We Save the World E-Book

Candace Carter

• Herausgeber: BoD - Books on Demand
• Kategorie: Gesellschafts- und Liebesromane
• Sprache: Englisch

Seitenzahl: 537

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2025

Beschreibung

"We Save the World" A trans-human, living in the year 2450, recalls his life as the boy Pascal centuries earlier and shares the gripping story of how the world was saved. In the year 2125, George Orwell's prophecy in his novel "1984" has become chilling reality. Countries and nations have been destroyed, and people live as slaves in castes. The World Bank, known as the WB, celebrates the 75th year of its global rule. But in this same year, their reign begins to crack as a strange plague breaks out - and the child Sophia is born. As a young woman, Sophia comes to live on an island off the coast of France, where "misfits" are kept for experimental purposes. Inspired by her motto, "We must love our enemies to death", a small group decides to take action. And so they set out to conquer the beast and save the world - with the only weapons that have ever, through time, really made a difference: pacifism, friendship, and art. The great saga takes place on the island, in Paris and in New York. And this time - they succeed! The world is reborn into the Age of the Parousia, where duality ends and matter and consciousness are joined in union. But what about the rest of the universe? "We Save the World" is Part 1 of the trilogy "New News from the West". Watch for Part 2, "Sequence", and Part 3, "The Beyond", coming soon!

Leseprobe

For my grandson Anton Tuto

To the Good I am good,

to the Not-good I am also good;

for the TAO is goodness.

Laotse

Antigone:

I was born to join in love, not hate

that is my nature.

Sophocles

Behold, I make all things new.

Revelation of John 21,5

Contents

Introduction

We Save the World Part I

We Save the World Part II

We Save the World Finale

Acknowledgements

Introduction

“Evil is anywhere and everywhere” sang the band “Erste Allgemeine Verunsicherung” 1985 in their hit song ”Ba Ba Banküberfall”. Evil anywhere and everywhere...how can we deal with that?

Worst-case scenario: repress, condemn, glorify. Best-case scenario: encounter.

Considering the amount of philosophical, psychological, ethical and theological literature referring to this topic, what percent is morally overloaded? Stories are different. Stories don‘t lecture. We love them because they show us “how to live”. What is the common denominator stories, fairy tales and myths share? All stem from a tale as old as humanity itself: The heroine, the hero, together with friends, bravely sets out to confront evil. Two world wars, Vietnam, Syria and Afghanistan, neo-liberalism and influencers, assaults on body and mind by corporations and world powers, an environment on the brink of collapse. And yet, in our time, via book, image, song, film and internet there are overwhelming and inspiring stories of how the willingness to encounter evil can bring about good: Of those who go through hell to liberate the gold at the end of the rainbow. No one has to face evil alone. Friends and community play an important role. Virgil accompanied Dante through the nine circles of hell, Sancho Pansa never left Don Quixote‘s side, Sam was with Frodo in Mordor. And what would Harry Potter be without Ron and Hermione?

Good stories offer identification with the humanity of the protagonists. Frances McDormand‘s portrayal of Mildred Hayes in “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri” remains unforgettable. Mildred is bitter and vengeful, but by learning to recognize the evil within herself and turning an enemy into a friend, she again dares to risk life as worth living. Aristotle believed man recognizes the crucial importance of the good for his conduct in life by performing that which is characteristic of him by virtue of his human nature. In other words, do good and you will be you.

And Utopia? Ingeborg Bachmann sees Ulrich, the protagonist of Robert Musil‘s fragmentary masterpiece “The Man Without Qualities”, as a Utopian who, as Musil writes, possesses a “sense of reality not yet born”. For Ernst Bloch, Utopia is “thinking ahead”.

Like Utopia, the Parousia, is a “Not-Yet-Place.” Plato refers to the Parousia as “the presence of ideas in things”, that is, the end of duality and the union of spirit, matter, thought and action. We all experience fragmentary signals of this conjunctive “Beyond” in the real world. I recognize them, for example, when I gaze at Goya‘s Desastres, listen to Mahler‘s 8th Symphony, or accompany Harry when he goes to face Voldemort in the forest.

In “We Save the World”, Sophia takes the stage as the embodiment of her parents Adam and Eve‘s perfect love. Bearing the name of wisdom, she incorporates the prototype of the Good, the True and the Beautiful. Her counterpart is the WB (World Bank): a demonic, devouring, dark and amorphic force. Yet Sophia has no interest in defeating the WB. Instead, she wants to love it to death.

Richard, in a conversation with Pascal, the narrator, describes Sophia‘s nature: “Behold Sophia. From the moment you meet her, your soul lights up and you want nothing more than to become like her. Sophia carries the virus of love in her heart. She has infected us all, Pascal, and the love virus is spreading. Hence my conviction that our united strength will also reach the WB.”

Sophia is the stone, thrown in the water, building infinite concentric circles. These circles are the friends. Together with her, they put their lives on the line, ultimately accompanying her into the bowels of the WB. During the journey, all experience renewed connections and resonances with wildlife and nature. “Long lost” skills, such as telepathy, teleportation and transmigration, as well as enhanced access to the redeeming qualities of music, tones and vibrations, come to life.

I wrote “We Save the World” between 2015 and 2018, that is, before Covid. In the midst of the pandemic, the press was full of the disturbing 2021 Agenda of the World Economic Forum in Davos. In their publications, the rich and powerful propagated the idea of the “Great Reset”, to globally reboot the world post Corona, in accordance with the motto: “You will have nothing and you will be happy”. In the Prologue to Part I, Pascal explains how this might come about:

“In the 20th century, long before my birth, decisive changes in the world order took place. This century experienced two world wars in its first half. After the Second World War, the so-called “Cold War” prevailed between the two systems of Capitalism and Socialism. Capitalism triumphed over Socialism, but greed and environmental abuse, new religious-and resource-wars followed. General disinterest and consumption distractions spread like wildfire in the industrialized countries, while discontent in the poor nations led to acts of terrorism and upheaval. By the end of the century, the planet was on the verge of collapse.

