Impossible Journey, A Tale of Times and Truth

CHAPTER 1: THE IDEA

Imagine if you will: The year is 2025. The possibility of time travel has been theoretically proven and is accepted without question by the scientific community at large, although it has yet to be demonstrated by actual experience. The world is standing on tiptoe.

Today is Friday, the first of June, the date set for the annual meeting of the World Scientific Society. This particular meeting is destined to be different from past meetings. Its outcome will affect certain of the society’s members in ways that they cannot now imagine. The revolutionary events detailed here will all happen as a direct result of a simple question which is about to be asked by the chairman Mr. John Sterghean of Switzerland. After the group has chatted idly for some time about various diseases illnesses and problems, he suddenly strikes the gavel on the table and cleared his throat. When everything is silent, he speaks.

"Gentlemen, we have been discussing various individual diseases, illnesses and problems. But let me set before you a question which is crucial to them all. Gentlemen, what do you see as the main cause of disease and evil in the world?"

The members sit in silence, each one pondering the answer to the question. The group includes Walter Bryant, from Germany, William Nifang, from Japan, Kerry Nadine, from Saudi Arabia, David Sung, from China and Allen Daniel Cohen from the USA. All of them have given their life to the betterment of mankind through scientific pursuit.

It is Cohen who finally speaks "It seems to me that the main cause of disease and evil in the world is sin."

"And, just what do you mean by 'sin'?" asks the chairman, smiling. "Please define your terms."

"By 'sin,’ I mean a failure to conform to the law and precepts of Almighty God."

"I’m sure we would all agree with that, responds the chairman. "We all believe in a God, although we may call him by different names. To you, he is JHWH, to Kerry, he is Allah, to Will, he is Buddha, and to David, he is Confucius. So then, my friends, we all agree with brother Daniel’s proposal do we not?"

All nod in agreement.

"But, objects Walt, "This is a scientific gathering, not a theological one. I’m sure you have a point."

"I do, affirms John, "and a very poignant one, if you’ll just bear with me. But, where did this failure to comply, this 'sin' as you call it, originate?"

Mr. A. Daniel Cohen thinks for a moment and then reaches his hand into his coat pocket. "Gentlemen, if I may,--.” He pulls out a pocket edition of the Hebrew Old Testament. "Allow me to offer a rough translation."

John nods in approval and Daniel begins translating:

"Now the serpent was the smartest of all the beasts. And he said to the woman, 'Does God really say you should not eat of every tree in the Garden?' And the woman said to the serpent...'of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God has said we shall not eat of, neither touch it, lest we die.' And the serpent said to the woman, you shall not surely die for God knows that in the day you eat of it you’ll be like gods...And the woman took the fruit of the tree and gave also unto her husband and they ate."

As Daniel translates, John notices the light of recognition dawning on the faces of the others.

"Ah yes, affirms Walt. I remember that. It's part of the E document, I believe."

"It’s from the Torah." asserts Kerry.

"Ah! We have some sort of story like that in our ancient Japanese literature,” says Will.

"Chinese likewise," agrees David.

"But, the point?!" objects Walt.

John smiles broadly. "The point, my friends, is simply this: What do you think can be done about the situation?”

"What do you mean?"

"What I mean is, do you think, in the light of our present knowledge, that we could possibly do anything to change the situation?"