The Mendelssohnian Theory: Action Adventure, Sci-Fi, Apocalyptic ,Y/A (9 page)

Suddenly, the light turned on and the urban reality melted in
front of his eyes. Through the fading fog, the walls of the large training
chamber were revealed and Adam saw Elizabeth with an armed group of her men.
She hurried to him and embraced him. He yielded to her embrace for a moment,
then disentangled himself and sprung on the first attacker who tried to evade
him behind Elizabeth. The cancelation of the foglet simulation had caught him
unprepared, and he was exposed standing about fifteen feet from them, hurrying
toward the foglet chamber’s exit. Adam jumped toward him but missed him by a
few inches and the pursuer evaded him and disappeared through the shattered chamber
door. Elizabeth held Adam’s arm and immediately diverted her hand, startled.
His skin was burning and he appeared to be shining. Looking into his eyes, she
realized at once, what had happened. The brain implant became prematurely
active, probably because of the situation the boy had found himself in. His
body, which gave the implant distress signals, had caused it to tense, solidify
and grow all at once. Adam returned to examine the dead attacker. The implant,
which protected him from involuntary responses, released measured quantities of
stabilizing substances while analyzing the experience he had just now
undergone. He recalled the first time he’d hit one of the agents chasing him.
It had been different that time and with the aid of a stun gun, this time he
had killed a man with his bare hands. He discovered the feeling it aroused in
him was different but just as unpleasant.

“Come on,” Elizabeth commanded her subordinates, “this place
has been exposed. Clear everything and evacuate according to escape plan
sixteen C.”

“What should I do with the bodies?” asked the commander of
the force. They did not delay to check if the first attacker was dead or alive.
One of them had shot at the enemy’s head and then they continued to come to
Adam’s aid.

“Leave them where they are. And Sergeant Clay…” she hesitated
for a moment and her voice became tinged with sadness. “We’ll cremate Sergeant
Clay’s body in a quick ceremony. I would like to say a few words in the
crematorium.”

The crew obeyed Elizabeth, leaving her and Adam by
themselves.

“What’s going on with me?” asked Adam. He did not ask about
the attack, after all, he was trained for that from the moment he had reached
the Amsterdam Company. If he was intimidated by the changes in his brain,
Elizabeth couldn’t sense it. He merely sounded curious to her.

“It’s the brain implant,” she said, “it became prematurely
active. You will discover that your capabilities will improve with its aid. The
first time, it turns itself off immediately. Next time it becomes operative,
you will feel its full strength, and then it will continue to operate for
good.”

“Interesting,” said Adam, “who do you think turned me in?”
Elizabeth was unable to answer this question.

“Most of the time it’s one of our people the corporation managed
to capture or threaten his family. Remember that evil is inside us. It comes
from us, from you too,” she added quietly. Adam nodded and kept silent when
Elizabeth explained she must hide him. She suggested a solution with a high
probability of success, smuggling him outside the Earth, perhaps to Jupiter’s
moon, Europa. He merely nodded again and allowed her to lead him to the rescue
hovercraft.

Elizabeth clearly remembered the day in which the implant had
become operative in her head. She discovered, for the first time, the destiny
her parents had in mind for her when they’d purchased the appropriate implant.
Out of the list presented them at the hospital, they could afford to purchase a
lawyer or teacher implant, but her father, without her mother’s knowledge, had
borrowed money from his uncle, Richard Wright, so that he could afford a more
expensive implant and secure his daughter’s future as a military commander. The
teenage Elizabeth, unaware of the drama that had taken place upon her birth, grew
up with a sense that she was destined for more than life and society had
dictated to her. Her father snuck strange elements to her training and studies,
elements that did not fit what she thought of as her designated profession.
‘Why do I need hand-to-hand combat training if I’ll be a lawyer when I grow
up?’ she asked her father who woke her up again one winter morning and urged
her to face him in the ring for a Jujutsu training session. Her father did not
answer and aimed a short punch toward his daughter’s shoulder. Who could have
known that her father’s time was limited and once she would become fifteen, he
would leave her by herself. He died along with five hundred other people in a
train accident that had taken place as a result of a cruel chase, conducted by
corporation agents, of an employee that’d betrayed them and revealed secrets to
their competitors. The train accident and the large amount of money paid to the
victims’ family members had been just another small line on the corporation’s
list of expenses, but it could never compensate those who were left behind for
the loss of lives or for their sorrow.

Elizabeth’s mother was unable to continue to function
following her husband’s death. She neglected herself and her daughter and could
not even rise from her bed. Two years later, she put an end to her own life,
leaving seventeen-year-old Elizabeth all alone in the world. Ignoring the
recommendation of the Designation Office that had suggested she continue with
her law studies, Elizabeth enrolled in the army.

