Melissa On The Far Side

By Leonard G Mann

In this second Melissa book we find that Daniel's work to save the human race is not yet done. New events on the Moon lead to a trail of discovery resulting in a life and death struggle. Waz enters Daniel and Melissa's lives, causing stress and wonder in equal measure. A captivating adventure unfolds with new concepts and a vivid portrayal of interplanetary living. And a love triangle to boot.

Earth in century C5 is a wonderful place to live. No conflict, no prisons, no famine, no overcrowding! It's such a wonderful place that it's unnatural. It's difficult to imagine that such a perfect place could be run by human beings. The world runs totally to the tune of Melissa. She is loyal to God, who is her father in all senses except biological. God's intellect is so vast that he can spin a story to lead his human followers in any direction he wishes. Some are more sceptical than others but God generally stays one step ahead. Another intellect, equal to God's, is needed if his true nature is to be revealed.

Waz values the life of animals above her own. Gilda, once Daniel's dog, now knows that Waz is her mistress. A second animal enters Waz's life and he plays a small but essential part in her efforts to save the human race. When Waz's security clearance is challenged, it turns out that she is a perfect human being.

Thomas, the ex-assistant of John, the archbishop of Nazcamp, has no easy ride. He repeatedly has to make efforts above and beyond the call of duty. His home life, that he keeps so private, is revealed when he attempts to team up with Waz and Harry, the paranoid hells angel. Can Thomas stay the course?

Living on the Moon brings its own challenges. Lunars have a good life, on the whole, and some of them even live in complete luxury. Nate is a strong leader but even after two years he is still badly affected by the disappearance of his nephew, Peter.

The very survival of our species, hangs in the balance.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Leonard G Mann
• Release date: May 1, 2018
• ISBN: 9781370010264

Leonard G Mann

Leonard G Mann is an engineer, scientist and dreamer. Top of his bucket list is his desire to talk to an ETI. While unlikely, it doesn’t stop him from imagining the numerous ways in which one could meet or communicate with aliens.Born in North London, UK, he now lives a life lost in the wilds of Dorset with his wife and their two dogs. Looking out across the countryside at the wildlife and the distant ocean makes a good backdrop from which to develop new stories. Leonard’s other interests include the study of cosmology and science in general, including the effect humankind has on our planet. He also enjoys walking the Jurassic coastline and Purbeck Hills with his wife and extended family.

Book preview

Melissa On The Far Side

by Leonard G Mann

Published by Leonard G Mann

Copyright 2017 Leonard G Mann

License Notes

Thank you for buying this eBook or paperback. This book remains the copyrighted property of the author and may not be redistributed to others. If you enjoyed this book, please encourage your friends to download their own copy from their favourite authorised retailer. Thank you for recognising the hard work of the author.

Issue 1e. August 2023

This book is dedicated to Steven Spielberg for his unequalled contribution to sci-fi

Contents

Prologue

Chapter 1: New Arrangements

Chapter 2: Moon Vid Trouble

Chapter 3: All About Waz

Chapter 4: A Pact is Made

Chapter 5: Daniel Goes to the Moon

Chapter 6: Out on the Far Side

Chapter 7: More Trouble for Daniel

Chapter 8: Something Has to Give

Chapter 9: Waz and Mary

Chapter 10: Desperate Times

Chapter 11: Harry Gets On Board

Chapter 12: The Takeover

Chapter 13: Ancients

Chapter 14: Will the Final God Step Forward

Acknowledgements

Message from the Author

About the Author

Prologue

Warning: This prologue is a spoiler for the first book of the series, Melissa Our God.

Earth in century C-five is a wonderful place to live. No conflict, no prisons, no famine, no overcrowding! It’s such a wonderful place that it’s unnatural. It’s difficult to imagine that such a perfect place could be run by human beings. That’s because it isn’t run by human beings. Instead, it’s run by a single alien posing as God. The being from Stelt has such an enormous intellect that he can outsmart us at every turn. His superiority over human beings is like our superiority over sheep. Stelt invented Melissa, the second coming of God, copying the story of Jesus. Stelt also developed a second artificial intellect with human characteristics and desires, like a character in a computer game. Modestly calling himself God, this character has the ability to monitor and interact with a large portion of the world’s population in real time. He selected a human to play the part of Melissa and he lets her enter the lives of the people, both in person at major celebrations and parades, but also virtually on their personal viewscreens, supporting and advising them on a weekly basis. God’s intellect is a measurable fraction of Stelt’s own intellect. God’s stage is the Grand Chamber where, using a giant 3D viewscreen, he can bring almost anything, real or imaginary, to life.

