ROAD TO ANOTHER WORLD

By Kevin W. Lynn

The story happens in the middle of the twenty-first century. An asteroid incident, which almost destroys Earth, leads to a series of thrilling events. And two men who are struggling in a desert island create a never-forgotten memory and the deepest friendship. Sam, a famous high scientific company CEO, and Mike (James), a top scientist from a very advanced planet of another universe, who lost his memory during an action to rescue Earth, step by step created a remarkable dream, the human being's first time travel to the real outer space to visit another advanced planet and discover the ideal planet. The story is thrilling and tortuous, especially during all the process. The love story about Mike and Kay and several other young couples from different planets proved a fact: that love is not only existing in the human beings on Earth but also existing in the universe. Also, Sam, Mike, and John, the three best friends, by hard work and creative activity, get in incredible results for the future. That advanced civilization and their representatives-UFOs-a magical and perfect description of advanced civilization from one thousand to ten thousand years later, absolutely attract all the readers who want to get an impression for the future. And after this book, the continuing five to six totally different but connected stories will inspire every reader to travel to other civilizations with them. So let's go with them, to communicate with these people from the future and another world.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Fulton Books, Inc.
• Release date: Apr 15, 2021
• ISBN: 9781649525253

Book preview

Table of Contents

The Risk of the Asteroid

Struggling to Find

Challenging from the Business

Turning Point

From Another Universe

The Mars Meeting

Kay’s Dream

The Waves of Half-Moon Bay

An Unexpected Danger

A New Face and a New World

Mike’s Idea

The Trace to the Space

Mia’s Words

Mike’s First Job

Exploring a New Road

Sam’s Expectation

New Group with New Job

The New Year’s Party

The Wildfire

Maybe a New Direction

Kay in Disappearance

Rescuing in Space

The Road of the Champion

A Fire Accident

Waking Up from the Dream

Unexpected Rescuing

A Happy Party

The Negotiation with Charles

A Huge Factory Is Appearing

The Scene from the Future World

The Imagination for Design

After a Car Accident

The Great Impression of Foundation

Sam’s Concern

An Interstellar Emotion

The Struggling of the New Factory

An Expectation from the Horizon

An Engineering Miracle

Rescuing from Another World

The Photo in the Dark UFO

The Impacts from the Disaster

The Distant Guests

The Preparation from the Mountain and Ocean

The Impact Comes from Earth

The Negotiation with the Dark UFO

The Beginning of Change

Building a Space Station

Happy Meeting in New York

Sam’s Concerns

Launching Toward Outer Space

Jane’s New Role

Also Sam’s Final Decision

An Unexpected Event—Looking for Mike

The Secret Revealed

The Press Conference

Saying Goodbye

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Beyond the Horizon

ROAD TO ANOTHER WORLD

Kevin W. Lynn

Copyright © 2021 Kevin W. Lynn

All rights reserved

First Edition

Fulton Books, Inc.

Meadville, PA

Published by Fulton Books 2021

ISBN 978-1-64952-524-6 (paperback)

ISBN 978-1-63710-301-2 (hardcover)

ISBN 978-1-64952-525-3 (digital)

Printed in the United States of America

I

The Risk of the Asteroid

1

Struggling to Find

(1)

It is a morning in the middle of the twenty-first century. Almost everyone in the Bay Area stops working and stares anxiously at the sky, where almost half of the sky is stained with a strange red light. Just last night, people on radio, television, and the internet knew about the news, which made them almost sleepless all night. A huge asteroid is flying to Earth at an incredible speed, its mass and size enough to destroy all living things on Earth.

Things happened so suddenly that people and governments of important countries did not have time to react to this situation. Although there are indeed some countries and institutions that try to prevent it from happening, they are still helpless because their efforts are too late. The asteroid will hit the earth in only twenty-four hours. Therefore, this morning, except for some government departments and police stations, most people stay with their families. Some of them look at the sky on the street, hoping for a miracle to avoid disaster. Some elderly people begin to pray for their families.

A young man, John, is, in fact, an unprofessional thief, wandering the streets, trying to find something interesting. John is a medium-sized man with sharp eyes. Although he owns an art company, one of his hobbies is stealing, and he has never been caught because he has never treated it as a job. John walks up and down the street, and it is really interesting: what they lost and why they only stared at the sky.

The event that the earth will be destroyed in a few hours has nothing to do with him. He slept soundly last night, and the only thing he wants to do at the time is to find a goal for his hobby. Soon, a man appears on the street and walks alone, looking very different from others. He is wearing a blue suit and a pair of black shoes, carrying a briefcase, walking as fast as he tries to escape and does not seem to worry about the imminent disaster. John is very excited when he finds this guy. He believes that this might be a man and who did something illegal, and the briefcase might have hidden some secrets of interest to him.

When the man walks past a group of people looking at the sky, John suddenly picks up the briefcase from the man. Sometimes everything can get out of control, and before John leaves the crowd, a huge thunder spreads there, causing the guy to wake up from contemplation. As soon as he realized that he did not have enough time to disappear, John walks toward the man and says, Sir, is this your briefcase?

Of course it is mine. Even though this person wants to know what happened, he still answers, Thank you very much.

Oh, what are you doing here? No one is busy at the moment, John asks in surprise.

I just want to talk to people who work in government departments to reduce disaster.

John say, I am really grateful. I am John. If you need help, you can call me at any time, not only to pick up your briefcase.

I’m Sam, and I work at CPM. He admires John’s humor but still wants to know, Where may I find you? If possible.

I know you, you did well! Bye. Then John disappears with a strange smile.

