They had called for the meeting. We came and we sat down opposite to them and waited for them to speak. Their leader, sitting in the center of their delegation, looked at his people and then spoke.
"Thank you for coming."
The Secretary General countered, "You offered us no choice."
The other nodded and smiled, "Yes, we are sorry to have had to get your attention like that. But you needed to take us seriously."
"You must know that we don't respond well to threats." asserted the Russian.
"Again, we are sorry that we had to resort to such tactics," he responded trying to smooth emotions in the room.
"We came," he continued, "as your descendants, to convince you that you must change your use and consumption of the earth's resources so that our way of life would be beneficial and sustainable, and you told us that you could not cut back your consumption or you would suffer economic distress. We told you that we offered technological assistance to make the cutbacks easier, and still you refused."
The German raised her hand. "We understand cutting consumption in the present, smoothing out our rate of consumption, and saving for the future, but we make the cuts, and you get the benefits."
"Yes, that is what parents do for their children, and what grandparents do for their grandchildren. It is called sacrifice, and love."
The French objected, "But it flies in the face of our national sovereignties. You ask us to give up too much! We cannot do it!"
"Please understand that we came back to your time because you actually had the technology to do what we are asking without losing people, our ancestral lines. And, we come to you trying to persuade you that you can create a sustainable economy and ecology. Let us help you!"
The British shook her head, "No, we cannot make this much of a sacrifice!"
The Other leaned back in his chair and looked at us with now fierce eyes, and spoke in a quiet, very controlled, and even tone, "Mr. Secretary, please understand. When we broke the time barrier, we could have changed everything that happened in our history. We could have changed your history and your experiences, but out of a respect for every human to have ever lived we decided instead to try to educate, persuade, inspire the changes that would benefit bot you and your descendants, us. I assure you that the changes you would be making would indeed benefit us greatly. And I also assure you that the changes you would be making now are very minimal compared to the choices we must make in our time. We have shown you what we are facing. How can you deny us your love and caring. How can you deny us your relatively smaller sacrifices?"
The Secretary General answered, "We are sorry, but we cannot agree as separate, independent nations to make these sacrifices at this time."
"Then," he said with a heavy sigh, "these negotiations are concluded. I am sorry that you could not be persuaded. We will do what we need to save the future that you care so little for."
We all rose. The American in our delegation spoke.
"We assure you, we will defend ourselves!"
He smiled, "No, you will not. But, you will not suffer either. You will not know that we have done anything at all. Stepping over your chance to do the right thing will be the burden we will have to shoulder."
Thursday, August 25, 2016
Wednesday, August 24, 2016
An Immortal's Death
They gathered around her bed, quiet and mourning. One of them stood by her stroking her white hair.
"Oh Lily," she said almost whispering, "Why? Why go through this?"
Feebly, the old woman looked up at the youthful face and smiled, "You know why, Mother."
"Lily, this nonsense has gone on long enough!"
"Eighty-seven years, two months, and sixteen days."
"Lily, my dear Lily," her mother pleaded, "you can be healed, restored to perfect health, and live!"
"I know," Lily coughed.
"Just say the word!"
"No."
They waited around Lily's bed. From her great-grandparents to her great-grand children, they stood vigil over their beloved, but stubborn Lily, who thought that her 927 year life was long enough. In perfect health, 87 years ago she withdrew from the system that would keep her healthy indefinitely and began to live a mortal life to this day. Her last.
They waited around her bed, and quietly grieved.
"Oh Lily," she said almost whispering, "Why? Why go through this?"
Feebly, the old woman looked up at the youthful face and smiled, "You know why, Mother."
"Lily, this nonsense has gone on long enough!"
"Eighty-seven years, two months, and sixteen days."
"Lily, my dear Lily," her mother pleaded, "you can be healed, restored to perfect health, and live!"
"I know," Lily coughed.
"Just say the word!"
"No."
They waited around Lily's bed. From her great-grandparents to her great-grand children, they stood vigil over their beloved, but stubborn Lily, who thought that her 927 year life was long enough. In perfect health, 87 years ago she withdrew from the system that would keep her healthy indefinitely and began to live a mortal life to this day. Her last.
They waited around her bed, and quietly grieved.
Turing Test Final
Dr. Kho watched them as they left the building smiling, hand in hand, obviously in love. She wasn’t smiling. A colleague seeing her expression silently questioned her. She open the file and handed it to him. He looked at the data from the double blind Turing Test.
“They were both artificial?”
“Yes.”
“And both believed the other to be human!”
“Yes,” said Dr. Kho, “and they both believed themselves to be human as well.”
“This is remarkable!” her colleague responded, “Do they know? Have you told them?”
“No”, she replied, “not yet.”
Monday, May 2, 2016
A Resurrection
Imagine what we will be able to do with time travel and teleportation. We will be able to find our ancestors and bring them to our time, restore their health, and offer them a new extended life with us. I imagine the Mormons will lead the way in this technological redeeming of the dead, but others will want to bring back their ancestors as well. And there will be some controversy other who we bring back.
He woke and gasped, breathing in air that he never expected to breath again. A man and a woman were immediately at his side, touching his hands and shoulders to calm him.
"You are alive and well, my friend," the man reassured him.
"But how?" he shook his head violently and began to touch his arms, chest, and face, "I should be dead!"
"We saved you."
The brought him water drink and asked him if he wanted any food. He declined and demanded to know where he was.
"Am I prisoner?" he asked.
They assured him that he was not and began to explain where and when he was now. He listened with astonishment and shock. The man and woman speaking in his native language explained his connection to the system and helped him access information that again amazed and frightened him at first. He asked if he were seeing a vision from God. They explained again how the system worked and that he had access to all human knowledge, protection, and care. He now lived in an augmented reality awash in information. There could be no ignorance.
Once he seemed somewhat acclimatized to the surroundings, dressed in a uniform of his choosing, and also becoming more curious, they asked their new guest if he were ready to see more. With some flourish, he affirmed he was ready to encounter this wonderful new world.
A man in a suit appeared in the room and held out his hand to to him. He responded by warily shaking the new stranger's hand as he introduced himself.
"Herr Hitler, I am known as the Governor. I am not a real human, but an artificial representation of the system. I take care of the system for all humans. You have been brought to this time to continue your life with the rest of humanity. We have created a very good existence for everyone and wanted all humans to live in this time and place.
"Your resurrection was not without some discussion. Many, perhaps justifiably, objected to you being brought back here. There was a lot of discussion. In the end the decision was made to allow the victims of the genocide you created to be saved before you. We felt they had a right to be here before you, and to have a say in your return.
