Call of the Jeshurun

By George Michael Ravencroft

Call of the Jeshurun is an apocalyptic science fantasy entangled with what if possibilities to do with the end of days. The novel juxtaposes spontaneous creation and evolution with the biblical model of creation and the Christian world view.
An earthquake at The Renewable Energy Laboratory in Golden Colorado damages the structure of the supercollider just as the protons explode. A rouge proton punctures a computer generated experiment to recreate a sophisticated rendering of the big bang theory. The accident inadvertently creates a living universe that proves the biblical model creation. Even more alarming to the scientists at the facility, the parallel universe is composed primarily of antimatter moving toward singularity. If the director can’t shut down the experiment before the event horizon occurs, earth will be drawn into the black hole. If the parallel breaches the containment before singularity, it will eclipse the universe with a satanic counterfeit. If either scenario is successful those destined for salvation will be lost. The word of God will be perceived as fallible and Satan will challenge God’s right to rule.
The Jeshurun are the righteous ones called out to help thwart a demonic conspiracy. Meanwhile, natural disasters are increasing at an alarming rate. An Islamic confederacy is mobilizing to wipe Israel off the map. Warring angels enter the human conflict unsure who to trust. Travel through dimensions as well as time to witness a supernatural conflict that could change the future and impact eternity. Call of the Jeshurun is a race to preserve the infallibility of God, the inerrancy of scripture, and the destiny of the human race.

• Language: English
• Publisher: George Michael Ravencroft
• Release date: Aug 3, 2015
• ISBN: 9781310331442

George Michael Ravencroft

George is a Born Again, Spirit Filled, Evangelical Christian. He lives in Tucson, AZ with Hadassah his miniature Australian Shepherd. His three adult daughters he calls “The Fabulous Spainy Sisters. When he's not riding his motorcycle on the open rage in and around Tucson, George is busy writing fiction. He attends church regularly and loves in depth bible study. He has been a member of the Society of Southwestern Authors for almost a quarter of a century, and has won numerous awards for his short fiction through them. He has been published in The Story Teller, Saguaro Literary Magazine, Blue Murder Magazine online and was nominated for the Horace Award by the editor. His poetry had appeared in the Richmond Chronicle and Spectrum Literary Magazine. He also created holyspiritwhispers.com a free on-line service for Christ Followers. His favorite bible passage begins with, “But God...”

Book preview

CALL OF THE JESHURUN

George Michael Ravencroft

The Smashwords Edition

Copyright © 2015 George Michael Ravencroft

Call of the Jeshurun is an apocalyptic science fantasy. The novel juxtaposes spontaneous creation and the biblical model entangled with what if possibilities leading up to the end of days.

A science project to create a sophisticated rendering of the big bang theory goes wrong. An earthquake damages the structure of a supercollider just as the protons explode. A rouge proton punctures the experimental chamber housing the rendering of the expanding universe. The accident inadvertently creates a living universe that proves the biblical model creation. Even more alarming, the parallel universe is composed primarily of antimatter moving toward singularity. It's four minutes to midnight on the prophetic clock. If the scientists can’t shut down the experiment before the event horizon occurs, earth will be drawn into the black hole along with the parallel. If the parallel breaches the containment before singularity, it will eclipse the universe with a satanic counterfeit. If either scenario is successful those destined for salvation will be lost. The word of God will be perceived as fallible and Satan will challenge God’s right to rule.

Call of the Jeshurun is a race to preserve the infallibility of God, the inerrancy of scripture, and the destiny of humanity.

Note: To provide the reader with a sample of more of the actual story, most of the traditional front matter and the Table of Contents appear at the end.

Dedication

For my three daughters, The Fabulous Spainy Sisters, Sylvanna, Ariel and Tawnya. Your Daddy loves you, loves you, loves you…

CALL OF THE JESHURUN

The National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Golden Colorado

Anxiety conquered exhaustion. The bleary eyed German physicist placed his report on the desk, then pushed the sheaf of papers toward the project director. Professor Heidelberg removed his glasses, set down the correspondence he was reading and glanced from the report to his number one. What’s this, Carl? You seem out of sorts.

We have a problem, Jonas.

Define problem.

There was an earthquake inside the facility while you were gone. It caused an accident.

Heidelberg paled. How serious was it?

