pushed the button for the first floor, and the elevator started down. Isaac looked at what he had written in his notebook. Everyone had a different answer to the exact same question. How was he supposed to come up with his own answer amid all these choices?
The elevator doors opened and Isaac stepped into the hallway where he had started his search for level P. The first door on the right had the nameplate that read Lauren. Isaac knocked.
“Yes?” a female voice asked. Isaac opened the office door and stepped inside. Lauren was packing things into a box. She looked up at him.
“Oh, it is you,” Lauren said, “Did you find level P?”
“Yes, I did,” Isaac answered, “And now I need the answer to a question.”
“What is the question?” Lauren asked.
“What is the meaning of human life?” Isaac said.
“There isn't just one answer to that question,” Lauren said, “There is as many different answers to that question as there are people on earth.”
“What is your answer to the meaning of life?” Isaac asked.
“Family,” Lauren answered, “Family is why we are here and family is our purpose once we are here. Without family, life is without meaning.”
“Family?” Isaac asked.
“Family can be anyone you choose to adopt,” Lauren said. Isaac nodded while he wrote that down in his notebook.
“I hope that helps you,” Lauren said.
“I hope so too,” Isaac said, “Thank you for your time.” Isaac stepped back into the hallway and closed the door behind him.
Isaac continued down the hallway. His list was getting shorter. There were only five more people left on it and one of them was on the other end of the building from where he was currently headed.
Isaac walked passed the vacated office with the name Ara on the nameplate. It was still empty, but the door was open now and there were some boxes sitting on the floor. The next office nameplate read Paul. As it matched one of the names on his list Isaac knocked on the door.
“Come in,” the male voice was soft. Isaac opened the door and stepped inside. Paul was sitting writing things down in a very full notebook that was sitting beside his typewriter. Paul looked over his reading glasses and up at Isaac.
“Did you find what you were looking for?” Paul asked.
“Yes,” Isaac said, “But only to be sent to look for something else. I need you to answer a question for me.”
“I will try,” Paul said.
“What is the meaning of human life?” Isaac asked.
“The meaning of human life,” Paul paused for a moment, “The meaning of human life centres on striving for expansion of consciousness and understanding of the universe through contemplation, promoting fair play and justice, and experiencing love, beauty, and pleasure.”
Isaac nodded as he made notes in his book.
“I have a quote from Oscar Wilde around here somewhere,” Paul started looking through things on his desk, “It might help you even more.”
“Thanks but I think what you have given me is enough,” Isaac said.
“Are you sure?” Paul asked. He stopped looking for the quote and looked up at Isaac.
“Yes,” Isaac said, “Thank you for your time.”
“You are welcome and I hope it helps you with what you are doing,” Paul said. Isaac left the office and closed the door.
Isaac looked at the nameplate for the next office and that it wasn't on his list. Isaac went down the hallway until he came to the nameplate that said Ian. Isaac knocked on the office door.
“Come in,” a male voice called. Isaac opened the door and entered the office. Ian had pulled his headphones off his head and rested them on his shoulders, but kept most of his attention on the computer screen.
“Yes?” Ian asked.
“I need a question answered,” Isaac said.
“You have to ask it before I can make an attempt at answering it,” Ian said.
“What is the meaning of human life?” Isaac asked.
“Hmm,” Ian moved a small distance away from the computer and put his index finger crossways on his chin, “Hmmm.” He was quiet as he stared at the computer monitor. He stayed like that for a few minutes.
“The meaning of life?” Ian said, “Nice little philosophical stumper.” Ian paused again before straightening and moving back to be closer to the computer. “But let's not over think it. The meaning is to find meaning in human life.” Isaac wrote that down.
“You can quote me on that if you have to,” Ian said, “My name is Bourne.”
Isaac looked up at Ian in confusion, but Ian had put his headphones back on.
“Thank you for your help,” Isaac said. Ian waved. Isaac left the office and closed the door behind him. He turned to the next office, but found the door already open. A woman was busy organizing papers on the desk. Isaac checked his list against the nameplate. This was Sarah's office and Sarah was on his list. However below the nameplate was still the sign that said the office was closed. Isaac knocked on the open door.
