Arbo

Rotten eggs and bad dreams was all Dan Raleigh could think about when he woke. He waved his left hand over his nose to dissipate the foul odor and came to the realization that memories were slippery little things.

He was only able to get hold of bits and fragments that jumped into and out of his consciousness. He knotted his eyes close to knock loose the cobwebs in his head. Dan could not recall where he was or even who he was. He was drawing a complete and utter blank. To him it felt like he was on some kind of hallucinogen. His thoughts were distorted with shadowy faces talking, not making any sense; like he was in a bad foreign film without any subtitles. To make matter worse Dan’s head ached like crazy. There was a painful tingling sensation that buzzed and throbbed like a nest of bumble bees beating around his skull. He rubbed his scalp with his right hand as if he were searching for an opening and produced a plastic cap with wires attached to it. Dan could only guess why someone had electrified his brain.

He wanted to get up but for the moment he seem trapped so instead he laid motionless as thoughts continued to race continuously in a labyrinth until slowly everything locked back into place. When it all flooded back to him he felt even more lost and alone. “What if it had worked?” he thought clinging to his hopes and fears with equal fervor. Dan automatically knew where was. He remembered being placed into a life extension capsule at the Zeidler Cryonics Lab in North Scottsdale Arizona.

The pieces were starting to come together, sulfur he recalled was part of the stasis process and the electrodes attached to his head were needed to stimulate his brain, reversing any atrophy. It was all theoretical when he signed on the dotted line and he did remember reading and signing the forms that were placed in front of him. He did it because it was his only chance at the time—his life depended on it. He remembered that he had pancreatic cancer—a death sentence and cryogenics was his only lifeline.

Looking around the capsule Dan realized that his situation was very much like being born again. He was naked and he was completely in the dark. A thick layer of dust covered the face plate of the capsule blocking all but a little light. Dan struggled to open the hatch until his strength gave out.  He felt the weakness in his arms; it was like he was using toothpicks to pry open a manhole cover. Dan figured that that was probably due to the fact that his last meal was a steak dinner with Emily, his fiancée, three days ago—at least that is what it felt like to him. He had no difficulty remembering the restaurant. Maxfield was his favorite steak house. Dan could remember his filet mignon and steamed broccoli as fondly as the memory of Emily in her blue and white floral print dress. Emily wore her dark brown short that day, above her ears with a small gold cross around her elegant neck. She wasn’t that religious. Maybe she go to church about a dozen times a year, but she would tease Dan about his lack of faith. “You don’t believe in anything.” And she wasn’t wrong. After the dinner at Maxfield’s Dan had to be on a liquid diet for two days before he could be placed under stasis. At the time it felt that that restaurant would have been place of his last meal. The last supper. Now Dan worried that he might have been right because he might be too weak to get himself out of what may prove to be a life ending capsule. He pounded on the face plate once more waiting and hoping that someone might hear him. A painful silence filled the void and just when Dan thought his capsule would be his tomb it opened.

Dan was hoping to see a scientist, a doctor, someone in a lab coat, but the man that freed him was anything but that dressed in just a vest and a modest pair of shorts made from a greenish brown material that had a strange leaf-like quality. Dan lifted one bare leg and then the other over the opening of the capsule and stumbled to his feet, he was able to stand in front of the man for a fledging moment and then Dan lost the feeling in both his legs, but he was caught by this strange man before he landed on the cold cement floor face first.

“Thanks” Dan said regaining his footing.

The man looked down at Dan who was bent over catching his breath and said nothing. Dan could see that the man stood over six feet tall. His face was lightly tanned and he had a scruffy brown beard that was starting to gray. Dan watched how the man carried his weight in a sturdy pair of sandals balancing himself on the balls of his feet. Dan could see the man was lean and gathered he was very athletic. He tried to gauge the man’s age by looking around the man’s eyes and when he did the man’s bright blue eyes shined back at him. Dan guessed the man was in his late fifties.

“I am Dan.”

The man placed his right hand on his chest and said, “Mi am Virg”

“I take it you don’t work here?” Dan joked looking around the room and seeing no one about.

Virg just smiled at Dan. He didn’t understand.

“Hablas espanol?” Dan asked

“Ne” Virg said as he shook his head side to side.

