The Maytag Scenario

THE MAYTAG SCENARIO

Copyright 2012 Robert E. Curry

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your enjoyment only, then please return to Smashwords.com or your favorite retailer and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Contents

Evening

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

Dawn

About the author

Evening

The casket had been lowered into the ground but Sweetie did not look away from the edge of the dark pit. A light breeze carried swirls of leaves across the open field beyond on a journey with no apparent destination. Riding on the wind, they could drift beyond the settlements, over the desolate plains and into the foothills beyond; forever onward around the globe.

What will become of Mother? she asked softly of those who stood with her after the ceremony. For a moment no one else spoke, letting silence defer the risk of an unsatisfying answer. But soon the tall friend of the family standing across from the girl assumed responsibility to fill the void.

That’s a very difficult question Sweetie-Pie, Sven displayed a carefully blended expression of melancholy and sensibility, but you’re old enough to be given a grown-up answer. The remainder of the circle, Uncle Nan and Maxwell, glanced briefly at each other wondering what type of answer Sven intended to share with the expressionless youth. I’m sure you would like to imagine that your mother has moved on to another place, a nicer place where she’ll live in peace and be comfortable again. And indeed it would be tempting to coddle you with that pleasant thought. But I don’t want to treat you like a child, dear. Sven now looked at the other two adults as if to confirm their loyalty to an unspoken alliance. Max took a bite from a pimento cheese tea sandwich.

There’s no simple way to explain this to a young person, Sven continued. Of course you wish to believe that your mother continues to live on even though deep down you already know that her wonderful life has reached its natural conclusion. Eventually you’ll find that it’s better to dwell on the good memories that you will always have of her, rather than to imagine that she’s still with us in some new way. In time, you will come to accept life for what it is, Sweetie, a thrilling opportunity to experience the world and to love other people, to laugh and to cry, and to wonder about the secrets of the universe. But at the same time you will come to understand that life has a beginning and an end.

Uncle Nan shifted his weight slightly and raised his eyebrows indicating his intention to engage in this impromptu tutorial on life and death, but his gestures were too subtle and Sven was much too focused on developing his thesis to notice.

Although it’s tempting to believe that your Mother has gone on to a better place and that she will continue to live forever, Sven paused as if to suggest that his next words would be both unexpected and bold, but as you think about it, and you will over the years to come, you will eventually accept the same conclusion that most intellectuals share. It will become apparent to you that the concept of life after death is nothing more than a charming fantasy. A fantasy conjured up by those who are afraid to look at the world objectively and are content with self-delusion.

Standing in her grey cotton dress, Sweetie Pie continued to show no emotion while Sven spoke, taking in his words without indicating acceptance or denial. Maxwell, seeing that Sven’s initiative to instruct the girl had averted what might have become an awkward silence, took the opportunity to disengage from the circle. He walked toward a happier conversation already in progress near the buffet while Sven resumed.

It’s best to think that your Mother’s consciousness simply turned off when her heart stopped beating. And can’t that be a fine way to think about it? Sven added a quick smile as if to affirm that it was indeed fine. Your mother isn’t missing us; she has no regrets. She isn’t wishing she were somewhere else. She isn’t wishing for anything at all. She isn’t even thinking anything at all. It’s just difficult for us to imagine that because our entire experience in life is a continuous stream of consciousness. But just because we can’t imagine what non-existence is like, we shouldn’t assume that non-existence is a bad thing. It’s not good; it’s not bad. It’s simply nothing, nothing at all.

Don’t be ridiculous Sven, Uncle Nan could hold back no longer, his words shattering the quiet, consoling tone that Sven had so carefully orchestrated. Your brand of nihilism offers no such pleasant outlook, he spoke in a bold, forthright voice.

Sven was taken aback, not having expected any contribution from the last remaining adult in the group. Well of course some people will . . . he began, but Uncle Nan had more to say and quickly cut off Sven’s response.

Only a higher power can promise a dreamless sleep that never ends. It’s a nice theory Sven, but stop trying to sugarcoat the situation for Sweetie. I’m sorry, but the future is much more terrifying than that in an atheist’s universe.