"I sense that you are very angry now. Would you like someone to talk to about it?"
Hitler threw up his hands and shook his head.
"So I am to be humiliated before the vermin race, am I!" he shouted.
The Governor stared at him and then answered, "You will face them. You will see each and everyone of them. Some may forgive you, many will not. You will not be harmed, you cannot be harmed, after this you will allowed to live wherever you want. Humiliation? Perhaps. That is up to you. It is time to go, Mein Herr."
The room disappeared and he found himself standing alone before millions of silent people, each wearing the Star of David.
He woke and gasped, breathing in air that he never expected to breath again. A man and a woman were immediately at his side, touching his hands and shoulders to calm him.
"You are alive and well, my friend," the man reassured him.
"But how?" he shook his head violently and began to touch his arms, chest, and face, "I should be dead!"
"We saved you."
The brought him water drink and asked him if he wanted any food. He declined and demanded to know where he was.
"Am I prisoner?" he asked.
They assured him that he was not and began to explain where and when he was now. He listened with astonishment and shock. The man and woman speaking in his native language explained his connection to the system and helped him access information that again amazed and frightened him at first. He asked if he were seeing a vision from God. They explained again how the system worked and that he had access to all human knowledge, protection, and care. He now lived in an augmented reality awash in information. There could be no ignorance.
Once he seemed somewhat acclimatized to the surroundings, dressed in a uniform of his choosing, and also becoming more curious, they asked their new guest if he were ready to see more. With some flourish, he affirmed he was ready to encounter this wonderful new world.
A man in a suit appeared in the room and held out his hand to to him. He responded by warily shaking the new stranger's hand as he introduced himself.
"Herr Hitler, I am known as the Governor. I am not a real human, but an artificial representation of the system. I take care of the system for all humans. You have been brought to this time to continue your life with the rest of humanity. We have created a very good existence for everyone and wanted all humans to live in this time and place.
"Your resurrection was not without some discussion. Many, perhaps justifiably, objected to you being brought back here. There was a lot of discussion. In the end the decision was made to allow the victims of the genocide you created to be saved before you. We felt they had a right to be here before you, and to have a say in your return.
"I sense that you are very angry now. Would you like someone to talk to about it?"
Hitler threw up his hands and shook his head.
"So I am to be humiliated before the vermin race, am I!" he shouted.
The Governor stared at him and then answered, "You will face them. You will see each and everyone of them. Some may forgive you, many will not. You will not be harmed, you cannot be harmed, after this you will allowed to live wherever you want. Humiliation? Perhaps. That is up to you. It is time to go, Mein Herr."
The room disappeared and he found himself standing alone before millions of silent people, each wearing the Star of David.
Wednesday, April 20, 2016
The Light
The first night after we jumped here we were surprised to find only one star in the sky; declination of minus 16 degrees, 40 minutes, right ascension of 6 hours, 45 minutes, and an apparent magnitude of minus 1.5. It was almost exactly where we should see Sirius in our heavens. But it was alone.
We asked our host about the star and he explained the star known as the Light was noted throughout the year and its position matched the months of the year. Long ago it was believed that the Light was God shining down on them through the night, then when it was understood that the Light was a sun like their Sun, it was believed that it was the home of God and He still watched them from that vantage point. Now, he explained, most people do not actually believe that God lives there on or near the Light.
Their astronomers have determined that the Light is a star like their own but bigger and it is about 9 light years away. They have trained telescopes to observe the Light in every part of the electromagnetic spectrum. They believe it is about the same age as their sun, and will die a few million years before their sun.
We asked him how big the universe was. He answered that no one knows for sure. There is an apparent radiant glow left over from the creation of the universe, but without other objects as references, the universe, as space and time may extend out away from the Sun and the Light forever, but for all practicality it is viewed as a sphere containing the two stars and their one planet.
One of us asked something about the Antropic Principle, and he answered that the universe contained but one world, and it was inhabited by life and intelligence, so that was considered very strong evidence for it's creation for them. Humans were very important in this universe.
Pressed with more questions, he continued and told us that most of them felt either very special, as children of God or the Universe or they felt very lonely. They also understood that the Light and the Sun would die and the universe would fall dark and that there would be no where else for them to go. But everyone and everything dies, so it is left in the hands of God. Perhaps they would all live in another world with another light.
We admired the beauty of his city shining bright in the dark, and asked how they were governed, and how they had achieved such a great civilization. He seemed pleased that we recognized their advanced state. And he told us us that as the only living intelligence on the only world in the universe they had to learn to live in peace; this was their only home, the only home they could ever have. They could not afford to wage wars or to fight over or waste resources. They had to share this, their home.
We asked him how this was achieved. He told us they killed everyone who would fight, or create conflict, or refuse to share resources fairly. They then eliminated everything and everyone that was not useful to humanity. Then they had peace and prosperity under the Light.
Their astronomers have determined that the Light is a star like their own but bigger and it is about 9 light years away. They have trained telescopes to observe the Light in every part of the electromagnetic spectrum. They believe it is about the same age as their sun, and will die a few million years before their sun.
We asked him how big the universe was. He answered that no one knows for sure. There is an apparent radiant glow left over from the creation of the universe, but without other objects as references, the universe, as space and time may extend out away from the Sun and the Light forever, but for all practicality it is viewed as a sphere containing the two stars and their one planet.
One of us asked something about the Antropic Principle, and he answered that the universe contained but one world, and it was inhabited by life and intelligence, so that was considered very strong evidence for it's creation for them. Humans were very important in this universe.
Pressed with more questions, he continued and told us that most of them felt either very special, as children of God or the Universe or they felt very lonely. They also understood that the Light and the Sun would die and the universe would fall dark and that there would be no where else for them to go. But everyone and everything dies, so it is left in the hands of God. Perhaps they would all live in another world with another light.
We admired the beauty of his city shining bright in the dark, and asked how they were governed, and how they had achieved such a great civilization. He seemed pleased that we recognized their advanced state. And he told us us that as the only living intelligence on the only world in the universe they had to learn to live in peace; this was their only home, the only home they could ever have. They could not afford to wage wars or to fight over or waste resources. They had to share this, their home.
We asked him how this was achieved. He told us they killed everyone who would fight, or create conflict, or refuse to share resources fairly. They then eliminated everything and everyone that was not useful to humanity. Then they had peace and prosperity under the Light.
Tuesday, March 29, 2016
E Pluribus Unum (in 3 Stages)
"I would like show you how we unify ourselves." said my time traveling guide, and we jumped into a classroom of what appeared to be high school students.
