“But you twisted it,” Mark argued. “That wasn’t what Kennedy meant. He was making a plea for people to think beyond themselves and consider the needs of others.”
“Exactly,” Naymeer said with satisfaction.
“You’re only considering one side,” Mark complained. “I can quote you, too: ‘We must reward excellence and condemn those whose only contribution to society is to burden.’ Yousaid that, didn’t you?”
Naymeer smiled. “You know more about me than you’ve let on.”
Courtney sat forward and said, “What about the people who don’t live up to your high standards? The burdens to society? They’re going to be ‘marginalized,’ right? What does that mean?”
“It means they are inconsequential,” Naymeer said. “What is the saying you Americans are so fond of? If you’re not part of the solution, you’re part of the problem.”
“Problem?” Mark shouted. “Just because somebody might not have some special talent, doesn’t make them a problem. Every life has value.”
“Indeed,” Naymeer agreed. “It is up to every individual to find their talent and use it for the common good.”
“And who decides if they’re contributing enough?” Courtney bellowed, getting red faced. “You? Not everybody is a leader. Or a genius. What about all the people who are just…normal?”
“They will be encouraged to be productive,” Naymeer said easily. “If they choose otherwise, there will be repercussions.” Naymeer touched a button on the console on the side of his seat and spoke to the driver. “Take us to Horizon One.”
“This is unbelievable,” Courtney cried. “What about the elderly? The sick? You’re saying that millions of people will be tossed aside?”
“Believe me,” Naymeer countered. “There are millions who agree with my way of thinking.”
“Brought to us courtesy of a bird,” Courtney scoffed. “A raven. Ravinia. Cute.”
Naymeer laughed. “All I’ve done is appeal to the common sense of those who want a better way of life. This isn’t about race or religion or nationality. All we are doing is concentrating on the positive and eliminating the negatives.”
“You’re eliminating humanity,” Mark said softly. “You sound exactly like Saint Dane.”
“That is the greatest compliment you could have paid me,” Naymeer said with smug satisfaction.
All three fell silent. Courtney and Mark held hands for support. The words of the man sitting across from them played over and over in their minds. In a few minutes the car turned off the highway and came to a stop. Immediately one of Naymeer’s guardians opened the door. Mark and Courtney looked at the old man.
“You inquired, you should see,” he said as he got out of the car.
“Is this possible?” Courtney whispered to Mark. “Can this one guy change the thinking of an entire world?”
“It’s not just this one guy,” Mark answered soberly. “This is all about Saint Dane. And it’s not just about this one world.”
They both got out to see several of the red-shirt guardians surrounding them. Two motorcycles had been leading the limo. Two more black cars had been trailing. Alexander Naymeer was well protected.
“This way,” Naymeer said, and walked off.
Mark and Courtney followed. They were on the edge of a vast construction site. Mounds of dirt were everywhere, being pushed around by heavy machinery. The first sections of a tall, cement wall could be seen, on top of which was a line of red flags with gate stars, flapping in the breeze. Naymeer climbed up on a scaffold to get a better view. Mark and Courtney joined him. Red-shirt guards were never far away, keeping a watchful eye.
Naymeer surveyed the site proudly. “Not long ago this area was littered with derelict warehouses and ramshackle homes. Now it is owned and controlled by Ravinia. I’m going to call it ‘Horizon One.’”
“What are you making?” Courtney asked. “A mall?”
Naymeer chuckled. “This is the first of several compounds that are being constructed to house the people we refer to as Horizon Class. We will provide simple single-family homes, recreation, shopping, hospitals-everything they will need to live comfortable lives.”
“And all be surrounded by a big fat wall to keep them inside,” Mark said somberly.
“You make it sound like a prison,” Naymeer countered. “It isn’t. The Horizon Class will live normal lives. Most will work outside the compound. It will be their choice to live here or not, though they would be wise to come here, for there will be nowhere else for them to go. Slums will be razed to make way for progress. There will be no more poverty, for there will be no place to harbor the poor. Eventually there will be immense compounds like this built all over this country, and then the world. It is a model that will be copied throughout Halla.”
