Coming within a few weeks… 'It's Not A Lovable Pet Story'

        

         Coming within a few weeks… 'It's Not A Lovable Pet Story' ...Written across the front cover, are the words: 'It's Like Reading a Three Dimensional Sci-fi Horror Movie within Your Mind', which is a bold statement of pleasurable reading. The shocking action will jump into your mind's eye.

            As if they're being turned into vicious serial killers, our lovable pets are viciously murdering their human caretakers, which happens to be the new murder cases that Dallas Homicide Detective Rusty Rockwood is investigating. To understand why the animals are acting like crazed serial killers, Rusty collaborates with Forensic Veterinarian, Doctor Maggie Hanson.

            Rusty and Maggie each have a troublesome past that's mysteriously connected to the notorious Texas serial killer, the Mesquite Ripper, and their opposite personalities mix like gunpowder and fire. However, they do have a committed goal to figure out why our pets are killing their masters by any means possible. They're investigation takes them on numerous weird and wonderful sci-fi adventures that'll blow your mind right through a cosmic wormhole. Will Rusty and Maggie solve the mystery before every animal on earth viciously kills off our human race? There's plenty of romance, horror, mystery, and comedy within this must-read sci-fi adventure thriller. 

'The Mysteries of Fuller Park' a new exciting eNovel by Chuck Keyes, Athens, Texas.

'The Mysteries of Fuller Park' a new exciting eNovel by Chuck Keyes, Athens, Texas. It's now out at Amazon Kindle, B&N Nook, Smashwords, and many other eBook stores around the world

'The Mysteries of Fuller Park' is a sci-fi mystery novel associated with the Devil-worshiping urban legends about Fuller Park, and the small city of Athens, Texas. Follow the two main characters as they meet, rapidly fall in love, and set off on many fantastic hair-raising adventures. Police officer Morgan Blackstone and the mysterious American Indian, half-breed woman he found on New Year's Eve in the old abandon Fuller Park. Her name is Cheyenne White Cloud, and she's gorgeous, built with a fabulous sexy body that highly surpasses a number ten. Learn what's really buried under Athens, waiting for over ninety-five thousand years to rise up out of the earth and destroy the small Texas City.
Science fiction at its best, from the author who gave you 'They!' and 'Epic Marvels', comes this imaginary captivating story filled with sizzling romance, mind-boggling mystery, and spine-tingling fear. Follow Morgan and Cheyenne's grandiose adventures to uncover the mysteries of Athen's urban legends. Learn why the Athens town folk from the mid eighteenth century worshiped the black arts, founded the town of Athens, Texas, and sacrificed hundreds of their virgin daughters upon an altar made of human bones. Experience the comedy, meet strange evil aliens, and a strange friend named Task, who's older than our universe.

Some of the Reviews:

The Mysteries of Fuller Park captivated me from start to finish. This was a fantastic read. The hot romance sparked my heart, the mystery and suspense thrilled my emotions, and the comedy made me laugh until my stomach hurt. The characters were fantastic, I fell in love with all of them, especially Task the robot. What's under the town you live in? I suggest this story for anyone who loves to read. I guarantee you won't be disappointed.

The Mysteries of Fuller Park was a thrilling read. The main characters, Morgan Blackstone, Cheyenne White Cloud, and Task, the twelve million year old robot, were such a delight that at the end of the story I was saddened to leave them. The mysterious and adventurous story-line enthralled me, and what happens under this East Texas city could occur under any small city. The many surprises within the story excitedly attacked my brain like a striking Cobra. Even if you're not into sci-fi, you're going to love this exceptional story. It's filled with knee slapping comedy, mind boggling mystery, and boiling hot romance. If you want a great read, I highly suggest The Mysteries of Fuller Park.  

I've been waiting for this book to come out and it didn't disappoint! The main character Morgan Blackstone is a strong male presence. Meeting Cheyenne White Cloud wasn't your usual girl meets boy. Finding someone in an underground cave from a different century isn'a normal date, but when she's stunningly beautiful, that's another matter. One never knows what is underground, until you see for yourself! The mystery and suspense was riveting. I chuckled over the character, Task, which is a 12 million yr old robot, who knows just about everything, was a favorite character. What he can do with a telephone book could help the world cure it's financial woes. The comedy was awesome and rib tickling funny. Oh yes, it had romance! Having a body like Cheyenne's and a libido like Morgan, I couldn't put the story down and didn't want the story to end. More Mr. Keyes, a most enjoyable novel...and I'm usually not a SciFi reader, but have definitely become a fan. If you like to laugh and be off your seat wondering what will happen next...read this book.

