Color of Angels' Souls by Sophie Audouin-Mamikonian Page B

“I’ve made myself look younger, in order to keep my brain in good shape. But go ahead! Ask me a few questions. I’ll be more than happy to answer.”
    Jeremy had been a boy genius in math, and had spent most of his time creating equations to help his computer processors anticipate the reactions of financial markets. It wouldn’t be too difficult for him to show up the kid as an imposter.
    For about the first four minutes, he could still figure out some of what the physicist was saying, and after five minutes he was completely lost.
    OK, it really was Einstein—or else someone who did a heck of a job imitating him!
    â€œI’m … I’m very honored to meet you, sir,” he finally stammered, hoping his words would put an end to the endless stream of equations that were filling his head. “But—”
    â€œBut what am I doing here?” Einstein asked. It was annoying the way he kept finishing his sentences for him. “Well, let’s just say that I often drop by Rose’s & Blues. This is where all the Angels who’re the most curious about their deaths get together, and I myself am very curious.”
    â€œCurious?”
    â€œYes. I try to uncover the secrets of this new universe we now call home. I’ve been at it for years now. I’ve been able to figure out a few of the main principles, but new things keep happening that mess up my theories. It drives me nuts. Physics is based on laws, and in this world, the laws are very difficult to determine. But I will figure them out; I’m certain of it!”
    Jeremy studied his childish face as the boy gave him a mischievous look. For some reason, it made Jeremy feel uncomfortable.
    â€œFair enough. But tell me this, sir: Why do I get the strange impression that you were looking for me, and that our meeting was hardly a coincidence?”
    â€œForget about all the sir stuff. No, there’s no reason to start getting paranoid. I wasn’t looking for you in particular, even if I know that all the most interesting Angels come here to meet, and I did find your death very interesting. Getting your head chopped off is hardly ordinary. I do my best to keep an eye out for anything out of the ordinary that happens, and I’m hoping one day to understand Him and what He hopes to accomplish.”
    Jeremy’s eyes grew wide. He’d clearly understood the capital H’s in the young boy’s words.
    â€œUnderstand Him ? Understand who ?”
    Einstein leaned closer and whispered, as if he were afraid someone else might be listening: “Why, God of course!”
    Jeremy was so surprised by his words that for a few seconds, all he could do was stare at the boy with his jaw hanging open.
    â€œGod?”
    â€œYes, I prefer the generic term God . The ‘Great Architect’ seems a bit pompous to me. I already didn’t like the term much when I was alive, and even less now that I’m dead. And even if it is a feminine concept, the term God works just fine.”
    â€œWhy? Because you’re not sure?”
    â€œNo,” Einstein shrugged.
    Jeremy wasn’t sure he wanted to get into any long theological discussion, but his father and grandfather hadn’t arrived yet, so he still had some time.
    â€œStephen Hawking was wrong,” he finally said to Einstein as he contemplated the Angels. “He thought he could prove that God didn’t exist because the principles developed by Edward Witten in his M-theory—the multiverse with the simultaneous existence of millions of different universes—made God unnecessary!”
    Einstein sighed.
    â€œI can’t even be sure of that. It is precisely the M-theory, which groups together the various string theories into one Theory of Everything, that is giving me fits. What if the universe that we now inhabit turns out to be one of those parallel worlds that were created in the Big Bang? When just a few millimeters of