The banks, however, masterminded the global longing for redemption from the shattered capitalist order for their own purposes. Joining forces internationally, they founded an institution under the name of WB, short for World Bank. Using extremely sophisticated methods, the WB exploited both the needs of the disadvantaged and the desires of the rich. In the poor areas of the world, working conditions and medical care were improved. However, from the beginning on, new settlements were linked to industrial centers and, over time, turned into prison camps. Family structures were abolished, while loyalty and gratitude to the WB were propagated as sole education goals. In the developed countries, people were kept in a perpetual “fun stupor”, bar any contact with other parts of the world. In time, the WB succeeded in eradicating all memory of morality, ethics, history, religion and education.

Within a hundred years, both democracies and dictatorships were gone. Worldwide, only the efficiently structured two-caste system of the WB existed, consisting of the lower and the upper caste, whose members were called ‚UKs‘ and ‚OKs‘. For both castes, high tech, drugs and sex defined the three pillars of their control system.”

In the first sentence of my novel, the reader learns the world has been saved. But the question remains: What is it like in a world where demons have become angels and Lucifer, the prodigal son, returned home? In the Prologue to Part II, the narrator shares only the cryptic answer, that we, the world, the universe, will again be one with the “Living”. Since completing “We Save the World”, I have given this a great deal of thought. And who knows, perhaps the story will continue....

Candace Carter

Fall 2021

We Save the World

Part I

Prologue

Three hundred years ago, as the boy Pascal, I took part in the events saving the world of that time and transforming it into ours.

We too, are different. Our spirits, no longer bound to a single body or separated from matter, can visit other organic and inorganic hosts. Together we are like the flow of a river. The number of visitors for one host is infinite. As a guest, however, I am exclusively in contact with the host, who shares with me all the knowledge it, as an entity, has accumulated since the beginning of time.

We communicate via our thoughts. Having been personally present during the crucial changes bringing about our Age, the global telepathic network has asked me to share, by means of a telepathic narrative, the events I experienced as a boy.

In the 20th century, long before my birth, decisive changes in the world order took place. This century experienced two world wars in its first half. After the Second World War, the so-called “Cold War” prevailed between the two systems of Capitalism and Socialism. Capitalism triumphed over Socialism, but greed and environmental abuse, new religious-and resource-wars followed. General disinterest and consumption distractions spread like wildfire in the industrialized countries, while discontent in the poor nations led to acts of terrorism and upheaval. By the end of the century, the planet was on the verge of collapse.

The banks, however, masterminded the global longing for redemption from the shattered capitalist order for their own purposes. Joining forces internationally, they founded an institution under the name of WB, short for World Bank. Using extremely sophisticated methods, the WB exploited both the needs of the disadvantaged and the desires of the rich. In the poor areas of the world, working conditions and medical care were improved. However, from the beginning on, new settlements were linked to industrial centers and, over time, turned into prison camps. Family structures were abolished, while loyalty and gratitude to the WB were propagated as sole education goals. In the developed countries, people were kept in a perpetual “fun stupor”, bar any contact with other parts of the world. In time, the WB succeeded in eradicating all memory of morality, ethics, history, religion and education.

Within a hundred years, both democracies and dictatorships were gone. Worldwide, only the efficiently structured two-caste system of the WB existed, consisting of the lower and the upper caste, whose members were called “UKs” and “OKs”. For both castes, high tech, drugs and sex defined the three pillars of their control system.

UKs and OKs

The UKs’ brief schooling consisted of drill and training for all menial services. UKs began their lifelong drudgery at age fourteen. Independent thought was suppressed by drugs and brainwashing and only the wisdom of the WB was disseminated. The UKs were made to believe that everything they had: a place to sleep, work, food and virtual entertainment, was due to the WB. Thus programmed, they lived and worked in guarded housing and labor camps worldwide. The environment had become an industrial wasteland. The UKs never ventured beyond their colonies. As a result, mountains or forests were familiar to them only through the giant screens in their housing units. Up to the age of five, the UKs were kept together in daycare centers. After that, the sexes were separated. Most people were in production, although there were jobs for the better educated as well as for supervisors. Women up to thirty-five years of age were paired with procreative men. They were not exempt from work, either before or after childbirth. If a woman’s pregnancies proceeded without complications, she was repeatedly impregnated and forced to carry the children to term. Contact with sperm donors was strictly prohibited, and after birth, the babies were immediately taken from their mothers.

The daily life of the UKs was predictable and monotonous. Work hours were from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., followed by four laps of jogging in the courtyard. Food as in earlier times with meat, grain, fruit and vegetable products was only available to the OKs. Twice a day, the UKs received a liquid cocktail of chemically produced vitamins, minerals and other nutrients, which kept them sufficiently fit for their work. In the evenings, this mixture included a drug to induce a trance-like state. Thus prepared, the UKs sat in front of huge screens and watched topics such as pornography, adventure or nature. All films contained hidden suggestive and manipulative stimuli promoting docility and tractability.

After an hour of brainwashing, the screens went blank and a vibrating tone sounded in the room: The signal to drink the liquid in the small cups attached to the chairs. The drugged potion included additives lowering bodily functions, allowing the room temperature to be held at 8° Celsius. The seats automatically reclined horizontally, and the UKs fell into a deep sleep until a siren woke them up the next morning.

Since liquid food was only distributed twice in twenty-four hours, a specifically designed 7-day diaper was sufficient for excretions. Once a week, the UKs were hosed down with water and disinfectant and provided with fresh diapers and work clothes. This cleanup was the only change in the UKs’ daily routine, with the exception of mating and childbirth for the women.

At seventy, men and women were reunited for what was referred to as the “Year of Indulgence”. In this last phase, the UKs were given one day off a week and more access to alcohol and drugs. The intention was to smooth the way for their eventual demise. As a reward for a life of merit, UKs were promised the chance to spend their twilight years as “Chosen Ones”. The preparation for this advancement included a special vitamin injection. So prepared, the UKs joyfully accepted the disguised lethal needle. And so it was, that at the age of seventy-one, the life of a UK was terminated. The only exceptions were those who had become incapacitated before seventy. In that case, they disappeared from one day to the next and were never seen again.