Sven visibly tightened the muscles in his jaw, perhaps to indicate the effort that it took to quietly endure Uncle Nan’s rude interruption. But soon this facial tension relaxed and when he spoke again Sven directed his condescending tone toward both the girl and her elderly uncle.

Please Nan, I know we’re all trying to get through this difficult time and it would be nice to pretend that we believe life will go on forever. But pretending is never helpful in the long run. Sooner or later, we all have to accept the reality about life and death. And it’s certainly not helpful to imply that death is a frightening experience. His last words had an edge and were specifically delivered in Uncle Nan’s direction. But then turning back to include Sweetie again, No dear, death is simply a natural process in the workings of the universe. Our bodies will decompose into their original elements, they will merge with the soil and the planets will continue to rotate for millions of years to come. But the feelings that we experience during life are a result of very complicated neuron interactions and those processes will not continue when life is over. It’s not a question of what we wish to believe, we know that our brains do not continue to function after death, and unless you want to believe in some ‘higher power’ as your uncle suggests, a higher power that we cannot see or feel or hear, then it’s better to accept that death is simply a transition into non-existence. But just because life doesn’t continue, don’t let anyone, even your uncle; suggest that it’s something to be afraid of.

Come now Sven, Uncle Nan jumped back into the discussion and Sweetie perked up for the first time sensing her Uncle’s freshening enthusiasm.

One of the few things that we do know with certainty about the future is that if the atheists are right, we’re all going to live again. Face it Sven, the planet may eventually be consumed in the blast wave of a super nova and the galaxy itself may collapse into a black hole, but if a human being is nothing more than a bunch of atoms and molecules in some special configuration, then we can be absolutely sure that each human configuration is going to re-occur again. Yours, mine, Addie’s; don’t be confused Sven; if our minds, or should I say our souls, are simply made out of matter and energy, then they will be re-created again and again and again.

Sven now looked toward Nan sympathetically, as if beginning to question whether the old man was fully coherent. I’ve been forgetting that Sweetie’s Mother was also your sister, he softened, I’m sure this is a hard time for you as well.

Of course it’s hard, Uncle Nan charged back, death is not at all easy or simple the way you’ve made it out to be. But Sven continued to force out a gentle smile and then responded softly, I don’t know what you’re getting at Nan, but I suggest we end this conversation and let Sweetie join her other friends and relatives. I’m sure they would like to offer their own words of comfort and support as well. But Uncle Nan had no intention of leaving the subject unfinished and was more than prepared to elaborate further.

If you believe our streams of consciousness are nothing more than a series of chemical events then what makes you think that those chemical events won’t occur again? Of course, the reactions are highly specific and many events would have to take place to get the parts in our heads to be arranged exactly the way they are right now, but if it could happen once, you know it’s going to happen again. Uncle Nan paused while Sven considered the concept. Maybe this is the only time we will see each other in the current universe, but perhaps the next universe will bring us to life again. And if not in the next, there will be another universe afterward and then another after that. Maybe there are parallel universes operating as we speak where our souls are having the same conversation at this very moment.

But that would not be ‘us’ Sven countered, but Uncle Nan snapped back. Of course it would be us. If our souls are made from nothing more than common atomic building blocks that came together by natural processes, then whenever the right assortment of pieces comes back together again in the same way - there we will be.

Sweetie-Pie, who had begun watching both adults with increasing interest, joined into the conversation.

But Uncle, I’ve heard that other universes may be entirely different from ours. Even the sub-atomic particles and fundamental forces might be different.

That’s right Sweetie. It’s possible that subtle events in the earliest moments of a universe may shape the very nature of its sub-atomic particles and so the vast majority of universes may not even be capable of re-creating our lives. But that just means that there would be a longer interval until our lives are re-created. All that we know with certainty is that at least one kind of universe has served as a host for our lives. And if it could happen once, then surely even the most devout atheist will agree that it must happen again.