From the news about asteroids received on TV last night, Sam continues to work for more than fourteen hours almost without rest. He knows that at a critical moment, a correct idea may save people’s lives. As a scientist and businessman, Sam believes it is his responsibility to provide a way to deal with the situation, especially at this particular moment. And as a single and middle-aged man, Sam has worked at CPM Group for more than ten years. He is not only a successful businessman but also an enthusiast of social activities.

He has been actively involved in various donation activities and other social activities. Two weeks ago, he went to the Caribbean to help with the hurricane. But this time he is very worried about this situation. Even if Sam fully understands the result of the asteroid impact, he thinks that there might be a 1 percent chance that his proposal could save lives. Before reaching the city hall in the city, Sam is anxious to meet with the mayor and suggests that most people in the area should move quickly and hide in the huge underground bomb shelter under the mountain. Since the aftermath of the event is so huge, this may be the only way to make some people live on the planet after the disaster.

When Sam enters the lobby of the department, he finds that few people have arrived. Since everyone there knows what will happen, no one believes that they still have a chance to survive. Fortunately, Mr. Mayor Jose Lopes is there; he came here just to say goodbye to his colleagues. No one expects anyone to visit him. Although Jose knows Sam well, he is still surprised after hearing Sam’s suggestion.

I can’t believe it, Sam. Jose glances outside through the window. How do you ensure we can avoid this disaster?

You know, according to NASA, Sam hurriedly replies, it will hit the eastern Pacific Ocean, and huge waves will cover the entire North American continent in a few hours. It is difficult for anyone to survive.

So, how do you know that this facility can help us survive? Jose asks. As you said, this land may cover hundreds of feet of water.

Mr. Lopes, I worked there many years ago, Sam replies confidently. There is a huge cave that can resist nuclear weapons.

But water may flow into the cave, right?

Impossible, Sam confirms positively. The facility is also designed to resist water pressure and left more than twenty thousand people there for a week until the water disappeared.

We only have twelve hours to take action, Jose mentions.

Sam say, Yes, we only have a little time to take action. But if we take action as soon as possible, we can do our best. First, please call the president and the Pentagon to let them allow local people to enter. Second, through television, broadcasts, and the internet, inform residents and businesses to move into the facility within ten hours. If you do, I believe many people may be spared from the first stage of the disaster.

Very well, we can use an emergency system to help people move and keep them under control, Jose tells Sam. Please organize your company first. In any case, your company is the largest company here.

Thank you, I will. Then Sam leaves the office to deal with the matter.

(2)

Being a CEO of the big scientific business, Sam always cherishes the hope that one day he can do the best in his own career, and he tries doing something new and unique. Therefore, his company, just like himself, is known as the most creative business in the Bay Area. However, science and technology are developing so fast that almost any second there are some new ideas and imaginations appearing, and the most of them will change to reality in different ways with tremendous speed.

So not only focusing on the new research, he also uses over half of his energy to turn all those new researches’ results into productions for the markets. Sometimes he feels that he is very tired. and imagines that he needs a full rest, even though he never has an idea to give up. Fortunately, Sam is a positive person, and any negative idea could not exist in his mind any longer.

Now, even though his survival suggestion has been adopted by the mayor, and over ten thousand people and his colleagues might survive during this disaster, still his mind is full of an unhappy feeling at this moment. No matter how hard it is to struggle in dealing with the situation, one thing is certain: all these successes and properties that he and his colleagues have worked hard for, for years will disappear within a few hours. Luckily, Sam is always keeping hope in mind, and he knows that he and people around him could be alive today and everything may be rebuilt again. So, the top task for him is to go back to the company and to organize his colleagues moving into the destination.

While driving back to the company, Sam finds the situation there just like the mayor’s office: only a few people have arrived and in extremely nervous state. The good thing is, almost all his assistants and managers arrived and are waiting for him. No time for greeting, Sam soon tells the people the instructions that he had discussed with the mayor, and the managers and assistants transmit the information to all the colleagues whether they would come or not. He requires all the members of the company to arrive here within two hours and use one hour to take the important data and small equipment onto the bus.

Everything goes according to plan, and Sam takes time to check some design departments to prevent unexpected things happening later. Also, he talks with the HR department to try to keep much more resources for the future and for the rebuilding of company. Before he decides all the colleagues are moving for departure, worse news comes. Someone informs him that his COO, Andy, left and has not returned for a while. Sam gets very worried because he knows Andy handled all the important projects and organized the company’s different new technical systems. Sam, at once, is driving fifteen minutes to see what’s going on.

As soon as Sam enters Andy’s house, Sam finds Andy sitting alone in his living room and drinking a glass of wine. Sam is so upset and asks, Why did you leave without a word? The time for departure— Suddenly, Sam stops the questions since he notes that Andy seems to be crying.

So surprised, Sam asks, What happened?

My parents won’t leave. They just believe this is the end of the world, Andy says. I really don’t know how to persuade them to move with me.

Let me try it, Sam tells him. Please allow me to talk with them.

That is wonderful, Andy agrees but still doubts if it is effective during this moment. Could you please enter the family room to talk with them.

Since Sam knows Andy’s parents well, he directly goes there. Hallo, you know, I come here since I need your help.

The old couple are so surprised that they couldn’t imagine that Sam asks for their help while they have determined to leave the world by the disaster. What can we do for you? they ask in doubt.

Our whole company members and family and local people want to move into a safe place to survive. Sam looks at them in the eye. Andy is our important organizer for general works and this emergency moving, so please help Andy and me to save the other people. They are all looking forward for your help.

How can Andy’s parents refuse this genuine invitation even though they plan to end their lives just minutes ago? But still the husband asks, Are you sure your actions can save all of these people’s lives?

