D

iscord first arose at IFSB [International Flying Saucer Bureau] headquarters at a

meeting held early in March 1953. We voted to hold what we would term a
"World Contact Day", on which we would urge all IFSB members to attempt to
send out a telepathic message to visitors from space. If there was anything to
the claims of people expounding telepathic methods, and if we did have visitors from
space, perhaps such a message might get across, particularly with so many minds concen-
trating on the same message.
In 1953, American Two IFSB officials thought the idea was ridiculous and voted against it. They thought
people would feel we had all lost our minds and that our organisation would be ridiculed
UFO research as a result. Other officials and I felt differently. The two opposing members turned in
their resignations the following evening and withdrew all financial support. But this did
pioneer Al Bender not dishearten the remaining members of the executive staff. Two other sources, learning
of the matter, offered financial support immediately.
was visited by three So we decided to go ahead with "Contact Day", or "C-Day", and quickly multigraphed
strange men, instructions to send around the world by airmail so that all members would get the materi-
al in plenty of time before March 15, the day of the experiment. We received letters from
dressed entirely in many who thought the entire thing crazy and said they would have nothing to do with it.
We do not know who took part and who did not, but I am certain that a great many of
black, who our members did so.
The special bulletin was as follows:
transported him to
ALL OFFICERS, REPRESENTATIVES AND MEMBERS OF THE
their craft but INTERNATIONAL FLYING SAUCER BUREAU
warned him against SPECIAL BULLETIN: March 15, 1953 is C-Day (Contact Day)
making any of their On March 15, 1953, all officers, representatives and members are asked to
revelations public. participate in an experiment, something that has not yet been attempted by any
other group such as ours. We will attempt to send a message to the occupants
of the saucers (if they exist) by the use of mental telepathy. Each member will
memorize the message on this form, and on the time designated will close his
eyes in a quiet secluded spot, lie down if possible, and repeat this message in
Part 1 his mind (do not repeat vocally). If the saucer people are able to pick up men-
tal telepathy they certainly will be able to pick up a message that will be sent
by hundreds of IFSB members. We may never know if this message has
reached anyone, but if a sudden flurry of saucer sightings occurs in 1953 or
soon after our message, or even a saucer landing, we will know that we may
have been indirectly responsible for it.
Members must remember that, in order for mental telepathy to work, you
must have nothing on your mind at the time you send the message. You must
by Albert K. Bender © 1963 only think of the person or persons to whom you are sending the message, and
repeat it over in your mind. You must not have troubles or worries of any kind
Extracted from his classic book in the back of your mind, as this will tend to distract. This experiment is not
Flying Saucers and the Three Men compulsory to anyone in IFSB; we merely ask you to volunteer your services in
Published in 1963 by trying to make it a success. Everyone participating must do so at the time desig-
Neville Spearman Limited nated, and not too soon before or after the time shown. We are sending this
London, UK bulletin far enough in advance so that you may be sure to have your clocks set
correctly that day and that the message has been memorized.