Sven had stopped forcing out his gentle smile. This is non-sense and I wish we had never gotten onto the subject. He turned back to the young girl to explain her uncle’s comment even though she appeared to have had no difficulty in following the logic. Sweetie, your Uncle is proposing that our lives may be reconstructed through random processes, not in a few hundred years, but in ridiculously long periods of time, periods of time that surpass even the age of the universe. He paused and dramatically looked around at the other clusters of relatives and acquaintances gathered in the quiet meadow, I don’t think you need to worry tonight about what might happen in a trillion years from now.

But Sven that’s where you’re wrong. Time is not a factor, Uncle Nan pressed on with the same energy as before. If, as you said, there is no thinking after death, there will be no sense of time passing after we die. That is, right up until the moment at which the molecules of our brains find themselves reassembled again. For you and me, a trillion years might seem like a long time, but for Sweetie’s mother it would have already passed. It would be as if a switch were flipped, a blink of the eye. One minute she would have experienced the process of dying and the very next thing she would know is that she is alive again in some new existence.

That’s . . . you’re . . . Sven was frustrated, "I don’t know even where to begin. Do you have any idea how long we would have to wait for the right conditions to re-occur so that our lives would be re-created? A trillion years probably wouldn’t be long enough. I was just throwing out a number for the sake of argument. Think about how many coincidences would have to occur for our brains to be recreated through random events. Yes, even a trillion years would be optimistic.

Nan, your proposition is not just about the possibility of life evolving again in some future universe. You’re talking about life evolving again exactly the same way it did on Earth. Do I need to remind you that it took billions of years and a highly specific combination of environmental factors for the human species to develop? All of those events would have to re-occur just to re-create the human species. But for one of us, you or me, to ‘live again’ it would be necessary that every event in our history be repeated just as it occurred. How else could a future embodiment of our brains have the same memories or the same stream of consciousness that we have today. That would take preposterous amounts of time. It isn’t even worth discussing." Sven rocked back on his heels after this concluding statement and looked directly at Nan to see how he would react.

But the old man was unruffled. When he responded, Uncle Nan spoke more slowly and deliberately and looked slightly above their heads at the grey orb suspended in the eastern sky. As I said before Sven, time isn’t a factor. If it takes a trillion-trillion years the situation will someday re-occur for Sweetie’s mother. That’s the beauty of eternity Sven. Who cares how long it will take until we find ourselves right back here again, watching the twilight settle in on a warm summer evening. We could never know how many eons passed since our prior incarnation or when our next re-birth would follow. We could only know that it has happened before and that it will happen again and after that a thousand times again since there is no end to eternity.

Sven had resumed clenching his teeth while considering a reply, but Sweetie spoke instead. I suppose the next time this situation occurs; it wouldn’t have to be exactly the same would it?

Again, you’re right Sweetie-Pie, Uncle Nan replied, every sort of feasible permutation would also occur eventually.

Please don’t continue with this discussion, Sven interjected, now speaking directly to Sweetie. I see a number of your friends from the academy are here. Let’s go over and chat with them.

Sweetie ignored Sven’s proposal, instead addressing her uncle, So there would be a future re-occurrence of this world in which Mother does not die of cancer?

Yes, said Uncle Nan.

So someday there would be a future in which she remains lucid and lives to be a happy old lady and gets to enjoy being with her grand-children; my children, my babies?

Of course Sweetie, Uncle Nan looked at her steadily. But then again, there’s the other side that you have to consider. Every bad permutation would also occur. Any futures that could arise from the building blocks of the universe; well, given enough time, those would also occur. The girl returned his gaze and stepped closer as if to prevent any potential interference to their communication. So there would be lots of bad futures as well, she spoke quietly to her uncle, almost in a whisper.

Sven gave Uncle Nan a stern look and then stepped back, beginning to accept the fact that his responsible and mature efforts to assuage Sweetie’s grief were being rejected.

By now, however, Sweetie-pie’s thoughts had transcended grief as her mind filled with every imaginable scenario, happy and sad, dreams and nightmares, all of which seemed destined to become reality provided they met the simple criteria of feasibility.

So there would also be futures in which Mother dies a much more painful death and futures in which she is killed in some violent circumstance, she asked. Uncle Nan, nodded as Sweetie continued to realize the full implications.