I cannot promise anything, Sam confidently stresses. But trust me, this is probably the only way to try preserving the lives.

Andy, let’s go! Surprising Sam, the old couple changes their mind so fast. Andy, we need to hurry, and we don’t need anything from the home.

When they are back to the company, Sam finds everything seems to be processing smoothly and that most colleagues and their families have arrived there. The time for their departure is only a half hour. A great number of buses and cars begin to gather in the company’s parking lot. People are eagerly waiting for the company’s departure instruction. Meanwhile, there are continual thunderous blares from the gray sky, and it makes the people there appear far more nervous.

Among the crowd, there is a young girl about twenty-five years old with a beautiful face and attractive figure, who is wearing a light gray dress and a pair of red shoes. Even under an out-of-breath stress, the girl seems to be confident, looking at her watch to see it is time to leave. Her name is Kay; she is from New York City. Only a few months ago, she graduated from Harvard University and joined the CPM. With excellent performance, Kay got the attention of Sam and was arranged to be Sam’s assistant.

Actually, although being the CEO’s assistant would be a dream job for a lot of young men and women, this isn’t Kay’s first selection. For the simple reason, Kay was born in a teacher’s family, and from her very young age, she dreamed of being a scientist or an engineer. From her elementary school to the university, she strongly performed in math, computer, and even in the artificial intelligence areas. Obviously, joining Sam’s company—one of the top scientific companies in the world—is Kay’s first step to reach her childhood dream.

However, compared with her talent in scientific and technical skills, Kay has a few unique points that even she herself doesn’t notice enough—that she has excellent organization, discovery, and communication skills. And these characteristics attracted the interviewers, and they reported to Sam. Sam is really interested in this girl, and one of his successful experiences is that he is always the first to notice a useful person and let them get good condition and adequate projects to contribute to the company.

Some words that Sam has often coming out of his mouth are, A useful colleague is just like a human’s organs—treat them right, not only to keep company running in a healthy state, but also to promote the person, increasing their energy continuously.

Kay has never forgotten the first time she talked with Sam. Apart from the assistant job, Sam asked, what thing do you think is the most important for you to do?

As a member of the company who thinks and discovers the new road is far more important than inventing a new product, the young girl answered peacefully.

Do you mean that a new way is more important than a new product? Sam was interested in her idea. Tell me, why?

Since an advanced idea and correct route may attract more people working on the company’s projects over and over again, Kay stressed, comparing with it, a new product, of course, is very important to the company, but it can be described ‘new product,’ just as it would be fashion, for only a period of time.

So, you mean that the first important thing is creating the correct way.

Absolutely. Kay was really happy that Sam completely understood her. The right way may establish the bases for developing. Only after finishing this step, the new products and new technologies might change to the real value of the company.

Then, how do you think to create the right way? Sam was shocked by the young girl’s words even though he has many years of experience and knowledge from his MBA.

The top one is looking for a creative person, either engineers or managers, whoever, if she or he has unique ideas and solid knowledge base. Kay was looking at Sam in the eye. Certainly, the forepart is major. A unique route plus more improvements might make the company get progress.

It makes sense. As an assistant, Sam continued his questions, do you believe that you may do your best to help the person or departments in our system, and keep them in good condition to reach the goal like you described?

I trust myself like trusting this company, Kay said with a smile. First, I’m good at studying. Second, I pursue my goal insistently. Last but not least, I will adjust my way at any time when it is necessary.

Excellent, I hope you will be successful in your new job.

Thank you so much for your good wishes! I will.

(3)

Sam’s words stop Kay’s memories. Do you check that all the important members are available? Sam asks in a hurry. We will leave in twenty minutes.

Yes! Kay’s answer is simple and direct. All the guys and their colleagues are ready.

Also, have they gotten their important materials with them? Sam asks, concerned. We need to continue our work after this disaster.

Sure, I have checked every important department one by one, Kay answers. It shows everything is okay!

Please inform Andy and the other managers to come here at once.

One of Sam’s characteristics is to never get flurried even in a very dangerous situation. And this helps him successfully pass so many challenges. Merely one month ago, Sam was driving to attend an important meeting downtown twenty miles away. During the journey, while he was passing a curved road, he found a heavy truck that was drawing up alongside him and seemed to be accelerating in the process.

Before Sam felt something was wrong with it, he found that the truck was slightly tilting to his direction. The truck was too big to avoid. At the moment, Sam felt everything would get to an end, but not a perfect end. Just yesterday, he still got a call from his mother, who encouraged him to get a family since his mother was too old to stay along with him. Though Sam promised that he would seriously deal with it, he knows that it is a really difficult task for him.

The reason is simple: Even though he is already in middle age and likes to date young girls, he totally believes that he still isn’t at a good age for marriage. Now everything is likely to be finished. Instinctively Sam turned left to try to escaped the heavy truck. As soon as he was looking left, a telegraph pole appeared there! He was disillusioned with escaping; keeping his life was almost becoming impossible. Right habits helped him. Driving toward the pole, he was slightly changing direction.

There were two tremendous sounds from both the front and back, and Sam lost his consciousness for seconds. Then he found that he was saved by a front air bag. The car was badly damaged, and the back part of the car was beneath the fallen truck. Except for the driver’s seat and himself, the whole car was destroyed. Sam survived and nothing was hurt.

Soon, Andy and managers from the different departments come out from the crowd. Although the place has been filled with nearly ten thousand people there, and even though the situation is so bad, the crowd keep miraculously quiet. Obviously, Kay’s super organized job made it possible.

