by Sandi Gamble
“So Tipcat does not mean to harm me?”
“Not at all.”
She put her hand down and gently picked up Tipcat again. She took her seat and allowed Tipcat to resume her puddling, wincing every once in a while through the pain caused by Tipcat’s skillful claws.
George observed all this and waited until she seemed comfortable again. “So, tell me more,” George urged her.
“Of course,” Ari said, ready to begin again even as she was distracted by Tipcat’s purring. “What would you like to know?”
George was quiet for a moment. “Where is Pulchra and how big is it?
Ari drew a quick breath. Still cautious, she knew she had to give George an answer but still was unsure if he and these people were friends or foe. She wanted to be forthcoming but not too forthcoming.
She wanted to trust them, but even if she did, she didn’t feel she had the authority to decide how much to tell them. Before she could answer, they were interrupted by a knock on the door. A young man in camouflage clothing stood silently waiting.
George nodded to him.
“Sir, it is time for colors,” he stated.
“Carry on then,” George said.
“If you would just mind waiting for a few minutes and then I think we will withdraw for tonight and you can head off for something to eat and Tyrion can get you squared away. We must prepare for tonight’s onslaught.”
Ari was just about to ask what he meant when the sound of a single pipe sounded throughout the complex. Everyone in the room stood at attention, except of course for Jace and Ari who remained in their seats. A short time later, another pipe sounded, and everyone went back to what they were doing.
“Come with me please,” George said, beckoning Ari and Jace.
“Can I bring Tipcat with me?” Ari questions.
“Of course,” Tyrion smiles shyly in Ari’s direction.
Ari didn’t question the ritual that had just occurred. It seemed to her to be innocuous, a cultural thing. However, she had taken note of George’s mention of an onslaught that night and was curious as to what that meant.
“Tyrion, what did your father mean when he said that you needed to prepare for tonight’s onslaught?”
His expression darkened. “I believe I told you earlier that every night we face the ARC’s kill squads. To date, they have failed to penetrate our defenses, but we fear it is only a matter of time. My father is aware of the arsenal of weapons that lie below the surface, and if they chose to use them, we would not last very long.
“Many who were unprotected by these walls have perished already. That is the reason for the steady stream of refugees we see, seeking assistance to survive.
“Here we are,” George directed Jace and Ari towards a scarcely furnished ward that had private rooms.
They were comfortable enough, more comfortable than when they had slept in the tunnels anyway. The rest of the group had already showered and were well rested when they met up again. They were greeted warmly as they walked in.
“I’ll be back in a short while to take you to eat,” Tyrion said before turning and walking away.
Meanwhile, George was in his office documenting the discussion that had taken place that day, noting anything that could be of use to them in the future. Not that Ari had really given them anything to digest yet. One thing had impressed George; the collection of laws that Ari had shared with them all. She had stated that these were the laws of her land, the laws that governed her and others like her. Something about what she had shared bothered him. The message of the laws was one thing, but it was the words themselves… Suddenly, he thought of something. He got up from his chair and headed to his small library. He found a book titled, ‘Common Sense Renewed’ by Robert Christian.
He remembered that the author described a ‘New Rational World Order,’ where an extreme form of eugenics would be enforced. The rational sounded reasonable, something about trying to improve the gene pool of the human race but it had always struck him as cruel. However, it certainly corresponded with what Ari had said.
This book had been written to discuss the ideologies of the author and as a tome to accompany and clarify the Georgia Guidestones. Which were chiseled and placed on a hilltop in Elbert County, Georgia. Masonia and Rosicrucian are the Governing Stones’ likely constructors. Although it stated that the sponsors were ‘A small group of Americans who sought the Age of Reason.’
The stones read as follow:
1.Maintain humanity under 500,000,000 in perpetual balance with nature.
2.Guide reproduction wisely — improving fitness and diversity.
3.Unite humanity with a living new language.
4.Rule passion — faith — tradition — and all things with tempered reason.
5.Protect people and nations with fair laws and just courts.
6.Let all nations rule internally resolving external disputes in a world court.
7.Avoid petty laws and useless officials.
8.Balance personal rights with social duties.
9.Prize truth — beauty — love — seeking harmony with the infinite.
10.Be not a cancer on the earth — Leave room for nature — Leave room for nature.
George closed the book on his desk and looked forward to their meeting in the morning, armed with this new information.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
IMPORTANT EVENTS
What were you thinking?” Jace challenged Ari when they were safely in the room.
“What do you mean?”
“You said too much. You should have been more careful. Did you see their reaction to learning about the ARCs?”
Ari shrugged. “They are realities of our world. Whatever I said could not have helped them much.” She looked closely at Jace. “I don’t think they’re the enemy. I think we can trust them.”
He frowned. “I’m not so sure.” When he said that, he was not thinking of George. He was thinking of Tyrion.”