The National Earthquake Center recorded 7.9 on their Richter.

He sprang to his feet. Good grief! Was anyone injured?

None, thank God.

Director Heidelberg’s relief was tempered by his colleague’s uncharacteristic to reference deity. Give me the details.

One of the flanges in the southeastern quadrant of the supercollider’s structure cracked just as the protons collided in the detector cavern.

The one closest to the labs and diagnostic center? agonized Heidelberg.

Von Hess nodded in the affirmative. The quark-gluon plasma broke free. It destroyed half the equipment in the diagnostic center before it tore through the wall of your lab.

Heidelberg raked his fingers through his hair and he began to pace. My work is ruined!

The work continues.

He glanced at his number one. It continues?

Yes, but there’s a serious problem we need to discuss.

First things first. Do you have a ballpark on the damages yet?

In the tens of billions, he replied dismissive of the sum. About the problem.

The director’s jaw dropped. He stopped his frantic pacing. Seventeen miles of tunnel, four detector caverns, the entire diagnostic area, and my lab sustained the brunt of the damages. He looked upward and shook his fist. It proves there is a God and she hates me.

If it’s any consolation, your lab sustained the least of the damages. The wall that partitions your area from the rest of the complex has been repaired. None of the equipment suffered. The containment housing your creation model is a separate issue. It’s been seriously compromised.

Heidelberg stepped closer. Define compromised?

Von Hess sighed then took a calming breath before providing the details. There was a tear in the housing of the containment. The Plexiglas chamber inside was punctured by the rogue proton. Heidelberg winced, and resumed his frantic back and forth pace. Some of the gas inside the chamber escaped. The director tried to interrupt—Von Hess extended his hand traffic cop fashion to stop him. We patched it immediately, and replaced the lost gas. The field inside the chamber is another matter. It’s producing dangerous amounts of energy."

Were any of my team injured?

Not a scratch.

He cleared his throat, loosened his tie and opened the top button of his shirt. So, my experiment survived. Hopefully insurance will cover most of the damages. Let’s backup the data and shut down the system.

We tried that, Jonas, but it caused an anomaly.

Does the bad news never end? What kind of anomaly?

The experiment overrode our commands and continued to extrapolate the original program instructions each time we instigated a system shutdown.

Professor Heidelberg picked up his brier and chewed on the stem. …Interesting. I can see why you’d be concerned, but it’s not insurmountable. His pacing slowed to a shuffle about the room. And none of the other proton packets were involved?

No. They were still inside the super proton cyclotron. The pulse electric field, and electro magnets were taken off line the moment the accident occurred.

The automated failsafe design did its job. Good. Anything else I should be concerned about?

The quark-gluon plasma trapped inside the chamber created a paradox that has us stumped. We’ve been anxious for you to get back.

Heidelberg picked up the report and fanned the pages. I can gather as much without wasting time with this. He dropped the papers on his desk. Restless sleep during the flight back from Geneva, coupled with the disastrous news eroded some of his trade mark people skills. It’s what you’re not saying that troubles me, Carl. He picked up the report, rolled it into a tube, then headed for the elevators across the hall. He stabbed the down button several times then turned to Von Hess. Well? Spit it out.

As they stepped inside the elevator car, the German removed his glasses and lowered his head to avoid eye contact. The accident inadvertently created a living universe comprised primarily of antimatter.

The director snickered reflecting the complexity of producing antimatter. Let’s cut the power to the lab. Give the computers time to reset before we power up again. The forced shut down will take care of the programing problem. We’ll bleed off the remaining gas inside the chamber. We’ll trap the antimatter, and call it a day. Then we’ll see what, if any, of your suppositions remain.

We tried that. The universe continues to expand without an outside power source.

That produced a flinch. Why wasn’t I notified the moment the accident occurred? he demanded, twisting the report into an even tighter tube.

I called several times. The hotel manager and event coordinator refused to put me through, or take a message. They said, you gave strict instructions, you were not to be disturbed.

During the conference; I said nothing about messages. Shamefaced the director changed topics. The computers are obviously drawing power from the quark-gluon plasma energy.

Doctor Von Hess took a composing breath before responding. Obviously, but we’re dealing with an alternate universe we can’t control. It’s expanding at an alarming rate. If allowed to breach the outer-limits of the containment they’ll be hell to pay.