I loved The Mysteries of Fuller Park. I plan to read it again.

Coming Soon: 'The Mysteries of Fuller Park' by Chuck Keyes

Coming Soon: 'The Mysteries of Fuller Park' by Chuck Keyes

          'The Mysteries of Fuller Park' is a sci-fi mystery novel associated with the Devil-worshiping urban legends about Fuller Park, and the small city of Athens, Texas. Follow the two main characters as they meet, rapidly fall in love, and set off on many fantastic hair-raising adventures. Police officer Morgan Blackstone and the mysterious American Indian, half-breed woman he found on New Year's Eve in the old abandon Fuller Park. Her name is Cheyenne White Cloud, and she's gorgeous, built with a fabulous sexy body that highly surpasses a number ten. Learn what's really buried under Athens, waiting for over ninety-five thousand years to rise up out of the earth and destroy the small Texas City.

          Science fiction at its best, from the author who gave you 'They!' and 'Epic Marvels', comes this imaginary captivating story filled with sizzling romance, mindboggling mystery, and spine-tingling fear. Follow Morgan and Cheyenne's grandiose adventures to uncover the mysteries of Athen's urban legends. Learn why the Athens town folk from the mid eighteenth century worshiped the black arts, founded the town of Athens, Texas, and sacrificed hundreds of their virgin daughters upon an altar made of human bones. Experience the comedy, meet strange evil aliens, and a strange friend named Task, who's older than our universe.

          What you don't know about your quaint, small Texas city may kill you deader than dead!    

'This Strange Alien World' ...Read Free, Chuck's Short Sci-fi Story

This Strange Alien World   

A short sci-fi story by Chuck Keyes

           "Captain, the hyper dimensional drive is still producing some strange fluctuations from within."

          "Lou, you’re the chief engineer aboard the Space Empress, so go fix it!"

          "Sir, with a limited amount of sleep over the past six nights, my workers and I have been diligently working on the problem. Remember, almost overnight the company rapidly installed this hyper-dimensional force drive technology into our cargo ship, and all they can see is their increased wealth by reducing our voyage to the Stellar Outpost from eight months to less than three weeks, allowing us to transport ten times the amount of plackton energy ore. Sir, I'm learning about the hyper dimensional drive as I go along."

          "Lou, since these unexplained fluctuations have been occurring for the past six days, then they're most likely not going to create a navigational problem." 

          "Sir, I cannot guarantee a problem will not occur while we're traveling through the dimensional folds of time and space."

          "Then to solve this fluctuation problem, you better keep learning about this new drive system!"

          "Yes, sir," Lou voiced as he exited the ship's command center.

          Shanel turned away from the forward portal to speak to the captain. "Luke Franklin, you're being a bit of a snit."

          The cargo captain waved his hand in disgust. "Sorry, but this new hyper drive shouldn't be giving us any problems. The company guaranteed that its safe."

          "I wouldn't trust anything the company says. This new hyper-dimensional drive is giving me the willies. I don't like not being able to see any stars, and depending totally on the dimensional hyper-drive's computer to navigate the Space Empress to the Stellar Outpost is ridiculous. It'll only take one little hiccup and we might end up inside the middle of a planet or a star."

           Captain Luke Franklin chuckled. "Shanel, we've been traveling nearly two weeks through the dimensional layers of the universe and now you're voicing a concern."

          Shanel shot the captain a warm smile. "I promised you I'd give the company's new hyper-drive propulsion technology a reasonable amount of time before making a judgment call. Personally, I'd rather be sleeping in suspended animation for eight months than blindly making this trip within three weeks.

          The captain shook his head along with a deep sigh. "To be honest with you, I'm not too happy about this new hyper-dimensional drive system."

          "Before these unexplained fluctuations bite us in the ass, maybe we should figure out a way to turn this ship around and go home."

          "I'd love to go home and tell the company to stick their new drive system where the sun doesn't shine, but they preprogrammed our navigational station and helm, and I'm not sure if we can override them."

          "So what you're saying is the company has literally kidnapped us as test subjects for their new hyper-drive?"

          The captain nodded. "I guess."

          Unexpectedly, Lou's voice excitedly boomed over the ship's com system. "Captain, the fluctuations within the hyper-drive have rapidly increased. I think we're beginning to weave in and out the folds of space."

          Captain Franklin's eyes jumped over to the main forward portal. The view is rapidly flipping back and forth from blackness to a sharp bluish brightness, as if their cargo ship is within a planet's atmosphere. He pressed the com button. "Lou, is there any way we can manually take control of the helm?"

