I woke up a few hours later, when the flight was about to land at Tel Aviv International Airport. I was immersed by the powerful sense of fear that was gripping the entire country. It broke my heart that these holy lands had fallen so far away from the paradises they were meant to be. What had happened to 'love thy neighbour'?
As I reached immigration, I was subjected to a new technology that took a 3D scan of my body, and detected my movement patterns, so that it would be possible for the AI to identify me, even if I concealed my face. While I was impressed by the technology, it also frightened me. The people in power were continually looking for new ways to control the population, and the fearmongering was getting worse. In the past, it had been enough to leave your phone and your credit cards at home if you wanted some alone time, but now, it was almost impossible. Paradoxically, the more the government could track the population, the lonelier everyone got. In a culture where no-one trusted their fellow man, no-one came out as the winner.
After having my movement patterns and body scanned for an extended period, I was brought into a room for further questioning. A stern-looking security officer studied me with his predatory eyes, and I sensed that this individual was content with the current state of affairs.
"Sabina Hines, why have you come to Israel?" The man asked with a voice filled with suspicion. The security officer's hostility frustrated me as he was acting out on his fear, which in turn made the fear spread, and society was turning more fearful and dangerous. I decided to not confront the officer for his attitude, and instead I played along with his little game.
"I have come to this Holy Land to learn more about myself and my heritage," I said with a serious and sanctimonious voice.
"Is that so?" the man asked rhetorically before continuing, "Our sources in Sydney state that you rarely visit the synagogue, and that you work as a yoga teacher."
I studied the man in bewilderment. I had travelled to multiple places on family holidays throughout the years, and never had a government spied on me. If my quest to Jerusalem hadn't been so important, I would have said 'thanks, but no thanks' and returned home. But my journey here was of utmost importance, and the decline of the Holy Land, proved to me, how essential it was that I found and purified the Zeto Crystal, to bring back kindness and trust into this world.
"What do you have to say for yourself?" The man's aggressive voice interrupted my thoughts. I hate it when my mind wanders, but I had to snap back to the present.
"What you say is true. I have tried different paths to spiritual awareness throughout my life. The spirituality I have tried, is not contradicting the first commandment, however, as I haven't worshipped any other gods," I said with an imploring voice.
The man studied me for a while and spoke. "Very well, because of the good standing of your father, John Hines, I will grant you entry to Israel. But we will be watching you."
The menacing security officer stamped my passport. I thanked him, and I was on my way. I felt relieved that I hadn't needed to use my powers to get past him. I needed to function as a human, and not just rely on spiritual, meditative powers every time I needed to get things my way. Besides, I could feel that the security officer's soul, was filled with xenophobic hatred and paranoia. The less I exposed myself to those kinds of feelings, the better.
I ordered an AutoCar to Jerusalem, and an hour later, I arrived at my hotel in Jerusalem. I scanned my irises at the blast-proof security checkpoint and got in. Tired from the exposure to paranoia and suspicion, I retreated to my room, where I meditated for hours to regain balance and to calm myself down, before I could finally go to sleep.