Mark and Courtney shot him a look.
“You’re serious,” Courtney said in awe. “This isn’t just about here, it’s about Halla.”
“That is what I have been telling you!” Naymeer said with excitement. “Once societies are free to flourish without restriction, we will truly achieve paradise.”
Mark frowned. “So everybody who isn’t pulling enough weight will be thrown into these compounds so they won’t interfere with progress.”
“That’s one way of putting it,” Naymeer agreed.
“They’ll be treated like cattle,” Mark groused.
Naymeer shrugged. “The choice is theirs.”
“No, it isn’t!” Courtney shouted. “The choice is yours! This isn’t a housing compound, it’s a concentration camp! What happens when overcrowding becomes a problem? Or disease? Or crime?”
Naymeer gave them a dark look. “Those who cause problems will be marginalized.”
Courtney winced. Mark balled his fists.
“Earth is actually behind the curve,” Naymeer said lightly. “Things have progressed further on Denduron, but life is far less complicated there. Change will be brought about with much less fuss.”
“Denduron?” Courtney exclaimed. “What’s happening there?”
“Every territory will have its own spiritual leader,” Naymeer explained. “As each Traveler is cast aside, they will be replaced by a Ravinian, who will guide the world toward its new and greater destiny. I believe the name of the fellow on Denduron is Rellin.”
Courtney felt dizzy. Things were coming at her too fast.
“And everyone will answer to Saint Dane,” Mark declared, stunned.
“Of course,” Naymeer said with a shrug, as if that went without saying. “After all, this is his vision. He is the architect. We are merely devout followers who believe in his plan.”
“Why are you telling us all this?” Mark asked. He had to work to control his voice from turning into a cry. “You know we’ve been helping Bobby to stop Saint Dane.”
“I was hoping to appeal to your common sense,” Naymeer answered. “You have played as large a part in this revolution as anyone. You are acolytes. You could be instrumental in shaping the future of Earth.”
“You can’t be serious,” Courtney said, incredulous.
“Let me show you one more thing,” Naymeer said, heading down the scaffold stairs.
Courtney and Mark stayed on the scaffold, staring at the expanse that would become Horizon One.
“This is it,” Courtney said softly to Mark. “This is Saint Dane’s vision for Halla. He wants to create an elite society at the expense of the common man.”
“It’s more than that,” Mark said. “Saint Dane is taking away people’s ability to control their own lives.”
“Coming?” Naymeer called as he strode toward his limo.
Mark and Courtney had no choice but to follow. They climbed down, got in the car, and rode the rest of the way in silence. Their destination wasn’t a surprise. When the car finally stopped, they found themselves in front of the Sherwood house in Stony Brook. Naymeer’s home. The location of the second flume.
Naymeer’s black Lab ran up to meet his master.
The dog was all wags and smiles as Naymeer petted him lovingly.
“I thought people who liked dogs were the good guys,” Courtney said caustically.
“Having the strength and vision to make difficult decisions doesn’t make me a bad person, Courtney.”
“Depends on the decisions you make,” Mark countered.
Naymeer shrugged and looked to one of his red-shirt guardians. “Bring them to my study.”
Naymeer hurried off toward the front door, his dog running alongside obediently,
Courtney looked at Mark and frowned. “Where’s a quig when you need one?”
They were escorted into the house and brought to a warm, wood-paneled room near the front door. Mark and Courtney had been there before. When it was empty. Before things changed. Naymeer sat down behind a large mahogany desk. Wooden bookcases were lined with leather-bound books. A welcoming fire crackled in the fireplace. Naymeer’s dog was already curled up in front of it.
