Final preparation
It was much easier to come back from the cavern... Re was
in a hurry to get back, so he left them in the walkway and
disappeared.
Frank said, ‘How strange that we had the gadgets but we
did not recognise them...! Well...now we need to find them
the coordinate and few more details for them to leave us
permanently ’
Redim was excited and confident about getting the
necessary details, ‘Frank all they need is a planet. We need
to check if the planet is fit for human habitation because
they are living here without any problems... Once we find a
planet, we needn’t do anything...their technology will take
over... They don’t have the equipment to search the space
but they have the knowledge....’
Richard was curious, ‘what do you mean by fit for human
habitation? ‘
Frank replied, ‘The planet must have atmosphere with
oxygen and water... If these are there, it will be easier to
settle... we should find everything including the gravity of
the exoplanet’
‘What is an Exoplanet?’ Richard wanted to know
everything.
2
07
Frank once again explained, ‘planets that orbit around other
stars or the suns are Exoplanets...we will try to find one in
our Galaxy’
Richard’s curiosity was not satisfied, ‘I know our Galaxy
is the Milky Way...are there any other earth like ours..?
Redim smiled and said, ‘you see the stars in the night.
Every star is a sun and around them planets may orbit...just
like our solar system....’
Richard said finally, ‘I think I will Google all these
otherwise I will not let you all sleep... Come let us go and
sleep...It is already four past....’
They walked fast and entered through the backdoor. No one
was there so quietly they went to their room to have few
hours of sleep.
The next day only Redim came out for the breakfast...
There was no sign of Frank or Richard. Francis and
Philomena had not returned from the function they attended
in the previous day...
Redim had her breakfast and thought of calling Dr. Ashwin
Vasudevan, She went out of the house and called in the
number that he gave her.. She knew it would be evening
there and he could have left his office.
The call got connected and Dr Ashwin’s voice came
through clear .Redim introduced herself and he
remembered her. He asked if she had decided on any
2
08
Exoplanet, so that he could give her the details... She was
very happy that he remembered her query.
She asked him, ‘Is the Proxima Centauri B fit for human
habitation?’
The scientist laughed, ‘Doctor, I could give you an
Exoplanet which is not yet known to the general public...
And completely inhabitable, with gravity almost similar to
ours ...’
Redim had goosebumps listening to the scientist, ‘Doctor,
is it in Proxima Centauri, because it should not be further
than that....’
The scientist said, ‘Yes doctor, It is also part of Proxima
system we haven’t named it yet. You can call it Proxima
Earth...believe me it is an apt name because it is so similar
to ours... We are all very excited and very close to Proxima
B… I will send the details to your mail now... Best of luck
doctor’
Before she could thank him the phone went dead... She sent
her mail ID to him. She went back to tell Frank the good
news. Proxima Earth sounded as the perfect place for these
lovely beings to settle...
Frank was still sleeping when she went... She woke him up
and asked him to get ready and she would tell him the good
news. While Frank was getting ready, she called Richard in
the intercom and asked him to come to Frank’s room.
2
09
Richard came within minutes and Frank joined them after
asking Mary for coffee.
Redim told them what the scientist informed! ‘ you know
the name of the planet ..It is Proxima Earth and it is not yet
known to the public…’
Frank asked, ‘did you get the coordinates and other
details?’
She said that she was waiting for that...
Richard asked, ‘how is it possible for anything to move
nearly hundred times faster than light?
Frank told him, ‘as Re tells very often, we are primitive
people. They use some superior science that is not known
to us still... They mainly use superluminal particles of some
unknown elements...to travel in that kind of speed ‘
‘How long it would take for them to reach this Proxima
Earth? Redim asked and Frank said, ‘It is 4.2 light years
away from us?’
Redim nodded and he calculated and said approximately it
will take 16 days to reach there!
Richard whistled, ‘Just 16 days ... I never thought so... I
tried to calculate one light year in kilometres and I was
shocked to see the distance.’
