Page 62 of The Secret of Secrets

Both men grew more attentive.

“I intend to write a book that illuminates a revolutionary new model of consciousness that will have repercussions for everything we know about life…including the very nature of ‘reality’ itself.”

Faukman arched his eyebrows appreciatively and smiled. “From a publishing perspective, there’s nothing like aiming high.” He studied Katherine. “But I do have one question. Many people propose books with exciting new theories…do you—”

“Of course,” she said. “My work is backed up with plenty of hard science.”

“You read my mind,” Faukman said, impressed.

“I wouldn’t waste your time without evidence,” she countered.

Langdon looked amused that Katherine was holding her own so effortlessly.

“Well, you certainly have my attention,” Faukman said. “What is this revolutionary model of human consciousness?”

“At first it will seem impossible,” Katherine replied. “So to prepare your minds for that and establish a baseline…” She reached into her Cuyana bag and pulled out an iPad. “I will first show you an example of something I think we can all agree is…impossible.”

Faukman glanced at Langdon, who looked equally mystified.

Katherine tapped the tablet a few times and then propped it on the table, facing Faukman and Langdon, who found themselves looking at a pair of side-by-side videos—a split screen showing two different fishbowls, each with a lone goldfish swimming in lazy circles.

Goldfish are impossible?

“These are two live video feeds,” Katherine said. “The feeds are from two separate, stationary cameras in my lab in California.”

They watched the two fish, which swam in two similar fishbowls with blue pebbles on the bottom and a submerged statuette. The only difference between the two bowls appeared to be the statuettes inside each bowl. One was the sculpted word Yes and the other the sculpted word No.

Bizarre. Faukman glanced up at Katherine Solomon, waiting for her to explain, but she just nodded for him to keep watching. Politely, Faukman returned his gaze to the two camera feeds. Two fish swimming in circles…What am I supposed to be seeing here?

“Incredible…” Langdon whispered beside him.

In that moment, Faukman saw it too. Strangely, the two goldfish were swimming in perfect unison. When one fish paused, darted, or swam to the surface, the other did precisely the same thing in the other bowl…at the exact same instant! The two fish were perfectly synchronized, down to their slightest twitches.

Stupefied, Faukman watched the two goldfish swim in flawless unison for at least fifteen seconds before he finally shook his head and glanced up. “Okay, that is…impossible.”

“I’m glad you feel that way,” Katherine said.

“How are the fish doing that?!” he demanded.

“Remarkable, right?” she said. “The answer, in fact, is quite simple.”

Langdon and Faukman sat riveted, awaiting her explanation.

“To start,” she said. “How many fish do you see here in total?”

Faukman met both their eyes. “Two,” he replied.

“And you, Robert?”

“Two,” Langdon concurred.

“Perfect, you both see what most people see, and what is presented before you: two separate fish in two separate bowls.”

How else could you see it? Faukman thought. One bowl says Yes and one says No, but the two fish are in precise synch.

“Now, what if I told you,” Katherine said, “that their separateness is an illusion? What if I told you these two fish are, in fact, one entity…a single unified organism connected to the same consciousness, moving in unison.”

Faukman sensed he was about to hear some New Age mumbo jumbo about how all living things are interconnected. He had no idea how these fish had linked their movements, but he was pretty sure it was not because they were tapped into the same cosmic consciousness. What did you expect, Jonas? She’s a noeticist from California!