“Inspiteof what you might think, I am not a monster,” Naymeer said, taking on the friendly grandfather role once again. “I truly believe in the vision of Ravinia. Every world of Halla is flawed. You cannot deny that. Our vision is to mold Halla into aUtopiawhere there will be no wars. No strife. No prejudice. It is not a bad thing to encourage greatness.”
Mark said, “Sure, so long as it’s not at the expense of everyone else.”
Naymeer stood and rounded his desk toward them. “You of all people should understand, Mark. You are brilliant. You are the father of the dados.”
Mark winced as if Naymeer had hit him.
“We are on the verge of something wonderful here,” Naymeer continued. “When the United Nations General Assembly convenes, they will vote to make Ravinia the world’s spiritual leader. Many, many people agree with our way of thinking. Once we are validated by the UN, there will be no stopping the change. We offer something that everyone so desperately wants. Clarity.”
Naymeer held up the ring in front of Mark.
“This is what allowed it to happen,” he explained. “This is proof that life is greater than our own singular world. This is what people believe in. They will not be disappointed.”
“I’ll ask again,” Mark said, seething. “Why are you telling us this?”
Naymeer walked to the far corner of his study. “I am a wealthy man,” he continued. “Donations to Ravinia are staggering, as you might imagine. It isn’t enough. Not if we are to expand throughout the globe.”
“What do you want?” Courtney chided. “A donation?”
“Something like that” was Naymeer’s strange answer. He stopped at a closed door that might have been a closet. “I want you to join me. Given time, I believe you will understand that my way of thinking, our way of thinking, is the only way to ensure a peaceful Halla for all eternity. To expedite matters, I suppose you could say I do indeed need a donation.”
Mark looked to Courtney. The two burst out laughing.
“Sure!” Mark laughed. “I’ve got a couple of bucks.”
Naymeer smiled. “You have much more than that.”
He opened the closet door. Mark gasped. Courtney held on to him for strength. What they saw inside the closet…was Mark.
“I had some very good financial advice many years ago,” Naymeer continued, enjoying the reaction his revelation caused. “I invested in a company that showed great promise. You may have heard of it. Keaton Electrical Marvels.”
“KEM,” Mark croaked. “You own part of KEM?”
“Half of it, to be exact,” Naymeer corrected. “It was my idea to make the first prototype of a human dado in your image, Mark. I thought it was a fitting tribute since you were the inventor of Forge…and your parents owned a quarter of the company.”
“What?” Mark shouted.
“Oh, yes. They did quite well after you left them on First Earth. KEM flourished due to your technology. Their stake in the company grew. Actually it was your stake, but since you gave them control of the company they did what they saw fit. Your father was a shrewd man. I’m sorry to say that they both passed away tragically in the early 1970s. I believe it was an automobile accident.”
Mark staggered to sit in a chair. “My parents are dead?”
“My condolences, though it shouldn’t come as a surprise. If they had lived, they’d be over a hundred years old today.”
Mark was reeling. “I–I hadn’t thought of it that way.”
Courtney touched Mark’s shoulder to console him.
“Life goes on,” Naymeer added casually. He touched the cheek of the Mark dado that stood in the closet. “This is only a prototype. It doesn’t function. It will be used as a design guide for the dados of the future.”
“It’s all coming together,” Mark whispered to Courtney.
Naymeer closed the closet door and continued, “It wouldn’t be right of me to use funds from Ravinia to help KEM. No, it would be illegal, and that kind of activity will not be tolerated. What I need, Mark, is your piece of KEM.”
“My piece?” Mark shouted. “I don’t have a piece of KEM.”
“But you do,” Naymeer countered. “When your parents died, they didn’t make provisions to dispose of your shares. They have been lying dormant, gathering value since their death. Most of the technology you see around you today sprang from that initial, small invention you brought to England in 1937. KEM’s reach is global. I’d estimate that your piece of the company is worth somewhere in the range of a few billion dollars. Give or take.”
It was Courtney’s turn to sit down. “Give or take… “She couldn’t continue. The words caught in her throat.
