The Project Gutenberg eBook, Oberheim (Voices), by Christopher Leadem

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Title: Oberheim (Voices)

Author: Christopher Leadem

Release Date: October 23, 2004 [eBook #13841]

Language: English

Character set encoding: ISO-646-US (US-ASCII)

***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK OBERHEIM (VOICES)***

Copyright 2002 by Christopher Leadem

OBERHEIM (Voices)
a chronicle of War

Science Fiction,
Approx. 90,000 Words

Copyright 2002 by Christopher Leadem,
All Rights Reserved.

to Hemingway

ACT ONE

Andersen Sector
Months X through XII
International Year: 2410

OBERHEIM

The dawn came cool and pale. Looking down from the balcony he watched
the white sun rise slowly, lighting the valleys and stalk forests
below, the dark mountains behind. The only sound was that of
transplanted birds in the distance, seeming unnatural in this
altogether alien landscape. He heard his name called from within, but
did not answer. Elonna came and stood in the glass doorway behind him,
wrapped in a blanket.

"What's the matter, Eric?" He did not answer but only shook his head
without turning. She stepped out onto the balcony beside him, opened
the blanket with her arms and wrapped it about his shoulders. Her skin
felt warm against him, but could not displace the emptiness and anxiety
he felt.

"What's wrong?" she asked again, curling up against his chest.

"I don't know. It's too quiet." The girl turned her face to look out
into the wind, her long hair flowing behind. She looked out at the
sun, warm and sleepy-eyed, then drew back from him with a start.

"Eric, look!" Three black specks had just cleared the horizon, and
were moving swiftly toward them. They flew in tight V formation, but
their shapes could not yet be distinguished.

"Oh, damn. Elonna, get inside, down into the shelter. I'm going to
try to contact the city."

She hurried inside. He looked back then moved to follow, but too late.
A shaft of yellow light shot down from one of the ships, now nearly
overhead, and he slumped to t