No dice Dan thought. He was flummoxed. He could not understand how someone living in Arizona would not understand English or Spanish. After a long moment Dan remembered that there was a language that was in between both English and Spanish. It was called Esperanto, but no one really spoke it in Arizona before he was cryogenically frozen. Dan began searching for the one thing that could help him communicate with Virg. He realized that there was a good chance it might not be here. Dan could only guess to the number of years he has been out of commission. The stainless steel surfaces of the room were cleaned of everything but neglect. All that remained was dust and cobwebs. After several minutes of searching various cabinets and drawers Dan came up empty handed so he decided to look around his capsule again and found a secret compartment that had a biometric switch.

The switch was at the base of the capsule. Dan wiped off the thick layer of grime covering a small LCD screen. When he positioned his right thumb over the screen it lit up and a drawer clicked open with a little pop. Inside was a case marked: Dan T. Raleigh II. Dan retrieved case and inside was a silver laptop. This was no ordinary computer. It was a quantum computer. Dan could use it to visit any website every created when the computer was programmed. Emily’s friend Simon Roberts, a physicist, had given Dan the computer. Simon told Dan it used quantum entanglements to link particles together so no matter how far those particles were in time and space they would still be linked together. Dan powered up the computer. Simon had placed special batteries into the computer—nuclear powered ones. While the operating system loaded and Dan thought of running an internet search for the word: Esperanto. If Simon was correct it should not matter how long the internet servers have been off line and if the condition of this facility was a reflection of the outside world that might be the case. Dan opened the browser and typed the word into the search window and with great relief he found everything was working perfectly. Dan was able to get to a website with an English to Esperanto translator in a manner of seconds.

“Do you understand me now?” was the query Dan typed into the dialogue box on the website. The computer speaker relayed the message to Virg in Esperanto.

“Jes” Virg said with a smile and a nod of his head.

The computer’s microphone picked up what Virg said and translated it to: “Yes”. Dan was encouraged by this breakthrough. Using the computer once again he asked Virg where he could get some clothes. Virg’s face look as though it was washed in concern and after a long moment he said, “Veni”.

The computer translated what Virg had said and displayed the word “Come” on the screen. Dan followed Virg out the Zeidler facility. The debris on the cold floor was hard on his bare feet. Dan tried his best to avoid the glass and splintered wood from the collapsed desks and glass cubicle partitions. Dan noticed that some of the work stations were frozen in time as though waiting for absent workers to come back to them while other work stations were smash with abandon. Dan was intrigued by the zigzag path they were on. He could tell that Virg knew his way around and got a funny idea. Had Virg ruptured his capsule on purpose? Dan had to know so he got Virg’s attention and typed his question into the computer.

“Arbo” Virg said.

“Tree” the computer translated.

“Is this Arbo a person?” Dan typed

Virg replied and the computer translated: “Tree is tree.”

Dan didn’t know what to make of this so he let his question rest until later. He placed the computer back into its case and continued to follow Virg once again because Virg had started to move on without him. Dan jogged for a bit to catch up. The effort made him feel weak and struggled to keep the pace. When Dan saw Virg under an exit sign Dan became hopeful until he discovered it had been barricaded with a collapsed metal beams with large sections that looked like they have fallen from the ceiling. Black scorch marks lined the walls and electric wires cascaded over the massive mess. Dan thought it was doubtful that there was any wattage in those lines, but that didn’t make the sight look any less dangerous. This was just another sign that Zeidler Labs had been dead for years. Virg turned away from the blockage and walked down another long hallway that eventually led to an opening inside a brick wall that empted outside into the parking lot.

The fresh air and sunlight instantly put Dan in a better mood. The sun was high in the sky and the cloud formations were light. There were several fancy cars parked there, makes and models that Dan had never seen before. He walked over to the most stylish vehicle, a faded blue two door sports car, and tried to open its driver side door. Dan was not surprise he found it locked. Whoever abandoned these cars must have done so ages ago Dan thought. After a couple of minutes of trying to look into the car’s interior he turned away with some more questions for Virg to answers forgetting that he needed the computer which he had powered down and packed away. Dan took a quick look over his shoulder and found Virg was gone. Panic overcame Dan. He was naked and alone and out of his time. Then his stomach started to growl. And he was hungry too.

“Veni.” Virg called out from a neighboring hillside as he waved his right hand over his head. Virg realized Dan was not behind him and had come back for him.

