The Weathermakers (Rebelutionaries Series: Book 1)

By Beau Cornerstone

*During times of universal deceit, telling the truth becomes a revolutionary act -George Orwell*

Tonight’s six o’clock news headlines. Fear of global warming, UFO’s & an apocalypse in 2012 have gripped the world. But what if these crises were all manufactured? And E/M technology was being misused to create an illusion of climate change, alien invasions and provoke fear of the end of the age? What would you do if you were a scientist or a journalist and you wanted to expose the greatest hoax on earth?

Jake, Zac and Maya are three strangers destined to become close friends. Jake Lewis is an awkward teenage prodigy who’s mega-timid of women & tries to hide the fact that he’s brilliant. He’s going to the remote north-eastern Goldfields to participate in a geophysics workshop. Or so he thinks.

Professor Zac Canney has a passion for mentoring young scientists... answering teenagers’ questions about everything from sex to the origins of life. Zac has entered Western Australia from the U.S with a suitcase full of E/M weapon components. And he’s heading for the same outback region to try & prevent a catastrophe.

Maya Gregory is a vivacious photo journalist with a flair for sniffing out stories. She’s been sent to Laverton to cover a non-descript earthquake. Instead she’ll find a tangled web of deceit & a handful of people intent on saving the world. Falling in alongside them will change the course of her life. And theirs...

Paula Vince writes: “the timely message of The Weathermakers & its unique presentation is unlike anything I’ve come across before... Spiritual & metaphysical theories are woven together beautifully & brought into dialogue in natural and fascinating ways... I love the choice of quotes at the beginning of each chapter & all through the story. Excellent tension in the events at the end with a satisfying finish all round... At times I felt the story read like an interesting film script with its frequent & fluid movement from one scene to the next... I enjoyed the multi-layered relationships through the story, particularly Zac’s wise & relaxed dealings with the four young men under his leadership.”

The Weathermakers is set in contemporary Australia & has references to recent events worldwide & predicted future events. It's the first book in a series which encourages teens & young adults to be Rebelutionaries - to rebel against society’s low expectations of them, to attempt hard things & be leaders and planet-shapers.

Two hundred years ago it was the norm for young adults of 12 to be sea captains in command of their own ships & for 14 year olds to lead armies into battle, run family businesses or the family farm. Today’s zeitgeist limits young people and promotes the idea that doomsday is imminent. The media and Hollywood link catastrophic events to climate change. events like those in January 2011 - when flocks of dead birds and schools of dead fish were washed up world-wide - are sensationalized.

The series offers an alternative perspective on such events. A trail of hints are left for readers to follow up on. Gordon MacDonald really did write an article entitled, "How to wreck the environment." He described in detail how the military misuse of E/M technology was associated with sightings of fireballs; flocks of dead birds; schools of dead fish; unusual localized weather patterns; earth-tremors; failed electronics & UFO-like lights. And Laverton residents really did experience an earthquake which was preceded by a lingering fireball during the 1990’s when “anti-desertification” research was being undertaken (And it really did snow there when temperatures of 37 degrees Celsius were the norm for that time of year!)

*Wise as serpents; Harmless as doves* Hitler once said, “the masses will more easily fall victim to a big lie than a small one.” This series is penned to help prevent teens and young adults falling victim to any lies. Big or small.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Beau Cornerstone
• Release date: Apr 17, 2012
• ISBN: 9781476391816

