by Kurt Winans
As for the present moment, Ross had no idea of how long the current daylight would last.The speed with which the sun was moving across the sky implied that it wouldn’t be long, so he began his speech.Ross spoke loudly so that many in close proximity could hear what he had to say, and requested that some of them help spread the word to those who were too far away.First, he was searching for any of those among the population who spoke more than one language.Translators would be of significant importance not only for the present message, but also throughout the upcoming challenging days.Second, the entire population needed people who knew how to create fire that would provide the valuable commodity of heat and light when nightfall came.It made no difference if the fire was created via matches, a lighter, or by rubbing two sticks together, but it would be needed quickly.To that end, some type of fuel for the multiple fires would need to be located.Ross requested that people form scouting groups to search the nearby terrain for anything useful.He reminded them all of the potential danger of native predatory animals, and asked them to use caution while searching in groups of no less than eight or ten.Until more was known about what was out there, his request to remain in large groups was the prudent move.
Next was to get some idea of what food was available to the general population for immediate use.Ross knew that it could be several days until fishing or hunting could produce anything tangible.He requested that additional groups form up to check the surrounding area for any source of food, and both Janet and Aurora immediately offered to be part of such an effort.There would also be a need for small tools of any kind, and Jessica would speak with anyone who came forth with anything useful.Ross then requested to speak with any members of the engineering community.They could discuss plans about how to proceed with infrastructure.He did the same with the scientific community of astronomers from around the globe that had made the voyage.Ross knew that the diameter of this moon was slightly more than half the size of Earth, and the rotational speed was probably significantly different as well.He wanted to have some of the bright minds within the population figuring out how long a day was here as opposed to Earth.That would determine how many hours of sunlight they could expect on a daily basis.
Before thanking the population for their attention and future efforts, Ross made one final request.Not wanting to overstep his limited authority in anyway, he requested that a small group of representatives from each transport vessel be designated to come forth with any ideas, questions, or concerns.He wasn’t sure if any type of structured government would be established on this new world, but Ross had no desire to be labeled as a dictator if there were.
While climbing down from the rock outcropping, Ross noticed many people were already forming search groups and heading off in multiple directions.Before making the final jump to the ground, a hand reached out to offer some assistance.It was Colt Jensen, the lone member of his secret service detail to have come along on the voyage to the new world.They had spoken many times during the six week trip, and had become much closer because of it.Ross had learned that the thirty-six year old man had been born and raised in Spring Creek, Nevada, but had opted many years ago not to follow in the ranching footsteps of his grandfather, father, or uncles before him.He knew at a young age that his destiny was for something grander.Colt had come on the voyage because he had been a believer in the alien species since before Ross informed the world about the asteroid.Ross didn’t know it at the time, but Colt had witnessed the Presidents’ encounter with the alien from a distance while patrolling the woods of Camp David.
That encounter had served as proof to something that Colt had believed in strongly since the days of his youth.While he and the rest of his family were visiting friends for several days in the Phoenix area during the spring of 1997, Colt had witnessed an event.They, like many other people, had gone to a location in the desert where there was considerably less light interference from the city in order to view the Hale-Bopp comet.What he witnessed on the night of March 13th changed the eleven year old boy’s life forever.Several strange lights could be seen flying in a perfect “V” shaped formation over the area for a few hours.Colt was not alone, as literally hundreds of people from several locations in Arizona had reported seeing that same formation of UFO’s.The subsequent investigation revealed that the control towers at Sky Harbor International Airport in Phoenix had no verbal contact with any of the craft.There was also no identification of any intended flight plan from passenger airliners or privately owned aircraft.The nearby Luke Air Force Base had no reasonable explanation either.They had no scheduled flight exercises taking place, or even a single plane in the air during the time of the sighting.In short, the lights could never be explained away by anyone.Colt had believed in the existence of extraterrestrials ever since that night, but he couldn’t reveal such a belief publicly.Having done so would have seriously jeopardized his intended career with the United States Secret Service.
It had come as quite a surprise to Ross when he learned that someone had actually witnessed his encounter with the alien at Camp David.He was honored that Colt had been so dedicated to his duty, and had the ability to remain silent about what he had seen.
Ross smiled at the former agent when Colt said, “Here Mr. President, let me help you down from that rock.”
Ross was glad to accept, and replied, “Thanks Colt, but you don’t have to call me Mr. President anymore.”
After safely landing on his two feet, Ross heard, “As you wish sir, but it wouldn’t surprise me at all if this group of people someday elected you as the President of this moon!”
A moment later, Ross made his way over to speak with Jessica.He whispered into her ear, “I have some very important information to share with you when we have a more private moment.”
