Solomon's Private File #77
These stories about Stephen and Solomon take place starting in
1950's. Stephen wrote about his life in letters to a penpal, and then
in a secure blog, in case he lost his memory again, in the master
computer in his school for gifted students, which he started attending
in 2016 in a new incarnation, until his death. Now his son Solomon is
attending the same school, and is writing in his own secure blog for
his future incarnations.
All characters are fictitious, even if some of them might have names
that belong to some actual people, or act like people we know.
Solomon is 16 in this story, in the Summer of 2042.
Solomon's Private File #77 "Moonraker"
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We assembled at the Nat Geo hall. I ported Beth and Brian in, and
their parents, who would stay behind and watch my projection of the
trip. Some changed into their suits in the building. I checked them
over, and asked one to tuck the legs into the boots again. I removed
all the hair from their hands, so the suit field would have a smooth
surface to conform to. Then I attached the controllers. I said, "You
all know this is a public event. Do you all agree to the right of the
Smithsonian and National Geographic to make any of this event public,
from this moment on, including your likenesses and speech? Please say
out loud if you do." They did. I said, "Good. Try not to cause too many
bleeps." Some chuckles. I introduced all the team members, and why they
will be going. I said, "If you will all hold out your hands for your
the controls, and you will know all you need to know to operate the
camera." They did, and most said wow. The Artist grinned. Sharon said,
"Sol, could you please explain what happened?" I said, "Sure. In the
camera controls are little crystals that have in them the information
of the camera. When you touch them, you have in your mind how to
operate the camera. My Dad invented memory and information storage in
crystals. We find it a very useful way to transfer knowledge. One
benefit of that method as you can't forget it. Instant memorization. We
use that technology, in part, in our schools in Tibet."
I said, "The environment of the Moon is very different than that of
Earth. Scientific instruments that we want to use there, if they come
from Earth, have to get used to how it is on the Moon, gradually, or
they could be damaged." Brian said, "What would happen if it didn't?" I
said, "Vacuum there. I port the instrument there, the air pressure
changes instantly, from what it is on Earth, to absolutely nothing on
the Moon. That means the air that's in the instrument will leak out,
and fast. Could cause a damaging and dangerous explosion. Right. We
don't want that. Well, at least by accident." Grins. Beth said, "Are
there going to be any explosions on purpose there today?" I looked at
the geologist, who said, "Yes." Brian shouted, "Great!" He looked
around in embarrassment, while we chuckled. I said to Beth, "You did
that on purpose, didn't you." She grinned and said, "Oh yes." Brian
made a face at her. We chuckled.
I said, "Before we port, I should turn on your controls. The glow
shows they are woking. We can all see the virtual helmets. Your gravity
controls are set for Earth normal. After we get there, you can set it
to off, which will let you feel the normal gravity of the Moon. A
reminder, such weight loss is only temporary. Your inertia will be the
same, which you won't really understand physically until you experience
it." Brian said, "Could you explain that?" I said, "You and things will
weigh less, but will still have the same mass. It will take the same
amount of force to get things moving, and stopping that movement on the
Moon as on the Earth. We might be doing some experiments to show that.
Ready to port?" They were. Then we were on the Moon, at our selected
location. There were instruments and tools already there, under an
awning. I said, "The covering is to keep the sun off of the equipment.
With no atmosphere in the way, sunlight is VERY powerful, and makes
everything very hot. Without the protection of the suit field, we would
be frying now, and without proper seasoning." Odd looks and chuckles.
Sharon said, "Now we know for sure Solomon is here." My sigh could be
heard over their chuckles. I said, "If you want to experience Moon
gravity, better do it now, than be surprised by it later. Oh. Well, if
you want to jump around, fine. You can't be physically hurt. But
something about mass and inertia. And that your reflexes are geared for
the Earth and not the Moon. Helping Beth, well, I suggest you try not
to make things more er, interesting that way." Beth said, "Ah, a
little. Tossing me into the air is fine, but by surprise when you
didn't mean it, is a little unusual." Brian said cheerfully, "It sure
is!" Chuckles.
