GOD of a man
“It’s not dogs I am scared of. It’s men who can’t be trusted.”
Chapter Ten: Right where Ono is sitting
Dated: 16th July 2147
Human beings are perhaps the only figment of natural creation that is inconsistent within its own behavioural patterns. While they love to bask in the limelight and claim all the accolades as their birthright for whatever great they accomplish, the onus of whatever wrong that ever happens is conveniently shifted on to GOD. Perhaps if it were not for GOD most of the humans would have been buried under the moral and conscientious weight of their own wrong-doings.
When humans blew their own beautiful world, a gift from GOD, with weapons they were proud of having in their arsenal, they may not have blamed GOD for doing it for them but when the aftermath of their actions increased in severity, GOD didn’t have one moment of rest from taking blame for every sinful act the humans committed, every torturous second human beings survived. If humans couldn’t go out in open due to radiations it was GOD’s fault who created radio-active isotopes whose prowess lasts centuries in open. If humans ran out of food it was again GOD’s fault for not providing enough for the wailing kids, their mothers and weakening fathers. If humans killed and ate their own kind to survive in those arcs, it was again GOD’s fault for not killing them before they lost their senses. Even Hatsu Saisho was no different in its prevalent atmosphere of general loss of faith. The humans may have been free to roam in open in the cold climes of Antarctica but it was GOD’s fault they were there in those cold terrains in the first place and it was GOD’s fault for not providing enough food to those who managed to cling on to life after all the mayhem. Faith was almost non-existent. Faith was surviving only in two hearts during that fateful night of 16th July 2147. Faith was on its last legs.
“What’s the situation?” Henry Sherman, the then President of Hatsu Saisho asked his trusted weatherman Jonathan Mayer.
“It doesn’t look good at all. I reckon we are going to experience another tornado later tonight. And this one seems to be pretty intense. We are better off moving everyone to the dugouts,” Jonathan replied.
It was GOD’s fault that due to the radiation humans died quicker than plants resulting in immediate stoppage of Carbon Dioxide emissions by humans while the plants struggled for years to survive, generating Oxygen. It resulted in an un-natural imbalance in atmospheric composition which resulted in the shifting of weather patterns across the globe in unpredictable way. Antarctica became the hub of Tornado activity. It seemed as if GOD was hunting for humans with his thunderbolts. GOD couldn’t be trusted anymore.
“Mr President! Emergency! Please have a look at this,” Natalie Cosgrove, a citizen of Hatsu Saisho who was intrusted the task of closely monitoring the weather cried in horror.
Everybody rushed to the window to have a look.
“What the Hell!” Henry exclaimed, “Everyone quick, to the dugouts as quickly as you can.”
The Tornado had started taking shape. It lowered it’s proboscis towards the sea level spilling water all around like a sprinkler and started approaching land. Time was less, time was precious.
“Leave your belongings inside and rush to the dugouts immediately,” Henry shouted at the top of his voice as everybody ran helter skelter in panic picking up bits and pieces they thought were important.
“Molodyozhnaya” the Russian research centre had been the roof and home of all the surviving humans for more than a century now. It had withstood toughest of nature’s assaults with aplomb for years, including some of the roughest tornados so far. But now it was old, crying for repairs which were no more possible due to lack of resources. It was GOD’s fault there was nothing worthwhile to exploit in Antarctica. And it will be GOD’s fault if “Molodyozhnaya” fell to the furies of nature today.
Everybody rushed to the four huge dugouts in snow to escape the furry of the tornado. Women and children being the slowest were instructed to use the two dugouts closest to the research station. First lady Amelia Ross herself took charge of making sure every woman and child safely reached the two dugouts. She herself entered the one that housed the only Church left on earth at that time. Father Alan Ferdinand and his little son Joe Ferdinand were the only two souls in Hatsu Saisho who still prayed to GOD. Father Alan vehemently reasoned with everyone to return to the fold of GOD. He religiously maintained the dugout as a proper Church which housed not just the Holy Bible, but also Quran, Gita and Guru Granth Sahib. Their followers may have perished or their faith may have perished but Father Alan made sure their religions survived, at least as long as he was alive and hopefully as long as his son survived and managed to impart it to his next generation. But tonight Alan and his son were part of the group that was taking refuge in the farthest dugout along with Henry and other congressmen.
