Читать книгу Lost in Space - Joaquim Augusto Ferreira Barbosa de Melo - Страница 12

Hallucinating Trip

The plane of flight 367, parked somewhere, was now a small, immovable palace of no use. Passengers felt the perplexity of those who realise that their lives are in danger, but they could do little to nothing under those circumstances. The kidnappers, strangers to planet Earth, remained in total anonymity. In addition to the information and impositions received by message, they did not express any other signs of violence, except the imperative obligation of the use of bracelets on the wrists. In the course of the time, everyone began to wonder why they did not feel any physiological necessity, particularly in the ingestion of liquids and solids. It felt as their bodies remained suspended in time since the application of those small appliances. That strange occurrence created in all a perplexity difficult to overcome and made them think (even the most experienced) that they would be facing an unprecedented fact in their lives. For most members of the governmental team, the situation was at least bizarre and full of interrogations of the most diverse natures and that was evident in some of their dialogues.

-I disagree with you, Mago Vieira, when you say we are victims of Islamic fundamentalists. In my opinion the situation goes far beyond that! - Said Óscar Pereira, Minister of Finance.

-Whatever the origin of this group, it has got us into a big mess! - Intervened Marco Dias, Minister of Economics.

-Sooner or later, the bastards will end up facing us! -Added Mago Vieira, Minister of Foreign Affairs.

Not far from there, a small group of kids, heterogeneous in their social and cultural sensibilities, gathered frequently around common goals. Cristina, Nuno, Mário, Inês and Iris formed a team willing to take on all the challenges. Freed from the seatbelts of the airplane and the supervision of their parents, they now felt that all the space available around the airplane belonged to them, making this open territory the centre of all their pranks. The devices that were applied to them in the arms were now their favourite “toys” and, by trial and error, they discovered some features available. Who was not satisfied with the situation was Esmeralda, Nuno’s mother. The restlessness of her son, increased by the influence of his companions, put her nerves on edge.

Esmeralda had been accustomed by her parents to an education of strong discipline. Conditioned by the austere models of education of the time, she conveyed to her son and students at school, an education of strong discipline, albeit more moderate than what she had received from her parents, but always centred on the will of the elders. If some of the attitudes and behaviour of her son and youth in general were a sign of the times, the irreverence was intolerable to her. For Nuno, her son and most students at school, the repressive pragmatism she used represented a permanent setback to which they would have to make front.

When Esmeralda commented with her friends the irreverence of youth nowadays, some of them had an attitude of greater flexibility and understanding. To Margarida, mother of Cristina, it was necessary to let the youth breathe and lead them to acquire sense of responsibility and self-assessment of their acts as much as possible. In the conversations they had on the subject, this was quite evident.

-Don’t worry, they have to live their age and learn to recognize their horizons and boundaries – said Margarida, (perhaps to reassure her busy lawyer conscience, with almost no time to pay attention to her children).

-I recognise that times are different, but also that life is made of choices at every moment. If by education, we leave children in total freedom, it may happen that their decisions are made without considering the consequences of their actions – said Esmeralda (thinking more as a teacher).

-It’s a risk! I prefer, however, to worry more about building the quality of the subconscious, because it is it that will one day be at the commands of the conscious. If we build a positive subconscious, this will help a lot the acts of the future conscious.

Esmeralda had already heard of the importance of the subconscious in people’s lives, but that would pass her by a little, not so much for the little attention given, but more for her understanding and complexity.

-I’ve always had a hard time figuring out how all this is done – said Esmeralda.

The conversation, from then on, passed to a quasi-monologue by Margarida. From her experience (she felt like fish in water), she developed the theme with such simplicity and depth that, for the first time, Esmeralda realised that after all the subject was much easier and more interesting than she initially supposed.

Not far from there the conversation was another for the kids, dragged by curiosity and stimulated by Mário.

-Hey, guys! Come on! Let’s follow the flight attendant. She’s the one I saw go through a wall! Who knows if she’ll do the same this time?

-Leave the flight attendant alone! - Said Cristina, contradicted.

-I’m not leaving anything! I want to know how she can do that stunt.

