FROM HERE TO THERE

Copyright 2003 by Gosto Tothiwim

Namdoog Neb climbed the hill overlooking the construction site and sat on the green grass to take in the view.

The outline of the first-stage centrifuge building covered a circle nearly a quarter mile in diameter. A dotted line of survey flags ran from the circle up the hill and continued off to Namdoog's right, up and over the shoulder of the lower peak of Twin Butte Mountain and out of sight.

Within three months, the centrifuge building would be complete, and after another three months the first leg of the acceleration chute would stretch up along the line of flags. After more months of testing, redesign, and construction, the second stage "hyper speed" centrifuge building would circle the lower peak, the circle canted in alignment with the upper stages of the acceleration chute. Finally, the chute would be extended across the gap to the upper peak, and on up the mountain, jutting far above the summit.

Vast quantities of materials and equipment would be launched into space from this complex, and a new era of exploration would begin for the human race.

TO BE CONTINUED