Journey III: Return to Earth

JOURNEY III - Return to Earth Chapter NINE (EXCERPTED) "SPACESHIP KIDNAPS TWO" "OUTER SPACE INVADER LANDS IN HOUSTON" "WORLD STOPS AS UFO LANDS" "GREATEST STORY EVER TOLD" "MANKIND BREATHLESS" "THEY HAVE COME" "KIDNAPPERS FROM THE STARS - WHO WILL BE NEXT?" "Trenton, the world as we know it will never be the same again," Charles T. Ruthven spoke, as he stubbed out his latest cigar. The Houston office of Garrett Inc.'s Trenton W. Anderson reeked of Ruthven's pervasive cigars, but more so of subdued elegance. Elegance of wealth, tinged with the ego of a man in control of his life, and much of his surrounding world. Trenton Worth Anderson personified the room, and the room befitted the man. Charles Ruthven could never tolerate the refined surroundings without envy. He was an iron gauntlet at a ladies tea party. JOURNEY III - Return to Earth Chapter ELEVEN (EXCERPTED) With the arrival of The Visitor, legions of the world reacted in frenzy: ********************************** In Brazil’s Rio de Janeiro, over fifty zealots followed their self-proclaimed leader into the sea. It was the manner of departure that was unique. After a well-publicized public rally, Edmundo Salveras gathered his sycophants for a walk through the city streets up to the world famous statue by Paul Landowski, Christ the Redeemer. The statue crowns Corcovado overlooking Guanahara Bay, and the city of Niteroi. After walking up the zigzag three hundred steps to the walled foundation of the one hundred thirty foot high concrete statue, the crowd looked out at vistas 2440 feet above sea level. Under the outstretched arms of the Savior, Edmundo doused himself in kerosene, ran through the ceremonial fire he and his group had built, and dove off the towering ediface to his death below. Inspired by the convictions of this act by their leader, seventy-four people followed suit. The flaming bodies of forty-three men and twenty-two women hurtled to their fate, one after the other, in dramatic fashion, for well into the night sky of Rio. Salveras had made it clear to all who would listen that this manner of death was in response to his communication with The Visitor. Even Edmundo’s wife, Larita, was unaware of the details surrounding this final, spectacular act that her husband had planned. When asked why she was not among the flaming, flying fanatics, she replied, “Christ! I have a job, and two kids to feed. Edmundo’s always up to some crazy scheme.” ********************************** At remote Ayer’s Rock in Queensland, Australia over a thousand UFO devotees and admitted worshipers of The Visitor gathered to pay homage and implore for a repeat of the Houston landing. While the various organizers of the pilgrimage did solicit permission from authorities for the event, no one was prepared for the evening’s finale. Ewan Sheedle, who refers to himself as Valdor-Who-Speaks-With-The-Stars ... (all the dashes are his), later told reporters covering the event that he knew no one in the Queensland government offices would allow his group to signal The Visitor as they had planned. It was later learned that Valdor VWSWTS, he pronounces it “Valdor Visswitiss,” had instructed two hundred and fifty of his fellow worshippers to spread out evenly over the rock as the hour of midnight approached. Each of these designated servants wore oversize backpacks, along with a version of Valdor’s bright yellow conical fez-like cap. Witnesses later described the action that took place in response to a prearranged signal from Valdor. The backpacks proved to be containers of a napalm-like material that was sprayed over the entirety of the ancient rock formation as the hour of midnight approached Valdor called his flock together, and pronounced, “We beseech the omnipotent Travelers to heed our plea to join together in their holy mission, and with this heavenly signal at once call you to us and pledge our devotion.” Whereupon, Valdor, VWSWTS fired a Vary pistol and set fire to Ayers Rock. The signal fire lasted more than thirty minutes in an intense blaze, but within hours all that remained was a bit of smoldering bush. By morning it was obvious that The Visitor was not respondent, and Ayers Rock was a blackened mess, with Valdor and some of his loyalist survivors arrested and lorried off to gaol. In California’s beach communities of Morro Bay, Gaviota, Laguna Beach, San Clemente, Encinitas and Del Mar groups of from eight to eighteen people partied for days on booze, sex and drugs before assembling naked on the shore to swim, paddle out to sea on boards, floats and mattresses until they were exhausted, and fell into the deep waters to drown. Each group left behind notes, signed photographs and poems dedicated to The Visitor, and cited the new found “freedom” of death. Many spoke of “release” and “serenity” and their intention to join souls with The Visitors. ********************************** Throughout the world all manner of reported suicides engulfed the newswires. Immolations occurred by the thousands - whole families in India, Pakistan and Indonesia. In Japan’s Chokai volcano, Mount Tarawera in New Zealand, Mount Pelee in Martinique, Izalco in El Salavador, Paricutin in Mexico, and Kilauea and Mauna Loa in Hawaii a total of three hundred thirty six people were observed trekking to, and flinging themselves into those volcanoes. Numerous reports were also received regarding similsr action at active volcano locations in other countries. From atop the Nurek dam on the Vakhsh River in the Soviet Union, the Guavio on the Orinoco in Columbia, the Contra in Switzerland, the Hoover Dam in Colorado, the San Roque in the Philippines, and the Takase on the Takase River in Japan another one hundred and twelve individuals chose to honor The Visitor by jumping from atop the highest point of the dam structures. At latest count, two hundred twenty four people had leaped to their death from the tops of the Eiffel Tower, the Empire State Building, the Golden Gate Bridge, the Humber Bridge in Hull, Britain, and the Ponte 25 de Abril over the Tagus River in Portugal. Similar reports flooded the wires citing suicidal leapers, including a family of six - husband and wife and four children under ten years of age dove off the Bayonne Bridge over Kill van Kull in Bayonne, New Jersey. Newspapers, radio and television carried suicide pronouncements the world over as self-inflicted panic proved to be the response of many of Earth’s citizens to the landing of The Visitor. Hysteria pervaded the world’s churches, mosques and temples. Businesses closed down, school attendance dropped significantly, airlines were besieged with travelers, and politicians called for calm and action from the leadership - political and military. After one week, and then two, with no public evidence of The Visitor’s presence, the general population returned somewhat to normalcy. For many people, the facts of The Visitor’s landing in Houston were deemed as a hoax. For others, the incident was unimportant. For the most part, life went on as usual for the majority of Earth’s billions. In revolutionary Iran religious certainty again overwhelmed tolerance as the latest version of an inquisition was in planning. In the Soviet Union, deceit battled logic at the culminant level of government - and deceit was victorious.