The spacecraft landed smoothly in a marshy field surrounded by forest.
Chapter 4: The beggar
He stood on top of the craft that was immersed halfway in mud. A branch stooped over his head, the shuttle came to a halt at the edge of the swamp. The choice of landing field must have been deliberate on the part of the scientist, and the best possible alternative in case anything had happened to the island, because the rocket was slowly devoured by the moor. Soon there would have been nothing left as reminder of his voyage, but his memories. And already now these recollections seemed absurd, and as fresh morning air filled his lungs the world of the Green Planet became a ludicrous dream disparate from reality. He stayed on top of the craft as long as was possible, but then had to abandon his long prison cell, because the branch was getting out of his reach. He pulled himself to safety, and watched the spaceship vanish in the marsh with mixed emotions. A period of his life ended there. He could start all over, that was good, he thought; on the other hand, the future was more uncertain than ever before. He still had no idea what he would find here, perhaps only wilderness. Nevertheless, he was happy and relieved; this was his world after all.
He climbed down from the tree and stepped onto a weed and water covered ground to be immersed in it immediately. But luckily the moor was shallow here, the mud only reached to his ankles, and as he advanced deeper into the forest the swamp gave way to solid ground. He cleaned his shoes with leaves, and then judging by the sun headed off in one direction. For a while, the forest was getting more dense, and for this reason, he expected to be met by a bear or a similar creature any time. However, this did not happen, because to his surprise suddenly a road cut the forest in two clearly marking the end of the wilderness. On the other side of the road farms were located, and now and then trucks passed by. It was a familiar scene of his days indicating little had changed since his departure. This obviously meant the scientist had not succeeded with his reforms; his ideas were not implanted in society.
A dog barked nearby, and cows grazed a grassy field, their tails lashing around. He mused what to do. He was free to go anywhere, but there was nowhere for him to go. It was a freedom he couldn’t harness. As he wondered profoundly he wasn’t able to hear a truck honking at him. The lorry attempted to stop in time, but couldn’t. He was surprised when he felt the collision, and in mid-air thought that at least now he didn’t need to answer his bothering questions.
****
He awoke in hospital. His head ached, but strangely, that was all. He was in one piece, had broken nothing. A nurse stood beside him.
“Can you understand me?” the nurse asked.
Surprisingly, he could. He looked around, and realized he was in a small, but cosy room, in as much as hospital rooms could be hospitable. On inspecting his body parts covered by a blanket, he noticed he had his own clothes on. Now the reason for his survival seemed clear. His special outfit saved him from the devastating effects of the impact he had made with the truck and then the asphalt where he landed. The scientist’s science had worked once again, withstanding the degradation of time.
“Can you understand me?” the nurse repeated.
He realized he had forgotten to answer before; he had been too involved with putting his situation in perspective. “Yes, of course,” he said, and thought his voice sounded different. It was a long time ago he had heard his own voice, or for that matter anyone else’s. Sounds existed only in his imagination. Strangely enough, he hadn’t consciously perceived the noises of the forest or for that matter anything else prior to having been run over. Perhaps these were too versatile in comparison to the ones he could hear in the controlled environment of the hospital. Or maybe he had still been in another plane of existence, he thought. Whatever the reason, he now perceived everything he had had not for... For how long, he asked himself.
“How long have I been unconscious?” he inquired.
“Only for a short while,” the nurse said. “The truckdriver will no doubt be relieved to hear you’re all right. He was completely traumatized, he thought you were dead. He told me you were thrown into the air as a sheet of crumpled up paper. But considering your condition I believe he greatly exaggerated. Except for your clothing, which we couldn’t unwrap you of, you seem quite fine. Is it some novelty?”
“What date is it today?” he asked not wanting to answer the nurse’s question.
The nurse looked at him suspiciously. He gathered the nurse thought something had happened to him after all involving his head. The nurse pointed to a calendar standing on a table next to his bed. It was all there. Now he knew for how long he had been away.