FEBRUARY - MARCH 1998 NEXUS • 63

 THE MESSAGE Suddenly I could hear a voice which permeated me but in some
(To Be Memorized) way did not seem to be an audible sound. The voice seemed to
"Calling occupants of interplanetary craft! Calling come from the room in front of me, which remained pitch dark.
occupants of interplanetary craft that have been observ- "We have been watching you and your activities. Please be
ing our planet Earth. We of IFSB wish to make contact advised to discontinue delving into the mysteries of the universe.
with you. We are your friends, and would like you to We will make an appearance if you disobey."
make an appearance here on Earth. Your presence I replied in words, though my lips did not move. "Why aren't
before us will be welcomed with the utmost friendship. you friendly to us, as we do not mean to do any harm to you?"
We will do all in our power to promote mutual under- "We have a special assignment," came the reply, "and must not
standing between your people and the people of Earth. be disturbed by your people."
Please come in peace and help us in our Earthly prob- As I tried to remonstrate, I was interrupted by another state-
lems. Give us some sign that you have received our mes- ment. "We are among you and know your every move, so please
sage. Be responsible for creating a miracle here on our be advised we are here on your Earth."
planet to wake up the ignorant ones to reality. Let us With this, the voice faded away, but I could sense that some-
hear from you. We are your friends." (End of Message.) thing was watching me. My body seemed to drop suddenly and I
once again regained my senses and realised I was on my bed. The
The date, the places, and the times for this message to be room was filled with yellow mist. Not far from my bed was a
sent: shadow, resembling that of a man, but as I made a move to rise
THE DATE: March 15, 1953 from the bed it disappeared. The yellow mist was gradually fad-
PLACES TIMES ing and my room was becoming normal.
States in the USA using Eastern Std Time 6 pm I rubbed my eyes in bewilderment. I couldn't believe that what
States in the USA using Central Std Time 5 pm I had just experienced had been real. I must have dozed off, and
States in the USA using Mountain Std Time 4 pm with the telepathic experiment on my mind must have had a terri-
States in the USA using Pacific Std Time 3 pm fying dream as a result. Looking at the clock, I noticed it was five
Great Britain 11 pm minutes past six, which certainly would have allowed time for me
France 11 pm to have slept and dreamed.
Australia March 16, 9 am As I sat up on the edge of my bed I grew sick at my stomach; I
New Zealand March 16, 11am felt as if I had eaten something rotten. Had I really experienced
Canada Same as United States something unearthly? I could hardly force myself to rise from the
bed. My head still throbbed and the spots over my eyes retained

O
n March 15, 1953, in my den at the same puffed feeling.
Bridgeport at exactly 6.00 pm, I After a while I got up from the
proceeded to take part in the bed and walked about the room. I
experiment as planned. I put out the "We have been watching you heard a humming and noticed that
lights in my room and then quietly lay my radio was on. I turned it off, as
down on my bed. After studying the and your activities. Please be I realised I had not turned it on
saucers for eleven years, I felt that I advised to discontinue delving when I came into the room. The
would try anything that might help solve same thing had happened on previ-
the mystery. Saucer investigation had into the mysteries of the ous occasions. I was beginning
become the biggest part of my life, and I universe. We will make an seriously to feel I might be losing
had worked diligently to reach a solution. my mind. Again I wondered if I
As soon as I was comfortably situated on appearance if you disobey." should tell anyone about it.
the bed, I closed my eyes and began to I sat down and made a diary of
repeat the message over and over—three everything I could remember of the
times, to be exact. experience, sealed it in an envelope
It was after the third attempt that I felt a terrible, cold chill hit and locked it in the desk. I felt that if anything of a serious nature
my whole body. Then my head began to ache as if several did happen to me, somebody would find the envelope and would
headaches had saved up their anguish and heaped it upon me at know what had happened that day.
one time. A strange odour reached my nostrils—like that of burn-

A
ing sulphur or badly decomposed eggs. Then I partly lost con- fter I convinced myself that I had fully recovered from the
sciousness as the room around me began to fade away. experience, I was left puzzled by a smell of sulphur which
Then small blue lights seemed to swim through my brain, and lingered in my room for two days afterward. This smell
they seemed to blink like the flashing light of an ambulance. I had accompanied the other experiences and had been the most
seemed to be floating on a cloud in the middle of space, with a physical part of them. This time I opened my windows and used
strange feeling of weightlessness controlling my entire anatomy. room sprays to get rid of the odour, but this did not completely
A throbbing pain developed in my temples and they felt as if they dispel it. When I went to bed I still could smell it in the bed-
might burst. The parts of my forehead directly over my eyes clothes. This convinced me even more strongly that I was wit-
seemed to be puffed up. I felt cold, very cold, as if I were lying nessing some very real events and that I would no longer be wise
naked on a floating piece of ice in the Antarctic Ocean. to assume they had been my imagination or dreams.
I opened my eyes, and to my amazement I seemed to be float- I felt I should bring some IFSB officers into my room and have
ing above my bed but looking down upon it where I imagined I them witness the odour, but thought better of it. I did not want to
could see my own body lying there! It was as if my soul had left divulge my experiences to anybody, for fear that it might be
my body and I was hovering above it about three feet in mid-air. repeated and I would be thought of as a crackpot or insane. If

