Sedona Law 4 by Dave Daren (free ebook reader for ipad .txt) 📗

mermaids floating through a blue ocean explained that the human species evolved from fish. The screen flashed images of Paleozoic-Cambrien era trilobites and ameobas and then a speedy montage took the viewer through the stages of evolution from prehistoric and eventually to modern man.

“But,” the film’s voiceover continued, “We are all fish that have adapted to our surroundings. We have acclimated to the ever-increasing demands of the modern world.”

The film’s view sped through computer circuitry and ended with a mashup of the busy streets of the world’s large cities.

“We, and we alone, carry the genetic code to survive as the dominant species of the planet,” the film explained. “We have adapted to survive famine, floods, and even biological warfare. We have learned to harvest the power of nature to bend to our needs. We have even broken apart the very atoms and proteins that make us human.”

A DNA helix rotated into a lab where researchers in white coats peered into microscopes.

“We have put on these human cloaks to disguise our true nature and survive in a world that is often dangerous and risky,” the voice over continued.

A frowning animated man was surrounded by angry faces, then a desk appeared, and piles of paper stacked up, and more angry, scowling figures pointed fingers at the man. The man was still frowning and then beads of perspiration popped up on his forehead. His brow furrowed into a sad, overwhelmed expression.

Then, a silver suit of armor popped up, and piece by piece the man was covered by the suit. Once in full armor, the man pulled out a sword and slashed the paper until it disappeared in a puff of smoke. Then, he used the sword to turn the scowls around him into smiles, and then a fake sitcom laugh track played. The knight raised his sword in victory.

“So many of us are overwhelmed by the demands of our lives,” the narrator said, “that we develop armor around us to get through each day. We are unable to feel, and we live a fake existence.”

The hollow laugh track played again. I started to feel like I was watching a Scientology promo video.

“We struggle to remember what it is like to truly be human,” the narrator said.

The animated knight reappeared. His suit of armor fell off, and then his form regressed through the stages of evolution and settled on a disgusting Cambrian period trilobite one eyed lobster thing.

“A fish,” the narrator declared. But on the screen the word appeared, “Ghoti.”

“A fish so caught up in the mores and rituals of invented social norms and expectations, we can’t even recognize our own species,” the voiceover moved to a preaching tone, and the screen broke down the group’s name into the unconventional spelling rules.

The screen switched to the stage view, and the performers trotted out in blue unitards. There were five performers, four women and one very muscular hulk of a man. For a while, they danced around the stage to upbeat music I took to be the ‘modern world every day’ soundtrack. While in their modern world period, they did some rather impressive contortionist acrobat moves.

Then, came the time, everyone was waiting for. Or at least I was.

They were ready to shed their modern shells to revert to their naked fish life. They all curled into fetal positions, and one by one, each underwent a “rebirth,” by uncurling to a standing position.

I didn’t quite get how standing played into the whole fish theme, but maybe it was more logistical than artistic. If they were flopping about on the stage, it would be difficult to see them. But whatever, as they stood, they ceremoniously shed their exoskeletal shell of clothing.

Finally, they all stood naked in front of the audience, with the man front and center. Yes, he was definitely a man. And with a shout, the hulk of a man yelled with a Mel Gibson gusto, “Freedom!”

The audience rose in a standing ovation, and I just rubbed my face and turned to Vicki, who was hiding her smirk. Then, to a swelling Braveheart-esque soundtrack, the dancers danced their dance of freedom, flailing genitals, flopping boobs and all. And it was not sexy. Not sexy at all.

They performed like this for the next hour, different incarnations of the group. The program spelled out the scenes and their interpretations, but they started to lose meaning after a while.

There was some trotting through a field, against a CGI backdrop of wildflowers and waterfalls, and then there were some butterfly wings, and they did a butterfly dance or something. But, I thought they were fish?

Then it descended into this Alice in Wonderland psychedelic acid trip, and they were all flowers, and there were some lighting effects and thunder and maniacal laughter on the soundtrack.

Finally, the last scene of the show, the whole group laid on this bed, against a backgroup of an opulent castle, and it looked like they were all going to have sex. Then I think there was a nuclear bomb explosion, and they all died. I wasn’t sad.

The house lights came back up, and I cleared my throat and looked at Vicki, whose barely restrained smirk told me everything.

“Well, that was something,” I remarked.

“I thought it was cool, man,” Landon said. “It’s all about how humankind has been corrupted throughout the ages by greed and money, and how we can take back our power as people.”

AJ nodded slowly. “I like that. A historical perspective.”

“Totally,” Landon replied.

I rolled my eyes. AJ was a different person when Landon was around. “How long are you staying, Landon?”

“Just until the beginning of June,” he said. “I’ll go back for the first summer term.”

Marvin texted me. Up for a meet and greet with the cast?

I showed the text to Vicki. “You want to meet the cast?” I asked.