Paradox Lost: A Divine Comedy Book II

By Daniel L. Lowery

In this second installment of Paradox Lost (L'Inferno) the themes of Paradise Lost, The Divine Comedy, Faust and more are fully explored. The protagonist, Steve Adams, discovers the hell of working in an environment where your every thought is monitored, where science takes a back seat to superstition and where even language is manipulated to make the abnormal seem normal. Adams gets constant pressure to sign documents that give scientific support to Creationism. As his debts continue to mount, the temptation to sign relentlessly increases. Will Adams betray Evolution simply for money? In L'Inferno the paradoxes fly at a furious pace to expose the false idols of Creationism and Intelligent Design.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Daniel L. Lowery
• Release date: May 24, 2013
• ISBN: 9781301698882

Daniel L. Lowery

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Daniel L. Lowery writes books that challenge the status quo. While looking for solutions to his own David and Goliath struggle, Lowery noticed very few management books geared to the independent business owner. CEO’s, vice-presidents and other executives could draw on the acumen of Churchill, Robert E. Lee, Sun-Tzu and a host of other historical figures for their problems, but the issues of the smaller entrepreneur were scarcely mentioned. Puzzled by the lack of material on this subject, Lowery spent the next seven years researching the best methods for smaller businesses to compete against their giant adversaries. From that research came Battling The Corporate Giants: The Ultimate David and Goliath Story: a book truly written from the trenches of corporate warfare.Recently Lowery has spoofed the Creationist movement with Paradox Lost. A book that evokes such literary masterpieces as Paradise Lost, The Divine Comedy, Faust and more to satirize the false idol of Intelligent Design.Now Lowery explores the narcissistic world of contemporary romance with his provocative collection of short stories and poetry, The Reflections of a Narcissist. A book that holds a mirror up to modern love and reveals a society laughing at its own narcissism.Daniel L. Lowery resides in Ramona, California with his wife Claudia, son Ryan and daughter Larissa. He is always looking for a good opportunity.

Book preview

Paradox Lost: A Divine Comedy

By

Daniel L. Lowery

Copyright 2013

Smashwords Edition

Book II

L’ Inferno

Evolution is the grammar of biology.

Chapter 6

Paradise Found

On the second day of January—the coldest day in the history of Chicago—Steve Adams left for Greenleaf. During the drive out to the airport, he listened with frostbitten ears, as Weeks told him how he had secured a permanent, part-time position without benefits, as an assistant evolutionary biology professor at the College of Du Page.

Once they arrived at Midway, Weeks insisted on going to one of the airport bars to have a few brewskis for old time sake. They each ordered a Guinness for their last round; because Weeks had bragged, about what a great beer it was when he was in Europe. When they took their first sip, they couldn't believe how disgusting it tasted.

My God, that's a crime! Shouted Weeks.

It's one of the most awful things I've ever drank, gasped Adams.

Call Mr. Guinness, they're desecrating his creation. How can they take something beautiful and turn it into pig's gruel?

I think this is as good a time as any for my departure.

OK, Weeks grinned back, I've got a date with an angel later tonight anyway.

By the time the two friends said their final good-byes, Adams only had a few minutes to check in his bags. As he ran down to baggage counter, the heavy coat and a sweater he wore made him drip with sweat. He scribbled out the baggage claim strips, and then went through security check as the very last passenger to board the plane. When he finally found his seat, he struggled to fit his carryon into the overhead compartment. With sweat dripping off his face, he found a seat next to some old lady and her grandchild and the waited for the air-conditioning to come on the plane. As he waited, he fanned himself with some airline magazines and set his watch back to California time. When at long last the air did come on, it breathed some new life into him. After the PASSENGER’S MUST REMAIN SEATED light went off Adams made a trip to the bathroom to rinse off his face in some water that a sign warned him not to drink. This made him feel a lot better.

At LAX he boarded a shuttle plane to Santa Barbara. Delta Flight 144 was a 12-seater and even stuffier than the jumbo jet he had just left, but at least this time he wasn't dripping with sweat. The flight took little over a half hour. It touched down at night, as a hard rain fell and the temperature stood about 55 degrees. To Steve Adams it felt delightful.

The Santa Barbara Airport was small, so Adams found the baggage claim with ease. When he picked up his luggage, he found a man with a ginger beard in a chauffeur's uniform holding a sign that read: STEVE ADAMS. Adams again remembered how common his name was and thought it must have been for someone else. He stood around for a moment until his curiosity got the better of him and he approached the chauffeur.