He knew their discussion would have to wait until later that night, because there were too many other things to tend to before darkness fell upon the population.
Jessica nodded with understanding while pointing toward a small group of people that had approached her.They were the first of many translators and engineers that Ross would meet within the coming hours.She said, “Ross, please allow me to introduce you to a few people who could be very helpful in the future.”
In spite of tremendous effort by several groups, little was found in the way of scrap wood or other materials that could be used as fuel for campfires. Unfortunately, the search for food had also produced a minimal yield, so the first night for the human population on their new world was somewhat less than comfortable.
Using everything that had been scrounged from the nearby terrain, six small campfires were lit in an extremely large circular pattern during the waning moments of daylight. Ross, and most everyone else, knew that the fires wouldn’t come close to providing enough warmth or light for everyone, but it was better than nothing at all. They were spaced at a distance that enabled the people to gather around from all directions. If packed closely together, there was room enough for perhaps a few thousand to be situated within the circle itself. Ross and Jessica, with Colt at their side, spent several hours strolling from one fire to the next until they had made their way around the entire circle. They met with hundreds of people from various locations on Earth, and tried to offer whatever comfort they could through words of encouragement.
One such meeting, and subsequent conversation, was with a group of six astronomers that Ross had first met at Camp David to discuss the asteroid. They assured him that they were reasonably comfortable, and then provided Ross with some possible insight to his earlier request. Knowing that it would be important to determine how long both the day and nighttime hours of this moon were, the astronomers had begun a running time clock when twilight had faded away. They would chart the duration of darkness, and then reset the clock at first light. A log would then be maintained on a daily basis to determine if the timeframes of daylight and darkness remained constant. If no variations were evident in the daily time tests, then this moon was not tilted on its axis as the Earth was
.
The astronomers continued by revealing that they had already discovered two important facts about this moon that were indisputable. The first was that the moon had a rotation of its own beyond revolving around the host planet. That was obvious since both daylight and darkness had already been observed during the short time they had been on the surface. That fact made it different from the rock that had previously orbited the Earth, as that moon always had the same side of it facing the planet. The second fact became apparent to Ross when the astronomers asked him to look at the multitude of stars overhead. A portion of the large gray planet was plainly visible, and it stretched across a significant section of the night sky. Most of what they could view of the planets outline was in darkness from their orientation point, but there was more to it than that. The completely black and void of stars area adjacent to the inner portion of the crescent provided the scope of how large their host planet was. It also meant that the planet was currently positioned in nearly a direct line between this moon and the host star. Ross was asked what he thought of the planets visible crescent, as opposed to the view of Earth he had seen from that planets moon many years before.
With a look of concern he uttered, “It appears to be massive in comparison.”
Based on historical photographs they had all seen, the group of astronomers informed him that was their assessment as well. Although it was impossible to determine at the present time when it would next occur, the size and close proximity of the planet would most probably create an occasional eclipse on this moon. If that happened, it would be much more significant than any that had ever been experienced on Earth.
Eventually Ross, Jessica, and Colt made their way back to the center of the six fires near the small rock outcropping. Janet, Aurora, Mrs. Patterson, and the remainder of their group of friends seemed to be resting comfortably. The temperature had dropped significantly since the sun had gone down, and Ross hoped everyone had some way to keep warm. Certain people had undoubtedly made better choices than others with regard to truly vital possessions, and he hoped those with a blanket or coat would share what they had with a neighbor.
Unable to sleep, Ross quietly passed the time by either looking out over the many people that were close by, or gazing upon all the stars in the sky. That temporary peacefulness was disrupted when distant shouts of panic could be heard. A few seconds later a multitude of screams amplified the disruption. Most of the people within close proximity to Ross were now awake, and like him, were looking in the same general direction. He surmised something awful had taken place along the outer perimeter of the population, but visibility was non-existent. The area was beyond any light cast by the dwindling campfires, and there was no hint of the coming dawn.
When daylight finally arrived, an investigation was begun. What Ross, Colt, and a few others found was disturbing. There were blood trails that led off into the distance, and a few small body parts were found. Eight people were reported missing, and witnesses claimed that a pack of large fury animals had dragged them away.
One woman said to Ross, “I heard heavy footsteps and growling noises, and then something as large as a rhinoceros came out of the darkness about thirty feet away from me!”
Her opinionated description was that the creature was agile, and looked similar to a wolf. It was also powerful enough to toss a full grown man around like some type of chew toy.