The OK caste was merely an enhanced version of the UK. Via the same three pillars of high tech, drugs and sex, the OKs were programmed to think they were privileged. In the OK daycare centers, games and tests were initiated to decide which of five areas they would be best suited for:

The Business Class was responsible for the efficient functioning of any and all WB activities.

Science was mainly concerned with manipulating human genetic material, developing artificial intelligence and the breeding and combining of the two.

State Security was the eyes and ears of the WB, exercising extensive power and violence over both UKs and OKs.

Artists of all types served a shallow entertainment-culture and were instructed early into the subtleties of brainwashing.

No one really knew anything about the so-called “Chosen Ones”. The WB purposefully spread rumors that they enjoyed a life of luxury and freedom. What fascinated people the most was the repute that the Chosen Ones were in close contact with the echelon of the WB. In reality, their only real function was to act as bait. As mentioned, the UKs were promised to spend their twilight years as the Chosen. OKs, on the other hand, were told this status could be conferred for extraordinary achievements.

In both castes, the same strict rules were followed for reproductive procedures. After the successful impregnating of a woman, the fetus was subject to constant checks and the “unfit” disposed of. At birth, a cannula extracted eye fluid, providing information concerning intelligence and organ fitness. Accordingly bred, assessed and cataloged, the serviceable specimens, referred to as “primaries”, were transported to the respective nursery accommodations.

Genetic manipulation progressed at great speed under WB rule. In the last quarter of the 21st century, a targeted assortment of designer babies was among its greatest achievements. People of Color and those bearing Asian characteristics reflected the erotic tastes of the time, so both were predominantly bred and refined. In the male specimens, a dark-skinned, muscular man with almond-shaped eyes, small nose, full mouth and large genitals represented the preferred model. Among the female designer products were two favorites: a caramel-skinned woman with large breasts, blue eyes and blonde hair and a small, boyish version with Asian features. With the help of growth hormones, the resulting specimens served as sex toys and servants for the OKs from the age of ten on. By the UKs, the emphasis was less on appearance as on strength, stamina and docility. For diversity, the scientists occasionally mixed UK genes in with the genes of the OK.

The Markings

The workings of the WB were hidden from the populace. As was with the Wizard of Oz, the WB operated behind a curtain of power and propaganda. In the year 2125, the WB celebrated its 75th birthday, convinced the rise to power was complete. But as the saying goes, “Pride comes before a fall”, and the WB failed to notice a growing crisis that would play a crucial role in overcoming this regime of terror.

Coinciding with the celebration, inexplicable small discolorations, similar to birthmarks, began to appear sporadically on the foreheads of OKs. At first, the phenomenon was barely noticeable and easily masked with cosmetics. But in time the visible disfigurements grew and the number of people affected increased steadily. Fearing the epidemic might spread to the UKs, the WB drove its scientists to find a cure. Prior to this research period, as I have explained, anomalies of any kind were immediately disposed of. Faced with new challenges as the extent of the malady proliferated, the WB became interested in the experiments carried out in Nazi Germany on the disabled. The decision was made to create reservations for people with various deviations and disabilities. These so-called “Zoos” were top-secret, existing in non-populated areas. A special unit was trained to supervise them. Research laboratories could request specimens from this “stockpile” at any time for experiments.

The Birth of Sophia

In the jubilee year 2125, when the Markings first appeared, a child was born and, according to the guidelines, destined for the UKs. This child, however, was different from any previous “norm”. The moment the man and the woman chosen for breeding saw each other, it was love at first sight. Significantly, their names were Adam and Eve, like the first couple of the Jewish narrative in Genesis of the Old Testament. Adam and Eve’s heart-bond at conception was passed on to the child in Eve’s womb. The breeders recognized the deep affection of the two, thus disposing of Adam after the act and Eve after giving birth. But the newborn girl was left alive and given the name Sophia.

Sophia grew up in the time of the expanding plague of the Markings. In retrospect, one could draw parallels to this, as she, in her own way, was also contagious. For the first five years of her life, the daycare attendants overlooked her uniqueness. But the children felt her presence and intuitively sought to be near her. Sophia left deep traces on all who encountered her. Later, as adults, those in turn infected others with a long-forgotten joy.

Sophia bore attributes of both parents: her father’s darker skin and her mother’s features of people from the South Sea Regions. She had deep brown eyes and auburn curls, merrily framing her oval face. Small in stature with a slightly rounded figure, Sophia’s appearance, graceful movements and melodious voice captivated those around her. Anyone who came into contact with her was forever changed, as if latent longings for tenderness and connection were gently awakened.

The Zoo People

As crazy as it may sound, growing up as a zoo person was a definite privilege. The Zoos were the only places in the world where people could freely express themselves. With us, the WB didn’t bother to impose the usual routines of labor and brainwashing that applied to the castes. We were viewed simply as lab rats to be disposed of after use.

Apart from the few overseers, we had no opportunities to compare ourselves with “healthy” people. Although I may occasionally use diagnostic terms for clarity, diagnostics played no role in our world. We experienced our motley crew with all our peculiarities as normal, gladly complementing and sharing our various abilities. For example, the deaf led the blind, schizophrenics told stories to the mobility-impaired and Down syndrome members gathered rocks and shells for the elaborate sandcastles of those with autism. These naturally formed solidarities would play a defining role in the course of our story.

I grew up on a remote tropical island. We slept in simple huts on the beach. For the most part, we were self-sufficient, growing crops and maintaining a large vegetable garden. There were also farm animals such as chickens, cows, donkeys and pigs. In the course of time, several dogs and cats also found their way to us as stowaways on supply ships.

I had been diagnosed with cystic fibrosis, a respiratory disease normally resulting in an early death. Given the name Pascal, I arrived on the island at a young age. My transparent skin and my large, deep-set eyes gave me a somewhat sinister appearance. Due to my lung problems, I was not as strong as the other children. Although lovingly accepted, the exhaustion of the illness led me at times to withdraw and spend time alone. However, was the island air charged with moisture, allowing me to breathe more easily, I happily roamed the beach and the dunes with the other kids. I also liked to visit our animals and bonded with the dog Timi and the donkey Matthias. Except for the limitations of the disease, my childhood was carefree and happy.

