Stone of Eternity

Chapter 1

October 2036

James Sullivan glanced at his watch as he approached the shoreline. He was annoyed. Why had he allowed his neighbour to talk him into helping to replace a few roof tiles by holding the ladder in a secure position? It was only supposed to take half an hour, but had overrun by forty-five minutes.

His faithful friend, Axel – a four year-old black and gold Alsatian, also seemed to be on edge.

Hanna had passed away within weeks of being diagnosed with a terminal brain tumour at the tender age of thirty-one. James was still in shock and felt utterly rudderless. After they married, he was happy to move from London, where they first met at university. Having both graduated and taken up employment in the renewable energy sector, they became sceptical of the UK government’s policy toward climate change and decided Hanna’s birthplace was a better place to work and consider starting a family.

To the north of Kristiansund there were many peaceful villages within commutable distance, most of which offered the slower paced life they craved. Everything was going so well when Hanna began to complain about irregular but severe headaches. After constant appeals from her husband she saw a specialist, and within days, she was admitted to hospital, by which time she had suffered frequent bouts of loss of balance and fainting. The worst possible fears became reality when James was told the tumour location meant it couldn’t be removed, even by the most advanced laser techniques available. Targeted medication was the only option and it was commenced immediately. Hanna insisted on knowing the full story and seemed to take everything on board with outrageous pragmatism, unlike James, who simply could not accept the situation. He made frantic enquiries throughout the world for any treatment which might be considered, rather than total reliance on the invisible workings of complex drugs. He hadn’t slept for three days when he received contact from a consultant in the Czech Republic. His new-found joy wasn’t diminished by the hefty cost of the process, he just wanted the man to examine Hanna. Devastation ensued as the appointment for this medical expert to travel to Norway couldn’t be for another six days. Hanna drifted hour by hour into a comatose state as the medication failed to halt pressure building in her cranial cavity. She died without uttering another word, two days before the Czech specialist was expected to arrive.

Rawness and reflection continually ousted one another during prolonged periods of sleepless nights, as James wrestled with staying in Norway. He felt it would amount to betrayal if he left, but the prospect of triggering images of Hanna smiling at him whenever he closed his eyes in that house brought on palpable fear of losing his mind. He determined to walk with Axel along the same route every evening as he’d done with Hanna, in an attempt to rid himself of making a precipitous or calamitous decision.

The tide was at an all-time low, making it easier to walk along the narrow strip of sand at the foot of a rocky outcrop. Just as he rounded the point he noticed the outline of someone coming in the opposite direction. He and Hanna had never seen another soul out walking in the encroaching dark since they’d lived in the village. As the silhouette drew closer he realised it was a young boy, perhaps twelve or thirteen years old.

James had not yet acquired much confidence in speaking Norwegian and certainly struggled with the local dialect, yet he ventured a basic greeting. The boy, to his relief, was able to respond in English.

Yes, hello. Who is the dog?

Axel, his name is Axel. It’s quite late for you to be out walking alone.

Yes. I will be in a problem when I get at home. But I found something, come, I can show it.

Wait, what have you found? said James, quite surprised that Axel had seemingly taken to the boy. That was unusual.

I cannot explain, you have to see it. Axel can help – I think.

They walked together toward the distant lighthouse without any further conversation. Abruptly, the boy said excitedly, There, that one. That is it.

That is what? queried James, what am I supposed to see? Axel became a little unsettled, protesting with a low-pitched growl.

It is a new rock, that one most far in the sea. The flat one.

Oh yes, that is a new one. The tide is so low tonight, and I’ve never noticed it before. Is this all you found?

No, you stop talking and look, it happens again when you ask me questions.

What happens again?

I am counting. Just look to the rock.

Within around thirty seconds James saw the red glow come and go. The boy looked at him smiling cheekily and asked, Why is the rock doing a trick?

James looked around the entire area as they counted down to the next glow. Then it hit him. The intensity of the glow was triggered by the lighthouse beacon. The synchronisation was undeniable.

