by Colin Owen
"God bless us all." Came the hearty cheer.
Later, when they were alone, Clare said, "You know Steve, you're getting better at making speeches."
❧
"What is it Bill?" Steve responded when Bill tugged his sleeve.
"Eric and I have been talking, and we think it's time to enter the sealed chamber in the power level, and take a look at this gravity idea."
"You know, I'd forgotten all about that, let's do it!"
The three men set off for the power level. On reaching the sealed doors, Steve entered the code and they opened up. "Wow," Eric gasped, "just when you think you've seen everything, this happens."
The entrance to the sealed chamber led out onto a balcony looking down over 500 feet to the floor below. They couldn't see much else because of all the pipes and coils.
"I've never seen coils as huge as that," Steve said, "just look at how thick the cable is."
"What do you reckon Eric?" Bill asked.
"Magnetic...It's got to be magnetic."
"You mean some sort of powered magnet?" Steve asked.
"Not exactly," Eric answered, "give me some time to study the plans will you."
"Sure thing," Steve replied, "let us know when you have something."
"Will do," Eric said, wandering off into the bowels of the huge machine.
A couple of hours later, Eric emerged very excited. "I know what it does," he shouted, "it's brilliant."
"OK, calm down and let us in on it," Steve said, grabbing Eric's shoulder.
"It's a series of coils," Eric began, "only not coils as we know them, they're enormously powerful pulse coils-"
"Pulse coils?" interrupted Steve.
"Yes, and they're laid out in a line for about half a mile. According to the plans, they fire in sequence from one to ten and loop back to one. As far as I can see, everything is ready to go, but it doesn't look like they've ever been powered up."
"They're untested then," Steve said.
"Yes, I guess so."
"Hmm," Steve murmured thoughtfully. "There must be a reason they were never tested."
"There may not have been time," Bill suggested.
"That's probably it," Eric agreed.
"Right, this is what we'll do," Steve said, "Eric, spend some time really checking this thing out, and when you're sure it's safe, we'll fire them up."
"Sounds good to me, see you later," he said, and was off, back into the bowels of the machine.
It was three days later when Eric sought Steve out to bring his report. "Steve, I've figured it out and it's real simple."
"Vinkle's things always are," Steve joked.
"It works on the molten core by firing incredibly powerful pulses in sequence. The pulses are intensely magnetic and so attract a narrow section of the core pulling it upwards. As the sequence fires, the raised section of core moves to follow the coils. It's like running round the edge of a swimming pool, eventually, it will start a rotating motion in the core-"
"And that will start the Moon rotating!" Steve jumped in excitedly.
"In theory Steve, in theory."
"How long do you think it will take?"
"There's only one way to find out," Eric replied with a grin.
The next day a meeting was held to inform everyone what was about to happen.
"We don't know exactly what will happen when we fire up the coils," Steve said, "I suspect that we won't feel anything for quite some considerable time, but we just don't know. So, if there are no objections, we'll fire it up today."
There were no objections so Steve gave Eric the go ahead to proceed. "We'll need to run the extra turbines Steve, this baby is going to eat a lot of juice."
Steve looked at John..."General Hammond!" they said, in unison.
Roland went and fired up the five extra turbines, and Eric threw the switch to start up the gravity machine. A siren sounded and a prerecorded voice warned that the doors would close in two minutes, and it would not be possible to open them again whilst the coils were in operation. "Now they tell us." Jimmy said, and the doors swung shut, and heavy bolts could be heard locking them securely.
"Well, that's it," Eric announced, "now we just wait and see."
So it was, and everyone settled back into their normal routines and time passed.
Little Hope was five years old and it was her first day at school. Shelley and Chris took a hand each as they marched her off through the door. "It's a big day in her life Hun," Clare said, waving. "Remember your first day?"
"Nah," Steve replied, "I never went to school, I was born brainy!"
"Brainy my foot," she said chasing him back inside.