Cristina’s protests were of no avail. Determined as he always was, Mário wanted to clear the whole situation, so he followed the flight attendant from a distance. The other kids, curious like Mário, followed him. Cristina felt there was no other choice but to follow him too.

Moments later, the flight attendant walked into a hallway and to everyone’s surprise, instead of using an existing door, she went through the wall as if it was nothing.

-Whoa! How is it possible! – Exclaimed Cristina, followed by everyone, with surprise.

Mário, immediately, and even more curious, approached the site trying to copy the feat he had just witnessed. What was not his astonishment to feel a strong pain in the forehead produced by the clash of his head on the wall while trying to repeat the feat of the flight attendant. Indignant, he went to the door that was nearby and tried to open it by force, but to his impatience, it remained closed. Almost simultaneously they began to hear strange acoustic signals emitted along the wall and, fearing the consequences, they left the place running. However, the surprises would not stop there. When they arrived outside, they noticed that the same flight attendant they had seen crossing the wall was in front of them talking to a group of adults.

-How is that possible! – They all cried out loud and still in a state of shock.

The flight attendant Florbela, noticing Mário and the group that had just arrived, smiled, nodding her hand.

Cristina, who was following Mário closely, looked at her friend noticing his face of amazement and asked:

-Are you all right?

Mário, still stuck to his thoughts, not only did he not hear what his friend had told him, but he continued in an inner monologue: «no, it cannot be! ».

Cristina, finding his attitude strange, took Mário’s arm to tell him:

-What’s wrong with you?

Mário, facing his friend in the eyes, said:

-How can the same person be in two places at once?!

-I don’t understand you - added Cristina, with an apprehensive look.

Mário looked at his friend and rest of his companions and said:

-Don’t look at me like that. So you don’t see that the flight attendant you saw moments ago, crossing the wall, is the same one there talking? How is that possible?!

With the flight attendant was Clara Sobral who, realizing that something strange was going on with the kids, sought to approach.

-Are you all right? Can I help you with something? -Said the doctor, sketching a wide smile.

Mário looked at the doctor without responding, then left in a rush, this time to join his mother.

A short distance from there, Judge Marcelo, Cristina’s father, was talking to some people who had approached to find out about his state of health. As an intelligent person, Marcelo, acknowledged that the physical weakness experienced in the recent period was due to his stubbornness and convictions, but with the application of the apparatus he had a total recovery. Now, with full distance from the events, he recognizes that the kidnappers are terrorists of sophisticated level, so he has to be cautious evaluating first the variables in presence and then plot a plan of response. Better done than said.

Marcelo started by surrounding himself with influential people, adding wills and supporters to his cause. First, he had to call for his cause an old friend, Elsa Ferreira, current Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and former college colleague of his wife who, by chance, was travelling with them. Marcelo, at the first opportunity of meeting, set his plan in motion.

-Hello, Elsa! When do you think we’ll get out of this mess they got us into? - He said as if challenging her.

- I don’t know! Just now in conversation with your wife I told her I don’t remember ever being involved in a situation like this! The most intriguing thing is that the assailant doesn’t show his face or use physical violence, which contradicts everything we know.

-As much as it pains me to admit it, reality exceeds fiction itself.

-We’re going to have to do something, don’t you think? Even if it means mobilizing everyone, showing our displeasure. It may be that the assailant will change his strategy.

The Judge was silent this time, as if ruminating his own thoughts. His wife was following that meeting at a certain distance, so she decided to approach, questioning.

-So have you figured out how we’re going to get out of here? – said Margarida.

-We don’t know where we are, let alone how to get out! – Elsa replied, smiling at cost.

The meeting between these friends was far from the relaxed and happy times of other times. Her frowned brows expressed well the worries and anguish of recent times.

Mário, who was close by, returned to his ancestral animosity for Elsa. Since a long time the kid had nurtured little sympathy for Elsa. One would say a chemical repulsion, difficult to explain and above all to understand. There was no memory that they had done harm to each other, however, Mário couldn’t stand her. All they had to do was be close enough for Mário to declare a total war on his mother’s friend. And, whenever she sought to understand the reason for that attitude he would respond with total silence, moving away as soon as possible. This time it was no different. As soon as he was able, Mário left in a rush to his friends, leaving behind the three adults, once more baffled by that reaction.

