“Really?
There was still something I wanted from Basile, information he had that I badly wanted, that I would’ve given anything for. Maybe he was a devil … but sometimes the devil was the only one willing to tell you what you wanted to know.
“Water under the bridge. Honestly, I’m a little embarrassed myself for accusing you all, when everyone was so nice to me all night. You gave me no reason to be suspicious, and I was a jerk. I’m sorry.”
He tucked his hands in his pockets and rocked back. “I’ll admit, I didn’t expect this, but I’m glad to hear it. The guys were really excited to see you, you know. I think we have a lot we could learn from each other.”
I smiled innocently at him. “My thoughts exactly.”
Over the next few days, I spent time with Basile in secret, soaking up everything I could about the Reality Paradox. But no matter how much I learned, how long we spent together, it wasn’t enough. He still seemed to be holding something back. He would trickle out bits of information, but always kept me wanting more, like a fish chasing after a shining, razor-sharp hook.
“Why do they call you Mathematici?” I blurted as we sat in the empty Auditorium.
He blinked, surprised. “It’s just a joke, really. Because we’re mathematicians. A lot of the guys are into the Ancient Greeks. Plato and stuff. You know, bunch of nerds.”
“Yeah, you said that. What about the Ancient Greeks? How do they relate?”
“Well … Plato says to learn the truth, we have to go beyond words. That’s what the Reality Paradox is all about. It’s more than just its mathematical aspects; it’s a belief system, a way of life. It’s about finding the truth and about grasping the real nature of things. One way to do that is through mathematics. Numbers are something we can use to make sense of our world. That’s what Mathematici means. It’s a sign of respect, that I’m on the path.”
“Hmm,” I said, chewing on his words, still not quite satisfied.
“You seem unconvinced.”
I tucked a hair behind my ear. “I just don’t know about the whole divine origin of the soul thing.”
“I know it sounds far-fetched at first. But the divine origin of a man’s soul is not a new concept. In fact, it’s extremely old, rooted in the Orphic religion. There are recordings of it even in the Derveni Papyrus.*Of all things the soul is immortal, but the bodies are subject to death.
“In truth, it’s not all that different from the concept of Heaven. Except this way the scale is tipped back into the hands of those who’ve always felt powerless, who’ve always been overlooked. If you live a disciplined life, stay on a path of good, there’s hope for you to make it to the world of Being, too.”
“And the world of Being, that’s the one you reference in the Paradox?” I asked.The one where I could reach Aaron?was my silent question.
He nodded. “The world of Being is where all ideas are created and all thought is first generated.† Where daimons and gods and the souls of men who’ve been perfected go. You’d have a hand in shaping every thought, every idea, for all of time. That’s the thought, anyway,” he said with a shy smile. “I know you may not agree with it—plenty of people don’t—but that’s what a belief system is, isn’t it? This one gives hope to a lot of people. It promises there’s more to life than”—he gestured around us—“thanthis.It’s a way for people to feel like they can have at least a modicum of power in their own destinies. Some power in a world that’s made us feel powerless. We all just want to be heard. Don’t you?”
I sighed. “Most of the time, I’m just trying to get through the day. Did you come up with all this yourself?”
“No. My beliefs were introduced to me by our teacher.”
“And who is that?”
“He’s a brilliant man, though people have all sorts of disparaging names for him. Crook, swindler, con artist, chief of charlatans, you name it, but you’re an anthropologist. You get it. One man’s religion is another man’s Magic, isn’t it?”
He looked down at me, hand tracing along his smooth chin. “You know, Cella, if I tell you any more, I might have to make you a member of the frat. You’ve got to promise to at least come talk to the guys, about Object Theory. About how you were able to do what you did. It’s not every day someone is able to cast outside their objects.”
I bit my lip. “Oh. Yeah. Of course I will.” I squirmed. I was so close now. Could taste the feeling on my tongue, of something good and real and right within my reach.
The truth was I would’ve told him whatever he wanted, done whatever he wanted, just to learn more.
Cut Not Fire With a Sword
I spent the rest of the morning in the library. I was heading out for lunch when I heard raised voices from a few buildings over.
“—and you tell your little buddy Grant that if I see him on this campus again, I’ll kill him.”
Oh no. Oh no no no.
I raced across campus as fast as my feet would take me, silently thanking whoever was listening that I was wearing cowboy boots instead of my jellies. Besides the scorching ground, there was broken glass everywhere.
Max was in the shadow of the Numerology and Mathematics building, finger prodding Basile’s chest. They both looked as mad as I’d ever seen them.
