A New Project

[I'm writing a novel set in the Private Universe Mk 2.]


Frank reentered the room. He brought in a two page printout of something and a thick paper-bound book with a black-colored cover.

He stopped and looked at everyone.

“Did I miss something? He said.

Kira spoke up.

“The subject of Earth came up.” She said.

“Did you mention the lamp post?” He replied.

“What lamp post?” I said.

Andy sounded a little bit embarrassed when he answered.

“The lamp post that the senior senator from New York may have been hanged from.” He said.

“May have?” I said.

“Well we can’t be certain,” Andy replied, “the post in the recorded location may have been replaced one or more times since The Reformation.”

Alice jumped into the conversation.

“There was a lot of looting going on since the fall of the Earth.” She said. “We sent an expert team to the reported location of the artifact and recovered it, though technically it was an act of looting.”

“It’s called archaeology.” I said. “Where is it?”

Frank answered the question.

“We gave it a good home.” He said.

That answer sounded distressingly familiar. Unlike the fictional Captain Kirk I tried not to raise my voice in response.

“Where?”

Alice smiled when she replied.

“We put it in front of the new planetary government center in Landfall.” She said. “And we gave it a nice brass plaque to remind every member of the Senate and the Assembly to be on their best behavior.”