by Rob Mclean
“It’s not right,” he said at last.
Angela came and stood next to him and put her hand on his shoulder. “It’s not that simple. It’s not a black and white thing,” she said. “Like I said before, it’s complicated.”
John stood and faced her. “What about your dad? Does he know about your plans to have him put to sleep?”
“Will you keep your voice down? That’s his armchair window, remember?” she urged, pointing up the driveway.
“Well, does he?” he lowered his voice, also aware that the neighbours might hear.
Angela stood, walked over to John, took his hand and led him along the driveway towards his car. “Yes, of course. We talk about everything,” she answered.
“So, what about your mother? She’s in on your plan too?”
Angela glanced towards the house. Her brow creased with concern. She dragged him to his car. “Of course she knows.”
“And she’s okay with killing her husband?” John asked incredulously.
“She’s a practical person,” Angela said defensively, “and besides, it’s not the main plan, as such. It’s more a fallback contingency plan. A sort of insurance.”
John shook his head. He leaned on the bonnet with both hands and kicked the front tyre. “I don’t get it.” He rolled his head around on his broad shoulders as if he could get his troubled thoughts out of his head that way.
“You know, I wish…” he began, but his throat choked up before he could finish.
“Wish what?” Angela asked. She put her hand on his chest.
“I can barely remember my father,” he stared out at the sunset. “He died when I was young.”
“I’m sorry,” she said.
“Hardly a day goes by when I don’t wish he was still here, you know. I really miss him.”
“But you didn’t really know him,” Angela ventured.
“I know. It doesn’t make sense. I guess I miss having the whole father figure thing. That guidance and security you get with having a dad there while you’re growing up.”
“It would have been hard. What about your mother?”
John laughed a derisive scoff. “She’s okay. She did a lot, but it’s really not the same. There’s a heap of boy things you learn from a dad as well as having that unconditional protection and, I guess, love, in a dad sort of way.” He paused. “I only just met him, but your dad, he’s the sort of guy I wish could have been my dad. That one,” he gestured towards the house, and trying to imitate Geoff’s voice, “that’s the good man.”
Angela was listening to his words, but he could see that she was lost in her memories of her own father. Tears welled uncontrollably in her eyes. She grimaced as she tried to fight her emotions.
“I’m going to miss him so much,” she blinked fast to stem the onset of tears.
John wrapped his arms around her as she cried into his chest. He rubbed her back gently.
“I know you will,” he said. He kept rubbing her back for a few moments longer before adding, “I’m sorry, but that’s why I can’t give you those tablets.”
She didn’t say anything straight away. She broke his embrace and fished around in her pocket for a used tissue. After she had tidied herself up and blew her nose, she simply said, “Okay,” and turned back towards the house.
“You’ll never forgive yourself for doing it,” he called after her. “You‘ll blame yourself and you’ll blame me for helping.”
She spun around. Her beautiful face was contorted with anger. “Is that all you think about? How you’ll look in all this?”
“No!” he shouted. Then looking around, he lowered his voice and walked towards her, pleading, “All I’m saying is that you’ll be full of self-recrimination. Part of you will always hate yourself forevermore. Think about it.”
“Have you seen what cancer does to someone?” she countered. “Have you heard how they gurgle as they drown in their own fluids? Their lungs fill up as their hearts fail. They get incontinent. They mess themselves and are humiliated with the shame and embarrassment. They lose all dignity. They get weaker and weaker as they waste away slowly. Towards the end they can’t even remember who you are. I’ve worked in an old folk’s home, I know. I’ve seen it. It’s horrible the way they let people die.”
“I know, but still…” said John plaintively.
“Look, if he were a dog,” she said pointing back at the house.
“I know,” John said, “the vet would have him put down.”
“And if he were our age, they would put him through an unbelievably heroic amount of treatment to try to get him better. But he’s not. He’s stuck in limbo slowly dying. Too old to be worth the effort to save and they won’t put him down humanely. That’s what’s not right.”
“I totally agree, but…”
“Can’t you see? It’s because I care, because I love him that I’m doing this.”
“Yeah. I can see where you’re coming from. But…”
“Can you?” she smiled hopefully. “I just want his death to be noble. He deserves that. And to choose when he wants to go, so he can have his family around at the end. That would be proper.”
“Can’t you just buy some more tablets?” John asked, “I really don’t want to be a party to taking your father away from you.”
“I can see that and I can respect your position. It doesn‘t help me one little bit, but no, I can’t afford anymore tablets at the moment. We’re not the wealthiest people in town, and besides, they’re not the easiest things to get hold of.”
He took her hand. “I’m sorry. I wish there was some sort of a cure for him.”
She gave him a brief hug and said, “Thanks, but there’s not.”
John wanted to hug her all night, but Angela glanced back towards the house and said that she had better be getting in for dinner.
John saw that Clarice had appeared on the veranda and was watching them closely. He had to remind himself that Angela was at least twenty-one. As such she was legally an adult, but still her mother seemed to control her life to a large degree. He supposed it was a result of living at home and probably something to do with their religion.
“So, do I get to see you again?” he asked.
