The Underlying Hand

By Roger Koch

Are biblical and prevailing mythologies essential truths but interpreted by witnesses with incomplete comprehension - intentionally misled even? Deluded by whom? Who were the sons of God? Where was Eden and what really happened there? Was Noahs Flood a deliberate act, or an accident - or a little of both? The Underlying Hand weaves an elegant ta

• Language: English
• Publisher: BookTrail Publishing
• Release date: Mar 3, 2021
• ISBN: 9781637670590

Roger Koch

Born on the island of Ceylon (Sri Lanka), Roger Koch is one of the last of a race called the "Dutch Burghers of Ceylon" who cease to exist with the passing of his generation. Now Australian, he has been an itinerant traveler, having worked extensively in the Hotel and Tourism industry. He served on the Board of Sutera Harbour - a mega resort complex in Borneo and was also Special Advisor to the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Environment, Sabah, Malaysian Borneo. He is presently living in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.His ambiguous appearance and adaptable personality has afforded him acceptance as a local in most of the countries he has visited, giving him a unique perspective on the effects of culture, heritage and race and the biases and prejudices associated.

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Copyright © 2021 Roger Koch.

Paperback: 978-1-63767-060-6

eBook: 978-1-63767-059-0

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.

This is a work of fiction

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Contents

Prologue

PART ONE

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

PART TWO

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Twenty

Chapter Twenty-One

PART THREE

Chapter Twenty-Two

Chapter Twenty-Three

Chapter Twenty-Four

Chapter Twenty-Five

Chapter Twenty-Six

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Chapter Twenty-Eight

BOOK TWO

Sceptical scrutiny is the means, in both science and religion, by which deep thoughts can be winnowed from deep nonsense

—Carl Sagan, writer

You are what your deep driving desire is. As your desire is, so is your will. As is your will, so is your deed. As is your deed, so is your destiny

—Brihadaranyaka Upanishads

Ideas emanate from the void, turning into superstitions and grow into religions. Recognised as truths, they regress into superstitions, before returning once more to the void

—Unknown

THE NIBIRU SUPREME COUNCIL

JOVA – King

ORIGINAL MARDUK APPOINTEES

NIBIRU APPOINTEES

How often have I said to you that when you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth

—Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

Prologue

‘I understand you were an astronomer before gaining kingship. But was it mere coincidence that led you to discover that space projectile?’ The young mystic psychologist Shtar, asked King Jova.

‘Coincidence, luck, I don’t care! I shifted the Nibiru Space Station’s telescopes to its opposite side, and while panning I spotted the unmapped object aimed directly at our planet. Its extreme red shift meant it was approaching at immense velocity.’ Jova elaborated to the young female while peering over her head at his wife Hera - ‘assigned’ by mother and stepfather as an ideally bland potential queen to aid his selection as Marduk’s King. Their adult son was as old and at least as eminent as this Shtar.

Hers was the same inane type of question he had been besieged with since that discovery six months ago – normally fobbing off or ignoring. But there was something in the cool, almost defiant demeanour of this recent graduate, who he had spotted before even her inclusion amongst the refugees. Hence, this special invitation to join him at the spacious pilot’s control deck.

Also included for selection amongst the escapees was his pubescent step-sister Irania, already revealing the bewitching beauty she would carry into adulthood. She threw furtive glances at his interaction with this slender, grey-eyed interlocutor – and to Jova’s mild surprise, some seeming jealousy!

Hah! Power can be such an aphrodisiac! The ruggedly handsome middle- aged king thought inwardly.

‘That’s more planetoid than asteroid! Gabri-El, arch guardian and Captain of the Nibiru exclaimed in awe, interrupting Jova’s fantasies as the meteoroid now took shape on the cockpit screens.

‘Over five hundred miles in diameter, fifty times larger than our Nibiru.’ Fellow arch-guardian and military head, General Micha-El stated habitually flat-voiced and dour-faced.

‘It does appear so much larger up close than I imagined.’ Jova declared,

‘At present velocity it could strike us in moments, and Marduk soon afterwards, Sire,’ the Captain warned.

‘Indeed, Captain Gabriel, it’s time!’ It was common to elide the ‘El’ epithet into those arch-guardians’ names.

