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Perceptions From “Celestial Body 1,074.1" © Giovanni Caliendo

Global warming, green house gases. Predictions about shortage of food, water and changes in our life style ...Sounds familiar?

The words I have mentioned above were not considered in the same context in the early 1980's when I began writing this story. I later placed the story aside because I thought it was too outlandish and pursued other projects at the studio. Times have changed and it is only recently that have brushed the dust from this manuscript and presenting it for publication. Much within the pages of Celestial Body is very much historically real and it is aimed at individuals who normally would not read but prefer to get their information from sound bites and play video games. Thus I created the main character who at first may seems to be lacking subtlety and insight, while an affluent individual sheltered from the daily hardships of his society.

Set in a futuristic sphere this is written as a coming of age story about a young male, named Sumer/Remus. Intertwined there is also a love story which takes place where love/evol, is no longer practiced. This story is then at once tender and pleasing to the mind and feelings, with subtle humor, yet set against the harsh background of a distant dying planet.

The story has a Homer-like journey quality as we follow the main characters through a series of riddle filled adventures and self analyzing challenges and, "thoughts."

From the beginning the reader will encounter secret codes. They are simple to decipher provided one possesses the sense = Esnes; to form an opinion = Noinipo; to ponder = Rednop; to devise = Esived; to imagine = Enigami; and the overall gift of the animus = Sumina. They are by no means difficult to understand, but they were significantly placed to create the illusion that this story is taking place on a planet different than ours. Intentionally,however, it parallels our past, present, and hopefully what will never be our future.

This similarity is clearly not defined, but it will be recognizable, when the reader becomes aware of the subtle coded messages and descriptions given by the characters represented as holograms peppered throughout the text. Only then, and early on, will the reader inadvertently have the illusion of reading two tales simultaneously at any given point in the story. The reader’s personal thoughts and beliefs will then continue to re-enforce this illusion which has been created in part to question our selves / the reader and, our modern society.
My objective was to spin an entertaining tale, but most importantly, my intent was to provoke the reader, to think.
This story evolves as a journal based on 34 consecutive solar periods/days or chapters. What follows is a short synopsis of each chapter including a brief description how to decipher, read, and understand the codes.

The above, are some of my main points about a fictional story and characters who lived on a dying planet. Our hero evolved from being indifferent to the enviorment around him until he had been chosen to travel beyond his galaxy to seek a new planet for survival.

Reguarding the "codes" here in, they will be revealed as you continue to read these four sample chapters.

I wish you the reader an enjoyable reading and, much senutrof on Celestial Body 1, 074.1

Many Thanks,

Giovanni

SOLAR ONE:

I don't exactly know how to begin. But with gratitude to my grandmother for having taught me how to express myself in this ancient script, I will make a sincere beginning.

I have been chosen. This is what has compelled me to write this clandestine journal; I have been told that within thirty solar periods I will begin a journey that will take me away from this planet which has been the only home I have known since birth.

This command was received at sunrise before I was to leave to my assigned task at the Genetic Experimentation and Technological Governmental Aggregation - G.E.T.G.A. Center. The communicator announced my name on the visual transmission screen, "Sumer-0450.916". I responded by verifying my digital identification code, a female then explained: "The Council of Ten has chosen you from the remaining habitants on our planet for the purpose to journey and explore Celestial Body 1,074.1. You are to report to the Center of Information, sector 4.91 for your preliminary briefing."

That was all she said. Later, when I reported to structure 4.91, I was immediately escorted by two control force officers to a debriefing room and made to sit facing Setarcos. I had never met someone of his stature, yet I knew he wasn't real. He was in the purest sense, a three dimensional laser reconstruction in light waves -that much I knew from experiments I had performed with holograms at the G.E.T.G.A. Center.

Being in his presence, gave me the feeling that a great amount of knowledge was to be learned during the short period I was to remain on this planet.

"From this moment," he suddenly began to say, "we are to interact and speak as if we were on Celestial Body 1,074.1."

By this statement, I knew he would be my teacher and teach me the knowledge which has been forgotten by our countless generations. It is only now, while our planet is dying, that we find it necessary to revise old discoveries and to seek a celestial body within our known universe that will sustain life as we once knew.

My conversation with Setarcos was brief and I was told to return on the following solar period to begin my first thorough orientation session.

Hence forth, to protect the secrecy of these notes and innocent beings mentioned, I will abstruse part of these entries by using codes and conform to the written word of Celestial Body 1,074.1 since it cannot be understood by my contemporaries.

I will begin by telling about myself.

I was born in Ailati. My father was named Sumina, my mother was Amina. I was told they both died when I was in my third solar cycle, and what I remember of them is what I have been shown on the communicator - visual transmission screen.

I was therefore raised by my only living relative, my grandmother, whose mother is believed to have been a native of Celestial Body 1,074.1. I was seldom told about our family history or how she came to be among us, and whenever I asked about my past, grandmother avoided the questions. However, grandmother did teach me this ancient written and spoken language she called, otnarepse. Because of this, we were privileged to live a relatively sheltered life, that is to say, without hardships and the ordinary toils of our fellow beings.

This of course, became the only legacy of my family; grandmother died during the great plague and since then I have been alone. ... Well, not true, there's Aleumas. We met shortly after grandmother's death. Aleumas is about my age and we confide about most subjects the communicator transmits at the end of each solar period.

I must also note here, this journal will be for you, Aleumas, to safeguard until my return. However, in the event that I do not return, you are to destroy it since many of my comments and notations will jeopardize your life and displease the residing political leaders should they eventually learn how to decipher my codes.

While writing in this ancient script, I often think of you Aleumas, and of late I have felt this strange feeling for you that if I correctly remember, grandmother called evol. Having this trait makes me uncommon in our society since I have never met any of my contemporaries who understood this strange sensation which seems to come from the unknown and from within me.

I have often wanted to tell you about this mysterious feeling, but was fearful for what you might have said. Thus, I will record it now, I evol you. Perhaps, you will help me understand this part of me that I don't seem to comprehend as well as other occurrences in my life which I find disturbing.

While writing this first entree, the sun can't be seen because of the polluted horizon. Yet, it wasn't always like this. When I was younger the sun laid against a crisp blue sky, but within my brief life the air of this planet has become unfit to breath; water must be constantly purified before drinking; food is at a premium, to be consumed with regularity only by the remaining elites; and in the last twelve solar cycles, numerous unknown diseases have taken the lives of more than thirty two percent of the city's inhabitants.

These, then, are my thoughts that make it difficult for me to continue. These same thought are constantly drifting in my mind while often feeling the void left by those few friends who have died. No doubt, it must be my dark side that is making me feel a different kind of evol for them also.

SOLAR TWO:

Setarcos' hologram appeared late in the briefing room and to my surprise, the table in the room was laden with items he called, books. They were stacked before me and as he smiled Setarcos said, "Open any of them, tell me what you see."

Inquisitively I reached for the nearest book, it was covered with dust. After wiping it clean I read what was presumably the title, `CILBUPER FO OTALP'.

