Shen Ark: Departure

by John Hindmarsh

  “We are convinced there is no one else who has the vision,” affirmed Sam 32nd, who had been listening to their conversation. “Does Sally want to accompany you on this trip? She can, of course, if she wishes.”

  “Thank you, sir. However, the issues which would be raised if she joined me on Shen Ark are just nightmarish,” explained Freddie. “To start with, Sally’s parents would be displeased—and I suspect, extremely so. Also, it would impact her University studies. We then need to consider the rule which requires anyone who has knowledge of Shen technology to leave with the starship, and we just haven’t held that discussion. Once Sally, or anyone else, spends more than a few days on board Shen Ark, she—they—will absorb technology details which cannot remain on earth.”

  “Hmmm. I don’t see an easy solution to your problems. However, if I can help in any way, just speak up. Anytime, anyplace.”

  “Thank you, sir. I’ll let you know.”

  Sam 32nd paused for a moment, then spoke again. “While I remember: there’s someone you need to see. A car and Guard escort will be out front at two o’clock. Just you, Freddie.”

  “Er—yes, sir.” Freddie hid his curiosity. His Highness nodded his head and then joined a discussion with Sir Roscoe and Ser Glide.

  Sasha was intrigued. “What was that about?”

  “I have no idea. You know what he’s like, just springs these things on you without warning. Talking of which—and I know I wasn’t—what are you going to do? Your assignment is ending, isn’t it, now that the contract is wrapped up?”

  “His Highness said he wanted me to stay on. We need to provision Shen Ark, and there’s a need for numerous supplier contracts, which undoubtedly will have all kinds of issues. So I expect to be kept very busy.”