The boy was a little disappointed and Axel was still grumbling while pulling on his leash.

What is your name? asked James.

Karl, who is your name?

I am James, listen, you found this rock and I think you should report it. I can walk you home to tell your mother and father about it and call the lighthouse. They should inform the coastguard.

Ok, will I get a present for it?

Maybe, I suppose it depends on what it is. You might become famous.

Famous, is it good – famous?

It can be. Let’s go now because the rock will soon go back under the water.

James took several photos of the event and saved the coordinates. Axel had to be dragged away from the scene, the growl turning to a pleading whine.

A strange feeling ran through James’ mind. Something he’d not felt since the funeral. Even if this was nothing more than a distraction, it felt good to have something tangible to aid his measured approach to the crucial question of whether he would return to the UK.

*

Karl’s family were already out looking for him and his father’s anxiety visibly evaporated as the two groups approached each other. James was able to quell any hint of disobedience on the part of Karl by embroidering events ever so slightly. Apologising for not being able to converse in their language, he suggested they should not delay informing the lighthouse of the find. The tension receded quickly and the call was made.

However, a new tension was created as the news spread through the village and beyond. Theories grew by the minute. From Norse gods of the sea, through unexploded Nazi mines, to foreign espionage monitoring. Everyone seemed to think this was the most exciting event in the history of the village.

It was all cut short by the arrival of the coastguard hover pod at daybreak. As information on the event had percolated up the decision-making chain, one of the environmental scientists postulated that if the red glow was due to reflected incident white light from the lighthouse, it could indicate the rock was potentially radioactive. In fact, this turned out to be the explanation for the appearance of the high tech hover pod. While tests were being carried out by this pod, on an object now several metres underwater, the debate raged over which body of authority should take command of the entire investigation. Also, with global communication having advanced so much since the millennium, other countries were muscling in with advice. As always in such situations, the panacea is to form a committee. At the other extreme, there was a real danger that Norway could be deluged by peeping toms from all over the planet. Unless of course it all turned out to be something like a rear stop light from an old vehicle having made its way from another country and got stuck on its way to the Aurora Borealis, crashed and then eventually absorbed by the sea. There were many possibilities.

Theories and hypotheses gradually began to die on the vine as the initial test results filtered in, yet this did nothing to diminish the temporary fame of the boy who discovered the red warning from the sea bed.

The hover pod reported a relatively weak but indisputable level of radioactivity. The next most important finding was a little confusing. Scans and X-rays implied that there were remains of a disc-shaped object, firmly embedded in the rock’s outer casing, which was determined to be mostly pumice. This release of data kick-started speculation again. Pumice was often considered to be formed as volcanic dust gathered and cooled. At least it explained how the lighthouse beam could reach inner parts of the rock. The labyrinthine nature of the pumice had been eroded over time by the sea, giving clearer access.

Within forty-eight hours, the media circus arrived in town, and it was twinned with a battery of temporary cabins appearing at the scene. Fortunately, the access by foot was limited by the tide, but that did not stop divers, both professional and otherwise breaking the cordon during the hours of darkness. The cabins were inhabited by scientists charged with dating the entire group of rocks, of which there were many. This exercise turned out to be a game changer.

Whilst the surrounding rocks contained the normal evidence of stratification due to climatic events, such as sedimentation, vulcanisation, tectonic interaction and fossilisation, the glowing rock was different. Radiometric dating checks were repeated again and again. The disc shaped object inside the core of the pumice shell was several hundred thousand years old. This was going to be difficult enough for governments around the world to handle, without the additional discovery that the radioactive source was from an element as yet never found naturally occurring on the planet, or indeed having been fabricated in the entire span of human history. As theories arose and collapsed, the process of censorship began. Apart from a few world-renowned archaeologists, the inner cordon was now populated with officials of multiple government denominations, mostly Norwegian, but sprinkled with a mini-united nations from elsewhere.

