‘I think you are correct in your recommendations,’ he said after much consideration. ‘Noah, please let me have your plans for a minor immigration, limited to one thousand persons. Meanwhile I will consult the Magus, who will hopefully be aware of the intentions of The Creator. If His will is to give those on Earth another chance, so be it. If not, and the decision is for Earth to be destroyed, then we need to be prepared.’
***
Jonah Decimus Canus takes his duties of High Priest very seriously. Every day, on as many occasions as possible, he would kneel and pray in front of the magnificent altar inside the church where, too many years ago for him to remember, he had commenced his training to become a priest. This morning, two hours before the Leviticus Day meeting was due to begin, he decided to pray for help and guidance from The Creator. He was fearful, unless The Creator intervened to the contrary, that nothing could be done to save Terra Nova’s descendents from the same fate as befell his ancestors.
‘Dear God,’ his prayer began. ‘Creator of the universe. You are the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. Thou art the architect of all that is and all that will be, the protector of those who trust and believe in you. Grant me the power to help your children on Mother Earth, for they are balanced on the very edge of disaster. Mankind has strayed from the paths of virtue, of that there is no doubt. Those who have followed your altruistic ways have earned the right to your salvation. For those who have transgressed and are beyond help, their future is in your hands. I pray for those who love you, I pray also for those whose lives have been perverted by greed and selfishness. If your decision is to destroy Earth, may I ask you save those who have remained steadfast in their ways and in their love for you? Amen’
He rose unsteadily to his feet and backed slowly away from the altar. Leviticus Day is important, he thought to himself, but nothing is as important as saving those unfortunates on Mother Earth who have remained steadfast in their beliefs. I trust The Creator will help and protect them as he did with my ancestors.
Chapter Eighty Two
‘Have you read today’s newspaper?’ asked Richard Moss, addressing his wife who was within earshot as she prepared the evening meal in the kitchen. ‘If there’s anything that’ll convince you that Earth is not worth saving take a look at the terrible stories! In Syria, some 50 children have been slaughtered by the president’s militia death squads. Military intervention is going to be discussed by the US, Britain and France in the run up to a crisis meeting of the UN Security Council. As usual Russia is expected to veto the resolution. There’s a photograph of the dead children. It says they were gunned down during a protest.’
He turned to the next page.
‘The CEO of one of the Britain’s major banks has resigned over an interest-rate fixing scandal. The bank’s traders have made millions while the bank’s customers have been ripped off. There’s going to be a major inquiry and prosecutions are likely to follow. The problem goes much deeper apparently with other major banks involved including, would you believe it, the Bank of England. We are talking billions here Jules...’
He paused, a look of vexation on his face.
‘And another one. It’s about London’s Olympics being under threat from a group called the FAI, a bunch of Italian anarchists. A low-intensity war is planned to disrupt the Olympics. They’ve already damaged a police communications mast in Bristol and earlier killed an Italian who was chief executive of a nuclear power company. They claim the Olympics will be a spectacle of wealth and therefore offensive to ordinary people. The police are going to deploy surface to air missiles on residential buildings to protect the Olympic site.’
He stopped, began tut-tutting, and then carried on, turning the pages one by one.
‘Another one here Jules! Do you remember the Norwegian guy who shot and killed 77 people, mainly kids, about a year ago? He’s on trial and showing no remorse. In fact it seems from the story he’s proud of what he did. What kind of person can do something like that?’
He screwed up the newspaper and tossed it into the rubbish bin.
‘There are more ghastly stories but I won’t bother you with them now.’
He suddenly remembered he was supposed to be laying the table and quickly arranged Julia’s favourite table mats. He then placed a knife and fork to the side of each one.
‘What do you think Jules, about the stories that is?’ he asked, placing a wine glass on each of two smaller mats. ‘It makes you ask yourself, what’s it all about, doesn’t it? The world’s lost all sense of what’s right and what’s wrong!’
Julia appeared carrying two laden dinner plates. On each was a large slice of roasted, bread-crumb-covered, fresh Scottish salmon hemmed in by broccoli, carrots and cauliflower. Dribbled deliciously over the salmon was a home made Marie Rose sauce. A white sauce gently caressed the cauliflower.
‘Thanks Jules,’ said Richard, pouring a generous amount of white Sauvignon into each glass. ‘Let’s drink to a better future, for us, our families and our friends: if the world is about to end, let’s at least enjoy what time we have left!’
They were about to start eating when a smiling face appeared at the open door to the kitchen. There stood pajama-clad, bare-footed, Alexander. Julia was first to see him.
‘Alexander, what’s wrong? Are you not well?’
An even bigger smile indicated nothing was wrong.
‘No,’ said Alexander. ’I just had a lovely dream!’
‘Really!’ said Julia. ‘And what was the dream about? Why don’t you come over to the table and tell us all about it?’
Richard motioned for his son to sit on the vacant chair to his right.
‘Would you like a drink before you tell us about the dream?’ asked Richard.
‘No, I’m not even a bit thirsty, thank you.’
He paused, and then sat down.