In frustration the director slapped the report against the wall of the elevator. That’s patently absurd! The force of the blow caused a wobble in their rapid descent toward facility deep in the heart of the mountain. Both men grabbed the hand rails to steady themselves. Sorry, Carl.

Von Hess nodded his acceptance, but continued to defend his position. The field is creating new galaxies faster than the super computers can map them.

Are you saying the accident created a singularity that provided evidence to support Hawking’s, God Particle theory?

I wouldn’t go that far.

Then what exactly are you saying?

The dark matter inside the chamber is being dissolved by the antimatter. By our calculations, we have less than a week before the new galaxies exceed the borders of the containment. We have to stop the parallel from crossing its event horizon. If we fail, there’s a distinct possibility our universe will be drawn into the black hole along with the parallel.

The Nobel Laureate closed his eyes to reflect. Thoughts coalesced. When he finally spoke it was with complete authority. While I couldn’t disagree more with this bizarre hypothesis of yours, the presence of any amount of antimatter does pose a danger. Once I’ve assessed the problem, you will evacuate all personnel while I’ll seal off the lab. I’ll bring the temperature down to absolute zero before I ignite the Sleeper Protocol from topside.

The Doomsday Program?

Heidelberg winced abhorring the term. The electromagnetic pulse will destroy everything inside the mountain. Without hardware, the software will no longer function. After heat death, we can suit up against the cold, come back to the lab and trap the antimatter. Problem solved.

It’s your call, Jonas, but we’ll lose the most vital data we’ve ever seen.

I’m humoring you because you’ve obviously been through hell in these past few days. Making myself unavailable was a mistake. I’m sorry for that, but I’m back and I’m prepared to handle the situation. What you’re witnessing is nothing more than ghost renderings created by the quark-gluon plasma. It’s obviously feeding off the software in the supercomputers.

It’s real, Jonas.

Not a possibility. The best scientific minds, yours among them, provided the programmers the data to create that software. The supercomputers are being fueled by an exotic energy source we know little about. Don’t you see, Carl, it’s a perfect storm. The energy managed to trigger the computers to access all the information necessary to create, and extrapolate a fantastic illusion.

Please, Jonas, there’s more to it. We have to try—

We’re past half measures. Start the evacuation of the staff and begin the countdown as soon as we reach the base of the mountain. I’ll address the team. You and the others will assist me with the shutdown. I take full responsibility.

Scientist recreates the big bang then destroys evidence of the origins of life?

Hold that thought for the congressional oversight committee. I’ll need all the help I can get to raise funds to pay the insurance deductible. You and the team—

We discovered carbon based life forms on one of the planets, blurted Von Hess.

Have you lost your mind?! It’s a holographic rendering, nothing more than a dangerous proton powered simulation.

You’re wrong, Jonas. There are fully developed hierarchal societies down in The Landscape.

Be very careful. If what you’re proposing ever saw light of day, it would ruin your career.

The German ignored the warning Enhanced topographical mapping allowed us to view migration patterns as civilizations expanded. It validates evidence we’ve ignored in the past. The civilizations are almost exact mirrors of our history. Brutal men strive for world dominance. Kingdoms rise against kingdoms just as told in ancient texts.

Is this mythic view unanimous?

Von Hess nodded. There’s no myth about it. We have reason to believe every sentient being in this reality has an identical counterpart living similar experiences within the virulent parallel. As their drawn into the black hole time lines will synchronize. For a brief moment our thoughts will merge with our parallel selves. Once they outpace us our timeline, we will become an irrelevant afterthought. If the parallel breaks free it will destroy the universe, or eclipse it.

You’re saying the third planet from the sun in this universe of yours is representative of earth. And it’s moving toward an event horizon. Is that correct?

Not representative earth; it is earth.

Great Scott, man. I’m trying to be helpful, but I’m losing patience with this nonsense. Could, might, maybe doesn’t cut it, You of all people should know—

Few societies in the parallel adhere to any form of moral code. We’re witnessing the struggle between the very nature of good and evil working toward an apocalyptic resolution. In the end the dominant force will annihilate all competitors, and create a worldwide dictatorship. That superpower will make Hitler and the Nazis seem like boy-scouts by comparison.

