| “Our interest rightly begins just after your race exploded the first atomic bombs over Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan. It was at that alarming time we sent our flying machines, the ‘Flugelrads’, to your surface world to investigate what your race had done. That is, of course, past history now, my dear Admiral, but I must continue on. You see, we have never interfered before in your race’s wars, and barbarity, but now we must for you have learned to tamper with a cetain power that is not for man, namely, that of atomic energy. Our emissaries have already delivered messages to the powers of your world, and yet they do not heed. Now you have been chosen to be witness here that our world does exist. You see, our Culture and Science is many thousands of years beyond your race, Admiral.” I interrupted, “But what does this have to do with me, Sir?” The Master’s eyes seemed to penetrate deeply into my mind, and after studying me for a few moments he replied, “Your race has now reached the point of no return, for there are those among you who would destroy your very world rather than relinquish their power as they know it …” I nodded, and the Master continued, “In 1945 and afterward, we tried to contact your race, but our efforsts were met with hostility, our Flugelrads were fired upon. Yes, even pursued with malice and animosity by your fighter planes. So, now I say to you, my son, there is a great storm gathering in your world, a black fury that will not spend itself for many years. There will be no answer in your arms, there will be no safety in your science. It may rage on until every flower of your culture is trampled, and all human things are leveled in vast chaos. Your recent war was only a prelude of what is yet to come for your race. We here see it more clearly with each hour … do you say I am mistaken?” “No,” I answered, “It happened once before, the dark ages came and they lasted for more than five hundred years.” “Yes, my son,” replied the Master, “The dark ages that will come now fo your race will cover the Earth like a pall, but I believe that some of your race will live throught the storm, beyond that, I cannot say. We see at a great distance a new world stirring from the ruins of your race, seeking its lost and legendary treasures, and they will be here, my son, safe in our keeping. When that time arrives, we shall come forward again to help revive your culture and your race. Perhaps, by then, you will have learned the futility of war and its strife … and after that time, certain of your culture and science will be returned for your race to begin anew. You, my son, are to return to the Surface World with this message ….” |
