Terra Nova

by David C. Garland

  She motioned with an immaculately manicured hand in the direction of an animated gathering of six young women standing at the far side of the room. Four were giggling nervously as they glanced around at Esther while the others were pointing excitedly at a sight visible from one of the large, ornate windows that dominated the room.

  Wow, thought Richard. They are all beautiful!

  Esther beamed deliciously while her eyes twinkled with amused delight. Signs of a latent emotion thought Richard!

  ‘Of course they are beautiful,’ she answered dreamily. ‘We arrange partnerships you see, if I may put it that way, between appropriate persons in order to produce the most beautiful offspring. You will see the results of these arrangements as you walk the streets of Leviticus - outstandingly beautiful women are in abundance but also you will see the most attractive of men.’

  Richard was surprised to realise that, as with Noah, Esther was able to read his thoughts but, at the same time, he was excited to learn that plans were laid for him to explore the city of Leviticus.

  ‘Esther, you just read my thoughts! Can everybody on Terra Nova read other people’s thoughts? You just did it, Noah does it - how can you have any privacy if everybody knows exactly what everybody else is thinking?’

  A lovely smile lit her face. She sat down on the edge of the bed where Richard was still recumbent, supported on his two forearms.

  ‘The gift of thought reading is only given to a strictly controlled selection of the populace. As you so rightly observe it would be chaos if everybody’s thoughts were available to all and sundry. The Council of Ministers is responsible for proposing, with our Great Leader’s blessing, those who receive the precious gift of thought reading and thought transference. The population living on Terra Nova is just over one billion. But only one tenth of one percent, about one million persons, possess the gift and that only through the patronage of our Great Leader, Ezra, who has the power to switch it on and off at will.’

  Esther paused for a moment; her eyebrows were bunched together indicating she was experiencing some puzzlement.

  ‘But Richard, surely you must have a similar system in place on Mother Earth? How else could your government, the police, your scientists, those in positions of authority manage to control the populace without knowing what they are thinking?’

  She giggled heartily at the apparent absurdity of her question and then covered her mouth with a slender, shaking hand. Richard’s shocked expression visually, unequivocally, corrected a major misapprehension.

  ‘Oh, forgive me, you don’t have the use of thought control on Mother Earth do you?’ she muttered. Her cheeks were brightly flushed by the effects of acute embarrassment.

  ‘No Esther we do not and if you think this perfect society that Noah promotes so proudly is to be admired when you have a ruling elite that knows everything that is being thought and said, then you all need your heads examining!’

  Richard’s voice was raised to such a pitch that all heads in the room turned towards the sound. He was now on his feet, arms curled at his side, fists clenched tight, his face a mask of fury. Esther was forced from her position on the bed by the power of his exit. She picked herself up from the floor and backed away at a sight she had never witnessed in her entire life, a man out of control, driven to the utmost limits by anger, frustration, stress and fear, emotions that were unknown to those raised on Terra Nova during the current millennium. She was beset by strange sensations that caused her body to shake uncontrollably. Tears slipped from her eyes. Her stomach cramped into hard knots causing unaccustomed pain. A thousand years of genetic engineering was destroyed in a matter of minutes by contact with a being whose emotive sensations were not only still highly active but perilously close to becoming dangerously out of control.

  ‘Help me, help me,’ cried Esther wiping away the torrent of tears that were now trickling down her face. ‘What is this, this - wetness? Where has it come from?’

  Richard stripped the cover from the pillow on which his head had been resting and handed it to Esther.

  ‘Here, use this, dry your tears,’ he said, ‘and welcome to the real world!’

  Chapter Eight

  Noah entered the room dressed in the style of a Roman nobleman. A white toga was elegantly draped over a grey tunic that reached to his knees. The quality of both garments, one of which appeared to be made of the finest silk and the other angora wool, added value to the appearance of someone from an upper strata of society. The way Noah carried himself, ramrod straight back surmounted by a noble Romanesque head, reminded Richard of two film actors he had admired in his youth. Method actor Marlon Brando, whose role as Mark Anthony in the epic movie “Julius Caesar” and Charlton Heston in the same role in “Anthony and Cleopatra” are the basis on which all future actors of the genre judge themselves.