Daniel had risked his self-made, comfortable life – and in fact his actual life – to try to understand the true nature of Melissa and God. Thinking he had outsmarted God, he gets him to reveal all, while at the same time falling madly in love with Melissa – the human version, that is. In fact, God was manipulating Daniel right from the start. In order to keep his hold on the Earth, he needed the help of a small group of humans that would share his secrets. God has a sophisticated algorithm that can predict the future – in particular, his own chance of survival. He knew he was losing grip on power and had to force a confrontation with Jacob, who was trying to remove him.

Daniel’s unlikely friend Harry looks and acts like a Hell’s Angel from the 1960s. He would have looked strange in C-zero but in C-five he looks ridiculous. Twelve years on the Mars freighters, seven more than health and safety allowed, left his brain drilled by cosmic rays. Did that cause his paranoia? It certainly didn’t help. Harry’s passion, running the Sceptics, who question the true nature of Melissa, resulted in his friendship with Daniel. If Harry is weird, then his girlfriend Waz is weirder. She has a cute, shapely body hidden beneath her oversize dungarees. Her elfish face has a vacant expression and her shock of yellow hair completes her looks. She has a fanatical devotion to animals and speaks with a broken English accent. Her apparent ignorance belies her compassion and insight into human behaviour. And she knows things!

After Jacob’s death, John had placed himself at the head of the priesthood. He was a well-organised committee man, but is that enough to keep him in place? Thomas, John’s right-hand man, played his part in helping Daniel, despite his darker side. He was demoted after John lost trust in him, but we haven’t heard the last of Thomas.

Interesting things are hidden on the Moon. The disappearance of Peter and Hannah will cause a stir, especially as Peter is First Blood. Only you and I know that, tragically, they are dead, but that doesn’t mean their lives were lost in vain.

God has convinced Daniel, Melissa and John that he is on Earth to survive, his kind having been banished from his home planet. He has apparently taken control of the Earth to both help humanity and to increase his own chance of survival. God has agreed to share his rule with the other three, or so he said. Now that Daniel has married Melissa and they have a child, Daniella, the granddaughter of God, there is little time to discuss the future. The recent wedding and Daniella’s christening has enchanted the world, which runs totally to the tune of Melissa.

1: New Arrangements

Daniel and Melissa were on their regular Sunday visit to church. Daniella held her parents’ hands, feeling very happy in her beautiful new dress. Daniel was wearing a new cream-coloured suit with matching tie and shoes. Melissa was in her Sunday-best priest’s robe, her insignia setting her apart from the priests. Her beautiful blonde hair hung down around her shoulders and her blue eyes glinted in the sunlight. The millions watching from home could see every detail of the perfect family. Everything was well presented. Even their footsteps could be heard, crunch, crunch on the gravel path. They were accompanied by the large film crew shooting them from several angles with sound and lighting men all around, invisible to the viewer. Two cameras ran on permanently installed rails; in fact, the church was now out of bounds for regular users.

Today had a larger than average audience, as it was the first time that Daniella would walk into the church. Daniella loved her new blue shoes. She was making exaggerated steps, enjoying the sound her footsteps made on the gravel. The church and surrounding grounds were immaculately turned out; the extensive lawn didn’t have a blade of grass out of place. The flower borders were overflowing by just the right amount, and even the gravel was freshly raked. The family walked on through the old stone gateway where they were out of camera shot for a couple of paces.

Daniel paused in the gateway and looked at Melissa.

‘This whole thing is ridiculous. We’ve become a soap opera for the masses.’

She frowned at him.

‘Not now. Let’s talk about it later!’

‘Later! It’s always later. We never talk about this properly. Later never happens!’

The two rail cameras juddered to a halt as they realised the couple hadn’t emerged from the gateway. Worried looks were exchanged between the crew, and the studio turned the sound down when they heard Daniel’s raised voice. This event was going out live and there was very little margin for error.