  “I hadn’t thought of that. Very good, I’m pleased. Now let’s go talk with Ser Jan, she looks lonely.”

  ~~~

  The car was waiting outside the Embassy at 2 o’clock, ready with its escort of Black Guards; there also was a helicopter circling above. Rats were taking every precaution against possible attacks by Cats, Eastern Bloc, or other terrorists. Freddie checked with the driver and climbed into the car; he did not recognize the address, it was somewhere near Marylebone Road. The journey was short and uneventful and the convoy pulled into a courtyard fronting what seemed to be a multi-storied private hospital or health centre. A uniformed doorman opened the car door and escorted Freddie to the entrance of the building, where he was met by a young receptionist. As far as he could see, there were no signs or corporate branding on the building or doors.

  “Dr. Jones, welcome to the Institute.” The receptionist held the door open for him to enter the lobby.

  Freddie nodded. He had no idea of where he was, or why he was being made welcome. He decided to wait and see.

  The receptionist walked Freddie across a plush carpet to a bank of lifts and keyed in a security code. A lift chimed and doors opened. She indicated Freddie should enter, and he did so.

  “The lift will take you to the top floor, nonstop. Your escort will be waiting for you there.”

  The doors closed and the lift beeped its way past intermediate floors as it ascended, carrying a curious Freddie. The lift paused in its ascent and graduated to a stop at its target floor. The doors opened with a subtle swish and Freddie stepped out. The lift doors closed behind him, the closing swish equally subtle.

  Freddie found himself in a large reception area, currently unoccupied except for himself. The overhead lighting complemented the furnishings, which were composed to create a relaxed atmosphere, with comfortable chairs positioned around a low table. He waited for a moment and then sat in one of the chairs. He sank into softness as the chair conformed to his body. He yawned.

  The sound of almost strident purring woke him. A feline face was next to his, the beast’s eyes on the same level as his eyes. He wondered if the animal’s heart rate was pounding at the same rate as his. He drew back, trying to view the animal in detail. As far as he could determine, he was face to face with a sabre tooth tiger, its fur pure white, with fangs as deadly as he could imagine. For a pre-historic animal, it seemed very alive. It wore, he noticed, a very fancy leather collar. It must, he thought, be someone’s pet.

  ***

  Chapter 24

  “Engineer,” lisped the animal, discontinuing its purr for a moment. “Pleasssed to meet you.” Its speech was barely intelligible.

  Freddie struggled to sit up. “I’m pleased to meet you, too,” he managed to reply to the animal’s courtesy.

  “Sabre,” called a female voice. It came from a young woman who entered through a curtained doorway. “Oh, there you are. I hope you didn’t disturb Engineer?”

  “No, bossss lady. He was asssleep and I purred at him.”

  He certainly did, thought Freddie, thoroughly bewildered. He examined the newcomer. Her age, he estimated, was twenty-five or twenty-six, possible three years older than he was. She wore a red, almost maroon, robe with gold trim, with one end layered over her right shoulder. Her left shoulder was bare. The robe’s colour and style reminded him of the monks he had seen in Nepal. Her hair was blond and she wore it uncovered.

  She smiled at Freddie and held out her hand. Freddie stood and they exchanged handshakes. “Oh, I’m sorry. My name is Fern 3. Just call me Fern, and this is Sabre 10. He’s always getting into mischief.”

  “No, he’s all right.”

  Fern looked around the room. “Where is—? Did Yonnie welcome you?”

  “No, there was no one here, so I made myself comfortable.” Sabre was purring and rubbing his head against Freddie’s knee. The animal was about half the size of the tigers he had seen in zoos. The animal almost unbalanced him with its pressure on his knee. Unconsciously he reached down and scratched the animal’s ears. The purring grew louder.

  “I don’t know how he does it—he just gets everyone to scratch his ears. Yonnie—I’ll have to find her. She knows how important—Dr. Krowe will be waiting. Sabre, wait here, keep Engineer company. Don’t be a nuisance.” Fern disappeared through another curtained doorway.

  Sabre sat on the floor beside Freddie, his purring undiminished. “Nuisssance I am not,” he protested, nudging Freddie with the side of his head.

  “I agree, Sabre.” He reached down again and gave the animal’s ears another scratch.

  Fern rushed back into the room. “Engineer, I am so sorry. It seems Yonnie confused the time and is on her break. Please forgive us for neglecting you. Now, I’ll take you to Dr. Krowe, he will be wondering what happened to you. Sabre, you can come with us.”

  Freddie followed the young woman and Sabre through another curtained doorway, then along a carpeted hallway to an office door. Fern paused and pressed a series of buttons on a small number pad mounted on the wall. A green light glowed.

  “Sir, this is Fern. I have Engineer with me,” she spoke into a microphone beside the number pad. There was no reply. However, the green light flashed and Freddie heard a lock click. His companion opened the door and stood aside to allow Freddie to enter first. He hesitated for a moment.

