“Thank you for electing me to be your commander-in-chief at this momentous period in our history. I repeat, it has been an honour to serve.”
The people in the hotel bar began to talk heatedly. They had listened patiently to his description of the race but had not been so pleased with the president’s talking of his own service. Some wanted to blame the asteroid on him.
However, the president hadn’t yet finished. The face on the screen took on a brighter expression. People shushed each other to listen. “You would expect me to tell you that we have contingencies to preserve our species. Indeed we have. One thousand preselected individuals will be taken to an ark in orbit with the intention of resettling the planet when it is habitable again. These people know who they are. I beg you, in the interests of our species, to allow them to proceed without hindrance to the base of which they have been informed. They have been selected to preserve diversity but all have abilities and knowledge that will be necessary for successful recolonisation. One thousand people is as many as we can manage. We are very conscious that this is a very small number in terms of saving a species, so every effort has been put into ensuring the maximum DNA diversity possible – effort that has been contributed by people who have not included themselves in the 1,000.
“I call upon these chosen people to follow their instructions immediately. If you are not one of them, then please listen carefully to the following from a leading professor from our most esteemed institution, Professor Pluck.”
The president smiled as his face faded from the screen. Yuk, thought Kakko. He’s positively smarmy. I would not put it past him organising an asteroid strike so he can claim the real estate for himself afterwards. I bet he’s among the 1,000.
Professor Pluck came on and began by speaking in a calm voice. He went on to explain that panic was a guaranteed way of having four days of misery. It was in no-one’s interest to become violent; the security forces would not tolerate rioting and would maintain order to the end.
People began to make their way out of the hotel and cross towards the beach.
“What do you reckon our role in all of this is?” asked Kakko, the lines on her forehead deepening.
Wennai looked ashen. Shaun was calm and pulled her towards him. Jalli couldn’t stop thinking about Yeka and Matilda.
Jack asked, “What about the children we met? Would that centre still be open?”
“Yes,” said Kakko, brightening. “That’s a great idea. We can go and help them.”
They made their way along the esplanade and then into the streets that led to the industrial estate where the Paradise Centre was situated. It was a very strange atmosphere – some people were rushing around in a kind of frenzy, some had slumped onto the pavement with their backs against walls, lost in some kind of reverie, and others were continuing as if nothing had changed. Perhaps they hadn’t picked up on what others had, or perhaps they were deliberately ignoring it in some sort of denial.
The Johians found the Paradise Centre in the place behind the harbour where they remembered it. Some of the children and their leaders were sitting all together with the housemother. Most of the rest of the children were away at school.
The greeting was rapturous. The staff and children were delighted to see them. Could it be that their off-planet friends were angels come to rescue them? As soon as they were seated, they were plied with cake and tea – but the Smiths had little to offer in return other than to remind them that the Creator was with them whatever the emergency.
All Kakko found to say was to ask the children whether they were having fun. Some of those who remembered her and Tam reminded them of the wonderful outing they had had to Lone Island.
“That was the first time,” said a girl now in her early teens. “Since then, Mr Zookas has given us the boat to go lots of times. We have lovely picnics – but no-one tells us stories like you.”
“Yes, Kakko, tell us a story like the one about the beers,” said another.
“The beers?” wondered Kakko, thinking hard.
“Yes,” smiled the housemother, “the three beers and the naughty little girl. They love it – but none of us can tell it like you can… Children, let us wait until everyone comes back from school and perhaps Kakko will tell it to us again.”
“Ah. Yes, you mean the three bears. No problem. Of course I will.”
After that, the children were sent back to their chores while the leaders talked.
“The children are not aware of what is happening. They know something is up. Mr Zookas has offered to take us all to the island. We think it might be safer there. We are frightened of a criminal element going berserk. We want the children to end their lives having fun.” She wept. “We are trying not to alarm them… It is difficult. But your coming has made it a whole lot easier… I don’t know what the Creator is playing at. Why bring you to a planet about to die? You don’t have to be here.”
“No, we don’t,” said Jalli. “I would be lying if I were to say that this isn’t a scary assignment. But we may be able to leave the same way we came before the asteroid arrives…” She thought of Yeka and Matilda and the resonances of her own life. “But, whatever happens, the Creator will look after us – all of us. I think our coming is to reassure you that the Creator doesn’t desert us ever – especially when the worst seems about to happen.”
“I know you don’t believe death is the end.”
“Certainly not. Death cannot extinguish love. I don’t know how it happens, or what life is like in the Creator’s spirit dimension but I do believe He has us safe in His hands. I have a lot I want to keep in this universe – I have a three-year-old to mother – but I have a lot to look forward to in eternity, too.”
“Thank you,” said the housemother, “I needed to hear that… Ah, here is Mr Zookas and Dr Jaffan… Welcome both.”
Zookas was delighted to see the Smiths. He was introduced to Wennai.