The director cackled at the thought. A showdown between positive and negative energy forces? That’s rich. Well, you can thank your lucky stars the creator is here in time to stop it.

This is no joking matter, Jonas.

Dr. Von Hess, your pseudoscientific theorems clash with everything we both know to be true. Has the entire team signed off on these wild conjectures?

He ignored the disparagements. None of us claim to be able to predict which scenario will dictate the final outcome.

These fantasies will not stand up to the strictest scientific scrutiny, and I’m going to prove it.

We’ve applied Occam’s Razor to every possible scenario. There are no competing hypotheses better suited to the two possible outcomes noted. It’s five to midnight on the apocalyptic clock.

How long has it been since you’ve slept?

I can assure you, I’m not delusional. We’ve inserted ourselves into The Landscape within the containment at various junctures in the timeline, announced Von Hess.

What?!

At first we just wanted to find out what the images couldn’t tell us, explained the physicist. Later we inserted ourselves for more critical reasons.

And just how did you manage to accomplish this feat?

I’ll show you when we get down to the lab. You can judge our findings for yourself.

Heidelberg stabbed his finger into Von Hess’ chest. You’ve allowed trauma, exhaustion and subjective amazement to override the scientific process, Carl. When I’ve back engineered the events and replicated them, you’ll see it for yourself. It’s just a visual image created by the most powerful computers in the world combined with the genius of artificial intelligence. Couple that with vast amounts of unpredictable energy from an exotic source, and voilà. You’ve got a fantastic holographic movie that seems real.

I agree with your assumptions about the unpredictable energy.

That’s a step in the right direction. We’ll work out the rest once I’ve assessed the situation.

You don’t understand the dangers, Jonas. It’s a Gordian knot where faith and science have intertwined in ways we never imagined possible.

Trust me, nobody knows this integrated system better than I do. Once I’ve resolved the issue, I want all of you to go home and get some much needed rest.

Saint Joseph’s Hospital, Tucson, Arizona

In the Landscape of the Old Pueblo, the patient’s eyes snapped open. He gasped and bolted upright in the bed. Panic and confusion played havoc with his heart rate. A member of the Sisters of Mercy nursing order sat beside his bed reading a bible. She remained impervious to his angst.

A lifetime of random, tangled pieces of dreams and jumbled visions were finally beginning to make sense. He prodded his mind to remember every detail. A legion of warring angels poured out from the Sides of the North. Where are you going?

An Angelic Tribune appeared at his side. To open the gate to the bottomless pit.

Wait. I need more time.

There is no more time. Gather the Jeshurun.

Jeshurun?

The officer handed him a ram’s horn. The righteous ones called out by God.

How am I supposed to find these Jeshurun?

Where’s your faith, man? I gave you the shofar. Use it.

Use it when, right now?

The angel stared at the man in disbelief. When the time comes.

How will I know when the time comes?

Are you the dead man I was commanded to meet at heaven’s gate, or not?

There must be some mistake.

The column of warring angels halted. All eyes turned toward the stranger. They shouted with one voice. God does not make mistakes!

Of course not, it’s just—I’m not dead.

The Tribune surveyed the vast expanse comprising the border of the Sides of the North. Not a whisper of life presented itself. Are you accusing the all-powerful, all knowing, ever present Creator God of mismanaging your destiny?

No. Of course not.

A dark boiling cloud obscured his vision. Rolling thunder and lightning shook him awake. Troubled by the dream, the man got up from the bed. He walked to the window trying to remember how he had come to be in hospital. When he realized he was naked, he looked for something to cover himself before the nun saw him. Sudden fear gripped his heart. A badly bruised and bandaged image of him remained unconscious in the bed dressed in a hospital gown. There were wires attached to a monitor. A bag of liquid fed into his arm through a port.

A putrid smell began to permeate the room. Hideous green vapor swamped his bed. An enormous devil materialized beside him. The malevolent being straddled his body and began to strangle him. Despite the eminent danger, the nun continued reading. The man’s mind screamed for help even as he began to suspect this must be part of the same dream. A dream within a dream turned nightmare.

The nun glanced up from her devotions to the telemeter. She flushed, visibly shaken. The system had failed to alert her. She pressed the red call button for help. I need the ICU team in room 425 STAT. The John Doe’s vitals are registering extreme duress.

