Cycle of Stars Read online

  “It is hard not to schism. Putting the body ahead of its parts is always difficult.”

  “Particularly if that body becomes derisive of its parts,” said Jomo indignantly.

  “Yes there has to be a feedback mechanism. Somehow those without a voice must be given a voice. The whole must churn as a kind of mixture in which the goal is a blend but of course that goal is never reached. That is good. For if it were reached then a kind of hardening would settle in, as you said the body would become derisive of its parts.”

  “And you Gallans have reached this good?”

  Barasa laughed, “Imperfectly yes. You see Jomo it is not the reaching of a goal that is important but the commitment to striving for the goal.”

  But Barasa could see that Jomo was nodding off.

  “I suggest my friend that we retire for the evening. We can take up our discussion tomorrow after a good rest. You've had a long day.”

  Jomo only nodded yes before thanking Barasa again and retiring.

  16

  The alarm sounded throughout the ship.

  “Turn off that damn alarm,” said Captain Reynolds.

  “Sir we are having a problem maintaining this orbit.”

  “What do you mean helm?”

  “The stresses on the ship are causing the control Ems to fire the attitude control thrusters almost continuously.”

  “Very well take us to a higher orbit.”

  After some minutes of maneuvering the helmsman shrugged.

  “Sir I can't find an orbit that is marginally better.”

  Dag and Ally had entered the room after hearing the alarm. The Captain had made it clear to them that they were always welcome to offer advice.

  “Sir if I may?”

  “Of course Dr. Mach.”

  “I believe our orbital problem is related to the space we are in. The cosmological constant is changing and space is changing too,” he paused not wanting to be too technical. “Let's just say that the space is beginning to churn at the scale of the ship. In a sense, we are being buffeted by this change in the structure of space.”

  “Very well Dr. Mach you have my attention.”

  “I suggest that we deorbit and head for one of the planets closer to Kaffa. The innermost planet if possible. I believe at that distance from the star the strong gravitational field of Kaffa will smooth out spacetime and make orbiting much easier.”

  “Very well Dr. Mach. Helm, plot a course to put us in orbit around that planet but make it so as to minimize our exposure to the star. At that distance the radiation is going to be intense.”

  Dag had asked Ally to meet him to discuss the situation. She was the only one aboard ship with the training necessary to follow Dag's thoughts.

  “I can't find a trace of it Miss even with our most powerful scopes.”

  “You mean that massive wormhole has dissipated without a trace?”

  “That's what I believe. That's why we found ourselves in normal space before we made the jump. Well, what passes as normal space now.”

  “What was it for Dag?”

  “I'm not sure Miss but I don't think it was for transportation, not like we use wormholes and the wormhole drive.”

  “It had to be a weapon then,” said Ally assuredly.

  “Why do you say that?”

  “It's the only other purpose such a thing could serve. Why else would anyone spend so much energy and effort to create it?”

  “Maybe Miss, although I believe it could have formed naturally in this crazy spacetime. But if you are right then that begs the question?”

  “What?”

  “Did it work?”

  Ally shrugged.

  Aboard the JS1 helm was preparing to put the ship in orbit around the innermost planet of the system. He had followed the Captain's orders by aiming for an orbit that was slightly tilted from a polar orbit and very elliptical. It should keep the ship in the planet's shadow for much of the orbital period minimizing the heating from the central star Kaffa.

  “Captain,” said comm. “We have an incoming message.”

  “Let me hear it comm.”

  “To the ship entering orbit, this is the Jump-Ships Corporation.”

  “Jump-Ships, how did they get out here?” asked the Captain to no one.

  “You are welcome to dock and come aboard headquarters. Please respond.”

  “Helm can you find their location?”

  “Yes sir.”

  “Very well make for those coordinates.”

  “Respond in the affirmative.”

  Dag and Ally working in one of the coffee bars aboard ship heard the news from one of the crew. They were soon off to the crew lounge where they could watch the docking.

  It was just as they remembered it. The two-thousand meter ring complex was here in this new orbit.

  Dag wondered.

  How did they accomplish the move and so quickly?

  After docking the Captain called for Dag and Ally to accompany him and his First Officer to meet with Dr. Payne.

  “Captain Reynolds it is so good to see you again,” said Dr. Payne. “Please, you and First Officer Sands come in and have a seat. Ah, Dr. Mach and Dr. Mekur I'm glad to see you again as well. Frankly, I thought you were lost.”

  Payne shook all their hands.

  Dag was a little surprised, Payne looked much older than the last time he saw him. Probably the result of stress.

  Once seated the Captain spoke up.

  “Dr. Payne, how in the world did you get Jump-Ships' manufacturing complex to this orbit?”

  “It took years but we had enough warning to prepare and make the move successfully.”

  “Years?” said the Captain.

  “Oh yes it took about five years to finalize the move.”

  “Five years? We've only been gone a few months.”

  “Captain, I haven't seen you in probably eighty years.”

