ARCANA Chapter 11 by William James Johnson

Time no longer had any relevance for the crew of Airship Nobile. The greenish sun was always present and there was no division of night and day as they were accustomed to on the outside world. Their energy level was always such that they did not require sleep. Soon they were no longer able to think in terms of hours, days, and weeks.

Biologically their bodies no longer hungered for food, thus eliminating another guide for the passage of time. As with other inhabitants of the Domain, they existed only in the present. There was no real need to think about the past, and the future had little or no meaning if it were not for their original purpose to free President Koster and return to terra firma.

Their quarters were located in a beautiful tropical setting. Out in the tidy courtyard one could hear the steady sound of a gentle waterfall and crystal clear brook which meandered through the darkish granite, flecked with streaks of silver and gold. Fish of varying sizes and radiant hues darted in the small ponds which dotted the verdant garden. Brightly coloured birds decorated the vine hung trees and nestled comfortably beside huge spectacularly patterned reptiles which lounged lazily on the soft fern covered branches. A young fawn nibbled at the berries which sprung abundantly from a red currant bush.

Inside the living space were low couches for sitting or reclining. At the end of the divans was an electronic panel for controlling the environment, an environment which included delicate music coming from shell like structures and a large screen which portrayed life in the Domain. Occasionally a Monad announcer would make a report on what was happening on the outside world. His reports were so random it was impossible to get a sense of time from either their duration or the time of their broadcast.

The visitors were given the option of selecting nourishment from a store of earth made foods, or adopt the Monad method of restoring their energy level by using the STS (Solar Tap Station) located under a shining silver dome near their lodgings. To use this method, they had to discard their flight suits and put on a varitemp body stocking like those worn by all the Monads. This clothing had its right sleeve graded in colour from the right elbow to the wrist. Normally the garment was a pale blue, but if the sleeve began to turn white, the wearer was to go to the nearest STS and place his hand palm down on the Sun Dome until the white disappeared indicating a full energy charge.

The body stocking itself was called a varitemp fabric because different weaves permitted the wearer to select his own most comfortable temperature. The body temperature of the Monads was about the same as earthlings. The fabric permitted the wearer to dissipate the amount of heat he chose and thus allowed him to function in the temperature range he preferred. The Nobile crew could see what a boon such an invention would be back on earth where the cost of heating one's environment had become so expensive. Using the Monad body stocking a person was carrying his own heat source at all times and the external temperatures need not be taken into account.

The visitors had been allowed access to other Monads. All in all, a casual observer would report, that except for their size and ordinary facial features, the earthlings were making a good adjustment to life in Paradise. Their own feelings of wholesomeness and peace made it very difficult to return to the subject of the missing President. John was the only member of the crew who kept the mission objective in mind and he grew more and more aggravated as he saw the others' willingness to remain in the Domain. It finally came to a head when he insisted that the time had come to confirm for themselves that Koster was truly somewhere in this realm.

"We've got to see the President...today...it's got to be today. I'm not going to let them put us off any longer."

"Be patient my boy," said Nicholas. "Surely they must be treating him as well as they are treating us. There is no hurry. There is so much to learn...so much to see and do. And remember, we still have not seen their leader as yet."

"And not very likely we'll ever see him. I don't trust Mehnra. There's something about that guy."

"Like what?" asked Sandra.

"He's too smooth...if you know what I mean."

"Smooth...in what way?"

"He's always cooperating. Ask him for something and he always answers you. He's kind...and considerate...I don't know. I just can't trust someone like that."

Carlo had become very sympathetic to the Monads and this pleasant open society had caused a noticeable change in him. He was no longer tense and was willing to listen to other points of view. This was much different from the argumentative, combative crew leader he had been.

"I would say you have given excellent reasons for trusting Mehnra, rather than faulting the guy. I really like him. He's a loyal friend."

"All the creatures of the Domain are friendly," said Chow. "How wonderful it would be if the people on earth could live in such harmony. It would indeed be Heaven on Earth."

