Chapter 3

"I have always supposed that man was a unique being. An inconceivably complex conjunction of circumstances had produced him, and it was not to be supposed that such conditions would be repeated anywhere in the universe."

-Olaf Stapledon, Star Maker, Chapter 3 Part 1, p. 24

Some makeshift barracks had been set up about half a mile from the sphere. It seemed to be where everyone was living. Of course, each of the three great nations had its own separate buildings, but they were connected by tunnels above-ground. For the first time, the United Federation of States, the European Union, and the Asian Coalition were all united and prepared to work together, since this alien object had landed on neutral ground. Those nations not represented were African – a continent that had as yet been unable to unite their warring nations – the Middle Eastern countries, and also New Zealand, which was still an independent nation which had resisted joining any of the major three coalitions. Elizabeth saw Will descending from another helicopter and waved. He turned and gave her a bright smile. Then they were both marched off to different buildings – not like prisoners, but as safely-guarded guests. Sebastian the cat was snuggled closely in her fur jacket as she was shown into a square windowless room packed with thirty-five to forty fold-up chairs set out in rows.

She took a seat toward the back as the rest of the people from her helicopter and from others' sat down in silence. Elizabeth guessed they must all be like her, U.F.S. citizens brought in by the government for consultation. Dr. Chatel spoke to her and took a seat next to her. Everyone seemed nervous, apprehensive, and a little excited, unsure what to expect. Soon Secretary Liam walked up to the front podium and spoke into the microphone.

"Thank you all for coming," he said. "I am Secretary of Defense Neill Liam. Before we begin, I have a message for you from President Hernandez, who is standing by live at the White House. Mr. President?"

A large screen lit up behind him and he moved to the side and saluted as the President spoke. He was a handsome, olive-skinned man of about fifty with coal-grey eyes. "Thank you, Secretary Liam," he said in his smooth, calming voice. "My fellow Americans, I want to thank you for your offer of help in this strange but exciting time. Humanity is on the brink of first contact, and we want to ensure that we meet this new race not only peacefully and cordially, but also safely for all the people of the world."

He stopped for a moment, cleared his throat and folded his hands, then continued.

"Because this UFO has landed on neutral ground, we as a nation have agreed to work together with the European Union and the Asian Coalition in meeting these new visitors. We have each selected a team of our best men and women in an attempt to show the best face of humanity to these aliens. You have each been chosen for your special skills, which we trust you will use in the best interest of our nation."

He stopped again to take a drink of water, then looked back up at the screen.

"All of your communication devices have been blocked from the rest of the world, in order to safeguard the secrecy of this matter until we know more. It has been twelve hours since the UFO landed, and we wish for no bad rumours or gossip leaking to the media. I therefore appreciate your willingness to sign a form agreeing that you will speak of what you see or experience here to none except each other.

"Although it has not been yet revealed to the world, we have determined that there is life on board this craft, although we cannot tell of what sort or what form it may take. I urge you all, therefore, to use the utmost safety in your contact with these creatures, once they come outside their craft. You will all be issued standard hazmat suits before you are permitted near the craft. We will do all we can to preserve your safety.

"Secretary Liam is here to answer any questions you may have. Thank you." The screen went black.

Immediately hands shot up.

"Yes," Secretary Liam pointed to the Asian-looking woman from the plane.

"Thank you. President Hernandez says they have detected life on board the sphere. How can we know for sure there is life or what kind it is?"

"We have special technology that has detected organic life within the vessel. We cannot tell yet, however, what form that life may take. Next question?"

Dr. Chatel's hand shot up. "Yes. How are you going to ensure we are safe in case these creatures have weapons or attempt to attack us?"

"Good point, thank you. Yes, although the military has not been mobilized – because we do not wish to give the idea that we are enemies – there is the highest military protection here, even hidden in and around the ice, where it will not be seen from their ship."

More questions were levied at the Secretary, but Elizabeth soon tuned them out. She was thinking, and when that happened everything around her disappeared and she was in a world all of her own. She recalled all she had ever read or Will had ever told her about possible life on other planets, but she still remained doubtful. Maybe that sphere was just a strange new technology. But from where? The three major world nations were here. She doubted New Zealand or the poverty-stricken, warring Middle-Eastern countries could have duped the whole world and produced this. She could have imagined North Korea pulling a stunt like this, but it had been destroyed years ago because of its dangerous proclivity for nuclear weapons threats.

After about ten minutes, questions had ended and Secretary Liam was instructing them all to quarters, to wait until any movement was made from the sphere. They were all handed security badges with their pictures on them. Elizabeth was escorted to a small room with two cots in it. They had even provided a small box of sand for Elizabeth's cat. Elizabeth's roommate, it turned out, was the woman who had asked the first question.