Shortly thereafter, Elsa said goodbye to Marcelo and Margarida, taking the opportunity to meet Mário, determined to clear the grounds of so much animosity. As soon as she found him, she followed his footsteps from a distance in anticipation of a conversation. Mário had still well present the images of the flight attendant in the hallway crossing the wall without any difficulty, so questioned his friends about the phenomenon. In such a way the subject was discussed, that the circumstance became an obsession. The corridor became known among them as “hideout”. The group, from then on, followed the flight attendant in the strong hope of seeing replicas of the phenomenon. At one point, Elsa had to leave her subject for a better chance, tired of running around following the kids. Iris, a nine-year-old girl and the daughter of university professors, did not share the group’s enthusiasm, perhaps because she was the last to arrive and did not yet feel totally involved in team spirit. Despite her young age, Iris was a small computer specialist, curious and possessed of an unusual vivacity. With the application of the bracelet on her wrist, she began to have the company of all moments in that device, using an unusual intuitive logic. In a short time she managed to gain access to a growing number of computer options of the small appliance (some of them protected by security levels, which Iris managed to circumvent with computer expedients).

Iris’ propensity for computing came to her at an early age. Her parents, with PhDs in Computer Systems, put evolved equipment in the of their daughter’s hands from an early age, arousing a strong curiosity in her. This attitude was seen by some college colleagues as irresponsible, but for others it represented a test to the limits of human intuitive capability. That challenge posed by the parents to Iris conscious and carried out within the framework of an early child development program, conducted by the University where Iris’ parents were researchers and mentors. Iris thus became a computer specialist, surrounded by worlds built by her imaginary.

Although Iris integrates the group of five, she participated little in the curiosity and expectations of the other colleagues. While the group vibrated with the pranks of Mário and followed his footsteps and adventures, Iris lived within her world and sometimes did not realize certain important occurrences. This is what happened when the flight attendant walked through the door without leaving a trace, and for this reason generated in the group sensations and emotions not shared by Iris. It also happened when Mário, peeking once again at the mysterious door, saw nothing less than Elsa, the friend of his mother, from whom he had just escaped.

-How is that possible?! – Exclaimed surprised, seeking to hide as much as possible so as not to be seen.

- Do you know her? – inquired Nuno, in a low voice.

-It’s the “Yap!”- Said Cristina, answering for Mário.

-What did you say? –Nuno insisted, opening his eyes inordinately, as if trying to understand the meaning of the word he had just heard.

- Forget it! – Replied Mário, seeking to devalue the situation.

This situation occurred after Elsa gave up following the group, tired of running around after them.

That incident would have no major repercussions if it were not witnessed as well and at some distance by Clara. Even from a distance, there was no doubt that she was a double. Clara therefore decided to follow the figure with the utmost description. Each movement, gesture or attitude of that figure appeared in Clara’s eyes with one evidence - difficulty in dealing with emotions which contrasted starkly with the real Elsa. When, some time later, that observant figure returned to the place of departure, that is, she crossed the door through which she had left, Clara had no doubts. The kidnappers were people from another dimension. Clara’s first reaction was to go to the real Elsa and tell her everything, but after a brief reflection eventually decided to wait for the best opportunity. Until then, she would have a long investigative work on her own. With the approximation of Clara to the group, they beat a retreat with the exception of Iris, because once again, distracted by her computer research, did not notice that her friends had left.

-Can I see it? - Said Clara, with a smile.

Iris approached the bracelet without uttering a single word, looking at her interlocutor.

-What’s your name? - Said Clara.

-Iris! – She answered dryly.

-How did you get to this program?

-I don’t know! It showed up!

-What do you mean? – Said Clara, sketching a smile.

The amount of data arriving on the small monitor was intriguing. Once in a while there were images of an object that Clara couldn’t identify. It seemed to her like an orbital trajectory, or something similar, without her being able to understand.

- Can you tell me how to get here, through my device?!

