by Peter Ponzo
Damn! How could I forget the ten commandments? It didn't matter. These were different times, different problems.
"You should treat your neighbors as you'd like them to treat you, with affection and understanding. Now let me tell you secrets, the Four Cs:
The secret of a good life is Compassion.
The secret of a good relationship is Courtesy.
The secret of a good marriage is Communication.
The secret of a good retirement is Curiosity."
David and Gill were clapping, then the entire audience started clapping. Susan was in tears. I was just starting. Just wait to hear what else I had to say.
"Raise your children with lots of hugging, ask their advice on issues, never ever let them hear you and your husband argue, insist that they read books, teach them to share what they have, do things together as a family, eat every meal together, feed them healthy."
The audience was now standing and the applause was thunderous. I imagined that the applause extended to the other amphitheaters as well. Now I needed a glorious finale. I punched my fists in the air, left, right, left. Thunder exploded, spreading throughout the length and breadth of the Aquadome. The walls vibrated and the illumination went from blue through all the colors of the rainbow. Susan was crying. Before I stepped down I had one last thing to do.
"Ladies and gentlemen, your Supervisor has asked to say a few words. Let us listen carefully to our chief." Then I pointed to Aspirin and stepped down. The jerk walked slowly to the platform. He was a shrimp and walked with a limp.
"Aquarians of Atlantica, I have tried my best to be a good Supervisor…but I have failed," he said with sadness. "Yet, this stranger, Master Gordon Blend, he has transformed our dome in just one week." It looked like the jerk was going to cry. The crowd began to whisper among themselves. Aspirin raised his hands and it became quiet. "From this day forward," he said, "I will no longer be your Supervisor. Although this office is determined by popular vote, I ask you now: Do you want Master Blend to be our Supervisor?" The last sentence was a shout.
There was an ear-splitting roar and the jerk…the Supervisor, he pointed at me and smiled. He somehow looked two meters tall and quite elegant in his fitted suit and red cravat. Susan punched me in the ribs. "Say something," she said tearfully. I rose and mounted the podium.
"I don't know what to say," I gasped. "I am overwhelmed." Then the chanting began: Gor-don, Gor-don, Gor-don. "I accept the duties and would like to thank your Supervisor for his untiring efforts on your behalf. I think we should give him three cheers. Hip-hip…" I could see confusion on the faces of the crowd. "Okay, let us show our appreciation with applause." The amphitheater erupted in riotous ovation.
I returned to my seat next to Susan. Her cheeks were streaked with tears and she whispered in my ear, "You are messiah." I looked at David and Gill. They were obviously pleased with my performance. Actually, so was I. I've never felt this good. I turned and gave Susan a big bear hug and kissed her on the lips. I could taste her tears.
Part 14.2
That night, tucked away in our bedroom on Gilgamesh, I turned to Susan.
"I really don't understand what's happened," I said. "It was much too easy to transform this society. Sure, I had the power of our Godship at my command, but even Jesus had more difficulty."
"Jesus had too many enemies. I think these Aquarians were in dire need of change. They were ready. They just needed someone to provide that final impetus–someone like you. And now you have all the control you need to reconstruct Atlantica."
"But what about gills? I mean, people with gills? Shouldn't they be introduced here as they were on Pacifica? And shouldn't this Aquadome be moved to shallower waters, say near the East Coast of North America or even the Mediterranean?"
"Oh Gordie, now that the Aquadome is in capable hands, your hands, the Godships will return and all the things you hope will happen will happen. Just you wait. When I spoke to David he was so impressed with your performance. And Gill, he was so proud to be your synthetic counterpart. And, of course, I am so proud to be your wife."
Susan paused, then added: "Did you know that there are no restrictions on the number of children that a couple can have, here in Atlantica? That leads to overpopulation. And children are taken from their parents at birth, to be raised in orphanages. I don't think that is very wise, do you?"
"Oh my, I didn't know that, else I would have said something in my speech to the Aquarians. That's awful. How can kids grow up without any notion of love and affection if they're raised by wardens?"