“You’re tired. I’m tired. I think we should get some sleep and deal with everything in the morning.”
Although both Ari and Jace were certain that their thoughts and feelings about the day would keep them awake, they fell fast asleep and woke up only when bright light streamed in through windows high on the walls.
The next three days followed what became a familiar and disturbing pattern. In the morning and throughout the early part of the day, George would call them to his office. There, he would question them about aspects of the future, often – as he did the first morning – showing them texts and writings from his library that seemed at first glance to form the foundation of much of what they had been taught.
“You understand,” he emphasized, “that these teachings and doctrines were all articulated to cow people, don’t you?”
Ari was astonished that first morning when George showed them the Georgia Guidestones. She could not fathom why their true origin had not been taught to them.
“Because,” George pointed out, “your leaders are using them not to raise up the world but to subjugate it.”
Jace reacted angrily to the statement. “That’s not true!”
“Prove it not to be,” George said simply.
Jace fell into a sullen silence, for he could not. For her part, Ari was troubled by the revelations that George continued to make. They were inspiring, confusing, unnerving and unsettling. They seemed to call into question everything she had assumed about her life.
The mornings left her troubled. The afternoons, however, were more enjoyable as they were spent in Tyrion’s company. Walking, riding, being introduced to new flowers and plant life. She felt herself warming to him.
“They are brainwashing us,” Jace whispered urgently to her.
And Ari might have been sympathetic to that warning if not for what happened each and every evening. Like clockwork, the compound was attacked by kills squads sent from the ARC.
The repetition of these patterns caused George to become more and more insis
tent on information. Finally, on the third day, he slammed his hand down on his desk. “You must help us! We cannot withstand the attacks much longer. You must!”
He had reached his breaking point at exactly the same moment that Ari had reached hers. Although Jace bristled at George’s impatience, the look in Ari’s eyes told George that she was willing to help them.
He sent Jace from his office, leaving Ari alone with him.
“Ari!” Jace cried out. “Beware!”
When the door closed, George shook his head. “I’m afraid your friend is more dramatic than necessary,” he said, his tone a mixture of anger and resignation. He was too concerned with his people to be overly concerned with people he thought made their existence more tenuous.
“He means well,” she said, a bit too earnestly. “He’s a good person. None of us knows what to make of the things we are learning here.”
“You either?”
She shrugged. “I trust more than the others. I don’t know if that’s good or not,” she conceded.
His posture and his voice changed. “Ari, no one here wants to hurt you. But we are desperate. The killers come each night. I fear we will not be able to hold them off very much longer. They have the armaments to destroy us.” He sighed. “Sometimes I think they are only toying with us. Although I do not understand why.”
“I’m sure that if the Minister could only speak with you things would be different…” she said.
George eyed her closely. “Do you think so? Honestly?”
“I... I can’t be sure of course. But I can’t see how they wouldn’t be. The things you’ve shown us… the things we’ve learned. I’m sure that the problem is a communication problem.”
“Ari, you are kind and innocent. For all your education, you are somewhat naïve. But you have a good heart. I will trust that for the moment.”
Ari didn’t know whether to be flattered or not by George’s words. She did feel comforted. There was something in his words and tone that reminded her of her father. She couldn’t imagine that this man would harm her. He had been teaching her to see more clearly. Yes, some of what he’d shown her called many lessons she’d learned into question; called much of what she’d presumed into question. But she could not help but sense the truth behind everything he had said to her. She had experienced the nightly raids. She knew the pressure he was under. And yet he showed her patience and consideration.
He took the time to teach her.
The things she’d experienced in the past three days had affected her profoundly. “Yes,” she said out loud. “The Minister will be convinced. He must be convinced.”
George chuckled softly. “That’s a very strong statement, Ari. You do not understand power. You understand a great deal, more than any other person I’ve ever met. But power, bald, unadulterated power, is beyond you.
“I do not think your Minister will be as amenable to our plight as you think he might be…”
“He must be,” she said again. “I will prove to you that he will listen and learn. I will take you to Pulchra.”
George raised his eyebrow. “You will?”
She nodded her head.
“I have to tell you, Ari. From everything you’ve said to me, everything you’ve shared with me, I think there is something amiss with your Minister. I think he has been tainted by too much power.”
“No, there are protections…”
George shook his head. “Protections are meaningless once one has grabbed the reins of power. When that happens, it is only the soul of the one in power that limits what is done. It takes a very special person to wield real power honestly and for the good of others…”
“You’ll see,” Ari said.
She was determined to bring George and a small party to Pulchra, to parlay with the Ministry and the Minister so that the Independent groups could find some peace and protection.
Ari told Jace her intention.
He shook his head. “I don’t think that is wise.”
She thought for a moment. She considered everything she knew about Jace – and her long relationship with him. She thought of all the times they’d been paired together. She thought of her own dreams – and assumptions – of how her life would unfold, and Jace’s place in that unfolding. She wanted nothing more than for the two of them to be of one mind about this.