Beau Cornerstone

*Books can be dangerous. The best ones should be labelled, "This could change your life!"*Gidday from Downunder!I produce educational resources for teachers, home-schooling families and distance education students. I also proofread manuscripts and teach students to improve their essays. And I write inspirational fiction and non-fiction for young adults.The e-fiction I have up on Smashwords at present is for readers who like thought-provoking, coming-of-age stories with a Christian vein.Some of my inspirational writing has been published in print format by traditional publishers. There is a place for printed books and magazines. However Smashwords is unique because it gives an author the freedom to be highly creative in their genre. An author can include dialogue between characters which will never be censored by an editor. The eBook might be labelled avant-garde by a mainstream publisher. But from the reader’s perspective it’s enjoyably different and potentially liberating.What’s compelled me to write avant-garde Christian fiction?I managed an Aussie Christian bookshop for a number of years and I remember the types of Christian books customers wanted. Often they were too risky for a traditional Christian publisher to print for a variety of reasons. Yet customers wanted to buy these types of books for themselves, their children or their grandchildren.I was particularly disappointed by the books that were on the market for Christian teens at the time. The cookie-cut college characters in the fiction books were so unobjectionable... they had clear complexions, pure thoughts and perfect partners. Meanwhile my pimple-faced, teen customers were sneakily reading the books on sex and depression from the counselling section (I knew this because I had to put the books back on the shelves after they left).As I’ve penned the Rebelutionaries series, I’ve kept in mind that my target audience are intrigued... interested... know-it-all... and sometimes bashful about their growing bodies and s-e-x. So the teenage characters in my books are intrigued, interested, know-it-all and sometimes bashful too.Why do I enjoy publishing through Smashwords?When I managed the shop, Christian books were mega-expensive. Even though we sold our books below recommended retail price, I knew that many people had to settle for buying something on sale rather than what they wanted. And seeing a customer leaving empty handed when I knew they wanted to buy a particular book really irked me...These are the days of recession, so it's more important than ever for writers and authors to provide affordable (even free) quality reading material to their readers. Fortunately this can be achieved through Smashwords.Before I read a book, I like to have a feel for where the author is spiritually. If you'd like to sus me out a bit more, find out the themes I address in my inspirational fiction or read about the facts which inspires each fiction eBook, check out my blog - http://beaucornerstone.blogspot.com.au/ Also check out my website - https://sites.google.com/site/proofreadingandwriting/ for samples of the educational resources which will eventually be available here on Smashwords.Beau

Book preview

The Weathermakers

by Beau Cornerstone

Copyright 2013 by Beau Cornerstone

Published by Beau Cornerstone at Smashwords

4th Edition

Smashwords Edition License Notes

Before you start reading...

Did you swipe this ebook? Or accept a copy of a copy from someone else?

Let your conscience guide you.

Please visit Smashwords.com

(Chances are this ebook is free there anyway!)

Other ebooks for young adults by Beau Cornerstone

Book 2: The Codetalkers

For younger readers - History Changers: Expedition 2022

Table of Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Other ebooks in the series

References and further reading

Preamble

I could feel the darkness engulfing me.

Keep your head down Maya! ordered Jake from somewhere nearby.

I spluttered for breath... Clawed at the blackness as though it were a curtain I could tear apart.

I can’t handle this for much longer Jake! I’m full-on claustrophobic when it comes to small, dark places.

"Listen Maya... if you don’t keep your head under here I’m gonna... I’m gonna kiss you. So unless you want a kiss you’d better keep your head tucked in. Ya hear?"

I obediently complied. Rendered speechless by the bizarre threat.

It’ll subside any moment now. Just keep calm...

Keep calm? I’m fighting claustrophobia in the middle of an earthquake, in a pitch black cave with a 17 year old brainiac who’s just threatened to kiss me if I raise my head!

How had I got myself into this mess anyway? And would Zac be able to get me out of it?

Chapter 1

It is better to light a candle than to curse the darkness.

-Eleanor Roosevelt (1884-1962)

"Make seeing eyes blind Jireh," arrow-prayed Zac, as the queue in front of him shuffled closer to the baggage inspection area.

The customs officer looked uncomprehendingly at the images on the screen as Zac’s bags passed through and then directed his attention to their owner.

So... Professor Canney. The purpose of your visit to Western Australia is to conduct a series of workshops...

...in geophysics and scalar technology, finished Zac.

Right. What are all these electronic gadgets with tags on them anyway?

Support materials. I’m here to interact with some of the brightest young minds in Australia. I want my workshops to be inspiring, not something the participants fall asleep in.

Your itinerary indicates you’ll be spending time in the north-eastern Goldfields as well as Perth...

I’m undertaking geophysical fieldwork in the Goldfields region with select Australian students... That part of my stay has largely been organised for me by others though, so I’m not exactly sure of the finer details.

That’s fair enough. Everything seems to be in order here... Enjoy your stay in Western Australia Professor.

Thanks, replied Zac, flashing a near genuine smile. I have a hunch it’s gonna be a memorable visit.

Ω

What are you doing Maya?

I stopped momentarily in the act of eating, and looked up at my interrogator with feigned innocence.

Consuming preservatives, I replied, biting into a choc-chip muffin.

The quake you’re supposed to be covering is a thousand kilometres that-a-way.

Frank pointed east with his thumb as if hitching a ride.

There isn’t any hurry. It’ll be a boring non-event.

What makes you so sure?

Only one quake’s ever been recorded in the Laverton area – back in 1993. And consensus of opinion has it that was probably just a meteor strike anyway.

There was a quake in Kalgoorlie in 2010...

Probably triggered by the expansion of the Superpit.

