Of That Day and Hour: A psychological thriller (21 page)

“That doesn’t make sense.”

“It will. Why are you on the
spiritual path? Why do you seek awakening, to evolve, to be enlightened?”

“Because the path presented
itself to me.”

“There are many paths
presented before us, you chose this one. Answer my question, why?”

“I have devoted my life to
truth, to be as authentic to myself as I can be.”

“Yes it’s true, you have
spent many years surrounding yourself with books, attending seminars and
memorizing texts. Why when time is so precious did you let life pass you by?”

“Who are you?” Jeff’s had
enough, now he demands answers.

“Merely the voice of
reason.”

“To whom?” Jeff raises his
voice, through fear as well as anger. “Where are your credentials to offer me
advice?”

“I offer nothing that you
don’t already know.” The vagabond remains calm, at peace with himself the
nature of the world that surrounds him. “I simply ask why do you search? To
bring life to a head, when you can stop, and create a new life for yourself. A
new university; fresh inquisitive minds to pass on your hard earned knowledge.
Retire knowing that you made a difference.”

“It’s not enough.” How can
this hobo know his inner feelings, and question him about them? Jeff retorts.
“I have seen glimpses of a different reality and I have to seek out the
truth.”
 

“But to seek is to move away
from that what already exists.”

“Yes, but what is there to
find?”

The tramp simply raises his
hand and smiles.

“That’s for you to find out,
if it’s truly your wish, but there are no U-turns at the end of this road. You
may find that you’re simply wiped clean and restored.”

“If that’s my destiny, then
let it be so.”

“Then Casey Lee Jones is
your key. Do what he says and you won’t go far wrong. My only other advice is
to go swiftly and see your daughters while you still can, remember them as they
are in the now. This memory, and this time with them, is more precious a gift
than you can imagine.”

“How do you know of my
daughters?” Jeff barks, and in return receives the same back.

“Are you still on my bench?”

“Yes.” He snaps back.

“I told you, you can wait
elsewhere.”

Jeff stands up, confused. In
truth he’s relieved to be walking away from this eccentric character. After a
short distance he glances back. A dog walker passes, unsure as to why Jeff has
abruptly stopped motionless on the green. Only the tree exists, the tramp,
along with the bench, are gone. The park’s suddenly full of people, children
play football; boats sail on the lake. Walking, Jeff wonders if Marcus will
exist on the other side of the rose garden.
 

Reassuringly the bright
orange Lamborghini can be seen through the roses. Marcus can see as Jeff
approaches that he appears a little paler than when he left. When he gets back
into the car, there’s no smile, just bewilderment on his face.

“How did it go?”

“I’m not sure.”

“He was there?”

“Yeah.”

“What did he say?” Marcus
knows that extracting information out of Jeff can sometimes be hard work.

“That he’s the voice of
reason.” Jeff looks and studies Marcus’s face, debating to himself just how
much does Marcus know? “Did you know that he would warp time and space around
me?”

“Yeah.” He can see that Jeff
believes he should have warned him. “You had to experience that for yourself.”

“Then what is he?”

“We don’t know, but he’s
left important clues for us about the nature of the universe.”

“What are those?”

“That also has to be seen to
be believed.”

A short drive across town
has the Lamborghini drawing up outside a glass fronted building. The signage
leaves Jeff in no disillusion as to where he is.

“This is where it all
happens.” Marcus speaks with pride.

They step out of the car and
walk towards the entrance. Jeff reads out the quote by Confucius carved into
the plaque beside the doors.

“Real knowledge is to know
the extent of one’s ignorance.”

“My favorite quote.” Marcus
opens the door, and they enter the building. Talking side by side they walk
along the corridor.
“Do you know the holographic
principle?”

“Yes, I call it the credit
card theory. The chip is flat and contains all the information required to
create a three dimensional object.”

“Correct. Some physicists
state that the real version of the universe is flat, and we’re the hologram
projected into existence.”

“Yes but really?”

“Some will go as far to say
that we’re nothing more than a computer simulation created by our descendants.”

“Nonsense.” As far as Jeff’s
concerned, scientists should be scientists, and not divulge in wild
speculation.