          "No, sir. The hyper-dimensional engine is failing. Our only choice is ride the ship to wherever it takes it."

          Captain Franklin pounded on the emergency landing alert button. Strong metal-like protective shields slid across the numerous portals to protect them. Every deck exploded with flashing red lights and loud sirens to warn his crew of twenty-three personnel.

 

          Two hours have past by and the Space Empress is still rapidly gliding through the atmosphere, heading toward an unknown planet. Every crewmember was at wits end upon realizing how huge the atmosphere must be around this unknown planet. As the ship approached the planet's surface, its braking thrusters automatically engaged. The slide in crash landing was not as bad as everyone had anticipated.

          Captain Franklin extended the ship's telescopic legs to level her off, and then he asked his crew for a damage assessment. Besides the failed hyper-drive, the Space Empress did not receive any damage.

          "Captain, may I draw back the portal's protective covers?" asked Shanel.

          "Yes…yes, let's take a look at this world we've unexpectedly landed on."

          Shanel pushed a touchpad button and the protective covers slid away. She gazed out at a strange new world. They're surrounded by white and light brown trees that have no limbs or leaves. Accept for the varying colors, every tree is identical in size, and they tower over the Space Empress like eighty story skyscrapers. Each tree bows upward in different directions. There's just enough sunlight passing down through the trees to give Shanel a dusk-like view of the strange thick forest. "Luke, do you see this? We've landed in a bizarre forest."

          "Yes we have," said the captain with his nose pressed against one of starboard portals. "I've visited many alien planets during my career, and I've never seen anything like this."

          Shanel glanced down at her science station readout to see if the air on this planet is breathable. Upon seeing it is, she said, "Captain Franklin, since I'm your acting science officer, then I'd like to have a team to go explore this new world. Besides, we don't know how long we're going to be here."

          "It could be dangerous," voiced the captain.

          "We'll bring along laser guns, communicators, and flashlights."

          "Maybe I should go with you."

          Shanel giggled. "Are you coming along to go protect me as being your science officer…or as your dear sweet wife?"

          The captain gave her a comical grin. "I don't know." For a moment, he shook his head in thought. "Both your jobs aboard the Space Empress are very important."

          "Yeah, and I know somebody who's going to be a lonely captain while he's sleeping every night on the top bunk for the next eighty million light-years."

          "That's an empty threat," said Luke along with a chuckle. "You couldn't go that long without your handsome captain nestled next to you at night, keeping your female body warm and safe. I don't want to be stuck on this weird planet forever. I need to talk to Lou before we embark on our exploration. Go ahead and gather a team. I'll meet you at the rear hatch. Oh, as a safety precaution, you better invite the doctor."

          "Okay, captain confidence!"

          Heading to the engine section, Luke briskly walked along the dim lighted passageways of the Space Empress. He arrived to see Lou and his engineering team busily working on the enormous hyper-drive system. "Lou, how's it going? I'd like to be off this unknown planet as soon as possible."

          "Me too," sputtered Lou. "I've never seen such odd vegetation. Giant tall trees without limbs or leaves are something you don't see every day!"

          "What about this screwed up hyper-drive?" snapped the captain.

          "Now that the hyper-dimensional drive system is off line, I safely enter its internal complexity, and I'm noticing some major problems. Like my Trans-Coop Hover Mobile I purchased last year, the hyper-engine manufacturer must have rushed through their assembly process to meet the company's demands. All the hyper-link phase terminals are loose, and I can see signs of degradable arcing between the power crystals and the cold fusion electrical connections."

          "So when can we attempt to take off?" asked the captain.

          A few moments passed by while Lou scratched his head in thought. "Maybe within three or four hours. I don't want to jump the gun and end up in the same predicament, or possibly dead."

          "I agree. I guess we can sit here for four long hours."

          Suddenly, the ground moved and everyone had to take hold to prevent from being thrown about.

          "What the blazes was that?" cried Lou.

          "It felt like an earthquake," voiced the captain.

          "Ever since we landed here, I've been noticing a slight trembling under my feet. Maybe we can repair the hyper-drive system within three hours."

          "That would be wonderful, Lou. I'll talk to you later. I'm going to join Shanel for an investigative walk about the planet's surface."

          "You guys better be careful out there," said Lou, "Only the great Gods know what's on this weird world, and it may be hostile."

          "Thanks, we will be careful." Captain Franklin set off toward the rear hatch.

