Wicked Messenger by Edward Drobinski - HTML preview
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Chapter 12
Joshua’s decision to go to Waco was to protect the Hawleys from any subsequent Eli investigation, to allow his scheme a better chance of being effective and to familiarize himself with the place, as this was where he told Cronos, though in sarcasm undetected by his boss, as the place where he was. He didn’t play the radio as he wanted to get as mentally vacant as possible under a cloud-hidden moon, hoping to have no blockages from the quiet intelligence of the universe. The only light he could see was that of the headlights of his cream Chevy compact; the only sound that of the engine hum. He hoped some insightful thought would invade his perplexed head.
Both the light and sound seemed magnified with no competition present and Joshua unconsciously thought that he could see and hear everything that was now relevant. But, he wanted to know “Why?” He snorted a chuckle at himself as he recalled that he had been asking this question since he was a little brat and in 35 years had gotten no answer. More than ever, this time he really wanted to know as he was putting himself in the position of being viewed as a traitor to his species. Species! No one else had managed to be this bad. There were traitors to countries, traitors to factions, traitors to people and traitors to families. But, never a whole *******
species. He thought that he was on the road to infamy of the
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highest order. Quite an accomplishment for a snot-nosed boy from the provinces. The names Joshua and Foucalt would perish in the reality of my life reality and live only in textbook blurbs. Let the chips fall as they may as he thought that he was clearly right. The Elis didn’t have to wipe out all Earthlings to live on Earth. Maybe a select few, but certainly not all. He was reminded of the Eli contradiction of considering themselves peaceful people, yet enforcing that with the numbing controllers and the exterminating “Peace Corps.” And they thought nothing of killing sweet little Earthling girls and their kindly grandfathers. If that’s what I’m a traitor to, I’m proud to be called that. **** the ************ ********.
He realized that he had sort of gotten a “why” answered. It worked well on a personal level, but still didn’t shed light on the larger questions. He got over that quickly when he recalled that no one else found out anything either. Sure, there are always those who have claimed to have answers; like religions and politicians, only to be revised years later. At least the Elis were fully aware of that aspect of “truth.” His thoughts crystallized in; “I know as much about the entire scheme of things as anyone ever did. Nothing. I have a plan that could save billions of good Earthlings. This is no time to be reflective. It’s time for perfect execution.”
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Joshua’s mind again went blank, but this time with a feeling of contentment rather than a vague unease. He thought through his plan and tried to envision every possible glitch and how he might handle them.
Time passed quickly and he saw a sign indicating “WACO” and in smaller letters; “HOME OF THE FEDERAL MASSACRE OF RELIGION.”
As any Eli, Joshua found humor in the thought that the two premier organized frauds were openly engaged in conflict. On second thought he wondered if it was still going on; didn’t want to be on either side or be an innocent bystander, and checked his pocket for his “silver bullet.” He thought; “I might have to put a few assholes out of their misery. I wish the ******* sun would rise.”
It did as he cruised the flat, sandy, big sky town, looking for a boarding house. He found one bordering on the muddy Brazos River. As soon as he registered he received a call from Cronos and delivered his expected “intelligence” report.
After spending a month in Waco the ensuing day, he started to drive to New York City. It was prompted by both a personal curiosity and a desire not to be considered remiss in his duties.
ESPERANZA, ARIZONA, 6-16-2058 AND THE US SHORTLY THEREAFTER
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Grandpa kept his promise and at 8AM he called the state police. They disgruntledly came and found nothing, but in the course of their investigation they found five other people who recalled seeing a streaking light that night.
Esperanza Mayor Carlos Gutierrez was made aware of the report and thought it was a lot of nonsense, but saw an opportunity for a town economic jolt, as that caused by the trekkers to supposedly UFO visited Roswell, New Mexico. He personally confirmed the story with a first-hand account of the little destructive man saying that he did not come forward with the story as, he too, feared becoming an unelectable UFO
believer-nut, but now that he was in good company he was boldly telling the truth.
The State Police left without any tangible evidence, but over the next few days there were more sightings of the horrible little man and it seemed like half the town saw something not of this world.
The “news” spread from local papers, to the internet, to state papers and to prime time TV news with Matt. The federal government was concerned with the weapon and any other advanced technology which might be in Esperanza. They sent in an investigative team who closed off the area, which served to attract professional UFO “experts,” who filled their internet blogs and websites with outraged stories of another government
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cover up. At the site they chanted; “Roswell, never again.
