Button in the Fabric of Time

by Dicksion, William Wayne

  I looked questioningly at each of my crew members. They all nodded, except Angie-2. She cautioned, “It will forever alter their environment.”

  Jan-3 said, “We’re looking for planets that are suitable for humans. These hominids prove that this planet is suitable. Earth people will come here by the millions. They may come right away, or it may take thousands of years. But it will take these creatures thousands of years to evolve into what we think of as full-fledged humans. Their environment will change anyway, so why not help them?”

  “Angie-2, what do you say to Jan-3’s thoughts?” I asked.

  “I agree,” Angie-2 replied thoughtfully, “and I withdraw my objection.”

  “It would take weeks to send a message to Earth and receive a reply, so since we have a consensus, I agree with Jan-3. How do you suggest we go about introducing them to the use of fire?”

  “We’ll have to teach them to make fire the way the cavemen made fire,” Jan-3 said. “It will be difficult for them to understand, so we’ll have to show them the benefits of using fire, and also demonstrate the harm it can do if they use it incorrectly.”

  “While you’re doing that,” I said, “I’ll teach them to make stone tools.”

  “I saw some flint stones and a deposit of obsidian yesterday,” Taki-4 said. “I’ll help you make the stone tools.”

  “Good. Then let’s get busy. We’ve got to complete the survey of this planet and find others.”

  It was interesting working with the primitives. Jan-3 and the other women on the crew loved working with the children. The children were delightful, with malleable minds. They could accept only a limited amount of new information, so we had to relearn what the cavemen knew millions of years ago in order to teach them to be cavemen.

  After Jan-3 felt that the beings of Etu had learned enough to continue developing on their own, we said good-bye to the slightly advanced humanoids, re-entered our keri, and began circling planet Etu. It contained dry areas and vast swampy areas. Oceans covered large sections. The North and South Poles were unfrozen, but colder than the equatorial areas. The planet contained a wide array of mammals and reptiles. It was beautiful and fertile, but new settlers would surely have to learn to deal with some unpleasant beasts.

  * * *

  We examined other planets in the Ursa Major solar system, but they were either too hot or too cold for human habitation. Cord recommended we look in the 55 Cancri solar systems. That system was located approximately 40 light years from Earth, in the constellation Cancer. Star 55 was a little smaller and cooler than Earth’s sun.

  Cord said, “The planets that orbited Star 55 had been formed from a disk of dust, just as Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars had formed in our solar system, and they are a similar distance from their sun.”

  * * *

  I set my thoughts on an Earth-sized planet nestled between two massive gaseous planets. The planet of choice was slightly closer to Star 55 than Earth is to its sun, but Star 55 is a little cooler than the Earth’s sun, so the difference should be just about right.

  Cord-1 and I shared our plans with the rest of the crew. Everyone was excited by the possibility that we might find another habitable planet. I rubbed the transporting button, and we were immediately in a low orbit around a magnificent planet that was, as far as we could tell, an exact twin to Earth in every important way. The poles were frozen, and the area of the planet that should be tropical was tropical. The planet contained continents, oceans, plains, deserts, and had a wide temperate zone, a few active volcanoes, and large snow-covered area of mountains interspersed with deserts. It had a moon similar to Earth’s and the two large gaseous planets provided an interesting setting. After checking, Cord determined that the planet’s orbit was stable.

  Star 55 went below the horizon, but this new planet did not get dark, as it does on Earth when the sun goes down. The light from the Star reflected off the moon and the giant planets. The nights were more like an Earth twilight.

  Taki-4 tested the chemical content of the planet’s surface; Rina-5 tested the atmosphere and found it to be ideal. Angie-2 was impatient to get out of the keri and onto the surface of the planet to check its life forms. By observing from the air, we found no structures that would indicate that humans had ever been here. It looked like we had truly hit the jackpot. We found a spot in the planet’s temperate zone by a grove of trees near a clear stream, and set the keri on firm ground. A vast plain of grass extended to the horizon, with diverse herds of grazing animals.

  Angie-2 said, “I see no carnivores to prey upon these grazing herds, but they are bound to be here by the thousands, and they could be dangerous. We must find them and determine how much threat they present.”

  “This world,” Jan-3 said, “is like a clean slate for humans to start afresh and build a paradise, if they can overcome their weaknesses.”

  “Do you think that it is possible for the humans we will bring forward to overcome the greed and religious fanaticism that almost destroyed the earth in the twenty-first century?” Lani asked.

  “Yes, I do,” Jan-3 replied. “They’ll have to be shown that there is a better way, and they’ll have to be trained to live and work together for the benefit of everyone.”

  “This would be a wonderful place to start,” Lani said. “The soil is rich, and it seems that minerals of every type are here in abundance. If the people we bring forward can learn to live in peace, either of the two planets we have found could be a paradise. I’m afraid there will be some who are greedy. What should be done with them?”

