Preparations
and Patience
The next day saw the conclusion of the
conference. Sylvaram disclosed the nature of the terrible death of Inchoate if
nothing was done. He was direct, “Dear peoples of Inchoate, we are approaching
a crisis. We have been in an elaborate orbit around the Sirius twins long
enough to forecast that when the two stars and their huge satellites next align
with our host planet, our world will be drawn by gravity into the fiery
coronas, torn apart, and burned to atomic ash.
“Fortunately, we are nearing, in the planet’s
meandering orbit, an optimum location to exit this system and return to Earth,
the planet in the solar system, which was our home in the Before Time! That
shall occur on the tenth day of 10Month, which coincides with the winter
solstice. We have much to do to prepare for a smoother return to Earth than we
experienced coming here. I am broadcasting this on the network so all the
people will complete work preparing for the journey home.
“What shall occur is a controlled repeat of
how we got here, though in the opposite direction. It shall not be as chaotic
as was that other trip. We shall all ride the travalink. The first data stream
consisting of a self-constructing system is already traveling to the Earth. It
will attach itself inside the Earth to the mooring place we left and act as a
beacon for our data flows. It will build itself to receive and transform the
other data streams as they arrive back into the forms the data represent. Every
stream will include exact instructions as to what and where it was when we left
Sirius. For this to work, you must each take a capsule of medicine and a homing
device that tells the controlling computer who and where you are and will
sedate you safely for the journey.
“You shall all receive explicit instructions
as to your role in preparing for the journey home. Of course, we shall all be
in stasis, or hibernation, for the trip. It does not matter where you are at
the time of departure. You have some freedom as to location, but you must be in
a safe position at launch time. What is crucial is that you have taken the
prescribed medication on the ninth day of 10Month. Our laboratories have been
working for over six months to manufacture and distribute the required doses.”
Over the next tense and gloomy several days, a
variety of trains started for their countries. Before the train heading for
Eestlandt left, Naksarben, one of only a handful of people who had traveled
from Earth to Sirius in the outbound Inchoate data stream, said his good-bye to
Deidre, the delicately beautiful princess of Eestlandt, with a kiss. She
shivered against his warm chest and he held her close to assure her everything
would work out.
Naksarben, who was central to determining the
problem that befell Inchoate, risked his life to gather urgently needed data
that led scientists to calibrate the rocket sensors, and fought bravely in the
war that the enemy almost won. Because of his enormous and valued service, he
was granted leave to make a pilgrimage on his own, returning to the Monastery
of the Mysterious Whys before the appointed day.
The
Flying Pig and Home
He led his jackalopes, George and Gracie, who
were very dear to him and had shared many of his more recent adventures. They
made steady progress south. He took them to the Flying Pig Inn, where he had
gone so very long ago. Fiesta Rohling-Boyle had not forgotten him.
“Look how strong you are,” she marveled,
grasping the muscles of his arms tightly. She was a large, jolly woman who
always wanted her guests to be comfortable. The inn was full of travelers going
south. As he had during his first visit, he bought the first round for everyone
in the tavern and told of his adventures, while the fireplace roared its
approval with sparks and flares. No one believed half of what he said, but he
was serious in telling them to take the prescribed medication on the ninth day
of 10Month. In the morning, after one of Fiesta’s magnificent breakfasts, he
said good-bye to all and continued on his journey. The hills were covered with
early snow, the valleys meandering in their always change, and the streams that
muttered and danced beneath a thin layer of ice were the trio’s friends. He was
a day early at the train station and greeted Abbot Bramble Woodlands and the
entire party from the monastery as they stepped off the train. The station was
at a distance from the monastery, so the group required several days of travel.
At last, on the fourth day of 10Month, the
monastery was before them, with the folk of Bristlebeak waiting in worried
puddles. The abbot invited all into the Silent Chapel and explained what must
be done. He had casks of muskberry wine brought from storage and shared with
all a toast for their well-being during the coming journey. “Well. I look
forward to seeing all of you in another Now Time. To one and all of you, my
brethren, good season!”
Everyone in the hall raised a cup and
responded with “Good season!”
Naksarben chose to be with his jackalopes in
their stable on 4Day, the solstice. Gracie and George were both infinitely
curious. He told them in loving response about twin stars, Orion, travalink,
light speed, white holes, and he answered all their questions. The hours slid
by, and he was with his trusted friends.
In midday, something started soft and far
away. It was a powerful tremor, which grew rapidly. The three lay on their
sides, comforting the other two. Naksarben could see the double doors of the
barn begin to jiggle slowly up and down. Suddenly, there were no doors; they
had turned to dust and blown away.
“Lie still and do not be afraid,” counseled
Naksarben for the last time. George looked at his best friends. “Say good
night, Gracie.” She looked deeply into his loving eyes. She watched him and
everything else changing into drifting dust. “Good night, George,” she
whispered
The
End Is the Beginning
The vast computers at the Mystic Carousel end
of the travalink collected and sorted data signals. These were sent in the
order in which they would be assembled inside the Earth. The planet’s core with
its molten center went to the head of the line. Then the tectonic plates, with
the continents, mountains, islands, valleys and riverbeds, would be placed on
top of the core. Next, the atmosphere and water, both potable and saline, would
be added to the rivers and seas as was appropriate.
All of these were the rather simple tasks. The
infrastructure of roads, railroads, power distributions networks, pipes,
sewers, and manhole covers had to be placed exactly so, and set to function.
Living beings also had a priority: single
cells, spores, and single-celled creatures had to populate the water and sky;
the plants, both underwater and on the land, had to be placed where they
belonged; the sponges, fishes, mollusks, and fungus had be returned to their
proper environments; the reptiles, insects, worms, crustaceans, and cephalopods
had to be located correctly.
Then, most critically, the birds of their
various species; the mammals of the jungle, woods, and farms had to be gently
placed; and finally, the sentients had to be restored were they had gone to
sleep.
As it worked, the travalink and all its parts
had to change them into data streams and project themselves into space. All
that remained of Inchoate in that distant place were echoes.