Roswell, never again,” while they marched the boundaries, thereby becoming their own news story, which they embellished with their own “observations.”
At a Presidential press conference, spokesperson Mary Fabricant denied that the US investigators had “yet” found anything, but that the area was to remain closed as the investigation continued to avoid “contamination.” In her closing unquestioned remarks she volunteered that the US has the technology in place for the production of advanced “space age”
weaponry, though added that this had nothing to do with the goings on in Esperanza.
This statement was the result of a recommendation by the right-wing think tank, “Citizens for an Informed America,” and was approved by President Francis (Call me Frank, please) X.
Stabile, primarily in an effort to scare the fight out of China, Russia, Japan, the European Economic Union and any miniscule upstart considering aggression.
Becky and Grandpa were the beneficiaries of a political and communications education known to the few, but which they could never divulge. They did have a great time laughing at items carried in the news which Mom and Dad couldn’t quite understand.
In quiet moments they prayed that Joshua’s lie would work.
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NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK. 6-22-58
Joshua had spent his first few days exploring Manhattan.
The skyscrapers reminded him of big cities on Eli. The fast-moving-people’s skin tones prompted him to think of Sunnies and Darkies, but also weird gradations in between, and something new to him; yellow ones. As Eli had been almost completely segregated for centuries, he wondered why there was no readily apparent conflict in overstuffed Manhattan, which was allegedly a part of the “violent” Earth. However, the people seemed more distant than they were in Esperanza, engrossed in their own business, and were completely uninterested in the travails of another transient. Maybe this had something to do with it.
Still, he found it disconcerting and he tried saying “Hello” to a number of people and was generally greeted with a look of derision, if any at all. He did manage to strike up a few short lived conversations and found out that in each of those he was speaking to people from elsewhere visiting. Did these New Yorkers consider themselves above the rest? Maybe. Did they hate everyone? There was no open conflict. Were they Eli clones insofar as they were totally indifferent? Perhaps. He thought that he had to know, as he still had time to make adjustments in the finer points of his recommendations.
He approached people and told them that he was visiting and that he needed help in finding the Empire State Building. He
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subsequently upped the degree of difficulty and said he wanted to find the Statue of Liberty. He was somewhat surprised to see that people who were ready to brush right by him, without a second glance were more than willing to stop and talk when he said he needed help. In the course of soliciting that assistance, he got into some medium length conversations and was told that the reason he had been ignored was one he had not considered; they were afraid of him; not because they knew he was an alien; but because they were accustomed to being accosted by thieves and scam artists. One elderly Manhattanite told him that he wouldn’t be surprised if one-third of the people on the street had done time and the best way to stay out of trouble is to “keep moving and look as if you know where you’re going.”
There was no way for Joshua to verify the man’s estimate and his initial reaction was that it seemed high. Further reflection suggested that this would indeed be a good explanation for the Manhattan burghers’ fear of contact with strangers. But, was it true or an erroneous mass belief? In some sense it really didn’t matter, as right or wrong, this was what the locals believed was true and they acted accordingly; no different than a religious Jew going to temple or a religious Catholic going to church. They believe what they believe, and search for “facts” to confirm it, much like eyewitness testimony to a flat world. Belief tends to beget evidence. So, he decided
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that the “indifferent” Manhattanites were not like the big city Elis and merely were practicing their own kind of religion based on their belief that the others were unscrupulous. “We are God’s people. The others are not.” Akin to the preponderance of Elis in one colossal regard, Joshua wasn’t religious at all, but he didn’t consider a believer evil; just one in need of a new rabbi’s teachings for further evolution.
Today he sat in his hotel room very contented that the reaction to Grandpa’s story was going as well as possibly could have been imagined. Joshua waited for Cronos to ring him on the rocket to give him the news.
At 10AM the rocket called. Joshua said; “On duty, sir,” and clicked his heels like a mock attentive soldier.
“Report.”
“Report’s going to be a bit different today. The current news is that the US government has either killed or captured Ares and that they are already duplicating his “silver bullet.
Their Warhol machines are excellent.”
Silence was “The Law’s” response as he considered it more likely that Joshua had killed him. But he also realized that his own stature was dependent on the reliability of his main man and that if he ignored the information, Joshua had access to Zeus and Marshall. He wondered if they hadn’t already been told. He decided to mouth a platitude which was directed where Joshua
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seemed to be going. He said; “All too often military action is necessary. However, it should always be remembered that whenever there is military conflict the ultimate outcome is always less than satisfactory for ALL sides.”
