Strange Encounter, Part 2 of 5
A Face Behind The Moon
Proving Einstein’s theory require us to stare directly to the sun on an eclipse.
On 1919, multiple expedition was arranged to see the sun on an eclipse. All to confirm the bend of the light that will be caused by sun gravity. If Einstein is correct, they will see stars moved out of position. Similar experiment was done in the 18th century but the calculation was wrong so it doesn’t prove anything yet.
Today, a new calculation and better instrument allow us to try this once again, so on ashes of world war, I have decide to take the risk and prepare the ship to observe the eclipse on middle of Atlantic.
I left behind many things to pursue my PhD, including my son. I have yet to learn about his fate and already prepare for the worse ever since he decide to join the war. He was back home not long before the armistice is signed, but since then he never send message home.
Not long after the armistice end, I dream, I see my son walk hand in hand with me, we walk until we arrive at his grandmother home. I can smell the pie that is just finish and I can hear all the busy work inside the home, the same voice I used to hear every Christmas dinner when we gather at mother home before she eventually pass away. Everyone is preparing for the dinner.
My son open the wooded gate, then he turn around and hug me. I look as he walk into the home, greeted by loud cheer behind the door. I can’t follow him, not now.
I wake up with tear in my eyes. He has find his peace, now I have too.
An unlikely chain of event has brough me to island of Principe, accompany Professor Eddington to prove one of the Einstein’s theory. I join him on Liverpool just after the war ended.
‘Miss Ginevra, nice to meet you, I hope your journey here pleasant.’ Professor Eddington welcome me at the university.
‘I have hear about your son and I want to say my condolences’ He continue.
‘Thank you Professor, I’m also hope that I can assist with the observation as best as I can.’
A few days later we boarded the ship, and begin our journey. This is originally a 4 man mission, 2 will embark off on Madeira and continue to Brazil while us the remaining 3 continue to Principe.
One night on the ship, I often found myself enjoying the dark night, walking on the side of the ship. When I gaze up there, emerald moon is hanging on the sky.
'This must be a dream'
Yes, I think this is a dream. There is no such thing as Emerald Moon, but here I am. I decide that its better for me to just, enjoy it. I spend gazing on emerald moon. Time blur into nothingness and peace fill everything.
'Did you know? the Pythia dies and her Gods lost because their temple is destroyed by the Christian. But, even though the sacred flame has died, the those being are never truly lost, they are just waiting.'
Oh, how I hope that my son is here with me.
The journey from Liverpool aboard the steamship takes 46 days, by the time we arrive at the island, eclipse is only one month away. We supposed to continue the journey with railroad deeper into island and into the ‘city’ that has been built to produced Cocoa. A small footprint of a civilized world on this side of world.
Luckily the are many hand that able to assist us to carry all of heavy equipment required to observe the eclipse. There is nothing we had to worry about, all we need is to prepare for the upcoming eclipse.
Professor Eddington kindly arrange me to have my own room. My room is located on 2nd floor of a guest house, Professor Eddington and his colleague meanwhile stay on 1st floor. I have for me a window that directly view the jungle that extend far into the island. I can see the worker tending the farm from here and most importantly I can see the sea just beyond the jungle. Ship rarely passes by here, but this whole place actually is bustling with activity.
The company provide many thing for it office worker. They essentially build a city on middle of nowhere, they have hospital, market, home, and even school. Everyday children can be seen studying and then playing, the mother is still tending to their home and talk every afternoon to exchange pleasantries. I rarely talk with any of them, Professor Eddington take care most of it, I stay in my room and prepare for the upcoming eclipse. There is still so much to be done.
Thus I start my work there, there is so much to be done. Before anything, we need to build a platform, a level and stable place to put the location. Then we need to take ‘control’ photo, location of the star before eclipse arrive and bend their location as comparison. Then finally, since this whole mission hinge on a 5 minute frame where eclipse happen, we need to train multiple time to capture photo as fast and best as possible, training like a machine for 5 minute where everything hinge.
Time flow fast on this silent place, the only constant on this place for me is work, a chance to drown in number and take my attention away.
However, the emerald moon does visit me time after time.
That night I was sitting on the window, looking to the sea and jungle, everything is basked in gloomy light of emerald moon. The sky is adorned in aurora and many many galaxy, however the moon still shine brighter and bigger.
The moon has life, there are people there, building, they have war and peace, they have son and daughter. If heaven is real, then moon will be where they stay.
'Treaty of Versailles will fail to bring peace, a mockery to the enemy. German will take vengeance. A survivor of Great War will initiate a new war and before he fall Europe will paid heavily. At the end, Berlin will be swallowed by the Abyss, a sacrifice for the forgotten God'
Maybe, if heaven is on moon, I can see my son once again there. When Armstrong and other go there, I should let them know about the rabbit of the moon and the heaven that await them.
Time flies.
Soon, the eclipse is upon us. Cloud is hanging over all and if things goes on we will fail to even see the clear sky at all. Eddington is nervously walking around, he still prepare and is on the verge of giving up.
I think, I even see him praying earnestly, begging just a moment, a moment of clarity in the sky.
‘Professor Eddington, I will pray with you’ I tried to calm him
Professor smile a bit but nervously look at the sky and then to me.
‘Please do Ms. Ginevra. We have spend so much, let us hope that God bless us’
Unlike him, I knew I can pray to God that will listen to me at all time.
Cloud open, and the moon see through, with eerie emerald color. It swallow the sun. Professor Eddington can’t stop jump happily. He instruct his colleague to start taking photo, just like he train for. Both of them doesn’t even stop to admire the dark emerald sky they move fast, like machine to take photo as much as possible.
On the far field and jungle. I see my son walk away.
I want to chase him, I want to join him again, but I knew I can’t.
I, we, still had things to do.
‘At the end of World War 2, US will establish a secret agency known as the White Chamber or officially known as Research for Public Safety. Find me there.’
Knowing the moon is passing the eclipse, I go on and continue my work to help Eddington.
‘The Twin Tower will fall, thousands will die.’
I found this book at campus library, however, this book is only 1 of 5 book. This can be seen on the cover and catalog of library. I have tried to go to the library and even asking around about where the rest. Unfortunately, 4 remaining book has been borrowed out and most likely has been taken away. There is almost no chance for me to see the book returned again in any form.
Why? because by the information from the librarian. The book has been lend out over 10 years ago. If that so, then why only this book is still remaining? is this book supposed to be an invitation? for what? the Forgotten God?
I don't know if I believe in supernatural, but fact is Berlin no longer exists. Who else can explain the hole? they said it was because a bomb made by the German but that doesn't make sense! what bomb can make a WHOLE city disappear and leaving a gaping endless abyss on its wake??
One of my neighbor actually is there when Berlin is obliterated. He said that at that moment, emerald light cover the sky and the city, then huge and many thread start to form from the city and reach high into sky, forming a light tree in the distance. Soon the city disappear in blazing emerald light and next thing he knew, war against German is over.
Then the last part. I will not try to find this woman, but maybe you will find her. Also the Twin Tower? Does she refer to the one in New York city? I'm going to note this.