Frank looked about five seconds away from detonation.

I’ve got a gut feeling it’s a scoop...

Instant attention.

Why didn’t you say so? When’s the flight leave?

10:30.

Accommodation?

Jody couldn’t raise reception in the only hotel in town, but it’s unlikely to be booked out.

Frank’s grin spawned lines of amusement around the corners of his eyes as I rushed around.

Works every time! he chuckled, as I tore out the door.

Ω

Jake glanced at the photo he had been sent and almost immediately spotted Zac. He wasn’t hard to miss, because he had the physique of a basketball player and an energetic stride which set him apart from the other travel-weary arrivals.

Professor Canney...

Yeah. Gidday. But call me Zac.

Jake grasped the extended hand, trying not to feel overwhelmed.

Um... Our connecting flight... We have to go to the domestic airport. Do you mind taking the shuttle bus? We can get a taxi if you mind.

The shuttle bus will be just fine.

Zac loaded his bags and boarded the bus. He stretched himself out on the back seat and casually took in his surroundings. He could sense the young student staring at him in blunt appraisal but chose to overlook his lack of etiquette. Eventually the silence became too much for Jake.

You’re not like I thought you’d be, said Jake cautiously.

You’re just like I thought you’d be! retorted Zac with a grin. How about we push through this awkwardness and you tell me about yourself?

Um... I’m Jacob. Um... Jake.

And your specialty?

Postgrad studies in planetary physics.

That’s what you’re studying. But what’s your passion?

My passion?

What do you spend your free time thinking and dreaming about?

A nervous laugh.

Um... Tesla mostly... What are you passionate about Sir?

Weather manipulation... earthquake engineering... and what the Creator of this planet thinks about us... Although not necessarily in that order.

You’re not passionate about women?

Jake’s face instantly expressed his mortified embarrassment.

Sorry Sir. I can’t believe I just asked you that!

Zac relaxed him with a grin.

There’s a time and season for everything under the sun Jake. Including making passionate love to a woman. But it’d take one gutsy woman to keep up with me at the moment. So for now I’m teaming up with bright young men like you.

Rad...You are so un-Professor-like! replied Jake, as they got off the bus.

And you’re finally starting to sound real around me. Here... Give me a look at that paperwork you’ve been clutching onto for dear life and let’s find our charter flight to Laverton, eh?

Ω

Are you saying there isn’t a single hire car left at this tin-pot airport so I can get myself into town?

I was travel somnolent and the gum-chewing receptionist was pushing me over the edge. Possibly because she was wearing a badge that said, ‘I’m not deaf - I’m just not listening to you.’

We had a run on hire cars this morning. I’ve made an arrangement with a local mine. They’re making some of their fleet vehicles available for hire to address the shortfall. I can offer you one of those when they arrive.

When will they arrive?

After tonight’s shift change. About 5 pm.

You mean I have to wait five hours?

An indolent shrug from the receptionist.

Don’t just sit there doing nothing! Get on the phone and do something about this, will you?

I called Avis earlier. They can’t send more cars up here for two days. They’re short in Kalgoorlie themselves and they’ve got to get extras trucked from Perth or somethin’.

Why can’t I hire that Landcruiser baking out near the runway that says AVIS RENTAL on its door?

I bit the question off querulously.

It’s pre-booked. For the blokes that came in on the charter behind your domestic a few minutes ago.

Can’t you tell whoever pre-booked the Cruiser that you’ve accidentally hired it out and make them wait until tonight for a mine-site vehicle?

"No she can’t do that because we’d know she was fibbing."

I hadn’t heard anyone walk in behind me but I liked the smile in his voice. I turned around and decided I liked how he looked too. Broad shoulders and statuesque abs hidden by a khaki polo shirt, cargo pants and sturdy hiking boots. A studious-looking geek was trailing him. Mr Greek-statue gently nudged me out of the way.

Hey! I was in front of you!

Zac ignored my protest and grinned at the receptionist. She sucked in a breath of recycled, refrigerated air and tried to smile back.

Here. Let me autograph the paperwork so we can whisk the lady in front of us out of your life, eh?

The receptionist looked mega relieved.

You’re offering me a ride into Laverton... er... Professor Canney? I said deciphering his scribbled signature.

We’ll even take your bags for the ride.

He picked up my two heaviest bags like they were empty. I shouldered the remainder of my bags and walked outside. His weedy offsider clumsily pushed their luggage further forward so I could cram my bags into the Cruiser behind theirs. I only just managed to close the rear door of the 4WD.

