t hurt her parents for the world. If only Colton were wealthy enough to take her away so they could be together without hurting anyone.

Stop it, she told herself, you’re thinking like a child. I must take care of my mother. She turned and walked through the darkened house and up to her room. Tears dripped from her cheeks as she collapsed into her pillow.

CHAPTER TWELVE

Colton Johanson was from England, and came from a long line of horse breeders on his mother’s side. His father had abandoned the family before Colton was born. His mother had traveled from Sweden to England where she changed her name from Johansson to Johanson. When Colton had asked his mother why the ‘s’ was dropped, she just said everyone always forgot the extra ‘s’ anyway, and this way she wouldn’t have to correct them.

Colton adored his mother and would often sneak peeks at her face when she went about household tasks. She would be in deep concentration at some chore, and Colton would wonder how anyone could abandon such a lovely and graceful woman. She was a wonderful listener and would patiently answer all the questions that Colton could conjure up. He would often ask more questions than he even wanted to know just to see her eyes sparkle and her lips move in her sincere attempt to help him.

She worked in a pub during the day. They were quite poor and lived in a small room adjacent to the pub, part of her employment arrangement. The pub owner was a likeable fellow with a big belly and rosy cheeks, who was always in a constant witty banter with the townsfolk. He often brought the Johansons extra food, which helped stretch her meager pay. Poor or not, they were essentially happy and would spend evenings singing songs and telling stories.

She was born into an affluent family of horse breeders. She was christened Hannah Adele Johansson. Her father, Haldor Johansson, was a successful horse breeder, known for their Swedish Warm Bloods. He knew breeding was everything, and he had plans to insure his future grandchildren would be of the finest stock. He was also a strict disciplinarian of both horses and family.

Hannah had always done all she could to please her father, and had succeeded for the most part. His carping criticisms of virtually everyone else was how he controlled them. He never complimented anyone on a job well done. He thought it would only spoil them. The nit-picking would, so he thought, motivate them to do better and keep them in their place. He justified his bullying by modeling himself after God in the good book. If God was to be feared, then by god, he was to be feared as well.