“You come at a critical time. But I guess you’re not staying for the finale.”
“Probably not,” said Jack taking his hand, “but until then we are here to do what we can.”
“Our plan is to get all the children to the island… Dr Jaffan here has a wife and two children – one a new-born child… she is only a month old. He wants to come with us and bring them. I have organised our boats and we can get them all in – including you if you want to join us.”
Jalli looked at Kakko and Shaun. The island sounded good but their white gate was next to the toilet block on the esplanade.
“When do you hope to leave?” asked Kakko.
“This evening, as soon as the children have returned from school and have eaten. The sooner the better because we do not know how secure things will remain… I am fearful that too many people will decide to raid the liquor shops to drown out their fear.”
“A last fling,” said Shaun, wryly.
“Precisely.”
“We shall be pleased to come with you,” said Kakko, emphatically. Tam looked at Jalli, who thought for a moment and then nodded. Her trust in the Creator was getting stretched but she was proud of her daughter nevertheless.
Tam stood by Kakko and said, “Yes, of course. We’re here to help… But I don’t know if you need all of us on the island. Shaun has been through quite a bit recently. I suggest just Kakko and I go. Maybe the Creator has got something different worked out for the rest of us,” he said calmly.
“Maybe,” said Shaun, gently.
“Absolutely,” said Kakko.
“A cup of tea, Mr Zookas?” said the housemother.
“That would be good. I have one or two phone calls I must make.”
Just then Dr Jaffan’s phone bleeped. A text. Jalli noticed his expression as he read it.
The others were chatting away, being cheered up by Kakko’s positivity. She was saying that the end of the world was not the end of the world. At that moment, she clearly believed it.
Jalli spoke quietly to the doctor. “This is very hard for you,
” she said, “especially with a newborn.”
“Yes,” he answered. He looked into her eyes. “You are from the Creator?”
Jalli nodded. “We believe He is the one who provides us with the white gates.”
“Can I talk to you without this going outside – out there?” He inclined his head to the door.
“I don’t know anyone out there. We only arrived this morning.”
“I must tell someone… The thing is, I have been called to be among the 1,000 to leave for orbit… I passed out of medical school as the top-qualifying student of my year and I am the youngest consultant in the hospital here. That has not gone unnoticed among those who have selected the most able to be included in the party aimed at preserving the race… It means I am expected to rendez-vous this afternoon at an address near here and be taken to a space shuttle.”
“That is wonderful for you. You will survive. You have hope.”
“But it’s just me. My wife and children are not included… I am supposed to leave in just two hours. I must go home now and explain to them… A big part of me is telling me to stay but…”
“But you want to do your duty as a doctor.”
“Correct. It’s not about saving my life… truly. I became a doctor because I wanted to use my skills to help people. And this is the best way of doing that now – fulfilling that calling.”
“But you are also a husband and a father.”
“I am.”
“Which calling comes first?”
“It depends on whose point of view you take. Clearly the president believes that I should be part of his race preservation plan… And in four days,” he shuddered, “my wife and children will be in the spiritual realms.”
“But these four days are so important. Four days in which the need for love is greatest.”
“You’re right.”
“So what are you going to do?”
“I don’t know. You tell me.”
“I think a policy that divides families is misplaced. You are going to make a new start with bereaved and broken people. They may never get over that.”
“You’re right. That’s what I needed to hear. I cannot follow my calling if I have abandoned those I love. I now have a clear conscience. I shall not go.”
Jalli thought a moment. “Look, why don’t you just turn up with your family. There might be people like yourself who have decided not to obey the president – people who simply cannot leave their loved ones. It could be that your wife and children can all get a ride, too. If not, you can make your decision then.”
“I thought of that. If we did arrive as a family, we would probably not be the only ones. They would almost certainly turn us all away.”
“Then the decision will be made for you. You won’t know unless you try.”
Shaun and Wennai joined them. “This conversation a secret?”
“Not from you,” said the doctor. He repeated what he had told Jalli.
“And I said he should turn up with his wife and babies,” said Jalli.
“Where do you have to go?” asked Shaun.
“Not a block from here, in fact. There is a truck leaving at half past four from the other side of the industrial estate. It will transport us to the shuttle base. A truck like that will not attract attention.”
“So, no hassle. Take them with you… unless you don’t want to go at all,” said Shaun.
“You don’t have to decide now. You don’t have to get on the truck,” said Wennai confidently. “Can we come with you? If you have to leave your family we’ll take care of them. We’ll bring them back here and they can go with the children to the island.”
“Would you?”
“No problem,” said Shaun. “They don’t need us here. They’re not going anywhere until after school is out. They are not rushing.”
An hour later, Shaun and Wennai travelled with Dr Jaffan to meet his family. As soon as he arrived, his wife, Neeka, clung to him. The news was bleak. The official line now was that the asteroid may just miss the planet – but Neeka was sceptical.
