“In the Regeneration we actually bring God to Earth. It’s a chance for a glorious ending – but it could be our last chance. I doubt humanity will be allowed to charge blithely on to complete the ultimate destruction of nature. I don’t think the final war we all foresee – the battle between East and West for the last drop of oil – will be allowed to eventuate. God loves the creation too much to sit back and allow us not only to self-destruct, but bring the whole of nature down with us. Inevitably God will intervene, but the great thing about the Regeneration is that it is humanity, not God, who triggers it.”

“But Shard, that assumes the existence of God!”

“It does.”

“But there may be no God. Or… no God interested in us. Who knows, God may even exist but lack the power to intervene. There are so many possibilities here!”

“Of course you’re right,” Shard calmly admitted. “But by allowing humanity to peacefully explore these possibilities, you, Hunter, will go down in history as the greatest politician the world has ever known. You will achieve what no leader has ever dreamed of achieving.”

“Shard,” the President said, “I don’t know about all this.”

“Of course you don’t,” Shard soothed. “So in order to help you we’re sending you three films. Don’t worry, we won’t move until you’ve watched them.”

“But… I’m not at all certain I want to be involved. Can’t you just tell me what they’re about?”

“No, that’s for you to decide. These films will give you an opportunity to see for yourself. Hunter, you don’t need me to tell you what I see. We have enormous faith in you. We believe that in the end, you are the man-made messiah.”