‘This is bloody ridiculous. I’m walking to church, on view to millions, when I never actually go to church and I don’t even believe in a biblical god! What is happening to me? I hate all this. I hate my life. This can’t be what we’re here on this Earth for!’

Daniel was normally Mister Cool; Melissa was amazed to hear him talk this way.

‘Keep your voice down! What’s got into you today? Please, Daniel. Let’s get this over, then I promise you we’ll talk it through, straight after the council meeting. Oh, then I must take Daniella to her fitting and I can’t remember what’s after that, but I promise you we will talk some time today.’

She momentarily let go of Daniella’s hand and gripped Daniel’s arm, urging him forwards. At the same time Daniel overheard one of the crew.

‘What on Earth is up with him? Doesn’t he know this is a live event?’

Daniel stepped forward to look in the direction of the voice and gave the guy one of Harry’s classic one-fingered salutes. Unfortunately, he had stepped into the view of the live camera and the whole world saw his action. He stepped back out of view and stared at Melissa. She knew he meant business and she stopped urging him forward.

‘Daniel, we’ve been through this a hundred times. We will eventually tell the people the truth about God and everything, but the quickest way to do that is to give them what they want now. You know, a happy perfect family going about its routine, which includes going to church on Sunday.’

‘It’s a joke, a sham. I keep saying I can’t keep doing this but nobody listens to me! I’ll go mad if we carry on like this!’

He was shouting and Daniella started to cry. He bent down and lifted her into his arms.

‘It’s alright, baby, mummy and daddy are just having a little argument.’

Daniella’s crying turned into a whimper as Daniel jiggled her up and down.

‘Look what you’ve done now! Her tears are ruining her make-up.’

Rebecca, one of Melissa’s sisters, was producing the outdoor portion of today’s show. At the first sign of trouble, she sent an assistant for her priest robes. She tore off her overalls and virtually bared all in front of the crew while putting on her robes. She rushed towards the gateway with an assistant adjusting her robes plus a make-up girl attempting to powder her face.

Daniel tried to speak in a whisper to stop upsetting Daniella further.

‘She’s little more than a baby and she’s wearing make-up?!’

‘Stage make-up, that’s all.’

‘What kind of person will she grow up to be! This is all crap! I can’t do this anymore!’

‘Daniel! It’s not crap! Daniella is special, I am special, you are special, we can’t lead normal lives. With position comes responsibility! We have to do this!’

‘You stupid woman! You sound like you’re a queen or something! You’ve lost all perspective on what we actually are!’

Melissa’s face turned bright red and Daniella started to cry again. She stretched out her arms towards Melissa, who took her from Daniel. At this point the live shot went to Rebecca, who had slowed her run to walking pace. She entered the gateway to see what was holding up the party.

‘Melissa, Daniel, we must move forward. The public are watching and you have to go into the church now.’

Daniel barked. ‘We’ll come when we’re ready!’

Rebecca was shocked at Daniel’s tone, but she had to try again.

‘Daniel, there are 400 million people watching this gateway live. I implore you, please come out and walk into the church.’

As Rebecca finished speaking, her voice cracked and a tear rolled down her cheek.

Daniel looked at Rebecca crying and then at Daniella crying. Melissa was on the verge of crying.

‘Oh, holy crap! OK, let’s walk to the church, but I’m not going inside this time.’

Rebecca gathered her composure.

‘That’s OK, Daniel, we can do the service without you. I’m sure we can find a good excuse for your absence later.’

She looked at Melissa. ‘Are you OK?’

Melissa drew a deep breath and nodded. Daniella was just whimpering again now and the four continued on slowly to the church trying to act as if nothing had happened. Melissa, still holding Daniella, moved through the church entrance and the inside crew took over.

‘Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!’

Daniel was so cross with himself for losing it like that. Everyone around him scuttled away, not meeting his gaze as the director shouted: ‘That’s a wrap everyone! Pack everything up! Let’s get out of here.’

As he walked away Daniel could hear him say: ‘I knew that gateway was trouble. We should have rebuilt it months ago with the rails on the inside.’

