But I’m not ‘putting up with it,’ I said. I’ve chosen to welcome it into my life.

Tom muttered Christ, and looked down at the floor.

Seema’s face hardened—So Howard’s got you then?

He has not got me, I said, I have an independent mind, thank you. I just don’t buy anymore that it’s some blast furnace or highway. I mean listen.

I paused and the three of us sat there, surrounded by balloons and half-hung streamers, listening. It’s atmospheric, I said. It’s completely encompassing.

Tom sighed and swilled what was left of the whisky in his cup—Claire, Howard’s theory is complete nonsense. It’s—

It’s like the science equivalent of fake news, Seema said.

I told them that I thought it was very easy to be cynical, and a lot more difficult to open yourself up to the possibility of discovery.

Pretty much all scientific theories are discredited at first, I said. String theory, dark matter. The Earth revolving around the Sun wasn’t too popular at first either, if you recall.

Seema extended her hand towards me, over the tabletop. I’m a medical resident, she said. I’m used to a lot of pseudoscience and alternative cures.

I suggested to her that she should read about it and inform herself, and that it was all online if she cared to look.

Oh, Tom said, raising his arms, it’s online, it must be true.

There are many reputable sites—

This wavelength that Howard is talking about, Seema cut in. There is absolutely no way the human anatomy can hear it. It’s not physically possible.

I suppose that’s the nature of discovery, isn’t it? I replied. What once seemed impossible is re-evaluated and reconsidered.

You really believe him, she asked. She posed this more like an accusation than a question.

Well I’m not surprised you don’t, I said. The two of you never even gave him a chance. You came in with your minds made up, and when something else presented itself, you were out of there. You barely got any explanation whatsoever, and then you never came back. You have no idea the full scope of—of revelation around this.

That was, perhaps, an indelicate word choice.

Revelation, Tom scoffed. Please. Enlighten us.

You don’t actually want to know.

No, I do, he said.

Only to mock it.

Well I sincerely do, I want to know, Seema said. And I absolutely won’t mock it.

I met her eyes—As a doctor you might actually appreciate this. We’ve been learning about brain waves.

Okay.

I’m sorry—brain waves? Tom said. Is that a thing?

Seema sighed—Of course it is, Tom; have you never heard of a brain scan before?

Well I don’t know.

Well maybe stop talking then.