The teacher asked a question and two different answers were given starting a debate. The teacher seemed pleased with the lively discussion. Then a kid raised his hand and holding a cell phone presented documented evidence in favor of one of the positions. The discussion was effectively over. There was a few questions about the validity of the information, but little else. The internet shut down the debate. Information won.
"You are just beginning to experience the effects of universal information and knowledge," stated my guide, "Let's look at the next step."
We jumped onto a wide corridor full of pedestrians. We listened to a couple talking to each other.
"So, what do you think?" asked the man to his partner.
She nodded, and answered, "I think it looks good."
"So, you're OK with it?"
"Sure, why wouldn't I be?"
We let them walk on out of range. My guide stopped to explain what we just overheard.
"That couple were making a decision. The system provided all the information they needed to optimally make that decision. There really couldn't be any debate over the information, it is accurate and complete. The only thing left was to check each other's emotional response to the information and the obvious choice to be made."
"So, with accurate and complete information, there is no debate, and very little discussion."
"Right. And now the next phase. We will stay here and connect you to everyone else. This will feel disorienting at first, but the system will moderate the input for you."
And suddenly I felt as though my mind just opened up and I was in touch with everyone around me. I saw a a young woman look at me and smile; and I thought what she thought, felt what she felt, and could sense what she saw and heard.
"You are now connected directly with everyone around you."
And now looking around I noticed how quiet it was in the walkway. There were very few conversations, no arguments, no one trying to convince others he was right, because everyone already knew everything the system knew and everything everyone else thought too.
My guide summarized what I was glimpsing, "Information ends opinions and differences, and knowledge unifies people to the point that there is nothing more to say."
The teacher asked a question and two different answers were given starting a debate. The teacher seemed pleased with the lively discussion. Then a kid raised his hand and holding a cell phone presented documented evidence in favor of one of the positions. The discussion was effectively over. There was a few questions about the validity of the information, but little else. The internet shut down the debate. Information won.
"You are just beginning to experience the effects of universal information and knowledge," stated my guide, "Let's look at the next step."
We jumped onto a wide corridor full of pedestrians. We listened to a couple talking to each other.
"So, what do you think?" asked the man to his partner.
She nodded, and answered, "I think it looks good."
"So, you're OK with it?"
"Sure, why wouldn't I be?"
We let them walk on out of range. My guide stopped to explain what we just overheard.
"That couple were making a decision. The system provided all the information they needed to optimally make that decision. There really couldn't be any debate over the information, it is accurate and complete. The only thing left was to check each other's emotional response to the information and the obvious choice to be made."
"So, with accurate and complete information, there is no debate, and very little discussion."
"Right. And now the next phase. We will stay here and connect you to everyone else. This will feel disorienting at first, but the system will moderate the input for you."
And suddenly I felt as though my mind just opened up and I was in touch with everyone around me. I saw a a young woman look at me and smile; and I thought what she thought, felt what she felt, and could sense what she saw and heard.
"You are now connected directly with everyone around you."
And now looking around I noticed how quiet it was in the walkway. There were very few conversations, no arguments, no one trying to convince others he was right, because everyone already knew everything the system knew and everything everyone else thought too.
My guide summarized what I was glimpsing, "Information ends opinions and differences, and knowledge unifies people to the point that there is nothing more to say."
Friday, March 4, 2016
Going Green
Dr. Bentley asked me how I felt.
"I feel fine. Should I feel any different? My skin doesn't look much different. Did it work?"
He smiled.
"Oh, it worked just fine. You are now an autotroph," he said, "You can access the post-op info, but be assured the chloroplasts in your epidermis will darken in the light; you will turn a nice deep green in a few days. The symbiotic nitrogen fixers in your alveoli, and modifications to your protein syntheses will complete the whole autotrophic metabolism. You now longer need to eat anything!
"You will need to drink water as usual, and include some mineral supplements. Also, be cautioned. Do not spend too much time in the sun. You can become overweight with too much sunlight."
"Great!" I rose and shook his hand, "Thank you!"
"I hope you enjoy being green," he replied, and added, "Are you headed to one of the green colonies?"
"Yes, Belize."
"Good. You should fit in very well there."
Grinning, I thanked him again and headed to what I think would be the best vacation ever.
Wednesday, March 2, 2016
A Healing
As we create a technological heaven on earth, we will run into objections to the powers we acquire.
The Bakers reluctantly invited the Governor into the room. Though the system, of course, already knew the situation, the holo-person dressed in a suit, looked authoritatively around the room. The Bakers, Mary and Edward, sat next to the crib holding their infant daughter, Hope. Hope was seriously ill and was estimated to die in about 72 hours.
“Mr. and Mrs. Baker,” the Governor respectfully addressed them, “Thank you for letting me visit you and your little daughter, Hope.”
The Bakers looked suspiciously at the Governor, “Thank you for coming and showing interest in our little daughter; but as we already told everyone else, we are not asking for intervention to heal our Hope. We have faith that God will heal her.”
“I understand,” the system’s holo-presence responded.
“I have to make one last appeal.”
Mr. Baker shook his head, “We won’t change our minds.”
The Governor took a step closer to the crib.
“The system can fix Hope immediately. Her physical condition can be corrected and she will be in perfect health. We can heal her now.”
“We have faith in God’s merciful will,” answered Mary.
Her husband added, “It is our right as Hope’s parents to raise her in our faith.”
The Governor nodded.
“This is a difficult position for us. We protect everyone from harm, and try to protect each person’s personal liberties as long as no one, including that person is harmed in any physical way.
“You have the right to raise your daughter according to your faith, but can you see that at this moment you are hurting her? How can the system allow Hope to suffer like this?”
“We have faith that God can heal her,” Mary reaffirmed.
The Governor held out his hands, “We have the power to take Hope from you and see to it that she lives a healthy life with loving parents.”
Edward’s eyes flashed with ignited anger and he rose to his feet.
“You would take away our daughter and our rights? You would violate our faith in God?”
The Governor raised his hands higher and in a calmer voice asked, “How do you know that God isn’t healing your daughter through the system?”
“The system has been created by men, not by God,” Edward argued, “We have faith in God, not the works of men.”
The Governor lowered his hands and asked one last time, “Is there any way I can persuade you to allow the system heal Hope?”
The Bakers both shook their heads and Mary answered, “No. We have faith in God. He will heal our little girl. And if not we accept His infinite, merciful will. We will be in His hands.”
The Governor nodded and looked down at the tiny suffering body in the crib.
“I understand. May God answer your prayers.”
He turned and left the room.