"You don't understand," said John. "The longer we wait, the more difficult it becomes. Don't you see what they're trying to do? They want us to become like them, then we'll give up the idea of ever returning to Earth. But we must go back...even if Koster prefers to remain. The world must know this place exists and it is up to us to tell every nation what we have discovered. This is the Arcana, Vallenti spoke about...the sacred mystery. We must bring back this secret to our world."

"Why do you call it a secret?" asked Sandra.

"No one knows for sure there is such a things as Paradise, or God. And we've found it. Can you imagine how we can change the world with this discovery. It's our duty as creatures of earth to share this tremendous news of Arcana."

"Did you ever think, that maybe God wants each man to find out for himself," said Carlo.

"Maybe, like Carlo says, each man must make his own journey to discover Arcana," said Nicholas.

"But can't you see what this truth would do for the world."

"Consider yourself blessed. God has let us into his Paradise and you want to reject it," said Liu.

"Never...I'm not talking of rejecting Arcana...I want to share the secret with my fellowman. Is that so hard to understand?"

"But John," said Helga, "Nicholas is right. There is no hurry to return. If it turns out the others feel the same way, why return at all. Do you have something against living in Heaven?"

John could not believe what he was hearing. "See. You've already changed. A Communist talking about living in Heaven. You spout ideas like that back in the USSR and you'd be doing a tenner in the Gulag. Can't you see? They're winning us over with love and peace and all those unrealistic values."

Sandra moved closer and placed her hand gently on his shoulder. "Dearest John, why do you have such hatred in you, such mistrust? Get rid of it, darling. There's no place for such negative feelings in Paradise."

"My God...even you," he said with resignation. "I'm not going to wait any longer."
He selected Mehnra's code on his control panel and soon the tall messenger appeared on the large video screen.

"Yes, John. Is there something I can do for you?"

"Yes there is. You can stop this delay and take us to our President."

"As you wish." Mehnra selected a toggle switch on his control panel then continued speaking. "Outside your cottage is an Anti Gravity Courier. It will take you to your President. Was there anything else, John?"

He turned off the screen. He was surprised it was so easy to have his request granted. The others were quick to point out that all of their requests had been fulfilled without problems. John was the only one who had doubts about the creatures of the Domain. He was angry with the passivity of his crew.

"Well...who's coming with me?"

They looked from one to the other. No one volunteered. Upset by their rebuff, he stormed out of the quarters and mounted the AGC. Soon he was lofted above the thick trees and shunted smoothly and quietly to another thicket located in a pleasant valley. At this altitude he could see a proliferation of Sun Domes dotting the greenery and comfortable cottages nestled in a well cultivated park like setting. As the AGC landed outside a white villa, he saw David Koster dressed in a Monad varitemp body stocking seated on the porch. At last his doubt that his President was still alive was put to rest.

Enthusiastically, he hurried to the President and gave the well known Koster salute, his right hand across his chest under his heart, palm down.

"You've got to be a fellow American," remarked Koster, his smile putting the anxious Robins at ease.

"That's right, Mr. President," extending his hand. "John Robins. I'm the pilot of Airship Nobile which has come to rescue you."

Koster began to laugh heartily. "I'm surprised that they let you get this far...did you say rescue me?"

"That's right sir. We're going to take you out of here and back where you belong."

"You must be joking...there's no way I'm leaving the Domain...besides I'm sure the Monads have a different plan."

"You mean they've gotten to you too?"

"Don't sound so disappointed my friend. Living in Paradise has its benefits".

"I'm beginning to see that. The rest of my crew are prepared to stay here indefinitely...but you, sir...you surprise me."

"Nothing to be surprised about. Isn't this the kind of life we're all striving for? We've got it, why give it up to return to Hell."

"Hell...I don't know what you mean."

"Of course you do. Life on earth is pure Hell. Why do you think your countrymen elected me and my National Behaviour Party. They were sick and tired of living in fear of their lives because of the selfishness and social sickness that the permissiveness and drug culture brought to our country. They were willing to give up some of their human rights to permit me to get our society back under control."

