I doubt anyone on Earth had the vaguest idea of what would come and the threat we would face. I never expected what was to follow or my life to shatter. Every belief I held about myself, Catholicism, and God imploded in one catastrophic event. I knew it would be devastating, but it was worse than anything I could have imagined. If this was what God would be like, my life would have no meaning.

The first indication of trouble was a disturbing email from my lifelong friend David, who was studying to be a rabbi and a doctor in New York. He warned me everything would change and why in an email.

As the family sat down for breakfast, I told them about David mentioning in an email about threatening astronomical events. I switched on the television. The commentator showed light flashes from beyond and within the Oort cloud and a bright flash near Neptune.

Astronomers worldwide have told us that the flashes were explosions, a mix of fusion, four unknown types of energy, and matter-antimatter. The one near Neptune was a matter-antimatter blast, the equivalent of a hundred of our biggest fusion bombs. Astronomers have gravely informed the world that these events strongly support the existence of aliens.

Commentators showed how the news was received around the world. In San Francisco, people streamed into the streets with posters warning them that the apocalypse was nigh. Others went berserk in major cities worldwide, attacking others and looting. Many astronomers spoke of a war between alien factions on the fringes of our solar system.

“Was there anything else in David’s email?” My mother, Siobhan, asked, pointing to the television. “How did David know about this?”

“His friend’s astronomer brother invited them to the observatory for a lecture on some portentous astronomical observations. He told me to watch the news as the pictures were more convincing than anything he could say. He also wrote that a month ago, the Rebbe had warned that the apocalypse was imminent.”

“I love David’s stories of the Rebbe,” said Ashlyn, my sister. “When David was here a couple of years ago, he told me he was studying the Kabbalah at the Rebbe’s instigation.”

“What is the Kabbalah, and who is this Rebbe?” Siobhan asked.

“The Kabbalah is a mystical and spiritual belief system in Judaism. Our best equivalent is the stuff the Jesuits study. Islam has the Sufis,” said Ashlyn. “There are several rabbis from somewhere in Eastern Europe affectionately known as the Rebbe. David told me the Rebbe who teaches him Kabbalah has remarkable powers of prediction. He told David he must study medicine while completing his rabbinical studies as he would find his medical studies valuable in an unexpected way.”

“Samuel told me he heard something similar from David,” said Peter, my father. “Brendan, what is the nature of the apocalypse? Did David tell you?”

“The Rebbe said it was nothing like the one predicted in the Bible. It wouldn’t be good for us religious believers, and he said nothing more. I have a bad feeling about what is going to happen. I want to be a priest, and now we have anti-religious aliens in our solar system.” I replied.

“Brendan, you worry too much. You are an industrial-grade worrywart. I wonder what those aliens are doing out there?” Ashlyn asked, her eyes wide.

“I doubt anything will change, or the aliens are interested in us. It’s probably all poppycock, anyway. I am sure there is some other rational explanation,” Siobhan said, then asked, “Ashlyn, what do you have on today?”

“Sorry, Mom, I must run; I’m late. I have an outpatient clinic this morning. Then, this afternoon and overnight, I’m on call. If I can get back home, I’ll be late for dinner. We’ve got a two-hour tutorial on autoimmune diseases this evening.”

“I don’t know how you will ever find a husband. You work ridiculous hours. You don’t have time to meet anyone.”

Ashlyn grinned at her mother, glanced at her smiling g brother, and rolled her eyes as she strode out of the room.

“How is the thesis going?” Dad asked, turning to me.

I smiled. “Last night, I made my final corrections, and this morning, I will take it to the printer to make copies and have them bound.”

“When is your interview with the Bishop?”

“I don’t know. I sent him everything his office requested. His secretary assured me I would see him in due course. His office moves at a snail’s pace. It’s so frustrating!”

“When is your graduation ceremony?”

“My supervisor says it will be in July, but I have a sickening feeling I won’t go to graduation.”

Peter pushed his chair back and stood. “I’m sure you have nothing to worry about. It’s been a long haul, Brendan!”

“That’s true, but I’ve enjoyed it. Now, I can’t wait. I wonder which parish he will send me to?”

Dad smiled and placed his hand on my shoulder as he passed me to the door.

“Mom, I’m worried these aliens will mess it up for me. I am so close.”

“I can’t think of any reason the aliens would interfere with your aspirations.”

I wasn’t so sure. When I was thirteen, God spoke to me and told me I was destined to become a priest. I’d heard him talk in my mind. It was as clear as any voice I have ever heard: ‘You, Brendan, will face formidable difficulties. You will be my priest, but not as you expect.’

What the hell did that even mean?

I believe the Rebbe knew what he was talking about. These difficulties are about to hit me square in the face. I can feel it in my bones.

“Brendan, why don’t you speak with your supervisor about your worries and concerns?”

“I have spoken to him twice about different issues in the last few months. I don’t want him to think I am pathetic.”

“So, what did he say?”

“He told me every priest has the same concerns, and regardless of what happens, I must remain true to myself and do what I believe is right. He gave me official platitude number 16. He smoothes things out and dishes out platitudes right, left, and center.”

“He makes good sense, Brendan. It is a time of change, and life is uncertain. We must hold on to our beliefs and do what is right. If we do not, we revert to savagery.” Dad approached me and put his arm around my shoulder.

“I wonder what my supervisor thinks about the news. I must also talk with David about what is happening. He may have some ideas about how to cope if our lives fall apart. Has Sarah told you when David will be back?”

“He finishes his residency at the end of June. He’s having great difficulty getting a plane back and permission to return. It’s the usual Covid issue. Each time he books the flight, the airline cancels his flight. He’s had his vaccinations, and Sarah hopes he’ll be able to get a flight back home. He’s tentatively booked to come back via New Zealand and Darwin,” Dad explained.

“I miss him, and my dear sister misses him even more, though she won’t admit it,” I offered.

“David’s a fine young man. Your sister is a mule, and David is equally intractable. Nevertheless, they communicate as regularly as a married couple. Neither will move on,” said Mom.

“It’s nothing new: the same story, different day, different week, and another year passes. Mom, I must go. My appointment with the printer is at nine-thirty. If I stay here and worry, I’ll drive myself up the wall. From this afternoon, I am a free man.”

Siobhan smiled.

Four weeks later, Brendan and Ashlyn were striding along Hay Street Mall. It was busier than usual.

“Why are you twitching and are so jumpy, Brendan?” Ashlyn asked, looking at Brendan and frowning.

“I have a horrible sense of impending doom. These cubes are doing something bad. They aren’t acting in our interest,” he replied.

“These aliens are much more advanced than us. They could’ve bombed the hell out of us, and if they wanted to wipe us out, they would’ve done it already. I want to see this cube. Come on, Mr. Worrywart!” Ashlyn grumbled, gesturing to Brendan to follow her.

“I can see it; it’s just past Myers,” said Brendan, pausing. “I’m feeling uncomfortable about getting too close.”

Ashlyn stopped and turned to face Brendan with her hands on her hips.

“You wait here, Brendan; I will look at the cube. Stay here and drive yourself batty.”

“No, I’ll follow you, Ashlyn,” said Brendan, looking raptly at the paving stones.

Ashlyn darted ahead, then pensively ambled back to Brendan. “I wonder how they suspended it above the ground. What makes it tumble?”

Brendan dragged his feet.

“Heavens above! I’ve never seen you like this, Bren. Come on, chop-chop, let’s go already!” Ashlyn threw her hands up and then grabbed Brendan’s resisting arm. He firmly loosened her hand and pulled his sleeve free.

Ashlyn darted ahead to join the crowd, gawking at a shiny silver cube with meter-long sides. The cube slowly turned while mysteriously suspended three meters above the pavement.

Ashlyn pulled out her camera, wriggled her way through the crowd to the front, and took pictures from several angles before returning to Brendan, standing twenty meters from the cube.

“It’s amazing,” said Ashlyn, looking intently at the back of the camera. “Look here, Bren, there is strange writing on all the cube faces. It’s not an alphabet I recognize.”

Brendan peered at the script. “It reminds me of something like Mesopotamian. The universities will be over the moon,” he mumbled.

“Don’t you feel excited?” Ashlyn asked, eyes alight.

“No, Ash, the explosions and the cube give me the creeps. No good will come of this!”

“Let’s have a cup of coffee. I want an espresso before the world’s end,” Ashlyn beckoned.

Brendan lagged, unsmiling behind Ashlyn, muttering to himself.

“What are you mumbling about?”

“The cube heralds the apocalypse! I have a horrible feeling about it. It was creepy. The whole atmosphere is foreboding. I sense a malign force out there.”