The nameless soul fused with his body on the bed. Breath trapped in his lungs caused his heart to thunder against his ribs. Powerful talons riveted to his throat crushed his windpipe. His body thrashed. Flailing his fists at his attacker proved useless against the enormous size and strength of the demon. As the pulse in his temples roared, the nameless victim raced toward the inevitable. Blackness engulfed him.

Sweet Jesus, help us, whispered the nun, placing the oxygen mask over the John Doe’s face.

The devil flinched. The hated name forced him to release his prey. He waited for an instant fearing the worst, but the command to banish him did not come. The sound of rushing footfalls coming from down the hall did not dissuade the assassin. He turned to the task at hand with renewed vigor.

The nun felt the patient’s pulse to gauge the effect of the oxygen. He’s not breathing. She placed her hands on his chest and prayed. I plead the blood of Jesus over you. His angels all around you to guard and keep you in all your ways. Then she pried open his mouth to check for obstructions before attempting mouth to mouth resuscitation.

The devil snarled. Time was running out. The unmistakable sound of an approaching chariot dispatched by the nun’s appeal warned him of a violent contest with the ministering spirit sent to serve this heir of salvation.

The ICU team arrived.

The nun stepped aside. He’s not breathing, Doctor.

Assessing the problem at a glance, the doctor turned to his assistant, Give me a scalpel. The nurse responded placing the handle of the blade into his hand. The tracheotomy had no effect. The monitor flat lined. Charge the unit.

The technician switched on the cardio-defibrillator machine eyeing the monitor. Charging.

An armed angelic warrior arrayed in full battle armor burst into the room. The powers of heaven and hell locked eyes. Instant recognition passed between the opposing members of Malakhim race. Prince Azazeel released his victim and sprang from the bed. A cutlass and dagger materialized in his hands. He took a Moors fighting stance. The angel responded at the speed of light. His flaming broadsword held high in a two handed grip above his head. The la posta di falcone defense was preferred by heaven’s warriors. Murderous intent rushed to judgment. Weapons clashed and sparked from the force of their deadly resolve. The powerful Prince of Darkness pressed forward. The angel could do little more than defend himself against the larger, more powerful adversary.

The intensity of the supernatural conflict rent the veil between worlds. In that moment, the nun became an eye witness to the struggle between the forces of light and darkness. She trembled like a wet dog caught in a winter storm. The whirlwind of violence escalated. Neither combatant relented as they sought the other’s destruction. Azazeel drew first blood. The angelic warrior bore his pain in silence and continued to fight. The effect of the telling wound inspired Satan’s vassal to press harder to destroy his enemy.

The angel’s entreaty assaulted the nun’s senses like a slap. Don’t just stand there. Pray!

In her terrified state only three words came to mind to evoke the powers of heaven. Jesus, help us!

Within moments five more Angelic Warriors rushed into the ICU to reinforce their captain. One of the angel’s lance thrusts pierced the devil’s shoulder. He roared in defiant rage, couching his pain. Another warrior ducked low and lunged between the demon’s legs. Then he twisted onto his back and struck. His blade severed the enemy’s hamstring. Azazeel screamed. The precision attack allowed other members of the assault team to try for the kill. One managed to slash Azazeel’s stomach. The assassin whimpered in agony, fighting for his very existence. Another angel sought to split his skull with a battle axe. Azazeel recoiled, but not far enough. The blade ripped his face from eyebrow to chin. The vanquished assassin screamed, cursed God, then shot out the window like a comet and vanished into the night sky.

The angel in charge took up a protective position beside the mortal he had been dispatched by the nun’s prayer to rescue. One of his comrades poured holy oil on his wound and prayed before joining the others to form a defensive perimeter. Two Malakhim Warriors stationed themselves at the doorway. The other three stood watch on the window ledge. All six kept their weapons drawn while they prayed for the victim of hell’s wrath.

The petrified nun stared in wild-eyed amazement at the supernatural visitors, as she bathed in the brightness of their presence. Despite the horrific battle, their calm demeanor never faltered. The leader directed a balm of energy to wash over her distraught spirit. She marveled as the angel’s wound mended in a moment leaving only a faint scar. As the sister pondered the miracle, the warrior turned to her and smiled. His penetrating gaze made it impossible to maintain eye contact. She lowered her eyes and returned to her prayers of intercession. Please, Lord be merciful to this son of Adam. If he dies forgive his sins before he comes to judgment.

