This is nuts. There’s a logical explanation, he thought. I’m knocked out. Yeah, that’s it. Dirk beat me into a coma and I’m in a hospital bed.
“You aren’t in a hospital bed,” stated Videl.
Barney screamed. “Get out of my thoughts.”
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| Artwork Credit: Matt Ryan |
Barney trembled. This is scientifically impossible. “This is an illusion. I don’t know how you’re doing it, but given enough time I could figure it out,” he reasoned.
Videl crossed to Barney and said, “Need more proof?” Before Barney could react, Videl snatched Barney’s spectacles and smashed them.
Barney’s voice went up an octave. “What did you do? How am I supposed to see?”
“You don’t need them,” said Videl.
Barney hesitated. He looked around the room. For the first time in his short life, his vision was perfect. He began to consider the possibility that Videl was telling the truth. “So what do you want from me?”
“You’re the genius, figure it out.”
Barney hesitated. “My soul . . . you want my soul. In what universe would I ever agree to do that?”
Videl leaned against the sink and crossed his arms over his chest. “You called me. You said you’d do anything to get out of this school.”
“Almost anything,” said Barney, “but I never spoke it aloud.”
“Intent’s the same. Look,” pressed Videl, “you’ve got something I want and I can provide something you want. Everybody wins.” Videl paused and exhaled slightly. “Do you believe in God?”
The question was unexpected and it puzzled Barney. Religion hadn’t been much of a presence in the Midas home. His mother had never taken Barney to Sunday school, catechism or any religious function. He realized he didn’t know if he was Christian, Jewish... Am I an atheist? he pondered.
To Videl he asked, “What does it matter?”
“It doesn’t. But if theology were the issue; if”—Videl made air quotes—“dealing with the Devil goes against your religious beliefs, I can understand your angst.
“However, you need to understand that humans mistakenly equate the human soul with the human spirit. It is the spirit that houses the human consciousness, not the soul. The soul isn’t the manifestation of some religious tenet, it’s just an energy force”—Videl emphasized—“the generator of the human body and as such contains a reservoir of energy and we both know energy can be neither created nor destroyed. It can only be transformed from one state to another.”
Videl continued, “There is no connection between the consciousness and the soul. The soul’s just a vast store of potential energy that cannot disappear— Videl mouthed POOF—“just because the human body has ceased to function. It is this energy that we harness and refine to keep the fires of Hades aflame.
“Those tales of human souls suffering an eternity in Hell are just myths perpetuated by religious leaders to keep the flocks in line. It’s true that human spirits have descended into Hades; but those belong to humans unfortunate enough to lead”—Videl gently rocked his head from side to side as if it were on a pivot—“less than exemplary lives.”
END – EPISODE IV
Ya gotta admit, the guy is smooth, but can he convince our little genius? Check back next week.
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