“We can’t censor ideas
simply because at first they appear to be crazy. The human race has expanded
its knowledge through those we first called insane.” Marcus stops outside a
grey steel door, his fingerprints alone permit access. They walk into an empty
circular room which is seamlessly mirrored.

“Where are we?”

“Inside a machine.”

“A machine.” His eyebrows
raise in curiosity. “What does it do?”

“Imagine worlds just beside
this one. Infinite levels of reality. Here every moment is possible before
thought comes into being, and the very instant it does one reality emerges.”

“In the quantum field it’s a
theory.”

“We’re the masters of our
own creation, and our essence is energy. Not only do we interact with the world
through our senses, but it’s also proven that our emotions, thoughts and
intentions do influence the quantum field around us.”

“And you can prove this?”

“Yes. In here your mind will
no longer be able to control matter. Every possibility will exist until I
switch the machine off, and your mind chooses one reality. The madness of
schizophrenia is the sensory overload, where the central nervous systems cannot
filter out external chatter and probabilities. I welcome you to the world of
the schizophrenic.” Marcus couldn’t be any more dramatic if he tried, and Jeff
feels another trial coming on.

“You’re not going to turn me
into a psychotic mess, are you?”

“I promise no harm will come
to you. All you have to do is stand in the center of the room.”

“That’s all?”

“Yes. I will be outside. You
will sense an altering of the quantum field, a vibration around you, that’s
quite normal.”

“And this isn’t dangerous?”

“I’m still here.”

“That’s reassuring.” Jeff
mocks, but places his trust in him.

Marcus walks out of the room
and locks the door. Jeff patiently waits. There’s a slight humming and a
feeling of static energy in the air. Then it happens: people, places, faces and
forms move in and out of existence around him. Memories flood back as years of
students, associates, lovers and his parents come into and out of being. His
life exists in this one moment of possibility. His visual senses overload, then
all the voices he’s ever heard emit trillions of words, at the same time. Jeff
doesn’t realize until he looks up that he’s been brought to his knees. Then a
reassuring silence protects him once again. He moves his hands away from his
ears before dropping onto all fours, and then out of exhaustion rolls onto his
back. His nervous system has taken a beating. It seems to take a while,
although in reality it’s only a few seconds, before the door opens and Marcus
quickly walks into the room.

“Are you alright?”

“Fuck!” Jeff’s angry. “You
could have warned me! You're sure there's no malfunction in the machine?”

“I'm sure.” As far as Marcus
is concerned, medicine that works never tastes good! “First trip can be a bit
harrowing.” There's excitement in his voice. “And that was only a moment of
possibility.”

“I won’t be doing that again
in a hurry.”

“You don’t have to. Come on,
take my hand, let’s get you back on your feet.”

In the office Marcus hands
Jeff a coffee with plenty of sugar and a chocolate cookie. These will get his
blood sugar up counteracting the shock.

“You’ll feel better in a
minute.”

“Thanks.”

“I had to show you that
reality isn’t what we take it to be. We’re still in our infancy, of course.”

“Let’s hope it’s put to the
benefit of mankind.”

“I believe it will. Without
the man on the bench we would never have got this far. The future is quantum
computers, quantum telecommunications, cryptography.”

“Along with sociopaths
trying to control reality in favor of their own agenda?”

“Look on the bright side;
they might bring us back.”

“Somehow I doubt that.”

Jeff finishes his snack.
Walking out of the building, he's still shaken. Marcus, on the other hand, is
feeling pretty damned good about himself. He turns the key to the Lamborghini.
As far as he’s concerned Jeff’s just had the grand finale of his life.

Sarah places two coffee cups
on the table before sitting back down. The girls have enjoyed their visit to
the shopping mall. Every clerk had an expectant smile for them, a commission to
make. The morning is drawing to a close, though, is becoming a waiting game.
The sound of the Lamborghini approaching signals that the boys have finally
returned.

“They’re back.”

Marcus swings in alongside
the Camaro. He can’t resist revving the engine as a fanfare to announce their
arrival, before silencing his orchestra.

