ARCANA Chapter 10 by William James Johnson

The vibrant greenish glare from the north cast its mysterious power over John. Alone in the flight compartment, he thought about his awesome responsibility. His imagination flashed back to his flying days in Viet Nam, when his survival depended upon his instinctive ability to do what he was trained to do. This was a completely different situation. He could sense what had to be done, but his lethargy, caused by the intermittent use of oxygen, made him respond very slowly.

Airship Nobile was now at 18,000 feet. On the monitor he could see those in the ionization chamber were also having difficulty keeping alert. He could tell by their behaviour some of the crew were experiencing anoxia. Liu had slumped over in his seat, his oxygen mask dangling loosely from his neck. The others made no attempt to rectify the situation.

The buffeting the airship had endured at the lower altitudes had diminished markedly. Soon he would be able to turn the ship in a northerly direction. It had taken another three hours of intense concentration to get Nobile to this altitude.

Watching the VNA, he aimed the craft towards the intense light. Small purplish dots flashed on and off in his head. He felt he was going to faint. It was more and more difficult to determine if the sensation was external or an hallucination caused by the insufficient oxygen he was using. He was rationing his supply in case the top of the magnetic field was higher than that calculated by Chow.

In another look at the SIC monitor he saw that they had all slumped over in their seats. It was sheer hell trying to remain alert when all his compatriots were giving in. He began talking out loud to himself.

"Someone had to do it. Let John do it. You can always count on good old John...Jesus if you can hear me, give us some help...help...help..."

The radio crackled followed by the calm voice of the operator of K Ops. "Airship Nobile, you got a message for me?"

"Who's that...who's that talking? Have I gotta message for you. Everything is bluish light and all my buddies are gone...what do you think of that? Isn't that a great message?"

"Nobile, are you in trouble? Over."

"Trouble...you don't know what trouble is. I don't even know if I'm still alive. You can't do anything for us now...it'll soon be all over. I'm the last to go. Did you hear me?...I'm gonna be the last to go.

Jesus...Jesus. This is some kinda high. I'm breathing in, but nothing seems to be happening. Just that pounding in my ears. I think its my heart...can you hear it out there...can you hear my heart? If it's still pounding, I must still be alive. Don't quit on me yet...Did you hear me? I said I might still be alive."

"What altitude are you at Nobile?"

"Somewhere near heaven. You just wouldn't believe this light. I've never seen anything like this before...if you're out there Jesus, I'm ready for you. John Robins is ready to come on board. I'm here Lord...just outside your door...let me in...please let me in and let me bring all my friends with me...into your marvellous light."

"Nobile, have you entered the opening in the earth?"

"There is no opening. Just light...weird, greenish, bluish, silverish light. Nothing above or below. Just more and more of the same thing...I'm in a white room, or soft cloud...or heavy fog, and there's a bright light somewhere, shining through it all. It's light...light...light. It's in me, on me, and through me. This isn't life anymore...this is pure spirit. That's it. I'm a pure spirit."

His eyes could not focus on the monitor any longer. The entire control panel danced in front of him. His hands fell from the controls and he fought the impulse to let his head fall forward, as the others had done.

Suddenly an intense brilliance, as if he were looking directly into the sun overpowered him. His head lunged forward and he struggled to raise it again. In the centre of the sparkling glow he saw a large blue spheres approaching out of the north. Its form throbbed as it positioned itself in front of Airship Nobile, emanating a pulsing sound like music from an electronic synthesizer.

Before he went unconscious, his body felt an exhilarating rapture as the craft suddenly thrust upwards at tremendous speed. He had experienced that same feeling years ago during his jet flying training.

Numbness. Then peace...then nothing at all. It was all black.
The steady rhythms of a distant generator filled the compartment with a celestial sound which invigorated each of the Nobile crew as they returned to consciousness.

The electronics on board their craft were no longer functional. As they each in turn left the SIC and gathered in the operational room with John, they stood silently staring out of the large cabin windows at the paradise which passed beneath them. The vibrant blue sphere which was conducting them, resonated on the side of the airship, stimulating the crew. Large, brilliant yellow green ferns with delicately formed leaves moved gently as the airship passed about a hundred feet above this complex garden of delights.

Orange, red, and lemon yellow, iridescent blues and emerald greens dotted the impressionistic landscape beneath them. Sparkling water falls coursed down multicoloured rocks which glistened with rubies, amethysts, and tourmaline. Huge mammoth like creatures feasted on this natural abundance beside pure white rabbits and sienna coloured foxes. Overall was the soothing pale bluish green light which diffused the variegated scene.

"My God. What beauty," said Carlo.

"Looks like we made it, wherever this is."

"And we're still alive...I can't believe it."

"Only because they permit it."

"What do you mean by that?" asked Sandra.

