tagSci-Fi & FantasyRare Earth, Rare Seed  Rare Earth, Rare Seed
This started out as an Earth Day story, but I missed the
deadline; so I tried to tweak it into a Nude Day story, but it
didn't feel right; now it's a story.  Sentences within one
asterisk are private thoughts; sentences within two asterisks
are shared or 'Voiced' thoughts. It's not an ideal method of
distinguishing thought from dialogue, but it's what there is.
The helicopter banked over the valley one more time and then
turned, heading back to the airstrip. I sat back and did
calculations in my head. Numbers don't lie, and the numbers said
this was going to be the big one. I closed my eyes, ignoring the
chopper pilot, the way I ignore most people. It's safer that
way.  Heading back into town in the stretch Hummer I shivered
and came back to earth. The woman was sitting quietly, her dark
eyes veiled. I couldn't remember her name, and she wasn't Beth,
so I just looked at her.  'Celebration time, honey.' People do
what I say. She smiled and rai