Greenworld: A Brief History of the Hidden Five

A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE HIDDEN FIVE
Followed by a Brief Description of the Current Five

When the leaders formed the ADM and the preservation system, they felt that it would be prudent to have one citizen free of the node; both as a fail-safe and as a means to maintain ‘natural reproduction’ in the interest of preserving a living history of genetic variation.

The traditions of the Hidden Five began with a man named Tobias, his adopted daughter Natalie, Natalie’s husband Quilleran, and Natalie’s daughter Mary. This small family was selected by vote- Tobias because he had been instrumental in developing the ADM and could be certain to install the needed programming. The others simply because they were Tobias’ family.

            During the first couple years, all four were free of the node and their work was peaceable enough. However, the toll of the labor and the confinement lead to discord. Boredom lead to arguments, and arguments lead to copulation with the Citizens, and the copulation disrupted the organization of the system.ff

            The ADM posited that the programming would benefit from only one ‘free radical’ in the system, which would be less likely to disrupt the delicate balance of the system.

            “One can maintain the needed order- five will destroy it.”

            Tobias resisted the idea at first, dreading the thought of being the only human free of the ADM. However, after a decade of living in the City, there was an incident when Quilleran had a fatal fall into the canal while making use of a citizen.

‘It’s a senseless death,’ reported the ADM, ‘and one which could have been avoided if he’d had the node.’

Tobias discussed the matter with Natalie and Mary, and they agreed- the nodes would make life in the City far more bearable because the node could regulate their more basic desires.

Together, they decided that the Elder would be the fail safe, and that the Elder would pass knowledge to the next Elder until the time was right for the City to emerge.

Their first step was to implant nodes to both Natalie and Mary, and after this Tobias oversaw the reintegration of Quillerans body to form a new help-mate for Natalie.

When all this was over, Tobias decided to it was time to create a mate for Mary. She was nearly 30, and Tobias decided that a help-mate would be a suitable gift for her third decade.

 Tobias began preparations to grow the helpmate. They selected features, genetic pairings and made way for the final ingredient- the essence of Tobias.

When Mary turned 30, Tobias removed Natalie’s node then gave her his knowledge of the City and the ADM. After this, Tobias was placed in a growing tank and deconstructed. His essence was used, in part, to construct Mary’s helpmate which they gave CAL “P” and soon after, Mary conceived and had a boy which they gave CAL “ T ”

            This began the process of the The Hidden Five, and the role of the Elder as the overseer. Through the generations, the new helpmate has been grown using the essence of the Elder to ensure that there are only Five in the ‘old ways’ and only one without a node.

            In this system, the CALs P and Q refer to the mate that was grown, the natural-born is always CAL T, N, or M. Because of this, the genetic expression of the Hidden Five has a broad range.

THE HIDDEN FIVE

T – T is an old man, approximately 73 years old. Unlike the standard-issue citizen, T is the product of natural reproduction with minimal genetic interference. Because of this, he is slightly taller than the usual citizen at five-feet five inches. He has a beard, and a genetic expression closer to the modern Mediterranean.

P – P is an old woman and help-mate to T. though she appears to be 73, she was ‘born’ when T was 30 and by standard years is only 43. She has a fondness for the books and trinkets of the Library. Despite the node, P is very curious of the pre-turmoil times and often discusses history at length with T and the ADM. Genetically, P expresses a person of Celtic-Irish heritage.

N – N is an adult male, logical and brusk. He is the biological child of T and P and is 42 years old. From an early age N enjoyed the mechanical aspects of the city, and improved small features of the filters and the Storehouse. Genetically, N expresses a North Eastern European flare.

Q – Q is an adult female, though grown only 12 years ago she appears to be 42. She enjoys the living library most out of all the City’s features- the quiet of the forests and the calm of the canals flowing past. She tends to pity the citizens, and wonders if her thoughts could be freer without the node. Her appearance is Central African.

M – M is the biological child of N and Q and is 11 years old. Like his grandmother, he has a taste for books and history, and adores biological mechanics. He spends hours discussing the tanks and the Citizens with ADM. Though the prospects of a future world are fascinating, M does not understand why anyone would want to leave the peace of the City.

Fear and Faith – Six Books in Future Fiction

With the election (more-or-less) finalized and Biden set to take office in January 2021, Americans are certain President-Elect Joe Biden is the either the Beacon of the New Age (who has just conquered a threat of Trumpean Tyranny) or the Harbinger of Doom (who aims to dismantle freedom in favor of socialistic solipsism).

It seems a perfect time to read a few books about humanity’s humble efforts to find Utopia.*

1) Utopia (1516) by Thomas More presents the travels of an explorer called Hythloday, who describes his travels through an idyllic state called Utopia. Throughout, More contrasts Utopia with his political realities and concludes “many things be in the Utopian weal public, which in our cities I may rather wish for than hope after.”