  “What!”

  “I'm sorry I startled you Captain. But yes I think it's been about eighty years. I'm sure I could look up the exact date of your departure if you wish.”

  “Then what is today?”

  After hearing a date that was eighty-something years later than he thought the Captain sat there dumbfounded. Dag spoke up.

  “If what you say is true Dr. Payne and of course it is true I think I can make a conjecture about what happened.”

  “Please Dr. Mach.”

  “I believe sir that while orbiting the giant wormhole our proper clock relative to the ship was slowed by the huge gravitational effect of the wormhole. Just as general relativity would predict. We of course had no way of knowing that was happening until now.”

  “Fascinating,” said Dr. Payne. “A time machine.”

  “Of a sort,” said Dag. “But only in one direction. To the future.”

  There was a moment of silence, most were stunned. Dag was intrigued and began talking. The Captain interrupted him.

  “Dr. Mach please. Don't you realize that many of us have probably lost loved ones while we were circling that infernal wormhole? And even if they are still alive they are all so much older.”

  “I'm sorry sir. I haven't much family I guess and it never occurred to me.”

  Dag looked at Ally. Her face was a cross between shock and sorrow.

  Dr. Payne suggested that they all should freshen up in their apartments which he would have his assistant assign to them. After resting they could meet again at dinner.

  Jomo and his extended family had spent a week in the Gallan village. Except for the ever recurrent periods of ground tremors life was becoming more normal. The kids had started school and were making friends. The wives had made their families as comfortable as possible. The villagers had been more than eager to help. Jomo was amazed.

  “Barasa,” he said at lunch one day. “I can't think of any other situation where people have been so welcoming of others. Especially since we are from a state that has had combative relations with yours. We sincerely thank
you.”

  “Jomo you are welcome. But you should know that we do this for our own reasons. It is part of our beliefs and if we were to neglect such we would not be honest with ourselves. We believe it's our responsibility to offer such support to others.”

  “Gallan society is not what we were taught. I'm afraid we were led to believe that it was a stagnant, hierarchical patriarchy that was not welcoming to diversity.”

  “Both our countries have not presented themselves to the other very well I fear. I think it is because leaders, even if elected, become more worried about the perpetuation of the country than right and wrong. Individuals, on the other hand, are more concerned with justice or injustice than the perpetuation of such. Of course I'm speaking in generalities.

  “Face to face of course, that is very diff ...”

  His voice trailed off as the tremors began. This time something was different. Instead of the usual vibration that was almost forgettable, there was a shaking, a deep shaking. The ground was shifting, the rumble was louder and deeper, Adowa was responding to the continuing change of the cosmological constant, this time in a way that was impossible to ignore.

  Outside they heard a crash. The tower bell used by the village elders to signal emergencies had fallen with the top part of the tower to the ground. Fortunately, most of the buildings of the village were no more than two stories and these seemed to be riding the shaking ground in good shape, so far.

  Taller buildings were cracking in their upper rooms and the people were fleeing to the streets. Jomo and Basara at the door of Basara's home watched the destruction. Fully ten minutes went by. Then the shaking stopped.

  Basara turned to Jomo, “I'm afraid my friend that the refuge we offer you may not be as safe as I had hoped.”

  Jomo turned from looking at his new friend and wondered what they were in for now.

  17

  The past is never really past. Its influence is always felt. The Aggie Wars* were one of those events out of the past that was impacting the present. The war erupted when a breakaway faction of AI attacked the AIs left on Earth. Though the destruction eventually ended the animosity never stopped and its effects were being felt on Adowa, especially on those least able to protect themselves.

  After the unprecedented shaking stopped one of Jomo's sons ran up to him.

  “Hurry father, mother and little Mawi are injured.”

  Rushing to his family Jomo saw his wife with her head already bandaged but when he saw the small white sheet covering his baby's body he stopped. He couldn't move. His knees then collapsed and he went sprawling. His wife and remaining children joined him in his sobbing.

  It had been a couple of weeks since that terrible day and village life was getting back to normal. New refugees were arriving and Jomo felt an obligation to assist them. It also helped him deal with the loss of his child.

  While introducing himself he saw an old man he thought he recognized. He had never met him in person but had seen pictures. The old man did not appear to want visitors so Jomo left him alone for the moment.

  “I would like you to tell me father if you recognize that man sitting across the street.”

  “Well I can't be sure but it looks like old Menelik. But there haven't been any recent pictures of him.”

  “Old Menelik,” said Jomo. “If it is him I would like to ask him some questions.”

  Jomo got his chance as the refugees were being processed. Basara and the other elders were taking down information so they could decide what to properly do for each refugee.

  “Your name sir?” asked Basara.

  The old man said, “Mugo Mwangi.”

  Jomo interrupted.

  “Excuse me sir but you look very much like the Union President Menelik. Has anyone ever told you that?”

  “Most people are not that rude,” said the man abruptly.

