Scorched Earth: A Future History of Planet EarthPetrovic, Walter D.
Science
Scorched Earth: A Future History of Planet Earth
Petrovic, Walter D.
Science fiction
"War doesn't solve a thing, no matter how it is fought. The taring up
of the ground, the ripping apart of the young mens' bodies, the death
... death ... DEATH!" Brook built up to a frenzy giving his views.
Lloyd refused them.
"The realization of wastage is understood, but as our fathers tell us;
here, in this book, 'no cost is too extreme when trying to attain
freedom!', and I do believe that to be so!"
Silence.
Both stared at one another with heated, flaring eyes. Their faces were
contorted in strain and sweat leaked in huge droplets from their brows.
Then Brook sighed and put his hand on Lloyd's shoulder. He spoke
calmly.
"Young men should not be made to fight and die for the discontent and
hate of the old men in power; who create a war, in the name of God,
Love or Freedom. It's all an excuse to them. Can't you see that?
Lloyd didn't answer.
"Most of the ancient wars were fought because of the dislikes between
the men in power. Many of the wars, in our times, were the same.
Countless numbers of young men died without knowing what they were
fighting for. What is worse, Lloyd, is that the common folk had
suffered the most, and they weren't even supposed to be involved! Do
you understand?"
Lloyd was still silent, his mouth agape and mute or reply to the truths
that Brook was preaching. He nodded and bowed his head, as he
surrendered his view, with a final thought.
"War is necessary, sometimes!" was all that Lloyd said.
"True, my friend! The souls of mankind burn on this hellish ball, this
scorched Earth of ours. Some day we will be able to extinguish those
who cause the fatal spark. Until then, I will not let my hatred of the
ArchBishop, to become one of those sparks."
Throughout the afternoon, Lloyd and Brook continued to talk. Their
emotions toned down somewhat, to a level of trust and friendship, and
mutual exchange of knowledge.
Brook freely gave his knowledge to Lloyd without the demand of payment
and Lloyd accepted it, promising that he would in turn, give it to
Brook's son, and continued to instruct him until the sum of both their
knowledge or until one of them was expended.
Brook taught Lloyd to use the computer and showed him the locations of
the seven Omega Sub Ground Installations, strewn about the continent.
These were the same installations that were abandoned several centuries
ago, after civilization was reestablished on the land. Brook showed
Lloyd the location of the great library vault that was still hidden
near one of those installations. It was the same gigantic vault that
was closed down just prior to the great holocaust. It was a vault
carved deep into a mountain of solid granite, southeast of the Omega 4
- East SGI, at the head of the Krolalin range, to the north. The
mountain was known to them as, Alugean.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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