The Return of Vaman - A Scientific Novel

by Jayant V. Narlikar

  The dozing watchman had a momentary phase of total wakefulness before he passed into oblivion. However, a slight noise alerted Balu.

  ‘Rajan, are you OK?’ he asked from his end. Receiving no reply, Balu let out a curse and muttered, ‘The wretch has dozed off. Let us wake him up with a whack.’ He walked across and saw Rajan apparently lying asleep on the ground.

  ‘Wake up you idiot!’ he accompanied the invocation with a kick. Simultaneously, he felt a karate chop descend on his shoulder and he knew no more.

  ‘Two down’, announced the Captain softly. Meanwhile, other commandos had entered the hut and overpowered the third man, who had been fast asleep. Urmila was awake, terrified but unharmed.

  ‘Operation Umi over and successful.’ The Captain radioed the message.

  Major Samant gave a sigh of relief and looked at the clock. It was one thirty.

  Exactly at a quarter to two a car dropped Vaman at point A and turned back. But it did not go straight back to the Science Centre.

  About a kilometre from point A, it turned into a side lane and stopped. The driver opened the boot and let out two commandos. Then the car turned back and reported to the Science Centre.

  The two commandos made their way swiftly but unobtrusively to spot A. By then Vaman had begun his solitary walk to spot B. The commandos hid themselves behind a bush and watched his progress.

  9 The Document

  The place selected by Major Samant as a temporary lockup for Navin was the same large hall in which the container and its contents were well guarded, the door to the hall was fitted with a formidable lock. As the key turned in it, Navin became agonizingly aware of his lonely confinement.

  He had tried his utmost to convince Samant of his innocence. But when he asserted that the evidence was fabricated and planted, the dour Major had turned round and asked, ‘Whom do you suspect?’ Indeed, to this question Navin had no answer. He had lost contact with Shulz long ago, and now Pyarelal was dead. The way all the incriminating evidence had turned up pointed to an inside job. But who, in this Science Centre, wanted him out of the way so desperately? Since nothing would happen now till the morning Navin pushed this nagging question away and looked for a place to sleep. It was then that he noticed the plaque on the solitary bench in that large hall.

  It looked familiar … where had he seen it before?

  Then memory came rushing back. He recalled Arul telling him that the plaque was found while digging, but that it was at a shallower depth than the container itself. It had been kept aside and eventually forgotten with the discovery of the container’s sensational contents. Navin remembered seeing the plaque and the letters on it. At that time he had not mastered the key to that ancient script, but he could now read it as easily as a modern alphabet. Looking at the letters again, the archaeologist in him took precedence. Perhaps this plaque was intended to exhort the digger to go deeper and find the container. With mounting interest he turned his eyes over those strange symbols, his mind piecing together their message.

  The plaque contained words in bold red letters in the central square, surrounded by a considerably longer text in a smaller, black script. Reading the red-lettered message alone, he sat up, startled. He then read the text in black as fast as he could.

  When Navin had finished, he realized that a message had to be communicated urgently. It was essential to get in touch with Major Samant. He looked round desperately … and the sight of a phone on the barricaded window lifted some of his gloom.

  ‘I must talk to Major Samant, please.’

  ‘Samant, here … Of course, it’s Mr Navin, is it not? Getting tired of your confinement already? Or do you have a confession in mind?’

  ‘Major, please! This is no joking matter. We have been taken for a ride. I have now solved the mystery … and must explain it to you all … please bring Arul and Laxman too.’

  ‘All right … but let me caution you: no tricks.’

  ‘Bring an army to watch over me if you like … but I beg you, don’t lose a moment!’ Navin’s voice was desperate but sincere, and Major Samant acted quickly.

  Navin was clearly relieved to see Arul and Laxman with Samant. As soon as they entered he led them to the plaque.

  ‘Remember this plaque?’ he asked. Arul and Laxman nodded. They too had ignored its existence once they were absorbed in the mysteries of the container. Navin continued:

  ‘This is where all the relevant information is noted down … we were fools to ignore it.’

