“Who are these ‘arrivistes’ to decide which world leaders they want to do business with? Some of us are democratically elected representatives of the people, we don’t need approval from a bunch of aliens.”
“Corrupt leaders can get elected, or rise in many other ways, supported by the establishment in their countries. That kind of power allows them to hide any number of crimes against their people. The arrivistes know about all of that and can expose corruption and hold those that need it to account.”
“How? How can they do all that? What laws can they use? Whose courts would bring justice and what would be the sentences?”
“Let’s just assume they can find out anything they want to investigate. Beyond that there are laws across the galaxy that don’t change very much. All civilised human societies everywhere agree on basic human rights and simple laws that protect those rights. It’s when society produces very long and complicated legal codes that you can be sure a privileged establishment is twisting basic laws to their own ends. The arrivistes have the capability to punish individuals themselves if there is no acceptable court but they would only do that when it was clear an individual was guilty and refused to step down in the face of the public’s righteous demand. In that case the punishment would fit the crime. The most effective sentence is for the perpetrator to endure the crime he inflicted on others.”
The President looked towards Harold and Michiko for support, “So, Joe is now Moses coming down from the mount with his ten commandments, followed by a host of vengeful angels to judge us all.”
“Ah, the decologue you refer to is a good example of a basic set of rules to live by,” Joe replied. “Nobody has yet found a god across the galaxy who is concerned about taking his name in vain, though time is still young. The rest of the ten commandments are a good set of rules to live by. Of course there are plenty of races in history that produced remarkably similar laws, the Sumerian code of Ur-Nammu four and a half thousand years ago. The code of Hammurabi from the Babylonians a thousand years later and many others are all very similar and arose from the same natural laws in force across the worlds of human races.”
“Well here in the present we have perfectly good law under the United States Constitution and that’s all we will be needing.”
“Maybe we should hold this man if he is threatening the constitution?” Harold suggested to the President.
“Hey, that’s not such a bad idea. We need to assess how much of a threat this is to national security,” the President replied, feeling good about establishing his executive authority over events.
“You have my message and I have to leave,” Joe said. “I hope to see you in a few days’ time in Norway, Mr President.”
At that point the President pressed his intercom and called urgently for guards. At the sound of running feet from the interior of the West Wing Joe calmly backed through the side door into the President’s study. Several burly blue-suited secret service guards burst into the Oval Office through the curved doors to the secretary’s office and the corridor.
“Arrest that intruder!” the President exclaimed, pointing at Joe, his face flushed with emotion that the guards took to be the result of a personal threat to the POTUS. The guards pulled pistols from armpit holsters and took aim at Joe who continued to back into the tiny study.
“Halt! Hands up!” the guards called. Joe backed around the door of the study out of sight. The guards followed him into the study in overlapping crouched runs, arms outstretched to their pointing pistols. In the short time needed to safely follow Joe into the room, he had disappeared. A sash window was open and the curtains were wafting on a light breeze. One guard raced to the window and looked out but Joe had boarded Maria and gone.
TWENTY-THREE
In London the Houses of Parliament and Downing Street were besieged by protestors and alien greeters now that the news had been released. Initial disbelief in the media and public was soon replaced by shock and a whole spectrum of responses after people took it seriously. Some placards declared the apocalypse was upon us, others dressed in silver suits and donned alien grey heads with big welcoming smiles and large perfect teeth. Amongst the masses pressed against black iron railings from Parliament Square to the neck of Downing Street, media camera crews tried to surge to the front, self-righteous in their need to demand insights on the announcement that the world expected alien visitors in the next few days.
David Harrier was seated in the relative calm of the Cabinet Office in Downing Street with the Prime Minister, Defence Secretary, Foreign and Home Office Secretaries and the Chancellor of the Exchequer. The three high officers of state were known to be ‘on manoeuvres’ to oust the Prime Minister after the very public farce of the Brexit negotiations with the European Union, though they had not yet challenged her authority directly. All three had been happy enough to let the Prime Minister carry the can for the Brexit debacle and were now silently breathing a sigh of relief that she was also shouldering the responsibility for leading the nation and much of the rest of the world that was demanding information about what this alien contact would mean. The enigma of this Prime Minister was that she seemed not to notice all the protests against her and doggedly carried on with her duty however outrageous it became. ‘Keep calm and carry on’ was indeed her motto.
Bright sun shone through the Cabinet Office windows. David thought it would be better for a shower of rain or two to clear the streets of the emotional mob on Whitehall’s broad avenue. Hot weather seemed to fire the blood of demonstrators bent on civil unrest. At least the military escalation he was responsible for had proceeded with efficiency. NATO leaders had been apprised of the situation. The Prime Minister had personally briefed the leaders of the Five Eyes Anglophone security alliance, Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the United States. The European Union had been remarkably useful in coordinating their member nations once advised by the combination of the British Prime Minister and the respected academics, Professor Kitteridge and Dr Stielsson. The Nobel Institute was also organising the details of the arrival ceremony on Lysefjord including issuing invitations to all world leaders.