Back at the studio, the spin doctors were in overdrive, working on the follow-up programme due to go out straight after the service. They decided that Daniella had fallen in the gateway, delaying the party, while her parents comforted her. Daniel had raised a finger asking for one sister to come to their aid. While Daniel was picking up Daniella he tore his jacket on a rose thorn and had to go and change, missing the service.

Daniel paced around outside the church for half an hour waiting for Melissa to be off-camera. He kicked out at the lighting, the cables, anything in his way. His anger slowly changed to indifference, then to regret and finally embarrassment.

Melissa came out of the church and Daniel went straight to her.

‘Melissa, I’m so sorry; I never meant to talk to you like that.’

‘That’s OK; it’s my fault. I should have realised how much this was getting to you. I haven’t been listening to you properly.’

‘You’re being too kind. I don’t deserve it. You should let me know I was an arsehole.’

‘OK, you’re an arsehole! We’ve just had our first big row since we’ve been married and you chose to do it front of 400 million people.’

Her face took on the suggestion of a smile.

‘Much better, thank you.’

They laughed and hugged each other. Daniel was relieved at Melissa’s reaction. The two of them walked around the churchyard, ignoring their chauffeur-driven golf cart waiting to take them to the Grand Chamber. They considered cancelling their meeting with God and John, but this was the one real activity that Daniel could cling to.

They entered the Grand Chamber, taking their usual seats. Daniella was old enough to stay with the sisters now and the meetings were becoming more business-like again. As usual, John prepared to take the minutes and they looked to him to start the meeting.

‘I never know if I should record four attendees or five?’

Both Stelt and God the image were present. God the creature rarely spoke; when he did, it was usually in support of his image.

‘Oh, we’re one and the same, John, but as before you can enter us twice.’

God the image lent back in his chair, puffing out virtual cigar smoke across the table. After all this time, Daniel still marvelled at the quality of the 3D viewscreen image.

‘Before we start, John, can I ask that we change the agenda to cover just one subject? My and my family’s personal involvement with this soap opera of a life we lead.’

Daniel was still stressed from the church outing. John was unhappy to have his arrangements altered, but Melissa had already warned him that this was a big issue for Daniel.

God smiled. ‘I’ve just been watching your show today. You really lost it there for a moment, Daniel. I loved the close-up of the finger gesture!’

John explained the spin on today’s events. Early feedback had shown the public had bought the story; they’d got away with it this time.

Melissa defended Daniel’s actions, saying that none of them had been listening to his concerns. ‘What exactly is the problem?’ asked John.

‘I feel as if I’m drowning and my life has become worthless. I hate all this artificial pomp and ceremony, and I hate Daniella being brought up with all this going on around her.’

Melissa squeezed Daniel’s arm.

‘How can your life be worthless? You’ve saved the human race, you’ve risked everything and turned things around. In years to come, when this story can be told, you will be the most famous person on Earth. You’re my hero!’

Daniel was taken aback by such high praise from his wife, in front of the others as well. He drew her hand to his lips and kissed it.

‘You also risked everything. We all risked everything, but what has been the result? The Interviews are still running, the whole world is living a lie, and our solution will take several generations. And my life is just working as an actor!’

John protested. ‘The Interviews have been changed significantly. They don’t tell people what to do anymore; they give mild advice only. In a few years’ time, they can be phased out altogether.’

‘Maybe so, but everything else is going so slowly. I have no serious purpose anymore. I must change my life or I’ll go properly mad next time. What if we reduced the number of public events from now on and I dropped out completely?’

God lent forward. ‘I’ve run the predictions: if you dropped out now it would undo all the good work we’ve done since the people lost confidence in Melissa.’

They were all used to God’s prediction algorithm running so quickly that he didn’t even have to make a pause in the conversation.

‘How do you feel about doing the public events, Melissa?’

John guessed the reaction he would get from her.

‘I like doing the events, all of them. I don’t think we do too many. I don’t think it’s bad for Daniella either – she still has plenty of time for playing and learning – but I do understand that it’s a big problem for Daniel.’

‘OK, I guess it’s my problem. I forget that this is the kind of life you’re used to. It’s all so different for me and, to be honest, it’s so trivial. Can’t we do some of it virtually, like we do the Interviews?’