Naymeer stalked toward the two.
“I need control of those shares, Mark,” he said. “Your place in history is secure. Your place in the future can be just as dramatic. If you do not agree with all my teachings, fine. We can debate. I can bend. But do not throw away this chance. Sign your shares over to me, and you will stand beside me at the United Nations. Together we can create a new world. A new Halla. It can be paradise, Mark. You can end war. You can end hunger. All you need do is have the strength to make the difficult choices, as I have.”
Mark put his head in his hands. Courtney kept her arm around his shoulders. Naymeer stood over them, waiting.
Mark didn’t lift his head to look at the man. “What if I say no?”
“I will take control of the shares anyway.”
“How can you do that?” Courtney asked.
Naymeer scoffed and said, “No one will ever know you were here. The mystery of what happened to Mark Dimond will continue and the remaining shares will become mine.”
“Not while I’m alive,” Mark said.
Naymeer’s eyes sparkled. He smiled and said, “Exactly. You too can be marginalized.”
The room shook. Naymeer’s dog barked. It was like an earthquake was rocking the mansion. The crystal chandelier swayed and clinked. A lamp fell onto the floor. The event lasted only ten seconds before all became still once again.
“What was that?” Courtney asked, stunned.
Naymeer shrugged. “I believe we have visitors.”
JOURNAL #36
SECOND EARTH
I have no idea what that word means anymore. Everything I believed in since I was a kid has been thrown to the wind. Scattered. Shattered. Lost. The irony is that, with so many truths being revealed, I think I finally have a handle on the conflict I’ve been in the middle of for so long. Out of confusion comes clarity. Sort of. I don’t have all the answers yet. I may never. But I now believe that with what I’ve learned, I can end it all.
I know, I’ve said that before, only to discover that Saint Dane had yet another curve to throw at me. That could happen again. Easily. As I make my final play, I would not be surprised if it turns out to be a false end. A shadow. A dream. It’s happened before, right? As frustrating as that is, I can’t let it dictate my actions.
I know how to end this war. I have to make my move.
It isn
’t without risks. That speaks to the larger reality that I’m still pretty much in the dark about. Alder told me that the only way to defeat your enemy is to understand what he wants. I now believe I know what Saint Dane wants. Just as important, I know how he plans to get it. That’s huge. It gives me hope that we can actually defeat him. I get it. I understand. I think.
What still remains a mystery is the engine. How can this all be happening? I may understand the rules enough to play this game now, but the grander reality of how it all came to be is still floating out there somewhere. I wish I knew how to reel it in. I have to believe that it all comes down to the truth about who I am. The truth about all the Travelers. A big part of me still feels like the kid who lived for fourteen years in Stony Brook, blissfully unaware of the worlds that swirled around him. I miss that life. I miss my family more with each day. Not that I didn’t miss them before, but now that I’m questioning the truth of my own existence, it’s as if I’ve lost not only my family, but my core. If, as Saint Dane said, the Travelers are illusions, does that mean my family was an illusion too? As impossible as that sounds, the fact that they disappeared along with any sign that they ever existed doesn’t seem so far fetched. What about the time my dad finally got me to balance on my two-wheeler? Or the time my mother jumped off the dock into Chautauqua Lake to save me from drowning? Or all the times I read books to Shannon? Or picked up Marley’s poop? Or Thanksgiving dinners or school plays or trips to Disney World or getting my freakin’ boo-boos kissed! Did any of that actually happen?
That’s one truth I’d just as soon not know, because I’m afraid of the answer. One of the driving forces behind every action I’ve taken is the hope that I would one day see my family again. What if there is no family to see? It would mean that all my memories, my emotions, my security, everything that makes me me, isn’t real. It’s not a good feeling. The only way I can deal with it, is to not deal with it. I have to stay focused on the here and now. The challenge at hand. Saint Dane.
The rest will come when it comes, though I’m not sure I want it to.
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