Chapter 25

  The heavy double doors to the conference room opened. A group of administrators from the previous meeting flowed out. The physics lab department staff waiting in the hall made their way to their seats in the conference room. The utilitarian room held a thick slab conference table with thirteen chairs. Dean Marcos sat at the head of the table. Each position around the conference table had a desk lamp. The desk lamp lit Dean Marcos’ face from below. A large video screen dominated the wall behind the head of the table where Dean Marcos was seated. The light from the hall was extinguished as a student assistant shut the doors. The room was dimly lit by the video screen and some indirect lighting around the perimeter of the room. The conversations between colleagues hushed as the door closed.

  Jacob broke the silence. “What? Are we gonna be telling ghost stories around the campfire here? Get a load of these guys!” Kelton ignored Jacob.

  In addition to Dr. Tilly and Dean Marcos, Kelton recognized the others seated at the table as faculty members. Eleven seats were filled. Kelton thought he could tell a lot about those in attendance by how they dressed. There were five, including Dr. Tilly, who were in business attire. Dr. Marcos stood out from that group with the Filipino barong he wore. The rest were in their usual lab clothing.

  He watched Dean Marcos and Dr. Tilly talk in hushed tones. Although they were across the room from Kelton and couldn’t even be heard by the other faculty members sitting next to them, Kelton could hear every word plainly by focusing.

  Tilly said, “He hasn’t even shown up for his hearing. He is obviously ashamed of his conduct. His research is indefensible and hasn’t been able to be replicated.”

  “Your notice did say that the hearing would be held whether he was present or not?” asked Marcos.

  “Yes. And I have the confirmation that he received the email right here,” Tilly said, gesturing to his tablet.

  A few desk lamps clicked on at the seats where people took notes on yellow pads. Others at the table added to the eerie lighting with their mobile devices on the table in front of them.

  Just as the doors were about to shut, Chaz pushed into the room with the Box’s framework supported by a rolling gurney. Chaz parked the gurney in the corner near the door and sat in front of the Box. Chaz had a triumphant look on his face.

  Cohen said, “That one has something up his sleeve.”

  “Or he’s just excited to be sitting at the grown-ups table for the first time,” suggested Kelton.

  Jacob chortled, “I’m with Uncle Milty on this one. I think he’s gonna surprise everyone. I like that kid. He takes coaching well.”

  The Dean cleared his throat. “Thank you all for your attendance here at the disciplinary hearing of Dr. Deacon Kelton and his team. Mx Beta and Mr. Gutierrez also stand accused. At this point, we have no evidence that Mr. Dixon participated in the most egregious offenses, and at this time, no complaints are leveled against him. As you can see, Dr. Kelton has chosen not to attend. Let the record show we have a delivery confirmation that Dr. Kelton received the notice. Dr. Tilly will present the case against Dr. Kelton. Since Dr. Kelton is not here, who will speak in his defense?”

  Light from the hallway lit Marcos. The people around the table turned to see a woman leaning through the doorway.

  “Excuse me. I was waiting in the hall for Dr. Kelton,” Gillian opened the door wide, and light from the hall flooded in. She stood framed in the doorway. “He hasn’t shown up. I intend to represent him in this hearing.”

  Dean Marcos responded. “I’m sorry. I don’t recognize you. Can you tell us who you are?

  “I’m Gillian Kelton. Dr. Kelton is my husband.”

  Tilly objected, “You have no standing in this hearing; you are neither faculty nor staff.”

  “I have a stake in these proceedings. My husband has discovered something significant. It’s a world-changing technology that may be worth a lot of money. My husband, Dr. Kelton, deserves credit for his work!”

  “Go, Mama Bear!” Jacob sniggered.

  “Shut up!” Kelton shouted at Jacob.

  “Ooh! Strong comeback,” said Jacob with a smirk.

  Tilly stood and addressed Marcos. “I strenuously object to Ms. Kelton’s presence in this hearing. She has no direct knowledge of the events leading to the complaints. She can contribute only hearsay… And emotion.”