Since the practice of keeping a reservoir of “abortive subjects” was still relatively new, we youngsters were in the majority. The adults who came to the island had developed abnormalities later in life. The overseers too, enjoyed more freedoms than their counterparts in other work areas. They were instructed to use drugs in the case of an upheaval, but nothing along that line ever happened. Over time, the differences separating us from our caretakers diminished. In the evenings, we often sat together on great bonfires along the beach, roasting potatoes and other harvested vegetables and drinking fresh coconut milk. Together we would ponder on where we came from and what the world might have looked like in the past.

Getting to Know Sophia

We had no set concept of the passing of time but I must have been around ten years of age when Sophia came into my life. She arrived on a boat with other new overseers. There was a cluster of people, but it was obvious she was the center of attention. Those who left the boat with her seemed relaxed and happy. From a distance, we could hear her infectious laughter. In spite of my young years, I sensed something very important had happened.

One of my early encounters with Sophia took place on a balmy evening with the other children on the beach. Sophia was cradling a baby on her lap and humming softly. The gentle waves on the shore seemed to be in tune with her voice. For the first time in our short lives, we were exposed to the magic and the power of music.

Marie, an autistic child, pressed her face close to Sophia’s, curious to know what the sounds meant. Sophia laughed softly and replied that they were simply a part of her. She sensed Marie did not want to be touched, so she blew lightly on her eyelids. Marie relaxed and sat down again. Over time, I could observe how Sophia found diverse ways of communicating with the deaf, the autistic and others.

“Sounds ... beautiful sounds,” another autistic boy cried, running around flapping like a bird. “Sometimes I make them too,” he said to Sophia, “but yours are so wonderful!”

Sophia put the baby down gently. The infant twitched, gurgling and rolling its eyes, but seemed to like the warm sand. We saw how intently it listened to Sophia mimicking its sounds. This had a deeply calming effect on the baby. Sophia bid Victor, the Streaker, to bring more children so we could have a sound session together. Viktor flew off happily to fulfill the task. Further down on the beach, he ran into Anton and together they rounded up all the other kids and brought them to Sophia.

Words cannot describe the joy of that magical night. As the evening grew on, the adults flocked in as well and the bonfires were lit. Sophia stood by the biggest fire, baby in arms, we kids surrounding her. Smiling, she then opened her mouth and sang a long, beautiful tone. Later, I learned that Sophia was a contralto, but at the time, we were simply enchanted by the vibrations and the richness of her voice. The sound seemed to gently massage our bodies. Just when I thought Sophia must take a breath, the siblings Anton and Marie took up the tone, carrying it higher and lower. Moving around the campfires to these strange new melodies, spasms and twitches relaxed. We danced and sang through the night. Those who grew tired lay down in the sand and slept. In the morning, we awoke to the gentle lapping of the waves and found ourselves surrounded by animals: Cows, chickens, cats, dogs, pigs, donkeys...even a few wild visitors, still shy, lingered on the edges of the jungle. We cuddled with the purring cats and sucked the sweet milk right from the udders of the cows. There was no way of knowing at the time, but this night marked the beginning of all our adventures.

The Island after Sophia’s Arrival

Life on the island changed at breakneck speed from that day on. Any still-existing barriers between the caretakers and us vanished. We shared the work in the fields and began to build the cliff-town. The new homes, interconnected and inspired by our beehives, nestled on the rock slopes. Those of us with physical disabilities lived on the bottom level, while we others climbed to our abodes using vine-ladders. The structures were more beautiful and stable than our former huts on the beach. Early mornings we sat in the entrances of our “honeycombs” to watch the red sun rise up over the ocean. And we sang. In time, we came up with simple lyrics to our tunes. From Sophia we learned about ballads and how they told stories. We desperately wanted to compose such songs, but complained to her, we didn’t have that many stories to tell! Therefore, she taught us a deeper understanding of nature, of weather, of starry skies, and especially about animals. Soon we were making up songs about talking cows and flying dogs. When we sang, no one stuttered and other tensions relaxed.

As I said earlier, the WB laboratories could request us for experiments at any time. Even our overseers knew nothing about the fate of those taken. Often, after there had been a boat from the mainland, some members were missing. We would huddle together on the beach, singing sad songs through our tears for our lost friends. Sophia alone knew of their fate. Each time, she covered her head and disappeared into the jungle. Only Timi, the dog, was allowed to accompany her.

The Search

One evening, although there had been no ship, two women were missing: Silent Viola and Forgetful Helene. Since Helene’s memory lapses began at an older age, she had arrived late on the island and was one of the oldest among us. Viola took Helene in like a mother, not minding that Helene didn’t always remember who she was. Viola was endlessly patient with Helene and repeatedly tried to teach her the sign language of the mute. Together the two often took long walks into the jungle but were always back before sunset. On this particular afternoon, the monsoon season had set in. Many of us sat together on the beach marveling at the phenomena of the dry lightning between the downpours. As dusk fell, Helene and Viola had yet to return. It was decided to send a search party at dawn.

Due to my disability, I appeared younger than my years, but life on the island had made me stronger than would normally have been expected. I was determined to be on the search party! Mustering up all my courage, I approached Sophia with my wish. For a moment, she hesitated, and my hopes sank. But when she spoke, I could hardly believe my ears:

“You may join us, Pascal, but only if you follow my instructions carefully. First of all, you need to go to bed immediately. When you wake up in the morning, before getting up, practice taking deep breaths and humming. When we are on the move, you must always hum in this manner. Always, you hear, with every breath! This is the only way you will muster the necessary strength for the search party.”

Despite the thrill of anticipation, I slept through the night, awaking at dawn to the pattering of heavy rain. It was the perfect weather for me, as moisture in the air meant I could breathe freer!

Five of us set off in the downpour, accompanied by our dog, Timi: Sophia, our leader; Dirk, our guide; Viktor the Streaker; Cheerful Frauke; and I, Pascal, the Air Snatcher. Viktor, the youngest, stood a head taller than me, having grown incredibly strong due to his constant running. We gave Timi belongings from our missing friends to sniff, but the rain made finding a trail impossible. As soon as we left the dunes, the overgrown jungle sheer swallowed us whole. I only managed to keep pace with the group by dutifully humming the entire time.