"But none of that is going to happen unless you return with us."

"You are very naive. But then, so was I. I thought the use of force would give us back our self-respect, our dignity as a nation. But, John, it doesn't work that way. Force begets force. Living here in the Domain one learns a great secret. Love is a greater power than hate. Nuclear weapons, neutron bombs, nerve gas, star wars, all fail in the end. No my friend. As much as I admire the tremendous courage it took you and your cohorts to come here, you would have been better off if nothing had happened when I disappeared. It would have been better for me, I know that for sure."

"But, Mr. President..."

"Please. Call me, David, and forget the Mr. President title. No one in the Domain has a title. Here there is no need of titles. There is just IAM and the rest of us."

"But, sir...I mean, David...what about the rest of the world? Don't you think the people on earth should know about this place? And why did they capture you and not somebody else?"

"Not so fast. I'll answer the second question first. But let's make ourselves comfortable." They went onto the porch and reclined on the couches which were ever present in the Domain.

"They captured me to stop the testing of the neutron weapon. I felt we had to demonstrate to the rest of the world that the United States was not bluffing about our possession of such a weapon. It was our chance to regain the power in the world which had been wasted away by the previous administrations who tried to co-exist by negotiations. Talk is cheap. The neutron bomb used on the Island of Rocas would have given the world the object lesson no amount of negotiations could ever have achieved.

"Monads know what can become of civilization if the race for more and more destructive weapons continues. They've been there before. It may have been this realization, after the fact, which has helped them to evolve into such peaceful creatures. By kidnapping me and bringing me here, they ended, for the time being, the onward race to Doomsday.

"Also, I don't know if you realize it or not, but Mehnra, the messenger, is actually the soul mate of your departed mentor, Dr. van Arnhem. Notice how Mehnra is the reverse spelling of Arnhem. It would not have taken very long to make this discovery yourself."

"Then Arnhem was a Monad all along?"

"It would seem so. Apparently there are many Monads living on earth in the form of earthlings. They've been monitoring man's development since ancient times. In fact I'm beginning to think that all of the world's great Avatars were all Monads, sent to help man discover the higher life of the spirit."

"I don't know what you mean by Avatar."

"An Avatar is a Saviour, a religious leader, like Jesus, Buddha or Mohammed. Even Moses was God-sent to save his people. In all these great faiths man is shown how to obtain a blissful life. All religious systems have, underlying their principles, the denial of self to achieve spiritual fulfilment. But the journey in life, John, is not out there in the world. It is in here. It is this common goal which makes me think that all religions have the same point of origin, and although the roads are many, they all lead to one God, and man's participation with his Creator."

"And that's Arcana?"

"I'm not familiar with that term," said Koster.

"It means an ancient, holy, secret."

"Yes...I see what you mean. Man recognizing his connection with his Creator is indeed Arcana."

"And now to answer your question about the rest of the world's need to know about the Domain of IAM, I don't think we were captured just to stop the weapons testing. I believe we provided a means for the Monads to stop, once and for all, man's speculation about the earth being hollow. For years earthlings have been satisfied to believe that UFOs came from other planets. In recent times there has been a growing interest in the possibility that this phenomenon may be coming out of the earth, and probably through openings in the polar regions. The only way to end this speculation was to have a mission like yours fail in the eyes of the world. That would put an end to the risk of being discovered and Paradise would no longer be polluted by that greatest polluter on our planet, man."

"But we've succeeded...we're here."

"And here is where you will stay. You and I are prisoners in Paradise for all eternity. I'm sorry, but there is no way out."

"But thousands of people worked on our project. They have a back up plan if we should go missing. How can they convince earthlings there is no world within, if men keep trying to find us.?"

"They've already got that problem solved. You remember the MORE device?"

"Yes...the material energizer we went through when we arrived...what about it?"

"The Monads are going to send an identical crew back to earth in the very airship you have flown to the Domain, except the crew will all be Monads in the form of each of you. That is the reason you were placed on that disk when you arrived. It's a form of cloning done without the labourious problems associated with genetic engineering. These creatures are far superior to us."

