The Fox, the Badger, and the Megalodon Shark Tooth.
A Short Story
I can see the flaming Sun—it is spewing red and yellow—I am so close to it. If I reach out, I can almost touch it. It is very different here. It is dead quiet. Too quiet.
‘Am I really living here? It feels so surreal; I have to pinch myself.’
It is the year 2060.
Someone has asked me, ‘What is it like living out here?’
So, I explain: ‘I am five months travelling away from the known terra-firma – we have moved at a rocketing speed to get here. It is freezing cold. The Sun looks enormous from where I stand. I am afraid it will burn me. I have to turn my face away, down. I am out in the open – I feel so exposed.’
Very experienced and smart architects have come up with a couple of ‘house’ ideas, and here I am, living in one of them in this Godforsaken landscape. There is a patch of green here and there – our fruit and veg are covered with domes. The exterior texture of the pod which we live in is rough and contains iron and basalt. It has the same colour as the surface of this place. The houses were created with a massive 3-D printer. When we landed, the three of us watched the large machine print our home right in front of our very eyes. The windows look like square alien eyes – it was installed after the printing was complete. This place doesn’t have a magnetic field – like Earth – to protect it from the rigours of space weather and the Sun’s radiation. The pod and windows are designed to protect us from the damaging rays of the Sun. Specifically, when the Sun flares up in hot spots.
The door resembles the mouth of a Star Wars alien mask. We looked like Space characters in our own extra-terra-suits when we first set foot on this place. Now we have settled into a normal routine. Work-eat-sleep.
My dog – Jason, a daschund – looks like a long hotdog covered in a white wedding suit; we call him a dogs-tronaut. Yip, it is really awkward, he moves slowly in his spacesuit. He fell over in the beginning when he excitedly jumped up onto our legs. He would lie on his back and row with his legs like a beetle that has unexpectedly landed on its back – a long white beetle moving slowly. We make jokes about him all the time. Jason the beetle-dog. Jason the vacuum-bag. And, now that his suit is all brown, we call him dirt-bag. So funny! It is so unusual to have a dog in a spacesuit. He is used to a collar and leash, but now, he is trained to back up into his spacesuit — if he wants to go for a walk. He looks hilarious.
We are out on a short walk today. Jason is right next to me, he is wagging his tail enthusiastically—but nobody sees it. He doesn’t know that no-one can see his tail. But, I know the way his body is shaking – it gives his tail wag away. He appears to be happy. But, is he really happy? I can’t see his eyes, a transparent screen covers his face. He arrived in a white spanking-new-spacesuit. His suit was a brilliant white colour some months ago; however, after all his explorations, it is now a tainted brown. The dust-bag is now a working dog. We don’t have a washing machine here.
The flaming Sun is reflecting on Jason’s visor. It filters harmful radiation. In front of us – as far as we can see – is a red, dry barren landscape. Brownish red and arid with no water or greenery in sight. The Sun is bright, very bright — it is a different bright. They told us that the Sun’s radiation is deadly. We have to protect ourselves at all times. I miss the warmth of the Sun’s rays on Earth on my body. It made me happy.
Violent wind storms of the past had whipped orange dust into the atmosphere, and it had settled in a myriad of fiery orange hues. The landscape is a combination of dirt, sand and rocks – a deserted relief. As I peer out of my helmet’s visor, I raise my white-gloved hand in front of my face to shield me from the worst of the Sun’s futile glare. Walking in the spacesuit is difficult, it is bulky and uncomfortable. Where there are rocks, my footsteps disappear as if I had not been there at all. My air supply is low – the red light on the side of my visor is flashing – I have to return to the pod to top up.
I am lonely here. I think Jason is alone too. It is so quiet here, not a sound: no birds, no cars, and no neighbour chatter. I can’t even hear the wind. I miss the happy noises of animals and the friendly voices of people.
I am hungry — Jason too. Jason is going to be very disappointed in his lunch today. It is the same as yesterday and the day before—synthetic minced meat in a tube – grown in a lab. I am going to try the spinach and potato mash for lunch today or maybe the pasta with tomato paste and synthetic beef. All our food is mashed into large tubes. Some of it has small chunks in it, just to break the monotony of the mash. In fact, all our food is mashed up and stored in tubes. I miss Earth today. I feel so sorry for Jason.
