Ana May's Last Supper
Chapter 4
John had contacted Stephen Moore and arranged a meeting at the McCarthy Union with himself, Moore, and Astor.
John was there early. He sat down facing the wood relief sculpture of Joe McCarthy and a child.
Neal entered and came over. He also had someone with him. It was Sherri Lawson, one of John's students.
Neal said. "I hope you don't mind that Sherri came along. We spend a lot of time together, and I probably couldn't spare the time without her involvement.
"Sure", John said.
Neal continued, "She is a Social Work major, and has a lot of interest in Civilization."
"Good", John said as he looked around. He was looking for Stephen. Stephen had said he would be wearing an army green cap.
"Hi Sherri", John said as he realized he was ignoring Sherri and Neal. He added,"It is fine to have Sherri along. I am sure we will have to recruit more.""Oh, their's Stephen."
John stood up, saying,"Stephen, over here."
Stephen was about five feet ten with bushy brown hair. He wore a blue chambray shirt with sandals.
After the introductions Stephen sat down. He then asked,"What is the situation?"
John explained the situation to this point, glancing between Sherri and Stephen.
After a short pause, Stephen was the first to speak, "It sounds like Anama"
Sherri said, "Who is Ana May?"
Stephen replies,"Anama or Ana May as you call her is the soul of life. Or the giving of life where there previously was none. It is latin, related to the word animate."
John said, "Ana May sounds like a good name for her." John continued,"Well, Stephen, what do you think?"
Stephen, "It sounds interesting, but how are we going to hunt Ana May?"
Sherri said,"Brother Matthew in the Sociology Department has been working on computer programs that supposedly can predict the future course of civilization by plotting it's past. Perhaps we can talk to him."
John, "Can, or should I say may, you make an arrangement for us to see his program?"
Sherri,"I will see."
Neal, who had been silent, now spoke,"Since this will be a complex, task I know a computer wiz, Phillip Mayberry, who may help us".
Neal, looking at John, "Do you have any idea as to how we can successfully hunt Ana May?"
John, "Yes! But the ideas aren't completely formed. I will try to get my thoughts together by the meeting with Brother Matthew. Also bring Mayberry along."
The meeting was arranged for Thursday in the Business Register building. John needed the next four days to sort out his thoughts. He went to his room in Goebbels Hall dorm.
He took off his shoes and laid on the bed. He clasped his hands behind his head, and stared up at the ceiling.
In a few seconds, he reached over to the phone and dialed a local number.
The phone played its music with the dial tone in John's ear. Then the ring...ring...ring.
"Hello!"a voice answered.
"Is this Garry Ellison?"
"Yes."
"Hi, Garry, this is John Campbell. Haven't seen you for awhile."
"Hi John. What can I do for you?"
"I need your telephone expertese. A small group of people and I are working on a project, and we are lacking knowledge in your field."
"What is the project?" Garry asked.
"It's a little complex. If you could come to our next meeting We can fill you in. We are meeting at the Business Register building lobby Thursday at 6:00 p.m."
"Can you make it?"John continued.
"I think I can." replied Garry.
"Thanks. See you then."
"Bye"
John hung up the phone and laid back down on the bed.
His thoughts went back to when he was a young man. He and Garry had been in the Air Force together. Garry had objected to the Vietnam War and refused to fight. The Air Force system had harassed him, but Garry had stayed with his conscience.
They had said they would send him to Vietnam anyway, and he would have a choice to either die or kill. He stayed with them and said that was OK, but he would not kill for his Country or anyone else.
They did not send him. They sent him to Telephone/Electronic school instead. Garry had been in contact with him off and on since they had lived near each other since their discharge. Garry was now working for Ohio Phone Service.
John thought that Garry always seemed not to belong in this society. Garry was a nice person. He would not let anything bother him. He always seemed happy, and would concede an argument even though you knew he could have won if he had chosen
to pursue it. Perhaps he had tired of fighting the system with the Air Force.
John continued tracing backward the pathways of his mind. His thoughts went back again to when he entered Eastern Kentucky as a freshman.
The world was exciting then. It seemed that everyone cared about the right things. Everyone cared about humanity. People counted then. . The machine was the enemy.. Statistics and the system were about to be controlled by man. But by now,
it was all gone. Business, Government, Statistics had all become more important than man. What happened? The question continued over in his mind several times. "Perhaps we can find the answers as we hunt Ana May," he said to himself, and went to sleep.