“For heaven’s sake, why are you being so dramatic? It’s a silver cube.”

“You saw what happened in New York?”

Ashlyn shook her head. “Some crazy tried to shoot the cube. It burned him to a frazzle. No one was trying to harm the cube here. What are you trying to say?”

“The cube in New York shielded itself and killed someone. Who can make shields and an intelligent cube that defends itself? One thing I know for sure is that it isn’t here for our entertainment. The aliens are up to no good.”

“Bren, we will find out in time. If they give us a plague, we will build a vaccine. If we can’t create a vaccine, we will die. I’m sure if they wanted to, these aliens could kill us all. We can’t fight them.”

“What do they want from us?”

“We can speculate about their intentions until the cows come home. We’ve heard hundreds of hypotheses and theories over the last few months. I’m sick of it. I don’t know what’s got into you. I’ve never seen you like this.”

Brendan shrugged. “When I saw the cube, I felt my stomach cramp. When I got closer, I felt trapped and anxious. Those cubes are bad. They are doing something to us; I felt it. Deep down in my bones, I know it!”

“Bren, it’s in your head. I felt nothing.”

Ashlyn ordered from the counter of a coffee shop on the square.

Brendan stood holding his folded arms over his chest.

Ashlyn looked at him. “Are you sick?”

“No, I don’t feel sick. I feel like my insides are frozen, and I am worried. I want to do something, but I don’t know what. I felt bad when I saw the reports of aliens out there. Now I know they are interested in us, and I don’t believe it is a benign interest. I feel it, and I know it deep inside of myself. I feel even more helpless than I did before, but I carry on as if life will be the same. I know it won’t be the same. You, Ashlyn, have always been an optimist. You probably hope they will give us new medical technology.”

Ashlyn shook her head. “We will not control what happens. However, I want to make the best of what may be possible. I feel excited. I can’t wait to find out what’s in store for Earth. If they leave, so be it; if they kill us or take some of us to eat, there is nothing I can do other than fight to the best of my ability. If they are benign and will help us, I am happy to be in it.”

Brendan grunted and looked away. “All I wanted, my whole life, was to be a Catholic Priest. If I can’t be a priest, who am I? I want to serve God. What if these aliens are like the Chinese were during the Cultural Revolution? What if they forbid us from religious practice?”

“Tell me, Brendan, when has worrying changed the future?”

Brendan mumbled.

“So, what will you do?”

“There is nothing I can do. I’ll carry on helping Dad.”

“Has the Bishop offered you anything?”

“No, we only had one brief and unsatisfactory meeting. I told you about it.”

“That was when he told you to wait until after graduation, and he was considering his options?”

Brendan nodded.

Ashlyn grinned. “Dad says you are making good progress in the supermarket.”

“Stuff you, Ashlyn!”

Ashlyn laughed. “Come, brother, it’s time to go home and you to work. The deli section awaits you.”

Brendan made a rude sign and laughed.

Three months later, the Murphy family sat watching the evening news.

“Ninety-four percent of the prison population of Australia died today,” the Anchor announced. “We received reports the same is occurring worldwide. I will transfer you to Amanda Jones, who is with the Honorable Bob Harris, the Minister for Corrective Services. Amanda?”

“Minister, what can you tell us about what has happened in our prisons in the last few days?” Amanda Jones asked.

“Amanda, three days ago, prisoners complained of severe pain, headaches, body and limb pain. Doctors found no cause for their complaints. Prisoners asked for paper and pens to write confessions—those who were illiterate confessed to the police or guards. Last night, 90 percent of our prisoners died, as did many on parole and ex-convicts. Most of those awaiting trial also died.”

“Can you explain the confessions?”

“Prisoners felt compelled to confess their crimes. Soon after they confessed, they died.”

“What about those who committed non-serious crimes?”

“Many died. We are investigating what factors determined who lived and who died.”

“Minister, do you think it was the aliens?”

“We don’t know what to think. At first, we thought it was Covid, but the doctors assured me that was not the case. Whoever or whatever it is targets criminals and induces them to confess, then kills them. We are working with the police and intelligence services worldwide to discover what is happening.”

“Minister, have you spoken directly to any of your colleagues here or overseas?”

“Yes, I have Amanda, but they struggle, as do we, to find answers.”

“Minister, do you believe others we don’t know about will be targeted next?”

“I cannot say.”

“What will you do to protect criminals in the future?”

“We are investigating what has happened and will act when we have answers. We know the same is happening worldwide; the government will decide on the next steps to be taken once we have the facts we need to make informed choices.”

“Minister, can you comment on why the prison vaccination program was so delayed?”

“The Government provides vaccinations to the prisons as they become available from the Commonwealth. Many prisoners refused the vaccines. There is no suggestion Covid caused the deaths of the prisoners, nor is there any suggestion we are facing a new, more dangerous variant of Covid.”

“Minister, what do you say to those who believe the aliens are softening us for invasion?”

“I can’t support the notion that this is the prelude to an invasion,” the minister laughed.

“Thank you, minister.”

“Switch it off, Ashlyn; we’re having dinner,” said Siobhan as she strode into the kitchen. “Come and collect your plates.”

“Brendan, please pass me the salad,” Ashlyn asked.

Brendan grunted and did as requested. “The aliens play their first hand.”

“What do you think this means?” Siobhan asked.

“They are selectively killing people. If they wanted to invade, they would kill the police and the army,” said Brendan, looking from one to the other.

“I think it’s a good thing. The aliens kill the guilty. They are more ruthless than we are. I suspect this is the start of the aliens culling our society,” said Ashlyn. “I can’t say I’m sorry the aliens chose this path. I see people beaten up, glassed, punched, shot, and abused every day. It’s time criminals know crime will not pay. The aliens must know more than we do if they do not rehabilitate criminals. We’ll see what happens next.”

“I hate the lack of moderation and compassion the aliens demonstrate. I’m also worried about how far they will go. How will the aliens deal with those in our society who are eccentric? What will they do with the unemployed, the disabled, and the poor? Will they accept religious differences? The bad feeling I have about them only gets worse!” Brendan exclaimed, clenching his fists, his fingers white. “How many of those they killed were innocent or framed for their alleged crimes?”

“This is getting too intense. We don’t know what, if anything, the aliens will do. There is no sense in seeing disaster in every announcement,” said Siobhan, smiling. “I want to change the subject. The aliens may also be doing good. The nurse supervisor from the retirement home called yesterday. She said grandma and many others have improved in the last few weeks. Grandma’s memory is recovering, and she is once again mobile. Who wants to join me tomorrow morning; we will take her and a couple of her friends out for tea.”

“I’ll come along. How is grandpa?” Ashlyn asked.

“Grandpa and a third of the others haven’t improved.”

“I am happy to go. I don’t want to think about what the barbarians will do to the helpless aged,” said Brendan.

“I almost forgot. I had coffee with Sarah this morning. Your old pal, David, came back at 4 am. Sarah says he is exhausted and jet-lagged despite two weeks in quarantine in Darwin. He’s been working long hours in a hospital in New York. He also had a dose of Covid but recovered,” said Siobhan. “He wants to catch up with both of you.”

“Does he intend to work as a rabbi?” Ashlyn asked.

“Sarah said he will tell you what he plans when he sees you.” Siobhan shrugged.

“I’d hate to know how much he owes after doing medicine in the States. He’ll need to do plastic surgery to pay it off. I’m sure the Cohens couldn’t afford to pay for his medical training,” said Ashlyn.

“He qualified for a medical scholarship. It paid for most of his expenses,” said Brendan.

Ashlyn canted her head from side to side. “I’m not surprised. David did outstandingly well in our undergraduate pre-med degree. I can see him as a doctor, but I struggle to see him as a rabbi. I wonder what a rabbi doctor is expected to do?”

“It will make him a more compassionate doctor. I think it is an excellent idea,” said Brendan.

“Has he overcome his shyness?” Ashlyn asked.

“Sarah believes he has matured considerably. She said he is more comfortable in his skin,” said Siobhan. “Medicine forced him to overcome his shyness, but she doesn’t think he had a serious girlfriend in New York.”

“Ash, I hear wedding bells,” said Brendan grinning.

Ashlyn blushed while fiddling with her fingers. “Piss off, Brendan!”

“You could always set up private practice with him,” said Brendan looking at her with his head cocked over his left shoulder.

“Brendan, stop hassling your sister,” said Siobhan.

Brendan grinned and hummed wedding music.

“It would be even worse if he was a Catholic priest. He wouldn’t be accessible,” said Ashlyn, smiling.

