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30. Man's Fate
30. Man's Fate
“Do you wonder, Man's fate?” Mamka asks.
Boris looks up from opium tea. “Are you referring to the Andre Malraux novel about the communist uprising inShanghai
Olga smirks from the opium's making her think she is witty and says “Or am I this man's fate now?”
Mamka affectionately smooths Olga's hair. “No, dear kid. As for Mr. Malraux, he choose grand title for small thing. I mean ‘Man's destiny.’ And it point use of stargazing. We humans live between bad times so must study them in order to prevent next one. Or we go extinct. Astronomer know Earth can collide with big rock. Several time Earth collide killing much. Dinosaur disappear after big collide sixty-five million year ago.”
Boris interjects: “But it is too rare, Mamka! Homo sapiens exists one-hundred thousand years so why worry over so rare asteroid hit?”
Boris looks up from opium tea. “Are you referring to the Andre Malraux novel about the communist uprising in
Olga smirks from the opium's making her think she is witty and says “Or am I this man's fate now?”
Mamka affectionately smooths Olga's hair. “No, dear kid. As for Mr. Malraux, he choose grand title for small thing. I mean ‘Man's destiny.’ And it point use of stargazing. We humans live between bad times so must study them in order to prevent next one. Or we go extinct. Astronomer know Earth can collide with big rock. Several time Earth collide killing much. Dinosaur disappear after big collide sixty-five million year ago.”
Boris interjects: “But it is too rare, Mamka! Homo sapiens exists one-hundred thousand years so why worry over so rare asteroid hit?”
Mamka persists. “But hundreds striking Earth! Look you, Soviet man! Do not you know of space rock that made tremendous crater near here? What if New York City
Boris frowns. “I will cheer ifNew York America
Boris frowns. “I will cheer if
Olga grabs Boris's left hand. “Boris, please! They are people – good more than bad and innocent children.”
Boris shrugs. He despisesAmerica
Boris shrugs. He despises
Mamka continues. “Many collision crater Earth. Look you at the one in Arizona USA
“Nothing to do for it,” observes Olga. “We can’t prevent it and are helpless if it happens.”
“But we not know enough to speak, my Olga kid! We learn to predict collision. Even now can make rocket ship orbit Earth, make colony on Moon, Mars with top young scientists. Big rock maybe demolish continent and boil ocean, destroy atmosphere but once condition settle down, rocket scientists from orbit or Moon or Mars colony return to new Earth. And its people become the New People.”
“Dinosaurs surviving the crunch, so to speak,” interjects Olga.
“Dinosaurs surviving the crunch, so to speak,” interjects Olga.
“Science Civilization,” says Mamka.
“Philip Wylie and Edwin Balmer have written on that,” offers Boris, who, like many young Soviet elite reads science fiction.
“Yes, I know When Worlds Collide. Good. But look you. Other bad thing than space rock. Maybe climate change because what we make on Earth. Look back to Mount Krakatoa 1883 eruption drop world temperature because smoke block sun. I listen shortwave radio to chemist with theory. He say human industrial fossil fuel-use rising the carbon in air and making greenhouse heat and then, after hundred year maybe start runaway heat wave and kill off all life.”
Olga perks. “Sort of like ‘We're Havin' a Heat Wave’, a good Irving Berlin number that! But it don't sound like fun.”
Mamka points to brightly twinkling star on west horizon. “You see Venus! Spectroscopy of top cloud suggest carbon dioxide ten time Earth. Maybe it example what happen when civilization industrialize on fossil fuel but not consider consequence. Maybe Venus hot-hell runaway greenhouse beacon saying to we Earth people ‘Stop!’”
“Excellent theme for a science fiction,” Boris comments. “But what do we replace fossil fuel with? Civilization depends on it.”
Getting bored with the trend of the talk Olga breaks in. “Why don't you write that scenario, love? And we'll make a musical called Hot Venus with you know who as star?”
“Yes, I know When Worlds Collide. Good. But look you. Other bad thing than space rock. Maybe climate change because what we make on Earth. Look back to Mount Krakatoa 1883 eruption drop world temperature because smoke block sun. I listen shortwave radio to chemist with theory. He say human industrial fossil fuel-use rising the carbon in air and making greenhouse heat and then, after hundred year maybe start runaway heat wave and kill off all life.”
Olga perks. “Sort of like ‘We're Havin' a Heat Wave’, a good Irving Berlin number that! But it don't sound like fun.”
Mamka points to brightly twinkling star on west horizon. “You see Venus! Spectroscopy of top cloud suggest carbon dioxide ten time Earth. Maybe it example what happen when civilization industrialize on fossil fuel but not consider consequence. Maybe Venus hot-hell runaway greenhouse beacon saying to we Earth people ‘Stop!’”
“Excellent theme for a science fiction,” Boris comments. “But what do we replace fossil fuel with? Civilization depends on it.”
Getting bored with the trend of the talk Olga breaks in. “Why don't you write that scenario, love? And we'll make a musical called Hot Venus with you know who as star?”
“Do not joke, Olenka.”
“What better can we do, Bo? It's too grim.”
“What better can we do, Bo? It's too grim.”
“Good my kids. I stimulate you in right direction. Study to save Earth! I think people like we worth struggling to save even if chances poor. And, anyway, if all life destroyed, Cosmos go on and other life in other solar system, other galaxy. Important thing is make most of each one life.” Mamka looks back and forth from Olga to Boris who are hanging on her words. “Know you that word, avatar? It Hindu word originally god Vishnu in human form. It mean one who embody new idea.”
“So you are a future person embodying the new Utopia?”
