SEVEN
"I can imagine what it was like," Phoebe said, "for the first man who translated the Rosetta stone. Or the first man to enter King Tut's tomb. Or the man who first discovered the pyramids of the Aztecs."
"I can imagine it, too" Harris replied.
"I know," Phoebe said. "Those were your words, Professor. In your first book. You were describing what it was like when you uncovered an unknown Pharaoh's tomb in Egypt."
"You're right," Harris said. "That was so long ago I had forgotten it."
"Many of your books are required reading," Phoebe said. "The way you described things made me feel as if I was almost there. They were so vivid, so realistic."
"You flatter me," Harris said.
"You've published what four books in the last ten years?" Phoebe asked.
"Yes," Harris replied. "Each was critically acclaimed. And they would never have been published if I hadn't come here. I'll be publishing another one soon. The things I've discovered since I came here will astound the scientific world."
"It's a shame you have to be so selfish," Phoebe said.
"Selfish?" Harris questioned. "I'm giving this information to the world. Even the royalties from my books go to charity. I have no use for money here."
"I remember something else you once wrote," Phoebe said. "It is the responsibility of each generation to pass on the love for antiquities and cultures long gone to the succeeding generations. To instill in them the awe and splendor represented in every culture that has walked the Earth."
"Because only in knowing where we came from," Harris quoted, "can we truly know who we are, and where we're going. I remember that."
"That's why it's selfish," Phoebe said. "Even assuming you're right and this is all and elaborate hoax to get you back, how many future generations are you depriving of that feeling? With your ability astral project, you'll discover things it would take someone else years, or a lifetime to discover.
"How many students sitting in class right now will never know that thrill? You've discovered three Pharaohs' tombs. You've helped translate the Inca and Mayan languages. You have at least two textbooks that are still used in colleges today. But that doesn't seem to be enough for you."
Harris looked at the sisters. He knew his reputation in the scientific community. His name was mentioned in the same breaths as Albert Einstein, Copernicus, and Stephen Hawking. He was one of the greats.
"I guess it really doesn't matter, anyway" Phoebe continued. "As long as you stay here there wont be any more generations. No one to instill those feelings in."
"You really believe what those angels told you, don't you?" Harris asked.
"Yes we do," Piper said. "It might sound melodramatic to you, but we've seen a lot more believe me."
"I've spent my life doing everything I could to keep the spark alive that might inspire future generations," Harris said. "I only wanted to provide a large enough spark to make sure it never went out. I knew I wouldn't live forever. I just thought a couple of extra decades wouldn't hurt."
"Well," Harris said, picking up a large envelope off the ground, "I've spent my entire life looking into the past. History doesn't mean anything if there's no one there to discover it. Would you do something for me?"
"Sure," Phoebe said.
"This is my latest manuscript," Harris said handing the envelope to Phoebe. "Would you see that it gets to my publisher?"
"I'd be glad to," said Phoebe
"I guess we should be going," Piper said.
Silently, Paige orbed the four out of the meadow.
"I can imagine what it was like," Phoebe said, "for the first man who translated the Rosetta stone. Or the first man to enter King Tut's tomb. Or the man who first discovered the pyramids of the Aztecs."
"I can imagine it, too" Harris replied.
"I know," Phoebe said. "Those were your words, Professor. In your first book. You were describing what it was like when you uncovered an unknown Pharaoh's tomb in Egypt."
"You're right," Harris said. "That was so long ago I had forgotten it."
"Many of your books are required reading," Phoebe said. "The way you described things made me feel as if I was almost there. They were so vivid, so realistic."
"You flatter me," Harris said.
"You've published what four books in the last ten years?" Phoebe asked.
"Yes," Harris replied. "Each was critically acclaimed. And they would never have been published if I hadn't come here. I'll be publishing another one soon. The things I've discovered since I came here will astound the scientific world."
"It's a shame you have to be so selfish," Phoebe said.
"Selfish?" Harris questioned. "I'm giving this information to the world. Even the royalties from my books go to charity. I have no use for money here."
"I remember something else you once wrote," Phoebe said. "It is the responsibility of each generation to pass on the love for antiquities and cultures long gone to the succeeding generations. To instill in them the awe and splendor represented in every culture that has walked the Earth."
"Because only in knowing where we came from," Harris quoted, "can we truly know who we are, and where we're going. I remember that."
"That's why it's selfish," Phoebe said. "Even assuming you're right and this is all and elaborate hoax to get you back, how many future generations are you depriving of that feeling? With your ability astral project, you'll discover things it would take someone else years, or a lifetime to discover.
"How many students sitting in class right now will never know that thrill? You've discovered three Pharaohs' tombs. You've helped translate the Inca and Mayan languages. You have at least two textbooks that are still used in colleges today. But that doesn't seem to be enough for you."
Harris looked at the sisters. He knew his reputation in the scientific community. His name was mentioned in the same breaths as Albert Einstein, Copernicus, and Stephen Hawking. He was one of the greats.
"I guess it really doesn't matter, anyway" Phoebe continued. "As long as you stay here there wont be any more generations. No one to instill those feelings in."
"You really believe what those angels told you, don't you?" Harris asked.
"Yes we do," Piper said. "It might sound melodramatic to you, but we've seen a lot more believe me."
"I've spent my life doing everything I could to keep the spark alive that might inspire future generations," Harris said. "I only wanted to provide a large enough spark to make sure it never went out. I knew I wouldn't live forever. I just thought a couple of extra decades wouldn't hurt."
"Well," Harris said, picking up a large envelope off the ground, "I've spent my entire life looking into the past. History doesn't mean anything if there's no one there to discover it. Would you do something for me?"
"Sure," Phoebe said.
"This is my latest manuscript," Harris said handing the envelope to Phoebe. "Would you see that it gets to my publisher?"
"I'd be glad to," said Phoebe
"I guess we should be going," Piper said.
Silently, Paige orbed the four out of the meadow.