It is time to leave. Sam uses his calm voice. In order to ensure the action is successful, we need to divide the people into three groups. I will take the first group, including the family members and old people, taking the automatic bus. Andy and the managers take the second group, including all the departments’ members with their own laptops and easy-to-carry materials. Take the company bus following the first group. The third group may be charged in transporting some of the important but easy-to-move equipment. Since it would be limited while entering the cave, keeping those small and easy-to-carry things are necessary. Kay will take this group, and take some large cars, not trucks. Any questions?

Can we drive buses and cars directly into the cave? Andy is always careful. If we have to change transportation, that would be trouble.

Nope, Sam answers. Everything is under control. I have connected with the head of military in charge in the cave, and Kay also negotiated details with the entry’s guards. Everything seems to be okay.

What about food and water? one of the managers asks. We ran out from our home, nothing carried, and we don’t know how long we have to stay there.

The cave was built to prevent nuclear war, Kay answers. There is enough food and supplies in it, and the disaster would last three days to one week.

If there are no other questions, let’s go. Sam ends the meeting.

(4)

Imagine the tension with so many people. The bus one by one is driving out of the gate and keeps quiet. Sitting in the first automatic bus, Sam is imagining the next step. Escaping from the event and reaching the cave give them only a 90 percent chance of survival, since the threat is from the asteroid. However, who knows there might still exist some unpredicted events, and these things are more probably described as uncontrollable things, because most people in the buses are extremely exhausted through the near twenty hours of anxiety.

Sam is worrying about the conditions, when pong! A tremendous sound comes from ahead on the mountain road. Thinking of the catastrophe is suddenly more than the expected time, the people on the bus cry and scream.

Calm down! Sam tells everyone on the bus and gets off the bus to check the situation with a young man.

In front of the road, there is a huge smoke-like mushroom, which is accompanied with people’s cries. We are never staying here to wait for death. Sam and the young man rush toward the direction of the smoke. Badly surprised, they find the road has exploded and caused half the road to form a deep hole, and by the hole, there is a wreck of an oil tanker.

Apparently, the truck has exploded and crashed on another truck. Someone in the traffic has called emergency people to rescue the case. However, the time is really bad, and there is no way to get to the cave after checking the map on his cellphone, Sam concluded. Over ten thousand of his colleagues are trapped on the road, and the disaster would happen in mere a few hours.

All these make Sam almost fall into exhaustion. The day becomes dark and dark, and a bright meteor is quickly passing through the sky. Sam suddenly remembers the experience one month ago. No way happened to be meaning a new way. The explosion has made the hillside between the zigzag road flatter. So, if the bus rounds the wreck, passing across the hillside, it will reach the next point of the road. After a test of the driving, Sam instructs all the people on the bus to get off it and walk to the next point while the empty buses one by one pass through the dangerous path.

At 6:30 p.m., a column of buses arrives at the cave. Because of the wonderful, organized connection before the actions, everything went smoothly. Kay’s careful scheme made the entry for some of the small equipment easy. But sometimes, a tiny unexpected thing may also cause a big result. Just before the last SUV passes the gate of the cave, the weak tires of the car soon get a guard’s attention, and he orders the car stopped and checks it again. He then finds lots of documents and other materials. The guard quickly reports it to the leader of the cave.

The commander orders to check all the cars again. What a frustration it was! Because rechecking it needs at least three hours, so it is impossible to finish the work before the disaster occurs.

Sam and Kay negotiate with the commander, apologizing at the first, then sincerely promising that it only happened at the last car and all others are safe. Luckily, the commander is serious but friendly, and at last, he allows passing of all the cars.

After settling the people of the company, Sam finds that apart from his company, a great number of other people are staying here. The time for the asteroid to hit is in only two hours, but there are still some people gradually entering into the cave. In the meanwhile, the people who have already arrived here become more irritable because no one exactly knows what would happen.

Even though someone told them that they would be safe staying in the cave, still many of them are in anxiety. Sam can observe the outside by using the device equipped in the cave department, but even then, he feels that his heart is jumping faster than usual. Everyone in the cave seems to count the minutes and genuinely hope the time passes quickly. The gate of the cave eventually closes, and the cave becomes quiet. Needless to say, everyone goes on to prove the end of the world by themselves. Sam gazes on the screen, looking forward to that miracle happening.

A mysterious thing at last happened. Through the device’s screen, Sam finds the asteroid suddenly changing course, narrowly passing past Earth and disappearing in space.

2

Challenging from the Business

(1)

Ahuge question mark is keeping in almost all the people on Earth, especially in Sam’s company. Even though avoiding such a tremendous disaster is the best event for human beings, an unexpected result deeply shocked everyone, of course, also Sam. Being a scientist and businessman, Sam never believes that there is a miracle that can push this huge asteroid away.

Before he talked with the mayor, he had known that the Pentagon had tried using a nuclear missile to change the course of the intruder but failed. Since the speed of the asteroid is so fast, and scientists found it too late to do something, and moreover, that nuclear missile might cause another catastrophe, he merely suggested the mayor take action to save lives. And the result makes Sam begin to think about two issues: One is how the people may avoid the next similar catastrophe. Another one is what forced the asteroid to change its course.

Whatever, the disaster is over; the people and businesses here are going to recover their life and work. Like most companies in the Bay Area, the CPM is running its business on three aspects: First, producing the new energy bus and car with the automatic control, which supports most of the company’s expenses. Second, launching the spaceship to the Moon and the Mars to get high-energy fuel is an increasing fast point for his company. Third, the new industry robot research and artificial intelligence.

Needless to say, Sam focuses nowadays on the second and third aspects to get the company developing fast even though he is quite clear that the first part may establish a firm base for his company. However, how to run this company and which aspect should be put in the first place is always a topic at the CPM’s board meeting.

