Solution (eBook)
The End of the World... a Love Story.
eBook Download:
EPUB
2022
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1. Auflage
178 Seiten
Bookbaby (Verlag)
978-1-6678-8080-8 (ISBN)
178 Seiten
Bookbaby (Verlag)
978-1-6678-8080-8 (ISBN)
The year is 1977, and a particle physicist unwittingly puts together a substance that dissolves everything that comes into contact with it. He has created a universal solvent, and confronts an unfortunate problem: what container can you put it in? City Hall wants to try. Good luck with that. The scientist, along with his daughter, a cat named Schrödinger, and a reporter who assigns himself to the story, try to find any way at all to save the world.
While recovering from a heartbreak of his own design, reporter Joe Rasley takes on the most interesting story he's seen in a long time - even though he seems to be the only journalist on the scene who seems to find the end of the world remotely newsworthy. The year is 1977, and a particle physicist has unwittingly put together a substance that dissolves everything that comes into contact with it. He has created a universal solvent, and now confronts an unfortunate problem: what container can you put it in? Joe finds himself getting a crash course in particle physics as he joins the eccentric Dr. Kohlman, the doctor's headstrong physicist daughter Diana, and a cat named Schrdinger, as they try to find any way at all to save the world. And it doesn't hurt to find himself falling in love along the way. Solution is a clever, yet scientifically rigorous novel that explores the intersection of journalism, science and government. Set in the gritty cityscape of 1970s New York, its themes are just as relevent to the world we live in now.
While recovering from a heartbreak of his own design, reporter Joe Rasley takes on the most interesting story he's seen in a long time - even though he seems to be the only journalist on the scene who seems to find the end of the world remotely newsworthy. The year is 1977, and a particle physicist has unwittingly put together a substance that dissolves everything that comes into contact with it. He has created a universal solvent, and now confronts an unfortunate problem: what container can you put it in? Joe finds himself getting a crash course in particle physics as he joins the eccentric Dr. Kohlman, the doctor's headstrong physicist daughter Diana, and a cat named Schrdinger, as they try to find any way at all to save the world. And it doesn't hurt to find himself falling in love along the way. Solution is a clever, yet scientifically rigorous novel that explores the intersection of journalism, science and government. Set in the gritty cityscape of 1970s New York, its themes are just as relevent to the world we live in now.
The mayor’s press secretary looked more than a bit miffed as Joe wandered into the mayoral inner sanctum. Diana and her father were already there, waiting for their audience and taking in the tacky decor of the Red Room. The slow-footed burgomaster entered through the inner door with a small coterie of silent men, and he, too, looked a bit disconcerted by Joe’s presence.
“Look, Rasley… uh, I want you to know that this is all off the record. I’ve had doubts about letting a reporter deal with this, but the Kohlmans insist that you be here.” His lip quivered and his jocular facade was down. The mayor must have begun to feel the tail of the tiger in his hands. Under full control, a tiger represents power. Out of control, not even the Brooklyn clubhouses would save him.
“You didn’t seem to mind last year when I was on the fire escape, part of the story of that kook who took his girlfriend hostage.”
“Yeah, well, and thanks, but it was our negotiator who talked him down…”
Joe laughed. “Yeah, the kook was already telling me his story, showing me his gun. The girl had locked herself in another room.”
The mayor looked a little disconcerted. “But this is big,” he said finally, “And maybe dangerous. We don’t want any slanted stories going out that will make the city look bad.”
Joe gave a tiny smile and a wink to translate for Diana. He wants slanted stories that make him look good. She grinned that she understood.
“But that’s not what I’m here for,” Joe said evenly. “They want me because I know a little bit about the way things work in this city, and also about the way they should work.”
“Yes, it’s a little out of our league,” Kohlman interceded. “Joe’s help may be important. He doesn’t know much quantum theory, but he knows what we need to take care of the Glop, and how to evaluate what’s proposed.”
Joe saw the mayor squirm. He’s got something up his sleeve, Joe figured. His Honor would never trust someone he couldn’t reach, and he would figure Joe to be one of those.
After a moment’s contemplation, the mayor took a breath and bade Joe sit down. “Mr. Rasley is certainly competent,” he said with a half-smile that translated into something more like I don’t trust the son-of-a-bitch. “However,” he continued, “we have an unusual problem. A scientific problem. For that reason, Dr. Kohlman, I want to put you and your daughter on the city payroll, say, to watch over it. Your friend Joe, however, doesn’t come with the package.”
“That’s all right, I don’t either,” said Kohlman. “Frankly, I never want to see or think about it again! I want to commit the Glop to life imprisonment without parole, where it can’t do any harm. I don’t want to babysit!”
“I don’t either,” Diana joined in. “We need somewhere safe to put it.”
Diana’s response had a note of pleading, but the mayor had adopted a satisfied look. “We can certainly help you with that,” he smiled.
“Great!” she responded. “We were hoping we could get the city to work with one of the universities to build a laboratory to house this phenomenon, and study it.”