"I am able to read this!" I exclaimed, "It's in the same ancient script my grandmother taught me!"

"Yes, it is." Setarcos answered while motioning for me to examine the book further and explained, "... We have others by various authors who wrote in this similar script and language."

"But what am I to do with them?" I questioned.

"Not you alone." Setarcos answered with a wise pensive stare, "We are to discuss them, and hopefully understand their meaning so as to better prepare you to meet the habitants on Celestial Body 1,074.1. In fact, I will not be the only one who will help you understand this knowledge. Other experts in their fields will appear in hologram forms and help you grasp the interpretation written in these ancient artifacts.

"Where you will be going, it is still dominated by primitive civilizations. Granted, they have made some advances to better their lives, but our last record shows that they are still at an early stage of development. ... What is most disturbing, is that they still settle their grievances by waging wars."

This last statement was troublesome to me when considering that war had been abolished on my planet for nearly three hundred solar cycles, yet I still felt as if I was living among truly, primitive beings.

Sensing how I felt, Setarcos put me at ease, and hearten my spirit by saying, "Don't have that look of despair, you have within you the essence of adapting to the life on Celestial Body 1,074.1. You are young and have a lifetime to fulfill. Here, let's start with the first book you have chosen. Open it to a random page and read. We will then discuss what may trouble you."

I laid the book in front of me on the table, slowly thumbed through it, when then I became fascinated by the subject described in the text. I then glanced across the table: Setarcos was gradually dozing while I resumed to read.

The ancient author of whom I was reading, began by describing an ideal state; but my fascination about the text was aroused by how he had written his thoughts on paper as if the reader was part of his conversation. Otalp and others spoke in a written dialogue among themselves while I, with each turn of the page, became drawn into their thoughts and ideas.

I soon realized that Otalp must have been a philosophic dualist who made sharp distinctions between the material world, perceived and known through the senses; and a super-sensory world, apprehended by reason, while most of his other dialogues were parables. His writing had a poetic quality, while his sense of humor kept me alert and attentive during the portrayal of his characters.

Yet it was his thoughts that kept me captivated and found it hard to believe, that if the population of Celestial Body 1,074.1 are able to reason in such a way, then they should not be considered primitive beings. Nonetheless, it became puzzling to me when I read his idea of good; in how all particulars were subordinated to, and derived their existence from the ideas, so that all ideas forming a pyramid, were subordinated to the highest idea. Thus, Otalp reasoned that the idea of the good, stood at the apex.

But I found this to be erroneous since he went on to explain how his supreme concept, was absolute reality, representing a god.

Grandmother spoke of this supreme being, named god, and explained it to me once as it had been told by her mother: `God made nature with all its possibilities and consequences. Presumably, God could have made things differently ; God might have made us perfect, but instead, preferred us imperfect. ... Things being as they are, are then our sufferings due to the blunders of a, god?'

Of course, when I became older and began to reason, I realized that no god was to blame since no one had seen him; no one knew where he resided; or where he went when he wasn't creating a miracle or destruction.

Clearly, I couldn't bring myself to agree with the ancient writer but even though his thoughts were primitive, I speculated that it was perhaps the basis of a faith for a new god.

We alone are to blame if good comes from our thoughts or actions, just as we should be blamed for our evil behavior. Shifting the blame to a supreme god, whether fictional or real, can only mislead the individual.

Grandmother taught me to face my mistakes. It was a simple rule, that as I grew older made me conscious to do good, both for myself and others. Unfortunately, she was not viewed as a mentor and was often scorned for having such thoughts.

In the eyes of our culture, she wasn't considered purebred, and of course, she was a female. These two obstacles prevented her, and others like her, to succeed in fields where others less qualified excelled. Much of what has evolved could have been prevented if we, - meaning us all, without prejudices - had worked for the common good. But now, we are too late, our civilization will no doubt be the last on this planet.

However, as I continued to read, the writer described his political theories, and these later became the basis for political ideals for years after his death. Otalp believed the ideal state should be based on absolute justice which involved unity, single-mindedness, specializations of function by all professional administrators, professional soldiers and workers: `One nation, indivisible, with duties and justice for all.'

I could have not lived in such a state. This became more evident as I read about how Otalp described three principle classes of beings: worker, soldier and ruler. The first would remain in ignorance and care for the mechanical workings of society, while the two upper classes - soldiers, rulers - would receive an intensive education from the earliest age. But then, a thought occurred to me, "Was this class distinction what I was to encounter on Celestial Body 1,074.1 ... and, in which class I would fit in?"

It was then when Setarcos yawned, stretched his arms saying, "At last, you are asking questions! I have been listening to you telepathically, perhaps I can give you some plausible answers."

"Very well!" I said, "For a start, tell me if these beings I will meet are still governed and live with such ideals."

"Sumer," Setarcos began, "as you must have noticed, the book you have chosen is an ancient one. It described their first recorded efforts of ideas and ideals. But in time, as it was on this planet, it became necessary to challenge many entities, even these ideals. Otalp himself realized the impracticality of such a state and later in another writing revised his first concepts. In his new work he was closer to reality and included a voting assembly, while all aspects of life were to be supervised by examiners who would write and revise laws governing the most minute activity of all citizens."

"But what about the rights of the individual?" I asked.

Setarcos gave that familiar pensive stare which I began to notice whenever he knew the answer,

"You must try to understand," he explained, "these ideas were revolutionary for those early times. It was an effort to begin an organized civilization even though it was not clearly understood by all, no matter which class one is to mention. `The individual was to function as a state.'

"As for god, ... or rather, gods, traditional religion until then provided little hope either before or after death. It was generally believed that after death, one would spend time in a dimension they called, hades. This was also another innovative idea since some philosophers prior to this ancient writer had adopted the theory of metempsychosis of souls on their way to purification. Otalp simply elaborated on this belief and combined it with his ideas of thought and beauty.

"Here, Otalp began to place a seed for later religious doctrines: the body imprisons the soul, which is created by a divine being, but sullied by a sinful corporeal life."

"This then seems to me, that the soul, the sin, and the divine being, were purely invented from Otalp's ideas?" I questioned.

"We may consider it as such. But in his primitive time frame it served as a guideline that was elaborated upon by later civilizations. Otalp simply explained that if a being lead a good life, in accordance with the highest principles of philosophy, his soul would enter the dwelling place of the gods. If life was spent in vice, then the soul would pass through a series of cleansing in order to return to its pure state.

"To the primitive mind, this was a way for a society to place responsibility on each individual. It wasn't any longer, that if they had done wrong in their lifetime, one would spend his or her eternal time in hades; Otalp gave them a way to repent, through the cleansing of the soul and made it possible for them to receive a reward for being in favor with the gods. There were many believers in his theory, which became a nucleus of learned beings and in time it grew to include a university - the first on that celestial body which lasted nine hundred solar cycles.

"As with our civilization, those early thoughts by Otalp were overtaken by other philosopher and scholars. They later strived for new goals and beliefs. At times their struggle stagnated and was even suppressed. However, the idea of good that Otalp began, was often rationalized and as far as we can judge from the latest information from Celestial Body 1,074.1, many of the inhabitants are still struggling with those same ideas.

