The Visitor

by Tony Harmsworth

  'Would a laser hurt you?'

  'It is difficult to be sure. I deactivated it. I said nothing because it seemed to be of the same nature as the nuclear weapon in the Cluster. A precaution rather than an actual threat. Thank you for teaching me the difference. The weapons in the Oval Office were more a threat than a precaution and that is more worrying.'

  'How are you able to deactivate these things? How did you sense the microphones and cameras?'

  'Some of my sensors detect electronics.'

  'Through walls?'

  'Yes, through walls. The television in the next suite is showing a sports match of some description.'

  'Is this why your transport vehicles on Dregednon have no windows?'

  'Yes, indeed. It is the same with our buildings.'

  'Can you see me if I’m in the bedroom or bathroom?' I asked, suddenly feeling foolish, shy, exposed, and embarrassed.

  'If I wished, but I do understand the principle of privacy. However, the right to privacy vanishes if it involves the technology to spy upon us.'

  'Will you let me read your new speech?'

  'Of course. You are my trusted ambassadorial assistant, but it might be a less than sensible idea to send a copy of the new one to the Defence Secretary,' he said, and I sensed a distinct sarcasm in his voice. That was a new talent.

  'Okay, I'll order myself a meal,' I said, although my appetite hadn’t been good since we had returned to Earth. This damn digestion problem had been getting worse steadily and I'd even vomited a couple of times. Perhaps it was an ulcer. I ordered something simple and not too spicy. I'd see my consultant when I got back to Goonhilly.

  35 Addressing Congress

  I could no longer win in my battle to stem Cadma's religious arguments.

  I’d been an atheist since I was thirteen, much to my mother's annoyance, but Cadma had made me look at religion in an even more radical and critical manner. When entire civilisations, millions of years older than any on Earth, dismissed all belief as the invention of primitive peoples, it was difficult to retain any sympathy for people who believed in omnipotent deities today.

  I told him, 'I can't believe I'm saying this to a near immortal being, but you need to give the world time. Don't be too hard on us or you’ll be just as responsible for hardening religious belief. They’ll unite together against a common enemy. You put yourself in danger. You saw how the Archbishop was able to swat down your questions.'

  'Yes. I can see that, but if I remain silent, humanity will remain warlike, greedy, and selfish for longer. I must speak out. The lack of trust shown by the leaders of this powerful nation is such a disappointment. If they are so much in denial, how long will it take the more primitive, less well educated and more radical religious countries to change? I will, however, concentrate less on religion and more on the harmful politics and natures I see in your world.'

  'As I say, you’re putting yourself in danger. Try not to cause animosity. Win the human race over by stealth, not by lecturing us.'

  'It will be hard to harm me, Evelyn, but I do fear for you being caught up in any attempt.'

  I shrugged.

  ««o»»

  It was amazing to be participating in something which I’d seen on television so often. I was in Congress and it was about to be addressed by, was I being hypocritical using the phrase, an honest-to-God alien. Of course, I was a little awestruck to be inside this theatre of power with a visitor from another world. I’d remember the experience forever as I was sure it’d be unique for me. After seeing Cadma's new speech, I was equally certain he’d never be invited back either.

  What he was going to say would reverberate around the world. When he’d passed his revised speech to me, I’d made every effort to persuade him to soften his language and, to a small degree, he had. The meaning, however, had been retained. My influence was small and Cadma was his own person. His speech wasn’t going to go down well in America, nor would it be liked by the hawks, xenophobic and religious groups, and many individuals elsewhere. Cadma was about to make mankind take a hard look at its long-held attitudes and beliefs, and I knew the religious and many political authorities wouldn’t ever accept what he said. Now it became clear to me why he didn’t want any country to be tainted by his opinions.

  Cadma's future on Earth after he’d completed lambasting humanity worried me. On the far side of the hall I saw two more of those armoured police with the huge weapons and guessed there were more on this side. What were these weapons? Had the US military discovered a way of piercing Cadma's body?

  I feared for his life. At best, I feared he’d be ostracised. I feared he might even be exiled back to his lonely vigil orbiting dead Mars. How would the people of the world react to this alien criticising them? It promised to be interesting indeed. It would become part of world history. I’d hate to lose my alien friend as I’d grown genuinely fond of him, but his banishment was a real possibility. Would the Prime Minister stand by him in Britain where he'd been offered the permanent residence at Goonhilly? Cadma hadn’t yet had his audience with our Prime Minister. How would Mr Clarke react to what we were about to hear? Would he still be allowed to speak to the UN later in the year?

  The Speaker finished his introduction, talking in glowing terms about the importance of our first alien contact. How would he feel by the time Cadma had finished?

  Cadma incongruously floated down the central aisle to the main dais and turned to face the members. A hush fell over the hall and he spoke quietly but clearly in his perfect English.

  'Mr President, Mr Speaker, Senators, Members of Congress, ladies and gentlemen of this Joint Session of the United States Congress, honoured guests, I am grateful for the opportunity you have afforded me to address you.

