But the Ajira logo isn't limited to a tiger — what about that sun, a flaming ball of life-giving energy? Consider ''Here There Be Tygers,'' Ray Bradbury's influential 1951 short story about space explorers who discover a Garden of Eden-like planet that responds to human consciousness, fulfills subconscious yearnings, and protects itself from exploitation with a jungle-dwelling, tiger-like monster. Sounds Lost-esque, no? I can't help wondering whether Jack's Grandpa Ray from ''316'' was a tip of the hat to Bradbury, whose deeply humanistic and spiritually minded science fiction certainly must serve as a Lost touchstone. (I might argue that Grandpa's desire to pack a bag and hit the road for one last life-expanding journey is a nod to Bradbury's semiautobiographical novel Dandelion Wine. And if you look at that flaming yellow sun in the Ajira logo, it totally looks like a dandelion.)
Anyway: Here's a cool little cartoon adaptation of ''Here There Be Tygers'' that some Russian animator made. Note the dog.
How might all of these bits add up? Like this: John Locke is no longer alive — not in the traditional, off-Island sense of being ''alive.'' The new Locke who washed up in last week's episode is an Island creation imprinted with the old Locke's consciousness. This is not the same thing as reincarnation, which is an eternal soul that puts on new flesh. New Locke can thrive only on the Island; if he strays from its life-giving power, he will gradually wilt like a flower denied sunlight. Similarly, as long as New Locke continues to think of himself as Old Locke — as long as he allows himself to fall prey to old weaknesses or return to old habits — he will not experience the fullness of strength that the Island provides its new creations. (And yes, I say ''new creations,'' as in plural. My hunch is that some or all of the other castaways currently experience life in this fashion. It wouldn't surprise me to learn that the Oceanic 815 castaways are actually divided between people who really did miraculously survive the crash and ''reasonable facsimiles'' of Oceanic passengers created by the Island.) And if all of this sounds vaguely reminiscent of a certain superhero comic book — you're right! This week's Doc Jensen No Prize goes to whoever can figure out the reference. Send your best guesses to JeffJensenEW@aol.com.
But here's the thing about New Locke: He has no soul. And herein lies the secret to the great saga of Lost. You see, John Locke's body, in any form, has NEVER had a soul. His life is the story of adulterated destiny — and radical course correction. Remember: Locke was born three months prematurely after a car struck his pregnant teenage mother. We never saw the driver. Locke grew up nagged by a feeling that he was meant for a different kind of life. And he was: We now know that the Island has been trying to bring him to its shores since he was a wee lad. My theory is this: Somebody went back in time to kill Locke's mom in order to prevent Locke's birth. It didn't work — but the would-be murderer (Ben? Widmore? Ms. Hawking?) did succeed in making a mess of Locke's predestined life. Locke's eternal soul was displaced from its body — and it went to the Island, where it's been waiting for reunification. And my guess is that this great, redemptive moment will occur...in the final five minutes of the last episode of Lost.
NEXT PAGE: Ben's bloody flip-flop: Theory No. 5, and a new edition of Totally Lost
