“Vince, you’ve got to be kidding. We’re jumping to conclusions. Think about it.
We’re telling three hundred thousand readers that the aliens are coming. And
based on what? Where’s our research? Where are the scientific voices out
there? It’s our job to mine for the truth! Let’s get digging and task some of the
big names for counterpoints and facts. Have them lay it out for our readers.
We could . . .”
“Mack! Enough! The popular evidence is clear - intelligent signals from deep
space; maybe headed this way. Too early to tell, I agree.” Scarsdale spoke in
abbreviated statements as he tried to wave off Mack's questions.
The Saint Louis Chronicler was no tattler. It was well respected and had very
high standards of reporting. That’s what made Maynard "Mack" MacDonald
furious. The Editor in Chief, Vincent Scarsdale was running tomorrow’s
headline without any investigative challenges, and Mack couldn’t get him to
reason at all.
Mack threw the proof copy onto Vince’s desk, “Vin, think about this for a sec.
Look at the headline for goodness sakes. ‘WE AREN’T ALONE!’ A few days
from now it could blow up in our faces. We’re risking our paper’s reputation
without something to back this up. Shouldn’t we take a skeptical angle on
this?”
“Mack, I said enough! Do you want to start covering the parking ticket section
of the police report? Every other paper is going to break with something just
as . . . just as provocative. The Chronicler won’t come in second on this story. If
you don’t shut your trap, I’m gonna throw you out of my office!”
Scarsdale was always rough around the edges, but being challenged about
his wisdom and judgment was too much, even if Mack was one of the best.
Maynard ‘Mack’ MacDonald was an award-winning investigative reporter.
Politicians and business men in the two-state region of Missouri and Illinois
were afraid of him. They probably hated him too, but at the same time always
smiled nervously in his presence and treated him as if he were a friend in
possession of their dirty little secrets.
He was gifted with dogged tactics and intuitive skills. In the past two years he
had uncovered several political scandals and high crimes, putting a senator, a
mayor and a CEO in prison. He kept legislators on their toes, and it was
rumored he was responsible for a sudden retraction of state laws under
consideration. Mack had proven there were kick-back schemes at work,
feathering the nests of some out-going officials and their friends. Hard-nosed,
the paper’s owner loved him for circulation and headlines. The Chronicler had
clout and it was largely because of Maynard MacDonald.
“OK, listen, Vinnie . . .”
That was the final straw for Scarsdale and he interrupted Mack. “That’s it. Out!
And I don’t go by Vinnie. From now on I’m Mister Scarsdale to you. Out! Out or
I’m calling security.”
Mack turned and exited. He made sure the door slammed hard. Looking out
into the newsroom he saw several reporters’ heads duck down into their
cubicles, like gophers that’d seen the shadow of a hawk fly over. They heard
the shouting, and were trying to get a glimpse of what was going on. But the
door-slam! Nobody had ever dared.
We’re telling three hundred thousand readers that the aliens are coming. And
based on what? Where’s our research? Where are the scientific voices out
there? It’s our job to mine for the truth! Let’s get digging and task some of the
big names for counterpoints and facts. Have them lay it out for our readers.
We could . . .”
“Mack! Enough! The popular evidence is clear - intelligent signals from deep
space; maybe headed this way. Too early to tell, I agree.” Scarsdale spoke in
abbreviated statements as he tried to wave off Mack's questions.
The Saint Louis Chronicler was no tattler. It was well respected and had very
high standards of reporting. That’s what made Maynard "Mack" MacDonald
furious. The Editor in Chief, Vincent Scarsdale was running tomorrow’s
headline without any investigative challenges, and Mack couldn’t get him to
reason at all.
Mack threw the proof copy onto Vince’s desk, “Vin, think about this for a sec.
Look at the headline for goodness sakes. ‘WE AREN’T ALONE!’ A few days
from now it could blow up in our faces. We’re risking our paper’s reputation
without something to back this up. Shouldn’t we take a skeptical angle on
this?”
“Mack, I said enough! Do you want to start covering the parking ticket section
of the police report? Every other paper is going to break with something just
as . . . just as provocative. The Chronicler won’t come in second on this story. If
you don’t shut your trap, I’m gonna throw you out of my office!”
Scarsdale was always rough around the edges, but being challenged about
his wisdom and judgment was too much, even if Mack was one of the best.
Maynard ‘Mack’ MacDonald was an award-winning investigative reporter.
Politicians and business men in the two-state region of Missouri and Illinois
were afraid of him. They probably hated him too, but at the same time always
smiled nervously in his presence and treated him as if he were a friend in
possession of their dirty little secrets.
He was gifted with dogged tactics and intuitive skills. In the past two years he
had uncovered several political scandals and high crimes, putting a senator, a
mayor and a CEO in prison. He kept legislators on their toes, and it was
rumored he was responsible for a sudden retraction of state laws under
consideration. Mack had proven there were kick-back schemes at work,
feathering the nests of some out-going officials and their friends. Hard-nosed,
the paper’s owner loved him for circulation and headlines. The Chronicler had
clout and it was largely because of Maynard MacDonald.
“OK, listen, Vinnie . . .”
That was the final straw for Scarsdale and he interrupted Mack. “That’s it. Out!
And I don’t go by Vinnie. From now on I’m Mister Scarsdale to you. Out! Out or
I’m calling security.”
Mack turned and exited. He made sure the door slammed hard. Looking out
into the newsroom he saw several reporters’ heads duck down into their
cubicles, like gophers that’d seen the shadow of a hawk fly over. They heard
the shouting, and were trying to get a glimpse of what was going on. But the
door-slam! Nobody had ever dared.
earthwriting.com
Action-adventure fiction
with a Biblical perspective!
with a Biblical perspective!
| Excerpt from Chapter One - The Earth Listens |
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Signals from outer space
seemed to say an alien
invasion was eminent.
But, was the crisis contrived
and by human design, or was
earth about to endure an
unimaginable attack from
beyond the stars?
There were a few who were
willing to question the
information in order to know
the truth; even willing to risk it
all - their lives, their fortunes
and their reputations.
Learn how fragile our social
order really is. And learn how
easy it is for that social order
to be manipulated.
seemed to say an alien
invasion was eminent.
But, was the crisis contrived
and by human design, or was
earth about to endure an
unimaginable attack from
beyond the stars?
There were a few who were
willing to question the
information in order to know
the truth; even willing to risk it
all - their lives, their fortunes
and their reputations.
Learn how fragile our social
order really is. And learn how
easy it is for that social order
to be manipulated.