"Now, if you will be kind enough, you must excuse me."

Setarcos rose to his feet, then went through the motion as if walking out of the debriefing room, and vanished. I remained for a while to recollect my thoughts while forming views from what little knowledge had been presented during this first debriefing. But soon, my thoughts drifted to Aleumas.

I was to meet her near the edge of one of the last preserved parks within our city boundary. It was near the Center of Information, across from the main thoroughfare. For me it was an oasis away from the hideous city center of steel and glass structures and as I went to one of the entrances to the park, I immediately saw Aleumas. She was sitting on a bench with a paper sack near to her side. I approached her, she calmly looked at me with her deep blue eyes and with a secretive smile said, "It has been windy all morning."

"Yes." I responded, "The communicator said it would be windy. But the smog should clear by mid-afternoon. ... Were you waiting long?"

"No, but I almost didn't make it here."

"Was it your breathing again?"

"Yes. ... I had to stop twice to use oxygen, but I feel better now since I have rested. ... What about you, how was your first orientation?"

"It was enlightening to know that such a celestial body exist somewhere out there around us. But that I should live alone, among such primitive creatures, will take some adjustments on my part."

"Are you regretting that you were chosen?"

"Not at all. I find it exciting to be part of an exploration that will take me beyond our cosmic planetary mass; my only concern is that I am wondering if this new planet will sustain life forms that I can recognize. ... But this is all I can say about what happened this morning. Could we walk, do you feel strong enough?"

"Yes Sumer, I feel better now. And look! I had almost forgotten!" Aleumas then took the paper sack from her side and placed it between us on the bench, while explaining, "I was up early this morning and before it became too hot I went to market. I was fortunate when I bartered, and we now have two pears, a half loaf of bread, cheese, and wine. Red wine!"

"You were indeed fortunate!" I exclaimed.

"Come then!" said Aleumas, "Let's go and enjoy what remains of this solar period. ... The sun may even shine briefly on us on this special occasion."

Aleumas reached for my hand and with our sack filled with delicacies we walked along a secluded winding path that reached the inner confines of the park. However, Aleumas soon became uneasy once we had reached the familiar area and motioned for me to be silent. She then led me cautiously to what seemed an old wall partially hidden by dense vegetation.

"What's all the mystery?" I finally asked.

Aleumas told me again to be silent while whispering, "Come closer, I want you to see what I have found."

I became curious while moving with anticipation, then as I stood by her side she told me to look between the green foliage that was draping the wall. I looked intensively, but had to admit that I couldn't see anything of significance.

"Here then, let me show you!" she said as she came forward and with her delicate slender fingers pointed to a large metallic ring partially hidden and encrusted with verdigris from the passing of time. Aleumas then looked at me rather uneasy and explained, "I believe it opens a door to the other side of the wall. I found that ring by accident while gathering firewood in this section of the park. Shall we try and see if the door will open?"

I didn't answer, but with caution I did separate and removed the gnarled vines, and soon recognized it for what it was, saying, "It is a door! ... It seems it hasn't been used in ages."
"Can you open it?" Aleumas asked.

"I'll probably need tools, but I will try."

I held the large ring with both hand and with all my strength, pulled. The rusted hinges cracked and squeaked under the strain until the door was nearly opened. Then, it suddenly jammed.

"This is as far as it will go," I said disappointed, "but perhaps if we try together we might be able to open it enough for us to squeeze through."

Aleumas gave a tense smile, placed the paper sack on the ground and agreed to try.
This time with both our hands on the ring we pulled until with ease the door was fully opened. A strong musty smell rushed immediately from within the dark interior and from what light was available we saw steps leading downward and definitely not a passage to the other side of the wall.

"This is as far as we should go." said Aleumas suddenly as she stepped away from the entrance.

"But I feel adventurous." I responded, "And besides, we may find a hoard of long forgotten treasures."

"I don't need treasures, and the Control Force might see us." she than gave an objecting frown and went to sit near the paper sack.

"Then, I'll go inside alone!" I said, and immediately descended the dark corridor.

With every step I felt the air was seemingly damp, yet it had a cooling quality that my body welcomed. The musty odor was no longer offensive and it was actually a pleasant change from the smog above. I stumbled a few times; then running my hand on the smooth walls, I turned a corner. My heart began pounding with fright and excitement for the unknown that was waiting for me.

"Was this normal?" I thought in those brief moments, "Or was I the only one who felt such emotions?..." But I soon cleared my mind of such thoughts and noticed a faint light coming from above.

I rushed and saw an opening, but it was secured by an iron grate. It was also mostly covered with green and dead vegetation from the outside. I then looked around me, found a broken branch that had fallen from above and with this I removed the vines that had grown across the iron bars. Having done this, I had let in more light in what seemed a subterranean chamber. My eyes soon adjusted to the new light and I became entranced by the treasure that laid undisturbed within the four walls. I marveled how it was all so well preserved and had the distinct feeling of having stepped back in time - a time that my generation has forgotten. Many of the objects I had never seen before, nor did I know their names or functions; but they were all new and interesting to me until I remembered and shouted, "Aleumas!"

I rushed back to the entrance while I continued to shout, "Aleumas come! ... Come and see what we have discovered!" and felt at that instant as when grandmother had given me a wrapped gift to open.

Aleumas was sitting crossed legged, clutching the paper sack. Her objecting frown had turned to one of anxiety.

"Are you all right?" she asked with concern. "Are you hurt? ... I thought you would never come back."

"I'm fine. But do come and look what I have found."

"I will not go in there! I'm afraid ..." she said stubbornly.

"There's no need to be afraid. You are with me. Come." I held out my hand and with reluctance she gave me hers.

I immediately felt how she was trembling - a part of her I had never known before - but with caution, we entered the dark opening. I was leading her with confidence now, and as we turned the corner I saw the familiar light from the grate above that illuminated the chamber, "There!" I finally said, "The treasure room!"

Her hand was no longer trembling, but her grip had became stronger as we entered the chamber, and then, she released me.

Aleumas walked around the chamber while still clutching the paper sack, when to my surprise she suddenly stopped and said, "It's a bomb shelter. ... That's what this is. It's a bomb shelter."

"How can you be so certain." I questioned without any reason to doubt her.

"My friends and I played in one when we were young. We used it as a hiding place. It was by no means so well preserved as this one, but it did have four bare walls with the roof partially collapsed."
"Then maybe we should report our find to the Center of Information," I said, suggesting, "there could be objects here that are vital and need further studies."

"No, don't!" surprisingly Aleumas protested; then seemed to ponder until abruptly made a persuasive suggestion of her own, "Perhaps, this could be our hiding place."

She then looked into my eyes, and somehow, I knew she was right. "It was our find." I thought, "No one else needed to know about the verdigris ring on the door and the old wall. It no longer mattered to the outside world. The world out there was dying, we may also perish before my exploratory voyage would begin, and this, could become our last haven."

I looked back into her blue eyes while my dark side made me imagine forbidden thoughts, and had to answer, "Yes, this is our hiding place, ... our haven."

