"Canyon City Cataclysm" (preview) - a short story by S. L. Haynes © 2011

Introduction

cataclysm – a momentous and violent event marked by overwhelming upheaval and demolition

All of the satellites and telescopes were turned another direction that day. None saw it coming. Until it was too late to warn anyone. So they said nothing. Why panic the people? Indeed, most were going to die anyway because of it so why panic them.

Of course, some of the amateur astronomers saw it, but it was still too late. The people saw it too just as it passed the moon. The moon obscured it too. That earthly companion for eons helped to end the life of most people on Earth by hiding the soon to be here rock of ages. Thank you companion of the heavens for hiding our end!

Marco had just completed a very trying and tiring contract with the big data firm in the west and was thoroughly enjoying the downtime on the mountain trails not that far from the city where he made his home. His wife Janice, and his children, Marie and James, along with the family dogs, Jack and Jill, were also enjoying spending time moving among the huge trees and mountains. The Jaxton family had long been wilderness hiking and camping enthusiasts, usually expending as much of their family time together in these familiar surroundings as the family could get away with. Hanging out with nature was a religious experience for them. How better than to observe the wonders of the Creator than to be in the middle of it? Life was good and a blessing in these surroundings!

Life was about to make a total change for the Jaxton family. Life was about make a total change for every inhabitant of the world!

The asteroid, now known as “The Rock,” could be seen from everywhere. The rock was the size of the Louisiana Superdome stadium that sheltered the refugees from Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Radar telemetry estimated that this iron core asteroid was approaching at 40,000 miles per hour.

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