...And We Will Have Snow

Chapter 6-10: Jen

They quickly found Ryan and Rosita, who re-introduced Bear and Xayna to some of the shell dwellers they had already met. Being there in person made it easier for them to mix and mingle and get acquainted, particularly at meal times. So when Ryan and Rosita had to leave them on their own, they did not have any trouble finding different parts of the operation to visit. Sedna tagged along and was welcomed, but many people were not fully comfortable with her drone presence, so she mostly played the role of a silent observer.

They already knew that Zeke had an impressive cadre of devoted oceanographers in the Shell. Spending time with some of them helped the visitors realize just how impressive and how devoted they were. Bear learned far more than he really cared to about phytoplankton and various types of seaweed.

Several of the researchers were quite familiar with Cheryl and Karen's work at WBI. One of them was Jennifer Bishop. She made a number of comments about the undervalued importance of algae in controlling CO2 levels. Bear tried to field her questions about Cheryl's most recent work, but Xayna was better informed on that than he was, so he deferred to her with some relief.

They soon concluded that these people were all quite committed to understanding and maintaining the biological balance of the seas. But they were also very familiar with the Dome Dream, and many were fans of Bear and Xayna. Like Zeke, they were already well acquainted with the World Dream.

Sedna's presence elicited some comments about that. Their initial reaction was sheer awe, but if they were wearing lenses she quickly put them at ease with the completely friendly way she answered their questions.

Jen Bishop in particular wanted to talk about it. She led them to a little room near her lab, where they could all pull up seats around a small table. Jen's research specialty was what she called microcurrents, local differences in the water's movement, temperature and other factors that favored some types of marine life over others.

Sedna asked about that, as she thought it might be something she could feature in the World Dream. Jen gave her plenty of ideas. Bubbling with enthusiasm she said, "Rosita showed me how to use QAR to understand them better. Like, when the configuration of the sea bottom shifts due to upwellings or some other change, that can produce a distinct microcurrent." Jen paused momentarily to gauge the attention of her audience. It was an unconscious habit she'd picked up in her days as a teaching assistant. They were all with her, so she went on.

"Every time this happens, the types of life best suited for it seem to show up spontaneously, even when the nearest known similar concentration is hundreds of miles away. How they get there has always been a mystery. Now we know they are linked through the Q. When conditions are similar, the Q sets up a resonance. Even distantly related local life forms shift into the resonant forms and thrive."

Xayna was nodding her head vigorously. Bear said, "Every critter has its own shaman dream."

Jen understood. "You know, every biologist learns in college about shamans of the Amazon and other places in South America, how a lot of modern medicines were developed from their lore. When we came here we got familiar with stories of local Mexican shamans. Lots of us get to meet some of them personally in our field work. The funny thing about that was, the shamans, or whatever they called themselves in their local dialect, often addressed me by the same term. As if doctor means the same thing as shaman. Or vice versa."

"Maybe they're right," said Xayna.

Jen nodded. "It wasn't as if they were putting on airs, either. They seemed to assume that all people are capable of doing what shamans do. Pretty much the way we think anyone can become a doctor if they want to. I used to wonder about that. Shamanism seemed too strange to me. Now, with QAR and the World Dream, it's beginning to make sense."

Sedna, Bear and Xayna were all listening politely. Waiting for the penny to drop. Jen sat looking back at them for a moment. Then her face reddened. "I'm singing to the choir here, aren't I."

Bear said, "It's exactly what we wanted to hear. Needed to hear. Your local shamans can be so open and accepting of you because they live among believers. They assume it's the same for you. Shamans everywhere depend on developing that kind of relationship. Including us. With you."

Jen got it. "Wow. Of course. In our civilized world, it's not that easy, is it. So many people have lost that natural connection to the soil, to the blood-and-guts reality of life that used to be part of everyone's heritage and direct experience. Our college-educated elite are often the most isolated. They learn to think they have entered an exclusive club, that their understanding is superior to that of the common folk. The extent of their advanced learning makes this so obviously true to them that they don't inspect it. Unless they leave the club and get out into the real world."

Xayna nodded and said, "They live in a world of shadow-dreams, of human cultural beliefs that have grown distant from their origins."