“There is that,” said Siobhan. “I do like him.”

Ashlyn acted as if she was playing the violin.

“Ashlyn, I hate it when you do that!” Siobhan frowned.

Ashlyn frowned. “Don’t nag me about him. I probably won’t even like him as he is now. Give me a break. Stop hassling me.”

Siobhan looked at her daughter and slowly shook her head.

Two days later, Brendan was sitting on a sofa at his favorite coffee shop, gazing out the window. It was pouring outside, and the smell of fine coffee, bread, and cakes permeated the air. The coffee shop was, as usual, crowded. A waiter walked past, carrying steaming, outsized blueberry muffins and a tray of coffees. Nearby, a woman with a clipboard took notes, and another responded to her questions.

Three young women in their early 20s glanced surreptitiously at Brendan from a table nearby. He didn’t notice them. David strode inside wearing a jaunty hat and carrying a sodden umbrella. He parked his hat and umbrella, removed his coat, and looked around. He beamed when he saw Brendan. Brendan noticed the young women at a table nearby nudging each other out of the corner of his eye. David, like Brendan, often excited a reaction but rarely noticed.

Brendan stood as David ambled over, David’s arms opened for a hug. The two buddies held each other tightly, slapping each other on the back.

“Congratulations, Dr. Murphy; my mother tells me you graduate next month.”

David smiled. He was pale and had prominent black rings around his eyes. David wore a small knitted yarmulke held in place by a hair clip.

David bowed formally before he sat. “Oh, illustrious friend, I can’t believe you finally completed your doctorate and will get your first congregation.”

Brendan grinned, and then his face fell. “I have a horrible feeling the aliens will screw everything up.”

“There’s no use worrying about what we can’t change. Let’s wait and see what happens,” David smiled.

“We were expecting you back last year this time,” said Brendan.

“Shit happens; Covid changed everything. It forced me to do my internship in New York. I couldn’t get back.”

“How was it?”

“I have never worked so hard in my whole life. One year in New York dealing with Covid gave me years of experience and a lingering fatigue that I can’t shake off. It was a nightmare. I’ll need a couple of months to recover. I slept while in quarantine, but I still feel like a truck hit me.” David rubbed his upper arms. “How are you doing, Bren?”

Brendan scratched his neck and chin while looking down at the table. “I’m freaked out. I was anxious before the aliens arrived. I’ve felt uneasy this whole year. My anxiety hit the roof after your email and the news and worsened after seeing the cube in town. I can’t shake the feeling disaster is around the corner.”

“How are your family?”

“You’ll see Ashlyn in a few minutes. We visited my grandparents yesterday. Grandma was back to how she was twenty years ago. Grandpa was much worse and hadn’t improved. Grandpa and a third of the other residents died last night.”

“I’m sorry to hear about your grandpa; I have always liked him. How is your grandma’s arthritis?”

“Grandma is mobile and almost pain-free. Even her hearing has improved. She chucked out her hearing aid.”

“How did she react to Grandpa’s death?”

“She’s feeling guilty she improved, but he died. She is staying with us until after the funeral,” Brendan smiled.

“I’ll come to your house to see her and your family this afternoon or tomorrow as convenient. How is your mother bearing up?” David asked.

“My mother is strong. Superficially, she is doing well. She is happy that her mother is so much better. But she is close to her grandpa. We expected Grandpa to go first, but I don’t think we can prepare for grief. We grieve when they deteriorate and must all grieve again when the loss happens. There is only so much you can prepare for ahead of time.” Brendan looked up from the table and directly at David. “What do these aliens want from us?”

“The answer to that question is beyond me. I can only hypothesize about how the aliens are killing and curing us. I suspect the cube spreads a giant virus or a series of viruses. These viruses spread in our population. Viruses can influence our immune system and even change our DNA.”

“David, how do you know this?”

“I read a recent paper by Mordecai Sachs, a famous genetics professor from my medical school. He observed recently that babies with previously known genetic abnormalities show evidence of profound ongoing gene changes. He also noted an increasing rate of early infant deaths in the same group. The children who died demonstrated severe genetic abnormalities that irrevocably damaged the babies early. Those that survived improved dramatically. The rate of fetal deaths is rapidly diminishing after an initial increase. The children who survive with milder congenital abnormalities show evidence of continued improvement. The professor says the observed genetic changes are ahead of anything we can do. Prof Sachs said he sees fewer surviving patients with severe congenital abnormalities. Children are no longer born with spina bifida. Many children with cerebral palsy are improving,” David explained.

“That is miraculous!” Brendan exclaimed.

“Isn’t what happened to your grandmother miraculous?”

“What the aliens give with one hand, they take with the other,” Brendan remarked.

“Always the optimist! How’s your knee, Brendan?”

“It feels good, but I don’t know how strong it is.”

“What about the range of motion?” David asked, looking under the table.

Brendan lifted his right leg, extended it, and then released it. He did the same with his left. “The pain has gone! It’s moving well. What about your shoulder?”

“My shoulder has improved remarkably in the last three months. It’s back to normal. My surgeon said I would always have limited function in my shoulder, but it is much better. It’s no longer stiff, and my range of motion is normal.”

“If your hypothesis is correct, David, many more with severe illness will die, and those with less severe illness will improve.”

David nodded sagely.

Ashlyn walked into the coffee shop and looked around. When she finally saw her brother and David, she waved and weaved between the tables to reach them. She opened her arms as David smiled and stood to greet her. They hugged each other tightly and then disentangled themselves. David pulled out her chair and pushed it in as she leaned forward to sit.

Ashlyn and David looked at each other, beaming.

“How are you, David?”

“I’m exhausted after a year of dealing with patients with Covid.”

“Was New York as bad as the media said it was?”

“Worse! Ash, I cannot believe how uncoordinated and unplanned the initial response was. We didn’t have appropriate protection, and we ran out of everything.”

“How did you avoid Covid?” Ashlyn knitted her eyebrows.

“I didn’t. Fortunately, I wasn’t that sick. I took off for two weeks. I wanted to return earlier, but I was as weak as a baby, and my mind was foggy. The hospital was desperate; I went back to work even though I was far from normal. So many died…I lost two good friends in the first month…one was with me at the hospital…his parents weren’t allowed to visit him as he was dying. I held the phone for him as he had his last conversation in ICU with his parents. I suspect that was how I got Covid. I was so upset I forgot to clean my phone… Johnny was brilliant and a funny guy who cheered us all up. He was the first to graduate high school in his family… He had a big extended family, all devout Baptists… They were farmers… Johnny’s family was so proud of him...He was my closest friend in medical school… I spent two delightful vacations on the farm.”

“What about the other one?” Ashlyn asked.

“I only heard about Ann’s death after I called her parents. I hadn’t seen her for a while and couldn’t track her down. I met her in a microbiology laboratory in my second year. Ann was an aloof, frighteningly intelligent, beautiful, refined-looking young woman from a wealthy family. She mistrusted everyone but didn’t see me as a threat for no reason I could ascertain. Ann was on the autistic spectrum and struggled in social situations. For some obscure reason, we got on, and she gradually warmed up. I discovered she had published twenty papers as an undergraduate. I’d never met someone previously who could remember every word of every lecture and could recite a textbook verbatim.”

David shook his head. “Her parents told me she got sick but was recovering. She subsequently declined rapidly and died. The whole family was cool and distant, but I got to know and understand them.”

“It’s such a waste,” said Ashlyn. “We managed everything well in Australia except for the vaccination program. That’s been incredibly slow and chaotic. The government can’t seem to get their act together.”

“Have the aliens done anything about Covid?” Brendan asked.

“There is a worldwide decrease in the incidence of Covid that does not correlate with the progress of vaccinations,” said Ashlyn.

“What does that mean?” Brendan asked.

“Worldwide new cases of Covid are few and far between despite new contagious mutations. I heard that at work yesterday. What were you guys talking about before I arrived?” Ashlyn asked.

“I told David about the grandparents. David has a similar theory to yours on the cubes spreading a virus or a series of viruses.”

“I also believe they can read our thoughts and connect us to an artificial intelligence supercomputer that can monitor us. That is how the aliens know who to kill,” said David.

“Whoa, that is scary big brother stuff! Not only do they kill us, they know our every thought,” said Brendan. “How can they intrude on us like this?”

Ashlyn shrugged, then turned back to David. “I hadn’t thought of us being connected to an AI. It is an excellent idea. I think it may start as a virus, but it assembles nanobots. I had a dream last night, and in the dream, I saw the virus break up into multiple strands of messenger RNA. They cause our DNA to assemble proteins to form little machines.”