With that, what was once a stationary terminal for space docking - hastily fitted out with mobility as well as increased residential spaces - began its rapid acceleration to take the ten thousand elect refugees out of range of the impending explosion that would likely annihilate their planet, Marduk.

The contingent consisted of mainly young adult fertile females with heterosexual inclination, as well as a smaller ratio of male technicians and military guardians. Also included was a stockpile of gold for conversion to its monatomic form as their energy source; copious supplies of the life extending and umami tasting supplement, manna; and a group of botanists turned farmers – male and female - to tend the extensive hydroponic garden under the polymer bubble on the craft’s surface.

While the ‘ship’ was yet to reach its terminal velocity of near light speed, the occupants – hapless or blessed depending on individual perspectives – had a ghastly view of the obliteration of their erstwhile home, leaving them marooned on a journey that led to none knew quite where.

The former astronomer-cum-king Jova had pointed them at a distant insignificant star in the outer arm of the galaxy, on a lengthy voyage that he convinced everyone to believe would end in the discovery of a life supporting planet.

They had no choice but to put their faith in their monarch and saviour’s hopeful guess. As their Nibiru exited their solar system, remnants of their former second of four planets now appeared as just a halo around its sun. Thankfully, that distance saved the mainly young passengers from some of the horror at such annihilation.

Yet, lurking in that interstellar space was a destructive force as the ill-prepared craft sped through undetected exposure zones – cosmic gamma radiation that picked off individuals at random. Those it did not kill were rendered sterile- almost all the fecund females and most males - threatening the very purpose of their salvation and hopes of a new Marduk.

PART ONE

Earth—circa 65,000 A.D. (Ante Diluvium) – 74,000 B.C.E

Chapter One

Emptiness – constricting outside, exuding within.

Young Nineveh’s anxiety was absorbed from her father’s pacing up and down the royal chambers aboard the Nibiru. Her parents were either unaware or unconcerned at young Nin’s proximity, observing their interaction.

‘We escaped Marduk’s destruction only to face this monotony, already losing so many to an unseen enemy. And if not dead, I’ll be quite old by the time we get anywhere!’ Jova expressed very uncharacteristic insecurity to his wife – but as usual, he might as well have been just thinking aloud.

While outside, space slid past at 160,000 miles per second, Nin felt immobile in every sense. A rare child born en voyage, and educated by her reclusive mother, she had no frame of reference. Yet she knew there was something missing

I don’t know what it is but I just feel it – ever since when – and I will find out what it is!

‘Well, it’s better than annihilation,’ Shtar, King Jova’s second wife, now Queen and Nin’s mother, responded offhand, oblivious to the empathy he seemed to be seeking, ‘Your son Ea managed to retard the cancers and I hear he’s working on another cure.’ She offered, before returning to her ancient parchments, which apparently contained Marduk esoteric knowledge – whatever that was.

Recognising any rapport as unlikely, Jova mumbled, ‘Cellular destruction can’t by cured medicine,’ and he continued rambling, ‘Nibiru was built for orbit as a station, not a vehicle. While we reinforce our protective ionic shields, at our near light speed, even space dust could wipe out our crops. Luckily, my time on the bridge shields me from radiation, and the two of you are safe in here.’ He added, running a hand over the gold walls reinforcing the royal quarters.

Nin wondered whether her mother was aware his ‘time on the bridge’ was spent mainly with Aunt Irania. Did she even care?

Shtar seemed to come alive - with the nearest Nin had heard of an exclamation, ‘Oh, we must protect the manna synthesising facility! Otherwise how will we survive?’ But that was about as much drama she would get from mother.

In the absence of other children, Nin had no frame of reference for familial relationships, but theirs seemed nothing like she had read or viewed in the ship’s chronicles. Shtar, particularly seemed vague and distant and once, seeking a clue, Nin asked what her grandparents were like,

‘Oh, the same as everyone else’s I suppose,’ was all she could get out of Shtar.