Half of my luggage is work-related. I pride myself in travelling lightly for a woman actually.

Twinkling eyes dissolved my defensiveness.

Have you been to Laverton before?

No.

Neither have we. I took note as our aircraft approached final though. Town’s that direction...

Ω

I climbed down out of the Landcruiser. My three inch heels sank into an inch of red dust. He pretended not to notice.

Thanks for the ride.

That’s okay. Jake and I were interested in looking around anyway.

I scrutinized what was supposed to be the centre of town. Eight buildings in all. Two of them were obviously disused.

There’s not much to see.

I agree it’s a blink-and-you-miss-it town. On the surface anyway.

Oh well. Perhaps I’ll catch up with you later. Since there’s only one hotel in town.

Actually we’re staying out of town. Towards Leonora.

You brought me into town when you were heading the other direction?

Hey, someone had to rescue that teenager at airport reception. That donger might’ve turned into a crime scene if you two were forced to hang out in it together for five hours!

Stupid gum-chewing kid. She wouldn’t last two minutes as a receptionist in the city.

I thought she was rather resourceful actually. Arranging alternative hire vehicles from a local mine-site until Avis get their act together. Not to mention she stayed polite around someone with ‘tude like you!

I laughed and bear-cuffed him. He ducked easily and steadied me as my heels sank another inch into the dust. An immoderate belly laugh from him. I couldn’t bite back.

We’ll be in the area for a bit. Jake and I might see you ‘round.

His farewell grin left me feeling weak at the knees, making balancing on my heels even more difficult. I stood there waving like a teenager with a crush. He wound up the Cruiser’s window and slowly drove out of my life.

Chapter 2

Nothing in life is to be feared. It is only to be understood.

-Marie Curie (1867-1934)

The ball of my Adam’s Apple was protruding in spite of trying to keep my cool.

How can the only hotel in town have no vacancies?

It hasn’t happened for years luv, but we’ve had a sudden run on rooms, said a cheery woman who’d identified herself as Cheryl. A party of Japanese tourists arrived earlier. Booked out every room in the hotel and paid in advance for their stay.

My office tried calling you to book me a room this morning.

Sorry luv. Mustn’t have heard the phone. To tell the truth I’ve been flat tack all day fixing rooms upstairs we never normally use because of the Jap chaps.

I s’pose they all rocked up in hired Avis cars, I said snarkily.

Yeah. How’d you know?

Lucky guess... Listen I’m a journalist. I wanted to interview a few locals who witnessed last night’s earthquake. Is there anywhere else in town I can bed down?

Not in town. But there’s a B & B outta town... Actually if you want to interview people about the quake, Banja Station would be a better base anyway, ‘coz it’s closer to the epicentre.

How do you know where the epicentre was?

I was in the pub at the time. The quake just shook everyone’s stubbies here in town. It bloomin’ well knocked ‘em off the tables out at Murrin Murrin and Mulga Queen. Just like last time.

This Banja station, I ventured. Has it been booked out by Japanese tourists as well?

Doubt it. I was chatting to Jen earlier today - making sure she was okay after the quake. She mentioned in passing she’s got a small group of young blokes arriving in dribs and drabs today but I’m pretty sure they’re Aussies. Studying geology and physics. Want me to ask if she’s got a spare bed for you?

Thanks.

I watched my substitute personal assistant pick up a radio mic in mild disbelief.

You actually still use that antiquated radio gear for communication?

’Course. It’s free. You can chat as long as you like on H.F. Generally more reliable too. Sat phones don’t work half the time... Hey Jen... Dave... Got your ears on? It’s Cheryl...

Ω

There you go. Your accommodation problem’s fixed luv.

Thanks. The all-male company in the singlemen’s quarters sounds interesting...

Sounds more like they’re boring brainiacs, but if they get too much for you, just let Jen know. She’ll clobber ‘em into line with a bit of 4x2.

Cheryl’s bubbly nature finally woke up a weak smile in me.

I forgot to ask... is it hard to get to this station?

That depends on your driving skills... Actually that’s right. You haven’t got wheels ‘til tonight have you?

Don’t remind me, I blistered.

Hmmm... Tyson’s doing the grocery drop out that way this arvo. Let me check with Marj to see if he’s left yet.

Cheryl waddled over towards the counter and pressed a button.

An intercom?

The town’s postmaster set it up years ago, so everyone on the main street could talk to each other for free. Ol’ Laney reckoned he couldn’t stand everyone yelling at each other from their respective balconies.