“Nanobots, that is a superb idea. Do you have any ideas on how we can check it out?” David asked.

“I called a friend of mine from medical school who did bioengineering. She agrees with you, David, that you would require a bigger virus or a series of viruses to do the job to accomplish the necessary tasks we observe. She wondered if the aliens were slowly spreading different viruses amongst us. She also speculated about intelligently mutating viruses. She’s going to talk with her professor about the idea.”

“What did she think about your hypothesis?”

“She was fascinated and eager to pursue it,” said Ashlyn.

“How do you like physician training?”

“It’s great! I love it. I have an outstanding consultant who devoted time to teaching me this rotation. My last two supervisors were no good, lazy bastards. They sloughed off as much work as possible onto me and gave nothing back. Neither of them would make it in private practice. The teaching program is excellent, and I’m working with a terrific group of people. I’ve passed the first exam.”

“Do you want to go into a subspecialty?”

“I’m going to do cardiology.”

“I’m sure you will do well; you are good with your hands, and I am confident you could do all the interventional stuff,” said David.

Ashlyn beamed.

Brendan’s phone buzzed. He looked down at the screen, sighed, and stood. “Sorry, guys. I must go. The printers are having some problems. David, we will spend some more time together. When do you start work?”

“I don’t start for a month. I might help my father in the supermarket if he is busy or wants some time off. Incidentally, I’ve got a few games we can play,” said David.

“I’ll call you; I also work for my old man. The bishop doesn’t make decisions quickly. He wouldn’t accept my application until my supervisor confirmed I had completed my studies. His secretary makes every step difficult. She didn’t want to send me the needed forms and then didn’t want me to come in to collect them because of Covid.” Brendan rolled his eyes, stood, waved, and strode towards the door.

“I’ve missed you, David. You and I were in premed one minute, and then you disappeared without saying anything.” Ashlyn frowned.

“Ash, it all happened fast. I applied and got accepted, and left, all within a week. I knew you expected me to join you at medical school. I didn’t know what to say. You lost me; I lost you and Brendan, your family, and mine. I doubted my decision for the first two years in New York. Now I’m back; I feel as if I was never away. Ash, I missed seeing you terribly, but I’m delighted to see you again. I forever live in the hope you will see the light.”

Ashlyn grinned. “I share your hopes.”

David smiled at Ashlyn. “My mother hopes the aliens will drive us together. However, I don’t see any convenient or easy solution. Why should aliens have any interest in our beliefs?”

“Yes, she’s been talking to my mother,” said Ashlyn. “Last time you were here, you didn’t tell me why you decided to be a rabbi and became a doctor rabbi. I’ve never even heard of the concept.”

“Ash, we Zoom at least once a week and SMS and email daily. I would have told you anything if you asked.”

“I was angry you left so suddenly, and then I heard you were becoming a rabbi. I couldn’t believe it. I always hoped you would see things our way,” said Ashlyn. “I had the distinct impression you were revising your views on religion.”

“What gave you that idea?” David asked.

“You came with us to church many times and joined us at least ten times at the cathedral. I thought you would accept Catholicism was only a tiny step beyond Judaism,” said Ashlyn with a poker face before she dissolved into giggling and snorting. “Gotcha, you should’ve seen your face!”

David looked at Ashlyn and grinned. “I felt embarrassed; I let you down. I didn’t know what to say. I told my parents not to say anything as I wasn’t sure if the New York thing would work out. I felt dislocated and desperately homesick until the University allocated me a mentor. He was a wonderful human being. He made me feel at home. He introduced me to his family, and I went there for a meal once a week.”

“So, how did you land up in medicine?”

David smiled. “He looked at my university results and asked why I didn’t do medicine.”

“Did you tell him you agonized over the decision for years?”

“No, I told him it was an easy decision, and I thought a premed degree was excellent training for a rabbi.”

“Oh, yeah! What did he say?”

“He asked me if I had ever considered doing both.”

“I also thought it was an either-or decision.”

“Ash, we should postpone this conversation until our families are together. Then I’ll tell the whole story without you having to hear the same thing twice—your favorite Rebbe was also involved. Sadly, he died of Covid; there is now a new one — I want to ask about Brendan.”

“I know precisely what you want to know. Brendan and Mathew are as close as a couple. Both remain in complete denial. My parents don’t know how to help them, and neither do I. Remember I told you I tried talking with him about coming out a few years ago?”

“It’s a matter of time before it bites him in the butt!”

Ashlyn giggled. “I’m not sure that’s the way you intended to express your opinion unless you entirely misunderstand gay sexual activity.”

“Hilarious, Ash! I tried to talk with him about a year ago, and he nearly bit my head off. I am keeping well away from the butt.” David grinned.

“The seminary must know what we know. They haven’t dealt with the problem either. How long can Brendan and Matthew repress their feelings?” Ashlyn rubbed her eyes, then gazed at David.

“I’ve often wondered whether part of why he became a priest was to repress the feelings and inclinations he couldn’t accept in himself.”

David gently placed his hand on Ashlyn’s upper arm. “The pressure from my mother is getting me down.” He raised his eyebrows.

Ashlyn placed her hand on his. “Yup, I get the same at home.”

They smiled.

“Incoming hostile at 4 o’clock,” Ashlyn grinned, her eyes sparkling. “It’s one of your favorites from uni.”

“Hi David, I’m delighted to see you back. How are you?” Jessica Lieberman asked.

“Tired after a heavy year and a long trip. How are you?”

“I am on top of the world. By the way, I’m having a little get-together on Saturday night at my place.”

“Thank you very much, Jessica; Ashlyn and I won’t be able to make it as we have a previous arrangement. I’m sorry to hear about your divorce. It can’t be easy bringing up the boys on your own,” said David, nodding to Ashlyn before turning back to Jessica. “Please excuse us; we’ve got to get going.”

Jessica glared at Ashlyn.

Ashlyn smiled and stood beside David, placing her hand on his arm.

David and Ashlyn walked out, hips touching, without glancing back.

“This will go through the Jewish community like wildfire,” said Ashlyn. “Was that wise?”

“Big things are happening, much bigger than Jessica and the Jewish community. The new Rebbe had a lot to tell us. He is totally unlike the old one. He is a young man and a dynamo. He is cleanly shaven and looks more like a corporate lawyer than an ultra-orthodox rabbi. The arch-conservatives were unhappy that the Rebbe named him his successor before he died. Before I left New York, the new Rebbe took me aside. He told me he had an identical twin brother and that I would meet him in Perth. He told me, and I quote: ‘My brother is not what you would expect. He will be your guide through the apocalypse. What he will appear to be should not distract you. You will go on a great journey with your friends, the twins. I have great hopes for you and them. The young woman will make a great match for you.’”

Then, the Rebbe laughed as I stood there with my mouth open,” said David. “How could he know about you? It is unheard of for the Rebbe to give his blessings for a marriage to someone who has not converted and does not ever intend to convert.”

“That is freaky,” said Ashlyn, her brow furrowed. “Before I forget, you’re coming to us for dinner?”

David smiled and nodded. “The Rebbe may have also said you will convert to Judaism and become devout.”

Ashlyn giggled. “On the other hand, he may have said nothing of the kind, or perhaps he accepted you will become the first catholic rabbi.” She punched David’s shoulder.

David laughed.

The Murphy and Cohen homes were similar ranch-style houses but decorated differently. Both families owned supermarkets and were comfortably off. Sarah loved collecting things, while Siobhan took a Zen approach to decoration: the simpler, the better. David followed Ashlyn to the dining area in the family room adjacent to the enormous kitchen. The house was much as he remembered.

David walked over to a painting, knitted his brows together, and then raised his eyebrows as he turned to Ashlyn. “I would recognize the style of this remarkable artist anywhere.”

Ashlyn blushed.

Siobhan laughed from the kitchen, wiping her hands on her apron. “David is your greatest fan. He may even be the most avid collector of your art, Ashlyn.”

The others laughed.

David blushed.

“Take your places at the table; I’ll bring the starters.”

“I might not have been here for a while, but I don’t want to break tradition. I’ll come to the kitchen to pick up my food,” said David, strolling into the kitchen. He hugged Siobhan. She hugged him back with one arm, the other clutching a serving spoon.

David deftly carried soup bowls to Peter and his mother and returned for his own. Ashlyn did the same for David’s father, while Brendan collected one for him and his mother.

“I would like to propose a toast to David and Brendan,” said Peter, holding up his wine glass.