"That seems extreme to me. Why not just brain wash us and send us back with the message that the hollow earth theory is pure science fiction? Wouldn't that be just as effective?"

"You might think so. Using Monads in your forms gives them a physical as well as a spiritual presence on the outside world."

"My God, David...that's a scary theory."

"It's no theory, I assure you. These creatures have nothing to fear from us other than our intrusion into their realm, and they will do whatever is required to eliminate that happening."

"Why not just leave us on the other side of the magnetic curtain. They could have done that, couldn't they?"

"Sure...but you said yourself the search would go on. No, I'm afraid they wanted to end this speculation for all times."

"Well then it looks as though we'll have to escape."

"And what direction will you go in?"

"I don't know yet...out I suppose. Out of this infernal hole."

Koster began to laugh. "You have much to learn about Paradise my boy. Maybe you will change your mind when you meet with IAM. In the meantime, return to the others and stay happy."

"I can't stand all this happiness. Where is the challenge if we give into this lobotomized way of living? I'll go back to the others. But I assure you, I'm not going to stay in this phony garden of Eden."

As he shook hands with the President, the older man said, "God Bless, and good luck with Arcana."

John returned and told the others about his encounter with Koster. His voice showed the disappointment he felt with the President's determination to remain in the Domain. The others were given a psychological boost when they realized that the object of their journey was willing to remain, and this decision helped them to overcome the guilt they felt about wishing to stay in this marvellous paradise they had discovered.

The more John saw the changes taking place in his friends, the more determined he was that they should be making plans to return to earth even if Koster would not be coming with them.

Mehnra could not understand why anyone would want to give up Heaven to return to Hell, the name he gave to earth, "Where wars, pollution, overpopulation, exploitation, and many other perversions of human nature, limited only by the bizarre imaginations of man, provide such a destructive environment for man to struggle against."

"That's just the point," argued John.

"Man has made his greatest progress by struggling to survive. Look at how backward tribes who live in so called tropical paradises of abundant food and warm climate, stagnate. They don't solve the great problems of man."

"Nor do they create these problems. Did you ever consider John, that what you call progress may actually be detrimental to man's well being?" asked Mehnra.

"Like what, for instance?"

"The development of toxic chemicals that eventually get into the life stream of man and result in untold agony."

"Give us time. I'll admit progress has created problems while it's solving other puzzles, but that is what being a thinking creature is all about...Don't you think your IAM wanted it that way?"

"You mean our IAM," said Mehnra.

"What do you mean?"

"IAM is the creator of all things,....you, me, the Domain, your outside world...and yes, IAM would want man to use the gift of his intelligence to solve the great mysteries of the world. But more than intelligence is IAM's gift of free will which he gave to man. With this, the greatest gift a Creator could endow his creation, he gives you the free choice to love him or reject him. If man had only used this gift to know, to love, and to serve IAM, your outside world would not be the Hell it is today. Hell is the result of man's denial of his love of his Creator. Hell comes from man's self-love to the exclusion of all other creatures. It is in the denial of self that man comes closer to his creator. But you are not ready to make such a sacrifice."

"I can see for the first time why man has made such a mess of his world," said Nicholas. "My country's objective was to make the individual serve the state and, eventually, if this goal was fulfilled, we could have a better world to live in. Don't you agree, Mehnra, that communism is capable of destroying Hell on earth and making a Paradise for all men?"

"Not the way it is being done. You must always remember that, with sufficient force, you can bend anyone's will. But getting their outward acceptance of your rules by threats, and fear, is no guarantee that they have given up their will to you. For the sake of survival, man will do or say whatever is required of him, but he who lives in Paradise does not feel he is losing something to gain this happiness for all eternity. Instead, his free will becomes love. It is a transfer of gifts...in place of freedom of choice, I get the sanctifying grace of love of my God. You have been in the Domain for too short a time to realize that loving IAM is not a backward step in your spiritual development. It is what all of man's struggle is about."

