Chapter 20 - the professor's office

Karson always enjoyed his visits to the Johns’ house. It was a perfect balance of warmth and academia. Tastefully placed bookcases were filled with a wide array of literature illustrating the diverse range of interests of the professor and his wife. Works from Leonard Cohen and Margaret Atwood to Nolm Chomsky and Bob Woodward were just a taste of what could be found on the shelves.

Dispersed between the bookcases were framed photos, mostly black and white that Karson had heard were taken by the professor. They were not labeled or identified in any way, but it was clear they were global, showing scenes from around the world. Scenes of places, buildings, streets and people not from North America. The few moments Karson had had to view them up close, countries in Asia seemed the most predominant. Where in Asia though, he didn’t know. Karson had never been anywhere, except for the mandatory university student pilgrimage to Cancun or one of the other popular destinations for reading week that came in mid-February for Canadian university students.

The one common feature to all the photographs was the personal feeling they all seemed to have. Perhaps it was because the professor never talked about or explained any of them induced this feeling. He always managed to direct inquiries away from the photos. Karson never pressed, and with go with the change of subject.

Passing by the kitchen, the hardwood floor underneath him, Karson made a right halfway down the hallway and carried on to the far end, passing a bathroom two bedrooms. An open door at the end provided a view of what could only be described as a totally disorganized and cluttered office that somehow gave off a sense of sensibility and order.

It was the man that fulfilled that sense.

The room was spacious and was fully consumed by books, papers, documents, maps and reports. Stacks and stacks of everything occupied every surface, except for on the desk. A large wooden desk sat in the middle of the room with a large clear window providing a picturesque view of a flower garden behind it. The deck and pond Karson knew were more to the left, just out of view, or the office was out of view from the deck.

Only a single folder lay open on the desk that contained a small pile of official looking papers. Karson couldn’t quite make out the company logo on the inside of the folder from where he standing. No doubt, one of the many companies the professor did consulting work for.

Standing at the door, Karson gently knocked on the door frame. “Excuse me, Professor Johns.”

Standing to the left of the desk, Professor Johns had appeared to be looking out the window at the garden. As he slowly turned his head, Karson saw that he was actually holding a thin booklet.

“I’m sorry to disturb you like this, but, …”

Upon seeing that the intruder was Karson, a combined smile and furrowed brow appeared on Dr. Johns’ face.

“Not at all, Karson. Not at all. Please, come in. What can I do for you?” After a moment, he added, “Did I forget that we were supposed to meet today?”

“No Sir. And again, I apologize for barging in on you like this, but somethings happened that I need to tell you about, er, show you.”

Karson was about to continue and started to hold up his hands to show what he was holding when Dr. Johns held up his right hand, palm out.

“Ok, just calm down and come sit down, son.” Dr. Johns walked behind his desk and placed the thin booklet he had been reading into the folder and closed it. He then lowered his short stocky frame into his high-backed leather chair. His wispy gray hair falling over his eyes.

Leaning forward and clasping his hands together, forming a steeple, his soft eyes told Karson to continue.

“Well, professor,” started Karson as he sat down in the lone chair in front of the desk. “As you know, I’ve been struggling with the biticum, and …”

“Yes, you have. And it’s a bold undertaking I may add. You’ve been struggling, yes, but your approach has been very creative. I think you’ve made some good progress in an area where other researchers and companies are throwing millions of dollars trying to tackle the same problem or making the Oilsands more efficient, and you are doing it with much more limited funds.

“Thank you, professor. Your support and belief in me has been of great encouragement for me. And, …”, Karson paused before continuing, “ I believe you’ve helped me solve it as well.
Karson let loose a wide grin, that was quickly matched with a look of confusion and premature disbelief by Dr. Johns.

After what seemed like two minutes of silence, that was actually only about ten seconds of silence, with a degree of trepidation, Dr. Johns looked directly into Karson’s eyes and said, “What do you mean by, solved it?”

Placing the glass beaker and printout on the desk, Karson returned the look and replied with controlled excitement, “I mean I think I’ve done it. I think I’ve turned the Oilsands into a landslide.”