Project Carbon Copy They Are Amongst Us and Here to Stay

Chapter 1

On the beach, Carlisle Bay, Barbados...December 2014

Every year, I leave my job in England as a financial broker at Redmayne-Bentley with whom I have been employed for the past twenty five years. I come here to Barbados for a well deserved vacation at Christmas time. This island has always meant something special to me and I have never had this feeling of peace and contentment anywhere else. Nothing on Earth can replace this little piece of paradise. I treat myself to the best that this little island can offer in a way of food and accommodations. I feel this is the least I deserve after the hours I put in at my job throughout the rest of the year.

On the white sandy shore, the palms sway in the light breeze, I find it too irresistible to not take a dip in the sparkling clear blue waters that lap gently at the shore. I find that doing this and then relaxing in the rays of the sun for a while always does wonders for my skin and sinuses.

I have felt very close ties to this country since the first time I came here as a young child with my parents for a holiday. I have carried on the tradition my family started many years ago. This was they did regularly every Christmas. The island feels like my second home. I have always loved it, my island, The Rock as it is called. I love the Bajans, their warm hospitality, their culture, the lifestyle, the food, the abundant golf courses, white sand beaches and of course the rum and flying fish. I basically love everything about it!

A lot of people were enjoying that day on the beach; there were many tourists as well as local families enjoying the water, throwing Frisbees on the beach, running in and out of the water. Some were enjoying a picnic lunch. It was a picture perfect Christmas Day.

I was alone; I have to confess that I was embracing my bachelor life after a twenty year plus relationship which ended in an amicable divorce. My two kids are grown up, married, have kids with their promising careers ahead of them.

They followed their father’s path, both being financial brokers in one of the most prestigious financial companies in Zurich, Switzerland. I don’t have to worry about them. They have made their way in life and I am very proud of them. As for my ex-wife, we remain good friends with no animosity between us. I do however remain open to the idea of having another suitable relationship in the future.

During my long walk on the beautiful white sand beach, on my way back to the Hilton hotel where I am staying, I had been thinking of my retirement for which I feel more ready every year. In fact that dream could become a reality within a relatively short period of time. I have never felt that London was the place for me to end my days. Barbados is definitely the place I want to be.

Determined to make this happen upon my arrival in Bridgetown, I had rented a car, my first stop being the Barbados Immigration Department as it was very close to Grantley Adams International Airport. I talked to an official there and he provided me with official application documentation to register as a citizen of Barbados. He explained to me how it worked, the length of time for approval, the application fees, etc. I left the office, satisfied with having succeeded in getting what I had requested.

After arriving at my hotel, I changed and went down to the water and while dipping my feet in the ocean, this is when I spotted an object floating in the water. As I watched it, the metal object came in my direction and floated right up to where I was sitting. It was a metallic rectangular box inside some kind of plastic wrap. By the look of it, it had been very carefully wrapped in order to keep it water tight. I didn’t quite know what to think; I wasn’t sure whether I should leave it there or was it my destiny to discover what it contained.

I looked around and no one seemed to be paying me any attention despite there being quite a few people in the vicinity. I decided to grab the box before a wave pulled it back out to sea. I held it in my hands and examined it. It was of a light gray color. I shook it to find out if there was something inside and a sound indicated that it contained some kind of loose objects. Could it be a pirate treasure coming to me with gold coins and invaluable jewelry? I just stuffed it in my beach bag. I didn’t want to do anything more with it right there. I looked out towards the ocean and I watched Jolly Roger sailing away with a very enthusiastic group of people enjoying their Barbados Black Pearl Party Cruise. I looked at the ship through my binoculars and could see that the rum punch was being abundantly poured into the tourist’s glasses; everybody seemed to be enjoying their time dancing to the calypso rhythm.

As the sun had reached its peak, I didn’t want to be out too long at that time of day not being used to the tropical sun. I left the beach to grab something to eat. I walked to my hotel parking lot and drove to a Chefette restaurant for one of my favorites, two chicken rotis. Only in Barbados, could I find this delicious food which most of the locals looked at as being very ordinary but for me was a special treat. My thoughts drifted to how enjoyable my life would become living in Barbados. The more I thought about it, the more I realised I would really appreciate the laid back life style on the beach under this beautiful sun.