“Yes?” Sarah looked up.
“I need to ask you a question,” Isaac said.
“Sure,” Sarah said.
“What is the meaning of human life?” Isaac asked. Sarah paused what she was doing and looked at him. She seemed to be thinking.
“The meaning of human life is realized on looking into your newborn's eyes for the first time,” Sarah said.
Isaac noted that in his book.
“Thank you,” Isaac said.
“You're welcome,” Sarah had gone back to what she was doing. Isaac stepped out of the office and went down to the first office door before the front doors. Heather was the second to last person from Isaac's list and the name on the door. Isaac knocked. There was a pause in the music that was coming through the door.
“Yes?” the female voice called. Isaac opened the door and stepped inside. Heather was in the middle of typing something and did not look up at first. Once she was finished typing whatever it was she looked up.
“Yes?” Heather asked.
“I need the answer to a question,” Isaac replied.
“Dewey wants to know the meaning of life again?” Heather asked.
“Yes,” Isaac answered.
“Well, the meaning of his life is to protect knowledge from people that would throw it away,” Heather said, “Allan's life meaning is to unlock the gates of knowledge for those who wish to seek the riddles of Dewey. And aside from writing I don't know what the meaning, purpose, or goal for my life is. Everyone has a different answer to the question based on his or her experiences and your answer will not be the same as any Dewey has heard before.”
Isaac stared at her for a minute.
“I'm sorry to be rude, but I am so close to getting through this chapter and it has been taunting me all week,” Heather said.
“Of course,” Isaac said, “I'm sorry to have interrupted you.” Isaac exited the office and closed the door behind him. The music could again be heard through the door. Isaac made a note in his book before heading back into the building.
Isaac took the elevator to the second floor. He walked through the hallways on the second floor until he came to the corner. He went into the narrow hallway in the corner to Allan's office. He knocked on the office door.
“Come in,” came the response. Isaac opened the door and went inside. Allan was standing behind his desk juggling the three brightly coloured balls that Isaac had seen the last time he had been in Allan's office.
“You are back,” Allan said.
“Yes,” Isaac said, “I need to ask you a question and then I need to get back to level P.”
“That can be done,” Allan caught the balls and put them down on the desk before sitting on in the chair.
“What is the meaning of human life?” Isaac asked.
“The meaning of life is to live life with meaning,” Allan answered.
“Okay,” Isaac wrote that down. Allan stood up.
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“Ready to go back?” Allan asked.
“Just one minute,” Isaac said. He wrote a few more things in his notebook. When he was finished Isaac put the notebook away.
“Now I am ready,” Isaac said.
“Follow me,” Allan led the way out of his office and back through the maze. Finally they arrived back at the door to level P. Allan unlocked it and then headed back to his office. Isaac turned the knob and opened the door. He stepped inside and the door closed behind him. Isaac could see that Dewey was still sitting at the desk reading the book. Isaac went passed the stacks to where the desk was. Dewey glanced at him briefly before going back to reading. Isaac sat down on the chair. It creaked in protest, but held his weight.
When Dewey came to a chapter break he placed a bookmark in the book before putting it down on the desk.
“It is so much easier to send people searching for the answer now that the building is writers' offices,” Dewey said, “I used to have to send people off to find all the information in books. Sometimes they would get lost in the stacks and not come out for weeks. Did they answer the question?”
“Yes, they answered the question,” Isaac replied.
“And you know what your answer is?” Dewey asked.
“Yes,” Isaac answered.
“Good,” Dewey said, “Anything else you need?”
“Since I did not know what I needed when I came in here, I don't have anymore of an answer to that question now,” Isaac replied.
“No, but I always hope that people that have come through here gain some perspective before they leave,” Dewey said.
“Then that is the end of the test?” Isaac asked.
“Well, your boss will have a few questions when you get back,” Dewey answered, “Other than