Genecticsis

The pyramid shaped space ship glides almost gracefully through the asteroid belt. The lights were dim on the bridge as Adam guides the ship through the dark formation of rocks. Eve is sitting by a control panel that is lit up and constantly makes beeping noises. She is looking out the window trying to see into the darkness. Suddenly she gets up and crosses to Adam. She whacks him in the back of the head.
“Ow! What’d you do that for?”
“I told you we should have stopped and asked for directions at the nebula colony.”
“We don’t need directions, we’ve got a navigational computer.”
“You mean we had a navigational computer. Did you forget you and Steve broke it the other night, while you were drinking and fooling around? We’re lost Adam.”
“Well why don’t you check the scanner and see what’s out there besides a bunch of rocks?”
Eve goes over to the consul and checks the scanner. She notices something new on the screen and presses some buttons to focus the scanner on the object. The consul starts beeping louder and louder as the search pattern becomes more defined.
“What is it?” asks Adam.
“I’m not sure, it looks like we are in some sort of defunct solar system. There are ten moons circling that huge one in the middle.”
“Well is there some sort of nearby light source? If we could see then maybe we could figure out where we are.”
“I think that the large one may have something. I’m getting a reading but it’s not clear.”
“I’ll try to get us closer.”
“Adam you can’t see two feet in front of the ship it’s so dark here.”
“I’ll just have to use instinct.”
Adam slows down the ship but moves it forward toward the central rock. As he reaches the fourth rock back he stops the ship. Eve continues to focus on the scanner readings. She shakes her head back and forth as they become clearer.
“No light source there, but there seems to be a power source located in the center of it, like a light switch.”
“A light switch, maybe it is a light source. It probably just needs to be turned on.”
“Well genius how exactly do you propose to turn it on.”
“We could try a remote hookup.”
“Feel free.”
Adam moves from the steering column and goes to another control panel and starts pushing buttons. Suddenly there is a loud screeching noise. Adam starts praying out loud.
“Let there be light. Please let there be light.”
“Adam, what’s that noise.”
A loud and ominous creaking is going through the ship. Then there is a clicking sound, which is immediately followed by a blinding light. The ship is suddenly pulled forward.
“What’s happening?” exclaims Eve.
“There’s light. And it has a strong gravitational pull.”
Eve reaches for a pair of dark glasses sitting on the consul beside her. She puts them on and looks out the window. The light source opens a gaping hole in its center and inhales deeply, taking the rock nearest it into the hole and swallowing it. Moments later it let’s out a belch of fire. The fire reaches the new third rock in the system and starts melting it into an oval shape. When the fire recedes, the rock has turned blue and white clouds surround it.
“Adam what happened?”
“Well we found a sun and it apparently swallowed one of its moons.”
“No to that rock, the one next to us.”
“You’re the one next to the scanners. You tell me.”
Eve looks to the scanners and starts them to gathering information on the changes in the rock surface.”
“It looks like this moon has an atmosphere now.”
“Wow, and it only took a few moments to do it. Is it safe to land there?”
“Why would you want to land there, Adam?”
“Because we are low on fuel and I want to find out if we can find some more.”
Eve walks back to Adam and raises her hand. Adam turns just in time to see her swing and ducks out of the way.
“What was that for?”
“Didn’t I tell you to fill up before we left?”
“Yes dear, you did.”
“Then why didn’t you?”
“I did.”
“What?”
“I did.”
“Adam, how can that be this ship gets two hundred and fifty billion light years to the rod and it takes twenty rods. We were only going seventy billion light years away from home.”
“Well we’re a little more lost than I thought.”
“Aaahhh! Fine you can land the ship over there in that field shaped like a crescent moon.”
“I’ll try.”
“I don’t believe you’ve gotten us lost this far from home and the homing beacon isn’t working. We’ll never get back.”
“Sure we will. I’m sure the moon contains dioxitalin.”
“Well I’m going to do a scan and find out.”
Eve moves back to her control panel and starts pressing more buttons. As the consul beeps and buzzes she starts looking depressed. As the consul quiets down Eve throws her face on her arms and starts banging her head.
