Help

by Arturo F. Campo

  ***

  The pyramid ship, stripped of its structural elements within, had exposed wires, cables, and pipes that dangled between long stretch of structural spans in every direction. They crisscrossed and looped around the few remaining columns and beams within its humongous cavern. With no elevators, stairs, and the majority of the floors missing, the trek to other levels was perilous that, in some areas, a misstep would hurl someone hundreds of feet down to their death.

  Precariously, the Rians moved in single file through narrow planks along the hallways and down through emergency ladders. Once in the room adjacent to the decontamination chamber, they sat on the floor and waited for their food in silence. Their stay in the hibernating capsule did nothing to soothe their exhaustion and hunger; it merely postponed it for over a thousand years.

 

  Their stomachs grumbled and they laughed at each other as it did. Most sat on the floor as there was nothing to sit on. To their great relief, the airships came back sooner than expected. “Food is going through decontamination,” announced a returning member.

  Someone seated on the floor, with wide-eyed enthusiasm asked, “How was it outside?”

  Just as enthusiastic, a returning member replied, “We were on the dark side all the time. From what we saw from our floodlights, there are more trees than ferns. The diversity of animals will astound you. We even saw animals perched on a tree branch and fly with feathered wings!”

  “No insects?” someone exclaimed as the Rians were vegetarian, fruit, and insect eaters.

  “Lots of them. The area . . .” he continued with gusto, describing to an eager crowd whose ears were focused on every word he said. On seeing fruits leave the decontamination chamber, he concluded, “God has surely given us a paradise.”

  In line, they snatched the fruits as it left the chamber. Hurriedly eaten, its juice trickled from their mouth onto their arms and hands, and soiled the only clothing they had. Some squirted to others bringing laughter, as Rian, by nature, were cheerful beings. There was no question in everyone’s mind that the fruits on the planet were far tastier than the best in Ria. The variety astounded them. Soon, platters of roasted grasshoppers, termites, green vegetables, and fruits were on the counter.

  They later viewed the world around at the center of a holographic screen as though perched atop a five-hundred feet tower with an unobstructed three-hundred-sixty-degree view. They marveled at the sight. Two miles north, a mist-veiled waterfall dropped five hundred feet down. Not far, springs gushing from the cliff wall cascaded down the forest floor to a river not far away. To the south and east, a lush jungle, and to the west, some distance away, a savannah with herds of grazing animals that stretched all the way to the horizon. They zoomed in on as many animals they saw and later awed again as the satellites relayed scenes of the blue planet from space. They watched for a time, transfixed to the beauty of their new home but soon their excitement gave way to the clamor of their body as one-by-one dozed at their place on the floor.

 

  Amo Obib paid no attention to the outside scenes projected on the holographic screen. His mind was too preoccupied to appreciate anything as he mulled over their problems. When Ningning fell asleep on his shoulder, he lightly kissed her head and laid her gently on the floor. He proceeded to a vacant room further down the hallway.

  In an empty room, Amo Obib felt weary. There were many questions that needed answer and asked what was foremost in his mind---the presence of some form of intelligent beings in the planet. He instructed Goopersh to project satellite images of the planet’s surface in search for artificial features. Features only an intelligent being could make. Like an eagle’s eye searching for a prey from the sky, he got Goopersh to zoom in and out on the continents. He searched for roads – a sign of an emerging civilization. Soon, he found himself looking for small settlements; a group of huts or patches of garden - anything to indicate some form of intelligent being to spark some hope. Finding none, he shifted his focus and said, “Goopersh, display the residual radioactivity readings emanating from the core of this planet.”

  Goopersh displayed the radioactive values superimposed over the map that covered the entire planet divided by gridlines. Amo Obib studied the numbers. He found it varied a little around the world. What was disheartening being the minimum level was way over what their body can tolerate. He knew its implications: a brief exposure would ultimately lead to cancer; ten hours outside without a protective suit would kill them. Living entirely in the ship with less than a generation of lifetime ruled out raising generations of children. The planet was no place for them to colonize, not a place they could call home, he concluded.

  He quickly shifted his attention to the possibility that an animal may evolve to an intelligence being, intelligent enough to help them as they had over two-million years to hibernate. He instructed, “Goopersh, search and display the most likely candidates from animals on this planet that will evolve to intelligent beings. Estimate time as well.”

  As Goopersh performed its instructions, he reviewed Earth’s atmospheric data on another wall that Goopersh transformed to a screen. Except for ozone concentration, the planet’s atmosphere fitted them perfectly. However, the ozone layer was thinner than what Ria had in their home planet. Exposure to noonday sun on bare skin would result to instant sunburn but considered it a nuisance than a problem.

