The cacophony slowly eased until the only sounds to be heard were occasional wheezes, coughs and the scraping of chair legs upon unyielding oak flooring.
All eyes were now centred upon the platform.
‘Thank you.’
Buckland paused and cleared his throat several times.
‘Excuse me.’ he said, with some embarrassment. ‘The occasion is getting to better of me!’
His comment raised a few nervous chuckles alongside pompous-sounding groans, neither of which helped ease the growing tension.
‘You are all aware,’ he continued, now sounding more confident. ‘of why we are here: not only to welcome Richard Moss back from a journey of unprecedented, epic, proportions but also to hear, in his own words, about a planet located in a distant galaxy where life, as we know it, exists in the same way as life here on Earth! I have had the opportunity to meet Richard several times since he returned to Earth and I am humbled by the fortitude of a man who has experienced so much.’
The room became filled with applause as Buckland paused. He turned around and looked at Richard who appeared self-conscious, slightly embarrassed. He gulped, as if attempting to absorb some of the energising adrenalin which was flowing freely throughout the Hall.
‘‘Your majesties, my lords, ladies and gentlemen, I have the greatest pleasure in introducing a fellow Briton, one in whom I have boundless admiration - please, raise your glasses to - Richard Alexander Moss.’
***
The television set in Julia Brownstone’s sitting room has been broadcasting coverage from London’s Guildhall for the past hour. Prime Minister David Buckland has just introduced Richard Moss to the assembled guests seated at dining tables in the Great Hall. The high octane of suspense is permeating the room via the television broadcast, almost to the point of being tangible. Alexander is squatting on a deep rug directly in front of the flat screen television; legs crossed, arms behind, bearing his weight. He is wearing his favourite tee shirt adorned with the kids’ current favourite action hero, Spiderman. Seated on the couch behind Alexander is Julia and her much loved friend Emily Moss. Julia’s mother Annie and father Arthur are seated in armchairs on either side of the couch. Conversation has been limited to the odd sigh and expressions of delight as the broadcast delivers close-up after close-up of personalities in attendance in the Great Hall.
Annie and Arthur Brownstone, supporters of the recently ousted Labour Party, grimaced when the smiling face of the Conservative prime minister first appeared on the screen. However, their attention is now concentrated upon Richard Moss who has left his seat to join the prime minister at the lectern.
Alexander, quiet save for munching sounds as he consumed a chocolate biscuit, began jumping up and down as his father appeared on the television screen.
‘That’s my daddy,’ he said, pointing at the screen. ‘He’s the best daddy in all the world!’
Julia clapped her hands with delight. Emily did the same. Annie raised herself off the armchair and released a mighty whoop of joy. Arthur also stood up. He went to Alexander, picked him up, and sat down with the little boy settled firmly on his lap.
‘Now why don’t we all just shut up and listen.’
Arthur’s order prevailed throughout as Richard began to speak.
Chapter Sixty Four
‘Good evening.’
Richard’s words reverberated throughout the Great Hall. The audience, already primed by the world’s media over the past seven days for the unveiling of startling revelations, remained silent.
‘You are all aware of my return from a distant galaxy. For a reason I was unable to comprehend at the time, I was selected to be taken to a planet in Galaxy M31, in the constellation of Andromeda. The planet, known as Terra Nova, is inhabited by people who are descended from human beings who left Earth over 5,000 years ago!’
He paused, allowing his opening words to be absorbed, while concurrently being translated into the many languages spoken by those in attendance. Portions of the audience became disturbed. Angry-sounding voices were raised. Richard held up a hand and waited patiently until the noise abated.
‘Believe me,’ he said calmly. ‘I was as astonished, much, much, much more so, by what I experienced, as you are.’
Once again the audience reacted, this time with mild jeers and catcalls. Richard, surprised by the boisterous reaction, raised the palms of both hands towards the audience. After regaining their attention, he continued his account.