2) Animal Farm (1945) by George Orwell is an allegorical tale about farm animals which overthrow the humans in order to create a more perfect union among the animals. The idea begins with the premise that “all men are enemies. All animals are comrades,” and in the course of time the treatise degenerates from “All animals are equal,” to “All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others.”

3) Lord of the Flies (1954) by William Golding is a short novel about a group of boys stranded on a deserted Island. A core idea is the struggle between a humans desire for order and civility, and human’s desire to overpower and eliminate competition. Though they say “We’ve got to have rules and obey them,” whether the rules are for order or for survival may be a matter of perspective.

4) 1984 (1949) by George Orwell takes place in an England where the citizens are never alone. TV’s monitor their actions and feed a constant stream of propaganda to their minds. A theme throughout is how language and history are vital to the control of a population, for “He who controls the past controls the future.”

5) Brave New World (1932) by Alduous Huxley is world where ‘the principle of mass production [is] at last applied to biology.’ Every citizen is designed for a purpose and given complete freedom to pursue their passions. A theme throughout is whether humans are fully human when their desires and passions are completely programmed. However, if “One believes things because one has been conditioned to believe them,” perhaps it is our own conditioning that makes us think we’re human at all.

6) Greenworld (2020) by Judah LoVato is about a self-sustaining City where the Citizens live in a complete, unified peace. A theme of the story is how absolute peace may in fact need an absolute violence to control the baser impulse of humanity, “Five humans can maintain a place like this- five hundred would destroy it.”

*Presented here are my gross reductions of complex books-

The Greenworld

Somewhere in the 25th century there is a City of peace. In this City, the Citizens follow the precepts; and to follow the precepts they labor; and to labor they rest; and to rest they commune; and such is their peaceful life. However, a loose connection means Citizen Z21 must learn the price of peace and choose what it means to live.

Available through Amazon https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08LP2B5C6

The House

Once upon a time there lived a person who inherited a house. The house was a moderate size, with enough space to live comfortably but not so much as to feel empty without dozens of guests. The person loved everything about the house, except a sentient fire extinguisher that came with it.

The fire extinguisher, called Al, had been with the house since the beginning, and it’s purpose and desire was to keep the house from catching fire and extinguishing any fires that might arise. To this end, the Al ensured the house had many clear markings for fire exits, safety measures, and small pamphlets showing good ways to keep a fire-free home.

The person, called Alex,  did not enjoy Al’s measures. The signs that Al posted interfered with the aesthetics of the house; the pamphlets distracted from the coffee-table humor books; and the so called ‘safety measures’ made Alex’s house-parties a touch awkward at best.

In fact, at every party Al would putter about dousing minor flames, moving candles from ideal spots, and distracting everyone from the good times. Annoyed with this, Alex took telling Al at every opportunity “See, Al, we’re fine- we don’t need you here.” and ignoring every aspect of Al’s advice.

And Little by little Alex removed all of Al’s measures, and little by little Alex pushed Al deeper and deeper in a corner of the basement where Al wouldn’t be able to interfere with the beauty and happiness of a good full house.

At first Al resisted, warning Alex that ignoring the measures would surely cause a terrible fire, but with every party and with every warning Alex simply told Al “We don’t need you here, go down to your corner.”

So at last, Al did and Alex locked the basement door behind him. Al went and waited in his corner, and listened to the happy sounds of the party after party, even while the house groaned with lack of care. Al simply waited, hoping Alex would come back and allow him to help the house, all the while dreading the day that a fire started- knowing that he’d have a hard time helping.

And one evening the fire started. Al could hear it from the house, who cried terribly. Al rushed to the basement door, but he only heard the sounds of the happy party. He knocked on the door, but no one could hear him knocking and no one would listen the hurting house.

He knocked all the louder until Alex noticed.

“I hear you,” came Alex’s voice through the door, “be quiet- you’ll disturb the party.”

“There’s a fire.” Said Al, “let me in so I can extinguish it.”

“I don’t smell any smoke, and I’ll extinguish it. We don’t need you; go back to your corner.”

“I’ll wait right here,” said Al, “Just let me in so I can repair things- the house is crying, can’t you hear it?”

“The house is logs and wires, it has no feelings.” And Alex left.

Meanwhile, the house’s cries intensified and Al listened, trying to console his friend,

“Where is it? Where?”

“Oh, my rooms. It’s the upper rooms. They fell asleep, the drunkards! And smoking in the beds and spilled bottle of liquor. Ohh, it stings!”  

Al knocked on the door again, but louder

“Alex! Alex! Let me in!”

And there was a kick on the door, and the music gained volume.