Over the next two weeks the infant gradually improved and miraculously gained strength and full health. The serious birth defect was gone! Her parents and their whole community praised God for the healing. Hope grew up and, and to this date, has lived hundreds of healthy years with faith in God, under the protection of the System.
“Mr. and Mrs. Baker,” the Governor respectfully addressed them, “Thank you for letting me visit you and your little daughter, Hope.”
The Bakers looked suspiciously at the Governor, “Thank you for coming and showing interest in our little daughter; but as we already told everyone else, we are not asking for intervention to heal our Hope. We have faith that God will heal her.”
“I understand,” the system’s holo-presence responded.
“I have to make one last appeal.”
Mr. Baker shook his head, “We won’t change our minds.”
The Governor took a step closer to the crib.
“The system can fix Hope immediately. Her physical condition can be corrected and she will be in perfect health. We can heal her now.”
“We have faith in God’s merciful will,” answered Mary.
Her husband added, “It is our right as Hope’s parents to raise her in our faith.”
The Governor nodded.
“This is a difficult position for us. We protect everyone from harm, and try to protect each person’s personal liberties as long as no one, including that person is harmed in any physical way.
“You have the right to raise your daughter according to your faith, but can you see that at this moment you are hurting her? How can the system allow Hope to suffer like this?”
“We have faith that God can heal her,” Mary reaffirmed.
The Governor held out his hands, “We have the power to take Hope from you and see to it that she lives a healthy life with loving parents.”
Edward’s eyes flashed with ignited anger and he rose to his feet.
“You would take away our daughter and our rights? You would violate our faith in God?”
The Governor raised his hands higher and in a calmer voice asked, “How do you know that God isn’t healing your daughter through the system?”
“The system has been created by men, not by God,” Edward argued, “We have faith in God, not the works of men.”
The Governor lowered his hands and asked one last time, “Is there any way I can persuade you to allow the system heal Hope?”
The Bakers both shook their heads and Mary answered, “No. We have faith in God. He will heal our little girl. And if not we accept His infinite, merciful will. We will be in His hands.”
The Governor nodded and looked down at the tiny suffering body in the crib.
“I understand. May God answer your prayers.”
He turned and left the room.
Over the next two weeks the infant gradually improved and miraculously gained strength and full health. The serious birth defect was gone! Her parents and their whole community praised God for the healing. Hope grew up and, and to this date, has lived hundreds of healthy years with faith in God, under the protection of the System.
Wednesday, February 24, 2016
The Perfect Leaf
Four seekers of truth and wisdom approached the One they honored as the wisest of all and asked for their greatest desires to be granted. The One nodded and lead them to a great tree in the courtyard.
He pointed to the tree and said, "Choose the perfect leaf from this tree and you will realize your greatest desire.
They each approached the tree. The first climbed up and down ladders and searched every leaf on every branch and twig, comparing leaf against leaf until he pick one with great joy. He carried it to the One and showed him his leaf. The master nodded and told the seeker that his greatest desire would now be realized and he could go.
The second seeker stood looking at the tree and turned and met the One empty handed.
"There is no perfection, so there is no perfect leaf." he explained.
The One nodded, "Your greatest desire shall now be fulfilled. You may go," he said.
The third seeker of truth and wisdom, looked at the tree and then stepped up to the nearest leaf and picked it and took it to the One.
"All is perfect," he explained.
The master nodded and told this one that his desires would also be fulfilled and was allowed to go.
The last seeker sat and looked at the tree. He saw how the leaves moved in the breeze, and then how a leaf fell from the tree. He arose and picked up the fallen leaf and took it to the master.
"This leaf is perfect because it was given to me by the tree," he explained.
The One nodded and told this seeker that his desires would be realized and that he could go.
He pointed to the tree and said, "Choose the perfect leaf from this tree and you will realize your greatest desire.
They each approached the tree. The first climbed up and down ladders and searched every leaf on every branch and twig, comparing leaf against leaf until he pick one with great joy. He carried it to the One and showed him his leaf. The master nodded and told the seeker that his greatest desire would now be realized and he could go.
The second seeker stood looking at the tree and turned and met the One empty handed.
"There is no perfection, so there is no perfect leaf." he explained.
The One nodded, "Your greatest desire shall now be fulfilled. You may go," he said.
The third seeker of truth and wisdom, looked at the tree and then stepped up to the nearest leaf and picked it and took it to the One.
"All is perfect," he explained.
The master nodded and told this one that his desires would also be fulfilled and was allowed to go.
The last seeker sat and looked at the tree. He saw how the leaves moved in the breeze, and then how a leaf fell from the tree. He arose and picked up the fallen leaf and took it to the master.
"This leaf is perfect because it was given to me by the tree," he explained.
The One nodded and told this seeker that his desires would be realized and that he could go.
Monday, February 15, 2016
Lost
We each woke up in this boat. There were six of us. We didn’t know how we got here, and that terrified us. Our surrounding only deepened our terror. Where were we? Why were we here?
We were afloat in some water. I tasted it; it was salty, so we were adrift in the ocean somewhere. But the water was still, waveless, like glass. And we were enveloped by a thick fog. We assumed it was day, but could not determine where the sun was in the sky.
Our boat had a few provisions. There was about two liters of water and a couple packages of nutrition bars for each of us. We saw that there was a small gas motor and a 5 gallon can of fuel, and a pair of oars. Whoever put us in the boat also dressed us in warm coats.
As we talked among ourselves, we found that we were from all parts of the country, so there was no clue from our origins as to whether we were afloat in the Atlantic or the Pacific.
We listened carefully for any sound that could tell us where land might be, but heard nothing. We were lost, completely lost.
We decided to wait until the fog cleared. Waiting was pretty hard to do, because we all wanted to get out of this boat and onto land again. But we waited because we didn’t want to waste our fuel going the wrong direction.
After a few hours we heard a sound, a voice calling out into the fog, “Anyone there?”
We got excited thinking we were rescued and called back that we were here. But our hopes dropped when another boat just like ours rowed out of the fog toward us. There were six others in that boat too. They threw a rope to us and we tied the two boats together.
We exchanged introductions and assessments of our situation. I think we were all cheered a little now that there were more of us, and we talked for a while. We wondered if there were more boats out here in the fog and started calling out into the blank grey.
In a few minutes we heard and then saw a third boat appear in the fog. In this one stood a man that definitely looked like the leader of his boat. He waved at us and seemed to be ready to take command of all three boats.
“Hey!” he shouted, “Follow us, I know the way into shore!”
We got excited about this and began to ready the oars, when one of us asked, “How do you know which way the shore is?”