  “That is a matter for the Council,” Jan-3 answered.

  The crew spent weeks examining and surveying the planet. We found bipeds in the tropical and subtropical areas, but no humans or humanoids. Giant lizard-like carnivores lived in the jungles and in the tropical waters. There were mammalian carnivores also, but humans with modern weapons would be able to deal with them. When Earth becomes overpopulated, this would be a good planet for people from Earth to move to.

  I called for a meeting and told the crew that I thought our mission had been a success, and that it was time to get our records, pictures, and samples in order, and return to Earth. Everyone understood that our first stop on Earth would have to be the purification chamber. Even the keri would have to be purified. The crew had final tasks they wanted to do, so Jan-3 and I took a stroll in the twilight which, on this planet, was like a children’s hour that lasted all night.

  Jan-3 said, “I like both planets, but I like the first one best. Isn’t it wonderful? People can now enjoy the whole universe.”

  “The universe is so vast, I doubt that forever is long enough to explore all of it. The phrase ‘all of it’ doesn’t seem to apply. We’ve moved into the fourth and fifth dimensions, and I think we’re getting our first glimpse of the possibilities. So long as there are people with minds capable of imagining the unlimitedness of space, and capable of loving as we love, there will always be new lands to explore and new adventures to live.”

  “Let’s share that with people everywhere,” Jan-3 affirmed.

  * * * * *

  Chapter 29

  When we returned to the keri, everyone was ready to go and excited about returning to Earth. They wanted to show the pictures and tell their associates of their findings. They were looking forward to sharing the adventure with their friends, family, and people everywhere. Everyone who had made this journey would be in demand as a lecturer. The expedition had been a huge success. Jan-3 and I had made new friends, even among the primitives of Etu.

  * * *

  After going through the purification chamber, Jan-3 and I reported to Roc-2, who had called a special meeting of the Council. Instruments for viewing our pictures, records, and samples were set up. Nobody wanted to adjourn until everything had been seen. Even the most reserved members of the Council were excited about bringing their loved ones forward from times long past.

  Roc-2, calm as usual, said, “There’s much we must do before we
can indiscriminately bring people forward. Each case will have to be reviewed by especially trained and equipped committees. When there are questions about the qualifications of the person being brought forward, that person will have an opportunity to stand before those judging them and speak in their own behalf.”

  “What should we do with the incorrigibles?” Tena, one of the female Council members asked.

  “That will have to be determined by Council vote,” Roc-2 replied. “Is there anyone who would like to make a suggestion for the Council to consider?”

  Several members glanced at me. I stood and said, “I feel that I’m the least qualified among you to make a suggestion, but I will comment on the matter. Other than by observation, I have nothing upon which to base my opinion, but it seems obvious that there is a power greater than humans. Perhaps that power should make the final decision. I recommend that those too difficult for us to work with be sent back to their place of origin. Let the power of the universe make the final decision.”

  My comment was met with silence for a long time. Then, in unison, the whole Council stood and bowed their heads.

  Roc-2 spoke in a commanding voice that reverberated through the hall. “The suggestion Gus has made is unanimously approved!”

  He continued, “The meeting is adjourned. Now go to your families and friends. Ask them for their thoughts, then return tomorrow, and we’ll discuss this further. We’re going to be busy for a very long time. Gus and Jan-3, please wait for a few minutes—I have a favor to ask.”

  All the Council members but Tena put away their robes and left. After everyone else had gone, Roc-2 asked, “Gus, would you and Jan-3 do Tena and me the honor of dining with us at our residence?”

  Stunned, I turned to Jan-3. Her blue eyes were sparkling when she smiled and nodded. I said, “Yes, of course. The honor is ours.”

  Tena, her red hair and green eyes glowing, said to Jan-3, “You didn’t know we were a pair, did you?”

  “We were married,” Roc-2 said, “much like you two were married, many years ago. For political and social reasons, we’ve kept our marriage a secret. We want to share our secret with you because we see how happy you are, and we know that you’ll understand.”

  A keri for four whisked us away to a small satellite city, and we stopped at a humble home on a quiet passageway lined with trees. Two beautiful children, a boy and a girl, were playing beside a fountain. When the children saw us, they came running and jumped into the arms of Roc-2 and Tena, laughing and chattering like magpies. I could see by the expression on her face that Jan-3 didn’t expect Roc-2 and Tena to have children, but nonetheless, she was pleased.

  Tena explained, “I had, what in the past, was considered a normal childhood. My mother bore me the old-fashioned way two hundred and twenty years ago. Both she and my father helped to develop the method of keeping the human body functioning perfectly, but they died before the method was perfected. Roc-2 was born at about the same time. His father was a scientist, and his mother a biologist, who worked on the DNA project. Roc-2’s mother chose the DNA of the best minds she could find to combine with her baby’s already superior DNA and,” pointing to Roc-2, Tena continued, “that’s what she got, a wonderful mind combined with a magnificent body. Our children will need no improving.”

