Chapter 10 – The explanation and agreement
‘We need to fully explain and then gain your consent. There is a lengthy procedure to be undertaken before our work can begin. You have to be prepared. Every second counts. There is much damage being done every single moment of the day. We wish to put an end to it.’
I looked over at the golden wavering humanoid in front of me and simply could not get my head round what was going on. It felt like I was a badly tuned radio. My world kept vacillating. I had been out walking the dog and now I was sitting in an extra-terrestrial spacecraft probably up in orbit somewhere over the earth, sitting in comfort with four aliens and holding some sort of conversation. It was hard for me to grasp. My mind kept flitting. Liz was probably panicking while I was perfectly alright. These aliens were talking about some procedure they wanted me to go through while all hell was probably breaking loose below me. It was crazy.
‘I don’t know anything about you,’ I began, with a great deal of mustered deliberation. I was beginning to find myself swamped with conflicting emotions. I couldn’t cope. ‘I don’t know who you are or where you came from. I don’t know what your intentions are.’ It was time to get a few answers. ‘I need to know what is going on.’
‘Then let us go to the beginning – that is a good place to start,’ the alien remarked as if he had been expecting that response. ‘On my planet we do not have names. We have outgrown that. Our species have been evolving over a lot longer time than yours. We are a very ancient race. We also do not usually have shape. We have assumed these forms in order not to upset you further. Our psychologists assured us that this would be best for you. We are communicating directly to your mind.’
‘I gathered that,’ I replied. ‘Where are you from?’
‘We are from a distant galaxy a long way from here. Your race has not even a name for it yet. It remains undiscovered. We learnt to hop the folds of space and time long ago and now time and distance bear no problems for us. The whole universe is open to us. We scour the cosmos for sentient life and do what we can to assist it to evolve and prosper. It gives us a purpose in life.’
‘And we are the lucky ones that have been selected?’ I asked. The idea that this incredibly advanced alien life had picked us out for special attention was quite intriguing. I knew I should have felt honoured. But I could not get the idea out of my head that while we were sitting in comfort holding this conversation Liz would be going out of her mind with worry and people would probably be out searching for me. I was hoisted on the horns of a dilemma.
The alien made no move that I could detect yet a small platform rose up out of the floor with a glass and some biscuits on a platter.
‘Please partake of refreshments. They will help focus your mind and revitalise your brain. There is much for you to take in.’
The alien gestured towards the platform with its drink and biscuits.
‘Life is not common in this universe,’ the alien continued. ‘It is rare.’ He paused. ‘I doubt that you fully understand how precious your beautiful planet is. We have not, in all our years of searching, found one so wonderful. The spectrum of life that has evolved here is special and unique. We wish to treasure it and preserve it.’
‘I share your sentiments,’ I replied, relaxing a bit more. I was beginning to develop a degree of trust. I couldn’t help looking at the tempting drink. The excitement had made me thirsty. It looked appealing. There was some quality about these aliens that was greatly reassuring. Being in their presence seemed to allay all my fears.
‘We know,’ he said. ‘We have been carefully monitoring you. You were one of our many ‘possibles’. Now, after much consideration, you have been selected. If you did not share our sentiments you would not be here.’
I got the impression that these guys could really read minds. I picked up the glass and sipped the drink. It fizzed deliciously on my palate with a host of flavours and was instantly refreshing. It was just as the alien had said it would be. I took a longer drink and reached for a biscuit. That too was delicious. I could almost feel the nutrients being absorbed into my bloodstream and turning on my brain.
‘Life is not only rare and precious,’ he went on, ‘it is also very fragile. We have to move fast to ensure that all the various forms of life continue to flourish and prosper on this jewel of a planet. We have big plans to use this richness to seed other worlds. This is the start of something remarkable. Your planet is far more special that any of you realise. You take it for granted. But it is unique, fragile and so very precious. We need to work fast. Time is running out. Every second that passes brings more extinction and more danger. We do not have time to waste. We need you working with us in order to put our plan into operation. This is a planet that requires urgent attention.’