While we were standing outside, about a kilometre away from our pod, something unexpected happened. Jason saw the movement too. Immediately, instinctively, he chased after it.
‘What was that? Was it a shadow?’
I had the shock of my life. What is going on?
“Come back, Jason, Jason!”
Jason can’t hear a thing. We are now both low on oxygen! I decided to run after him. We are getting further away from the pod.
“Jason, Jason!”
“Come back, Jason!”
A red furry animal dashed for fifteen meters and then disappears into a hole. It looked like a large dog.
What? Am I dreaming; an animal alive on Mars!
*****
The hole looks like it had been drilled by a machine of some kind. It is large. Someone must have dug this hole? But, we are the first astronauts living on Mars. Had people been drilling and excavating the red planet before us? There is absolutely no record of that.
Jason is down the hole – somewhere – behind the ‘thing.’
‘I have to save Jason.’
My head and chest-cam are switched on. But, I have decided not to contact the base station where we live. I don’t want to alarm the other members. I want to investigate first.
The hole – which becomes a tunnel of some sort – is big enough for me to fit in comfortably. I went onto my knees and started to crawl down at a steep angle, laser gun in hand. I switched on my additional headlamp LEDs.
‘Am I doing the right thing?’
After five minutes of very slow crawling, I see a burst of movement that attracts my attention. It is shadows against the wall. My heart stops for a moment. The white-and-copper coloured tail is just visible as the tunnel makes a slight curve to the right. I move slowly towards the creature; careful not to make a sound as to startle it. The white, grey, and copper coloured fox turned its head slowly towards me. It can see me coming. I am stunned as our eyes lock; it is sizing me up with its honey-coloured eyes. I reach out slowly to him, and in a flash of copper, he races past – running over me – and out of the hole. The fox moved like lightning. I haven’t even had time to move a muscle – he flew over me like a jet.
‘There is Jason, there is Jason! He is alive!’
I tried to turn in the hole, but it was just too narrow. I backed out feet first. On my out, I bumped my head against a big rock. I looked up and to my left was an unusual shape.
‘That is black and white hair – it is the fur of an animal!’
“It is a fossil, it is a fossil! I can’t believe it, it is a fossil of some kind!” I shouted.
What we have been looking for – life on mars – I have just found! This changes everything!
I switch on the two side lights on my headpiece. I sit on my knees and turn to face the fossil.
‘I can’t believe my eyes!’
In front of me – staring at me – is the fossil of a badger. I know badgers because I have a particular interest in them. The full length of the badger is displayed, I can see the entire length of it. It is like a cross-section of the animal. Every single bone is intact. The skeleton is surrounded by the skin of the badger – a thin line around the bones. The fur looks new and fresh as if the badger died yesterday. This is the find of the century. The humans on Earth will be excited when they receive the picture and the news.
”LIFE FOUND ON MARS!” I can see the tabloids; I can hear the news flashing around the world and Mars.
I take some additional pictures with my high-resolution head-camera. Some stills and a short video.
I want to take off my gloves and touch the bones. I want to feel the texture of the fur. It is definitely real.
The clawed feet and short legs are distinct; I can imagine the snout with black and white stripes. The ambling form of the badger sits etched on the rock.
“I wonder how it came to its end.”
“But the most mind-boggling question of all is how did it get here?”
“And, there is the fox that is still alive out there; how on earth – I mean Mars – is this possible?”
I have been talking to myself; I am totally overwhelmed.
Jason saw the fossil, but he did nothing. He was only interested in me. He was glad I saved him, I could see it in his eyes – through his visor.
On our way out, Jason stopped suddenly. He was sniffing profusely. Can he smell through his visor? He had definitely found something. I used my fingers to rake and sift through the loose sand.
“It is a massive shark tooth!”
‘How on Earth did it get here? Could there have been an ocean here? Water?’
I know a Megalodon Shark tooth fossil – it is ancient. I hold the massive tooth in my hand; it is almost the size of my hand. The dark brown colour of the tooth contrasts beautifully against my white glove. Perfectly fossilised. I carefully place it in my pouch and close the zip.
I saw a similar tooth on Earth about 10 years ago.