Sophia led us to the last place she knew Viola and Helene often visited: an old hollowed-out tree, so huge that all of us found ample room inside. What a relief it was to be in a dry space! After our eyes adjusted to the gloom, we discovered a small table in one corner and on the table a folded-up paper. An old map! In the dim light, we could just decipher the path it offered from the tree to an unknown destination. The map noted there would be trees with red markers on the way to help with orientation.

Viktor became very excited and started fluttering around, but Sophia calmed him by slowly lowering her hand. I had forgotten to hum and she asked me to give us a low tone. All joined in and the music helped us concentrate on the map. We hoped it would lead us to Viola and Helene. Luckily, the monsoon had lessened and we found the overgrown trail. With the help of the tree-markers, we made good progress. The map led us to a part of the island we had never been before.

The Wall and Beyond

As time passed, the path improved and was even paved in places. Eventually we found ourselves standing before a great archway that had clearly been built by human hands. I ran happily towards the gate as Sophia’s warning cry stopped me in my tracks. She picked up a stone and hurled it at the opening. The stone ricocheted back. Cautiously, we examined the space to the left and the right of the archway and found, that an invisible wall kept us out. We feared our friends might be trapped on the other side. Yet if our suspicions were right, how had they landed there, and more important, how could they escape?

Sophia suggested we sing. We belted out all the melodies and lyrics we had composed at the top of our lungs. Even Timi joined in yowling. And behold, Viola and Helene stepped out of the bushes on the other side of the wall, exhausted but overjoyed to see us! Helene, her gray, tangled hair tied back in a makeshift ponytail and her clothes disheveled, clung to Viola. Our dear “chocolate girl”, as we liked to call Viola, was so exhausted she could barely support Helene, but she did manage to sit her friend down opposite the wall from us. Using sign language, Viola then shared their adventure:

About a year before, they had discovered the hollowed-out tree as well as the map on the small table. They followed the map to the mysterious archway and the invisible wall. Dirk asked why they had failed to share their discovery with the others. Viola said her days were full with taking care of Helene, who in turn constantly forgot where they had been. The magic of the place kept them going back and they liked to sit, leaning on the invisible wall, puzzling what might lie on the other side. On the afternoon of the previous day, they had been at the wall watching the same spectacle in the sky we had seen from the beach. Suddenly lightning struck. With a loud crack, the wall opened and closed, hurtling them to the other side!

“We will find a way to open the wall,” Sophia announced firmly, “but what did you find?”

Viola told how the path continued, eventually coming upon fields that had been cultivated at some point in the past. Further on, single deserted houses began to appear until finally they reached a whole settlement. But they hadn’t spent much time investigating and usually stayed close to the wall, hoping we would find them.

For several days, we walked along the wall searching for an energy source we could disengage. Viola and Helene accompanied us from the other side. Our search turned up nothing. A few evenings later found us sitting on the beach by the fire, distressed and frustrated. Sophia looked long into the flames before sharing her thoughts:

“Maybe we’re approaching the problem from the wrong perspective. Let us instead consider which of our talents might help solve the task at hand.”

Her gaze fell on Zoé. Zoé, a teenager around Viola’s age, was lanky and tomboyish. She shaved her head and wore jewelry she had carved from animal bones. Using a sharp stone, she had pierced her ears, nose, tongue, nipples and navel. What was exceptional about Zoé was her voice. Like Viola, she was mute. But if the mood hit her, she could make such a high, shrill scream glass shattered. There was little glass on the island, but what we had was kept safely out of reach from Zoé.

Sophia gave Zoé a nod to step forward. Then she motioned to Viktor, our phenomenal runabout, to join her. Viktor was tall and lean and, as I said before, his running had given him speed and strength. He could generate so much energy we sometimes thought he might take off like a bird. As a third “source”, Sophia chose Carolin, the spastic, blind baby, explaining to us how Carolin embodied the pure power of love. Having identified the “energy sources”, Sophia bid me fetch Matthias and the other donkeys.

The next morning we set out for the wall. Dirk led Matthias with Sophia and Carolin riding on his back. To the left and right of our donkey were Viktor and Zoé. Frauke and I closed ranks with the other donkeys. When we arrived, we shared our plan with Helene and Viola. We positioned the donkeys and ourselves so we were all touching the wall. On the other side, Helene and Viola also pressed against the invisible barrier. Sophia instructed only Viktor to run around freely, randomly touching one of us or the wall. As Sophia gave Zoé the signal, we all held our breath. Only the sound of Viktor’s running could be heard as she broke the silence with her curdling scream. Simultaneously, Sophia gently touched the archway with Carolin’s body. A thunderous crash shook the ground under our feet and the barrier opened, never to close again! To our amazement, Zoé shouted, “Done!” and wiped the dust from her face. Many of us were knocked over by the force and the donkeys were running around frantically. One look from Sophia and I knew what was needed. I began to hum. The others joined in and the donkeys calmed down. Sophia embraced our two runaways and, exhausted but jubilant, we made our way back to the settlement.

I sat on the beach long into the night, pondering the events of the last few days. It was exciting to imagine what great adventures might lie ahead. How great they would truly be in reality, would surpass my wildest dreams.

Choosing the Fellowship

The new day brought a pause in the monsoon. Sophia rose early to draw a huge circle in the sand. She and Dirk made the preparations for a meeting with all forty-four members of the colony. Each setting was marked with one’s individual symbol: sun, moon, star, tree or plant, etc. Those in charge of animals had two signs to know which animal to fetch. We all felt the excitement in the air as we took our designated seats.

Before each of us lay a fruit. Sophia took her fruit and broke it into three pieces. She gave a tiny bite of the first piece to Carolin, who was on her lap, and ate the rest. She then placed the second piece of fruit on the palm leaves marking the center of the circle. The third piece she gave to Zoé, sitting on her left. Zoé proceeded to eat the piece Sophia had given her, then breaking her piece in two, placing one half on the palm leaves and passing the other half on to me. The ritual continued around the circle until Dirk, the last person, gave his fruit to Sophia. She in turn placed this piece in the center as a symbol of us as a whole. The collected fruits on the palm leaves were to be our first provisions.