Karl’s fame would never be totally eclipsed, but the focus had shifted as to whether this was a unique rock or there were others.

Meanwhile, James had almost become an adopted family member in Karl’s clan. He had a new anchor point and got on particularly well with Karl’s father, Lars.

Will you go back to England now, James? It seems that our village has been invaded by the whole world. We don’t like it.

Well, admitted James, holding back a mountain of emotion, this is going to sound crazy, but I finally decided to stay. This invasion will pass, but a few weeks ago, the light of my life went out, and I just couldn’t cope. When I bumped into Karl and he led me to the rock, somehow a light came on again. Look, I’m a scientist, a realist, so this is nothing to do with religious or supernatural beliefs. If I’d never met Hanna and lost her here in this village I’d never have known about the rock. I just feel I owe it to her to find out everything I can about it. It will be like doing it together with Hanna, that’s all. I don’t know why but I have to do this.

That is not crazy, James. It is what makes us different as humans. And you have a family in this house to help you. You know that, I hope.

Thank you, Lars. There aren’t many people I could have talked to about this. I really mean that. I can’t explain it any other way than it’s the only thing I can look forward to.

Of course, and your big problem will be the ways of government. Exactly how the Norwegian people will react to keeping back information is not clear but we will help. I have friends who know things they are not supposed to know but they are not suspected because they are just humble farmers and fishermen. What could they possibly understand?

Chapter 2

As the complexity of the investigation burgeoned, decision making became inversely diminished but more authoritarian. Such a drift towards censorship fuelled a storm of protest, not just by Norwegians, but across the globe.

The archaeologists however, had but one concern – that the rock was protected and placed in the care of experts, even if that meant overseas. The newly formed multi-national steering committee had initially endorsed this as the way forward, in other words take the rock to the best facilities available rather than the converse. Demonstrations filled the streets of all major cities in Norway and persisted until there was a climb down which conceded the find should remain on the sovereign soil where it had presumably spent the last few million years. In just over twenty-four hours the rock and its surrounding stones had acquired the status of sacred ancient burial artefacts.

Lars was quick to summon James.

I believe you will have to go to Oslo to continue your quest.

Why Oslo?

My sources tell me that is where the object will go. The politicians still think we only work with our hands. It is a convenient cover for us. Any person of sufficient intelligence can become a hacker. We know that Oslo is preparing to receive ‘a parcel’.

In that case, Lars, I need to understand as much Norwegian as possible, and only you and I must know that. I need to be capable of eavesdropping because I don’t speak the language. Will you teach me?

Of course. We can walk and you can learn as we keep an eye on things. We should begin today.

*

The strategy of freeing these stones from their cocoon of pumice was both elaborate and destined to cause a further breakdown of trust. Dropping a submersible well offshore which was capable of extracting the stones from the sea bed, via a diver in the small hours seemed on the face of it to be the best covert option. In terms of getting them out of the water and into a canister offering optimum temperature and vacuum controls, was indeed quite an elegant approach. The flaw resided in the perceived stealth which could be guaranteed. A former flourishing fishing village had nets and alarm systems which were still in place, but assumed to be non-operational. The ‘authorities’ failed to realise that there were always people who would not let old technologies die easily. Like vintage cars, some fishermen with time on their hands kept systems going without renewing official permits. They didn’t have to do it for a living any more, it was purely to preserve the passion accumulated over a lifetime.

All hell broke loose when the villagers marched to the cordon at three in the morning, brandishing lit torches to intensify their anger. They used these to light a beacon on the cliff face which could be seen by neighbouring villages, and they had been primed to pass on this bona-fide evidence of catching government employees red-handed. The underhand way in which elected members of the government had turned a blind eye to the duplicity of the multi-national committee was seen as betrayal. As any bush fire spreads, this one did so with a scathing ferocity of public condemnation. What could not be undone was the extraction of the objects. What was definitely going to be targeted was the hierarchical structure of the unelected quango involved in the sub-plot to deceive the entire population of Norway, if not the rest of the world. Lars, whether by guesswork or inside knowledge, had been proved correct. The glowing stone seemed to be on its way to Oslo.