They were saying all the right things. That’s what we had all been saying in the Blue Post. Time was running out. Given other circumstances I would have been greatly impressed. In fact there were only two things holding me back from complete agreement: firstly my concern for Liz and the kids and secondly that they seemed to have this bizarre idea that I was the man to act as their spokesperson. I knew I could not possibly do something as huge as that. The very idea was frightening. I had to make that quite clear. I looked the alien fully in the eyes – not too hard considering the size of them. ‘But I am not joking when I tell you I am not up for this job. I cannot possibly do what you are requesting of me. It is far too big an ask for a simple man like me.’
‘We want to install you as the spokesperson for your race,’ the alien persisted. ‘We want you to form a world government and implement the changes that will hold things in check while we make the extensive preparations elsewhere. There is much work to do. As for your own skills and attributes – you do not need to worry on that score. We have seen the potential in you and you have the sentiments. We have the means to provide you with all the confidence, skills and abilities you will need. We will give you the backing and the force necessary to implement the required changes.’
I was left floundering. They seemed to think they could just fill me full of all the skills and abilities to fulfil the role of some world leader. I was now supposed to become President of the world. It was becoming more absurd by the minute. ‘But if you have all these super-powers why don’t you just step in and do it yourself?’ I asked, aghast at the image of me as a world leader. It was laughable. ‘Why did you need someone like me? You could have chosen anyone.’
‘Because that would not be right for us,’ the alien explained. ‘Our ethics would not permit us to take over. You have to do that for yourselves. We can only assist you to do what is necessary.’
‘It seems a very fine line to me,’ I replied almost mockingly. It seemed to me that they were after using me to do their own thing. That seemed wrong no matter how laudable. It sounded too much like deception. ‘You are simply going to use me to achieve your ends.’
‘I think our aims are exactly in line with your aims,’ the alien replied reassuringly. ‘It may seem a fine line but it is a line none the less and that is important to us and to you as well. We would not desire to impose or control what you would wish to do.’
I mentally conceded that it sounded as if we might be on the same page.
‘Ok,’ I agreed thoughtfully. ‘So just what are you suggesting needs to be done, and how are you planning to go about it?’ At least I could hear them out. After all I didn’t have to go along with it. From what I’d already heard, plus the vibe I was picking up, it sounded as if they had good intentions. After all, they weren’t proposing to invade Earth and it didn’t sound as if the anal probing or vivisection was in the offing, though I was still mildly disappointed that the weird sex was likely off the agenda too.
‘We selected you because of your sensibilities and intrinsic strengths,’ the alien said. ‘But first we need to work on you to optimise your potential. We will put you through a procedure to improve the efficiency of your mental functioning and metabolism. It will involve increasing your health, vitality and brain function to maximum. You will feel much fitter and healthier that you have ever felt. Your body will be rejuvenated and optimised. Your brain circuitry will be stimulated to radically increase neurone connections to dramatically raise your IQ, cognitive function and memory.’
My mind was having trouble taking this in. It sounded like they were offering me a super service, refurbishment and upgrade, all in one. Heaven knows I needed it. Perhaps I would understand better after the upgrade? But they hadn’t finished yet.
‘Your psychology will be tweaked to give you that confidence and aura that you will require to carry out the responsibility,’ he went on. ‘Your nervous system and senses will be optimised so that you miss nothing. Your circulation system will be optimised to supply the necessary food and nutrients to maintain optimum functioning. On a cellular level we will remove excess plaques and deleterious genes, poisonous metabolites and parasitic bacteria and fungi. We will increase the number of mitochondria to provide more energy. We will remove excess adipose tissue, repair genetic damage and ensure you are effectively the best you can possibly be.’