Iris fixed her gaze on her interlocutor’s face and as a response she shrugged her shoulders disappearing shortly afterwards in a rush, trying to reach her group.

To Clara that surprise brought by Iris’s hand only came to confirm what she previously suspected – the kidnappers are very intelligent beings, perhaps from another galaxy. She had to be cautious. Previously she had already found that the apparatus that was distributed altered the metabolic activity of everyone. When she ceased to feel basic physiological needs like: eating; drinking; resting and so many others, she felt that her body had stopped in time. She couldn’t even know how many hours or days had passed since they left the airport to New York. Clara observed everything as a surreal phenomenon! Every once in a while, she would squeeze her own skin with her fingers, trying to confirm that she was not having a bad dream, yet the pain she felt confirmed her that she was wide awake and alive. She then wondered: «not being a dream or hallucination, how to explain all this?! ». The surrounding reality also confirmed it through other people, that it was all very real! For all this, Clara would not stop looking at the little apparatus she was carrying on her arm. In the course of time a larger surprise emerged overwhelmingly – the apparatus, which was initially simply supported on the wrist, was beginning to cling firmly. The first reaction was to try to move the appliance gradually, but as it did not give in, she noticed that the surrounding tissues and structures: skin; veins and nerves were now firmly attached. For the first time she became aware of a reality that made her worried. As a doctor, she asked herself a whirlwind of questions to which she had no answer, becoming apprehensive and nervous. That situation was far beyond her scientific level and even far beyond the horizon of her own imagination. Clara, who had never been unmoved by obstacles, however difficult they might be, felt that it was all too overwhelming. Managing that situation alone and in such a short time, could only result in psychological and emotional shock of great proportions, she thus decided, in a positive attitude, to seek help. The first thing she thought was using the kidnappers’ computer system. Maybe there she could find information to enlighten her, or at least have clues about the subject. But how, if she didn’t know how to do it?! «Iris might be a solution to the problem» she thought, and almost instinctively started looking for her everywhere. After a while, she found the girl in conversation with a couple and by the way they spoke she presumed to be her parents.

-I assume you’re the parents of this beautiful girl, aren’t you?

-Yes! - The mother answered.

-Congratulations! You have a little computer genius here. My name is Clara.

-Nice to meet you! My name is Ana, this is my husband Pedro. To what do we owe this gallantry? - Assumed Iris’s mother.

-Do you know each other? - Asked Iris’s father.

-We meet moments ago, and I was surprised at how easily she handles the equipment we have on our arm. I confess, I still can’t deal with it! – Said Clara, a little embarrassed.

-You’re not the only one! As for my daughter, it doesn’t surprise me! My husband and I are in a certain way responsible for her interest in equipment.

-Have you developed knowledge in the computing area?

-We’re researchers in this area, at the University where we work.

- Whoa! Bingo! You’re the ones I need to talk to. I’ll explain.

The conversation, from then on, became delightful. The news, one after the other, added up in such a way that after a short time Clara and Iris’ parents shared a certain sense of friendship that begun there, with the opening of a world of reciprocal opportunities.

Not too far away, another meeting took place, this time between Elsa and her boss, Mago Vieira, Minister of Foreign Affairs, to make another point of situation.

-Last meeting we talked about the Judge’s feeble health. Apparently he recovered more easily than expected. As far as I know, we have no one else with health problems. At least we can’t complain about this, right?

-On the contrary, what surprises all of us is this “iron health” we feel, without having to ingest any liquid or solid!

-That’s precisely why I asked you to come see me. That opinion we had of kidnapping by Islamic forces is completely absurd! What worries me right now is the unknown. Who are they and what do they want from us? That’s the question I keep asking myself.

-I don’t think anyone can answer that question. What I think is that whoever they are, have total control over everything or almost everything and on a level that I have never imagined possible.

-Right! What to do then?!

-With all due respect, Minister. The answer can only be one - wait and see!

As much as it would cost the Minister to admit, his secretary was right! There was nothing they could do! It was a cruel conclusion and evidence of utter impotence in the face of events! The meeting ended with an unspeakable sensation of frustration.