‘I could make a virtual version of your outings, but it’s difficult to mix between real and virtual worlds; the cracks would start to show. We could make everything virtual, that would work, maybe not quite as well as the real thing, but it would be OK. We should keep it real on the big ceremonies, but then the cameras would be further away,’ replied God.

John and Melissa made it clear that they were dead against making everything virtual.

‘What would I do with myself?’ added Melissa.

‘OK, but can my parts be reduced to the bare minimum, as near to zero as possible?’

God suggested that they spin a story where Daniel’s management skills were needed in the priesthood and that he would make a personal sacrifice by not attending most of the ceremonies. He could still be available at weekends, like going to church, and he would still do the larger ceremonies like Melissa Day. Daniel looked exasperated and was about to speak out when God explained that he could probably get away with attending church every other week. However, he must go next Sunday or that would look very odd after today’s events.

‘Why is the church ceremony so false? It would be much better if it were a real ceremony with real churchgoers and the cameras were set up further away.’

‘Daniel makes a good point,’ said God.

‘We’ve done it this way for several years now and the public seemed to like it. It might seem strange to go back to the old way now,’ John explained.

The discussions went on. Daniel eventually accepted that he would be a weekend husband and father, as far as the people were concerned.

‘What will you do with your time?’ asked Melissa.

Daniel smiled. ‘To be honest, I don’t know yet. I need a new hobby, I guess. First of all, I want to properly look into God’s mind, his programming, etc. I hope you don’t mind me referring to you in that way?’

God shook his head and Daniel continued.

‘I would also like to finish our meetings on a one-to-one basis. It’s not often one gets the chance to talk to an alien intelligence.’

‘Of course, my boy. I would be glad of the company.’

John was jealous of Daniel’s relationship with God. He thought of asking to be included, but he knew he wouldn’t be able to spare that amount of time. Now that he did Jacob’s job as well as his own, he rarely had time for other things.

They all agreed on the principles of the new arrangements. The exact details would follow once the scheduling team had been informed.

Daniel was satisfied with the outcome. It would at least leave most of the week for him to do his own thing and even some weekends. He was already getting excited at the prospect. Melissa had altered her schedule so that after the meeting they had an hour alone in their chambers. They talked through their new plans. It was clear they needed to change their personal arrangements as well. Melissa often had to rise very early and Daniel was a late-night person. This was already difficult, but now Daniel wouldn’t be going along with her each day it would be even more difficult. Melissa needed her sleep. They talked about setting up a second bedroom for Daniel, next to Melissa’s, so that he could leave her in peace when she had an early call. Then Daniel needed more of his equipment from his home and some from his office at Virosecure. Daniel proposed ever more radical changes to their apartments.

‘This is big change, a big upheaval. Why don’t we forget all these changes and you can move back to your big house in Naz during the week? You can come back here at weekends?’

Daniel was amazed at the suggestion; he hadn’t considered that possibility. Before he answered her he knew that he wanted to do it. He was missing his old life. This way, everything was already set up the way he wanted it at Down House and he could enjoy quiet time, thinking time, on his own.

‘Do you mean it? If you’re serious, that is a possibility.’

‘I think it could work; it would solve a lot of problems. I expect you would also like a bit of time to yourself.’

She knew him so well.

‘But what about us? I wouldn’t want us to drift apart and end up like those couples that have marriages just in name.’

‘No, it should be OK. Being apart will make it twice as good when we get back together. Anyway, it doesn’t have to be permanent. Let’s try it for a while and see how we get on.’

‘There’s one more thing I want to change: Daniella.’

‘You want to change her?’ Melissa joked.

‘Yeah, let’s get a boy this time. No, seriously, I want her to have some kind of normal life. I was thinking that I could take her out, say, one day a week. Maybe go to the zoo or on a picnic or whatever.’

‘What, without me?’ Melissa couldn’t hide her dislike of the idea.

‘No, no, I would love you to come as well. But I’d want things to be different from normal. I wouldn’t want to be discussing the next procession or her latest outfit. I just want us to have a bit of fun, have some Mum and Dad time with her. It would be great if you could come as well.’

‘Daniel, how can we go to the zoo together? I’d be recognised instantly. So would you, so would all three of us now!’

‘I’ve got a solution for that. I’ve had this wig made; it’s bright ginger. It makes me look completely different and it’s lightweight, not too hot to wear. I’ve tested it, walking around Naz, and no one paid any attention to me.’

