Iwascompletelywrong,althoughMrsMarkhamandthe

Janus
flatinSmithStreetfilledthepartallright.Therewasonly

AfterTerencewaskilledin1948hisWidowmarriedAir oneotheroccupantinthesecondfloordrawingroomandI

ChiefMarshalSirArthurBarrattwhohadretiredfromthe wasintroducedtoMr]anus.Itwasdifficulttodescribehim

RAFattheendofthewar.Icametoknowhimextremely withanyaccuracy;theroomwaspoorlylitbytwostandard

wellandweoftenmetinLondonduringthetimethatIwas lampsandformostofthetimehesatinadeepchairbythe

servingasanEquerry,particularlysincehewasGentleman sideofanotverygenerousfire.InfactIneverreallygotany

UshertotheSwordofState.Hehadexpressedconsiderable physicalimpressionofhim.AftertheintroductionsIwas

interestinmyUFOstudyandintroducedmetoanold guidedtoatwinchairontheothersideofthefireandMrs

friend,GeneralMartin,whotoldmethathebelievedflying 181
Markhamsankdownonasofabetweenuswithoutoffering
saucerswereextraterrestrialvehiclesfromahighlydevel
eithersherryorbiscuits.
opedplanetwhoseinhabitantsweretryingtowarnusofthe
Withoutanypreliminaries,Mr]anusdivedstraightinto
perilsofnuclearwar.
thedeependbyaskingmetotellhimallIknewabout
ThiswasheadystuffbutIknewthattherearealwaysa
UFOs.Helistenedpatiently,onlynoddinghisheadfrom
numberofseniorretiredofficerswhoareattractedtoall
timetotime.AttheendIthoughtImightbeasequallydirect
sortsoffringecults,mostlikelyoutofboredom;spiritualism
andaskedJanuswhathisinterestwas.Heansweredmequite
wasapopularoneandLordDowdingthekeenestadherent
simply,IwouldliketomeettheDukeofEdinburgh
fromtheRAF,butflyingsaucerswerebeginningtocollect

theirrecruits. Itwassuchadirectrequestthatitmomentarilythrewme

IfeltthatbothArthurBarrattandGeneralMartin offbalance;althoughinthecourseofmydutiesImetmany

belongedtothiscategorybutIwasnotmyselflookingfora peoplewhowantedtomeetPrincePhilipforagreatvariety

newfad.Nevertheless,IwasquitepreparedtodiscussUFOs ofreasons,oftenforpersonalgainorpublicity,theywere

withthemandanyoftheirfriendswhowereinterested. neverquitesodirectasthis.AftersomehesitationIreplied

OnedayGeneralMartinrangmeatmyofficeandarranged thathemustappreciatethatthiswasnoteasy,sincePrince

formetomeetaMrsMarkhamonenightatherChelsea Philipsprogrammeofvisitsandvisitorswasalwaysveryfull

flat;IagreedanddroveoutofthePalacegatesonadamp andhadtobescrutinizedclosely.Iwasabouttoadd

andmistywinterseveningwonderingwhatsortofoccasion particularlyforsecurityreasonsbutthoughtbetterofitin

Iwasinfor:theintensechatter,inevitablesherryand casethissoundedinsensitive.Butitwasherethestrangeness

biscuits,thegushinggoodbyesandpromisesoffurther ofitallstartedthemansextraordinaryabilitytoreadmy

meetings.Itwasonlytooeasytogetsuckedintothissortof
thoughts.IaskedhimwhyhewantedtomeetPrincePhilip
society.
andhereplied,PrincePhilipisamanofgreatvision,a
personofworldrenownandaleaderintherealmofwildlife demonstratesthatManhasconstantlyreachedforgoals

andtheenvironment.Heisamanwhobelievesstronglyin beyondhisimmediategrasp.Firstofalltravelwasbetween

theproperrelationshipbetweenmanandnaturewhichwill groupsandtribes,thenbetweenvillages,regions,countries

proveofgreatimportanceinfuturegalacticharmony.He andfinallybetweencontinents.Manhasnointentionof

continued,NaturallyIunderstanditwouldbedangerousto stoppinghere,soheisnowstrivingtobreakhisearthly

letcrankslooseonhim,andperhapsyouandIcandiscuss bondsandtraveltothemoonandtheplanetsbeyond.But

thesubjectfirstandyouwillbeabletojudgewhetherIam flighttothestarsisMansultimatedream,althoughknowl

dangerousornot.Wherewouldyouliketostart? edgeofthevastdistancesinvolvedininterstellarflightmake