At a certain distance from there, the Judge didn’t think in the same way, that in conversation with his wife, Margarida, he settled a strategy.

-I suppose the best solution is to get the fox out of the hole.

-What are you talking about? - Margarida intervened with little patience to hear about burrow and foxes.

The Judge, however, did not even listen to his wife’s question, so he continued with his strategic monologue.

-Even Elsa says we must do something!

The Judge continued aloud without caring whether or not his wife paid him any attention.

-Whatever territory the offender is in, there is always a law that is above him and which he has to respect. Kidnapping is always a crime wherever it is committed. The offender infringing the rights of others, which in this case is us! Diverting an airplane is a reprehensible act that can´t go unpunished! They know that and that’s why they’re hiding. They’re a bunch of cowards!

His wife no longer had the patience for her husband’s bitterness. And, taking advantage of the proximity of a flight attendant who was passing by, she went to talk to her.

-Do we have any news? -Asked Margarida, curious.

By the initial silence of the flight attendant, Margarida didn’t expect a satisfactory answer.

-What can I say you don’t already know? – Answered Felisbela eventually, smiling at cost.

-My daughter, how is she behaving?

-Don’t worry, everything is fine at that level!

The flight attendant understood perfectly that her interlocutor only intended to deviate from some annoying conversation she was having with her husband, so she smiled an open smile and said goodbye.

Margarida, just like Mário’s mother, never had any major concerns. Their children, Cristina and Mário, grew up together in an environment free of psychological and asphyxiating ties. Educated by the same tutor, they became responsible kids. However, whenever they talked to the mothers of the other kids, they became aware of the existence of different opinions. For those mothers, an education under the supervision of adults was preferable to the freedom that any kid liked to have.

We can say that Mário and Cristina grew up in an environment of responsible freedom. Mário, for his mischief, did not leave anyone indifferent. The five now had a small space for their games. In spite of everything, here and there, stories of their discoveries and treachery were already being told, not only because people felt the need to talk about subjects other than the complex and difficult context in which they lived, but also because the kids were indeed fun and playful. Even in that space, adverse and different, they were able to find motives of interest, attracting attention and creating around them good disposition so rare in those circumstances! The absence of the need to satisfy basic conditions, such as eating, drinking and so many others, provided grounds for soft behaviour, despite the inconvenience of being outside their natural habitat. This reality jumped with increasing evidence, both for the Commander and crew, and, above all, for Doctor Clara. Who, in spite of everything, did not want to understand these signals was Marcelo.

The Judge, against everything and everyone, sought more and more to recruit supporters for his plan of revolt. In the secrecy with which he did everything, he looked upon himself as a worthy representative of the high purposes of a political strategy - cerebral, ambitious and audacious, worthy of a place in the history of revolutions in the future. The movement, although it started in a rudimentary way, initially centred on its mentor, already had a strong supporter. Elsa was a striking symbol capable of developing a web of influences of increasing exponential force. However, an accidental computer discovery of Iris led to the whole movement to a period of forced hibernation.

When Clara spoke to Ana and Pedro about the program that Iris, their daughter, had had access, everything changed. After the initial perplexity, both Ana and mainly Pedro, began to focus all their attention on the device they were carrying in their wrist and, discovery after discovery, they came to a theory about what was going on. For Pedro, the data that was displayed in the small screen represented the navigation trajectory of a vessel, perhaps the one that transported them, along the sidereal space. The speed had to be hallucinating and quantified in galactic references. The theory developed by Iris’s parents was that they had been captured by a spacecraft and were now moving towards another galaxy outside the solar system. Through this theory, they concluded that the spacecraft used similar principles of displacement to the movement of electrons in conductive cables on Earth, driven by differences in electro-magnetic potential, passing from one space orbital to another and benefiting from this commutation in space motion. The news of this discovery spread like lightning to all passengers and crew. This theory, formulated by Pedro and Ana, had a great acceptance, since it answered many of the previous questions. Some sceptics preferred to wait to see. That was the case of the Judge who insisted on the necessity of a wide contestant movement to face the crime committed. Among the remaining passengers and given the great consistency, the new information was now the subject of much conversation.