*

James was busy packing everything he might need in Oslo when he noticed how quiet Axel had been in recent days. A flush of guilt descended upon him. Axel’s unconditional love for James had recently been unrequited due to the commitment of his master to his obsession with the rock. James had even forgotten to ask Lars if he’d look after the dog while he was away. There was also another favour he had to address. He set off immediately to rectify his oversight.

Lars, please say no if it’s a burden, I forgot to ask if you’d look after Axel for a while. Sorry, but I can’t take him with me to Oslo.

Lars burst out laughing and James perceived this as a good natured refusal.

You must have special powers, James. Karl has pestered me continually about this. I told him that you and Axel were never going to be separated and it broke his heart. I should offer you a drink for proving me wrong. When will you leave?

Well, you had me worried there for a moment, there’s nobody else I could leave Axel with. I’ll take the drink, but I have another request. How will I be able to keep up my lessons to learn Norwegian?

I had already thought about this. I will send you children’s short stories in Norwegian audio format and you can translate them, then send your English version back to me and I will correct them. Children’s stories are best, we never know who can intercept our exchange.

I always seem to be saying thank you, Lars. One day I hope to return all these favours. I’m leaving tomorrow morning so I’ll contact you when I arrive. Apparently, the stone is being transported to Oslo tomorrow evening, so I want to be there when it arrives. After all the lies, I expect the arrival to be thoroughly scrutinised by the media, but I want to be there to see it.

They shook hands just as Karl opened the door, having returned from school. His face broke into a broad grin when he saw Axel lying comfortably by the log-burning stove. Is Axel here to say goodbye?

Yes, said his father, parading a sad face, to say goodbye to James, but only if you promise to look after Axel as if your life depends on keeping him safe.

Karl nodded enthusiastically and cuddled the dog before hugging James. The departure was highly-charged with unspoken gratitude and mutual respect, almost as if the separation was to be permanent, especially when listening to the muted whining of Axel.

*

As he took his seat on the six o’clock early bird train to Oslo, James was going through a reality check. The unease intensified when his breakfast arrived and the waiter asked if he preferred espresso, flat white, or some other concoction he’d never heard of.

Flat white, he muttered dispassionately, then added, and some water, not carbonated – plain water.

Staring out of the window, watching the countryside flashing by, he drifted into a subliminal place.

‘What the hell am I doing? Me and my breakfast hurtling along to a big city. What can a simple punter expect to achieve in the face of lockout by the government, let alone the secret service? Even if I knew why there were two agendas, being economical with the truth and blindsiding the proles at the same time, where do I begin?’

His thoughts drifted to stuff he did understand. In terms of technology he was savvy, and he had connections. Focussing on this first step, he would make the acquisition of such equipment a top priority. He began to smile, then had difficulty in resisting the urge to laugh out loud. His lone wolf vow to track the investigation of the stone was taking the form of a silly computer game. Here he was on a train in the dark, foregoing his normal routine. He always took care of ablutions before taking a shower, then had breakfast. But here he was engaging in a dangerous ‘soldier of fortune’ quest, sweaty and unwashed.