Asanairman,oneofthedifficultiesIhavewiththeidea itappearonlyadream.Yetperhapsafterahundredyearsor

thatUFOsflyherefromanotherplanetisthevastdistances so,amererippleinthetideoftime,explorationofhisown

involved,Isaid. SolarsystemmaybecompleteanditisjustnotinMan's

Thatsagoodstart,repliedJanus.Thedistancesinvolved naturetostopthereanymorethanhewassatisfiedtoremain

arebeyondconceptiontoyou,butcastyourmindbackto inhisowncave,forhewillneveracceptconfinementwithin

theastronomerpeeringatthemoonthroughhisrudimentary anyboundaries.justastribesfoundothertribesandChris

telescopethreehundredyearsago.Thinkingintermsofthe topherColumbusdiscoveredonhistravelsunknowncentres

I82 ofancientcivilizations,soManinhisjourneysthroughthe

onlytransportheknewfeet,horses,carriagesandships universemayfindinnumerablecentresofculturefarmore

traveltothemoonwasinconceivable.Itwasonlytomenof ancientthanhisown.

greatintellectandvision,suchasLeonardodaVinci,Jules Januspausedforamoment,shiftedinhischairandthen

VerneandyourownH.G.Wells,whohadtheimagination Wenton,Irealizethatthedistancesoutsidethesolarsystem

toprojecttheirthoughtsaheadtothedistantfuture,thatthe Seemimpossibletocomprehendinthepresentstateofscience

impossiblebegantoseempossible.Soifweprojectour andtechnology,andthattravellingatspeedswenowunder

presentknowledgeaheadwetoomaygetaglimpseofthe 183

future,although,justastheywereconsideredcranksintheir standitwouldtakefarlongerthanthenormallifespanto

time,wemaysufferthesamefatetoo.Ourbrainshaveonly reachthenearestplanetoutsidethesolarsystem,nevermind

developedtoafractionoftheircapacitybutalreadywehave return.However,applythesameprojectionwehavedoneto

seenthepotentialwhenEinsteinreducedthefundamental distancestwentyfivemilesperhourrunning,fortyfive

processonwhichnatureandtheuniverseisboundtogether milesperhouronahorse,onehundredmilesperhourina

tothemostfrighteninglysimpleequation.Letuscontinue car,twohundredmilesperhourinanaeroplaneandonto

withthissubjectofdistances]Januswenton.History thespeedofsoundwhichmanythoughtunbreakableyetwas
sweptasidejustasthesocalledheatbarrierinrocketswill tolerableifyouconsiderthat,bytravellingatclosetothe

betoo,andmancarryingvehiclesofthefuturewillaccelerate speedoflight,aspacecraftcouldgotothenearestplanet

tospeedsoftwentythousandmilesperhourandmore.But outsidethissolarsystemandreturntoEarthinthreeyears.

eventhisisnotfastenoughforgalactictravel. Itwouldtakeavoyagersixtyyearstotraveltothecentre

JanuscontinuedwithoutinterruptionasIsatquietly ofourgalaxyandreturn,travellingatthespeedoflight,

listeningtowhatthisstrangemanwassaying.Toour whichisnearlyalifespan.However,equallyimportant

knowledgethespeedoflightisthefinitespeed;thereisno advancesmustcomeinanatomicalscience;thereplacement

physicalbarriertoachievingthatspeedgiventhetechnical ofthosepartsinourbodymostsusceptibletodecayand

meanstoacceleratetoit.Einsteinstheorysoughttoprove failure,suchastheheart,liverandkidneys.Itispossiblethat

thatanincreaseinmasswithvelocitystretchedordilated withnewdiscoveriesinmedicine,biochemistryand'deep

timeaccordingtothesamemathematicalformula.This freezing,itmightbepossibletoprolonglifeindefinitely;in

discrepancyisnegligibleatlowspeeds,butbecomesfiniteat whichcaseajourneyofsixtyyearsisofnosignificance.

thespeedoflight,sotoabeamoflightinspacetimestands YouarethinkingthatIamnowgettingintotherealmsof

still.IamsureyouarebeginningtoseewhattheTheoryof sciencefiction.Againthisstrangemanwasreadingmy

Relativitymeanstoaspacetravellerandthattheimpossible thoughtscorrectlyandhewenton,Butpleaseusemyrule

beginstolooklessimpossibleafterall. ofprojections.Youcannodoubtrememberwhatitwaslike

