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Is it Too Late? (A Sci-fi by Don Duclon)Nature lovers were the first to notice the subtle changes. Larger birds in mountainous areas seemed to use more rapid wing movements to stay aloft. Occasionally, a bird of prey was found dead in an area where the bird appeared to have crashed into a cliff. Small birds and large winged insects seem to suffer the same problem; having difficulty flying. Occasionally, delicate fauna shriveled up and died showing yellow leaf structures. Some plant's physical structure and height seemed different. The changes could be described as radical and yet undefinable—peculiarly reminiscent to a bug related phloem-necrosis, yet problematically implemented through a changing environment. Meanwhile, life seemed to go on with the same humdrum of noise, business, and activity created by industry and bulging commercial movements.  Oil companies pumped from their earthen reservoirs at a rapid rate to meet the needs of the world. Trees were removed to make room for new residential and retail businesses. Communities at industrial areas provided the new populations sustenance for life. Food production, metal hardware, and their plastic components increased dramatically. As the planet bathed itself in what mother nature had to offer, the complexities created by routine and daily occurrences accelerated. Scientists were puzzled by an infinitesimal wobbling of earth on its axis. This min-ute change, if accelerated, could change earth's metamathematical systems. Space agencies discovered that the outer most distance of the earth's atmosphere had been reduced and dropped at least ½ a mile. This was of some concern as it lead to changing the calculations for liftoff and rocket separation during a space probe or when orbiting our space station. Our scientists became involved with other scientific agencies throughout the world. Strange phenomena had been occurring in remote areas of other countries, resulting in worldwide governmental level debates as to what was happening to their little worlds. Leading geologists, historians, and a multitude of so-called scientists from all over the earth met and addressed a conference on the state of the planet. (Subject–the pumping of millions of gallons of oil from the earth's bosom each day.) Tremendous empty voids beneath the surface of the earth were created. The millions of gallons of oil related to hundreds of billions of tons of earth balancing weight moved and stored on the outer crust of earth. "Metamorphically, could the lower rock strata have shifted due to weight changes?" Additionally, as oil and many of its thousands of manufactured by-products were used and discarded through evaporation and dissipation into the atmosphere; other products were simply burned, buried, and forgotten. What happened to Mother earth as the min-ute wobble occurred? Violent earthquakes erupted from the redistribution of the earth's weight when oil was removed. In addition, the subterranean holes retained a state of vacuum after the oil was removed. Provisionally, pumping stations had sealed many of the holes, or so the oil companies thought. In reality the oil was removed so rapidly that it started a chain reaction-creating a tremendous suction from the voids below the ground; similar to a venturi effect. This phenomenon caused the atmosphere to be sucked into the well casings which lowered the height of the atmosphere. Concerned environmentalists visited the old oil wells and immediately noticed a downward draft of air into the earth at each well that had not been capped. Rapid calculations were made and it was determined that part of the earth's atmosphere was below the earth's surface. I have been thinking–some of this is true and some visionarily speculative. Nations and small countries blamed each other's greed for oil. Cities will crumble, small wars will continue, and the fight for food, water, and shelter, will continue. Industrialists want money, land, and power. Nature will deal with us extraordinarily and it will happen quickly. Our space station has problems. Political power is a mess. Where do we go from here? Is it Too Late?
© Don & Norma Duclon 2002-2006
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