Jova was already rather old in Nin’s eyes, the folds around his jowls were sagging, as were the lids around his metallic blue eyes. His gait was beginning to stoop, making him appear shorter than his otherwise average seven and a quarter feet. Her mother, second Queen Shtar was still in the bloom of adulthood, but that cool aloofness accentuated by soft light grey eyes and chiselled cheekbones gave her an air of maturity and jaded wisdom. Yet it wasn’t just their physical differences. It was as if they were of different species.

Father continued fretting, ‘Manna synthesis still requires some seed harvest from the amaranth bush. ‘Our Chief Agriculturist, Nazarel is reinforcing the polarized surface bubble, which should protect the fresh crops. But it won’t prevent the ongoing fatalities, embryo mutations or our females’ sterility. Our mission and even our survival may hinge on the work of Ea’s geneticists.’

‘What will be will be.’ Shtar replied, causing father and daughter to roll their eyes at each other.

‘Your genius Ea will come up with something. I’m sure we were not spared just to undergo a slower demise.’ She added, seemingly confident.

Nin loved her brilliant stepbrother Ea. And if Shtar felt any jealousy towards Jova’s son from first wife, Hera, she gave no indication of it.

Jova, however, was used to that detachment, ‘Hmm, you have great belief in Ea, and apparently fate. Understandable perhaps, both of you are eccentrics,’ He turned aside to mumble, perhaps to avoid drawing attention to the growing distance with his son - especially since casting aside Ea’s mother. ‘But yes, his fat assistant informs he seems to be getting close.’

Any intended response from Shtar was cut short by a noise Nin had previously never heard. Indeed, any noise aboard the craft was rare. The moaning hum of the Nibiru was as unremarkable as the starkness of its ubiquitous fluorescent Vril lighting.

‘The alarm! The bubble has been pierced!’ Jova shouted as he ran out of the room, spotting his daughter on the way out. ‘Nin, stay down here with your mother and don’t come out till I return.’ He cast a hasty and angry look at her partial attire.

Nin wore her only outfit unbuttoned, even exposing a childish breast, hoping her defiance against shipboard discipline would attract her parents’ attention. But hardly perturbed by the alarm, Shtar didn’t appear to care at her undress, and returned to her reading. In the Nibiru’s controlled temperate atmosphere, there was no danger to health, and thus Nin realised her rebellion was insignificant.

‘I don’t know where to start.’ Uri-El, the king’s ancient Sage spoke unusually rapidly, informing the royal couple as a witness to the events that had triggered the emergency. Standing in the foyer, as if too agitated to sit on the gilded sofa of the royal reception room, he blurted his account,

‘I was on the surface doing some final stellar observations before the horticulturists installed the dome. Even in his protective suit, I recognised our Chief Agriculturist Nazar-El’s short and stocky frame, guiding the last panel into place.’

Nin had never seen Uriel so visibly disturbed, even using Nazarel’s formal name. She studied the old sage as he continued,

‘I turned to observe a mother with her infant, exchanging waves with a fellow horticulturist— apparently her husband - who was assisting to install the glass-alloy lattice. The baby was intact and healthy, so rare nowadays. But I was still worried about the effect of possible cosmic ray damage to it even if the safety shields protected us all from the exterior vacuum …’

Uriel was the most elderly member of the entire Nibiru contingent, included due to his immense academic status and esoteric knowledge, having also been Sage to the previous Marduk King. His strikingly limpid ice-blue eyes below thick bushy brows betrayed his powerful and incisive intellect, but generally he appeared a kindly and benign soul. Nin liked him.

‘…Naturally, I heard nothing from the soundless exterior but read the mother’s expression metamorphosing from contentment to abject fear.’ Uriel went on, ‘I turned around to witness the cause of her panic. An undetected tiny meteor had shattered through one of the panels and into the crane, killing its operator and scattering fragments. A shard had also pierced Nazarel’s hood and threw him to the spongy ground, still clutching that crucial-locking piece that would combine all the others.

‘The connecting panels began losing support, swaying precariously, injuring some and exposing others to unprotected radiation. And a hole began tearing open, sucking out seven of our natural farmers – lost to space!

‘I was rooted to my position, unsure how to assist, knowing that the chain reaction of collapsing panels would not only wipe out all our food-production facility, but also eventually destroy the navigation bridge that stood next in the path of collapse.

