by Tod Eten
‘Hello this is Aya’ a rich female voice said
‘Hi Aya its Aiden!’
‘Aiden, hi’ Aya said sounding pleased.
‘Listen have you seen the news’ Aiden said urgently.
‘Yes’ Aya said immediately sounding serious ‘it is awful, absolutely awful all those poor people!’
‘But did you see that they have seen a new planet, just like you said there would be!’ Aiden blurted out.
‘Well I knew they would, it was only a matter of time’ Aya said now with some sadness in her voice ‘soon everyone will be able to see it!’
‘So all that stuff its true isn’t it, it’s going to happen like you said isn’t it!’ Aiden said excitedly.
‘Yes Aiden’ Aya confirmed.
‘So we have to go find this Eden then?’ Aiden asked.
‘That is for you to decide Aiden‘ Aya replied.
‘Well I am definitely convinced so when do we set off?’ Aiden said immediately.
‘We are all meeting in the community centre car park, where we had our meeting last week, you remember where it was?’ Aya asked.
‘Yeah sure’ Aiden replied.
‘Good meet us there 6.00am Tuesday morning’ Aya said.
‘OK’ Aiden agreed.
‘Aiden you will need to get some things for the journey like a tent, sleeping bag and backpack. We will be camping out mostly and roughing it’ Aya instructed.
‘Sure Ok' Aiden agreed.
‘Good see you Tuesday, don’t be late. Oh and don’t forget your passport’ Aya added.
With all thoughts of the cinema now gone Aiden decided to make his way straight back to his flat. The streets of London were now eerily quiet and the few people that he did see on his journey back home looked frightened and in a hurry to be somewhere else. When he got back to the flat the first thing Aiden did was to turn on the TV but as usual there was no reception so Aiden fired up his laptop instead and seeing that his broadband was still working as normal started to search the online news sites. Straight away he could see that their main topic was the discovery of the new planet and the possible link between it and the planes crashing. There were also many eye witness accounts from around the world about individual plane crashes and the devastation they had caused, as well as a few uplifting stories of pilots who had somehow managed to land their planes saving all the passengers. The estimate for casualties were said to be over a million people and the authorities called for calm and urged people not to panic. But it was obvious that this was going unheeded as many people were now openly claiming that the discovery of this planet spelled the end of the world. Also Aiden noticed in amongst all this that there were many reported sightings around the world of aliens and strange creatures. The video footage captured of the Loch Ness being the prime one amongst them. Religious leaders were also airing their views. The Pope had called for all Catholics to pray to God and had organised a special mass in Rome. Many Muslim leaders were claiming that this was a sign from Allah, a warning that all must follow his word. Aiden slumped back in his sofa shocked at the speed and scale at which things were happening and now he had agreed to set off on a journey to who knew where! But what had he got to lose, he did say that he was going to go abroad after all.
Chapter 8 - The Departure
Monday morning and Aiden was up early. He had already thrown a small pile of clothes on his bed in preparation for the journey ahead. He was now rummaging through his things to see if there was anything else that he should be taking but mostly he came across old photos, bank statements and bills, nothing that was of any great importance. Recalling what Aya had asked him to do Aiden set off to local shops where there was he remembered a place that specialised in camping equipment. He arrived at the store just after it had opened and was surprised to see that a number of people were already inside browsing through its contents. Never having gone camping or hiking before Aiden decided it best to ask the elderly shopkeeper for some assistance.
‘Can I help you sir’ the shopkeeper said politely.
‘Yes I need a backpack, sleeping bag, tent and some things for camping’ Aiden said going over what Aya had said.
'How many of you will there be?' The shopkeeper asked.
'Just for me, the others will have their own equipment' Aiden answered.
‘Is it for any particular region?’
Aiden looked at the shopkeeper blankly.
‘Will you be in the snow or a very cold climate’ the shopkeeper said trying to make things simpler for Aiden.