We spent that afternoon cleaning and arranging the various items; we moved the divan to the center of one wall; rearranged the table with two chairs near the light from above; the large bed was placed against another wall, and I constructed a counter by utilizing old wooden planks.
I also found a box of lighting sticks - they were labeled, emergency matches and candles - that by following the instructions on the lid we were able to put them to good use. The golden glow they radiated gave our hiding place a kind of warmth that it had never been experienced before by either of us.

We then ate pears, bread, cheese, and drank the wine. Before night fall we went away and closed the door. The vegetation was again rearranged in front of the metal verdigris ring and we promised to return as often as we could.

SOLAR THREE:

I had arrived early for my debriefing and occupied myself by examining the books that were left on the table. I was still overwhelmed by how easily I had been able to decipher the ancient script when suddenly another three dimensional laser light appeared in the room. This new image introduced himself as Trebor Sevarg.

This image was that of a tall slender creature with thinning gray hair, dressed in twentieth century fashion; he spoke with a smooth clear sounding voice and began the session by apologizing for his tardiness.

"I am sorry for the inconvenience I may have caused you," said Sevarg, "but I was detained at the cartography office. Nonetheless my persistence proved fruitful since I was able to located the only known series of maps from Celestial Body 1,074.1. As you can see, the planet's surface is similar to ours but with some minor notable differences. There is no need to discuss these now, that will be done at a later debriefing by someone who is more conversant on the subject.

"Basically, what we know about these primitive inhabitants on Celestial Body 1,074.1 is from what you see on this table: books, maps, few notes from our early explorers, and something they have described as motion pictures on reels. These have been converted and adapted to be seen on our communicator. With these few objects of information, we will attempt to present a series of briefings to prepare you for your journey and the eventual encounter.

"Now you know what is be our objective. But since I am, or rather was an historian, I will attempt to give you additional information based on what limited material we have available; Setarcos, tried to present an insight on the systematic doubt and the investigation you will experience when your hidden ignorance will be challenged. But beware, since they may also use the same tactics to elicit a clear expression of truth implicitly known by all rational beings.

"I will begin then, by telling you of a time when the creatures you will eventually meet began to organize their first efforts to become civilized. It was a period of profusion in learning; sane standards of living, enlightened experiments in practically every known form of government, and the industrialization and commercialization of their artistic products.

"Here, look at this map and chart." Sevarg pointed, "This is the area where this innovation began: Eceerg is a peninsula within a group of islands and it was there, where they formed their first government. They called it, Citarcomed.

"Under this Citarcomed system they elected a council, made laws, provided pay for a jury and all civil duties with exception for those in the military. Ten military leaders controlled their army, navy, treasury and foreign affairs. They had also devised a tariff system which was paid by mine workers.

"Land ownership was the most desirable form of wealth. But service to the state and enjoyment of life, were placed above riches, and everyone, participated in their government ....

"I must apologize for my tendency to ramble, but do interrupt when there are facts you feel for needs further explaining."

"I am beginning to understand," I answered, "in some ways, their political structure began as ours."

"Very much so," Sevarg continued, "but we began at a time when they were still in their prehistory period: any group of beings can only become complete by a long process of events, whether real or imaginary objects, persons or career. They must have a systematic account of events, particularly of those affecting a nation, institutions, science or the arts, and that usually connect with philosophical explanations for their causes. These branches of historical knowledge must record and explain past events; they serve as key elements and it's what in parts distinguishes us from beings who have a lower mental capability.

"As thinking, living beings, it is not enough to know how to rule as in prior civilizations; to rule under a "Citarcomed form", is but the end result of a long struggle the inhabitants in Eceerg were able to achieve. ... And as you can see, I am rambling again.

"Now where was I? ... Ha yes! ... They had a fault. Many to be exact. But I only have time to tell you of one. Slavery."

My instructor rested momentarily as if to collect his thoughts, but then suddenly resumed without pausing.

"The citizens of Eceerg had defined that a complete household consisted of slaves and free beings; but a slave, was classified as a living working tool and possession. No one, including philosophers of the period, objected to slavery as morally wrong; even Otalp, in his perfect state, only desired that no citizen of Eceerg should be made slave by another. These views were enforced by laws defending the institution of slavery on the ground of diversity of race. This of course, divided those early inhabitants into free, from those who were slaves by nature; if one was not a free citizen from Eceerg, then, he or she was considered barbarian, therefore, their slavery justifiable.

"These unfortunate beings were usually prisoners taken in war who later served their conquerors; some to be sold, but the majority were confined to the houses of the wealthy.

"This criteria created two types of slaves when the inhabitants of a country were subdued by an invading army and reduced to the conditions of serf and serf-ship. They cultivated the land and paid their master a certain rent; in addition, went to war for them, but they could not be sold out of the country or separated from their family and were allowed to acquire property.

"The other type of bondage consisted of domestic slaves: acquired by purchase, who were entirely the property of their master and could be disposed of like any other goods or beast of burden.

"As you can see, they had made some progress in their historical time frame, but they were still primitive when compared to our standards in how we view the freedom issues in our history. These distinctions become clearer in knowing that when the power of Eceerg expanded, they also became conquered and enslaved; but eventually, their contribution was to teach their conquers what they had achieved since the beginning of their culture.

"The Namor Empire became the next dominant power on Celestial Body 1,074.1. And eventually, they also declined as many other powers did after them.

"From what is available about their history, it seems that the members of the Namor Empire were their own worst enemies since they didn't have the ability to hold what good they had accomplished, and time, became their true test.

"When you will be among them, try to remember what I have said. Single out those who are innovative with positive ideas. They will be the ones who will understand our perils and perhaps help us. Others, may suppress new thoughts, ... but do explain that history, is to be studied and not to remain part of it forever."

"But isn't this similar to what we are experiencing on our planet? And isn't this the reason why, we are searching for a new life sustaining celestial body?" I asked while Sevarg was making ready to leave.

"I can't give you a clear answer." he hastily responded, "Was it neglect? ... Did we develop too fast without knowing the consequences? Have we become like Eceerg and the Namor Empire? ... And in the final equation, will you be the one to determine the fate of those living creatures on Celestial Body 1,074.1?"

Sevarg wasn't clear. He only gave more questions without answers. Then turned to stare in my direction, and vanished. I felt disappointed since I would have liked to have ask if slavery was still practiced; and if my probability of becoming a slave, was still real.

That thought alone terrified me. It was incomprehensible, but then, my thoughts drifted to those of Aleumas and our subterranean secret chamber.

I had to purchase a lantern - if I was lucky to find one. Aleumas instead, was to barter for food and we were to meet at the park bench. These became my thoughts as I hurried out of the Center of Information, but soon was at a loss as to where to begin my quest for such a scarce item as a lantern. It was Aleumas' idea who had known such an item existed from living among the soil toilers; they, are now on the verge of extinction.