Ready, stated the technician.

As the defibrillator paddles sent a surge of electricity though the inert form on the bed, the man’s body responded to the jolt with a powerful spasm. This hurts too much to be a dream.

The doctor shook his head, no good. Again!

A second charge coursed through his body. The electrical sting galvanized the John Doe’s senses. This is real!

Despite the pain and confusion, details began to collate. New elements altered the fabric of what felt like a recurring dream. Or was it a memory. This time one of the angels had spoken to him. He gave him a ram’s horn. He’d called him a dead man. Whatever that meant. There were dire consequences that required supernatural intervention to thwart the demonic assassin. Other problems plagued his sense of reality as well. How had he come to be in hospital in the first place? The nun had called him a John Doe. He struggled to remember his name. It lingered near the tip of awareness. Retreated to a far corner of memory. Then escaped him. One thing he did know, the nun’s prayers precipitated the angelic rescue. He owed this Sister of Mercy his life.

He’s still flat-lining, protested the technician monitoring the instruments.

At the gateway to death every illusion shattered. The complexity of inter-dimensional life was seen through the eyes of pristine clarity. A single tone emanated in his right ear. It captured him. Light flooded consciousness. Self-awareness merged with sight and sound. Particles undulated affecting the frequency of surrounding energy in the room. The overhead lights flickered. Light emerged and shrouded him. The sound altered and became a high pitched ringing. A powerful burst of energy radiated from his core.

The nun’s eyes snapped open. Oh my! She gawked at the expanse of energy emanating from the John Doe. She rubbed her eyes confused as to why the other people in the room could not see what was happening.

The spirit of the man detached and hovered over his body tethered by a sliver cord. The Landscape dissolved. Stars appeared rushing toward him. Vast oceans of space moved beyond light speed then fused into a single illumine. The sound burst into an opus. John Doe surrendered individuality. The silver cord severed. His essence separated from his body. Reason merged with knowledge and became wisdom, as divine truth flooded his being at every level of consciousness. In that instant spirit became fully aware of its singularity of purpose before exploding into a billion particles. Then a shofar trumpeted the unmistakable the call to war.

Angels gasped astonished. The nun flinched terrified. John Doe vanished.

Electricity short circuited. The nun fainted falling into her chair. The supernatural warriors continued gapping in disbelief. A moment later the emergency generators kicked in. The bank of florescent tubes ignited bathing the room with light. The physician in charge glanced at the Telemetry Nurse. Her eyes cut away from the monitors to him. We lost him.

The Doctor tore off the latex gloves and flung them against the wall. The nurse pulled the sheet over John Doe’s face. She disengaged the clipboard chart from the foot of the bed and placed it on the deceased’s chest. I’ll send for transport to take him down to the morgue.

In the commotion no one noticed the nun had fainted. When she regained consciousness, she gathered her wits and glanced around the room. She arose from the chair on shaky legs and slipped through the medical team. Her fingers instinctively sought the deceased’s wrist to check for a pulse. As she made contact with the John Doe the leader of the angelic warriors, now invisible to her, placed his hand on her shoulder. He implanted a thought. There is nothing you can do now, it’s over. The nun returned to her seat and fingered her rosary for comfort. She prayed the Our Father before her invocations transformed from liturgical to an intimate appeal. Why was I here to witness these events, Lord? I have been called to pray for the passing of many of your children over the years, but never anything like this. Did I fail him? Did I fail You? Why do I feel such empathy for this stranger? Please help me understand why it feels like some part of my essence has left me.

The angel tried to console her. Who can know the ways of God, Sister St. Claire? We are all helpless at times like this. Take comfort, beloved of Yeshua, you did all that could be done. Releasing her shoulder, the Malakhim Captain motioned the warriors under his command to meet him in the hallway.

She returned to her prayers in an effort to sooth her frayed nerves.

