"What do we do with him?" said 1.
"What do you mean by that? He is my son. What will you do with him?" 321 said.
"321, keep your mouth shut otherwise you will be sent away. This is the gathering of your elders. You do not speak until spoken to." 1 said furiously.
1 is the head of our planet earth. He is eight hundred and ninety one years old. The committee of the elders comprises of seven religious heads of entire planet of which 1 is the oldest. The elders generally meet in order to discuss religion. The religion that binds all people on earth – Arla. The religion is revered as God and praises the spiritualistic aspect of humanity. They otherwise meet to discuss potential threats to the religion. A group of extremists have lately been active. These rebels believe in the one thing Arla doesn’t allow – Science.
"This child is not our kind. He has started walking and he is only eleven months old. What are the thoughts of other elders?" 1 asked again.
"I do not believe we can do anything." 2 said.
2 is second in command to 1 and she is only a year younger than 1. Besides his successor, she is also his wife.
"What do you mean?" 1 asked.
"There is no description of a child starting to walk so early in our scriptures. There is no means described in it to deal with a situation like this." 2 explained.
"I suggest we kill him." 7 said. 7 is youngest amongst the elders. He is just 700 years old.
"We cannot do that. Murder is against Arla. We do not harm other life." 2 said.
321 who grabbed 279's hand when 7 had suggested murder was relieved when 2 disagreed to it.
"5 what do you say? You are the expert when it comes to children." 1 said.
5 is a specialist among the elders. He monitors and takes care of every one born on earth.
5 said nothing but motioned 321 to bring the child to him. 321 did as she was asked. 5 surveyed the child for several minutes. He waved his hand above his forehead and placed his long finger upon his heart.
"Unlike us, this child is mortal. He will not survive more than hundred years." 5 said in a deep voice.
"What is that supposed to mean?" 321 shrieked.
"Out of here, both of you. Leave the child." 1 said. 321 showed signs of protest but 279 steered her outside.
"What do you mean 5?" 1 asked.
"Praise to Arla, humans conquered mortality several hundred millennia ago. Before that humans lived not more than 100 years. This is a child of that time."
"How can you say that?" 1 asked.
"Well. I am reading his heart rate and it is elevated. His heart beats around 100 times a minute. That is four times ours. Besides, humans do not walk until 9th year. He can walk. Also, humans remain this size for a decade. Wait for another year and this child will have grown to double his size right now." 5 said looking at the child.
"How do we make it right?" 2 asked.
"We cannot make it right. Arlan Scriptures only tell us that we achieved immortality. They do not explain how. We have no means of making this right." 5 answered.
"Well the rebels believe their science made it possible. Why don’t we call their head?" 7 said again.
"We do not speak to or speak of science. Science is described as the worst sin in Arla." 1 said.
"I think 7 is right. There is a motive to every action. The rebels would not do anything unless they have some motivation." 5 said.
"You are wrong 5. Over the years, we have seen many such rebels. They are against our religion. They have only one motivation: destruction of the one religion that binds all of earth." 1 said.
"That is because we never try to listen to them." 5 said, "I believe it is time now that we forget our differences and start talking." 5 said.
"This is just a child. He is not reason enough to meet the enemies that wish to bring destruction upon our God." 1 said.
"This is a child who is born the way they were born before Arla. I will be hanged if there are not more of them." 5 said.
"You believe more such children – " 2 started but 1 cut her in between.
"Why do you think so?"
"I believe Arla is angry upon us. I believe she is punishing us. The rebellion is going on for a century now. I know it is not a long time but we have done nothing but ponder. I believe our lack of actions has put our creator in a difficult position. This might be a sign of her displeasure." 5 said.
There is nothing that 1 can do but ...
To be continued...