At this point Sophia shared about the rescue and told what Helene and Viola had found beyond the wall. She suggested we return to investigate the abandoned settlement. This was met with the general approval of the Islanders.

The next step was to decide how we could stay in contact with the settlement. Lame Alice asked to become part of the expedition. She was convinced that Tutz, the large black bird she had trained, could follow her instructions and fly messages back and forth. The dog Timi was to go with us for protection and guidance and Matthias, the donkey, would carry our baggage.

One by one, the names for the expedition members were called out. We each took our place in the center of the circle:

Sophia, the Gift Giver

Dirk, the Island Guide

Cheerful Frauke

Wild Zoé

Viktor, the Streaker

Forgetful Helene

Silent Viola

Lame Alice

Tutz, the bird

Timi, the dog

Matthias, the donkey

and I, Pascal, the Air-Snatcher

We still needed to solve one daunting problem: A ship could show up at any time with supplies or to take people for the laboratories. It was important that nothing out of the ordinary be noticed. The plan was such: We would fly a black flag declaring a typhus epidemic and warn not to land. Anton the Clairvoyant, so named for his remarkable ability to sense events far in advance, was to keep on the lookout for ships, providing the Islanders sufficient time to hoist the flag and set up a fake hospital site on the beach. His sister Marie, the Compassionate, along with Caretaker Herbert would assist him.

We closed the gathering by appointing our gardener couple Susanne and Rainer to be in charge of the settlement in our absence. After bowing in honor and gratitude for the trust our Islanders had given us, the great bonfires were lit the length of the beach. We danced and sang late into the night by the silvery light of the full moon.

The Plane

The next morning we were highly motivated to leave as soon as possible. We packed and loaded our baggage onto Matthias’s back. Matthias was Marie’s best friend. The thought of him leaving was inconsolable to her. The entire time she kept her arms wrapped around the donkey’s neck, her tears moistening his soft fur. Matthias was deeply moved but confused as to where his loyalties lay. Herbert saved the day. Gently he released Marie’s grip and carried her to her brother Anton, who had already taken his watcher position on the beach. On route he kissed away Marie’s tears and assured her Matthias would return, but that for now she, too, had a duty: together with her brother and with him to guard the island.

We left singing. Our songs helped relieve the tension we felt about the unknown coming events. At the archway, Sophia took the lead, and towards evening, we reached the former fields. We were in a hurry to get to the settlement before nightfall as Helene suddenly left the path and ran into the jungle, Viola close behind. Time stood still until Viola reappeared to inform us that Helene had spotted a crashed airplane and stubbornly insisted on staying with the wreckage. Viola wanted to spend the night there with her friend. She promised to get us in the morning so we could investigate the site together. Sophia thought it better for Alice and Tutz to stay with the two and also Timi for protection. We others hurried on. Arriving at the small village we found a house with an intact roof and made our beds for the night. Dirk and Sophia took turns on the night watch while we younger ones snuggled up with Matthias and fell into a blissful sleep.

At the light of dawn our friends appeared, Helene gripping Viola’s hand. Exhausted, Viola explained a beeping noise from the wreckage had kept them awake most of the night. Helene had prevented Alice and her from checking for the origin of the sound. Together we marched off to the crash site and the closer we came, the louder the beeping. We learned from Dirk, that the machine was an old model. For us kids it was simply glorious to see an airplane up close, whatever the age! Knowing something was still functioning and causing the beep made the whole experience even more exciting. Dirk was sure the emitting noise meant the plane was still receiving signals from somewhere on the island, but Helene blocked his way when he tried to climb into the cockpit. To our amazement, she suddenly spoke clearly in a deep, foreign voice:

“You may not enter. In a dream, the pilot spoke to me. He instructed me to lead you here and insisted I alone enter the cockpit to talk with him.”

Helene gave us an intent glare before forcing the cockpit door open and climbing in. It wasn’t long before her smiling face reappeared, and she began handing us a myriad of human bones, lastly, the skull. In her new strange voice, she explained to us that the bones knew many secrets of the island and that we should bring them to the abandoned settlement.

When Helene stepped down from the cockpit, she completely forgot her actions. All she wanted to do was look for some fruit with Viola. Dirk had no problem entering. His observations convinced him a large transmitter must exist somewhere on the island that the plane was connected to. Aside from the beeping sound, he couldn’t pick up any type of message. Together we examined the wreckage and found tins of meats and vegetables and other useful supplies. Dirk also discovered a square object he called a “black box”. He explained to us that such a box usually contained information about where the plane was from and why it had crashed. Unfortunately, the box appeared to be damaged. Nevertheless, we took it with us, along with the bones and the supplies.

The Mysterious Hall

Back at the settlement, we began exploring all the houses. Timi was a big help as his senses registered any danger of walls or roofs collapsing. In addition to the houses, we found a large construction we assumed had been used for community meetings. Inside the building were twelve doors around the circular interior, apparently leading to underground rooms. Between the doors were large holes. Timi dashed around, sniffing at doors and holes. Only after he seemed content did we feel safe enough to examine further. The jungle had taken over most of the space, but we did find sawed off tree stumps in the holes and dismantled swings in one corner. We kids had never seen a playground, but we had made swings from vines. Frauke sat down on a stump and closed her eyes. Then we experienced a first: Our Viktor, who normally avoided physical contact with others, big as he was, crawled onto her lap. Frauke began gently rocking him back and forth like a toddler. This sparked an idea: The swings had been attached to great trees for the children’s entertainment when the adults were busy. But who the people had been and what they had done in this strange hall remained a secret.

“Let me try something with Tutz,” Alice suggested. Tutz was big and coal-black, probably a cross between a raven and a crow. The intelligence radiating from his beady little eyes was a bit uncanny. Tutz adored Alice and the two shared a deep friendship. Alice picked Tutz up and looked him straight in the eye.

“Tutz,” she asked, “which door should we open first?” Tutz circled the hall three times before landing back on Alice’s shoulder. He nodded to the door next to her and Alice resolutely opened it. Behind the door was a curtain and beyond the curtain a second door to the outside. Helene suddenly jumped up and ran out of the hall. She returned with the skull of the pilot, placing it in front of the curtain. Again she spoke in the clear, strange voice:

“This door was for the dead. When the settlers had celebrated their farewells, the deceased were carried out through the curtain and given to the jungle as sacrificial food.”