Al leaned on the door, knowing the fire was gaining hold of the upper rooms while the party goers celebrated unaware.

At last, there came a faint call:

“Fire!” barely audible over the music, there was a shuffling and running, the music stopped and Al could hear steps charging up the stairs. He shook his head,

“It’s too big Alex, come get me I can still put it out.”

“Blankets! Use water!” came a cry

“Alex, don’t you have a fire extinguisher?”  

“Call the fire department!”  

More running steps and the door burst open. Al charged out and up the stairs before Alex had a chance to ask, Al shot at the flames near the sleeping guests and pulled them out.

“They’re out,” cried the house, “the guests are out! The flames… cannot be.”

Outside, Alex, Al and the guests gazed at the burning house, and Al wept bitterly.

Alex turned to Al angrily, “Why didn’t you put out the fire?! Isn’t that what you’re supposed to do? I’m losing everything!”

“You’re friends are safe.”

“But my house is going in flames! Put them out!”

“Alex… Alex… Alex, didn’t I warn you from the beginning that everything I did was to prevent this moment? Even in my basement I waited for you to call me back in so I could repair the house and help you, but you told me time and again that you didn’t need me. You locked me out and what choice did I have but to let you do what was right in your own eyes- and now, even when I warned you that the fire was burning, now you want to blame me when you let me in too late? No, Alex, this is the result of your actions and not my inaction.”

So too are we with God.

Living, Loving, Dying

Dear Reader,
This eBook is a collection of my poems, whose themes are, I hope, obvious from the title. I believe poems should be understood, so I have made an effort to write exactly what I mean and avoid any lofty ambiguities. Which is to say, you may encounter a tree crying, but you won’t encounter Yggdrasil’s psithurismic lamentations. To further clear the issue, I have added context to the poems in the form of a short story which you may read in the forward, and biographies of the poems which you may read in the afterword.
Thank you for taking some time to read this collection,
-Judah LoVato

Requiem

Lean in gentle rest and send your thoughts aloft

Like wand’ring wind or passing sprite-

On through the mossy woods wending swift and soft.

 

These woods we walked in summer greenlight soft;

You would watch us play here in the evening light

Then lean in weary rest and send your thoughts aloft

 

Near the crackling fire sending smoke aloft

Smoke that rattled on against the night

On through the mossy woods wending swift and soft

 

Stories reading- your voice sweet and soft

Urging us with gentleness of story sight:

“Lean in tender rest and send your dreams aloft”

 

Yet we must part for God has called your soul aloft

No more to wander in painful corporeal night

On through the mossy woods wending swift and soft

 

And we these mem’ries will think of oft’

And bid you travel to Heavens light-

Lean in tender rest and send your soul aloft

On through the mossy woods wending swift and soft

Book Blurbs (The Extinction of Evolution by Darek Isaacs)

The Extinction of Evolution by Darek Isaacs (2009) is a short work that takes Evolutionary ideology to logical end. Through the voice of Dr. Iman Oxidant, Isaacs applies Darwinian ideals of Natural selection to society.

 “My dear students… We have scripted the Sub-Laws of Evolution, and partaken on its very Fruit. I realize that for some- all women, all inferior races, those of faith, the handicapped and defective, those forcibly impregnated, and those killed for their possessions- the Fruit may have a slightly bitter taste. You can rest assured that it is nature itself that has dictated the predicament in which you find yourself.” (136)

[From Dr. Oxidant’s seminar A Fruit of Evolution: Rise of the Darwinian Leader]

After these seminars, Isaacs explains that his illustration was meant to show the reader that “evolution governs life only though thievery and death” (141), and that the tendency for humans to show compassion towards each other (including complete strangers) is difficult to explain in evolutionary terms.

Instead, Isaacs says that “the world actually resembles the Bible’s account, in which humans are independently made, given dominion, and bestowed an elevated role where our decisions impact the entire globe-for better or worse. We have capabilities for great evil, but we have capabilities for great good. It is the latter that evolution cannot explain” (144)

Isaacs, Darek. The Extinction of Evolution. Bridge-Logos: Alachua. 2009.

A First Review of December

A little over two years and I’ve just encounter the first review of December. It’s a single star rating with a scathing review, affirming my sense that December is the book I needed to write in order to grow (in many ways). Nevertheless, I feel I must give this review proper reflection, and give my monster some defense.

First, the  review:

“Cole stood near the pinkish arm chair.” Okay, I thought, he probably could have used an actual color instead of the word “pinkish”, but maybe this will get better. It didn’t. It only got worse.

Just don’t do this to yourself. Wading through this “innovative” piece of garbage physically caused me and my boyfriend pain. I was curious, and now I am left wondering why we hurt ourselves this way.