When her brain implant became operative, Elizabeth was
deployed to the southern border of the European Union and the Western Nation,
commanding a warrior squad on the front. All at once, the young Elizabeth
understood what she should do. In her heart, she thanked her father for the
legal training her status had earned her, but mainly for the secret lessons in
military tactics and combat training he had forced her to undertake. That very
same night, she left her unit and permanently disappeared from humanity’s
official records.

The young Elizabeth may have immediately realized what her
destiny was, but Adam’s brain implant was activated too soon, and she assumed
he must be confused and flooded with emotions. In spite of her curiosity, Ellie
chose not to interrogate Adam and allow him time and personal space for
self-discovery. “It’s just like being allergic to bee stings,” she offered an
explanation without being asked, “the second sting is the lethal one.”

Adam followed Elizabeth down the lower corridors of the
Australian Prime Minister’s offices in the Earth Spaceport complex. His
thoughts wandered repeatedly to the implant in his brain. He tried to avoid
operating it independently because Elizabeth had claimed it acted
automatically, but mainly because he recalled the analytical chill that had
blown inside his mind while he’d been connected to it, the speed of his
reactions, the excitement that clung to him when he had recognized his growing
powers. He was afraid he might drown within this excitement. Elizabeth had to
wait for him time and again so that he wouldn’t lose his way down the maze of
corridors. She felt his confusion ever since she had evacuated him from the
training camp, but knew that eventually he would have to confront the changes
he was undergoing. She could not help him with that, so she decided to let him
be. Elizabeth did not want to use the elevators, as she suspected they were
connected to a control center that was monitored and operated, in one way or
another, by the corporation. Even in the most secure center on the face of the
Earth, the Skil Corporation had human agents and technological means that
provided it with constant reports. Therefore, they climbed an ancient winding
staircase. At its end, a young soldier waited for them. He led them to a small
empty side room. Once he had made sure they were inside the room, the soldier
closed the door and disappeared. The wall facing the door slid soundlessly and
a narrow opening appeared in it. Elizabeth and Adam passed through the small
opening into a larger and furnished room. Chapalcharie was there to welcome
them. He gave Elizabeth a warm hug and firmly shook Adam’s hand. “So this is
your new diamond?” he asked Elizabeth.

“Yes,” she answered, “he’s definitely a diamond, but he’s not
mine. Actually, I would love to continue and polish him up, but as you know,
there are those who seek him out.”

“And you plan on flying him to Europa?”

“Yes,” said Elizabeth, “I hope he’ll be safer there. It will
take them time to locate him in Europa.”

“Good,” said the prime minister and his face did not betray
his doubts regarding the validity of Elizabeth’s claim. He knew as well as she
did that the best they could do was to delay the corporation agents, definitely
not to stop them. He turned to Adam. “So far, I’ve heard all about what
everyone wants from you. I’m much more interested in what you want.”

Adam hesitated before he answered: “I want to be left alone,”
he finally said. “I want everyone to leave me alone.”

Chapalcharie smiled. “You don’t have that privilege,” he
said.

“I know,” said Adam. “I assume in principle I agree with
Elizabeth.”

The prime minister gave Elizabeth a signal and she nodded in
response. “You still have some time before you have to board the shuttle,” he
added following another moment of silence, “why won’t you stay here with me in
the meantime.”

“As if I have a choice,” Adam murmured. He would much rather
spend more time with Elizabeth. He knew he’d miss her wherever he’d be and
wherever he’ll fly to. Elizabeth sensed his hesitation and calmed him: “I’ll
meet you before you board the shuttle.” Adam nodded and followed his teacher,
instructor, friend with his eyes as she left the room.

“Do you know who I am?” asked Chapalcharie and returned
Adam’s attention to him.

“You’re the Prime Minister,” answered the boy, “at least
that’s what Elizabeth said.”

“Right,” smiled Chapalcharie, “I really am a Prime Minister,
but that’s just a title. Who am I really?” Adam thought for a moment before
replying. He was tempted to try to discover the answer with the information
located in his brain implant’s added memory, but the memory of the sensations
the previous usage of the microchip had brought with it discouraged him from
doing so. Chapalcharie felt his hesitation and laughed. “I’m The First among
the Dreamers,” he explained, “we people of the fifth continent, are the
dreamers of reality in the ‘Dream Time’.”

Adam wasn’t sure he understood Chapalcharie’s intention.
“What is the Dream Time?” he asked.

“Oh, that depends on who you’re asking,” the prime minister
answered, “when the white man began researching the ‘Real People’, that’s how
we are called in our own language, or ‘People of the Dream’ as I prefer to be
called, he found it difficult to decipher the special meaning we relate to as
the tribal dream. What the white people did not understand was that what they
referred to as dream, was reality for us. The easiest way for me to explain it
is that it’s an additional dimension that exists alongside known reality, but
this definition fails to accurately describe our conception of it as well.”

