The twenty-six year old Professor Jason Willis opened his laptop computer and switched it on. He logged on to the Internet and logged into the local library system catalogue.

"Let's see what you have," the young professor appeared to be talking to the computer, challenging its capacities. But in reality, he was challenging himself, his own sanity. It was because he had found the ultimate question. The question that no one dared to ask, or think about, as it would drive them nuts. But not for him, not for this Professor Jason Willis; he was sure he would find out, one way or the other. Another thing is that he couldn't turn back, as he himself had challenged him to this ultimate "quest", as his peers would call it. There was no turning back, the risk is too great; he would lose his reputation, and worse, he would lose his license, as he already put his bet to it.

The question had literally just popped out of his mind. He doesn't even know the exact time or date on when this question had came about. Perhaps it was in a dream. Or was it because of his failing career as psychology teacher that led him to this escapade. Whatever it was, he would never know.

But one thing was for sure, he was destined to find the answer. People had already started to make fun of him. It started when he announced it in public, in his own classroom for crying out loud.

"All of us know what the basic concepts of Science are. Science is a study which is divided into branches, so much like the ordinary branches of the tree. But it is a lot more intricate than that. Yes, we can define Science like we define a tree. But we are mere fools to just define it. We have to study it, and in order for us to really know what it is, we must find its origin..."

All these words made the students quite more attentive than usual. But it was the next statements which had made the classroom into one of those really "interactive" classroom, the usual bored students buzzed like bees, stalking for the next move.

"...exactly when and where was Science first used? Who first used it as an application? And most especially, WHY was science introduced? All these have answers, I'm that sure to put my career on bet..."

These words had caused the students to erupt into a volcano with questions of their young Professor's sanity. Those few statements which he had said started a chain reaction that instantly made him popular over the entire university. Students were looking at him with a mixed expression of pity and disgust. The faculty was laughing at him, they were constantly making fun of him. But Jason was the kind of person who cared less for what people had tried to make him. He was the kind of person who didn't care about what others thought of him, but it was himself that he cared mostly about. It was this question that had made him proud of himself.

This question had already proved valuable to him. He had already asked permission from his department head to take a leave of absence from teaching. He said that he had a very important investigation going on, but of course, the bald-headed man had already known his quest for universality. The man could do nothing but fire the young professor. But Jason already had planned things over. He had placed his career on bet. If he was to find the "answer" within six months, then his job would stay. But if he returned with a blank paper, then he could kiss his job goodbye. Of course, the dean already knew that Jason had gotten himself into a sick joke, but still, there was a sort of excitement that he found amusing to let Jason into this gig.

On the first days of his investigations, Jason had admitted himself to the local library for possible leads on his subject. He had found one book, though, The Origin of Human Thought, by some unknown writer, dating back to the early sixteenth century. He had read the book, and it had a lot of theories, but no direct information, nor evidence to prove it. Since then, he began to travel.

The question had almost make him see the entire world. Where his travel money came from, nobody knows. Since there were no reports of robberies, it left the people doubtless. But since no sane investor would possible lend him the money, still, it left a lot of heads in question. He had traveled as far as the Ancient Ruins in Greece, and in various other historical places. But for now, he was in the high mountains in the Himalayas.

It was only two weeks more to his deadline, although Jason never looked worried. He was in a little restaurant, and it looked like no foreigner has ever set foot here. His only companion was his sleek laptop computer, his hot Himalayan coffee, and an old man who looked ageless near the window. The Himalayan sunshine glowed strangely in the old man's face, and his long beard looked like it never had been cut. He looked mysteriously old, and wearing that old bearskin coat made him look like some ancient warrior or something. He seemed to be staring out the window, to the white snow-covered mountains, and the blue sky. But the young professor had no time to even notice the scenery, as he was tip-tapping is fingers on the small keys of his computer. With his traditional American coat-and-tie suit, he looked even more foreign.

The search engine had already exerted all its effort, but still, Jason could not found any leads, nor simple clues on where to go next. Outside, snow was pouring hard. The walls and roofs of the old cottage started rattling, as the cold Himalayan winds blew. Jason looked back to the barkeep, and he looked as if he was inquiring about the weather. The man replied, strangely, in straight, perfect English.

"The weather's fine, sir. It's always been like this in here, you don't know what to expect..."