2
10
‘But remember, the speed is hundred times more so
naturally the distance will be covered easily... Light reaches
there after 1533 days or 4.2 light years’ Frank reminded
him
Redim said,’ the numbers make me dizzy... so according to
your calculation they can go to Proxima Earth within 16
days’
‘
I am not really sure... Just check your mail.’
Redim saw the notification and opened the mail eagerly
There was an only a short message in which the details of
Proxima Earth were given.
Name: Proxima Earth
Distance to Earth: 4.24 light years
Temperature: 274 K (13 °C; 55.4 °F)
Mean radius: 1.07+0.38; −0.31R⊕, 1.30+1.20;
−
0.62R⊕
Surface gravity: 9.6 g, 9.1 g
Coordinates: RA 14h 29m 43s | Dec -62° 40′
Redim couldn’t decipher the meaning but Frank was
elated... he knew this would be enough for Re and group to
relocate...
‘Redim, you have done what you have promised ...
Excellent work... Now our work is over... we have to only
pass this knowledge to them...they will do the rest’
Richard could understand that the location of the
destination was now with them and then Re and group
would be gone forever...
2
11
He was sad, ‘we will never see them again....’
Frank was amused at his devotion to the extraterrestrials,
‘Not necessarily we can go too if they allow or they can
come and see us later’
But it was so farfetched that all the three ended up
laughing...
Richard was little anxious about them leaving the earth.
Ever since he had heard about the talking animals from the
old man he had a fixation about them and he came to know
that they really existed he became totally obsessed with
them... It did not help that those aliens were very friendly
with him as they had seen him growing...
Frank had to call him twice before he acknowledged him...
‘Richard, I am going to inform the good news to our
guests’
Redim said, ‘I am sure, they are here...they know this
already’
Frank waited for sometime but nothing happened... He
closed his eyes and concentrated. He repeated Re’s name
and his Link started glowing. He said loudly, ‘Re we need
to meet you... come to my room’
There was no reply the connection went dead. He was
puzzled and told them that this was the first time it
happened...
2
12
Even before he finished his sentence, two eagles and a
raven appeared...
The eagle, obviously Re asked, ‘we were celebrating as our
spacecraft is travel ready. The magnet and the superluminal
particles are in perfect condition...and the same thing with
our survival kit....’
Richard asked, ‘what is the use of the survival kit?’
Zo the raven replied, ‘Richard, our spacecraft runs on auto
mode. And the travellers will be in stupor or coma and the
number of hours the travellers remains in that condition
will be set ... Only minimum oxygen, nutrients and
electrolytes are supplied to the body. The one survival kit
has all these essentials needed for a year for one
person...we need 32 as we are 32 in numbers...but we have
1
00 survival kits with us that is an added advantage’
Redim was impressed, ‘we, humans may need at least ten
of them I think!’
‘No Redim you are wrong... Only the number of days will
change... If the survival kit is enough to keep us in stupor
for a year but for you perhaps only hundred days it will
work then one needs to replace it’
Frank was in awe .., ‘ you are really superior to us...I
agree! I have very good news. The NASA scientist has sent
the details of your destination Exoplanet’
Redim showed them the message from her cell phone...
2
13
All the three came closer to see the message.
Name: Proxima Earth
Distance to Earth: 4.24 light years
Temperature: 274 K (13 °C; 55.4 °F)
Mean radius: 1.07+0.38; −0.31R⊕, 1.30+1.20;
−0.62R⊕
Surface gravity: 9.6 g, 9.1 g
Coordinates: RA 14h 29m 43s | Dec -62° 40′
Zo’s beak was almost touching the phone then he moved
.
All the three were very quiet and Richard was the first one
to break the silence.., ‘why are you silent? Is there some
problem?’
Ro the eagle said, ‘we have been doing a lot of research on
Alpha Centauri’s solar system. The Proxima Centauri b is
our target but lately we came to know that the radiation
level is high. But this Exoplanet Proxima Earth as you call
is orbiting around one of the stars in Alpha Centauri and a
surprise for us!
