Free The Cupel Recruits by Susan Willshire Page A

that level of detail in the future, but for now, think of this as an overview class.”
    “An overview of what-what’s the subject matter?” Gabriel asked, eyeing Saraceni intently for signs of lying.
    “Let’s call it ‘Nature of the Universe 101’, for now. Today’s a pretty basic day, foundational information, so let’s begin,” came Saraceni’s reply. Gabriel’s gaze remained on Saraceni like a laser, but could find no signs that Saraceni was hiding a weapons program or something equally dubious. The class looked at each other measuring reactions to this.
    “So, you mean like how the universe was created and all that?” asked Kyle Chambers, the sixteen-year-old.
    “Among other things,” Saraceni confirmed.
    “Most of us are scientists. We know this already. Or at least have pretty definite opinions of our own, I imagine,” David Running Wolf observed.
    “Oh do you?” answered Saraceni, “I don’t deal in opinions in here. I deal in fact, but we are not starting with how it all began, we are instead going to start with what it is, the basic nature of the universe. Much of what we discuss here is not as much for you to learn , but to relearn-to take what you already know and put it in the proper context.”
    “So what is the universe?” asked Saraceni. The room was silent for about ten seconds before a voice ventured to enter the discussion.
    “A collection of planets and other astronomical occurrences, like black holes,” answered Kyle.
    “In part. So, what are those things called at a simple level?”
    “Matter,” offered Jane Gray Windsor
    “Right, mostly, but is it correct to say the universe is matter? What else is it?” Saraceni continued.
    “Space,” added George.
    “In part, what else is it?” Saraceni looked at the class wondering who would get the closest answer. None of them would get the whole answer, of course, but conceptual thinking showed promise and he tracked his recruit’s participation carefully.
    “An interaction of matter, space and time…” Gabriel began and then paused
    “Good, they interact-for what purpose?” Saraceni walked toward Gabriel at the back table with enthusiasm, as if to encourage his thinking with proximity, offering some of his own energy.
    “To further life?” Gabriel answered.
    “Okay, let’s assume it’s to further life. Why? Why further life? What difference does it make?” Saraceni asked.
    “Well, if we don’t further life, we don’t exist. Our species doesn’t continue, or any other species, for that matter,” Kyle responded again from the front of the room. Saraceni backed up to be more inclusive.
    “For that matter,” Saraceni laughed, “excellent double entendre, Kyle, but what does it matter if life continues. Who cares?”
    “We do,” Enam replied, “People...and animals, too, I guess. We care if we live.”
    “Okay, so we care now that the universe is here,” Saraceni prompted, “but if we have matter, space and time interacting to promote life, what would have been the initial goal of their interaction?” he asked.
    “You mean when created? I thought you said we weren’t going to talk about how the universe was created today?” Juliet challenged.
    “That’s right, Juliet, we’ll talk about how it was created another day, but we are discussing why it was created, which is key to understanding the nature of it-how it works, its purpose.” Saraceni paused and could see Juliet’s wheels turning. “So, I repeat, what’s the goal of that interaction?”
    “You mean God’s plan?” it was the first dialogue in two days from Chandra Wells, a woman in her early thirties who sat at the front right table next to Kyle. Chandra had minored in religious studies, so her response was not surprising to Saraceni, but he wanted to avoid religious doctrine at this point. With her finally speaking that left only one recruit in the room, Jack Reedson, the actor, who had not spoken yet.
    “Chandra, we need to table any