“Thanks for the ride. And
the introduction and experience.”

“My pleasure.” Marcus feels
they have bonded once again.

“And yet more tales to
tell.”

“It’ll give you something to
chat about on the way home.”

They drink coffee, pack up
and wrap up loose ends, with the promise that the four of them will meet again
soon. It appears Jeff’s made his peace with Marcus. They shake hands with an
embrace at the side of the car. Eve closes the trunk and chats to Sarah. She
would love to take that Lamborghini for a spin, but the offer isn’t there. At
the turn of the key the Camaro rumbles into life. Eve wouldn’t trade this baby
for the world, not even for the Lamborghini. Marcus and Sarah stand and wave as
they watch them drive away.

“Do you think he’ll be
okay?”

“I think so, it’s hard to
tell what forces are in motion.”

“I hope so, they both seem
nice.”

 
Jeff spends the rest of the trip explaining
the events that unfolded, first in the park and then at the foundation. It’s a
fascinating notion for Eve that for her psychotic patients the voices are in a
very true sense real. The drugs work because they change brain chemistry. The
sad fact is that many are left drooling, caged and forgotten. In Jeff’s mind,
if they suffer a mere fraction of what he experienced, it’s no wonder they're
insane.

The day has been hot and the
road long. They bounce up the old familiar dirt track and pass under the fading
rainbow sign.
  

Monday morning
and they pass the highway billboard. Eve maintains the speed limit. Apart from
spotting a lone Mexican grey wolf, the journey into work is uneventful. Once inside
the prison complex they run through the usual checks, drills, doors and
scanners. The corrections officer’s demeanor towards Jeff is always blunt and
to the point. Eve is quite a different story.

“They're only jealous of
you.” Eve’s protective; she can see that Jeff’s psyched out.

“You noticed?”

“I specialize in human
nature, don’t I?”

“Well, I’m the lucky one.”
He welcomes Eve’s concern. “Not them!”

“Thanks.” Eve’s flattered.
“That makes me feel special.”

In the observation room Jeff
looks to the steel door. So much has happened since he last saw Casey.

“Do you think he will know
anything about our weekend?”

“We’ll soon find out.”

“I wonder if he does know
Belle?” Her words: '...brother Casey came to me.' are on his mind.

“You liked her, didn’t you?”

“Oh come on.” He laughs.
“You’re not jealous of a ghost are you?”

“Of course not.” Although
for some unfathomable reason, she is.

The door opens and White
unexpectedly walks into the room. He has a deliberate and serious tone of
voice.

“Dr. Brown, I would like you
to conduct the interview with Mr. Jones this morning.”

“And Dr. Davies?” She’s
unsure what White has in mind.

“Is to accompany me.”

Jeff looks to Eve who can
only smile back to him with a look of 'well, go on then'. Jeff has little
option but to follow White out of the room. They walk in silence along the
labyrinth of corridors until they reach a grey door. A sign states that this is
an interview room. White opens and holds the door open.

“After you.”

“Thank you.”

Jeff walks into the room.
It’s carpeted in grey. The walls are white, with just enough space for a table
and two opposing chairs. There’s a security camera mounted high up in the
corner of the room. Jeff notes that the red LED light is on.

“Please take a seat, Dr.
Davies.”

Jeff sits down. In the
center of the table is a large black folder. White sits down and draws this
closer to him.

“I feel the need to acquaint
myself further with you.” A crooked smile spreads across his face. “How do you
find working with us?”

“Academically the work is
fascinating.” Jeff’s curious. Where is this leading?

“Academically, yes of
course.” White opens the dossier in front of him. He then takes a moment to
thumb through the pages and to make the appropriate noises. Jeff’s unsure if
this is some form of interrogation technique, or simply for effect? “I see
you’ve dedicated your life to the pursuit of knowledge. Your love of philosophy
is admirable, and like so many scholars before you, there’s no greater gift to
humanity than the sharing of knowledge.”

“My work is my life.”

“A noble life indeed.” White
closes the file in front of him and moves it to the right. A psychological
trick: visually opening channels and clearing away obstacles between them. “But
do you enjoy working with us?”