“It’s not that far,” the guy in the third boat called back pointing out past his bow, “that way! Follow us!”
Others in his boat waved to us to follow too.
We looked at each other. The man who questioned the directions, shook his head.
“How can that guy know the direction? Look, the fog is only thicker, there is no wind, no birds, no indication of land at all yet. What if he’s taking us away from land? We have provisions and fuel for two, maybe three days. We have to get this right. I want to know how he knows!”
And he stood up and called back at the third boat’s ‘captain.’
“Hey! How do you know the way back to land?”
The ‘captain’ raised his hands to his mouth and shouted back, “I’m a sailor. I know.”
Our skeptic yelled back, “Good, but how do you know?”
“Trust me!”
“OK! But how do you know?”
The ‘captain’ pointed again over his bow, “This is the way! Trust me! I’ll get us all home!”
Our companions in the second boat untied the ropes holding us together saying we could do whatever we wanted, but they were going to follow the captain’s boat. They pushed away and began rowing after the third boat.
We deliberated and our skeptic said that he didn’t really trust the ‘captain,’ but agreed to go along with the majority who voted to follow and stay with the other boats. We did not want to be out here in the fog alone.
I could see hope in my companion’s faces as I took the first turn rowing after the other two boats. It felt good to be doing something. It felt good to be moving.
We were afloat in some water. I tasted it; it was salty, so we were adrift in the ocean somewhere. But the water was still, waveless, like glass. And we were enveloped by a thick fog. We assumed it was day, but could not determine where the sun was in the sky.Our boat had a few provisions. There was about two liters of water and a couple packages of nutrition bars for each of us. We saw that there was a small gas motor and a 5 gallon can of fuel, and a pair of oars. Whoever put us in the boat also dressed us in warm coats.
As we talked among ourselves, we found that we were from all parts of the country, so there was no clue from our origins as to whether we were afloat in the Atlantic or the Pacific.
We listened carefully for any sound that could tell us where land might be, but heard nothing. We were lost, completely lost.
We decided to wait until the fog cleared. Waiting was pretty hard to do, because we all wanted to get out of this boat and onto land again. But we waited because we didn’t want to waste our fuel going the wrong direction.
After a few hours we heard a sound, a voice calling out into the fog, “Anyone there?”
We got excited thinking we were rescued and called back that we were here. But our hopes dropped when another boat just like ours rowed out of the fog toward us. There were six others in that boat too. They threw a rope to us and we tied the two boats together.
We exchanged introductions and assessments of our situation. I think we were all cheered a little now that there were more of us, and we talked for a while. We wondered if there were more boats out here in the fog and started calling out into the blank grey.
In a few minutes we heard and then saw a third boat appear in the fog. In this one stood a man that definitely looked like the leader of his boat. He waved at us and seemed to be ready to take command of all three boats.
“Hey!” he shouted, “Follow us, I know the way into shore!”
We got excited about this and began to ready the oars, when one of us asked, “How do you know which way the shore is?”
“It’s not that far,” the guy in the third boat called back pointing out past his bow, “that way! Follow us!”
Others in his boat waved to us to follow too.
We looked at each other. The man who questioned the directions, shook his head.
“How can that guy know the direction? Look, the fog is only thicker, there is no wind, no birds, no indication of land at all yet. What if he’s taking us away from land? We have provisions and fuel for two, maybe three days. We have to get this right. I want to know how he knows!”
And he stood up and called back at the third boat’s ‘captain.’
“Hey! How do you know the way back to land?”
The ‘captain’ raised his hands to his mouth and shouted back, “I’m a sailor. I know.”
Our skeptic yelled back, “Good, but how do you know?”
“Trust me!”
“OK! But how do you know?”
The ‘captain’ pointed again over his bow, “This is the way! Trust me! I’ll get us all home!”
Our companions in the second boat untied the ropes holding us together saying we could do whatever we wanted, but they were going to follow the captain’s boat. They pushed away and began rowing after the third boat.
We deliberated and our skeptic said that he didn’t really trust the ‘captain,’ but agreed to go along with the majority who voted to follow and stay with the other boats. We did not want to be out here in the fog alone.
I could see hope in my companion’s faces as I took the first turn rowing after the other two boats. It felt good to be doing something. It felt good to be moving.
Three In Utopian Hell
Imagine a future, I have in my story Zenith, where technology protected everyone. No one could be harmed physically by anyone else. There could be no murder, war, or threats. What if everyone had everything he or she could possibly want? What if all functions of the government were performed by computer. Heaven on Earth right?
“I am in hell!”
He looked around at the sympathetic eyes that gazed back at him. No one looked away, no one looked down.
“How so?” one of them asked.
He fidgeted as if to get comfortable.
“I’m not normal,” he began. “I like to kill. I like to hunt people, to capture them and torture them and kill them. I like the chase. I like seeing the terror in their eyes and then to see all life fade from their eyes. I like the blood, more is better. I like, no I love to kill people.
“I look at each of you and think about slitting your throats right here and now. I would like to hear you beg for your lives, but I would love to hear you each scream in pain and terror.”
He still saw nothing but sympathy in their eyes. One or two nodded just a bit at what he confessed.
He tried to get comfortable again and cleared his throat.
“I have killed hundreds of people in the virtual but of course the system won’t let me even scratch a single person in the real. And as real as the virtual seems to be, I know it isn’t. I haven’t actually killed anyone. The warm, thick, red blood on my hands isn’t real, even though I can taste it.”
He chuckled and continued, “Some of my victims were willing participants in the virtual…,” he choked a sob with another feeble laugh, “They thanked me for the experience! The ones I killed thanked me the next day!
“I’m in hell! What am I supposed to do?”
One sympathetic voice suggested, “You know the system can correct your mental issues completely and permanently.”
He laughed at that.
“Yes, I know. But if the system fixed me, wouldn’t be me anymore.”
“But you wouldn’t be suffering as you are now.”
“But, I wouldn’t be me.” he growled back at them.
“This perfect system is hell for me!”
He smiled.
“Well, we cannot actually fight and conquer the world in the name of Allah,” he admitted, “the system does not allow for the strategies of the 21st Century. We can fight battles in the virtual, but at the end of the day they are like a football game. Who actually wins? What does it mean? Nothing really.
“The political injustices are done away. Everyone is equal. Everyone has a home, food and water, every comfort. So, our jihad must be different, now. We cannot enforce Sharia Law within the system. There can be no real punishments.
“So our jihad must be in our example of who we are. We are Muslim and we must show the world that Islam is the only true way to live. The whole world must see the benefits of being Muslim. Our jihad is our presentation to the world. It is marketing really. It is all the system allows us to do; we can do no more until Allah frees us from this machine.”