  Major Samant intervened. ‘Mr Navin, I though you had hit upon some new evidence. This plaque is thousands of years old. What possible bearing could the inscription have on our problems today? We want to know about Urmila’s kidnapping, the ransom we had to pay in the form of Vaman, and about the mole who is giving our secrets to Shulz and company … I have no time to waste on ancient inscriptions. I am anxiously waiting for Vaman to return.’

  ‘You may wait till the cows come home, Major Samant!’ Navin smiled ironically. ‘Vaman will not come back. And, by letting him go and shutting me up here you have committed the classic confusion between the guilty and the innocent.’

  ‘Take it easy, Navin. Surely you don’t imply that Vaman is guilty?’ Laxman asked incredulously.

  ‘The evidence for Vaman’s guilt is written here, gentlemen. Let me read it all out to you straightaway.’

  And without more ado, he began with the inscription in red:

  ‘Beware! Those who happen to discover the container beneath, be sure to read first what is inscribed herein.’

  Navin then continued with the inscription in black:

  ‘Should you discover the container and be clever enough to decipher its store of knowledge, please exercise the utmost caution so that you avoid the fate that befell us …’

  The three listerners quietly heard the denouement read out by Navin in sepulchral tones.

  When the container was buried, we Monads were riding high on the crest of prosperity. We were able to draw upon the ample reserves of this beautiful planet to sustain our great civilization. And we were confident of being able to do so for a long time to come. Nevertheless we decided to enclose information about ourselves in a time capsule so that, should unforeseen events extinguish our civilization, those records would tell those who follow us, possibly centuries or millennia later, how we had flourished. Little did we know that the end would come so soon.

  But such is the situation now. Within ten days of the internment of this plaque not a single Monad will be left on this planet. The tragedy is that the end did not come from any natural calamity but was brought upon us by our own actions. Lest you who discover this container are tempted to do the same … be warned.

  The container will give you information about our science and technology, our music and fine arts and about our philosophy. You may be dazzled by it and may want to follow in our footsteps. But, friends, be careful how you use this information. Let our fate serve as a warning.

  We recall the day when our scientists achieved the zenith of progress, when they were able to create and employ artificial intelligence. A thinking but mechanical Monad, one who could make a copy of itself. This achievement not only had tremendous practical uses, but also boosted our ego. We had finally succeeded in creating something that, like us, could think and reproduce … we called our mechanical counterparts Konads.

  How we celebrated that day! The teams of scientists who had perfected the Konads were feted all over the world. And we planned the numerous ways in which Konads would serve us, to make our life even more agreeable.

  The Konads translated all our expectations into reality. They solved with great ease the outstanding problems that had bothered our scientists. They implemented the plans on the drawing board of our technologists. With their intelligence they rapidly improved themselves, becoming increasingly more knowledgeable and efficient. They were evolving.

  That was when we thought of a time capsule … of the container beneath that provides the key
to all our achievements, including the making of Konads. The container, as we now realize, was motivated at least partially by the Monadic ego.

  Little did we realize that we were also evolving, but down the spiral of progress. As our dependence on the Konads increased we began to lose our zest and initiative. Why work if everything we wanted done was accomplished so much more rapidly and efficiently by Konads? As their masters, we could command them to do our bidding. So why work?

  The Konads were watching our slide into inaction. Our brains, which had evolved to their present state by facing so many challenges, now went into a state of stupor, while the Konadic brain was improving rapidly. And their numbers were also increasing—something we did not realize until it was too late.

  The Konads made us believe that by multiplying their population they would serve us so much better. But in reality their sole motive was their own survival and welfare. They were willing servants and pupils so long as we could teach them something. When that stage was past, we became redundant in their scheme of things. And, of course, their super-efficient brains told them to discard everything redundant.

  So they decided to do away with us.