Laser boss said, "The helmets. They must be rejecting a lot of light,
but they are not showing that as a mirror would." I said, "True. Usual
helmets are made of matter. Their sunshields were like sunglasses, but
stronger, and did reflect some light. Had to. Absorbing that much would
have melted the plastic. Here, we aren't using matter to protect us
from the sun. I can set the properties of the suit field to practically
anything. They are absorbing the extra light from the sun, and other
radiation we don't want, and sending it elsewhere. That explains why we
can see each other's amazed faces now." Chuckles. I said, "That also
explains why that's happening all over my body. I'm not waring a
special suit or controller, because I can do it more directly with my
mind than a controller can." He said, "Could you have done that for all
of us at the same time?" I said, "I could, yes. We're doing it this way
for your psychological benefit, and to test that aspect of our trip."
He said, "I think I see what you mean. We would be less nervous
depending on independent mechanical means, than on your continuing
personal abilities." Sharon said, "I didn't think of that! But I have
to agree, that even though I have absolute trust in you, I am more
comfortable this way. Amazing how you think of all these things in
advance." They agreed. Brian thumbed his nose. I said to him, "Please
explain that to our viewers." He said, "Sure. The forcefield that
covers the suit is what's actually protecting us, and it's managed by a
very fancy computer. The field that covers my hand, when I put it to my
face, merges with the field in front of my face, so I can touch my nose
with bare skin. When I pull my hand back out, the field is still there,
but separate now." I said, "Good explanation. That also operates
between different people. Your neighbor can also finger your nose, if
you allow it. I set that up for possible emergency use." They nodded.
I said, "Now we get to work. Scientists, ask for what you need that
isn't here, and help with moving things. Warn us of any pending
surprises. Sharon, look important." Chuckles. I said, "Artist, look er,
artistic." He grinned. I said "Beth and Brian, circulate and pester
them to distraction. Ask them what they are doing and why. We are here
for education, so let's DO it!" They did. The laser technician began
setting up the reflector. The laser boss said to Brian, "The laser
light, being so powerful and precise, we can measure distance with it
with extreme accuracy. That's because the light it emits is of one
wavelength, unlike normal light, and we know what frequency it is and
how fast it travels. We measure how long the light takes to go from the
Earth and reflect off of the target here, and back down to Earth. This
enables the measurement to be so precise, we can see how much the
ground on the Moon expands with the heat from the sun during the lunar
day, and by how much the Moon's orbit varies, sometimes to the
centimeter." He said, "Wow!" Laser boss said with a grin, "I think Sol
measures those." Chuckles.
Beth said to the geologist, "What is that?" She said, "It's in
instrument for measuring vibrations in the ground. They can travel for
long distances, and change speed and reflect off of different
compositions of the rock. We can learn a lot of how the Earth and Moon
are inside of them, where we can't see directly. This is the receiver,
and can show us images it puts together of what it measures in the
returning vibrations that we will cause intentionally. These are the
vibration transducers. They feel the vibrations, and change that slight
movement into electrical signals, which the receiver er, receives.
Excuse me. Sol, I have a request. I know you now. You expect this. Can
I have a permanent station here, reporting to Earth?" We grinned at
each other, "Yes. Tell me what you want, and I'll build it and install
it. Think deep." She said, "Oh wow!" I said, "That, too." Chuckles. I
said, "Open transmission. Info to be shared worldwide." She said,
"Absolutely! I expected that from you." I said, "Ha!"