The next day they are back from the cave. Sam, Andy, and other members of the board take part in a meeting. As usual, Sam introduces the situation of the company’s operations and financial issues. He points out, "Our company has engaged in new technology and scientific research for over ten years, and we have gotten a great progress in these aspects, which greatly push our company’s development. However, the scientific technologies developing worldwide is becoming a progressive jumping process.

No one can imagine which new products will appear next morning, Sam says. So I think we need to continuously focus on the new scientific research and new technology’s development. And yesterday’s asteroid incident deeply shocked me, making me realize that there are so many things we haven’t understood. If we do not hurry up to catch any quick signals or inspirations, we will probably lose a lot of potential chances.

As the COO of the CPM, Andy is not only the cofounder of the company but is also always one of Sam’s partners. In most cases, Andy is likely supporting Sam’s opinions, but sometimes, Andy may make a pretty different suggestion as a COO—the company’s highest leader for production.

Responding to Sam’s opinions, he says, I agree with you on the direction of the development of our company. But I have to point out, it would be very hard to get progress without firm bases to support any new development in technology. Especially, in present, Andy stops for seconds and stresses on. After the last economic crisis twenty years ago, a new crisis is gradually appearing in various parts of the economy. The banks and stock markets seem not to take aggressive steps at the markets, except one or two aspects, which involve supporting the nation. So, Sam, I hope we are focusing on the first part, and second one, keeping high-quality products with good markets and cash flow is necessary.

Most of the attendees support Andy’s opinions and suggest some of their own ideas. However, a common question is whether people completely know that both aspects are correct, but how and who may organize and coordinate in a systematic state. Being an attendee, Kay suddenly asks, May I give my opinions, if it is possible?

Say, Sam says, what do you think?

I mean, both sides are important, but first I think that we should focus on the present production and market expansion, and then, we might have enough money for the company’s development and new research.

Just this point, Sam appreciates Kay’s strong suit: saying key words at key times even though these words disagree with her boss.

Okay, Sam concludes. We need to immediately reorganize a new production coordination committee to start this strategy. Andy is in charge of this program, and the goal is ensuring the company runs perfectly. In addition, we also need to create a new institution to research the path for the direction of future development, in which I’m in charge of, to support all of research for different aspects. Kay is in charge of the contact.

Sam feels really excited after the meeting. He knows everyone in the meeting probably gets the same feeling and encouragement. As soon as Sam wants relaxes a short period in his office, his secretary knocks on his door and informs him that Professor Hansen from Stanford University has come to visit him. The professor’s major is space exploration and universe evolution, which Sam is really interested in. So, while the professor is entering his office, Sam greets him and lets the professor sit down on a sofa.

The professor is a tall and thin man, with a gray suit and brown shoes. He looks very excited just like Sam.

Because both of them have not seen each other before but heard each other focus on similar projects for a long time, and at least made several cooperation projects for years, Sam takes one of his business cards from his wallet and hands it over to the professor. I’m Sam, nice to meet you.

The professor responds, Nice to meet you too. I’m Charles. Then he gazes at Sam’s card with surprise. Your name is Sam?

Sure, it is. Something wrong? Sam takes back his name card from Charles. And this is his turn to be surprised. He finds it is not his card. The name in the card is John Lee, the manager of Stone Art Center. Surprised, he remembers that yesterday morning he met the young man who returned his wallet to him with a strange smile. Soon, Sam realizes that young man, John, is a person who has a special skill, and has so much fun with it.

Then Sam changes the name card and hands it to Charles. Sorry, one of my friends made a joke with me.

It’s okay, Charles says with a smile. I also meet a lot of fun people like this.

Do you want to drink something? Sam asks his guest.

Coffee, please.

This is their first time meeting. Before talking, Charles shows a picture to Sam, and it is a picture recorded when the asteroid flew away.

So, what do you think about the incident? Charles asks, who knows that Sam has enough knowledge on space and rocket science.

I think the thing may completely change the view of our knowledge about space travel. And this proved that a certain unknown force exists in the universe.

What should we do on the next step? Charles continues. Of course, this unexpected incident saved Earth, but I think it is an accidental thing, probably might not happen again.

I agree with you, Sam says. According to the current technology of the world, we cannot develop new technology to cope with similar disaster. However, doing some right work such as establishing the Mars space bases and colonizing Mars may be possible.

Can you imagine how long we may have to transport the people there on a big scale? Charles isn’t sure. You know, if we just get some scientists or workers to move there, it’s no use to prevent the next disaster.

That is a hard question to answer, Sam tells him directly. You know, according to present technology and by using our company’s automatic transporting system, he stops for a moment and calculates, we can transport ten thousand people in a year if no economic crisis or other issues happen.

I don’t think that is a perfect speed to transport people to Mars, Charles points out. The asteroid incident reminds us to think out a revolutionary idea to cope with this severe situation and try to find out a totally new way.

You are right, Sam says. The problem is it is hard for us to reach this goal at present. Even though now we have used new repeated rocket and powerful spaceship, still… Sam takes a glance at the window, we are staying in the middle of the twenty-first-century technical stage. So, a gradually progressive scheme is possible.

You mean, no way for us to cope with any future disaster from out space? Charles apparently appears a little disappointed. Whatever, you owned the biggest private spaceship company and the bases on Mars.

It’s my duty, Sam stresses with confidence. You know, after yesterday’s incident, I consider that a catastrophe and curious result may be a good thing for us because we can seriously think that there is actually some unknown energy and advanced technology in the universe, and they may have reached our planet.

Good, Sam, let us focus on this aspect and find a new road as soon as possible.