“We congratulate both of you for getting through your examinations and theses. We hope you enjoy your careers and have happy lives. May you continue to grow, develop, challenge yourselves, and do worthwhile things for your communities.” Peter drank and sat.

The others raised their glasses and gave them three cheers.

Peter turned to Samuel. “Sam, what do you think about the news this evening?”

“The aliens are slowly showing their hands and doing a ruthless housecleaning. In this round, they’ve gone after politicians. It seems they don’t tolerate politicians who make bad decisions or are corrupt. I didn’t think Morrison was that bad!” Sam turned his lips down.

Samuel turned to look at David, who shrugged.

“I wasn’t surprised about Brazil or America losing presidents and ex-presidents. We heard in the car while coming here that the theocracies lost most of their politicians and religious leaders. Israel lost a third of its parliament, and Iran lost three-quarters of theirs. Saudi Arabia lost half its politicians. America lost a bigger percentage of theirs than we did. We’ll hear about the rest of the world tomorrow. The confessions of the corrupt amongst them made it easier for me to accept,” Samuel added.

David turned to Brendan and raised his eyebrows.

“The aliens are ruthless and don’t like a religious government. What will it mean for the rest of the religious establishment?” Brendan asked. “Nothing good, I am sure!”

“It is only just beginning,” said Ashlyn. “I’m sure there were many crazies amongst that lot. Good riddance!”

“I don’t like how they are going about the whole thing. They should get on TV and explain what they want from us. Let us ask them the hard questions,” said Siobhan.

“I agree, but it is a message. You are powerless. We can do as we please. You have no say in what happens,” said David. “I don’t think it is a negotiation, and they will not permit us to question them and their methods.”

“David, if this is the apocalypse, it will shatter our lives. Suppose the aliens disapprove of religion. You’ve got medicine to fall back on; I’ve got nothing,” said Brendan.

“Brendan, there is no reason for such pessimism. Why should they pick on catholic priests?” Siobhan asked.

“I feel the malign forces of evil!”

“Bren, you are behaving like a drama queen. You have tons of talents and lots of options,” said Ashlyn.

Brendan glowered.

“Brendan, you have nothing to worry about. You are a fine young man, a person of integrity and goodwill. You are dedicated to helping others,” said his mother. “I don’t see why they will interfere with you and your activities.”

Sarah looked around the table. “Did you hear the end of the news? The chronically unemployed and street people are dying in droves. Many people in state housing also died. The funeral industry is struggling to cope with the load.”

“I wish they would tell us what they want from us. The suspense is killing me,” said Brendan. “I am living in my worst nightmare.”

“My friend, the brother of the astronomer, tells me the aliens are changing the orbit of Earth. The powers that be are suppressing that information. The astronomers hope the aliens are helping us survive global warming,” said David.

“How can we deal with a civilization that approaches us this way? What can we do to resist?” Brendan asked as he sat rocking in his seat. “I don’t know how much more of this I can stand.”

“Brendan, I think you are making more of this than is warranted. Nothing they have done will impact you,” said Siobhan.

“Yet!”

“I wonder how many they are killing in Africa, China, and India?” Ashlyn speculated.

“I suspect it will be a similar percentage of people to us. Some countries more, others a little less,” said Peter.

“I agree with Brendan and Siobhan,” said Samuel. “They should let us know their unreasonable and drastic requirements so we can get on with it until they fly off. They hold a gun to our heads. If we don’t do what they want, they will kill us all.”

“Sam, that is a giant leap without enough meat on your plate,” said Sarah.

Everyone laughed.

“Mom, that is a mixed-up metaphor of the first order,” said David.

“You might be right that I jumped to making demands. I can deal with an unpalatable situation, but I struggle in a climate of uncertainty,” said Sam.

“Let’s move on from this gloomy topic. We can’t change what is happening. I want to hear how David landed up as a doctor-rabbi,” said Ashlyn.

“Yes, I also want to hear what happened,” said Siobhan. “I want to hear it directly from you. We all know how you agonized over whether you did premed or rabbinical training. Why go to New York?”

“I went to discuss how conflicted I was with Rabbi Goss. He told me how good the rabbinical training was in New York, then told me I might be able to achieve more than I hoped for, and called a contact he knew. He sent my CV to his contact. An hour later, Goss’s contact offered me a scholarship. It happened so fast I didn’t have time to discuss my decision with anyone. I decided there and then and had two days to organize myself and go.”

“The New York crowd must greatly respect your advisor’s opinion,” said Peter.

“You cut and ran without telling us,” said Ashlyn, her jaw clenched, glaring at David.

“We were shocked but supported David’s decision,” said Sarah. “However, I was not happy my little boy was leaving home and going so far away. Ashlyn, I agree he could have dealt with you guys better.”

David took a deep breath and scratched his forehead. “Ash, I am sorry, but … no, I have no excuse. I avoided facing you guys. I felt driven to do the rabbinical training. There is no program here. I would have had to go to Melbourne, at the very least. I never considered going to the States before talking to Goss.”

“So, how did the whole medicine thing come about?” Ashlyn asked, her left eye twitching.

“I met my mentor a week after starting at University in New York. He took one look at my record and asked why I didn’t do medicine. I explained I thought I must make a choice.”

“What did he say?” Ashlyn asked.

“My mentor told me everything might not be as I thought and asked if Goss had told me about my options. I remember shaking my head. I was puzzled, but he wouldn’t clarify what he meant when I asked.”

“Was the standard what you hoped for?” Brendan asked.

David nodded. “It’s a university that sets a high standard and offers a diverse education. It was also a warm, friendly place, much like Notre Dame here but much larger. I had a heavy course load. I battled initially as I am more used to the sciences than humanities and religious education.”

“For heaven’s sake, David, stop keeping us in suspense. When did you find out about the medicine bit?” Ashlyn asked.

“Close to the end of the first academic year, Moshe, my mentor, told me the history of the place. The rabbinical university started after it received an endowment. The endowment was large enough to fund a medical school associated with the hospital nearby. Later that week, my mentor introduced me to the old Rebbe for the first time. The Rebbe told me he wanted to talk about the concept of the doctor-rabbi. We talked for some time.”

“What was he like?” Ashlyn asked.

“I was in awe of him and could only stammer and stutter. He was a warm, friendly, black-coated, white-bearded, short, wizened, old grandpa. I was tearful and overwrought, and I didn’t know why. He patiently encouraged me to talk. He had a charming manner and drew me out. Over time, I found him to be gentle and kind but firm. The Rebbe invited me to join a group of young men studying the Kabbalah.”

“Was it a usual part of the course?” Sarah asked.

“No, we could do some pretty esoteric stuff, but the college offered no formal training in the Kabbalah. My mentor insisted I study Aramaic. That was the most far-out thing I did. The rest was pretty conventional. Moshe told me I would discover an unexpected use for my Aramaic and laughed uproariously. I couldn’t understand what future application for Aramaic I might find.”

“Did the Rebbe say why he wanted you to learn the Kabbalah?” Sarah continued.

“The Rebbe told me he believed I had a role to play in the impending apocalypse, and the techniques I learned could help me.”

“How could the Kabbalah help you?” Siobhan asked.

“Before you answer that, David, can you explain Kabbalah?” Peter asked.

“It is a system of practices that the Rebbe told us predates Judaism and helps explain the essence of God and the underlying meanings of the bible. It provides methods of self-development that enable a deeper spiritual understanding. The Rebbe taught us several meditation techniques and told us some practitioners developed powers, but he wouldn’t clarify his statement. He told us he usually concentrated on teaching on the mystical side and interpreting the underlying themes in the bible. He wanted us first to master the meditation techniques that underlay the later biblical interpretations in our course. He explained the tree of life and meditation were similar to the yogic system of chakras.”

“What was it like?” Siobhan asked.

“I was under serious academic pressure. The Kabbalah was also demanding, but I could not refuse the Rebbe. I could not drop any of my subjects.”

“How was it?” Ashlyn asked. “What did you learn?”

“He taught us techniques none of the other Kabbalists I met had ever learned or knew about. The Rebbe freaked me out. He told me about myself, most of which I forgot as soon as he told me. I would go home and try to remember what he had said. He speaks clearly and can explain most things, so you understand it immediately, but I could not remember what he told me.”

“That is odd. Did you tell him you couldn’t remember and ask him to tell you again?” Ashlyn asked.

“Yes, he just laughed and told me I would remember at the appropriate time. I remember things as clearly as I had heard them minutes before. He told me I would study medicine and continue my rabbinical studies. The Rebbe would also organize a scholarship because he did not want me to leave with a debt hanging over me.”