The National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Golden Colorado

When the elevator doors opened, Heidelberg witnessed thousands of men and women bustling about in a state of unbridled enthusiasm. Notwithstanding the damages being repaired by construction and technical crews, the physicists, astronomers, mathematicians and programmers continued to work with the remaining equipment at hand. A myriad of images from inner space filled the screens that remained operative within the stadium size enclosure. The formation of a new galaxy appeared and everyone’s attention was drawn to it. A series of supernovas created actual tremors inside the mountain. Many of the scientists were actually applauding. Others were cannibalizing what diagnostic equipment they could from damaged workstations to keep up with events. Heidelberg had never before seen this level of excitement at the facility.

This is fantastic, he admitted, unable to contain his excitement. Let’s hold off on the announcement to evacuate for a bit.

I knew you’d change your mind once you saw it.

Where’s the evidence of the event you described?

Von Hess touched his finger to his lips to plead for discretion. He cupped Heidelberg’s ear as he spoke. The teams working out here in the staging area are not aware of the full scope of the anomaly. The challenges they are facing at the moment have little to do with the events we’ve been tracking. We do share a common problem though. We’re unable to record for playback. When we attempt it all we see are particles and waves.

An intelligent universe that doesn’t wish to be reviewed? asked the director, unable to take his eyes of the screens.

Or something else.

Like what, countered Heidelberg in a tone imbued with incredulity, a creator that doesn’t wish to be scrutinized?

Good question.

Heidelberg quick stepped toward the entrance to his lab as they spoke. Have you developed a historical timeline that can be measured in days, weeks, months and years?

Von Hess nodded in the affirmative. Millenniums, actually.

How long did it take for the planet to demonstrate life forms?

Von Hess flushed anticipating the response his answer would receive. According to their timeline? Five days for the birds and fish. On the sixth day animals and sentient beings appeared and began to multiply.

That’s not feasible. How long did it take the entities to evolve from Australopithecus to Cro-Magnons?

There is no sign of evolution whatsoever, Jonas. Over the past six thousand years the human race has evolved socially and scientifically, but the physiology has remained persistent with very few variations.

And that is?

Their lifespan decreased from approximately nine hundred years on average to between seventy and eighty years in the first fourteen hundred years since humans first appeared.

And the other variations?

Skin shade grew lighter, or darker over the millenniums based upon migration patterns.

That makes sense. Anything else?

Giants terrorized the humans worldwide before the flood.

Heidelberg stopped dead in his tracks and turned to face Von Hess locking eyes with him as he repeatedly jabbed his finger into the man’s chest. Be careful Carl, it sounds like you’re proposing some spurious biblical creation model.

No, Sir; not something like it.

What then? asked the physicist making strides toward the entrance to his lab.

Von Hess struggled to keep up with his boss. We’re validating an exact replica of biblical history followed by the dark ages, renaissance, industrial revolution and world wars. They were entering the nuclear age when I came up to see you.

By its rate of expansion, measured at the speed of light, telescopic observation proves the universe is hundreds of billions of years old. So don’t insult my intelligence by trying to sell me on the six day creation myth.

What if, when God says, ‘let there be,’ the universe appeared instantaneously. Isn’t it possible, the continuous expansion at light speed is actually an aftermath of the original burst of energy God created by the word of his power. Like it or not, the software you designed is validating the biblical model of creation, Jonas.

Enough of this nonsense. I want to talk to the others. Heidelberg stopped at the titanium doors that comprised the barrier to his inner sanctum. He placed his palm on the reader and locked eyes with the retinal scanner then initiated the voice recognition software. Open.

The failsafe identification system analyzed the data in an instant. The android voice of the gatekeeper program responded. Good Morning, Doctor Heidelberg. If you’d be kind enough to enter your pin code, I will be happy to afford you access. He keyed in his mother’s birthdate. The doors slid open with a whoosh. Once inside the doors automatically closed and locked.

The handpicked team comprised of the finest scientists Heidelberg had worked with over the years met his entrance into the lab with wild penetrating stares. He noted the zealot’s bloom of fanaticism on their faces. He’d seen it before. Hysteria born of prolonged isolation coupled with complex problem solving and lack of sleep created psychosis. It happened to the Russian astronauts on the Mir Space Station. Within a few months of isolation they began reporting alien craft monitoring their every move. Heidelberg opted to avoid the religious facet of the problem until he debunked the other aspects of their shared delusion with fact based science.

First things first. "I’m told you believe you can make insertions into the digital Landscape of what you believe to be a living universe. Is that