Land of Tranquility

By Kenneth E Barnes

Land of Tranquility is a short story about a small child who's passion for space and search for answering the oldest question in the world. "Is there other forms of life others than ours out there?" Throughout the story the author takes you on a long ride filled with Scientific and Biblical facts. In the search for answers regarding the Space Race, Global Warming and searching for his missing father. An Astrophysicist who disappeared at the peak of his discovers.

Within the story of discovery. A young mans love for the environment, culture and ancient civilizations take the reader on a ride of a life time.

• Language: English
• Publisher: BookBaby
• Release date: Jan 26, 2013
• ISBN: 9781626750692

Book preview

Epilogue

1

MEDITATION

Its been over forty years since the Soviet Union sent the first satellite in space. All America could do is sit back and envy their accomplishment. Our fearless leaders made a promise that we would beat them to the moon. In 1969, as America watched the Apollo Astronauts land and walked on the moon. The Soviet Union was planning their own missions to the dark side. The sixties had been defined by Americans alike as the time of Anti-War Demonstrations, Civil Rights Movement, Conspiracy Theories, and The Space Race. Russia's top priority was space exploration. Like Columbus was to finding a new world. So were the Soviet's. Beginning in the 1930's through the next sixty years they pioneered space flight. During that time they made the first intercontinental ballistic missile, put the first satellite in space, first animal and human in orbit them around Earth.

If only the American people knew what secrets our government kept hidden from us for over forty years. This is the story of what was discovered by a dedicated Astrophysicist who was assigned to the Special Terrestrial Archeology Unit(S.T.A.U). The unit was formed by top officials from three organizations; N.A.S.A., C.I.A. and G.S.F. (Global Space Federation). Financing for the organization came through a non-profit organization called, O.R.I.O.N (Oceanography Research Institute of Nations). Bi-yearly fundraisers across the globe would generate millions of dollars a year. Its mission was to study global warming and its effects on the world populations. The top technology company's gave millions. ORION generated billions of dollars through the years. Those companies needed a tax write off. They also needed to aligned themselves with the a GREEN COMPANY. My father, Professor Jon Barnes was the Astrophysicist assigned to the UNIT. His resume alone over-qualified him for the position. Like most of the team they were recruited secretly. A persons life is not defined by material objects. But by their accolades, conduct, contributions and passion for what they do. Let me tell you about this great man. I am a little bias. He is half the reason why I am who I am today.

As a young child, Jon had grown up post The Depression. It was during a time of the Industrial Revolution. Back then nobody thought about environmental impact studies, carbon foot printing, or waste diversion. Today we spend billions of dollars a year diverting waste from our landfills and saving our natural habitats. The Green movement during the 1930's was far from anyones mind. The United States, like every other country in the world was trying their best to be the leaders of the World. Technology was slowly being discovered and inventors were on the rise. Wars were created by those who sought power and control. Discovery defines you. Just ask Newton, Einstein, and the hundreds of other great Scientist and Inventors of the World. But the one thing that everyone wanted to know was; Does life exist beyond our planet? The Soviet Union made this their number one priority.

During the 19th Century there were hundreds of published discoveries. Some however were kept secret. In 1884, Otto Wilhelm von Struve who headed the world famous Pulkovo Observatory in Russia. Made several discoveries on the dark side of the moon. These findings were never published. However Otto and the others kept great records and drawings of their findings. The Russian Government had received some information from an informant that Otto and his associates had uncovered an opening in the moon! All the documents were seized and became the property of the Communist Government. My Grandfather was the Russian Scientist leading the charge in validating the documents. They spent millions in developing technology and hiring astrophysicist to uncover the mysteries of the unknown.

Charles Darwin's defining moment was the Natural Selection. Natural Selection is the gradual, nonrandom process by which biological traits become either more or less common in a population as a function of differential reproduction of their bearers. It is a key mechanism of evolution. Alfred Russel Wallace a biologist at the time felt differently and opposed Darwin's Theory of Evolution. Wallace was strongly attracted to unconventional ideas. His advocacy of Spiritualism and his belief in a non-material origin for the higher mental faculties of humans strained his relationship with the scientific establishment, especially with other early proponents of evolution. For hundreds of years, scientist alike have challenged Religious beliefs regarding the Universe, Evolution and the creation of mankind.