“As you can see it’s still today,” the nurse said sharply.
With a sudden thought Nameless Andrew said: “I can’t remember anything.”
The nurse looked distressed and told him: “In that case I must inform your doctor at once.”
With this said the nurse left him. He thought pretending memory loss was the best possible solution to his problems. He knew if he had exclaimed the truth, which he himself found hard to believe, he would probably have been forced into some kind of mental institution. Besides, it was unclear whether he remained a wanted man, and he couldn’t know about the plight of the scientist. It was better not to associate himself with the scientist just yet. And for that matter, he thought bitterly, it was better to forget the person who had banished him. It was better to forget everything, altogether.
The doctor entered his room, and soon found out Nameless Andrew couldn’t remember his name, his year of birth, where he was from, that is, anything. The doctor and the nurse stood by his bed at a complete loss what to do. Namely, they had found no identification or documentation on him.
“You’re Nameless then,” the doctor said with some irony in his voice. “The Nameless man from outer space. Judging from your clothes you may just be a pilot or something like it. Or had been... We’ll simply call you Andrew.”
“I try to remember,” Nameless Andrew remarked, and laughed within, “but there is nothing in my past I can recollect. Sorry.” After a pause, he asked: “What will happen to me?”
“We’ll wait to see if there is anyone who comes for you. I’ll make the necessary steps to find your relatives, family, whatever.”
“Thank you,” he said.
“Now rest,” the doctor patted him on the shoulder. “Everything will be all right.”
Yes, he thought, everything would turn out fine if it had been as easy as convincing them of amnesia.
****
The days passed by one after the other. And no one came for him. Stunning, he thought sarcastically and couldn’t resist a smile. In the meantime, he was informed about events he had not been there to witness. He was transferred to a rehabilitation ward, and as relaxation in-between catching up with recent events, he played games of logic with elderly gentlemen.
But then one day, out of nowhere, he was there unexpectedly. He looked almost as he had seen him the last time, strong and good looking. But instead of the white cloak he wore an elegant suit. He had been the scientist once. What he was now, Nameless Andrew did not know. The way he emerged, he got a first impression of a man with considerable wealth and power. Only the silvery tint was missing from his eyes.
He stopped by his bed and stooped over him. It was early morning, and he got used to going to bed late, and thus was not yet awake. He could hardly open his eyes when the scientist woke him with a slap on the upper body. Through a mist he saw an ancient figure who had existed in his nightmares, and now came back to haunt him. He wanted the vision to disappear, and so shoved with his hands. The image retreated a step, and instead of retaliating smiled at him. Nameless Andrew told himself this was nothing but a dream, which would end anyway once he awoke. He turned on his side. Then as if lightening struck him he sat up. This time he completely mastered his senses. His eyes met immediately with the scientist’s, who looked at him filled with paternal care. This almost angered Nameless Andrew. It
reminded him of everything he wished forgotten.
“Good day, old chap. Long time since our last meeting, no?” the scientist asked and flipped his nose. Nameless Andrew was stupefied. A bare moment’s glimpse made him conclude the tremendous changes that must have taken place while he had been away. The scientist, except for having struck him once, had never been too fond of physical contact with others. Perhaps partly because he had been timid. Shy was the last thing he was now. Nameless Andrew even doubted the correct identity of the scientist for a second. He was different altogether.
“No greetings? No emotions, no hate, no love, no nothing?! You surprise me,” the scientist said. “Before you acted prior to thinking. What happened to your vigour, man?”
“Maybe it was left at a far away place, where a moment seemed an eternity and vice versa.”
The scientist frowned. “You have changed drastically.”
“Speak for yourself,” Nameless Andrew replied listlessly.
“Let’s not argue,” the scientist said. “Quarrels tumble empires, you know.”
“You don’t say?!” he was annoyed now.
