Demon

Timothy’s

My beloved is doing exactly what he loves, exactly what he excels at. He is planning the next step in the experiment. The endeavor months ago that began with the discovery of the use of energy to allow Guardians to speak to each other at a distance, has metamorphosed into Natalie’s Jonathan Project. It is one ongoing discovery of all things relating to Guardians.

I send him my feelings of approval and admiration, but I do not whisper to him. Even I wish to be still, to support his concentration.

The room is silent but for the scratch of Timothy’s pencil against the paper. After several minutes, he finishes writing and looks back over the last few pages in his notebook. He nods, satisfied with the plan.

Looking up, he says, “Okay, I have some questions.” Natalie grins.

“First,” he says, “I would like a more precise description of souls in general. Then I want to move on to what is going on with Jonathan’s soul. Angel, what else can you tell us about how souls work?”

Natalie’s Guardian smiles, pleased that my dearest has taken control of the questioning. It is this process that has, many times, led us to a deeper understanding of important topics.

This will be very difficult to explain, though. The nature of Guardians and the nature of human souls have been so entangled, for so long, that Angel must pause for a moment to consider how to begin.

“I believe, my children, that to answer this question, I must provide some background information about Guardians.”

Timothy nods, expecting this. This is not the first time that Angel’s explanations must start with a deeper history, before Timothy’s questions can be answered.

“A long time ago, very very long, many thousands of years before the bible was written, even long before humans began building cities, is when this story must begin.”

Natalie perks up at the mention of the bible. This has been a subject of her intense interest and study recently, ever since Angel imparted to her and Timothy the shocking news that humans invented the concept of God and religion. She has wished to understand how religions develop, and then to find a way to bring other humans to a place of understanding and peace in which there is no longer any reason or desire to battle each other over their religious beliefs. Part of her process has been to learn about the historical truth of the biblical stories. She has been somewhat stymied in this effort by the events involving Jonathan, and has not yet been able to obtain books about biblical archeology as she has wished. Therefore, she hopes that this discussion will provide additional insight. However, the events Angel is referring to occurred long before humans ever imagined the concept of religion.

Angel considers how to proceed, then adds, “I must take you still further back into the past, before we can even begin the account of souls. Are you all familiar with the concept of evolution, my children?”

Timothy raises his eyebrows, not expecting this to enter into the discussion. He has read of evolution, in the upper level science books that his teacher makes available to him when he has finished his second grade assignments. Natalie and Gabe look at each other, each having heard the word but not fully understanding the concept.

Timothy sees the perplexed expressions on their faces, and attempts to enlighten them. “Evolution is the idea that creatures change over time. They grow stronger legs or faster wings or something else useful. When a creature develops a new feature that helps them survive better, they are more likely to live long enough to have babies, then their babies can have the new feature too. Eventually when enough of these little changes happen, they end up being a different species. Like the way you’ve heard that humans evolved from apes.” He wishes to have this description confirmed. “Is that right, Angel?”

“Yes, Timothy, your definition is accurate. With evolution, a species will continue to grow and develop, generation by generation, gaining advantages over time. This is how humans came into being. Millions of years ago, apelike creatures adapted to their changing environment by developing new abilities, such as how to walk upright. Their bodies changed over many generations, eventually creating legs more suited to walking, hands more suited to grasping, and so on.” Angel pauses to allow Natalie to finish repeating the words, and to ensure that each of the children is following along with the information.

“As the human body slowly came closer to the way it is shaped today, so did the human mind adapt to the changing conditions. The brain grew, and achieved new skills and understanding. The new abilities were passed down through the generations, each new individual acquiring the adaptations of their ancestors.”

Timothy is rapt with attention. He wonders how it is that Angel is able to teach this lesson, when he has previously told them that the children must be the ones to achieve their own learning, and that Guardians can only help them understand what they have studied. Angel wishes to clarify this.

“There is no human course of education that could enlighten you regarding matters involving Guardians. As a Guardian I would not be familiar with many of the topics you might study, and it would be best to allow you to learn academic subjects on your own, then discuss them with me later. However, I am able to provide this particular instruction, because this knowledge is deeply ingrained in the identity of all Guardians. This is a fundamental part of who we are, and why we are here.”

Timothy and Natalie begin feeling a sense of wonder, realizing that they have touched here upon one of the deep mysteries of reality, and that they will be learning information unavailable to other humans. Gabe listens, accepting the lesson without considering the deeper ramifications.

Angel waits a moment to ensure that the children have understood him so far, then continues. “As early humans adapted to changes in their environment and gained new skills, the glimmers of their first societies began to emerge. They had long known how to use tools, for instance, but began making more advanced versions. They began building more intricate shelters. They began creating other objects to assist them in their lives, such as containers and clothing. Many of their skills grew, as their brains developed and changed over the generations.”