"Can't you see what he is trying to do? He is winning you over like some TV evangelist. Next thing you know, he'll have you coming forward to make a commitment to IAM...well I for one, am not going to be taken in by it. I say you should get out of here and let us discuss the problem ourselves. We don't need anymore brainwashing lectures from you."

"Hold it, John," said Carlo. "Who said you were the one to speak for all of us? Just because you've got this mental block about serving our Lord and Master..."

John interrupted, "There...that's what I've been saying all along...Lord and Master...Is that what you really want to do with your lives?"

"Only a fool would give up Heaven after having experienced it. I can't see why you're so stubborn about this," said Carlo.

"Because I don't know what Heaven is, but I do now what living in the world is all about, and all of you are earth creatures. You're not Monads. You've got to come back with me. Someone has to bring the world the truth. Someone must reveal the Arcana."

"And what is the truth?" asked Mehnra.

"That there is such a place as the Domain, that it can be reached by entering through the hole in the Arctic and that you claim to be living in Heaven, and all that. You know what I mean."

"The truth is much simpler than that, John."

"In what way?"

"The truth is that you have been given a chance to serve your God and you have turned away from it. That is the simple truth. Your decision is that you have chosen to serve yourself instead of your creator, and, as long as you live by this choice, you live in Hell."

"There you go again...making me the villain of the piece. I'm not a bad person."

"That was a human response," said Mehnra. "Humans are very adept at rationalizing any conduct whatsoever. It is part of what you call survival. But understand one thing, my friend. Survival implies the risk of destruction, and should you leave the Domain, you risk spending your eternity in Hell."

"And if I buy everything you're saying, what must I do to become a good Monad?"

"No one is asking you to become a Monad. All of the creatures in the Domain live in harmony because they do not have to fight each other for survival. The lamb can lie down with the lion. IAM has made it so. For this eternal happiness, joy, and Divine Grace, all we have to do is exchange our free will for God's love. Is that asking too much.?"

"And for this love, I get to last forever in the presence of my Creator."

"That's it."

"And the others?"

"They too must decide for themselves."

"I don't mean these. I mean the other people who live on earth and who would give anything to know for sure there is such a place and they too could come here someday."

"But that's not what I have said," added Mehnra.

"Now you have me confused...then what did you mean?"

"Paradise is anyplace where God's creatures live according to his law. Your earth could be as wonderful as the Domain if love could replace hate, if peace would take the place of war, if knowledge would replace ignorance. IAM did not create evil. Evil is man's only creation, the result of his perverse will."

"But this so called perverse will is also God's greatest gift to man. Honestly Mehnra, I'm not willing to give it up to continue living amongst a bunch of smiling automatons. You may like it this way, but it's not for me. I can't understand why the rest of you are so willing to give up this most important faculty just to live in peace."

"You've given the reason in your statement," said Nicholas. "We are tired of the struggle which ends only in the destruction of ourselves and all we touch. Giving up our will for the greater good is not asking too much."

"I keep forgetting about your communist background. You've already been brainwashed into accepting the concept of the greater good being the will of the state. No wonder there is so little individuality amongst your kind. You've sacrificed your freedom to be different. Well I promise you...I promise all of you, I'm not ready for Heaven, or the Domain, or whatever this Hell is. Maybe I'll never be ready. I was given free will. I was also given the choice to decide to turn my back on the giver of this free will."

Mehnra remained silent for a few moments after John's little speech. "Before you make your final decision, I will arrange for you to meet with IAM. All of you are free to join us. One thing we do not need in the Domain, is to have anyone here against his will. It will take a while for me to make the arrangements, so, if you will kindly excuse me, I shall be on my way."

No sooner had Mehnra disappeared when all the crew of the Nobile pounced upon the vulnerable American and began challenging him with their observations.

"I can't believe what has happened to you, John," said Sandra.

"Nothing has happened to me...that's the problem. I'm trying to keep my wits about me so that my brain doesn't become mush like the rest of you. If I let go, we're all doomed."