“What’s wrong Eve?”
“You’re right Adam the planet does have dioxitalin.”
“See I told you we’d be fine.”
“It has dioxitalin in about two hundred and fifty million years.”
“What?”
“It’s got oil Adam. It will take that long for the planet to compress it into dioxitalin.”
“Oh. Well we’ll just have to make the best of it. At least we’re all together.”
“Small consolation that is. Lost, light years from any sort of civilization. I should have married a doctor like mother wanted.”
“Relax Eve, we’ll be just fine. I’m going to land so go strap yourself in.”
“ I don’t think so. You’ve messed up everything else this trip. So I’m landing the ship.”
Eve moves over to Adams’ seat, sits down and grabs the controls. The spaceship lurches and careens towards the moon. Adam is thrust forward into the chair occupied by Eve, who pushes forward on the throttle, hurtling the ship downward at a blistering speed. Adam rights himself and grabs the controls attempting to help steady the ship. Eve pulls on them to take them away from Adam, sending the ship into a spiraling decent. The door to the bridge opens and two teenage boys and a man come through.
“Mom! What are you doing?”
“Landing the ship Cain.”
“More like crashing it.”
“Cain you shouldn’t talk to mother like that.”
“Abel don’t be such a kiss ass. She’s gonna kill us.”
“Now, now boysss I’ll take care of this. You just go sit your cute little selves over there. Eve, dear, can I be of assistance to you during this teensy weensy little problem?”
“Steve go play with Adam!”
“Why darling I thought you hated when I did that?’
“Steve not now!”
“Eve slow down!”
“I’m trying, I’m trying. Adam start the reverse thrusters.”
A loud explosive noise starts up, then a quiet, soft thud. The ship is pitched into darkness.
“Is everyone okay?”
“I’m wonderful. I just landed on top of Adam.”
“Steve give it a rest. Are you okay boys?”
“Yeah mom we’re fine. By the way nice landing.”
“Gee thanks.”
“Maybe we should open some windows so we can see what happened.”
“Good idea Abel.”
The inhabitants of the ship start moving around and righting themselves. Cain, Abel, Adam and Steve move to the four walls of the bridge. They start pressing buttons on small control panels. In unison sections of the four walls disappear allowing a bright flash of sunlight onto the bridge. They cover their eyes quickly as the brightness is over powering. After a few moments Abel, a young, strong, very good looking boy of about sixteen years of age, uncovers his eyes and looks around.
“It’s all sand!”
“What do you mean it’s all sand?” queries Eve.
“Just what I said it’s nothing but sand outside.”
“I can’t believe it, it’s all sand on this side too.” Said Adam.
“Same here.” responded Cain.
“Well darlings, I have lots of sand, but I see a sprawling, glimmering, sleek, long, delectable river.” Answered Steve.
“You’re just imagining it. I’m sure.”
“I believe him Eve.”
“You would Adam. Let me look and we’ll see about this river.”
Eve moves to the window and stands next to Steve.
“Well I’ll be. There really is a river. I don’t believe it.”
“Dear, I do believe we should call it denial, since you refuse to believe that I could have spotted it.”
“Steve go play bitch with Adam that doesn’t work for me. And what’s with the name The Nile? There’s no such thing.”
“Why Eve I thought you’d never ask. But I said DENIAL not The Nile. Although I like your name for it better.” Steve turns towards Adam. “Oh sweetie we have her permission, so come here.”
Adam joins Steve and they leave the bridge. Eve turns and looks at her sons.
“Well now what do we do. We’re stranded in the middle of nowhere at the edges of the galaxy with a river, sand, and those two.”
“Don’t worry Mom we’ll make due with what we have. It’ll be okay.”
“Abel you’re brilliant.”
Both Cain and Abel look questioningly at their mother.
“We were bringing supplies for the new colony. We should see if there are any that can help us.”
“I’ll go down and start searching the cargo holds for anything that is useful.”
“Good idea Cain. Abel see if you can track down your father and his concubine.”
“His what?”
“Steve.”