Travellingatnormalweightandacceleratingtothespeed totravelonlytwentyyearsago;mostpeoplecrossedthe

oflightitwouldtakeaVoyagerthirtyyearstoreachthe Atlanticinashipandtodosoinanaeroplanewasan

centreoftheMilkyWaygalaxy,onethousandlightyears adventure.Comparethesituationtodayandmultiplyallthe

away,andthirtyyearstoreturnbutinthosesixtyyears,two advancesinscience,technologyandknowledgesincethenby

millionEarthyearswouldhavepassed.Thelawofrelativity onlyafactoroffiveandIamsureyoutoowouldbeaccused

wouldallowmantoexplorehisgalaxybytradingenergyfor ofenteringtherealmsofsciencefiction.Itwouldbelike

timebutitwouldbeanunhappyjourneyifheknewthat pluckinganaborigineoutofaNewGuineaforestandputting

thousandsormillionsofyearswouldhavepassedbythetime himdowninNewYorkorLondon.Youwouldnothavethe

hereachedhome.Butif,asthetheoryofrelativitypostulates, languageorcommonwordstoexplaintohimhowamotor

timeslowsdown,thenitispossiblethatareturnona caroretaircraftworks,yet,inhisownenvironment,hewas,

differenttangentcouldspeeditupsothatourtravellerwould nodoubt,convincedthatuptothatpointhisowntribaltools

comebacktoaworldonlysixtyyearsolderwheretimehad werethemostadvancedandhisculturethemostdeveloped.

flowedandebbedinbetween.Suchajourneybeginstobe Sohowcanonedescribethemeansofacceleratingtothe

I84 speedoflightorinterferingwiththeconceptoftime?Indeed,
ifwegoforwardamillionyears,thepossibilitiesdefyeven haveneverbeensolelydirectedtowardsmaterialbenefits

ourimagination:asyetundiscoveredsourcesofpower, alone.FromthebeginningofManshistoryhehasstriven,

differenttimetracks,speedsevenfasterthanthespeedof sometimeshesitatingly,towardsaspiritualityandgraceof

light.Couldmanhaveevengainedmasteryoverdeathitself? whichhewasawarebutcouldnottotallycomprehend.This

Ourthoughtsandprojectionshavesofarrevolvedaround drivetoreachoutbeyondhimselfhasbeenthemotivepower

assumptionswhichhaveareasonablescientificbasis.Idonot behindsomeofMansfinestachievements.Thegreatbuilders

185 ofthePyramidsandcathedrals,thegreatartistsand

imagineyouwilldisagreethatprovidedManovercomeshis musicians,thegreatphilosophicalschools,thegreattravellers

selfdestructiveexcesses,hecouldhavethemeansoftravel andexplorers,wereallinspiredbythisvisionofspirituality

lingthroughouttheuniverseduringthenextfewhundred andGod.WhenManhasconqueredformaterialgainsalone,

years,atfirstinrobotandcomputercontrolledspaceships, Historyleavesonlyafootprint,abarbaricDarkAgeabout

butthen,justashehadtoascendEverestfootbypainful whichlittleisrememberedorwritten.

foot,Mansnaturewilldrivehimtofeelforhimselfthe ThebeliefinaGodisageoldandeveninprimevalpeople

awesomedepthofspace. 186

Hewilldiscoverawealthofexperiencesinfinitelymore removedfromeachotheratoppositeendsoftheearth;this

startlingandbeautifulthancanbeimagined:aninfinite ideaofaGodsupremeandomnipotentisincrediblyancient,

varietyofagenciesandforcesasyetunknown:greatfieldsof goancientthatonemustbelieveitsseedwasplantedinthe

gravityandantigravitywhereobjectsareacceleratedacross soulofthefirstMan:itiswritteninGenesisthatGod

spacelikegiantslingshots,evenotheruniverseswithdiffer breathedintoMansnostrilsthebreathoflifeandMan

entspaceandtimeformulae.Thefictionalstoryofatime becamealivingsoul.SoManinvadingspaceformaterialgain

machinehasbeenwrittenandsometimesthefictionof orpersonalglorificationalonewillgainnothing,butMan

yesterdaybecomestodaysreality.WouldJulesVerneandH. searchingtoenrichhisownspiritualityandnaturewillcome

G.Wellshavebeensurprisedbytodaysworldofsubmarines, closertounderstandingthatGodisUniversal.

greatflyingmachines,rocketsandweaponsofmassdestruc TheEarthisgoingthroughaDarkAgeatthemoment.

tion?Onefeelstheywouldhavebeenquiteathome. MaterialpossessionscountmorethanaManssoul.Likea