Sven rolled his eyes upward while turning and walking away, unnoticed by the others.

So someday we would live through a life similar to the one we are in, but instead of Mother dying from cancer, we would all be killed in a tragic airplane accident or be eaten by tigers, or be gunned down by crazy terrorists as we walk out of the supermarket. Uncle Nan nodded again and said in response. As I was trying to tell Sven, it’s not a pleasant outlook.

He waited to see if Sweetie-Pie would ask about other possible futures or challenge the bizarre concept that had been thrust upon her, but she remained silent.

Uncle Nan, with his white hair and stiff joints, was well aware of the trepidation and loneliness of searching out life’s mysteries. He resumed speaking, not so much to offer reassurance but camaraderie. I’ve often wondered Sweetie, what would be the most extreme conditions in which the physical components of a soul could be re-created? Nan had been a university professor and could not resist taking an academic view of the concept. That would let us know the limits of what future experiences we might have to look forward to, He wasn’t sure if Sweetie was still listening but continued anyway. For example, do you think that our minds could ever form in the middle of a giant planet for instance? How would you like to find yourself conscious but trapped in a clump of organic matter suspended in the middle of a mountain? What if we had to spend millions of years existing in magma?

That’s a horrible thought, Sweetie suddenly snapped back into the conversation, clearly disturbed by her Uncle’s casual attitude toward such dreadful possibilities, surely that wouldn’t even be possible. Let’s hope not Uncle Nan agreed calmly, I think it would be a most unpleasant life to endure.

Sweetie frowned but nonetheless continued to think about the range of possibilities and soon resumed the conversation on her own terms. But Uncle, even some of the most believable futures can be too ghastly to think about. And I suspect there are many more terrible futures than happy ones. If that’s the case I would rather have no future at all and give up on the happy possibilities, rather than have to endure all of the terrible ones that would also be possible.

Like I was trying to tell Sven, it’s not a pleasant outlook, said Uncle Nan. But of course, you would not be able to choose to have ‘no future at all’ Sweetie. You can’t stop the universe from stirring and re-stirring the molecules that make up your brain. The most that you can do to interrupt the cycle would be to commit suicide and of course that would only move you closer to your next life experience.

And after that statement, the two mortals stood quietly for several minutes facing each other as the ethereal glow from the grey disk replaced the final rays of daylight.

I don’t understand Uncle. Why did you tell me this? What should I think about it? Sweetie asked, in much the same tone as when she first asked about her Mother’s fate earlier in the evening. "Is this really the way you see the future?

Uncle Nan put his arm on her shoulder and she turned naturally alongside him. They began to walk together. What we were discussing is only the future that would occur if nothing else exists beyond the world that we can see around us Sweetie. They both peered ahead, picking their way along a gravel path in the dim light.

So what do you believe, Uncle, is there something else beyond this world, something that offers a brighter hope for the future?

Uncle Nan said nothing for several minutes as he considered his response. I could tell you what I believe Sweetie, but I suspect that an inquisitive person would also need to know why I believe what I believe. And communicating that is complicated … complicated and difficult. They took several steps in silence, but then Uncle Nan added, difficult and dangerous, another pause and then, dangerous and … but before he could add another adjective Sweetie interrupted, That’s no answer Uncle. She continued sharply, You’re just avoiding my question.

Not at all Sweetie, I just said it was difficult, I didn’t say I wouldn’t try.

Today I feel more alone than I have in all my life, Sweetie sounded as if she might cry, and yet you can’t be open and frank with me? At least Sven was bold enough to say what he believes. An uncle that can’t speak from his heart at a time like this is not much good to me.

Uncle Nan looked down at the adolescent beside him that had neither turned her head nor missed a step as they walked along. You’re an intelligent young lady Sweetie-Pie. I suppose you’ve already studied foundational literature and the physics of space travel during your class work. His niece still did not look upward but answered without hesitation, Since the first levels, of course. Yes and now you’re thirteen? Uncle Nan asked. Fourteen, she corrected. Uncle Nan paused and then spoke again, There’s a bench at the edge of the field Sweetie, let’s head in that direction and sit for a while. I’d like to tell you a story. She nodded and reached up to hold the hand that was on her shoulder. Close your eyes: he said, I’ll guide you the rest of the way and you’ll need to picture my words as I speak."