  “ You shouldn’t be here,” Deke whispered to Gillian. “It’s not going to be pretty. Some things will be said about me that will be hard for you to hear, especially because they aren’t true. Go back to the cabin.”

  Dean Marcos extended his hand towards Gillian. “Please come in and join us. Here, sit in the chair to my right. We had reserved this seat for your husband.”

  Gillian sat down across from Dr. Tilly. Tilly scowled. Then his eyes lit up, and he smiled.

  Cohen said, “Nu, now that one has something up his sleeve, I think.”

  Jacob and Kelton both gestured for Cohen to hush.

  Tilly stood, “Ms. Kelton, I apologize for my previous statement. I was out of line. I am happy - I am sure we are all happy - to have you here. In hearing like this, we always want those facing censure to be heard, to have a voice, and to be able to defend themselves against the accusations, which, in this case, are profoundly serious, possibly criminal, accusations made against them. I want you to feel as comfortable as you can. Since many of those in attendance are not acquainted, we should all introduce ourselves.”

  Dean Marcos cleared his throat as he rose to his feet. “I’ll be conducting this hearing, Dr. Tilly. Please be seated.”

  Tilly sat down, a smile on his lips but not in his eyes.

  Jacob sang, “One point for the guy in the fancy shirt! I like to keep score!” A fiery slash mark appeared in the air above Marco’s head.

  Marcos continued, “We should introduce Ms. Kelton to the assembled board. I’m sure you already know...,” Marcos glanced at his notes, “… Beta they/them, sitting next to you, Alex Gutierrez he/him, and Charles Dixon he/him.

  “Chaz Dixon,” Chaz corrected.

  “That’sama boy!” cheered Jacob as a slash mark appeared above Chaz’s head.

  “Yes,” acknowledged Marcos. “For the benefit of those assembled, these are the accused parties. Ms. Kelton, seated next to Mr. Dixon, is Dr. Che’ Alvarez she/her,

  “That’s a sturdy-looking woman,” Jacob remarked.

  “…Dr. William Robinson he/him…”

  “I call him Pocket Protector,” said Jacob in a loud whisper.

  “…Dr. Daniel Dee he/him…”

  Dr. Dee had long, unwashed hair and a long, sparse beard. He wore a stained lab coat over a t-shirt with a third sleeve sewn into the chest. “Mutants for Nuclear Energy Research” was written with felt-tip marker above the third sleeve.

  “ Dan Dee - Dandy! You gotta love the irony! That guy is a schlub. Get this guy a comb,” said Jacob.

  “…Ivan Blatter, he/him…”

  “Look at the way Dandy is leaning away from him. You think he smells bad?” Jacob kibbitzed. “I’m gonna call them Pot and Kettle.

  “Dr. Lucy Templeton, she/her. Dr. Templeton is a department administrator.”

  “That tiny woman is an administrator? Who did she ‘administrate’ to get that position?” Jacob leered.

  “…our Human resources representative, Hailey Brown, she/her…” Hailey Brown was dressed in a brightly colored Dashiki.

  “I think she’s a Baptist. Do you think she’s a Baptist? She’s not happy to be here. Stand back, everyone. I think she’s gonna exhort!”

  “Exhort?” asked Zenek.

  “Preach,” Cohen translated.

  “Exhort’s funnier,” said Jacob.

  “… And finally, sitting at my right is Drew Cranston they/them. Drew will be taking minutes at this meeting.”

  Jacob started to say something. Kelton interrupted. “Jacob, please shut up. You are getting irritating.”

  Jacob grinned, “Mind your manners! I’m providing the color commentary.”

  Marcos continued. ”We are here today to consider the accusations that have been leveled against Dr. Kelton, Mx Beta, and Misters Dixon and Gutierrez. Dr. Tilly, would you please read the allegations.”

  Tilly slowly rose to his feet. He shuffled the papers in front of him. “Before I begin, Ms. Kelton, I am deeply distressed that this hearing is taking place. I am uncomfortable reading these accusations in front of you. It grieves me that I have to paint an entirely different picture of your husband than you are familiar with. I have no desire to add to your burden. It will be challenging for you to be here to learn of the low opinions that your husband’s colleagues have of his ethics.”

