One For Eternity
The sky was a dull, drab grey; overcast and achromatic. Every hundred metres, grey columns of smoke curled and uncurled on their way towards the heavens. Occasionally, there were sights of fires greedily devouring everything in their paths. Rubble from demolished houses, towers and shopping malls adorned the streets. There was no sign of human life. It was the definition of ruin and desolation.
President Frank Adams's car slowly made its way through all the rubble, moving at barely twenty kilometres per hour. 'President Adams of the United States, supposedly the most powerful man in the world....Ya right.' The president thought to himself. He was just as helpless as his people out on the streets. At least they had someone to blame for their misfortune. Who did he have? President Adams knew very well there was nobody else but himself to blame. He could've stopped the war, or at least prevented it from ravaging his country. However, he made the choice to fight the war, to show the world that America was, is and will always be the superpower. He was too blinded by his ego that he could not foresee the aftermath of such a wide scale war.
There was no use now, World War III had come and gone, leaving in its wake a trail of destruction. His country now rang with silence, and the muffled cries of orphans, widows and the homeless; cries of anguish, despondence and rage. It all filled President Adams with a vague feeling of emptiness and a huge block of guilt and sadness weighed him down.
The car stopped near the porch of what would've been a mansion had the recurrent bombings and air- raids not taken place. Now all that remained were the foundations and the four worn out pillars and the partially caved in roof. The house was open to the wind from all sides. Unfortunately, this was the best they could find for the conference.
Taking a deep breath, President Adams heaved himself out of the car and on shaky legs walked inside to join the other leaders of the world. Inside, sitting at the makeshift desk were the four leaders of the four superpowers of the world. President Chen Ming of China; President Viktor Dovtovsky of Russia; Queen Clementine of the United Kingdom and President Maheshwari Devi of India; sat solemnly at their places around the desk. President Frank Adams filled in the empty seat; making them five leaders of the five superpowers of the world.
One hundred and ninety- six leaders of one hundred and ninety-six countries diminished to merely five. Many presidents and monarchs had either been killed by an air- raid or had been murdered. Many stepped down from leadership as they could no longer govern their nation, while others were forcefully deposed as their countries were smashed into smithereens and disappeared off the face of the Earth.
For a while there was an uneasy and uncomfortable silence.
"Well... Welcome to the United States of America." President Adams said shattering the silence; trying to sound cheerful but ended up sounding only weary and wistful. Others nodded in acknowledgement.
"Greetings, leaders." President Ming piped up. "As we all know, three world wars have been fought, and the result? The result has only been massive destruction, bloodshed and a loss of millions of dollars. Right after World War I the leaders formed the League of Nations, its success was showcased by the Second World War. Right after that the leaders of UK, USA and USSR formed the United Nations which also made no significant developments towards realising the goal of world peace before World War III broke out..."
"Pause right there, president." Queen Clementine interrupted. "Are you trying to say everything that the UK, USA and Russia have founded together is a failure? What has China done towards establishing world peace anyway? We at least tried."
"He's saying we are failures indirectly." President Dovtovsky decided. Even President Adams couldn't help glaring at President Ming.
"Peace," President Devi declared, "Let President Ming finish."
"Thank you. I was talking about..." President Ming continued.
"How we are failures, go on." President Adams replied sarcastically. Now it was President Ming's turn to glare. Regaining his lost composure, President Ming continued.
"All organisations such as the League of Nations and the United Nations have failed because they allowed separate representation of countries. Even though, majority of the countries were allowed representation, we were different, we debated and formed blocs and alliances, chose our allies and who to annihilate. What we need for world peace is that all of us, all five of us come together as one. One world, One country, One global community."
President Dovtovsky raised an eyebrow like 'Is he crazy?' The tension could be felt in the room, raw and vulnerable, ready to explode like dynamite. It was like a half- opened birthday present however, the contents were not going to be even half as much pretty.
"Makes sense," President Devi said, "India has always stood for peace and non-alignment, a policy that has been disrupted by war. I would like to go back to it. National and political borders do not exist geographically, they are made by man. For how long will we fight on the basis of religion, culture and nationality? They are merely illusions, they don't exist. For world peace, we must eradicate the concept of 'country'. Instead we should become one global community, one world. All five of us could lead it together, develop it in such a way that no hatred or greed is bred amongst the people. Rule it on the basis of Liberty, Equality and Fraternity. We all started out as one, geographically and politically- ever heard of the large landmass called Pangaea? The fact that the tectonic plates split apart is no reason to get separated. We were one, and we shall be one."
There was a brief moment of silence.
"I agree." President Adams said. President Ming looked at him like 'how come all of a sudden you listen to her?'
"Count Viktor Dovtovsky in." President Dovtovsky announced.
All eyes turned towards the Queen. She cracked a smile and said "Do I have a choice?"
Suddenly the mood became cheery, everyone felt better, more hopeful. The sun broke through the clouds, new and resplendent; bringing the message that all was not lost; it was time for a new age, a new epoch.
"We'll make a new world, a better world. Without any hunger, poverty or war. We'll start anew." President Ming declared.
"We shall start a new order of the ages, Novus Ordo Seclorum!" President Adams intoned.
"Novus Ordo Seclorum!" Everyone said in unison.
