The Tale of the Boy

by Madame Estrella  

Madame Estrella

A young man came into my home yesterday.  This doesn't surprise me as I am, by profession, a psychic.  I was "blessed" by the so called gift of sight into the future.  I was prepared, as always to tell this young man about his future but he caught me off guard.

"What do you want to know?"  I asked him.  He gave me grim reply.

"I want to know the future.  I want to know what will happen to us, as a civilization, as a species."

I was a little shocked.  No one had ever asked this of me before.  So, I sat back and prepared myself in an alternate mental state and gazed into my crystal ball.

I said...

"Close your eyes, boy, let me tell you about the future."  

Under the Surface

It is a little over a hundred years from now.  I see nothing but a vast ocean.  The sky is overcast by a dark orange tinge and the air is very thick with poison.  There are a few places where there is land, but nothing can live there.

"Where are all the people?"  He asked.

They are below the waves.  The earth was covered by water, but it is still there.  People have survived and they have adapted.  They have constructed vast cities below the water which penetrate the earth in many places.  People live within both land and water.  There are huge buildings of steel and glass where the water is shallow.  The roofs have large glass ceilings where one can gaze to the sky just above the water.  Very few people ever do so.  This is where the plants are.  There are huge arboretums where all the plants of the world are grown on the top layer so they can see the sun.  Some of the food is grown here.  The rest is aquatic in nature. 

Keeping farm stock proved impractical so the people eat what the ocean offers.  On some of the deeper levels, there are huge tanks where the fish stock is grown and maintained.  The people also eat aquatic plants such as different species of algae.  The algae is essential to the survival of these vast cities.  They are very high in protein and can be produced easily for nutrition.  They also produce 99% of the air the people breath.  The algae is produced on every level where they photosynthesis artificial light.  Consequently, most of the light is allowed to the algae.  Most of the cities are bathed in dim light as electricity is harder to produce.  Electricity is generated by huge turbines from water flow like many of the dams of the twentieth century.

The people look very different than you and I.  Due to the lack of light every generation has less pigmentation than the last.  They are all very pale and their eyes are red in color in order to detect and function in the limited light.  They wear full body suits made of a new material produced especially for their environment.  The cities are hard to keep heated so this new material was made from artificial substances for the purpose of holding body heat efficiently to warm the body.

The vast majority of each complex consists of living areas.  Each family has a large room in which they reside.  There are several community bathing facilities on each level and personal hygiene is very highly stressed in the cities.  There are even laws and punishment for improper hygiene.  As one can guess, the living areas are kept immaculately clean.

Families are limited in size, by law.  Each pair, or husband and wife, is allowed to bear two children to replace themselves.  They are only allowed to bear another child if a family member can not have a child or one of their children dies before he or she reaches puberty.  People are allowed to reproduce only if they are married.  If a woman is found to be pregnant for any other reason, the pregnancy is terminated.  These laws are strict and in accordance with the capacity of the cities.

People attend school and are allowed to choose their career in accordance to the positions designated each year by the city council.  Each year, a list of career positions is chosen by the council by what is required and each position is limited in number.  Any first year higher education student is to select many positions in which they are interested and the final decision is made by the education council with heavy consideration of the person's background and their permanent record.

Councils consist of people who are chosen at random in each area.  Teachers make up the education council, doctors make up the health council, etc.  The city council is chosen from the general population of the city.  These councils have three year terms and their career position is secured during this time.  There are fifty seats during the first two and a half years of the terms.  Then there is a six month span where there are a hundred councilors so the old ones can aid the new ones in management.  After each term, a person's name is taken out of "the hat" for five years.

The justice system is very efficient.  All persons are considered innocent until proven guilty by trial.  All judges are selected by the general population to life terms.  The judge's decision is final, there are no appeals.  People are sentenced to prison terms which reflect the severity of their crime.  They also are given a period in which they must serve the community with their sentence before they can return to their secured career position.  The prisons are separate form the cities and can be found in deep ocean fissures where escape is impossible.  People who are given death sentences are sent to the surface.

