In
the days since the seven discs had arrived on the planet, there had been no
sign of any living being stirring from within the vessels. In the early morning
light the foreign objects gleamed pure white, but the only eyes observing them
or the strange work taking place, were the birds and animals living throughout
the lush, river valley. The ominous noises of machines at work signaled an
alarm for the vast changes about to occur for every living creature on the
planet, all of whom carried on in blissful ignorance.
The discs rested atop hills
sloping gently downward to the flood plain of a wide river, which neighbored a
series of high cliffs facing them from the opposite side. At that point, the
water was deep and swift running through the valley, then widening out as it
flowed down to the delta and into the sea. The river was fed from a huge lake,
far inland, which was kept continuously full by a seasonal, torrid downpour and
the rest of the year by steady tropical rains even further inland. In the early morning chill, a thick mist rose
from the water, so heavy that it almost obscured the planting machines at work.
Silver colored machines, as silently as possible were planting trees. The young
trees were all six feet in height with pale green, four-pointed leaves. Each
machine contained four independently working arms. An auger was attached to the
end of the first, boring large holes into the ground. The second had a grabbing
claw which would then reach into the back of the machine to an open bed stacked
with upright trees, pick one up and deposit the tree into the fresh hole. A
third arm gently tamped all the dirt neatly back down into the hole, while the fourth
arm sprayed water and fertilizer mix until the ground was soaked.
Finally, the grabbing arm would
reach back into the bed, picking up a very thin, finely woven net, and
carefully dropping it, to completely cover the newly planted tree. The machines
worked quickly, steadily, and as silently as possible, repeating the same task
thousands of times. Someone had prepared
well.
In seven days the trees would be
fully grown to thirty feet. The unmanned planting machines dotting the upper
flood plain had been at work for six full days. On this seventh morning their
work would be complete. In all, twenty thousand food trees had been scattered
in groves across the plain, and those planted on the first day were already bearing
their fruit. The birds swooping through the air made attempts at flying into
the trees, but the thin nets protected the ripening fruit on the branches.
Smaller tree-dwelling animals tried as well, but met with the same lack of
success.
The bright, yellow sun broke over
the cliffs on the far side of the river, its rays reflecting off the seven
large objects resting on top of the slopes, which made them shimmer in the
sunlight. The discs were thick in the middle, tapering to a thin edge, and
measuring three hundred feet in diameter. No openings or view ports were
apparent. By midmorning all planting was complete, and the machines started
back up the slopes to reenter one of the discs in an orderly fashion. As the
machines headed toward that vessel, two ramps slid out each side of it, and
they slowly lowered to the ground. Doors that had formerly been imperceptible
slid up, allowing the machines back into their hold. Inside the other six crafts, the holds, which
were as brilliant white as the outside of the vessels, had lined up within them
row upon row of cylindrical objects, a total of ten thousand in number. In
unison the other six discs started their part of the operations. The tops of
the cylinders slid back, revealing their contents. Ramps extended out and
descended to the ground, doors slid open.
At first, there was no movement.
Then, slowly the People enclosed, one to each cylinder, awakened from a long,
deep sleep. As they became conscious, they shakily began climbing out of their
cylinders and stood looking around at one another. Unsteadily, they stretched
and moved to regain their equilibrium, but no one spoke. The People nearest the
doors started toward the sunlight that streamed through the openings of the
holds. They were all young males and females, striking in physical appearance.
The People appeared healthy, perfect, all of average height. They were dressed in loose-fitting gray
tunics that came down to their knees; soft gray shoes covered their feet.
As the People worked their way
outside and down the ramps, two solid walls of pulsating light appeared in the
middle of the holds, from ceiling to floor, cutting the holds in half. The
walls of light were solid to the touch and began to separate, forcing the
People to the openings. At the back, the People closest to the beams started
pushing, their voices finally being heard. Growing frantic now, their voices
became louder and angrier as they desperately tried to stay ahead of the slowly
moving walls. The People knew how
unpleasant the sensation would be if a beam were to touch them.
As those in front began stepping
off the ramps, some migrated out, heading into the groves, exploring the
strange, new scenery. Others gathered in groups, anxiously looking about. When the last of the People began walking the
soft earth, the pulsating beams finally reached the doors. Then, the ramps of
all six discs unexpectedly dropped to the ground, their doors quickly sliding shut.
Those watching immediately were filled with alarm at the sight and sound of the
ramps hitting the ground. Most began screaming and crying in fear. Fear in some
swiftly turned to anger. Several
thousand rushed the solitary disc that was still reloading the planting
machines. When they came within twenty yards, the last ramp was released and
fell to the ground with the final planting machine still on it. As the last
door slid down, the People stopped, and the hysteria climbed ever higher. Some
People — both males and females — screamed and cried. A number of them sat on
the ground, while others simply stood there.
Not knowing what to do, more of
the People moved into the groves.
A few thousand still sat nearby,
staring at the discs in shocked disbelief.
A large group of males flew into a collective rage and tried to find a
way back inside the vessels, frantically pawing at the undersides. There was no
way in to be found. The males gave up and backed away. Anguished screams and
cries echoed grotesquely against the far cliffs. The People now had more than
an inkling of what was to momentarily happen despite their desperate hope that
it would not. Finally it began. The
hysteria of the People reached a new climax when they heard high-pitched,
whining noises coming from the discs. The
engines were being fired up. The People backed away as the noise grew into a
thunderous roar. All seven spaceships suddenly jumped five hundred feet
straight up into the air, turning on their sides as they did. They looked like seven gleaming full moons.
For a few moments they hung motionless in the clear afternoon sky, as if
gathering strength. Then their rapid acceleration up and out of the atmosphere
made them seem to abruptly disappear before the eyes of the People left behind. The crying and screaming died away at once.
Five thousand young males, and five thousand young females, were left in shock,
staring silently up into an empty, blue sky. They had been abandoned. The
People had no clue what planet they were standing on, or in which solar system
they were located. They had no idea if they could find a way home. Or even if
they did get their bearings, how to even start to begin to get back to their
home planet.
They had been left only with
food-bearing trees and the clothes on their backs. There were no explanations,
no reasons at all as to why this had been done.
Disputes arose immediately as to who had control over the foodbearing tree groves, getting water, sleeping arrangements, and most important of all, who would dictate these things. By nightfall the fighting and killings had begun.