‘Oh, I see, no I don’t think so’ Aiden answered.
‘Where are you planning on going then?’ the shopkeeper endured.
‘Well I think the Middle East around there’ Aiden said uncertainly.
‘Ah I see, one moment’ and the shop keeper bustled away.
Aiden stood and watched as the other people in the shop examined various bits of camping gear testing seams and reading labels. At least they looked like they knew what they were doing he thought.
The shop keeper soon returned with what Aiden guessed was a back pack, on top of which were two cylindrical objects enclosed in a nylon sacks.
‘This is should meet your needs’ the shop keeper said patting the items he had brought and placing them on the counter. ‘This is an 85 litre waterproof rucksack it has a light weight aluminium frame and has triple stitched bindings so that the straps won’t fail and this is a light weight self erecting one man tent and this a sleeping bag. You will also need some cooking equipment yes?’
‘I guess’ Aiden said to which the shop keeper nodded and went off in search of more items. After another twenty minutes or so the shop keeper had amassed a small pile of camping gear in front of Aiden which now included a pair of hiking boots.
‘There that should be all you need Sir’ the shop keeper nodded pleased with himself some time later.
‘Great thanks’ Aiden said taking out his wallet.
‘The Middle East you say’ the shop keeper said as he started ringing up the items. ‘Bit of a dangerous place to be going in these times I would have thought. Still looks like it’s not that much safer here!’
‘I suppose’ Aiden said
‘Had a lot of people getting camping gear recently’ the shop keeper continued glancing at the other people in the shop. ‘Most seem to be heading out into the hills away from the city, they reckon it will be safer out there but I don’t know myself.’
‘Are they going anywhere in particular?’ Aiden asked out of curiosity.
‘Not really, as far as I can tell they are just heading for places away from everything. Remote places so to speak. Yes been lots of people doing that over the last month like they all somehow knew that these things would be happening’ the shop keeper looked thoughtful for a moment and then shook his head, ‘maybe it’s just me imaging it. There you are sir that will be £267.67p’
‘Thanks’ Aiden said taking a card out of his wallet.
The shopkeeper passed over a small handheld device into which Aiden inserted his card then he quickly punched in his identity number. Aiden then handed the device back to the shopkeeper. A few seconds later the machine spat out a small ribbon of paper confirming that Aiden’s payment had gone through.
‘Thank you sir, have a good journey’ the shop keeper thanked Aiden handing back his card and a receipt.
Aiden took his purchases back to the flat and then made several more visits to the shops to get food and toiletries for the journey as well as some cash from the bank. Then together with the clothes he had selected from his bedroom earlier he began packing everything away as carefully as he could into his new rucksack. When this was finished Aiden kicked his heals around his flat unable to settle. Finally he decided to take a stroll down to his local pub to pass some time.
Terry was there as usual behind the bar which except for him was completely empty.
‘Pint?’ Terry asked on seeing Aiden enter.
‘Please’ Aiden replied.
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‘No TV?’ Aiden said pointing at the blank screen.
‘Can’t get any of the stations’ Terry shrugged as he poured out a beer for Aiden.
‘It’s quite today’ Aiden said looking round the empty pub.
‘Been like that since yesterday everyone’s staying indoors. Can’t blame them with all that is happening’ Terry sighed. ‘You believe what they are all saying about this planet and this end of the world business?’
‘I think there maybe something to it’ Aiden replied honestly taking the fresh pint from Terry and paying him for it.
‘You do!’ Terry said raising an eyebrow ‘why is that then?’
‘Well’ Aiden hesitated not sure what he should say. ‘Look this might sound mad but I met up with some people not so long ago, well they sort of predicted that this would happen’ Aiden said deciding to let Terry in on his secret.
‘Predicted?’ Terry said now interested.
‘Yes they said that there would be all these disasters and that a new planet would be seen, just like it has happened. Seems all this was all predicted by the Sumerians an old civilisation from thousands of years ago’ Aiden tried to explain.