“It is strange you learned to meditate. My supervisor insisted I do the same and told me it would help me later. I meditated once or twice daily during my entire course,” said Brendan. “Every week, he taught me something else. Weird!”

“When I was an undergraduate, one of my consultants also got me into meditation and a Siddha Yoga course he ran. This is some weird shit. Our mentors all pushed us in the same direction,” said Ashlyn. “The same guy is once again my consultant. Yesterday, he asked if I had kept up my meditation.”

“Ashlyn, there is no need to swear,” said Siobhan.

Ashlyn grinned.

“Did the Rebbe say any more about the apocalypse?” Brendan asked.

“Six months later, at one of the Kabbalah sessions, someone asked him about the messiah’s return. The Rebbe said it was not the time to talk in detail about the messiah or an apocalypse, but he knew the signs of an impending apocalypse. The Rebbe said it was coming; we would find it confusing and painful. It would begin with a worldwide sickness that would be a test for our leaders and us. He would die, and the new Rebbe would take over. The Rebbe said the apocalypse would differ from the biblical descriptions, as we had not done what God had required. Also, the Messiah would not come, but we might meet him later. He said his successor would make as big an impact, if not more. It made no sense, and he just laughed when we asked him to explain,” David related.

“It makes little sense to me. I wonder what that was about,” said Brendan.

“Did the new Rebbe say more?” Ashlyn asked.

“The old Rebbe died in April last year when Covid was ramping up in New York. I was finishing my medical studies. I intended to come home last year to intern here, but Covid got in the way. We started our internships early in June at the hospital. Things were pretty bad, and the hospitals were under extreme pressure. I got Covid a month later. While I was recovering, I managed to attend a Kabbalah teaching session. It was the same small group, but we met in a lecture theatre to space ourselves out. The new Rebbe led the session. The same guy as before asked about the apocalypse.” David smiled.

“Was the new Rebbe more forthcoming?” Brendan asked.

“The new Rebbe was a different beast to the old one. He is a professor of cognitive science. I will tell you what he said as he said it. ‘Imagine you look at the bible from a more sophisticated viewpoint than the people of two thousand years ago. God arrives and terraforms Earth and seeds Earth with our ancestors. He returns later on several occasions, tells us what was previously done, and finds suitable people to educate and speed us on our way. Moses interprets the experience differently from Jesus, Buddha, and Mohammed. God educates many others. God then does the same on other worlds while leaving agents on Earth. God does not perceive himself as a God, nor do his colleagues. The agents are unhappy with Earth’s progress, and when God and their helpers return, they are determined to take action. That action is Earth’s Apocalypse.”

“Do you think he is one of the agents?” Ashlyn asked.

“Yes, I do. The Rebbe told me his identical twin brother would meet me in Perth, and he would guide my friends, the twins, and me on a perilous journey. He told me this in front of the whole group. I went scarlet.”

“What do these people want from us?” Brendan asked.

“One of our group asked the same question,” said David. “The new Rebbe would say no more.”

“Let’s go through what we know,” said Ashlyn. “God may be male or female, and they have helpers. God is killing selected groups but is helping others to get better. They are unlikely to think any religion is correct as they are killing some from each religion.”

“What other questions did your group ask?” Brendan interrupted.

“I asked the question. ‘How can we understand a civilization more advanced than we are?”

“Those who seeded us gave the same information to people on Earth two to three thousand years ago. Everyone interpreted it differently. Earth has reached a stage where everyone can be told the same thing simultaneously. It will not be easy to accept or understand, and I guarantee Earth will struggle to do what God wishes.’’

“Now we know it will be: adapt or die,” said Brendan. “I knew I was right.”

“Yes, but you were only partly correct. The Rebbe told us they had a fulfilling spiritual developmental system. He told us not to be too wedded to our rituals and suggested concentrating on the Kabbalah. He also gave us an Internet reference to some games we might find interesting. He suggested the games might help us prepare for the future. I have the simulations offered on the site for you and me, Brendan, and a medical simulation for us, Ashlyn.”

David sat at the breakfast table in the kitchen with his parents, his hair damp and uncombed.

“How was your run?” Sarah asked.

“There are a lot more people out and about than before Covid. The weather is gorgeous, and it is a glorious day. I ran along the river and then back. I won’t miss the winters in New York.”

“Someone is at the door. Are you expecting a delivery, David?”

David shook his head. “I’ll get it; you carry on, Mom. I am famished.”

Sarah smiled benevolently and turned to Sam. “I love having him home, dear. I missed David a lot.”

Sam nodded and grunted. He rarely spoke until after his third cup of coffee.

The doorbell rang again. David strode to the door.

Ashlyn preceded David into the kitchen, her hair unkempt. Ashlyn awkwardly stretched her shoulders and grimaced.

“Ashlyn, what is troubling you, dear?”

“Brendan disappeared, and we don’t know where he’s gone.”

“Tell us what happened,” Sarah instructed.

Ashlyn walked like an automaton to the cupboard, took a plate, and sat in her seat.

“I heard the doorbell early this morning. Brendan called out he would go to the door. He answered the door. Then I heard him dash past my room and slam his door. A minute later, I heard him talking with someone. Ten minutes later, he started his car and screamed down the drive. I tried to catch him on his phone, but he didn’t answer. We found this letter on his bed.”

Ashlyn pulled the crumpled letter out of her pocket and smoothed it open on the table. “I’ll read it out to you:

‘Dear Bren,

There are some things I want to tell you that you don’t know about me. I love you, and I can’t accept it. I have also been fighting my lust for boys. I will not do what my uncle did to me, but I can’t fight it anymore. I’m tired, and the aliens will kill me. I’ve been too ashamed to tell anybody and won’t accept my evil nature. I’m sad to leave you but I must. I have lived with self-loathing for my whole life, and now is the time to end it all. I hope this letter gets to you before you see the newspaper,

I love you,

Matthew.’

That’s all we know.”

Samuel rushed outside, brought in the newspaper, and impatiently shredded the plastic wrapper. He paged through the paper. “Here it is. A newly graduated priest hangs himself. A cleaner found the body, but the police do not suspect foul play,” said Samuel. “There is a whole lot more, but it is fluff.”

“Ashlyn, I’m sure you heard Brendan calling the student residence,” said Sarah, “where do you think he’s gone?”

Sarah passed around a platter of pancakes, her forehead furrowed. “Eat. It will be a frantic day, and you must fortify yourself. Ashlyn, did Brendan take the beach house keys?”

Ashlyn called her mother and asked. She looked at Sarah and nodded, then turned to David. “I’m going down there after him.” Ashlyn returned her phone to her bag. “You’ve seen how Brendan’s been. I’ve never previously seen him so gloomy and pessimistic. This was the last straw.”

“Ash, I’ll go with you,” said David.

“My mother is frantic with worry. She’s convinced Brendan will commit suicide,” Ashlyn blurted.

“I’ll call your mother and sit with her,” said Sarah.

“David, I’ll come with you,” said Samuel.

“Thanks, Dad; I’m sure we can manage. If you must do something, take a break and help Peter through this. We’ll keep you guys informed.”

Sarah busied herself in the kitchen, preparing food and drinks for the trip south. She packed everything in a cooler and finally added ice packs.

“Your brother slowly thinks things through, and once he decides, he takes action. This disaster will force him to confront himself. He’ll mull over things on the road down south, but it will take him time to work out what he must do. David, take a warm jacket and toiletries for you and Ashlyn. Ashlyn, I’ll give you a jumper; you are too lightly dressed,” said Sarah.

“He’s not here,” said Ashlyn, wandering outside the beach house and looking in the windows.

David walked around the kitchen and to the backdoor. “He’s been here. Brendan left the backdoor key in the door. He didn’t plan as he drove down. When he turned up here, he realized how high the wooden beams were and needed a ladder and a long rope. That is why the chair from the dining room table is in the middle of the room. He must’ve gone to buy a ladder and some rope from a hardware store. Let’s park on the other side of your neighbor’s house. You can block him and his car in the drive when he arrives. I’ll walk across the back garden and go in the back way when he returns.”

Ashlyn stood for a moment, frowning. “I have the Langley’s spare keys. We can wait inside their place.”

Ashlyn strode over to her car and swung herself inside.

David walked next door while Ashlyn jammed her car into gear and reversed at full speed to the end of the drive, the engine screaming. She jammed on her brakes, then spun her wheels, raising a cloud of dust as she shifted gear and accelerated past the Langley house. Ashlyn reversed into the dust, turned, and accelerated, fishtailing the car. She slammed her brakes on the far side of the house and then leaped out of the vehicle. She cannoned into David, who was waiting at the door. “Letting off a bit of steam, Ash?”