‘Just then, I spotted a quick-thinking and incredibly agile young botanist, weaving and dodging the superstructure collapsing around him and dashing to relieve the stricken crane operator. Meanwhile, the workers who had gathered around the injured Nazarel prised the locking panel from his grasp. Three of them, including the mother and her husband, rushed the piece to the crane, which our heroic botanist had by now regained control.

‘As you can see, I’m not as limber as I once was. And while procrastinating as to how I could be of help, the young mother left her child on the floor, rushing past me towards her husband.

‘I could only read her lips as she ran into the exposure… ‘‘Watch over my Shalimar",’

‘Automatically, I went over to pick up the infant while witnessing the unfolding accident. Those brave young farmers thought nothing of exposing themselves to aid Nazarel or the valiant new crane operator who was already deftly shifting the controls within the crane’s protected cockpit.’

Uriel slowed to finish his recount, eyes downcast, ‘and, holding her babe in my arms, this old astronomer was dismayed to see the nursing mother and her husband amongst them, regretful and ashamed at my helplessness.’

From the conversation that followed, Nin learnt that seventeen herbalists, including the new parents, succumbed to injuries and radiation. Mere hours afterwards, they exhibited extreme tumours resulting in excruciating pain and agonised death.

She recalled Uriel then describing how he had taken the baby to her parents’ ward for a final farewell at the ineffective Healing Institute, to alleviate their further anguish.

‘I assured them as best I could that their daughter’s welfare was at least safeguarded. But they insisted their daughter be entrusted only to me, so after their rapid demise, I carried the child to my quarters.

The androgynous old sage concluded dejectedly, ‘I’m not equipped for parenthood, yet If she can bear with this old bachelor, I will carry out her mother’s last request as best I can.’

‘How awful for the poor child!’ Shtar cried. Never known for tact, she didn’t consider the implied insult to Uriel. ‘But luckily our Chief Agriculturist is alive. How did Nazarel survive?’

Unperturbed, Uriel replied, ‘Luckily for him, his suit remained intact and the shard that gouged his right eye, simultaneously served to seal his hood.

Jova continued the conversation pragmatically. ‘And luckily for all, that astute young botanist Aigar repaired the protective covering. Otherwise, all our food supply, and much more of the ship, would have been damaged.’

‘Yes, but despite all our reassurance, Aigar is disturbed that he was unable to save Shalimar’s parents in time, particularly as they were friends and a rare example of fertility, Uriel added. ‘Apparently as a result of that unearned belief in his inadequacy, and feeling unsuited to farming, he has asked to join the guardians.’

‘Hmm, a natural with such wit and agility, he’ll make a great guardian officer?’ The king commented.

‘He’s brilliant despite his self-doubt, but he has a strange speech anomaly and he’s given to humour, a trait that does not sit well in the guardian brigades as you can imagine.’ Uriel explained, adding out of Shtar’s earshot, ‘Aigar’s a natural.’ sharing a seemingly knowing glance with the king, which intrigued young Nin.

‘Recruitment to guardian training is a good reward, and I’m glad it was his choice,’ Shtar added, seemingly oblivious also to the glances.

Jova moved on, ‘Well, we are still only about half way to our destination, so it is imperative that we find a way to prevent more deaths and if not too late, save the few fertile.’ He said, before making excuse to ‘spend time on the bridge’ as he escorted the now calmer but still-shaken Uriel out of the royal suite.

Nin decided to visit her older stepbrother Ea at the Healing Institute and question his inability to heal the afflicted botanists.

Striding down the shielded corridors, Nin was oblivious to her surroundings - the toneless background hum, monochrome light and faint clinically sweet scent that pervaded the Nibiru from antibacterial diffusers. The hastily cobbled space station was built for function with no thought of aesthetics—sparse and featureless. But as she entered the Healing Institute the aroma accentuated, a faintly pleasant floral scent.

Ea’s lab assistant, the rotund and ever cheery Galael or ‘Fubsy’ to her, gave a wink and their secret shared semi-circular hand wave as she passed his workstation. He was the youngest amongst those otherwise crotchety geneticists.

