CLOSE PROXIMITY

by Marshall Huffman

  For months, whales, birds, and other migratory animals became disoriented and thousands of dolphins, sharks, and other large fish were found on beaches all across the world.

  The loss of life from the meteors was devastating. During the first month alone over 800,000 people had been killed by impacts. More would happen as time went on.

  The orbit of the moon had changed as well, being pushed further away from earth caused a change in tides. Fourteen satellites were either destroyed or knocked out of orbit. A few were actually turned into meteors and they plummeted to Earth.

  The weather patterns changed as well. Winds became more violent and the jet stream moved further south which also affected the ocean's patterns. The number of effects it had on life was profound. Ash and debris were thrown into the upper atmosphere causing darkened skies and a loss of crops in many areas. Rainfall initially decreased dramatically. When it did start raining, flooding took place worldwide.

  Shortages of food, water, and gas resulted in widespread violence in every nation. The police, National Guard, and other military branches were called in to restore order as Martial Law was declared in the US.

  President Strong had resisted resorting to Martial Law but as the violence escalated he had no choice. In some areas this actually increased the problem. Some military groups, better armed, began to stake out their own little territories creating prison zones.

  By the end of his term, President Strong was no longer the laid back leader of the country. His face was lined and his hair had become gray. He laughed little and brooded constantly. He decided that he would not run for a second term, much to his wife’s delight.

  CHAPTER FIFTY

  “Any one home?”

  “Dan?”

  “None other.”

  “Oh my goodness. I’m not dressed up. I haven’t even done my hair or put on make-up. I didn’t think I would see anyone at the office today. Its spring break,” Abby said, trying to comb her hair with her fingers.

  “You look great to me,” he said and hugged her.

  She was still in shock at seeing him standing there.

  “So, what in the world are you doing here?” she more or less stammered.

  “What do you think? I came to see you. You wouldn’t come to see me so here I am.”

  “But it’s been three months since we have even talked. I figured you ran off with one of those alien women.” Abby said.

  “I still couldn’t tell the boys from the girls so I gave up. I know I should have called. I spent a lot of time with the President. He is still feeling like he let the American people down. He was a damn good man. After he declared Martial Law he just kind of gave up. You know he isn’t going to run for a second term.”

  “I saw it on the news. I agree. He was one of the best we have hand in my lifetime.”

  “I feel the same way. Anyway, I’ll be shoved out the door when the new administration comes into power. That’s just the way it works in Washington. We all know it is coming and I decided to get an early start.”

  “That seems so unfair.”

  “It’s not like it’s a big shock.”

  “So you just happened to be in the neighborhood?”

  “Something like that. I am getting ready to rearrange my office and put my personal effects in it,” Dan said.

  She looked at him quizzically.

  “What office? Where?”

  “Oh. Sorry. My office on campus here.”

  “What are you talking about? What office? On my campus?”

  “Oooh. I didn’t realize it was your campus. I thought it belonged to the University of Arizona,” he said smugly.

  “Dan Fowler you had better tell me what’s going on right this minute,” she said.

  “Well, since I’m going to be out of a job, I talked to John Dulles, and he put me into touch with Dean Riddell in the Political Science Department. Seems they it would be quite beneficial to have a former Secretary of the Navy on the faculty. So they hired me.”

  “Dan Fowler, you had best not be lying to me or I’ll....”

  “What?”

  “I don’t know yet but I’ll think of something.”

  “Does it involve handcuffs?”

  “I’ll have to think about that. Now would you get over here and kiss me like you mean it?” Abby said.

  He did.

  James Erwin went on to become head of the JPL lavatories after he finished getting his PhD. Brian Tanner became the chair of the math department at Yale University and was considered one of the foremost experts in the world in mathematical problem solving.

  Ruth, Jessica, Andy and Chloe all ended up in various positions in the astronomy field. Jessica eventually joined another team that spotted another large meteor that was headed for Earth. I was not as spectacular as KA5 but her talents were in high demand.

  Kelly never finished her advanced degree. Instead she tried to become a movie star but that fell flat. She eventually went to work for her father’s company. She did however get married. Three times, each lasting shorter than the previous one.

  President Strong faded from the public eye and went back to his ranch in Montana. He died at the age of eighty-six. THE END

  Marshall W. Huffman did not begin writing until after he retired from teaching. He decided to start with a trilogy based on a cataclysmic event. Marshall’s first trilogy is THE EVENT and consists of THE END, THE BEGINNING, and THE REVELATION. With THE EVENTS success he decided to write a second trilogy that is a frightening look at the events that could lead to THE SECOND CIVIL WAR. It is made up of: Book I – A NATION DIVIDED; BOOK II – A NATION AT WAR; BOOK III – A NATION HEALING.

  He has also published a series of books entitled: the ANGIE BARTONI CASE FILES with a central cast of characters. In addition, he has two another series entitled: THE NORRIS FILES with its own set of central characters and THE LOGAN FILES. He enjoys writing mysteries, techno-thrillers, and Sci-Fi. His other Sci-Fi books THE BRINK – DEEP FLIGHT and CLOSE PROXIMITY are intense techno-thrillers with Sci-Fi intertwined. He finished BLACKSTAR and it just went on sale. His latest addition CHIMERA is a look at what could well happen if we don’t stop twisting science in deviant way.

  Marshall was born in Bainbridge, Georgia and grew up in Indiana. After spending eight years in the Navy, he attended Ball State University, earning a B.S. degree in Business.

  During and after college, he was involved in the restaurant business and spent the next twenty-five years in all types of venues, eventually owing his own fine dining restaurant. After years of long hours, he decided on a career change. He attended Eastern Illinois University earning a MBA. Because of his business background, Eastern Illinois University asked him to teach in the hospitality management program. He was recruited from Eastern to Parkland College and soon took over as the Program Director for the Hospitality Program. During his tenure there, he became a chef and had a television show called Cooking around the World with Chef Marshall and taught a series of Gourmet cooking classes for Continuing Education as well.

  Professor Huffman retired from teaching along with his wife, Dr. Susan Huffman, to the Tampa Bay Florida area.

  You can find his books under: MARSHALL HUFFMAN at Amazon.com.