‘The planet, known as Terra Nova, was discovered by cosmonauts more than 5,000 years ago when their version of Earth was about to destroy itself. It was almost a replica of Earth in terms of its position in the galaxy relative to its sun, its size, its geology, its atmosphere and its climate. It also had the same electromagnetic characteristics as Earth. When these essential factors were confirmed, it was decided by a group of eminent scientists, drawn from all nations, races, colours, creeds and religions, that a phased migration to Terra Nova must take place. In their year of 9,998, over one hundred thousand migrants left Earth and established settlements on the virgin planet. Carried on board the early spaceships were the DNA’s of every known seed and plant on Earth. The same applied for animals, birds, reptiles, and fish. DNA from every species was transported enabling reproduction, and eventually procreation. Everything with an established use was laboriously gathered to enable the regeneration of conditions on Earth, thereby leapfrogging the millions of years necessary for the process of natural evolution.’
Richard paused and turned to the next page of a stack of notes. His audience was silent now. Some were looking decidedly awestruck. Others looked bewildered, unable, unwilling perhaps, to comprehend the context of Richard’s opening words.
‘Those left behind were wiped out by rising oceans which led to entire continents becoming submerged. In addition there were devastating earthquakes, volcanoes and tsunamis. Scientists, meteorologists and politicians were sharply divided over the cause of the disasters. Some believed unequivocally that the excessive use of fossil fuels was the culprit. Dissenters argued otherwise, claiming there was no supporting evidence; in fact records spanning hundreds of years showed no appreciable differences in global temperatures and sea levels. To add to the dissent, the most religious leaders claimed Earth’s demise was God’s revenge for the way humanity had abused all that he had laboriously created.’
At this point he paused again to allow his words to be absorbed and translated. Although not completely sure, he carried on nonetheless.
‘Only those who were able to reach safety on the summit of mountains survived.’
He paused again; fully aware his following words would be even more contentious.
‘Those survivors were our ancestors. Each and every person born on Earth since those devastating events took place is a direct descendent of someone left behind after the exodus to Terra Nova!’
Richard was proven right. The Great Hall exploded into uproar. Guests were on their feet gesticulating, shouting. David Buckland rose from his seat and strode to the lectern. Richard shook his head.
‘Please,’ he whispered, ‘please do not concern yourself. I can handle this.’
Buckland, unconvinced, stood back, a hand covering his mouth. Richard gazed unflinching around the audience, his eyes startlingly clear, the colour of burnished steel. Moments passed. Slowly the atmosphere in the Great Hall changed from frenzy to calm. Everyone was now seated, order was restored.
Richard resumed his position at the lectern.
‘Thank you,’ he said. ‘Earlier in my speech I told you I was taken to Terra Nova but could not understand why. The reason became clear when I learned about their God, known as The Creator. One religion is prevalent throughout Terra Nova. Consequently, during Terra Nova’s history, there have been no wars, strife, or discord resulting from the clash of opposing religions. A group of learne
d scholars, known as the Magus, endowed me with the attributes necessary to save Earth from a repeat disaster. That is my mission and, with divine help of The Creator, I am empowered to fulfill His mission and thereby circumvent a repeat of that which all but destroyed the original version of Earth. If I fail, the Earth we now inhabit will be similarly destroyed.’
The clatter of a piece of cutlery striking the stone floor intervened. He paused momentarily.
‘I trust that noise was a sign from The Creator that His will is being done!’
A flutter of amusement relieved the tension pervading the Great Hall. Richard waited until it subsided.
‘Terra Nova’s daily revolution around Helios, their sun, replicates that of Earth. Scientists have harnessed its movement to produce electricity in abundance. The population of the entire planet receives and utilises this energy source without any appreciable damage to the environment. As a result of this incredible achievement, the atmosphere on Terra Nova is fresh, clear, and untainted by any product derived from the use of fossil fuels.’
