Scorched Earth: A Future History of Planet EarthPetrovic, Walter D.
Science
Scorched Earth: A Future History of Planet Earth
Petrovic, Walter D.
Science fiction
"No. Unfortunately, there are just a handful scattered throughout the
others here. But I do have one book that surpasses them all. That
one, the one I have hidden, is my prize. However, there are other
things that I want to show you first!" and he rose from his chair and
moved to the cabinets. When he reached them, he turned and showed his
key to Lloyd before he unlocked and opened the doors.
"Yes, my friend ... I have much to show you. And I suppose that this
one would be the best to show to you first." The doors of the cabinet
flew open. Lloyd's eyes fixed themselves into a stare on the rows of
buttons and meters, marked with numbers and letters -- some with
familiar and other with unfamiliar symbols.
In the centre of the unit's structure hung a flat, dark-glassed panel,
and when Brook pushed some buttons, writing began to appear across it.
'ARCHIVAL TAPE #371.4931-T
... entry - October 13, 1982.
-- Planets line up in even axis, on one side of the sun.
-- Earth experiences catastrophic gravity changes,
resulting in quakes and unusual tidal activity.
-- Parts of many continents are submerged following
sudden ocean rise.
_ * for further information, select video record m-oo10-1982."
Brook offered Lloyd to push the buttons in the select numbers on the
rectangular board and then waited for results, but nothing happened.
Brook then turned him around to the wall opposite them, that was draped
with a large dark curtain.
"The curtain will move to reveal pictures that move." explained Brook.
Lloyd watched the wall and the drapes covering it, pull back, into the
corners. On the wall, he saw the large white screen and moving
pictures that he recognized as ancient video tape.
From the cabinet came a man's voice and pictures on the wall, matched
what the voice was describing.
'Shuttles were sent into deep space to record the
phenomenon of the planets, in our solar system,
aligning on the same side of our sun.
The world watched as the planets drew closer in
their conjunction and in their gravitational
resistances, every one of the planets experienced
their own fatalities.'
In the utmost quiet did Brook and Lloyd stand there listening to the
tinny voice.
'Mercury began to rotate in quick revolutions and
Venus experienced a contrary orbit, and fire
storms engulfed its surface. On Earth, ocean
levels rose and fell drastically with every passing
hour, and the land was disrupted by quakes and great
upheavals as the planet changed in its polarity.
Soon thereafter, the surface was pounded by
thousands of small but devastating asteroids.'
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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