  Roc-2 beamed. “Doesn’t she sound like a proud mother?”

  “She does sound like a proud mother,” I answered, “but I think she’s right. These children will be among those who will lead humanity into exploring and settling the universe.”

  * * * * *

  Chapter 30

  “That’s what Tena and I want to talk to you about. With your and Jan-3’s help, we have placed humanity on the threshold of immortality. Tena and I believe in a divine Creating Force. By taking the action you have made available to us, and bringing our loved ones forward, will we be doing something that would violate the right and authority of that power?”

  Jan-3 turned to me. “Gus, we would all like to hear your thoughts.”

  “I’m speaking to three of the greatest minds I have ever known. I’m just a farm boy educated in engineering, and you want to know what I think about the ultimate question?”

  Roc-2 was always a serious man, but this time he was intensely so when he said, “Even the Antons, who had vast knowledge themselves, and the whole universe to choose from, chose you as their emissary, because you have no preconceived ideas or affiliations to cloud your thinking. Both Tena and I want to bring our parents forward, but we don’t want to do something that we shouldn’t be doing. We would like to hear your thinking.”

  I explained, “Jan-3 and I have already spoken briefly on the subject, so she knows how I feel, but I’ll share my thoughts with you and Tena, and again with Jan-3. . . .The universe exists. . . . It is so vast that no human and no group of humans can measure it, so there is a power greater than the accumulated power of humans. If the universe cannot be measured by humans, how then can we measure the power that created the universe?

  “Reason tells me that nothing happens without the approval of that power. Many things happen that defy human understanding, but nothing happens that defies divine understanding. Therefore, if humans have been given knowledge, it was given with the understanding that we would use that knowledge.”

  “Thank you, Gus, for sharing,” Roc-2 said. “Your thoughts are reasoned, but they are not unique. We have presented the same question to others, and they have expressed similar thoughts, perhaps in words less well-chosen.” Then, looking at Jan-3, he asked, “Is it right to allow people to bring their loved ones forward? This is the question the Council must find an answer to.”

  “Now that there are planets for people to go to so that Earth will not become overpopulated,” Jan-3 said, “I think it would be wrong to deny that privilege, but those bringing their loved ones forward must understand that no one can be forced to come, and no one can be denied the right to come, and that whoever is brought forward must make a contribution, and obey our law, DO NO HARM.”

  “What should we do with those who refuse to obey the law?” Tena asked.

  “Send them back,” I said, “and let the Creating Force make the final decision. I think there are many who will not want to be brought forward because they believe that they will be resurrected and go to heaven. I hope they are right, but I fail to see how extending their life on Earth will deny them the right to go to heaven. For the last two thousand years, people have been living longer and longer, and I don’t think it has endangered their right to go to heaven.”

  Everyone smiled, and Roc-2 said, “Let’s have supper.”

  The children joined us at the table on the veranda. The meal was not elaborate, but the food was delicious. The children were encouraged to contribute to the conversation, and they wanted to know about the new planet Etu.

  Jan-3 told them about the pre-Stone Age people, and about the child who had been captured by the pterosaur and carried away to be fed to its babies. Then she told them how I had rescued the child. The children wanted to visit the planet right away. Tena explained that they would have to grow up and complete their education first. After listening to Jan-3’s stories, the children ran into the garden to play.

  Roc-2 opened the conversation on a subject that both he and Tena were eager to discuss, by asking me what I thought would be the best way to proceed in bringing people forward.

  “I think that the first thing we should do is to ask the ones we want to bring forward if they want to be brought forward. And before they can make such an important decision, they’ll want to know what they’ll be coming forward to.”

  Tena said, “We could show them pictures of what Earth is like now, compared to what it looked like in their time, and then show them the display of the new planets that you and Jan-3 showed us. That would help them decide. Would you escort us back to talk to our parents?”

  “Jan-3 and I will be pleased to do that, and it will be easy to show your parents what Earth is like a
t this time. But it’s a little more complicated to bring them forward than it was just to bring their portrait forward. It will not be just a photograph; it will be your actual parents. They’ll be living here just as we are, and after their cells have replenished themselves, they’ll be in the same physical condition as everyone else.”

  “Now I understand that there are many things to take into consideration,” Tena said. “Death will occur for all of us at some point in the future and, if there is a resurrection, we’ll hopefully be a part of it.”

  “There’s much to be done,” Roc-2 said. “It’s wonderful to know that it’s possible to bring our loved ones forward, and because of the exploration you and Jan-3 have done, we know that there are countless other planets for them to go to. We’ll work out the difficulties in Council chambers and have thousands of crews trained and ready to assist the ones who want to be brought forward.

  “Who can know what time will bring?”