Pausingforonlyafewmoments,Janushurriedon.Sofar child,manispreoccupiedwithhistechnologicaltoys,which

wehaveonlytouchedonthematerialandscientificaspects hebelieveswillbringhimrichesandhappiness.Thisshows

ofjourneyingthroughspacewithoutconsideringthemost upinthesuperficialityofhiscultureandacarelessdisregard

importantparttheSpiritofmanandthedesignerwhois fornature.Inhisgreedyquestformorecomplexmachines

Universal.WhydoesManreachforthestars?Hisenergies Manispreparedtosacrificealmostanythinghisnatural
environment,animalsandevenhisfellowhumans.The scopes.Ifyouacceptthistheorythenallgalaxiescontainthe

dreadfulspectreofblowinguphisworldhardlymakeshim elementsnecessaryforlifeandmatter;evenatthevery

falterinthisheadlongrush. boundariesoftheexpansion,theoriginalexplosionisstill

FortunatelyDarkAgesareusuallyfollowedbyenlight distributingtheseelements.Theexpandinguniversedispels

enedones.IfMansurvives,hewillcometohissensesand anyideathatspaceisacompletevacuuminterspersedwith

realizethatthematerialhappinesshesoughtwasillusoryand islandsandpocketsofunidentifiedmatterandthatEarthis

thetoyshehadcollectedwereintenselyboring:hopefullyhe theonlyplanetwhichcontainedtherightingredientsand

willturnbacktothespiritualityanddevelopmentofamind conditionsforthecreationoflife.Ifyouacceptthetheoryof

whichhassuchunbelievablepotential.Theworldcouldthen theexpandinguniverseyouacceptthatitisanoceanof

enteragoldenageofdiscoverywhenthegreatestadvances galaxieswithsolarandplanetarysystemssimilartoourown.

willbeinthedevelopmentofMansmind.Solittleisknown Bythelawsofprobabilitytheremustbemillionsofplanets

aboutthemindsabilityandpowertoinfluenceeventsand intheuniversesupportinglife,andwithinourowngalaxy

matter.Rudimentaryexperimentshavealreadydemonstrated thousandssupportinglifemoreadvancedthanonEarth.

thatthereissomeresponsetomindovermatterwhichdefies ThisisverydifficultforMantostomachwithhisvain

scientificexplanation.Christ,ofcourse,hadsuchpowersto beliefofaGodpersonaltohimandhimonly;ifhedoeseven

amiraculousdegreeandtoldusthatifwetoohadfaithwe considerthatintelligentlifeexistsonotherplanetsheinvents

couldmovemountains. suchcreatureswithgrotesqueshapesandbodies,hostileto

]anuspausedandthensaid,Letusgetbacktothesubject Man.ButifthereisaGod,particularlytheChristianone,it

offlyingsaucers.Youseemtofinditdifficulttoacceptthat wouldsurelybeunlikelythathewouldactivelydiscourage

intelligentlifeexistsanywhereelseintheuniverseorthatit lifewhereitcoulddevelopintheuniverseanddictatethat

187 enlightenedlifeshouldonlyexistinoneobscureplaneton

couldhaveachievedthetechnologynecessaryforspace theedgeofagalaxy.Itisasafescientificassumption,

travel.Soletusdiscussthislogically.Thegenerallyaccepted therefore,tosaythatlife,farfrombeingararephenomenon,

theoryoftheexpandinguniversestatesthatitoriginated isprobablywidelydistributedthroughouttheuniverse.

fromthegiantexplosionofavastareaofhighdensitygas Ifyouacceptthis,goontointelligentlife.Earthisa

whichcontainedalltheelementsnecessaryforlifeandmatter. youngplanetwithitsSunayoungmother.Wemayhazarda

Theseelementswereblastedoutwards,formingabackdrop guessthatotherplanetsinourownsolarsystemareunlikely

behindthegalaxieswiththeirownsolarandplanetary 188

systems.Theuniverseisstillexpandingwithfarflunggalax tosupportlifeexceptinpossiblyrudimentarycellularform

iesdisappearingoutofsightofthepresentrangeoftele arenomorethanuninhabitedandhostileislands.But
imagineagalacticsolarsystemsomewhereinspacewith ofevolutionandenvironment.Theykilleachothertolive,

conditionssimilartoEarthexceptthatitsSunISinthe surviveandprocreatewithoutconscienceorresponsibility.

autumnofitslifeProvideditsinhabitantshavesurvivedwars WhydidGodnotbreatheintothenostrilsofananimaland

andalleninvasion,ItISimpossibletoimaginewhatsuper giveitasoulorindeed,thesuperanimalsyouimagine

technologyandculturaladvancementtheyhavereached,any 189

morethanwecanimaginetheEarthandManinam1ll1on inhabitadistantplanet?Whyshouldyourintelligentanimals

andonehundredm1ll1onyearstimewhenweseewhathe inthatplanetalsonotclaimthattheywerecreatedinGods

hasmanagedinjustafewthousandyears.Perhapsintwenty image?Iwilltellyou.BecauseGodhimselfwasdescended

yearstimemannedrocketswillbecommonplaceandthe fromthefirstraceofmen.