His disgust turned to fantasy. The first humans who abandoned hunting and gathering in favour of agrarian culture at least did so in groups. The world was a huge unexplored place back then, and remained so until technology cut swathes through this concept in a relentless fashion. Technology, yes, - in some ways, the planet could be held in one’s hand, a mobile phone, without which social media would not have emerged so ubiquitously. A perfect example of unforeseen uses of technology was how a small middle-eastern group could fight an asymmetric war with world superpowers and hold their own for a number of years. He put this down to the increasing influence of chaos, something which was anathema to governance. Because of unregulated travel by more and more people, the transport of hidden infection was unwittingly unbridled. He and his breakfast, together with his need to defecate, sneeze or sweat even more, were heading from the sticks to a veritable swarm of unprepared censors. Technology, hiding himself in plain sight, understanding Norwegian without speaking a word of it, and support from the village mafia were his only tools. Every challenge had at least one element of general relativity – Einstein had a lot to answer for. However, his strongest motive was the loss of Hanna herself, he wasn’t going to succumb to a mental breakdown and wallow in self-pity. It was something she’d have been proud to do with him. It really was a no-brainer, it was the era in which the individual could achieve disproportionate impact.

Back to reality, the train had just passed the halfway point and he suddenly had company. A man sat opposite him after checking his ticket with the booking slip on the seat. Not long after this man had settled down and plugged in his mobile device, he reacted to whatever he was watching and despatched a mouthful of Norwegian profanities.

I’m sorry, I’m English, replied James, I’m afraid I can’t speak Norwegian.

Ah, then do you not know about this business of a stupid rock they found in a small village?

Oh, yes I have been following the story. Has something happened?

You could say that. We are wasting time and money with rocks when we need thousands of roads fixed. Some local idiots in this village have been protesting yet again, marching right through the official cordon around the area. Apparently, they carried no weapons, but threatened to take the object from the authorities before it was sent to Oslo. It is nothing but blackmail, they want money to allow this rock to move to the capital. The authorities should let them throw it back into the sea and give them nothing.

Mm, I think that’s exactly what would have happened in the UK. What do you think will really happen in Norway?

It is always the same, they will bend with the wind. Some money will change hands under the counter and the people in Oslo will waste more money just looking at a common stone from the sea.

James let this wash over him. Lars must have known this polarisation of views was going to happen, but he hadn’t mentioned it. He must have had a reason for that. His thoughts drifted back to technology. He took out his phone and began researching the status of the 2033 Mars colonisation project. He knew roughly how the habitat area had spread to accommodate over a hundred people, but he had lost touch with the latest areas of progress in terms of self-sustainability. He wanted to know how the Exo-Cortex Version One was doing. The device was no bigger than a mobile phone, but it still had to be connected to a port behind the ear which in turn was physically linked to the wearer’s neocortex. Apparently, the surgical procedure was less intrusive then a sex change operation. The next version was reputed to be heralding a ‘wireless’ connectivity, but it required more risky brain surgery to fit the modification which would render the external port redundant. Being able to transmit terabytes of data directly into a human brain was a phenomenal advantage in terms of short-circuiting a learning phase, but there had been ethical concerns. Not least of all, the need for a delete and undelete facility. It was thought by many that this was Asimov’s ‘I Robot’ being licensed by stealth. It wasn’t quite as dramatic as the wonder of the Star Trek transporter system for moving a person thousands of miles in a nanosecond, nevertheless it was a giant step into the unknown. He was certain that some such gadget would be needed to keep up to speed with the truth rather than the rhetoric.

His experience in the renewable energy business could be a gateway to some expert who could bring him up to speed on the concept of Exo-Cortex Version Two. The web was the best anonymous starting point. Blogs, forums and compulsive egocentric individual posters would be well into a subject like this. But, ethics was a real concern to James, meaning that he wouldn’t share any potential pirated knowledge of such technology. These thoughts weren’t a plan, more a reflection of his need for distraction from bereavement. The carriage display in the train was flashing notice of imminent arrival in Oslo.

Chapter 3

James’ first priority was to buy an unregistered mobile and contact Lars. Sitting in a café near the train station, he needed to know where in Oslo the stone was likely to be delivered before booking into a hotel or renting a room from which he could observe comings and goings.

He sent the message and took in more caffeine while he waited impatiently for more information. It finally arrived over an hour later.

‘The egg is ready to depart. No idea where it will hatch. We are able to say more about the age. When it was first reported that it was several hundred thousand