Foundation Earth

By Dr. Bill Lies

As the twins were walking on the beach, four men with guns grabbed them and forced them into a van.
Lets see how this plays out, Jill, Brad said. They cant hurt us. We need to find out if this is a kidnapping or some other reason.
This could be interesting, Jill said. I will send a message to Mom and Dad and let them know whats happening. Ill tell them we will stay in touch and not to worry.
Sam received Jills message and immediately began to worry. Jim received the same message and told Sam that the kids could take care of themselves and it would be a learning experience.
The van traveled for several miles. They were blindfolded and led to a small house, where their blindfolds were removed, and they were handcuffed to a chair by one arm.
Have you scanned them yet?

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Aug 7, 2015
• ISBN: 9781504902731

Dr. Bill Lies

Dr. Lies was born in Brooklyn, New York, on February 4, 1926. His early years were spent in Brooklyn and Freeport, Long Island. At age ten, the family moved to his grandmother’s farm in Southwest Georgia, near Cuthbert, Georgia, where he finished high school. He enrolled in Duke University and Duke University’s medical school and received his MD degree at age twenty-one. His residency training was completed at Duke Hospital and Long Island College Hospital. He began solo practice of pediatrics in May 1953 and was incorporated in Dothan Pediatric Clinic in 1968. He practiced for fifty years, retiring in 2003. Since and before retirement, he has been involved with many hobbies, including wood and metal work, duplicate bridge, and writing. He remains quite active but can no longer continue his wood and metal work hobby.

Book preview

Chapter 1

Dr. Randolph C. (Randy) Harper tossed his duffel bag to his shoulder and got in line to exit the first transport ship to land on Verde. He was part of the first contingent of colonists. The ship would return to Earth for several more loads of colonists who would be placed in four areas to begin the colonization of the planet. Randy would be responsible for supervising the building and stocking of the first medical clinic along with another doctor and two nurses. Building the clinic would consist of joining the prefabricated walls, floor and roof and anchoring it. The building was designed to withstand winds of 250 miles per hour. The interior furnishings were already assigned a location, so all Randy had to do was watch as work crews rapidly assembled the building.

Watching, he took his camera out and took pictures of the assembly stages. He thought, Wow, this is my first clinic, I know I’m well trained, but now I’m on my own, I’m a little anxious … Hell, I’m scared, I’ve always had backup. I hope I don’t blow this. I’m smart … I can do this. I hope the colonists are nice and sociable … Colonel Jonathan Lipscomb, the boss of all the colonists seemed nice at least.

Careful with the X-ray machine! … Careful, that box has glass stuff in it. Where are Mickey and Ann? he wondered, looking around for his nurses. They were on the ship with him but were nowhere to be found now … I need them and I’ve never needed anybody … No I don’t need them … I can do this!

Hi, boss, called Mickey, as she and Ann walked up. It looks like they will have everything up in about thirty minutes. We are going to the admin building to find out where we bunk.

Find out where I bunk while you’re at it, Randy said. I want to watch until they are through. Come back and help me arrange everything inside when you can.

A sudden earthquake jolt interrupted his thought. Get out of the building, he yelled at the workers. Two more minor jolts followed. Then all was calm. They’d told him that would happen a lot. I can stand that. I hope no one is hurt. That was a small one, but it could make you fall. They had also told him that there would be severe storms. Storms can be worse than earthquakes … I’ll just have to see what happens …

Several minor aftershocks followed.

As Mickey and Ann returned, Mickey said, Your billet is in the admin building, first floor, end of the hall, number seventeen. It has a bed, desk, computer, table, two chairs, a bathroom, shower, refrigerator and a tiny stove. There are cabinets and a small closet for your stuff. You’ll be okay there.

Thanks. I’ll be okay. Help me unload all the supplies. Will your husbands be living in the Admin building?