Grateful he was not left behind Dan followed Virg up the hill. When he reached the top Dan could see the freeway. Empty. As far as the eye could see in both directions there was no one, no thing on the roadway, not even a traffic cone. Dan wondered where everyone went. Virg didn’t stop moving. Whatever happened here must be old news Dan reasoned. He thought it better to ask his questions when they got to wherever they were going. As they walked Dan noticed that the ground was becoming very lush. Wasn’t this supposed to be a desert? The grass padded and hugged his bare feet as he walked and there was a lot more humidity in the air. At first Dan thought that they happened onto a very large golf course, but when Dan saw there was no limit to the size of the golf course he came to the conclusion that somehow the climate had changed. As hard as he looked Dan he could not find any cacti or any other desert plants. It was just green as far as his eyes could see.

After a several miles of walking they came by a man in the field wearing the same outfit that Virg wore. Virg greeted the man. Dan could not understand what they were saying without the aid of the computer and only made out the word “Arbo”. Virg pointed to Dan and the newcomer walked over to Dan unmoved by Dan’s nakedness and placed his right hand on Dan’s shoulder.

Dan felt uncomfortable with this type of human contact, especially so when he was naked but said, “Arbo.” Not knowing what else to say. Dan looked into the man’s eyes and found no malice there. Like Virg he looked happy to see him.

The man repeated, “Arbo.” He removed his hand from Dan’s shoulder. Then he called over to Virg and travel back along his original path.

Arbo meant tree that much Dan knew, he turned to Virg to gauge his reaction. Virg was astutely focused on the horizon and without saying anything Virg moved forward again. Dan followed Virg unsure how much further he could go on. After several minutes more in Virg’s tow the grounds became more lush and occupied with more people dressed in the same greenish-brown style clothing. Dan became even more self-conscience of his nakedness when they starting approaching a number of women. Dan used the laptop case to cover himself up but strangely no one paid that much attention to him, everyone except for a very attractive brunette who seemed to be in her late twenties. She walked over to Dan as if he were fully clothed. Since Dan could not speak her language he just stood there taking in her shapely figure. The leaf-like green and brown outfit hugged to her like a swimsuit and the only thing that separated them was his laptop.

“Mia filino.” Virg said gesturing towards the woman.

Dan wondered how this woman was related to Virg. He was tempted to use the laptop to find out who she was, but he thought that that could wait. Opening up the case he pulled the laptop out and turned it on. It was easy to find the Esperanto website since he had bookmarked the page. In the dialogue box he typed, “I need some clothes.”

The computer’s speakers relayed the message to Virg and to this strange woman who had a look of wonderment when the computer spoke to her and a little laugh at Dan’s plead.

“Arbo.” Virg said pointing over at another hillside. The women nodded in agreement and then walked over to the computer thinking that it would speak once again. When it did not she look at Dan and smiled sweetly to him.

Again with this Arbo nonsense thought Dan. He fathomed what can be so special about a tree? Dan gathered up his laptop and walk over the hilltop. On the other side he saw dozens of Virg’s people surrounding a humongous tree. The diameter of the tree must have been at least fifty feet and looked to be over three hundred feet tall. Dan had to scan the familiar mountain ranges another time to be sure he was still in Arizona. With great astonishment he reasoned it was still Arizona, but somehow the weather must have changed in order to support such a massive tree. Dan has never seen a tree like this one before. He knew it was not a redwood. Not even redwoods have trunks that size. Dan walked down to the base of the tree in a trance and this time Virg followed Dan. Growing on one side of the tree was a number of green pods. Virg reached for one of the pods, breaking it off first with a snap that shook the limb. Virg then handed Dan the pod. Dan did not know what he was supposed to do with it. Maybe it was something to eat Dan thought. The surface of the pod was very fibrous so Dan decided to break it open. Inside he saw it was mostly hollow with an odd substance that felt like cloth. Revealing the innards to the light Dan could see that he was holding the very same green and brown outfit that everyone else was wearing.

Dan was amazed that somehow Virg and his people were able to grow their clothes. Without thinking too much about it Dan tried on the shorts first. The sensation was unlike anything he had ever had experienced before. The cloth had the warmness of cotton only lighter and slippery smooth texture of silk. Pulling the shorts completely up to his waist he noticed that they were two inches too loose. Dan looked over to Virg who seemed pleased with himself; looking on with delight as Dan tried on the vest. It was baggy as well. Dan looked over at Virg again; examining his outfit and finding it form fitting. Dan wondered why Virg’s clothes fit him so much better. Dan had a lot of questions. Getting his laptop out he was determined to get a few of them answered. Dan took a seat and rested the computer on his lap. Virg took a seat next to Dan, both of them under the watchful shade of Arbo.

