Lemuria by Burt Clinchandhill (most popular novels of all time .txt) 📗

without any delay, the spotlight stayed on him. “We’re completely alone. The outer doors are locked, and the theater is soundproof, so no one can come in or hear us.”

“And if I wanted to get out?” De Cremonese glanced at the doors.

“Oh no, not to worry, Father. If you were to walk up to a door from the inside, it would immediately open.”

“That’s good to hear.”

“Did you know, Father, that ever since I was a child, I knew I was destined to make a difference? So I made a choice. My family immigrated here when I was a child, chasing the American dream. Probably my mother’s dream. I watched my father work his ass off—working odd jobs to feed myself and my younger sister. My mother was sick most of the time. One day when I was twelve, as my father sat on the couch in front of the television, I told him I fixed dinner and asked him if he wanted to join me and my sister at the table. He didn’t answer. He never answered again. He died at forty-two, watching television. He had lived my mother’s American dream for six years by working day and night. It was at that moment that I felt—no, I decided—I was going to make a difference. My sister and I took care of my mother from then on. The first few years were hard, but at fifteen, I opened my first webshop, and in less than two years, I was able to get my mother the treatment she needed. It was there all the time, you see, but we simply couldn’t afford it. Today, she’s still very much alive and healthy. From there, well, the rest is history, I guess.” He took a deep breath. “And how about you, Father? Did you always know you would become a priest? Was it a real calling, so to say?”

De Cremonese doubted the answer for a moment. Should he indulge Mulder for a moment, or confront him right off the bat? “The short answer is no, and to be frank, the long answer is also no. If you don’t mind, I didn’t come here today to swap childhood stories.”

Mulder fell silent for a moment. “You’re right. I guess I’m rambling. You asked for another appointment. I guess you’re still worried?”

“There’s that,” De Cremonese replied.

“There’s more?” Mulder jumped off the stage and sat down in the chair next to De Cremonese, the spotlight now encompassing both of them.

“How’s your assistant?”

“You know Amie?”

“I spoke to her once, a few months ago.”

“Then you must have heard what happened?”

“I heard she was missing, but that’s about it.”

“Kidnapped.” Mulder sounded fierce. “The Young Earth Movement, they call themselves.”

“I saw your press conference. You gave them an ultimatum.”

“That passed almost a day ago now.” Mulder hung his head.

“I figure you heard nothing?” De Cremonese asked.

Mulder shook his head. “You know them?”

“Who, the Young Earth Movement?”

“Yes. I figure, since you’re in the same line of business.” Mulder lifted an eyebrow.

“I know of a few other fundamentalist Christian organizations like ‘Answers in Genesis,’ the ‘Institute for Creation Research’ and the ‘Creation Ministries International,’ but nothing about the Young Earth Movement.”

“What could they be after? I know they wanted me to stop all my work on artificial intelligence, and gene-based therapies, but why?”

“Well, what I know from other Young Earth-like creationist organizations is that they are so-called creationist apologetics, and they will do almost everything to defend their beliefs. They are more or less obsessed with the idea that Earth and every lifeform on it were created some six- to ten-thousand years ago. Created by a deity through a supernatural act.”

“God?” Mulder smirked.

“Not really. In any case, not necessarily the God that I believe in. However, they do believe in Genesis. In fact, they take it quite literally and are convinced it took their creator exactly six days to create everything. They even built a complete pseudoscience around it, Creation Science, they call it. Personally, I’m more of an Old Earth Creationist, believing that Genesis is consistent with the scientifically established ages of the Earth and universe.”

“But you’re also a scientist. You clearly have found a way to combine science and religion.”

“I did,” De Cremonese confirmed. “And that’s exactly the difference between me and the creationists. Creationists reject any form of scientific evidence on the creation of Earth and the universe. I look for ways for one to be explained by the other.”

“I myself am more of a Eugenic, I guess.” Mulder gave a half-smile. “I don’t have a strong opinion on how we got here, but I have strong beliefs that our purpose in life is to improve the quality of humans. The genetic quality of life if you like.”

“That’s a dangerous supposition.” De Cremonese frowned. “One that might just have gotten you into this situation.”

“I don’t think there’s anything wrong with wanting to create a better, stronger and healthier human. Plato even suggested it in 400 BC by applying the principles of selective breeding.”

“Wars have started over this.” De Cremonese tried to hide a wave of growing anger. “Though it might sound idealistic, it’s usually followed by excluding groups of people that are considered to be inferior.”

“That’s not what I said, or meant, Mr. De Cremonese,” Mulder snapped. “For every good and noble idea, there’s someone who will use it to do something evil. It’s the same as the gun discussion. Do guns kill people, or do they keep the peace? They probably do both. Besides that, my research is in the field of genetic engineering, and artificial intelligence will possibly benefit everyone, and not one single species or race.”

“Nonetheless, that could be what the Young Earth Movement had in mind when they kidnapped Ms. Coleman, trying to convince you to stop what you’re doing. What was it they said? Stop playing God?”

Mulder stayed silent, his jaw tightening, taking long, deep breaths. “Listen,” he said in a firm voice. “I’m not sure why you’re here. You told me you spoke to