Just then there was a knocking. "That's David," Susan said. "Okay David," she shouted. "Come in!" David walked through the wall. I was impressed. No sudden appearance in our bedroom? Now he knocked.
"Hey David, I have a question," I said. "I assume we'll leave Atlantica some time in the future. What then? Who will be the next Supervisor? Who will see that this Aquadome continues in the same direction as we’ve started it? And gills? What about them? And a move to shallow water? What about that?"
"Whoa, too many questions that I cannot answer. Can I call Gill?" he asked. David was asking for my approval? I nodded and David turned to look at the wall he had just come through. Gill suddenly appeared, all smiles.
"Yes, there will be gills," he said immediately. "And yes, the Aquadome will be moved to shallower waters in the Bay of Biscay. Godships are already on their way here. As for the next Supervisor, that is up to you. You can appoint someone or you can call for a vote or you can generate some computer algorithm as they have done in Pacifica. Your choice."
I had no idea where the Bay of Biscuit was, but I didn't care. I was just happy to learn that there'd be a move and soon a new breed of Aquarians who could enjoy a three-dimensional lifestyle in sea and on sand. Now I had to think of how to choose the next Supervisor.
Part 14.3
I wrote the computer algorithm myself. It was in an old computer language called trans-C, but Gill assured me that the ritual I described would be translated properly to the local computer dialect. The first thing I did was to ask every individual between the ages of twenty and sixty to answer several questions about themselves. I also asked their neighbors to answer similar questions about their neighbors. All the data was stored and manipulated within computer memory.
If Smith said he was kind and generous to his neighbor, but the neighbor said that Smith was rude and often loses his temper, then Smith's name was eliminated from the list of potential Supervisors.
On the other hand, if Smith said he was helpful to his neighbor but could and should be doing more, and if Smith's neighbor said that Smith was very helpful, then Smith's name was retained on the list.
That alone eliminated over eighty percent of the population.
Then I asked each person to rank the remaining people on the list on a scale of 1 to 10, on the basis of helpfulness, morality, sense of humor, common sense, kindness, generosity and education. The weighting for helpfulness was weighted more heavily than education and common sense and sense of humor were highly rated. It took several days to complete the ratings and, when complete, the results were fed into the computer which displayed just forty-seven names, equally rated at the highest level.
"What now?" I asked Susan. "They all seem perfect for the job."
"Let the Aquarians decide," she said. "It will be their Supervisor, after all. They should have some say."
So I made a dome-wide announcement, reciting the names of the forty-seven winners. It was broadcast throughout the Aquadome and everyone over the age of twenty was asked to vote the next morning, at their local voting center. I went over the names carefully, met briefly with most candidates and could not decide who was best suited for the job. They were all gifted in their own way. One person was a complete surprise. The name was so familiar. It was Lucas! I didn't even know he was on the original list. How could anyone comment on his character, as a neighbor, if he lived here for just a week or two? I asked Susan and she said that Lucas
had never stayed on our Godship but had moved into an apartment in the Aquadome. He also went out of his way to meet people, eat with them and help youngsters with their studies. Susan said Lucas was a changed man and that Gill had a lot to do with that transformation. It was old-style campaigning. I could imagine Lucas going door to door, shaking hands and kissing babies.
I was even more surprised when the vote was tabulated. When I stepped down, Lucas would be the next Supervisor. I asked him to join me for lunch, the day after the election. Although I expected he'd come with Gill, in fact he came alone.
"Hi Gordon," he said. "Are you surprised?"
"Surprised?" I said. "I'm flabbergasted!"
"I won't disappoint you," he said. "I do know the situation on Pacifica as well as anyone and hope to reconstruct this Aquadome it its image. I have so many ideas, so many things that can be done. The children, they are the key. And when we move to shallow water and can communicate with Pacifica, I can talk to Shatoya about our problems. We can empathize on the duties of Supervisor. I can learn a lot from her, she is so competent."
I stared in awe at this guy. Was it the same Lucas who had said that black people were inadequate?