But she could not agree with him. Her heart would not let her. She hoped that when they moved forward, Jace would come to agree with her.
“I am decided,” she said firmly.
Jace thought to argue, but he could see that arguing would be futile. “Then we will do as you say,” he agreed. “We will take precautions, but we will do as you say.” He sighed deeply. “I hope you are right, Ari. I hope you are not being blinded by some spell this man and Tyrion have put on your heart.”
“I am not blinded,” she countered. “In fact, I believe it is only now, for the first time, that I truly can see.”
So it was, they made their plans. Ari looked forward to the journey with both excitement and trepidation. George, using some of the tools Ari brought, was able to discern and see through the cloaking technology which kept the ARC safe from attack and where the soldiers come from to attack.
On the night they were to go to Pulchra, a small unit of fighters from the compound surrounded George, Tyrion and the three others who would make the journey. The air was electric with anticipation. Ari and Jace led the way to the Fùyùn.
When they came close enough, they deployed the technology that allowed them to see through the cloaking mechanism.
“Run,” Ari yelled, indicating that they needed to board the Fùyùn quickly.
However, the group had been spotted, and a number of soldiers emerged from the ARC and began rapidly firing at the group.
Ari and Jace stood up straight, with their arms in the air, as they had seen in the many programs they had been shown at the academy, they wanted to show that they were friendly.
Ari turned to directly face the squad “I am Ari,” she declared, staring directly into the eyes of one soldier.
There was a brief moment, a lull, in which silence took over the sound of fighting. And then a single crack, and a whining sound cut through the air. There was a bright flash. Ari turned sideways to see a soldier from the ARC, camouflaged and ready for battle laying on the ground with a bullet wound to his chest. She turned to find some solace in Jace, but he vaporized before her eyes. He was gone. Absolutely and wholly in every respect. He just disappeared.
Her eyes widened in disbelief.
Whatever happened next, there was no chance that she could go back, and nothing would ever be the same. Not now. Not ever. Time had been changed. Ari knew the consequences and her mind was rapidly assessing everything when Tyrion rushed to her side and wrapped his muscular arms around her, both guarding her against any further onslaught and comforting her as they rushed towards the Fùyùn to fly far away from the place that she had last seen Jace, the love of her life.
END OF BOOK ONE.
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OTHER BOOKS BY SANDI GAMBLE
‘BROKEN’
An Extraordinary Story of Survival by One of Australia’s Forgotten Children.
Be prepared to be shocked. Broken is candid and raw.
When Sandi Gamble heard the Australian Prime Minister on TV apologizing to 500,000 Forgotten Australians for the abuse and neglect they had endured as children in “care” in the post-World War II era, something within her cracked and she began to cry. The former Magdalene laundry orphanage inmate, who never felt she fitted in, realized she was a Forgotten Australian.
Thus, began Sandi’s journey back to her broken past.
She had to reacquaint herself with Beverley, the girl she had left behind when she changed her name to Sandi. The painful memories started flooding in; the memories that held the key to
her life-long struggles with depression, alienation, anxiety, suicidal tendency, obsessive compulsiveness, and passivity when dealing with manipulative or authoritative people.
Broken began as a diary to process the memories of the little girl who was abandoned by her gambling, spendthrift father, and then her mother. Left at home for hours unattended while her mother worked and drank her misery away, little Beverley was left to her own devices to survive.
This is the story of how one woman faced her shattered past, looking it squarely in the eye. Sandi Gamble shares her story for all Forgotten Australians, their families, and those seeking to be inspired by an extraordinary story.
Australian author Sandi Gamble reveals the struggles and triumphs as one of the many forgotten Australian stories in Australian history.
MORE ABOUT SANDI GAMBLE
How did you come up with the storyline for Survival Instinct – Forces of Change.
For many years the bones of a story floated around my head. You see I’m great at coming up with ideas for stories, but I’m also wonderful at procrastinating when it comes to putting pen to paper. Then one Saturday afternoon I got serious. While sitting at my computer I decided there was no time like the present, and I started to lay down the foundations for my novel. The one that had been rambling around in my head for years was not the story that appeared on the page in front of me though. However, that will also be written… ‘one day’! The story, the plot and the characters came to life on the page right there in front of me, and while I was a little shocked, I loved the concept of this story. If you had the knowledge to save the world and to save people from themselves would you do it, and at what cost?
So why write about something like this?
I have always been an avid reader and sometimes believer in conspiracy theories, and I truly believe that this trilogy will be a conspiracy theorists dream. Seriously though, why not write about something like this? Every day our population grows out of control, we are poisoning the planet and acting like we have another one to go to. It is horrific, and I hope that by writing it in a story such as this, that I may be able to pass that message along… if not make the consequences of what is happening, and what our part in that is, just a little clearer for some.