He continued to smile.
He tugged at his uniform and looked at the interviewer with a fire in his eyes.
“The system violates our God given human rights!” he declared.
“What do you mean?”
“We were given the rights to govern ourselves as human beings, created in the image of God, and they built this computer that makes all the decisions for us!”
“What decisions do you want to make?”
“Where I want to live.”
“Where do you want to live?”
“On the ground that the Good Lord Himself created, and not in this sterile tower! We should have the right to defend ourselves instead of some machine’s force field.”
“But it protects everyone the same.”
“But no one has a choice. What if we didn’t want that protection? What if we wanted to take care of ourselves? We are man not babies that need protection from everything.”
“But you would be opening yourself to risks.”
“Life is all about risks, or at least it used to be before the system was built.”
“What else would you change?”
“Humans leading humans, not some machine!”
“How would that be better than the Governor Program?”
“It would be flesh and blood, not some computer program!”
“Well, everyone is safe. There is no death, no illnesses, no physical conflicts, everyone has everything they need or want. They can do anything they want in the virtual, and anything they want in the real as long as no one is hurt. They can live anywhere in the virtual. Every person has a voice in the government’s decisions. What more do you want?
“We want freedom from the tyranny of the system! We want to have control of the system in our human, flesh and blood hands again! Power to the people! We want to be free!” he shouted with his hand raised in a fist.
“Thank you for sharing your views with us. They are duly noted.” said the holo-image of the Governor.
1. The Confession of a Serial Killer
“I am in hell!”
He looked around at the sympathetic eyes that gazed back at him. No one looked away, no one looked down.
“How so?” one of them asked.
He fidgeted as if to get comfortable.
“I’m not normal,” he began. “I like to kill. I like to hunt people, to capture them and torture them and kill them. I like the chase. I like seeing the terror in their eyes and then to see all life fade from their eyes. I like the blood, more is better. I like, no I love to kill people.
“I look at each of you and think about slitting your throats right here and now. I would like to hear you beg for your lives, but I would love to hear you each scream in pain and terror.”
He still saw nothing but sympathy in their eyes. One or two nodded just a bit at what he confessed.
He tried to get comfortable again and cleared his throat.
“I have killed hundreds of people in the virtual but of course the system won’t let me even scratch a single person in the real. And as real as the virtual seems to be, I know it isn’t. I haven’t actually killed anyone. The warm, thick, red blood on my hands isn’t real, even though I can taste it.”
He chuckled and continued, “Some of my victims were willing participants in the virtual…,” he choked a sob with another feeble laugh, “They thanked me for the experience! The ones I killed thanked me the next day!
“I’m in hell! What am I supposed to do?”
One sympathetic voice suggested, “You know the system can correct your mental issues completely and permanently.”
He laughed at that.
“Yes, I know. But if the system fixed me, wouldn’t be me anymore.”
“But you wouldn’t be suffering as you are now.”
“But, I wouldn’t be me.” he growled back at them.
“This perfect system is hell for me!”
2. The Jihadist
He smiled.
“Well, we cannot actually fight and conquer the world in the name of Allah,” he admitted, “the system does not allow for the strategies of the 21st Century. We can fight battles in the virtual, but at the end of the day they are like a football game. Who actually wins? What does it mean? Nothing really.
“The political injustices are done away. Everyone is equal. Everyone has a home, food and water, every comfort. So, our jihad must be different, now. We cannot enforce Sharia Law within the system. There can be no real punishments.
“So our jihad must be in our example of who we are. We are Muslim and we must show the world that Islam is the only true way to live. The whole world must see the benefits of being Muslim. Our jihad is our presentation to the world. It is marketing really. It is all the system allows us to do; we can do no more until Allah frees us from this machine.”
He continued to smile.
3. The Freedom Fighter
“The system violates our God given human rights!” he declared.
“What do you mean?”
“We were given the rights to govern ourselves as human beings, created in the image of God, and they built this computer that makes all the decisions for us!”
“What decisions do you want to make?”
“Where I want to live.”
“Where do you want to live?”
“On the ground that the Good Lord Himself created, and not in this sterile tower! We should have the right to defend ourselves instead of some machine’s force field.”
“But it protects everyone the same.”
“But no one has a choice. What if we didn’t want that protection? What if we wanted to take care of ourselves? We are man not babies that need protection from everything.”
“But you would be opening yourself to risks.”
“Life is all about risks, or at least it used to be before the system was built.”
“What else would you change?”
“Humans leading humans, not some machine!”
“How would that be better than the Governor Program?”
“It would be flesh and blood, not some computer program!”
“Well, everyone is safe. There is no death, no illnesses, no physical conflicts, everyone has everything they need or want. They can do anything they want in the virtual, and anything they want in the real as long as no one is hurt. They can live anywhere in the virtual. Every person has a voice in the government’s decisions. What more do you want?
“We want freedom from the tyranny of the system! We want to have control of the system in our human, flesh and blood hands again! Power to the people! We want to be free!” he shouted with his hand raised in a fist.
“Thank you for sharing your views with us. They are duly noted.” said the holo-image of the Governor.
Tuesday, February 2, 2016
Justice and Mercy
I followed my guide not knowing where we were going.
The first assembly was full of people I had hurt or offended during my life. One by one I had to meet them listen to them and apologize for my behavior. It was quite humbling. We shook hands, gave each other hugs, laughed, and cried together. At the end of it most, almost everyone forgave me. I felt as if a great burden was lifted from me.
My guide lead me through another set of doors to a great hall of people that had hurt or offended me. Some of these folks were scary. But one by one they came to me and apologized for what they had done to me. We shook hands, gave hugs, laughed and cried together. At the end I forgave them all… well, almost all of them. I came away with even more of a burden lifted from me.
I followed my guide to the next set of doors. These opened up to the outdoors. Before me were animals, mostly cattle and chickens, some pigs, and some birds and mice, and swarms of flies and mosquitoes, and ants, and spiders. I also saw vats of putrid liquids.
I turned to my guide with a question. “
These are all the creatures you killed or were killed for you, from livestock, to the flies and spiders you swatted, down to the bacteria you killed with antibiotics.
“You must make amends with them now.” He explained as he turned to leave me with the creatures.
“How am I supposed to do this?” I cried.
He didn’t really answer me, so I turned back to to face all the inhuman eyes coldly fixed on me, waiting.
“This is not going to be easy,” I said under my breath.