I walked over to the board walk which ran alongside the beach and sitting under a palm tree, enjoyed my chicken rotis with a Banks beer. Nothing could ever take from me this precious time. I enjoyed every second of my stay. No one received any selfies after my arrival. The only text messages I’d sent as soon as the plane touched down had been the confirmations to my family and friends that I had safely landed. I had no intention of surfing for business matters. I simply disconnected from everything.

Leaving my car parked by the waterfront, I walked around downtown Bridgetown to get the feel of the city again. I spent some time looking at the very distinctive Barbadian gift stands along the streets to buy gifts for my friends and family.

Since the weather forecast had indicated possible rain in the mid evening, I decided to return to my hotel room and surf the web a little to make myself more aware of the local real estate market.

«I, Owen McLeod the man looking towards his future retirement soon to become a citizen of the most beautiful island in the world! » I intended to get busy upon my return to get all the necessary paper work done to become a permanent resident and citizen of Barbados.

I found some interesting possibilities, beautiful homes, condos and flats; all, of course, very expensive but at the same time priceless as far their emotional value to me.

I was looking forward working a few more years before my retirement which would enable me to put more money aside for this move. I surfed for a while and then had a late dinner. I ordered a great flying fish and chips platter to be delivered to my room making sure they included a good amount of Delish hot pepper sauce (a must with flying fish) and of course two cold Banks beers. It was simply heaven on a plate.

After my meal, I grabbed a bottle of readymade rum punch from the small fridge, poured it into a glass and dropping in a few ice cubes went over and sat on a nice comfortable chair on my balcony.

The scenery of the Caribbean Sea was simply delightful to look at despite the absence of the usual sky full of stars which were hidden due to oncoming rain. The warm wind blew stronger as the dark gray clouds and the rain advanced across the sea in my direction. It became less inviting for me to stay on my balcony as the rain had started with just a few droplets but obviously much more to come. Going back into my room, not able to witness the magical sunset, this was exceptional because since my arrival, the weather had been totally perfect.

As I entered, I saw my beach bag sitting on the chair beside my bed. I had almost completely forgotten about my find earlier that day.

I opened my bag and took out the package. It was heavier than I remembered it being when I first picked it out of the water. I discarded the wrapping and as I rubbed my fingers over the cover to clear some of the dust, I realised that there was something engraved on the box cover.

I took a small towel from the bathroom and dampened it with a little bit of water to help get rid of the dust. The more I gently wiped it, the more I saw distinctive letters. After a few more rubs, it read: To be opened only on the first day of the year 2015.

I found it interesting as it was only days away from the New Year. Should I wait all this time? I asked myself. Why was it so important to wait before I could open this box? Why wait all this time? No one would see me doing it.

After a few minutes, during which time the temptation to open it was very strong, I decided to wait. Not knowing what was inside and presuming that it might be someone’s last will or something of that order, the individual who put it in the box might have genuinely believed that the person finding it would respect this request. For me, it would simply be a mark of respect to this individual, whoever he or she might be. Therefore I waited.

I have deposited it in my safe and set my watch for the Rupee song I am a Bajan ring tone for January 1st to remind me to open my safe and find out the contents of this mysterious box and the reason for this message.

The weather forecast for the remaining days of my holiday was for great weather.

I made it a daily ritual to go for an early morning swim then have good breakfast and in the afternoon head out to the Barbados Turf Club where I bet a few times, lost everything but I always found it fun to watch the horses. To finish the day, I would go to the golf club to play a round and then to the club house to enjoy a late meal and socialise with other diners.

I must confess that I am not a very good golfer but I was not there for a tournament but to enjoy myself. On days where I didn’t feel like golfing, I would exercise my other option and play some tennis until late afternoon.

