MEEK

by Richard Johnson

  After four weeks had passed, a crew was sent to pick him up. They found him sitting with his back against an oak: he had died sleeping, probably of a heart condition. He had turned the table into something resembling an altar. It was covered in flowers he had spent his last days collecting. They buried him there and on a headstone carved the simple inscription Sabri and Salihah.

  The story of Sabri and Salihah found its way into their folklore. It became the subject of much fine artwork. On the appointed day, the ship from the east returned and anchored one kilometre offshore. One colonist took Sabri’s personal possessions out together with some gold to them and said that he had died peacefully and was buried where he wanted to be. They left confused, but happy, with yet another easy profit.

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  391 BC

  ‘The first Assembly of Common Directives’

  “There is usually a price for progress , yet we always seem willing to pay it”

  A meeting of the entire colony had been called. The edicts were to be read out after which they would become law and would set the direction of the colony for the foreseeable future. The elders stood in the middle of the arena, the encircling stone benches now had been cut into ten tiers for the population had grown to over 1200 people. An elder spoke and all assembled became quiet. “First directive: Contraception is to be mandatory, Population growth is to be monitored and kept at a level that is sustainable. Second directive: We will set up small enclaves of no more than eight people in each location on thirty places on the mainland. Third directive: these enclaves will be built underground near resources that we wish to harvest and will be destroyed every two years, or sooner if discovered. Forth directive: the inhabitants in the enclaves will rotate back to the Island wherever possible and will be chosen based on smallness of stature to live in the enclaves. Fifth directive: Contact with locals is to be avoided wherever possible.” The elder looked around at his audience. “These edicts together with even more expansion of living space below the sea will enable us to continue to grow our population slowly. Our technological achievements make it possible to trade between the island and the enclaves rapidly and safely. The danger of living on the mainland cannot be overstated. Our technological advancements must outstrip any threat by making evasion as affective as possible. I realise the restrictions on reproduction will cause some sadness to some families, perhaps in the future we may find a solution. The enclaves are to be spread throughout west Britain’s coastal regions with the greatest concentration here, on the mainland.”

  ‘The second Assembly of Common Directives’ 328 AD

  The hill side was crowded, people had come back from the enclaves to be here. Speakers and television screens had been strategically placed. All the elders sat on the stage waiting for the signal to begin. The elder who stepped forward was by profession a medical researcher. The crowd went quiet, only the sound of the sea was to be heard. The cove was filled by the presence of the colony’s two seaplanes and a dozen boats of various shapes, sizes and propulsion systems. “I have been asked to give a technical review before stating the Directives.” He reached for his notes and started with the issue of most concern to the younger generation. “The colony consists of the Island with a capped population of twelve thousand. The enclaves consist of a further six thousand. The sacrifice of the past thirty years, I am of course referring to the zero population growth edict, has bought us time to develop a new strategy. Last year we began building a permanent research base in desolate lands near the Equator. The base is built on a northern extremity of a continent in the southern hemisphere. The native inhabitants are still in the stone age and are highly intimidated by our technology. We therefore feel it is safe to make this a permanent base. As it is envisioned, that it will accommodate six thousand people. It also gives us scope to relax the current birth rate restrictions, somewhat.”

  There was a rumble of approval, even some clapping at this. The elder held his hands high for attention, “There must be however a trade-off. The recent discoveries in genetics have given us an opportunity to breed our youth to meet the specific requirements of our society. We, the elders, propose therefore the following as attributes that would optimise our survival. Please refer to the screens. One: body stature and height to be reduced. One and a half metres maximum height with an appropriate body mass is to become the norm. Two: intelligence to be maximised. Three: health and longevity are to be maximised.” There was a murmur of discussion among the audience and some had stood, signalling a desire to speak. The elder indicated with a laser pen the person selected to speak: it was a woman in her early thirties, of breeding age. “We are already slighter in stature than the natives, this makes us easily recognisable, surely further moves in this direction will identify us as a target for their aggression?”

  “It is a good point, but we need to consider the political events around us. The Romans created a level of stability that worked in our favour, however the Roman Empire is under pressure and these islands are open to migration and invasion. Body size dictates nutritional and resource requirements as well as having a direct effect on our ability to be quick and stealthy. The stars have smiled on us by giving us this island but the ability for us to hide it from the inevitable population expansion of the natives is limited. We are playing for time, hoping that mankind will change the direction it has chosen so that we may rejoin them and share our advances with them. Until that day comes, we must use every advantage that science provides us.”

  “What if it never comes? Do you foresee our extinction? Is there even any indication that their brutal nature is being tempered?” The woman had asked the burning question. “There is little to indicate any change, some prophets have spoken altruistically and some leaders have tried to formulate government based on a fairer system of distribution of resources. Generally to no avail, so we have accepted that we must keep adapting.” He looked at the forlorn expressions around him. He had not offered much hope. He had to lighten the mood.