“What’s…”
“I’ll explain it to you later now let’s get going. I’ll see what I can do in the way of repairs here and meet you in the cargo hold in an hour.”
Cain and Abel leave the bridge and Eve leans over the master control panel examining it for damage.

Cain, a good-looking man with dark hair and eyes, is in the cargo hold. He is bent over at the waist with his butt sticking up in the air and staring intently at a small rounded package. The door behind him opens and standing there are Adam, Eve, Abel, and Steve who is in front of the others. He takes one step into the room and gasps.
“Now that’s what I call a room with a view!”
Cain stands up immediately and spins around.
“I didn’t hear you come in.”
“Don’t worry sugar, we just got here. By the way thanks for the memory.”
“I wish you would stop saying things like that.”
“It’s just my nature.”
“Whatever.”
Eve pushes by Steve and enters the cargo hold. Adam walks in and looks at Steve admonishingly, followed by Abel.
Eve questions Cain. “What did you find?”
“All kinds of things, but I’m not sure if any of them will do us any good.”
“Well show us.” Interjects Adam.
“Well for starters I found this.” Cain points to a large round object in the center of the room.
“What’s that?” asks Abel.
“That sweet child is a pool.” Is the response from Steve “A gene pool if I’m not mistaken.”
“What would a gene pool be doing on our ship?” Eve queries.
“Well dear, we were heading to a new colony. I imagine they wished to populate the new planet with other life forms.” Responded Steve.
“Yeah but Steve our government outlawed the gene pool decades ago. They were too unstable. The creatures that were created in it by mistake, because the genes mixed with other genetic material were hideous and in some cases dangerous.” Said Adam.
“Well I guess someone changed their mind. What else have you got Cain?” said Steve sounding a little more officious.
“I found this really weird round package.” Stated Cain.
Abel walks over and looks at the package. He picks it up and turns it around, until he comes to some writing. Reading aloud he says “Garden of Eatin.”
Eve screams out, “We’re saved!”
“Huh!” is the collective response.
“Garden of Eatin, is a seed that was genetically manufactured to grow into a magnificent garden full of all the foods that can sustain life. We won’t starve to death on this forsaken rock.”
“Did you find anything else?” inquires Adam.
“Well, just one other thing.” Cain says.
“Don’t keep us in suspense, sugar.” Answers Steve, reverting to his former attitude.
“It’s a box marked Pandora.”
“Don’t touch that!” Steve screams excitedly.
“Why?” asks Abel.
“Because I said so baby, it’s a big naughty thing.”
“Steve, how about telling us what it really is?” Eve requests flatly.
“I can’t tell you what it is.” Steve says dejectedly.
“Steve I don’t know what you are hiding or why you are hiding it, but when I find out…” Eves voice trails off.
“We should get busy unloading all this stuff.” Adam says decisively.

“Well let’s see how good a garden we can get in the desert?” Eve says as she puts the Garden of Eatin seed down, holding its package in her hand. She reads the directions. “Just add three drops of water.” She bends down with an eyedropper and very gently squeezes out three drops of water.
There is a loud creaking coming from the seed. It expands and changes color from a deep brown to bright green. A sound like a whip emanates from its center. Suddenly Eve and the pyramid shaped ship are surrounded by lush green grass, trees full of ripe juicy fruit, flowers of all kinds. The garden seems to stretch on forever all around where ever Eve looks she sees nothing but the bounty of life. Adam comes from the ship with the gene pool.
“What are you going to do with that?”
“I thought I’d get it out of the ship before someone decides to use it.”
“Good idea. Anything else in there we can use?”
“Well, we found a whole bunch of plates and jewelry and artifacts made of guilt in the other cargo hold. We figure we can use them to build a house and furnish it.”
“Good idea that will keep the boys busy.”
“Steve too. I imagine.”
“Adam!” exclaims Eve. “Try to keep him away from the boys. At least until we find out what he’s hiding.”
“All right, relax I won’t let him do anything he shouldn’t. Let me get this gene pool out of here.”