Laser boss was approaching. I said, "Et tu Brute?" He grinned, and
said, "Yes." I said, "Tell me how many, and were. I might do it. Same
sharing." He said, "Of course. We'll finish our alignment when the
blasting is over." I said, "Expected." I said to the geologist, "Your
equipment is able to handle much bigger and deeper er, bangs than you
are preparing to use. Want some? Oh, such hunger would frighten a
tiger!" They laughed. I made some probes to her specifications. They
were VERY long. I sunk them all the way into the rock until just their
transmitting heads were exposed. We had them spaced apart in measured
distances over the whole area. I capped them with solar and battery
powered transmitting stations. She was almost hopping around with
excitement, drawing a lot of smiles. I said, when she was ready for the
first bang, "Alright for activities to stop for a minute?" It was. I
said, "For this, I'll raise us all up off the surface, to enable the
most accurate readings. Ready, blast now." We could see the fountain of
debris in the distance. She looked at her display station, and said
Don't. After we're finished, to be sure. More dramatic that way. Who
doesn't like drama?" Chuckles. There was another explosion in a
different direction. More excitement from the Geologist. And another.
Then I said, "Want some really big bangs, deep?" She REALLY did, so I
made and set them up. I said, "I'll fire on your command." She gave
those, and they were exploded in turn. After some study, she confirmed
to me, "Your theory is correct. Aspherical core. Inner core is
relatively small, and nickel-iron, warm, but solid." Laser boss said,
"We should know that much more can be learned from further analysis."
The Geologist said, "An anomaly here. On the other side, near the
surface." I said, "The reading and interpretation is accurate. That's
the Van station. I've informed the AI computer there of what we are
doing. It's asking to see the data. May I?" She looked all wide eyed,
and said, "Yes." I said, "It confirms your analysis. And I can add
something, myself. Here's a projection of the inner core's magnetic
field map. As you can see, it's all random." Laser boss said, "That's
why there's no appreciable magnetosphere here." I said, "Right. Needs
an active liquid ferric core for that. We're finished with the bangs
now. Lasers, wait a little for the rock hounds to finish. They want to
see and mess with the remains of the explosions." One said, "An
unexpected benefit. Thank you!" We went, doing some moon raking, and
they examined and collected. I ported all those collections back to
where they wanted them.
I said, "One more thing. There isn't much around here, and of the
right kind. But from elsewhere on the Moon, I've collected the unusual
dust, and ported it into vacuum canisters made of clear quartz crystal
for our museum displays. Did you know that under the right conditions
of heat, light, and solar flare activity, the dust can actually flow
like a fluid across the rocks of the Moon?" Sharon said, "You WILL give
us videos of that!" I said, "Sure. Right. Definitely. Positively.
Absolutely. Naturally. Of course, extra strong boss person." Laughter.
I said to the laser boss. "I've seen how the alignment is done. Want
the other units to use the same laser info?" He did. I said, "Here is a
plastic sheet with the info of where they are. Sixty four alright? I
take it that untranslatable noise isn't a disagreement." Chuckles.
I said, "Beth, Brian, you saw us use these Newton balls before we
left. Try them now." They were on a table, a desk toy, where you swing
a ball at a line of suspended balls and hit one on the end, and the one
on the other end moves in response. Beth said, "Weigh less, but they
move the same amount. I see what you mean by mass." Brain said, "Right,
but they move longer in time. Because of less air resistance? Er, no
resistance." I said, "Right, but to show it more, this has been done
before in the Moon. Which falls faster here, a cue ball or a feather?
Let's find out. Beth?" She dropped them, and they both dropped at the
same speed. She said, "Galileo is proved beyond doubt!" I said, "Right.
But look at the impact." Brian said, "I see why we did it here. Loose
soil. The cue ball made a greater impact. Mass made that happen." Beth
said, "Yes. The ball had much more mass, so it hit with more energy." I
said, "So, unprotected, which would you choose to have fall on your
head from a hundred meters up?" They both said, "Feather!" I said to
them, "Good choice. Now choose a rock for your own personal souvenir.
All here, if you want. I can mount them any way." They all did that. I
said, "If there is a base, I can inscribe what you want on it. In
private if it's impolite." Chuckles. Some of their display ideas were a
little odd, but none were objectionable or too rich.