‘The dream was very real. Our family was living in a place that looked very old. The streets were thin and cobbly and people were wearing long things that looked like the dresses mummy wears sometimes. We were living in a house by the side of a wide river, there were small boats floating about, men were in them fishing. There were these funny carts with two very big wheels, pulled by big, black horses. The men riding in them were wearing metal hats with a little broom on top. There was this big building; it was round like a one of those crowns that Kings and Queens wear, with big holes through the walls... ’
Richard looked puzzled, surprised.
‘When you said our family, does that mean both of our families?’ he asked quietly.
‘Yes of course’, answered Alexander. A huge yawn accompanied by a stretched pair of arms intervened. ‘’Excuse me, I’m tired. I’m going back to my bed now.’
He slithered off the chair and began walking to the door. Julia stood up and took hold of his hand.
‘Let me come with you Alexander,’ she said softly. ‘I want to tuck you in.’
***
July 27 heralded an event of world-wide significance; London 2012, the 30th Olympiad. The opening ceremony was a magnificent event. Hundreds of athletes representing every nation on Earth assembled at London’s newly built Olympic Stadium at Stratford in east London. The BBC’s excellent, all-encompassing Olympic coverage was broadcast continuously throughout the Games to wide acclaim. During the following two weeks a planet-wide state of excitement and jubilation was engendered by athletes taking part in every official Olympic sport, all competing at the peak of their prowess. Their behaviour, on and off their field of expertise, demonstrated unambiguously that human beings, whatever their race, colour, sex, creed or religion, can exist harmoniously if the unedifying mantle of racial and religious xenophobia is cast aside. The closing ceremony on Sunday August 12 was another wondrous affair. Once again hundreds of Olympians, drawn from every nation and every rank of society, gathered in London�
��s Olympic Stadium. They demonstrated their adherence to the Olympic spirit in a joyful celebration, nationality notwithstanding, with those they had previously competed against.
Richard Moss, Julia and Alexander were invited by the International Olympic Committee to attend the closing ceremony. Richard accepted an invitation to address the 70,000 audience in London’s Olympic Stadium and, as a consequence, his speech was relayed to a massive global television audience.
‘In the past two weeks the world has witnessed a momentous, inspirational event which has warmed the hearts of people throughout the world. Displays of sporting excellence have occurred on a daily basis demonstrating emphatically that there are no limitations to human endeavour. The Olympic spirit prevailed throughout and represented an outstanding force for positive change. If on occasions such as this, the people of the world can join together in perfect harmony, setting aside racial and religious differences, why cannot the same occur in our ordinary daily lives? For the past two years I have been urging people around the world to acknowledge the fact that we are set on a course leading towards oblivion. My appeals have fallen on ears made deaf by nationalistic, racial and religious divergence. These Games have shown unequivocally that every shade of humanity can exist, side by side, hand in hand, without bitterness, envy, greed, animosity or strife intervening. Let us emulate some of the wonderful examples we have seen at these Olympic Games and spread the message of love and understanding through your countries, your cities, your towns, your villages.‘
Richard’s voice was radiating the emotion he was experiencing.
‘For all our sakes do not allow the wonderful spirit of friendship to degenerate after these Games are over. If we all consolidate our efforts there is no doubt, Earth can be saved.’
***
The rest of the month of August produced unusually hot weather in parts of the northern hemisphere. Advocates of climate change were in full cry as temperatures reached the mid 40’s centigrade on a daily basis in all countries bordering the Mediterranean. However the world’s media was concentrating upon something much more newsworthy. Unconfirmed, reliable, reports of asteroids approaching our solar system have appeared in all forms of media for the past several weeks. “Sources close to NASA” have, according to the most respected national and international media outlets, been reticent to positively confirm the story but neither has the story been denied. Photographs taken by the Hubble telescope are reported to reveal asteroids of unprecedented size emerging from the depths of outer space on an incontrovertible course towards our solar system.
The story began circulating eight or nine weeks previously after a Russian astronaut returned from the International Space Station to the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. Scraps of information were picked up by Russia’s media and, as a consequence, quickly became available to a world-wide audience via press and television. Inevitably, it was then picked up by a plethora of social networks on the internet.
Asteroids and their ultimate destination became the most discussed subject on Twitter, Facebook, MySpace and YouTube. Wikipedia’s effort was praiseworthy since it encompassed the geologic history, known and hypothesised, of asteroids and the threat they pose to Earth. The article laid particular emphasis on an asteroid impact 5,000 years ago in the Yucatan Peninsula, south eastern Mexico. It caused continent-wide firestorms, a dust cloud cloaked the planet, there was massive plant destruction, toxic ozone and carbon monoxide poisoning. Around the same time there were a series of enormous volcanic eruptions in what is now western India. Collectively known as the Decan Traps, enough noxious gas was generated to cause planet-wide extinction. Adjacent to the Decan Traps is an enormous crater. If caused by an asteroid impact, it will prove to be the most compelling confirmation that the dangers posed by asteroids are truly Earth shattering. Another impact at Boltysh in the Ukraine created a crater 15 miles in diameter; small by comparison with that in the Yucatan Peninsula but yet more evidence of the destruction that follows an asteroid impact.