“Yes. It’s fascinating and intellectually
challenging.”
 

“I have to be honest with
you Dr. Davies. You may return to your post as a lecturer and lecture.” He
brings his hands together, a gesture, uniting the two. “Or you may continue to
work for us, and be intellectually challenged on a permanent basis.”

“That’s an interesting
offer.”

“Not one in a million will
ever be offered this opportunity. Listen carefully to what I’m about to say.”

Meanwhile Eve walks into the
interview room. Casey’s not surprised to see her walk in alone. As a restricted
man he’s pleased to see the curves of a woman approaching.

“Good morning Casey.”

“It sure is.” He smiles that
knowing smile. “Where’s our mutual friend today?”

“Unfortunately Dr. Davies
isn’t available this morning.”

“Must be with Santa Claus?”

“Yes.” Eve deflects the
question. “How are you?”

“After my little fall? Nasty
to have one’s finger twisted in such a situation.” Casey lifts his other hand
up and wiggles his fingers. “Thankfully I have plenty more. We haven’t seen
each other in a while, have we?”

“We haven’t.” She can see
his eyes undress her.

“You’re looking as beautiful
as ever. How does Jeff handle the guards? He knows they would all like to fuck
you.”

“It turns him on.”

“I see. Been anywhere
interesting lately?”

“You tell me.” She calls his
bluff. Does he or doesn’t he know?

“You learn fast. I have to
be a cryptic cowboy, don’t I?” A wide smile emerges across his face. “If you’re
quick enough, you’ll have time to wipe away anything I care to mention to you.”

“Now why would I want to do
that?” She frowns. What’s he up to?

“The question is do you love
him enough to protect him, and is the information valuable enough to put
yourself on the line?”

“Is the information valuable
enough?”

“Do you love him?”

“Yes.” She admits, to Casey
of all people, that Jeff is the love of her life.

“Then you have to trust me.”

In the other interview room,
White leans, reinforcing his words to Jeff.

“Casey Lee Jones is nothing
more than a gifted psychotic killer. If you believe in him, then everything you
see will be controlled by him. He will reward you for good behavior, seduce you
into secrets that only your heart will understand, and punish you for any
transgression.”

“That’s his nature.” Jeff
gives White what is required. “I don’t believe I can turn a murderer into a
saint, just as I couldn’t turn a saint into a murderer. He’s what he is and
that can never change.”

“He hasn’t fooled you then.
Dr. Davies?”

“I have been studying
psychotics and fraudsters all my life. One thing I have learned is that they all
twist the truth.”

Meanwhile the man himself
being discussed in one room relaxes back into his chair in the other. Eve can
visibly see Casey’s defensive posture deflate like a balloon.

“Does everything seem real
to you, Eve?” He looks into her eyes for acknowledgment. “Yes, I’m sure it
does. The universe requires the right balance. Fundamental constants that
maintain correct tension. If the force inside the atomic nuclei was too weak,
stars wouldn’t light up; too strong, and they would explode the very moment
they are formed. In life we each inhabit our own universe; each moment is
perfectly constrained.”

“What do you mean?” She
can’t see where he’s going with this.

“What do you think White is
doing now? He’s a fundamental constant, maintaining the correct tension,
holding Jeff’s universe together. We’re all strings that pull, shape and
maintain balance. Even you yourself are one of Jeff’s many millions of strings,
although you have no concept of who or what you are. White suspects I intend to
cut these strings, to annihilate order. He doesn’t realize what the strings are
or the true nature of his purpose; if he did you wouldn’t be permitted here. I
know you don’t understand, but there are deeper consequences from things to
come.”

“I didn’t take you as a philosopher.”

“If you wish to call me one,
then do. I’m as much the scientist in Jeff, or the psychiatrist in you, as
you’re both the killer in me. We’re all part of the one. How else would I know
what you know, how do you know when someone’s about to call? When your partner
cheats, or when you see an old friend after thinking about them? To find that
the music in your head echoes the radio, or to sense forthcoming bad news.
Every one of us knows the future, whether we admit it to ourselves or not,
through the eyes of the past.”

“And your point?” So far
he’s been esoteric, nothing else.