‘Sumerians!’ Terry rubbed his chin.
‘Yes they were the first human civilisation, they are thousands of years old’ Aiden repeated what he had learned. ‘They said that this planet would one day come and that there would be a war and great disasters’ Aiden added.
‘Well I don’t like the sound of that’ Terry shook his head ‘so what can we do about it did they say?’
‘They say there is a place you can go where you can get sanctuary from all that is going to happen’ Aiden revealed.
‘What from this war and stuff?’ Terry asked.
‘I think so yes’ Aiden nodded.
‘Where is this place?’ Terry asked.
‘I don’t know, somewhere in the Middle East they said’ Aiden replied. ‘Look we are all going to try and find this place. I am meeting up with them tomorrow early morning, why don’t you come along I am sure you can come with us or follow behind or something.’
Terry paused and looked about his empty pub. ‘No I can’t just up and leave like that what about my pub I’d lose it for sure!’ Terry shook his head ‘but thanks for the offer.’
‘But if this is really going to happen what use will the pub be to you!’ exclaimed Aiden.
‘Well maybe you are right Aiden but I am too old to go traipsing off around the world and this is all I ever wanted’ Terry said looking around his pub again. ‘Without it, well it may as well be the end of the world, for me at any rate!’
Terry and Aiden both looked round as the door of the pub opened and Ray entered.
‘Pint please Terry, alright Aiden’ Ray said as he walked in. ‘You heard what happened to Chand?’ Ray continued as he reached the bar.
‘Chand! No what has happened?’ Terry said empty pint glass in hand.
‘Only found out today, happened as he went home on Saturday night. He got jumped on by a gang of skin heads. Left him in a pretty bad way. Just come from the hospital they got him proper strapped up they have’ Ray said.
‘Is he OK?’ Aiden asked worried.
‘Broken arm and lots of bruising but he’ll live’ Ray replied.
‘Why did they jump him then?’ Terry now asked.
‘Thought he was a Muslim it seems’ Ray shook his head.
‘Well that’s a bit ironic’ Terry said ‘after what he said about Muslims on Saturday.’
‘You’re right there’ Ray nodded.
‘I told you it’s no good all this anger’ Terry said shaking his head again.
‘It’s happening all over the place’ Ray said rubbing his chin, ‘and where's the police? It’s like they have all just disappeared. It will be anarchy out there soon you mark my words!’
Aiden sipped at his pint in silence as he listened to Ray moaning about the state of the world and had to admit that things did not look so good for any of them.
That night Aiden hardly slept thoughts and images kept running around his head concerning everything that had happened to him over the last week. By 5.00am in the morning Aiden was already washed, dressed and eager to set off. He had decided to walk to the community centre which he had figured would take him about twenty minutes at the most. Aiden took one last look around his home wondering if he would ever see it again. He had had some good times and a few bad at the flat, but it was really just a place where he slept and no more Aiden realised. But still it had been his home, his personal space where he could hide from the world. He took a look at his watch which now showed half past five and with a sigh Aiden set off on his journey into the unknown. He was just about to close his front door when a thought hit him like a punch to the gut and he rushed back inside. Aiden began frantically rummaging through the draws in his bedroom his stomach turning cartwheels. He wondered how he could have been so stupid! Finally after what seemed an age he found what he had been looking for in one of the kitchen draws, his passport! Tucking it away securely in his inside pocket he set off once more.