Earthwillbegirdledbysatellitesofallsortsandsizes.There ItwasatthisjuncturethatIfeltthefullforceofthis

willbegreatstridesintheminiaturizationofallourpresent strangemanspersonalityashespokewithsuchauthority

technology,advancesinnavigationalguidanceandcommuni andconviction.

cationovervastdistances.Inahundredyearsmedicalscience Gobacktotheverybeginningwhenthegiantwaveof

willhaveadvancedfarenoughforamannedspaceshipto elementsleftthegalaxiesbehindasitsweptthroughspace.

journeywithinourowngalaxycarryingacompletesetof Withinthesegalaxiessunsandplanetsmixedintheright

spareorgans.Athousandyearsmaybejustwithinour conditionsforbiochemicalactiontogivebirthtoallsortsof

projectionsbutamillionyearsisquitebeyondour cellularlife,andinjustonetodevelopthefirstmenand

imagination. womeninexactlythesamewaythattheyevolvedonEarth

Mostsciencefictionshowsspacecraftcrewedbyintelli thefirstMan,onlybillionsofyearsolderinadistantplanet,

gentanimalsintentonconqueringtheEarth.TheBiblestates areplicaofEarth.Accordingtothelawsofprobabilitynot

thatGodcreatedManinhisownimage.PrimevalMan anunlikelyevent.Inthecourseoftimetheydeveloped,as

thoughtsotoo,sincehisGodswereusuallydepictedin youhave,intohighlyintelligentbeings,experiencingtheir

humanform.EarthMan,inhissupremearrogance,believes darkagesaswellastheirgoldenones,periodsofgreat

thatGodonlycreatedhiminhisownimageandleftevery scientificandtechnologicalachievements,exploringtheuni

otherintelligentcreatureintheuniverseoutofhisreckoning. verseandtheabundanceoflifeformingaroundthem.But

SoMancanbelieveinasuperintelligentsluginadistant theywereonlytooawareoftheoneessentialthingmissing;

planetbutnotoneonhisownandofcoursehemisseshere theiruniversewasnothingbutanaturalphenomenon.Their

entirelytherelationshipbetweenManandGodandManand worldwaslikeashipwithoutarudder,comingfrom

animals.Goddidnottouchanimalsinthewayhetouched nowhere,goingnowhere.Therewasnocaptain,nocreative

Man;animalsheleftaspartofthenaturalbiologicalprocess intelligenceshapingthedestinyoftheuniverse.
Theywitnessedonlythebubblinginavastcosmictest life,millionsinthegalaxies,thousandsinourownwhere

tubebirth,aspanoflife,deathwithnofuture,nohope. Manisgrowinginvariousstagesofdevelopment,somelike

Theirrationalityofinfinitespacebecameintolerableandthe yourselvesintheearlystagesandsomeclosetothevery

determinationtocreatesomethingmorebeautiful,more sourceofthecreator.

lasting,becameoverpowering.So,overavastspanoftime, Manwasgiventhegiftoftappingthissource.Whenever

theystruggledtoovercomedecayofthephysicalbodyand Mancriesoutforhelpheappealstotheoriginalpromiseto

finallytodevelopaspiritseparatefromthebody.Medical Jehovah,Godorwhateverhehascometocallhim.His

sciencegavethemthemeansofprolongingtheirownlives prayersandcollectivewillpoweraretheessentiallinktothe

almostindefinitely,theirsocietydevelopedtothemost sourceandwhenitisignoredMansinkstohislowestlevel.

remarkabledegreesofwillandintelligence.Theyhadover ThereisnopersonalGodwhorewardsorpunisheseach

cometheurgetokillandwagewar,andhadcometolove individual.Itisafarmoreexcitingandgrandioseconcept

190 thanthat.Thegiftgivesmanincrediblepotentialforboth

intenselyalllifebutparticularlytheirownkindoflife,Man. goodandevilsincewithinthesourceitselftherearememor

Theydevelopedgreatpowers,thepowerofwillovermatter iesofMansweaknessesandevil,andManwasgiventhe

sothattheywereabletoinfluenceandcontrolnatureand choicetobeCainorAbel.