‘Oh, we could all get one, then! We could be the Orang-utan family! Perhaps they’d let us go inside the cages and swing around with the other apes.’

Daniel gave her an old-fashioned look and got up to make himself a drink.

‘OK, I’m sorry, but I don’t like the idea of the two of you going off together one day a week. That’s what divorced couples do!’

‘No, it wouldn’t be like that. We would still do all the family things together at least at the weekends from now on. Look, perhaps going to the zoo together is a bit impractical, but I’m sure we could go on picnics together. We could find a secluded spot and have some security some way off in the distance.’

Melissa was still hurt, but she knew that she had to listen more to Daniel’s ideas. She really wanted their marriage to succeed. She also knew that Daniella needed to do some normal things now she was getting older; she couldn’t argue against that. Daniel took her hands in his.

‘Look, why don’t I plan an outing each week. You can choose which day. If you are able to come along, you do so. Other times I just take Daniella. How about that?’

‘I guess that’s OK. Can we make it a trial as well, to see how we all get on with it?

‘Yes, of course. That’s excellent. That’s all settled then. Phew, what a day. Melissa?’

‘Yes, Daniel.’

Daniel looked at her and raised an eyebrow.

‘We’ve still got half an hour together.’

He was expecting her to make an excuse about not messing up her hair, but she didn’t, not this time.

‘We’d better be quick; I’ll need a shower before I leave.’

The next day, Daniel was back in Down House, in the upmarket part of Naz. He sat in his orangery, looking out over his landscaped garden bathed in sunlight. Mist was rising from the roses after a brief rain shower. He loved his garden but didn’t like gardening, so he’d had everything automated. All the watering, mowing and trimming – everything that garden technology could provide. Gordon, his gardener, was showing his age and was glad of the artificial help. His main task these days was to make sure all the automated systems were working properly. Gordon knew to keep a low profile when Daniel was around.

Daniel made himself a large mug of peppermint tea and sat quietly, staring out of the window. Whenever he started doing anything, his thoughts turned to the fight he’d had with Melissa the previous day. He couldn’t stop thinking about it. He kept going over what he should have said and, more importantly, what he shouldn’t have said. He was relieved that it had turned out OK in the end, but the memory was still fresh and he couldn’t concentrate on anything else. He would be spending a lot more time here at his old home, but today he decided he would do nothing in particular, just potter around getting reacquainted with the old place. He sipped his tea as his eyes followed a falling leaf rocking back and forth before settling in a rose bed.

Daniel nearly spilt his tea when the house system announced: ‘Visitor at main door.’

‘Damn it!’ he muttered as he walked to the nearest viewscreen. Margaret, his cook, normally answered the door, but she was out. His rare visitors were usually delivery drivers, but they used the side door. He was surprised to see Waz at the door with Gilda in tow. More worryingly, he could see that Waz had a suitcase by her side. His finger hovered over the No one at home icon. He really didn’t want to talk to anyone right now, but felt he couldn’t ignore Waz, especially as Gilda was with her. He took a deep breath and forced himself to put on his sociable face as he opened the door.

‘Hello, Waz. What a surprise! How are you?’ He bent down and kissed her on the cheek and gave Gilda a pat. Gilda wagged her tail, but he could sense a change in her. She was Waz’s dog now.

Waz didn’t say hello, she just blurted out: ‘I left Harry, he went all weird, he said you taken over by priests, sucked out your brain, made you android and....’

‘Hey, slow down! Take your time, it’s OK.’

He put a hand on her shoulder. Waz looked down at the ground. Daniel thought she was going to cry. He asked her to come inside. Her denim clothes were wet from the rain and her shoes were splashed with mud. Daniel wondered if she’d been sleeping rough. She didn’t budge from the doorstep, but she looked up and spoke more slowly. She spoke with her usual strange inflection and weird accent, something like an old East European accent.

‘I left him, Daniel, it over, not ever go back.’

‘I thought you two were inseparable, made for each other. Perhaps you just need some time apart to think things over.’

What he meant was weirdly inseparable; as wacky as each other.

‘No, it over. Went strange after you married Melissa, was famous. When you on news he went bonkers, but that not worst.’