Alarming asteroid stories began circling the Earth via all forms of media, gaining strength and pseudo credibility with each passing hour. A planet-wide state of fear was being generated. The United Nations issued a series of statements denouncing the rumours, while urging the world’s governments to initiate effective measures to calm their respective populace before the situation spiraled out of control.
***
Richard Moss was at home, seated at a table in the sitting room, his lap top connected to the internet. Alexander was by his side. Articles regarding the still unconfirmed approach of asteroids were ubiquitously prominent. Search engines carried links to dozens of articles translated into a variety of languages.
Alexander, upon seeing a file photograph of an asteroid, jumped from his chair.
‘Look at the size of that dad,’ he said, pointing excitedly at the screen. ‘If that’s what’s coming we’d better build one of those Anderson Shelters they used during the war. Granddad Brownstone told me about them. He said they saved a lot of people from getting killed by those German bombs. His daddy was in the war and went to France on a thing called D-Day. He showed me photographs. He looked very smart in his army uniform!’
Richard smiled widely at his son and patted him gently on the head.
‘I don’t think those shelters would be of any use,’ he said sagely. ‘If the asteroids we read about are really a threat there will be no place to hide unfortunately. So let’s wait and see if the rumours are confirmed before we start worrying about something we cannot change.’
He paused.
‘Why don’t we go to your favourite website and you can play some games? Would you like me to do that for you?’
Alexander grinned and clambered back onto his chair.
‘I’ll do it dad; you always take too long!’
Chapter Eighty Three
August’s dog-days meandered slowly into September after many scorching hot days than was usual. Hosepipe bans were imposed in southern England, while in France, Germany, the Netherlands and most of northern Europe, rain poured incessantly from depressing grey skies.
Meanwhile aboard the International Space Station three astronauts were seated in the cupola after completing an exhausting series of tasks, which included emergency engineering repairs to two solar arrays located externally on the ISS. Vital Pushkin was no longer aboard, having completed almost a month longer than his original assignment. Scott Crawford and James C. Thompson were still on the ISS and were becoming more comfortable in the presence Pushkin’s replacement, an astronaut named Kohei Temaki. He hailed from Osaka in Japan and was enlisted for his specialised knowledge of engineering, astronomy and meteorology. His early days on the ISS were spent intently studying the original photographs received from the Hubble space telescope. Now he was always the first on hand when new photographs were received, especially those showing the approaching asteroid shower. His erudite comments caused eyebrows to be raised, not due to their content but because of his strangulated use of the English language. Nonetheless, he was a brilliant addition to the crew and was now the acknowledged authority when deciphering Hubble’s asteroid-related photographs and their proximity to the Sun’s solar system.
‘There is no doubt,’ said Temaki. ‘Those asteroids are on a course for our solar system. What is difficult to determine is how long before they reach us.’
He drew his two companion’s attention to one particular photograph.
‘You see this here,’ he said, pointing an educated finger at what looked like an enormous cloud of grey dust. ‘It is like the lead asteroid is drawing hundred of others in its wake. If that one could be diverted from its now path, then the danger would be past. Do you understand?’
Thompson nodded acquiescently. Crawford patted Temaki’s shoulder.
‘Good on you Kohei,’ he said. ‘But how can such a large object be diverted? Please don�
��t suggest Hollywood’s answer to the problem. Did you see the film where Bruce Willis exploded an H-bomb on an asteroid? That’s in the realm of sci-fi and totally divorced from reality. You must have something more practical in mind?’
Temaki hesitated.
‘Ah Crawford san, you are so right. But I do not think we have a space vehicle large enough to nudge the lead asteroid on to another course. Perhaps the American space shuttle could have been adapted but, sadly, it is now out of service.’
He turned and addressed Thompson.
‘James, could you ask your NASA if a reinforcement can be made to a space shuttle and, if yes, would it be ready over the next hundred days? In a no-gravity situation a series of nudges would be sufficient but the shuttle would probably be destroyed!’
Thompson looked unconvinced.
‘Are you serious Kohei? Do you really think it could work?’
Temaki smiled.
‘No, I not sure but it worth a bloody try!’
Chapter Eighty Four
It is mid-October and the time of year when the annual harvesting of nature’s bounteous gifts is under way. Bunches of juicy grapes hang tenuously from exhausted vines. Chestnuts are falling in eager anticipation of a roasting over open fires. Apples, pears, oranges, fruits of all kinds are crowding trees and bushes, demanding to be picked. Fields, filled with wind blown grass topped with corn and wheat, are preparing to be shorn of their lush covering. Farmers are working from dawn to dusk, reaping the benefits of their back breaking toil.
The world appeared to be at peace.
But, arriving with the force of the most powerful of hurricanes, news of an impending asteroid storm has now been officially confirmed. The United Nations, after lengthy consultation with NASA and some of the world’s most eminent scientists, decided unequivocally to confirm a topic of news that has been gathering pace and credibility over the past several months. It was as if the world’s population had been sentenced to death without a trial and without a date of execution. And yet, somehow, the shock was not as great as it could have been. The world’s media, through newspapers, magazines, television, the internet, had already prepared the populace for the coming storm, speculative though it was.
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