64 • NEXUS FEBRUARY - MARCH 1998

publicity should get in the newspapers, I would become the laugh- Had one of the members with whom I argued been able to get
ing-stock of Bridgeport, and, worse, I might lose my job. My best into the box and remove the document? I used this as a mental
friends would advise me to see a psychiatrist and I might even end argument because I did not want to believe that its disappearance
up in a mental hospital. was a part of the phenomena the paper was written about.
I knew that people throughout history have witnessed strange Soon afterward I would have the biggest shock in the chain of
events but were unable to convince others they were telling the frightening events. I will never forget it as long as I live, and to
truth. Many people are not convinced of these matters until they, me it is the greatest yet the most fantastic thing ever to happen to
themselves, experience them—then they look for believers, only anybody on Earth.
to be met by charges of "fake" and "fraud". It happened the day I returned from a two-week vacation. My
It is a lonely position you occupy when you have looked into room had been locked all the time I had been away, for my stepfa-
the fantastic, and there is nobody to believe you have actually ther knew how fastidious I was about my room and seldom went
done so. Picture yourself, say, alone on a beach at night, when into it when I was not around. On that hot July evening I carried
suddenly out of the sky a flying saucer appears and lands a few my suitcases up to my den and unlocked the door. As I swung it
feet from you. Strange figures get out and walk toward you. open, an inordinate smell of staleness met my nostrils—intermin-
They greet you and then get back into the ship and sail away. gled with the sulphur odour. I opened all the windows.
You go home and tell others what you have witnessed, but with Everything seemed to be in place, just as I had left it, but again
no proof, other than your reputation for truthfulness, to offer. the radio was on. This time the set was so hot that it is a wonder
They laugh and tell you that you should lay off the stuff for a it had not started a fire while I was away. I knew I hadn't left it on
while, that you are seeing much more than the average person— before leaving on vacation. As usual, the dial was set to a portion
they see only snakes! How could you convince them; how could of the band where no station came in. I shut it off and told my
you win when they are all against you? I felt stepfather about it when I went downstairs.
up against the very same thing after the hap- He assured me nobody could have been in
penings in my room. I did not know what to my room and that I had simply forgotten it
do or where to turn. when I left.
After some time went by and nothing fur- "The nearest planet to I ate a cold snack and decided to go to bed
ther happened to me, I decided that I should since it was late and I was very tired. I went
write up the whole thing in Space Review, so
Earth at one time back to my room, closed the door and
I made a notation in the April number that I nurtured a great latched it. I had a washroom in my den and
would make a startling revelation in the July set about cleaning up before sleeping. After
issue. I consulted two of the officers at the
civilisation which was I had brushed my teeth and gone back into
meeting and took them into my confidence destroyed by marauders the room, I sensed that something was just
about everything that had happened. But not right. Then the prickly feeling came at
they were of the opinion that I had invented from another system the back of my neck, and my eyes began to
the story in order to gain more publicity for of planets in an orbit water.
IFSB, and insisted they didn't want Blue lights appeared from nowhere
their names dragged into it. They said beyond ours. They will and swirled about the room. I grew
they felt that the policy of the IFSB was once again make their dizzy as the areas above my eyes
to tell the truth and nothing but; if I throbbed and again felt puffy. I stum-
went ahead with my plans they would appearance in the future bled to the bed and threw myself upon
drop out of the organisation, and such when they reach this it. As I did so, I felt my body grow icy
an action would make me appear as cold. I could feel I had quickly come
mentally unbalanced. same spot in their trip under the complete power of someone
From that time onward I had trouble about the central body." or something.
trying to convince them of anything or The room seemed to grow dark, yet I
to get them to do anything for me. One could still see. I noted three shadowy
of them further threatened that if I pub- figures in the room. They floated
licised my "nonsensical plot" and he about a foot off the floor. My temples
became connected with it, he would throbbed and my body grew light. I
have me arrested. So after considering had the feeling of being washed clean.
the attitude of these two people I decided against publishing any- The three figures became clearer. All of them were dressed in
thing about it at that time. When the July issue came out without black clothes. They looked like clergymen, but wore hats similar
the scheduled announcement, many members wrote me, asking to Homburg style. The faces were not clearly discernible, for the
why it had not appeared and what it was all about. hats partly hid and shaded them. Feelings of fear left me, as if
Secretly I sat down and wrote up the experiences of C-Day, some peculiar remedy had made my entire body immune to fright.
with the intention of mailing it to some official in Washington, The eyes of all three figures suddenly lit up like flashlight
DC, possibly the Pentagon, to see if they would help me in my bulbs, and all these were focused upon me. They seemed to burn
dilemma or if they, too, would share the reactions of our own offi- into my very soul as the pains above my eyes became almost
cers. I locked the report away safely because I wanted to think unbearable. It was then I sensed that they were conveying a mes-
about it for a few days before mailing it. When I did get up sage to me by telepathy. Their message went something like this:
enough courage to mail it, I went to get it and could not find it. "You have dedicated yourself to the solution of the strange
The inside of the box where I had locked it contained the now problem of unidentified objects in your atmosphere. Your interest
familiar odour of sulphur. I searched the box thoroughly, but the is deep and sincere and you have devoted many hours to it. We
report had vanished. also know that such interest and determination might lead to