Aleumas's grandfather is a soil toiler. She told me once of the times when she visited him and how happy she always felt there. It was during the period before the edible plant cultivation on our planet ceased. Since then the soil has become pulverized and swept by shifting winds and erosion. Food, if we are to call it as such, has the same appearance as the pulverized soil; we add hot water to revive its elasticity and artificial flavors which many of us have forgotten their true taste. I am fortunate, however, because through Aleumas and her soil toilers contacts, I still have the opportunity on special occasions to taste real food, ... as for the lantern, I found one.

I have a friend, which I believe, was born to barter as his only task in life. His name is Lesde, and have known him since my youth. Even then he always had something to trade. This vocation has continued and he is now the proprietor of a shop, or to be more exact, he owns two broad planks supported on wooden crates under a large bright red canvas. Upon the planks he displays some necessities of life; among them, my kerosene lantern with fuel. Our exchange was completed when I gave him a sack containing five ripe tomatoes that Aleumas had received from one of her contacts. I later remained with Lesde for a few moments to converse and realized that he had never changed; not in his appearance or mannerism, yet there stood a being whom I had known all my life and his goal had remained the same: to strike a bargain, and nothing else. Even as our lives was decaying around us, Lesde kept trading with indifference.

Nonetheless, this indifference was also observed with others who had chosen well were to set their trading stalls on the front steps of what was once our Municipal Center. This saddened me more than Lesde's natural attitude since I can still recall when the center of our once proud city was immaculate, with wide boulevards lined with flowering shade trees. But most significantly, it was how the business of running the affairs of government was performed efficiently, justly and without turmoil.

With these thoughts, I left Lesde while he engaged in another exchange and I couldn't help thinking about the last few questions Trebor Sevarg had left me to ponder. Then in observing the crowd around me, I suddenly realized I had found the answers around me to most of his questions.
Without delay I walked briskly back to the park but Aleumas wasn't there waiting on the bench as planned. Then I don't know why, but I sensed there was something wrong and rushed down the wooded path to the wall and the secret door; it was ajar and entered with caution. Aleumas, was lying on the divan sleeping, and also noticed how a change had taken place in the chamber: the debris had been swept away; books had been neatly arranged on shelves; the bed had clean covers; and miscellaneous items were stacked in a corner. But to my delight, our small table was laden with food stuff in the center of the chamber. I was truly surprised. I then hung the lantern on one of the supporting beams and lit the wick as instructed by Lesde. The light radiated a glow that was easily welcomed; but then, I soon found myself gazing at Aleumas in a way I had never done before. I quickly told myself that such thoughts were not permitted and immediately felt uneasy for having them while knowing I had felt this way before.

Under pretense, I moved one of the chairs. The sudden noise stirred Aleumas as she was startled and opened her blue eyes, stretched her slender body while murmuring, "Oh, you came, ... I waited for you on the park bench, but decided to come here and do some cleaning."

I remained silent, watching, while she stretched her bewitching body once again. My mind drifted forbiddingly; she sat up on the divan while I collected my thoughts, saying, "I was detained with Lesde, ... you know how he likes to talk when he's trading."

Tenderly she smiled.

"No matter." she answered while I was forcing myself not to stare the curvatures of her body. She yawned slightly, adding, "It gave me time to rearrange our hiding place; I tried to make it more like a home, ... do you like it?"

"It's well arranged, ... and after seeing what's on the table, I'm famished!"
"Come then, look at what I have received from the soil toilers: four eggs, brown bread, two tomatoes, one large celery stalk, black tea, and look, real butter!"

"I don't know how you do it. ... Lesde would be envious and would demand to know your contacts."

"They're just friends. Friends of my grandfather, they once also toiled the soil. They are now reduced to small plots of land barely managing to survive themselves with what they produce. But let's not talk about them, ... I like our new lantern, were the tomatoes enough for the exchange?"

"Yes, and while I was standing there, Lesde traded them again for five bars of soap."

"But were you able to get enough fuel for the stove?"

"Yes, it's in the tin. I'll light the stove for you."

I filled the stove tank, pumped the propane to the proper pressure then lit the burner. Blue flames instantly flickered in a radiant circle; Aleumas buttered a frying pan then fried our four fresh eggs. The aroma was immediate and yet indescribable, but it did remind me of when I last tasted them - it was when grandmother was still living.

I then prepared the vegetable salad, and later we sat for our evening meal while tea was brewing on the stove.

"Would you like another slice of bread?" Aleumas asked.

"Yes, ... with butter, please."

Aleumas sliced the rich brown bread carefully; I spread the butter on the sliced bread while being careful to use the minimum amount in order to preserve what little we had.
Few words were spoken while we ate, savoring the taste of the eggs until the tea kettle let out a loud whistle, we were startled and laughed. It was then when I noticed how Aleumas had been staring at me as if she knew what I had been thinking -- I had the misfortune to have been born with limited telepathic senses. Having this disability made me wonder if she also knew my every thoughts.

"Are you ready for tea now?" she asked.

"Please," I said. She smiled, went to the stove to close the burner. I continued to watch her while she turned and her silken hair formed a cape ending at the narrow waist.  I couldn't help to notice how her dress draped every soft curve of her body and I began to imagine ... "STOP!" I suddenly thought to myself, "She will know, ... and we are forbidden."

Aleumas at that moment turned saying, "Here you are." She was holding the two steaming cups and teasingly added, "I'm afraid, I have no sugar." I smiled nervously, but did answer that I was grateful for what she had.

After taking one of the cups from her hand I went to sit on the divan and just knew, she must have known what I was thinking at that moment. Yet, for some reason, she didn't show any signs or had a response. I was pleased of course, because there might have been a confrontation and I would have surely lost the one creature who filled the voids in my life.

Aleumas then came to join me on the divan, and after what seemed to have been a long awkward silence commented, "Whoever built this shelter made provisions to survive in here indefinitely. I wonder how long they had actually survived here?"

I quickly glanced within our chamber and tried to continue the conversation saying, "By the way everything is so well preserved, they probably lived comfortably, even the books are still in tack."

"Yes," she agreed with indifference, "I have dusted them and did my best to arrange them, but I have no knowledge how they are used."

"I can teach you if you like." I suggested.

"No, they hold no meaning for me. And what good will they do? Those ancient scripts can't help us stop our cataclysmic doom."

"I will not accept those negative thoughts." I found myself saying and explained, "At the Center of Information, they have come to the conclusion that these ancient books may hold the solution to our complex problems."

"We are too late to change the course of our destiny." she said coldly, "I have seen too many deaths among those I cared ..."

"Did you evol any of them?" I found myself asking.

"No! Of course not, ... you know it's forbidden!"

"Of course, ..." I said, explaining, "but there are different types of evol, or at least, that was how it had been explained by my grandmother."

"Did you evol her?" Aleumas asked straight forward.

Without a moment of hesitation I answered, "Yes, ..."

"How could you!" she responded and looked away.

"It wasn't that kind of evol," I continued to explain, saying, "it was a feeling of evol that is exchanged with one's kin. ... and I can still feel the same warmth she held for me."

"You're not making sense!" Aleumas snapped, "Your thoughts are deceiving you. It's not evol you feel, but it's your memory of her that is still keeping you dependent on your grandmother for your survival."

