Jonas sat down on an upright log beneath him, gazing at Aaron as he began the story.
"Long ago, there were many great nations in the world," he began, gazing down at his feet as if telling this story pained him in some way. Jonas was reminded of the way the Giver looked on those days when he was in too much pain to work with Jonas.
"For a time, these nations agreed on a mutual peace. There were no wars, and the countries helped each other." A crowd had now gathered around the fire where the two of them sat. Jonas turned around momentarily to look at the dirty, grittily dressed people. He was in awe.
"But as we all know," James continued, looking around, "Nothing can stay perfect forever."
'Funny,' Jonas thought. Staying perfect forever was the premise of the community in which he had once lived. But as hard as they try, it wasn't perfect. Jonas had made it imperfect.
"Before long, countries began to grow tired of each other. Tempers began to flare." James voice was growing cold and distant. "Some countries began to refuse to trade with each other, and soon before minor scuffles began to happen on their borders."
Jonas knew what this was. It was war.
"And then one day, one country - it's name lost in the sands of time- declared full out war upon another one. Soldiers marched upon it, and soon that country had fallen. Before long, that country had taken over many countries, but then it was decided it must be stopped. An alliance of countries was formed, known as the Congregation. The Congregation opposed war, but they realized that the only way to stop war was with war."
Jonas was shocked by all of this, mostly by the grim statement at the end of Aaron's speech.
"And then, some countries began to side with the Congregation's enemies - they called themselves 'The Ethos'. And before long, the Ethos and the Congregation were at full-fledged war with each other. The war was fought mostly by soldiers, and many people died. The war went on for many years, most likely over 20. The Congregation found themselves losing the war steadily. They began to create giant underground facilities in which to hide."
Jonas turned around once more. Atleast 150 people had gathered in the small building where he sat, and of them staring intently at Jonas and Aaron.
"And then, on the 'day of the last', the entire population of the Congregation hid underneath the ground. By this time, the Ethos forces had surrounded the Congregation's capital city. It was their last hour. At the moment of sunrise that day, hundreds of vastly powerful weapons pummeled the Earth from every angle. The Congregation was forced to bomb their own cities, because of The Ethos forces within them. The only spot which they didn't bomb was the place you came from - the communities."
Jonas found himself unable to speak.
"After a year underground, the Congregation's survivor traveled through a fast tunnel system to the area which they had not bombed- they called it the Promised Land. But you see, during that time underneath the Earth, the Congregation's leaders had devised a system. They called it 'The Utopia Project'. The results of which is your community. The leaders new that if humanity continued as it was, it would destroy itself. They had only one choice: to start a new."
Aaron's words were echoing of the walls. It was obvious now to Jonas that this story was not told very often.
"They announced over the loudspeaker that there would be a giant party that night, to celebrate the Congregation victory - keep in mind they were still underground at this point - and instructed that all children under 9 years old could be dropped off with the elders to be taken care of. The adults that night, went out into one chamber specific to party. But that night.."
Aaron swallowed hard.
"The 'leaders' of the Congregation released gas into the chamber in which they were gathered. They all died. Those who didn't go to the celebration were left to die underground."
"Why!?" Jonas quickly blurted out.
"They knew of hate. They knew of pain..of discriminations, of love and color..and all the things that were hurling humanity
into it's downward spiral. But now the council of around 20 elders were left with around 200 small children, most of them around 6. They would have preferred to start with newborns, but there weren't enough. With the 200 children, the leaders - now proclaiming themselves the Elders, they headed above ground, to the new Utopia they had created. They wrote the rule book. They built the first community, devised the system. Utopia had been created."
"But they forgot about those left behind. The Remnants. They presumed that the few people they left under ground would not be able to get out of this labryinth they created..but they did. They moved far far away from the Utopia, to where we are now. They are our ancestors..well, except for you and I, Jonas. We are of the blood of the same people who destroyed Earth as it used to be.
"How long ago was this?" Jonas asked
"Almost 150 years ago." Aaron replied.
"I see.."