  “However, the elders foresee that hundreds of years have yet to pass before we have to deal with any possibility of extinction. Our technology makes extinction of our race less likely than it was when our ancestors first came to these islands. The natives progress slowly, we progress quickly in comparison. Time is on our side so let us use it wisely.” As if on cue, a large seaplane, three times bigger than those already in the cove, came out of the sky losing altitude and landing smoothly on the small waves. The crowd was delighted, the plane was a symbol of their resilience and superiority. This was a good time for the elders to dismiss the assembly. They did so, then met again below ground in a conference room. There, they continued their discussions of the logistics involved in setting up a facility in the southern hemisphere and the use of genetics to alter the direction of their own evolution.

  The Third Assembly of Common Directives” 845 AD

  Over the centuries, the Exiles had come to call themselves by the name the natives had often referred to them as, ‘Tuathans’. They were no longer exiles and had a measure of control over their future. Now the time had come to expand beyond this planet and seek unlimited freedom; a freedom which still eluded them on Earth.

  The president took a deep breath and delivered what he knew would become a turning point in their development.

  “The report you are about to receive via your computers will be delivered as an address from the president. We recommend you store the information given and discuss it privately among yourselves. All Tuathan will be asked to submit their views on the subject matter within the next three days and a vote. The president and the elders feel the content of this address is of such great importance that it requires to be decided with a general mandate from the people.”

  “Tuathan people. The stars have smiled on us. Our exploration in space has provided us, among other advances, communication abilities beyond all expectations, one month ago we received data from the expedition on Mars that confirms the possibility of buildin
g a large colony on the floor of one of the canyons. It is proposed to enclose and terraform an area of 100 square kilometres. Water and oxygen will be extracted from the frozen ground ice currently below the surface. Plans and technical specifications can be accessed from central data. If this project proves to be successful a second will be built. The first colony will be designed to accommodate 120, 000 people.” The president paused here for affect. The significance of such a number would cause a huge debate. “The project is estimated to take thirty-five years to fully complete. We have endured restrictions on our population for far too long. The current situation is that we have seven thousand in the southern base. Fifteen thousand in enclaves, twelve thousand on the Island and 200 on the moon . It is planned that we close the southern base and destroy it when the Martian facility is fully operational. It is also expected that the enclaves will be reduced and the moonbase destroyed.

  “Humanity has become more destructive as time passes. Ironically our genetic engineering and breeding programs have made us physically more suitable to space travel even though that was not the original intention. The centre of government, education and research will be moved to Mars and the purpose of our presence here on Earth will be to provide the colonies on Mars with resources and also to monitor developments here. Antidetection devices will be equipped to our spacecraft, which will be kept as small as possible. The current slow rate of technological and social development of the natives suggests that, on the condition we are always prepared to adapt to any potential discovery, the next 500 years has little for us to fear. Computer modelling bears this out and also suggests, given the same time frame, the natives will not advance significantly. This is mainly due to the failure of the democratic movements in southern Europe and the rise of theocratic power which attempts to stifle scientific development. This will buy us even more time.” The president sipped a glass of water in preparation for the conclusion.

  “I have proposed a new direction for us. If you decide to take it, I believe it will put power into our hands for the first time. It will however require becoming exiles of a sort again. If you decide to the contrary, then we will not be able to fully explore our potential as we will be expending so much of our energy on evasion. I have heard the argument that we should send forth missionaries into the world to convert the natives to our way of thinking. On a few occasions, this has been tried by brave men and women in the past, all were eventually murdered. I do not propose that we interfere in their future again. As time has progressed, our philosophy has developed as much as our physical science. The differences are now too great, we are virtually a separate species. Meditate deeply, my loved ones, and may the stars smile on you all.”

  There was some debate about the possibility that the theocratic movements might create some lasting benefit and focus the natives on the benefits of co-operation and compassion. The proposition was put to the central data computer. One of the elders later said, if the computer had been given a sense of humour, it would have laughed. Its prognosis was even more division and bloodshed. The theocracies appeared to foster altruism and compassion but they were just as exploitive of the weak as any monarchy. Once this information was disseminated, the conclusion was inevitable.

  Three days later, the central data computer gave the verdict, The president had been so confident and so anxious to begin that he had already prepared his directives for the southern space and research base. Mars was to be colonised.

  CHAPTER NINE

  The Golden Age 924AD

  “Your home is a part of your identity and gives life stability.”

