D. MacHale - Raven Rise

“What kind of wonders?” Courtney asked.

Naymeer closed his eyes, as if remembering a time long past. “I quickly realized that the gift was more than a simple trinket. The power contained in this stone saved my life and opened the door to Halla. Whenever I held the ring, I saw visions of the fantastic. The impossible. I saw other worlds full of unique animals and alien civilizations. There were ancient tribes and modern spectacles. Initially I was frightened, but I soon learned they weren’t fantasies, or spirits sent to haunt me. I was getting a glimpse into the vast reality of Halla.”

“You traveled to other territories?” Mark asked.

“No!” was the quick answer. “I have never left Second Earth. There is no need. The ring provided me with all the answers. I grew up alone, you know. In a foundling hospital. The ring and its truths became my whole life.”

“I don’t buy this,” Courtney said. “No way a kid could figure all this out on his own.”

“You are correct. I was adopted by a young woman, who raised me. Together we explored the wonders of Halla. She showed me all that was good, and so much that was wrong. Together we formed the plan to ensure that the good would triumph.”

“Nevva Winter,” Mark gasped.

“Yes, sweet Nevva. I cannot say she became a mother to me. She was more of a mentor. But she is as much responsible for all that has happened as I.”

“So what happened?” Courtney asked impatiently. “What is the point of Ravinia? What are you promising these people?”

Naymeer leaned forward. His eyes sparkled with an intensity that made Mark and Courtney press back into their seats.

“I’m giving them hope for the future,” he answered. “I started slowly, appealing to children and their parents. The war drove them to me. London was in turmoil for many years. People knew there had to be a better way. They needed to know there was something bigger, something more important, in order to make sense of their misery. To organize the chaos. I showed it to them. With this ring I treated them to glimpses of other worlds. Other civilizations. I introduced grand possibilities that reached past their limited lives. I convinced them to look beyond their borders and strive to become citizens, not of their towns or their countries, but of Halla!”

“That’s it?” Courtney scoffed. “You showed them some floating pictures and they lined up to follow you? You can get that in the movies.”

“Except motion pictures aren’t real,” Naymeer countered. Courtney backed down.

Naymeer continued, “I showed them how their lives would have no limits, no restrictions, as long as they believed in me and my vision of a greater future. Not everyone has the prescience. I had to appeal to the proper type of person.”

Mark said, “The elite. The strong. The enlightened.”

Naymeer’s eyes widened with pride. “I’m flattered. You listened to my speech.”

“We didn’t have a choice,” Courtney growled.

“I had a difficult upbringing,” Naymeer continued. “It became clear early on, that the only way to survive was to excel. To be better. To rise above the rabble. Every world of Halla is faced with the same challenge: From individuals to cities, tribes to armies, governments to families-societies throughout time have crumbled due to their tolerance for weakness. Instead of encouraging the strong, they waste resources on those who don’t contribute. Halla can be so much better than that. Imagine if our prime goal were to transcend mediocrity? Think of the possibilities! Instead of being held back by the weight of failure, we should reward those who strive for excellence. The doctors. The scientists. Teachers. Generals. Mathematicians. Athletes. Those who excel in finance.

The visionaries. The leaders. Excellence will be rewarded. Failure and apathy will not be tolerated. Once that philosophy is universally accepted, Halla will soar to greater heights than could ever be imagined. Let me quote one of your most popular presidents: ‘Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country’ That is the philosophy of Ravinia. That is what we will achieve throughout Halla.”

“But you twisted it,” Mark argued. “That wasn’t what Kennedy meant. He was making a plea for people to think beyond themselves and consider the needs of others.”

“Exactly,” Naymeer said with satisfaction.

“You’re only considering one side,” Mark complained. “I can quote you, too: ‘We must reward excellence and condemn those whose only contribution to society is to burden.’ Yousaid that, didn’t you?”

Naymeer smiled. “You know more about me than you’ve let on.”

Courtney sat forward and said, “What about the people who don’t live up to your high standards? The burdens to society? They’re going to be ‘marginalized,’ right? What does that mean?”

“It means they are inconsequential,” Naymeer said. “What is the saying you Americans are so fond of? If you’re not part of the solution, you’re part of the problem.”

“Problem?” Mark shouted. “Just because somebody might not have some special talent, doesn’t make them a problem. Every life has value.”

“Indeed,” Naymeer agreed. “It is up to every individual to find their talent and use it for the common good.”

“And who decides if they’re contributing enough?” Courtney bellowed, getting red faced. “You? Not everybody is a leader. Or a genius. What about all the people who are just…normal?”

“They will be encouraged to be productive,” Naymeer said easily. “If they choose otherwise, there will be repercussions.” Naymeer touched a button on the console on the side of his seat and spoke to the driver. “Take us to Horizon One.”

“This is unbelievable,” Courtney cried. “What about the elderly? The sick? You’re saying that millions of people will be tossed aside?”

“Believe me,” Naymeer countered. “There are millions who agree with my way of thinking.”

“Brought to us courtesy of a bird,” Courtney scoffed. “A raven. Ravinia. Cute.”

Naymeer laughed. “All I’ve done is appeal to the common sense of those who want a better way of life. This isn’t about race or religion or nationality. All we are doing is concentrating on the positive and eliminating the negatives.”

“You’re eliminating humanity,” Mark said softly. “You sound exactly like Saint Dane.”

“That is the greatest compliment you could have paid me,” Naymeer said with smug satisfaction.

All three fell silent. Courtney and Mark held hands for support. The words of the man sitting across from them played over and over in their minds. In a few minutes the car turned off the highway and came to a stop. Immediately one of Naymeer’s guardians opened the door. Mark and Courtney looked at the old man.

“You inquired, you should see,” he said as he got out of the car.

“Is this possible?” Courtney whispered to Mark. “Can this one guy change the thinking of an entire world?”

“It’s not just this one guy,” Mark answered soberly. “This is all about Saint Dane. And it’s not just about this one world.”

They both got out to see several of the red-shirt guardians surrounding them. Two motorcycles had been leading the limo. Two more black cars had been trailing. Alexander Naymeer was well protected.

“This way,” Naymeer said, and walked off.

Mark and Courtney followed. They were on the edge of a vast construction site. Mounds of dirt were everywhere, being pushed around by heavy machinery. The first sections of a tall, cement wall could be seen, on top of which was a line of red flags with gate stars, flapping in the breeze. Naymeer climbed up on a scaffold to get a better view. Mark and Courtney joined him. Red-shirt guards were never far away, keeping a watchful eye.