Chương 47: Book 3 - Chapter 1 A

It was May 4th, 1985. My name is John Cook, and I'm eight years old. Nine in two months, and yes I'm counting. I sat with my graduating class in front of the stage. It was just after 230pm on a beautiful 75-degree Oklahoma spring day. I'm currently up for two Guinness Book of World Records: youngest Undergraduate Degree and highest IQ. By the end of the day I'll have four records. Earlier this month my friend Dr Thompson gave me a new IQ test. It is rated to score up to 250.

I finished it in record time and with a perfect score, so my official IQ is now 'Above 250.' Dr Thompson is also the one responsible for my graduation this semester. He convinced my parents and me that I needed to step back from lab work and everything else I was doing for a month to take the remaining finals. He also enrolled me in a writing class just for writing scientific papers. During that time I've either been taking tests or submitting papers to scientific journals around the world.

Thanks to language courses with recorded audio, of which my Mom generously lets me buy a new one each month, I have the ability to read, write and speak French, German, Spanish, Russian and Japanese. So far thirty-six of my scientific papers have been published, and not just in English journals.

I also hold forty seven patents, play three instruments, co-own a successful software company, authored a hit computer game, published a novel in English and French, and most recently became known worldwide for solving Fermat's Last Theorem, the longest-running problem in mathematics. It sounds like bragging, but what is most important to me is that I have saved over sixteen thousand lives. I could see saved life number 14 looking at me from the audience.

He was sitting with my parents, grandparents and little sister. As the proverb says, 'But there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.' That's Matt, and at six foot eight he really stands out in a crowd, especially when he's surrounded by nearly 100 percent white people. I stood as my section of the graduate class stood. I'm towards the front of the line as it's alphabetical. Finally, they announced: "John W Cook, receiving a Bachelor's Degree in Physics, Mathematics, Chemistry and Computer Science."

I started across the stage to the applause. Then the announcement continued, "In addition to being eight years old, he is the first quad major at our University." I stepped up to take my diploma and get my traditional handshake, but the University President put a hand on my shoulder to keep me from following the other students around the stage and back to our chairs.

"For groundbreaking work in Mathematics, Chemistry and Physics he is also being awarded a Master's Degree in each of those fields." I tried to act surprised. The agreement with the University had been that I would work on those Degrees during the 1985 fall semester and they would award them afterwards. I very often have to act surprised. It's because I don't get surprised anymore. I haven't been surprised by anything for thirteen months. That's when I became omniscient. I know things.

Just about everything there is to know. I already had a near photographic memory, but an experiment from a few hundred thousand years in the future attempted to send information into the past. It didn't work as expected, and now I can remember the future too. This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience. Someone might think that remembering the future doesn't sound like omniscience, which is knowing everything. That's because I can remember every future.

My future selves can go places, do things, even get themselves killed in the pursuit of knowledge and I remember it all. If I want to know what you did yesterday, they can kidnap you, pump you full of drugs and interrogate you and learn every secret you have. Or they could have just followed you around all day. I remember it, and you don't because it never happened. It's a very practical form of omniscience. That's why I'm not surprised. But I'm supposed to be.

My future selves are watching this moment via a video recording so I know I look surprised. I can remember the look on my face. But I particularly like the look of surprise that came next. It was one of my best.

"Additionally, after reviewing his work in Physics," he paused to gather himself.

"Particularly the theory and subsequent discovery of high temperature superconductors, his work in describing the mathematical underpinning of the quantum effects involved, extending the boundaries of human knowledge in a brand new and unexpected direction, as well as reviewing his extensive published papers on the subject. It is the pleasure of The University of Tulsa and its Doctoral Committee to award John W Cook a Doctorate of Philosophy in Physics.

Congratulations, Doctor John Cook," he said, reaching out to shake my hand. There was massive applause from the audience as I vigorously shook his hand. He handed me the sheepskin, though it was just a prop. Even my fellow graduates were applauding and cheering wildly. When the cheering stopped, I was still standing there. The University President put his hand back on my shoulder, turned me in the correct direction and gave me a little push to follow my classmates.

Amidst the laughter, he quipped, "Seems I managed to stun him as much as he's stunned us." Then he continued down through the graduates. Eventually we were back in our seats, the Valedictorian gave the final address, we tossed our caps, congratulated each other, and found our families. Before I could find my family in the crowd I was cornered by the four Deans: Dr Thompson, Dr Maytubby, Dr Rice and Dr Gunner. They were heads of Psychology, Chemistry, Physics and Mathematics respectively.

"You gentlemen are not nice for springing that surprise on me. But regardless, thank you very much!" I told them as I shook their hands.

"You are all coming to my graduation party I hope?"

"We wouldn't miss it!" they agreed.

"It's deserved John, or I guess I should say, Dr Cook," Dean Thompson said.

"Congratulations Doctor Cook!" the rest repeated.

"Well deserved!" agreed Karl Gunner, "I pushed for a Doctorate in Mathematics as well, but they wouldn't agree."

"He just proved something that everyone knew must be true. There wasn't anything new or groundbreaking. Unlike high temperature superconductivity!" James Rice said in response.

"How is a three hundred and fifty year old Mathematics problem not groundbreaking!" Karl insisted.

"Gentlemen, let's not start that argument again. Dr Cook is welcome to return to our University to pursue any other Doctorate he might choose," Dean Thompson said, interrupting an old and ongoing argument. I eventually made it to my family, where Mom enveloped me in a hug, with a whispered, "I'm so proud of you." She passed me to my grandparents, who gave me big congratulatory hugs, and then I got one from my little sister Mattie.

Then, uncharacteristically Matt hugged me too, with a whispered, "Well done, little boss." He easily picked me up and handed me to my Dad, who with a beaming smile on his face, hoisted me over his head.

"Oof," Dad replied as I settled on his shoulders, holding onto his forehead for ballance.

"Well done, Johnny! I'm so proud right now, our family finally has a High School and College graduate!"

"Let's go celebrate!" came the cheer from the family.