Ashlyn looked at David, then laughed as she fished the keys out of her pocket.

“Now we wait,” said David.

“My brother will look at every ladder and every piece of rope. He’ll also ask the opinion of at least two other people.”

“When he eats out, does he still spend ages looking at the menu, finally ordering steak, and asking for it to be well done?”

“That’s my brother! He loves tough burned meat.” Ashlyn giggled, then hiccuped. “He is predictable.”

“Let’s have tea and a sandwich,” said David.

“I’ll open the curtains and uncover the chairs.”

An hour later, David turned to Ashlyn.

“We haven’t seen him. I wonder whether we missed him. Is there a drive on the other side of the house?”

“Yes, but it’s overgrown.”

“I’m going over to have a look.”

“I’ll come with you, David.”

David and Ashlyn walked across the back garden of the Langleys and to the window of the family room.

“Ash, he’s in there; he has the rope over the beam. He’s on the chair and putting the loop around his neck.”

“He locked the damn door,” Ashlyn wailed. David kicked the door and then again. It was a flimsy door and splintered. Ashlyn frantically pulled the pieces of wood out of her way, David working next to her. They sprinted inside.

“Ash cut the rope where he tied it to the table. I’ll hold him up as best I can.”

Brendan thrashed from side to side and cycled his legs, trying to dislodge David’s grip. His face was red, and his eyes were bloodshot.

Ashlyn dashed to the kitchen and returned with a carving knife.

“This damn knife is blunt,” said Ashlyn sawing at the rope. “It keeps slipping. The rope must be nylon.”

“Keep going. I’m keeping most of his weight off the rope.”

Ashlyn strode back to the kitchen drawer and returned with a bread knife.

“This is a bit better. He bought a thick rope. Hold him, David; he’s stopped moving!”

“I’m doing my best,” David grunted, laboring to hold Brendan up.

“I’ve got three-quarters through; catch him; it’s tearing.”

David gently lowered Brendan to the ground as Ashlyn dashed to help him. Ashlyn loosened the noose and held her fingers to Brendan’s carotid. He is still alive. His chest is moving, and he’s breathing.

David lay Brendan on his side in the coma position.

Ashlyn examined Brendan’s neck. “He’ll have a nasty contusion and rope burn on his neck. It looks gross. Keep watching him; my car has a first aid kit.”

“Let’s take him to the hospital; they can check him out,” David suggested.

“David, they will send him to Perth. The hospital doesn’t have many specialists, and its reputation is underwhelming.”

She put her head on Brendan’s chest. “No untoward sounds. Keep an eye on him.”

Brendan took a deep breath as he opened his eyes.

“W… what are you doing here, David?” Brendan rasped, touching his neck gingerly. “My neck is killing me.”

David smiled and pointed behind Brendan.

Brendan turned and looked at Ashlyn. “How did you know where I would be?”

“What the hell do you think you were playing at, Brendan?” Ashlyn’s face was red, and her neck was blotchy. She glared at Brendan.

Brendan cautiously rotated his head while fiddling with his neck.

“My neck is sore.”

“You blithering fool, what do you expect?” Ashlyn asked, furiously stamping her foot. “How could you do this?”

Brendan shrugged. “It seemed like a good idea at the time. I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone else. If you survive, your neck is bloody sore.”

“Let me help you up. Would you like a cup of tea?” David asked before continuing. “We know what triggered your escape to the country. You conveniently left Matthew’s letter. We knew where you were because you took the keys to this place.”

“Yes, I’ll have some tea. I feel like such an ass. At the time, it made good sense. Now, I am embarrassed. I do owe you guys an explanation. When I was in my late teens, I realized that I was attracted to males. I couldn’t accept it. I decided I would rather be celibate than have sex with a man.”

“Why didn’t you get therapy? We had an excellent psychologist at the school?” Ashlyn asked.

“Been there, done that. I saw the school counselor for a year. Nothing changed. He told me I was gay. I couldn’t accept it. I desperately wanted to be heterosexual, but girls didn’t do it for me. After discussing my options, he supported my decision to become a priest. I was happy and felt I had a clear purpose in life.”

“I met Matthew soon after I started my training. I fell in love within a month. Matthew was abused for years by his uncle. I knew he felt as I did, but we would not take it further. I suspected he had feelings for young boys. I saw how he looked at them. Then, the aliens came along, and I felt threatened. If I couldn’t be a priest, how would I cope? I couldn’t tell you what was happening; I was ashamed. Please don’t tell Dad and Mom.”

“Brendan, you are even more of a fool than I imagined. All of us knew about you. It was as obvious as a fat black mole on the bridge of your nose. I tried to bring it up with you for years. You blocked me. Mom also tried to talk with you. You wouldn’t speak with us about it.”

Brendan put his head in his hands. “I feel even worse. You all knew, and I had no idea. I thought I was protecting you.”

“None of us care that you are gay. The only person who can’t accept it is you,” said Ashlyn, shaking her head.

“Why is it such a problem for you?” David asked.

“I saw myself happily married like my parents with a mob of ankle-biters running around. I don’t want to be sexually attracted to males.”

“Did you consider more therapy?” David asked.

Brendan nodded. “I saw a clinical psychologist while I was at University. I chose someone who wasn’t Catholic. I saw her for two years; nothing changed in me. I wouldn’t say I like the idea. I won’t accept I am gay, but I can’t change it. It feels foreign to me. I worked hard in therapy, but I couldn’t sort myself out. I don’t feel comfortable in my skin.”

“How does your throat feel, and can you breathe properly?” Ashlyn asked.

Brendan experimented with swallowing, took several deep breaths, then rotated his neck.

“I picked this thick, round rope because it felt less prickly and more comfortable than the other ropes. After I kicked the chair away, I changed my mind. You have no idea how relieved I was to see you, David.”

“Brendan! Sometimes, I think you have a hole in your head. That is idiotic. Why didn’t you decide against it earlier; you could have damaged yourself,” said Ashlyn, giggling.

“Ashlyn, please put on the news while we drink our tea, then we can go home,” said Brendan. “My throat and neck are sore, but I’m doing fine. Have you got anything to eat? I am famished; I didn’t have breakfast before I left or anything on the way down.”

The TV newsreader announced: “This is ABC News, Amanda Jones reporting. In the last twenty-four hours, there have been reports of continued deaths of politicians and members of drug cartels. Today, the aliens again struck at the theocracies. Most of the Iranian parliament died today, as did the remainder of the religious party in Israel and several other politicians who voted with them. Politicians who led the anti-abortion movement on religious grounds also died.”

Amanda paused as the picture changed to show a drone view of a forest. “The Brazilian military informs us that thousands of farmers died in the reclaimed Amazon Forest.

“The Russian narrative warfare specialist who started the QAnon conspiracy confessed on the Internet and subsequently died. Thousands of other Russian, North Korean, Chinese, English, and American cyberwarfare specialists died after confessing on the Internet. Hundreds of CEOs of major corporations, their boards, and their senior management also died. Those within social media organizations suffered the most deaths. Deaths dominate the most polluting industries, followed by the biggest contributors to global warming. Most confessed online and provided the specifics of why they were to die. Companies that produce chemicals and pollute the environment have also lost many staff members.”

Amanda paused, showing off outside the Royal Perth Hospital. “People worldwide are reporting miraculous cures. After this bulletin, we will broadcast the recent talk of Prof. Russell Townsend from the World Health Organization, who will provide more detail on the recent studies that confirm that aliens are making radical changes to our health. If they can’t cure us, they are killing us.”

Amanda Jones once again paused. “We have had accounts of major changes in our behavior. Exercise physiologists have confirmed that unless they exercise, people have increased headaches. People are out and about doing all forms of exercise. Most gyms can no longer accept new members.”

Amanda paused once more before continuing.

“Funeral directors can no longer cope with the dead. Many countries have passed legislation requiring people to be cremated as cemeteries are overloaded. The Victorian government has recommissioned an industrial waste crematorium to help deal with the overwhelming number of bodies.”

“Radical changes are happening with those who are morbidly obese. This is what Prof. Arnold Stella said on Channel 9 last night.”

The tall and gangly professor with a shock of gray hair was sitting in the television studio.

“I specialize in treating those who are more than 75% overweight. Some of my patients are as much as two hundred and fifty percent overweight and confined to bed. They have been losing weight quickly in the last month and are requesting exercise. They are excreting fat from the bowel, and all have greatly increased metabolic rates.”

