The Major stopped cold. The voice came from right behind him.
The Major clicked the safety on his Masada rifle and spun around even as he crouched. Then, in utter astonishment, he slowly came to his feet again.
“It is ‘Ze Major,’ is it not?”
Only a few feet away, impossibly, stood a spectral image of a Nazi officer in a full black trench coat, monocle, and filter cigarette. He looked real, except for the fact he was a ghost. The Major was so stunned he kept the gun aimed at the ghost’s head.
It knew who he was.
“I zought I recognized you.” The apparition tapped his cheek just under the eye. “From your eyes. I can tell zees zings.” He took a deep drag on his cigarette. “My name is Heinrich Boerner.” He started taking off his leather gloves as he spoke.
Meanwhile, around him, The Major heard a rising whine, like electric motors. He turned to see a line of razorbacks coming over the grass toward him. Why hadn’t he heard them?
“Fuck!” He turned to run and saw another row of razorbacks moving toward him from the bungalows—like lions approaching in deep grass. There were at least a dozen closing in from all directions. He opened fire with the Masada. The bullets whined off the in front cowlings harmlessly, and the machines all unfolded their swords as they advanced across the grass on electrical power.
Soon The Major’s gun was empty. And there right next to him was Boerner, smoking calmly.
Boerner began to remove his heavy leather coat. “Your guns are qvite useless, Major. Zis is an unstoppable event. Struggle vill only prolong ze inefitable.”
Now the razorbacks were all around The Major—trapping him in a circle of swords.
The razorback nearest Boerner raised one sword, and Boerner hung his leather jacket upon it. He rolled up his shirtsleeves and grinned at The Major.
“I do so enjoy my vork. . . .”
Further Reading
You can learn more about the technologies and themes explored in Freedom™ through the following books:
Omnivore’s Dilemma by Michael Pollan, Penguin Press
The Shock Doctrine by Naomi Klein, Metropolitan Books
When the Rivers Run Dry by Fred Pearce, Beacon Press
The Shadow Factory by James Bamford, Doubleday
When Corporations Rule the World by David C. Korten, Kumarian Press & Berrett-Koehler Publishers
The Transparent Society by David Brin, Basic Books
Wired for War by P. W. Singer, Penguin Press
The Populist Moment by Lawrence Goodwyn, Oxford University Press
Wikinomics by Don Tapscott and Anthony D. Williams, Portfolio Brave New War by John Robb, John Wiley & Sons
Acknowledgments
This book was quite a journey. Dramatizing the sweeping socio-economic and technological transformation of civilization required a little research. I’d like to extend my profound gratitude to: James Bamford, David Brin, Ian Cheney, Curt Ellis, Deborah Koons Garcia, Lawrence Goodwyn, Naomi Klein, David C. Korten, Fred Pearce, Michael Pollan, John Robb, and P. W. Singer whose published works informed this story in ways both great and small.
The research and innovations of the following groups and institutions also aided greatly in the creation of this book: the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Sandia National Laboratories, California Institute of Technology, the people and State of Iowa, and the Ames Research Center.
Thanks also to Stewart Brand and the entire Long Now Foundation for promoting long-term thinking in our institutions and culture.
Thanks to Dan G. and Don T. for giving me an interesting forum for my crazy ideas.
Thanks as well to Adam Winston for his much-appreciated insights on early drafts of this book.
Also, sincere thanks to my wonderful literary agent, Bridget Wagner, at Sagalyn Literary Agency, and also to my editor at Dutton, the saintly and talented Ben Sevier.
And finally, heartfelt thanks to my patient and loving wife, Michelle.
About the Author
Daniel Suarez is an independent systems consultant to Fortune 1000 companies. He has designed and developed enterprise software for the defense, finance, and entertainment industries. An avid gamer and technologist, he lives in Los Angeles, California. Freedom™ is his second novel.
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eISBN : 978-1-101-18460-8