The Wishing Well: Part V

Max return to the lab and he was a bit buzzed but completely focused on the task at hand. Olivia greeted him to give him a status report. She had run the images through all know data basis of art. While she herself was forbidden to view art of any kind she was allowed to see the images sent to her by Max. They were in fact original. This was completely distressing to Max as they had wiped the memories of everyone involved in The Village. The only person he would have left to question would be the Admiral’s wife Birdie.

Banned since the beginning of The Wishing Well Project. Max had always known that Art tapped into higher brain functions creating elevated emotional states and therefore knew it was interpreted differently then language or concepts or even positive or negative feelings. Art had the ability to communicate to both the reader and the audience on a higher plane then The Wishing Well could address. For lack of a better explanation Max presumed that art spoke directly to both the artists’ and the audiences’ soul. In the most basic terms it was a communion which could cause heightened emotional sensations which were counter productive to the subjects’ positive state of mind The Wishing Well Projects participants needed. Atleast that is what Max believed. And much to Max’s surprise art effected many different parts of the brain and therefore was resistant to The Wishing Well Project therapy. All references to it had been deleted from history. So when he saw the painting at the Admiral’s he thought it was strange. But when Birdie came home with three more paintings he knew containment had been breached.

Olivia had been rather quiet, almost distant as if she felt betrayed by Max. She worked quietly until finally she walked over and handed the intersecting lines to Max. “I know what this is.”.

A little surprised he challenged her, “Really what is it?”.

“It is a cross.” she gently answered. “I am not the first person to believe there is a higher power?”

“No, “ Max answered reluctantly. “Others have shared that delusion with you and it has plagued mankind for a very long time.”.

Olivia was rather perplexed. “They must have had some empirical evidence to believe.”.

“No.”

Just then the Admiral and Birdie walked through the door. Birdie was all happy and a glow. “So I finally get to see your lab. You know my husband calls this place the Kool Aid Factory.”

Max smiled as he was smitten by Birdie’s candor. “No, the Admiral failed to mention that to me. I just have a few questions to ask you Birdie. Is that all right?”

“Oh of course dear boy.” Birdie leaned over to Max and referenced Olivia. “Is she why you wouldn’t let me introduce you to anyone?”

Max was surprised just how nosey Birdie was being. “No.”.

“Well the older you get the more pickier you get and your chances of finding love more remote.”

Max put Birdie on the Pet Scanner table and then went into the imagining room. “I’ll have to take my chances.”.

“A cross?” The Admiral asked Olivia. Max only walked in on the tail end of the conversation. The Admiral continued. “Can I see it? It must be an artifact.”

Olivia handed it to the Admiral. The Admiral admired it. “Can I keep it?” Max looked at Birdie’s scout film and he was consumed. “Yes.” He answered his old friend rather annoyed the cross was even being discussed. Then he continued and asked Birdie some questions. “Birdie, where did you get those paintings?”

“Soho”. She answered.

Max continued. “And what do they mean?”

“They are a door.” Birdie answered rather matter of fact.

“And door to where?” Max asked.

“To heaven of course.”

Astonished and amazed Max pushed away from the imaging machine. He rested his head in his hands as this was truly a disaster.

The Admiral became panicked. He grabbed Max and begged. “Give her another dose of The Wishing Well Therapy so she doesn’t know.” He continued his plead with Max. “Give her another dose. This is in humane.” He began shaking and trembling. “Another dose will give her more time.” Max was looking away. He couldn’t bare to see the sight of his friends anguish.

Finally he looked the Admiral in the eye. “It will not make any difference now. It will be over soon. You just have to keep a brave face and tell her she is going to be alright.”

The Admiral broke down sobbing, Olivia tried to maintain her composure as she had never been confronted with the death of someone she knew and Max was trying to figure it out.

“Birdie must have known she was dying on a subconscious level and that is why she selected those paintings. And when the paintings explained the concept of death as a natural phenomena then her mind must have accepted death which took her out of remission. But that still doesn’t explain how she knows about God or how the paintings were created in the first place.” Max looked around the room and retrieved medicine from the medicinal computer dispensary. He walked into the room and placed a patch in Birdie’s arm. “Birdie this will help you sleep for a few hours until I get back.”

Max looked at the Admiral and said, “Stay with your wife. She will be asleep for an hour or so and then I will be back.” Olivia grabbed his arm. “Can I go with you?”

“No, I need you to stay with the Admiral and monitor Birdie."

As Max left the room Olivia stopped him and said, “You know you are right there is no God.”.

To which Max answered. “I know.”.

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