‘I’ve heard of him,’ Church said. ‘Nixon called him “the most dangerous man in America”.’
Tom snorted. ‘He has a research centre in a mansion. Good work is being done.’
‘What have you been doing with him?’ Church asked.
‘None of your business.’ Tom pulled out a screwed-up magazine article. ‘This is what he said about his first drug trip: “I could look back and see my body on the bed. I relived my life, and re-experienced many events I had forgotten … The discovery that the human brain possesses an infinity of potentialities and can operate at unexpected space-time dimensions left me feeling exhilarated, awed, and quite convinced that I had awakened from a long ontological sleep. A profound transcendent experience should leave in its wake a changed man and a changed life.” ’
Church realised what Tom was proposing. ‘You want me to drop acid with Timothy Leary? To get my memory back?’
‘Yes.’
‘No.’
‘Hear me out – not just for that,’ Tom said. ‘Leary’s research has given him some perception of the structure of reality—’
‘It’s over, Tom – you’ve got to understand that. I’m not fighting this war any more. Every time I get involved people close to me die. Next time it could be you, or Niamh … Somebody else can do the heavy lifting now.’
Tom folded the article carefully and returned it to his pocket. ‘He’s seen the spiders,’ he said quietly.
‘And don’t go dragging Gabe into all that. He deserves some kind of life before it all goes pear-shaped. If he ignores the Army of the Ten Billion Spiders, they’ll ignore him—’
‘You think that’s how it works?’ Tom said sharply. ‘And what kind of philosophy are you promoting there? Look after yourself and everyone else be damned?’
‘Why not? I haven’t done any good. What’s the point in carrying on, tell me that?’
Niamh and Marcy walked in laughing, but their high spirits ebbed away when they felt the tense atmosphere.
‘Then I’ll just take Gabe,’ Tom said slyly.
Church glared at him. ‘I’ll come. Just to make sure you don’t screw up someone else’s life.’
5
‘LSD will, in the very near future, liberate minds and create a free society.’ The Most Dangerous Man in America had the look of a genial college professor as he sat cross-legged on a cushion in his airy study in the sprawling Millbrook Mansion. His greying hair was swept back from a tanned face and he was dressed all in white with an Indian motif embroidered in red around the collar.
‘You’re convinced of that?’ Church asked.
‘A sceptic.’ Leary smiled without offence. ‘It will, unless the Establishment prevents it.’
Tom eyed Church suspiciously. ‘Let’s not get into an argument,’ he cautioned. Beside him, Gabe listened intently.
‘There is no inherent danger in hallucinogens if they are treated with a sacred and respectful attitude,’ Leary said. ‘That is, they should not be used for hedonistic purposes. Let us not forget that psychedelics have been utilised for sacred purposes in all major religions throughout history, including early Christian rites.’
Gabe looked shocked.
‘The drug is only a tool to contact the Godhead,’ Leary continued. ‘A catalyst. It has no inherent value beyond its ability to trigger that part of the brain, which we all have, that is responsible for spiritual experience. From that perspective, one’s view, intention, attitude, personality and mood are just as important in achieving the right state.’
‘So in the wrong hands psychedelics can be dangerous,’ Church translated.
‘The same as anything. But for someone who wishes to transform spiritually, hallucinogens can be a catalyst. They can lead to an understanding of your own destiny, and insight into the basic spiritual realities. This is what the ancient Greeks called gnosis—’
Church had a flash of a deeper connection stretching across the centuries, of the Universe itself giving him information to shape his path. ‘That’s the same thing John Dee was talking about,’ Church said to Tom.
‘John Dee?’ Leary interjected. ‘You mentioning his name is a very weird coincidence.’
‘Yeah, there seem to be a lot of those going around,’ Church said.
‘I was on a trip to North Africa with my wife Rosemary, and a friend, Brian Barritt,’ Leary said. ‘We took acid in the desert at Bou Saada, and Brian had a vision of a cowled man in a cloud of dust – a dust devil. He heard the name “Doctor John Dee”, and an image of a giant scroll took over his mind, followed by visions of golden vessels with the faces of Egyptian gods. Weird, but true.’