“Jeff must make amends with
his daughters before it’s too late.”

Unease spreads throughout
her body. She tries to disguise this by adjusting herself in the seat.

“How do you know of his
daughters?”

“We don’t have time.”

“Too late?” She fears
consequences.

“Promise me that you’ll wipe
the recording and never speak a word to another living soul of what I’m about
to tell you. I do mean anyone including Jeff.”

“I can’t make that promise.”

“You do love Jeff?”

“Yes, but I can’t betray his
trust.” Just the thought makes her cringe.

“You have no choice.”

“Why?”

“You spent the weekend of
reconciliation in Black Top City, where Jeff became acquainted with an old
friend of mine. He released her from her bonds. In return I’ll release him, if
you’ll help me. Do we have an understanding?”

“I don’t know how you do it,
Casey.” She’s torn, but she needs to know what secrets he holds. “For the
record this had better be worth it. I don’t like deceit.”

“One of his daughters will
die shortly in an automobile accident.” He hears Eve gasp, he shocks her back
by raising his voice. “Jeff must make his connection with her. Let her know
that he loves her not just for her sake, but to save his soul from years of
torment and regret. Hear what I’m saying Eve. If he could go back in time and
change one thing this will be it. You have to save Jeff from himself.”

“But can’t we save her?”

“No.”

“Why not?” Her outcry is as
old as civilization itself. “Why can’t we help her?”

“Everything has an order, an
allocation, for it to be and for it to pass. This cannot be changed.”

“And if I break my vow?”
Defiance defines her voice.

“Break your silence and
you’ll lose everything.”

“There must be something we
can do?” She sees Casey’s cold stare. “Which daughter is it?”

“I can’t say. He must love
them both equally.”

“Casey!” She’s angry, she
pleads; he hears her cry.

“If you love Jeff; you will
do this for him.”

White concludes the
interview. He’s impressed. Jeff makes a very suitable candidate for placement
within the organization.

“Dr. Davies, there’s one
more point I’m obliged to mention to you. Do not see this as any form of
coercion. If you decide to return to your old life, and to teaching as your
noble cause, you will retain no memory of this. This will include Eve. As far
as you’ll be concerned, your telephone never rang that day in your office, and
you will continue your life as if this never happened.”

These chilling words echo
through Jeff’s mind as they walk back into the observation room. Eve’s
flustering around the recording equipment.

“Is there something wrong,
Dr. Brown?”

“Yes, there’s a fault with
the recorder. I have nothing to show for the interview.”

“Get maintenance to run
diagnostics on the system.”

“I’ll do that immediately.”

“I will leave you in capable
hands, Dr. Davies. Think over what we have discussed. Give it careful
consideration, and let me know your decision. I bid you both a good day.”

Jeff waits until White walks
out of the room. Eve’s tries to act casual, but his senses tell him otherwise.

“The equipment failed?”

“Yes.” She can’t look him in
the eye.

“He hasn’t said anything to
make you wipe the system has he? He’s not offended you in any way that you
think would upset me?”

“No.” She tries to smile,
covering her guilt. “Don’t be silly.”

“You wouldn’t lie to me,
would you?” His gut tells him something’s not quite right.

“Of course not.” She twists
the conversation back onto him. “What did White want with you?”

“To offer me a permanent
post.”

“That’s great news.” Eve
walks up to him, and gives him a big hug. If he could see her eyes, he would
know something was terribly wrong.

Big Al’s diner isn’t Jeff’s
favorite spot for a celebration. Today Al’s in the corner with some young
blonde chick who’s laughing at his jokes, oozing all over him and wiping the
table with her breasts. Al’s daughter’s seen it all before and rolls her eyes
up to Eve whilst she takes their order. Eve shows no signs of jealousy, and
this eases Jeff’s mind. At the table, Eve has a question for him.

“Why don’t you visit your
daughters before you get tied down with commitments?”

“You don’t mind?”

“No, they’re your daughters.
I know how it feels to not have a father around.” As soon as the words trip off
her tongue, Eve realizes what she’s just said. “Shit, sorry, I didn’t mean it
like that!”