"Meaning of the Chronicle..."

Part V


After Glotus left, Demetrius read the final pages…

“Even the money being used was printed in China and Abraham Lincoln's eyes were beginning to slant which was increasingly disturbing to those who still remembered his name. A small Great Wall had been erected in DC to commemorate our glorious association with our Chinese friends.

“Republicans were happy with the growing US-Sino affiliation because the Chinese demanded respect and obedience and observance of the law. Those seen as derelict, were remanded to protective custody in a privately owned custodial system that was an offspring of the private prison concept conceived and marketed by private Republican businessmen who were now piling away individual fortunes for being so far-sighted.

“Who would have thought that all those small changes had a cumulative affect that most well-meaning Americans adjusted nicely too until they couldn’t adjust anymore and woke up one day to find out that they were the victims of their own complicity. Not a happy ending but what can one expect if he or she is unwilling to fight for his or her own rights. So many forgot what the compact was all about. They allowed the monarchy to flourish. They allowed the species to disappear. They allowed the toxins to fill the air. They allowed t he jobs to vanish. They allowed the re-distribution of wealth begun under Reagan to persist. And they said nothing!...”

Demetrius flipped to the beginning and started seriously reading through the pages.


When Glotus returned, the manuscript bore a note. “Very good, Glotus; I think you are on the right track and you’ve captured the story with seemingly great accuracy. Keep up the good work. Demetrius.”

Glotus took the notes and his writing back to the cabin. There was only a little left to do. He sat down again and buried his mind in his project.


“Have we learned anything from all this?

“It’s hard to say. Would Americans today turn off their computer games, disconnect their TV’s and stand up.

“It’s merely speculative to ponder that scenario since we have gone beyond the point of no return. All that remains is the fact when our checks and balances failed, the Fourth Estate forgot its responsibilities, our politicians practiced invisibility, the only thing left was Nature and in its evocation of the Gaia principles, it came to life and wiped these disingenuous creatures who evolved from the bottom of dead streams off the face of the earth. And in the end, it shows that justice may be transcendent and that there are controls when all else fails but at what price. Is this God’s ultimate joke. Or when we say God are we really referring to a Nature that we had falsely believed was all forgiving? Questions for you to ponder on those day-less nights of poisoned air and poisoned water when time drags heavily on our burdened souls.”

He thought that perhaps he had penned the final words.

He took it up to Prometheus, the senior adviser on the transport.

Prometheus, I had Demetrius read my log and he seemed to like it. I’ve only added a closing statement.

“Good. What are you working on, young Glotus?”.

“My assignment with the Federation.”

“And what was that?”.

“To chronicle events…”

“On what?”

“On this special historical tour”

“With what theme?”

“o chronicle what had happened before the end.”

“Ah, quite ambitious. I do hope that the subject was treated objectively.”

“I stayed with the facts, Prometheus.”

“As I was sure you would. Then we can enter it into our chronicle of the planets last days so that perhaps those who dwell on the few remaining planets will understand how change can become irreversible and to anticipate those things that can engineer an end game of sorts…”

“Like?”

“Like a government with no vision; a government that does not consider the people.”

“Ah, you said it well. That is precisely what I am trying to do…” .

It is part of why you were assigned to this mission. Have you gathered what you need.

Yes, and I even penned a few pages but I have all of the remaining notes.”

“Good. As you know, we are overdue. It’s time for us to leave this place with the lessons it has for us and hope that others may better understand.”

“Yes, I feel now enspirited that others will benefit…”

“That is the hope of the Federation…”

Without saying another word, Glotus moved back to his assigned section and sat down, strapping himself in and finding a good book on historical antecedents that he had wanted to study for the knowledge it could impart.

He stared out the window and found himself lost in thought as the great ship lifted quietly from the earth port and disappeared into the cloud layer before the leap into quantum space for the three month journey home….

Les Aaron