The timetable for relocating the population toward the distant shoreline had just been moved up. The recent events of the predawn attack had seen to that. Ross had hoped to be more organized before the move, and perhaps send out a large advance group to scout for a suitable location. That plan would need to be altered, because the large wolf like animals had found an easy source of food in mass numbers. If they behaved with a true pack like mentality, then they would most definitely return for more food every night until it no longer existed.
Ross spoke plainly as he moved through the frightened crowd toward the small rock outcropping. “Anyone who wants to stay here is welcome to do so, but I don’t recommend it.”
He knew that the lack of food, water, and firewood, coupled with the now present threat of the animals, made that a less than desirable option. He requested that anyone who could speak multiple languages begin a search for people who possessed any weapons such as a knife or small hatchet. Ross couldn’t guarantee anything, but he felt the entire population stood a better chance of survival near the distant shoreline.
Within an hour, the restless population began their trek toward the distant shoreline. They were filled with an eager, yet cautious, optimism of what was to come. As long as the slightly downhill terrain would allow for it, the plan was for the group to move forward in a wide column with the women and children positioned in the center of the mass. Some of the men creating the outer perimeter carried whatever knives, hatchets, or other items such as fist sized rocks that could be used for defense in case of another animal attack.
Moving such a large group in unison would surely be a difficult task, but it needed to be done. In spite of their early morning start, Ross continued to urge a livelier pace. Their intended destination appeared to be only a few miles away, but it was difficult to be fully confident of that assessment. If they could somehow make it to the water’s edge before nightfall, then in theory they would not need to defend a three hundred and sixty degree perimeter. The water itself could potentially provide one defensible side from the wolf like animals.
Descending from the arid and rocky plain where the alien transport ships had deposited them, the population was making good progress. The sun had reached its zenith, when the surrounding terrain began to give way to a more hospitable landscape. In spite of their pace, Ross realized that they would never reach the intended shoreline before dark. The group of astronomers whom he had met with the previous evening had informed Ross that the darkness had lasted slightly more than eight and a half hours. The running clock, combined with the suns current position, suggested the daylight hours would be roughly the same. Faced with that realization, Ross asked if a few hundred young and physically fit people could advance ahead of the main body. There appeared to be an area of small trees and foliage a short distance away, and he thought it might provide some useful cover during the upcoming night. If the grove of trees were thick enough, perhaps the large wolf like animals would have a difficult time moving through them.
Within minutes the advance scouting party was on their way, and began jogging toward the wooded area. Upon their arrival, they discovered that the surrounding area wasn’t as thickly overgrown with vegetation as had been hoped. There was however a bright side. None of the trees stood much taller than fifteen feet in height, but their proximity to the arid and exposed slope had made many along the leading edge dry and brittle. With that, many of the branches could be snapped off and used for much needed firewood. Additionally, some of the more sturdy limbs could possibly be fashioned into clubs or spears to help defend the people from the animals.
Word was sent back to Ross via a group of ten strong runners who had boarded their transport vessel in Nazca, Peru. They were virtually unaffected by the thin air, because they had lived high in the Andes Mountains back on Earth. Their message to Ross was that more people were needed within the advance party to help gather and position stacks of branches for several dozen fires. Seeing immediate hope, Ross thanked the young men and women for delivering the news. He then spoke loudly when requesting that a few hundred more able bodied people move ahead with the Peruvian runners.
Turning back to the runners, Ross said, “Could I ask all of you to do me, and the rest of the population, a favor?”
He had realized that their skill of quick and seemingly tireless movement could be useful, so he wanted them to act as messengers again if the need ever arose.
Sometime later, when the leading edge of the main column reached the first of the trees, they could see piles of branches for several intended campfires ready to be lit. The advance working group
instructed them all to keep moving deep into the cover of the trees. That way everyone behind them had room to follow. Before long Ross reached the site as well, but did not enter.
He asked, “Is the grove large enough to provide some level of protection for everyone, and are these nearby trees indicative of the size and spacing throughout the area?”
Much to his dismay, he was informed that the spacing varied greatly. Although it was certainly more cover than if they had remained on the open plain, it was also doubtful that the grove was large enough to adequately protect the population from animal attacks.
There was also the danger that some people wouldn’t complete the required distance to the outer ring of campfires before nightfall. The sun was getting very low on the horizon, and the column had stretched into a much thinner line during the past few hours. That was a normal reaction to a segment of the group jogging ahead for scouting purposes, because some of the stronger walkers had then instinctively set a quicker pace. Ross knew that those who were in the back of the main body might need some assistance, so he and Colt left their backpacks with the ladies. They each grabbed a few sturdy branches and borrowed a hunting knife. Their intent was to bolster the defense perimeter of men that were protecting any stragglers, and get them safely delivered into the grove of trees.