  “Please enter, Dr. Krowe’s been looking forward to meeting you. I’ll introduce you. Sabre can come in too, as long as he promises to behave.” She looked at the animal beside Freddie.

  “Yesss. I behave.”

  Freddie entered the office, followed by Fern and Sabre. A man whom Freddie assumed was Dr. Krowe turned away from a large window overlooking a portion of the London skyline. He too was dressed in a maroon robe, although his was plain, without decoration or device. He stepped towards Freddie, using a cane to overcome a limp.

  “Sir, this is Engineer. Engineer, Dr. Krowe. Dr. Krowe is Director of our Institute.”

  “Engineer, I’m very pleased to meet you. I’ve followed your career with interest. If you don’t mind, I won’t shake hands.” He smiled, obviating any need for concern on Freddie’s part. Freddie did not notice the tiny sparkling silver threads falling from the stranger’
s hands.

  “Sir—Dr. Krowe. Thank you. Although I have no idea—.”

  Dr. Krowe turned to Fern. “Didn’t Yonnie—?”

  “No sir, there was a bit of confusion. Our well-oiled machine creaked, I’m afraid.”

  “Not a problem. I’ll explain, Engineer. Now please take a seat. Fern, you needn’t stay, I’ll call if we need assistance. Although, perhaps some coffee for Engineer?”

  Freddie nodded, he needed something to bring back a touch of reality to his thoughts.

  “Good. Sabre, are you staying or going?” asked Dr. Krowe.

  “Sir—” Fern was about to protest. However Sabre spoke at the same time.

  “Yesss, pleassse. Engineer hasss very interesssting life glow. He ssscratches jussst right.”

  “Very well. Fern, I’ll make sure he behaves. Coffee, for Engineer. Water for me and for Sabre.”

  Freddie sat as directed on a small settee. It was almost as comfortable as the one in which he had fallen asleep. Sabre sat on the floor beside his leg, bumping it occasionally, just to remind Freddie to rub his ears. Dr. Krowe stood for a moment and then sat in a straight-backed chair adjacent to Freddie and Sabre. He looked at Freddie. Freddie returned the look, interested in his host. He could not estimate his age, although he had an impression the man sitting in front of him was very old.

  “Where to start? Very well. Engineer—we all like the call sign the Rats gave you. Freddie, if I may continue to use Engineer?”

  Freddie nodded his assent.

  “Good. I lead the Institute, I’m its Director. I own it, if you want to think in those terms. I’m a specialist, just as you are. However, my specialization is nanobiotechnology. Fundamentally, I am responsible for the accelerated evolution of Rats—and of course, of others—Mice, Cats. In some instances, of humans, as well. Yes, there is very strong evidence that humans—some humans—are experiencing accelerated evolution, too. Not many, just one or two, here and there.”

  Freddie could not hide his surprise, and it showed on his face. Dr. Krowe paused while Fern set out water and coffee.

  “Yes, Engineer. It’s true. When I was very young—and I must say, terribly immature—I created a nanite-based pharmacological drug—a party drug. It escaped. My fault, entirely. I made major—major errors in my approach to life and, as a result, through serious negligence on my part, rats were immediately affected. That was years ago, many years ago. I have been watching, monitoring, and to some extent influencing, their development ever since. Oh, the Rats know. We work together, very effectively, and have done, for years. They have helped in their own evolution, initially unaware, of course and in recent years, with full knowledge.”

  “The pharmacological product—my manufactured drug—affected me, as well. It has prolonged my life. It’s affected other humans. You, Engineer, are one of these humans. Yes.” He sipped his water.

  Freddie gulped his coffee. “Dr. Krowe—this is intriguing—startling.” He paused, not sure how to continue.

  “Startling? Yes, that I can understand. Reflect for a moment. You are barely into your twenties. You have completed your Ph.D. Your dissertation includes theories beyond the ability of most academics in relevant disciplines to understand—even your peers, your assessors, find your dissertation extremely difficult to comprehend, let alone validate its content. Your current research, similarly, is far advanced. You have built up a standing with Rats which no other human has achieved. Rats unconsciously recognize your potential and consciously encourage your relationship with them. Sabre, here, said you have a very interesting life glow. He’s very discerning.”

  “I see your point. But—”

  “Yes, there always is a ‘but’. In this case, only until you understand and recognize what has happened. Stay with Rats for a moment. They have evolved. Their evolutionary path has had some dead ends, usually with quick recovery. Their speed of evolution has been remarkable. Such evolutionary speed could only be achieved through some external driver. It has been an imposed evolution. This evolutionary process has not stopped, it continues, driven now by the Rats themselves as well as by the—ah, drug. To some extent, it’s still driven by me, as well. Very few other animal species have been impacted.”

  “Cats?”

  “Indeed, indeed. Adversely impacted. Cats have a killer instinct, and in their evolution, their killing instinct has been emphasized. They have become very able, very aggressive, killing machines, moreso than their ancestors. I have tried to modify their evolutionary path, but without success. The Institute has been exploring other feline and related species, even some considered to be extinct. Sabre is an example, representing his third generation. We cloned his family from his ancestors, using prehistoric remains from Siberia, to determine whether some cats can have an evolutionary future different to that demonstrated by New Cats. We think they do. Sabre is exceptionally intelligent, and while he retains a killer instinct, it does not rule him in the way it rules New Cats.”