The children follow along with the recitation of their early history, Timothy nodding as each new piece of information is absorbed.

“The evolution of humans continued, assisting them in their development, until one day a new adaptation arose, the most significant evolutionary change yet. A human was born whose brain had an innate ability to attract the matter of which Guardians are made.”

“Dark matter,” interjects Timothy.

“Yes, my child, your scientists refer to it as dark matter.” Timothy and Natalie look at each other, having been told before of dark matter and its relation to Guardians. “This new human adaptation drew a bit of dark matter to it. There was something about the human’s mind that attracted this matter, gathered a tiny bit, and held it within. This was the beginning of the human soul. It was rudimentary compared to how it has evolved today, but it made all the difference to the human who possessed it.”

The children listen with wide eyes, enraptured by this description. It had not occurred to them previously to speculate about how souls came into being. This is wondrous news to them. As always, Angel pauses after every sentence or two, in order to allow Natalie to repeat the information to the other children.

“The first human soul added to the abilities of the human who bore it. That human had enhanced creativity, and was therefore able to conceive of new ways to do things. This assisted the human’s community, and improved their mutual chances for survival. This individual was admired by the other humans, due to the innovations that added to the comfort and success of the community. When that human reproduced, the adaptation allowing for a tiny bit of dark matter to be incorporated into the mind was passed down to their children.”

I lovingly observe as Timothy’s mind processes these facts, busily categorizing each facet of the new information, considering further avenues of questioning to expand his understanding of the subject.

Angel continues. “The descendants of the first human who had the rudimentary soul were equally as creative and useful to their communities. The other humans began to revere them, and attempt to imitate their designs. Within a few generations, many humans possessed the dark matter characteristic, and human society had begun to blossom with creativity, and with new innovations. Humans began to conceive of using art to enhance their products, and there was a veritable explosion of inventions and changes to the products that they used in their daily lives. This occurred some fifty or sixty thousand years ago, and modern archeologists have noticed that at this time human society underwent a significant transformation. Thus began the earliest hints of human civilization.”

Natalie and Timothy are fascinated, while Gabe is becoming somewhat overwhelmed with the volume of information being delivered. He wonders if this is really how his sister and her friend spend all their time. Aaron whispers encouragement to him, to help him focus his attention. Angel tries to wrap up the historical portion of the lesson.

“As the number of humans with the new dark matter adaptation expanded, additional matter was attracted to the locations in which these humans resided. Eventually, the matter itself began to adapt. While more and more of it gathered, and the concentration of it became denser, it began to surround the human communities. As the humans with the adaptation lived their lives and then died, the matter they had held was released back into the gathering mass, and the memories contained within the matter survived. As each of the memories merged with the others, and the volume of dark matter attracted to the area increased, a new consciousness was formed. The Guardians were born.”

Timothy is intensely focused. “So, evolution happened to both humans and guardians, right?”

“Yes, Timothy, that is a good way to put it. Guardians evolved to accompany the humans as they developed. Within a few more generations, almost all humans had this adaptation. The volume of dark matter surrounding them was great indeed, and each time a new human was born with the characteristic, when their ability to capture dark matter was triggered, a Guardian accompanied the little spark of matter which was to become that human’s soul. This has continued throughout the millennia. Eventually every human had the same characteristic, and therefore all humans have a soul, comprised of a tiny amount of dark matter, and Guarded by one of us.”

As Angel concludes the history, the children each reflect upon the new knowledge. Gabe accepts the history of souls and Guardians as he does much of his other learning, with acceptance but not obsession. Natalie is filled with delight to know of the background of her beloved Angel. Timothy ponders the scientific aspects of the lesson, wondering how the mind captures the dark matter, what it was that caused the Guardians to begin tending to individual humans, and whether human scientists would be able to invent instruments to locate the dark matter within the human brain. He makes notations in his notebook.

Angel smiles upon the children as they absorb the lesson, waiting for them to be ready to proceed.

Timothy is gathering follow-up questions in his mind. However, Gabe speaks first. “So, what’s the deal with Jonathan’s soul?” Of course Gabe wishes to focus on the specifics of how his best friend is impacted by this knowledge, rather than on the esoteric and philosophical implications of the creation of souls. He wants tangible, current answers.

Natalie looks to Timothy, knowing that he was planning to ask more questions about the background, but he decides to wait for those questions, and instead echoes Gabe’s inquiry. “Yes,” he says, “please tell us what is going on with Jonathan now.”