After a few weeks on the planet Eve and Adam decide to take a walk through the garden. Cain and Abel are continuing work on their house, while Steve looks on and supervises. All things are calm there are no noises, except from the occasional breeze that blows through the garden lifting up the spores and seeds of the plants and spreading them across the expanse of land and sea.
“It’s very beautiful here Adam.”
“Yes it is Eve. It kind of makes me wish we were the ones that were colonizing.”
“I agree.” She pauses. “In a strange way we are colonizing this planet. But there is a problem.”
“What’s that?”
“Cain and Abel.”
“How are they a problem?”
“They aren’t really. But how would they propagate the species. There is no one here for them.”
“I see. You’re right, and without the homing beacon working, there’s no telling when we might see civilization again.”
“If there were only some way that the boys could generate families, I would stay here forever. It’s so peaceful and beautiful here away from all the complications of society. We could create a whole new species of humanoid to show the rest of the colonies how to live in peace.”
“That’s a nice dream. Maybe something will come along to make it happen.”
“I hope so. I’m putting my faith in the humanoid will to survive.”
As they continue to walk along the day becomes increasingly hotter and the lushness of the garden wanes. They start to look for a cool shaded spot to relax and contemplate the future. Soon they arrive in a small desert like section of the garden, in the middle are two trees with a small fence around them and a placard on the fence. The placard reads:
WARNING!!!
Do not take of the forbidden fruit of the trees. They are the tree of life and the tree of knowledge. These trees are the source of the genes that sustain the garden of eatin. Any tampering will destroy the garden.
This warning supplied by the manufacturer:
Genetic Overlay Distribution corp.
G.O.D.
“A G.O.D. product. Oh brother we’re in trouble their stuff never lasts until warranty.” Says Eve.
“Don’t worry about it Eve the plants are spreading their pollen and seeds, and things are growing all over the place. Besides as long as no one eats the fruit from these trees we should be okay. The warranty from G.O.D. is usually two thousand years and their stuff usually doesn’t wear out until at least fifteen hundred years. By then the seeds will have planted and grown on their own and become independent of the garden.”
“I hope you’re right. We should head back it’s getting hotter by the minute.”
“Yeah, plus I’d like to see what the boys are doing. They said that they might go for a swim in the river this afternoon.”

Cain standing on top of the framework for the house applying thin metal sheets to the crossbeams of the roof. Abel standing on the ground with his shirt off is hammering away at a large piece of metal flattening it into another panel to be applied to the roof. Steve is sitting near Abel under the shade of a tree eating grapes and smacking his lips in delight.
“It’s so hot out here and you boys just work so hard. You ought to come and join me for a little picnic.”
“We need to finish the house as quickly as possible.” Cain yells down roughly.
“Why all the hurry? This is paradise nothing bad will happen.”
“Because we’ve only been here a few weeks and this is a new planet. We don’t know what kind of weather patterns or geographic anomalies are forming.” Abel states as he swings the hammer down with a grunt.
“You boys are so, just so… Oh I don’t know. But I’m getting hot just sitting here watching you.”
At that Abel puts down the hammer and looks up to Cain.
“He is right it’s getting hotter.”
“I know, but we still have to finish the work.”
“Yes, but you did say if it got really hot today we would stop and go swimming in the river.”
“I did. Didn’t I? Well then lets just finish up the last couple of panels for the roof and then we’ll go.”
Abel turns back to his work lifting the hammer high, and bringing it down with a loud clang against the metal. Both he and Cain increase their speed to finish the roof so they can enjoy an afternoon of swimming in the cool waters of the Nile River, which was named through an earlier misunderstanding between Eve and Steve.
After a couple of more hours pass, Cain and Abel have completed the roof of the house. Steve appears with a golden basket in his hands.
“I thought we’d take a picnic along.”
“Thanks Steve but Cain and I were planning to um… to um…”
“You’re not invited Steve.”
Steve looks crest fallen. Reaches out with the basket, handing it to Abel.
“Cain that wasn’t nice. We were planning to swim you know… nude. And we figured that you might be uncomfortable.”