FEBRUARY - MARCH 1998 NEXUS • 65

something that could bring you harm. We feel that you are a very had read my thoughts and taken the metal until they again made
good contact for us on your planet of Earth. You are an average contact with me. Perhaps they did not wish me to tell, or to have
person, and we know that what we tell you and show you will not the metal fall into the hands of the government. This piece of
be believed by anyone you might tell. metal could reveal the truth that we were under surveillance by
"You are not a person of great renown on your planet; therefore people from space.
we have nothing to fear at present. We have a purpose for being I felt sick all day and couldn't eat. I told my stepfather I wasn't
here, and we will be here for some time yet. We must not be dis- feeling well, and that it was probably due to the heat wave we
turbed in our ultimate goal. As you see us here, we are not in our were having. I felt uneasy at work and little things upset me. I
natural form. We have found it necessary to take on the look of was cranky and snapped at people for no reason.
your people while we are here. This is mainly used as a means of Two days after I'd either had the contact or experienced a
returning here without being detected by anyone. We have made dream, I waited in my room to see what would really happen. For
numerous contacts with Earth by means of craft from our own the sake of curiosity I went to the box where I had put the metal.
base and at present we have craft hidden at a remote spot on your When I opened the box it was there, glowing slightly—in the
planet. We have found it necessary to go to great extremes at same spot I had placed it two nights before! I reached in and got
times to frighten off your Earth people, and it has resulted in their it, and, as I did, so the thought of showing it to somebody came
deaths. We have also found it necessary to carry off Earth people back into my mind. As I thought of this, the metal began to glow
to use their bodies to disguise our own. with a deep red colour and got so hot I had to drop it. When it hit
"We wish to keep in touch with you and tell you many things the floor it resumed its former appearance. I could see that I was
because one day you will write about this, and we are certain that not to use it for any personal glory or gain, so I picked it up again
nobody will believe you, but you will be much wiser than anyone and decided to try to contact the three strange personages who had
else on your planet. You will know what is out there in space, recently been my uninvited guests.
and you will know what the future holds