events.Intheendtheyfoundtheultimatekey,todispense ThereisnothinginthisconceptofGodtooffendany

withtheirphysicalbodiesaltogetherandbecomeintelli religionand,indeed,itdoesnotradicallycontradictanyof

gencesfreefromtheshacklesoftimeandspace,tointegrate thegreatreligiousbooks.Therearemanydifferentpaths

finallyintoonegreatuniversalintelligence.ThisGreatForce 191

wasthenabletoinfluenceandbringorderintothewhole leadingtothetopofthespiritualmountain.Onlythewords

universeandwherelifewasmostprolificandcreativeit aredifferent.YoutalkaboutGod,miracles,lifeafterdeath,

steeredtheevolutionofManintheirownoriginalimage. Heaven.WhyGodgiveshisgraceandgiftsinprofusionto

Man,whereverhedeveloped,couldnothelpbeingaware someandwithholdsitfromothersremainsamystery,but

ofthisinfluenceandcalleditbyallsortsofnamesindifferent faithandtrustremainessentialtodivinity.Godprovides

religiousgroups,butthewandandthewizardisthesame. enoughevidencethroughhisemissariesandtheirpowerof

Mantouchedbythecurrentstrivestootoovercomedeath themiraculoustoencourageManinthisfaith.

andjointheheavenlyforce,constantlychargingandrevital Whathappenstothespiritwhenthephysicalbody

izingthiscosmicbatterysothatitspowerremains decays?Doallliveonafterdeath,eventhelittledeadbabies

everlasting. andthementallyafflicted?ThisremainsanotherofGods

Theuniverseisfullofplanetssustaininghigherformsof mysteries,althoughthereareclues;inChristianity,Christ
saiditwasnoeasymattertoachieveeverlastinglife.Itwas backwaterinhabitedbyonlyhalfcivilizedmen,dangerous

noautomaticright.Divinityhastobeearnedanddepends eventotheirownneighbours.However,thatdoesnotstop

uponMansownwillpowerandspiritualrecognitionof explorerswishingtofindoutmoreaboutEarthjustasyour

Godsexistence,howeverweak;afterall,Christthoughtthe ownpeopletraveltosomeparticularlyuncomfortableand

thiefonthecrosswasworthenoughtojustifyredemption. dangerousspotsinyourownplanet.

Therearethose,however,whohaverejectedGodstouch Why,youmaysay,donttheylandandmakecontact?

andtothesemindlesscreatureslifebecomesanautomatic Mostofthesevehiclesarerobotcontrolled,spaceprobes

process.Thesearethetakers,neverthegivers,thedestroyers monitoringwhatisgoingon.Somearemannedinorderto

neverthecreators.Intheircasealmostassoonasthematch overseethewholeprogrammeandtoensuretheprobesdo

wasstrucktheyblewitout.Theyhavenopartintheeternal notlandorcrashbyaccident.Theymustalsoensurethat

planbutpassthroughitsightless.Theplanisagreatone evidenceoftheirexistenceiskeptawayfromthevast

requiringallsortsofspiritualtalentstofulfill,andmanyseeds majorityofEarthspopulation.Youmustbewellawareof

andcropsarescatteredoverthefieldsoftheuniverse.As thedamagewhichyourownexplorershavedonebyappear

longasthesearchanddesirefortruthlivesontheseedripens ingandlivingamongsimpletribes,oftenleadingtoa

andmatures,butwhenitdoesnotthenitwithersanddies. completedisintegrationoftheirsocietyandcultureashap

Ihavetriedtogiveyouaglimpseofthegreatconcourse penedtotheIndianandEskimo.Suchimpactisfartoo

ofspacebecauseitisagainstthisbackgroundthatyoushould indigestibleandonlythemostdevelopedsocietiescancope

consideritsexplorationanditsexplorers.Therearediffering withsuchcontact.

viewsandtheoriesabouttheobjectsyoucallflyingsaucers. Imaginewhatwouldhappeniftheheadlinesintheworld

Therearethosewhowouldhavethemtravellingalongthe pressannouncedthearrivalofaspaceshipwithamissionof

trailsofspacetodeliverpropheticmessagesofnucleardoom spacepeople.Apartfromthepsychologicalshockthatthere

orthosewhoseethemasasubstituteforatribalGod.There actuallywereotherracesfarsuperiortoanydeveloped

arethefictionwriterswhoportraytheircrewsinevery societyonEarththerewouldbecompletepanicaboutthe

horribleguise,invadingandpillagingtheworld. motivesofsuchaninvasion.Thereislittledoubtitscrew,if

Butinrealitytheyarenoneofthesethingsbutlike youcouldcatchthem,wouldbesubjectedtothemost

