OVER THE FOLLOWING SIX class sessions the experiments continued, each with positive results. Luke replanted the sprouted lima bean seeds, and with the daily treatment of our intentions, the target seeds continued to outpace the controls.
“The treated seeds will need a trellis soon,” Codi said on the fifth day while inspecting the foliage about to flop over the rim of the planter. “You’d think they were enchanted or something like the ones in ‘Jack and the Beanstalk.’”
Luke glanced at the ceiling and shook his head. “We’re only interested in their health and how fast they grow. That means no assistance besides our good intentions.”
After we’d “healed” targeted water in one of Luke’s experiments, he used it to irrigate one of two identical plants—maidenhair ferns that had so far subsisted on benign neglect. He irrigated the other with untreated water.
“Is ‘healed’ water like holy water?” Ethan wanted to know after entering class on day six and taking a seat next to Shawn at their table.
“Sort of,” Luke said from his new position at the head of the U as class leader. “After the tap water receives our healing intentions, I guess you could call it holy water.”
Codi gave him a snarky grin. “How do we prove the water changed at all? Check its pH?”
“We’ll check it with a Raman Spectrometer.”
Her grin turned into a frown. “A what?”
“An instrument that can measure changes in water’s molecular structure via a probe connected to a CCD camera.”
“Hold it, boy genius.” Codi ran the tips of her fingers through her hair as though taming it with pomade. “What the hell is a CCD camera, and doesn’t that kind of equipment cost like thousands of dollars? What are you, King Midas?”
Jason stood and placed his foot on the seat of his chair as if it were the rear bumper of his father’s pickup truck. “Over the weekend, Dad borrowed the modular Raman Spectrometer used for undergraduate and graduate experiments and research at UC Berkeley. As far as the CCD camera goes, he’s got dibs on one that costs only like forty-thousand, used in astronomy for photographing the faintest light from distant galaxies.”
Codi slid from her chair in a display of shock that could have earned her a coveted spot in West Coast’s drama club. “Forty-thousand!”
My less embellished contribution to the conversation was, “You and Luke sure work fast.” Followed by the thought: Ron Ardis better have good insurance coverage for all that valuable equipment.
Codi rose from the floor without injury, ignoring the dust clinging to the back of the trench coat she now considered her own. “Okay, so how does your dad get that stuff here?”
The sudden straightening of Jason’s back embodied pride at his father’s continued contribution to the class. “The equipment is compact and portable and can operate on batteries. Perfect for field measurements.”
***
On May 6, Ron showed up with the spectrometer, CCD camera, and computer as promised. With that, the measures Luke and the students used in their experiments became ever more sophisticated.
I didn’t know what to say, besides “Thank you.” After that, I kept my mouth shut.
Over the following three days, the fledgling scientists continued to experiment, becoming more and more comfortable with their scientific inquiry. Practice didn’t make perfect, but they were getting better at what they aimed to do—prove that a group of people thinking the same thought at the same time could magnify its affect.
The only trial over which they had no control or conclusive results was their prayer experiment to cure Granny Max of cancer.
“Maybe we should have her drink some of our treated water,” Codi suggested after we’d completed another prayer circle. Besides praying on Granny Max’s behalf, we’d envisioned each of her cells smiling at each other, offering their love and gratitude. “Or maybe we could have Tessa heal her.”
“That would make it a different experiment,” Luke said with the patience of someone who’d given up trying to explain scientific methods to the technologically inept. “It takes time for cancer to grow, so it’ll take time for it to go away. Anyway, Granny Max will share her journal and test results with us soon. Until then, all we can go by is how she feels.”
“She looked kind of pale and tired when she left today,” Tessa said.
Codi nodded. “I can see into her head, at least most of the time, but my findings are inconclusive.”
“Talk about findings.” Luke held up the journal containing all their test results. “Who do we share our research with?”
“No one just yet,” I cautioned from the seat behind my desk in my new role as advisor rather than teacher. “Not that you need to keep a lid on it forever…” A warning look at Ethan, though after the destruction of his owl, I suspected thoughts of betrayal no longer entered his mind. “Only until you have proof of the experimental significance of your theory. How, for instance, can you apply your findings to the world?”
“Are you saying we need to show ways our findings can help others?” Tessa asked.
“Yes, and after that, the first person you should notify is Dr. Matt. He started this class because he cared, really cared, about you and wanted you to use your abilities to advance yourselves and the world. Something’s bothering him at the moment. Not about you, but me. So, we need to handle the situation with care. Being teased or made fun of is the least of your worries. It’s the people who’ll take your findings seriously” —another glance at Ethan— “that you need to guard against. The ones who might use, even hurt, you.”
Shawn came to a slow stand from his seat next to Ethan. “I’ve been trying to keep my opinion to myself, but…” He started to pace the room as if working off, or through, something nagging at him. The rest of students remained silent, possibly relieved that he was providing them with a reprieve from opinions they, too, harbored and were unable, or unwilling, to voice. “I get where Luke’s leading with his experiments. But, as I see it, science can’t prove or disprove what goes on in our heads. Especially when it comes to the gifts we’re caught up in, mostly against our will.” Shawn’s grin emerged like a break in a cloud. “In Luke’s case, it’s called genius.” His comment drew chuckles, but the sparkle of his wit faded as quickly as his smile. “So, how are we supposed to make claims about the world—our world—when they can’t be supported by first-hand evidence? How, for instance, do we prove that what we’re doing during our experiments is responsible for the outcome? We’ve seen what happened, and Luke and Granny Max took lots of notes, but how can we prove what actually happened?”
My eyes stung, touched by the sincerity and concern in Shawn’s voice. And the brilliance of the workings of his mind.
“And even if we could prove that our so-called magical powers are real,” Shawn continued, “it could lead to disaster. Look what happened with nuclear power… Anyway, I agree with Ms. Veil that we should keep what we’re learning to ourselves for now. Uncle Matt is pretty upset with us because of Mr. Lacoste—”
“You mean pissed,” Jason said.
“Yeah,” Shawn concurred.
“So, we need to shut up about it,” Jason said.
Shawn returned to his table and slumped onto his chair. “Uncle Matt will come around. It’s just that…I’m staying out of it for now.”