  'I had my speech ready to deliver, but events last night have caused me to revise my words. While accommodated as guests of your government, in our hotel suite we found six concealed microphones and three hidden cameras, two of which were in Dame Doctor Evelyn Slater's bathroom and bedroom. To say I was shocked and disappointed would be an understatement.' He paused for effect.

  There was an immediate buzz of chatter around the chamber including distinct calls of 'shame' and 'disgraceful'.

  'This and other matters have caused me to make changes to what I wanted to say to you and to the world. The people of the Earth would be wise to spend some time considering the incongruity between their words and behaviour.

  'More than a hundred million years ago, my people sent a thousand and twenty-four of me in a single ship to orbit planets in neighbouring star systems. This was the third of many planned missions, each heading in different directions.

  'Our sole purpose was to make contact wherever we found intelligent beings or the potential for such beings in the future. Once contact was established, we were to fulfil our mission by dedicating our existence to helping those people if we were able. We recognised, of course, that many civilisations might be more advanced than us, but we would still have offered help and would hope to learn from them. We were also to invite each intelligent species back to our world if a way were found to travel so far. Sadly, even this tiny corner of the galaxy is a huge place. Ships like my mother ship can approach the speed of light, but it is as nothing compared with the size of our galaxy, let alone our universe.

  'We had no idea how we'd be received by other intelligences, but I admit to having been shocked and gravely disappointed when I have seen people shouting hatred at me and showing placards calling for me to leave. My friend, Dame Evelyn, had her partner murdered by fanatics who equated me with your mythical devil. She was almost killed herself in the attack and remains disabled to this day. Most humans I have met do not wish me ill, but a powerful minority seem to be unable to think or act in a civilised manner.

  'On my world and on Carpellum, another world with two intelligent species, there is no xenophobic hatred, nor war, nor this thing you call religion. We have never had all of the conflicts and t
errorism which have arisen from those invented beliefs on this planet. I can't say we abhor violence, because, if we ever experienced it, it is lost in our prehistory, so it is an alien concept. On Carpellum there is violence when animals eat animals, but not among thinking people since they became intelligent eons previously. When I first referenced the word murder in a dictionary, I could hardly believe what it meant. My people have no equivalent term and only ancient Carpellum stories make any reference to it on their planet. It is not something intelligent beings do. Why would any intelligent creature wish to take the precious and irreplaceable life of another?

  'When I thought on this question, it did not take long to realise that only beings who have an irrational belief that life might not be irreplaceable, would be capable of destroying it. The belief in souls, resurrection, and an afterlife could be the only excuse for not appreciating the uniqueness and preciousness of each person's life.

  'I have been cautioned not to include religion within my speeches, but yesterday I was in the Oval Office and had to suffer the ignominy of your elected leader disbelieving that I had arrived in your solar system one hundred million years ago. It is incredible for me to understand how the intelligent people who surround me in this great assembly room can believe the universe was only created six thousand years ago, when the evidence that it is untrue is hovering before them. It is patently ludicrous and those who believe such nonsense are an aberration.'

  At his calling the President an aberration, I heard a growing muttering and build-up of conversation occurring around the hall. I’d told Cadma that even members of political opposition groups wouldn’t be happy to hear their president besmirched. The Speaker was in dialogue with his aides and the President's party were passing messages to and from the Speaker. What was going to transpire?

  Cadma continued unabashed. 'I have brought you many wonders from my world. They have been offered freely. In fact, in this very room, I notice you are already using the polarisation of electricity in some of your devices. I know the fuel which I use is changing your transport industries and space exploration beyond recognition, and this polarised magnetism which allows me to rise and fall without touching the ground will soon change your world still further.'

  For effect, Cadma lifted himself about an extra metre into the air then returned to his normal twenty-two centimetres.

  'These gifts are for the betterment of all. I have other gifts, mainly of knowledge, which will improve your lives, removing starvation and disease through improved diet. You will soon be able to scan yourselves for cancers long before they become threatening and life expectancy will almost double during the rest of this century. All because of our gifts to you.

  'What I hoped was for you to accept me as a person. The fact my body is electronic rather than flesh and blood changes nothing. I am still a living, thinking, intelligent being. I came to you with goodwill, generosity, and friendship. But here on Earth I find a species which lies to itself and its fellow beings, thinks nothing of killing them en masse during wars, incubates hate against anything different, and yet has acquired the technology to destroy itself and the already misused environment of its world. I see such enormous wealth in countries like this one and those in Europe yet read of children starving to death in others. How can you live with yourselves for allowing this?’ He paused for some fifteen seconds to let that question resonate.

  'How do I help you if you will not help yourselves, particularly when distrust and hatred is targeted at me personally? The American secret service only needed to ask to learn about my motives and mission. They did not need to bug our suite. I am an open book. Covert surveillance is the most gross of insults and I am disappointed by the action.'

  Again, the volume of conversation rose substantially, but died quickly away as Cadma continued. 'During the first diplomatic meeting with your people on board the Cluster, I discovered a nuclear device which would have destroyed not only me but all of the diplomats and scientists within many miles. It was there because of the suspicion and paranoia you have for anything different from you. Your very first assumption was that I might be a threat. How sad is that?