‘Nin! Ea exclaimed as he caught sight of her, ‘your arrival is more than coincidence little sister!’ He gushed as he swung her around like a gyroscope. He was unusually exuberant and Nin responded in pent-up glee, lapping up his attention.

‘You know, I believe I have found something very important!’ He enthused, loud enough to raise the heads of those sourpusses.

Nin briefly shared his excitement. But recollecting the recent accident, she sobered.

‘I wish you could have cured those infected in the accident.’

‘Yes sweetie, I too wish I could have achieved something so useful. Anyway, what I have found can’t cure the already afflicted. But it might prevent those like you from getting damaged!’ Again, he raised his voice as if aiming for all to hear, ‘Now, we just need to devise the equipment to deliver it effectively.’

At those intriguing comments, the technicians began to gather around his table. As they examined his results, even the dullest among them became flushed and animated. Nin thrilled at the apparent esteem they all felt towards her brother, even if a little unclear at the cause.

All in all, the journey felt like imposed hibernation, overlaid only with the anxiety of random afflictions. The news of a possible cure had thus animated the feckless passengers, stirring hope and enthusiasm – even joy – hitherto devoid from the ultra-conservative Marduk refugees.

‘A momentous discovery! If proven, Ea deserves every accolade.’ Jova shared with his young stepsister Irania during their following tryst in her cabin nearby the royal quarters. Yet his tone was flat, almost resentful.

‘And our course is set so there’s really not much call for my leadership in this floating prison,’ he expressed in poorly disguised indifference.

Irania was quick to catch the root of his insecurity. ‘But it was your discovery of the asteroid, and your setting this course, that enables us to celebrate his cure! Your unyielding leadership will be invaluable in any new world. His idea is but a flash.’ She placated with a look of fond esteem she knew he craved.

Even with the effects of deprivation in the ship’s artificial environment, she maintained much of her allure and proportional physique, which had yet to take advantage of any artificial enhancement, even make-up. ‘But we must ensure they don’t forget it and understand your position is sacrosanct.’ She added, emphasising her affiliation.

‘It’s immensely more than a ‘flash’, darling. But thank you for your encouragement.’ His term of endearment was a first – loaded with meaning and his voice implied some sort of decision.

‘In any case, let’s go find out – together!’ he said, signalling she should take his arm.

It seemed all the senior technicians and arch guardians were invited to the small hall dedicated to the Nibiru Council.

Ea’s science was a little beyond young Nin, as indeed most of the attendees, but all came to attention when he finally described it in common terms,

‘…essentially the ultra-low frequency violet rays, harmonically attune and thus cancel out mutating opposite frequency gamma radiation, countering all cell deterioration. Naturally, that means…’

‘Surely you can’t mean all deterioration!’ An objection came from the greater Healing Institute group.

‘…As I was about to say, the cell nucleus, membrane and mitochondria, including the DNA and telomeres - all seem to synchronise in harmony to repel any attack…’ Ea went again into detailed geneticist jargon until the same protester called out again,

‘What you’re implying is impossible!’

The challenger’s shout began a buzz around the hall. Nin, not quite comprehending, assumed it was due to the rudeness of the interruption, and she looked to her father to intervene.

Jova, appearing a little dumbfounded, raised his hand to silence the hubbub, allowing Ea to continue,

‘Indeed, if we take it to its ultimate conclusion - immortality! Since we began testing a desk top device on our tiny short-lived lab animals, none have even noticeably aged – over forty times their life expectancy so far!’ Ea finished to the erupting jubilation.

Chapter Two

Jova had fast tired of Shtar’s indifference, or perhaps as Nin much later surmised, it was the promise of an eternity of unimpassioned boredom.

By comparison, the fiery amethyst-eyed Irania, whose seductive beauty even other females grudgingly acknowledged, could turn the heads, and thoughts, of any male. And once she had Jova’s head turned, she made it a point to keep it forever in her direction, arousing his libido along with his ego. It wasn’t therefore difficult to thrust a cleavage into the weak and faltering relationship.

It seemed as if Irania assumed the role of queen from birth, and she was fully aware what their mutually hatched amendment to the Law of Inheritance could mean to her specific ambitions. She thus set mind and body to achieving those goals and was soon pregnant with their son, Enlil.