I
for your mankind. You will see all three held the metal in the palm of my
of us again, but we shall not reveal our hand, switched on my radio and
names as they would mean nothing to "We have a purpose for being repeated the word "Kazik" sev-
you. Refer to us as Numbers 1, 2 and 3. eral times. For a few seconds noth-
We will answer according to number. here, and we will be here for ing happened. Then again I got the
We will leave with you a small piece of some time yet. We must not be sensation of extreme cold envelop-
metal similar to your coins. It is to be ing my body. My temples throbbed
kept in a secret place of your own. We disturbed in our ultimate goal. like the breast of a bird when you
wish to have you come with us at a time As you see us here, we are not hold it in your hand, and excruciat-
to be announced to you soon." ing pain abounded just above my
I was to keep the piece of metal and in our natural form." eyes. Again an overwhelming
when I wished to make contact with them power was taking over my entire
I should hold it tightly in my palm and person. I immediately went to my
close my eyes, at the same time repeating bed to lie down: I felt so giddy I
"Kazik", and turn on my radio. I should contact them in two days, was afraid I would fall.
at this same time. As they gave me this information, one of them I had hardly touched the bed when once again I could sense
went to my radio, turned it on and switched the dial. I asked him leaving my body, and looking back could see myself lying on the
mentally why he was doing it, and he replied only that it was a bed as I drifted away from it. Everything went dark and I felt
method of getting back to their base. myself floating, as if on a cloud. How much time this floating
They disappeared, and once again I could feel my body resting consumed I do not know, but it seemed like days. My only feel-
on the bed. I was covered by perspiration, though during the ing then was the pain above my eyes. Why I should have this
experience I had felt so cold. In my hand was the piece of metal: annoying discomfort I did not know, but it must have had some-
finally I had physical evidence that I was not insane. This thing to do with the transformation taking place. I sensed that the
cheered me in spite of the shocking circumstances I had just living part of my body was being transported to some other
encountered. place—where, I didn't know. I squeezed the shiny piece of metal
The metal was most peculiar. It seemed to shine almost like a tightly in my palm, as if it were my only contact with reality and
light. In weight it was very light, yet very hard. I tried to make a life. Very well it might have been.
mark on it with a file, without success. With the metal I could A sudden jolt ended my floating and all movement ceased. The
make somebody believe me. I put it in my locked box for the darkness cleared away and I was suddenly surrounded by a bril-
night. Already it was 2.00 am, and lying down I went off to sleep, liant glow, as if the beam of a large searchlight had suddenly hit
waiting for morning when I could reveal the news to everybody. me in the eyes. As my eyes grew accustomed to the brilliance, I
When I awakened I thought the experience of the preceding began to make out my surroundings.
night had been a dream. Then I thought of the metal. I jumped I was in a huge, circular room with a glass dome. The walls
from bed and went to the box. I couldn't find it! I threw all the gave me the impression of stainless steel, but they seemed to give
contents out on the floor, but the metal was not there. Then I off light, accounting for their unusual glitter. I was seated in a
wondered, as I had previously, if it had been a dream. I had been chair made of the same metal, while directly before me I noted a
very tired; I had gorged myself with a midnight snack and it had sort of dais where a large tubular object about eight feet in diame-
given me a nightmare. ter was mounted in the wall. Other similar chairs surrounded me,
I felt disappointed as I thought I would be looked upon as a per- reminding me of a theatre or lecture room. I looked for a door,
son of importance if I could only produce the piece of metal to but the walls appeared smooth and unbroken all the way around.
back up my story. Then I thought that the three in black probably The ceiling was made of glass or some transparent substance, for I