Alice again let Tutz fly his rounds. This time he landed in front of a weathered door with remnants of blue paint. Zoé examined the door in vain for a handle. In anticipation, we all covered our ears before her scream cut the air. With a loud “Clack!” the door opened to a staircase leading down into darkness. Neither Tutz nor Timi were willing to go through that door. Sophia and Dirk closed it and forbade anyone to open until the designated time. Frauke asked when that would be and Sophia said we must all watch for signs.

Tutz flew another round, but this time he couldn’t make up his mind. Timi came to his rescue and barked at a partially painted yellow door. Tutz landed on Timi’s back, crowing approval. The door was damaged and Dirk had to muster up all his strength to force it open. On a lower level was a room painted in garish pink. In a flash Viola ran in and lay down on the floor. Helene in the lead, we followed. It was obvious what had attracted Viola. The room vibrated like a living being, the pink shades stronger and weaker with the rhythm. Happily, we also stretched out to enjoy the vibrations. I felt my lungs relax, allowing my breathing to flow freely. We probably would have stayed there forever if Sophia hadn’t noticed night was falling. She and Dirk gently nudged us back outside to the sleeping quarters. Only Viola and Helene were allowed to stay, with Timi keeping watch outside the yellow door.

The Found Objects

When Helene, Viola and Timi showed up for breakfast the next day, Matthias sensed Helene’s exhaustion. He lay down on his side and allowed her to curl up against him and take a nap. Viola stayed close while we others continued our investigations of the settlement.

The houses were all two stories and built of brick. On the main floor was a kitchen and two other rooms. Upstairs were bedrooms, bath and toilet facilities. Although a few old furniture pieces stood around, the rooms were void of any personal items. There were no clues as to the lives of the former inhabitants. As we were about to explore the last house, Matthias, Helene and Viola joined us. Viola explained the pilot had spoken through Helene and told her that just this house had been his, and that he had hidden items there. All at once, Matthias began neighing and prancing around. Trotting behind the house, he pushed aside a loose brick with his muzzle. In a hollow, we found three items: a square battery, a mirror shard covered with wires and soldered metal on the back, and an unknown object the size of a hand.

In the evening, we risked lighting a campfire. Sophia placed our finds on her lap, bending over them as she sang a low, sustained note. She passed the objects on to us, asking if they resonated in any way. Timi licked them, Matthias smelled them, Tutz poked them back and forth with his beak and passed them on to Alice. Alice lay the three items on her lame leg, Viola held them to her ear and Helene wanted them twice because she forgot the first time around. Viktor only touched our finds lightly with his fingers, while Zoé held each to her mouth and made short, shrill noises. Frauke played with them, then pushed me over and placed them on my chest. I took a few deep breaths and gave them to Dirk. He stood up, bowed deeply to each and handed them back to Sophia. After being licked, sniffed, toyed, listened and sung to, Sophia placed the found objects in the grass. Guided by what we had sensed, she asked us to choose one. The choices were:

Mirror Shard

Sophia, Timi, Viktor, Viola, Helene

Battery

Dirk, Zoé, Alice, Tutz, Frauke, Matthias

Unknown object

Pascal

I was the only one attracted to the unknown object. On a whim, I threw it into the flames. Glowing red it began to melt. Viktor jogged around and with a swift flick of his wrist, kicked it out of the fire. The object landed with a hiss in a puddle. Zoé picked it up and put it close to her mouth. Her scream echoing through the jungle had the hoped-for effect: The form broke open, revealing what looked like a thick black nail.

“A flash drive!” Dirk exclaimed excitedly.

“And what is a flash drive? “ I asked, on behalf of almost everyone present.

“A kind of key used to store information,” he replied. In simple terms, he tried to explain how the stick could be connected to a device called a ‘computer’ or ‘calculator’.”

Helene and Matthias had fallen asleep, when suddenly Matthias’s body tensed and Helene sat upright with a jerky movement. With her eyes still closed, she began speaking in the voice of the pilot:

“Take the drive, the battery and the shard and descend the stairs by the blue door. The path will reveal many obstacles but eventually lead you to a great complex. There you will find the computer center connected to the plane, which also is the power source for all digital activities on the island. The items will guide you along the way.”

Overwhelmed from the events of the past few days, we were hardly able to deal with this new information. Evening was upon us, but we didn’t even have the strength to reach our beds. Instead, we simply lay down exhausted by the bonfire and slept through the night.

The Bone Man

The next morning Sophia and I went to gather fresh fruit for breakfast. Our search led us close to the plane. We stood in awe before the wreckage when it suddenly occurred to me that we had not yet decided what to do with the pilot’s bones. The skull was in front of the curtain in the hall, but the skeleton? Sophia gave me a fleeting kiss for the thought and together we hurried back to the settlement. “Meeting,” she called out to our still sleeping companions.

Our tired troop yawned and stretched but managed to sit up around the ashes of the fire. Sophia and Dirk distributed the bones. They were the first human bones we had ever seen, and we found them splendid! The bones had been gnawed smooth by the jungle dwellers and taken on a smooth, cream-colored surface. We had often made music with sticks on the beach so we each grabbed a bone and began banging them against each other or on tree trunks. Zoé shrieked a long scream and, with the exception of Viola, everyone followed her example. Viola waltzed us around the fire pit. Timi, a mighty thighbone in his mouth, took off in the direction of the hall. We followed in a serpentine line, singing and dancing. Once in the hall, however, the mood changed abruptly. Our steps slowed down and the singing took on low, deep, tones until gradually we stood quietly in line. A calmness accompanied the overwhelming silence. There were no noises from outside either, as if the birds and animals too, were listening, waiting. Intuitively, we sensed what needed to be done. Breaking formation, we built a bone man in front of the blue door. We had no anatomical knowledge, so our result was both weird and wonderful. Solemnly, Helene retrieved the skull and placed it at the highest point of the bone man. Matthias lay down to the left of the skeleton and Timi with Tutz on his back to the right. Dirk placed the flash drive in the bone man’s right hand. Sophia put the shard on his forehead and the battery at his feet. After that, we humans left the room. The animals stayed until dawn of the next day.