On his way home, Sam feels a little tired after nearly two days of nervous and excited activities. But, in fact, the first thing that Sam wants to do is not sleep; he really is trying to find a way on which he may explain and explore what happened in the past days. From his elementary school, Sam is such a person that if he realizes it is correct and worth understanding it, he will insistently study it until he fully handles it, no matter how hard for the time and the condition changes.

And at this point, he believes Charles is on the same page with him. As his thought soar effortlessly over his view, a sudden red traffic light stops him. Even though Sam is used to driving an automatic car produced by his own company, he still likes to drive by himself in most cases. While he is waiting for the light to change, suddenly he sees a driver in the opposite side, a blue car, waving to him. Taking a closer look, he finds that it is John. Sam feels so funny and so angry. This guy unexpectedly greets him and never feels a little shy about stealing. Then Sam soon gets an understanding: John is not harmful to him, and probably he might be useful to him in the future. So Sam waves back to John.

(2)

On the way home, Sam decides to visit his mother, Lidia, who is just living in a nearby senior center. He knows, after the asteroid incident, she must be very tired too. Sam parks his car at the front of the gate. Entering the yard, he finds the senior center is pretty clean. A beautiful tiny garden lies on the front of a three-floor brown building. There are some old men and old women rambling about a big backyard. So peaceful! It’s hard to find any nervous signs from the mere two days after the incident.

Sam soon finds his mother in a corner. Lidia is playing puzzle games with a group of old ladies. She seems really happy from her smiling face. She is wearing blue pants and an attractive yellow coat. And frequently exercising makes the old lady look young and excited. While Lidia finds Sam and stands up at once, she tells her partners, Sorry, I’m going to talk with my son.

Lidia is living in a room on the second floor. Like the backyard, her room looks clean and neat. She moved here about ten years ago and really likes the circumstance and condition of this senior center. Sam is always working busy usually, but his mother never feels bored and unhappy, for she can communicate with so many old people after she moved here.

However, one of the concerns for Lidia is that Sam’s age is near forty years old. And Lidia never finds Sam has any motive for marriage and is always working and working. Lidia lets Sam go to her room and sits down. Tea, coffee, or my homemade wine? One of Sam’s mother’s hobbies is making wine at home. Of course, it is totally different from the wine made by the wine farm, but she likes it. Every year, when grapes appear in the markets, she always buys a large quantity of grapes and, using her own unique methods, makes at least ten big pots of wine. This red liquid’s smell is pretty good and with a sweet taste. Every afternoon Lidia always drinks one glass of wine.

Not only does she like the taste and the smell, but also, she confidently believes that it is nourishment. Even though she is satisfied to share her wine with her guests, she rarely let Sam drink it when Sam was still a boy, since she didn’t think it’s good to drink it at that age. However, Sam didn’t think so. Even if he was a quiet boy at the time, he often tasted a bit of this attractive sweet liquid while Lidia was in absence.

Until one day. Sam remembered that he had probably just woken up, and Lidia temporarily went to her backyard. Good chance for Sam, he took a chair and stood on it, using a spoon to get wine to drink. Usually Sam only drank one sip. Maybe that day he felt a little thirsty, so he continued drinking several sips. Before he felt satisfied, that pot suddenly lost its balance and fell down from a shelf, crashing on the floor. Hearing a loud sound, Lidia rushed into the room. She said nothing, but from then on, all the pots of wine were locked.

Thinking about this point, Sam answers, Wine, please.

Everything okay? the mother kindly looks at her son. Yesterday, all of the old people were arranged for a safe place, but I worried about you.

I’m fine. Sam smiles, sipping the wine. Everything is good. I and my company, we have all changed back to the regular working state. You cannot imagine how quickly our people turn from yesterday’s messy state to today’s hard work.

I believe you. Lidia trusts her son like she trusts herself. There is no doubt you guys can overcome the difficulties like yesterday’s, but…

But what?

You know, yesterday when everyone around me began to pray for the existence of life, I prayed for the only one thing, that you could get your own family quickly. I know my son can survive in any difficulties.

Thanks, Mom. Sam grew up by his mother’s care. He knows Lidia’s meaning and is always following his mother’s words, but at this point, he has his own idea. I like to hear everything that you said, and I like to date young girls sometimes, but I do really think that I haven’t found a woman who is good to be my wife so far. Maybe one day I will marry a queen.

Lidia knows that Sam likes using those jokes to end these types of conversation. Still she says, I hope you remember my words. Anyway, it’s my wish.

As soon as Sam drives back home, first thing he does is he checks for his mails that have been stored already for two or three days. Sam sees a mail from Kay. Curiously opening it, he finds there are just a couple of salad recipes in it. Then he remembers that he asked Kay to send it to him before the incident, at a coffee date. He feels it’s really funny; this girl is so serious about anything. Actually, he really likes Kay, not just that Kay has a beautiful face, but she is really good with communicating.

No matter what needs to be talked about, she always plays the perfect role in dealing with you, and she lets her talk partner like to hear, to say. And this is a unique characteristic of Kay. Sam dates Kay several times and always lets him feel happy with good memories. Even so, Sam never imagines this girl will be his potential girlfriend, just being a good partner and assistant. While Sam gazes on the recipe, he suddenly feels a little hungry and gets an impulse for cooking.

This is one of Sam’s secrets: that he likes cooking, just he likes scientific research. However, he rarely likes to talk about it with others. Once Sam has a little free time, he cooks any food he likes—pizza, hamburger, and pasta products—but the most tasty cooking for him is salad. Just using simple vegetables plus different sauces, he can get different tasty delicacies. So with only ten minutes’ preparation, a salad, with celery as the main ingredient, is put on the table with four kinds of sauces. Sam is enjoying his own cooking and believes this is a wonderful way to relax.