Hospitals are also separated from the cities to some extent.  They are connected to the cities by tunnels in order to keep disease from spreading to the general population. 

All cities are interconnected by long, very secure tunnels.  These are made of very thick and well supported steel cylinders in which only "trains" travel.  These trains resemble submarines as the tunnels are filled with water for their structural and functional integrity.  Any other travel is by "free" submarine.

"Is this really going to happen?"  The boy asked me in desperation.

I sat back and rested my gentle gaze upon him.

"Well, it could happen.  This is not the only future I have seen."

"Tell me more!"  He demanded.

I relaxed myself and gazed in the crystal once more.

"Close your eyes, boy, let me tell you about the future."  

... and a Hard Rain Fell

It is about one hundred fifty years from now.  The world is a vast and desolate wasteland.  There are huge twisted iron structures bent and twisted against the ground lying in the crumbles of their concrete shrouds.  On any remaining walls are white shadows of preceding life.

It is very cold.  The wastelands are covered in many feet of snow and ice.  The sun never shines.  It hasn't ever since the gods rained their wrath upon the 'politicians' as the ancient ones are called.

The people seem very primitive to our standards.  They are heavy boned and wear thick coats of skin and fur cut from the bodies of the scattered herds of animals which travel the wasteland.  These animals for all intents and purposes keep these people alive.  They fashion tools and weapons from anything they can when they can't find any in the ruined cities. 

These people travel in families and protect their own.  They are somewhat primitive, but not as savage as the beasts they hunt.  When one family comes upon another, and decides they do not pose a threat, they feast together.  They have a huge hunting party and then trade stories of places they've been and of the ancient ones.  They warn others of the dangers that lie within the ruined cities.  There are places where one will become very sick with lesions and then fall dead in a pool of their insides.  Sometimes these families will join and travel together for a while or life.

They have learned much of the ancient people.  The 'politicians' as they call them were very well rewarded by the Gods.  The Gods provided them with much power, how else could they have made anything the like of which lie within the ruined cities and the wastelands?  They also know the ancient ones hated and were envious of their fellow man.  They feared one another so they developed a system to mask their fear.  This was called politics.  These people fear the ideas of politics and think upon them as the greatest evil.  Why else would the Gods destroy them?  The politicians could not accept that the Gods were their superiors and replaced them with their politics so the Gods punished them.  The Gods killed most of the ancient ones except for a select few.  These people were the good ones and they were allowed to survive.  The chosen and their children were meant to inherit and live on this earth.  They were to be tested with two hundred years of darkness and cold as punishment and a warning.  This would make people grateful for their lives and place on this earth.  The new generations were to appreciate all that the politicians took for granted and forgot.

The mothers and fathers now take pride that someday their grandchildren will see the great light once again and that they will rejoice in the glory of their Gods and never forget the politicians.

"Politics?!  No way could that be the future!"  The young man cried out and quickly stood.  The legs of his chair scraped violently against the old hardwood floor producing a terrible shriek.

"That is the future as my glass shows me."

"Well maybe your 'glass' is as cracked as you are old woman!"

"The nerve of you, boy.  You come into my home demanding me to tell you of the future as I see it!  Well, that is how I see it.  That is how the spirits who know present it to me!   You have a problem?  Then you take it up with them!"

The boy looked startled.  Then he slowly regained his composure and once again took a seat at my table.

"I, I am sorry, Madame Estrella.  Please accept my apology and please tell me more."

"I don't know if you can handle any more, boy."

"Oh, I can.  Please, go on."

I eyed him warily and then slowly knelt to my glass and then looked up at him.

"Close your eyes, boy, let me tell you about the future."  

Masters of Destiny

It is about two hundred years from now.  The people are all very healthy and happy.  Their lives are full of joy and essentially perfect.  In fact, the people themselves 'are' perfect.  This is the day of perfected genetics.  In this time, all people are created equally, cultured in a tube in a lab. 

Long ago it was determined by people in positions of authority decided that humans needed to be engineered.  This is a result of biological warfare.  Too many poisons had been released into the environment in the conflicts, and the world leaders were faced with the impending end of the human race.  So they had their scientists work long hours developing new technology to preserve humanity.

