"We are here today to begin investigation into a growing suspicion that humanity's history and development has been for centuries manipulated by forces unknown, towards goals also unknown. This allegation is taken seriously by the highest authorities in our nation and internationally." The major stood at the head of the long table and addressed the gathered scientists and historians with a stern look upon her face. The ensuing stunned silence was gratifying.
"What form is this manipulation taking," queried one senior historian, Professor Peter Hill. "Are we talking aliens here?" He looked unconvinced and displeased. "I hope you are not wasting our time with that sort of twaddle," he added, looking around. Various heads nodded slightly and murmurs of support were uttered.
"We're not ruling out anything at this point in time," responded the major. "That's why you are here. To get to the bottom of this." She pressed a button on her presentation clicker and turned to the projection screen as an image of Albert Einstein came up. Not the one where he was poking out his tongue, but a much more dignified snapshot of when he was presented with the Nobel Prize for his work on photoelectric effect.
"We have documentary evidence that Einstein's breakthroughs were as a result of anonymous suggestions, possibly post-hypnotic, delivered via daydreams. His famous 'gedanken experiments' in fact. She nodded to the end of the table where a nervous young man sat. "Doctor Sergund Fruend," she introduced him. He sat suddenly still as all eyes turned and focused sharply on him. The major pointed her chin at him, prompting him to speak.
"Ahem, yes well," he began haltingly, them rushed out with, "We analyzed his newly discovered diary entries about that and from his own words, these particular mind experiments were atypical of the man. He wrote that ideas "seemed to come from somewhere else," at times."
"Is that all the evidence we have," scoffed Professor Hill. "It's pretty weak."
"Not at all," smoothly continued the major, taking over from the relieved Doctor Fruend. "There is a mountain of evidence that nearly every major scientific, medical, social and industrial breakthrough that humanity has ever made was prompted by anonymous suggestions."
She pressed her clicker again and a picture of prehistoric cave art from the caves of Lascaux in southwestern France came up. She left it for a few seconds, clearly showing the captivating forms and colors of images of bison and horses then clicked again and it zoomed in on the far right bottom corner where some clearly defined but cryptic markings were visible, scratched into the soft rock.
"These were discovered recently, when surface topographical imaging techniques were applied to this section of the cave to enhance small details previously overlooked."
"Ah, yes," drawled a woman's voice in a delightful French accent. "That will be my work, I presume. Estelle Markov, director of studies at Lascaux." Eyes were drawn to the speaker, a tall middle aged lady with long hair pulled back in a carefully artless manner way that indicated that she cared nothing for appearances.
"At the prompting from an anonymous but very believable phone call, we recently decoded these glyphs, with the help of work of many others from other sites. In essence, it appears to be the equivalent of a "stickee note" that says, 'A wandering Neanderthal art-critic, can't remember his name, suggested that whilst they were all very evocative, they were so last millennium and I should abandon the handprint series I was working on and instead try representational art of animals. Crazy, but it just might work," she paused and a small smile crept upon her lips. "The signature reads, "Ugh the caveman."
A snort of derision came from the direction of Professor Hill. "Well, we had to call him something," responded Estelle lightly. " "Ugh" seemed appropriate."
... etc etc. Leonard should get a mention.
"And what led us to all these discoveries, I ask?" Professor Hill angrily pressed his point. "How did this ridiculous idea take hold?"
The major tossed a slim manila folder onto the center of the table. "This was left at the ??? embassy. "It has some of the evidence we have discussed and encourages us to pursue it further. All your names are on a list. We don't know who left it."
"An anonymous tipoff? That suggests that all of our progress has been promulgated by anonymous tipoffs?" He paused to wonder, "Is this some kind of crazy "spy versus spy" thing?"
"Yes, there appears to more than one player involved here."