The PlanetDeath Chronicles

By James R. Womack

This is an anthology of four individual but connected short stories dealing with the controversial topic about climate change. They cover a period of time when human induced climate change is an undeniable reality. A reality to be faced here and now. In the first story is told from a child's perspective. Tippi is a child that likes to learn, who's playful, and yet serious minded who makes a shocking discovery. She's an only child who fancies she's a musician, and hangs out with her best friend, Janus. Janus is a killer whale, and he wants to talk to this little girl. He desperately wants to talk to her and finds a way to do so. What he had to say wasn't pleasant listening though.

The second story, Sam Clinton is a computer jockey, a really good one despite being fed up with the science team with which he works. He has a special relationship with Wharf, a humpback whale. In this tale, Wharf is the last real friend Sam will ever have. Before departing, Wharf leaves a final message that grasps hold of Sam's heart and won't release its grip until the day he dies, whenever that will be.

The third story, a little girl known as Rizin is a fun-loving kid who lives underground. She sort of tells her own story of what life is like for humans forced into subterranean life. She doesn't think much of what grown-ups say or believe. That doesn't matter, she's a clever lass who loves operating pneumatic powered elevators. When not doing that she likes taking huge risks by playing a dangerous game of "chicken" with those high speed elevators. Or exploring the dark forbidden sections of her cave home. A devil may care kid who takes a life that's not very good and lives it to the hilt.

The final tale, there's ARTIC 4, a sentient computer vested with control of a Mars bound spaceship and maintaining the life of its crew. Its mission is to bring the crew safely to Mars and assist the terra-forming effort. ARTIC 4's ultimate mission is to help humanity escape the destruction they have imposed on planet Earth and by default, themselves. But then, something went wrong, gravely wrong and ARTIC's sorrow knew no bounds.

• Language: English
• Publisher: James R. Womack
• Release date: Jun 8, 2015
• ISBN: 9781943275670

James R. Womack

James Womack is a Deaf writer who writes mainly science fiction short stories. Sometimes he dives into contemporary shorts on touchy social issues. Mostly, he just likes telling stories that a bit off the beaten path.

Book preview

Contents

Prologue I

Tales, Tunes, Stories and Songs

Don't Forget to Remember

ChildWorld

The Sky is Rising

Prologue I

July 26, 2033

Bob Ackers lies bolted to a gurney. Injection needles inserted in both arms and attached to tubes, connected to lethal poisons awaiting activation. The warden asks him if he has any last words. But you oughta not, the warden says, on account 'o what you done. Putting charges in that factory and blowing up the whole place with all them people inside. You damned Earthlove people think you can do anything just a'cause some place lets a little sulfur or something in the air and water. You's getting what you oughta get. Now you sumbitch, if you got anything to say, better say it now.

Bob says nothing. He just dies.

 A Popular Country Western Song of the 2030's

Well, well, well, well , well, well, yeah, uh, well.

I say the world has all gone to hell.

The air burns your lungs and stings your eye.

Even when you don’t want to, you still cry.

Breathing makes you sick, sick and sore,

So you don’t want to breathe no more.

Well, well, well, well, well, well, yeah, uh, well.

I say the world has all gone to hell.

‘Cause heaven is hidden behind a deep brown haze.

Twilight’s all that’s left of what used to be days.

You can’t drink the water, you can’t breathe the air,

You’re damned well lucky if you can still grow hair.

Well, well, well, well, well, well, yeah, uh, well.

I say the world has all gone to hell.

Nobody has babies no more, let me tell you why;

The poor things just whine a few times and die.

Well, well, well, well, well, well, yeah, uh, well.

I say the world has all gone to hell.

Tales, Tunes, Stories and Songs

July 10, 2045

We just killing ourselves off and I still have to do homework! My parents and all those other folks say I have to do this because I'm the only one who can tell exactly what my experience was. They say it not homework but a report. What the difference? I write reports at school too. Book reports, science papers, history reports and a diary. So really, what the difference? Nothing! Everybody says I don't have to go to school while I'm writing this, but it still a drag.

Anyhow, my name is Tippi Patterson. Actually, it Thelma Irene Patterson, but friends call me Tip or Tippi. I prefer Tippi since that what my daddy called me all my life. I'm ten years old. My mom says I'm growing too fast. I don't think she like the fact I need a bra already. Anyway, my mom and dad are scientists. They study the oceans and that kind of stuff. I better get on with this report and tell you what happened. All those science people inside and my parents keep popping in my room asking me if I'm finished yet. I'll write the way they maybe want it written. You know, real boring. Well, here goes.

Early signs of planet-death are already happening before I was asked to write this report. Everybody know that. Animals and plants dying faster than before. Trash islands in the oceans are