“Yes. I not mean god. I represent Science Civilization and I not alone. All over world some few awakening New People exist and will be core of the coming culture revolution. We cannot save dummox people today. We give advice but they not follow. For example of wise advise, look you at Reverend Malthus! He write what Earth need to support life in abundance and prosperity: Human must control childbearing! But, Malthus good advice, people ignore and so many must die. We New People not shed tear, not waste energy to help. So I say Let the old civilization people blow their society up. We New People build on their ashes.”
“I'll drink to that,” cries Olga. She lifts cup and sips. Mamka and Boris join.
Suddenly the starry sky attracts attention. A perfect view of the north night of stars from horizon to zenith is visible from the window because of the north exposure facing the lake over which no trees or hills block. And now from north spreads a pale green glow. As the minutes pass, sheets of ghostly green light flicker and dance like wild Dionysian Dancer dressed in neon tights prancing across sky. At times it looks like enormous light flashing overhead interspersed with shafts of ephemeral white and green shooting up from behind the dark hills on the horizon.
“Where is it from?” asks Olga who has moved to Boris's chair and sits, her small ass on his lap, huddled in his arms.
“Yes. I not mean god. I represent Science Civilization and I not alone. All over world some few awakening New People exist and will be core of the coming culture revolution. We cannot save dummox people today. We give advice but they not follow. For example of wise advise, look you at Reverend Malthus! He write what Earth need to support life in abundance and prosperity: Human must control childbearing! But, Malthus good advice, people ignore and so many must die. We New People not shed tear, not waste energy to help. So I say Let the old civilization people blow their society up. We New People build on their ashes.”
“I'll drink to that,” cries Olga. She lifts cup and sips. Mamka and Boris join.
Suddenly the starry sky attracts attention. A perfect view of the north night of stars from horizon to zenith is visible from the window because of the north exposure facing the lake over which no trees or hills block. And now from north spreads a pale green glow. As the minutes pass, sheets of ghostly green light flicker and dance like wild Dionysian Dancer dressed in neon tights prancing across sky. At times it looks like enormous light flashing overhead interspersed with shafts of ephemeral white and green shooting up from behind the dark hills on the horizon.
“Where is it from?” asks Olga who has moved to Boris's chair and sits, her small ass on his lap, huddled in his arms.
“None know. It flow of energy from surface of sun, from helium atom stripped of electron by sun terrific high heat, caught by Earth magnetic field and rushed through atmosphere so fast it heat up and cause the lighting. Tonight we see most beautiful display because it coincide with sunspot from erupting explosion on sun. That another danger we live under. If sunspot grow we fry – pouf! Not yet happen but no guarantee not. Think you! Earth and sun have interact almost five-billion year so one-hundred-thousand year of human existence is 0.002% that.” Mamka suddenly stops. “But enough this bad talk. Now treat!”
She leads them downstairs back to kitchen.
She leads them downstairs back to kitchen.
31. Curry Rice Nice
Mamka sits them at the 4-seat table in center of kitchen and goes to cook. Olga is at one end and Boris around corner on her left. Olga enjoys the view of Mamka in burlap dress standing before stove. The little woman talks to them over shoulder as she prepares wild brown rice and chopped vegetables in a curry made from little known North Asian versions of turmeric root and cumin seeds with forest fennel, a plant that resembles carrot top and has ginger taste.
The cuckoo clock over the window announces “Koo-koo! Koo-koo!” at midnight. Mamka checks cooking pot and, seeing it is boiling, removes it from stove and allows it to self-stew in residual heat and goes on to prepare more opium tea, which she right away brings to table in cups for three. She sits across from Olga on Boris's left and leads with first sip giving toast: “Time races. We talk much. OK, tomorrow we go forest.”
The cuckoo clock over the window announces “Koo-koo! Koo-koo!” at midnight. Mamka checks cooking pot and, seeing it is boiling, removes it from stove and allows it to self-stew in residual heat and goes on to prepare more opium tea, which she right away brings to table in cups for three. She sits across from Olga on Boris's left and leads with first sip giving toast: “Time races. We talk much. OK, tomorrow we go forest.”
Each takes sip slowly. To Olga's query Mamka explains that her mail is delivered and picked up irregularly. “I can be in touch with you?” asks Olga.
“Sure my kid, but allow maybe three month.”
Olga has decided she wants opium tea in Tokyo
Mamka says “Now try my wild rice with forest curry.” She serves white plates of cooked long slim kernel brown rice and vegetables covered with steaming amber sauce that gives off a tangy curry smell which makes the mouth water. “It natural stimulant, will alert mind. Then if wish stay awake, can be brilliant with energy. Or if wish lie down rest, can get repose with interesting constructive thought.”
Olga's face shows a funny look. “Mamka? May I whisper in ear?” Getting an OK she leans over and “Will this curry be good for sex? Like me tonight with Boris?” Mamka nods Yes, then they eat in quiet and, after, Olga helps with dishes while Boris sits, happy.
Olga's face shows a funny look. “Mamka? May I whisper in ear?” Getting an OK she leans over and “Will this curry be good for sex? Like me tonight with Boris?” Mamka nods Yes, then they eat in quiet and, after, Olga helps with dishes while Boris sits, happy.
A little later, Mamka leads them to the lie-down room where a bedroll is stacked in corner – a colorful comforter, brown sheets and dry leaf-filled pillows. And all with strong pine smell.
“Tomorrow breakfast 5 AM then forest.”
She leaves the room and they enjoy married sex – entered into with a feeling of conjugal rightness - and made better by the opium.
To read now, click 4.(32-34) Forest Primeval/We Must Not Say Goodby
“Tomorrow breakfast 5 AM then forest.”
She leaves the room and they enjoy married sex – entered into with a feeling of conjugal rightness - and made better by the opium.
To read now, click 4.(32-34) Forest Primeval/We Must Not Say Goodby
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