“Professor, can you comment on their appetites?”

“They have changed their food preferences and are eating better. Many previously gained weight while consuming little food. They can now eat normally while losing weight. My colleagues are reporting a general rapid decrease in the level of obesity within the population.”

“In other news, representatives of the alcohol and gambling industries report those industries are in grave difficulties. Alcohol consumption has fallen to an unprecedented low, and the demand for gambling has declined precipitously.”

“And now for the weather….”

Ashlyn switched off the TV.

Brendan helped Ashlyn and David tidy up before they left. David climbed the ladder and untied the rope.

“You’re looking cheerful,” Siobhan remarked. “How is your neck?”

“My neck is fine. I am feeling good. I officiated at ten funerals yesterday. David is doing the same.”

“You guys were up late last night.”

“We were playing one of the games the Rebbe gave David. David believes the games are from the aliens. I agree; they must be. The game he and I are playing deals with a series of moral-ethical dilemmas, and you then discuss your decisions after the event. I understand the alien viewpoint a lot better. Ashlyn is playing a medical one with David. They enjoy playing together.”

Siobhan smiled and raised her eyebrows.

“I am going to see a Cardinal from New York this morning. My supervisor called to say he had set up an appointment. David suspects he is the twin brother of the Rebbe.”

“Brendan, that is implausible.”

“David considers the new Rebbe to be one of the extraterrestrials. The Rebbe mentioned that he would encounter his twin in Perth, although his twin wouldn’t be exactly what he expected.”

“Yes, I remember. That is unlikely, surely?” Siobhan asked. “We don’t know anyone who can reliably predict anything. Who knows of any real live oracles?”

“Mom, we live in a new Cloud Cuckoo Land. Nothing is as you think it is. Topsy Turvey is the name of the game. Twins, yellow and green, are common in this crazy place.” Brendan looked at his watch. “It’s getting late—I better go.”

“Dear, did you hear the news this morning?”

“No, Mom, I only woke up half an hour ago; we were up late playing games — I’m still not awake.” Brendan rubbed his eyes.

“A Japanese probe near Jupiter spotted a massive spaceship, and thousands of smaller ships surrounded it.”

Brendan nodded sagely, shrugged, then waved to his mother. He turned to face her from the doorway. “Who would have expected otherwise?”

“Brendan, I would like to introduce you to Cardinal Michael Davidson,” said Father Peter Kelly, Brendan’s mentor. “Cardinal Michael Davidson, this is Brendan Murphy. I will leave you to your meeting.”

The Cardinal was a tall, handsome man dressed like a corporate lawyer. Brendan smiled broadly.

“Young man, I amuse you?” The Cardinal asked, smiling.

Brendan began, “I have a good friend studying in New York….” Before Cardinal Davidson interrupted him.

“David’s description of the Rebbe, my twin brother, is on your mind?” Davidson smiled.

“This is a new and different world; nothing surprises me. I am expecting to see pigs flying past my window tomorrow morning. I am sorry, Cardinal; I do not intend to disrespect you. The apocalypse has thrown me off balance. I suspect you intend to propose something, perhaps an off-the-planet proposal?” Brendan raised his eyebrows and smiled.

“That is an impressive deduction, but you are correct. Before proposing anything, I intend to beat around the bush and get acquainted with you. Let’s move to a less formal setting where we can chat.”

They ambled over to one of the many nearby coffee shops. The Cardinal was easy to talk with and made Brendan comfortable.

The Cardinal insisted on paying for Brendan’s coffee and a ham and cheese croissant.

“My mother tells me a Japanese probe spotted a massive spaceship near Jupiter.”

The Cardinal nodded distractedly and waved his hand.

“My brother suspected David guessed we came from elsewhere,” said the Cardinal.

“How long have you been on Earth?” Brendan asked.

“My brother and I have been here for two thousand six hundred and forty-seven years,” the Cardinal said. “It was easy in the beginning. We moved from place to place so no one would guess our age. In the last thirty years, security has tightened. That makes life trickier. I will return home; my brother chose to stay while Earth restructures.”

“How long can you live?”

“I will not die unless I have an accident. The average age of the population here will soon increase to two hundred. Once you master more advanced medical technology, you can extend your life indefinitely. We visit the hospital each time the ship returns to maintain good health.”

“Cardinal, what do you want from me?”

“Arrange a meeting that includes you, your sister, and David. I intended to extend the offer to Matthew — I am sorry to hear he killed himself. Peter Kelly was concerned you might do the same.”

“David and my sister saved me. I thought the aliens would kill me because I am gay.”

The Cardinal laughed. “The aliens are tolerant of many behaviors you would not expect and intolerant of others you would never predict. They have no issue with you being gay.”

The Cardinal then asked Brendan about his life and his dreams. Brendan resolved to be frank and answered every question. Before they parted, Brendan called David and Ashlyn and arranged a dinner meeting with the Cardinal that evening.

The Cardinal invited the trio to his hotel room. David looked closely at the Cardinal.

“Are you comparing me to my brother?”

“No, Cardinal, I am sure you swapped with your brother the last time we met. The Rebbe has a small mole next to his left eye, and you have a small mole next to your right eye. I looked at him closely when he mentioned he had a twin in our penultimate chat. I was amused to see you had switched. You told me a second time you had a brother, and you told me you would surprise me. We had a set of identical twins at school, and they had mirror moles, as you do. That is why I noticed the switch,” David explained. “So, we have previously met.”

“I never noticed the twins’ moles,” said Ashlyn. “I could never tell them apart.”

The Cardinal smiled. “You are as astute as my brother told me you would be. I would like you to call me Michael at the restaurant and when we are together in private. Please address me as Cardinal Michael or Your Eminence when I am with the clergy rather than Michael Cardinal Davidson. You have finished your drinks; follow me to the restaurant.”

They walked through the doorway into a wide passageway. The smell was subtly different.

“These people are dressed strangely. This doesn’t look like your hotel or Fremantle!” Brendan exclaimed.

Ashlyn turned to her brother. “We are on the ship, dill brain!”

Michael smiled.

Brendan turned a sickly green and looked around wide-eyed.

David beamed.

Michael led them to a nearby area filled with restaurants. The restaurants looked like any similar cluster in a shopping mall. However, as they drew closer, they noticed the signs were 3-D, and the patrons wore clothing styles unlike those on Earth. The ambient music was also subtly different.

Groups of people walked past, laughing, talking, and gesturing. They passed the first cluster of restaurants and shortly after arrived at a square dominated by a much more prominent red sun than ours. A magenta sky surrounded the sun. Enticing food smells wafted past them. Michael headed for an imposing building with an open dining area.

Men and women wore catsuits with complex changing patterns and colors.

Many looked at their small group curiously as they passed each other.

“This is one of the hundreds of similar recreational areas on the ship,” said Michael. “You will notice many birds and animals. They became sentient a long time ago. We eat a vegetarian diet. We grow plants to taste like the meat we used to eat.”

“Yes, I noticed people carrying birds and some odd-looking animals.

Several sheep-sized animals walked past. In the distance, several much larger animals, including two human-sized lizards, were eating while seated on benches in the middle of the square.

The tables and chairs inside didn’t have legs and were suspended by wires attached to floating cylinders. Michael showed them how to use the controls to manage the seats’ height and gravitational pull. “Once you know how to manage your chair, you know how beds work.”

The trio fiddled with the seat controls.

“I ordered ahead of time.”

Lights floated above the old wooden table. A holographic menu dominated the center of the room.

“I can’t hear anything beyond our table,” said Brendan.

“We have complete privacy,” said Michael. “Some things are completely different, while others don’t change much; here comes our beer, and it’s in glasses. The server is a low-level AI. He will also bring our food.”

“The beer tastes like one of our craft beers,” said Ashlyn, wiping the foam off her upper lip with the back of her hand.

Michael smiled.

“How many people are in your alien society?”

“We number in the trillions. We call ourselves the Paradigm. It’s a mix of complex political systems. AIs administer the Paradigm according to a slowly evolving system of rules. Politicians develop and then coordinate trials of policies. They translate policies into laws and then into regulations. Politicians are the human interface between the people, some AIs, and the legal and administrative AIs.”

“How many planets do you have?” Ashlyn asked.

“The Paradigm is spread over thousands of planets and includes many different beings.”

“They must be powerful AIs,” said Brendan.

Michael nodded.

“Why did you bring us here?” Brendan asked.

“Let’s eat first, and then I’ll take you to the hospital. We’ll talk afterward. The ship is too large to show you around in one evening — you’d be hard-pressed to see it in a week!”