“That’s not it, we don’t want you ogling us without our clothes on. It’s bad enough when we are dressed.”
“Cain you don’t have to be so rude about it. Besides it only bothers you. I don’t care if Steve looks at me. I take it as a compliment that I’m attractive.”
“Listen boys don’t argue about it. Just take the basket and go to the river and have fun. I’m sure I’ll find something to keep me occupied.”
Abel looks defiantly at Cain. Cain returns his brothers’ glare with one of obstinacy.
“Fine he can come. but the first time he makes a crack about my butt I’m drowning him. Got it Abel.”
“I’ve got it Cain no butt cracks. All right Steve?”
“After that line I wouldn’t dare to make a butt crack.”
The three of them walk through the sweltering garden towards the promise of cool water in the river. Cain and Abel discuss the plans for continuing the building of the house. As they reach the banks of the fast flowing clear water, they realize that the area is too overgrown with flowers and plants of all kinds to easily reach the water. They decide to head further up the river to see if they can find a field of grass with a few trees for shade to set up the picnic and swim.
A short time later they find a field that fits their desires perfectly, but the banks are too high up for easy access to the river. They are about to move further up along the course of the richly flowing water, when Abel spies something hidden by some shrubbery.
“Hey guys what’s that over there?”
“What’s what?” says Cain looking in the direction that Abel is pointing.
“Oh, I see it. That shiny thing hidden behind those bushes.” Exclaims Steve.
“I don’t know. Let’s go find out.” Cain says, excitedly.
Reaching the bushes they start pulling the myriad of branches out of their way.
“It’s the pool.” Steve says offhandedly.
“The pool?” Questions Abel.
“The gene pool.” Steve answers.
“Well that was a short adventure, we better find a place to swim.” Came the sensible remark from Cain.
“We have a place to swim. All we have to do is fill it up.” Steve remarks happily.
“But Mom and Dad said it was dangerous to mess with a gene pool.” Came Abel’s sheepish reply.
“We’ll be careful not to stir up the genetic material.” Promises Steve.
“Well if you’re sure we can do this safely… I’ll go along.” Abel says with a rising excitement in his voice.
“What are you nuts or something? We’ll end up creating a bunch of creatures we won’t know how to deal with.” Screams Cain.
“Oh don’t be ridiculous. We just have to make sure not to add the genes in the package to the water. It will be perfectly safe.” Retorted Steve.
“Come on Cain let’s do it. If anything goes wrong I’ll tell Mom and Dad it was my fault.”
“Fine. Let’s move this thing out of the bushes.”
The three of them tug and pull at the pool, which makes a lot of noise as it crashes through the leaves and branches of the bushes, combining with their grunting and groaning, the tearing sound of paper eludes their notice. When the pool finally springs free, they are able to lift it and move it quickly to the edge of the bank of the river.
“Well now all we have to do is find a way to fill it.” States Cain.
“We can use the picnic basket.” Steve says joyfully.
“We can?” queries Abel.
“Sure we can its solid, so it should hold water.” Says an exuberant Steve. “Let’s unload it.”
Steve starts emptying the contents of the basket. Inside is an assortment of fruits and vegetables all in varying colors of the spectrum, fully ripe and ready for eating. Steve also pulls out a blanket onto which he sets the food and some plates, finally reaching into the bottom of the basket he pulls out a long length of rope.
“What’s that for?” Cain asks angrily.
“It’s a rope. We can use it to lower the basket down to the water.”
“I know it’s a rope. I’m just wondering why you packed it.”
“In case of emergency. It’s not like we can call for help here. Besides I like to be prepared for anything.”
“That’s what I was afraid of.”
“Would you two stop fighting. We still have to fill the pool and even though Steve’s basket is really large it will still take some time.”
“Why Abel thank you for noticing the size of my basket. Now let’s get busy.”