66 • NEXUS FEBRUARY - MARCH 1998

could see what resembled a night sky with twinkling stars above. We have overtaken your system many times before, but, of the
My first impression was that of being inside a flying saucer which years that have passed between, you could never begin to con-
had landed in some secluded place. The chair was of simple ceive. Your planet was not always inhabited, although others in
design, modernistic with straight lines. It was made entirely of your system have been before yours; but the years have made
the shiny metal. It tilted backward slightly so that I had a full changes, and many civilisations have died on other bodies in your
view of the area in front of me where the dais was located. family of planets, while others are to be yet created.
Once again I was thrown into complete darkness. I tried to rise "Most of the smaller bodies revolving about your planets were
from the chair but found that although I could move my arms and at one time parts of the planets themselves, but were thrown clear
my head I could not raise my body to a standing position. A when the bodies took their ultimate shape and cooled down. The
bluish light began to make itself present on the dais directly nearest planet to Earth at one time nurtured a great civilisation
behind the tubular object; then, out of nowhere, a wall panel slid which was destroyed by marauders from another system of plan-
open and someone stepped onto the dais. The panel closed, the ets in an orbit beyond ours. They will once again make their
person walked to the edge of the dais and spoke to me (his lips did appearance in the future when they reach this same spot in their
not move). trip about the central body. Almost every system of planets that
"Welcome to our domain. We now meet under different condi- has an orbit about the central body contains some sort of intelli-
tions. You are where no other Earth creature has ever set foot. In gent inhabitants, but not all the same in body structure, being
this domain you will witness things that will be most astounding adapted to the various conditions that exist on their particular
to you, things that you did not know of on your planet, things that worlds. Because many of these are far advanced in their ways of
will make you disbelieve what your very eyes are witnessing." life, your planet Earth will constantly be under surveillance by
As he conveyed this message, he seemed to be using words I these systems as they overtake you and pass you by. Your planet
could speak myself, somewhat as if I were talking to myself—this is yet an infant as far as progress is concerned, and you have far to
is the very best way I can describe it. I go to accomplish what many others
could understand everything well. I in your neighbouring systems have
assume this and other communications already achieved.
were carried out by means of telepathy. "Your planet is yet an infant as "Your planet has been dispropor-
Whether it was augmented mechanically tionately cursed in some matters,
or electronically, I do not know. He con- far as progress is concerned, and which so many do not suffer and
tinued to deliver the message. you have far to go to accomplish which slows your progress. For
"Behind me you will see a large circu- instance, our planet has but one
lar object, and if you will focus your eyes what many others in your race and one people. Because of
upon it I will endeavour to tell you some- neighbouring systems have your many races and national
thing about ourselves and why we are groups, there may always be con-
here." already achieved." flict which may result in the com-
He made a motion with his hand and plete destruction of your world.
the large circle immediately came to life, "We have been within reach of
in some ways similar to a television your system for a number of years,
screen. but will soon pass beyond the point of no return. So we have
"The first pictures you will see will show you the part of the found it necessary to accomplish our task speedily.
universe from which we come. We are far from the reaches of "We have been taking a valuable chemical from your seas.
your Earthly telescopes." This substance is vital to our existence, so whenever we come
With this, he motioned again and a spectacular view appeared. within reach of a planet that contains such sea water we go there
It seemed that the tube had come to life and that I was actually and take the material without harming anyone who lives there.
there. It had a fluorescent appearance, yet was in full colour. I We process the sea water to remove this substance. A sticky
could see a group of glowing objects on a dark background that residue that remains floats back to your planet in the form of long
appeared to be blue, yet at times seemed to be a velvety black. I strings. In the past we have been careless and have allowed some
can best describe the picture by comparing it to a "3-D" movie, of this to fall upon land areas; but we are now more cautious and
but this will not do it justice. Added to the stereo effect was a make certain that it returns to the sea from which it comes. As the
peculiar identity I associated with it—almost as if I were a part of sea water is broken down and the vital product extracted, it is
the picture itself! He then continued. shipped immediately to our own planet by a spacecraft capable of
"The view you now have on the tube is our home. It is many, speed you could hardly imagine possible."
many light years from your small system of planets. We are He then paused in this discourse, and with a motion of his hand
much older than your system, for we were created long before the changed the picture on the tube. I saw a landmark familiar to
Earth or any of the planets revolving about your central body. All every American: the Pentagon in Washington, DC, and the sur-
of these systems of planets and their central bodies have been rounding area.
formed from a central source so powerful that you could not even "You wish to know why I am showing you this view," he con-
approach it by light years, for if you did you would be immediate- tinued. "It is only to inform you that we have some of our people
ly destroyed. It is a vast, glowing body so immense one cannot stationed in your so-called Pentagon while we are visiting your
calculate its density. It is the creator of all of us, and more fami- planet. We have them stationed in numerous places about your
lies of planets are constantly being formed and thrown off into planet, to keep us informed of all that is taking place."
orbits. Such systems are not always perfect, and some disinte- The next scene showed a vital spot in the United States, but
grate after a few years. unidentified as to locale. It was one of our atomic stockpiles.
"We do not all revolve at the same rate of speed, and eventually Then, continued changes of scene exhibited similar storage places
some of us overtake others after billions of your years on Earth. in the United States and other countries including the Soviet

