They discussed the questions that had come at the end of his lecture. From Malcolm’s point of view, there had been only the predictable objections: that mass extinctions were important; that human beings owed their existence to the Cretaceous extinction, which had wiped out the dinosaurs and allowed the mammals to take over. As one questioner had pompously phrased it, “The Cretaceous allowed our own sentient awareness to arise on the planet.”
Malcom’s reply was immediate: “What makes you think human beings are sentient and aware? There’s no evidence for it. Human beings never think for themselves they find it too uncomfortable. For the most part, members of our species simply repeat what they are told -and become upset if they are exposed to any different view. The characteristic human trait is not awareness but conformity, and the characteristic result is religious warfare. Other animals fight for territory or food; but, uniquely in the animal kingdom, human beings fight for their ‘beliefs.’ The reason is that beliefs guide behavior, which has evolutionary importance among human beings. But at a time when our behavior may, well lead us to extinction, I see no reason to assume we have any awareness at all. We are stubborn, self-destructive conformists. Any other view of our species is just a self-congratulatory delusion. Next question.”
Now, walking across the courtyard, Sarah Harding laughed. “They didn’t care for that.”
I admit it’s discouraging,” he said. “But it can’t be helped.” He shook his head. “These are some of the best scientists in the country, and still…no interesting ideas. By the way, what’s the story on that guy who interrupted me?”
“Richard Levine?” She laughed. “Irritating, isn’t he? He has a worldwide reputation for being a pain in the ass.”
Malcolm grunted. “I’d say.”
“He’s wealthy, is the problem,” Harding said, “You know about the Becky dolls?”
“No,” Malcolm said, giving her a glance.
“Well, every little girl in America does. There’s a series: Becky and Sally and Frances, and several more. They’re Americana dolls. Levine is the heir of the company. So he’s a smartass rich kid, Impetuous, does whatever he wants.”
Malcolm nodded. “You have time for lunch?”
“Sure, I would be – ”
“Dr. Malcolm! Wait up! Please! Dr. Malcolm!”
Malcom turned. Hurrying across the courtyard toward them was the gangling figure of Richard Levine.
“Ah, shit,” Malcolm said.
“Dr. Malcolm,” Levine said, coming up. “I was surprised that you didn’t take my proposal more seriously.”
“How could I?” Malcolm said. “It’s absurd.”
“Yes, but – ”
“Ms. Harding and I were just going to lunch,” Malcolm said, gesturing to Sarah.
“Yes, but I think you should reconsider,” Levine said, pressing on. “Because I believe my argument is valid – it is entirely possible, even likely, that dinosaurs still exist. You must know there are persistent rumors about animals in Costa Rica, where I believe you have spent time.”
“Yes, and in the case of Costa Rica I can tell you – ”
“Also in the Congo,” Levine said, continuing. “For years there have been reports by pygmies of a large sauropod, perhaps even an apatosaur, in the dense forest around Bokambu. And also in the high jungles of Irian Jaya, there is supposedly an animal the size of a rhino, which perhaps is a remnant ceratopsian – ”
“Fantasy,” Malcolm said. “Pure fantasy. Nothing has ever been seen. No photographs. No hard evidence.”
“Perhaps not,” Levine said. “But absence of proof is not proof of absence. I believe there may well be a locus of these animals, survivals from a past time.”
Malcolm shrugged. “Anything is possible,” he said.
“But in point of fact, survival is possible,” Levine insisted. “I keep getting calls about new animals in Costa Rica. Remnants, fragments.”
Malcolm paused. “Recently?”
“Not for a while.”
“Umm,” Malcolm said. “I thought so.”
“The last call was nine months ago,” Levine said. “I was in Siberia looking at that frozen baby mammoth, and I couldn’t get back in time. But I’m told it was some kind of very large, atypical lizard, found dead In the jungle of Costa Rica.”
“And? What happened to it?”
“The remains were burned.”
“So nothing is left?”
“That’s right.”