Scorched Earth: A Future History of Planet EarthPetrovic, Walter D.
Science
Scorched Earth: A Future History of Planet Earth
Petrovic, Walter D.
Science fiction
Manguino, the grand. The great ArchBishop of all Phoride and the
continent, slowly dragged himself back to his desk and sat in his
chair. Back in it all the way, he breathed heavily a few times and
contemplated the last few minutes that had elapsed and Brook's conquest
of wills. 'What to do?', was the only question that paraded about
Manguino's mind. Finally, the answer came to him. He would have his
revenge in a short fortnight, during the celebrations to commemorate
the wedding between Brook and his beloved Dearborne. Cardinal Allen
will have his pleasure on that night and so would the ArchBishop
entertain his satisfaction. He will have the triumph over his noble
brother, in the midst of the highest citizens of Pomperaque. He would
ruin his brother forever. He smiled to himself and mumbled under his
breath, and the gleam of a maybe victory flashed across his eyes.
"Yes, that would be perfect." he said and repeated it, then with this
he proceeded to scribble on some clean paper, a request for
accompaniment to some select cardinals, for that evening of
merry-making.
As the great keeper of Halls set his plans of abasement to honour his
brother, another man was alive as a loyal servant, keeping true his
word to his master.
Sitting in Brook's chair, in the viewing den, Lloyd leafed through the
large book. The night before, he sat up to all hours and listened to
the Lady Dearborne as she conveyed to him the circumstances surrounding
her husband's apparent meekness, and their son, Boyce. While he read
the great book he remembered what Brook had told him about his noble
heritage, and the emergence of the elite group of people, that followed
the global devastation long ago.
Lloyd observed the details of the colourful pictures that showed the
way of life in the age before the time of chaos. He read the ancient
lines which spoke of the great rulers of that time. Those men that
tried to prevent war at any cost, and others who wanted it, at any cost.
His eyes loomed across the words spoken by the great presidential
leader of this ancient land. His thoughts that were spoken the very
day that his life was taken from him by an assassin, hired by some
warmonger.
"We're called a civilized people.
Let us behave as civilized people.
Do not let war shatter our tiny planet
for the benefit of just a few, who would
profit from it -- become rich and powerful
from the death of those weaker than themselves.
Let us seek a world unity -- a brotherhood of love
-- before it is too late ... before we give our
all, for nothing!"
Lloyd sighed. The power and spirit behind those words still rang true,
even to this day. Where every land was under its own governing
directions, ruled by no central idea or council and indeed, being
nothing more than a communal feudalism.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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