"Perhaps." I said, "But no one has ever been able to explain why I often have these thoughts and feelings. Sometimes, I wonder why I was raised with such care, sheltered as I was, from the many turmoil of our society. ... Was I reared for this mission, to search for a new life on Celestial Body 1,074.1? ... I often wonder."

"I don't know. I am only a common laborer with limited knowledge; my entire life has been spent trying to survive. ... Then, I met you."

"Have I changed your life?"

"Yes ..." she hesitated.

"Do you find yourself thinking about me when we are apart?"

"Often, ... but I try to suppress those forbidden thoughts."
"Why must you? I have also tried, but it's not easy and find it harder now that we have found this secret chamber. Can't you see how we ..."

"Stop! ... Say no more. We will not discuss such thoughts!"

"But they can't be avoided." I implored, "Can't you see, how we are participating in the thinking process? And it's only natural for our minds to envision how we feel."

"No! I don't believe you. ... Evol, natural thinking, feelings! These have all been forbidden, ... I have to leave now ..." she hastily said while walking across the room.

"But why? Have I really said something that has offended you?" I found myself asking innocently.
"I must leave ..." she said.

"Will I see you tomorrow?"

"I don't know ..."

"Will you be waiting at the park bench?"

"I must go, ... I'm late!"

Aleumas left that evening. I had no cause or means to stop her. But if I could, I knew that words alone would not change her beliefs that were imposed upon her and those of her status. I then began to draw a parallel between our civilization and that of Otalp. We, in many ways, were also segregated. Her kind, was looked upon as the serving class; they remained free for as long they could serve a purpose; her past generations of soil toilers were allowed to remain free for the sake of supplying the elite's needs. Then, when later in our planet's history a great chaos took place between the elites and soil toilers, the latter, continued to survive by instinct. This, then, is perhaps our inherited distinction and the reason why Aleumas is able to survive without my help.

"Were my ancestors members of the elites?" I then suddenly thought.

Aleumas is independent, while I am not; I never knew my parents and my grandmother became the crutch in my life until it was replaced by Aleumas. Only now, I am beginning to realize their similarity, but with one clear distinction: grandmother, taught me how to reason, and because of it, I am still able to feel evol for her.

Silence, was all that remained in the chamber. "Is this how it will be on that distant celestial body, alone, with no one to share my life?" I thought, "I couldn't bear the loneliness, and surely, eventually it will become my slayer."

I glanced around the chamber, watching shadows moving with every flicker from the dancing flame of the lantern, "Was this what the last occupants saw?" I thought, while becoming entranced by the shadowing antics on the walls. It was a somber mood I was feeling; lying back on the divan I rested my head, closed my eyes, and slept.

SOLAR FOUR:

My throat was dry and scratchy when I awakened, its cause, is well known. The air is difficult to breathe; it is the curse of our society or what there is left of it, that knowingly continues to consume pollutants to maintain a standard of living which is marked by doom. We, who have survived until now, are to bear the final burden while living as if each sunrise will be our last.

This would have been normally a period to stay indoor and protect oneself from the irritating elements. But I had a mission to continue, what good will come of it, I am not sure.

After coughing vigorously to clear my lungs, I brewed what remained of the tea leaves. I then waited in silence, thinking of what had happened the evening before and wondered if Aleumas understood my well intended meaning.
The whistle from the steaming kettle soon brought me back to reality; I drank the hot tea, then without delay ventured out of the secret chamber. The smog gave the desolate park an eerie, macabre appearance; defoliated trees stood stark against a dim sky as if forgotten monuments with branches swaying and creaking by the slightest breeze. I walked on the familiar trail, passed the empty park bench and soon joined the early risers on their way to their pre-assigned duties.
How sad they seemed. Their expressions and movements lacked any basic instinct or emotions, or so I thought since I had no one else with whom I could compare and asked myself, "Is this how I seem to others? ... But I'm different!" I quickly answered, "I was chosen because I am distinctively peculiar in this way, ... and besides, I know how to read and comprehend the ancient script. Isn't that their reason why, I was chosen and they are sending me to Celestial Body 1,074.1?"

I smiled, and it pleased me. I crossed the main intersection, then entered Transportation Sector 4.91 at the Center of Information and there I also saw the same sullen faces busying themselves in their meaningless tasks. I smiled contented - selfishly perhaps - and went to the debriefing room.
"You are late!" my instructor said immediately in a stern voice as his laser light seemed brighter than the previous instructors.

I was taken by surprise by his tone of voice and gave the excuse that, "It was the smog, ..."

"That, will not do sir!" he responded, "You are to be punctual. We have very little time and you have much to learn. In the future, you will be punctual; and in the evening, don't linger with the incompetent class!"

This last statement sent chilling waves of fears while my thoughts wondered, "Does he also know about the secret haven? ...Do they all know?"

I tried to remain calm so not to give any further suspicions; I placed a chair near the table, then sat with my hands folded on my lap.

"Now then, I hope you have given much thought to this mission," my instructor continued. "My name is Drawde Nobbig, and will resume your briefing on the Namor Empire. But I suppose you feel that these meetings are not necessary; yet if you are to walk among the inhabitants of Celestial Body 1,047.1 as one of their own, then you must learn all you can. ` To know thyself, know thy history!' I was taught to believe.

"In your case, however, deception will be your ally since you will never succeed unless you will be able to carry a convincing dialogue based on their historical knowledge. You are fortunate to possess the same physical criteria which will enable you to assimilate into their ranks. ... There, look in this opened book, can you see the resemblance?"

I reached across the table for the book and on the opened page I saw the depiction of a male who was standing near a tree. With the exception of how he was dressed, his body features were similar to mine. In fact, he looked more like me than my instructor. I then nodded in agreement but Nobbig questioned, "Are you beginning to understand why you were chosen? ... But you need not to answer now since what is more important, is for me to explain about` Xap Namor'."

"Xap Namor?" I questioned.

"Yes, of course," Nobbig answered and resumed to explain, "It is a proper metaphor since it was a time of peace and development for the Namor Empire, yet it wasn't stable enough to last forever. And I must emphasize, that other territories during this period throughout the land mass called Eporue, Acirfa, and Aisa, had also achieved their greatest prosperity while contented and well governed. Their industry expanded, cities increased in population, and commerce flourished.
According to our references we know they also had contacts with other civilizations, including the Namor Empire. Thus east and west became partners in trade and exploration while the administrative organization and economic interdependence of the Namor State was at its infancy. Emor, their capital, was at the center of what was good or bad about the empire.

"I will tell you of what we know about this very ancient capital when at the pinnacle of its power and prosperity, boasted of having more than one million residents living in an area half the size of our present city.

"Emor presented a striking contrast of magnificence, but also tawdriness - splendid public buildings, and parks; and crowded narrow streets lined with decrepit tenements. Wooden structures on these streets were where the majority of the population lived; they were nothing more than overcrowded firetraps, so flimsy constructed that they often collapsed.