  “Sssabre isss very friendly,” the sabre tooth tiger purred, nudging Freddie’s knee again. Freddie rubbed his ear.

  “Sir, I can accept what you are saying, to some degree. It’s a lot to absorb in one sitting. However, the question I have for you is—why me? Why are you telling me this?”

  “Ah yes, very good. Engineer, we—me, my staff, the Institute if you like—believe you will succeed with your bubble warp drive. I spoke with Ser Glide and other Shen, they are very impressed. I’ve had some top physicists”—he paused to mention names—“review your papers. They too, are greatly impressed, and they are confident you will succeed. No, no guarantees, and certainly not overnight. The consequence of all this is clear. Shen Ark will be capable of warp travel.”

  “Thank you. It’s an overwhelming responsibility, though. Sometimes, I wonder—”

  The doctor interrupted. “I’ll help you. We, the Institute, will help you. We’ve built up a very strong research team, predominantly biological, as you would expect, given our starting point. Consider, from now on, you have the full support of the Institute. We have over a thousand associates, very experienced, very intelligent, very loyal, working here and in our laboratories, in our data analytic section, in security. Mostly humans, although we have,” he paused to count, “probably just over three hundred Rats as well. Sabre of course, with all his family. Some of our people you may know—Sir Roscoe, for example, is one of our Board member, and a senior associate. So, anything you need, any problem your encounter, any issue you need to have resolved, you can call on the Institute.”

  “I—I don’t know what to say. Sir—I just don’t know—it’s an astounding offer. While I don’t have enough knowledge of the Institute, it sounds amazing.”

  “If you liaise with us, you will gain knowledge. There’s a cost, of course.” The doctor smiled to ease his comment.

  “A cost?”

  “Yes. Firstly, when the starship is ready, I want to transfer the Institute to Shen Ark—people, equipment, pharmacology—everything. We’ll come with you. Perhaps not all of us—a few humans may not wish to leave earth permanently. Secondly—and this is critical in my opinion—secondly, we must find all the humans who have been affected, whose evolutionary path has been impacted by the drug I mentioned, and ensure they are able to depart on Shen Ark, if they wish. Identification of these humans is now a primary objective of the Institute. However, we may need your assistance.”

  “Anything, sir. It sounds very reasonable.”

  “There may be danger, young Engineer. Or at least some difficulties, when some countries try to prevent their people joining us. We’ll probably arrange a conference here, in London, and invite the people we have identified as starship candidates to attend. The institute will take full responsibility for planning this action. I know we will have complete support from Rats; there is no doubt about that. We may need Shen, or Shen Ark, support as well.” He paused and considered the Engineer thoughtfully.

  “And—ah—there’s one final item.
”

  “Yes?”

  “I need a successor. I want you—eventually—to take over my role as Director of the Institute. The work of the Institute needs to be continued, as I’ll explain to you in future meetings. I’ll send you background and briefing papers. You—not now, not immediately—must become my understudy.”

  Sabre purred and bumped his head against Freddie’s knee. No one noticed the silver thread falling from the animal onto Freddie.

  ***

  Chapter 25

  Sally was not pleased when Freddie explained the schedule he needed to follow. She was indeed so displeased she made immediate plans to spend the remainder of her summer vacation at home. Their parting was not quite a break-up although it was as emotional. Freddie was torn. However, he had a duty, an obligation, to complete the contractual assessment on behalf of the Rats. Sally understood on one level, although on a more fundamental level she regarded Freddie’s action as a betrayal.

  Freddie tried explaining Sally to Sabre, who had been an interested observer to their discussion. However, the big cat was pragmatic, and did not understand the difference between his and human emotional relationships. He purred and rubbed his head against Freddie’s shoulder.

  “Engineer,” lisped the big cat. “I do not underssstand. Iss Sssally your mate?”

  “No. I think we have different futures.”

  “There are many humansss, many pretty femalesss. Fern isss pretty for human. Sssometimesss nagsss though.”

  “Er—yes. It’s not the same. You’ll just have to take my word for it.”

  ~~~

  Freddie and Sabre sat patiently, restrained by their seat belts, as the shuttle pilot completed the pre-flight check. Sabre had decided he should accompany Freddie, to ensure he was properly guarded. Despite a long debate, Sabre had rejected Fern’s request for him to remain at the Institute, claiming his self-imposed mandate to guard Engineer outweighed all other requirements. Eventually Fern had relented, after checking with Dr. Krowe. She spent almost an hour lecturing Sabre and threatening dire punishments if he misbehaved.