  He addressed Esther, smiling broadly in an attempt to quell her mounting anxiety.

  ‘Esther, I suggest you leave the room and retire to your quarters together with your assistants. I will come to see you later.’

  Still mopping her tears, Esther nodded acquiescently. She squared her shoulders and left the room with her six assistants following closely in her wake. She paused, looked anxiously over her shoulder at Richard, sobbed once again and disappeared from sight.

  ‘Well Richard, what are we to do with you?’ asked an exasperated Noah. ‘The anger you have displayed on several occasions is still raging within you. Now it has spilled over onto others who really do not deserve it. We will have to start treatment to drive the anger, and all those other debilitating emotions, from your psyche.’

  Richard was staring in disbelief at Noah’s attire. He struggled, but failed, to contain a burst of laughter brought about by the amazing change in the appearance of his appointed mentor.

  ‘Sorry Noah,’ he spluttered, confining his laughter behind a hand placed over his mouth. ‘But why are you dressed like a Roman? Are you going to a fancy dress party? Can I come?’

  Noah was not amused. His face was a sterile mask, no expression, no sign of anything resembling any kind of emotion.

  ‘Fancy dress party? I do not understand what you mean by this. What is “fancy dress party”?’

  Richard continued to grin, now even more amused by Noah’s blank, poker face.

  ‘For Christ’s sake Noah, climb down off your high horse. It’s the clothes you’re wearing, you look as if you are about to leave for a day’s entertainment at the Coliseum!’

  Noah bristled. ‘What do you mean? Who told you about the Coliseum? Was it Esther? Is that why she was backing away from you?’

  ‘One sentence, four questions!’ answered Richard. ‘No, no one has mentioned anything about the Coliseum, I was referring to the one in ancient Rome, isn’t that the one you are talking about?’

  Noah’s poker face reappeared.

  ‘So you don’t know?’

  Richard shook his head.

  ‘Know what? Why don’t you stop talking in riddles?’

  Noah’s face discarded its gravity and lightened perceptibly.

  ‘Follow me Richard,’ he said quietly. ‘I wish to show you something.’

  Chapter Nine

  The view from the open window was amazing, breathtaking, astounding in its stupendous breadth. There, laid out before Richard’s disbelieving eyes, was ancient Rome, intact, exact, in all its Imperial glory. Now he knew why Noah had questioned him about the Coliseum for there, in the near distance, was the magnificent stadium standing proudly aloof like a crown on the head of the most noble of Emperors. His eyes traversed the amazing scene, everywhere he looked he saw familiar buildings he had only seen and read about in history books. The Temple of Jupiter Capitolinus and that of Claudius, the Theatre of Marcellus, the Roman Forum, the Portico of Octavia, and the Curia of Pompey where Julius Caesar was assassinated. Farther afield
his eyes were drawn irresistibly towards the Circus Flaminius, the Temple and Forum of Trajan, and there in the misty distance he could make out the Wall of Aurelian and, settled comfortably between the Palantine and Aventine hills, the famous arena Circus Maximus, where the sport of chariot racing was enacted and glorified.

  ‘Now you know why I asked about the Coliseum,’ said Noah. ‘I thought, somehow, you had been told and knew what we have accomplished here on Terra Nova. It is obvious to me now that that was not the case, but it matters not.’

  Noah looked into Richard’s face, a face that remained transfixed with wonderment at the astonishing scenes confronting him.

  ‘I can see from your expression that you are surprised by your first view of Leviticus,’ Noah continued. ‘I trust the shock is pleasurable because a great deal of time and effort has gone into replicating the glory that was Rome exactly as it was before the birth of Jesus Christ... ’

  He paused, seeking but not receiving a reaction from Richard who was standing still, unmoving, mute, transfixed.