Steve ties the rope to the handle of the basket and starts lowering it into the river, pulling up water and a little mud and sand from the bottom. After multiple dips the water level begins to noticeably increase in depth. Soon the work is done and the pool is filled with the clear water of the Nile, along with a minimum of the sand and earth from the river bottom. Abel promptly removes his clothing and jumps into the water. Steve moving a little slower also disrobes and enters the soothing cool water of the pool. Cain hesitates for a couple of minutes before starting to join them he seems torn about getting in the pool, but nothing is happening to indicate danger, so slowly as if against his will he removes his clothing and enters the crystalline pool.
“This is so nice and refreshing after a hard days work.”
“A hard days work! All you did today was sit around and eat grapes.” Rants Cain.
“Yes but for me that is a hard days work.”
“That’s not all he did Cain. I saw him early this morning cataloging the rest of the stuff in the cargo hold and organizing it.”
“My hero!”
“Abel I’m really beginning to think you’re like Steve.”
“What if I am Cain? What difference does it make to you as long as you’re not doing anything, besides do you see any concubines around? Steve is the closest thing we’ve got and I’m not going to turn away the attention. As for anything else well…we’ll see.”
“I think that maybe we should just sit quietly and soak in the water. It is very refreshing.”
They sit back and relax each with their own thoughts and ideas the water resting around them calmly. The field is serene and silent in the heat of the late afternoon. The only sound to be heard is the rustle of leaves in a slight breeze and the rushing of the water down the river path. Time passes slowly motion as the sun starts its slow descent in the west.

Adam and Eve arrive at the clearing and see them lounging quietly in the pool. Eve looks frightened. Adam shouts:
“What are you doing in that thing?”
Steve startled into awareness looks in their direction.
“You scared me to death. My goodness we’re cooling off in the pool. What does it look like?”
“It looks like the gene pool, the pool we all decided wasn’t to be used.”
“Well we decided to use it. Don’t worry we didn’t add the dry mix to the water.”
“So none of the genetic material or base is in the water?”
“Not a grain. Now why don’t you and Eve join us you look like you’ve been roasting in the sun.”
“Okay.”
“Adam are you sure about this? I mean what if he is lying?”
“Eve my dear, don’t worry about it. We’ve been sitting here for more than an hour and nothing has happened.” Responded Steve.
Abel lifts his head and says “It’s okay Mom, honest.”
“Well all right, but I have a bad feeling about this.”
Adam and Eve climb into the pool and settle down into the cool, refreshing water. Eve starts swinging her arms back and forth in a relaxed fashion. The water churns around her, moving the sand and dirt from the bottom of the pool rise and mix in the water. Suddenly the water starts churning on its own. Eve sits completely still.
“Adam I think something’s wrong.”
“Why do you say that? The water is fine.”
“Look!”
Adam looks at Eve and sees the water bubbling and churning all around the pool.
“I think we’re in trouble. Big trouble.”
Abel suddenly sits up straight, his eyes popping.
“What’s going on? I feel funny.”
“Abel just relax and let it happen.”
“Relax and let what happen Dad.”
“The creation. There must have been some of the genetic mix in the pool. The genes are working actively in the water.”
Abel doubles over in what appears to be tremendous pain. He grunts and groans and starts breathing heavy. From the surface of his abdomen come several different creatures. They have scales, gills, tails, and their eyes are on the sides. They start swimming in the water, then suddenly jump over the side of the pool into the river, disappearing. Cain starts the same kind of grunting and groaning as several creatures with feathers, beaks and talons start coming out of the beads of water on his shoulders. Eve screams as out of the ends of her long luxurious black hair, emerge what look to be slimy, slithering, sticks with forked tongues and scales. Soon all five humanoids are writhing, grunting and groaning as creature after creature is formed from the genetic muck and their genes in the pool. Some of the creatures are monstrous in size some take to the land, some to the air, some to the water. Steve becomes enclosed in a swarm of minuscule creatures that hum and buzz all around him, before taking to the air or walking on the land. With each kind of creature the water level sinks until finally the pool is almost completely drained. Eve, Steve, Abel and Cain sink to the bottom of the pool finally released from the anguish of the creation, but Adam is standing still groaning in pain, holding his hands to his ribs. There is a bubbling, cracking noise emanating from Adam’s ribs. Slowly out of his side forms a humanoid head with long blonde hair, the body follows fully developed, with large breasts, like orbs hanging from its front, the waist forms small thin, then the hips wide voluptuous, finally the legs long and well shaped. From out of Adam’s other side forms another creature of the same kind. They cower in the bottom of the pool. The original five sit and watch them, expecting them to run off the way the other creatures did, but they just cower. The surrounding world of the garden suddenly springs to life with a cacophony of sound.