The Prime Minister asked David to introduce his role and brief the three men in blue suits on the events leading to the present situation. All three were further reassured that they could rely on the security services and this man in particular to handle whatever may arise. They could turn to their fears about their personal safety.
“So do we need to take any special precautions to protect the Prime Minister and the Royal Family?” inquired the Home Secretary when David had finished his brief summary. It was a good way to ask if he should be personally protected by using his indirect concern for his leader.
“Our current understanding is that there is no need for protection for any of our national leaders from the aliens at least. We are increasing personal security in case any factions within the public are exercised enough to want to harm our political leaders. Additional security could also be useful to keep you at arm’s length from our friends in the media.” The three men were pleased to hear this news. They were certainly important enough to deserve special protection in these extraordinary circumstances.
“Will you be attending the arrival in person, Prime Minister?” asked the Foreign Secretary, wondering if he would be required to attend as substitute.
“Indeed I will. This is perhaps the most important event in history so of course I shall attend in person.”
“And what of this story the aliens are requiring national leaders to be of good character?”
The Prime Minister laughed briefly. “Oh I think I am almost uniquely qualified in that regard. I have no fear on that score.”
“Well it will be interesting to see how it affects attendance by other national leaders,” the Foreign Secretary mused to himself.
At that moment a phone call came through to the outside office. Immediately there was a knock at t
he Cabinet Office door and the Prime Minister said “Come.” Her secretary appeared around the door saying the chief negotiator for the European Union was on the line.
“I will take it,” said the Prime Minister picking up the handset of the phone.
“Bonjour, Jean,” the Prime Minister positively beamed down the telephone. “What can I do for you today?” The three most powerful men in the Cabinet cast sidelong glances at each other. The Foreign Secretary raised his eyes to the ceiling discreetly as his boss was engrossed with her phone call.
“Bonjour, Madame Prime Minister and thank you for taking my call at such a busy time,” said the aristocratic Brexit negotiator, Jean Mesurier. “I am pleased to say that I have good news regarding your requests for the UK Withdrawal Agreement.”
“That is good news indeed, Jean, please continue.”
“Well, the leaders of the European Union can see a way through to providing the close and intimate relationship you have always been seeking when the UK leaves the European Union.” The four men in the room could all clearly hear the tinny yet emollient tones of the EU’s Brexit negotiator. The politicians were fascinated to discover what had changed to unblock the log jam imposed by the EU since the UK had announced it was leaving the European Union. David Harrier was interested to hear if this had any bearing on the logistics for the ceremony in just a few days’ time.
“Well, the European Union would be pleased to remove its requirement for the Irish border backstop and allow free trade on goods and services on one condition.xii”
“That is good news, Jean. I am pleased to see the EU has seen the benefits of having a close and intimate relationship with the UK after we have left. It has to be in all our best interests.”
“Yes indeed, Madame Prime Minister. This is of course a series of major concessions from the EU. In return the EU would ask that in return for such favoured access to the European Single Market that you and the Norwegians will persuade the alien arrivistes to provide their new technologies through the Customs Union and Single Market. We believe they did not understand the UK was leaving the EU and perhaps misunderstood the Norwegian position thinking both countries were in fact members of the EU. They would want the workers’ rights, health and safety guidelines ensuring quality products developed from their technologies that could only come from being produced in the European Union. This would of course be very good for all the nations of Europe, including the UK and Norway.”
“But wouldn’t that mean that the rest of the world wouldn’t have access to the use of new technologies that we expect will revolutionise all sectors of industry?”
“Third countries could get access of course through the good governance of the European Union. We would simply be managing the introduction of new products in compliance with our rules for the benefit of all.”
“Would there be a cost for these other nations, Jean?”
“A small licence fee if you like for the undoubted value we would add, maybe three to ten percent levy for Brussels, no more than that I would imagine.”
“I am not sure the Americans would like that,” the Prime Minister thought aloud then continued more cheerfully. “Anyway you must thank your President and the German Chancellor for this helpful offer. I am as yet unaware of the arrivistes’ plans but I will certainly discuss your offer with the Nobel Institute and Norwegian government to see how we can put this proposal to them.”
The Brexit negotiator answered sternly, “Time is of the essence, Prime Minister. We must conclude this agreement before the New World and Asian countries make their bids. We must ensure our sequencing is selected, after all the arrivistes are arriving in Europe, even though they have misunderstood they could have landed in central Europe rather than Norway or the UK. Please remember Prime Minister; the clock is ticking!”