  ‘... and I have a treat in store for you. As soon as we have eaten I will be accompanying you on a tour of the city where you will see, first hand, how modern day Leviticans go about their daily lives. Then we have an appointment with the Magus and, after that, another with Ezra our Great Leader.’

  Richard roused himself at these words and managed to break his silence.

  ‘I am absolutely staggered, no, astonished is a better word. It’s not often that words fail me, but you didn’t prepare me for this Noah and I definitely would not have believed you even if you had tried. Ancient Rome - exactly as it was! It’s too much - if you have other surprises in store for me I can tell you now, they will not come within a hundred miles of this!’

  Noah twisted his face muscles into the now familiar semblance of a smile and placed a hand on each of Richard’s shoulders and looked directly into his eyes.

  ‘Richard,’ he said softly, ‘Prepare yourself for sights that will continue to amaze you. Ancient Rome is once again a thriving metropolis on Terra Nova albeit known by another name. So too among other cities are Athens, Alexandria, Babylon, Jericho, Jerusalem and, wonder of wonders, Atlantis the city that was, without question, the most seductive on Earth before it disappeared without trace beneath the waters.’

  Richard lifted his chin.

  ‘But why?’ he asked. ‘Why go to all the trouble of replicating Earth? Your forefathers fled because it was corrupt, warlike and on the brink of environmental disaster and yet you venerate ancient Rome which was itself a cesspit of immorality. A succession of emperors condoned or ordered death by all sorts of terrible methods including the vilest - those carried out in the Coliseum where Christians, centurions and slaves were slaughtered in their thousands. Your veneration of such a vile place doesn’t make any logical sense.’

  Noah sighed and slowly shook his head.

  ‘Listen carefully Richard.’

  He paused for effect.

  ‘Rome and those other cities I have mentioned also existed during our time on Earth.’

  Richard’s mouth dropped open. Noah adopted a smile.

  ‘They were incredible examples of the most beautiful architecture our world had ever seen. They, too, suffered at the hands of pagans just as did yours. Our ancestors determined, upon establishing Terra Nova, that the most magnificent examples of architecture, sculpture, art and learning would be duplicated and preserved here forever as immutable evidence of our desire to be absolved by The Creator for all the wrongs our ancestors had perpetrated. Consequently they set out to avoid all of the mistakes that led inexorably to the Great Flood. I have already told you that only one religion is permitted on Terra Nova? You may think this overly dictatorial and a trifle undemocratic but you must remember that it was an inviolable condition agreed and imposed upon all those who travelled to Terra Nova on those initial voyages. After that there was no choice but also there were no disagreements caused by competing beliefs. The religion that was introduced, we know it as Procreation, means the same to everyone, we all believe in one compassionate God, the one we refer to as The Creator. Think about it Richard. The terrible wars that took place during my ancestor’s time on Earth and, latterly, during yours, were invariably the result of religious differences. We have successfully eradicated the cause and the results are now manifest --- no wars have ever taken place on Terra Nova!’

  Noah paused, allowing Richard time to assess his words. Richard looked perplexed, but finally roused himself to speak.

  ‘It sounds as if you’ve created a Utopia.’

  Noah’s eyebrows lifted in surprise.

  ‘So you’ve read Sir Thomas More’s book?’ he said.

  Richard bristled.

  ‘Don’t sound so surprised, of course I’ve read his book! Who wouldn’t want to read a classic by one of the greatest Englishmen to have lived?’

  Noah smiled. ‘Tell me what you know about Sir Thomas More!’

  Richard hesitated for a moment, franticly gathering his thoughts.