"I was sure it was all over. The rest of you had passed out, and as far as I could tell from the monitor, I thought all of you had died. I was the last one to go...To tell you the truth, I wasn't even sure I was still alive myself. Just before I blacked out, there was this enormous surge of white light and that blue globe out there came out of the north and took control of us."

"Well anyway," said Carlo, "We're alive. That's all that matters."

"I'm not so sure we are," said John, adding to their doubt.

Helga left the window to listen to the two pilots. She was having second thoughts about her own physical state.

"I feel different, John. Better than I've ever felt before."

"Me too, Helga dear," said Nicholas. "I feel as if I have been reborn. And the rest of you. What about you? Do you feel different also?"

They all admitted they did not know what was causing it, but that they felt great energy surging through them. A marvellous sense of joy filled their spirits. Tuma beamed with pleasure as he and André watched massive prehistoric animals cavorting through the lush vegetation beneath them. At regular intervals, bursting out of the verdant growth, were silver hemispheres glistening in the greenish hue which surrounded everything.

"That's strange man...real strange. That's all I've got to say," said John. "It's unearthly, if you know what I mean. I sorta like it, but I don't mind admitting, it scares me a little."

This remark took the others by surprise. Of all the members of the Nobile, John was the last person you would expect would admit he was afraid.

"What do you think is going to happen to us, John?" asked Sandra.

"God only knows...there I go again, using His name. The only time I ever seem to use it is when I'm in trouble, and believe me my friends, we're in serious trouble."

"Did you get a message off to K Ops before you blacked out?"asked Michael.

"I'm not sure. I think I tried to tell them what was happening, but I'm sorry, I don't recall what I said. I think I was hallucinating or something...I really don't know."

"Then no one knows we've made it for sure," asked Carlo.

"I'm afraid so...sorry, gang. I tried my best."

"I think we all owe our lives to you, John," said Sandra and she embraced him warmly. The others also crowded around him and agreed with Sandra.

"It's true John," said Carlo. "We're here because you didn't give up. Thank you so much, my friend."

"Well, it sure is nice to receive such a vote of confidence, but believe me, whoever, or whatever has chosen to let us get here has something planned for us, and all I can say is be very careful of whatever happens."

They didn't appreciate their colleague dampening their spirits at such an exciting moment. Ignoring his warning, they continued to observe the marvellous world passing slowly beneath them.

In the distance was a geologic tripod sparkling in the greenish glow of this strange sun jutting upward from well kept gardens. The throbbing blue sphere manoeuvred the earth craft gently towards the wedge of the tripod. As Nobile made contact with the opening, it settled in and the gas bag anchored it firmly.

Mysteriously the crew were transported from their craft to a bioclone room near the base of the mooring columns. Standing inside the laboratory in a pale greenish body cape which covered everything except his face and hands was an exquisitely handsome giant of a man about seven feet tall with dark oriental eyes. If anything could be compared with his beauty it would have to be the Egyptian sculpture of Queen Nefertite. He moved gracefully onto the platform in front of the door and extended both his hands to the old Russian. In a mellifluous tone and smiling warmly he addressed the visitors.

"Welcome to the Domain of IAM, the House of the Lord. I am Mehnra, messenger of the Monads. We have been expecting you."

John pushed ahead of Nicholas, blurting out his question. "You got our President here?"

"President Koster is with us. In due course you will see him. But first we must go to the MORE chamber. Do not be frightened. This is the Monad way of pre-examination of all those who come to visit us or are transported here by our external force."

"You have many visitors then?" queried John.

"At times. Some come on their own and others are brought here by our Spherenauts."

"Your what?"

"Spherenauts. Like you, they are pilots who control the blue spheres which brought your Airship Nobile to the Domain of IAM. But there will be plenty of time to ask your questions later."

He led them into an elevator which moved horizontally as well as vertically. In seconds the door opened silently and they entered a spacious laboratory where two more giants waited on them. In the centre of the room was a glowing disk.
Gently Mehnra guided each of the crew onto the disk where they remained for several seconds while a vibrant energy field surrounded each in turn. When the procedure was completed each of the crew felt a tremendous surge of personal well being. They all smiled like born again zealots at a revival meeting.

Liu was very curious about the banks of computers. "Sir...if you do not think it too presumptuous of me, may I ask, please, the purpose of the MORE device we have just experienced?" He continued looking around the laboratory for clues about what was happening in the procedure.

"You need not call me, sir, Dr. Chow. Mehnra is sufficient. In answer to your question, MORE is the name we give to our Material Organic Reproduction Energizer. To understand better what I mean, let me explain it this way. On earth man has discovered how to make energy out of matter. We Monads learned to do that many eons ago. We are now able to make whatever organic thing or person we wish by using the MORE device . If we choose to make something inorganic, we have another laboratory which has the MIRE device, which as you may have already guessed is the Material Inorganic Reproduction Energizer."