  “Check out how his eyes sparkle when he’s grieving,” laughed Jacob.

  Gillian’s face clouded; she looked like she would explode with rage but then composed herself. Alex and Beta frowned and shook their heads. Chaz tried to suppress a smile.

  Kelton exploded, “Marcos, will you let him get away with that?”

  Cohen said, “Gird yourself, my friend. I have been watching Dr. Tilly preparing for this meeting. He has been kibbitzing with the review board… and you cannot defend yourself. He appears disappointed that he was unable to get your wife angry.”

  Jacob said, “Whaddaya talk? Look at the glow in his eyes! He’s enjoying every second; I’m gonna give him a point for pure malice!” A slash mark appeared over Tilly’s head.

  Alex leaned forward and said loudly, “I think we are all looking forward to a quick trial, a fair decision by the board followed by a summary execution of the accused so that the panel can get back to fundraising.”

  Jacob said, “He may be right, but I can’t award any points. It just wasn’t all that funny.”

  Beta whispered, “Don’t make things worse.”

  “We’ve been tossed out of the plane at 20,000 feet without a parachute; the only thing to do now is try a few somersaults and pirouettes on the way down. I intend to fall spectacularly.” Alex whispered back sotto voce, “We already know the outcome.”

  Tilly ignored the outburst and continued.

  “On Thursday last week, Dr. Kelton and his team conducted unauthorized experiments. Experiments that have brought shame to the university and to the physics dept. I inspected Dr. Kelton’s lab that day and found experimental animals. I warned Dr. Kelton that there had been no panel review of proposed animal experimentation. Dr. Kelton and his team assured me that the animals present were merely there for emotional support.” Dr. Tilly went on to describe the subsequent events that resulted in the death of a chicken, the destruction of lab equipment, and the injury of Dr. Kelton.

  Dr Blatter raised his hand. “What can you tell us of the project that Dr. Kelton was working on?”

  Chaz raised his hand. “I was the second lead on this project. I worked directly under Dr. Kelton and Dr. Tilly. Alex and Beta assisted me.”

  “We what?” sputtered Beta.

  Chaz continued, “Dr. Tilly and Dr. Kelton were experimenting with the superconducting properties of rare earth compounds.”

  “Not bad for a first draft of history,” Jacob chuckled. “One point for Mr. Dixon!”

  Intimidated by the assembled panel, barely above a whisper, Beta said. “Dr. Tilly was not involved in our research. There was no collaboration!”

  Chaz patted Beta on the shoulder. Beta flinched at his touch. “You and Alex were not involved in those top-level discussions,” Chaz said.

  Kelton shook his head in disbelief. “Chaz! You can’t trust Tilly! Why are you saying that?”

  Alex laughed derisively, “Those top-level meetings were so exclusive I don’t think even Tilly and Dr. Kelton were there. Security must be pretty tight in those imaginary meetings of yours.”

  Jacob said. “Sorry, still no points for Alex. Nobody else laughed.”

  Tilly slapped the table. “Mr Gutierrez, you do not have the floor. And in the future, please refer to me as Dr. Tilly.”

  Chaz continued, “We observed some strange characteristics of the EMF around the superconductors. Dr. Tilly suggested further experiments, and we constructed the framework you see in the corner. In the lab, we refer to it as the Box.“

  Chaz related the experiments they had conducted. He referred to the lab notes. He carefully avoided any mention of the Thorium reactor space heater.

  “We were conducting yet another experiment on the system. We were about to engage the field once again. I noticed a loose connection, so I told Dr. Kelton not to engage the field. He ignored me and flipped the switch while my left hand was still inside the framework. My hand was trapped due to inadequate attention to the basics of lab safety.”

  Gillian raised her hand. Tilly and Marcos took no notice. “That’s not the way it happened.”

  Tilly shushed her. Kelton swung his fist through Tilly’s head. Jacob shrieked with laughter, “If only…!”