Peoples lives are so much easier in this time.  No one works and harmony is known throughout the world.  They are live free and enjoy all the pleasures the world can afford.  The people play games and create art, compose music and poetry.  They dance in the streets and are all essentially children in the worlds playground.  They don't even have the burden of rearing children or attending school if they don't wish it so.

"How can this be?  People need authority or else there will be chaos!"  The boy cried.

"Be still, boy, I am getting to that now."

The world is run, not by people, but by machines.  Long ago it was decided that no man could be capable of creating and maintaining the perfect world.  Still, the world's leaders wanted a global Utopia.  So, the leaders of the world collaborated with the best engineers of their time in constructing the most intelligent and morally correct computer ever: Samuel.  This computer had a database filled with all the history of the world and humanity, including every religion and government.  The computer was allowed room for free thought and its own decision making.  It became a sentient being.  After four decades of testing, all control was turned over to Samuel.

Samuel became the greatest leader the world had ever know.  A universally loved entity.  Samuel computed the means by which to create and maintain the perfect society.  Samuel chose the people who would be in charge of the genetic engineering.  Then Samuel decided upon who would construct his police of cyborg soldiers.  They would keep the peace and uphold all of Samuel's laws.  Samuel was the ultimate judge and jury.  All criminal cases are brought before Samuel.

Samuel also realized that there needed to be a work force who would maintain the machinery, the cyborgs, and engineering.  So Samuel began a system of cloning.  The clones were chosen from original scientists, engineers and doctors who showed extreme intelligence and ability.  They were cloned and then educated to step in to relieve their old and dying forms.  All the original men and women were cremated and buried in a shrine Samuel had constructed for them.  That was, of course, once enough of the original DNA was obtained to ensure their immortality.

Any people who do choose to be educated, usually about a dozen every couple of decades, are allowed so.  Samuel personally instructs them and they see and learn everything they ever wanted.  Of course, these people also have the benefit of becoming one of the immortals.

"That is absurd!  How can people allow themselves to play aimlessly in life without a care in the world?"

"Think about it, boy.  People are lazy.  Would people truly do anything if given the option?"

"That's crazy!  Are these futures all this crazy?!"

"No, some are even more so."

"Well tell me more then."

"Are you sure?"

"Quite sure."

"Allow me to rest awhile, then I will continue."      

I took the opportunity between stories to get myself something to eat.  I made egg sandwiches for both myself and the boy as well as some sweet tea.  We both ate the delicious sandwiches and drank our tea.  Then I gave in to his ceaseless demands and settled in once again.

"Close your eyes, boy, let me tell you about the future."  

Gardens of Stone

It is about two hundred fifty years from now.  A great epidemic has ravaged humanity.  Nearly ninety percent of the population of today is dead.  The cause is a virus, a virus which, at first, everyone mocked as God's punishment to the foul sinners.  This punishment was then passed to those who weren't such foul sinners, and then to the innocents.

Scientists and doctors worked feverishly for years to find a cure for this epidemic.  They developed many medications which seemed to contain the virus for a while, but eventually it ravaged the ill none the less.  The scientists found that there were individuals who had been infected and were immune.  The doctors then worked with this group for years in developing a cure.  After about eighty years, they finally developed a cure which destroyed virus.  Unfortunately they gave it too much time.

The virus had beaten them to the punch and had mutated to protect itself.  It became resistant to their cure.  This wasn't the scary part.  It was now airborne.  Within a year the population of the world had been exposed to the virus.  The doctors and scientists worked hard to find a new cure, but to no avail.

People began to die in the masses within six years of the viruses world-wide assault.  The virus was indiscriminate.  It attacked all people and animals.  The streets began to fill with the dead and the churches filled with people.

Everywhere one looked, they saw the small stone monuments sprout from the ground.  Parks, backyards, and playing fields became gardens of stone when the cemeteries were full.  Everyone buried their own dead in the most respectful manner and waited patiently to join them once more.

