The highly revered Swami considered the revelation. “And if they are indeed superior to us, can they not help and support us in our spiritual development? Perhaps they have already helped and guided us in the past.”
“Do we have any right to continue to claim,” Monsignor Botticelli asked, “that just because of our limited senses and misguided intelligence, humans are the only intelligent beings in God’s immense universe?”
A wave of agreeing murmurs circled the room.
The Pontiff brought the room to order with a raised hand. “Indeed, St Padre Pio of Pietrelcina once stated that the Lord certainly did not limit his glory to this small earth. He said that on other planets other beings exist who did not sin and fall as we did. And in 1999, His Holiness Pope John Paul II was asked by a child during his visit to a northern Roman parish if there were any aliens. His Holiness replied, ‘Always remember, they are children of God as we are.’”
A pensive silence fell. Each felt as if they were discussing an ancient truth that had been imprinted on their souls.
“Which leads me to the essence of why we are here.” The Holy Father’s voice was soft, and yet there was power there. “Since 1986 we have had within the safekeeping of one of our priests an artifact of compelling scientific and potentially theological significance. Being manufactured by elements and processes not of this earth, it alone can prove the existence of intelligence life elsewhere other than on earth.”
The room was stunned by this news; that there existed an object that could prove the existence of extraterrestrial life.
The Pope could see a mix of amazement and shock on the faces of the gathered, and he certainly understood. The revelation was something that the Church had not planned to share with the world. But as fate would have it, the artifact was now in the hands of the general public, and it would be only a matter of time before it would surface for all the world to behold.
“And you kept this hidden?” The Chief Rabbi asked, his expression scornful.
“At the time we felt that the world was not ready,” the Monsignor explained. “We thought that the firm believers who put their blind faith in God could lose their grasp on reality. That they would not be able to relate their entrenched beliefs with an extraterrestrial presence.”
“And you said it WAS within your safekeeping” The Imam asked.
The Pope looked as if the words were physically difficult to say. “We have since learned overnight that the artifact has been taken. We are in communication with the agency who is currently in the process of retrieving the artifact.”
The Pope continued, his tone turning serious. “But we must consider the scenario where it is brought out in the open. Whether it be now, or 50 years from now, we will have to face our believers with the reality of intelligent extraterrestrial life.”
The Pope’s gathering realized the implications instantly. It was now conceivable that it was only a matter of time before the revelation would circle the globe, and would no doubt be covered by CNN for all to witness. The public reaction would reverberate across decades.
The Chief Rabbi was looking more and more concerned with each passing moment. “Some of our faithful will be incapable of altering their beliefs to embrace a cosmic neighborhood. They will suddenly become unbelievers of reality.”
The Monsignor looked equally troubled. “True, some may see the ETs as manifestations of the devil who have only appeared to shake their faith. Some followers will be confused and self-righteous, unable to accept the evidence presented to them.”
The Dalai Lama was more hopeful. “But imagine what we may be able to learn from them. Can they heal cancer? Did they also have environmental problems to overcome?”
The Swami also had questions of his own. “Yes, did they overcome problems of overpopulation? What political system do they follow? What is their faith based on?”
“But if they were to show themselves,” the Imam cautioned, “the Muslims will pray to Allah, hoping that it is the Mahdi who has returned to assess the unfaithful.”
The Rabbi was nodding to the Imam. “I agree, Jerusalem will have an influx of people, since tradition holds that the Messiah would descend there.”
“We had the same thought.” The Pope now raised both arms. “The faithful won’t exactly be singing in St Peter’s Square. We would expect our churches to fill with people asking the question, ‘Has Judgment Day arrived?’”
The Monsignor‘s voice was resonant. “But it will most likely be the scientists and politicians that will be the first to be accepting of this fact, and bring this news to the people.”
Mutters of agreement and impending concern again circled the room.
“Disclosure of extraterrestrial life does not have to be theologically devastating. Christianity is robust enough, and flexible enough to accommodate the discovery of extraterrestrial intelligence. The Book of Moses, Chapter 1, verse 33 talks of worlds without number which the Lord has created.” The Pontiff’s words hung in the air a long moment.
The Imam considered the Pope’s words, then slowly raised his eyes to the gathering and said, “The Koran refers to Allah as the God of ‘worlds’, not just one world. Muslims are prepared for ET intelligence. The Koran states that among his signs is the creation of the heavens and the earth, and the living creatures that he has scattered through them.”
The Rabbi stared into the eyes of the Imam a long moment, as if searching his soul then finally said, “Most Jews’ interpretation of Genesis leaves open the possibility of life on other planets. If the news of the ET presence is shared, it will be more evidence of the power of God.”