Joe nodded. “My friends have done their time as babysitters. What is needed is a really good, well-equipped laboratory where the Glop can have a well-equipped staff who can brush its teeth and see to its habits. Keeping the problem where it continues to pop circuit breakers is a bit risky to life on this planet.”
“We could get them to bring in more power,” the mayor offered.
“That’s been done for the moment.” Joe looked the mayor in the eye. “The problem needs something more stable, like its own generator. You wouldn’t want to put the fate of the planet in the hands of our power company, would you?”
The mayor perked up. “You would like it to have its own generator and a staff to attend to it, and bring in scientists to work on it.”
“Yes, I think so,” said Kohlman uncertainly.
The mayor looked more at ease and smiled. “I think, then, that we can all agree that it should be placed with the City’s Building Department. That will bring scientists from around the world to our fair city to see it, and that will take it out of your hands.”
Kohlman scowled. “It’s not that I don’t love our fair city, Mr. Mayor, but my landlord paid off a building inspector to ignore the fire hazard that’s the plyboard enclosure around our wooden stairway. I’m here because my ass, just like yours, could float away in the gunk sea. I’m not certain your agency is ready to paddle.”
A great quote! Joe was thinking.
Smart ass! The mayor was thinking.
“A university laboratory. With university scientists!” Diana insisted.
The passion in her voice was no match for the indifference in the mayor’s eyes. “Place this curious attraction in the hands of some eggheads, when it should remain under the city’s umbrella, certainly throughout this important year? I’m afraid my office can’t permit such an important asset be wasted!”
Joe’s eyes brightened. So that’s the plan! “Mister Mayor,” he intruded, “I think the three of us would like to have a moment to discuss this, as it does have some useful aspects. Would you mind?” He looked toward the door.
The mayor and his coterie remained where they were as the three visitors slipped into the press room, Room 9, where the level of chaos wasn’t severe enough to disturb their conversation.
“Asset?” muttered Kohlman. “He called it an asset?”
“I get it now!” said Joe. “There’s a mayoral election coming up and he can expect some heavy challengers. With bankruptcies and the city finances in tatters, he sees this as a gimmick that will show voters that he’s in charge, that he will keep the city safe, and that he will also make the city turn a profit.”
“He’s an idiot,” muttered the professor.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if he parks the Glop in the middle of City Hall Park and charges visitors to look at it,” said Joe. “He’s imagining tour buses and full hotels.”
“What’ll we do?”
“We’re not going to change his mind. Right now we need to make the Glop as safe as possible, stall him for a while, and try to go over his head. Governor. President. God. Anyone who might be able to intercede.”
“Can’t we take the city to court?”
“Courts aren’t going to rule against the city in an emergency. Besides, most of the judges are appointed by his minions. This isn’t ‘Mr. Smith Goes to Washington,’ This is ‘Meet John Doe.’”
“We’ve got to talk them out of it,” said Kohlman. “If we leave it to them, they’ll turn it into a fountain where visitors can toss in pennies to watch them disintegrate.”
Joe nodded. “Maybe we can get him to modify his ineptitude. Maybe we dangle the City Hall Park idea at him. They can build a lab on the lawn outside where visitors can buy tickets to pass by and watch scientists at work studying it. Instead of a Think Tank they can call it a Gunk Tank.”
The mayor and his press secretary were still looking rattled, unmoved in the same visitors’ chairs. “Mister Mayor, the scientists remain dubious about your plans, but they’d like to know more, and maybe help guide your decisions.”
The words perked up the mayor slightly. “Glad to hear it.”
“Our thinking is gathering a blue ribbon panel from the universities, from a list of experts…”
The mayor nodded. “We maybe could do that. But I have full confidence in my Building Department administrator. Mr. Klein has long experience in the matter of handling… uh, dangerous cargo.”
“He’s a Brooklyn architect,” Joe said.
“Yes!” The mayor’s congenial aplomb was showing a defensive edge. “But his assignment in the service of our country was the safe transport of dangerous material. Mr. Klein has assured me that his department has the full potential for caring for this… unusual substance.”
“I interviewed Jerry Klein a few months ago,” Joe said, trying to remember. “I think he said he drove a truck in the reserves at Fort Dix.”
“Yes, um, with armaments,” agreed the mayor. “Dangerous. There’s a space in the Municipal Building being made ready for its new resident. We want you, Dr. Kohlman, and your daughter, to… join our team, make certain that this substance can be researched properly, used for the common good and not for evil or personal gain.”
He glanced at Joe to see if he might be taking notes. Puffing a little, pointing jowls toward his collar and belly...
| Erscheint lt. Verlag | 14.12.2022 |
|---|---|
| Sprache | englisch |
| Themenwelt | Literatur ► Fantasy / Science Fiction ► Science Fiction |
| ISBN-10 | 1-6678-8080-2 / 1667880802 |
| ISBN-13 | 978-1-6678-8080-8 / 9781667880808 |
| Haben Sie eine Frage zum Produkt? |
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