The Salt Of Tranquility

(Tyler is waking up from his state of hibernation in a mining capsule beneath the surface of the moon.) Page 1, chapter 1, [246 words] Below him was the blackness from unknown fathoms of lunar depth. He and his cocoon rose ever so slowly up towards the moon’s surface…. Independent of Tyler’s own will his muscles started to contract following a crescendo of powerful electric rhythmic pulses. Tyler struggled to move his arms and legs. Slowly and stiffly they transitioned from being numb and unresponsive to full functionality. His senses continued to awaken, hearing a hissing sound, as strong aromatic scents assaulted his sinuses shooting pain throughout his head. It was the kind of a dull headache he associated with drinking icy lemon slush too fast. A pulsating blur slowly came into focus identifying a red light flashing brightly above his face. Tyler managed to peer through heavy eye lids opened just enough to perceive the pulsating red light; then, his eyes started to blink and his visual clarity improved until he could see clearly. The voice command instructed him to push the red flashing button. It was an understandable voice, soothing and feminine…. Gradually he willed his fingers to rise toward the red flashing knob. With an audible click, he depressed the button. Red changed to green and Tyler could tell a series of events had been set into motion. Lights outside the capsule brightened and he could feel the vibration of machinery. The calm feminine voice returned, reassuring Tyler that all was well and it was time to awaken. The sign above the control console read, “Lunar Mining Inc.” Page 33, chapter 5 [107 words] My name is Lemuel Peterson and knowing this to be among the last days of my mortal life, I want to leave this message for the future. What I have witnessed here on Moon Station Armstrong, I alone am left alive to relate. I have been unsuccessful in achieving any communication with earth and have received no response to the distress signals sent out. If this message is being viewed by a rescue squad member, I pray you are from the USA or otherwise loyal to the good and noble values of mankind. However, it is possible that earth life as we knew it no longer exists. Page 35, chapter 5, [78 words] Fighting back real panic, Tyler let his mind consider the worst case scenario if the clocks were both actually correct. What he had thought of as a malfunction in his on board chronometer could have been his four digit clock reaching 9999 and starting over. Continuing with this scenario, just how long had this Rip Van Winkle been asleep? Let’s see, 2030 to 9999 was 7969 years…now to add 1076 = 9045 years! This was just not possible! (Jonathan Gale instructing Lemuel Peterson regarding the electromagnetic rail gun) Page 96, chapter 13, [217 words] “Now it is time to learn about the integrated weapon that comes with the suit. As you may have noticed, the weapon associated with the Antaeus system is longer than a pistol, but shorter than a carbine or assault rifle. It has no bolt or ejection port or any holes except the one in the barrel. It has no visible sight for aiming because the aiming is done through the suit’s glasses. The weapon is referred to as an electromagnetic rail gun.” “It uses a series of powerful magnets to accelerate a small projectile to high velocity. It also uses a compact, but powerful laser to heat the narrow pathway’s air as the projectile travels in a partial vacuum. It only takes a fraction of a second for the light projectile to reach the target.” … … “The energy delivered to the target is virtually equal to the knock-down power of a 50 caliber bullet of an old Browning machine gun. This is because in the kinetic energy formula KE=MV2, mass is not as important a factor as velocity which is squared. Therefore, a small object traveling at high speed is more destructive than a larger object traveling at a slower speed. The small BB sizes, of the bullets, allow 500 rounds to be carried in one clip.” (The Harmony Green Movement) Page 110 chapter 15 [92 words] The reports were usually accompanied by horrific pictures of dead and dying people in some third world area downwind of a leaking or destroyed nuclear fission reactor. His Noah’s Ark project showed his compassion and concern for all life on earth. He was the only one with the foresight to preserve the seeds and embryos of every known species of plant and animal aboard the orbiting Moon Station Armstrong. And finally, his discovery of the Alzheimer drug that promised to reverse the disease showed the world that he was a great humanitarian. (Domination of Harmony Green) P 131, chapter 17, [199 words] The blackness of night brought fear among those who had any sickness or injury or who violated any rule in the slightest degree. They knew they too may be selected for recycling by the hidden eyes of the informers. I realized now why I witnessed such panic and fear in their eyes the first time I approached them in that car, wearing my black suit. They knew too well the natural consequence of this new order and the destiny of any who opposed it. After the attempted assassination of William Harmony and the declaration of war against the United States, war paranoia was added to the tense, fearful atmosphere. The new, more powerful human protein pill for those enlisting began having some unsettling effects on the social structure of the Harmonites. …………… ………I thought it rather sad that something as basic as families were too great a threat to William Harmony. He took on governments of the world and now families too? Society had lost too much. How could people survive without the support of families? His answer was simple. The Harmony Green Movement would compensate and create such dependencies that normal relationships would no longer be needed or useful. (Ron Iker is describing his favorite place on Moon Station Armstrong to Lemuel Peterson.) Page 181, chapter 24, [65 words] “The water purification room has lighted waterfalls, hanging gardens, and warm pools of crystal clear water. Overhead is a canopy view of the universe, and down below a stream meanders from pool to pool. There are natural rocks surrounded by landscaped grass, trees and flowering plants. You would be amazed at how water looks falling at half-gravity over twenty foot ledges, becoming slow motion waterfalls.”