‘But, how did the tooth get here? I must be dreaming. Could this be all true? No, it can’t be! Someone must have placed these items here! But, why?’
It is quite a heavy tooth. It sways in my pocket as I move.
“Come, Jason, lets’ go.”
Eventually, we both got out of the short tunnel – the pictures and video of everything in the tunnel were safely stored on my head and chest cam.
*****
The fox was gone.
I wondered: ‘Where did it go? How does it survive; and most of all – the most intriguing question of all – how did it get here and how does it stay alive in this deserted environment?’
I decided to keep it a secret – for now. I entered the GPS location on my device and I used a code word to ensure that no-one could understand it.
*****
So, you are probably thinking about what happened next? You will not believe what happened next. It was the most ridiculous thing that ever happened to me.
Keeping a secret isn’t always a good thing.
EXPLORATIA – the space company that transported us to Mars – tracked me down. I was busy doing searches on TRIGINTILLION – the equivalent of GOOGLE – when I received an email from Exploratia’s legal team.
Dr John. C. Ogilvie (dated December 20, 2060).
We have become aware of your unusual searches on TRIGINTILLION, and we are alarmed by the keywords you are using in your searches. It is the responsibility of EXPLORATIA’s legal and surveillance teams to report any secret activity to our headquarters. Before we take this matter further, we want to allow you to explain the use of the following keywords you have been using in your clandestine and incognito searches:
Fossils found on other planets
How to keep a discovery a secret
Radiation and foxes
Badger fossils found in strange places
Creation versus evolution, the facts
The evolution of the badger
The oldest fossils ever found
The chemistry of Mars’ soil
Megalodon Shark tooth fossil
Please respond within ten days of receiving this email. It is imperative to send us your explanation. As you are aware of the contract you have signed before leaving Earth, we include an excerpt.
A copy of the excerpt of the contract you have signed with EXPLORATIA in 2059 (the last paragraph):
‘I fully submit and commit to the conditions laid out by EXPLORATIA in this contract. I will be fully transparent and will not hide any findings or discoveries on Mars – or anything else of significance – while stationed on Mars or after I return to Earth. I hereby give EXPLORATIA the unconditional right to track my movements and to use the extensive surveillance by the space station on Earth…’
Dr Ogilvie, if you have hidden anything we should know of, you have the opportunity to disclose it within the next ten days.
Yours sincerely.
John P Kennedy
(CEO of EXPLORATIA and Mars Exploration)
The email was a shock! Thank goodness there is no clerk of the court here on Mars. It would have been a disgrace having a summons delivered to our pod. The back of the envelope would probably read ‘High Court of the US.’ Goodness knows who could see the letter; all the gossip that would follow.
What will I do? The discovery will be a shock to EXPLORATIA. And, what I know will alter so many things, forever. Earth will be shocked by the development. And, for scientists, Christians, philosophers, evolutionists, and other religions, what could it mean? If it is sold as the truth…
‘What will I do now? I need to think.’
EXPLORATIA could adapt my findings. They could change everything and report to suit their agenda. Earth needs to know the truth. It is a huge dilemma for me; my life is in danger.
I am convinced that the fox was left behind by Russia’s SpeedNix 8 in 2052 when it sent animals to Mars to conduct experiments. It is classified information. Only EXPLORATIA and Russian Space agents and research officials know about it. It is classified information. The ‘fossil’ of the badger – it seems like it was planted into the wall of the burrow – could be presented as an authentic fossil. Pretty much like the forgery of the Piltdown Man from 1953 (To support evolution – the ancient skull was found to have consisted of the altered mandible and some teeth of an orang-utan deliberately combined with the cranium of a fully developed, though small-brained, modern human!). ‘Scientific’ tampering!
The Megalodon Shark tooth could have been placed in the hole by anyone. An ocean on Mars? This ‘discovery’ will shake the Earth and its inhabitants! But, is it real? No, it can’t be right.
Think about all the contamination on Mars by the previous visitors? The fox, the badger and the Megalodon shark tooth must have had several microbes attached to it. It is impossible to sterilise it. If tested in a lab, the Earth’s traces would be evident. How would they endeavour to mask all the microbes and other evidence?
