Immortality Has Only One Direction

Professor Kranendonk has another go.

You've surely heard of viruses and fungi?

But Lu Ban shakes his head. He has paid scant attention to microbiology.

Then, says Professor Kranendonk, (ever the educator), you are in for a treat, Mr Lu Ban.

I'll say, agrees Profesor Wacey. We are going to see some of the earth's most ancient microbes in these rocks.

Not the actual microbes, says Big Janis.

Well no, of course not, just the evidence, says Professor Wacey. You can't see the cells any more, but you can see....

Carboniferous material, which is the remnants, says Big Janis.

This does not sound so interesting, says Lu Ban. We shall take our leave now. Come on Janice.

I thought you were supposed to be immortal, says Gaius.

No supposed about it, says Lu Ban. What is your implication?

I mean to imply, says Gaius, that life is long for an immortal, and I question why you are in such a hurry.

Lu Ban is piqued.

Is he in a hurry? No of course not. Very well then, he and Janice will inspect the remnants of these things no one can see.

They go outside.

There is the Wooden Bird, its tendrils drooping, vine leaves jaded.

My, my, says Gaius. Is that a butternut pumpkin? I grow those at home.

Not any more, says Janice.

Gaius does not hear her.

They all pile into the Toyota, and head off in a westerly direction towards the Dresser Formation.

.......

Here we are, says Professor Wacey. Now it's very hot so we must all use sunshades.

My wife invented these, says Lu Ban. Did you know that, Janice?

Wow, says Janice. And was she pretty?

Is that really relevant, Janice? says Big Janis. She was an inventor, that's the main thing.

She was very pretty, says Lu Ban. But your father has much wisdom, Janice.

I know, says Janice. He taught me how to spot a dolphin.

The two professors know exactly where they are going. Professor Wacey has been there quite recently. Professor Kranendonk, several years before.

Here we are,says Professor Wacey. Look closely, Gaius. See these dark lines in the sediment. These are the remnants of the cells. When they were alive they interacted with the sediment creating little communities that cooperated to survive.

Wondrous! says Gaius. You see, Lu Ban?   These are three and a half billion year old structures. What do you make of that?

Lu Ban is making something of it. He is  a philosopher among his other occupations.

Impressive says Lu Ban, peering at the tiny domes and wrinkles. Immortality stretches before me, but in one direction.

Are you sure, says Gaius?

I love One Direction, says Janice.

Lu Ban, Gaius and Janice are straying beyond the realms of geophysics. Professor Kranendonk thinks its time to bring them back.