CeCe’s long held idea that this initial experiment had not resulted in the destruction of the Harrison-Lake Isolator gained a great deal of traction after the incident with Forest. It was determined that the linear momentum of the Isolator once the field had closed--after an unsuccessful attempt to take the Earth with it--pointed it near the constellation of Pisces on the eastern horizon. An intense manual search was mounted along the theoretical line of flight out to the edge of the solar system. It took almost two years and a fleet of AI controlled drones to locate the Isolator bumping along in the Oort Cloud. It now stood on the rebuilt support structure at the center of the crater it had created.
They all walked around the column below the sphere reading some of the hundreds of names that were deeply etched into the steel; these were the people that had died that night and represented the real cost of the future. A large piece of stone that had been part of the main building’s foundation rested on the ground on the south side of the Isolator where it would always catch the warmth of the sun.
On it were these words:
May the universe grant us peace
and rest our souls beneath the warm Earth
It had been written by the engineer, Arnold Bellman, as he froze to death somewhere that must have seemed beyond even the reach of God. He, Richard Lake, and Elizabeth Wooley now rested beneath that stone in the warm Earth.
Wills looked at the faces around him; there were some tears.
He placed a hand on the stone; it was warm in the afternoon sunlight, “I have to admit that this place has an effect on me. It has the quiet and peace of a church; it makes me feel . . . small.”
He looked down at the face of the stone and the words on it, “One thing that has always astonished me about the history of humanity is that there has always been that special group of people that step up and do the thing that needs to be done even when they know there is a possibility that . . . well . . . you know.
“Here lies three that did that thing that needed doing, and I stand in awe of them. But, I also know that I, and all of you, are members of that group. All of you joined me in something unusual and you knew it would be difficult. Many had the opportunity to join me; few did. It needed doing and you came close to really paying for your willingness to do it.”
Wills maintained his grip on the stone but lifted his free arm to encompass his people, “Come forward, and place a hand on this stone that marks this place of sacrifice. Always know that you are they, and they are you.”
#
Wills was the last to reach the top of the staircase. He stopped next to Secretary Algon who turned to look at him.
“Admiral, I want to thank you for your words. You should have been the one speaking at the dedication instead of me.” He wrapped a meathook around Wills right hand, “You’ll be on Earth for another couple of weeks before you return to Archer. Call my office if you need anything.” He smiled and winked, “I have connections.”
Wills returned the broad smile, “Thank you Mister Secretary; I will do that.”
He watched Secretary Algon and his aides head for their floater and then turned and found Amanda.
He put his arm around her shoulders as they headed for their floater, “Amanda, I have a question.”
She gave him a questioning look, “What would that be, Admiral?”
“Tell me, does the cook on your ship know how to make cinnamon rolls?”
END
Don't miss my Josiah West series:
Kaleidoscope
Josiah West Series, Book One
It’s the 22nd century. Technology has allowed humanity to move out into the solar system in great numbers. Of course, humans being humans, the need for some form of law enforcement went with them. Prominent among the organizations charged with that duty is the United States Federation Navy.
The U.S.F.N. is composed of five divisions. The First Division is the largest and maintains order from Mars inward. Like all human endeavors, it has its share of accomplishments and failures. The primary subject of this story is one of the smallest cogs in the mechanism that is Division One and is well acquainted with both accomplishment and failure.
Josiah West comes from a Navy family, and he is the first in his family to graduate from the Navel Academy and become a commissioned officer. The handsome, 190 centimeter, blue-eyed Ensign has gone from the heights of being sixth in his class down to the level of a bilge rat as he does his time in the bowels of the huge First Division Fleet Support Ship Maxim Caldwell and avoids being noticed by the ship’s command structure.
Now, he is nearing the end of his five year commitment. He is still an Ensign, but his insignificant career has not been a personal waste; having access to the best equipment in the Navy with no upper level supervision was like, as he describes it, “being held hostage in a candy store.” He has worked hard, if unnoticed, but is tired, burned-out, and looking forward to returning to his family’s business.
Well…maybe not.
_______________________________
Watch for it:
Josiah West Series,
Book Two
eBook and paperback editions due out early Summer 2015 --- Available from Amazon.com, CreateSpace.com, and other retail outlets.
_______________________________
Check out all of my upcoming books at:
www.ourwriteplace.com
Ariticle Six Page 17