I think the badger fossil was created on Earth by the EVOlutionist Society of Cientas. They have been caught several times altering scientific facts and findings on Earth over the past couple of years. It is all about funding and grants for private exploration companies. The shark tooth is in abundance on Earth, and it is available for sale to anyone. It could have come from any part of Earth. This discovery could start a science revolution! A total upheaval.
‘What will I do?’
I think the most important thing is that the truth is heard. But, my life will be at risk if I do so.
‘The truth shall set you free,’ rang in my head.
If EXPLORATIA says that the findings are a sign of life on Mars – it will definitely support evolution theory – however, the conspirators will have to create a unique story to match the findings. They will probably get their team of scientists together and brainstorm their strategy and tactics. It will be all classified information. I will never be able to tell the truth. I could lose my life if I speak up.
‘I think I know what I will do.’
I will give EXPLORATIA all the information and data. At the same time, I will make copies of the photos, and I will document the truth. I will take small samples of the DNA and preserve it. Then, I will create a hardcopy and print it on durable paper. I will roll it all up and hide it in an airtight cylindrical capsule. I will bury it close to our pod and wait. Then, wait till I get home. I will hide the capsule on my body when travelling back to Earth. I just have to take the risk.
Some of the EXPLORATIA scientists could call the discovery ‘Deciphering the Mars Code.’ I can see the headlines:
‘Mars finally gives up its secrets’
‘How many more life forms are out there?’
*****
It is the year 2065 – I am back on Earth – reading about the discoveries and events on Mars in 2060.
The news headlines read:
‘Life on Mars explained.’
‘Mars fossils confirms scientist’s expectations and predictions.’
‘The Mars fossil puzzle is coming together.’
‘Mars fossil code decoded.’
‘Mars finding confirms life forms similar to Earth.’
‘Mars discoveries point to more life forms on other planets.’
‘Exploratia wins a 10 billion dollar grant for future research.’
‘Exploration praised for outstanding scientific research work.’
In my garden – on Earth – under the roots of the oak tree, hides the aluminium cylindrical container. Nova Scotia, Canada. The secret is safe under the squiggly roots – waiting to be revealed. I have a different set of truths about life on Mars.
In a lawyer’s safe is my last will – sealed – with a map and instructions to get to the sealed container.
*****
On June 15, 2086, John Calvyn Ogilvy passed away. Ten days later, the world – as we know it – is preparing for a significant paradigm rewind.
The tabloids initiate the process:
‘Fake scientific facts about Mars revealed!’
‘Deception: Ancient life on Mars does not exist!’
‘Biggest Mars conspiracy uncovered!’
‘History books have to be altered: Life on Mars a scam!’
‘Exploratia to face serious fraud charges!’
‘Exploratia placed in receivership!’
‘Scientific Community in shock over Mars revelations.’
‘Religions, philosophers, and theorists have to backtrack on Mars facts!’
It is like in the days of the scientist Copernicus (1473 – 1543) when a considerable paradigm shift was required about the Earth and our solar system. The Earth was not the centre of our universe – said Copernicus back then after studying the stars with his telescope – but the Sun is. In this pivotal point in Earth’s history and knowledge of our place in the cosmos, a new paradigm was forged. As expected, not everyone was happy about it. Amidst fiery debates, Copernicus revealed that the Earth was not the centre of our solar system – the Sun is.
Copernicus’ astronomical observations:
Copernicus’s ideas (though anticipated by some ancient astronomers, he discovered in his studies) were too much for contemporaries; even a revolutionary like Martin Luther found it impossible to believe the Sun, not the Earth, anchored the solar system.
It wasn’t until Galileo (1564–1642) that Copernicus’s ideas were seen for what they were—a revolution in how humankind conceived of itself. For some this implied that de-centered Earth was an insignificant speck to a distant God; others, though, marvelled that the creator of a now infinite universe would lavish such attention on a planet that seemed to stand at the periphery of all creation.
Source: https://www.brainpickings.org/2012/12/21/100-diagrams-that-changed-the-world/
*****
The epitaph of Ogilvie’s tombstone in Nova Scotia reads:
John Calvyn Ogilvie (1999 – 2086)
Distinguished Canadian Astronaut, dear father, and dedicated husband.
A Young- Earth-Creationist
“And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” John 8:33
I am resting in Peace
The End.
