J Alan Erwine's Tales of the Earth and Moon

By J Alan Erwine

Seven stories from award winning science fiction author J Alan Erwine that explore the future of both the Earth and the Moon.
Stranded astronauts, intelligent dolphins being used by the government, a soldier struggling with orders he knows he shouldn’t have followed, lovers waiting for the end of the world, politics even dirtier than what we’re seeing in the modern world (maybe), a man resurrected because he wanted to see the future, but now feeling very much alone, and manipulation on the moon.
These are the stories that are waiting for you in this collection.

• Language: English
• Publisher: J Alan Erwine
• Release date: Jun 5, 2016
• ISBN: 9781311971890

J Alan Erwine

J Erwine was born Oct. 15, 1969 in Akron, Ohio. Early in his life he was exposed to science, and specifically astronomy. From there on, J's passion turned to science fiction, a passion that's never died. Due to family issues, J eventually found himself in Denver, Colorado, where he still lives (well, right outside now.) From the time he could put subject and predicate together on paper, J has been writing stories. None of those early stories exist anymore (thankfully), but that passion for writing has never waned. After several years of rejection, the story Trek for Life was eventually sold to ProMart Writing Lab editor James Baker. It wasn't Asimov's, but it was a start. Since that time J has sold more than forty short stories to various small press publishers. In addition ProMart also published a short story collection of J's entitled Lowering One's Self Before Fate, and other stories, which is still available. ProMart also published a novel from J entitled The Opium of the People, which sold a few copies before going out of print. The relevance of the novel after the events of September 11th caused J to self-publish the novel, as he felt the story had a lot to say in the new reality we now find ourselves living in. Now, this same book has been re-released by Nomadic Delirium Press. Eventually J would become an editor with ProMart. Then, after the untimely death of ProMart editor James Baker, J would move on to ProMart's successor Sam's Dot Publishing. J also spends most of his time working as a freelance writer and editor. J's novel was voted a top ten finisher in the 2003 annual Preditors & Editors contest, and his short story The Galton Principle won a ProMart contest for best story over 5,000 words. In addition, a number of his stories have been voted "best of" in various issue of The Martian Wave and The Fifth DI… and have been included in Wondrous Web Worlds Vols. 2, 3, 4, and 6. In 2009, the Ephemeris Role Playing Game was released. J is the co-creator of this game, and has written numerous supplements for the game. J has now sold three novels and four short story collections, all of which are still available from various sources, including Smashwords. J currently lives with his amazing wife, three wonderful children, three cats, and a very quiet turtle.

Book preview

J Alan Erwine’s Tales of the Earth and moon

Published by J Alan Erwine at Smashwords

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

All stories appearing in this collection are works of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual events or persons, living or dead, are entirely coincidental.

All stories Copyright: J Alan Erwine

CONTENTS

Lost in the Dark

Echoes

Tranquility

A Union in Death

Beyond Mudslinging

The Coldness of Love and Death

Marionettes on the Moon

LOST IN THE DARK

As I record this, I’m trying to get my bearings. I think I landed somewhere in the crater Newton. That puts me almost fifteen degrees north of where I wanted to be, which was the southern lunar pole. I can see the waning light being cast on the crater rim above me, but it’s a long way up, and I don’t think I have the air to make the climb, and my leg’s hurting like a bitch anyway, so I don’t think I could do it if I wanted to. The radio’s shot as well.

Last thing I remember was hearing Kivalev guiding me towards the landing, then there was a flash; I’m not sure if it was in the cabin with me, or if it came from outside, but there was a flash, silence, and then up-rushing ground. Then came unconsciousness, of course. Now it’s just quiet, dead quiet. No, wait. Wrong choice of words. Just quiet.

And there went the last of the light above me.

Kivi, can you hear me? No use. The radio doesn’t even make a hum; nothing’s making a hum. You really don’t realize how much noise silent machinery makes, until it’s all silent. And believe me, there’s nothing more silent than space. My suit’s still making some noise as it keeps me alive. I guess that’s some comfort. I’ll start getting really concerned when that goes quiet.

