Beyond the Farthest Star: Chapter 30

True to Noel’s word, things did start happening the next morning. News that the ancient city of Tikal had been rediscovered spread like wildfire, and Noel had no trouble putting together a team of people to scout out the city’s ruins. Over the next few days everyone was talking about what the discovery meant and what treasures might be found. Noel ended up with thousands of volunteers, all willing and eager to explore the ruins.

To the surprise of Amy, even Mayor Thornton was enthusiastic. He issued a statement urging the citizens of the colony to do whatever they could to help Noel. Amy had to read the statement three times before she figured out what is going on.

“He thinks the ruin is some kind of treasure chest!” Amy told Miles. “He wants people to loot it and bring its riches back here, so he can lead a more comfortable life.”

“Did you really expect anything else? I don’t think he has the faintest idea that people are going to want to leave New Tikal and return to the surface. That thought has probably never crossed his mind.”

Amy laughed. “You know, I think he’s going to be in for a bit of a shock! The city we built is so much nicer than these dingy corridors. There’s simply no comparison! People are going to flock to it – they won’t be able to help themselves. Everything is going to change.”

“Or so we hope,” Miles commented.

“It’ll happen,” Amy said confidently.

“I wonder what the mayor will think when he realizes what’s going on,” Miles said thoughtfully. “Do you really think he’s just going to sit back and let it happen?”

“Probably not. Still, if he’s smart he’ll try to get on board and establish a place in the new city. That city is the future.”

“Or he may try to shut down the project altogether. He has too much at stake here, and I’m sure he’s not excited at the prospect of change. I don’t see the political class giving up easily.”

“You could be right,” Amy replied. “Speaking of that, do you think we should go with Noel on his scouting expedition?”

“I don’t think so,” Miles said. “He’s got plenty of help, and he has access to the best and brightest minds of his generation. Let’s give him some space and see what he does. This is their project, after all. Once this gets going neither of us are going to be there to hold his hand. I’ve almost reached the end of my life, and you – well, you have other things that need your attention.”

Amy sighed. “I know. But let’s take care of this first.”

It took Noel several days to pick out his team, but by April 5th he had reached a decision. He picked twenty of the most qualified personnel, gathered up the necessary equipment, and set out the next day. His plan was for them to spend the next two weeks scouting out the ruin. He knew that there was no way his team could complete an exhaustive survey in that amount of time, but he hoped that it would be long enough for them to understand the ruins a bit better and see what it would take to make them inhabitable again.

Despite his protests, when the expedition left thousands of people followed it across the desert. The only thing that stopped them from flooding into the ruin was the steep cliff that was the city’s only means of access. The crowd watched as the expedition lowered its supplies and personnel into the fissure. When everyone had made it safely to the bottom the crowd dispersed and returned to New Tikal.

While they were disappointed that they hadn’t been able to enter the city, they weren’t entirely despondent. They had seen the city with their own eyes and knew that it wasn’t a myth or mirage. Over the next few weeks the story of the fabled lost city continued to grow. For the first time in centuries something new and exciting was happening, and people were eager to be a part of it. The terraformation of the planet was a monumental event, but this – this was different. In the eyes of many, the city offered them a second chance – a new place to live, a new way of life, and a new challenge to overcome.

The expedition ended up going much better than Noel had predicted. By the end of the two-week period they were able to restore electricity and running water to one of the city’s buildings. The next challenge would be securing a food supply. The city offered several options, but they would all take time to implement.

What was clear to everyone who explored the city was that the ruin was far more advanced than their home back in New Tikal. There were definitely challenges, but if they were able to overcome them then their civilization would take a giant leap forward. There were obstacles, but the rewards for overcoming them were great.

When the expedition returned to New Tikal it was greeted with great excitement. After resting and taking some time to go over their findings, Noel publicized the results of their trip. In the documents that he released he talked about the great treasures he had found in the city, its staggering level of technology, and the tremendous promise that it held to be the new home of mankind. The challenges, he said, could all be overcome. With some effort, it would be possible for all of them to leave their decaying, underground city and move back to the surface. Rather than waiting underground for the end to come, they could create a new future for themselves. All they had to do was work for it.

This message proved to be tremendously popular. Not everyone was in favor of it. Many people were content with their lives in New Tikal and saw no particular reason to change. But there were countless others who were restless and eager to do something with their lives. Without even knowing it they had been longing for excitement and adventure, and what Noel offered them was the chance of a lifetime.

But there were others who were very concerned about Noel’s proposal. The mayor of New Tikal saw this as a threat – and he was determined to do something about it.