TWENTY-FOUR
The only media helicopter allowed to fly within twenty kilometres of Pulpit Rock flew low over the exposed rock and scrub vegetation of the plateau behind the Rock and the cliffs that fell so dramatically to the long blue waters of Lysefjord. That plateau was covered with a tented village housing the entourages of all the world leaders who were attending the ceremony. Pulpit Rock itself was covered with seating in the round leaving a small central circle and a narrow corridor to the centre from the entry to the rock on the left side looking out over the drop. Chairs had been placed up to ten metres from the edge of Pulpit Rock where the cliff fell 700 metres down to the water on three sides. There was just enough room for one guest per country and a small number of Nobel Prize winners. Professor Kitteridge would sit centrally in his wheelchair attended by Daniel, Charlotte and Christopher. Dr Stielsson would also be seated in the centre circle.
The helicopter swooped low over Pulpit Rock and out over the Fjord taking newsreel to be sent to all media outlets worldwide. The view down the fjord was spectacular. A broad circle of blue sky marked the twenty-kilometre no-fly perimeter and reflected in the still waters of the fjord far below. There was no breath of wind or disturbance in the sky. Only the chillness of the Norwegian air seemed natural. The organisers had been told the weather would be calm and clear for the event; there would be no problems from wind, snow or rain, despite the exposed location. This was not true of the rest of the Norwegian fjords where a depression was causing storms as usual. At the southern end of Lysefjord the bright sunshine was enfolded by lowering cloud and the cliffs were veiled in driving rain. Rainbows played at the edge of the unnatural circle of sunny weather where it collided with the rainstorms beyond.
Professor Kitteridge had reassured Dr Stielsson of fine weather conditions for the arrival ceremony. In response to concerns from world leaders he had also stated that there would be no risk from terrorist attack, military aggression or even medical hygiene, earthly or alien; no need to worry about weather, military security, medical quarantine – all would be controlled by the alien arrivistes. The bright circle of still weather forty kilometres across was testimony to the power of the arrivistes to deliver on these promises for the arrangements for their visit. The only fear remaining was fear of the aliens themselves. The United States President had sent his deputy in his place. For this reason the President of Russia was proud to announce his visit in person. Just as importantly the heads of all European nations, China and Japan were present in person. Most dictators had decided to stay away, convinced the ceremony was a clever plan to lure them from the safety of their borders. The warnings of corrupt leaders facing heavenly judgement may also have kept this group of leaders away. Most of them had not become dictators in a peaceful way. Most dictators valued the advice of Zarnha agents from the Spargar Empire that wanted nothing to do with the Gayan arrival. A few other democratically elected leaders chose to stay away or send their deputies, offering a variety of excuses. The media were as yet reluctant to accuse them of fear of being found out for past or present misdemeanours, but that time would come.
*
Leif Nelson was the most famous television host in Norway. He had been given the career opportunity of a lifetime. He would become the most famous news reporter in history as he had been chosen as the voice of Norwegian television in the only news helicopter allowed to cover the arrival ceremony. He spoke in English, his vowels accented by the Scandinavian variety.
“As we fly over the huge tabletop that is Pulpit Rock we can see the national leaders taking their seats below. The seats are all the same, large but modest, in good Norwegian oak, designed not to blow away even though we have been promised perfect weather for the day. The weather in the rest of Norway is awful so we can only believe that our visitors have mastered the control of the atmosphere as well as the capacity to travel to our planet. Down below I can see the two organisers, Professor Kitteridge of Cambridge University and Dr Stielsson of our own Nobel Institute, in their places. There is the President of Russia taking his seat at the very edge of the Rock, seeming unafraid of the closeness of the drop.
See him smile and wave up at us!”
The helicopter turned about over the drop to the fjord and slowly flew back over the Rock.
“There we can see the German Chancellor and French President followed by the British Prime Minister. They split up and move to their allocated seats, each drawn at random by lots. They cannot be too comfortable in this place compared to the comfort of their fine government buildings but they can have no complaints about the weather conditions and catering for this event. Those clouds that so threatened to ruin all the arrangements disappeared mysteriously only yesterday. Now an unnatural dome of blue skies sits over Pulpit Rock. This can only be due to the arrivistes’ controlling the climate as the rest of Norway sits under dark skies, wind and rain.”
“With just a few minutes to wait, the seating on Pulpit Rock is nearly full. World leaders may be seated with others they know well or not at all but those that can share the same language are chatting excitedly, expectant of the wonders to come.”
The helicopter flew slowly over the connecting path to the surrounding plateau where large marquees had been erected to provide food and facilities for every worldly taste. Beyond that, sections had been marked out for each national contingent where a few elite security personnel masqueraded as personal staff for their national premiers. Further still, lines of supplies were being ferried up the mountainside from the valley below, like processions of worker ants. The news helicopter was the only aircraft allowed in the sky that day. Leif Nelson received a message in his earpiece and told the pilot to fly back over the fjord so they could turn and hover with a view of the audience waiting on the flat top of the rock.
Edge of Revelation Page 34