“What on earth got into you? I came to take you home. How can you be so angry at me?”
“Home? Where is that? The island?”
“My God, no. I have a villa on the coast. Of course, I also own a couple of apartments downtown, and other buildings.”
“And I assume you’re married.”
“Yes, I am. Happily married. Got two kids.”
While the scientist was rummaging in his pocket searching for a picture of his family, Nameless Andrew shivered due to a sudden suspicion.
“She’s the general, isn’t she?” he asked.
“Well, that was her nickname, yes.”
Nameless Andrew felt nausea. This was too much for him to swallow in such a short period. He thought he should have been happy that not the original scientist welcomed him, but his sixth sense suggested differently. The scientist had been the scientist, because of all of his shortcomings, queer ideas and weirdness. This man was normal, giving an impression of a careerist with considerable success, and as such uninteresting in evolutionary terms. He was satisfied, Nameless Andrew could see that the way he searched for the picture, and therefore had little zeal and ambition. But above all this, he had married the general! The very woman he had loathed for what she always represented: a calculating and selfish turn-coat. Nameless Andrew couldn’t understand the motivation behind the scientist marrying her, and surrendering his ideas and dreams. The former event had obviously been a causative for the latter. There was no doubt about that, Nameless Andrew thought.
“In that case there is no way I will join you.”
“In what case?” the scientist asked when he finally found the picture he had been looking for.
Nameless Andrew hummed. “The general,” he uttered. “I don’t want to see her again.”
The scientist was baffled. “I thought you liked her.”
“Once perhaps.” Nameless Andrew was silent for a moment. “How could you?” he shouted. “Marry your worst enemy? Not fighting it out to the last?!”
“Quiet,” the scientist attempted to soothe him. “Think of the other patients.”
“That was the problem. You thought when one mustn’t. You started a war, and then backed down, didn’t you? The greatest mistake was that you were always so damned considerate. Tell me, what happened. I saw the island blown to dust.”
“It wasn’t as simple a decision as you imagine. Yes, I lost that battle. I had to retreat, I had no other choice.” The scientist stared out of the window, a couple of early sunrays sparkling on his countenance. He seemed unresolved momentarily, or perhaps distracted by the blue sky and the singing birds. But then he continued. “The machine... it got out of hand. I couldn’t control it. In the beginning when I existed in only a few lifeforms it was easy to rule and assert my influence over my other myselves. But at a certain point in its expansion it started living on its own. I, its creator, became only a little part, a speckle. My word was one in many, my vote counted as much as any other lifeform’s within the machine. Of course, I have installed a protective mechanism, just in case. This could terminate the machine.”
Nameless Andrew nodded ascertaining that he was listening.
“After you left things went from bad to worse. The baron was getting more and more arrogant and careless. He wanted everything too fast. Power, respect, money and women. He believed he could gain respect by defeating me, and also enhance his control over society. The events developed very quickly. The baron elaborated a brilliant plan how to justify using military force against me. It was perfect, except it cost his life in the end. He arranged for the island to be named a wildlife preservation area, and thereby a property of all humanity. He based his case on the strange seabirds capable of flying against the wind you wanted to hunt; they were indigenous only to the island. The island I have created! The creatures I have brought back to life! Succeeding in doing so, I legally lost possession of the island. He could forcibly remove me. But it wasn’t so simple. He had to work undercover, hidden behind an ostensible wildlife preserve organization he himself had created. This organization had no military capability on its own, therefore a next phase in the scheme commenced. I was stigmatized as a drug-trafficker. This was a more adequate frame to explain the huge military build-up around the island. Now I was not only a trespasser, but a real live criminal the international community had to deal with. I didn’t know what to do. Then one morning troops landed on the island. They needed space for their vehicles there to remove me, cut the trees, and so they chased away the seabirds from their nests. It was all decided then. When the first tree fell, the baron also dropped dead, the machine unleashed itself. Soon the whole of the international force was swept away, and the major cities were the next target on the continent. By that time, I had no influence on the machine. I had to stop it. I knew it would burn everything to dust and even beyond. This wasn’t what I had bargained for. I had to set the protective mechanism to work. Unfortunately, the island was destroyed along with the machine.”
