Encyclopedia Library

Copyright © 2019 Darryl Gopaul.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, names, incidents, organizations, and dialogue in this novel are either the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.

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ISBN: 978-1-5320-8214-6 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-5320-8215-3 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2019913516

iUniverse rev. date: 09/30/2019

Contents

Chapter 1 Final Birthday Party

Chapter 2 More Discussion and Plans

Chapter 3 The Rocket Launch and Scientific Mumblings

Chapter 4 Alien Encounter—Fishing in Space

Chapter 5 A Fisherman’s Tale

Chapter 6 Orthusian Leadership, Awaken …

Chapter 7 A Team Investigation

Chapter 8 Analysis of Thought

Chapter 9 Icons on a Capsule

Chapter 10 In the Beginning

Chapter 11 Role of a Primitive Computer

Chapter 12 A Alien Appears

Chapter 13 An Alien’s Physical Form

Chapter 14 More Facts about Orthusian Bodies

Chapter 15 An Alien Is Reborn

Chapter 16 The Alien Awakens

Chapter 17 Wither the Chosen

Afterword

Other Books and Short Stories by Darryl Gopaul

This book is dedicated to my family and those friends who are my family. My wife, our three daughters, and our grandsons and granddaughters all represent our family clan.

1

CHAPTER

FINAL BIRTHDAY PARTY

H appy birthday, Dad. Imagine, 93 years young, eh? Elizabeth stated, smiling at her old dad before his birthday party was about to begin. Mum would have been glad to live this long to see you complete the twenty-fifth book.

The slightly bent old man, Dr Adams, looked at his still-beautiful daughter, who was now in her mid-fifties. How did she get to be that age so quickly? In his mind’s eye and his old, watery brown eyes, he wondered about getting old but, in his case, enjoying the trip. He smiled at his lovely, mature daughter, who had taken over the duties of his late wife, Eve who died five years earlier but had done so for over six decades.

His silent thoughts took over when he neither heard nor saw those around him. Yes, my wife and I lived in hopes of my books’ making some money so we could leave a grand legacy in the form of a foundation, which my daughters and grandchildren could carry on after we had departed. Not that we needed any more riches, for we had all done well in our jobs and invested in good pensions.

His wife of sixty-five years and he had dreamed of leaving a foundation in theirs and their parents’ name which would be a grand gesture to their mums and dads. Any money, with interest, would fund the education for children and aged women and men around the world. They loved the idea that their two daughters would run the foundation and adapt it to the evolving realities of their era.

His elder daughter knew about investment and was very conservative in her judgement, so he knew their nest egg would persevere. Till the day that his wife died, five years ago, he had bought lottery tickets as a backup in case the investment of his writing never paid off.

In a strange way, the writing had paid off, for he had allowed his library of books to be sold to an entrepreneur for a handsome amount on the condition that the purchaser could republish the books under his/her name. His own name on the books would disappear.

His wife had laughed when she heard of the offer of two million US dollars, before she died of old age, just physical deterioration. It was now his turn. His pretty wife, Eve, was the only one he ever loved, and he could never understand why such an intelligent girl had stayed with him for sixty-five years of married life.

Speaking to his daughter, he said, Elizabeth, I am happy indeed to have reached this age, but you should know that Mum and I had an agreement that when one went, the other would not remain behind for long. You see, daughter, it is time that we meet with your sister and have a frank talk of our business. You have more than an idea of our intentions, but you should all know directly from me what we wanted for you all and for our society, who allowed us to thrive in kindness and safety.

He looked around and thought, Old folks like us no longer have any friends alive, for they all quietly and unobtrusively slipped into the netherworld.

Really, Dad, why would you bring up such a morbid topic on this day? she whispered to him in the midst of the small number of guests who were slowly entering the back garden of his old house, which was now hers. Her dad had found a new apartment close to where he and her mum had lived for their last years together.

Well, my dear, he answered, look around. Who do I know here? Now let us see. Ah! Your sister, my other daughter, and there is my handsome grandson with a new girlfriend. I am proud of that boy. He giggled.