192 humiliatinginterrogationandtreatment.

yourselves,inhabitantsofaplanetexploringtheouterislands Theknowledgeyoumightacquirethroughcontactand

oftheirgalaxy.Youmaywellask,whycometoEarthatall? communicationcouldhaveeffectsasdisastrousastheso

Theansweristhatthistrafficisonlyathintrickleinthevast calledbenefitsofcivilizationhadontheIndiansandthe

highwaysoftheuniverse;theEarthafterallisagalactic Eskimos.Thisknowledgemustcomeslowlytothosemost
abletoassimilateitinthefullnessoftime.Thebasicprinciple everywhere.

ofresponsiblespaceexplorationisthatyoudonotinterfere Itisequallyimportantthatotherplanetarytravellersand

193 inhabitantsknowsomethingaboutthisouterisland,its

withthenaturaldevelopmentandorderoflifeintheuniverse societyandintentions.Whileyouarestillfarawayfrom

anymorethanyoushouldupsetordestroyanantheapor travellingindeepspace,suchcontactswillbeinfrequentand

beehive.Manhasalottolearnbeforeheembarksondeep mustbeconductedwithgreatsecrecy.Lifeinyourownsolar

spacetravel.Ifyouwerereadynow,whichyouarenot,you systemisrudimentaryandyoucandolittledamage,butonce

wouldonlyapproachotherinhabitantswiththedeepestof youdiscovertheexistenceofhigherformsoflifeand

suspicion,inflictingyourweaponsanddiseasesuponthemin 194

thesameirresponsiblemannerthatyouarebusilydestroying intelligentmenthenthedangerswillarisethroughyourown

wildlifeonearth.Youwillhavetogrowalotolderandlearn fearandmisunderstanding.

howtobehaveonyourownplanet,ifindeedyoudonot Theobservershaveveryhighlydevelopedmentalpowers,

blowyourselvesupbetweentimes,beforeyouarereadyfor includingextrasensory,thoughtreading,hypnosisandthe

galactictravel. abilitytousedifferentdimensions,sinceallpartsofthemind

Sincetimeimmemorialtherehavebeentalesofvessels andbodyhavenotnecessarilyevolvedinexactlythesame

comingoutoftheskybringingstrangevisitors.Observers fashion.Theydonotuseweaponsofanykindandrelysolely

docomeamongyouandmakecontactonaveryselective ontheirspecialpowerstolookafterthemselves.Theymake

basiswheretheyjudgethatsuchcontactcouldnotharm contactonlywithselectedpeoplewheresecrecycanbe

eitherparty.TheseobservershavestudiedtheEarthfora maintained.InthelooselyknitsocietiesoftheWestern

longtime.Withadvancedmedicalsciencetheyhavebeen world,particularlyinEnglandandAmerica,itisfairlyeasy

fittedwiththerightsortofinternalequipmenttoallowtheir withthehelpoffriendstodothisbutnotinpoliceand

bodiestooperatenormallyuntiltheyleave.Itisnotvery dictatorstates.

difficulttoobtaintherightsortofclothesandmeanstomove ItwaswhatJanushadleftunsaidthatwasfantastic.He

aroundquitefreely.Yourownexplorerswillappearenor hadsubtlyseparatedhimselfduringtheconversationtoleave

mouslycumbersomeincomparisonbutthenatfirsttheywill mewiththeimpressionthathewasnotoneofus,gradually

beoperatingintheveryhostileenvironmentswithinyour insinuatingthathewasanobserver.Hispersonalitywasso

solarsystem.Theobserversarenotinterestedininterfering powerfulandhypnoticthatalreadyIwaswonderingwhatto

inyouraffairs,butonceyouarereadytoescapefromyour doabouthim.

ownsolarsystemitisofparamountimportancethatyou Janusoncemorereadmythoughtscorrectly.Because

havelearntyourresponsibilitiesforthepreservationoflife whatIhavetoldyouisentirelyforeignyouaresensing
danger.YouarewonderingwhoorwhatIam?Atthis hadbecomeinterestedinthemoreesotericsideofflying

juncturehestoppedandIfeltthatwasallhehadtosay.I saucersandwasverykeenthatweshouldbothmeetMr

thankedhimandsaidIwouldhavetothinkabouthisrequest Janusagain.ButIwasnotsosure.