Jason nodded in agreement, although he wasn't quite sure about that part when the weather was going to be fine. He turned his head around to see a tall, strong figure cover his light. He couldn't see the face, although the tall man looked like Abraham Lincoln, except he wasn't wearing the top hat, and his figure was covered by his shadow.

"E-excuse me, sir, but you seem to be blocking my light..."

The figure just remained motionless, and the man stayed there. He seemed to not care whether Jason was going to ask him again. And all of a sudden, the man let out a booming, thunder-like sound. He was speaking.

"You seek for the ultimate answer to all things..."

The voice was so dark, that Jason couldn't tell whether the man was asking him, or making a point. Jason just nodded his best.

"Follow me..."

He didn't know why, but Jason seemed strangely drawn towards the tall man. He didn't even ask where the man was taking him.

Strong winds blew outside, the likes that Jason had never seen before. The winds were covered with rushing snow, and their path was covered by those cold, white things. He couldn't tell where he was going, but the man in front of him seemed to know exactly where.

The travel was quite short, but Jason realized that he had forgotten something-he had forgotten his laptop.

"Wait a sec, I forgot my computer and I have to go back--"

"You won't need it, for the answer would be planted in your mind, and it could never be forgotten..."

Jason remained silent from then on. They had reached of what seemed to be a cliff. The snow settled down a little, and Jason saw that they were on top of the peak of a mountain. He looked around the wondrous sight, and far below, he saw the cottage that he was in.

"Huh?"

He looked at his watch and to the cottage far below. He stared momentarily at each of them, exchanging his glances. He didn't know which to believe - the watch, which showed that it was barely a minute since they've left the cottage, or the cottage, which was like kilometers away from them. But his wandering thoughts were interrupted by the powerful voice.

"We are here..."

"Excuse me?"

"I have three simple questions for you, and if you can get each of them right, then the secret of ages would be known to you..."

."What?!"

"WHY did you come here?"

"Now listen---"

"ANSWER THE QUESTION!!!"

The voice boomed all over the mountains, and its echo seemed to resonate in Jason's ears for a long time. What a nut.

"I have come here to search for the answer..."

"WHY do you search for the answer?"

"Because -" Jason paused. His answer was sort of embarrassing. "Ahh, financial problems..."

"Very good, you are honest... Now the third question..." The giant paused to take a deep breath.

"WHY do you think that I'm sending you back?"

"You're sending me back?!" Jason was outraged. He had been taken this far for a crazy answer. He looked back at the cottage far below, thinking about the hard walk back.

."Now listen to me, I've come all the way here and--"

"...gone?!"

The giant had mysteriously vanished. For a huge figure like him, who was easy to spot a mile away, he did a great disappearing act.

"Dammit!"

Jason was freezing. He realized that he better move, before the *real* snow would set in. The journey down the mountain took a lot more effort than climbing up. Without the giant to guide him, it seemed like he was walking for an eternity.

At last he had reached the cottage. His laptop was left unharmed on the small table, untouched, fortunately.

"Thank God," he said. Jason closed his computer and sipped the last drop of coffee. It had grown cold. He approached the barkeep and reached for his leather wallet, like a true American gentleman.

"How much?" he asked.

The old barkeep just stared at him blankly. It was as if he didn't know what Jason had been talking about.

"HAAOOOUUWWW much?"

Jason slowed down his words, funnily, as if talking to a cow.

Still, the barkeep just stared at him. Then the man pointed on a sign on top of the menu.

[No Speak English]

"Huh--"

He had thought that the man could speak English. What was he thinking?! The man DID speak English to him some time ago.

"Whatever."

Jason offered the man a five dollar bill, and went out, not taking any change.

When he reached the hotel down below, with people understanding what he said, he was really exhausted by his long, snowy trip. But he was bothered by his quest. It was clearly less than a month before his contract would expire, but still, he didn't have an answer. He would look like a fool, which he already was, when he would decide to go back to the University empty-handed.

He lied on his bed, with still the vivid images of the tall man he had gone with.

Questions. Questions.

"Wait a minute..." something had popped out of Jason's startled mind. He had known the Answer. The third question...

Why am I sending you back?

Why did he send me back?

"Because he did NOT want me to know the TRUTH!"

The Truth. To hide the Truth, was the Answer.

But there was still an Answer to THE Answer. A hidden answer within what the giant had given him. And Jason was going to find that out.

Jason let off a grin of satisfaction. He wasn't going back. And again, a question planted itself in his forever-untiring mind.

What is the Truth?

The End

Copyright 2001 Dominic Sanchez.