Jova thus diverted, had married her immediately thereafter, and the parting with Shtar occurred with minimal overt fuss.

‘I am sure with our attention and grooming, our Enlil will make a fine heir - so much more than Ea, that dissident son of the old crone, Hera,’ Irania declared to Jova in the final stages of her pregnancy. ‘And your recent amendment to the Inheritance Law almost ensures it, setting aside any claims also from your Nin.’

Jova was taken aback by her naked and tactless ambition. ‘Yes, but remember, both Hera and to some degree, Shtar remain my official wives. There is no precedent to such multiple marriages, and my recent addendum to that Law depends on the Council’s acceptance. And dissident Ea may be, but also brilliant!’

‘Even if they didn’t appreciate your achievements, there’s none aboard who would dare challenge your authority. And when he grows up, our Enlil will ensure it!’ She shot back.

Finally, someone who understands the subtleties and machinations of power! The more he thought about it, the more he felt at ease with the marriage to his half-sister. She truly was a natural.

Whether that slight to her femininity had any effect on Shtar, neither Nin nor anyone else could tell, but the now former Queen never again bothered seriously with any other male - for companionship or pleasure. To Nin, moving out of the main royal quarters was bad, and she resented the lack of access to her father, but there was little other distress.

Growing rapidly through her parent’s separation, and perhaps as diversion, Nin became absorbed in the ship’s library of chronicles incorporated in its memory - holographic and narrated visuals.

And imitating Shtar’s affinity with maintaining Marduk heritage, she preferred the ancient art of reading. Those written words and the images they invoked, appeared more real than the sterile documentary and monotone audio-visuals. Inferring from some old stories she read, she wondered at the absence of any real heartache from her parents’ separation,

Has that something to do with what’s missing? Probably just inherited detachment from mother. She dismissed inwardly.

‘Marduk’s technology seemed to have grown exponentially in just the past few generations. What a great heritage!’ She had marvelled to her mother once, knowing Shtar was much easier to engage in such impersonal matters.

‘Yes, but at what cost to spirituality?’ Came the enigmatic reply.

Nin paused, disillusioned. Shtar was nothing if not aloof. Nevertheless, she was a stickler for truth rather than dispensing insincere platitudes.

Nearing adulthood and fully engaged in the technical and factual chronicles, Nin turned her attention to more complex issues and requested to visit the cockpit, which her father even encouraged.

The roughly circular space station had a nearly ten-mile diameter, which younger Nin had gained considerable exercise exploring. But she had never been to the captain’s bridge and was thus awed by the novel experience.

‘How long is this journey going to take, Captain Gabri-El?’ Nin addressed the Nibiru captain formally.

‘In time or distance?’ Gabriel asked. ‘It’s a good question, really. At nearly nine-tenths of light speed, we have time dilation effects that make our position in relation to Marduk time or even our target star’s time a very complex mathematical correlation. As for distance, that’s of course related to time.’

Nin appreciated the captain’s genuine attempt to answer but there was an air of condescension. ‘I would like to know how time was calculated on Marduk, and how you correlate it but perhaps later. Is there a simple answer?’ She queried.

‘Well, if we take the intended length of our journey, you were born about one-tenth of the way after we left. As mentioned, time becomes aberrant at these speeds and in our galactic position, but I estimate you have lived approximately thirty-eight Marduk years—a pre-adult.’ He turned to observe her to verify his last comment, ‘we are less than another tenth of that to the target solar system. We should reach there by the time you’re adult.’

Nin also learnt from the Captain that the Nibiru generated the enormous energy Ea’s fount required. The ship’s whole energy need was achieved by transmuting monatomic white powder gold into Vril energy, which Marduk scientists had not so long ago discovered in the highly electromagnetic purity of that metal.

‘What does our target planet look like?’ She went on to probe.

‘Well, I’m not sure – although we finally determined its existence, it is still a speck.’

‘Haven’t you tried the long-range chromatic telescope that I read was newly installed in the Nibiru space station?’

Gabriel turned to her with a blank stare that morphed in successive