“So it was you who have blown the island to pieces?” asked Nameless Andrew in amazement.
“Yes,” the scientist answered sadly.
“And what happened to the seabirds capable of flying against the wind?”
“I guess they were killed as well.” The scientist sat morosely beside him for a while, but then his face started to lighten. “But I have made good.”
“Have you?” Nameless Andrew wasn’t so sure. For the seabirds were dead, and there was nothing challenging the wind any more.
****
They got into the limousine. Nameless Andrew had decided after some contemplation to join the scientist if for no other reason than curiosity. The seats were extremely comfortable, and the scientist remarked with pride: “Isn’t this something?” Nameless Andrew didn’t answer, but peered out of the open window, and took deep breaths. They were still far from densely populated areas, and Nameless Andrew enjoyed the mild wind brushing his face.
The limousine rolled out of the hospital’s grounds, and soon they were cruising on a highway. The scientist closed the windows and then fiddled with various devices to enhance his comfort. He even lit a cigar. Nameless Andrew coughed, and looked demandingly at the scientist. “Sorry,” the latter said and turned on a special ventilator sucking the smoke away from Nameless Andrew. “A great little invention,” the scientist said. “I bet you’ll like it so much at our place you won’t want to leave.”
“I wouldn’t want to bet on that,” rejoined Nameless Andrew. “But I’m interested to learn about the way you’ve developed.”
The scientist laughed holding the cigar aristocratically. “You sound like some crazy avenging angel who pops up and makes one dive into his past. But I have no reason or interest to pursue a path of disaster, when I know of one of great success.” The scientist went silent for a while, then continued accompanied by some
snobbish mimicry. “Remember that shabby little airplane we used to make the trip between the island and the continent? It was inferiority itself. Now look at this car. This is what I call a car. This is quality. All the things I couldn’t afford I can now have. Isn’t it marvellous?”
“You never wanted these things before. They were signs of complacency to you.”
“Nonsense. I never said that.” The scientist seemed perplexed and disturbed for a moment. “Have I?”
Nameless Andrew didn’t care to respond. He turned away, watched the green vegetation surrounding the road and thought of absolutely nothing. This was the first time since his departure to the Green Planet he could afford to let loose. The landscape changed without him having to use his imagination. Corn and wheat fields variegated the forests, more and more small villages mottled the vicinity of the highway. The traffic also increased drastically, it was clear they were nearing a city.
“There is nothing like the metropolis. I love it. All the hustle and bustle that goes on is like...”
“ A circus.”
“That’s right.”
“Now you have both of them. Bread and circus.”
The scientist was offended. Nameless Andrew didn’t mind. He felt homesick. There existed a world he belonged to. A world he had created. He was someone there without having to adapt to any alien ideology, he could simply be himself. The metropolis appearing in the distance was itself representing everything alien to him. It reduced one to a little dust particle, the shadows cast by the skyscrapers vividly reminded one of immeasurable dimensions. Contradictorily, the dimensions were much smaller here than in his world, where great depths of space surrounded him everywhere.
From a hilltop, he could gaze at the city emerging in its full size. It hadn’t changed much in appearance. In fact its true character hadn’t altered since ancient times, it was the Roman empire of bread and circus. Some chips and some blood were enough to satisfy most people’s appetite. More they didn’t want, had no facilities nor capabilities to digest more serious matters. And now the very man whose destiny it was supposed to be to change the course of history had joined the crowd, traded his notions for a handful of peanuts. Nameless Andrew glimpsed at the scientist and thought he was the greatest phoney of all times. A false prophet. For there was nothing worse than stopping and making a U-turn before the finish line.