“I never dream,” Adam fired.

“I think you should try to avoid such bold statements,”
Chapalcharie instructed him, “of course you dream, we all dream.”

“Well,” Adam answered, “maybe that’s true, but I can never
remember my dreams.”

“Your body remembers,” explained Chapalcharie, “and so does
your heart.”

Adam thought about the words of his interlocutor, and then
asked, “So you’re what? The commander of the dreamers?”

Chapalcharie burst out laughing again, but his laughter did
not contain scorn or ridicule, Adam felt his intentions were good. “I serve as
a hand in the dreamers’ time clock. Perhaps it’s more accurate to say that I
serve as the guardian of the tiny hole through which matter flows in the dream
clock from side to side.” Adam still didn’t get it but decided to it let go for
the time being. “I would like to give you an offer that carries a certain risk
with it,” Chapalcharie added, “you may, of course, turn it down, but I have a
feeling you won’t.” Adam was silent and waited for the prime minister to detail
his offer. “Would you like to dream with me?”

Adam was surprised. “To dream with you?” he asked.

“Yes,” answered Chapalcharie, “to dream the way the dream
people do.”

“I won’t be able to fall asleep now,” said the youth, and
Chapalcharie erupted in a hearty laugh.

“There are all sorts of dreaming,” he said and immediately
added, “let’s try. I’ll help you.” He guided Adam to a small niche at the side
of the room and held the carrier stick (Carrier Stick ©), an ancient object
that had passed from generation to generation in the Chapalcharie family.
Chapalcharie himself called it ‘The Dream Gate’. He handed it to Adam and both
men held the stick with their hands. “Close your eyes,” Chapalcharie instructed
and when Adam obeyed, he continued to speak with a measured voice: “I’ll count
to ten now and once I’m done you will open your eyes.” Adam nodded, his eyes
closed, and Chapalcharie began to count. “One, two, three…” he continued to
count to ten. Adam opened his eyes and was amazed to discover they were standing
on the edge of a wide cliff and in front of them, way below and spreading in
every direction, as far as the eye could see, a breathtaking view could be
seen; a colorful and bright view of mountains and valleys, rivers and
waterfalls, forests and deserts.

‘We’re facing the rest of the world,’ the recognition passed
through Adam’s mind.

“Exactly,” said Chapalcharie, “we’re facing the world, or
more exactly, you are facing it.”

Adam wasn’t surprised by the fact the Prime Minister was
reading his thoughts within the dream, he was surprised by the fact he did not
find it to be surprising. He opened his mouth to speak, but Chapalcharie began
to speak first: “You don’t need to speak with your mouth in the dream,” he
said.

“Where am I?” thought Adam.

“This is your dream,” Chapalcharie answered voicelessly, “you
tell me where we are.”

“The edges of the world,” Adam thought, “we’re standing where
God should be standing.”

Chapalcharie smiled. “A bit presumptuous to try and replace
your maker, but I guess it’s also true. You can’t deceive yourself in a dream.”

“So if I’m standing where the creators should be,” Adam
began, “where are the creators themselves?”

Chapalcharie didn’t answer. They stood silently and watched
animal herds passing through a valley, way below them. The ocean covered large
areas of the view spread in front of their eyes, then the water retreated and
the earth grew forests and shrubs. Vast animals, pre-historic dinosaurs
sprouted from the earth, marched in front of them and crumbled to dirt.
Giraffes and elephants grew and crumbled like sand statues in the wind. Apes
formed next to them, then human beings, and next to them roamed birds and other
animals that crumbled as well and became shining dots of light. Human cities
took shape in front of their eyes, and then evaporated into deserts. Adam was
enthralled.

“In the beginning there was nothing,” Chapalcharie suddenly
began reciting, “no sky, no earth, no sun, no moon, no stars, no air, no
emptiness, no space. God was everything. God was nothing. Actually, he wasn’t
even God without believers to worship him. He was himself, and he wasn’t. He
contained himself and himself contained him.”

Adam listened to the Australian Prime Minister’s story while
continuing to gaze at the distant sights. “The inconceivable length of time
made God feel desolate and lonely. And bored as well, very bored. In his
thoughts, which were and weren’t his body, a feeling gradually formed into a
determination, ‘It is not good that God should be alone’, and from within it,
God formed the decision to create a friend for himself. He concentrated for a
moment and immediately, a limitless mirror formed in front of him, dotted with
points of light, glittering suns that allowed God to see that which reflected
from the mirror. He saw himself, or his invented companion. When he opened his
mouth to speak, the one beyond the mirror spoke to him as well. When he bent,
his companion crouched as well. When he expressed his opinion, the one
reflected in the mirror agreed with him. Soon, God was bored again. His
companion did not challenge him in any way. He felt lonely, even more than he
had felt before. He turned away from the mirror, making sure the one facing him
turned around as well. They ignored each other as if each existed by himself.”