No. We’ll be in the married dorm, Mickey continued. There will be three dorms and we will be in the first. It’s closer to the clinic. We found out that the mess hall will not be ready for a day or two, so we will be issued MREs till it’s opened. Coffee will be available at the admin building, and we can bring some here with a heater. Our refrigerator can keep anything else we need.

That covers the essentials, Randy said.

The clinic completed, Randy and the nurses stowed all the supplies in their proper places. I’m going to talk to Colonel Lipscomb. I’ll see you girls later, Randy said, as he walked toward the admin building.

As he entered the building, he brushed by a slender young lady as she left Jon’s office. She was about five feet eight with short, curly blonde hair kept in a care-free style. He turned and took a second look as she left the building … I wonder if she’s married … She’s pretty … I want to meet her, don’t rush things though … Good figure, nice hair. Didn’t get a look at her eyes …

Greeting Colonel Jonathon Lipscomb, he asked, Who was that lady who just left? I haven’t seen her before.

That’s Ami Perez, my assistant.

She’s nice looking. I would like to meet her. I wanted to ask you about the other doctor who will be assigned here with me. When will he be arriving? Randy asked, as he appraised the colonel. Jon had been appointed to be governor, the overall commander of the colony, with individual mayors of the other three camps. Jon was a twenty-year Marine Corps veteran. He was six feet two and weighed 235 pounds with grey-blond hair in a crew cut and grey eyes. He had a stern look, but was quick to smile.

Dr. John Thompson will be arriving tomorrow. His training has been very much like yours and you should get along well. Ami is twenty-six years old and is single. Enough said.

Jon, eyeing Randy speculatively thought … Randy is tall, about six two and two-twenty. Black hair and brown eyes … a cleft chin … holds himself well … quick reflexes … Says what he thinks … They may be a match …

As Randy walked back to the clinic, his thoughts wandered. I need to meet her before John gets here. No I don’t. He’s got a girlfriend who will come with him … She’s a lab and x-ray tech. I like Ami already and I haven’t even met her. How can that be … Just a glance and I like her, or maybe its just that she’s pretty and has a nice body. I liked he way her dress swirled. Randy, stop daydreaming. You’ll get to meet her soon … Calm down … It’ll work out … It always does …

As he reached the clinic, he saw that Mickey and Ann were setting up the record system for the expected patients. I’m going for a walk around town, Randy said. Would you like to come with me?

That would be nice, Mickey replied. Come on Ann. I know we’re all nervous on our first day.

As they strolled down the main street, Randy said, Look, we’re going to be together a lot. I know you have been nurses for some time and if you have any suggestions about how the clinic should run, let’s hear them.

I’ll call you Doc or Randy if that’s okay, but you’re the boss. We have backup on Earth and can ship a patient there in minutes. I know that this is your first clinic, but don’t worry. You know a hell of a lot more than anyone I have ever worked with. You need a little self-confidence, that’s all. If we have any ideas or suggestions we will not hesitate to tell you.

Good. No formality then, Randy said. Dr. John Thompson will arrive tomorrow with his girl friend. She’s an x-ray and lab tech and will be working with us.

As they walked in silence, Randy thought, I like these girls. I’ll be glad when John gets here. I wonder what my first patient will be … Probably an injury … I’m guessing a sprained ankle. Everybody here is healthy … no diabetes … no hypertension … they’re all young. I really want to meet Ami … I can’t stop thinking about her …

****

As Ami left the admin building, she glanced back through the gap in the closing door and watched as the man who had brushed against her entered Colonel Lipscomb’s office. I haven’t seen him before … He’s good looking, but I didn’t get a good look. I want to meet him … I’ll get Ron to introduce us … Maybe over lunch. I’ll call Zoe and have her come. I don’t want him to think I arranged it. What does he do here? … I’ll check when I get his name …

"Zoe," Ami sent, telepathically. Come visit me for a day or two. I may need your help.

I’ll be there in about ten minutes, Zoe, Ami’s cousin responded.