01.27.2148 CE [Monday]

Good morning Captain, a pause. Good morning Captain; Good morning Captain.

Grey... just a grey blur... but now with the faintest wisps of color starting to develop.

Good morning Captain. That voice; where is it coming from? A minute passed. Good morning Captain. The words seemed to originate from all directions as if emerging from the background.

With his vision now improving rapidly, René began to make out the raised panels surrounding his berth. A smudge of red could be seen on the ceiling above his eyes about 2 meters away. As his focus developed, the smudge clarified into letters and then into words:


LIMIT ALL MUSCULAR ACTIVITY

FOLLOW INSTRUCTIONS FROM BOB

The instructions sounded familiar, and his brain searched for an association. It didn’t take long.

Oh Lord, it’s happened, René gasped as adrenaline surged into his bloodstream automatically preparing his body for unidentified dangers.

This is the real thing, René continued to pant involuntarily as nerve endings throughout his body sprang to life with a momentary sting. It was as if he had fallen into an icy pool of water on a hot day.

Must control breathing, must relax, René spoke out loud reciting the mantra that had been etched into his memory through years of training.

Control breathing, one thousand and one, one thousand and two... So many times he had imagined what it would feel like, how he would react. Now it was happening and as his brain slowly absorbed the facts he realized it indeed it actually was happening. One thousand six, one thousand seven . . . Okay, so now what, he asked himself. The adrenaline rush had left him chilled and his physiology primed to face a tangible threat that had not yet materialized.

Good morning René, the voice spoke again. I believe you are starting to hear me.

One thousand...; where was I? Okay, my breathing is back to normal, René thought to himself, no more counting is necessary. Now that the initial panic had subsided, René felt he was quickly recovering from the shock of awakening. He turned his attention to lying as still as possible. This turned out to be easy and so he determined to use immobility as a focusing mechanism while organizing his thoughts.

But soon the invisible speaker interrupted again, If you can hear me, René, perhaps you could blink your eyes. That voice, who is it and where is it coming from? He resisted the notion of turning his head to look for the source.

If you can hear me, René perhaps you could wriggle your nose.

What? Oh yeah, René realized he was still a little groggy after all. He concentrated, what had the voice said, blink eyes, wriggle nose? He managed to do both and felt a slight tingle in his cheeks while doing so.

Great work René, congratulations on returning to consciousness. Why not rest for a few more minutes before we try anything more complicated. It’s perfectly normal to feel disoriented during recovery. Try to relax and I’ll review some of the more important aspects of your surroundings and our mission. My name is Bob and...

Oh yeah, the voice is the Human Interface Services Computer. Good old Bob, René thought, good old electronic Bob. Just like in the simulators. Good old, know-it-all Bob. This recognition released other stored memories and soon René felt even more alert than before.

I am the on-board Human Interface Services Computer that will assist you in the operation of all spacecraft systems and in the performance of mission duties, Bob continued with his now unnecessary introduction. You are located in Hibernation Compartment C, Bay 2 on board the Constellation Star Colonization vessel. You have been in a state of cryogenically induced hibernation since April 3, 2054. Zip straps are holding your feet and torso against the mattress for your protection during transit. The entry hatch for your hibernation cubicle has been retracted and you are now looking into Bay 2. René mentally visualized Bay 2’s location with respect to the rest of the starship while Bob continued speaking. An instructional placard is posted in your field of view. Please focus on it now to determine if your visual acuity has degraded during cryogenic conditioning.

This is it, all right. René thought, struggling to maintain composure, but the excitement was hard to control. He felt like a kid waking up on his birthday, inexplicably surprised that the much-anticipated day had actually arrived.

Studies have shown that the most comfortable way to recover from cryogenic suspension is to gradually increase the range of motion of all joints, and so I recommend... As ‘Bob’ droned on through the detailed instructions for post-hibernation adjustment René decided he was ready to leave the berth and get busy. After eight years of training,