“Umm, I’ll call you,” she said. He thought there was a hint of playfulness in her answer. But then he realized that she might have to check with her mother first to see if she approved. He didn’t like his chances based on that.
“I’ll be sitting by the phone then,” he joked. She smiled obligingly.
“Well, I’ll be off,” he declared. He decided to try for a goodbye kiss. Her lips looked so inviting, but she turned her head at the last moment and let him give her a fraternal kiss on the cheek instead. He wanted to hold her face with both hands and kiss her properly, but he sighed deeply and waved goodbye to Clarice.
Angela smiled brightly and gave him a cheery wave as she skipped off to the house. He hoped it wasn’t because she was glad to be rid of him.
John got into his car and sat there for a moment after everyone had gone inside. He tried to go over what had happened with Angela.
One part of his mind couldn’t help but to add up the cost of the fuel in getting here and back home, the bottle of wine and the tie. In return, all he got from her was a definite ‘maybe.’ He knew he shouldn’t look at it in a mercenary way like this, but that same part of his mind told him that the main reason he had been asked here tonight had probably been only to get the tablets back. He sincerely hoped he was wrong, but as he started up the car and drove off, a gloomy feeling descended upon him.
Then his stomach rumbled to remind him how hungry he was.
Chapter 21
The noon day sun shone fiercely in a clear Egyptian royal blue sky. The ambassador stood on a raised platform in the centre of the Cairo International Stadium under the shade of his landing vessel. It hung silently a few metres above him and moved slightly every few minutes to keep him in the shade.
Akil watched on a tele
vision screen that had been set high on a wall outside his isolation cell. The plexiglass walls gave him no privacy, but it did allow him to see outside his cell.
He had been sedated soon after being forced onto the helicopter and could not remember anything until he awoke an hour ago. Small bruises in the crease of his arms told him of having had blood tests. He was certain that he had been swabbed and probed in many more place as well.
His joints ached and his head throbbed. Snot had congealed in and around his nose as he had slept, and his throat was parched from breathing with his mouth open.
They had told him, when he awoke, that he was still in Cairo, being held for observation. They feared some alien equivalent of smallpox that would wipe out humanity for the aliens without damaging the ecosystem, but with the events on the screen, Akil thought it was all made redundant.
He demanded to see a lawyer or at least his agent, but his guards, for he could not think that they were anything but prison guards, just shrugged and laughed at him. They now clustered outside his cell and watched the envoy on the flat screen.
One of them jeered at Akil. “Your friend is managing alright without you. Perhaps he has forgotten about you?”
Akil hoped not.
They all watched as the Chairman of the United Nations was announced. The small man in a formal business suit sweated profusely as he made his way up to the stage. The crowd of eighty thousand comprised of dignitaries, assembled from all the nations. They were seated in rows that covered the football field. There were many local Egyptian celebrities, luminaries and general bigwigs who applauded politely from the stadium seats. The envoys shook hands and the U.N. chairman took a seat behind the alien envoy. He seemed pleased, if only to be sitting out of the blazing sun.
Next, the President of Egypt took the stage. From outside the stadium, there came an eruption of cheers as thousands of locals shouted with national pride. He was dressed in more traditional Arab robes that mirrored the envoy’s robes. He also sweated as he made his way on stage.
Akil saw him make some comment to the envoy that the microphones did not pick up. He gestured to the intense sun and shrugged as he shook the envoy’s hand. The envoy nodded, patted him reassuringly on the upper arm. He lent closer and whispered into the Egyptian President’s ear. The President’s eyes grew wide before he too nodded and smiled. He then waved to the crowd before taking a seat behind the envoy, on the other side to the UN chairperson.
The envoy smiled serenely as he waved to the crowd, who in turn applauded. He then took a seat between the two human dignitaries. He leaned over to the UN Chairperson and put his hand on the small man’s shoulder. The alien envoy pointed upwards and around the arena and said something that made the UN man look up to the sky as if he expected it to suddenly fall.
The UN Chairperson nodded and politely smiled, although Akil could see that it was a strain. He then stood and shuffled to the microphone. He cleared his throat and blinked as sweat rolled into his eyes.
“Ladies and gentlemen,” he began, “today it is hot. Not uncommon for this country, or so I am told.”
Some of the audience chortled at his humour. He paused and waited for it to die down.
“I have also just been told by our most esteemed visitor that relief is at hand.” He raised his arm to the western horizon and added, “So please don’t be alarmed.”
As one, the audience turned to the west and saw the gigantic alien mother-ship gliding silently towards them. Some gasped and cried out in shock. Many stood as if about to run. Most realized there was nowhere to run and sat back down again. Almost all were agitated.
The alien envoy strode to the microphone.
“Fear not,” his voice boomed. People froze, transfixed by his words. They looked to the stage.
“Fear not,” he repeated more gently. “We simply thought we could use a little shade… as it is so hot.”
The massive bulk of the spaceship loomed over the edge of the arena. It soon filled the sky, blocking the sun as it covered the stadium. It hung ominously above, eerily noiseless. It dwarfed the stadium and gave shade to many of the thousands in the surrounding car parks outside the stadium.
