He works quickly, not being exacting so much as doing the obvious – worm egg
casts here, mature worms there.
The boys have just been watching him as he goes though these moves, taking it
all in. They’re edging forward to stand by his side. He says,
We make our own nutrient solution from these worm
beds. Best fertilizer in the world! We harvest the
worms for protein too. They’re 82% protein, did you
know? We put these egg casts into new compost piles.
They’re full of baby worms.
And glancing over his shoulder at the boys, seeing that he has raised their
interest.
Want to help?
The boys all say, in unison,
Sure!
_______________________________
Inside the dome city, at night, the iridescent glow of the dome ceiling has
been dimmed to simulate night. All is quiet except for the occasional
splashing of the fountain. A chipmunki is nibbling a piece of cracker on one
of the pathways in the center of the dome. Some ducks next to the fountain in
the center of the dome are tucking their heads under their wings. A small
monkey drops out of the trees and lopes across the grass. There is wildlife
pets here in the biodome, living naturally in the open space. The ceiling is
lit from lights along the edge of the dome top pram layer, setting off a
nighttime glow in the soft material sprayed on the ceiling. The wildlife, as
do the human residents, accepts this night and day as their world, without
distress, so natural as to slip from notice after a day or two.
Suddenly a Zeta materializes in the center of the grassy area, startling the
chipmunk who scampers away. He is joined by two others, and the three stride
toward the ramp/stairway. They simply levitate up to the top tier of
residences, rather than take the stairs. This levitation is done mid-stride,
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without missing a beat, as though a natural occurrence and something all three
understood they would do, simultaneously, without a word spoken. They land on
the continuous patio area that circles in front of all the residences on a
level, shared by all on the level.
The three Zetas stride along the patio that runs continuously in front of all
the residences running around the circumference of the dome and facing inward
toward the dome center. The three Zetas stride for a few steps, then stop in
front of a closed door. Though they haven't knocked or made noise, the door
opens, a sleepy Jonah emerging in his pajama bottoms. They all seem to just
stare at each other for a moment. Jonah asks,
How close are they?
One of the Zetas moves his hand slightly, and then Jonah panics, with some
alarm in his voice.
Then we've got to do something! They'll blow us away!
I know how these guys operate, they kill anything they
can't rule!
A Zeta puts his hand up slightly, palm down in a dampening gesture.
I can't calm down, all these people ..
But the Zeta changes his gesture to run his fingers in a half circle in front
of him.
Oh, oh, OK, I know I've asked you to help, and if you
say that'll work, OK, OK, but, ahm, but, Christ, if it
doesn't, we're dead ..
Jonah is clearly nervous about whatever has been discussed.
_______________________________
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Outside the dome city, the dull gray dome can barely be seen in the moonlight.
Insects are thrumming in the humid summer night, which is enshrouded in mist
General Flood and his sidekick, the diminutive and ever compliant Sergeant
Hammond, are emerging from the woods. They are surveying the scene silently,
and then the General quietly brags.
We can put a hole in it easy, and then its ours.
_______________________________
Daybreak outside the dome city is brilliant, caused by the thick volcanic dust
reflecting sunlight. A bird clinging to a reed along the river is welcoming
the dawn with his song. There are sucking and splashing sounds as a boot pulls
out of and lands again in the mud. A column of soldiers is moving toward the
dome city.
_______________________________
The entry way of the dome city is opened but no one is coming or going. This
is a maneuver, inviting the attack. A helicopter comes into view, and a
booming voice is heard, through a bullhorn.
This is your military speaking. Allow our inspection
teams to enter or suffer the consequences. Send your
leaders out with a white flag to indicate that you
understand these orders.
The helicopter goes into a slow circle, well outside the perimeter of the
dome. There is no response from inside the dome city at first, but then Jonah
emerges, along with Colonel Cage, Big Tom, and the two soldiers who went AWOL
with the Colonel. They are subtly antagonizing the General by showing
themselves, as he brooks no insubordination.
Inside the helicopter, General Flood is red faced with rage. He growls to
himself and the pilot.
He's going to die and die slowly.
Then speaking through the intercom, he barks to his men on the ground.
Move the missile into place, let them see it.
A slender wheeled missile emerges from the woods, pushed by half a dozen
soldiers. Several other soldiers emerge from the trees too, lining up along
the edge of the woods. They are not dressed in uniform. Some have bandannas
tied around their heads, some have long hair tied behind their heads in a pony
tail, some have painted their faces, some carry long machete knives, but all
wear fatigue pants and army boots. This is clearly no longer a formal
military troop.
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Something invisible is moving through the grass, as though a sliding wall were
being moved into place. The grass flattens and separates, weeds push aside
and then are kept aside as though an invisible wall had been put into place.
This line moves swiftly, with the sound of chopper blades throbbing overhead.
Cage, I'll have your liver for supper for this, and
pickle your eyes!
Inside the Helicopter, General Flood barks orders through the intercom.
Bring out the hostage now, and shoot him.
Len is pushed forward, hands bound in front of him and one eye swollen shut,
poked out during a fit of General Flood’s rage during an interrogation
session. He is stumbling with exhaustion and staggering, but is pushed
forward until midway between the dome city representatives and the military