The Swami could feel the strength of their will pushing him in the Pope’s direction. “The ancient Indian Vedas and other texts refer to aeronautics, spaceships, flying machines, ancient astronauts. It speaks of unlimited multiverses, and each multiverse having its own stars, plants and life.”
There was softness in the Dalai Lama’s voice. “Buddhist cosmology includes thousands of inhabited worlds. But, the world’s faiths were all founded in the pre-scientific era, when earth was widely believed to be at the center of the universe. Scientific and human understanding of the universe has progressed over the last 500 years. Organized religions need not be outgrown. This can be a great opportunity for the religious faiths to progress with humanity, and lead our believers into these changing times.”
There were nods of agreement around the table.
“To which God do you all pray?” the Pope asked.
The Imam exchanged glances with the others before answering, “Whether we call him Allah, God the father, Budda or Jehovah, isn’t the great spirit of eternal Creation one in the same?”
The Pope offered a warm smile. “Then let us all pray as a brotherhood that we choose the correct path to lead our communities.”
The table bowed their heads in silent prayer.
After an interval of quiet reflection, the Swami spoke. “How do you think our followers would react if they saw all of us in the same room, praying together, discussing important matters in friendship?”
The Rabbi knew there was logic somewhere in the Dalai Lama’s argument for unity across the faiths. “We must find common ground if we are to lead our faithful into these changing times. If not, then the religious communities we all represent will fragment and possibly collapse.”
The Pontiff was pleased with the direction their discussion was taking. “It sounds to me that we have found common ground. We all prey to the same Creator, and we agree whether one is born on earth, or on another world that sustains life, we are all children of God.”
Another round of agreements circled the table.
The Pope’s eyes stared back at them all with fierce clarity. “Then I propose that when the news of ET life spreads across the earth, we all guide our believers in accepting our interstellar brothers as part of the divine Creator’s great plan.”
EPILOGUE 5
The General Assembly Building of the United Nat
ions
Grasping the object hidden in his jacket, Marcel took another nervous step toward the entrance to the General Assembly arena.
Behind him the agent had his side-arm trained at Jake’s skull.
Jake took another step.
There was no gunshot.
Jake was now walking, picking up speed, toward the entry.
Behind him the agent slowly lowered his weapon and watched on as Jake Marcel disappeared through the entry.
For a long moment the agent stared at the empty entry. The guard beside the door still looked white.
Mr. Sabre holstered his Glock, retrieved a cell phone from an inside jacket pocket and tapped a speed dial number.
It was Thirty-three’s voice that answered, “Yes.”
“Sir, as requested,” Sabre reported, “the target has been let through, and has been given sufficient motivation to continue on.”
“Excellent work, Mr. Sabre.”
The agent’s tone was hesitant. “Are you sure about this, sir? This is in conflict with…”
“Yes, Mr. Sabre,” his words were cut short by Thirty-three. “Please execute your orders.”
Sabre was confused. “Understood, sir, standing down.”
With that, the agent ended the call and shot a perplexed look back at the entry to the General Assembly arena.
EPILOGUE 6
Section 4 Boardroom
Thirty-three watched the last few words of the President’s speech on a wall-sized screen at the end of a boardroom nestled within Section 4’s underground complex.
The President was speaking from behind his Oval Office desk: “…and if we come together not as separate nations, but as human beings of planet earth to face what is to come; if we pass through this time of great trial in a calm and scientific manner; if we confront without fear the challenges that will test our beliefs and resolve, then someday years from now, our children can tell their children, that this was the time when humanity entered into the cosmic community.”
“Let us not forget who we are; people of one planet, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.”
“Thank you.”
“God bless you.”
“And may God bless every nation on earth.”
Thirty-three used a small remote to switch off the large screen and swivelled back toward the boardroom’s long mahogany boardroom table, his eyes gleaming with satisfaction.
“Gentlemen,” Thirty-thirty proclaimed, “today is a historic day for the human civilization, as today we begin our planet wide disclosure. Mankind will now take its next step in our evolutionary journey.”
Seated at the long table were three non-human entities that had light gray-colored skin and wore tightly fitted silver jumpsuit uniforms that accentuated their thin slender bodies. Their heads were relatively larger in proportion to their bodies and framed two large, yet very dark almond-shaped eyes.
The three gray beings simultaneously expressed a slow nod in acknowledgement.
COMING SOON
DISCLOSING THE SECRET
UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES
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DISCLOSING THE SECRET
Copyright © 2015 by Vincent Amato
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews.
First Printing, 2015
ISBN-10: 0-9944757-0-5
ISBN-13: 978-0-9944757-0-1
ThinkShark Publishing Pty. Ltd.
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Disclosing the Secret Page 36
