Love Story: In The Web of Life

that I know of and is anexpert on electromagnetic devices. Today he was, as usual, dressedas a scientist would be expected to, with a tweed sport coat thathe wore in all seasons, and did not quite match his slacks, withleather patches sewn on the elbows, and a plastic pocket protectorwith several pens in the inside pocket. He was tan with baldinggrey hair and intense blue eyes, and today, as usual, he lookedvery serious.
We discussed some of the technical issues inthe patent case I was working on, and talked about how we couldpresent the information in lay terms in a trial. As he was gettingready to leave, we were chatting about cell phones and where theyworked and where they didn't, when I thought I felt some sort ofvibration from him.
I started to think about Tina and how I seemedto sense her vibrations. I said to George, "Sometimes I feelvibrations from people. Do you have any kind of idea what it mightbe?"
George looked incredulous, and I knew that Ihad just said something that was outside his scientific beliefsystem. I got the same reaction that I would have if I said that Ihad been talking to a Mason jar.
George said, "There is nothing inelectromagnetic theory that would explain that."
I thought I observed that his vibration haddropped.
"What theory is that?" I asked.
George grew stiff and said, "Anything like thatis against the laws of Physics as expressed by Maxwell'sequations."
"Maxwell?" I inquired.
"He was a nineteenth century mathematician whowrote the equations about how all electromagnetic waves and evenlight behave. For the cell phones we were talking about, Maxwell’sequations say that as you get farther from a cell tower, thesignal, or number of bars you get goes down exponentially. If youare one mile from a cell tower and you move to two miles, thesignal level drops by a factor of eight. If you move from one mileto three miles, the signal drops by a factor oftwenty-eight.
"The human nervous system generates very lowfrequency signals, which can be detected with electrodes whenthousands of cells, such as heart cells, fire in synchronism. Thesignal levels are so low they can't be radiated from the body withany strength that is detectable by even the most sensitiveelectronic instrument. I am not a physiologist, but I am certainthat no antennas or sensitive receivers have been dissected frombodies. Although two human bodies might be jammed together therecould not be enough electrical energy transmitted to beobservable," George lectured.
I quickly thought of Tina, bodies jammedtogether, and then Uriel. It was obvious George was getting upsetso I tried to change the subject by saying, "How difficult would itbe to learn about...?" I felt a kind of ragged feeling vibrationcoming from George.
George interrupted and said, "That's why allthat crazy stuff about ESP is pure ignorance, superstition, or thetricks of charlatans. It is all against the laws of physics. Itdoesn't happen except for people with limited critical thinkingskills and a gullible imagination."
I could see that George would make a greatwitness in a trial on this subject.
"Thanks, George," I said, steering him towardthe door. His eyes were beady, and it didn't look as though he knewwhere he was. I walked him out to Carolyn to make sure he got hisparking ticket validated. Carolyn did her shy act with her eyeslowered and chin down and started chatting and attracted hisattention. He seemed to be coming back to normal so I said goodbye,shook his hand, and went back to my office.
I regretted that I had brought the subject ofvibrations up with George. He got very upset. I'm sure he thinksless of me for broaching a metaphysical subject. Tina must be a badinfluence on me. I am starting to talk like her.
I spent the rest of the morning working on mycase.
After lunch, Zaza buzzed me and said, "Mr.Bracken want to see you."
"Right now?" I asked.
"'Immediately' was what they said," repliedZaza with her sarcastic tone.
When I arrived at Phil Bracken's office hissecretary, Patty, gave me a look that said something wonderful hashappened. I walked into Phil's office, and he met me with a bigsmile and left his chair to give be an enthusiastichandshake.
"Congratulations! They settled! Have a seat,"he said gesturing to a chair. "I guess after they saw your witnesslist and witness backgrounds they caved. They met with Paul in ourWashington office and offered a settlement. Paul talked it overwith his friend Robert Sampson, the CEO at Genstem and he said hewould accept their offer. We won! Here is their offer."
He pushed a copy of the email across the deskto me. As I read it, I was surprised. It was more than I hadexpected.
"So, we don't have to trial." I said somewhatin a state of shock, feeling a letdown from having a whole year'swork evaporate.
"Don't worry," Phil said. "Paul and theWashington office will take it from here. Why don't you take a fewdays off. You like to spend time in the desert this time of year.If they need anything, we can call you there. Have Zaza keep Pattyinformed of where to contact you." He got up and shook my handagain and said, "Good work! Congratulations! We will talk more whenI get back. I have to leave for Detroit in a couple ofminutes."
I walked back to my office still a little bitstunned.
Zaza greeted me with, "Patty told me the news.You're unemployed!"
That made me despair.
"I am going to the desert for a couple of days.You can call me anytime out there," I said. "You forgot yourbriefcase," said Zaza as I walked to the entrance.
When I walked into my apartment, I checked myphone for voicemail. I pressed the play code and heard Tina'svoice:
"Thanks for the flowers. I called to thank youon your cell phone with no answer, and then I tried at your office.Your secretary said you had just left, and she didn't know when youwould be back. I asked whether you were on a business trip. All shesaid is 'No.' She sounded very abrupt. Is everythingOK?"
'That's Zaza,' I thought. I must have missedthe cell call while I was in the parking garage. I knew that Tinawas in class