"My name's Charlotte Lucas," she said, holding out her hand to shake Elizabeth's.

"I'm Elizabeth Bennet," she replied.

"So … what sort of doctor are you? I mean, why did they bring you here?"

"Oh. Well, I'm a linguist. I specialize in ancient scripts and ciphers."

"Interesting."

"What about you?"

"I'm a geneticist from Johns Hopkins. I was visiting London for a lecture when all this happened. I haven't even been able to tell my family where I am – no doubt they don't want any leaks to media, like the President said. Do you have any family?"

Elizabeth did not answer her question. "Do you mind cats?" she asked instead, picking Sebastian up where he curled up immediately on her lap and began to purr.

"Not at all," said Charlotte. "I have two of my own at home.

"So what do you think we're supposed to do until they need us?" she continued. Obviously this question had been pressing on her mind.

"Just wait here, I suppose," Elizabeth shrugged. "They seemed to have projected possibly a long stay – with the cots."

"I'm going to see if I can find the bathroom and maybe someone who knows what we should be doing."

Elizabeth nodded but said nothing. She suddenly realized she was exhausted. She curled up on one of the cots and found Little Dorrit on her handheld, and began reading. After only about a chapter, however, she fell asleep.

She woke, and for a moment was expecting that someone would be shaking her awake, that there should be cries and a call to "hurry" – that the sphere had at last opened. But as she woke up fully, she found, to her surprise, that she was alone in the room, and all was quiet and still. She looked at her watch, but the time-zone had obviously changed. It said 3:00, whether a.m. or p.m. she did not know. Still, it was obvious she had slept at least seven hours, maybe eight. The kitten was curled up against her back and was purring in a bliss of warm blankets. She sat up and stretched. There was no window in the room so she could not look outside. She opened the door and went down the hall, looking for a bathroom. The hallway was mostly empty, but she caught a young man in a military uniform walking by.

"I think – the women's restroom is down here," he said.

Once she had found it she thanked him, and he lifted his hat to her and went off again down the hall. She wondered where everyone was. The bathroom was a rather primitive thing, with wooden stalls for showers and some toilets protruding from the wall on the other side. There was one sink and a brown bit of soap to wash her hands with.

Back out in the hall, she went on, not toward her room, but onward to explore down the hall. She passed what appeared to be more small rooms with cots. Then she heard voices speaking and turned into a large room that was bright with lamps and furnished with couches and comfortable seats. It seemed to be a sort of recreation room. There was a table with tea and coffee, another table for cards, plugs to charge all electronic devices and a huge screen on the wall. There were about twenty people gathered around it, standing or seated on chairs, watching or chatting. On the screen was the now-familiar image of the giant sphere resting on the snow and ice. So it still hadn't opened. She heard the announcer reporting live. "…We can now reveal that scientists have determined there is life on board the vessel. We turn now to extra-terrestrial theorist Erick Jørgenson for his view on the matter."

The camera turned to show the world-famous scientist. He was a handsome man, still vigorous despite his grey hair. His eyes were bright blue and he spoke with a Scandinavian accent.

"Thank you for having me here today."

"Dr. Jørgenson, you have for years been telling the world that humanity's only assurance of survival lies on another planet. Do you feel justified now in your warnings?"

"Well, Tom, as many know I am only repeating the warnings of famous scientist Stephen Hawking, who lived in the late 20th, early 21st century. His books are required reading for all who now study science. As for the energy crisis now reaching a desperate pitch, I would say that Hawking's warnings were correct, yes."

"Dr. Jørgenson, we now have confirmation that there is life on board this craft. What kind of life can we be expecting?"

"Well, it could be anything, really. The definition of organic life is clear, but it could take any form."

"And what is the definition of organic life?"

"Well, that is very clear to all those who have studied science – Life, first of all, requires replication (or reproduction) of some sort. It requires interaction with the environment and oxygen consumption (or glucose, as is the case with plants). Life also requires the capacity for partial self-repair; and, finally, life requires the consumption and generation of energy. So these beings could be anything from clouds of radiating gas possessed of mind, to the shape of an insect or a plant, or even liquids."

"Will they be visible to human eyes?"

"I certainly hope so."

"Is it possible they have already left the ship and we have not seen them?"

"It is possible – but I highly doubt it. This sphere looks highly mechanical and so I believe whatever was flying in it is still inside."