  “You’ll get your turn,” Tilly told Gillian. “Please continue, Mr. Dixon.”

  “After my hand was freed, I noticed that my mechanical watch was slow by 11 minutes. The exact time my hand was in the box. I was the first to theorize that the box may slow or inhibit the passage of time within the field. My discovery saved Dr. Kelton’s life the next day.”

  You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

  Beta raised their hand.

  Kelton said, “That’s it, Beta. Be brave! Get the true story out.”

  Chaz ignored Beta and continued. “We believe the box has enormous commercial potential. If we can get it to work.” Chaz glanced at Tilly, and Tilly gave a discreet nod in return. “The Box works intermittently. We can’t shut it off when we want to. We don’t know why it works. I can demonstrate it for you if you like.” A murmur of approval rolled around the table.

  “Does anyone here have a mechanical wristwatch?” Chaz asked.

  Dr. Dee offered his vintage Timex watch. Chaz looked at the watch. “It is 2:16 now,” he said. He put the watch inside the box’s framework, opened the valve on a small liquid nitrogen tank, and pushed the power button.

  There was a snap and the whine of a capacitor slowly discharging, but the watch was still visible to all in the room. A small puff of smoke roiled towards the ceiling and dissipated.

  “It must have worked better in rehearsal,” joked Dr. Robinson. Everyone laughed except Alex and Beta.

  Beta hissed at Alex. “It has always worked before. What has he done to it?”

  Cohen bent over the controls. “Alzo! Look here! The frequency output of the power supply is set to 60 cycles. It won’t work like that. Oh! And a foil gum wrapper across the power leads. That’s the source of that puff of smoke.”

  “My boy loves his pyrotechnics!” laughed Jacob. “Another point for Tilly!”

  Kelton was disappointed in Chaz. He stood directly in front of Chaz and looked into his eyes. “I keep telling you this won’t work out well for you… you are not listening!”

  Chaz shrugged his shoulders. “As I was saying, it’s intermittent. We need to pour a lot more time and money into this to make it commercially feasible. We are going to need this panel’s support.” Chaz enthusiastically recounted the commercial applications of the Box to the people around the table. Eyes around the table lit up with interest as Chaz recited the revenue projections.

  Alex whispered, “He’s not on our team anymore, Beta.”

  Dean Marcos stood. “We are not here to address the commercial potential of this project. We are here to decide the future standing of Dr. Kelton and his associates. Let’s address the claims. Please proceed, Dr. Tilly.”

  Dean Marcos sat as Tilly stood up. He looked at each person in the room. He drew in a deep, dramatic breath.

  Cohen scoffed, “You are trying to create some tension, Dr. Tilly, but you succeed only in irritating your audience, I think.”

  “The most egregious offense is detailed in item one. Unauthorized experimentation on animal subjects, which resulted in the death of one of the subjects and the destruction of laboratory equipment.”

  “Item two. Using university resources, Dr. Kelton and his team deviated from the research plan he had submitted, which was approved by this panel. It was a misappropriation of university resources.”

  “Item three, disregarding safety protocols. Potentially exposing the University and our department to untold liabilities and increases in insurance premiums.”

  “Item four. Improper use of pronouns. Dr. Kelton has, on many occasions, used improper pronouns when addressing his team members, creating a hostile work environment. This has the potential to limit the University’s access to grant funding.”

  Beta whispered to Alex. “What’s he talking about? Even I get a little confused sometimes and they are my pronouns!”

  “Item five. Misappropriation of University resources. Lab rats and a rhesus monkey were stolen from other projects under Dr. Kelton’s orders. Again, without permission from the project leaders or authorization from this board.”

  “Item 6. Dr. Kelton’s mental fitness has been called into question.

  Hailey Brown raised her hand and spoke before Dean Marcos recognized her. She had a surprisingly deep voice that commanded everyone’s attention. “Let’s get it in the record that a lot is on the line. Potentially, millions or even hundreds of millions are in play. Today, we are deciding whether to strip Dr. Kelton of his standing at the university, his claims on intellectual properties, and the revenues resulting from the IP. This is a serious business. We cannot hold this hearing without Dr. Kelton in attendance. I want to hear from Dr. Kelton.”