On returning to my hotel in the mid evenings, I would pick up my favorite snack, two chicken rotis from a nearby Chefette and then enjoy the rest of my evening with a couple of cold Bank beers or rum punches on my balcony, watching the sun set on the Caribbean Sea.

I had not used my cell phone or gotten on line to check my emails at all during my vacation and I liked it that way. The time in Barbados was for me and I always voluntary disconnected from anything that would distract me from enjoying my time there.

Chapter 2

January 1st, 2015

I am a Bajan, I am a Bajan! my watch’s ring tone made itself heard very loudly exactly at midnight on January first! Stupid of me for not having set it for a more convenient time! I tried to go back to sleep but didn’t succeed. I went to the bathroom and splashed cold water on my face so as to be totally awake to examine this mystery box.

I turned on my bedside light, dialed the combination and opened my safe. I took the box in my hands and found I had to exert some force to lift its cover. It was as if it was somehow fused together. After a few pulls, I finally succeeded in opening it. The smell it emitted was quite overwhelming. I placed it next to the opened windows to let the smell disperse.

After the smell had gone, I took it in my hands and I sat on the side of my bed. What was inside the box seemed to be a personal journal. There was an old white ribbon wrapped around its black leather cover. Under the cover there was a folded sheet of paper with three punched holes. The paper was old and I had to take some precaution so that it would not disintegrate.

I opened it delicately and began to read.

«This is a time capsule that I have placed in the ocean in 1975. You are the person of the future by whom it was destined to be opened. You have in your hands information that I could not keep to myself anymore. I have to share it with someone before I depart this world. While I am still alive and well at this time, I have decided to make this move despite the risks involved by disclosing this data. The information contained in this journal and the two small reels of film is of the upmost importance to you and everybody living on this planet today, without exception. No matter what your race, your country, your religion, your lifestyle, your beliefs, whether you care or not presently about the life conditions of this planet, you will realise that what I am about to reveal to you is the biggest and most outrageous government classified cover up operation against humanity ever undertaken. The events related to it have been happening way before 1953 and I can certify that this is still an ongoing activity to this day.

Do not reveal this data to anyone until you have full confidence that the person you will pass it on to is someone completely worthy of trust. As for the two 8mm film reels included in the box, you are to view them in a very secure and secluded room. No one but you must watch them.

I implore you to believe me and I hope that you will trust everything I say. I do not know on which beach this box will come to rest. I am standing under the stars on the deck of that magnificent ship, the Queen Elizabeth on May, 8th, 1975 at exactly two o’clock in the morning.

Regards, Dr. Charles Darwin (As you have probably and already deduced, this is not my real name). »

The film reels were wrapped in plastic and enclosed in a type of light aluminum foil bags sitting at the bottom of the box. I delicately opened one of the bags realising how much care this man had put into the wrapping of these two reels. My feeling was that while all of this looked interesting, I was not keen on ending my vacation with the contents of the box being a mystery but I had to due to the fact I had no way of watching these two films at this time. The journal wasn’t very thick. It just consisted of a few pages. At a glance, it seemed to be all handwritten. I have to say that his writing was very elegant and easy to read.

I put everything back in the box, deposited it in the safe and headed to the hotel bar to savour my last night on the Rock.

I recognized a few people at the bar I had met earlier that day at the Turf Club and they invited me to join them as they were heading to the Harbour Lights on Bay Street for a meal and a pleasant enjoyable evening. This is not what I had planned but being alone and not having gone there before, I decided to join them and off we went.

The show and the calypso music were absolutely marvelous. I really enjoyed the whole evening. I got back to my hotel in the early morning hours.

My flight was not until later that day, so I enjoyed a few hours of sleep, showered and ordered a flying fish burger and fries with a Bank’s beer. While waiting for the food, I slowly started to pack everything up in order to be ready for the airport shuttle scheduled to pick me up. I put on warmer clothes as I knew from the forecast that it would be cold and very damp in London.

I had my last meal and savoured every single bite.

The last thing I had to pack was the mystery box so I took from the safe and put it in my briefcase. I intended to