Kivi, can you hear me? Still nothing. I just hope he was tracking my trajectory when this damn ship suddenly blew itself off course. Kivi, damn it, answer me. Still nothing.

I wish Jenkins hadn’t gotten sick, then I’d be home with my wife and girls, worrying about Jenkins. No, I don’t wish this on Jenkins; I don’t wish it on anyone, but especially not on myself. Am I beginning to babble? Looking at the transcript on the monitor, it certainly looks like I’m babbling.

Hey, wait a minute, part of the computer must be up if it’s recording this and showing me what I’m saying…so why am I sitting hear talking when I might be able to do something about my situation.

Be back in a minute.

*

Well, that didn’t work. I showered the cabin with sparks, and now I have no monitor. There’s still the slightest hum of machinery, only noticeable because I’m actually listening for it now, but I’m not sure what the machinery is. Hopefully it’s my recorder. I’d hate to think that I’m sitting here talking to myself for no reason, but the fact that I’m talking gives a reason. It’s an effort to stay sane, right? Right.

Shit. I don’t think it’s working. My wife always said I was a little unstable. I always hated being alone, and let me tell you something, whoever you might be, and if there’s a you at all, there’s nothing more alone than sitting at the bottom of a lunar crater in the complete darkness. Of course, I’m also afraid of the dark, not a good quality for an astronaut, but there it is. I hate the dark, and now I’m in total darkness, complete darkness. And you would have to be here with me to understand what complete darkness is. Of course, if you were here, I wouldn’t be alone, and I wouldn’t have quite as big of a problem. It would still be dark, but I’d have you to talk to.

AND WHO THE HELL ARE YOU?

Deep breaths. Deep breaths. O.K. when I shorted out whatever I shorted out, there was a brief surge of static from the communications console. Hopefully it was enough for Kivi to hear…assuming he was in the right place of his orbit…assuming he was even listening. But why wouldn’t he be listening? Wasn’t that his job? He was my partner. He’s supposed to listen, especially if I’m in trouble…but does he know I’m in trouble?

Of course he knows you’re in trouble. He should have seen the descent. The bigger question is, do I know how much trouble I’m in? I don’t think I do, but I do think I’m losing it. If you know you’re going crazy, does that mean you’re not insane?

WHO THE HELL AM I ASKING?

I know I’m crazy. The tests showed I had a slight tendency towards depression and paranoia, but they said it wasn’t enough to rule me out of the program. Truth is, I don’t think many people want to do this. After WWIII, not many people want to even leave their homes…but here I am, lost in a crater on the moon, never to see my wife or twin girls again.

Wait, I have a picture of them right here.

I’m really losing it. There’s no damn light, why didn’t you point that out?

AND WHO THE HELL DO I KEEP ASKING THESE QUESTIONS TO?

I think the air’s still good in the cabin. I’m going to take my helmet off to test it. Yes, still good. Makes me feel a little less confined, almost free, but not really. Shit, maybe I just need some sleep.

Wait, is that a light? Maybe it’s Kivi. I think it is. He heard the static. He heard the static. Honey, girls, I’ll be home to see you soon.

Just let me open the hatch to let…

ECHOES

Coral Gnasher thrashed about wildly in his tank. Go away. Go away, he said in typical bottlenose dolphin clicks and squeals. His echolocation was telling him he was surrounded by orcas. He knew it wasn't true, but he couldn't stop the fear reaction that sent him into a frenzy. This was why he hated the hairless apes. Some called them land orcas, but he knew they weren't as strong as orcas. Except of course, that they could do this to him. They could make him think he was being attacked by orcas. Oh, he hated them.

Ever since the hairless apes had taught them about evolution, apparently trying to show the dolphins they could be more than they were, although Coral Gnasher had no idea why they'd want this, he hadn't been able to think of them as humans. He knew they were just apes, although he'd never seen an ape except in pictures. He'd decided then to think of them as hairless apes. Humans seemed to distance them from the animal kingdom. They seemed to think they were better somehow. Just because they could make him think he was sensing orcas didn't make them better, just annoying.

After a great deal of squealing and swearing, the orcas left his