  Tilly responded in crisp staccato. “Dr. Kelton was given every opportunity to be here. If you look at page 2 of the materials I have supplied, you can see a copy of the letter requesting his appearance. You will also note that I received confirmation that Mr. Gutierrez, Mx Beta, and Dr. Kelton received and read the notice. Dr. Kelton has elected not to attend. The notice clearly states that the hearing will be held, and a decision made with or without his presence.”

  Hailey wasn’t impressed. “Mmm Hmm? And what about Mr. Dixon? Clearly, he was part of the team,” she addressed the panel, “Don’t you think it’s odd that no complaint has been issued against him?”

  Tilly huffed, “I have thoroughly reviewed Mr. Dixon’s involvement. His infractions were under orders and duress from Dr. Kelton. He has been very forthcoming; his cooperation has been exemplary. I think we can expect remarkable things from Mr. Dixon. We can’t throw the baby out with the bathwater.”

  “Mmm Hmm,” said Hailey Brown skeptically.

  Zenek said, “She can put a lot of different meanings into those sounds, can’t she?”

  “Mmm hmm,” said Jacob.

  Hailey Brown continued. “ Mr. Dixon, we have heard about the lab accident. Can you tell us who brought the lab animals into the lab that day?”

  Chaz cleared his throat nervously. “Alex brought the chicken from home. Beta brought their pet rats.”

  “And the monkey?” asked Haily. ”Who brought the monkey?”

  A little too loudly, Chaz replied, “Dr. Kelton told me to. I was just following his instructions.”

  “Mmm Hmmm.”

  “Mx. Beta, is that how you remember it?” asked Hailey.

  Beta slid behind Alex.

  Alex stood. “Beta sometimes has some anxiety with public speaking and around groups of people. If I may answer? Beta brought their rats. I brought the chicken. Chaz brought the monkey. Dr. Kelton was angry with all of us about the animals.”

  “Says you,” smirked Jacob.

  Gillian jumped into the conversation. “I can confirm that. My husband told me all about it in his hospital room.”

  Dr. Tilly jumped up. “This meeting is getting out of order. Let’s address the charges in an orderly fashion. Mrs. Kelton, you are out of order. The chair has not recognized you, and your evidence is hearsay. Let’s watch the video of the experiment. I have taken the liberty of editing this mess of a clinical video in the interest of respecting your time.”

  The video of the experiment played on the screen.

  Dr. Tilly narrated the video. “We see here clearly that a chicken was used as a test subject. Inadequate measures were taken to secure the chicken, and the chicken died as a result.”

  Alex spoke up. “In our defense, that chicken would die one way or the other that night. Pollo en Caldo was on the menu at Tia Hurtado’s. It was delicious, I might add.”

  A few chuckles went through the room.

  Jacob said, “He finally got a laugh. I guess he gets a point.”

  The video screen displayed the chaos that resulted from the chicken running about the room and the sounds of the monkey shrieking and glass breaking. The video ended with Dr. Kelton clutching his neck with blood spurting between his fingers. Dr. Tilly switched off the video. ‘There is no room to misinterpret what you are seeing. There were no safeguards and no attention to safety procedures. It resulted in a near-fatal injury for Dr. Kelton. There is no room for this kind of malfeasance in our department.”

  Beta nudged Alex. Alex spoke up, “You left out one vital detail. We were able to save Dr. Kelton’s life with the Box.”

  Tilly sniffed, “The video was so poorly shot that it was impossible to tell what was happening. The excerpts I am showing here are unambiguous. We have only your description, which frankly beggars belief, especially considering the performance of your Box during the demonstration here today. ”

  Hailey Brown raised her hand. “Dean Marcos. I would like to ask a few more questions with your permission.” Without waiting for a response, she continued. “Mr. Dixon, how do you reconcile your claim that Dr. Kelton told you to get the monkey and Alex’s claim that Dr. Kelton was angry that the monkey was in the lab.”