“You said there wasn’t any genetic base in the pool.”
“Adam, there wasn’t I swear. We didn’t even find the package.”
“What? Where is the package then it was with the pool when I brought it here?”
“I don’t know. It wasn’t with the pool.”
“Well let’s go look for it.”
Adam leaps from the pool and heads towards the bushes where the pool had been hidden. He starts searching through the leaves and branches. Suddenly bending further into the bush Adam reaches then relaxes. He stands and slowly walks back to the group: in his hand is a torn paper package. When he arrives at the pool he holds the package where all can see it. On the front side it says in large plain letters:
“Genetic Base, add water and stir.”
“Where did that come from?” asks Abel quietly.
“The top of the bushes over there.”
“It must have ripped open when we were pulling the pool out and fallen in the bottom.” Says a sheepish Steve.
“But we were sitting quietly. Who stirred the water?” Cain questions.
“I did.” Eve answers simply.
“What do we do now?” asks Cain.
“Well for starters we should get back to the ship since we don’t know what kinds of creatures we created. Then we need to figure out a way to protect ourselves.”
“Adam what about these two?” inquires Eve.
“We’ll bring them with us. Let’s go.”
The group climbs out of the pool Cain and Abel each carrying one of the soft creatures that came from Adam’s ribs. Slowly as the sun sets on the garden they walk back to the ship, surrounded by the sounds of all the new creatures that were created in the pool. Each of them lost in his own thought and suffering from fear.

“Well what do you think of our new house?”
“It’s magnificent, Adam. But will it keep the animals out?”
“It’s strong enough.”
“How have you been doing with the girls?”
“Fine they are learning very quickly. I still think that’s a strange word “girls”. It sounds like some kind of garbled message.”
“It is a garbled message. It was the first noise they made and that’s what the boys decided to call them.”
“Well I decided to name them.”
“What are their names then?”
“The fair one is Dinah, the dark one Isis.”
“Well then we’ll have to celebrate their naming and the opening of our house tonight.”
“I like that idea. By the way where is everyone?”
“I sent them for a walk, so we could be alone.”
“That was thoughtful of you. I notice you pay more attention to me now. What happened?”
“I don’t know really but once the girls came out of me I stopped having the desire to be around Steve that way. I still like him, but as a friend not the way we used to be.”
“I used to be jealous of him, but I guess now maybe I feel a little sorry for him.”
“Don’t be. Abel seems to be filling the void in Steve’s life.”
“Adam!”
“Don’t worry I made sure that both of them knew what they were doing. Besides Abel already assured me that he would spend a certain amount of time with Dinah. He knows that we want to colonize and populate the planet and that having offspring is the most important role he can have.”
“Okay as long as he is willing to do his duty. I guess it’s okay.”
“Cain has already started on that plan. Did you know that he and Isis are getting along very well?”
“How well?”
“Let’s just say that I wouldn’t be surprised if there were offspring very soon.”
“Adam he’s just a boy.”
“No Eve, he’s a man. It’s time for you to accept that.”
“I know but…”
“No buts about it. Let him have Isis the way I have you. Shall we go and christen our new house?”

Steve and Abel return from their walk in the garden. Steve is holding the golden basket on his arm. The basket is brimming, full of fruit, which is red and ripe. They sit down outside the house just looking at it. Cain and Isis come and join them shortly. Soon Adam and Eve come out of the house. Steve lays out a blanket and they all sit down on it.
“Where’s Dinah?” Queries Steve.
“She’s in the ship. She wanted to study some more.” Answers Cain.
“Someone should go get her Abel.” Eve says pointedly.
“All right, I’ll go.”
