Dreams and Memories 5

Ayesongs on May 11, 2011

THE ROCKETSHIP APPROACHES A SMALL ASTEROID… MENTOR: This is one of the jobs that I do to ensure the safety of humans on Earth. I monitor these asteroids which orbit close to Earth. Before the Pahom arrived there were several disastrous impacts which destroyed many species. LYNN: It’s just a big stane, Mentor. It might smash a wee hoose, but it couldnae kill millions of animals. MENTOR: You are the engineer, Lynn. Estimate the kinetic energy of such a rock if it were moving at thousands of miles per hour. LYNN: Oh, I get it. Square that speed and multiply by half the mass… When that skelps the groond, the atom bombs would look like bangers*. ED: *”bangers” (n pl) small fireworks. When Lynn is excited she speaks more broadly and non-Scots readers may need a Glaswegian dictionary. M MENTOR: We can prevent that. This asteroid has an orbit that may result in a collision with Earth in a few days. Look. See the prediction on this monitor. Now watch closely… These drone craft will alter the asteroid’s orbit so that it will pass harmlessly by the Earth. QUIETLY AND EFFICIENTLY, EARTH IS SAVED. LYNN: Those are handy wee machines, Mentor! MENTOR: I am happy that you like them, Lynn.