"Yes, I know what you are thinking," Lucas said sadly. "I was an ass. I can't believe I'm the same person. But Gill has been a…what can I say? An exceptional influence. He has taught me so many things. It's hard to believe he's synthetic. He is more human than I, has more understanding of human customs and characteristics. I have changed, don't you agree?"
I felt like giving Lucas a hug. "You know, Lucas, I think I've changed too. For once in my life I've actually done something good. I guess the only good thing, the only exceptional thing I'd ever done in the past was to marry Susan. Other than that, nothing."
"You can be proud of your achievements here," Lucas said with obvious warmth in his voice. "I just hope, when you step down, that I–"
"Hey! Why wait? I'll appoint you tomorrow! I can't think of any other thing that I can do for Atlantica. I hoped I could remember how things were in Pacifica, but my memory ain't what it used to be. I wasn't there that long. But you…you know everything. You should start immediately. I'll make it happen, tomorrow."
Lucas dropped his head to his chest. I could see that he was touched. He placed his hand on mine. "You are a very great friend," he said, his voice faltering. I knew right then that he was the perfect choice for Supervisor.
Part 14.4
The next morning I announced my choice for immediate succession and the feedback was very positive. In the voting centers throughout the Aquadome, Aquarians could register their pleasure or displeasure with any law or comment made by a senior government individual. That was a little ditty that I had instituted. I told Lucas that I had his very first new law: Parents are required to keep and nurture their children. He was delighted to make an announcement to that effect, even before he was officially Supervisor. Again, Aquarian reaction was positive. In fact, huge crowds of parents, old and new, thronged to his apartment to thank him. I knew for certain that he'd be a great Supervisor.
Later in the day I turned over the key to my office to Lucas. As a parting suggestion, I mentioned that he'd need a second-in-command, someone who could carry out his wishes without fail, someone whose authority people respected. He was glad to accept my recommendation–and so was Chicago. When I introduced the Leader of the Devil Families, Lucas was shocked. Although I had asked Chicago to 'dress up', he wore black leather and the scar on his cheek seemed rather longer and more indecent than usual. Nevertheless, Chicago shook hands with Lucas, said all the right words, ending each sentence with 'Okay, boss?' and Lucas immediately assigned an office for Chicago, near to the Supervisor's office. I was sure they'd get along.
"A dynamic duo," I had said, after they had shaken hands.
Lucas had smiled. "I like that… a Dynamic Duo." He had turned to pat Chicago on the shoulder and Chicago had been pleased as punch.
I left the Supervisor's office rather pleased with myself. I had started things quite nicely and had installed an able successor. On my way to the area where I'd transport to our Godship, I met Gill.
"I'm off to see the new Supervisor," he said, obviously elated.
"He'll be excellent, I'm sure," I said, "Won't you miss him?"
"Miss him? Why? I'm staying here, on Atlantica. I'll be needed for the next phase."
"Next phase? What next phase? Moving to that Bay of something? Gill-structured people? What?"
"The arrival of a permanent Godship to attach to the Aquadome, much like Uruk. A smaller version of our Godship. It will assist in redesigning the Aquadome and coordinating the move to shallow water when the gathering of Godships arrive, next week. I will, of course, be the human-to-Godship interface. I intend to tell Lucas so he can prepare the Aquarians."
"Ah, Gill, you are such a nice guy. Lucas will be lucky to have you by his side. Now, have you seen Susan? We haven't spoken in such a long time and now that I'm not hampered by the chores of office, I'd like to reacquaint myself with my wife."
"Mr. Gordon Blend, your activities here in Atlantica have been magnificent. I am proud to be based upon your genes. Susan is very proud of you, as we all are. Even Tiesha and Hydra are impressed with what you've accomplished. If I'm not mistaken, Susan is now transporting from Gilgamesh and will be here presently. If you wait, she'll find you. Now I must hasten to see the Supervisor." With that, Gill left and I looked about, saw a bench and sat, waiting.