Richard raised his voice.
‘You now understand the reason I was taken to, and returned from, Terra Nova. But, to achieve that which The Creator has ordained, requires the complicity of each and every one in this hall. Do not fail me for the consequences of failure are too horrendous to contemplate. We must not repeat the same mistakes. So, join me, spread the message far and wide. The time for change is NOW, today, this hour, this minute, this second! Ignore the lesson and we will perish, learn the lesson and we and our children have the chance to survive. Deferment is not an option.‘
Chapter Sixty Five
The President of the United States, Wallace D. Clifton, has convened a meeting in the West Wing’s Oval Office at the White House, Washington DC. His Secretary of State, Arlene Weinberger, is present after representing the United States at the meeting of Heads of State at the City of London’s Guildhall. Also present is Alan Hunter, recently appointed Assistant Secretary of State for Oceans, International Environment and Scientific Affairs. The President, Hunter and other members of Clifton’s inner cabinet viewed the live television broadcast from London and are fully briefed on the reactions from other world leaders.
Although President Clifton remains disparaging about the content of Richard Moss’s speech, he has invited him to the White House to explain, in depth, how he plans to introduce and implement his mission to tackle the problem of global warming plus other factors which led to the demise of the original version of Earth. The passion Moss displayed when delivering the speech overcame the reservations of the President, despite the majority of his inner cabinet attempting to persuade him that Moss is, according to Hunter, “a dysfunctional cretin seeking world fame.”
The telephone on the President’s desk rang. He lifted the receiver to his ear.
‘Yes?’ he asked. ‘You say he’s here? Okay, I’ll be right out.’
Clifton left his chair and headed for the door at the far end of the room; Weinberger and Hunter followed in his wake.
‘It’s our Mr. Moss,’ said the President. ‘He’s arrived.’
***
Sitting in the Oval Office, with the President of the United States seated within touching distance, was a situation way beyond the wildest dreams of Richard Moss. And yet at this very moment he was doing just that! He wasn’t nervous, tongue-tied or affected by any of a multitude of reactions one would expect when meeting the most powerful man in the world! He was reminded of his face-to-face with Ezra on that fateful day at the Coliseum when he had, naïve to a fault, insulted the Great Leader. He was thrown into a filthy cell beneath the Coliseum as a consequence of nothing more than a few badly chosen words. No chance of a repeat of that stupid misjudgment here in the Oval Office!
Arlene Weinberger and Alan Hunter are the only other participants at the meeting and, what is more, everything is strictly off the record. This wasn’t at Richard’s request but at the insistence of President Clifton, who believed it would encourage a frank and open discussion.
‘So Mr. Moss, tell me more of your visit to Terra Nova and how it came about.’ President Clifton, tall, slightly built, a bundle of curly gray hair tumbling over his forehead, fifty-five years of age, only a year into his first term as president. A Democrat, his passage to the White House was dogged by rumour and innuendo planted by the neo-cons whose style of politics is far to the right of Atilla the Hun! In spite of this, he plunged ahead with his campaign, cut through the crap (as he so quaintly put it) and emerged triumphant. America loves a winner and he’s winning millions of hearts and minds as he lives up to his election promises.
Richard related his story in full, leaving nothing out. Questions were aimed at him like full metal jacket bullets fired from a blazing machine gun; he handled them with the assurance that accompanies the telling of the truth.
‘Very interesting,’ mused the President, relaxing deep into his favoured leather armchair. ‘Very interesting, indeed. Now, tell me how you intend to save Earth from the same fate which befell our ancestors. I assume you are aware of the actions the US has already initiated to tackle global warming? What do you think you can do, over and above that already underway?’
Richard drew in a deep breath of the cool, fresh air pervading the Oval Office. It helped to revitalize his confidence as he prepared to answer the President’s question.