To my ears that sounded like a dream come true. They were proposing to turn me into superman. What could possibly go wrong? It beat Liz’s visits to the beauty parlour. This did not sound like a superficial tweaking; this was a complete overhaul. It sounded brilliant. Even my concerns about Liz and the kids seemed to fade into the background.
But I could not help worrying. There is always something to worry about. Would I still be the same me? It sounded like I was to get a complete make-over. I’d get a new, improved body and mind. No more of this ageing – the receding hairline, belly flab and forgetfulness. I’d be able to run and play football again and I’d never forget anything. I’d have the IQ to outwit Einstein. Great. Except I was quite attached to my short flabby body. I might be old and ugly but I was me. I had no real desire to be someone else.
‘You will still be the same you,’ the alien reassured me, once again as if reading my mind. ‘You will merely function a thousand times better. You will be able to cope with the pressures and stress of the task without any fears.’
He made it sound attractive. If I had all those attributes I might even be able to carry out the role of President. After all, they were only ordinary human beings when it came down to it. It sounded as if I would be far superior to the best of them. I sipped the drink and nibbled on the biscuits thoughtfully, noting that the four aliens seemed to have no need to join me in partaking of the nourishment. They sat patiently and allowed me the time to mull it through.
My mind drifted back to that conversation I’d had that very afternoon in the pub. I’d come away feeling totally despondent. There seemed no answer to the problems that were mounting up. We were all agreed that the world was inexorably sliding into its own self-generated destruction and nothing could be done about it. We were at the mercy of a bunch of rabid, uncaring sociopaths and psychopaths. They had us by the short and curlies. Now these aliens had appeared out of nowhere and were offering a solution. It seemed totally daft but at least it was a proposal.
‘I’m sure that all those in power, all those nations, wouldn’t just sit back and allow me to take over,’ I mused out loud, beginning to imagine myself as some superhero turning up out of nowhere. ‘I wouldn’t get a foot in the door.’
‘That is where we come in,’ the alien assured me. ‘We will place you in the United Nations and give you the power to make them listen and take notice. You will have the protection and authority to initiate the necessary changes and enforce them. They will not be able to oppose you.’
The way he said that, with such conviction, filled me with hope. I felt that these super beings knew exactly what they were doing. They had selected me to do the job. All I had to do was start believing in myself. If they could really do what they were suggesting they could then why not give it a try?
I tried to imagine myself as President of the world, initiating all those changes we had so glibly discussed down the pub. I couldn’t help but smile. What would the guys think if they could see me now? I could just imagine the look on their faces.
I think it was at that moment that I began to see myself doing the job.
‘OK,’ I said, making up my mind to fully trust them – not that I had much option, they were calling the shots. ‘As you said – time is pressing. If you think it can be done I’m willing to give it my best shot. Let’s see if you can do what you say you can.’
I lifted my almost empty glass – ‘Here’s to the World President – saviour of all living things and protector of the planet.’
There was no discernible smile or sign of relief. The four aliens simply nodded.
Science Fiction books:
Ebola in the Garden of Eden – paperback £6.95 Kindle £2.56 (or free on unlimited)
Green – paperback £9.98 Kindle £2.56 (or free on unlimited)
Rock Music books
In Search of Captain Beefheart – paperback £6.91 Kindle £1.99 (or free on unlimited)
3&sr=1-1&keywords=opher+Goodwin
Other selected books and novels:
Anecdotes-Weird-Science-Writing-Ramblings – a book of anecdotes mainly from the sixties and other writing.
More Anecdotes – following the immense popularity of the first volume I produced a second
Goofin’ with the cosmic freaks – a kind of On the Road for the sixties
The book of Ginny – a novel
In Britain :
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Opher-Goodwin/e/B00MSHUX6Y/ref=sr_tc_2_0?qid=1461306850&sr=1-2-ent
In America:
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=opher+goodwin
In all other countries around the world check out your regional Amazon site and Opher Goodwin books.