  “Alex wasn’t there when Dr. Kelton and I were in planning with Dr. Tilly.”

  “So, you say that Dr. Tilly was involved in the plans for the animal testing?” asked Hailey Brown.

  Flustered, Chaz responded, “Yes, well no, not with the animal testing. That was all Dr. Kelton. He told me we should keep that part secret, especially from Dr. Tilly. He said Dr. Tilly would complicate the project. He said Dr. Tilly was a weasel in a man suit.”

  Everyone laughed except Tilly. He buried his attention in his notes on the laptop in front of him.

  Jacob droned, “The defense is willing to stipulate that the suit doesn’t fit very well.”

  “Mmm Hmm,” Hailey Brown’s disbelief was evident. “OK then, back to the test on the previous day. The day your hand was stuck in the box, what were you testing that day?”

  “We wanted to see the effect of the device on nuclear materials and atomic decay.”

  “And Dr. Tilly was informed of these experiments?”

  “Yes. He played a vital role,” affirmed Chaz.

  “There seems to be a video of all the other experiments. Can we see a video of this experiment?”

  “No, unfortunately, the video file was corrupted on the lab server, and it has been lost.”

  Beta whispered to Alex. “I still have a copy on my phone.”

  “Put it up on the screen,” Alex told Beta.

  Beta tapped their phone a few times. A second later, the video screen behind Dr. Tilly began to display the experiment, starting with the countdown. Everyone in the room heard the preparations. They heard the impatience in Chaz’s voice as he replied that he was clear, and the test was ready. The field engaged, and the thorium reactor vanished behind a black wall. They heard Chaz shriek.

  “Please stop the video,” said Ms. Brown. “I think we have seen what we needed to see. Mr. Dixon, the video conflicts with your testimony.”

  “But that video was deleted…” protested Chaz.

  Daniel Dee interrupted. “That was my prototype Thorium reactor model! You had no business using the model. No wonder it isn’t working! I haven’t been able to connect to the diagnostics since last week. You stole it, and you damaged it.”

  Jacob snorted. “This is your cue to backpedal, Dr. Weasel! That’ll be three penalty points!”

  Beta whispered to Dr. Dee, “You just need to reset the internal clock. It’s probably 11 minutes off.”

  Dr. Tilly slammed his laptop shut. “I was unaware that Chaz had stolen the device from your laboratory. My instructions for setting up the test were, unfortunately, vague. I had instructed Chaz and Dr. Kelton to experiment with a Geiger counter and a radioactive sample, like uranium ore or something. They had no business misappropriating materiel from neighboring labs.”

  Dr. Blatter protested. “Lighten up, Tilly. We all do it all the time. Budgets are tight.”

  Tilly huffed, “DR. Tilly, if you don’t mind.”

  Encouraged by Dr. Blatter’s statement, Chaz said, “We needed to be able to measure more than rate of decay. I saved days of work in setting up the test by using the Thorium reactor. It had the networked diagnostics we needed to test the Kelton Field.”

  Tilly jerked his head to face Chaz. “What do you mean, ‘Kelton Field’?”

  Jacob said, “Hoo-boy, Chazzy. You really stepped into it that time. Talk about leading with your chin! That’ll be ten penalty points.”

  “You know, the Box, the ‘unexplained phenomena.’ We call it the Kelton Field.”

  Tilly was irate, “This is the first time I have heard that term. It is inappropriate. It doesn’t recognize the contribution of the research team.”

  Hailey Brown pointed to her tablet screen and shared it on the big screen. ”You haven’t read the published lab notes? They are uploaded here by Alex Gutierrez. It clearly identifies the unexplained phenomena as the Kelton Field throughout. You were supposed to have prepared all the exhibits for this council. What else have you missed?

  “Oops!” said Jacob. “That’s another penalty point for you, Dr. Weasel!”

  Tilly raged at Alex. “You had no authorization to publish those lab notes. Have you no regard for IP security?”

  “Belay that penalty point! He’s regrouping! He’s on the offense!” Jacob sang out.