"But Mehnra is right," said Michael. "Living peacefully, enjoying each other's company, advancing knowledge without it having to lead to the destruction of life, is a marvellous way to spend eternity. We still have our free will. We're making the free choice of remaining in the Domain, instead of returning to earth. Don't we have the right the same as you to decide what we wish to do?"

"Of course you do...You all do. I just feel that we're here because a lot of folks believed in us, and especially Henry van Arnhem. Don't you think we owe these people some kind of explanation?"

Sandra knew how John was feeling about his responsibility to the fulfilment of the mission. She still harboured some guilt about the death of Henley Armstrong, and she was beginning to sense that if she went along with John's reasoning, she might be able to resolve the remorse which still lingered in her soul. Surely IAM, who knows everything, would understand that their desire to return to earth was their only way of remaining faithful to their cause.

"I may live to regret this, but I've got to say it anyway. I think John is right. The rest of the world has to know about the Domain...or Arcana, as you called it. As much as I too would like to remain in Paradise, I'm prepared to go with you, John, no matter where that may lead."

"Bravo," said Nicholas. "Spoken like a true romantic. Not very sensible, but then, of course, when has love ever been sensible?"

Liu did not wish to interfere, but he too had to make his case for remaining in Paradise. "My young friends, can you not see how welcome your love would be here in the Domain? No one has said that you need love only IAM. Love is the operative word in this realm. Everyone loves everyone else. Stay and share eternity with us. There's no telling what terrible problems await you when you go back to earth. Here your future happiness is assured. Do not turn your back on this marvellous gift. I beg you, as a friend. I beseech you, do not leave the Domain."

John spoke to the others. "Well this is your chance. Are there any other reasons Sandra and I should stay with you?...Tuma? What are your feelings about life in the Domain?"

"Tuma know this is place where ancestors live. Tuma feel he is now back home."

"And Meelanie and Aegerta? What about them...You mean you never wish to see them again?"

"Tuma know Meelanie and Aegerta be happy for Tuma. Someday maybe we all be together again. Maybe even see real father and mother then. Tuma like very much stay in Domain."

"But you promised...remember, when we flew over Baker Lake, we were going to anchor and let you return to your friends when your father was drowned...you said then it would be a disgrace for you to leave us before our work was finished...Tuma, it still isn't finished. It will only be finished when we return with the news of this place and who the Monads are. Until the world knows about Arcana, don't you see, Tuma, we still need you."

"I don't think it's right you should put such a load on his young shoulders," said André.

"I don't care what you think. It's true. He promised to help us and we can't return without him."

The young Eskimo lowered his head as he replied.

"John is right André. Tuma must go back with him. It is my promise, and I will keep my promise."

"Well, I'm not letting you three return without me," said André. "We'll do it together."

"Great, André. And thanks, Tuma...we really do need you," said John, smiling for the first time since they had begun this debate.

They spent many more earth hours, days and weeks, discussing the pros and cons of eternal life in the Domain. In the beginning John always took the opposite position from the others, trying desperately to stop them from cutting themselves off entirely from their earthly heritage. Those who had decided to remain were taking on the demeanor of the Monads. Carlo and Helga had learned to control their human sexuality and found that their mutual love of IAM was more than sufficient to replace their animal instincts. They even agreed to undergo the surgery necessary to remove their now useless internal organs of reproduction and digestion, and became physical Monads as well as spiritual.

John opposed this drastic procedure. Along with Moysev, Chow and Michael, they had become true system players, while the others who had decided to return to earth, hung on tenaciously to their individuality. With time, he reinforced the belief in the few who would try to return to earth, that the fulfilment of this mission was what IAM would have wanted them to do.

Mehnra gave them a long time to convince John and his small party that they should remain in the Domain. In earth time it was now the fall of the year. He returned to them with a large Anti Gravity Courier which he landed in the garden outside their cottage.

"The time is at hand for us to meet with IAM."

The author would appreciate any comments you would care to make about "Arcana"

View other novels by William James Johnson at www.wordclix.com