Waz looked up at Daniel as if she was about to tell him something truly dreadful.

‘He kicked Gilda! I out when did it, but could see she upset. He denied it but Gilda told me.’

She then looked matter of fact.

‘Then I smashed up bike.’

‘Ah, OK. I understand.’

There would be no way back from smashing up Harry’s bike. Daniel didn’t even bother to mention that dogs don’t speak to humans; he’d learnt that Waz lived on a different plane to everyone else, especially when it came to animals.

‘I bring Gilda back and something else want ask you.’

‘Go on, ask me anything. If I can help you I will.’

‘Can I stay here with Gilda? I look after, take for walks, not be any trouble. I do jobs; I good cook.’

Daniel hardly ever had people stay at his house and he certainly never had anyone move in. Even his previous girlfriends, before Melissa, had never moved in. He once bought a new house to share with a woman, but he didn’t let her stay at Down House. Melissa had stayed on occasion, but their main home was in their Nazcamp quarters.

‘No, I’m sorry, that’s not possible. Things are a bit difficult for me at present.’

Waz stared at him.

‘Difficult for you? Daniel, I homeless, jobless, Gilda only friend. Not keep her on street.’

He felt so guilty, immersed in his own minor problems when Waz was at rock bottom.

‘Waz, I can help you. Let’s not talk out here; come and sit down and let’s talk this through.’

Waz stood her ground, saying nothing. Daniel considered insisting that she came inside but thought better of it.

‘I can give you money, no problem. I can get you a room in a five-star hotel for as long as you like.’

‘Not want live in hotel! Gilda not live in hotel, not fair on her! She your dog, time she came home.’

‘Look, Waz, I’ll do anything I can to help you, but I’m not set up for visitors here. This is a one-person house.’

Waz stepped back and looked around at the size of the house.

‘It’s not the size, it’s... it’s...well, it’s lots of things. All my personal and confidential stuff is here.’

‘Not go anywhere you say not and do exactly what you say. Keep out of way when you home. Give me small room in corner, near Gilda. Just need place to stay for while, place where feel safe, where can be with Gilda. Please, Daniel!’

It was embarrassing hearing her beg him, but he had to be firm.

‘I’m sorry, Waz, but my answer is still no.’

He felt wretched, but the last thing he needed now was Waz living at Down House.

‘Hey, I could buy you a house nearby. Well, not that near. A smaller house fairly near and you and Gilda could live there together. How about that?’

Waz looked at the ground again for a while. When she lifted her head she had a steely look and stared directly into Daniel’s eyes.

‘You owe me, Daniel, you owe me your life. Harry would have turned you out that day and Greys find you and Melissa. You be dead now if I not help.’

He had forgotten Waz’s part in forcing Harry to let them use his escape set-up. Without another word, Daniel stepped aside. Waz and Gilda walked into Down House.

One good turn can cost you dearly later on.

J.W. Tidd, 2055

Later that week, Daniel had to go to an event-organising meeting with Melissa and John. This was just the kind of thing he was trying to get away from, but he had agreed to go and he would continue to push John to reduce his duties to the bare minimum. Daniel was pleased to see Melissa again and they had a few minutes to talk before John joined them.

‘You’re telling me that you were back in your old house for one day and you moved a woman in with you!’

Daniel laughed. ‘How can you say that? She isn’t another woman; she’s Waz.’

Melissa looked at him.

‘Of course she’s a woman. I guess she is. I hope I never find out for sure,’ he joked.

‘But you never have anyone to stay there. Remember you told me how privileged I was to stay overnight? What about your privacy; your security, even? Have you had her fully checked out?’

‘I argued with her on the doorstep for at least half an hour. I said no more times than I can remember. I offered her money, another place to stay with Gilda, but nothing would put her off. Finally, she reminded me how we both owed her our lives. You remember in Harry’s flat when she made Harry help us?’

Melissa relaxed a little and looked thoughtful.

‘Yes, I remember. We do owe her; we owe her a great deal.’

‘I think she just needs to steady herself and she doesn’t want to be separated from Gilda. I won’t let her stay long. I’ll sort somewhere out for her and the dog.’

‘So, have you had her checked with security? After all, you are the son-in-law of God?’ Melissa smiled.

