Page 157 of The Secret of Secrets

Which body…is my real body?!

The sight of her hand resting on the other’s shoulder, combined with the sensation of a hand on her actual shoulder, was enough sensory input to shift Katherine’s sense of “physical self” to the other body. For several mystical seconds, her consciousness hovered outside herself. She was an observer, a disembodied mind gazing upon her own physical body…much as a near-death patient hovered over their own corpse.

In that moment, Katherine was imbued with a blissful sensation that her consciousness was free and did not require a physical form to exist. Even after she relocated her true self, the afterglow of the “untethering” remained for many days.

Despite its potent effect, Katherine learned the illusion had been fairly simple to create. After she had donned her VR goggles and stood in position, a lab tech had slipped silently into the room and stood directly in front of Katherine. When she reached up to place her hand on her “ghost self,” Katherine unwittingly placed her hand on the shoulder of the lab tech, who simultaneously placed her hand on Katherine’s shoulder. In that moment, Katherine’s sense of self was coaxed to exit her physical body.

Obviously, this was not an authentic out-of-body experience, but the sensation was so peaceful, reassuring, and connected to the nonphysical world that it cemented her career fascination with the potential nonlocality of consciousness.

As Katherine finished her recap, the computer powered up to its welcome screen.

“Password protected,” Katherine said. “I was afraid of that. Unless I know what kinds of simulations they’re running, I can’t begin to guess if this VR lab has anything to do with my book.”

Langdon sat down on the desk’s metal chair and made a handful of guesses. Nothing worked, and he finally shook his head, standing up again. “Maybe they’re running out-of-body simulations? Like the one you just described? That kind of thing seems like it would relate to epilepsy and Sasha and remote view—”

“True, but…” Katherine studied the helmets and gimballed chairs. “My gut tells me this room is for…something else.”

Her gaze moved now to the plate-glass window and computer room beyond it. She went over and tried the metal door beside the window, but it was locked. Putting her face to the glass, Katherine surveyed the space beyond and saw a tall rack of computers, assorted containers of electronic gear, and a glass-paneled refrigerator full of colorful vials.

Then she recoiled, pulling away from the glass. “What in the world?”

Langdon came over. “What is it?!”

“Those…” Katherine pointed to the line of eight objects standing against the rear wall. “Those have no business in a VR lab.”

Langdon peered in at the eight stainless-steel IV poles on wheels.

“IV stands,” Katherine said, disturbed. “And a refrigerator full of pharmaceuticals! This facility is combining intravenous drugs with virtual reality.”

“Okay…and that’s unusual?”

“Yes! Those types of dual-stimuli experiences can be very damaging to the brain. Overexposure can literally alter your brain’s physiology…”

“Alter it…how?”

“It all depends on what drugs they’re administering,” Katherine said, squinting in at the glass-walled refrigerator, trying in vain to read the labels on the vials. “Robert, I need to get inside this room and see specifically what drugs they’re using. Then we might be able to figure out what they’re trying to accomplish…”

Langdon studied her a moment and then nodded. “Okay, stand back.” He strode over to the desk and returned with the heavy metal chair, eyeing the window.

“Wait, are you—”

“We’re already in over our heads,” he said. “A broken window isn’t going to change anything.”

With that, Langdon torqued his body, swinging the chair around himself like a hammer throw. When he let it go, the chair sailed through the air and crashed into the window, partially shattering the glass.

Startled, Katherine waited for an alarm or some kind of commotion, but the eerie silence of Threshold remained.

Langdon walked to the window and, using his elbow, knocked out a portion of the broken glass. Then he carefully reached through, found the knob, and unlocked the door from the inside.

“Inelegant but effective,” he said with a smile. “After you, Doctor.”

Chapter 99

“How goes the inquisition?” Faukman asked when Alex Conan reappeared in his office. The tech’s mop of hair seemed messier, and for a moment Faukman wondered if the guy had actually aged since first appearing in his doorway last night.

“I’m okay,” Alex said, clearly exhausted. “My boss knows this isn’t my fault, but she wants to talk to you at some point. I told her you went home for the day.”

“Thanks.”