At the other end of the passageway, they found Lucia, Mathias, and Diego waiting for them beneath a waterfall of ice. The children pointed to a crevice behind the frozen jets of water.

Teresa let go of Oliver’s hand and approached the aperture with Marini. They pointed their flashlights at the moss. Ensconced in that natural pillow was a square-shaped object glinting in the light. Marini reached for it. It was a metal box. The design on its lid had begun to fade, but they could still make out a drawing of white rabbits riding bicycles.

“You can open it,” said Lucia.

Marini lifted the lid and it was as if he had turned back time. He looked at Teresa, but even she wasn’t sure how to react. Inside the box was another incongruous detail in a story that was about to take an entirely unexpected turn.

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-58-

16 September 1993

Subject Alpha is active and conscious of his own existence. However, it is difficult to guess how he might perceive himself. I wonder if he is aware of the passage of time, and consequently of the concept of “future,” by which I mean the image, the projection of himself onto a moment that has yet to come. I wonder if he is curious about who might be on the other side of the wall, handing him the provisions necessary for survival. As I have never revealed myself to him as anything other than a pair of gloved hands giving him food and clothing, I doubt he is cognizant of my presence. His whole world is inside that room. The Alpha has known no life other than the one I have given him, yet seems able to adapt painlessly to its considerable restrictions. I have asked myself time and again how a living being could possibly survive these conditions; the answer is that his inner world must be so rich and profound that it makes up for a lack of outside experience. His life force is entirely self-sufficient.

On the other hand, the Omega is wholly dependent upon the Alpha, the “Father.” This subject is passive and would let himself starve to death. He spends all his time curled up in the corner he has chosen as his lair, and seems to exist exclusively as a function of the Alpha. I believe that in his mind, he is convinced he is no more than an extension of the “Father.” He is alive because the Alpha is alive.

A few weeks ago, I introduced certain exercises aimed at developing their language skills, in order to investigate whether or not these skills are innate, and whether the developmental delays they both exhibit are permanent or can be recouped. As expected, the Alpha has proven the more gifted of the two, and more predisposed to learning.