Frank replied, ‘Yes ... that is why it is habitable ...The
radiation level will be less.’
Re said , ‘ We are excited but we have to study a little more
on this option … It will be easy as the coordinates are
known ,we will feed it to our location finder and we will
get all the necessary details about the planet’
2
14
Ro the eagle moved towards where Frank was seated and
perched on the nearby armrest, ‘We will never forget your
help Frank. When I saw the first day I thought of you as the
saviour and you will remain our saviour as long as our race
continues ...’
Redim was delighted and said, ‘wow, you don’t have any
sentiments like us you said but you people more human
than most’
Re said, yes we have become like the humans when it
comes to the emotions. The acquired traits not found in our
genome... we have to yet to see if our next generations
inherit this traits!
Redim, her doctor’s instinct was fully aroused, ‘you mean,
you are capable of propagation?
Re laughed, ‘Of course yes... But we have not attained the
puberty yet... We reach the age after two thousand years...
we have to wait for another four to five hundred years for
starting a family....’
Richard said, ‘I wish I could see your babies’
Redim and Frank laughed and the birds flapped their wings
in pure joy...
Re said, ‘we will find the technique to keep you for five
hundred years Richard ... Now we have this lead... we will
investigate ... Frank you have kept your bargain ... It is
only fitting that we keep the bargain. We will show you
2
15
where the treasure is... the treasure that is more valuable
than your countries reserve. Your dad can create media
frenzy as he likes. But you must see that our presence
remains a secret.’
Frank just blinked,’ more valuable than our country’s
reserve!’
Yes...we know exactly how much... So you should thank us
for making you all rich... We had collected it from all over
the world for the past one thousand years....’
Richard asked, ‘are you going to show us now! I think you
must wait and check your destination is fixed, and then you
tell us!’
Frank smiled, ‘you will not find a better champion than
Richard for you... But yes, your departure and the
discovery of the treasure should be on the same day... Let
us know your date of departure ’
Redim could see that the birds were emotional as they came
and rubbed against them all in an affectionate manner and
flew away…
Redim was emotional too! , ‘so we wait! It is a good plan to
make a Russian circus for the public and behind the
commotion send them off to their destination..! Oh I forgot
to ask them whether the link will work from such a
distance!
2
16
Richard replied eagerly, ‘oh yes ... I asked them, they said
it depends on the concentration level and disturbance
around...in this part of the world the disturbance is almost
nil’
Frank laughed sensing his friend’s enthusiasm.., ‘Richard
the Champion of the Proxima Earth ... sounds good!
Richard said, ‘I dropped school so that I would know the
truth about the old man’s talking animals... I was obsessed
with the possibility of finding something like this... Do I
sound like the old man?’ he was concerned as the old man
was considered as not normal...
Frank felt sorry, ‘no Richard you are more human than
most... I respect you much more than before... You are
highly intelligent as well as loveable... Don’t ever feel
inferior to anyone’
Richard hugged him and walked out of the room to hide his
feelings...
Redim was delighted to see Frank making an effort to hide
his emotion... It is rare to see him like this and she loved
him all the more...
Redim wanted to divert him, ‘Frank, better you learn how
these spacecraft works and what they use it as fuel.’
Frank came out of his thoughts, ‘I have already asked them,
but I don’t think we have that material they use to get the
atomic power... They start and keep all the gadgets working
2
17
with Magnets but the main energy comes from
superluminal particles... Perhaps like positrons... Not sure...
they are technologically so superior to us... We are just in
the monkey stage whereas they are like superhuman
according to our evolution stage....’
Redim was satisfied she brought him out of his rare
emotion and she went back to her room to do some
research on Alpha Centauri’s solar system.
Frank was left alone. He was sure that this Exoplanet
Proxima Earth was the best choice. Re would find no
stones unturned to take them to safety away from human
race...It is only just hours before their departure. But
keeping the news undercover world ne a herculean task...