Abel gets up and leaves the group. He goes to the ship and looks around in all of the rooms, finally finding Dinah in the cargo hold.
“What are you doing in here?”
“Just looking around. I was bored studying.”
“Well, did you find anything interesting?”
“Yes. Some things are very interesting but I don’t know what they are.”
“Come on. We’re going to have a picnic and celebrate finishing the house.”
“You go ahead I’ll be right there.”
“Okay, but I’m going to tell them to start without you.”
“I promise I’ll be right behind you.”
Abel leaves the cargo hold and the ship. Returning to the group in front of the house he sits down. A few moments later Dinah comes running up excitedly.
“Look what I found! Look what I found!”
“What is she so happy about?”
Having almost reached the group Dinah holds up a shiny box. Just before reaching the blanket, she trips and falls the box flies from her hands and opens.
“OH NO!” exclaims Steve. “That’s the Pandora’s box.”
Dinah gets up and finishes reaching the group.
“What’s a Pandora’s box?”
“Pandora’s box is a weapon that was designed to reek havoc on humanoids.” Steve says nervously.
“Reek havoc how?” Asks a frightened Eve.
“It contains the genetic codes for greed, lust and power. Once released it’s unstoppable.”
“It’s a virus. An unstoppable virus.” Screams Eve. “ You… You…You’re a SNAKE!”
“EVE! There’s no need for that kind of language.” Exclaims Adam.
“Adam, he’s released a destructive virus.”
“It was an accident I’m sure.”
“Eve, have an apple and calm down. Nothing is happening yet.” Says a shaken Steve. He hands her an apple from the basket. Eve takes a bite. Suddenly they hear a large loud crack.
“Oh no! Now what?”
The garden turns brown and withers, disintegrating before their very eyes. The desert once again surrounds them. Eve looks down at the apple in her hand that is now a small pile of dust.
“Steve where did this apple come from?”
“Some tree in the garden with a little fence around it. Why?”
“Didn’t you see the sign?”
“Sign? There wasn’t any sign. Abel did you see a sign?”
“No, just the trees and the fence.”
“The trees were the control for the garden, tampering with them destroyed it. It was a G.O.D. product.” Cried Eve.
“Oh no. A GOD product. They never last or work right.” Wails Steve.
“This is all your fault!” Shouts Cain. Who reaches down and picks up the empty Pandora’s box. He hurls the box at Steve’s head with all his strength. Steve ducks and the box flashes by him to Abel who is standing directly behind him. The box hits Abel in the temple with a loud thud. Abel falls to the ground. Eve rushes to her son.
“He’s dead Cain.” Eve states ferociously, as she grabs the box and throws it at Cain. The box hurls straight for his head. He tries to duck out of the way, but the corner of the box hits him square in the middle of his forehead.
“Ow! That’s gonna leave a permanent mark.” Screams Cain.
Steve looks at Adam, who is staring intently at the ground towards the golden picnic basket.
“It’s mine.” Says Steve. “It’s mine, mine…MINE!”
“I don’t think so.” Growls Adam.
“It and everything else in the ship is mine. All the gold and jewels belong to me.” Steve roars back. As he rushes for the basket and then dashes to the pyramid shaped ship. Adam chases after him, with Cain and the three girls following him. Steve reaches the ship and enters it. Isis begins to catch up to Adam, and then passes him. Steve turns to the doors control panel and begins to punch the buttons. Isis reaches the entry to the ship just as the doors start to close. She jumps inside and the doors slam shut. The locks drive home. Adam reaches the door, followed closely by Cain, Eve and Dinah. He begins pounding on the door. Eve reaches for his arm.
“Adam it’s over.”
“NO! It’ll never be over as long as he has all the gold.”
“Adam we need to find shelter for the night. The animals remember.”
“I don’t care about the animals all I want is my gold.”
“ADAM! Enough of this let’s go.”
Reluctantly Adam turns and follows Eve, with Cain and Dinah following behind. They start trekking across the desert. Eve reaches up her arms to the sky and calls out at the top of her lungs, “All this is because of that Damn GOD!”



copyright July 15, 2001