Excuse me; you wouldn't happen to be from Greenleaf University, would you?

Yes, yes I am, said the man. Are you Professor Adams?

Well, I'm not a professor yet.

A mere formality. The chauffeur then picked up the bags and gestured outside. This way Sir. I made sure the car is under an awning, so you wouldn't get wet.

Adams followed the chauffeur out the doorway to a big black limousine. Adams stared at it a moment in disbelief. He recognized the Rolls-Royce emblem on the hood, but he had never seen a trunk slope down at such an angle before.

Come on Sir...don't worry, it's for you, the chauffeur assured him as he put the bags in the trunk. He then went over to the back door, opened it for Adams and motioned for him to get inside. Adams smiled a half smile before entering its dark blue interior. The chauffeur's name was Richard Wagner. He was of German origin, but Adams couldn't detect a trace of an accent. As they got on the 101 Highway, the chauffeur told him about the car:

It’s a Phantom IV. Made for King Faisal II of Iraq on his coronation. Dr. Tafus got a hold of it through a connection in the Defense Department. Many royal families use this car, Professor.

Wagner further explained that Greenleaf called all faculty members, Professor once they started teaching classes. Adams observed the Spanish style architecture as they drove by.

That's the downtown, Sir, said Wagner pointing to the left, Small, but very charming.

I've noticed that all the buildings are in the Spanish style.

Yes, been that way since 1959. They passed a law prohibiting any other type. You can still find a few other styles, but all the new ones are Spanish.

The limousine then passed a sign that read: Paradise Road / MT. NASI / GREENLEAF UNIVERSITY / Next Exit. Adams never saw an exit on the left hand side of the freeway before. As they turned off the exit, the limo began to climb a long spindly road with several twists and turns. Because of the darkness, Adams only saw a few tall palm trees silhouetted against the starless sky. Then the Phantom approached two large golden gates. Angels adorned each gate and in the center slightly in front of the gates stood a guard tower manned by two watchmen. The address read 1134 PARADISE WAY. Wagner pulled up to the tower addressed the men to inform them of his business. He signed some papers then the limo proceeded up the road.

When they reached the summit, Adams observed the Greenleaf Campus for the first time. The buildings had a mock Victorian style with bay windows, cone shaped turrets along with plenty of porches and verandas with staircases extending to the footpaths. No automobiles, except authorized ones, drove on campus, so bikes were the main modes of transport for students and faculty alike. Bicycles burgeoned around every building, which carried the designation A, B, C and so forth.

At the center of Greenleaf stood a monstrosity of a building—head administration office, Building B, also known as The Panangelicium. Adams had to report there first thing tomorrow morning. On the opposite side of the Panangelicium lay a sandstone church, Building A, that had two narrow steeples reaching up to the sky. Located between these two buildings, slightly to the East rested the Mount Whittier Observatory. Since most students gathered to talk under it, it earned the nickname—The Tower of Babel. Opposite this building lay a massive orange grove that gently sloped down the hill revealing a spectacular view of the Pacific Ocean. Fatigue prevented Adams from enjoying any of this now.

The chauffeur finally pulled up to Adams’ residence, Building N, where the faculty stayed. Building N was a curious combination of the worst of Victorian and Modern architecture combined. It had the showy, ostentatious, spires, terraces and balconies of the former style while simultaneously mixing it with the strip down, clean fixtures of the latter design. As the chauffeur took his bags up to his apartment, number 24, Adams saw the cavernous, sprawling hallways that led to a myriad of rooms. Adams’ place was a spacious two bedroom, decorated in a highly conservative style, sprinkled with a fair amount of crosses, icons of saints and other religious paraphernalia. Adams tried to tip Wagner for his efforts, but he refused, insisting that it was his duty.

The next morning Adams pulled open the blinds (for Greenleaf had no drapes—something or other about dust—they said) and woke up to a bright sunny day. The temperature reached 80 degrees. He had breakfast on his balcony. For a second he thought of phoning Phil Weeks to gloat, but he resisted the temptation.