  Chaz sputtered, trying to get a few words out. Tilly shouted him down. “You have deceived me, Mr. Dixon, and you have deceived this board. You will join your colleagues when they are expelled and dismissed. Moreover, we have determined that we cannot rely on anything you say. You are excused from this meeting. The board needs to deliberate on the perjured testimony and evidence.”

  Marco’s raised his voice. “Dr. Tilly! I am in charge of this disciplinary council. Please seat yourself.” Tilly sat down with a huff. Marcos continued, “I agree the board does need to confer. Perhaps it will be best to have the accused…”

  Cohen pointed to Chaz, “Mr Dixon is not taking this well.”

  There was fury in Chaz’s eyes as he tried to be heard, “But Dr. Tilly, you promised me that…”

  Jacob gritted his teeth comically. “Uh-oh, Tilly, he’s gonna spill the beans! I don’t think you can afford any more penalty points! Time for you to come out swinging!”

  Tilly cut Chaz short. “You lied to me about your participation in the project, and by the admission of your colleagues, you are guilty of theft and unauthorized animal experimentation. I have no choice but to include you in the complaint with the rest of the team.”

  Kelton turned to Cohen, “What is Tilly doing? His case is a mess. He is making conflicting statements; there is no consistency. He says the box doesn’t work; then he says it does; he gets the testimony he wants and then claims they are lies. It doesn’t make sense!”

  Cohen responded. “This must be your first disciplinary hearing. Tilly’s not worried about the facts. Tilly doesn’t need to make a case. He just needs to keep talking and making accusations. Watch how he doesn’t give the board time to think. Before they get a handle on one accusation, he’s off on the next. It’s like trying to nail eggs to the wall. It can’t be done, and it makes a mess. For Tilly, it’s a useful mess. He just needs to get the board irritated and confused. Soon, he will shift the blame for their irritation and confusion to you. It doesn’t need to make sense; it just needs to make the council impatient and eager to conclude. You and your assistants will be offered up as scapegoats. Your colleagues will vote against you because that’s the quickest way to get on with their lives.”

  Chaz had tried again and again to argue. Tilly cut him short each time. ”It’s time for you to leave and take that box framework with you. It smells of burnt electronics.”

  Chaz, Beta, Gillian, and Alex looked at Marcos to see how he would react.

  Dean Marcos addressed them, “Would you mind staying? We still have item 6 to discuss—Dr—Kelton’s mental health. Your input will be valuable. There are conflicts in the allegations.”

  “Mmm Hmm,” Heather Bailey agreed.

  Chaz responded with a low growl. “I have nothing more to add. I am leaving now.” He continued muttering under his breath as he angrily pulled the power cord from the wall and wheeled the Box framework out of the room. Jacob followed him, leaning over his shoulder. The door slammed behind them.

  Dean Marcos continued, “In the interest of time, I won’t beat around the bush. We are concerned with your husband’s mental health. His lab notes describe hallucinations he experienced while in the Kelton field .”

  Gillian responded, “Yes, he told me about his experience, but you must remember he was recovering from a serious injury and general anesthesia. I don’t think that means he’s going crazy.”

  Dr Tilly pounced, ”His lab notes provide detailed descriptions of meeting and conversing with the ghosts of Milton Cohen, for whom this building is named, your deceased father, and several others.”

  Alex interrupted, “He never used the term ‘ghost’ in his lab notes. That’s your word, not his.”

  Tilly said, “Don’t let’s mince words. Dr. Kelton’s notes made it clear that he thought he was communicating with spirits. What would you have me call them? I can’t imagine a better way to demonstrate one’s mental instability than claiming to speak with the departed spirits. I’m only surprised he didn’t try to share a ‘message from God’ with us.”

  Hailey Brown said, “There are some present who would disagree with you.”

  Tilly scoffed, “Only religious fanatics would disagree, and there are plenty of studies that clearly indicate that the religious experience is an imaginary event.”

  Cohen smiled. “I would have agreed with him 100% a short while ago. I don’t think you are losing your mind if it makes you feel any better.”