Joshua didn’t expect that response; at least not this early in the report. He wondered what kind of game Cronos was playing.
He supposed that Cronos did not fully trust him. He considered not agreeing with the conclusion he wanted Cronos to come to, hoping that Cronos would espouse it. But, he decided that this approach was riskier than the subterfuge he had already started and that Cronos trusted no one fully, anyway. He followed suit with; “We might be fortunate in that respect. I think the information suggests a peaceful migration for the benefit of all Elis. The logic is there, and if Earth attacks we can quickly reassess.”
Cronos reversed his field, but put the thought into the mouths of others, saying; “The powers that be will not want to hear this.”
“What other choice do they have? Risking oblivion?”
Cronos saw personal advantage in the communication of this information, as it would make one of his competitors, Marshall, look even worse than he already did with his falsely suspected prompt of Ares’, and thereby the Military’s, self-serving news conference. He also knew that in committee Military Marshall
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would espouse war even when logic dictated otherwise, and appear as a one-dimensional functionary out to raise the importance of that function at everyone else’s peril. He again reversed direction and said; “You’re doing a fine job and I agree with your conclusion. It’s unfortunate that the competent and honest messenger bringing bad news is often killed.”
Joshua was not sure if the last commentary was straightforward, sarcastic or if it was sarcasm of sarcasm. He took the best road open to him; a straight joke; and said;
“Well, be careful when you tell the committee. I wouldn’t want to have to break in another boss.”
Cronos gruffly said; “I’ll handle it,” and hung up.
ACCEPTANCE, ELI, 6-23-98476. 6-23-2058 EARTH CALENDAR
Cronos Titanby arranged an emergency meeting of the highest Eli officials; President Zeus Indiffant, State Director Seth Recreat, Military Director Marshall Ordnance, Finance Director Brigitte Chance, and Legal Director Prometheus Blaze. The seldom cleaned, twenty-fifth floor room in the downtown skyscraper’s single most notable aspect was dust. It could be seen settling persistently down en masse in the light filtering in from the ceiling skylight. Zeus used a finger to write his name in capital letters on the heavily and dully lacquered mahogany desk. Marshall drummed all of his four right hand fingers and
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watched the powder fly as he used his left four to anxiously rub the lower half of his face, anxious to hear the next “story”
brought by old Cronos. The other attendees absently gazed from one wall painting to the next, then went around again, expecting not to have much of a part in the discussion.
Cronos walked in at top speed, slamming the door behind him and said; “My apologies for being late. I was just on the phone with Joshua Foucalt, as I wanted to come here with the most current information.” He actually enjoyed making them wait as it was highly unlikely, given its nature, that any relevant intelligence would be gathered at the last minute.
He sat and Zeus said; “Proceed.”
“Thank you for your indulgence. I asked for this meeting, as I believe the new facts discovered dictate a significant change in plans.” The chairs creaked as the others shuffled in them. They grimaced and braced themselves.
“My man, Joshua Foucalt has informed me of the likelihood of Earth now having weapons comparable to ours. There are reports of the Unites States government capturing an alien and having access to a new arms technology.”
Zeus said; “Credible?”
“Sufficiently credible to warrant our consideration.”
Marshall Ordnance immediately saw the likely outcome of the new information and recognized it as contrary to his personal
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importance. He scowled and articulated; “It seems to me that this is very convenient for the Earthlings and that your information is based entirely on the say so of one man, who was admittedly “not all there” a short time ago.”
Cronos actually welcomed the anticipated dismissive commentary and answered; “I’m not going to debate the merits of my man. He did experience a memory loss upon landing. But, I will say that the problem was caused by the less than professional manner in which your man handled the same task. He has either been captured or killed and they have his “silver bullet” and are Warhol ling (duplicating) it. That is precisely what caused the necessity of this meeting.”
Marshall didn’t expect the commentary and was unprepared to register a reasonable response. He felt as if he was living out his worst nightmare; starting out as heroic rescuer and then being viewed as incompetent; then incompetent to the point of idiocy and risk to Eli life. He sought to distance himself from Ares and said; “Ares ****** up. How was I supposed to predict that? He was my top man.”
Cronos couldn’t resist saying; “I’d hate to meet the rest.”
Zeus interjected; “All right, all right. Let’s just deal with the situation. .............. He questioned Cronos about his degree of certainty in what he had said. Cronos wisely resisted adamancy but made a case for reasonable likelihood, and
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logically erred on the side of caution at the risk to Eli life.
He knew that individual Eli life was not a compelling issue to Zeus in and of itself, but without any he would have nothing to govern.