FEBRUARY - MARCH 1998 NEXUS • 67

Union. I asked him why he was showing this to me, and he star- losing consciousness. Then again I had the feeling of being on a
tled me with his blunt answer. I sensed he wished to appear cloud and drifting off into space. As I held tightly to the piece of
friendly, but his reply led me to doubt. metal, the icy coldness enveloped my body. My temples throbbed
"With the push of a small button in our space laboratory we can and the pain above my eyes returned with frightening, sharp jabs
detonate every bomb you have in your stockpiles all over the as if needles were being thrust through my skin.
globe, causing almost total destruction to your planet." Then all movement seemed to stop and my head cleared. I
The first thing that came to my mind was the question, "Why opened my eyes and found myself lying upon my bed in my own
would you want to do something so horrible?". room on Broad Street. I sat up and looked about. Glancing at the
His reply was also blunt and to the point. "Only if we were dis- clock, I noted only half an hour had elapsed. It didn't seem possi-
covered and your people tried to stop us with whatever means ble that so much could have taken place in such a short time, but
they had at their disposal. But having looked over your planet it had—and I really didn't know how far I had travelled.
thoroughly we have nothing to fear in this respect, for nothing you Of the entire experience, my mind dwelled more greatly on the
have on Earth could harm us. Our weapons for self-defence monster I had seen on the screen—and yet it wasn't really a mon-
against marauders in space are far superior to anything you have." ster as we would think of the term. We had created pictures of
Then he switched to a horrifying picture that made me shudder. monsters here on Earth, and the many representations we made of
It depicted a hideous monster, more horrifying than any I have such creatures had led us to think of them as hideous, terrifying,
ever seen depicted in the work of science fiction or fantasy artists. supernatural and unearthly. The last is more likely to be correct,
The monster was alive. As I reacted in repugnance to this scene, I but not in the fashion of our thinking. They could be terrible to
did not see the speaker leave the dais, and started again when I look upon only because we have made them appear so to every-
noted his absence. body; but actually they could possess an intelligence far superior
He then seemed to be speaking from to ours. Such had been the case with
the screen itself, and from the mind of the the person in the room with the
monster itself. It was as if he had instant- "We watched your people glass dome.
ly changed himself from the form of a I opened my hand and looked at
man to a creature which appeared to be develop from small sea creatures the piece of metal resting in my
similar to that pictured by the West into what you are today, but if palm. How was I to tell anyone? I
Virginia witnesses who described the would be open to so much ridicule
Flatwoods monster! your planet continues to exist that life could become almost
"You view me here on the screen in my
normal appearance. I note you find me
without self-destruction, unbearable. I had actually been
transported to another place—per-
horrible to look upon, yet the people on your people will change in haps the inside of a spacecraft, as I
our planet do not find me horrible. We
looked upon your people as odd when we
appearance over the billions had surmised previously. It had
been accomplished in the span of
first saw them evolve. We watched your of years ahead." half an hour, yet I had learned so
people develop from small sea creatures much in that length of time, had
into what you are today, but if your plan- been exposed to matters no other
et continues to exist without self-destruction, your people will person had ever seen or heard before, even in their wildest imag-
change in appearance over the billions of years ahead. For your inings.
atmosphere will change. It will become thinner. Your supply of Many might ask why I, instead of some noted scientist or
oxygen will diminish, and you will find it necessary to exist on astronomer, had been the person chosen for such an adventure.
whatever type of air mixture you may have at that time. This and The only reason I could summon was that which my visitors had
other environmental changes will lead to necessary adaptations in given me—that I was an average person, interested in science and
body structure. Continued experimentation with radioactive flying saucers, who had devoted much valuable time to the sub-
material will undoubtedly have effects upon future generations. jects. If I related my experiences it wouldn't mean anything, sim-
This could even lead to loss of reproductive capabilities, which ply because people wouldn't believe me. Had I been a well-
could eventually leave your planet devoid of human life. These known scholar or statesman, I might possibly be believed. If peo-
things are ahead of you and you must face them and solve these ple did believe, they might become horrified and go into mass
problems if you can. To us, your progress is of academic interest panic. This the visitors did not want, for they had a job to do and
but little more. wanted to go about it without being disturbed. They had not
"On our planet we have three sexes: female similar in function come here to cause trouble; they felt we had enough of our own.
to yours; male also similar to yours; and the third is neither male