  That terrible morning is fresh in our memory. All the Konads went on strike. They simply disappeared from our colonies. And that was enough to cause chaos. Food, energy, medicine, entertainment—everything we needed had come to depend so much on the Konads that we were rendered totally helpless. We called upon the Konads to come back and resume work, we offered them inducements, we threatened them, we even tried to divide them. But nothing worked. And we could see their game. Merely their inaction would bring about our end. They did not need to waste energy on violence.

  And they were right. Already, as we write this, the Monad population on this planet is down to half its original size. Lacking our forefathers’ fitness to struggle for survival, the rest of us will succumb within ten days. But we have one cause for satisfaction. We have arranged for an automatic and irreversible shutdown of all our power houses. So when we go, the Konads cannot survive much longer either. After all, they too need energy.

  How we wish we could destroy all the information in the time capsule that deals with the making of Konads. But we neither have the means nor the energy to dig and recover the container. So we leave this plaque as a warning.

  In the darkness of despair around us, we see one ray of hope, however. Although all our communities are going to die here, that is not the end of the human race. Some primitive tribes are left on this planet. Like other animals, we have left them untouched in the jungles. They were part of our experiments on evolution under natural processes. So we never interfered with their existence. Our hope is that one day those tribes will progress to a stage when they will be able to appreciate all we have done.

  To those descendants of our primitive brothers we leave this warning. Do not bring Konads into existence. At first they will seem friendly. But they are not friends. They are not enemies either. Their sole aim is to better themselves, without regard for anyone who stands in the way. We entreat you, therefore, do not allow Konads to come back to this planet.

  So, beware …

  The Monad Society

  10 Farewell

  There was silence as Navin finished reading, with those present attempting to adjust to the startling revelations from an extinguished civilization.

  Finally, Arul spoke: ‘It was a great mistake to have overlooked this plaque … we were so hopelessly carried away by the container and what it revealed. Otherwise, we would not have developed Vaman …’

  ‘I just can’t bring myself to believe that Vaman is a villain’, broke in Laxman. ‘Look how he put all his efficiency at our disposal in order to locate Urmila.’

  ‘Precisely the pattern the Konads followed in their previous incarnation—if I may use the word!’ Navin’s face wore a bitter smile as he continued. ‘Like the Konads, Vaman made sure that he had our confidence—that in our eyes he was a hero.’

  ‘I tend to agree with Mr Navin’, Major Samant commented thoughtfully. ‘It was Vaman who suggested that Urmila be allowed to move freely. I now suspect—no—I am sure, that he was regularly in touch with Shulz. He conveyed a message. A message to Shulz to say that the coast was clear for his operation.’

  ‘Yes, it all makes sense now. Because everything was pre-planned, Urmila was kidnapped on the very first day that she ventured out … and Major Samant’s driver was sent away with a false message and the tyres of his jeep were flattened … and later, evidence was fabricated against Navin—Vaman could easily have done all this’, Arul added somewhat breathlessly, now that the real culprit was being identified.

  Laxman was still in a state of shock. ‘But why should Vaman do such things? He was amongst friends here—he had the run of the place …’

  ‘A Konad has no friend, Laxman’, Navin broke in. ‘True, you and Arul were friendly with Vaman. You gave him the ability to think. But you were hesitating to give him the power to reproduce. That power would be readily available to him, courtesy of Yamamoto & Co. So he has now chosen to go to them. All his steps are carefully worked out as a part of a plan to multiply and conquer Earth.’

  ‘Which is why Vaman made sure of taking the real stuff in his briefcase.’ Major Samant looked at his wristwatch. ‘Quarter to three … our David appears to have absconded with Goliath.’

  There was a sudden beep on the portable receiver tied to Samant’s belt. Motioning for silence, he turned up the volume of the receiver.

  ‘Commando Shersingh here, sir. We were ready to help Vaman in his fight, as arranged. But he offered no resistance to Shulz. In fact, he went eagerly with him. We tried to stop them … but both Ramsingh and I have been immobilized by Vaman’s laser gun.’