Seth, Brigitte and Prometheus said nothing; their eyes diverting from the gray, plasticized, asbestos drop ceiling to their hand sized computers sitting on the desk. Though there was an occasional smirk at the point scoring of Cronos, their overall demeanor was that of boredom, as the conclusion seemed obvious, given Cronos’ second hand testimony.
Zeus decreed; “Cronos, I believe your point is well taken.
Further investigation can and will be pursued when more of us get to Earth. The first ships will be ready in ten days.
Correct, Marshall? Or did one of your best people **** that one up too?”
Marshall stoically watched whatever was in front of his blank eyes and said; “Ten days is still the expectation.”
Zeus followed with; “Good. Unless there are any objections, this will be a peaceful migration, until we know better.” He only heard the faint insectile whirr of palm pilots. He said;
“Meeting concluded.”
ELI, 7-4-98476. 7-4-2058 EARTH CALENDAR
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The first three evacuation ships, seating three thousand Elis each, departed for Earth. For identification purposes, they were marked with palm tattoos depicting a simple black club, a replica of that found in a deck of playing cards. The launch pad was a scene of chaos as split families said goodbye to their more powerful and therefore higher priority relatives. “Darkies”
glowered at the “Sunny” only seating, but didn’t do or say anything, fearing a visit from the Peace Corps or being
“forgotten” on Eli.
LIGHT. DARK. LIGHT. DARK. LIGHT. DARK. LIGHT. DARK. LIGHT.
DARK. LIGHT. DARK. LIGHT. DARK. LIGHT. DARK. LIGHT. DARK. LIGHT.
DARK. LIGHT. DARK. LIGHT. DARK. LIGHT. DARK. LIGHT. DARK. LIGHT.
DARK. LIGHT. DARK. LIGHT. DARK. LIGHT. DARK. LIGHT. DARK. LIGHT.
DARK. LIGHT. DARK. LIGHT. DARK. LIGHT. DARK. LIGHT. DARK. LIGHT.
DARK. LIGHT. DARK. LIGHT. DARK. LIGHT. DARK. LIGHT. DARK.
Since they were very noticeable at full size and the prey of everything on Earth if they remained tiny, the Elis introduced themselves. This was their instruction; the most diplomatic and reserved setting the tone for a peaceful stay and knowing that Immigration’s authority ended at deportation, an impossible remedy.
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Initially, Earthlings didn’t believe them as the residents of Los Angeles, Fort Lauderdale and Dallas drank and celebrated Independence Day. They thought these “Elis” had a few too many or were planning some kind of scam. But, in a few hours, some credence was put in their story as text messaging and e-mails flurried and news people descended on the newcomers, and were shown the Elis’ chips and controllers. The media stories generally were tongue-in-cheek belief and many Earthlings who put credence in the unlikely story didn’t like the idea of newcomers one little bit.
In Dallas, a forty year old, unemployed drunkard named Robby Allison needed some information and to his chagrin, his parents had gone somewhere, mostly in consideration of the fact that Robby was home. He called one of his drinking buddies,
“Ace” Chandler, who worked part time as a Legal Assistant, and was advised that there was no law against killing something non-human. Of course this wasn’t entirely true, but “Ace” liked to show that he was as smart as the schooled lawyers and often made broad generalizations. Robby liked to show that he was a man of action (In actuality his actions averaged 1.32 per year, but this is high in drunken bum circles.) rather than one of books, told “Ace” of his plans and asked if his “partner” had any interest in going on the adventure of a lifetime.
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Bobby liked what he heard and added a few shots to what he had already consumed as he now knew his purpose in life and needed the courage to fulfill his destiny. He carefully and slowly drove downtown and crashed an Eli press conference in Deely Square. He pushed his way through the throng and got to the front. At the edge of the platform, he yelled; “America for the Americans,” and used his pistol to shoot three Elis before being tackled and pinned by people nearby in the crowd.
Pandemonium ensued as most attendees tried to get out of the place quickly. Those not near the platform didn’t know if the shooter had been subdued and no one knew if there was another gunman or two still around. They succeeded in knocking each other down and screaming as sirens put their thoughts on the matter into the air, drowning out the rest.
Eli blood spurted and as the wounded hit the ground, they were amazed at how the blood gushed, like pressurized water from a punctured pipe, no more no less, color being the only difference. This occupied their minds almost as much as their fear of pain and death. It had been generations since any Eli had experienced this.
END OF FIRST EPISODE
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