“I don’t believe it. They are only saying it to keep people calm. The president comes on the media every fifteen minutes, appealing to everyone not to panic. They’ve got this comedian on, making jokes of how silly some people will look after the asteroid misses…”
“Neeka, I need you to listen to me carefully. Let me introduce some new friends I have just met at the children’s centre.” He introduced Shaun and Wennai.
Neeka shook hands and smiled. “You are so young. I am sorry—”
“Neeka,” insisted her husband, “let’s sit down. I need you to listen. There is much to explain.”
They sat at the dining table. The baby was asleep but their little girl of three crept up onto her father’s lap. She sensed something was wrong, and was quiet. Jaffan explained that he was among the 1,000 chosen to be transported off the surface. Neeka’s face lit up. Then he added that she and the children were not – and he had decided that he was not going without them.
“But you must,” protested Neeka.
“No. I have thought about this. I will not be able to live and be part of any new beginning without you. If the authorities have not taken relationship and emotional needs into consideration in their choice of survivors, then the whole venture will be a failure from the start…”
“But—”
“No. Listen. Jalli here has suggested something that might just work. I will not be the only one of the selected 1,000 feeling this way. There could be any number of people turning down their places. Jalli suggests that I turn up this afternoon with both you and the children. If there are places spare, they may well take you.”
“But lots of non-chosen people will be trying to get aboard.”
“Yes. But they don’t all know about turning up at a truck depot. The place is not operating – the workers there have all been sent home.”
“What about you?” asked Neeka, addressing Shaun and Wennai.
“We have our own way of leaving this planet,” explained Shaun. He explained about the white gate. Neeka found it hard to believe.
“Their parents first came here many years ago,” her husband told her. “They brought their children last time – a couple of years ago. Pero told us about them. They are often talked about at the Paradise Centre.”
“So someone outside this world knows all about us,” said Neeka.
“Someone cares enough to help us now.”
“We – my family – believe it is the Creator who provides the white gates,” said Shaun, “but whether or not the gates come from God,” he gave Wennai a glance, “you can be certain that this planet is not the only one to have human beings on it. We know of six more, and a seventh which has just been colonised. There will be more.”
“Somehow that makes this crisis seem less awful,” said Neeka ruefully.
“It might be literally world-shattering but it’s a local crisis…” said Jaffan.
The president reappeared on the TV with his appeal.
“If we are going, we have to go now. Just pack what we need for a few days. We are allowed two suitcases.”
“I must take my favourite novels…” said Neeka.
“No need. Everything that was ever published has been uploaded onto the spaceship’s database. Take the children’s picture books – all the family pictures are on the computer—”
“How long have you known about this, Jaffan?”
“I have known I was on a preserve list since I passed out of college. I never thought it would happen but the rules were to back up everything we needed – just in case.”
“Brilliant. What else don’t I know about my husband?”
“I never thought it was important…”
“You’d better get ready,” intervened Shaun. “Can we help?”
“You could tell the kids a story – The Three Beers.”
“Fine,” smiled Shaun, “only I can’t tell it quite like my sister.”
Shaun and Wennai, however, made a good team. Soon the three-year-old was engrossed in the fairy stories Shaun had in his repertoire. He had had a lot of practice with Yeka.
I can see why he is Yeka’s favourite, thought Wennai to herself; he’s so good with children. But soon she found herself playing with the baby and trying to get her to smile. She was also aware of the need for a nappy change. She called up to Neeka. Neeka told her where to find things and she soon had her dry and comfortable. Shaun was impressed.
“Where’d you learn to do that?”
“I don’t know. Mostly instinct, I suppose. There’s nothing highly technical about changing a nappy.”
“No. I don’t suppose so. But if that had been me, I would not have looked so confident.”
“That’s because Jalli and Kakko have always got in first. And that’s why Yeka likes you so much. You don’t have to be so practical. You can look after the inner needs.” She held her hand to the three-year-old who was getting impatient because Shaun’s attention had been diverted.
“Does that mean that if I ever had any children, I should avoid changing nappies and feeding?”
“No. It doesn’t,” said Wennai decisively.
It occurred to them both where this conversation was going and, feeling embarrassed, Shaun looked away and began to look for a toy to play with, and Wennai cooed to the baby from whom she had extracted a smile – or perhaps it was just wind.
“I do hope they all get aboard,” said Shaun, becoming a little agitated. “What about all those others…?”
“Don’t think about the ‘what ifs’,” said Wennai. “You of all people should be the least worried because you believe life is forever.”
“You’re right. And, whatever happens, this moment is good, now. What has gone, has gone. What is to come, has not happened yet.”
Wennai stopped cooing. “Yes, now is good. I don’t want now to change but it will, and it will not change backwards. The bad things of the past have gone, never to return. And the future… There is always hope.”
“And there is always love. That doesn’t depend on us.”
The Spark (White Gates Adventures Book 4) Page 32