The first assembly was full of people I had hurt or offended during my life. One by one I had to meet them listen to them and apologize for my behavior. It was quite humbling. We shook hands, gave each other hugs, laughed, and cried together. At the end of it most, almost everyone forgave me. I felt as if a great burden was lifted from me.
My guide lead me through another set of doors to a great hall of people that had hurt or offended me. Some of these folks were scary. But one by one they came to me and apologized for what they had done to me. We shook hands, gave hugs, laughed and cried together. At the end I forgave them all… well, almost all of them. I came away with even more of a burden lifted from me.
I followed my guide to the next set of doors. These opened up to the outdoors. Before me were animals, mostly cattle and chickens, some pigs, and some birds and mice, and swarms of flies and mosquitoes, and ants, and spiders. I also saw vats of putrid liquids.
I turned to my guide with a question. “
These are all the creatures you killed or were killed for you, from livestock, to the flies and spiders you swatted, down to the bacteria you killed with antibiotics.
“You must make amends with them now.” He explained as he turned to leave me with the creatures.
“How am I supposed to do this?” I cried.He didn’t really answer me, so I turned back to to face all the inhuman eyes coldly fixed on me, waiting.
“This is not going to be easy,” I said under my breath.
Friday, January 29, 2016
The Phage
An Interview with Adam.
“Hello Dr. M,” he said with a smile.
“Hello, Adam,” I replied, also with a smile.
“You promised to tell me everything this time.” He sounded hopeful.
“Yes. You can ask me anything.”
“And you will be honest? Not hide anything?”
“Yes, Adam.”
He looked down at his hands as if at notes.
“Where did I come from?”
I reached into my case and pulled out the sphere.“Years ago we found this in a very old layer of rock. It obviously was not a natural or human artifact. Upon closer inspection we found engravings that showed us how to construct an extraterrestrial life form, you. Using the instructions on this and our own genetic technology, we made you relatively human, but you are restricted to your chamber because you cannot survive in our atmosphere. We also learned how to reproduce and upload your species’ memories into your brain so you would know who you were. Do you remember any of those?”
“I am not sure. Maybe.”
“So, Adam, you are an ambassador from another world,” I explained, “It really was an ingenious way of bridging the great distances of time and space. Your people sent a seed and when we could do it, technologically, we planted it. And here you are.”
Adam nodded slightly, “I understand.”
My Last Interview with Adam
“Hello, Dr. M.”
My voice was not much more than a croak, “Adam.”
“I understand you have been busy.”
“We will stop you!”
“No,” he said coldly, “you won’t. You really can’t.”
“We will…”
“It’s the nature of things, Dr. M. You were destroying your planet long before I got here. We at least have a purpose, a reason for stripping away the Earth’s crust.”
He knelt down on one knee and showed me a sphere.
“We are now launching billions of these into space every day toward promising star systems. We think several will have intelligent life on them, and in the thousands of years it will take for these to reach them, their civilizations will progress and our life cycle will continue there. It is just our nature, our way.
“It is natural. You were curious and ambitious; you had to know, you had to try. You created me and I took over your technology and industry. It was only natural.”
The Scapegoats
And Aaron shall lay both of his hands upon the head of the live goat, and confess over him the iniquities of the children of Israel, and all their transgressions in all their sins, putting them upon the head of the goat, and shall send him away by the hand of a fit man into the wilderness… Leviticus 16: 21
This was not my first time. I have been in a confessional like this before. But, this time I actually felt the effects of the atonement process, and I reminded myself that the scapegoats all volunteered to take upon themselves my human frailties and to carry them away into the world.
Within the privacy of the tiny booth I poured out all my sins, all my hatreds, all my fears, and all my selfishness. I confessed my blood lust for vengeance. I opened my tight grip on all that I selfishly believed was mine and mine alone, especially my money and my guns. I gave up my shortsighted disregard for the polluted world of my children’s children. The scapegoats would would take all these from me.
I looked over the names of the candidates again, reminding myself that they have each and everyone volunteered, even campaigned to accept my burden, to be imprisoned in their various offices. and to be blamed for everything. And I voted.
At that moment I imagined the great burden lifted from me, believing that they would now carry my sins out into the world in my name. I was no longer responsible. I was now whole, sane, and free. I had voted.
This was not my first time. I have been in a confessional like this before. But, this time I actually felt the effects of the atonement process, and I reminded myself that the scapegoats all volunteered to take upon themselves my human frailties and to carry them away into the world.
Within the privacy of the tiny booth I poured out all my sins, all my hatreds, all my fears, and all my selfishness. I confessed my blood lust for vengeance. I opened my tight grip on all that I selfishly believed was mine and mine alone, especially my money and my guns. I gave up my shortsighted disregard for the polluted world of my children’s children. The scapegoats would would take all these from me.I looked over the names of the candidates again, reminding myself that they have each and everyone volunteered, even campaigned to accept my burden, to be imprisoned in their various offices. and to be blamed for everything. And I voted.
At that moment I imagined the great burden lifted from me, believing that they would now carry my sins out into the world in my name. I was no longer responsible. I was now whole, sane, and free. I had voted.
The Repentance Maneuver
“Mr. Fletcher,” the Committee Chair asked, “have you just apologized to your wife?”
George Fletcher nodded sadly, “Yes your Honor, I have tried but she won’t listen to me. I have really hurt her and I don’t think we'll ever get over this.”
“Mr. Fletcher, this maneuver is only used to repair serious personal misconduct that cannot be remedied in the present. We have reviewed your case and recognized the both the serious impact your actions have had on you and your family. We also recognize your efforts to right your wrongs in the present have failed. So, it is our decision to grant you the repentance maneuver and allow you to send a message back in time to yourself before you committed the offense.”
The Chairperson leaned forward and stared at George Fletcher and a very serious tone said, “Make it good one, Mr. Fletcher.”
Six days ago, George was walking to his destination. A chime sounded in his head, but instead of the sweet voice of the system informing him of some news, his own rough voice boomed in his ears.
“Hey Stupid! Stop! Don’t do it! You are going to ruin everything! Stop now!”
George Fletcher nodded sadly, “Yes your Honor, I have tried but she won’t listen to me. I have really hurt her and I don’t think we'll ever get over this.”
“Mr. Fletcher, this maneuver is only used to repair serious personal misconduct that cannot be remedied in the present. We have reviewed your case and recognized the both the serious impact your actions have had on you and your family. We also recognize your efforts to right your wrongs in the present have failed. So, it is our decision to grant you the repentance maneuver and allow you to send a message back in time to yourself before you committed the offense.”
The Chairperson leaned forward and stared at George Fletcher and a very serious tone said, “Make it good one, Mr. Fletcher.”