Dan typed the question: “Did you come looking for me?”

Virg nodded his head then he spoke. The computer translated, “Arbo told me to find you. He told me where you would be and that I must free you from your metal box because it is time now for you to come witness.”

“Witness what?” Dan typed.

“Arbo said you will know when you see it.” Virg said as he waved his hand toward the tree.

Dan grinned and let out an sigh of disbelief. “What happened to the people?” Dan hammered in to the computer and after a moment he typed, “Where did they go?”

“We are the people. We are the Arboni.” Virg said

“What happened to the city people?” Dan typed.

“To the stars.” Virg said

“Went into space?” Dan typed and then pointed into the sky.

“To the stars.” Virg repeated.

“When did this happen?” Dan typed eager for a response.

“Before my time.” Virg simple said.

“How many years ago?” Dan typed hoping for a real answer.

“Don’t know years.” Virg said.

Dan did not know what Virg’s game was. He felt that Virg was hiding something. “How old are you?” Dan typed trying to get a basis in time.

“352 years.” Virg said

“You’re 352 years old?” Dan said out loud incredulously. Then he typed, “How is that possible?”

“Arbo makes it so” Virg said.

Dan thought that Virg must be confused because he did not look a day past sixty. “Are you the oldest one here?” Dan typed.

“Ceps is much older. He is over 600 years.” Virg said.

“Who is Ceps?” Dan typed.

“Ceps is the leader.” Virg said.

“I must speak to Ceps” Dan typed.

“First we should eat.” Virg said while signaling for a woman to come over carrying what looked like fruit. “This is my daughter, Lila”

Dan recognized her as the very attractive brunette that came up to him earlier. He got up to greet her leaving the computer on the grass. “I am Dan”. He placed his right hand on his chest.

“Frukto?” Lila asked holding an old shaped bit of produce out to Dan.

Dan took the fruit without breaking eye contact with her. For a moment everything made sense to him. He didn’t know what has happen to him, but at least he felt safe in her eyes. Dan reached down for the laptop and typed, “You are very beautiful, Lila.”

Lila walked a step backwards almost in shock. Dan sensed that something was wrong. She looked lost and confused, feelings that Dan could empathize with. He had been experiencing them from the moment that he woke up in Zeidler Labs.

“Did I upset you?” Dan typed.

“No.” Lila said. “No one has ever told me this.”

“I find that hard to believe.” Dan typed. “Your face could be the inspiration for a poem.”

“What is a poem?” Lila asked.

“Words that are written down saying how much you love someone.” Dan typed.

“Love?” Lila asked.

“It is what makes the world go round.” Dan typed.

“You must mean Arbo. If the world spins then it must be Arbo’s doing.” Lila said.

Dan realized that he was a stranger in a strange land, but he’ll have to make the most of it. He realized that his days were numbered. Without the medical miracle he had hoped for Dan worried that his cancer would get the best of him in a matter of months. He would have never guessed that human race would devolve into a bunch of tree loving hippies. The fruit that Lila gave him was tasty, however, he was far from satisfied. His body needed more nutrients. But he noticed that being in the sun gave him more energy. There was a pleasant flow of warmth that emulated from the vest that he wore. Dan could feel his reserves being filled up all from his exposure from the sun. Every minute that passed he felt the need to eat less and less. It was as if he had become a sunflower.

“How does Arbo make you feel?” Virg said.

Thinking that Virg meant how the clothes fit Dan was going to lie and say they fit fine despite the fact they were a little loose. Yet when Dan checked the vest it fit snuggly over his chest now and the shorts had magically tightened two inches. Dan gladly admitted that “Arbo feels good.”

“Arbo will make you well.” Virg said. “This is good”

If only that were the case Dan thought. As day turned to night he watched the sun break into the west, a brilliant color spectrum that he could scarcely remember. Dan never watched the skies at night. He was always busy at work as a radiologist tech. It was a job of much contention because Emily’s friend Simon never thought Dan was good enough for her. It was obvious that Simon had feelings for Emily and now that Dan had been out of the picture in a life extension capsule there was little hope that she had waited or the fact that she had waited would no longer really matter, at least to Dan. As long as Emily was happy Dan thought all was for the best.

