Scorched Earth: A Future History of Planet EarthPetrovic, Walter D.
Science
Scorched Earth: A Future History of Planet Earth
Petrovic, Walter D.
Science fiction
The men couldn't believe the sights that were being presented to them,
and they couldn't decide what was more terrifying -- the descriptions
or the actual pictures of the cataclysm.
'Volcanic eruptions broke the surface of Mars.
Jupiter's red spot increased in size until it
covered the planet's entire centre. Saturn
increased in its tilt towards the sun. Uranus
wobbled like a balloon in a breeze and Neptune
captured Pluto and its moon Charon, claiming them
as its own.'
"This is truly remarkable!" said Lloyd, his expression was bewildered
like Boy's usually was. He smiled at Brook, and Brook tipped his head
towards the screen, telling Lloyd with his actions to keep watching.
He did.
The strange voice undulated from the cabinet, as more moving images
were vomited onto the screen. The voice made a commentary on the
Earth's people joining together, to dig themselves out of the solar
cataclysm of 1982. Then the screen went blank and immediately a drone
came from the cabinet, and more writing was printing out onto the
black-glassed panel.
'ARCHIVAL TAPE #371.5039-D
... June 5, 1986
-- As it has been feared for three decades, the final
conflict has happened.
-- Following their defeat from the Chinese, in May,
the Soviets flowed south into the Middle-East, and
laid seige to Jerusalem, after a great battle on
the plains of Megiddo. As it was Biblically
prophesied, Armageddon had come to pass.
-- * for more information, select video record OA-06-1986.'
Brook punched up more video playback and taped images continued. The
pictures showed people in massive exodus, heading for the highest
mountains that the could reach. They tried to find some kind of
shelter from the radiation fallout because, the two great nations:
China and the United States of America, foolishly agreed to the use of
limited nuclear warfare.
Then, on the screen, there were cities falling into piles of rubble,
after they were hit by missiles.
People were in confusion over the horrible death. The excited
commentator explained the state of tension in the world and made the
situation sound hopeless. His message was, that the end had come.
The screen went blank and silence hung over the room, giving a cold and
eerie feeling to both men.
"Every time, it is the same for me!" Brook admitted. "My heart is
torn apart at the pains that I see."
Lloyd's in awe expression had left him. He too felt as Brook did, full
of sorrow and anger.
"If only there was some way to change what had happened." he remarked,
and slowly shifted back to Brook.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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