height of the space race between the Russians and Americans, scientists suggested that one day, artificial “Earths” with roads and cities would be built in the sky where people would live and work. Along the same lines, futurists drew bases on the moon where families would build cities and raise families. In 1966 Gene Roddenberry, screenwriter and producer, introduced the American public to
Star Trek,
a TV series depicting the universe of the future. Although we have never realized these cities in the sky, the international space station, where astronauts from many nations live and work together, is the closest actualization of that dream
.
Cities in the sky are not new to many indigenous people who tell stories of cities and places where they have been taken in the sky. In many cases, women were abducted by men from the stars, never to be seen again. In some narratives, the women escaped and returned, some with a child who had enormous and unusual powers. A story that circulated when Neil Armstrong walked on the moon came from Navajo country, where an elder reportedly suggested that Armstrong tell everyone hello because he had been there earlier
.
In this chapter, you will meet Raul Manuel, an elder who lived in a small Belizean village, who told the story of repeated visits to a place in the sky where people from Earth worked alongside Sky People and other aliens from throughout the galaxy
.
I heard about Raul Manuel from my driver, Buddy. “When I was a boy, there was a man in my grandfather’s village who claimed that he had traveled on a UFO to a place in the sky that floated above the Earth. He said that at this place, people of all races lived in peace and no one was better or superior to any one else.” I was fascinated by his story and encouraged him to elaborate. “I remember his stories from the time I was maybe four or five. At night we would gather around him, and he would tell us about his trips to the stars. We loved it.”
“Is Raul still alive?” I asked.
“He was alive a month ago. He is elderly, but he still entertains children with his stories of a floating city in the sky and how he travels there.”
“Was the floating place in the sky a planet?”
“I don’t think so. He called it a floating disk in the sky. Hundreds of people lived there and they were all different. Different colors, different races, and different kinds of people.”
“Do you think he would talk to me?”
“I’m sure he will. He loves to tell his stories. In fact, he claims he still goes to this floating disk. Strange thing, sometimes he disappears from the village and no one knows where he is. When he returns, he says he has been with his friends in the sky. I remember last year he disappeared for two weeks. His family was upset and rallied the village to search for him. They thought he had wandered off and had fallen and could not get back home. All of the villagers searched for him but did not find him. One night, about midnight, he returned home. Several people saw a bright light that turned the whole village from night to day. They believe a UFO brought him home.”
“How can we get in touch with him?” I asked.
“We will go see him now. It is nearby. My grandfather lives in the same village. I will check to see if he is well and able to visitwith you. He has a daughter who lives in Belmopan, and I know she wants him to come live with her now that he is getting older. She worries about his disappearances.”
An hour after leaving Hopkins, we entered the small village, which was spread out on both sides of the highway. Shacks made of tin and plywood dotted the landscape with an occasional stone home. Dogs lazily moved from the road as the car approached. Chickens fled and small children rushed for their houses. Villagers who were outside visiting with neighbors stopped and stared in our direction. When they recognized Buddy, some waved. A few braver children approached the van, and Buddy slowed and
Star Trek,
a TV series depicting the universe of the future. Although we have never realized these cities in the sky, the international space station, where astronauts from many nations live and work together, is the closest actualization of that dream
.
Cities in the sky are not new to many indigenous people who tell stories of cities and places where they have been taken in the sky. In many cases, women were abducted by men from the stars, never to be seen again. In some narratives, the women escaped and returned, some with a child who had enormous and unusual powers. A story that circulated when Neil Armstrong walked on the moon came from Navajo country, where an elder reportedly suggested that Armstrong tell everyone hello because he had been there earlier
.
In this chapter, you will meet Raul Manuel, an elder who lived in a small Belizean village, who told the story of repeated visits to a place in the sky where people from Earth worked alongside Sky People and other aliens from throughout the galaxy
.
I heard about Raul Manuel from my driver, Buddy. “When I was a boy, there was a man in my grandfather’s village who claimed that he had traveled on a UFO to a place in the sky that floated above the Earth. He said that at this place, people of all races lived in peace and no one was better or superior to any one else.” I was fascinated by his story and encouraged him to elaborate. “I remember his stories from the time I was maybe four or five. At night we would gather around him, and he would tell us about his trips to the stars. We loved it.”
“Is Raul still alive?” I asked.
“He was alive a month ago. He is elderly, but he still entertains children with his stories of a floating city in the sky and how he travels there.”
“Was the floating place in the sky a planet?”
“I don’t think so. He called it a floating disk in the sky. Hundreds of people lived there and they were all different. Different colors, different races, and different kinds of people.”
“Do you think he would talk to me?”
“I’m sure he will. He loves to tell his stories. In fact, he claims he still goes to this floating disk. Strange thing, sometimes he disappears from the village and no one knows where he is. When he returns, he says he has been with his friends in the sky. I remember last year he disappeared for two weeks. His family was upset and rallied the village to search for him. They thought he had wandered off and had fallen and could not get back home. All of the villagers searched for him but did not find him. One night, about midnight, he returned home. Several people saw a bright light that turned the whole village from night to day. They believe a UFO brought him home.”
“How can we get in touch with him?” I asked.
“We will go see him now. It is nearby. My grandfather lives in the same village. I will check to see if he is well and able to visitwith you. He has a daughter who lives in Belmopan, and I know she wants him to come live with her now that he is getting older. She worries about his disappearances.”
An hour after leaving Hopkins, we entered the small village, which was spread out on both sides of the highway. Shacks made of tin and plywood dotted the landscape with an occasional stone home. Dogs lazily moved from the road as the car approached. Chickens fled and small children rushed for their houses. Villagers who were outside visiting with neighbors stopped and stared in our direction. When they recognized Buddy, some waved. A few braver children approached the van, and Buddy slowed and
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