Before Sam goes to bed, two TV news attract his notice. One is a financial information about the stock market from Wall Street. It shows a real financial crisis; the economy will crash down in a few months. This means that all enterprises will be hit almost at the same time. Another one is about space exploration from NASA, saying that they will launch a new type of rocket to collect the evidence of the asteroid and its sudden track change.

Both news are equally important for Sam. Instinctively, he feels, if not taking a real revolutionary step, it’s really hard for any industrial enterprise, especially for high-scientific business, because this time, the crisis is not coming from the surrounding of the business, but it really is coming from the top of economic systems. Therefore, the regular methods that his company uses in dealing with difficulties may be totally ineffective, so he must consider a unique way to cope with it.

On the other hand, he feels that NASA’s news provides his company a good opportunity to make a deep research for the asteroid incident. And he knows even so far his company made a great many explorations on the Moon and Mars in cooperation with NASA, but this time, it will be fully different, because both sides may be using the new perspectives to observe the incident. Thinking about this, Sam takes a long breath and feels that now he is running in the correct way.

(3)

Through nearly fifteen years of development, the people are used to using normal view to deduce what will happen in the next step for their business or even their family. They don’t imagine or expect any unusual situation may make them go out of their own road. But this time, everything seems different. The stock market dropped almost 15 percent within one month, and it is just like a beginning. Nothing shows it will touch the lowest point.

Especially yesterday was a real black Friday. The stock market almost fell 2 percent. The market is in a very nervous state. The businesses like to sell, not like to buy, and the banks are also in a cautious state, and a lot of projects have been shelved.

As soon as Sam arrives at the company, the first thing for him is the issue with the banks. They inform him that the money for several projects have been in abeyance, since for various reasons the banks need to reappraise.

Of course, Sam knows that is an excuse. The banks don’t like to undertake bigger risks at present, especially that CPM is a high-risk scientific company, which has far more risks than the Bay Area’s other businesses. Sam fully understands this point. However, as his company is in a very special developing stage, not only the building of automatic cars and buses but also the exploration of Mars and the Moon needs a great amount of money to support them urgently.

So, stopping the money is really bad for the company. Even then, Sam is Sam; he is a person who has never feared difficulties, and he thinks it is a truly huge difficulty, but compared with the obstacles that he first set up this company with Andy and other partners, it is merely a smaller one.

Remember, they first knocked on the door of a big bank to visit the manager. After filling out so many pages of forms and answering the various basic relative questions, then, For mortgage, the manager began, focusing on the key point, the amount of money your guys want to get is huge than your mortgage, so it is very difficult to get a deal.

But what should we do? Sam anxiously asked. You know, we have put all of what we can do.

Two ways may be effective for your cases. The manager seemed sympathetic to them. First, you guys may try to borrow money from your family or your friends. Second, you need to look for another stronger company or organization to warrant your enterprise.

Thank you for your advice, Sam said. We are new graduates from colleges. It’s hard for us to borrow money from our families and friends. Also, it is difficult to ask other companies for a warrant for us.

I know your concerns, the manager mentioned. But it is only a way you may try. Otherwise, you can try another bank.

Sam spent two weeks dealing with the three other banks and got similar answers from them. Only one small bank expressed that they might loan money to them, but it would be at a very high interest rate. It was impossible for these new graduates. While they were sitting in a café, the topic they talked about was how to end this adventure. According to Sam’s characteristic, he never wanted to take this step, but all of them clearly realized that there was one way for them to go at the time.

Before saying bye-bye, Sam suddenly remembered his professor Ms. Brenda, who had told him if there were unexpected things happening, Sam might call her directly. At his university, Sam very liked this professor. Not only was she knowledgeable, but also, she was a really kind person, especially to her students. Although the professor’s major was computer science, she had a very good relationship net.

So, after hearing Sam’s case, the professor answered at once, Don’t worry, I will call one of my former students who is now the owner of a huge scientific company. Ms. Brenda continued, The only thing you should do is email me with an attachment to describe the detail about you guys’ idea and what purpose your new design can be provided, and potential markets.

Sam couldn’t hide his excitement, for he knew a real change probably would happen in a short time. One week later, a famous investing company informed them that they were interested in their project and they liked to provide enough money to invest in Sam’s project. An almost dead project got a renascence by Sam’s persistence.

However, after nearly fifteen years of development, today Sam’s company is totally different. CPM is a huge highly scientific company and is known as one of the top companies in the world, and every month they put high technical products in the market. And normally, the company never needs to ask the banks for help. The banks will take an initiative to help them and provide the money they need. Now, everything seems changed. The stock market situation affects not only the banks’ decisions but also Sam’s aggressive strategy, which involves automatic bus and new high-speed communication technic, and last month they launched a new type of rocket to Mars.

All these are highly paid and high-risk projects. CPM’s high-speed development is associated with it, but sometimes, like this time, several problems happened at the same time, such as launching the rocket and testing for a new automatic bus, and all were met with failure. As a response, the stock market soon reacted to it, and the banks, consequently, made a sensitive decision: temporarily stop all the loan until the situation became clear. Even though it is just a normal action for the bank operations, for CPM, this is like a crash down in a steep road. Several projects are really key points, and any wrong step will lead to a big failure. A short time ago, another famous company’s bankruptcy was similar.

(4)

At Sam’s office, Andy and Peter, who is in charge of the company’s finances, arrive already, and they report the situation of the banks. Because the stock market risks happened so suddenly, and the nationwide economic markets are soon falling into dreadful state, nearly all the banks, large or small, immediately take slow steps or simply stop to observe what will happen in the next step.