"But it wasn't as bleak as I am presenting it since a large proportion of the population was dependent upon the state for support in whole or in part, while others made a fairly good living as artisans. In addition, we have estimated that fifty percent of Emor's population was comprised of inferior citizens. These beings were treated in varying degrees with regards to their living conditions; some were dealt with concern for their welfare, and after years of efficient service they were perhaps rewarded with minor rewards. Nonetheless, we know that conditions among this section of the population was indescribably harsh...

"Sumer! Try to be attentive. It is of the utmost importance that you learn how the governmental structure continued to develop from the Eceerg, to the Namor Empire..."

"Excuse me for interrupting." I said politely.
"Come, out with it!"

"Could I have your permission to leave the room?"

"Now?"

"Yes, ... I must."

"Well, all right then. But be quick!"

I left the room in a rush, ran to the end of the hall and entered the first vacant room. I then sat on the floor and in despair asked myself out loud, "What am I doing here? What will all this mean to me when I will be on a planet feeling lonely among a multitude of alien creatures? ... What good is knowledge, when I will be wishing to be dead?

"Questions! Always questions without answers! ... Why was I chosen? There must be an unknown motive..."

"Are you quite finished?" interrupted my instructor Drawde Nobbig as his image appeared un- expectantly inside the room saying, "If you don't mind," he stated, "I would like to continue your debriefing."

"Yes, of course. ... I'm ready now." I answered and apologize for the delay as I rose from the floor.
"Good then. If you will bring yourself back to your assigned room, I will reappear there to conclude this phase of your instructions."

I did return to the debriefing room; Nobbig was waiting for me and began precisely where he had left off.

"The Srotanes were at the top of their social order. They owned large estates, but as the Namor Empire came into its own, the aristocracy tended to lose power and influence to the wealthy business class increased. These were mostly composed of newly rich families who, in my opinion, squandered much of their time and money in showing their worth.

"But if I may seem critical, in regards to the wealthy, it is justifiable because they governed under the cloak of Namor militarism and subjugated other beings on moral, and other grounds. Yet these facts should not stop me from mentioning certain positive contributions which were made by their civilization during this era of power building.

"For the first time, in that celestial body's history, a great state was created in which many varied races and nationalities lived in peace and harmony with one another and unmolested from attack beyond their frontiers. These developments in government, political theory, and law, made possible the centuries long existence of the Namor Empire. These then, represent only some of Namor's most important culture contribution to future generations.

"The Namor State was basically a synthesis of two principal cultures: that of Eceerg and Nital - early Namor. The early Namor had instilled the simple virtues of self-reliance, personal integrity, family cohesion and discipline; while the Eceerg influence soften the ways of the Namor, making them less harsh and intensive, but it also instilled habits of sophistication which were often corrupting and even degrading. The Namor conquest paved the way to the west of various eastern ideologies, often based on superstition, divination and antidotes, ... and, something else: the introduction of cults; and the divinity of a leader, which in turn reinforced the doctrine of absolutism.

"One of the most permanent and profound effects of the long Namor diffusion, was the adoption of the Naitsirhc Religion by the western domain which eventually became prominent through-out Celestial Body 1,074.1.

"But the Namor spirit reflected a nation and the characteristics of Namor conquerors who permitted this adaptation and diffusion of culture, while their background of being once soil toilers provided the tradition of plain living and serious thinking. Their geographical conditions placed them in a favorable position to expand and become rulers of other civilizations.

"We at present, may lack all the fine details of their long existence, but we do know that the Namor Empire began to slowly crumble. I can only speculate that some of the factors were an unsatisfactory succession of leaders, coupled with the collapse of commerce; followed by a slow extinction of the soil toilers' small holdings; and the gradual creation of a system based on tyranny with the intention to retard the Namor decline. However, from what we can judge, the later had no effect, and instead accelerated the process of their extinction, ....

Sumer,... Sumer! Were you listening?"

"Yes, ... I was." I muttered.

"I don't need to repeat myself in telling you how important it is for you to grasp the knowledge from these sessions. Celestial Body 1,074.1 will be in alignment within our orbit in twenty seven solar periods; we have a calculated trajectory, and for its success you must be ready to leave without delay."

"But must I go? ... Why was I chosen? Can someone tell me?"

"I was not programmed to give you this information. But if we delay this exploratory mission, we will lose our opportunity to continue as a functional civilization. There are but a few of us who can assist you with this mission; if we fail now, our next available trajectory will be during solar cycle 2578.6, ... well passed our calculated T.O.D."

"T.O.D.?"

"Time of destruction."

"You already know when it will happen? How can we be sure?"

"We are not as primitive as the beings on Celestial Body 1,074.1. Yes Sumer, we have advanced rapidly with our technology, and are even able to calculate our own T.O.D."

"But ..."

"No Sumer. There's no need to ask. ... Our best minds have been working relentlessly to prevent our doom. We are at the end of our civilization, but unlike the Namor Empire, there will be no one who will survive the faulty judgments of our forefathers.

The air you breath, has become a slow poison that is killing without mercy. From my memory bank I can still recall when water didn't have the foul taste of death; food was fresh and plentiful in all food stalls..."

"But wasn't there a warning, or a way to stop our decadence? From what my grandmother told me, she never mentioned this. It is as if I was living in a ..."

"Yes Sumer, your presumption is correct. You were living in a vacuum, so to speak, sheltered from all hardships. You were chosen before birth to be reared for this mission with the sole purpose to find the greatest treasure of all, LIFE!"

"Life? But how will I be able to return? And to whom I will tell my findings? Will I be able ..."

"Ask no more." Nobbig interrupted, "I have already told you more than I was programmed to say. But be patient, and at the proper time all your questions will be answered, ... I wish you good fortunes, and may our civilization continue with your descendants."

I was startled by his last remark. More riddles to ponder. "How could it be possible since our laws are strict and forbid the act of copulation?" I thought.

I was well aware of this law since I had been instructed and reminded often of the consequences since puberty - without exceptions.

My friend Osnofla, had been put to death with his accomplice for performing such an act. The now accepted method is artificial insemination, but I am not positive if this law is still active since laws are constantly revised. It was rumored, however, that for the sake of continuing our species, natural copulation could be performed under special provisions.

Without doubt, this debriefing had been most demanding and I soon tried to put the morning session behind me. I glanced at the clock above the door, then went to the window overlooking the entrance to the park; Aleumas was there sitting on the bench as usual, ... "Was she waiting for me? Had she decided to return?" I thought. I became anxious. I desperately wanted to speak to her. I said good-by to Drawde Nobbig and rushed to the park.

Immediately after leaving the Center of Information I was accosted by vendors who were selling their wares. They were most persistent in their efforts while all I could think was the precious moments delayed from reaching Aleumas. Out of frustration I bartered with one of the vendors, the others dispersed. I traded a fountain pen for a few assorted kitchen utensils to be used in the secret chamber; our transaction was swift but when I looked again at the park entrance, Aleumas was no longer sitting on the bench.

I felt cold sweat at the nape of my neck and was on the verge of panicking as I ran down the wooden path and entered the secret chamber. I then called Aleumas's name but no one answered. The chamber was as I had left it in the morning and solitude, was again my companion.