Part 14.5
I gazed at my surroundings. The scene was quite pleasant. Walls that had been covered with graffiti were now polished clean. I saw children playing on swings and splashing in a small pool, their proud parents standing nearby. I could hear faint music. Nothing I recognized, but quite pleasant. On my right were bantam flowering bushes. There were no full size trees in the Aquadome, but diminutive plants were now popping up everywhere, especially those with colorful blossoms. There was little need for plants to provide oxygen since it was extracted from the ocean. People were finally taking pride in their deep-sea home.
"It's quite impressive, the change, don't you think?"
I turned to find Aspirin standing in back of my bench. I jumped up and stuck out my hand to the former Supervisor. He shook it vigorously.
"Yes, I'm quite pleased with what I see. I wouldn't mind living here, you know," I said.
"I can't thank you enough for what you've done. For some reason, people think more highly of me because I turned over the reins to you. I must admit that it wasn't easy…I was rather upset, actually. However, my home is now a place of happiness and that's entirely due to you."
"It's so nice of you to say that," I said, with sincerity. "I've never been so happy with…with myself." I chuckled and Aspirin joined me. We sat together and laughed. Children looked at us and giggled and parents waved at us.
At the far end of the room I saw Susan walking quickly in our direction. I rose to greet her and Aspirin started to leave. "No, don't go," I said. "I'd like you to meet my wife." Susan came to stand by us and I put my hand on her shoulder and said, with obvious affection, "This is Susan, my lovely wife." I turned to Aspirin and said, "Susan, I'd like you to meet–"
Aspirin jumped up and said, "I'm so pleased to finally meet you, Susan. My name is Aspen and I was the Supervisor before your husband. I think my greatest accomplishment was to make Gordon the Supervisor."
Susan smiled sweetly. "Yes, Aspen, we are so proud of him."
Aspen? Did they say Aspen?
"Now, if you will excuse me," Aspen said, "our new Supervisor has asked to meet me, to provide some insight and perhaps to assist in his duties." Aspen bowed slightly and walked slowly away. Susan sat and pulled me onto the bench. I looked into her eyes. She was the most beautiful thing I've ever seen.
"I've been thinking," I said.
Susan patted me on the head. "Very good, sweetheart."
"No, don't do that. This is serious. I've been thinking of our future, y
ou and me and our son."
"Our daughter," she said.
"But, can't it be a son?"
"Gordon, it's already a girl. Don't you see?"
Susan stood and turned slowly. She was visibly pregnant!
"Oh God, I hadn't even noticed!" I said.
"You said 'Oh God'. That's sweet. And your speech to the Aquarians and the commandments you gave them. That was so wonderful. Rules to live by. You do believe in God."
"Uh…well, not exactly," I mumbled. I pulled Susan down to the bench. "I just thought that if I wanted to encourage Aquarians to live a different life style, something that involved living a moral life, you know, love thy neighbor and all that…then some kind of common religion seemed appropriate and I guess that means a God. At least that's what I was thinking."
"You mean you still don't believe in God?" Susan said, incredulously.
"Well, I guess I still believe in some Grand Poobahs that created all things, especially the Godships to do their bidding, but as David said, I might as well call them God. I'm happy to do that, so long as it's not a biblical God that promotes fire and brimstone. In any case, I assume that God, through his assistants, the Godships, have given me the power that enabled me to change things here in Atlantica. You know, I tried to remove a flower from a bush and it didn't work. I mean, it seems the extraordinary powers I had are now defunct."
"Yes, your mission was achieved and you no longer need Gilgamesh's assistance."
Susan was about to pat me on the head, her hand poised, then thought better of it and gave me a kiss on the cheek instead. "You said you were thinking," she said. "Thinking about what?"
"About Burlington," I said. "Yes, I know, there's nothing there, no place to live, no buildings, no food…but I had a thought and, with help from our Godships, maybe we could live out the rest of our lives there, by our beautiful lake."
I explained my idea to Susan and I could see her frown turn to a smile.
"Oh, Gordie, that would be wonderful and I'm sure Gill could arrange it."
"Gill is staying here, in Atlantica," I said. "Now that Lucas is Supervisor, Gill thought he could help…and you know how close they've become."
"And Tiesha and their child?" Susan blurted out.
