The Genesis Illusion

Chapter 10

The flight from the US to Singapore is an insidious form of torture. The total elapsed time is over 24 hours even with good connections. Coping with the flight takes mental preparation. I'll put myself in a self-induced coma. Then I can just float through the flight and airport connection waiting. It'll seem like it really isn't happening.

Since Paul had been to Singapore in the past, he knew what to expect. Once he got to LAX airport, he knew the next leg would be over 12 hours. It stopped at Narita airport in Tokyo and then another seven-hour flight before arriving in Singapore. I've got to get ready for this long trip. Flying in economy class makes it even more difficult. The airline makes it almost tolerable because their food usually is quite good and the leg room is decent even in economy. I've got my blowup pillow and muscle relaxers I like to take because of my sore back, eyeshades, and earplugs.

While Paul was putting his carryon in the overhead storage bin a man said, "Sir, my grandfather is in the seat next to you. Would you switch seats with me so I could sit next to him on the trip? I'm sitting right back there about five rows on the aisle."

"Sure, I don't see why not? Let me get my bag out of the overhead and I'll move back. What was seat number again?"

"51D."

Getting resettled Paul readied himself for the long flight. It'll be great to see Maria. It was nice for her and her uncle to offer to meet me at the airport. Lee's apartment is in the Bukit Timah neighborhood but I'm staying at Clarke Quay. The driving distance isn't very far and there won't be any traffic at 1 o'clock in the morning. I'll do a little work before they serve dinner and then I hope I can sleep. I want to sleep on the second leg from Tokyo to Singapore. That leg is around seven hours so hopefully I can sleep then.

After dinner finished, there was a lot of movement in the plane. People were using the toilets and getting settled for the night ahead. There was a lot of talking and a few screaming kids as everyone made their last sounds before trying to sleep.

Paul turned on his reading light and pulled out his laptop to do a little work. People had settled down in the cabin as many were trying to sleep so it became relatively quiet. Paul, however, didn't want any interruptions, so he inserted the airline earbuds and tuned the entertainment system to an easy listening music channel. The low volume was enough to mask incidental noises but not so loud to be disturbing.

I won't be interviewing the inventors for two days but one thing I want to do is to ask them about their IQ's. Many people have taken an IQ test either at school or maybe at work. Maybe I'll be lucky and can get their IQ score from them or one of these other sources. I took an IQ test when I was an undergrad in college and scored a 109. Pretty average. I should take it again to see if it changed. If they haven't taken an IQ test, I'll try to get them to take a short test. IQ tests online take only a few minutes. If they refuse to take the IQ test, I'll try to ask them questions that will help me find out if they have a high IQ or even though I won't be able to just their precise score.

I saved a few potential questions on my computer. Paul searched his files and found the questions labeled 'For Genius's Only'. I'll write my answers down and then look them up in the back of the book later to see how I would do.

This one seems too easy. The answer is obvious:

Which number doesn't belong? 84129, 32418, 47632, 36119, 67626, 72927

Maybe this one would be more difficult? Nope, trivial:

Which two letters come next? A Z B Y D W G T ? ?

What about this one? This is the easiest one yet.

What number should replace the question mark? 4. 5, 16, 49, ? , 445

These are too easy, but the guide book says they are hard for a genius. Well, they'll just have to do I guess. Perhaps the time it takes is important? They must be fast for a high IQ?

Other than that I need to find out what motivated them to invent and apply for patents. What was their interest in the topics they chose? From the patent applications provided to the Division by the Singapore IPO (Intellectual Property Office) most of the patents were for medicine and medical treatment devices. A few, however, were more engineering oriented and a couple even appeared to have military application.

Oh, I almost forgot. My answers to the genius IQ questions: 47632, KP, 148. Now let's look at the answers in my notes. All correct. Genius, Ha! Paul dosed off but awoke intermittently all night while sitting in the economy airline seat.

Arriving at Changi Airport in Singapore Paul was groggy. I slept, I guess because the second leg from Narita seemed short. I filled out the immigration form on the plane so unless there is a long wait for luggage I should be able to get out pretty quickly.

The spacious immigration hall was reached by descending a set of long escalators. Several agents stationed there took forms and checked passports. Short lines developed at each agent's position.

"Hey, thanks again for changing seats with me," said the guy from the plane.

"I'm glad it helped. It feels good to get out of that seat though," Paul said. The man nodded in agreement from the adjacent line.

Paul reached the agent and handed him the immigration form and his passport. The agent paused and looked at Paul and motioned him to another agent waiting to hand check carry-on luggage. I never had to do this before.

"What are you talking about!" the man in the next line shouted. "I don't have any drugs in my luggage. I've never taken drugs in my life." That's the guy that changed seats with me. I guess you never know. Officers were restraining the man and one of them holding what appeared to be a baggie containing a white substance. Paul looked at the red printed message in all caps on the stub of his immigration form: WARNING DEATH FOR DRUG TRAFFICERS UNDER SINGAPORE LAW.

After Paul's bag was hand-checked, he went right through to collect his luggage. Looking back at the immigration stations, he could see agents checking the carryon luggage of several other men. Paul retrieved his luggage and went through customs.

As he exited the international arrivals area, he saw Maria outside the glass wall waiting so he shouted, "Maria, over here." Startled from her daydream she jerked her head toward Paul's voice.

"Wow, Paul, you got through immigration fast," Maria said a little flustered. "How was your flight?"

"Long."

Maria looked at him knowingly. "Paul, I want you to meet my uncle Lee."

Lee was shorter than Maria and much older. He looked tired and Paul noticed he grasped the railing in front of the international arrivals door that led from customs. His untucked blue short-sleeve sport shirt and casual cotton slacks were typical non-business attire.

"Nice to meet you Mr. Koh," Paul said shaking Lee's hand. A limp unpleasant handshake compared to Paul's firm grasp learned from his father.

"Maria has told me a little about you and the incident in New York," Lee said. "A horrible tragedy."

"Yes, we're both still upset about what happened," Paul said.

"It will take time," Lee said. Maria and Lee drove Paul to his hotel, the Quayside Hotel on Clarke Quay.

"Thank you so much for the lift," Paul said, as he headed into the hotel. "It's time for some sleep."

"That's probably best," Maria said. "Call me if you would like to come over after you rest. Otherwise we'll get together on Sunday, as planned."

Paul settled into his room by checking out the TV and examining the bathroom toiletries. After getting a few things out of his luggage, he hung up his dress shirts and suit to remove the wrinkles. He crawled into bed trying to sleep. No appointments until noon tomorrow. Exhausted from the trip and after 3am local time sleep seemed inevitable but his internal biological clock said it was early afternoon so he dozed an hour at a time the rest of the night.