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Eddy and Albert Rabbit (a short story of nature)

6/10/2021

     It was dark in the burrow when a thumping waked eddy. Eddy looked up to see Albert, his older brother scratching behind his ear with his back paw. “Albert, why are you doing that so early in the morning.”
    “Wake up, sleepyhead. Fresh grass is calling to us. I’m hungry.” Albert hopped over to Eddy to push him with his front paws before rolling over on him, laughing the whole time.
     “Leave me alone.” Eddy protested as he bounced on his brother. They wrestled around giggling until their mom came in. She was the fastest rabbit in the family.
     “What are you boys doing? Are you two going to play all morning or go with me to get something to eat?” She waited at the entrance to their room in the burrow, thumping her back paw impatiently. “On the way home last night, I saw some new growth that will make a tasty way to start the day. It’s a little far, so we will have to be careful.”
     “An adventure,” Albert exclaimed. “Let’s go. I’m ready for an adventure.”
     “I’m not sure,” Eddy added. “That sounds fun, but isn’t it dangerous?” He was always cautious. Stories mom told about the coyotes, predatory birds, and the most dangerous of all, humans. Doubt filled him.
     “I’ll be with you, Eddy.” Mom tried to reassure him.
     “Afraid of a flying rodent? Come on, Eddy, it will be fun.” Albert rolled over Eddy as he teased him.
     “Okay, okay.” Eddy reluctantly replied.
     Albert waited for Eddy to follow behind his mother so he wouldn’t back out. Finally, they made their way to the surface where they had burrowed down from a fallen tree. The tree trunk rotted out enough, so it was easy going through. Mom stuck her head out first to make sure it was safe.
     Mom’s nose twitched as she slowly stepped out of the safety of the tree trunk. Not far away was a trail used by humans. She turned to look at her boys. “Okay, let’s go.” As she started toward the meadow, the boys followed. Carefully, they moved from tall grass to tress and back to tall grass. Eddy was sniffing all the tasty flowers and grasses as they passed some of his favorite weeds. Eddy spotted a family of deer grazing in the grass. He couldn’t watch them because mom was moving fast, and he didn’t want to get left behind.
     Soon, they reached the meadow. Mom was right. It was a field filled with new growth of weeds, twigs, and fresh grass with the right amount of morning dew. Eddy quenched his thrust while eating breakfast. What a perfect morning. Suddenly a shadow blocked the sun for a moment. He froze.
     “Run, Eddy, it’s a vulture,” Albert warned as he ran past Eddy.
     “Run, boys,” Mom called out as she caught up to them. “Hide behind that tree.”
     Hopping as fast as they could, all three made it to the tree. Eddy’s heart was racing. He was trembling with fear. He had seen what a vulture could do, and he didn’t want that to happen to him, his brother, or his mom. Albert stopped behind the tree, and Eddy was running so fast he ran into Albert.
     “Hey, watch it. You almost pushed me out where the vulture could see me.” Albert exclaimed.
     “Sorry,” Eddy replied as his mom peeked around the tree.
     “Don’t look, boys,” Mom whispered firmly to them. “Oh.” She exclaimed as the boys heard the cry of a field mouse. “I think it’s time we go.” But, before they could leave, the screams of the field mouse stopped.
     Eddy knew what that meant. The joy of the morning faded as they hurried back to the meadow of their burrow. The sun was high in the sky now. Hunger overshadowed the terrible cries of the field mouse as the three of them went about the meadow eating.
     Albert finished first and ran over Eddy rolling over him as he was eating. Eddy laughed and did the same thing to Albert. Mom yelled out. “Quite boys. I think I hear something coming.” Mom was on her back legs setting up, twitching her ears, and sniffing the air. “Back to the burrow, quickly.” Mom started back to the burrow behind Albert and Eddy. “ Don’t look back, boys,” Mom yelled as they headed for the hollow tree trunk.
     That’s when they heard a dog running toward them through the meadow. It was moving fast. Eddy was frightened and running as fast as he could. When they reached the hollow tree, Albert entered first, with Eddy close behind. That’s when they heard the dog growl. Mom hit the tree hard, scrambling into the hollow before letting out a cry. “Oh.” Humans were yelling outside as the dog growling and scratching at the tree. Eddy turned to look as mom limped down the hollow tree toward him. “Get into the burrow. We’ll be safe there.”
     Eddy and Albert waited inside the burrow as mom poked her head down to look at them. “Here I come.” She landed hard, not like the graceful way she usually did. She kicked her leg a couple of times while the boys stared, fearing how bad she got hurt.
     “I’m okay, boys. When I crawled inside the hollow tree, I hit my leg. I’ll be fine in a few minutes.
     Eddy and Albert went to her sniff her leg as she lay on her side. They didn’t see any blood. Then, after a few minutes, she got up and cuddled with them to reassure them. “Tomorrow, I think we will stay here, in our meadow.”

     I hope you enjoyed the short story of Eddy and Albert. Hiking is a passion of mine. A trail by the lake filled with wildlife is inspirational. Red-tailed hawks, vultures, rabbits, and deer are always there, even if they are just out of sight. Nature is a wonder. I hope to inspire you to take a walk through a nature trail near you. Take time to see what wonders God has placed in your area. For me, it can be breathtaking.
     Visit www.authorjwmartin.com for more blog posts, books, music, and more. Watch for my next blog.