But still one queston was left burning in Jonas' mind.
"Why?"
"Long ago, there were many great nations in the world," he began, gazing down at his feet as if telling this story pained him in some way. Jonas was reminded of the way the Giver looked on those days when he was in too much pain to work with Jonas.
"For a time, these nations agreed on a mutual peace. There were no wars, and the countries helped each other." A crowd had now gathered around the fire where the two of them sat. Jonas turned around momentarily to look at the dirty, grittily dressed people. He was in awe.
"But as we all know," James continued, looking around, "Nothing can stay perfect forever."
'Funny,' Jonas thought. Staying perfect forever was the premise of the community in which he had once lived. But as hard as they try, it wasn't perfect. Jonas had made it imperfect.
"Before long, countries began to grow tired of each other. Tempers began to flare." James voice was growing cold and distant. "Some countries began to refuse to trade with each other, and soon before minor scuffles began to happen on their borders."
Jonas knew what this was. It was war.
"And then one day, one country - it's name lost in the sands of time- declared full out war upon another one. Soldiers marched upon it, and soon that country had fallen. Before long, that country had taken over many countries, but then it was decided it must be stopped. An alliance of countries was formed, known as the Congregation. The Congregation opposed war, but they realized that the only way to stop war was with war."
Jonas was shocked by all of this, mostly by the grim statement at the end of Aaron's speech.
"And then, some countries began to side with the Congregation's enemies - they called themselves 'The Ethos'. And before long, the Ethos and the Congregation were at full-fledged war with each other. The war was fought mostly by soldiers, and many people died. The war went on for many years, most likely over 20. The Congregation found themselves losing the war steadily. They began to create giant underground facilities in which to hide."
Jonas turned around once more. Atleast 150 people had gathered in the small building where he sat, and of them staring intently at Jonas and Aaron.
"And then, on the 'day of the last', the entire population of the Congregation hid underneath the ground. By this time, the Ethos forces had surrounded the Congregation's capital city. It was their last hour. At the moment of sunrise that day, hundreds of vastly powerful weapons pummeled the Earth from every angle. The Congregation was forced to bomb their own cities, because of The Ethos forces within them. The only spot which they didn't bomb was the place you came from - the communities."
Jonas found himself unable to speak.
"After a year underground, the Congregation's survivor traveled through a fast tunnel system to the area which they had not bombed- they called it the Promised Land. But you see, during that time underneath the Earth, the Congregation's leaders had devised a system. They called it 'The Utopia Project'. The results of which is your community. The leaders new that if humanity continued as it was, it would destroy itself. They had only one choice: to start a new."
Aaron's words were echoing of the walls. It was obvious now to Jonas that this story was not told very often.
"They announced over the loudspeaker that there would be a giant party that night, to celebrate the Congregation victory - keep in mind they were still underground at this point - and instructed that all children under 9 years old could be dropped off with the elders to be taken care of. The adults that night, went out into one chamber specific to party. But that night.."
Aaron swallowed hard.
"The 'leaders' of the Congregation released gas into the chamber in which they were gathered. They all died. Those who didn't go to the celebration were left to die underground."
"Why!?" Jonas quickly blurted out.
"They knew of hate. They knew of pain..of discriminations, of love and color..and all the things that were hurling humanity
into it's downward spiral. But now the council of around 20 elders were left with around 200 small children, most of them around 6. They would have preferred to start with newborns, but there weren't enough. With the 200 children, the leaders - now proclaiming themselves the Elders, they headed above ground, to the new Utopia they had created. They wrote the rule book. They built the first community, devised the system. Utopia had been created."
"But they forgot about those left behind. The Remnants. They presumed that the few people they left under ground would not be able to get out of this labryinth they created..but they did. They moved far far away from the Utopia, to where we are now. They are our ancestors..well, except for you and I, Jonas. We are of the blood of the same people who destroyed Earth as it used to be.
"How long ago was this?" Jonas asked
"Almost 150 years ago." Aaron replied.
"I see.."
But still one queston was left burning in Jonas' mind.
"Why?"