The Scientific Indian

09:00, the 5.24th day of the year +80
“What, is that it?” asked an agitated Neek.
She rummaged through the papers once again.

“That’s it. Perhaps he couldn’t write any more, may be they didn’t make it to this set, may be someone got rid of it.”

“Oh, come on.”

“And just as he mentions ma. So what do you think happened next?”

“We do know that they declared war on 22 April, and he was still Acting Head, so he must have acquiesced in the end. Perhaps that was the only way to stamp out the worst religious strife in centuries? Perhaps a spot of personal blackmail? Perhaps this was in the best interests of the race?”

“He doesn’t seem like the kind of person who would cave in. But I suppose, if ma had been in mortal danger, would he have behaved differently?”

Neek eyes were clouded. Light shimmered in his distressed eyes.

“I don't know. He could – we don’t know enough about him. And ma didn’t exactly talk about him.”

“No, she didn’t. But why! Was she ashamed of being his daughter, of the infamy that now surrounds him? Or was it something more than that?”. Val could not control her tears. One's identity is one's life, especially in an age when it was in danger of erosion.

“Oh, Val", Neek keenly felt his sister's distress,"not every mystery in our lives could be solved. Some questions will stay unanswered”, he looked around at the sheaves of paper all around them, “even after all this. The ‘Ark-ive’ that could have told us puny humans exactly what the truth was. But no one wants the real truth. We humans have made our peace with our versions of the truth. Is is too overwhelming to have to re-calibrate our minds.”

Val sighed, and got on her knees collecting the papers.

“What do we do with these? Your pal Tel from the university will want them back, I suppose?” asked Neek, taking them from her.

“Not really – he has a digital copy and would not bother to retain this archaic bundle of paper. I don't think we should either, you know it's dangerous for us to have it. Let's give it a decent burial. It’s not as if they can now bring down a civilization. What credibility do they carry? I’m sure the Azureans are wise enough to never mention the ‘Ark-ive’ again. Reject the chains of the past, my new preacher says.”

“This is that preacher from the religious order you were planning to visit? ”

“Yes. It was interesting – there was a certain kind of dynamism to it, a promise of a social order without upheaval.”

“And in the light of what we’ve just read courtesy our mother’s father – it doesn’t change your attitude towards religion? I mean, a bunch of zealots wrecked what could have truly been, to use the cliché, a giant leap for mankind. Doesn’t that bother you?”

“Why should it? In fact, I feel quite the opposite”, she said, looking at her toes.

“I mean, irrespective of any major religion’s origins, look at the potency of the ideas, strength purely from belief, the staying power – you’ve got to respect the fundamental need for religion. The fanatics you talk about – where are they? Them and their likes – their time has gone. We have had two major and modern religions spring up in the last century, haven’t we?”

Neek was agitated: “Isn’t that just a consumerist twist to spirituality – a bazaar where you choose the sizes and colours and designs that fit you?”

“But san”, she said, in a gush, “just because a bunch of aliens showed up and are now in charge of us and knew what we were up to in the past isn’t going to make us humans think we’ve solved the questions of who we are and what we want, is it? We need the scaffolding that religion promises – to hold on to in times of our greatest fears and our deepest loves. Do you think the average human, irrespective of centuries of progress, has been able to do away these emotional crutches?”

“I suppose we do need it. Perhaps we really do. I’m not sure though. But I wish we could tell someone about this”. He looked at the papers in his hands. “About all this. Make them think a little.”

“Do you think two minor members of a subjugated race that worries more about whether Wellstown beats East Aldiss Centre in a game on Saturday, can change anyone’s mind? I want peace, san. I prefer to take my chances with the majority. I’m sorry - all I’m good for is to be part of the herd. I’m satisfied that our grandfather is less of a stranger to us now. But that’s about it.”

Neek thought for a moment. He then lit up a small flame with his lighter. “Shall we do our grandfather the honour?”

END.