‘I watched CBS news in my hotel bedroom this morning. There was a plethora of alarming news beginning with North Korea’s bombardment of the island of Yeonpyeong, in the Yellow Sea, south of the maritime border between North and South Korea. Several South Korean army personnel, alongside many civilians, have been killed. The US has despatched an aircraft carrier to support the South Korean navy. There is talk of nuclear weapons being prepared as the situation escalates out of control. ’
‘Of lesser significance but still indicative of the problems facing the world, Indonesia has been struck by an earthquake and a tsunami. Thousands have lost their homes, hundreds have died. Millions of people in Pakistan, homeless after the recent floods, have no food, children are dying, their parents and their government unable to help. In Haiti, in the wake of the devastating earthquake that left more than one million people living in temporary shelters and camps, cholera is rife and spreading to Port au Prince, its capital city. And to add horror to horror, hurricane Tomas is now lashing parts of Haiti, bringing heavy rain to the island nation. Indonesia’s Mount Merapi volcano has erupted again, with greater force than last week’s eruptions, in which 36 people died. Witnesses spoke of rivers of lava and burning rocks shooting from Merapi’s crater for several hours. An estimated 75,000 people have been evacuated from the area since the volcano erupted last Tuesday.’
‘The war in Afghanistan claims lives every day; Mikhail Gorbachov stated recently what historians and politicians already know - it is a war that is unwinnable and yet the death toll goes on and on. Iraq is a complete disaster, inter tribal and inter religious killings go unreported each and every day. It is a sad fact to relate but there is no question - this God forsaken country was less troubled under the dictatorship of Saddam Hussein! The Middle East is marching towards uncontainable chaos. The spread of terrorism by Muslim fundamentalists will continue unabated until an accord between these terror groups and their target countries is realised. ‘
‘Countries throughout the world are trillions of Dollars in debt because of the greed of banks and their shameless employees. The gap between those who have and those who have not grows larger by the day.’
‘Sportsmen in Europe are being paid enormous salaries; for example an English footballer, that’s soccer to you Mr. President, recently negotiated a weekly wage of £200,000 - about 320,000 Dollars a week for kicking a football around!’
‘All of these examples point to the fact that Earth is in serious trouble, politically, financially, climatically, moralistical
ly, and religiously. All the major religions of the world are divided among themselves. Islam’s Sunnis differ from their Shia counterparts in their understanding of the Sunna and acceptance of the first three Caliphs - resulting in killing, maiming and constant strife among themselves. Christianity is split into many factions; its history is one of conquest, political schism between East and West plus ecclesiastical differences and theological disputes. When India was partitioned in 1947 to create the Muslim state of Pakistan, ethnic cleansing of Hindus and Sikhs followed and led to a major exodus into India. Conversely large numbers of Muslims were forced to migrate to Pakistan.’
‘I make brief reference to these religious divisions in order to underline the fact that the concept of one Supreme Being has been subverted for territorial, political and nationalistic reasons.’
‘One religion which remains aloof from these factors is Buddhism. In its various forms, it appreciates the fundamental deficiencies of our unpredictable world. It demonstrates a way by which humans, in a pious and self-assured spirit, may be able to acquire either a state of perfect liberation, or attain, by their own efforts or through higher help, supreme enlightenment. Buddhism, I suggest, is the closest religion to that practiced throughout Terra Nova.’
Richard, pleased by the way he was articulating his thoughts, assumed it was a by-product of the organic connection the Magus had created to The Creator. Whatever, he felt the meeting was going well. Now, he thought, comes the difficult part!
Chapter Sixty Six
‘Mr. President,’ began Richard. ‘What I am about to say may hurt and it may offend. It is not intended to and I apologise in advance.’
The President, smiling, shook his head before replying.
‘Mr. Moss. I have been offended and hurt so many times in my political life that I am sure whatever you have to say will be far less injurious. However, we are not here to be pleasant to each other. Please, continue and speak as you see fit.’
Terra Nova Page 24