Right, I said, pushing away the feeling that I’d been picked up by an unseen hand and dropped back in time about forty years...

Ω

Tyson’s ute had seen better days. She had non-existent shockies – the attachment studs that held them in place had long since sheared off. She didn’t need a key to start her – just a screwdriver in the ignition. Her exhaust was also non-existent, so she sounded like a dozen Harleys. And being a Ford, both door handles were broken. Not surprisingly, the driver’s door wouldn’t open from the inside either.

I watched Tyson ease his 6’4" frame in through the ute’s window, and then slid in beside him. Tyson grinned at me approvingly. I had a hunch he was enjoying the opportunity to be taxi driver as well as delivery driver.

The ute took off, leaving a cloud of blue smoke behind it. I pulled out my mobile with the intention of sending Frank an unladylike text about the assignment he’d lumped me with.

Fab. No network coverage. And we were still in town.

Tyson glanced at my iPhone.

That one of those new-fangled GPS’s?

Er... no. It’s a phone. Although there’s a GPS app on it.

Right.

His expression suggested he had no idea what an app was.

Do you need to make a phone call before we head out of town?

No. It can wait.

Well if you need to make any STD calls while you’re here, use the public phone outside the Post Office.

Why?

The coin box is full. Which means that all calls from the phone are free until someone comes up from Kalgoorlie to empty it... You can even call overseas free at the moment.

Thanks. I’ll keep it in mind...

Ω

Miraculously the ute made it out of town. It was air-conditioned. Naturally. Tyson had wound down my window with a pair of pliers before we left Laverton. Honey blonde hair whipped around my face in the warm breeze. I tried to ignore the dust from the carpet blowing around in the cab. A few minutes into the trip, Tyson swung wildly over to the wrong side of the road.

What are you doing? I gasped.

Emus. Didn’t you see ‘em?

I swung around and peered through the dusty rear window. Sure enough. Half a dozen emus were casually striding across the road like they owned it. Tyson grinned and slowly drifted back to the correct side of the road. He reached out and switched on the radio. A woman with a monotone voice was interviewing some truckies about their distance driving adventures... She was asking one of them to elaborate on an incident one time where he was being chased by min-min lights, but it was hard to follow the interview due to the combination of road noise, engine noise and radio static.

I stared off at the distant horizon.

When I next see you Frank, you are so dead.

Ω

Zac and Dave greeted each other with cordial nods.

It sounds like you live in an interesting part of the planet. Another sighting last night you say?

Yep. First there was a pulsed roaring engine sound. Then the fireball. Orange-red, spherical with no tail. Next an explosion near ground level. Then a high energy burst of rippling white light. Made everything look like daylight for a few secs. After that a really loud explosion. And finally the earthquake that registered 4.2 on the Richter scale.

How’d your equipment fare?

Everything in my workshop’s fine. It’s basically one big walk-in Faraday cage although I disconnected my antennas as an extra precaution to protect my gear.

Talking of communications gear, that reminds me, piped up Jen. Cheryl called us on the H.F a while ago. The hotel in town’s chockers, so she’s sending someone out our way who needs accommodation. They’re catching a ride out here with Tyson. Rocking up about five.

But we can’t put him up Jen!

Why not? We’ve got two empty rooms in the singlemen’s quarters.

Don’t you remember me telling you? The Professor made a private booking of the singlemen’s quarters for the whole week. He’s conducting a workshop with his students and they need to be able to spread themselves out and leave their project lying around.

You never explained it to me that way! protested Jen. I came home late from Kalgoorlie the other night and all you said was we had a group booking for some geology and physics students.

Not geology and physics. Geophysics!

Zac sensed a looming eruption and stepped between them.

Hey Dave... Jen. Truce. Don’t let a little miscommunication turn into something bigger. This unexpected guest you’ve got landed with is probably only staying a night or two anyway. Is there anywhere other than the singlemen’s quarters he can bunk down?

We could put him in our granny-flat I suppose, suggested Jen.

It’s a fair distance from the singlemen’s quarters, added Dave.

Sounds good. Problem solved, said Zac casually.

Well whoever Cheryl’s drop-in is, I hope he ruddy well speaks English, added Dave.

Do you get many foreigners?

We’ve had a few Asian backpackers through lately. Real hard to communicate with. Some of them hardly speak English. Or at least they pretend not to. Not sure they’re all backpackers either.

Unfeigned curiosity.

What makes you say that?

"Had one fella stay out here ‘bout a fortnight ago. Pretended he couldn’t speak English. Then I happened to be in town at the cop shop and he comes in an’