The Arboni people were starting to file around the tree for the night. Like Dan they looked up at the nearly cloudless sky. Stars were littered everywhere. It was a grand show of lights. The moon was full and illuminated the grounds like a dim flood light. The one thing that Dan observed that was out of place was the color of the moon. It was a green sphere brushed with blue blotches. Dan thought it was the darndest thing he has ever seen. Virg told him he needed to witness something. Was the moon that something? Then to the right of the moon Dan noticed something else that was just as peculiar. A large black spot marked the sky like an imperfection on a plasma screen. He resisted the urge to scratch it. Dan examined the spot more closely and could see that even the light around the spot was distorted. He was no astronomer, that much was certain, but even Dan knew that the only astronomical object that can distort light was a black hole.

“Green moons and black holes,” Dan whispered to himself in awe.

Those things don’t take place over night he concluded. Dan got the attention of a man watching the sky with him.

“How long has the moon been green?” Dan typed.

“Always been green.” The man said.

“And the black spot?” Dan typed.

“Always been there.” The man said. Then the man got up and said, “It is time to pray to Arbo. Come pray with us.”

“Us?” Dan said. What does he mean us? Looking around Dan watched as the whole community gathered closely together and joined hands and started chanting. Dan could see Virg and his daughter Lila motioning him to come over and be with them, but Dan didn’t believe in the power of pray and he wasn’t going to start now, even if it meant he was a party of one. Dan tried to use the computer to translate the chants and wasn’t able to for the most part.

“This is a bunch of nonsense and gibberish; just like every other religion.” Dad said.

He was about to close the computer down when a passage translated and repeated many times. “We humble ourselves to the Great Arbo, the giver of life and protector of the three worlds. Hear our pray now and in the place beyond the stars.”  

The next day Dan talked with the leader, Ceps. Dan thought the leader looked good for being over 600 years old. To Dan Ceps looked like he was in his eighties. His silver hair contrasted sharply with his lively brown eyes and tan skin. There was a presence about him, much like that of royalty, but the only difference Dan could see between Ceps and Virg was the entourage that followed Ceps around. Ceps did not have anything new to say. Ceps could not explain the astronomical anomalies or where exactly the city people went. Over the next few months Dan got stronger and stronger. He was beginning to settle into the Arboni way of life and getting closer with Virg’s daughter, Lila, much to the dismay to some members of the tribe. Dan learned much of the culture from Lila. Lila was one of the few people Dan enjoyed spending time with. Most days were spent talking under Arbo. Dan taught Lila English. She was a good student and it wasn’t long until Dan didn’t need the aid of his computer to communicate. From Lila he also discovered that all past religions seemed to be ancient history to the Arboni people. The only practice that came close was the chanting that they did every twenty-four hours and eleven minutes, an occurrence that Dan was able to accurately calculate using his computer.

Some days they hiked far from Arbo. Lila showed Dan that there were many Arbo tribes and one day they went to one. Through Lila Dan asked his questions to the leader of the tribe. Dan asked about the city people, the green moon and the black hole, but this leader didn’t have any answer either.

“Ask him about the chanting, Lila. How often do they chant?” Dan asked

Lila asked the question to the tribe’s leader and when he responded Lila said, “They chant when our tribe chants, early in the morning everyday.”

“Does he know why we chant several minutes later everyday?” Dan asked

After hearing the question the leader gave his answer and Lila said, “Day and night has equal value for Arbo and both must be pleased.”

Dan did not think too highly of the leader’s answer, but he told Lila to thank him for his time, not that Dan could imagine what activities he was taking the leader away from. Just the same the leader grabbed Dan’s shoulder in a parting gesture, something that Dan found to be familiar with a handshake from his time. “Arbo” was the blessing and so Dan and the leader said their farewells. Then Dan and Lila started their long hike home.   

“Do you think I would have different answers to my questions if I traveled to another tribe?” asked Dan

“I do not know.” Lila said

“It stands to reason that someone must know what I seek. How many Arbo tribes do you think there are?” Dan asked.

“I have been to ten.” Lila said

“How old are you, Lila?” Dan asked

“How old?” Lila asked

“I know it is ill-mannered to ask.” Dan said.

“197.” Lila said

“You look younger than me and I am 35.” Dan said.