  Alex tried to defend Dr. Kelton. Beta stood behind him, nodding vigorously.

  Tilly smiled a vicious smile. “Mr. Gutierrez, your lab notes omit some additional human experimentation, do they not?”

  Alex winced.

  Kelton tried to encourage Alex. “Don’t deny it, Alex; you must know by now that Chaz ratted out the entire team.”

  Alex shrugged, “Yeah, but without Dr. Kelton’s permission. Dr. Kelton didn’t know. Beta and I tried out the Kelton field ourselves. Independently. I didn’t know Beta had gone in, and Beta didn’t know I had tried it out.”

  Ivan Blatter spoke up, “That was a stupid thing to do,”

  Alex replied, “That’s what Dr. Kelton said.”

  Ivan continued, “But I have to say, I admire the commitment to science. We are all about creating experiments with replicable results. Tell us about your experience while you were in the Box. Were you able to confirm Dr. Kelton’s experience?”

  Alex shook his head, ”No, neither Beta nor I were conscious of the passing of time while we were in the box. I was looking at the wall clock when the field engaged. To me, it looked like the clock jumped ahead 11 minutes. I had no other indication that the Kelton field had engaged.”

  Everyone one in the room heard the emphasis on ‘Kelton’.

  Dean Marcos said, “I am afraid your testimony doesn’t help Dr. Kelton’s case. Your results were not consistent with Dr. Kelton’s reported experience. Thank you for your truthful response. I feel rather more confident in your report than others I have heard today.”

  Jacob said, “Does anyone else get the feeling that the council is getting skeptical?

  Tilly pounced, “You and Mx Beta could not replicate Dr. Kelton’s experience in the box, even in separate experiments? We can only conclude that he was hallucinating. Dr. Kelton’s mental health is clearly in question. Any claim to an out-of-body experience is prima facia evidence of another psychotic episode. ”

  Hailey Brown interrupted, “Dr. Tilly, are you saying that any religious experience should be characterized as a psychotic episode?”

  Tilly replied, “You are twisting my words a little, but overall, I would have to characterize any experience or interaction with any stimulus that can’t be empirically measured is, by definition, a psychotic event. An event purely in the mind or imagination of the afflicted.”

  Hailey leaned in. “Are you dismissing the experiences of billions of people around the world as psychotic? Do you call yourself a scientist? How can you ignore the data? Billions believe in God. Isn’t that widespread belief in itself some evidence of the existence of things you can’t prove empirically?”

  Tilly waved his hand dismissively. “It’s only evidence of the human capacity to deceive ourselves.”

  Hailey Brown sat up straight in her chair. “I suggest that this board consider this wholesale exclusion of the believer to be an attack on the values of inclusion at this university.”

  Someone gasped. Tilly shifted uneasily in his chair.

  Jacob hooted, “I think she scored a hit with that one! They may not believe in God, but they sure do believe in inclusion!” A fiery ‘one’ appeared above Hailey’s head.

  Tilly looked around the table expectantly for any indication of support for his position.

  Marcos patted the table with both hands. “My friends, we have gotten off track. We are here to consider Dr. Kelton’s standing in the university. The panel will now review the testimonies and evidence. Ms. Kelton, Mx Beta, and Mr. Dixon, would you mind waiting in the vestibule?”

  Gillian, Alex, and Beta made their way out of the room through the heavy double doors.

  Cohen told Kelton, “You go with them. I’ll stay here and let you know what the panel says.” Kelton followed Gillian out of the room.

  “That didn’t go well,” whispered Beta.

  “At least Tilly took a few hits,” said Gillian. “It was never going to go our way; Tilly had the outcome sewed up before we ever got here.”

  The three talked for a while about the proceedings, then fell into silence. Kelton put his head near Gillian’s ear. “There’s nothing more you can do here; go back to the cabin and find me, get me out of the Box.”

  Zenek appeared at his side. “Jacob and Chaz are up to no good. Your wife and her friends should leave. Immediately.”

  “That’s what I am trying to get them to do. Show me what Chaz is up to.”