  Wanderer and his crew of three walked quickly down the tunnel away from the Island complex to the airlock. Once inside the spaceship, they went to their stations and strapped themselves in for departure. The disc rose slowly and quietly above the Atlantic and then accelerated into space. Wanderer gave the order to stand easy, once the guidance system had taken over and artificial gravity was operational. The crew went to the observation windows to see Earth shrinking to a gemstone on velvet. “Beautiful, beautiful,” Flora sighed, she had enjoyed her stay on Earth. Wanderer however, as soon as his assignment had been received, was anxious to return to Mars. They settled down to the long routine flight. The cargo bay held various rare chemicals and materials not available on Mars, also some specially requested luxury items. These items were collected by the enclaves at great personal risk. The main purpose of this mission was really governmental in nature and Wanderer was looking forward to a new assignment on Mars. The disc landed softly on the huge, vacant stone circle, two kilometres from the colony. The massive transparent cover, that amplified the sun’s rays into the colony held in the air and water and protected the inhabitants from Martian weather, could be seen from low orbit.

  The crew disembarked and rode the hovercar to the elevator entrance. It was a one-kilometre drop to the floor of the canyon. “I’m not sure if I’m allowed to ask this, Wanderer, but this summons to the centre is about the new photon drive isn’t it?” said Flora.

  “It isn’t a secret, Flora. It’s just that there are some problems to be worked out. I am delivering the official directives and we will be briefed on our secondment to research and development.”

  Flora and Wanderer had come through university and training together but had never allowed romance to rear its head. Wanderer believed that one day it would happen and was hoping Flora would make some sign. On the ground level they caught a taxi and went straight to the administration centre. It was a cold day as usual, the heating grid below the ground and embedded in the canyon walls was working at maximum output. They were both dressed in woollen one-piece jumpsuits and wool-lined plastic boots. Inside the centre, the temperature was quite warm and they had opened the necks of their suits by the time they faced the director. He turned out to be a man of middle age, somewhere between sixty-five and eighty years of age.

  “Please sit. My name is Oaken. I will not waste your time as I am sure you are looking forward to some rest and recreation. Your purpose at research will be to assist with the fitting and trials of the new photon thrusters to our existing disc ships. This may not even be successful as the thrusters are so powerful that they can only be used in space at a safe distance from a planet. The primary use of the new propulsion will be to power twenty-five automated probes that will go in search of habitable planets up to 500 light years away. When these have been successfully launched, only then will we risk your lives on trial flights with modified disc ships.

  “These probes will take more than one thousand years to complete the experiment as that will be the approximate time taken for a return trip.”

  Flora was stunned by the ambitious nature of the project.

  “Yes, twenty-five systems will be chosen,” Oaken forged on. “A probe will arrive and follow an orbit within the system and send back information about the planets in that system for approximately one year. Although travel at almost the speed of light is now possible, the distances are so terrifying that we see only planets within 500 light years as having any possible practical use for us in the future. Even that would have been out of the question if our life expectancy had not been more than doubled. Any questions?”

  Wanderer cleared his throat. “Is there no way of sending data to Mars apart from physically bringing it back?”

  “At this stage of our development, light speed cannot be circumvented. All indications are that our science will not be able to find a solution to this problem in the short or medium term and probably never.”

  Wanderer nodded and Flora accepted the files with the details of their commission. Wanderer then handed the all-important scroll of directives that he had brought from Earth to the director. This was done with much bowing and formality as these scrolls had great significance in Tuathan society. They were handwritten in ink, in the language currently in use. The language was that predominantly of the Celtic peoples spreading throughout the British Isles and Ireland. It was mixed with words that ha
d their base in technology invented by the Tuathians. Eventually, these scrolls ended up in the Museum of History and Culture where they were carefully preserved and then hung on the walls. This allowed every Tuathan access to the directives of the past and to those current. It was also used as an educational tool for the young. It displayed the growth of the society and sometimes, but rarely, its mistakes. Continuity was a concept taken very seriously. The philosophy of the Tuathan Way was linked to these scrolls, they represented belief put into action. The act of physically writing these scrolls meant that the elders responsible were clearly aware of their directives and open to the people’s and history’s judgment.

  After the two young pilots left, Oaken carefully opened the scroll. He already knew most of the content but he loved the scrolls and would read them slowly, seeing in his mind the person or persons who had wrote it with such care and effort. It was his custom to read and then meditate deeply, clearing and refreshing his mind before examining the content.

  : The scroll began with the elder authors name then a traditional title, “Learn from the past, live in the present, plan for the future”

  The elders of Earth have passed the following directives. 1. The research facility on the southern continent is to be transferred to Mars. It is to be terminated and totally erased from the landscape by the year 935 AD. 2. A second terraformed colony is to be built, a new research and development facility will be established there and the personnel currently on the southern continent will be moved there. 3. Government will be transferred to Mars. 4. The base on the Moon is to be terminated, erased and personnel transferred to Mars. 5. Permission has been granted for twenty-five probes to be built each powered by a photon thruster. They are to seek out habitable planets. 6. Disc craft will be fitted with the photon thruster units but will be redesigned if found unsuitable for adaptation. 7. Population on Earth will be reduced gradually and stabilized at fifteen thousand people. 8. No restrictions at this time to population growth on Mars. 9. Resources in the asteroid belt are to be explored and assessed.