The colony town was built on a massive, slightly rolling plain, covered with a yellowish-green moss-like growth that was almost knee-high in places. To the north and south, were five-to-six foot stands of planted trees in scattered plots. The moss extended for miles. The individual strands of the moss were two to five millimeters thick and extended up to one meter in length. They were soft and very slightly furry to the touch. They broke easily, with no significant oozing of fluid, but had a damp feeling. When broken, they had an odor similar to that of newly cut grass. The root system was rather shallow and tender. The roots would break off whenever the plant was pulled up, and the moss would re-grow from the broken roots. To eradicate the moss in a field required tilling three times in a row at one-to-two week intervals.

Jon and Ami oversaw the unloading and transport of equipment. Teams had been sent to establish an area clear of moss for a tent city. Construction of the necessary buildings had begun several weeks earlier. An administration building, mess hall and toilet facilities had been the first buildings constructed. Two of the teleportation generators had been taken off line and brought to the town to supply energy for the town and to recharge the electrical equipment. With the wells dug, workers were now laying down electrical, water and sewer lines.

Everything was rough in the beginning, but all necessary needs were supplied. Jon, with Ami as his assistant, prowled the campsite giving orders and praising good work. He and Ami went to the other camps and found them progressing well. Four earthquakes were recorded on the first day, but were centered far away. Ami flew over the epicenters and found minimal damage. No tsunamis were recorded. There were severe thunderstorms once or twice a week that lasted from thirty minutes to three hours. The weather stations frequently reported tornados. A hurricane was reported on one of the larger islands.

When Zoe arrived, Ami said, Walk with me. I want to meet the family that takes care of the town garden just outside of town.

Reaching the house by the garden, the cousins walked up to the door and knocked. A tall, blonde woman with a ponytail who looked to be in her mid forties opened the door. She introduced herself as Matilda Johanson (Please call me Mattie) and said her husband and children were clearing additional fields for planting.

My cousin and I are consultants for Colonel Jon Lipscomb, Ami said. We are out for a walk and wanted to check on the garden, which really looks great. It’s very nice to meet you. Can you show us what you have done to your house to make it more livable?

I’d love to, Mattie answered. We haven’t had time to do much, but we brought some pictures from Earth and that helped a lot. Ian is quite handy in making things and we were able to get some wood from Earth. He uses the shop in town at night and made book stands and end tables for all the bedrooms. We are quite comfortable here and very glad to be colonists. I have a sixteen-year-old son and a fourteen-year-old daughter. Both work in the garden and are really good with animals. I hope we can have sheep and a border collie or two eventually.

We would love to meet your husband and children. When do you expect them back?

Any time now. It’s time for lunch. Can you stay for lunch?

"Okay with you?" Ami asked Zoe, telepathically.

Sure, Zoe replied.

We’d love to, Mattie, Ami said. We need to visit and meet more people.

About fifteen minutes later, Ian and the children arrived. All were introduced and very superficially scanned. Ian was of medium height and slightly heavy-set, blue eyed with blond hair and a receding hairline. He was deeply tanned. Seth was very much like his father including blue eyes and blond hair, but was less stocky. Karen was a typical fourteen-year-old, vivacious, but a little shy. She wore her blonde hair in pigtails, had blue eyes and was quite pretty. All were dressed in blue jeans and denim work shirts.

Mattie served a salad with chicken that was tasty. There was iced tea and water to drink. Dessert was small sugar cookies.

We usually have our large meal at night, Mattie said.

Karen and I would like to know when school will start? Seth asked. We both need to continue our education.

I’m not sure, Ami said. I will discuss that with Col. Jon when I get back. I think there were three or four teachers among the colonists. I know there are sixty-seven children, none younger than fourteen, as that was a requirement. I think we could have a single school and transport students from the camps to school here. Both Zoe and I can teach any subject. When the colony is self-sustaining, more colonists will arrive and a more permanent school will be established. More colonists will probably arrive in two years if all goes well.