Since Hope's arrival, there had been several other children born, and Steve and Clare wondered what it would be like to have never known Earth.
"You know Sweetie," Steve said wistfully, "one day, there will be no one left who remembers Earth. Hope, and her generation will have no first hand experience of what it was like. The water-falls, sun-light, blue skies-"
"Rain, snow, ice," Clare broke into his reverie.
"Do you think the moon will ever be like that?" he asked her.
"Who knows Hun, we'll have to wait and see."
❧
The gravy machine, as it had become known, had been running non-stop for two years when the alarm sounded.
"What is it this time Bill?" Steve asked. "I'm not sure, but it sounds like the intruder alarm."
"INTRUDER alarm...You mean we've got burglars!"
"Ha, it does seem a bit far fetched doesn't it, but there has been a change of pressure up there, we'd better investigate."
"Is it safe though Bill, the radiation I mean?"
"It's still contaminated up there, but a space suit should be sufficient protection."
"I'll go," Jimmy said, "with all this good living, I don't think either of you guys would be able to fit into one!"
"Point taken," Steve said. "OK, get suited up."
So Jimmy donned a suit and left Lark, the first to do so in almost eight years. "Take care," Steve said, "and use the coms."
"Will do," came the reply as the doors closed.
When Jimmy got to the top and the doors opened, he was greeted with a sight of utter devastation. "Are you seeing this?" Jimmy checked with Steve.
"Crystal clear Jimmy, watch your step."
Jimmy stepped cautiously out of the elevator. There was dust piled up against the walls. "How did that get there?" he said, thinking out loud. He looked over to the air lock, it was still sealed.
"Beats me," Steve said over the coms. "Look up will you,"
Jimmy looked up to see a hole in the dome. "Do you think the flare did that?" he asked.
"That's not very likely," Bill answered, "look for a rock."
"Gotcha," Jimmy replied, "a meteorite, yes that would do it."
Jimmy looked for some time but found nothing suspicious.
"Hey Jimmy," it was Eric, "look up again will you."
Jimmy looked up. "What is it guys?" he asked.
"No Earth!" came the reply. "The Earth's gone!"
"Whoa!" Jimmy yelped, "what's going on here? Have we gone out of orbit?"
"No, our orbit is fine." Bill came back.
"Then what does it mean guys?" Jimmy asked a little panicked.
"It means we have gravity," Steve answered, "the Moon is rotating! From now on the Earth will rise and set, just like the Moon does from Earth."
Jimmy returned to Lark a little more excited than before he left it. "There's a lot of devastation up there guys, it's a real mess."
Steve slapped him on the shoulder and said, "Thanks for going Jimmy, you did good."
"In light of what we've just learned," Steve said, to the section heads, "I think we should start releasing oxygen to the surface."
"Good idea," Clare jumped in, "we should lace it with seeds too, the stuff I've been working on will grow just about anywhere."
"Great idea," Steve said, "let's get to it."
<
br /> Clare's section had long since overflowed. The growth of the hybrid plants had exceeded everyone's expectations. Several caverns were completely full, and even some of the farming section had been given over to Clare's work.
The vent system was activated, and a steady stream of air and seeds was released out into the moon's new atmosphere.
"You know," Clare said to Steve, "I'm really excited about all this...I think it's going to work, I really think it's going to work."
Chapter Nine
Chapter 9.
Earth Rise
Contentment has a way of making time pass, and in Lark, this was certainly true. Much work was being done scientifically, in particular, advances were made in Trion technology. A theory was developed that would eliminate the need for the nuclear explosion. It would have to remain untested, of course, until the ship could be accessed, and that depended on the decay of the solar flare's radiation.