"Thank you very much, Dr. Jørgenson. Now we move to our correspondent in Cophenhagen, where crowds have gathered demanding answers from the E.U. government on the alien ship and its location. Panic is spreading…"

Elizabeth turned to the military man who stood next to her. "Do you know what time it is?"

"What – here? No, I've no idea. I'm sorry," he said. "It's hard to keep up since it's light here all night this time of year. Greenwich time is 0400 hours."

"Thank you. And there's still no movement from the ship?"

"Nope. We'll be the first to know, trust me."

"Okay, thanks."

She turned back and found her way down the hall to her room again. Charlotte came in while Elizabeth was changing.

"Oh, it's good to see you up," said Charlotte.

"Yes, I fell asleep quite unexpectedly. I was expecting something to have happened by now."

"I know. I couldn't sleep. I keep expecting them to call us."

"Who knows – maybe they won't need us," said Elizabeth.

"Oh, I hope that's not true. All this excitement for nothing?"

The sound of a bell rang out suddenly in the room and in the hall. "Oh, that's the dinner bell," said Charlotte – "or lunch or breakfast, I'm not sure which. You missed the last one. I can show you where it is."

"That would be great!" said Elizabeth fervently. "I'm starving."

The dining hall, it transpired, was shared by all three government agencies that were present there. It was rather rustic. An iron-grey chamber with fold-out chairs and tables, the evening's meal a bean stew of some sort served out of a great pot by a very large chef. The bean soup smelled delicious to Elizabeth, who was ravenous, and she was able to get with it some tinned pears and corned beef. She looked around at the table and saw Will sitting by himself. She came around behind him and set down her tray across the table. He looked bored, stirring his bean soup moodily. He brightened up immediately when he saw her.

"Liz!" he cried. "I've been wondering when I'd see you again."

"I fell asleep on my cot almost as soon as I got here."

"Well, you haven't missed anything," said Will glumly.

"Yeah. What's going on?"

Will shrugged. "No idea. In all the books and movies the aliens always come out right away."

"This isn't one of your movies, Will," she teased with a smile.

"Do you think there's anyone even alive in there?" he asked.

"I heard that they have some kind of technology that can detect life inside."

"Yes, but, what if they're ill or dying? What if they need our help?"

"Or what if they're planning some massive military stroke against us?" Elizabeth countered.

Will shrugged. "Either way, I'm bored."

Elizabeth laughed.

"What?"

"Oh, it's just the way you Brits say it – I'm bored."

Will rolled his eyes. "Okay, Miss America," he mocked. "Enjoy the bean soup, by the way. All the meals they serve here are vegetarian."

"I've got my corned beef."

Will grimaced. "I hope something happens soon."

"What have you been doing meanwhile?"

"Fretting," he said. "Watching the telly and trying to imagine what's happening in that sphere."

"I've been re-reading Little Dorrit," she said.

"Oh, that's a good one," said Will.

"I can share it with you," she said. He got out his handheld and they tapped their computers together.

"Thanks," he said. "So Little Dorrit's your favourite Dickens?"

"I think so. What about you."

"Hmm… Barnaby Rudge," he said. "No, wait – Dombey and Son."

"Really? Hm… it's so depressing. I couldn't take it."

"It has a happy ending, though."

She shrugged and picked up her tray.

"You're not going to eat your corned beef?" asked Will.

"It's for the cat," she said with a smile.

She saw Will thereafter at meals, but found that she could not sleep again except in short naps over the next two days, either on the cot or in the recreation room on a couch. There was no change in the sphere, but she found she had trouble concentrating on anything. She tried to read and to write in her notebook but found herself speculating more and more on what the sphere was and what could possibly be inside. It was hard to rest because the sun never went down, so she was left to vain imaginings.

She was dozing hazily on a chair in the recreation room when she was roused by an alarm sounding and all the people in the room were jostling each other to get out. Men in military uniforms were leading them down the hall. Elizabeth looked up at the screen and saw the sphere was moving – there seemed to be a large vertical line moving across the face of it, like a crescent, moving slowly across the sheer side. She was ushered quickly into a large room with all the others where they were fitted with warm jackets and hazmat suits. Then a great door, like that of a metal garage, slid upwards, revealing an ice-ridden land in the intense sunlight reflecting off the snow. Half a mile away the crystal sphere could be seen because of its intense reflection of the sunlight – it was like a large pearl in the snow.

Elizabeth and the others had to get on vehicles with military personnel which rode easily over the snow. In about five minutes they were before the sphere, and she could see nothing inside except a few steps leading to the ground. Then the figures appeared on them and Elizabeth gasped.

They were nothing like she had imagined.

They were human.