Aiden looked at his watch and saw that it was already twenty to six! It had taken him a good ten minutes to find that stupid passport. Aiden started to pick up his pace worried that he would not make it to the community centre on time. He looked around to see if there were any taxis he could hail but the streets were deserted. Luckily Aiden had memorised the quickest route to his destination which he now followed. Sadly he soon realised that he had badly under estimated the length of the journey. Checking his watch again he saw that it was now ten to six and he was not even half way there. Aiden decided to try running but with the rucksack weighing him down he was soon forced back to a brisk walk. Half walking half running and with butterflies in his stomach Aiden watched as the hour hand of his watch reached the hour mark and still he was some distance from the community centre. Aiden thought about using his mobile and quickly took it out of his pocket but the network was still down, he also remembered he only had Aya's home telephone number in any case. It was nearly ten minutes past six by the time Aiden panting and wheezing finally reached the deserted car park of the community centre. Aiden looked round the obviously empty car park now angry with himself. Why had he been so stupid! It was clear that they had already left without him. He desperately tried to think of what to do next. Maybe get a taxi and try following them. But where would they have gone he had no idea for he hadn't asked. And what would they be driving! Aiden suddenly felt completely helpless.
‘Aiden?’ he heard his name being called and spun around.
‘Aiden is that you?’ called the voice and Aiden saw Aya standing at the far end of the car park her hair in a pony tail wearing jeans and a light top.
‘Aya?’ Aiden shouted back.
‘Yes come on we are all waiting for you’ Aya replied and Aiden sprinted over to her his exhaustion forgotten. Aya led Aiden around the side of the building where the car park unknown to Aiden continued. There waiting for them was a white minibus with the rest of the group aboard. As they approached the vehicle the large muscular figure of Aaron stepped out of the mini bus.
‘Ah you have found him’ Aaron rumbled with a broad grin and helped Aiden take off his rucksack which Aaron then stowed in the luggage compartment. With a great deal of relief Aiden climbed aboard the minibus.
‘Ah here he is, the dreamer has awoken!’ Demitri called from the back of the minibus with a chuckle.
‘Hi all, sorry for being late’ Aiden apologised feeling himself go red.
Aiden took a seat at the front where Aya had indicated and she then sat down beside him.
Aaron after shutting the minibus door got into the driver’s seat and starting the engine he drove the minibus out into the empty streets of London.
Maybe it was the early hour, or perhaps it was because each one aboard the minibus was deep in their own thoughts about the journey ahead. Whatever the reason no one said a word. Aaron drove them through the
almost deserted city and soon they were speeding along the Westway heading out of London.
‘Thank you for waiting’ Aiden said to Aya.
‘I knew you were coming’ Aya replied with a shrug.
‘So where are we headed?’ Aiden asked out of curiosity.
‘Folkestone, the Euro tunnel’ Seth replied who was in the seat on the other side of the aisle to Aya. ’Then it’s on to Jordan!’
‘Jordan that is a long drive!’ Aiden said.
‘Gagan has it all mapped out haven’t you’ Seth said nudging Gagan who was sitting beside him.
‘Oh yes got all the maps don’t you worry, won’t take us long to get there’ Gagan leaned over and smiled at Aiden.
‘I’ve never been to Jordan’ Aiden stated.
‘It’s a fascinating country, the most famous place being Petra of course' Gagan immediately responded. 'Which was built in the first century BC because of the spice trade. But did you know it was also famous for its hydraulic engineering, yes indeed! However the most interesting thing about Petra is that the whole area was originally controlled by a tribe of people called the Edomites and the area was known as Edom. Get it Edom and Eden it is not just coincidence I think. I still can’t believe that I did not look more closely at this region before’ Gagan shook his head. ‘Anyway I hope that we will have time to visit Petra, they carved the temple there from out of the actual rock you know!’
‘Gagan wants to visit every historical site from here to our destination’ Seth laughed.
‘Well I just think we should make the most of our journey that’s all’ Gagan defended himself.
‘But we also have a deadline within which to get there, isn’t that right Aya?’ Seth disagreed.
‘It is really not that clear but we need to get there before the Anunnaki arrive. After that the real fireworks will begin. But there are no exact dates for their arrival just that they will come soon after the planet first appears and we will see the signs in the sky to mark their arrival.’ Aya answered.
