by Paul G White
He gestured once again, and Traybaren, the cook stepped forward holding a clear metalloid box filled with sheets of material similar to paper, but far lighter. “Hela, the Comora’s artificial intelligence, has produced a printed version of what is contained in the data bank of the computer. Again, nothing has been omitted, and Hela informs me that instructions are also included for your scientists to grow and program your own artificial intelligence. That is the gift we Sha’lee leave with you in gratitude for your part in our resurrection from death. We give this gift to your Earth, through our friends, James Tyson Hardy, Minister Juan Hernandez and Director of the archaeological site, Doctor Lars Hendriksson. They will ensure that all nations of Earth will be able to partake equally in this scientific revolution.”
The captain looked distracted for a moment as he receive a thought from Astronomer Parel. “Oh, one more thing,” he added. Parel hurried forward carrying a box not unlike those used for transporting frozen tissue. “This box contains a viable, fertilised egg from one of the smaller predators we encountered before the tsunami. The creature’s image is on the container. It should prove a good subject for investigation by your biologists and palaeontologists. Thank you, everyone.”
Somewhere amongst the assembly of dignitaries, someone clapped politely. The gesture was quickly taken up, until the vast bowl of the excavation resounded to cheers and applause. Even His Holiness was seen to applaud enthusiastically.
Lessil raised both hands above his head and the applause subsided. “We lift off in—” he checked the clock hovering in the air above him, “—fifteen minutes. Please move back to the rim of this excavation for your safety. Thank you, everyone . . . and farewell to Earth from everyone aboard the Comora.”
Behind him, the original crewmembers had been joined by individual holograms of every member of the full ship’s complement. Lessil turned to meet them and a gap opened up for the captain to precede his crew back to the ship. Using her own brand of image manipulation, Hela even managed to control the holograms so that they formed an aisle for the captain. Juan Hernandez smiled inwardly at the notion that an artificial being, such as the ship’s AI, could find amusement in showing off her talents to the assembly. But, there was no doubt in his mind that showing off was exactly what Hela was doing.
The crew filed up the ramp into the belly of the Comora and the ramp silently withdrew. The audience gradually made their way to the rim of the vast bowl and waited. No one knew what to expect, because until 6th April 2029, space around planet Earth had been the domain of thundering rockets, belching columns of flames and smoke behind them. The first flight of the Comora in sixty-five million years had changed all that; but few had witnessed the lift-off and return to Earth of the vast starship due to the remoteness of the archaeological site. With the exception of James Hardy, Juan Hernandez and Lars Hendriksson, none of the dignitaries had been present on that momentous occasion. Now they nervously waited, and accompanied by the AI’s calm voice, the seconds ticked remorselessly onward towards zero and take-off.
Inside the bridge of the Comora, Captain Lessil issued calm orders for take-off sequence to be initialised and a clock instantly mirrored the coundown presently taking place outside. All members of the crew were in place and ready as the lift-off sequence repeated that of 6th April. Although the original children had been replaced as part of the ship’s crew, Lessil, displaying a supreme understanding of the children’s need to take part, ensured that they reprised their roles one last time – or until a future time when they might become active adult members of the crew.
The countdown reached five . . . four . . . three . . . two . . . one . . . and at zero the starship lifted silently from its resting place. The vast black, egg-shaped spaceship hovered momentarily, then rose slowly to a height of one hundred metres. The five-point landing gear retracted and the Comora leapt upwards into the blue vault of the heavens at the beginning of her epic journey to find the Sha’lee homeworld.
THE END
More information below about the authors.
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More by these authors
The Neanderthal Paradox – Journey to the Past by Keith Argyle and Paul G White
The Neanderthal Paradox – Every Future Has A Past by Keith Argyle and Paul G White
The Neanderthal Paradox – Future’s Children by Keith Argyle and Paul G White
The Medallion of Lorn by Keith Argyle and Paul G White
About the authors
Keith and Paul have been friends for more than fifteen years and in 2005 they began collaboration on their first Neanderthal Paradox novel. The second book in the trilogy followed in 2006 and the third in 2007. Keith and Paul then published a fantasy novel, The Medallion of Lorn. The Sha’lee Resurrection is their latest novel. In addition to the above list, both Keith and Paul have published novels in their own names.
Keith lives in Conisbrough, South Yorkshire, UK and Paul lives in Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, UK.