The tornado struck bringing along with it a storm so harsh in intensity for a stretch of time there was a fear the thick roof of the dugout might be blown away.
“Damn! Is this some kind of furry? What is GOD trying to do? Kill the remainder of us and wipe out our existence and along with us HIS own,” Henry lamented.
“If GOD wanted to wipe us out, HE would have done it by now! There would have been no place safe on this earth for Humans. HE is just testing our patience and giving us an opportunity to strengthen our faith in HIM,” Alan remarked.
“The old man’s gone nuts,” a congressman commented.
“Yeah, make his stand outside the dugout for the rest of the night and let him strengthen his faith. We’ll find out tomorrow morning if his faith is stronger than his body,” another one commented.
“I am not the one who has gone mad. It’s you people who have lost their faith in HIM. HE doesn’t want us to take our lives intentionally but HE tests our abilities to survive every now and then,” Alan replied.
“I agree. Let’s test your abilities,” Henry remarked as he pushed Alan out towards the exit of the dugout jokingly.
“GOD helps those who help themselves. HE doesn’t want anybody to die but HE wants everyone to survive on their own,” Alan answered with his belief.
“Shut up old man. Keep your religious blabber to yourself. You say one more word and we are going to throw you out of the dugout for the remainder of the night,” Henry sounded agitated.
“Don’t touch my father,” little Joe came to his father’s defence.
“And you too,” Henry glared at Joe who latched on to his father’s legs as he got scared. Alan sensed the mood of the situation and backed out of any further discussion. The night passed on and was finished off by a beautiful and sunny morning.
As everybody came out of the dugouts, their hearts nearly popped out of their mouths as everybody started crying and screaming. “Molodyozhnaya” had finally fallen to nature. But that wasn’t the only thing lost. The Church had been ravaged as well.
Henry gave out a loud cry as he came out of the dugout and looked at the site where once the only remaining Church on earth was situated, the dugout that was the shelter of his wife and kids along with many other women and children the previous dark night.
“Amelia,” he cried out as did many other men who had lost their wives and children along with him. The tornado had taken a lot from Hatsu Saisho in one night. The humans were left homeless and many of their women and children had been annihilated.
Alan got out of the dugout, saw the destruction and cried. He may not have lost anyone in that trail of destruction as his only living relative, his son was by his side, but he had a very kind heart. Men who believe in GOD always have one.
As everybody was wailing and crying Henry noticed Alan crying as well. “Why are you crying? You should be happy now. Your GOD has taken our home as well as our families. Ain’t you happy? We joked with you last night and look your GOD has punished us. Are you happy now? Why are you crying?” Henry lost his cool and grabbed Alan from his neck, pulled him up on his feet and dragged him around in a circle and threw him to the ground.
“Why are you crying?” Henry said as he kicked Alan in his stomach, “What does your GOD has to say now? What does HE want next from us? Tell me. I am the President of Hatsu Saisho and I will make sure what your GOD wants is provided to him right away. Tell us what HE wants.” Everybody gathered around Henry and Alan as Henry kicked him. Joe rushed to his father’s rescue and clung to him crying, “Don’t hit my father, please don’t!”
Nobody else stopped him but Henry stopped for a while on his own to let Alan have a breath.
“Where is your GOD now? What does HE want? Tell me,” Henry roared in anger.
“What is GOD’s fault? It was their time to go so they died. If GOD had wanted to kill us all why would have HE spared our lives?” Alan reasoned and reminded everyone how they are still alive.
“We are alive because out dugouts were not in the way of the tornado, otherwise we would have been wiped out as well,” Henry replied highly agitatedly. “There is no GOD. It was a lie created by intelligent men to rule other men,” Henry continued, “There is no GOD. Have you seen HIM?”
“There is GOD and HE is the one who created everyone and not the other way around,” Alan replied with anguish.
“No there ain’t. There are only two kinds of men on this earth: those who rule and those who are ruled. Those who were strong ruled with their strength while those who were intelligent ruled in the name of GOD by scaring people,” Henry continued, “Nobody have ever seen GOD. Even you haven’t. Today I am going to finish the name of GOD once and for all on this earth. You are going to say, there is no GOD. C’mon now, say it Alan: There is no GOD,” Henry was roaring as everybody watched what was happening.
