THE LAST JOURNEY by Dela Bobobee (best classic books txt) 📕

took in a very deep breath of relief. I suddenly realized that one of my legs was suspended in mid-air and was not touching the other rock. The realization came to me with a shock. What was happening to me is referred to in physics as quantum teleportation. It appears that my ancient African ancestors who lived in these pristine settlements might have known, developed and practised these amazing tricks of teleportation long before modern science stumbled onto the scientific vestiges of the theories of relativity. I noticed that one of my legs was still suspended in mid-air. I know that if I placed it on the other stone platform another scene would change and I would travel through time again into yet another era in a point in time. I was terrified of this new revelation. I was not sure of where the next leap of teleportation would land me. The fearful and bizarre spectacle of that vampire in my last encounter flashed through my mind again and I became very scared of what to do next.

For what seemed like an eternity I stood poised with indecision on one leg like an amputated fowl on the Rocks of Fear. The fear of the unknown coupled with intrinsic safety warning signals flashed through every fibre of my being to quickly jump off those two accursed rock platforms and ran as fast as my legs could carry back to Paga and civilization. But incurable human curiosity and restless quest for adventure took the better part of my good judgement. Suddenly I had an irresistible urge to stamp my foot on the other pedal and travel through time again. I told myself this would be my one last journey through time after which I would go back to the town of Paga. Yes, this one would be the last journey. I wondered what horrors or blissful spectacles await me there on the other side of nature. Would it be pleasant or distasteful? What fate awaits humanity on the other side of the future? Is it good or bad? Well, there was only one way to find out. The frustration and dilemma of curiosity, and the fear of uncertainty was killing me, impatience was boiling in my breast in a crescendo of cacophonic “Yes, Yes, Yes ... No! No! No!” The decision was hastily made. At least it was only natural for me to take a glimpse into what fate awaits humanity, and what the future holds in store for mankind. I needed to know. I held my breath, closed my eyes and stamped my suspended foot with all vehemence on the other waiting rocky plate of quantum teleportation.

For a few breath-taking seconds of anticipation nothing happened. I opened my eyes to see, still nothing happened. Perhaps now is my chance to quietly leap off those rocks and go home safely. But that means the loss of a rare opportunity to peek into the future and have an insight into what lies ahead of our earthly existence. I realized that intelligence is not a privilege; it is gift that should be used for the benefit of mankind. Perhaps if I miss that opportunity; human progeny would never forgive me of failing to take advantage of the chance. Perhaps there may never be a second chance.

I stamped my foot again on the rock platform and waited. At first it appeared as if nothing was going to happen but suddenly I heard strange whispers and saw a thick white smoke spiralling from a cracked gourd on the rock. The smoke came out profusely and changed into a very thick toxic black smoke like the carbon monoxide fumes from a rickety vehicle. The atmosphere became dark, the sky was very dirty, plants and livestock were scrawny and sickly. I saw the planet earth like a very dirty and sickly orb encased in a glass globe. It looked like an enlarged bloodshot eye complete with scraggy veins and slime. It was painfully coughing out clot of blood and thick black smoke. There were two types of lives on the earth, sickly humans and plants on one side and a combination of half-human half- mechanical-electronic robot-like beings on the other side. The half human-half robots were taunting the real natural humans and were forcing them to transmute into robots like them. Some of the human could not run away from the robots because they were suffering from severe obesity due to inactivity as a result of the easy lifestyle technological advancement has brought.

There was a complete reversal of the present climatic conditions. There was snow in parts of Africa and other tropical countries but deserts have taken over the icy mountains of the temperate zones. There were horrifying tragic deaths from landslides, flooding, tornadoes, earthquakes, and epidemic to cataclysmic proportions. There was only one race of humans on earth, there was no distinction in human skin colour for the complexion of every human became a dark skin like the black people of Africa. Apparently the continuing devastating effects of the global warming became too uncontrollable and the unbearable ultraviolent rays of the sun had turned all human skins into black skins; a natural way of the skin to acclimatize to the black pigmentation as protective shield against the merciless rays of the sun. There were other planets with some forms of life on them. The moon became a second home to earthly inhabitants. The moon was an exhausted storehouse to the earth. Humans had found a way to harness every solid material imaginable that was on earth and also all that had hitherto lay hidden for centuries in the crust of the moon; had been excavated and used to replenish the sickly earth. Some of the good robots forcefully encased some humans in a large glass enclosure labelled “HIGHLY ENDAGERED SPECIES".

