Ana May's Last Supper
Chapter 3
John awakened at 6:06 the next morning. He skipped breakfast so he could get to school early. He wanted to talk to Rodd.
He rode up to the Electro-mechanical Engineering building and parked his bike beside the door.
John didn't lock his bike. He had noticed that Dayton College was not like most colleges in that the quality of students was generally above thievery. You could usually leave something laying around for several days before someone would pick it up.
John thought it strange that a photography department was in an electro-mechanical engineering building. As he walked in he could see the hall leading to the classrooms was lined with contemporary fine art photographs.
At the end of the hall were two large dry mount presses on the left, and archival print washers to the right.
John said silently to himself. "It is no wonder that Moore dreamed up or rather discovered slow time. The archival washers show that he dealt with time as a photographer."
John had always liked photography. He considered it the relevant art form of the 80's. It seemed to John that all the traditional renaissance type art had become patronized.
As he passed the archival washers, he went to the cage.
The cage was like a police evidence locker, with impregnable wire walls. In it was a graduate assistant loaning out all the photo equipment. John thought,"Apparently the cage shows that Dayton College had not totally escaped the thievery that is rampant elsewhere."
John asked the graduate student if Rodd Thompson was around.
The student said,"He is in the darkroom."
The lights were a dim orange in the darkroom. He had to stand awhile to adjust to the light loss.
In the darkroom were about 20 Omega enlargers. The hands of the timers caught John's eye. The timers were the standard Dayton Gra Labs that were made to glow in the dark. They only glowed for a few minutes after the white lights were turned off. Yet, usually a darkroom stayed in the orange safelights for hours making the glow in the dark feature useless. "Time was strange here in the darkroom,"thought John, "again here is evidence of Moore's occupation with time."
John saw Rodd playing with one of the enlarger timers.
Rodd was slightly built, a full beard about one inch long, and glasses.
John walked over,"Hi Rodd."
Rodd looking up "Well Hi John. How are you doing?"
John. "O. K., and how is your photography?"
Rodd, "Photography is OK. The students seem to be a little more interested than usual."
Rodd,hesitating as he remembered previous conversations with John, then added, "I still have the great mass that is interested in commercialism that still don't see why we do fine art."
John said, "I am interested in one of your fine art students. Perhaps you remember him. Stephen Moore?"
Rodd,"Absolutely. I remember Stephen. He was one of the most creative students that I had."
John,"Do you know where he is now?"
Rodd,"Yes. He is now living in Troy, just north of here. I don't know what he is doing though."
John,"Any address or phone number?"
Rodd,"No try the phone book."
John,"Sure."
John continued,"Well glad to see you again. I have to get off to class."
Rodd,"OK. Stop by sometime when you have more time."
John,"Sure" as he left the darkroom.
As he left the Electro-mechanical Engineering building, he noticed how hot it was getting. Quite a warm morning for May.
As he was riding back to the classroom, he saw Neal about to enter.
He called ,"Neal!"
Neal turned,"Yes Mr Campbell?"
John said,"Could I talk with you about your paper on time patterns?"
Neal answered cautiously,"Is there something wrong with it?"
"No.No! I have some extra interest and would like to discuss it informally," John exclaimed.
John glanced at this calculator watch."Its almost time for class. Perhaps lunch?"
Neal answered,"Sure! I will meet you here."
After class, they met and began the block walk to McCarthy Union Cafeteria.
Neal turned to John and said,"What did you think about the essay?"
"I was impressed." John replied. "However, It asks me more questions than it answered."
"Like what?"said Neal.
"Like civilization itself being a species." John continued, "you know I am interested in hunting?"
"Yes you have brought it out in your lectures that man is the number one predator. That man can hunt and destroy
any high level individual of a species. What does that have to do with time patterns?"asked Neal.
John, "Your essay implied very strongly that the Civilization showing its existence in time patterns is
real. In fact, much like a species."
Neal interrupted,"Yes I do think of Civilization as being real. It is as real as man, or a cat or a dog.
Merely because we cannot see nor grasp it does not make it any less real. If we define life as anything that moves with design, and reproduces itself, then we must say civilization lives."
"That's strange," said John,"There is a former Dayton College. photography student that defined life much the same way. His name was Stephen Moore. Did you ever meet him?"
"No. Never heard of him", replied Neal.
John continued,"Moore also said that rocks lived."
Neal thought for a few seconds, as John hesitated, then said,"I can see that. It appears that civilization, if it is in control, has defined life for man. The definition that civilization has given to man isn't necessarily true.
It does, however, as long as man keeps perpetuating it, cause civilization to continue its patterns."
Neal stopped, waiting for a comment from John. None came. Neal continued, "Prior to the absolute death of the primitive American Indian, the life of rocks and civilization would have been readily acceptable. Only after the turn of the century in the U.S., did life have such narrow definitions."
Both were silent for several seconds.
Then John said,"Here it appears that civilization is in control of man much like man is in control of a zoo of lower species."
"Exactly", Neal said.
They were at the McCarthy Union now, and John led the way to a table.
John took a sip of his water, and said,"Assuming that civilization is in control of us like we control lower
species, do you think we could take control back?"
John already knew the answer, but wanted Neal's response to the question.
Neal didn't hesitate,"There are many cases in the history of man where lower species have defeated higher
species. As groups, it is quite common for lower species to defeat higher species. The wolf, the cape hunting dog, even a swarm of insects."
Then, very quietly, in a monotone voice, John, speaking from his subconscious, said,"Would you like to help me defeat this higher species, Civilization?"
Neal, also without conscious thoughts,"Yes."