‘I’m sure she’s not a security risk. I’ll have a good talk with her myself, tell her what she can and can’t do. I don’t want to make her stay at Down House official. She’s such a strange character, I’m not sure she’d pass any kind of Nazcorp security check.’

John arrived and they stopped talking about Waz.

The three discussed the details of their new arrangements with Daniel being absent from many of Melissa’s official duties. There were some grey areas, and John tried to get Daniel in front of the public as much as he could. John was concerned about the people’s view of the new holy family. Daniel pressed hard not only to be absent from anything that was debatable, but also to reduce his agreed engagements.

It was a hard discussion, but they both made compromises and agreement was reached. Daniel managed to keep his weekdays clear except for the council meetings with God. He wasn’t going to miss those, and they were only held once a month.

After the meeting, Daniel asked if John’s office had a security camera watching them. John confirmed that it hadn’t and that there were no microphones or recordings being made.

‘My office is swept daily for bugs and the like. We are quite secure here.’

‘So, you think that God can’t hear us?’

‘I don’t see how he could, but should it worry us if he did?’

Daniel explained that although the four of them had agreed to trust each other, he personally couldn’t be completely sure of God’s sincerity. God had such a huge intellect it was possible for him to be telling them what they wanted to hear, not what his true intentions were.

‘Daniel, not this again. I for one completely trust Father. Why shouldn’t we trust him? Everything he says adds up,’ said Melissa.

‘I know, but we three are humans. We can understand and trust each other. We also see God as a kind of human through his image. Perhaps he’s completely on the level, but I’m glad that the three of us have occasions like this when we can share any concerns we have about him.’

‘I don’t like it. Trust is trust. We shouldn’t keep anything from him. It makes me feel uncomfortable.’

‘Melissa, Daniel is right to be cautious. It certainly does no harm to be prepared. You’re not suggesting we deceive God in any way, are you Daniel?’

‘No, certainly not. I just wanted to make sure we are able to discuss him in private if we really need to one day.’

‘I’m happy with that, Daniel.’

John and Daniel looked at Melissa. She reluctantly shrugged and nodded her agreement.

‘We shouldn’t rely on encrypted messages anymore now we know God can read them. We should only discuss these things in person,’ said Daniel.

‘So if one of us wants to call a meeting of just the three of us, we should have a code word perhaps?’

‘Good idea, John. What word would sound normal? Something that wouldn’t raise God’s attention?’

‘How about logistics? That’s a word we don’t normally use. I use it a lot, actually, but I don’t think the three of us usually talk about logistics.’

‘That’s perfect,’ said Daniel.

Melissa wasn’t at all happy, but she went along with the idea.

The meeting had encroached on Daniel’s first day out with Daniella. However, it was still quite early so they had time to go out on a picnic. Melissa had managed to make time to go with them. Her mind was full of her official duties, but she kept quiet about them for now.

A small fleet of cars drove them and their perfectly prepared picnic to a quiet country area just outside of Naz. When they arrived, the attending priests checked the area and set up security at a discreet distance. It wasn’t the spontaneous outing that Daniel had been hoping for, but it was close enough. It was nearly lunchtime so they settled down to eat.

‘Mummy, when will I get my new dress, the red one? Will we go for a fitting soon?’

‘It won’t be long, dear, but let’s not talk about that now. Let’s enjoy our picnic.’

Daniel was amazed at how well Daniella was speaking at such an early age. He hoped that her parents’ genes would lead to a distinguished career for her, preferably in engineering or science.

‘Mummy, what do we do on a picnic?’

Before Melissa could answer, Daniel jumped to his feet, spilling his food. He grabbed Daniella and ran a few metres towards the river. He laid her down at the top of a grassy slope and started rolling her down the slope.

Melissa was appalled. ‘Daniel, be careful! She’s only tiny, and look what you’re doing to her clothes!’

Daniella stopped after a few roly-polies. She sat up and looked shocked and flustered. Then she looked at her dad and said, ‘Again!’

Daniel complied. This set the scene for their afternoon. The few precious hours they had together were soon over. They did look an unusual sight. Father and daughter were filthy and their shoes and socks were soaked from splashing in the river. Even Melissa had a few marks on her robe.

They got some raised eyebrows from the attending priests as they got back