  Goopersh displayed on the screen a chimpanzee sized ape and announced, “Ready.”

  Amo Obib took time to analyze the ape displayed in three dimensions then in its skeletal form. He was keen to observe the head structure, its body, the hands and legs, and its posture then read the forecast written: ‘MINIMUM ESTIMATED TIME TO EVOLVE TO INTELLIGENT BEINGS: 6 MILLION YEARS.’

  The conclusion disheartened him. He fervently hoped the conclusion maybe flowed as he instructed, “Goopersh, display your conditions and assumptions.”

  He scrutinized Goopersh’s assumptions for inconsistencies but found none. He then engaged Goopersh on a what-if scenario by changing the evolutionary variables. Later, he concluded that the evolution to intelligent being within their time constrain was unlikely. ‘Surely, God did not get us this far for nothing,’ Amo Obib thought then said aloud, “Accelerated evolution!” that snapped him out of hopelessness then to himself, ‘Time is on our side. We have over two million years to hibernate!’ He looked at the ape and asked himself, 'Will this ape save my civilization?' then lingered on the ethical issues on genetic engineering and again asked, 'Can I act like a god and decide how this creature should become?’

  Amo Obib was motionless with eyes closed as he deliberated to himself. As he pondered, he saw in his mind's eye, him being rushed to Amo Tasiyo's cottage at the city of the church back in planet Ria, for his ordination as the succeeding head of their church and state, the Amo, and to his marriage to an Elders’ chosen wife, Ningning. He recalled panting from running as he got to Amo Tasiyo's room and found the amo in bed, Ningning stood next to Medi, and some Elders at the veranda. He saw himself by Ningning's side where Medi waved him to go then knelt before Amo Tasiyo who sat on his bed with Medi's help. He remembered clearly the abbreviated marriage ceremony; the strain on Amo Tasiyo as he took the triangular medallion from his neck, the symbol of his Supreme Authority, and with reverence placed it on Obib’s neck then asked him to stand.

  With Medi's aid, Tasiyo knelt before the new amo, Amo Obib; bowed in veneration; and said, “My loyalty to God, to you, My Amo.”

  The rest did the same.

  Now the new amo, Amo Obib helped Tasiyo sit on his bed then knelt on one knee before him.

  Tasiyo was visibly weak and briefly caught his breath. “My son . . .” he said in a strained low voice and gasping for air. “My Amo,” he corrected then leaned forward and held with reverend the medallion that dangled on Amo Obib's neck, “The fate of our church and the Rian civilization is in your hands. . . Decide for its good and with God in your heart, you will never make a mistake
. . . Remember above all, God . . . and all Rians are behind you. . . If ever . . . the time comes when you must decide the fate of your brothers and sisters . . . remember . . . what I told you now.”

  “I will,” Amo Obib replied.

  “Can I ask you a question?” Tasiyo politely asked.

  Amo Obib answered, eager to accommodate, “Please.”

  “Would you have stopped pursuing . . . the issues on genetic experimentation . . . had I requested you to stop?” Tasiyo asked gasping.

  Amo Obib was surprised the Tasiyo knew. He answered honestly, “Without hesitation.”

  Tasiyo smiled and with his hand resting on Amo Obib's shoulder, tapped lightly and softly said, “Now, you have to decide on the issue yourself.”

  “Why me?” Amo Obib asked spontaneously. The question lingered in his mind since informed of succeeding Amo Tasiyo. There were many others more qualified to succeed the amo and it bothered him.

  Tasiyo smiled and said softly, “I did not pick you.”

  Baffled and shocked, Amo Obib reacted, “I do not understand.”

  Tasiyo replied, “God often work in strange ways,” Tasiyo paused to catch a breath. “At the moment, I was to announce my choice . . . I had another person in mind . . . but your name came out loud and clear when I spoke . . . Have no doubt, . . . He, not I, . . . chose you to lead His flock.”

  Amo Obib stayed silent as he watched Tasiyo take deep breaths and with Tasiyo’s hand weakly waved at Medi to come by his side.

  Medi moved quickly and helped her husband stand with Amo Obib's help. After, Amo Obib moved back to Ningning's side who stood fronting Tasiyo and Medi.

  Tasiyo stood alone and erect with Medi by his side. In a healthy voice, said, “It is time for you to go, My Amo.” The air of dignity was apparent as the two proudly stood together with Medi’s right arm now wrapped around Tasiyo’s left arm. If Tasiyo mustered whatever strength he had to make a last dignified impression, it was perfect!

  “Naska is Imar,” they all said to each other.