          After joining up with Shanel and her five team members, she gave him a utility belt with a laser gun, a flashlight, and a communicator mounted on it.

          "Thanks."

          Shanel smiled. "Let's go see what's out there."

          "Okay," the captain voiced as he pressed the button to open the inward hatch. Everyone stepped into the decompression containment room, and then Luke opened the outer hatch. An awful musty stench rapidly attacked their nostrils.

          "This world smells terrible!" grumbled Shanel.

          "Yeah, this odor is so disgusting I'm not going to be able to eat supper," sputtered Dr. Cranston.    

          "Being a doctor, I'm sure you've smelled worse," voiced the captain while he stepped outside onto the planet's surface.

          "Only when I'm working on someone's intestinal track!"

          Everyone followed Luke down the ramp onto the surface.

          Luke noticed how the limbless trees had folded over the Space Empress without breaking, thus creating a tunnel over the cargo ship. He figured these strange limbless trees must be flexible. 

          Shanel kneeled down to observe the surface more closely. "I've never seen anything like this. There's only a slight amount of sunlight, but the ground is warm to the touch, and I can feel it slowly pulsating, as if the center of this planet is filled with a warm fluid." She pounded her fist on the surface. "its firm, but it also has a strange softness to it."

          Exercising his ability to be a good husband instead of a rigid captain, Luke helped Shanel to stand up. "Is there any particular direction you'd like to go?"

          "Any direction is fine with me."

          Luke took the lead. With their flashlights in hand, they weaved around the giant limbless trees. Shanel intermittently stopped to gather samples of flat scale particles scattered on the ground and attached to the trees.

          "We've been traveling nearly an hour and the scenery hasn't changed," said the captain. "Although we're starting to gradually head down hill, which might offer a welcomed change of landscape. I wish we had more visibility through this strange jungle."

          "It looks like these huge trees fold over to produce an endless overhead canopy," Shanel voiced while she shined the beam of her flashlight upward. "This explains why the sunlight is so limited."

          Without warning, a large creature landed next to one of the team members. Everyone watched in horror as the ugly six-legged monster bit into Paul's right shoulder, near his neck.

          Luke and Shanel raised their laser weapons and fired, but their cutting beams weren't powerful enough to penetrate the creature's hard shelled body. Paul screamed in agony. Within a few minutes, he became silent, and the giant bug-like alien jumped upward out of sight.

          Dr. Cranston ran over to Paul's lifeless body. He dropped to his knees to examine him. After a long moment, the doctor said, "Captain, the creature has drained all of Paul's blood out of his body."

          "Doctor, the alien sucked out his blood like a Tarragon vampire worm?"

          "Yes, captain."

          "Our weapons are useless against the alien's hard exoskeleton body," cried Shanel.

          "Which means we need to scurry back to the Space Empress," shouted Luke.

          They ran as fast as they can, circling closely around the trees, hoping they'll provide cover from the monster.

          Three of the monsters landed directly in front them. Luke grabbed his wife's hand and dashed off to the left with the doctor directly behind them. The three other team members veered to the right; however, the alien creatures jumped on them, brutally biting into their bodies, sucking out their precious blood of life.

          Luke, his wife, and the doctor heard the painful screams of their team members. They knew there was nothing they could to save them. Pain exploded in their guts as fear forced them to keep running. Out of breath, Captain Franklin ran through the ship's hatchway with Shanel and Dr. Cranston by his side. As the hatch slowly closed, one of the monstrous aliens landed in front of the hatchway, but luckily, it was too big to enter the ship. Although it repeatedly smashed its hard body against the hatch door and the ship's bulkhead.

          After their bodies were automatically scanned for any bio hazards, Luke and Shanel silently walked hand in hand to command center to find Lou waiting for them. "Captain, Shanel, did you find anything interesting out there?"

          "We were almost killed by these large alien creatures that resemble insects," chimed Shanel. "They have round black compound eyes, huge rear ends, and powerful rear legs used jumping above the trees."   

          "We lost four crewmates!" snapped Luke. "Including your best friend, Paul"

          "Oh damn, this is terrible."

          "We need to leave this evil planet."

          "I do have some good news. After we secured the loose connections, the hyper-drive powered up without any problems."

          "We can leave this world?"

          "Yes." Lou nodded. "We can now engage the hyper-engine, and when we reach the speed of light, the hyper system will automatically transfer the ship into the dimensional layers of space and time."

          "Than let's take off!"

          "But what about their bodies? We need them for a proper funeral."

          "I'm sorry, Lou. But any attempt to retrieve their bodies would be suicide. We need to take off before these alien creatures band together and figure out a way to enter the Space Empress."