Clare had also made headway with her hybrids. She had found a way to incorporate the growth factor into the farm crops, which had seen a yield increase of several hundred percent. Animal stocks had increased too. With such a small community, and so much food in stock, the livestock had been allowed to multiply without restriction. Lark was now supporting considerable herds of cattle and sheep. Humans were also on the increase. There were now seventy-five souls in Lark, as opposed to the original sixty, and Rufus...Don't ask, he was the greatest great granddad ever.
❧
Now there comes that day that every parent dreads. Chris found his mom and said, "Mom, I want to get married."
"What!" Clare exclaimed, "But you're too er, too y...You're twenty-two aren't you!"
"Yes, mum I am. Katy and I are in love."
Clare hugged Chris tightly. "O my boy, when did you become a man, and why have I not seen it? Does your father know?" She asked gently.
"If you didn't mom..."
"Point taken," Clare said, "we must tell him. Do John and Lisa know?"
"Katy's telling them as we speak," Chris grinned.
Just then, Steve came through the door. "What's all the commotion next door? Sounds like they're having a party!"
"They're not yet, but they will be soon," Clare told him. "Your son has something to tell you."
"Wow, what is it my son?"
"Dad, I want to get married, Katy and I are in love." Chris stopped when he saw the look on his dad's face. Steve looked at Clare, who knew exactly what he was thinking.
"He grew up," she said.
"Son...I'm the happiest man in the Moon." Steve said, holding his hand out to Chris, who took it and pulled his dad towards him. They hugged and wept together. Clare wept too. There was a knock at the door. "Come in John and Lisa it's open." Katy came in first, and Steve and Clare both grabbed and hugged her. "Welcome to the Forester family daughter," Steve said, "Welcome."
"However did we miss their growing up?" Clare asked Lisa.
"Beats me Clare, but they make a wonderful couple don't they."
"Aint that the truth," John added with tears rolling down his face.
"Let's break out a bottle," Steve shouted whilst spinning Lisa round. Clare went to the cabinet and took out a bottle of home-made wine. "Been keeping this fellah for something special," she said, opening it, "and it doesn't get any more special than this!"
"Since when have you been into making wine Clare?" John asked.
"Oh a few years back I discovered a rather pleasing side-effect of mixing two different plant species," she answered, "be careful though, this stuff will knock you over if you have too much."
"Now she tells us," Steve said, having finished his first glass. "Any more Shweetie?" He joked.
The party went on for some time, and several bottles later, the Hammonds went home a little the worse for wear.
"I'm so happy Chris," Katy whispered into his ear.
"Me too Kats, I have a feeling that we are in for a wonderful life together." He kissed her before she left, and waved as she closed the door.
Some time later, Steve caught up with Bill. "Hey bill, I've been meaning to ask you. How's the radiation on the surface?"
"I haven't checked for a while Steve, I'll take a look and get back to you."
A short time later, Bill came running into Steve's Lab quite breathless. "It's amazing," he said, "the radiation's gone, and when I checked the monitors, it was daylight up there!"
"Daylight?" Steve said puzzled, "but that must mean that there's an atmosphere up there...Daylight you say? I must go and look. JIMMY," he screamed, "fetch me a suit."
Jimmy complied and to everyone's surprise Steve could still get in one. Steve left Lark for the surface.
On reaching it, he had to shield his eyes from the light. It was a beautiful day, the sun was shining in a blue sky, and there was green stuff everywhere. Through the sides of the dome Steve could see a carpet of green grass as far as the eye could see.
"Are you getting this?" He yelled into the coms. "This is just too fantastic, I'm going to take my helmet off."
"No!" Came Clare's voice.
"It's all right Sweetie," he said, "I can feel the breeze against the suit. The helmet came off and the air was sweet. It smelled of new grass on a summer's day.
"Clare, you have to come up and see this."
"I'm on my way," she said, "don't go anywhere."
By the time Clare was out of the lift, Steve had taken the suit off. "Come on," he said, holding out his hand, "let's go for a walk." He opened the air lock, and together they left the dome and stepped out onto the Moon's new grass, the first to do so.