“That sir, is a lie and I cannot be a party to it. There always was, there is and there always will be GOD and that’s my final statement,” Alan replied.
“Oh yeah, then where is he?” Henry’s question thundered.
“HE is always around us. HE always has been, trying to guide us, telling us the right way but we never listen to HIM,” Alan replied. “From Lord Rama to Jesus, From Prophet Muhammad to Guru Nanak, HE came to us, gave us his message again and again, but we didn’t listen to HIM and those who did forgot what HE had told,” Alan continued.
“He came as Lord Rama, lived like an ordinary human being with us and taught us how to live our lives, but we didn’t learn our lessons. He came as Lord Krishna and told everyone that HE is GOD and this is the way HE wants us to live, but we ignored his advice. HE came as JESUS and told us, I am the son of GOD and here’s HIS message of love and peace, but we didn’t bother to adhere to it. HE came as Prophet and told us, I am the Prophet of GOD and this is what he wants but we distorted his preachings and misused them for our own sinful ends. HE came to us again in the garbs of an ordinary human being, Guru Nanak Dev and again reminded us of love, peace and spirituality but we didn’t believe in him. Sir, GOD has come to us again and again to remind us of HIS will but we never cared to listen,” Alan replied futher.
“You don’t even realize how there have never been two prophets in the world at the same time. It’s always been one prophet in many centuries,” Alan continued, “And you don’t even realize how HE has progressively deserted us, left us on our own. HE tried to teach us as a human being but when we didn’t learn, HE came first as GOD, then as son of GOD, then as Prophet of GOD and finally once again as an ordinary human being, but we didn’t care to listen. What we are suffering today is a result of our sins, greed, ego and wrong doings. Don’t blame GOD for what happened. HE didn’t make atomic bombs and HE didn’t fire any. HE just watched us make a fool of ourselves silently. Even today HE is trying to remind us of giving up on sins and return to the folds of spirituality. This destruction is just a reminder of HIS powers and presence.”
By now Henry was agitated beyond all extents of sensibility, “You are saying that GOD wanted to show me HIS power by killing my wife and kids? I tell you what! I am going to kill your son in front of your eyes now. If your GOD is so powerful ask him to stop me if HE can.” He pulled out his hunting sword and grabbed Alan’s son with his arm around his waist, “Call your GOD for help now.”
A pin-drop silence fell everywhere around as everyone looked intently at what was happening. “Tell your GOD to save your son if HE can,” Henry roared as nobody tried to stop him, “Or otherwise, fall to my feet and say: Henry is my GOD, and I will spare your son’s life.”
Alan knelt on his knees, his heart jumped to his mouth as he choked with emotions, his eyes filled up to their brims as he struggled to say, “If this is what GOD wants, then I hope my son’s purpose has been fulfilled. Amen!”
Henry realized Alan is not going to buzz. He warned him again but when Alan didn’t buzz from his faith, Henry cold-bloodedly chopped of Joe’s head with one single swing of blade. As Joe’s head fell on ground, he let go his lifeless torso slip from his grip and fall to the ground. Alan broke down and crawled to the lifeless body of his son, grabbed his head in one hand and fell in a heap on his body as he cried out loud. He cried for a while before he finally said, “Oh GOD, I hope my son’s purpose has been fulfilled. I didn’t desert my faith. I hope I have passed my test. Dear GOD, please accept my son as your own and give him a place in YOUR lap. Amen!”
“Still praying to GOD? You say HIS name one more time and your head is the next on line,” Henry’s thirst for blood wasn’t over yet.
“Oh GOD, please give some sense to these people,” Alan replied.
“Kill him! Kill him! Kill him!” chants reverberated in Hatsu Saisho as no one in the crowd was on Alan’s side. But he was happy to be on GOD’s side.
Henry raised his sword once again and the last remaining heart on earth that had GOD left in it was finally stopped forever.
Alan and his son were not given a burial in the Hatsu Saisho cemetery. Their bodies were thrown into a crudely dug pit far out of Hatsu Saisho along with anything related to GOD that was recovered from the wrecks of the Church.
They lie buried right where Ono is sitting, waiting for his brother to return, right where he stood long after the ship his brother was sailing in, sailed out of his sight.