          "Since you put it that way, I'm on it!" Lou hurriedly walked over to the navigation console and danced his fingers across the glass touch paid, activating the hyper-drive.

          The Space Empress instantly shot upward, leaving behind a smoldering scorched area on the surface of the planet, and within thirty seconds, the cargo ship reached the speed of light and disappeared, traveling toward the Stellar Outpost.

          When Jack Tyler heard his old Shepherd Collie mix dog, loudly yelp in agonizing pain, he ran out onto his rear wooden deck to see what's wrong. Jack noticed a small burnt section on the middle of his dog's back. "Triumph, how the hell did you burn yourself?" Jack knelt down next to Triumph to view the burn, and that's when he caught a whiff of burnt dog hair. "Triumph, this is damn mysterious. I don't understand what could've burned you. Oh my, boy, you're also covered with annoying fleas. Those little vampires are going to suck you dry of blood" He chuckled in thought. "Maybe the fleas started a campfire on your back to have a flea circus barbecue." He gently patted Triumph's head. "Come on, you old-timer, let's go in the house. I'll give a nice flea bath in the tub, and after drying you off, I'll put some antiseptic cream on your burn."

The End!

© September 2011

'The Outlook Project' A short sci-fi story by Chuck Keyes

The Outlook Project

A short sci-fi story by Chuck Keyes

  

         

          For the past ten minutes, Deena has been gazing up at the enormous injected liquid plasma screen that's mounted on the wall above the many Outlook Project control stations.

          "Deena, have you become hypnotized by the multi-colored static?" asked Mason.

          "No." Deena shook her head. "I'm trying to imagine what we we'll be seeing on this screen."

          "Perhaps what we'll be seeing is nothing but static, which will make me happy."

          "Am I sensing a little bit of skepticism?"

          Mason chuckled. "I have a lot more skepticism within me about this project than just a little bit. Do you actually believe Dr. Casper Dargo's Outlook Project is going to show us a magnified view of what's beyond our universe?"

          "Yes, I do believe. The doctor and his team of scientists have been working on this project for nearly forty years, and I cannot imagine after so much time and work the project would fail. What you need to do is consider yourself fortunate to witness this fascinating event."

          "Right now, I'm hoping this fascinating event is nothing but hogwash, and if it isn't hogwash, I hope it miserably fails."

          "You seem bitter about the project," voiced Deena. "I don't understand your attitude."

          "Deena, I'm not an open minded journalist like you. I'm a logical thinking government official who recently learned this ridiculous project has cost the tax payers ninety billion dollars over the past forty years. This absurd project wouldn't exist if forty-three years ago the masses hadn't made a dreadful mistake of electing a one-term idiot as their president. Everyone wanted to play his or her racial card, which ended up being the joker. If I had been in office when this project was placed on the White House table, I would never have approved it. In fact, I almost certainly would've broken out in hysterical laughter when Dr. Casper Dargo said he wants ninety billion dollars to use his newly developed multi-phase laser beam to push a miniature unmanned spacecraft beyond the speed of light, across the universe and beyond. A spacecraft equipped with magnification video cameras, capable of transmitting images back to earth along the laser beam. From what I've learned, a large portion of the ninety billion dollars has been wasted on generating the electrical power required to sustain the multi-phase laser beam. Foolishly wasting all this electrical power on this dumbass project has been a sinful tragedy against humanity!"

          "Yes, but I believe the magnified video images are going to be so amazing that they'll be worth the money. I feel like one of the members of the Lewis and Clark expedition, or a sailor on the Santa Maria."

          Mason mockingly giggled. "I'm hoping I'll feel like one of the spectators during Fulton's Folly."

          "My goodness, have you always been such a pessimist?"

          "No, I'm not typically a pessimist, but this project is giving me a bad feeling in the core of my gut. So tell me, Deena, what are you expecting to see beyond our universe?"

          Deena's brow wrinkled in thought. "I don't really know, but while I was looking up at the colorful static on the screen, I imagined seeing my parent's faces being transmitted from heaven. Seven years ago they were killed in a car accident."

          "So do you believe heaven is beyond the universe?"

          "No, but anything is possible. Dr. Dargo believes his Outlook Project may discover heaven."

          Mason formed a silly grin on his face. "Dr. Dargo is obviously fruit cake with extra nuts. Okay, let's say this project actually works, and what we see is a golden metropolis in heaven with countless ghosts merrily floating back and forth from their homes to Walmart stores filled with a never-ending supply of free merchandise. Personally, I don't believe we have permission to use our technology to take a sneak peek at heaven or at anything else, which may exist beyond our universe. Like egotistical children, we're using our advanced technological toys to overstep our bounds, and this may be a dangerous road."