In spite of the harsh conditions of living, some of the natural humans were still hopeful for a redeemer who is to come and bring an end to their predicaments. The expectation was very high. A multitude of humans gathered on a hill waiting anxiously for a signal from heaven. They wailed and gnashed their teeth in heightened anticipation. Suddenly it happened. There was a thunderous clashing noise, the sky divided into two and a huge ancient scroll fell down from heaven. Everybody, including me rushed near to read what was written in the ancient scroll. I strained my eyes to read but saw nothing. I groped for a glimpse but saw nothing. I was not sure if my sight had gone blunt or it was rather the scroll that was empty. I started to cry out of frustration. I saw again the big orb of an all seeing bloodshot eye pleading with me, "You must go now and warn them before it is too late". I was hearing voices far away in my subconscious calling my name. “Go now! Go!” urged the all-seeing eye. I hesitated. I wanted to know what was in the scroll. The urge to know was too irresistible but invisible hands were pulling me away from the spot. I started to cry; I was thrashing and shouting loudly, "No, wait... I need to know. I NEED TO KNOW!" 

I woke up with a start. I saw myself again on the "Pinkworo"; only this time around I was not alone. I was surrounded by many concerned looking tourists. I saw myself in the arms of a young European lady. From maternal instinct perhaps, she hugged me to her ample bosom and was tenderly swaying my crumbled body. There were tears in her eyes. She looked at me with relief when I opened my eyes to look at her. She gave me a thin nervous smile and said, "Thank God, he has finally come back". Come back from where? I asked myself. Suddenly it all started flooding back into my mind. "No!" I shouted and tried to stand up. Many hands held me down immediately. "You must remain calm; something terrible has happened to you here". I was told to relax and that help was coming.

The help they were expecting came in form of an old looking man they ran to fetch from the village. The old man brought along with him a bucketful of water and a smooth round boulder. The crowd parted to give him way. He came and knelt down by my side and placed the rock on my forehead for some time. When he dropped the rock into the bucketful of water something strange happened. Immediately the rock touched the water in the bucket there was a very loud whooshing sound like an extremely heated iron touching liquid. He repeated this action twice and declared that I was now well enough and should be allowed to stand up. I tried to stand up but fell down again; my legs were too wobbly to support my frame.

Quick, the message!  I realised that I have got to deliver the SOS message from nature on the other side of the future, but I wondered what the actual message was. I could not remember precisely, but I believed the general idea was to warn mankind about the continuing foolhardy environmental degradation. There is a climatic boulder that is tilted on a hill, but once it starts rolling it can never stop. It is not enough to sign and ratify the Kyoto Accords, it must be strictly implemented. The 37 industrialized countries (called "Annex I countries") must commit themselves to a reduction of industrial gases, chlorofluorocarbons, or CFCs, and four greenhouse gases (GHG) (carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, sulphur hexafluoride) and two groups of gases (hydrofluorocarbons and perfluorocarbons) produced by them, and all member countries must give general commitments. Let us also implement the 1987 Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer.

What about our moral degeneracy, spiritual bankruptcy, and above all, the cataclysmic propensity of scientific and technological advancements? The message is to take caution, imbibe moderation and slow down the pace of our Icarus dizzy flights near the sun and abysmal voids; lest we got sucked through the holes we are digging in the ozone layer. I wonder how mankind would listen to the voice of caution when scientists have jumped into orbit to have a clearer view of things we leave behind.

 

Imprint

Text: Copyrights © Dela Bobobee All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced in any from or by any means without prior permission of the writer. Cover Design: A caption on a signpost at the Chief Crocodile Pond of Paga in Ghana.
Publication Date: 11-11-2009

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Dedication:
To the people of the Ghanaian communities of Paga and Boabeng Fiemma Monkey Sanctuary, Ghana Eco Tourism Projects, and to all the progressive forces, NGOs and other global organizations fighting tirelessly against environmental degradationg, and all agencies working for Wildlife Conservation, Preservation and Protection of Endangered Spicies.