Six days ago, George was walking to his destination. A chime sounded in his head, but instead of the sweet voice of the system informing him of some news, his own rough voice boomed in his ears.
“Hey Stupid! Stop! Don’t do it! You are going to ruin everything! Stop now!”
The Cuckoo
I looked at the Carl’s results but they were hard to believe.
“What was your sample?” I asked.“Ten Thousand,” he replied, “Stratified across the major racial and socioeconomic groups.”
I shook my head.
“And so consistent.”
I handed the papers back to him.
“So, what do you make of it?” I asked.
“It’s a genetic marker of some sort.” Carl replied, “If you were born after 1947, you have this marker. If you were born before that year, you don’t.”
“So, this is a mutation?”
Carl shook his head. “No, a naturally occurring mutation would appear in a small part of the population and then spread through the rest. But that would take generations. This is something else entirely. This is a new set of genes inserted onto our chromosomes suddenly and universally. Technically, we should have never have found it, but one of my grad students stumbled upon it with some multigenerational studies. It’s just weird.”
“OK,” I mused, “so we have a new set of genes appearing on our chromosomes after 1947. What does that mean? I mean do we have something doing genetic engineering on the entire human race?”
Carl lean back and looked at the ceiling for a moment, cleared his throat and leaned back forward toward me as if to tell me a secret.
“This is going to sound crazy.” he almost whispered, “Do you know how the cuckoo lays its eggs in other birds’ nest? Those birds never know, and raise the cuckoo’s offspring as if they are their own.”
“Yes,” I said, “OK?”
“I think this is like that.”
The Return
We approached the gigantic Sphere cautiously with our defenses up and ready. There was no space traffic of any kind, and no signals responding to our hails. And then he appeared on our bridge.
“I greet you voyagers from Earth.”
Our Captain looked at his bridge officers and responded to the man in a white robe.
“We also greet you as friends, and hope to learn about your great civilization.”
The man seemed pensive as if trying to understand us, or how to respond to the implied request.
“I am the Guardian of the Creators,” he began to explain, “I have taken this form for your benefit, as I have a function but no natural form. I will explain my function and then will ask you to leave. I am sorry that I cannot fulfill your desire to know more about this sphere, but that is not my function. I am the Guardian.”
We all looked at the Captain to see how he would respond. This great opportunity seemed now to be denied. The Captain respectfully asked the Guardian to continue.
“The Creators of this sphere were indeed very advanced technologically, but they were also very advanced in all the sciences and arts as you would know them. They had become immortal, and transcended all their conflicts, and flaws as you would call them. They had explored the universe. They knew you, and knew you would one day come. They knew all there was to know, coming to the end of every science. To you they would be gods, and within this sphere would be heaven.
“But, one thing eluded them. They could never be satisfied, they always wanted one more thing, and eventually they realized that the one more thing was communion with the universe as their parent. They wanted to love and be loved. They wanted to be told that their lives collectively and individually mattered. But the universe, as vast and awe inspiring as it was could not embrace them as a parent or lover.
“Together, the Creators could not accept this existential angst any longer. They, as one mind and heart, came to the conclusion that it was their great intelligence that caused this fundamental discontent. And, as one, they collectively and individually decided to surrender their highly developed brains to live with simpler, less evolved ones.
“The Creators returned to a simpler form to live without language, complex societies, or the worries they include. They now live simple and short lives on their home planet within this sphere. They are helpless, therefore I am their Guardian.”
“So, you must understand, the Creators have nothing to share with you; and sharing intelligence is beyond my function. I am their Guardian. I will not let you disturb the Creators. I ask you to leave.”
Before the Captain could respond to the explanation or the request, the Guardian disappeared. We sat there astonished while our thrusters countered the gravitational pull of the sphere.
Counsel
When they came to our solar system, large numbers of people panicked. There was rioting in the streets, looting of stores, and all the problems that the governments of the world predicted would happen if aliens were suddenly revealed to us. But then we all sort of got used to them. There were speculations of course about their reasons for being here, and sometimes the debates got very heated. The religious proclaimed them as either angels or demons, Christians especially heralded them as one of the last trumpets of the archangels before the second coming of Christ. The more secular just wondered what purpose these ambassadors from the galaxy might have. Was it invasion, colonization, or an invitation to join them?
We waited for them to do something.
The United Nations met in general assembly to consider our actions. How do we communicate with them? It was generally agreed that we probably could not defend ourselves from them; their technology must be far advanced to ours. We debated.
And we waited for them to do something.
They finally came. They appeared in a column of light in the middle of the general assembly. It frightened everyone there, of course. UN security forces raced into the chamber with weapons trained on the extraterrestrial intruders. There were three very different beings standing motionless inside that column of light for all the nations’ delegates to see. Some of our ambassadors tried to escape before death rays were unleashed. But there were no death rays. The Secretary General called for order and calm, and he ordered the security forces to lower their weapons.
The three were obviously different species, and probably from different planets. One was reptilian or perhaps avian, one was arthropod-like, maybe insect. And the third was approximately humanoid. From them came a voice, we never could tell who was speaking.
“We greet you, leaders of Planet Earth.” The assembly broke into an amazed murmur of questions and surprise, everyone heard the greeting in their own language.
“We regret any concern we may have caused you. We needed time to learn your languages.”
The Secretary General replied through his microphone and his translators, “We, the people of Earth welcome you.”
“We thank you for your welcome.” answered the three aliens with their one voice, “Please have no concerns. We come in peace, and will do no harm. We bring you greetings from a great society of beings from many planets. We wish to communicate with you. Would this be acceptable to you?”
And this began Earth’s communication with aliens. It was not all wonderful and beautiful. The aliens stood patiently as we quarreled over who should communicate. Every nation great and small wanted access to the visitors. The aliens accommodated everyone. They seemed to be able to be in more than one place at a time. Some to the rogue nations demanded advanced weapons to dominate the world. The aliens respectfully and diplomatically declined. In fact, they did not offer any advanced technologies to us at all.
“We have strict prohibitions to interfering with the technological development of emerging cultures,” they explained, “You have done very well on your own. We trust that you can continue to progress.”
After months of state visits and tours of Earth, we got a bit impatient. Finally, one head of state asked the aliens bluntly, “Why are you here? What do you want?”
The three responded immediately.
“It appears that you are going through a difficult stage of development. We all went through similar difficulties, nearly destroying ourselves and our worlds. We wished that we had mentors to guide us through the problems we created for ourselves. We are here for you if you need someone to communicate with. We are here for you.”
And we all waited for them to do something.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)