“Maybe there is no point in life. Maybe.” – a quote from this pile of shit.

From Goodreads.

I wish the reader would have given me more information- but I have to use what I get.  The words that really stick with me are “innovative”, “garbage”, and the phrase “pile of shit”.

My first thought after reading the review was “Where did she get the idea that this is supposed “innovative”?” Innovative implies that it’s new, groundbreaking, or something advancing literature (it’s none of these things). It’s influenced by James Joyce and Virginia Woolf, but, like a child artist copying Da Vinci, it lacks the control and education needed for full effectiveness.

My second thought had to do with “pile of shit”. “Shit,” I thought “implies waste- the left overs after digestion. If anything it’s closer to vomit- the kind that comes after food poisoning. It’s unpleasant but it cleans the system.”  In that sense, it really is a work of therapy and one should approach it like a doctor approaches vomit: with gloves and mask.

Third- “Garbage”. She found this novel utterly worthless- void of any nutrients. Arguably, and I’m no psychologist, it’s as though she was expecting roast beef but received charred cedar instead. A reasonable response. But even to this (and what a defense I’m bringing my first child), I feel inclined to say it’s “junk” not “garbage”- it’s the stuff I’ve outgrown and have placed in the attic or scrap yard.

The final thought on this matter is this: a re-assertion of my belief that December is the novel written for the sake of cleansing. It’s my mental/emotional junk designed in the style of those whose stature I aim to achieve. It’s a reminder to myself that, if I can publish and love such a weak and idle thing, then by my fourth or fifth book I will have gained adequate skill to excel.

Which brings me to my response to this disappointed reader:

Thank you for slogging through my monster of inner monologue- though I’m not sure where you got the idea that December was intended to be “innovative” (or “shit” for that matter). I never aimed at innovation (it’s heavily influenced by James Joyce and Virginia Woolf), and it is, in all reality, a mental scrapyard- it has bits and pieces that are useful, the rest gathers dust and rust. My own description of “December” is that it is the written version of banging your head against a wall: it’s repetitive, goes nowhere, solves nothing, and yet- has some soothing aspects.

The World is Ending! It’s Over!

Oh, wait- we’re still here.

The election cycle is over, and in two months our 45^th President will give his inaugural address, and we can, at last, start to see what manner of President Donald John Trump will be.

Please, take a deep breath, exhale slowly, and calm down.

He’s neither the antichrist nor Hitler reborn; he’s not going to destroy this country any more than Hillary Clinton would. What we’re experiencing is the result of the campaign these two nominees waged: a campaign of slander and bigotry on both sides.

If Trump is a Niagara Falls of mean remarks and nasty names- spewing them constantly by the hour; Clinton was the Old Faithful- gushing from time to time with her own deplorables. It’s little wonder the transition of power is accompanied with protests from the Clinton supporters, and, I’m sure, Clinton would have faced protests as well if had she been elected.

After a year of our candidates brawling in the mud, they seem to have taken the time during the count to wash it off and put on the “good job” face. Clinton ceded, and said “Donald Trump is going to be our president. We owe him an open mind and the chance to lead”. While Trump said Clinton “fought hard” and thanked her for her service to this country.

Meanwhile, we citizens who live on the battlegrounds still have mud on our faces. We need to pause. We need to remember that the experiment that is our country forces us to confront opposing views, and that it is our duty to walk a mile in those ill-fitted shoes.

We need to breath- the world is not ending. Our republic is so constructed that executive power is balanced by congressional consent. Yes, the Government is Red- but it’s a red of many tones.

Red or Blue, a full house means we have the opportunity to change our country and defend what we believe is right, and what we believe is good for our country. We will have conflict- but let’s commit to resolving conflict even if our adversary wants to argue.

It is time to turn protests into propositions- how can we improve our nation? Let’s stop being spectators and start being active in our self-government.

When we want change let’s write letters to our congress; let’s propose strategies to improve our lives, and petition our State and federal government for the changes we want to see; let’s move forward together and discuss and consider each other’s views until we know for certain that what we are doing is in the best interest of our country.

We will have the voices we’d rather ignore. The White Nationalists say this campaign has opened doors, and misogynistic minorities think they’ll have leniency in this term to harass women. They have a right to believe what they want to believe, but we have the right to resist them and show them that they are a minority in this country.

Because a country is inseparable from its people- and people are flawed and multifaceted. We, the people, are the country, and any government in place is one that we’ve put there by explicit choice or implicit consent- let’s work to improve our situation, and become involved. “Our constitutional democracy demands our participation, not just every four years, but all the time.”

Coffee Flavored Water

“I expected a lot of things; I didn’t expect this.”
Zard’s romantic evening turns into a week-and-half adventure in a world called Mooz when he comes home to an insidious intruder accosting his wife.