          "Oh, now I understand." Deena nodded her head. "You're looking at the religious aspects of this project. You're afraid we're going to anger God by stepping on his toes. The way I see it, if God didn't want us to know what's beyond our universe, then he wouldn't have given us the intelligence to develop the technology."

          "No, Deena! I believe there's an almighty God who created us, but I'm far from being a deep religious man. I've read the bible from cover to cover, and for me many of the biblical stories were like unbelievable fairytales. Everyone is well aware of my limited beliefs pertaining to religion. Being free people allows us to choose any faith we desire. I view this Lookout Project as a human blunder within the realm of all existence. The universe is vast, and we've only just begun to explore it, so why are we using this powerful laser beam to push a tiny unmanned vessel beyond our universe? What we're doing is jumping the gun! Over the past twenty years, our manned spacecrafts have explored nearly ever planet and moon within our solar system, so what we should be doing is using this multi-phase laser technology to explore our surrounding planetary systems, gradually working our way out into the universe as we gather information. We do not have enough knowledge to be foolishly piercing a hole through the boundary of the universe."

          Deena laughed for a long moment, and after she regained her composure, she said, "Mason, you won the Republican Primary hands down, and all the media's polls strongly indicate you will win the presidency. I'm having trouble believing you're afraid to know what's beyond the universe. I'm sure you wouldn't like to see a worldwide editorial blog saying our next president is a scaredy cat."

          Mason waved his hand. "Deena, go ahead and write whatever you wish. I'm not frightened of what may exist beyond the universe, although I am scared shitless of Dr. Dargo using his powerful laser to pass through the closes boundary of our universe. If today was a few months in the future, and I was elected president, I'd order Dr. Dargo to push the off button on his project. I'd put an end to this nightmare quicker than a heartbeat!"

          Deena pressed her back against the soft comfort of her stadium-like chair. A few silent minutes passed by while she pondered Mason's concerns of danger. "Mason, I'm sorry for laughing. I never gave it a thought that penetrating a laser beam through the boundary of the universe could be dangerous; however, the sailors aboard the Nina, the Pinta, and the Santa Maria were worried they were going to sail off the edge of the world. All exploration is filled with dangers. We're not traveling on horseback through the wilderness, nor are we sailing on the deep blue sea, but never the less, this is an adventure of discovery."

          "Yes, I agree with you," voiced Mason. "However, Lewis, Clark, and Columbus were not speeding an intense multi-phase laser beam across the universe."

          Deena looked around the stadium size room to see that every chair is now occupied with over three thousand distinguished guests from around the world. Before Mason bummed her out, she was feeling lucky to be one of only twelve journalists chosen to view the final scientific outcome of the Outlook Project. She was also happy to have been seated next to the former California Governor, Mason Marshall, but now she wishes she were seated elsewhere. She glanced up at the large countdown clock. Ten minutes to incoming zero.

          Dr. Dargo walked over to a stand mounted microphone located on center stage. He raised his hands overhead and loudly hooted to get everyone's attention.  

          Mason shook his head upon realizing Dr. Casper Dargo looks more like a comical Danny Devito than a brilliant scientist. The doctor is clothed in a maroon monk's robe, which obviously means he's playing into the supposedly religious aspects of his Outlook Project. 

          "Ladies and gentleman, I want to thank everyone for joining with me to view the final stage of my Outlook Project," announced the doctor. "Forty years of hard work is finally going to pay off. Upon this colossal screen, what our eyes are going to witness is a technical miracle. We are the chosen ones who will visually witness what exists beyond the boundary of our great universe. As many of you know, my dream is the Outlook Project will discover heaven, proving there is life after death, thus releasing everyone's fear of facing a death of nonexistence. Since I was child, I've believed heaven exists beyond the universe. God created the earth and the heavens; therefore, his home obviously surrounds our home." The doctor paused to point up at the countdown clock, and then he danced a little jig while clapping his hands. "This is the most exciting day of my life. Within five minutes, we shall view heaven, thus dissolving our fears of death. From this day forward, death will be joyfully welcomed like taking a vacation to Disney World or to the Bahamas. After today, I foresee the construction of many Dr. Kevorkian Clinics. These will be elegant portals leading to heaven, providing a painless assisted death for those whose old age becomes too difficult to bear."