  ‘Where are the two of you?’ Major Samant asked in his crisp tones.

  ‘At place B on the map, sir! But please follow Vaman and Shulz … they are taking off in a helicopter right now … over.’

  ‘Let’s be on our way, gentlemen.’ Major Samant dashed out of the hall. ‘I hope the helicopter bringing Urmila is back now … we may still be able to persuade Vaman to come back.’

  Samant was right. The helicopter was about to touch down as all of them emerged from the building. Laxman rushed ahead.

  ‘Umi darling …’ He almost smothered Urmila as he gathered her in his arms.

  ‘I’m fine, Laxman … please thank these commandos for rescuing me alive. But how were you able to locate me?’ Urmila’s voice was very unsteady, but also very happy.

  ‘With Vaman’s help! Remember the tiny transmitter he fixed in one of your molars?’

  ‘Then let me thank him first.’

  ‘That, I’m afraid, is not possible.’ Laxman laughed mirthlessly. ‘The little fellow has changed sides. He ran away with Shulz.’

  ‘Vaman … in league with that horrible man? I can’t believe it!’ Urmila exclaimed.

  ‘I wouldn’t have myself, but for cast iron proof … but I must leave you darling and go after them.’ Laxman gave her a hug and dashed up into the helicopter which was now ready to take off with Major Samant, Arul and a few commandos inside.

  ‘Take care!’ Urmila waved. How much she wanted Laxman with her now, but obviously his errand was important.

  ‘Don’t worry Urmilaji … These commandos and I will take care of Shulz while your husband and Mr Arul give the little fellow a real talking to.’

  As the helicopter rose Laxman said, ‘If the little fellow is in no mood to listen, I will have to use my ultimate weapon.’

  ‘Which is what?’ asked Major Samant.

  ‘I can inactivate his energy source by remote control. That will immobilize him for sure.’

  ‘Don’t be so sure, Laxman!’ Arul said, bringing out a note and a packet from his pocket. ‘Here. Have a look at what I found on my table just before I came here.’

  The note was addressed to Arul. ‘Dear Arul, please pass on my parting gift to Laxman. I don’t require thi
s toy which he made specially for me … Yours, Vaman.’

  As Laxman read the note he felt the ‘toy’. Even before he saw quite what it was he had guessed correctly. It was the same microwave receiver that he had fixed in Vaman’s brain. So Vaman knew not only of its existence, but also of its purpose. Which was why he had sent it back.

  Why did he write the note to Arul? Why not to Laxman himself? Did he have a sense of guilt towards Laxman? … Then Laxman realized that Vaman possessed no conscience. All he did was carefully reasoned and calculated to improve his own future prospects. Vaman had addressed the note to Arul purely because his office happened to be near the exit, unlike Laxman’s at the back.

  Arul glanced at Laxman. His face was frozen, with no trace of emotion. Was he feeling betrayed by his protégé? Arul then felt in his pocket for the ultimate weapon—that was made under advice from Professor Kirtikar and still rested there. Would Vaman have guessed its existence too?

  Meanwhile, the helicopter was speeding along a flight path selected by Major Samant. About a hundred and fifty kilometres south there was a disused airstrip. Samant suspected that Shulz would have a small plane ready and waiting there.

  ‘How far can he go in a small plane?’ asked Arul.

  ‘Far enough!’ replied Major Samant. ‘The bastard will most likely land in Jaffna where things are in turmoil. From there he may have made further arrangements … The important thing is to catch him on our soil.’

  In half an hour Samant’s suspicions proved correct. A bright dot appeared on their radar screen. Their helicopter was new and had a powerful engine, while the machine acquired by Shulz belonged to an older generation.

  ‘That is our hope for overtaking him … but I would rather catch him on the ground.’ Samant instructed the pilot to shadow the fugitive helicopter without approaching too close. He then began to brief the commandos. That was when Arul turned to Laxman.