And there they sat together, bathed in sunlight and hope. They were no longer Presidents of USA, India, China, Russia or the Queen of UK. They were leaders of the world. The early torchbearers of the global spirit. They weren't five separate fingers of a hand, but one fist. And this fist would ricochet with valour and might and stop at nothing till its goal was reached- one world, one global community.
President Frank Adams's car slowly made its way through all the rubble, moving at barely twenty kilometres per hour. 'President Adams of the United States, supposedly the most powerful man in the world....Ya right.' The president thought to himself. He was just as helpless as his people out on the streets. At least they had someone to blame for their misfortune. Who did he have? President Adams knew very well there was nobody else but himself to blame. He could've stopped the war, or at least prevented it from ravaging his country. However, he made the choice to fight the war, to show the world that America was, is and will always be the superpower. He was too blinded by his ego that he could not foresee the aftermath of such a wide scale war.
There was no use now, World War III had come and gone, leaving in its wake a trail of destruction. His country now rang with silence, and the muffled cries of orphans, widows and the homeless; cries of anguish, despondence and rage. It all filled President Adams with a vague feeling of emptiness and a huge block of guilt and sadness weighed him down.
The car stopped near the porch of what would've been a mansion had the recurrent bombings and air- raids not taken place. Now all that remained were the foundations and the four worn out pillars and the partially caved in roof. The house was open to the wind from all sides. Unfortunately, this was the best they could find for the conference.
Taking a deep breath, President Adams heaved himself out of the car and on shaky legs walked inside to join the other leaders of the world. Inside, sitting at the makeshift desk were the four leaders of the four superpowers of the world. President Chen Ming of China; President Viktor Dovtovsky of Russia; Queen Clementine of the United Kingdom and President Maheshwari Devi of India; sat solemnly at their places around the desk. President Frank Adams filled in the empty seat; making them five leaders of the five superpowers of the world.
One hundred and ninety- six leaders of one hundred and ninety-six countries diminished to merely five. Many presidents and monarchs had either been killed by an air- raid or had been murdered. Many stepped down from leadership as they could no longer govern their nation, while others were forcefully deposed as their countries were smashed into smithereens and disappeared off the face of the Earth.
For a while there was an uneasy and uncomfortable silence.
"Well... Welcome to the United States of America." President Adams said shattering the silence; trying to sound cheerful but ended up sounding only weary and wistful. Others nodded in acknowledgement.
"Greetings, leaders." President Ming piped up. "As we all know, three world wars have been fought, and the result? The result has only been massive destruction, bloodshed and a loss of millions of dollars. Right after World War I the leaders formed the League of Nations, its success was showcased by the Second World War. Right after that the leaders of UK, USA and USSR formed the United Nations which also made no significant developments towards realising the goal of world peace before World War III broke out..."
"Pause right there, president." Queen Clementine interrupted. "Are you trying to say everything that the UK, USA and Russia have founded together is a failure? What has China done towards establishing world peace anyway? We at least tried."
"He's saying we are failures indirectly." President Dovtovsky decided. Even President Adams couldn't help glaring at President Ming.
"Peace," President Devi declared, "Let President Ming finish."
"Thank you. I was talking about..." President Ming continued.
"How we are failures, go on." President Adams replied sarcastically. Now it was President Ming's turn to glare. Regaining his lost composure, President Ming continued.
"All organisations such as the League of Nations and the United Nations have failed because they allowed separate representation of countries. Even though, majority of the countries were allowed representation, we were different, we debated and formed blocs and alliances, chose our allies and who to annihilate. What we need for world peace is that all of us, all five of us come together as one. One world, One country, One global community."
President Dovtovsky raised an eyebrow like 'Is he crazy?' The tension could be felt in the room, raw and vulnerable, ready to explode like dynamite. It was like a half- opened birthday present however, the contents were not going to be even half as much pretty.
"Makes sense," President Devi said, "India has always stood for peace and non-alignment, a policy that has been disrupted by war. I would like to go back to it. National and political borders do not exist geographically, they are made by man. For how long will we fight on the basis of religion, culture and nationality? They are merely illusions, they don't exist. For world peace, we must eradicate the concept of 'country'. Instead we should become one global community, one world. All five of us could lead it together, develop it in such a way that no hatred or greed is bred amongst the people. Rule it on the basis of Liberty, Equality and Fraternity. We all started out as one, geographically and politically- ever heard of the large landmass called Pangaea? The fact that the tectonic plates split apart is no reason to get separated. We were one, and we shall be one."
There was a brief moment of silence.
"I agree." President Adams said. President Ming looked at him like 'how come all of a sudden you listen to her?'
"Count Viktor Dovtovsky in." President Dovtovsky announced.
All eyes turned towards the Queen. She cracked a smile and said "Do I have a choice?"
Suddenly the mood became cheery, everyone felt better, more hopeful. The sun broke through the clouds, new and resplendent; bringing the message that all was not lost; it was time for a new age, a new epoch.
"We'll make a new world, a better world. Without any hunger, poverty or war. We'll start anew." President Ming declared.
"We shall start a new order of the ages, Novus Ordo Seclorum!" President Adams intoned.
"Novus Ordo Seclorum!" Everyone said in unison.
And there they sat together, bathed in sunlight and hope. They were no longer Presidents of USA, India, China, Russia or the Queen of UK. They were leaders of the world. The early torchbearers of the global spirit. They weren't five separate fingers of a hand, but one fist. And this fist would ricochet with valour and might and stop at nothing till its goal was reached- one world, one global community.
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