Now, there is the banker. What is she doing here? You have paid all the bills, haven’t you, Liz? he quietly asked his daughter but really did not care.

Dad, do not be silly. We have some great news for you. She is here to deliver it personally to you, but you must wait. OK? She smiled at her old dad.

The old man walked towards the tall, pretty blonde woman holding a glass of red wine. But just before he reached her, he paused to look at the great cedar hedge in the back of the garden and whispered, My goodness, Eve, if you could only see how our hedge has prospered. It is well trimmed and is well over sixty feet high, eh! Old thing, who would have thought so many years ago, this would one day happen?

He felt a warm arm slip into his and turned around to see the beautiful gaze of pale blue eyes and a smile revealing strong white teeth, an unlined face, and full lips with red lipstick. Automatically, he returned the gaze and smiled, as his writer’s mind whispered the unheard words, Yes, there is only one thing that survives in this world and over the great expanse of time; it continues to demand our attention, and truly, youth and beauty are inextricably tied together.

And you are the new banker who has come to celebrate my birthday. But really, you have come to see if I am truly alive, haven’t you? He smiled and patted her arm.

Oh really, Dr Adams, you do not mean to be rude to me, do you? she answered quietly. Your daughter warned me of your strange sense of humour. I am Sam—short for Samantha, she replied.

Just then, a bold young male interrupted Adams’s discourse with the youthful blonde banker. Emily, this is my granddad, the handsome twenty-one-year-old Archer loudly stated, introducing his girlfriend.

Hello, Emily, Dr Adams said, introducing himself. Let me ask you, has this young man tried to have sex with you as of yet? he asked. Archer broke out laughing.

Emily brazenly answered, Really, Dr Adams, what a question. In fact, we have quite a healthy physical relationship. What else would you like to know?

Archer enquired, Granddad, are you trying to embarrass me again, eh?

No, my handsome little man I am just jealous of you for having such a beautiful girlfriend. Enjoy yourselves, kids. Give us a hug, Archer!

The young man quietly hugged his old granddad hard and whispered in his ear, I love you, Granddad.

The old man nodded and quietly whispered, I know, my boy. You are the best thing that happened to Grammy and me in the last twenty-one years. You made us live longer and gave us the opportunity to see you grow up to be a good human being. Love you, grandson. Archer sauntered off, girlfriend in tow, but his eyes were wet.

Then, there was a booming voice as Dr Adams’s second daughter, Ellen, and her partner, Troy, took over welcoming folks to the birthday with a microphone. They said they wanted everyone to enjoy their dad’s special day. This was an unusual party, for many folks present belonged to the scientific community and were actively employed by one of the many space agencies and research labs in his university town, now an academic city.

Dr Adams was caught by Liz, who took him by the arm to see a middle-aged man with a toothy smile. She introduced him as Ed Gollway. He stuck out his hand and introduced himself. Hi, Dr Adams. I have brought the microchip with your cerebral patterns copied onto a biochip, as you requested. You should know that the Russian rocket entrepreneur group wanted pay up front, and this was done. When the time comes, they promise to take your package to space station 2. They will propel the capsule into deep space to head through and across the Milky Way.

Old Dr Adams was very pleased with all the preparations his daughter had made in accordance with his wishes. He and his wife had planned this for many years, and in the end, with enough funds accumulated, his wife had told him he should begin planning the execution of his final farewell.

As part of these plans, he had instructed his young physician surgeon to remove and freeze-dry part of his bone marrow. A piece had been taken to a special lab, where the living cells were prepared and placed onto an old-fashioned tissue culture, in which Dr Adams had worked fifty years earlier. This modern freeze-drying process did not kill any of the cells; the procedure was done in triplicate and checked continuously. His test cells were viable after many years in a frozen state.

The surgeon was here at the party with his wife, and when they greeted Dr Adams, there were the usual hugs, for Dr Adams had kept in contact with the medical centres in his town. He was known for his weekly visits to the research labs, where he distributed brochures from his long-time friend’s business. His friend no longer ran the business, as he, too, had grown old and had seceded his company in his son.