Chapalcharie stopped his recitation and sat on the ground.
Adam, fascinated, hurried to sit down beside him. Chapalcharie waited a moment,
and then spoke again. “Once more, God was alone. And bored. He decided to try
again. He sought a challenge, he wanted to face powerful forces that would make
him demonstrate his numerous diverse skills, one that would infiltrate through
his endless power and scratch the nerves of his senses, blunt from disuse. He
concentrated for a brief moment, or the period of time a God needed to
concentrate, before time as we know it was invented. There, in front of his
eyes, appeared the universe, space, wider than the width of God and separate
from him. God regarded his creation and became frightened. So far, he had
thought his abilities were limitless, but his final creation was so vast that
he couldn’t see its beginning or its end. Space defined to God the limit of his
powers, and the strength of its silence was even greater than the strength of
God. The unknown, emitted from the edgeless absence, was inconceivable even to
the mind of a great God such as himself. In order to perceive a little of his
own creation, which had turned on him, he began to plant space with stars and
suns and the distances between the miniscule dots served as a scale to measure
the large space. But instead of assisting him, it merely helped him realize
what he had created was too large to be his equal. Once more, God felt he had
failed in his mission.”

“A long time passed. God ignored his last two creations. He
concentrated, withdrew into himself, burrowed into his deep self, tried to find
an interest for his mind. He felt within his depths until he thought of the
first particle, the one he had created space from, and infiltrated it, broke it
down into its elements. Then, once he had thoroughly studied them, arrested and
examined himself. For a moment, he felt a sense of elation. God enjoyed the
process of studying and research and continued to penetrate more and more until
he realized that as he broke down matter into tinier particles, he became
smaller and smaller. Space closed in on him, filling with emptiness the extents
his diminished self had left behind. He pushed the universe and felt the weight
of its resistance on his body. A sense of dread overtook him. For a moment, he
was afraid he’d remain small and puny. He pushed again, this time with a
greater force. Bit by bit, he managed to return his volume and his being. Once
more, he felt he had failed, and once more, he became bored.”

“For an instant that lasted millions of years, God fell
asleep. To an onlooker, (there weren’t any onlookers, apart, perhaps, from
God’s image in the large mirror) he would seem dead, but actually he thought
and concentrated on the only need that occupied him – the need for someone to
be with him. Even so, he may have fallen asleep now and then, during that long
period of time in which he was dumbstruck.”

“Suddenly, a metaphoric smile appeared on his metaphoric
face. He finally knew what he should do. A slight blink and the stars and suns
he had created arranged themselves in a wide circular formation. Another blink
and a small solar system materialized next to it, containing the potential of
its new creation, Planet Earth. He nodded and the third planet in the solar
system was covered with a thin plumage. He acted according to the plan he had
conceived and took care to place all elements of the equation in their proper
place. Only then, after he had finished, he felt he was ready for his truly
vast creation. It was supposed to be the creation of the unexpected developing
element. A being that would be the one true potential, to one day become an
intelligent creature equal to God, a companion to the endless journey through
time and space – a Man. Everything was ready for the arrival of Man, God
announced a holiday in his own kingdom, which was himself. He stretched a
pointed finger, penetrated through the plumage mantle and touched the gray
ball. Instantly, the chunk of rock began rotating, separating day and night in
its rotation. The color of the ball became bluish and water covered its entire
surface. The plumage like mantle became tinged with shades of blue as well and
the sunlight, which penetrated it, was clear and clean. Physical and
geographical processes began to take place on the surface of the small planet
and within its core. The seas retreated, revealing moss covered land, green
grass sprouted between the verdant deposits, then plants and trees began to
blossom. The noise of buzzing insects was heard suddenly, followed by the
croaking sounds of frogs. The seas filled with fish and the land was quickly
covered by dense shrubbery. Reptiles that devoured the toads were in their turn
devoured by larger animals and so forth. And among the abundance God had
created, human beings appeared. First in little groups, frightened and
defenseless, unable to survive, then gradually less frightened, able to survive
the harsh living conditions and defend themselves from predators. When the
sounds emitted from their mouths connected into language and sticks turned to
instruments, God left them to themselves and returned to his own affairs. He
didn’t lack for time, and a new and pleasant sensation engulfed him. He felt
the joy of creation pumping through his veins and intense anticipation to
discover the destiny of his creation, Mankind.”