  ‘Well, he was an amazing man. It was because of a pang of conscience that he chose death over dishonour. It would have been easy for him, skilled as he was in the law, to placate his accusers with reasoned argument but, instead, he followed his conscience and accepted the revenge of a tyrant and was subsequently beheaded. When his head was displayed on London Bridge the whole of England was shocked and righteous indignation swept throughout Christendom. He was fifty-seven when he climbed unaided onto the scaffold. He died, highly respected for his goodness and wisdom, for his learning and wit. He was a statesman and a patriot, but high office never distracted him from his parental duties. He was Lord Chancellor of England and a confidant of the prince who eventually sentenced him to death. But in everything he did his conduct was characterized by true humility and calmness of spirit, qualities which he retained right to the end. He was so composed on the scaffold that he even joked with his executioner. His humility shone through as he invited the watching crowd to pray for his persecutors.’

  Richard looked at Noah, wondering if he should continue. Sensing he had Noah’s attention he carried on.

  ‘He had the vision of a great reformer and possessed the genius to translate his hopes and dreams into everyday, understandable language. He ached for a better world for all of mankind and was one of the first victims of a revolution which was unique in that it was for, and engineered by, the privileged. He was truly one of the great Christians and the brilliance of his virtues and talents has survived and grown with the passing centuries. Four hundred years after his death Pope Pius XI proclaimed him a saint. He was coming into his own as a major prophet of social progress and even in Russia his book Utopia was studied and admired, although totally and sadly misinterpreted. And then there was ... ’

  Noah held up his palm indicating he had heard enough.

  ‘Excuse my interrupting,’ he said. ‘I was testing you Richard and once again, I am delighted to say, you have passed with flying colours.’

  Richard shook his head in bewilderment. ‘Testing? What were you testing this time?’

  Noah ignored the aggression in Richard’s voice.

  ‘I was anxious to know how much you knew about Sir Thomas More.’

  ‘Why?’

  ‘Because - are you prepared for what I am about to say?’

  Richard nodded although his crinkled right eyebrow clearly demonstrated a large degree of uncertainty.

  ‘Because - Sir Thomas More was originally from Terra Nova!’

  Richard stood stiff, unmoving, then shook his head slowly, repeatedly from side to side. He struggled to regain a degree of composure before eventually reacting.

  ‘Oh yeah - who are you trying to kid?’ he snorted harshly ‘How can that be? He was born in 1477, thousands of years after your ancestors left Earth and... �
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  Noah once again interrupted mid-sentence.

  ‘Be silent,’ he ordered, raising a palm in Richard’s direction. ‘It was 1478 actually. February 7, 1478 to be completely exact. He was, ostensibly, the son of Sir John More, a prominent and well respected judge. Educated at St. Anthony’s school in London he went on to study at Oxford University. During his time there he wrote comedies and studied Greek and Latin literature. In 1494 he returned to London to study law and was admitted to Lincoln’s Inn in 1496. He became a barrister in 1501. And yet he didn’t follow in his father’s footsteps because he was torn between a monastic calling and a life of civil service. He joined the Carthusian monks and lived in a nearby monastery, taking part in its monastic life. His desire to politically serve his country finally overcame his monastic desires and he entered Parliament in 1504. One of his first acts in Parliament was to urge a decrease in a proposed appropriation for King Henry V11. Which was a huge mistake! The revengeful king imprisoned his father and didn’t release him until a fine was paid and, as a consequence, More was forced to withdraw from public life. The King died in 1509 and More became politically active once again. In 1510 he was appointed one of the two under-sheriffs of London. In this position he gained a justified reputation for impartiality and he became a patron of the poor. He then attracted the attention of King Henry V111. He was instrumental in quelling a 1517 London uprising against foreigners, portrayed in the play Sir Thomas More that was beautifully written by William Shakespeare, although some of your scholars have cast doubt upon this. When you return to Earth you will let them know they are mistaken won’t you Richard?’

  Richard remained silent, his head still slightly shaking, mouth partly open. His mind was in turmoil, turmoil resulting from the incredible things he has seen and heard since arriving on Terra Nova.