Are there any boys my age? asked Karen.

I think there are a few, maybe five or six, Ami replied. We are setting up a TV and internet system and that will help.

I wonder if we want to rely on Earth for so much, Zoe said. Verde needs to be independent and self sufficient. Earth should just be a trading partner. We should not remain a colony.

Ami and Zoe thanked Mattie for lunch and started back to town. Ami said to Zoe, The real reason I called you is that I saw somebody that I wanted to meet and didn’t want it to seem planned. I will ask Jon to invite him to lunch tomorrow.

Who is he?

I don’t know. I just saw him going to Jon’s office and want to meet him.

That’s crazy. He must be a real hunk.

I just caught a quick look. He has black hair, and is taller than me. That’s all I really know and he wasn’t dressed like a worker. I don’t know, maybe I am crazy.

You are not crazy. You are one of the most solid and down to earth people in the family, even if you do disagree with Brad sometime.

Well, sometimes his ideas are a little radical. Even Mom stands up to him.

Yeah. He’s my Dad, but sometimes … I don’t know.

Back at the admin building they knocked and entered Jon’s office. Jon, who was the man who came in after I left? Ami asked.

Jon, after glancing out the window said, That’s Randy Harper. He’s one of the two doctors here. He came in with the first shipment of colonists. He’s a very well trained trauma doc. Why do you ask?

He caught my eye, Ami said. "I liked what I saw in the hall and want to see more.

He’s single, Jon said, with a big grin. I’ll ask him to have lunch tomorrow. He will be joined by Dr. John Thompson in the clinic. They will have two nurses and one x-ray and lab tech and to put your mind at rest, they’re all married or taken.

Jon, don’t tease me. I just want to meet him. What I saw in the hall, I liked and I want to see more.

Okay, lunch tomorrow, Jon said. The mess hall will be finished. Make it noon. Both of you. I know you’ll want Zoe’s opinion of him. Now, get out of here. I have work to do.

Later, Ami checked the colonist records and learned that Randy was from Georgia, had graduated from Vanderbilt University School of Medicine and had trained in surgery and emergency medicine in Chicago. He was 28 years old and had no known girl friend.

Randy, accompanied by Dr. John Thompson, arrived for lunch a little early and was talking to Jon when Ami and Zoe arrived. This time Randy got a good look at her eyes, which were a beautiful cobalt-blue. He also noticed her pert nose. After introductions and some small talk, they served themselves from the buffet line. As they returned to the table, a huge series of jolts shook the building. The food on their plates flew everywhere as Ami yelled "Earthquake! get out of the building."

Ami grabbed Zoe’s arm and sent, "Get your skin on, I will get Randy." But Randy grabbed her and half carried her to the door. Before they could get outside there were several more jolts of slightly less intensity.

That was a really big one … and close Jon said. I will call to find out the epicenter and if there are any injuries. Randy, you and John had better go to the clinic in case there are patients brought in. Ami, you and Zoe go with them.

There were a few more shocks felt, but they were gradually weakening.

We have no injuries reported, so far, Mickey said, as they reached the clinic.

I need to check the epicenter and look for a tsunami, Ami said. Zoe, stay here with John. Randy and I will take the scout and check.

Why do you want me to go with you? Randy asked.

Look. I might as well be completely honest with you. The lunch was a set up to meet you. When I passed you in the hall, I had an instant desire to get to know you. I don’t know why. I just did. When the earthquake hit, you didn’t think about yourself, you thought about me first. My family is behind this colonization and I’m supposed to advise Jon on any problems that occur. I’m due to rotate back to Earth in two months and I want to spend time with you and see if we have a real connection. I think we do and it’s very important to me to find out. So, I want to be with you as much as possible.

There must always be honesty between us, Randy said. I’ve wanted to meet you since I saw you in the hall, and I think there may be a real connection too. Let’s accept that and see how everything plays out.