Their cavern could be exposed later because people should
know about them sometime in the future... But if they come
to know of their involvement, would it affect them! He was
not sure...
Once Re decided the day of travel, he would talk to his dad
about the treasure and he was sure the treasure would go to
the exchequer so government would give full support and
dad’s addiction of media would be satisfied...
It was almost night, when Re appeared again .He startled
them with his sudden appearance...
Re as the eagle appeared there in the middle of Frank’s
front room where his friend were debating on how to
2
18
inform the treasure to the media and how much should be
revealed to Francis..
Re hopped near Richard, ‘we thought we would leave day
after tomorrow before noon. We would not be detected by
your Rader’
Frank was happy to know that as he was thinking of the
possibility but with the speed like the shark, nothing on
earth could detect them ...
Re continued, ‘we have fed the coordinates to the location
finder... it gave a flawless programme and we have fixed
the time of departure and it shows 15 days and 8 hours as
the travel time’
Redim said, ‘when you have 100 times the speed of light
.
..why not!’
Re, ‘We tried to send a signal to Proxima Earth, but no one
received it... So some primitive beings are inhabited or it
has no life so far...we can be sure only when we reach
there’
Frank asked, ‘Will we able to communicate like now using
your Link?’
Re replied, 'I don’t see why it should not work..? We
couldn’t connect to our race mostly because they had all
perished in an unknown calamity. So our people saved the
selected few and brought us here, secured our safety and
went back to face the calamity with others... They could
2
19
have stayed with us and saved themselves but they went
back! That is more like your human race isn’t it?’
Redim said ‘True all the evidences confirm the story’
Re said, ‘tomorrow early morning I will take you to the
treasure and you plan how it should be made public... But
you can keep it and for all generations to come you need
not work you know’
Frank said, ‘it sounds tempting but not our way. Our
family would never keep something that belonged to
others... My dad was interested in finding the treasure but
not to keep it... He wanted the thrill of hunting not the
trophy... exactly a hunter’s instinct...But if madam Redim
gives permission, we may keep something as a souvenir...
Richard already has’
Redim laughed, ‘of course madam will give permission.
That would be only thing to remember Re and group ...’
Re replied, ‘No madam, the link will be there with you,
three and once we connect with you, you can keep in touch
for generations to come....’
Everything sounded so thrilling! Re left as he needed to
collect certain things to take to the new settlement;
In olden days the pioneer settlers had done the same thing
now these settlers too must prepare to face the hardship...
2
20
Redim, ‘Oh let us take one at a time. Tomorrow we will go
and see the treasure. We will slowly plan from there... what
do you think Frank?’
Richard, ‘Frank, handling your dad and bringing the media
here will not be easy.’
Frank smiled, ‘that would be the easiest task according to
me ... Dad may invite all the international media too... I
expect the international reporters who are here in the
capital will land here by day after tomorrow afternoon and
we need to know when dad wants to take them to the
treasure so that we can prepare Re’s departure at the same
time ..’
Redim, ‘we will be missed and it will look very suspicious
if we are not, especially, if you are not there with your dad.
Remember your sensational news... The reporters may ask
to see you too!’
Richard looked worried, ‘Yes Frank, we cannot do it ‘
Frank, ‘let us discuss this with Re and even dad... we will
come to know only after seeing the treasure. If the treasure
is miniscule then we cannot make a big splash... The bigger
the treasure...the bigger the diversion.’
‘Yes our absence will be noticed and later they may create
a problem if they come to know that we are very much
present here... We will go first thing in the morning’
2
21
Mary was already annoyed and left their dinner on the table
with the note...
They did not do justice to the dinner, just had very little...
Frank knew dad would be expecting him to explain... But
he couldn’t tell him anything... He had to be sure about the
treasure!
They said goodnight to each other and went to their
respective rooms. They tried to sleep with the all their
thoughts heavy on them...
*
******
2
22