Discipline is the highest form of intelligence.
13
The government-appointed psychiatrist continues jotting down notes on a smart-pad, his presence in Dominique’s living room more than a bit unnerving. ‘Go on, Mrs. Gabriel.’
Dominique’s hand quivers as she tucks her hair behind her ears. ‘Jacob thinks he’s Superman, and a few of his trainers-you know, all the Smith and Jones CIA guys, I think they encourage it. Jake’s ego’s out of hand, and God help you if you try to argue with him, unless you want an earful about Mayan Under Lords and Death Gods. He quotes endless passages from the goddam Popol Vuh. Xibalba this and Xibalba that-’
‘Xibalba?’ Dr. Shyam Tanna looks up from his smart-pad. ‘Please, what is Xibalba?’
‘The Mayan Underworld, a place he’s convinced his father was exiled to. This is all my fault. I was so stupid, letting his Aunt Evelyn brainwash me. I never should have given Jake his grandfather’s journal or let him read all that Mayan mumbo jumbo. I created a… a Mayan monster.’
‘Mrs. Gabriel, while Jacob’s fantasies concern me, my primary reason in seeing you today was to talk to you about your son’s I.Q. To say it’s way off the scale is almost an insult to Jacob.’
‘I know. His brain’s like a sponge, it absorbs everything.’
‘Of that I have no doubt. However, it is this Hunahpu gene that causes us the greatest concern. Extensive analysis of the chromosomes affected by the gene indicate that Jacob’s condition lends itself to an extreme form of schizophrenia. Now, I’ve taken the time to review his father’s medical records and-’
‘Mick wasn’t schizophrenic!’
‘He was diagnosed paranoid schizophrenic by two major institutions.’
‘It was all a setup. Pierre Borgia wanted him put away permanently.’
‘Perhaps. But consider the possibility that Michael Gabriel showed signs of oncoming dementia-signs that, emotionally, your heart refused to allow you to see. And with Jacob, the Hunahpu gene appears much more dominant.’
‘What are you telling me? That I should institutionalize my son?’
‘If not now, then at the first sign of dementia.’
‘Forget it, I won’t do it, and he’d never stand for it anyway.’
‘And that, in itself, is a problem. An adolescent with Jacob’s strength and intelligence makes for a very difficult individual to rear, let alone control. What will you do when the schizophrenia takes over and Jacob starts responding to commands from his Mayan warlords? What if he claims to be receiving messages from his long-lost father? You were a psych major, Mrs. Gabriel. You know the ramifications if you fail to act. Jacob could easily hurt himself, or worse, he could hurt his brother.’
‘We can medicate him. There’s so many new prescription drugs that-’
‘Nothing strong enough to handle this. Mrs. Gabriel, Jacob needs to be placed in a controlled environment where we can properly monitor his condition while protecting him from himself.’
‘Just call it what it really is, Doctor. You want to imprison him in one of your fancy labs.’
2:17 a.m.
Small waves lap at the beach beneath a cloud-covered night sky.
Fourteen-year-old Jacob Gabriel settles himself into a lotus position and closes his eyes, focusing inward.
Jaaaaacob. The female’s voice seduces him from beyond the mist.
Cut it out, Lilith, I can’t speak with you now.
You never seem to have time for me lately, she pouts.
Hey, you’re the one with all the friends.
Jealous?
No.
Liar. I have loads of friends and you only have your stupid brother, and he can’t stand you.
Whatever.
By the way, Brandy says she wants to come with me when I meet you. She’s already checked into bus tickets.
Lilith, I told you, my mother won’t allow you into the compound. If she even suspected I was talking to someone with Hunahpu blood, she’d never give me another moment alone.
Well, we can’t allow that. You’d never be able to play with yourself.
Shut up.
Do you think of me when you masturbate?
God, Lilith… I think you’ve been hanging out with Brandy too long.
Does your mommy expect you to be celibate all your life?
I told you before, it’s the whole Abomination thing. It makes her paranoid.
Jacob, we weren’t created in a lab. There must be a thousand other people out there with Hunahpu blood. Maybe ten thousand. As for this crazy Abomination thing, I was born a full eight months after you and your brother. Want me to e-mail you my birth certificate again?
No.
Then sneak out of the compound and meet me at a hotel.
I can’t. Lilith, I want to be with you, but things are crazy around here right now.
How can we ever get married if we can’t even arrange a simple date?
What makes you so sure I want to marry you?
Because we’re soul mates and you love me… and you like girls with long hair and big breasts. Want me to e-mail you another picture?
No, I mean, uh yeah, sure. I like that last one. Just make sure that crazy old bastard doesn’t catch you in the bathroom with the digital.
If I don’t meet you soon, maybe I’ll just have to let Quenton have his way with me.
Shut up and go to sleep.
Bye lover. Say hi to daddy for me.
Bye.
Jacob waits until her presence disappears before refocusing his mind.
Father? Father, please answer, it’s been so long since our last communication. Father, please, there are things I need to know I’m here, Jacob. I’m here.
Finally! Where have you been? I’ve tried for so long to reach you.
The movement of space-time affects our ability to communicate. I missed you, son.
Me too. There’s so much I want to tell you. Is it safe to talk?
Yes. I can feel newfound strength in your communication, making it harder for the Abomination to track our thoughts. How old are you now?
Fourteen.
Fourteen. My God. How is your mother?
Not good. The passage of time is causing her to lose faith. She’s doubting her existence as First Mother.
The journey’s hard on her. You haven’t told her about me?
No. She couldn’t deal with it.