          Everyone cheered and applauded except for Mason. He deeply sighed in sadness. Do these people actually believe this bullshit? he thoughtfully asked himself as he looked up at the flickering screen. Dr. Casper Dargo belongs in a loony bin, sharing a room with Daffy Duck and the ghost of Dr. Jack Kevorkian.

          "The end of my project is about to commence," shouted the doctor. "Everyone please keep your eyes on the screen." Dr. Dargo ran off the stage to sit down in front of his own private display.

           Mason continued to stare up at the screen. Even though he's totally against the project, curiosity has captured him like a giant Anaconda coiled around his body. Squeezing him to a point where his eyes are bulging and he can't blink them. Suddenly, the flickering static on the giant screen began to alter and take shape, forming a recognizable image. Mason couldn't believe what he's looking at.

          Everyone gasped at once while staring at screen.

          Mason wanted to laugh at the video image, but he couldn't because what he's looking at may be a real image of what's beyond the universe. Up upon the giant screen is an earth-like modern day kitchen. There's a long counter with a double stainless sink nested in the center. He can see stained oak wooden cabinets above and below the counter. There's a dishwasher, a microwave oven, and a standard oven with a ceramic top. Sitting on the counter are bottles of herbs, colorful drinking mugs, and what looks like an electric coffee maker. Over the sink is a window offering a sunny view of a typical front yard with trees, bushes, and multi-colored flowers. Beyond the front yard is a paved road. To Mason's surprise, unrecognizable vehicles occasionally speed by along the road.

          The view on the screen automatically switched to another magnified camera.

          "Oh my God," yelled Dr. Dargo, "this is amazing. We must be looking at God's kitchen."

          If this is really God's kitchen, thought Mason, then I'm God's twin brother. This is absurd. Now I'm looking through the kitchen at a wooden dining room table with a centerpiece of a beautiful bouquet of flowers. Off to the left is a dining room buffet lined with dishes resembling bone China, flower etched crystal glasses, and a large trans-green salad bowl. Beyond the table is a glass sliding door leading out to a dazzlingly decorative garden deck butting up to a swimming pool.

          The view switched to another camera, showing a long hallway leading to many rooms within this earth-like house.

          This has to be God's house, located in heaven," announced Dr. Dargo with excitement in his voice.

          Somebody from the audience screamed, "This is a joke!"

          More voices sarcastically erupted from the audience.

          "Yeah, Dargo, and you're crazier than a bedbug if you believe this is God house!"

          "Trying to pass these house images off as being a view from beyond the universe is insulting my intelligence!"

          "Dargo, you need to be committed into the nearest hospital for the mentally insane."

          I can't believe I've traveled half way around the world to be a participant of a foolish joke!"

          "People, this is a true view of what's beyond our universe," pleaded Dr. Dargo. "My only rationalization is this is the home of God. I have no other explanation why we're viewing the interior of a typical earthbound house." The doctor turned toward one of his assistants. "Judy, when will the view switch to the rear camera?"

          "Any moment, Dr. Dargo."

          Everyone silently stared at screen.

          The camera view switched to the rear of the small unmanned spacecraft, and nearly everyone loudly groaned and gasped with surprised shook. They can see the bright powerful laser beam exiting from the wooden molding around a window. The area surrounding the exiting beam is smoldering as if a flame is being held up against the molding.

          Mason realized what he's looking at. He jumped and shouted, "Dr. Dargo, you need to turn off the laser beam."

          "Why?" the doctor asked.

          "If the surface of the window molding ignites, it'll burn up our vast universe!"

          "We can turn off the power, but as the power drains, the far end of the laser will remain active for many years."

          "Can you draw the laser back into our universe?"

          "No!"

          Deena stood up. "Mason, what are we looking at? What's happening?"

          Without answering, Mason grabbed Deena's warm hand and firmly held onto it to give her comfort, and to attempt to comfort his own soul.

          The stadium is silent as everyone watched the smoldering gradually increase.

          Six minutes pace passed by at a snail's crawl. Mason's heart fluttered when a bright yellowish red flame formed just above the magnified view of the exiting laser beam.

          "Mason, the molding is on fire," voiced Deena. "What does this mean?"

          "Within the molecular construction of window molding is ultra microscopic universe, and the molding exists within the enormous universe we're looking at upon the screen. Perhaps this universe presented on the screen exists within another enormous universe."

          "What will this fire do to our universe?"

          Mason lightly pulled Deena's hand. "Follow me." He ran across the stadium toward an emergency exit. Before passing through the doorway, Mason glanced up at screen to see that the wooden window molding is now engulfed in flames. He stepped outside and looked up to see the sky entirely filled with giant yellowish red flames moving towards the earth.