  “Oh, I wasn't trying to be rude sir. Just curious. After all, Menelik was our greatest president ever.”

  “So I've heard, but I'm apolitical young man.”

  “Of course sir. But just one more thing. I would like you to meet my family. Here is my father, grandfather and great-grandfather. They all share my name, Jomo.”

  The three Astatke men got up from behind the elder's table and moved forward. Then one after another they spoke up, starting with Jomo's father followed by his grandfather and his great-grandfather.

  “It is him.”

  “It is him.”

  “It is him.”

  “You see sir,” said Jomo. “We believe we know who you are. What we are curious about is your role in our misfortunes.”

  “What do you mean! I'm just an old man seeking refuge. I say sir are you going to sit there and let these men accuse me?”

  Basara was perplexed. He had gotten to know Jomo quite well and felt he would do nothing to hurt another. But if this was really the old president, then he would have to be handled differently from other refugees if only for his own safety.

  “Sir these men I have come to know well. They are not the kind that would make false claims. If you are who they say you are you should tell me so that I can provide for your safety. If these men can recognize you others can. And they might not have your best interests at heart.”

  The old man seemed to think a moment.

  “Okay sir I will talk to you privately.”

  Basara got up to take the old man to a back room of the village meeting building.

  “Basara, may I come?” said Jomo.

  “I do not want him there.” said the old man.

  “Sir he may have saved your life by speaking up.”

  The old man hesitated.

  “Okay but only you and him, no others.”

  Basara led the old man to a small room. Jomo followed.

  As they sat down Basara said, “Now sir we need the truth.”

  “Very well,” said the old man. “I no longer have anyone to take care of me so I am at your mercy sir. It is true I am Menelik. I was president of the Union for many years.”

  “Do you know what has happened to our planet?” said Jomo.

  Momentarily defiant, Menelik then seemed to relent.

  “Yes I do know. We had a deal with the AIs to protect the planet. In return we would support them in their war against the former Earth AIs. But something happened. I do not know if it was deliberate or an accident but the AIs did not keep the bargain. Their hatred for men was too great I suppose.”

  “A deal, you mean with the rogue AI's? They're the ones behind this disaster?” said Jomo. “Why would beings as powerful as the AI's, beings capable of destroying a world, need any deal from the Union? It doesn't make sense old man.”

  Menelik noted Jomo's demeaning appellation.

  “Since you know who I am young man I would expect you to address me as President Menelik.”

  Jomo started to speak but Basara raised his hand.

  “President Menelik, we do recognize your title but you have no power here, remember that. The way you are treated is entirely up to you and your attitude towards others.”

  The old man seemed to have a hard time digesting Basara's words. He tried to find a threat in them but could not. Perhaps they simply meant what Basara said. He was not used to such straightforward talk.

  “I am sorry Elder Basara. The young are often insolent but I do appreciate your consideration. As for you young man, call me what you will, I am beyond caring. I tried to protect my country and this planet in the only way I knew how. If I was betrayed I did not betray.”

  Jomo watched the old man as he lowered his eyes. He was obviously beyond caring as he said. Jomo felt sympathy but not sorrow for him.

  “As you wish Mr. President,” he said as he got up and walked out.

  That evening he was talking with the rest of the family.

  “We can never really know if he was sincere or not. There is no corroborating evidence. He either tried to save the Union or not. But he is an old man, not far from death. I wish to hav
e nothing else to do with him.”

  “You are wise my son,” said his great-grandfather.

  Dag had found out from Dr. Payne that the giant wormhole had dissipated when another fusion ship that was trapped in its gravitational field had done similar to the Star Hopper. Desperate to escape they had searched their ship and found an artwork aboard. They set it off and soon found themselves free.

  Dag conjectured that the wormhole and the changing cosmological constant were related. Maybe the same party was behind both.

  Unfortunately, the cosmological constant of the region was not fully restored and started to deteriorate again. That was nearly eighty years ago now and that region of space was no better off than the space around Adowa.

  Dag and the others settled in at Jump-Ships headquarters. He wasn't as bothered as the rest from the ship. Even if he had been human he hadn't any relatives that he had left behind. But he did feel some loss for Ally's uncle Frank who had taken him in without question. And of course there was Ally and her losses and that did bother Dag.

  But right now all Dag could do was to try and figure out a way to restore their transportation capabilities. Uncle Frank was forty light-years away in the Dnoces System and the only way to find out his status was to go there. But they couldn't with the spacetime around Adowa continuing to deteriorate. And Dag's trick of flooding a tiny area with energy so as to recreate the topological quantum foam would no longer work, it would take too much energy for a jump-ship to supply.

  Ally hadn't seen Dag in a couple of days. At first she was glad to be alone with her thoughts. Losing eighty years in relation to the rest of her family required some consideration. But once she realized that most of them would still be alive, only much older, she was able to cope. It would be strange but probably fun to meet some of her grandkids, her sister's children's children, they would probably be her age by now.