I said, "There is a little problem with the souvenirs. The other
samples are in special containers, and will be opened under controlled
conditions. If we ported back, and your suits were turned off while you
were holding those things, you could be injured by the temperature
difference. Actually, from the sudden change of environment, they could
even explode. I think we would like to avoid that. Well, I know I
would!" Murmurs of agreement. I said, "So, all please put them all on
this table, and your cameras as well. Don't worry, I know who they
belong to." I surrounded the table and what was on it with a
translucent bubble they could see. I said, "I'm slowly changing the
temperature in there to equal where we will be porting to. Now I'm
putting air inside. Now we can get ready to go. All equipment here can
stay here. If you need duplicates, I might do something about that. I
sense something. Somebody wants to do something that's never been done
before in modern history on the Moon. But a little too afraid of
rejection to ask. Don't lose this chance!" Brian gathered his nerve,
and approached Beth. She didn't run. They hugged, and they kissed. They
separated. I said, "Porting!"
We were back at the Nat Geo hall. I said, "Suits and equipment
cleaned. Controllers turned off." They all cheered and clapped for the
kids. They were embarrassed, but took it well. I said, "Cameras still
rolling. Any comments for the record?" Most of them had some. I said,
"Recording for the project is now terminated. I have your controllers
back now. I'll pass out the camera cards." I did that, and they put
them with their belongings, and took their personal rocks, too. I said,
"Parents. You have veto power over whether the kiss goes public, and
how." Brian's father said, "For us, Your judgement." Beth's parents
said, "The same here." I said, "Hey! I was hoping for some actual
guidance!" The parents looked at the kids while they were chuckling.
Brian and Beth whispered to each other. They knew I could hear, but
their parents couldn't, and that I wouldn't tell. Then Beth said,
"Video on the news when you can do it." I grinned and said, "Your
friends who teased you. Rub their noses in it, right?" Brian said,
"Absolutely!" Sharon said, "Very attractive couple. That sure won't
hurt. And we have the right's to it. Hmm." I said, "Legally, yes. I
would be very displeased if anything happened without their, and their
parents', approval. And good financials if used in advertising." She
said, "Same thoughts here."
I said to the artist, "Here are drives with all the recordings I
made, for your use only, NOT for release to anybody else." He had tears
and hugged me. He said, "I knew you would do this, but I couldn't help
having a little doubt." I said, "Well, you can take that doubt and,
well, kick it to the Moon!" He laughed a little too hard. I said,
"Anything you do from this, we really want to see. And I think Sharon
wants something for the museum." She said, "Absolutely!" I said, "And
if you need a sponsor, let us know." The others nodded in agreement. He
said, "Wow!" I said, "No, that's for what YOU do. We study. You create.
The most precious of all human activities. That MUST be valued and
supported." He really cried in my arms. Some of the others had tears,
too. Then he said, "All of you. If you haven't hugged Sol, you really
have to do it!" They wanted to, so that happened, with love. I said,
"So now I'm a serial hugger, and I don't even like cereal!" Chuckles.
They changed clothes, and I ported some home. Left, were the rep from
Nat Geo, the kids and their parents, and Sharon. I said, "What we did
was news. That should air. Just enough to entice them to watch the
shows." They smiled at that, and agreed. I said to Nat Geo, "How did
you notice the artist?" He said, "He asked to do some illustrations for
us. We looked at his work and were blown away. Unfortunately, we don't
have much use for what he does. Until now. He's going to get the cover
of our Moon issue, for sure!" I nodded and said, "For each of your TV
channels, you probably want to interview the scientists to pad out the
time. That actually annoys me, how you wait till the very end to
provide any real substance. Gets ratings, though, and that helps your
financials." They did produce some slightly guilty looks, as if they
felt I was asking for them. I said, "But, PBS won't do that too much.
And they will probably want to make it more personal, too, so expect
that, with interviews. I'm going to ask CNN for a half hour this week,
and show them some things, including the kiss. Comments?" Sharon said,
"Will you help us with our network show?" I said, "Sorry, I'm not my
father. He studied that with the best. I haven't. But If I don't like
what they do, it will never see the light of day. So I'll probably help
them a little in the process." She said, "Good enough." Nat Geo said,
"I like it, too. Any help is good for us. More, if it includes your
more interesting comments." Sharon said, "Right!" I sighed, and they
laughed.
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Grant
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