Lemuria by Burt Clinchandhill (epub e ink reader TXT) 📕

and we didn’t have the math or the computers that could do the calculations on any of the theories we had.”

“Amazing. So, Darwin is still the best option we have?” Ignatowski concluded.

“When you look at the Darwinian theory, it basically has two core ideas. One is the notion that all organisms are, by origin, related to each other by a diverging process, the tree of life. The other is the idea of natural selection, survival of the fittest. I now believe proving it will probably never be possible, even with the fastest computers. Personally, evolution is a philosophy at best. By definition, it offers an explanation for how things are the way they are without God, which comes in handy for a large group of people, I guess.”

“So, you don’t believe in God, Matthew?” Ignatowski asked.

Bishop gave him a bright smile but stayed silent.

“All right then,” Ignatowski said after a few seconds of silence. “So, what about your paper’s second subject?”

Bishop took a deep breath. “We theorized about the possibility of speeding up evolution.”

Kadek stuck his head around the corner. “Are you ready?”

“Yes,” Bishop called out. “We’ll be right there.”

“I guess we’ll park that part of the conversation for another time,” Ignatowski concluded.

“So, did you already decide?” Lindsey asked.

“We did, but it’s up to you,” Bishop explained. “Iggy here surprised us at dinner last night, explaining he did some local motorcycle racing back in his day, and you already know my skills from college, so who do you want to hang on to?”

She creased her forehead. “I need a moment to think about it. Shall we go?”

“Let’s do this,” Ignatowski confirmed.

Lindsey quickly grabbed a piece of toast from the table and clenched it between her teeth. “Race you there.” She ran out of the building.

Both men looked at each other, slowly rising from their chairs and walking toward the door.

“Good morning, everyone.” Kadek welcomed the three as they walked onto the parking lot.

Next to Kadek were three brand-new, shiny motorcycles—in white, blue and orange.

“Nice rides,” Ignatowski said.

“Brand-new KTM Freeride E-XC,” Kadek explained. “Eighteen-kilowatt max power at five thousand RPM with a torque of forty-two Newton-meter. WP suspension, energy recuperation technology, multi-functional display, state-of-the-art controls and a newly enhanced power pack. And best of all, quiet and no emissions.”

“Electric dirt bikes,” Ignatowski uttered in pure admiration.

“Who said us plantationists didn’t care about the environment?” Kadek laughed. “Who gets the two-seater?”

Lindsey approached Bishop. “Are we going?”

Chapter 21 – The Observer Effect

Reserva Indígena Mashco-Piro, Peru, Three Months Ago

Life slowly and quietly returned to the old mission as the early morning sun hit the treetops. Yawning people left their tents and cabins, and stretched their bodies, listening to the early birds chirping away.

“Good morning,” Mulder called out.

The zipper on the orange tent opened, and Jennifer stuck her head out. “Oh, uh, good morning,” she said, squinting her eyes. “Am I late?”

“You’re not. Life here begins extremely early in the day.”

Jennifer exited her tent, carrying a towel and toiletry bag.

“How did you sleep your first night in the rainforest?”

“Sorry, Eldin,” Martin Stormberg called from one of the cabins, where he stepped out of the doorway. “Can I steal you for a moment?”

“Do you mind?” Eldin asked Jennifer.

“No problem. I’ll go freshen up in the meantime.”

“Okay.” Mulder gave her a thumb’s up. “Morning,” he said as he approached Stromberg.

“Morning. Do you have a moment?”

“Sure.”

“Inside, please.”

Mulder walked in, followed by Stromberg, who closed the door behind them.

“What’s with the secrecy?” Mulder asked, frowning.

“I need to show you something.” Stromberg switched on the computer screens. “This is drone footage from last night. I made a short compilation.” The screen was shades of green, the missionary and its surroundings clearly recognizable. “It’s in infrared and later thermal vision. Now you see, over here, this is us just after diner and before bed.” He pointed to the screen, where—in the green surroundings—white figures found their way around the tents.

“And what’s this?” Mulder pointed to a moving figure with a number over it. “Number twenty-six?”

“That’s what I wanted to show you.” With a click of the mouse, he paused the movement on the screen. “You know we have twenty-five tribe members under constant surveillance, but when I demonstrated the system to Ms. Porter yesterday, I scanned her profile and added her to the system as number twenty-six. Well, I forgot to remove her profile from the system. Normally I wouldn’t have noticed this, but the system flags all movement in a big circle around the cave, and there it was.”

“There was what? What are you talking about?”

“You better see for yourself.” He clicked the mouse again.

On the screen, the number twenty-six first moved into the rain forest on the way to the toilet. Back from the bathroom, they watched her first take the road back and then turn a few times and walk to the clearing near the caves.

“She lost her way?” Mulder asked.

“Apparently.”

“And who are they?” Mulder pointed to two white spots, barely moving on the other side of the clearing.

“Not sure, but if you look carefully....” Stromberg paused and kept a finger in front of the screen. “There, you see it?” He pointed to a faint light rising from one of them.

“They’re smoking?”

“Seems that way,” Stromberg confirmed.

“Don’t they know smoking is not allowed anywhere on the site?” Mulder sounded fierce.

“Well, at least they don’t do it inside. But I’m afraid that’s not what concerns me. Wait for it.”

After a few seconds, number twenty-six seemed to crouch and cautiously cross the clearing.

“What is she doing?” Mulder asked, sounding fearful. He slapped his hand against his mouth, as the number stopped next to the entrance. Then she stuck her head around the corner a few times. Don’t do it. Please don’t do it! Mulder’s thoughts raced through his mind, thinking twelve steps ahead of what would happen, and what he would do if she did.

Then it happened. The number took a turn into the cave and disappeared from the screen. “Oh, my God.” Mulder rubbed his face.

“There’s no reception from inside.