I placed the utensils on the table, slumped on the divan and sadly attempted to forget Aleumas. "It is," I thought, "a logical decision since I will be leaving on this mission alone, and conclusively, this decision was for the best. There wouldn't be kin's or friends left behind to lament my misfortunes, or to be accused of improprieties by the ruling governmental bodies."

I had accepted my solitude. I stretched and yawned while deciding how to occupy the remainder of the afternoon when by chance I glanced at a stack of books Aleumas had neatly arranged in one corner. "More books!" I thought, "More books to confuse the status quo."

Out of curiosity, I sat on the floor and with the available light from the open grate above I began to examine some volumes at random. I soon categorized them as being reference material on how to build one's basic necessities for survival. However, one book which was bound in red leather seemed peculiar, out of place. It was actually handwritten, presumably by one of the occupant who once lived within these same four walls. The title was barely legible on the cover: `For those who shall come after me.' I will record here from the first entry:

"`Not to know what happened before we were born, is to remain always a juvenile; for what is the life of a mature being if he or she does not combine present events with the recollections of past ages?'"

I read it once, and then again, and asked myself, "Was this passage about me?"

I was startled by this coincidence since I knew little of my past, and my immediate future was clearly uncertain. I couldn't read any longer, those few lines had triggered the yearning to know more about my past - something which had always been denied whenever it was questioned.

If I was chosen to leave this planet, then it was also fitting to know where I came from; who my parents were; and in all truth, who I really am!

I placed the red leather bound book on the table then immediately left the secret chamber. There was only one other being who knew about my early solar cycles; he was grandmother's closest friend who had spent many eventful solar periods in our company. Since then he had traveled, but we always corresponded. His last known address was in sector 32.5. A clearance to enter this sector would be needed but Lesde no doubt, would procure it for the exchange of what remained of the brown bread and butter.

It was at sundown when I arrived to sector 32.5. There at the check point my digital identification imprint on my arm was verified and was escorted to sector 2A72.7 where through the use of image waves I was visually identified and allowed to continue through a series of double steel doors. I immediately entered the awaiting lift, inserted the proper code for level 127-H and instantly transported to my final destination: Sunil's apartment, the domain of grandmother's friend.

"I knew you would come before leaving on your unprecedented mission." he greeted with outstretched arms when the lift's doors opened.

"It's good to see you again Sunil." I said, then jokingly added, "It seems that I can't have secrets..."

"Don't we all! ... But how have you been? And do tell me something about your new adventure."

"I'm sorry Sunil, but I am not allowed to discuss any details. And besides, you probably know more than I do since you are gifted with telepathy."

Sunil chuckled saying, "I only know as much as everyone is willing to think, but I do understand your secrecy. However, I am anxious for you to tell me what brings you here at this late hour."

"You mean, you don't already know?"

"I'm getting old, my boy. And of late, I am not receiving as well as I once did. You will have to fill me in verbally dear Sumer, and hopefully it will serve as an amusement to end this uneventful sun period."

"I didn't come to amuse you Sunil. I came for answers."

"I see, ..." he said cautiously, "I was afraid of that. Come then, follow me. This room is not safe for such discussions."

Without a word Sunil motion for me to follow him into his bedroom where we stood in front of a mirrored wall; I could see both of our reflections, but then to my amazement Sunil placed his right hand on my shoulder and closed his eyes as if in meditation. I continued to observe when suddenly a luminous radiation began to glow around Sunil's head and gradually silhouetting down his body crossing over his arm and to my shoulder. I gradually felt its warmth reaching within me, when then with a whisper Sunil commanded, "Quickly my boy, let's take one long lunging step forward!"
There was no time for me to think and to my astonishment, we had walked through the mirrored wall.

"There now!" Sunil exclaimed, "We can now have some privacy."

"But where are we?" I asked, puzzled.

"On the other side."

"On the other side of what?" I asked.

"The mirrored wall of course. ... Look, there's my room. We can see it; but no one from that dimension is able to see or hear us in this dimension."

"But truly Sunil, where are we?" I asked with disbelief.

"It is best you don't know. But do trust me, ... you are among friends."

"There are others here, besides us? ... How can it be, we are alone. Is there another entrance I can't see?"

"There are other entrances, but for the lack of a better word, let me call them, mirrors. Four more to be exact."

"But it's impossible. I can't see them."

"You will at the proper moment when the others will materialize as we have done in this instant."

"Sunil, are you a member of a secret sect to overthrow ..."

"Quite the contrary. However, if you will let me explain, we as a society, have forgotten how to think independently by letting others decide our future without challenging their motives. It is my opinion, this is the cause that will eventually lead us to our final sundown. There are five of us who have been able to survive in these troubled times, but we seem to no longer matter in the minds, eyes and ears, of the masses; they have forgotten how to believe in themselves. ... But you my dear boy, are different!"

"In what way? ... Can you please tell me."

"Yes, of course, ... even at an early age you always had questions to ask. Even then you knew how to reason..."

Suddenly, we were interrupted by four bright translucent images who were simultaneously materializing around us. When their aura diminished Sunil explained, "We have given ourselves coded names to suit our needs." Sunil then quickly introduced the others as they came forward: "She is Enigami; they are Esived and Rednop; he is Noinepo; and I, being the oldest, I am know to them as Esnes. ... May I present to all of you, Sumer, 0450.916."

There was moment of hesitation among our four new guests, then Enigami stepped forward, smiled and greeted me through her thoughts.

"I expected you to be older, but no matter." she said, "You will do."

"I agree," said Rednop, "I can see that you will be perfect for our purpose. But your friendship with Aleumas, is puzzling to me; perhaps in time you will fully develop mentally and fulfill alone the required needs of your mission."

"I don't agree!" intervened Esived, "Aleumas may prove advantageous to our cause; do continue to meet and draw her close to you. As a female she is able to convey wonderful and useful thoughts."

"I agree," said Noinepo, "but there will always be a chance that she will betray our strategies. And as for you Sumer, you shouldn't ask too many questions at the end of each debriefing."

"Nonsense!" interrupted Esnes - Sunil - "I knew his father well and have known Sumer since birth. And it was because of his inquisitive mind that we formed the idea to send him, ..."

"Stop! All of you, stop! ..." Sumer suddenly shouted with hand in the air and questioned,"Did you just say, you knew my father?"

Sumer's adventures have just begun and it will keep the readers reading while sitting at the edge of their seat!

Many thanks for reading until now .....Giovanni

The codes and the personification of thoughts, using sexual interludes, coded names and words, and holograms, they were merely vehicles to carry my points form the beginning to the end of the story. As for the codes, you should have guessed them by now.

They are simple to decipher provided one possesses the sense = Esnes; to form an opinion = Noinipo; to ponder - Rednop; to devise = Esived; to imagine = Enigami; and the overall gift of the animus = Sumina.

Simply put, the coded messages are written in reverse: Sumer = Remus; Aleumas = Samuela; ragic = cigar; Allirog = gorilla; cet = etc. ...Simple, is it not?

!

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