At 9am, Adams attended his orientation meeting at the Panangelicium. He met the president of Greenleaf, Dr. Milton Whittier, a man in his late 70s with a pink complexion and a long snowy-white beard. The two assistant deans were Dr. Peterson, a 60ish man with a shorter white beard, and Dr. Paulson, a 50ish man with a still shorter salt and pepper beard. He also met the head of the financial department, the hunched-over Gretchen McKnight, the head of the biology department, the wizened, Dr. Siriso along with his two assistants, Dr. Rimon and Dr. Rafael. The former two came from Egypt while the latter came from Israel. Additionally, a Dr. Astaroth another man of Middle-eastern extraction introduced himself and said he worked in the Chemistry Lab. He met several other people too, but found it impossible to remember them. The last person Adams remembered meeting was a Professor Von Humbug, a man with a beard, but no mustache. Dr. Siriso closed his comments to Adams by saying:

Ah yes, I've heard that Evolution now exists at Greenleaf.

The main presentation started with Dr. Tafus. He was dressed immaculately just as before, only this time with a gold watch and chain were hanging from his vest pocket. Adams had never seen someone who could match clothes so well. His tan shoes, his khaki pants, his beige shirt with a solid gold tie all complemented his camelhair jacket superbly. As Adams watched Tafus on stage, he reminded him of some medieval Gothic churches, whose style caused your eyes to sweep upward toward the heavens as you gazed upon them. Tafus addressed the new faculty members as Richard Wagner, clad in a neatly pressed chauffeur’s uniform, aided in his presentation.

My dear friends, neighbors and colleagues...you new teachers want to know what it takes to succeed at Greenleaf, Tafus said holding up three fingers. Teaching, researching and publishing. These are what are expected of you at Greenleaf. If you do this, you will succeed here. It's that simple. Listen to the heads of your departments for guidance. They know what is expected of you. Follow their lead. In return you will get one of the highest salaries for entry level professors, full health benefits and may I say a climate that only God could create.

This remark drew laughter from the more established members of the faculty. As they started laughing more hardily the new recruits felt obligated to laugh too and soon, everyone was laughing. Dr. Tafus then closed his presentation and turned it over to the next speaker who talked about Greenleaf’s commitment to academic integrity. Dr. Whittier, with the aid of two young men in white shirts and black ties, closed the ceremony with a benediction.

Oh Heavenly Father, let us be curious about your wonders, but let us accept your inevitable wisdom.

The lights on the stage faded and all the members filed out of the Panangelicium. Men in white shirts and black ties escorted senior administrators to luxury golf carts and then they sped off in different directions. Adams observed the immaculate dress of all of them as they left.

Steve Adams spent the next few weeks getting to know the Greenleaf staff and learning his duties. This first semester he didn't have teaching assignments, so he didn't have any issues with his dyslexia or about Evolution versus Creationism. Occasionally he filled in for Dr. Rafael or Dr. Rimon, but these lessons were on the fairly neutral subjects of bacteria, photosynthesis and the classification of animals. He did a fair amount of observing. One time, on the subject of reproduction, he noticed Dr. Rafael blushing. Another time, in the biology lab room, in Building U, Adams couldn't resist temptation to ask Dr. Rimon, an extraordinarily well dressed man of about 30, if he really taught Creationism.

"You mean Intelligent Design? Absolutely!

How can you teach something that has no scientific backing?

And you think Evolution has scientific backing? Asked Rimon as he turned away to arrange his papers.

Think? I know it does, replied Adams pursuing him.

There are just as many gaps in Evolution as Intelligent Design.

How can you say that? How can Intelligent Design explain other humanoid species like Neanderthals?

Well, as you know, responded Rimon looking up from his papers, after the Flood, the Earth was purified, so the creatures that existed immediately after it lived a really long time. So Neanderthals are really just the skeletons of extremely aged humans.

"Hmm... Excuse me, Dr. Rimon; what's your evidence for this?

The bible, the bible's a very accurate historical document.

Adams decided not to press the matter further and wondered if Dr. Rimon might report him to Dr. Siriso. Although he didn't know, exactly what it was that Dr. Rimon could report? Adams had been respectful, so he thought he should be all right. As he thought about this, Dr. Rimon's phrase of as you know, as you know, echoed in his head. Then he passed the campus statue of John Greenleaf Whittier. At the bottom, it said, You don't always win your battles / but it's good to know you fought. Somehow, this gave Adams comfort.

The day finally came when Adams had to teach a class alone. He considered cell structure a relatively safe subject, so he wasn’t overly concerned about stirring up any controversy in his classroom. What did concern him was how his dyslexia might affect his lecture. As the class began, he introduced the topic.

Cells are the basic block builders of life…building blocks of life.

What page? A student interrupted him.

Oh, sorry, yes, page one. Adams waited a few moments for all the students to get on the same page. "As I saying, the structural basic unit of all things living is cells. At a minimum, they contain a photoplasm, I mean protoplasm and are surrounded by