“I am the baby of the tribe.” Lila said

Dan and Lila hiked for a mile without speaking. In the foreground Arbo steadily grew in size as they neared the tribe. Dan began to move closer to Lila and she did not turn away. They walked closely for several minutes as Dan examined her hips and the back of her neck while her straight brown hair bounced slightly from side to side with each step that she took.

“Lila, how do you feel about younger men?” Dan asked

“Knab is 206.” Lila said.

“What do you think about me?” Dan said

“I like you.” Lila said.

“I like you too.” Dan said as he stepped even closer to Lila and reached around her waist with his right hand. This caused Lila to stop and Dan stopped with her. He turned his head slowly and glazed deeply into her hazel eyes and lightly touched his lips to hers. Pressing his right hand up the small of Lila’s back Dan kissed her hard on her lips. Lila arched her back backwards and Dan moved in hugging her with is right arm. Lila started to kiss back reaching around Dan’s neck with both hands squealing tightly around him. Dan could feel her tongue next to his as he caressed her face with his left hand. “I have wanted to do that for a while,” Dan whispered into Lila’s ear.  “I wasn’t sure you were in to kissing. I never see it done in the tribe.”

“It is not done.” Lila said

“Is it forbidden?” Dan asked

“No. But it is not done.” Lila said

When Dan and Lila reached the tribe they were hand in hand and talked freely about idle things. People in the tribe gave long stares that made Dan feel as though they were talking about him. Dan’s Esperanto wasn’t as good as Lila’s English but he could pick up the tail end of what was being said. They talked about how Dan had upset the peace and was not an ardent follower Arbo. Dan harshest critic was a burly Arboni named Knab. Maybe it was jealousy that spurred his actions. Such emotion had been void in the tribe before Dan’s arrival. Rage was in Knab eyes when he attacked Dan. Dan had been with Lila again on a long hike on another romantic outing. Knab charged without warning and plowed into Dan and knocked him off his feet. Dan tried to fight back but Knab was already on top of him and swinging his fists into Dan’s face. Dan grab hold of Knab’s face and pushed his thumbs into Knab’s eye sockets which forced Knab to get off of Dan’s chest. With the fight still in him Knab stomped down on the thing that angered him so, Dan’s right hand. The hand Knab saw holding Lila. By this time members of the tribe had come to break up the fight with Virg leading the way Dan was already in excruciating pain, his wrist had already been broken. The Arboni were taken aback by Dan’s obvious injury.

Virg urges Dan to follow him towards the very base of Arbo. Virg placed his hand flat against the trunk and miraculously the bark receded and revealed an underground passage. Following closely behind Dan marveled at the illuminated passage way. It must be organic phosphorescence Dan thought. Before he knew it Dan and Virg were face-to-face with what appeared to be a humanoid robot.

“Greetings,” the android responded in English, “I am J.A.C.O.B. a judging, articulating, compiling, observing robot of biotechnology.”

Still stunned by this new revelation, Dan turned to his right to see how Virg would interact with the android. It appeared that Virg had already made a quick exit back the way they had come.

“There is no need to fear me. I’m a medical and Arbo-attentive robotic model. My training is to keep balance for the Arboni and Arbo” Jacob said.

Dan hesitantly responded, “Well, my name is Dan. I’ve been living with the Arboni for a few months and was in a fight that resulted in this broken wrist.”

Jacob, with his studied and quick movements, focused on Dan’s outstretched right wrist. In a few seconds Jacob’s mechanical eyes were able to do a full x-ray on Dan’s affected wrist. “You have a Colles fracture of the right wrist. I can set it for you and place your wrist in a splint,” Jacob informed Dan.

Dan was amazed at the efficiency and the ease of which the humanoid was able to replace an orthopedic surgeon. While he watched, Jacob placed a poultice over his wrist which immediately anaesthetized the fracture. Jacob then set the fracture in position with a quick and easy manipulation. He then placed a splint which seemed to be made of the same material that the Arboni wore as clothes; only the splint was thicker and immediately conformed to his arm. As an experienced radiology tech, Dan could appreciate a well-applied splint and noticed that he had good finger and elbow motion afterwards and that there was no pain. He turned to Jacob and asked, “Who built you? Who programmed you?”

Jacob impassively responded, “I was built by the Ascendants to maintain Arbo and to attend to the Arboni’s medical needs that can’t be treated by Arbo itself.”

“Arbo treats the Arboni?” Dan inquired.

“Of course,” Jacob responds impassively. Jacob spoke in conversational English in a non-mechanical way, but totally devoid of emotion or inflection.

