“Yes, only these squids have developed three vagus nerves—the evolutionary keystone that changed their species from solitary intelligent creatures to communal, compassionate loving beings. Because of this incredible development, the cephalopeds now seek cooperation over dominance and the needs of the pack over their own individual pleasures. Robert, the cephaloped species represents the next significant step up the evolutionary ladder, and unlike humans, there is not a selfish bone in their bodies.”

“Or bones of any kind.”

She smiled again, squeezing my hand. “There was something else you experienced when you and Oscar connected. What was it? Tell me.”

I hesitated, but there was no point—she could read my thoughts. “It sounds ridiculous, but for a fleeting moment I was actually convinced that I understood the meaning of life.”

Dharma smiled. “And what is the meaning of life? What is this crazy world of ours all about?”

“That’s just it, none of this is real, it’s all an illusion. It’s like each of us is in our own Omega dream … a dream purposely filled with chaos and challenges, each challenge an opportunity to earn back that unconditional love—that perfect immortality that awaits each of us when we die … when we awaken from the dream. I know none of this makes any sense—”

“It makes perfect sense. And it’s exactly what I experienced. As for that feeling of unconditional love—it was the essence of the Creator, a spark of perfection that makes up each one of our souls. By tapping into Oscar’s soul, the two of us felt the unveiled energy of God. Pretty powerful stuff.”

I nodded, my thoughts absorbed in the memory. For some reason, in my fleeting moment of clarity, I had been convinced the physical world had been designed as a battleground so that good could be challenged by evil—evil in this case being the human ego.

Dharma must have been eavesdropping on my thoughts. “You’re right, Robert … Sorry, I just realized you prefer to be called Ike. You’re right about life being a test governed by free will; what you are missing is that each soul is linked, bringing new meaning to the commandment ‘Love thy neighbor as thyself.’ The cephalopeds understand what man never could—that the physical world is a barometer of human nature. I am convinced these beings are the next rung up the ladder from modern man.”

“What happened to that old Bible adage, ‘Man was created in God’s image.’ Are you telling me God looks like an octopus?”