Some people say that its what you learn, that brands you. Others say you are a bi-product of your environment and parents. There maybe some truth to all. On the other hand I feel very strongly that a person is born with the thirst for learning. Through their life experiences enlightenment and wisdom surface. My search for all these things has bestowed on me many questions. "Who is the creator? Where are the scientific facts that support religious doctrine? How do you explain the pictographs throughout Ancient Civilizations. Which depict flying machines and other unexplainable drawings? These questions have filled my chalice. But with each drink, my thirst hungers for more answers. No matter how many times I stare out into space. Beyond every star, I find another. During a new moon darkness is just a speck in the evening sky. Life as I domicile in it each day feeds my desire to dream. To think that one of those bright stars there may be another looking back at me!

Based on my grandfathers findings the Russian Space Agency was formed. There were three reasons for the Sputnik. First to take pictures of the dark side of the Moon. Secondly they wanted to take accurate pictures of the earths polar ice caps. Thirdly they wanted to divert the American people from their real intentions. It was at this point when he made the discovery of a lifetime. A hole in the moon's surface. The hole was roughly thirty-five feet in diameter. After the United States found out about Sputnik. They sent several undercover CIA agents to Russia. There number one priority was to uncover why the Communist was spending a majority of their time focusing on the moon and polar ice-caps. It was during this time when my grandfather was recruited and brought to the United States. My grandfather was the leading Scientist on the project for the Soviets. On a weekend trip to his country the agents made themselves known and offered him asylum. They made him an offer he couldn't refuse. Two days later he had left the Soviet Union with his work. His new allies had given him a explosive device to be left behind at his lab. It was at that point when he removed all vital drawings and paper work in his briefcase and given instructions to blow the lab. It was a scene right out of a spy novel. Once in the states he was given citizenship, a career, a new identity and home. It was during this time when he met my grandmother and they fell in love. She too worked for the CIA. They began almost immediately planning a trip to the moon. The Space Race was on and America was no longer in the back seat. One question deep in the minds of these American Scientist was, What and were does this hole go?

When I was a small child I remembered spending time at my Grandparents house. Which was in the DC area. They had an old Victorian house. At the time it seemed big. The yard was filled with flowers, grass and large trees. The back yard was somewhat private and overlooked a small lake. Surrounding the lake I noticed thousands of rocks. Each one different from the other. A closer look I found igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic rocks. This became my playground. Each day was a new adventure. In my own little world I was a Geologist and Archaeologist. Searching the area for lost treasures. In the back yard I came upon a beat up wagon. Filling the bed of the wagon with rocks and junk gave me a connection with our planet. Tires turning made screeching noises that would give away my locations. One afternoon my grandfather came running out and put some grease on the wheels. It was the first time I saw him smile. All I could do was really just pick up rocks and move them around. One afternoon he brought me out a rock from the house. It looked like a grey tennis ball. It was different from the ones at the lake. Holding it in his large hand my grandfather approached me. You see this grey rock? This rock is like our planet. A solid mass which holds many mysteries within. What do you mean, mysteries? I had a childish puzzled look on my poor face. He grabbed my hand and took me to a corner table in the garden. We sat down on some old wicker chairs. Pulling my chair so I was facing him. You see little one. Holding the rock in front of my little eyes. At first appearance this is just a rock. But like any good investigator, look closer and what do you see? Opening the palms of his hands in the open position. The rock resting on his hands. I looked at the rock. Describe to me what you see without touching it. My gaze was frozen in time. My childish eyes became a microscope. Looking at every centimeter and millimeter. It was a grey round rock. With discoloration throughout it. A perfect sphere. I began to describe to him what I was seeing. There was a line in the rock that seemed