I
nor female. These latter individuals are the exalted ones who found myself with an overwhelming desire to relate my fantas-
become our rulers. They are few, and when they are born there is tic experiences to somebody who would listen to me without
great celebration. Our females bear eggs which are stored away. questioning my sanity. So I put the metal away in my strong-
We control our population, and these eggs are permitted to be box and telephoned my closest friend, who was a member of the
hatched only when the great blackness covers our planet and takes executive committee.
many lives." I asked him to come over right away to discuss something
The great blackness and many other things would be explained which had happened to me and which I could not talk about over
at a later date; but evidently he felt I had witnessed enough at this the phone. He didn't seem to be impressed and wouldn't answer
time, for the screen glowed bluish again and went black. yes or no about coming over. He talked hesitantly as if he were
Once again he stood on the dais in human form. He then went building up to some point, then blurted out, "Say, Al, stop having
to the sliding wall panel and, as it opened, disappeared behind it.
Continued on page 84
The room suddenly went into complete darkness, and I felt myself

68 • NEXUS FEBRUARY - MARCH 1998

 — Close Encounters with Mysterious 'Men in Black' —
Continued from page 68

I
didn't know when I might be contacted mation was being withheld by orders from
again, but I hoped it would be soon! what I would simply term "a higher
those pipe dreams so you can get publicity Now for the first time I found that what source".
for the IFSB! Do you think people are the aliens had shown me had given me an I decided the best possible thing to do
going to believe such nonsense? Give up insatiable curiosity to learn more. It was as would be to discontinue publishing Space
the idea of making contact with creatures if the film had broken during an engrossing Review in its present form, for I already
from another world. If they were going to movie and I was sitting in the darkness knew the secret of the UFOs and no one
contact somebody, it wouldn't be you. hoping it would resume soon. This curiosi- would believe the story anyhow if it were
There are more intelligent people around ty had grown into an incredible longing to published. Why go on conducting an
they would want to meet!" see and hear more from them. investigation of something no longer a
He hung up as I held on to the phone I had to make a decision about my fur- mystery?
with a sinking feeling. My best friend had ther relationships with the IFSB. I decided Money for memberships was pouring
refused to listen to me. How would others that my best way of handling the commit- into IFSB headquarters. I felt that accept-
react? What a predicament to be in—with tee would be to tell them only part of the ing memberships under the present circum-
nobody to confide in. What had I got truth. I could tell them I had a visit from stances was not fair, for these were joining
myself into? certain individuals, whom I could not under the charter of the IFSB which stated
Suddenly I became conscious of and name, who had warned me against further we would one day find a solution to the
more afraid of another threat, a mundane investigation of UFOs. If I told them they mystery and inform all members about it.
terror which eclipsed the more unearthly had shown credentials, had revealed much So this was the main part of the business
fears I had gone through and survived. to me as to the secret behind the saucers, conducted at the next meeting. As I had
What might happen if my story did get out and that the saucer mystery was approach- hoped, the committee agreed to everything
to the wrong people? I was reaching a kind ing a solution, the committee might tend to I proposed after I had told them the altered
of numb familiarity with the people from be satisfied and even attach an Earthly version of the visitations. I asked them to
another world, and as I chuckled somewhat explanation, in their own minds, to my reveal nothing I had said until S p a c e
ironically to myself I realised that my final actions. Review came out in October. They pledged
downfall might more likely come from a I would simply tell them it would not be their silence, but I was to learn within a
visit by a different kind of men—dressed in possible to publish anything, because such few days that the pledge was not kept.
uniforms of white, freshly laundered at was not the proper method, nor was it the
their home base, the booby-hatch! proper time for such an action. All infor- Continued in the next issue of NEXUS...

84 • NEXUS FEBRUARY - MARCH 1998