Nexus - 0502 - New Times Magazine-pages

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Union. I asked him why he was showing this to me, and he star- losing consciousness. Then again I had the feeling of being on a tled me with his blunt answer. I sensed he wished to appear cloud and drifting off into space. As I held tightly to the piece of friendly, but his reply led me to doubt. metal, the icy coldness enveloped my body. My temples throbbed "With the push of a small button in our space laboratory we can and the pain above my eyes returned with frightening, sharp jabs detonate every bomb you have in your stockpiles all over the as if needles were being thrust through my skin. globe, causing almost total destruction to your planet." Then all movement seemed to stop and my head cleared. I The first thing that came to my mind was the question, "Why opened my eyes and found myself lying upon my bed in my own would you want to do something so horrible?". room on Broad Street. I sat up and looked about. Glancing at the His reply was also blunt and to the point. "Only if we were dis- clock, I noted only half an hour had elapsed. It didn't seem possi- covered and your people tried to stop us with whatever means ble that so much could have taken place in such a short time, but they had at their disposal. But having looked over your planet it had—and I really didn't know how far I had travelled. thoroughly we have nothing to fear in this respect, for nothing you Of the entire experience, my mind dwelled more greatly on the have on Earth could harm us. Our weapons for self-defence monster I had seen on the screen—and yet it wasn't really a mon- against marauders in space are far superior to anything you have." ster as we would think of the term. We had created pictures of Then he switched to a horrifying picture that made me shudder. monsters here on Earth, and the many representations we made of It depicted a hideous monster, more horrifying than any I have such creatures had led us to think of them as hideous, terrifying, ever seen depicted in the work of science fiction or fantasy artists. supernatural and unearthly. The last is more likely to be correct, The monster was alive. As I reacted in repugnance to this scene, I but not in the fashion of our thinking. They could be terrible to did not see the speaker leave the dais, and started again when I look upon only because we have made them appear so to every- noted his absence. body; but actually they could possess an intelligence far superior He then seemed to be speaking from to ours. Such had been the case with the screen itself, and from the mind of the the person in the room with the monster itself. It was as if he had instant- "We watched your people glass dome. ly changed himself from the form of a I opened my hand and looked at man to a creature which appeared to be develop from small sea creatures the piece of metal resting in my similar to that pictured by the West into what you are today, but if palm. How was I to tell anyone? I Virginia witnesses who described the would be open to so much ridicule Flatwoods monster! your planet continues to exist that life could become almost You view me here on the screen in my without self-destruction, unbearable. I had actually been normal appearance. I note you find me transported to another place—per- horrible to look upon, yet the people on our peo le will chan ein haps the inside of a spacecraft, as I pon, y' peop Pp P' our planet do not find me horrible. We appearance over the billions had surmised previously. It had looked upon your people as odd when we been accomplished in the span of " first saw them evolve. We watched your of years ahead. half an hour, yet I had learned so people develop from small sea creatures much in that length of time, had into what you are today, but if your plan- been exposed to matters no other et continues to exist without self-destruction, your people will person had ever seen or heard before, even in their wildest imag- change in appearance over the billions of years ahead. For your _inings. atmosphere will change. It will become thinner. Your supply of Many might ask why I, instead of some noted scientist or oxygen will diminish, and you will find it necessary to exist on astronomer, had been the person chosen for such an adventure. whatever type of air mixture you may have at that time. This and The only reason I could summon was that which my visitors had other environmental changes will lead to necessary adaptations in given me—that I was an average person, interested in science and body structure. Continued experimentation with radioactive flying saucers, who had devoted much valuable time to the sub- material will undoubtedly have effects upon future generations. jects. If I related my experiences it wouldn't mean anything, sim- This could even lead to loss of reproductive capabilities, which ply because people wouldn't believe me. Had I been a well- could eventually leave your planet devoid of human life. These known scholar or statesman, I might possibly be believed. If peo- things are ahead of you and you must face them and solve these ple did believe, they might become horrified and go into mass problems if you can. To us, your progress is of academic interest panic. This the visitors did not want, for they had a job to do and but little more. wanted to go about it without being disturbed. They had not "On our planet we have three sexes: female similar in function come here to cause trouble; they felt we had enough of our own. to yours; male also similar to yours; and the third is neither male nor female. These latter individuals are the exalted ones who found myself with an overwhelming desire to relate my fantas- become our rulers. They are few, and when they are born there is IE experiences to somebody who would listen to me without great celebration. Our females bear eggs which are stored away. questioning my sanity. So I put the metal away in my strong- We control our population, and these eggs are permitted to be box and telephoned my closest friend, who was a member of the hatched only when the great blackness covers our planet and takes executive committee. many lives." I asked him to come over right away to discuss something The great blackness and many other things would be explained which had happened to me and which I could not talk about over at a later date; but evidently he felt I had witnessed enough at this the phone. He didn't seem to be impressed and wouldn't answer time, for the screen glowed bluish again and went black. yes or no about coming over. He talked hesitantly as if he were Once again he stood on the dais in human form. He then went building up to some point, then blurted out, "Say, Al, stop having to the sliding wall panel and, as it opened, disappeared behind it. Continued on page 84 The room suddenly went into complete darkness, and I felt myself tic experiences to somebody who would listen to me without questioning my sanity. So I put the metal away in my strong- box and telephoned my closest friend, who was a member of the executive committee. I asked him to come over right away to discuss something which had happened to me and which I could not talk about over the phone. He didn't seem to be impressed and wouldn't answer yes or no about coming over. He talked hesitantly as if he were building up to some point, then blurted out, "Say, Al, stop having [es myself with an overwhelming desire to relate my fantas- 68 + NEXUS of years ahead." Continued on page 84 FEBRUARY - MARCH 1998