  'During my meeting with President Gorelov a hugely powerful laser was directed at me and here you have soldiers carrying weapons which could perhaps destroy me, but in so doing would kill everyone within ten metres of me!'

  Those people sitting near Cadma's position looked around themselves in a worried manner. A few even stood and moved further back. Cadma waited for them to settle down.

  'I find you are so suspicious of me you needed to bug our hotel suite and invade the privacy of Dame Evelyn's bathroom. What did you want to discover which I was not prepared to tell you freely as part of my mission to offer friendship and knowledge to another intelligent culture?'

  The Speaker stood and tapped his microphone. 'Mr Nsyncadma, a moment, if you will.'

  Cadma increased his volume, not excessively but by enough to ensure the Speaker and audience were under no illusion he would not allow himself to be interrupted. 'Mr Speaker, I have almost finished.

  'Your species leaves me in a quandary. How can I interact with beings to whom I have given so much and offered to give so much more, when those entities treat me and each other with disrespect and, in some cases, with downright hatred?

  'I do not have the fuel to leave your world. I committed to helping you before I ever met you. It was part of my mission. Perhaps, in a thousand or a million years you will change and come to see me and others of your people differently. Maybe I should seek your help to depart and hibernate on the surface of your moon until the human race can behave in a truly civilised manner, or perhaps destroy itself and allow some new intelligent species to evolve in its place.

  'I thank you all for giving me the right to have my say but I will leave this place now in great sadness. I would like you and your people to consider what I have had to say but must admit to having little expectation that humankind will change its ways for a very long time indeed.

  'I have never experienced fear, but I do experience apprehension. Currently, a foreboding is growing within me and it will soon become a dread that my very existence might be threatened by your paranoia. I have a real anxiety about Dame Evelyn's safety because she is my friend and confidante and is usually close to me. Will your paranoia as a species also put her in danger? I would so like to help you but fear my words fall upon deaf ears. Thank you.'

  A seemingly stunned silence overcame the room. It was followed by a stuttering applause which grew, faded away, grew once more and increased substantially as people observed who was applauding and joined in. It was a majority, but only a small majority of the people present. It was not unanimous, and people seemed confused as to whether they should be applauding or booing. In my opinion, his speech had been courageous and truthful. Only people in denial could take it as antagonistic or unfair.

  The President and his entourage stomped out of the hall, while the Speaker thanked Cadma for giving them all an interesting, philosophical, but alien perspective on the world.

  We tried to leave but found ourselves surrounded by people praising Cadma for his honest and forthright views. Others pointedly took alternative exits, and one or two were derogatory to us as they squeezed past the blockage we were unintentionally creating.

  Our Rolls Royce was outside. We entered it and it sped away to the hotel.

  ««o»»

  In our suite, we watched the television coverage of Cadma's speech. Various political commentators were interviewed, and the criticism varied from those who thought it was disgraceful that this alien considered he had the right to criticise America, to those who were adamant that Cadma was a danger to the world and should be either destroyed or 'made-safe' as if he were some errant mechanical device. There were, of course, many who agreed with Cadma and were horrified at how we’d been treated, but the media seemed to prefer the concept of an angry alien berating America rather than an abused alien try
ing to teach the world that there’s a better way.

  'Evelyn, notice how they talk about destroying me, not killing me. These people are positioning themselves to be able to justify treating me as a malfunctioning machine rather than a living creature.'

  'Oh, Cad, you know how I tried to stop you from making the changed speech. For a diplomat, you were pretty undiplomatic you know.'

  'But what I said was true and how they have treated me, indeed us, is despicable. Even those who seem to want to understand me have an underlying distrust of my motives, like your Mr Clarke and the Russian President.'

  'Cadma, I don't know where we go from here. There’ll be consequences.'

  'Yes, there will. I guess they will think about what I have said before acting though. You have my place ready for me at Goonhilly?'

  'We do.'

  'Let us leave here and go there as soon as possible. I will need to protect myself and you and your people once I am there.'

  I was suddenly worried he’d been dishonest. 'Protect us? You don't have weapons, Cadma, or do you?' Even I suffered the human paranoia.

  'No, you of all people should know I don't, but my sensors have capabilities to stop certain electromagnetic functions in devices and will be a great help. I will not have you endangered by your proximity to me.'

  'You saw those huge guns the security people had here?'

  'Yes. They could certainly have hurt me, but I disabled them.'

  'Cadma, let's talk on this when we get to Goonhilly. First however, you must visit the Prime Minister in Downing Street. I’m sure you’ll receive a warm welcome there. You already know he’s a listening leader from the matter of the device attached to the Cluster, which he agreed to disarm.'

  'Yes, we will meet him but my presence in his home will endanger him too.'

  'British people are pretty resourceful, Cadma. Have no fear, our military will ensure he and you are safe while we’re there. You’ll be protected from foreign powers. It’s the terrorists and fanatics who’ll offer the most danger.'