“As you probably have noticed you are feeling better over the months you been with the Arboni, because Arbo senses your needs and corrects them through the clothes you wear, as well as through the ambient air. Arbo also protects you from transcendental thoughts and violent urges and depressive moods,” Jacob said.

Dan was at once encouraged and confused. He was feeling better physically but he was constantly in a depressed mood and plagued by bad dreams. Jacob explained to Dan that he is not like the others. Dan’s mind is too sharp, too inquiring, he can’t accept the situation. With time, however, he may mellow.

Dan was alarmed, “You mean I’m going to become like them? Will I live to become 600 years old?”

Jacob studied him closely and responded with a dead-pan, “I don’t know. Most likely.”

Dan asked, “What became of the Ascendants?”

“I don’t know.”

“Does anyone know,” Dan fervently asked.

Jacob motioned over to a door at the back of the clinic-like room, which had a symbol resembling a snake. This symbol appeared more ominous than the caduceus that he saw at the base of the tree.

“Since I’ve been here, which is over 2503 years, no one has gone into that portion of the Arbo. I suspect this is the area where your questions can be answered, but the knowledge can be dangerous,” said Jacob, “I am programmed not to go into the room and to dissuade any of the Arboni from going into the room.”

“Jacob, why do you stay here in this room and not interact with the Arboni?”

“I am programmed to minimize my contact with the Arboni to prevent them from regarding me as their leader or their god. Because of their child-like nature they can be easily influenced by me or even you. This can have unintended consequences and disrupt the transcendental ceremonies that are most important for our existence.”

Dan asked, “What is so important about these transcendental ceremonies for the Arboni’s existence?”

Jacob responded, “The Arboni exist to create transcendental ceremonies that will inspire all of mankind throughout time and space. This is the positive inspiration that people have benefitted from during periods of extreme hardship and adversity. This is why people have sacrificed and excelled throughout the ages to get to this ultimate reward which is the Arboni.”

Dan exclaimed, “But this is the end? This is what all humankind has aspired to?”

Again Jacob studied Dan closely and quietly responded, “Yes. At this time there are 100 billion Arboni on the Earth, the Moon and Mars. Each one of these people corresponds to every person that ever existed during the existence of mankind. When the ceremonies occur every 24 hours and 11 minutes, they are synchronous throughout the Earth, the moon and Mars and create a huge transcendent psychic force that affects all of mankind throughout time and space.

Dan was completely floored by this revelation and blurted, “Is that why the moon is blue-green because there are people there?”

Jacob responded, “The moon was terraformed centuries ago as was Mars and Arbo has been expanded throughout these territories. Each tree nurtures approximately 100 Arboni and there are 1 billion trees throughout the Earth, the moon and Mars. The trees are all networked together to control the climate and maintain the terraformed moon and Mars. Enormous amounts of energy are extracted from the Earth by Arbo to maintain the moon in geo-synchronous orbit, and to maintain enough gravity around the moon to stabilize an atmosphere.”

Dan asked, “Is that why the climate here in Arizona is temperate and no longer a desert?”

“Yes,” Jacob responded in his emotionless voice, “Not just here but all over the Earth, the moon and Mars. The climate is just the same as here and never changes.”

Dan inquired, “What about the biodiversity that has been lost by this radical climate change?”

Jacob answered, “The entire biomass of the Earth, the moon and Mars supports the Arboni and the Arboni honor Arbo.”

At this point Dan became agitated, “Who made this decision? How long can this artificial climate control endure?”

Jacob was still impassive, “All things must come to an end but we exist only to honor Arbo and continue the transcendental ceremonies.”

Dan became even more animated and pointedly asked, “So everything is equal, everything is in balance now, is that what you’re saying? What about this black spot in the sky?”

Jacob calmly responded, “The black hole is part of our universe and needs to be accepted just as we accept Arbo.”

Dan began to scream at Jacob’s ludicrous statements, “You mean the Ascendants left because they screwed up our entire world and left you in charge to apologize for the mess they left?”

Again, Jacob matter-of-factly responded, “I don’t know why the Ascendants left but I don’t feel that our world is a mess and I don’t feel I have to apologize for it,” Jacob advised, “You need to calm down and meditate. Let Arbo heal you. The splint will correct the fracture soon. Return here in one week with Virg and I will remove it.”

At that point Virg returned and put his hand on Dan’s shoulder.