The Genesis Illusion

Chapter 9

"You'll do as I say," Bright Sun demanded. Ann realized this was the end of her rebellion. Her mother insisted on obedience. The ten-year-old wanted to play games with other children, instead of studying. There weren't other children in the Arcadia compound but she had seen several when they went to the mainland shopping. Ann was an intellectual prodigy, but she still wanted friends her own age.

Books stacked on shelves and piled in every corner of Ann's palatial bedroom. Her mother ensured a vast array of literature and references surrounded her gifted daughter. She wanted her to seek answers to her inquisitive probes into the wonders of the world and the complexities of science and mathematics. In one small corner, though, a few homemade toys replaced the otherwise academic setting. A stuffed baby doll, a small wooden cradle, a soccer ball, building blocks and a bag of interlocking bricks she used to build herself a small fairy tale castle, became her treasures and only links to a normal childhood.

Her only playmates were her mother's trusted disciples, who were far too old and disinterested, and a few of the workers at the compound. When Ann finally attracted a servant, she often tortured them with unreasonable demands. Then, if they didn't do what she wanted, she threatened to tell her mother. She'd seen her mother give orders and, like her, expected unquestioned obedience. She orders me around without giving me a chance to reason with her. Because of Ann's reputation the workers avoided being alone with her. The only ones that showed her any attention were new arrivals who hadn't yet become one of her victims.

"Little one, would you like to kick the ball with me?" the new gardener said using the local dialect. Ann learned the local language from her mother along with several other regional languages but she spoke only English to her mother.

Ann rushed into her bedroom to retrieve a small inflatable ball. She had a good time kicking it back-and-forth pretending to be a great soccer star. It wasn't long, however, until, with a sinister twinkle in her eye Ann shouted, "Get me some ice cream. I want ice cream."

The gardener was puzzled by this demand, and replied, "But little one, where would I find ice cream?"

"That's not my problem, probably the kitchen, I guess. Get me some ice cream right now."

"I cannot enter the kitchen. I do not have permission."

"If you don't get it right now, I'll tell my mother and she'll fire you."

The gardener looked terrified as she scurried quickly toward the main house. Ann smiled devilishly. I must be obeyed.

Ann's favorite playmate was her mother's Uncle Lee. He was her special friend. Occasionally Bright Sun would leave her with Uncle when she went shopping or attended a long meeting. Ann looked forward to these times. She loved him very much.

"Let's dress you up like a princess?" Uncle Lee said. "Get the jewelry you made and I'll braid your hair?"

"I have makeup too," Ann said, running to her room.

Returning to Uncle waiting in the living area she brought a small jewelry case and cosmetics she had borrowed from her mother. Lee helped her with the makeup but she selected a necklace and bracelets herself. "Can you wait for me to put on my party dress?" When Ann returned, she had become a small princess.

"Beautiful, now sit here in front of me and I'll braid your hair," Lee said. Lee didn't know how to braid hair but it didn't matter. Ann craved the attention and Lee loved giving it to her. These play sessions could go on for hours. Lee treated her, unlike her mother, as a child instead of a small adult. He let her use her imagination and didn't point out every mistake she made. Ann knew he didn't judge but accepted her for who she was. Ann loved that.

One day, before Ann's eleventh birthday, Uncle Lee came into her room wearing a very troubled sad face. Something was wrong. Her mother stood in sight outside the entrance to her room.

"Come here, sit next to me, I have to tell you something," Uncle Lee spoke in a soft gentile voice. "I must leave you and I won't be coming back."

Ann gasped at the terrible news crying out, "What you talking about? I need you. You can't go. What is wrong? Why do you need to go?" Lee put his arms around Ann hugging her in a long embrace.

"Is it because of your sickness? I know you haven't been feeling well but mother helps. You'll get better, you always do."

"I am not feeling well, you're right. I'm having problems more often, but that's not why I am leaving. You know we all had to leave Singapore."

"Yes, you already explained that there were people in Singapore that didn't like you. They wanted to put all of you in jail. You escaped and came here to live."

"That's right. You were born here not long after we arrived. The Singapore government has never stopped trying to find us. They say we did bad things and we must be punished. The government here has changed and now they want to cooperate, so if I don't go, they will take your mother, and the others, and even you. I can't let that happen."

"You're my uncle. Stay here, I need you."

"I know, I know, but I must surrender to them so they won't come after the rest of you. I am an old sick man and you are young and have such important things to do. I must do what I can to help you fulfill your destiny."

Ann and Lee were both sobbing and crying while clinging to each other. Ann understood that he was doing this for her and the others but she didn't want him to go. She peaked out under Lee's arm that was holding her tight and saw her mother still standing outside the door with her face in her hands crying.

When she looked up the gaze of their tear-soaked eyes linked, and Ann screamed, "You can't let this happen. Uncle needs to stay. He's my only friend."

Moaning uncontrollably Ann shouted, "This is all your fault. I hate you!"