          "The temperature is rapidly increasing!" snapped Deena.

          Mason wrapped his arms around Deena and hugged her. He whispered in her ear. "Deena, there's nothing we can do but remain calm. Together, let's pass either into nonexistence or heaven."  

The End!

© September 2011

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These are the website places where you can purchase Chuck's enjoyable E-Novels... Click and purchase... All under five US Dollars:

They! is an upcoming new novel by Chuck Keyes. Based somewhat on the 1950's classic sci-fi movie, Them! (O8/2011)

The Growing Phenomenon of e-Books

    Electronic Books, the entertaining way to save our beautiful trees, which are one of nature's most amazing gifts. Electronic books and their amazing digital readers are stampeding around the world like billions of Texas cattle, and it's just the beginning. Compared to the new growth of a mighty oak tree, proudly spurting out of the ground; however, this oak tree is technologically energized, and it'll be a thousand feet tall within another year. Paper books will almost become obsolete, but don't think of this as being a bad thing.  We do have countless historian book collectors.

     No more frantically flipping through paper pages because you lost your place. No more damaging your novel by dog-earing the corner of the pages because you lost your bookmark. No more searching where to store your paper novel after your third or fourth colossal bookcase is packed solid with numerous sizes of books.

    This e-book phenomenon is not a fad like pet rocks, flip up headlights, and flower children. It's drastically altering every big business aspect of dealing with books. For those businesses who do not commit to this rapid technological change, billions of dollars will hastily change hands over the next few years. It's going to influence big business almost like converting every automobile engine over to hydrogen based cold-fusion systems that utilizes seawater for fuel.

     Being a sci-fi writer, I foresee e-Book coffee shops, e-book libraries, automated e-book vending machines where you plug in your digital reader to purchase wonderful novels stored within, and e-book school books, thus no more lugging those heavy books from class to class!   

        I'd love to observe the expression on Herbert's face if he could witness a young mind reading one of his famous science fiction novels on a digital reader, such as 'The Time Machine' or 'The War of the Worlds'.          

   People around the world are jumping on the e-book bandwagon faster than you can say 'e'. Modern day technology at its best, offering every human a much easier way to read, which is far better than mindlessly sitting googly-eyed in front of the boob-tube. Reading is like super exhilarating your brain with knowledge and emotions, via history, education, mystery, drama, science fiction, horror, love, and much, much more. Offering an infinite supply of electronic reading that you can take almost anywhere. Why it was just the other day when I witnessed a man lightly jogging while reading his digital reader.         The one thing I've always disliked is to pick up a paper book novel to find out the print is a little smaller, thus being out of focus for my older eyes, but low and behold, my amazing digital reader can enlarge the text. And for those whose eyes have unfortunately become useless for reading, their marvelous digital readers can read their favorite novels out loud, as if their a child listening to a wondrous bedtime story being read to them by their mother or father.

    Every day, the wonders of new technology affects our lives for good, and sometimes for bad. I know for a fact that e-Books are here to stay for a long time, offering our children and future generations a magnificent gift of knowledge and emotions.

Article by Chuck Keyes  

A snippet from Chuck's newest e-book novel, 'They!'

He hopes to have it completed by the end of August, 2011   

   Katie stretched out on the bunk wearing only her white t-shirt and a pair of ankle-high white fluffy sox. The temperature within the old prisoner cell is perfect, so she didn't bother using a top sheet or blanket. She was hoping to fall right to sleep, but the past day's excitement is still tumbling around in her head like a large load of wet clothing in a dryer. She knows her body is physically exhausted, but every time she stops thinking about one horrifying event, another instantly pops up. This continued until she realized she was avoiding to think about Deputy Cart Carson. The handsome man who doesn't know how young she really is. During the past, her thoughts were always focused on two subjects, one of being the best sharpshooter on planet earth, and the other of receiving high grades in school. She's never felt a sexual attraction until today, when it exploded within her essence like a fifty megaton bomb. Cart Carson's handsomeness made certain unmentionable parts of her body pleasurably tingle, thus greatly intensifying her emotions to a new and wondrous level of excitement.

     These new physical and emotional sensations of sexual desires, enchanted her, and she wondered if Cinderella experienced the same sensations when she danced with the handsome prince. Did she also have thoughts of being naked while the prince caressed and kissed every square inch of her steaming hot body? Of course, they never mentioned this sexual aspect within this delightful children's tale. On that thought, Katie Ann Morganson fell asleep.