Copernicus
“[It is my] loving duty to seek the truth in all things, in so far as God has granted that to human reason.”
Copernicus.
Copernicus was not treading popular ground, since medieval theologians had nearly made it a point of orthodoxy that the Earth was the center of the solar system, proof that humankind was the center of God’s attention. Copernicus knew that “as soon as certain people learn that … I attribute certain motions to the terrestrial globe [that is, that the Earth moved around the Sun], they will immediately shout to have me and my opinion hooted off the stage….” Still he considered it his “loving duty to seek the truth in all things, in so far as God has granted that to human reason.”
Copernicus’s ideas (though anticipated by some ancient astronomers, he discovered in his studies) were too much for contemporaries; even a revolutionary like Martin Luther found it impossible to believe the Sun, not the Earth, anchored the solar system.
It wasn’t until Galileo (1564–1642) that Copernicus’s ideas were seen for what they were—a revolution in how humankind conceived of itself. For some this implied that de-centered Earth was an insignificant speck to a distant God; others, though, marveled that the creator of a now infinite universe would lavish such attention on a planet that seemed to stand at the periphery of all creation.
Credit: https://www.christianitytoday.com/history/people/scholarsandscientists/nicholas-copernicus.html
What is a Megalodon Shark?
Megalodon, meaning “big tooth”, is an extinct species of shark that lived approximately 23 to 3.6 million years ago, during the Early Miocene to the Pliocene. It was formerly thought to be a member of the family Lamnidae and a close relative of the great white shark. It had a powerful bite with a jaw full of teeth as large as an adult human’s hand. They likely could tear chunks of flesh from even the largest whales of the time. It should come as no surprise that upon discovery in the fossil record, the massive shark was named Carcharocles megalodon or “big-toothed glorious shark.” It was the size of a double-decker bus. See the cool video below of a person finding a Megalodon Shark tooth while out hunting for fossils. Credit: Wikipedia
Megalodon Shark Tooth.
Life on Mars is closer than you think. Many companies have already begun working on transportation to and from the Red Planet, and now a housing solution is in the works. EXPLORAZ sent out a call through their Centennial Challenge, seeking the most exceptional architectural talents to design a habitat that could stand up to the conditions on Mars. AI Space-Factory answered with MARSHA. The award-winning dwelling is a 15-foot interplanetary structure. Its pod-like form is 3D printed using biodegradable and recyclable basalt composite — a native Martian material that is strong and durable enough to handle pressure, smoke, and impact. The interior is spread throughout four levels, and consists of “human-centric” features to support a life mostly lived indoors. Their design beat out 60 other entries and earned them a $500,000 prize.
Here are the details around the ‘Mars Habitat Competition’ for designers and architects.
“New York-based architecture and technology company AI Space-Factory presents Marsha (MARS Habitat), a 3D-printed visionary vertical housing on mars. The project marks a radical departure from previous habitat schemes typified by low-lying domes or buried structures. Where structures on Earth are designed primarily for gravity and wind, unique conditions on mars led to a structure optimised to handle internal atmospheric pressure and structural stresses: a vertical egg-like container with a minimal footprint. This innovation challenges the conventional image of ‘space-age’ architecture by focusing on the creation of highly habitable spaces tuned to the demands of a Mars mission.
To realise the challenges of building on mars, AI Space-Factory’s solution relies on materials harvested from the Martian surface, a technology known as ISRU (in-situ resource utilisation). The team is formulating an innovative mixture of basalt fibre extracted from Martian rock and renewable bioplastic (polylactic acid, or PLA) derived from plants grown on mars – eliminating the dependency on rockets to transport materials from the Earth.
The pod–named Marsha–stands vertically on the surface of Mars. It is intended to advance state of the art in autonomous 3D printing construction methods, materials technology, and architectural design. It pushes designers to develop human-centric habitats that can be constructed in-situ in preparation for the arrival of the first settlers on Mars. The result is a highly credible and evocative home with an alien yet familiar beauty.”
Credit: Designboom
Read more about the Marsha Pod. Don’t miss the great illustrative video showing intricate details of the design concept.
See details about the structure and more of Marsha.
Video: https://youtu.be/XnrVV0w2jrE
More lessons, e-books, and articles: https://fivehousepublishing.com/
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