No one wants to take an aggressive strategy at this time. Even if following the regular practices, according to CPM’s size and scale, some banks will probably provide financial aid to them. However, as several unpleasant, unpredictable issues occurred on some important programs, then the banks are expected to choose a prudent way to handle it, so they are waiting, just waiting!

On the other hand, the financial activities of Sam’s company have almost stopped. All these things happened precisely at one moment, and people who work at the headquarters feel bewildered.

Andy looks at Sam and says, We must consider a special way to cope with the financial situation. If we cannot get enough money from the banks within one week, the major operations for this season might be partly stopped.

Another risk for us, Peter adds. Normally, different banks have different policies for money operations, so we always can find a way to get money. But that suddenly-falling-down stock market has made it impossible to use any original way to deal with it.

I know your points. Sam is reading the financial report that Peter submitted. But we can find a way to persuade the bank to take the actions, right?

Yes, trust me. We actually can find a way, Peter mentions and looks Sam in the eye. But the problem is, all these methods can be achieved in more than two weeks, and our projects need money within one week.

What do you guys want to do? Sam feels a little anxious. Andy, have you talked with that biggest financial company we usually deal with?

This is just what I want to talk about, Andy answers. The president of this company is on vacation, and the vice president, Ms. Lynn, has not responded to our requirement so far.

You mean if Ms. Lynn agrees with it, Sam continues his question, that everything will be okay?

I think so, Andy answers. I’m just doubtful that the president of the company is on the road. Instead, the vice president may dare or not to do so.

Can you make an appointment with her for me this afternoon?

Sure, I will do, Andy says. I guess we need some materials for the appointment.

You are right, I appreciate it, Sam says.

3

Turning Point

(1)

It is closing to lunchtime, and Sam feels a little tired. He asks Kay to go to a nearby café for a drink. It’s one of his habits. Before doing something important, Sam always tries to find some way to make himself relaxed. Since Kay began working as his assistant, he asks this girl to go to a café, becoming one of Sam’s selections. Kay is a really good conversation partner. Apart from her other characteristics, she is smart and quickly finds a way to fit the content of the topic following the partner’s idea.

And, of course, she always expresses her own views during conversation. Because there is enough time for afternoon appointments, Sam selects a comfortable café in a nearby street. It is a famous local café, and most of the customers are neighbors.

They sit down, and Sam orders a slice of his favorite cheesecake and a cup of strong coffee. Since this cake has a special Scottish cheese, every time while drinking coffee here, he always orders a piece of cake. Kay likes the coffee here too, but she doesn’t like that cake. She just orders one kind of homemade pastry, which she believes is healthy and tasty.

"Have you watched the new movie, The New Star War?" Sam asks Kay. It is his habit that he doesn’t like talking about work at a café, especially while on a date with a young girl.

Yes, I have watched it. Kay seems pretty interested on the subject. Do you think it is possible to happen to us in the future?

Maybe, I’m not sure. Sam feels that this question is a little hard to answer. You know, we haven’t any evidence to prove whether intelligent beings exist in the universe, even though the many astronomical experts believe this point.

But do you think that we need how many years to make sure? We have real evidence to prove this. Kay is a special girl. If she finds a really interesting question, she will be insistent to dig the root, especially on a scientific subject. Because, actually, so far there is something happening around us, but we cannot make a correct explanation on it.

You are right. Sam really likes to chat with this girl because she can take the talking to an interesting stage. In fact, such as two days ago, the incident of the asteroid changing its direction is so mysterious. I guess that using present scientific methods won’t explain it at all.

Imagine, if we really face situations like in the movie, how can human beings on Earth survive? It looks like the girl is still involved in the movie. I mean, we do not have a chance to avoid it happening, right?

I don’t think it will happen soon, Sam stresses on his point. Though our company’s Mars transporting system is good enough to send the people to Mars, but the quantity is too small for the population of Earth to escape. However, sometimes we may have an unexpected chance.

I hope so. Kay is always keeping on her schedule. For this afternoon appointment, I will bring some photos of our company’s new products and new marketing materials, okay?

Good, thanks for reminding me! We will prepare some new data about our new products with us.

The meeting starts in the conference room of that huge financial company. Because of the importance of Sam’s company, the major members of the financial company take part in the meeting. First, Andy introduces both aspect’s major members and describes the benefits of this loan activity for both companies in the long run. Then he shows the economical situations of the CPM and photos of the products that need funding. With how the huge amount will be repaid in the future, he points out, It is a true opportunity for both companies. Since the stock market crisis caused all the expenses to get lower than usual, we can use this chance to finish this series of projects on time.

Can your company provide enough evidence to us to prove this is a high return with a lower-risk program? Ms. Lynn seems less confident of the program. And we do know this is a very special moment. Even though we all know your company’s actual strength, still, a special time needs a special way.

You are right, Sam begins involving the topic. If I were you, I would have taken a similar strategy to cope with it, but, Sam stresses, all of these projects, which need financing help, are the top programs for our company. They have a similar characteristic—they can repay faster than normal programs. Kay, please show the slide of the programs.

So, you see in the slide, Sam continues, either the automatic bus and car or the new Mars transporting system has great market prospects and apparent potential customers. Exactly, there is no doubt on the repay.

I understand, Mr. Roman. Ms. Lynn is a professional expert and holds the key position in the financial company and is never easily persuaded. Could you please prove your company’s projects are a low risk for our agreement?

Compared with normal programs, Andy answers instead of Sam, the highlight of our program is, all the first parts of the project have been ordered by the customers, and before the products can be provided to the customers, the money will be paid back, and this will be more than the loan we get from the banks.

I believe your point, Ms. Lynn says. "However, I have a question. You mentioned your plan and explained the advantage of the programs, and all of your points based on the result will