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The Third Alternative Deep in rolling fields of Scotland, where the cows graze by day and sleep by night, lies a round granite stone 5 feet in diameter and flat on the top. It's surface is shiny and smooth. There is nothing to suggest how this stone came to be, yet it lies perfectly level and is embedded deeply into the ground. Normally, such an occurrence is not enough to warrant more than curious, if local, attention, but what made this stone unique was the fact that a singular, spectacular lightening bolt would erupt from the sky and strike the rock every five seconds. A persistent set of dark clouds never left the site- and for months now lightening had been striking the stone repeatedly every five seconds, literally to the microsecond. It could not be explained. The best minds in the world came, set up experiments, and always left with shaking heads. You could feel the disappointment, and yet for once the thinking throughout society was starting to build that this indeed was the sign, the sign everyone was waiting for. The Stone had become a magnet for people of all causes from all parts of the globe. One religious fanatic had himself nailed to the cross near the stone, and others had even flung themselves onto the stone and were promptly killed when the next bolt of lightening thundered from the sky. Certainly those that did so convinced themselves that by completing this sacrificial act, they would receive the grace of the Almighty and be promptly lifted into the waiting arms of God in Heaven. But no one knows for sure, and that is exactly the problem. TV cameras broadcast the occurrence 24 hours a day. It was everywhere, and it was all anyone could talk about. Some thought God was sending a sign to all, one that would undoubtedly prove His Existence, while others were sure it marked the beginning of the end of the world. The dual mindset was placing an undue amount of stress on nations around the world, and as a direct result many small wars began flaring up. One begins to wonder if the "Bolt" (as it has come to be called) will not cause the destruction of mankind through indirect means- if true then the stone is inherently evil. I believe otherwise, because I hear the gentle whisper that the stone sings to me. Night and Day blend into one but the whispered melody rings forever true, and this I know for certain because I can see it deep within my heart. I see it in the eyes of others, and I know they see it in my eyes too. It's like that sometimes, when the warm push of the wind can be felt all across your body. You hear the birds, absorb the sun, and experience the mother earth in all it's glory, so rich with smells, sights, and wonder. The canopy of blue sky above stretches from horizon to horizon, forever reminding one of the vast scale of the articture and perfection of it all. I often hear the warm harmonies floating down from Heaven above, singing to only me. It is the same message repeated ad infintum; but beyond a shadow of a doubt the eternal whispering of the stone suggests a third player has entered the arena and is literally driving down a stake on new territory. A bold affront to God and the Devil, a challenge outright has been laid. We have a new player on the scene, and things are about to get complicated. Mere mortals are we, so focused on our own daily pity that the options before us are blurred beyond distinction. As a child, we're told quite simply that things are either right or wrong, and that it's always easy to tell one from the other. But as an adult, one continually wonders the gray zone, lost and confused, struggling to find balance among the competitive forces that nibble away our lives. The Third Alternative offers much to the gray zone souls, who desperately seek the ability to fill the empty spots in their lives with meaning. The Third Alternative has captured many in this way. Eventually to become a religion unto itself, the Third Alternative ranks grew from year to year. It's popularity was astounding and immediate. Members are called Alternatives, and collectively worship the stone and the bolt as proof positive of a new Higher Power in the universe. I am not so easily convinced, however. The whispering stone message occasionally contained an undertone of evil that can only be heard in the rarest moments of sheer concentration. It's almost impossible to discern, but it is there nonetheless. And it is very, very dark there. Mark Trainer |