All watched silently for a few moments after the mother-ship had stopped, parked directly over the arena. In the darkened stadium, the temperature had dropped markedly.
The UN Chairperson broke the bizarre calm.
“I am sure you will all agree that it is not so hot anymore.” The little man from the UN took out a handkerchief and mopped his forehead before continuing, “I hope you will all join me in thanking our most honoured guest.”
He started clapping. His solo effort was soon joined by the audience in greater numbers as they understood what had happened. The alien envoy waved dismissively and smiled. Outside, the dull roar of the crowd showed their appreciation. The UN chairperson waited until the noise died down before addressing the world.
“Ladies and gentlemen,” he began again, “it is my greatest privilege to stand before you as the representative for the planet Earth on this, the most auspicious of days.
On behalf of the peoples of this diverse planet, I am most honoured to welcome our visitor here today.” As if on cue, the audience responded with polite applause.
“We are most thankful that you come to us today in peace. We are well aware that first encounters amongst our own cultures haven’t always been peaceful.”
Akil couldn’t think of a single time when one human civilization had met another and it had not ended up in war, conquest or exploitation. He hoped that these aliens were different.
The UN representative continued. “It has always been a hope amongst many of us that we weren’t alone in the universe. Today that hope is realized. I am sure that I speak for all the people of Earth when I say that it is our wish that today will be the first day in a long and fruitful exchange between our civilizations. Welcome!”
Again, the audience responded with well-timed applause. The alien envoy rose and waved his acknowledgement to the speaker.
The Egyptian President then took the stage. On behalf of the people of Egypt, he too welcomed the alien envoy and expressed his earnest hopes for peace and prosperity.
The alien envoy rose once more and this time he walked forward and embraced the two men. They all turned to face the crowd. The noise from the crowd both inside and out of the stadium as they erupted in a chorus of applause was deafening. The crowd freely expressed their hopes of an optimistic future, fuelled by their fears of the alternative.
The trio stood for the perfect photo opportunity. One that would produce an iconic image that, it was hoped would be emblazoned in the memories of future generations.
As the anticipatory celebrations settled down, the alien envoy patted the two world leaders on the back and motioned for them to sit.
A crushing silence then descended rapidly as the crowd saw that the envoy was about to address them. They knew it would be an historic moment and that virtually the entire planet hung on the envoy’s response.
The alien envoy stepped to the microphone.
“We know of your fears and we know of your hopes. We wish for understanding between us, and we, for our part, will strive to make that happen. We come to your world so that one day you can come to ours.”
The people took his words as a sign of goodwill and let out a collective cheer. He let it reverberate around the stadium and throughout the people watching and listening around the world before continuing.
“We do not want to take your planet from you. Although this body is of human origin,” he swept both his hands down his trunk, “it is one we have made specifically so we can talk to you today. Our own biochemistry is incompatible with that of this planet. This world is poisonous to us and we would not survive without radically modifying the bio-system of the entire planet. We do not wish to do that.” The crowds listened in rapt silence.
“In this body, which has been uniquely adapted over millennia by nature to suit condi
tions on only this planet, I have been sent as a representative of our civilization to convey our message to you.
“We understand that you exist as a collection of individuals, with your own unique personalities and traits. It is also the case with many of the inhabited worlds of this galaxy. We celebrate this diversity, and it is our wish to preserve it whilst promoting intelligence wherever we find it.”
Akil thought that the envoy’s words were reassuring for the assembled audience, but couldn’t help but to wonder if the envoy might be only saying the things that he knew the frightened humans wanted to hear.
“We know of the problems that confront this planet. We too have been at the same conjuncture in our past. We too have been beset by dwindling resources and energy while at the same time challenged by over-population.” The envoy scanned the audience and was satisfied he had their complete attention.
“Life is as abundant throughout the galaxy, as it is here on this planet. It is tenacious and resilient. It will thrive in all but the most hostile conditions.
“As a result, intelligence has also arisen on many worlds. It is the natural consequence of life. Similarly, many worlds have faced the same problems that face you today. Unfortunately, many of those have destroyed themselves before they could solve their problems.
“While we have every confidence in your ability to develop the technologies necessary to overcome your obstacles, we do not wish to standby idly and risk another promising world devour itself.
“That is why we have come here today. We offer to you, the people of this planet, the necessary technologies to help you aspire to your rightful place as members of the galactic community.”
The crowd cheered their approval. On the television, Akil saw the bottom half of the screen was filled with images of cheering crowds across the planet responding to the relayed telecast.
“We wish to give you the anti-gravity theory that we use in our landing vessel and the mother-ship above. In addition, we hope you will accept the gift of cold fusion technology, to free you from the dangers of nuclear power and the pollution of fossil fuels. Eventually we would like to give you the knowledge of faster than light-speed space travel so you can colonize compatible worlds, as well as hyper-stasis, the cure for cancers and genetic immortality. There are, in addition, many more technologies that we want to share. We want to give you full access to our libraries of accumulated knowledge, our Encyclopaedia Galactica.”