There was a gentle breeze blowing, and some wisps of white cloud decorated the deep blue sky. "How long before we invent rain?" She joked.
"As long as it takes," he replied.
"You know," Clare said, "we haven't walked in the country side for Oh...twenty years, give or take a few."
"Has it really been that long?" Steve asked. "We must be getting on a bit, old girl," he joked.
"I'll give you old girl," she replied running off ahead of him. He gave chase, and they didn't get back to Lark for a good two hours.
The next day Steve took Chris and Katy aside and asked them, "Can the wedding wait a little while? I have an idea..." He whispered it to them and they readily agreed. "Great, thank you, that settles it." he said.
The news had spread through Lark like wild-fire, and a meeting had been called to discuss its implications. Steve stood up and declared. "Friends, the gravy machine has worked, the Moon has gravity, and an atmosphere. Vegetation is growing freely up there. I think it's time to leave Lark and return to the surface."
Whoops and cheers ensued. It was several minutes before Steve could speak again. "Bill and Eric have already begun preparations for the exodus, but I want everybody to stop what you're doing and concentrate on the move. Once we have established ourselves on the surface, we can resume our current projects. All in agreement say Aye."
"AYE!" came the unanimous response.
The next few days were very exciting, and hectic, to say the least. Almost everything had to be packed up before being transported back up to the surface. It had been decided to make the move in two stages. Phase one was to exit Lark for the surface base. Phase two was the establishment of a settlement on the surface away from the base. Steve and Jimmy had already been out scouting for a suitable location, and one had been found near some low cliffs that would accommodate the waterfall. Everyone had agreed, that when water was piped to the surface, they would create a waterfall.
Phase one took almost a week, but finally it was finished. The accommodation blocks in the dome were utilised again as a temporary measure. Steve had commented to Clare at just how many more apartments were needed now, all these years after their arrival.
"Has it really been ten years Hun?" She asked, sighing.
"Very nearly Sweetie," Steve replied, "but what an adventure we've had! No other humans have done what we've done."
"And hopefully,
they'll never have to," she came back at him.
"We must take better care of this world than we did the last."
"Amen to that," Steve concluded.
A couple of days rest were allowed before Phase two began. Phase two would take somewhat longer, as it involved the erecting of dwellings. Some building materials had been stored, but not nearly enough, so it was decided to plunder the domes, starting with the bigger central one, which had been damaged anyway.
Bycrylic turned out to be rather useful for this purpose. It was very light, and easy to cut, yet surprisingly strong. Its one-way opacity was useful too, it meant that each dwelling was effectively made of glass when looking out from the inside, and yet solid when viewed from the outside.
Dwellings were quickly erected, and some of the designs were quite novel. When the settlement was finished, the animals were released to graze on the unlimited grass.
"We'll need some fences," Gareth told Steve, "or they'll wander for miles."
"Listen!" Hope suddenly cried out. Everyone went silent. "Birds," she said, "there are birds singing." And so there were.
"We'd better plant some trees," Clare said, to Gareth.
"What a brilliant idea," Gareth replied, "I'll go and see what we've got in the seed store." He wandered off whistling happily to himself.
Fences were laid, and crops planted. Water was piped up from below and the waterfall they created was magnificent. Gareth planted trees along the banks of the stream and at various other places around the settlement.
"Shame I won't be around to see them mature," he muttered to himself, "but someone will, and that's all that matters."
Clare heard it and gave him a hug.
"We'll name some of them after you," she said, reassuringly. "I dare say, none of us will be forgotten by those who come after us. We are the founders, and founders are always remembered."
Whilst all this was going on, Eric had been busy routing power to the settlement. A small sub station was erected with trees planted around it. Steve then went with him to close down Lark. All the section heads had mothballed their individual areas of Lark, so it only remained to turn off the 'gravy' machine, and shut off the extra turbines. This done, Steve and Eric headed for the surface one last time.
