"Yes, but it turns out the Shield Web is not a good, permanent
solution to our problem. The scientists who invented the Shield and the governments
who built it are unable to guarantee that it will continue to keep us safe from the deadly
solar radiation. They decided, John, to eventually abandon the Shield Project, and
began to discuss the colonization of Mars. They figured out how to regenerate its
atmosphere and how to terraform the surface of Mars, blanketing it with new life. Tomorrow, your
journey begins towards this new life, towards your new Earth."
John was silent for a while, munching on a cookie and watching birds in flight, the hawks
above, the gulls below.
"But it's not too late to fix the Earth, Grandpa. I mean, we figured
out how to bring Mars back to life, so fixing the Earth can't be any harder than that."
"Oh, dear boy," said George, his heart aching to hear his grandson's distress.
"You know and I know, John, that no problem can be solved by turning our backs to it. People of the Earth,
I am sorry to say, have turned away from the planet's problems, problems we all created ourselves.
I am afraid it makes human beings seem like some kind of disease that destroys the body it lives on,
only to jump ship to another body to start the whole thing over again. Do you understand?"
"Yes I do. We're jumping ship, from Earth to Mars. We're just like
cancer, the cancer that made Grandma pass away. We're finished with the Earth, and now we're going to
Mars, and we're going to destroy it, too. Why do we have to be so mean, Grandpa?" and suddenly John was
in his grandfather's arms, and he cried because the weight of the whole world was on his young shoulders.
Grandpa George stroked his hair and rocked him, and calmed him with soothing sounds.
"There, there dear boy. I'm sorry to paint such a dark picture for your
sweet soul. You are such a good, fine boy. Listen to me now, John. There is hope for us poor,
confused humans. You are part of that hope, and so am I."