“I might be better to come visit and go look at the night sky with you.” She raised her eyes towards Erica and mouthed ‘it’s beautiful’.”
“Yes, that’s a good idea. When would you come? I’ll book you a flight.”
“I’ll let you know—although there may be a trip to Jerusalem on the cards.”
Cath’s dad didn’t pick up on that comment. “That sounds exciting. I’ve decided to take a trip out to the area near my workplace. You know, the workplace that put me on unplanned leave.”
Erica detected by the tone there was no ill-will.
“You needed to retire, Dad.”
“Think you’re right there. I’ve packed the telescope and the camping chair with the insulated pockets and put the heat pouches aside to warm up before I make the trip. You know how chilly the mountain ranges outside Canberra get, even in early autumn.
“I do.” Cath turned to Erica. “He’s a man of detail.”
“Looking forward to a trip to the mountains when I visit.”
Erica looked around the ward as the background chat continued.
“Bye, Dad.”
“Good to see you, Erica.” Cath reached out and touched her leg. “Dad was going to escape the city lights and set up camp at the Honeysuckle Creek camping ground. It was once used as a space tracking station, transmitted pictures and audio of man’s first landing on the moon. It was the perfect place to view the stars then, and still is now. He would head out there later in the day, before sunset. I have fond memories of the camping ground.”
“I think that’s something I’d like to do.”
“Dad loved the stars, and so do I. The beautiful architecture of the solar system always intrigued him and his worldwide network of amateur astronomers. And they feed this information into me. Adventus added to this fascination because of the biblical implications.”
“I need to tell you something. I had a visitor. I believe he was an angel.”
Cath laughed. “So did I. That was my dig about Jerusalem. It flew over Dad’s head, but I’m sure he’ll get a visitor soon.” She rubbed her hands. “What’s happening? Exciting, hey?”
Contentment filled Erica’s heart. “Are you up for a walk? I hear the hospital gardens are lovely.”
They returned sometime later. There was still a crowd gathered around the TV in the lounge room. Adventus drew people in.
Just as Cath got comfortable on the bed, her phone rang. It was her Dad again, another video chat.
“Cath, it started around lunchtime.” He looked and sounded excited. “I was scrolling through various astronomy websites—sites authorities haven’t blocked yet. Adventus, of course, took up most of the online chatter. Some of my astronomy buddies in the Middle East were detecting movement with the huge asteroid. The messaging started slowly and then the screens started rolling with messages rapidly.”
He was speaking quickly. “Slow down, Dad.”
“Do you have a TV?”
“Nope, it’s all streaming services now.”
“Well, you better get streaming, because something big is happening.”
Cath opened up her laptop and connected to the news.
Erica froze. Adventus. The silver of a full moon sat in the background, small in comparison. The scene zoomed in on a small cloud approaching and then disappearing into the great structure.
The clock on the wall told her it was 2.00 pm. Words scrolled across the bottom of the screen. The sun had just risen in the Middle East—many of the inhabitants were in for a rude awakening with a monolithic structure now staring down on them.
“I guessed by its size it was just outside Earth’s atmosphere. I look forward to when the Earth’s rotation has our side of the world looking at it,” Frank said.
What was it? A spaceship or God? And how …
37 - Being revealed
Erica rushed home from the hospital and stood in her lounge room.
She was transfixed, despite the panic surrounding the image. The asteroid was massive, its surface pristine. So different to images of other asteroids she’d seen. No ridges. No craters. More like glass—tinted glass. She’d heard the rumours about a city inside the asteroid, but there was no indication of a city in these images. Maybe they needed to get a closer view. She didn’t really care. It was all overwhelming. Anyway, it was all about trust. She would hold onto that.
The news was interviewing someone from NASA. He wore an open-neck shirt and glasses that rested halfway down his nose, like a stereotypical scientist. His title appeared at the bottom of the screen—Planetary Defence Coordination Officer.
Johnny came into the room and stood beside her. “I think they must be rattled, Mum.”
Erica turned and looked at her son, sensing his strength and his peace.
“Why do you say that?”
“Well, it’s travelled from the depths of space in a massively short period of time, and now it’s closer than the moon. That, in itself, is beyond explanation. My guess is their initial strategy would’ve been to deflect it. But it’s too close now. Even going nuclear would cause massive problems.”
They both turned back to the television, where the local reporter was speaking.
“Our national leaders are in touch with the appropriate authorities, and NASA is currently in communication with the Executive Office of the President, the U.S. Congress, and other government departments and agencies.”
“Interesting times,” Erica sensed her panic wanting to rise. “You okay?”
