The Search: A Parable by Gavin Sneddon

The Search: A Parable by Gavin Sneddon

CONTROL:  Zero-November-Echo, Zero-November-Echo.  Are you receiving?  Over.

ZERO-NOVEMBER-ECHO:  This is Zero-November-Echo.  Go ahead, Control.

CONTROL:  We need you to locate a unique top–secret military aircraft which is crucial to the war effort.

ZERO-NOVEMBER-ECHO:  Roger, Control.  Can you provide details?

CONTROL:  We don’t have a precise description, but our strategic analysts have established that if we can appropriate an aircraft with a certain feature set, it will give us exactly what we need to win this war.  Our analysts believe such a prototype has already been developed.  We want you to find it so we can stage a snatch mission.

ZERO-NOVEMBER-ECHO:  Roger, Control.  Happy to help.  Can you confirm the feature set?

CONTROL:  Negative, Zero-November-Echo.  Our analysts are still working on that.  But as long as you can transmit a photograph, they can analyze it and establish whether or not it’s what we’re looking for.

ZERO-NOVEMBER-ECHO:  Roger, Control.  Anything to point me in the right direction?

CONTROL:  Our analysts have established that the aircraft must have the ability to remain motionless in the air.  Try observing enemy patrols above the Channel.

ZERO-NOVEMBER-ECHO:  Roger, Control.  On our way.

…

CONTROL:  Status update, Zero-November-Echo?

ZERO-NOVEMBER-ECHO:  Whew! Just went through a heavy storm there, Control.  Luckily, we’ve got some pretty good self-righting capability here.

CONTROL:  Anything to report?

ZERO-NOVEMBER-ECHO:  Affirmative.  We’ve located an enemy attack helicopter which might be the aircraft you’re looking for.

CONTROL:  Good work, Zero-November-Echo.  Please transmit photograph for confirmation.

ZERO-NOVEMBER-ECHO:  Transmitting now.

CONTROL:  Received; will send this to our strategic analysts and advise.

ZERO-NOVEMBER-ECHO:  Roger that.

…

CONTROL:  Bad news, Zero-November-Echo.  Our analysts report that this is not the aircraft we’re looking for.  Apparently from the photos they can see that it doesn’t have a searchlight, which is another key requirement.

ZERO-NOVEMBER-ECHO:  Roger, Control.  Any other features I should know about?

CONTROL:  Not at this time, Zero-November-Echo.  Our analysts are still working on the final list.  They’ve nearly finished.  Viewing any photos you transmit helps them to establish what doesn’t meet the requirements, so keep up the good work.

ZERO-NOVEMBER-ECHO:  Roger control.  We will continue the search.

…

ZERO-NOVEMBER-ECHO:  I think we might have something, Control.  We were in thick fog and we observed an enemy Zeppelin bomber motionless in the air, anchored to the ground.  It was using a searchlight to pierce the fog, maybe trying to get its bearings.  We struggled to get a photograph in the fog, but then deployed our own high–intensity wide-beam photon transmitter and managed to get an image.

CONTROL:  Sounds promising, Zero-November-Echo.  Please transmit photograph for confirmation.

ZERO-NOVEMBER-ECHO:  Transmitting now.

…

CONTROL:  Our analysts have looked through the photo, Zero-November-Echo, and I’m afraid we’re still missing a feature.  I’m advised that the aircraft must also have onboard large gyroscopic servers for re-orientation.  Sounds like a variant on your initial attack helicopter might be more in the ballpark.

ZERO-NOVEMBER-ECHO:  Roger, Control.  To be honest, we’re getting a little dispirited here.  It’s kind of hard to find something when you’re not really sure what you’re looking for.

CONTROL:  I appreciate that, Zero-November-Echo.  But remember what I said about helping to narrow down the options.  I’m sure our analysts will have a comprehensive feature list soon.

ZERO-NOVEMBER-ECHO:  Roger that, Control.  We’ll continue the search.

…

CONTROL:  Status update, Zero-November-Echo?

ZERO-NOVEMBER-ECHO:  We’ve just had a narrow escape.  We were hovering over an enemy attack helicopter when it spotted us and we had to take evasive action.  We got a picture, though, and it looks as if it might meet the description.

CONTROL:  Roger that, Zero-November-Echo.  Please transmit photograph for confirmation.

ZERO-NOVEMBER-ECHO:  Transmitting now.

…

CONTROL:  Zero-November-Echo, I’ve got some good news and some bad news.  The bad news is that the last photograph you transmitted isn’t what we’re looking for, either.

ZERO-NOVEMBER-ECHO:  Well, that’s disappointing.  What’s the good news, Control?

CONTROL:  The good news is that we now have a full feature list from our strategic analysts, so we know exactly what we’re looking for.

ZERO-NOVEMBER-ECHO:  OK, that is something.  What’s the list?

CONTROL:  Our analysts have now established that we need a reconnaissance aircraft with the ability to take and transmit photographs, remain motionless in the air and have gyroscopic stabilizers and a searchlight.  If we can find and appropriate one of those, we’ve got this war won.

ZERO-NOVEMBER-ECHO:  Wait, did you say reconnaissance aircraft?  I’ve been assuming we’ve been looking for an attack aircraft.

CONTROL:  Negative, Zero-November-Echo.  Our analysts have confirmed it’s observational capability we require.  What we’ve stated is the full feature list.

ZERO-NOVEMBER-ECHO:  Hang on a minute, Control.  This changes everything.

CONTROL:  Standing by.

…

ZERO-NOVEMBER-ECHO:  Control, this may seem like a crazy idea, but I’ve been reviewing the features we’ve been using to carry out our search. They appear to meet all the requirements you indicated for the target aircraft.  We used our gyroscopic servers in the storm, a searchlight in the fog, and hovered motionless over the second attack helicopter.  We are a unique prototype which the analysts might not know about, and I think our actual search vehicle must be the vehicle you are looking for!

CONTROL:  It sounds crazy, but it might just be right!  That’s great news, Zero-November-Echo. You can expect a commendation for this.  Please transmit photograph for confirmation.

ZERO-NOVEMBER-ECHO:  I can’t do that, Control.  We’re actually flying the aircraft, we can’t get outside to take a photo!

CONTROL:  My orders are clear, Zero-November-Echo.  Our analysts must have a photograph of the aircraft in flight for confirmation.

ZERO-NOVEMBER-ECHO:  But that’s not possible, Control!

CONTROL:  You’re going to have to continue the mission until you have the photographs we need.

ZERO-NOVEMBER-ECHO:  But, Control…

CONTROL:  That is an order!

And so the search continued…

Gavin Sneddon was a lifetime seeker who woke up with Fred about a month prior to writing this article. He is now a very enthusiastic student of The Living Method of Spiritual Awakening.