They were puzzled by his simple explanation, but his openness allayed their fears.

"Mehnra, how is it we can understand what you say?" asked Carlo. "Do all Monads speak English?"

"That is a very good question, Commander. I can see your Central Computer selected very wisely when it gathered all of you for this mission. The Monads communicate directly by thought, but since you have not evolved to this level of mind transfer, we speak the language which is used in our company. We enter the words into the speech areas of our minds and after analysing them into some intelligent form, return them to the speaker with whom we are conversing. The basic language used by all of mankind, came originally from IAM as do all things that exist."

"And this place we are in, you called the Domain of IAM, the House of the Lord, is that the same IAM who has created everything?" asked Michael.

"That is correct Michael. IAM is our Lord."

"Like in our Lord Jesus...is that what you are saying?"

"IAM is the Father of our Lord Jesus," replied the giant.

"Then you're saying he's God," added John.

"Call Him God if you choose. IAM is total existence. He is the very reason all things continue. His wish to return all that is made to non-existence, would merely take an act of His will. He is a part of all of us, and we are a part of Him. IAM is and always has been, and always shall be. IAM is."

"And this place you call the Domain, is this Heaven?" asked Helga, slightly self-conscious for asking such a non-communist question.

"Dear Miss Korb...do not be afraid to ask any question you like. The system in your country which has placed the State above the individual is only temporary. The single individual is of more value to IAM then the concept of the mass. All who are created by our all powerful Lord are of utmost importance to Him, because each new creature requires an act of His will. But I am taking too long to explain the unexplainable. When you have remained in this soul realm long enough, all of this will come easily to you. Please my friends do not worry about anything. IAM has brought you here. IAM will protect you."

"Mehnra, I can't understand why I don't feel hungry after the long duration since we last ate," Sandra said in a puzzled voice.

"Food is your way on earth to energize yourselves. Here in the Domain energy is given to you in a more efficient manner. We do not have to devote our lives to raising food, and solving the problems of waste. Since we live in an ideal environment without needs or wants, there is no war. No death. Just eternal joy and happiness. Our main activity is worship of our Creator and fulfilment of His wishes."

"Is he a giant like you?" asked John.

"I do not know what He would look like since He can take whatever form He chooses. When He speaks to us in His abode, He speaks in the tones of a kind but firm father, and His voice comes out of an energy field of brilliant light."

"But the giant thing that I just asked you about, are all Monads giants?"

"It is relative. All Monads are about my height. Let me explain it this way. When we lived on the surface of the earth as you now do, it was many hundreds of thousands of years ago. Back then the earth's year, or its voyage around the sun, took only 290 days. Our calendar can still be found on the Gate of the Sun in Tiahuanaco. There was less gravity in the world at that time and giants as you call us, were common all over the globe."

"What caused it to change...the earth's rotation I mean?" asked Carlo.

"I can see how it is you were able to theorize about the results of the zero magnetic area and the magnetic curtain. You are a very inquisitive group. You are to be congratulated on your development of the SIC, Dr. Moysev. That was a quantum leap in pure science which took us many years, centuries even, to discover. You asked, why did the earth's rotation change. That in fact is precisely what happened."

"In the beginning, when the earth was peopled with so called giants, there was torment and injustice all over the face of the earth. Races took whatever they wanted, by force if necessary, without consideration for anyone else. We Monads lived on a beautiful continent which spanned the large sea which you now call the Atlantic ocean. Races moved back and forth across our land bridge and exchanged their goods and their ideas. Unfortunately we were not allowed to live in peace, and our very existence was threatened by our two neighbours. It was then that our best scientists discovered what you have discovered in the last fifty years, nuclear energy. When we realized that we could annihilate matter by releasing the energy stored in heavy metals, we sent warnings to our warring neighbours, but they took no heed. It was then that IAM gave us the command to release this tremendous energy."

"The weapon was placed in the bowels of the great ice cap which covered the northern regions of the globe eons ago. We had constructed many vessels to protect our own race, because it was calculated that the melting of the ice cap would cause a tremendous flood all over the world. When the order was given, a great explosion took place, and within days the cities of the earth became inundated by the world's greatest flood. You have written about it in your sacred books and it is recorded in many of the sacred books of the world. Torrents fell everywhere, and our beautiful land disappeared beneath the raging waters."

"But IAM knew what would happen, because IAM knows everything. He knew that when the ice melted we would discover this paradise in the north, and IAM guided us to our new home. The explosion caused the earth to increase its rotation rate and the calendar year of 365 days evolved. This increase of course also increased the gravitational effect on growing things, including people, and the result, as you can see, is a smaller stature."

They were speechless with Mehnra's account. It was as if they had awakened in the midst of a science fiction film and they were the key players.

"That is enough for now," said the handsome guide. "Come with me to your new quarters and later we will visit your President."