Hop in the ship, Ami said. Addressing the artificial-intelligence voice-activated computer, she said, AIvac, if you have the coordinates of the epicenter, take us there.

They arrived instantly. There was nothing to see but water.

AIvac, if a tsunami was produced, can you locate it and follow it to the nearest landfall?

"The tsunami was located quickly and the ship followed the huge wave, reaching nearly seventy feet high, as it neared the shore. As the wave crashed the beach, an abandoned hydrolysis generator was torn from its base and carried eight miles inland. Fortunately, the nuclear teleportation generator that had been located near it had been removed and taken to town to supply power. After watching the wave dissipate, they jumped to the various camps and found no damage.

"I’ve recorded a huge wave and how damaging it was, Ami sent to Zoe. This wave may travel to other land masses and cause damage. Be alert for this. I’m going to jump to other land areas and check for damage and then be back."

About one hundred miles off the coast, Ami and Randy saw smoke in the distance coming out of the sea from a large area of apparent volcanic activity. It appeared to cover at least twenty-five square miles. No land was visible, but the smoke obscured visibility. Zoe, there is a large amount of volcanic activity about one hundred miles off our coast. Please monitor this. Land may be forming there.

When the earthquake happened, were you worried about yourself? Randy asked.

No, not at all. How about dinner tonight when we get back, since lunch was a failure?

Of course. I would like that

Okay, come to my apartment and I’ll cook for you. About seven?

Seven it is.

At seven on the dot, Randy knocked on the door. Ami, dressed in a comfortable, yellow frock and apron, ushered him in. He brought a bottle of merlot, which she took with thanks. There was soft, easy listening music in the background.

Would you please pour the merlot? Ami asked. The opener is in the left hand, second drawer.

Ami’s apartment was small. In the sitting area, a sofa and two chairs faced a flat screen TV mounted on one wall. A desk with a computer was on the other. A small kitchen and dining area was visible through a doorway, as was a bedroom and bath. Nothing fancy. There was one framed, odd grouping framed on the wall over her desk.

Randy seemed a little nervous as he opened and poured the merlot. She motioned him to sit with her on the sofa and said, I checked your training and it’s quite impressive. I hope you don’t mind. I was interested.

Well, I checked on you too. I think you have a great deal of power here on Verde. Your family owns Foundation Earth, and that is where the funding for this colony comes from. Your uncle is a U.S. Senator and your mother is a Supreme Court Justice. That’s impressive. You have a doctorate in astronomy, with minors in biology and chemistry. You are an accomplished golfer and have an annual income of two hundred thousand dollars. That’s all I could come up with on short notice.

That’s a lot. I verified your training. I also found a number of glowing references about your work. You’re twenty-eight years old. You grew up in Georgia. Your parents were killed in a car crash and you were raised by your grandfather, who died while you were in college. You got a partial scholarship from Vanderbilt Medical School and have over three hundred thousand in school debt. You didn’t play sports in college because you worked all the time. Your favorite pastime is hunting and you like to make things, but don’t have time to do it. Randy, there are several other things about me that you don’t know and I’m not at liberty to tell you at the present time. I hope to tell you in the near future.

What will determine that?

Well, let’s see how we get along in the next few weeks. I want you to travel with me for the next few weeks as I check on the other camps. I will make arrangements with John Thompson to cover the clinic. They can always reach me if you are urgently needed.

Why?

Because Zoe and I are to be replaced in two months. I already told you that. If we are getting along well, I will refuse to leave.

Well, I don’t want you to leave. I have never had a serious relationship and I like the way this makes me feel.

So do I. That’s why we need to be together a lot during the next few weeks. I’ll arrange it with the clinic.

By the way, what’s that stuff framed on your wall?

That’s something very dear to me. I really can’t tell you about it yet, but hopefully I can later.

After dinner,