Chapter 421
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One of the Ark people that Adam and Eve talked to mentioned an interesting question. Three cavemen are sitting around the cave sharing meat. They see a man on a horse riding towards them. One man grabs his spear. Another waves and offers the stranger food. The third man hides behind a rock. Which of these three is most likely to survive and pass his genes along to future generations? Eve thought about the riddle. It was vague as to whether this man on the horse was a threat. If he was, he'd kill the man with food and steal it. He might not challenge the guy with the weapon if he's already stolen the trusting man's food. Or he might kill the guy with the spear first. Or perhaps he wasn't a threat. But he sees a guy pointing his spear at him, so he kills the man he views as a threat. Then he kills the trusting man, because he thinks it's a trick. Either way, he likely doesn't view the man hiding behind the rock as a threat. If he already stole the others' food, he likely wouldn't risk his life to kill the last man. However one looked at it, the coward was the one most likely to survive and pass his genes along to others. The implications for current times were obvious. Those who'd helped others, put the collective good ahead of themselves, most hadn't survived. But the most war-like, those eager to fight and die, they also hadn't likely survived. Eve had always been in the middle somewhere, helping others, but also surviving herself. And these were the genes she'd passed on to Hope, to the first generation to be raised in the Arks.
It was now October 1st, 2036. Eve was watching comedy from right after Febuary 4th, gallows humor that people needed to get through each day. One comedian joked that he was looking forward to the end. While everyone else was saying "Oh God! We're all going to die!" he'd be the one saying "Hey, noone's guarding those Ferrari dealerships." Another said that after civilization ended nomads could come to his house and hang out. From what Buck told them humor had survived, even on the Arks. The first generation needed this, they would have the hardest time adapting. Without some gallows humor, they would probably end up on an actual gallows.
After 2/4 Eve had nightmares, trouble sleeping. She'd thought about suicide, even before her mother did it. Eve knew that, even if this place survived, she and Adam would die. One of them would die first, leaving the other alone here. The thought of being alone, old frail, frightened Eve. One day, in early October, she talked about this with Adam.
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Eve: If I died, would you kill yourself?
Adam: No if it happenned today. I'd keep reporting to Buck, others. Let themknow the status of this place. But, if it happenned fifty years from now. They'd know all they needed. The thought of being here alone, after fifty years of being with you. I think I might use the gun.
Eve: You're not worried about God's punishment for suicide?
Adam: Not at this point. When we're alone, no way to help the Arks. I'm not sure I even believe in christianity anymore. Besides, if God really does forgive my other sins, he'll forgive that.
Eve: Probably. I'm not sure I'd risk it though. I'm not sure I wouldn't.
Adam: We'll figure it out one day, or one of us will. But let's hope it doesn't happen for another fifty years.