The Chip in the Skull

The following morning we all noticed a subtle change in our group: We began evolving into a unity I cannot otherwise describe as a “stretched space”. The nature environment around us seemed to be affected as well. In retrospect, one might compare our movements to Asian traditions such as Tai Chi or Qi Gong. Viktor, for example, ran around as usual, but his body exhibited a new grace. As for myself, I experienced an intimate gratitude for the air in my lungs and my breathing improved. But it was our Frauke who bore the most striking changes. Frauke had a round, soft body and a face full of laugh lines. Only later did I learn about people like her who suffered from a malformation of the chromosomes, leading to a condition referred to as “Down syndrome”. From this moment on, her natural cheerfulness took on a deeper joy and we all felt more drawn to her. Frauke’s presence proved to be an invaluable asset in all our undertakings.

In addition to talking and singing, our means of communication expanded through enhanced facial and body expression. Rapport with the animals also improved. In accord with the love-power Sophia had ignited in our hearts, our relationships grew in compassion and clarity. The laying of the bones also appeared to have triggered our expanding perception.

Before returning to the hall, we took part in a small energy exercise Sophia had taught us. Standing around the fire pit, we gave thanks for all our blessings and shared the fruit we had collected. We then let our feet touch left and right with our neighbor, allowing our consciousness flow to the left and to the right around the circle. Strengthened and united we headed for the main hall, to be confronted with pure chaos! Bones were scattered everywhere. Dirk found animal droppings and could identify the culprits. Chimpanzees! Helene was the first to notice the skull was again in front of the curtain as were the majority of the bones. But the mirror shard, the flash drive and the battery were still by the blue door.

We decided to give the bones back to the jungle. Helene, carrying the skull, led us through the curtain and set off in the direction of the crash site. There we placed the bones around the plane. Helene, however, stood indecisively with the skull in her hands. Was she trying to recall something or waiting for new insights? Since it was not clear, we simply waited and watched.

After a time, Helene determinedly approached the wreckage and again climbed into the cockpit. She tried to place the skull on the control panel board, but it was slightly sloped. We gasped as the skull rolled to the floor and broke in two. Helene picked the pieces up and this time was able to put them on the panel. Suddenly she whooped for joy and jumped out of the plane. Beaming, she placed a small object in Dirk’s hand. In her other voice, she explained that she had found the object embedded in one half of the skull. The pilot told her it represented another link and that Dirk should keep it safe until the time came for its use. We gathered around Dirk to look at the tiny chip. For me it held the same fascination as the invisible wall or the bone man. Zoé took the chip from Dirk’s hand and we immediately covered our ears. With a mischievous grin, she handed it back to him, pleased to have given us a scare.

The jungle sun was on the rise so we opted for a rest under the trees. Off to one side Sophia, Dirk and Alice sat quietly discussing our next moves. Timi was thoroughly enjoying himself carrying the bones from here to there. However, when he began to dig a hole to bury a hipbone, Sophia intervened. He walked off in a huff but Frauke and I jumped him and we all rolled around in the grass. The adults watched our merry antics, grateful for the gift the pause offered.

After our play, I lay exhausted in the shade admiring Viktor, who was still dashing around full of energy. I noticed he slowed down every time he got close to Frauke, who was sitting at the edge of the glade. She was laughing and making funny grimaces upwards to something or someone in a tree. Cautiously, I crept closer and could make out two small, camouflaged figures among the varied browns, ochres, and greens of the leaves. Suddenly, four piercing eyes were fixed on me. There was a rustling as the chimps, with breathtaking ease, shimmied down and disappeared into the jungle. Frauke gave me an annoyed look. When I tried to apologize, she simply grinned and ran off to Viola and Helene, who were taking a nap on Matthias’s soft stomach.

Who Will Take the Stairs?

We took our time walking back to the settlement, sharing thoughts on the way as to where the stairs might lead us. The animal friends had gone on ahead. Our steps quickened as Tutz circled back crowing loudly above our heads. In the distance, we heard Timi barking excitedly and Matthias neighing. We found the three of them anxiously awaiting our arrival. Entering, they raced to the blue door with us close behind. Sophia interpreted what Helene had learned from the pilot and the actions of our animal friends to be the signs to descend the stairs. But who should stay and who should go? Everyone began talking at once, as no one wanted to be left behind.

It was then I noticed Frauke was missing. Knowing of her great love for animals, I had an idea where she might be. I ran back to the wreckage site. Up in a tall tree I spotted her laughing face.

“Come down,” I called to her, “we have something important to discuss! We’re going to take the stairs in the great hall, but someone has to stay here in the settlement.”

“I want to do that!” exclaimed Frauke enthusiastically. “Along with my new friends!” Carefully, she climbed down. Noises at the top of the tree told me others were still there. Frauke asked me to back off a bit. Looking up she called lovingly, “Come on now, you two, don’t be afraid. Pascal is my friend and he would like to meet you!”

Two cute heads popped out of the foliage and looked down at me. Yes, while the chimps were adorable I saw the mischief in their eyes and considered how they would definitely liven up our expedition! With their long, strong arms, they scooted deftly down from the tree. Tentatively, I held out my hand for them to shake. At first, they gave me a long look-over and only sniffed at the offer. Eventually curiosity won out. Together they grabbed my hand and shook it wildly. Once they seemed satisfied with me, Frauke took the new recruits left and right and declared, “Now we go to the settlement so you can meet my other friends!”

As we entered the hall, Sophia had to prevent Timi from barking and Helene held her arm around Matthias’s neck. Tutz was still circling in the air, but Alice gave him a sign not to crow.

“Meet Lulu and Susu,” Frauke said, still holding on tightly to the chimpanzees. All held out hands for them to sniff as Frauke made the introduction rounds. Once our animal friends, old and new, had calmed down, we considered our next moves. It made sense to leave Frauke with Lulu and Susu in the camp. Matthias would accompany them, as he couldn’t possibly descend the stairs. At first, he hung