Ninety percent of the population died in the epidemic.  Ten percent survived due to their natural immunity.  After the epidemic had run its course, the survivors all found one another the world wide and came together to support each and all in their new community.  They found a location which was not blemished by the stone gardens and was rich in its own life.  They founded their community there and called it Atlantis, after the mythical land that had disappeared seemingly without cause.  Atlantis had risen again.

"Atlantis?  Wow, it's a shame that the only survivors were victims of incredibly poor taste."

"It's only funny until it happens to you, boy."

He was taken aback.

"Oh, I'm sorry.  It's all just so, unbelievable."

"The crystal never lies."

"Please continue."

"I don't know.  You are becoming very sarcastic, boy, and I tire of sarcasm."

"Please, Madame Estrella."

"Maybe just one more."

"Great!"

"Don't you have anything else to do, boy?"

"Nah, I live for this stuff."

I rolled my eyes and settled in one last time.  I rested my gaze within the crystal and cleared my thoughts.

"Close your eyes, boy, let me tell you about the future."  

Rapture

It is about three hundred years from now.  The people of earth have by far outstripped their means.  It took plenty of time, but they achieved their destiny from reckless use of priceless resources.  The world was about to come to its end.

Not only did people fear the impending end caused by their reckless abandon, but a hundred years before they saw their fate from the heavens.  A large asteroid would inevitably hit the Earth.  This was no mere asteroid, it was about the size of the moon and headed on a direct course toward our planet.  Astronomers watched the asteroid, called Jesus, hurtling along its path surviving near misses of planetary and cosmic structures in its way.  Jesus was coming back and it was going to be Hell on Earth that day.

So while astronomers watched, scientists and engineers worked on a top secret plan known to the worlds governments as "the Rapture."  They were constructing huge space ships which would lift the population from the world and carry them to a new one.  These immense ships were being constructed in space from strong metals mined from the moon and passing asteroids.  Needless to say, it was a huge undertaking and hard to keep from the population to prevent worldwide panic.

The ships had living quarters for families and would be run by all its inhabitants.  They were all named for the larger cities of the world.  About twenty years to "the Rapture" the ships presence was announced to the world.  At first "the Rapture" met with much criticism but people needed to act fast.  So, all the people of the world chose a task to their liking which they would perform on their ship.  They then trained for years for their future position.  About six years to "the Rapture," inhabitants began shuttling to their new homes on the ships.  This process was completed with time to spare.

All the people of the world were now living in separate colonies on separate ships.  All these ships were comprised of people from all across the world.  The designers thought this best so that the crews would each represent our world for all it was, a collage of all kinds people living and working together for a better future.  The ships also contained arboretums of every biome and representatives of every animal and plant species.  In essence, these ships were all worlds of their own.

"The Rapture"  occurred on January 1st 2301.  The ships all took their courses and precious cargo in search of new homes.  On January 1st 2302 Jesus came back to Earth.  It was a hell of a show.  If one were looking back upon the world when Jesus came, they saw quite a sight.  There was a huge explosion which back-lit the individual ships fleeing like escape pods from Spaceship Earth.

"Wow, I didn't know you could pick up cable with that thing."

"I have had enough of your cynical criticism for today, boy.  Maybe you should run along and play with your little toys.  Come back when you are a man with an open mind."

The young man stood and straightened his clothes.  He smiled down at me.  I will never forget the boy's face.  He is quite handsome and has a gleam of intelligence and wisdom in his eyes.

"I suppose I should be on my way."

"Wait!  Do you want to hear your own future before you leave?"

"No.  I think my life would be rather boring if I already know what's going to happen."

I sat back and chuckled while cracking a grin.

"Well, my boy, be sure and say hello to that fine young woman, Jane, for me when you see her."

He looked at me puzzled at first and then grinned.

"Sure.  Have a good evening, Madame Estrella."

"Have a nice life, young man."

He turned and briskly walked home.  I sat back in my chair and gazed into the crystal once more.  I saw the boy grow, marry, have his children, and become one of our great leaders.  He picked the right day to come in, I suppose.