asIwasnotinapositiontopromiseanythingnow.He Atanyrate,IrangMrsMarkhamseveraltimesduringthe

showednosignofdisappointmentatmyapparentlackof followingfewdaysbutgotnoanswer.SoIeventually

enthusiasmandasIwasclearlyexpectedtoleaveIdidso contactedGeneralMartinwhosuddenlybecamedistantand

withbriefgoodbyes. evasive.MrsMarkhamhadgoneaway;no,hedidnotknow

whenshewouldbeback.Ididnotlikeleavingthematter

*** likethissoIfinallywentroundtoMrsMarkhamsflatbut

therewasnosignofanylifeinit.Ienquiredofher

Ispentthenextfewdayspuzzlingoverthisverystrange neighboursonthefloorbelowbutalltheyknewwasthatshe

encounter.Itwouldnothavebeensodifficulthad]anusbeen hadappearedtoleaveinahurry.Thecurtainhaddropped.

easilyrecognizableasacrank,buthewasnot,andtherewas HadJanussensedthatIwasintwomindsaboutinforming

muchofwhathesaidwhichmadesense.WhatIfoundtoo thesecurityauthoritiesofmymeeting?IneversawGeneral

difficultwasthesuggestionthatspacetravellershadlanded Martin,MrsMarkhamor]anusagain.Iwrotethisrecordof

195 mymeetingatSmithStreetimmediatelyaftertheeventand

andweremixingwithus.AuthorslikeAdamskihadalready quoteitverbatim.

writtenaboutmeetingpeoplefromflyingsaucersandflying Theepisodedidfocusmymindontwogreatpuzzles:the

intheirmachines,butIwasquiteawarethattheculthad natureofGodandtheexistenceofUFOsandotherphenom

attractedallsortsofcharlatans.WhatwasJanus?Washepart ena.SincemyescapefromtheseaIhadbecomeabelieverin

ofanelaboratehoaxorplot,washeateacher,animaginative Godandthecontinuationoflifeafterdeath;theexperience

prophetofthefutureorwhathehadinsinuatedan hadgivenmeamuchgreaterconsciousnessoftheconflict

observer?Whateverelsehewas,]anusleftmewiththe 196

impressionofaforcetobereckonedwith.Heappearedto betweenthegreatforcesofspiritualityandmaterialism.Ifelt

knowagreatdealandspokewithauthorityaboutspace stronglythatGodhadtriedtosmoothmypassagefromthis

technology.Ifhewaspartofanykindofplot,itwasmy worldtothenextbydispatchingthreecompanionsto

dutytoreportthemeetingtothesecurityauthorities,particu accompanymeonthejourney;themysterywaswhythe

larlyifithadanythingtodowiththeRoyalFamily journeywasinterrupted.Perhaps,withinsightoftheprom

Iwroteareportofmymeetingandconversationwith isedland,GodhaddecidedthatIwasnotreadytofacefinal

]anusandgaveittoBoyBrowningtoread.BythistimeBoy judgement.ThereafterIhaveneverbeenafraidofdeath,only
oftheindignityandpainoftheactitself. prayforachangeofheartbeforeitistoolate.

UntilImetJanusmyconceptofGodwasbiblical.Icould

onlyimaginehimasafatherfigure,dispensinggiftsand ***

punishmentaccordingtothebehaviourofhischildren.I

avoidedthequestionofwhohewas,wherehecamefrom

andwhyheshouldconcernhimselfaboutalittleprovincial

cornerontheedgeofnowhere.ButJanussexplanationof

thebeginningandGodasuniversalmadesense,withalllife

evolvingfromthesameoriginandsamematerials;evensuch

aseriousscientistasCrick,oneofthediscoverersofgenetic

structures,seriouslyputforwardthetheorythatlifedidnot

originateonearthbutcamefromouterspace.Nothinginthe

universeiseverdestroyedordisappearswithouttrace.

Naturepermitsnoextinction,onlytransformation.

Ibecamemuchmoreatintellectualpeacewiththeconcept

ofGodasauniversalspiritualforcewithoutshapeorhabitat,

acosmicbattery,ifyoulike,fromwhichmancoulddrawthe

powertochargehimself,butabatterywhichalsorequired

constantchargingbymansownspiritualfuel.Thisseemed

tofitthehistoricalpatternthatwhenManwasathislowest

spiritualebbthecurrentwasweak,butathishighestpeak

thelightshonebrightest.TheideaofuniversalManand

universalGodnecessarytoeachotherisappealingGod

needingMantomaintainhisownpowerandManneeding

Godspowertoattainhishighestspiritualvalues,creating

hisgreatestworksasactsofsupplicationandpraise.Ifelt

thisstronglyduringthewar,whenthelightofsacrificeto

overcomeevilshonebrightly,butsincethen,astheforceof

materialismbecamestronger,thelighthasdimmedandthe

visionoftheultimatehorrorbecomessharper.Mancanonly