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A Vision to Behold

1/27/2021

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Blog Update: January 27, 2021, by Jerry W. Martin

     Change is one constant in life. My mother was born in the 1920s. The only form of entertainment was the radio, books, or stories a family member might tell about their day or something from the past. Automobiles were not common as they are today. Electricity changed our world forever. There are so many other inventions made available through the marvel of electricity. It is my opinion that electricity is the single greatest invention in history. Think of the things you use every day. Most run off of electricity. The internal combustion engine is possible because of the electrical system that starts it and keeps it running, as an example.
     Televisions are in almost every home. It developed over time. They started out as black and white, but it was television. Programming improved as color made its debut. Picture quality got better too, along with television shows. Today there are so many channels to watch over a fiberoptic network with speeds at 1,000 Mbps. Images on a LED screen are so clear the people look like they’re in the room with you.
     By the mid-80s personal computers became available. Quantum leaps in computing technology have expanded our horizons in so many fields. We are on the brink of self-driving cars. Solid-state batteries are about to hit the market. Robotics have been around for decades in industry. Homes have more automated features than every before. This is only the beginning.
     In Triangulum: Battle for Earth, Emma and her team build the first artificial intelligent robot, known as RAI. That idea develops RAI into what I see is a natural development of robotics. RAIs develop their own programming language exceeding binary code. In Triangulum: Earth on Fire, RAI takes the leading role to stop global war. They also play an important role in cooking, cleaning, security, and communications.
     Today there are autonomous vacuum cleaners, floor mops, and lawnmowers. Intelligent homes unlock doors, turn on lights, set the temperature in your house and many other tasks. There are many other things, I feel, will drive the demand for an intelligent robot in your home. All the jobs we don’t want to do around the house, no problem with an intelligent robot to do them. The one I envision will be an amazing chef as well. At some point in the future, I see them as a first responder living in your home. If something were to happen to you, they will be able to provide emergency medical assistance while contacting 911, if it is necessary.
     No one can know what the future holds, but in the Triangulum series I see a bright spot for autonomous robots playing a part in our daily lives. It’s like a pet that never pees on your floor or leaves unwanted presents in your backyard you have to clean up several times a week. Visit www.authorjwmartin.com for more blog posts, books, music, and more. Watch for my next blog.

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Soaring High (a short story of nature)

11/20/2020

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Blog Update:   November 20, 2020, by Jerry W Martin

     While on one of our daily hikes, several red-tailed hawks flew over the treetops. This story came to me, which may turn into a children’s book. There will need to be a least three before I will spend time working out the artwork. For now, here is Soaring High.

     Trees were still budding as days were getting warmer. Hank, a red-tailed hawk, watched the ground below searching for food. Riding air currents off the lake he soared above the trees as he swung over the land. Maybe he would spot a mouse, a squirrel, or another snake would be nice.
     Two days ago, a snake was sunning on a rock in the early morning hours. Hank felt lucky to find sure a treat. What a nice break from the mice he dined on so often. Swoop, Hank's friend was off hunting another part of the woods that day, but Hank wanted to stay close to the nest. Rumors around the forest was an owl had been spotted. Owls liked to disrupt hawk’s nests to take it for themselves.
     Suzie, Hank’s mate, had just laid a second egg and Hank was feeling the pressure to bring home breakfast so she could eat. That’s when he spotted something that jumped from a tree to the ground heading across a grassy meadow. As Hank rode the breeze off the lake inland, he picked up speed while diving toward the ground.
     There it was. A plump squirrel the perfect size for Suzie and him. Swinging low over the grassy meadow to keep his shadow from alerting his prey, he extended his talons out embracing the squirrel as he turned toward the trees. In one swift motion, the squirrel was secure within his grasp as they reached skyward.
     When Suzie saw Hank coming, she perked up. Fatigue from laying eggs had caused her to stay in the nest. Now she could build her strength before going on a hunt herself. Worry over the news of an owl in the area concerned her as much as it did Hank.
     When Hank reached the nest, Suzie and Hank had just begun to eat when Swoop called out a warning, “Owl.” Immediately, Hank left the nest and joined Swoop.
     Mr. Owl had used the trees for cover looking for hawk nests. He planned was to disrupt a few hawk nests and take the best one for his very own. Hank and Swoop had other ideas and they chased Mr. Owl between the trees. It was a dangerous game swinging back and forth. Striking a tree limb with a wing would most likely result in a broken wing.
     Mr. Owl was swift and a great flier skillfully maneuvering between the trees and limbs always heading further away from the hawks nesting ground. The chase went on for a long time before Hank began to worry about Suzie. Was she okay? Was there any squirrel left for him? He hadn’t eaten in two days.
     “I’m turning back,” Hank called out the Swoop. “I think Mr. Owl knows not to come back.”
     “You’re right. He’s still running for it.” The two hawks headed back to their nesting ground.
     When Hank reached the nest, Suzie had finished eating leaving more than enough for Hank. Today, they had secured their nest and the two eggs Suzie had given them.

     I hope you enjoyed the short story of Hank, Suzie, and their friend Swoop. Hiking is a passion of mine. A trail by the lake is filled with wildlife. Red-tailed hawks are always riding air currents overhead swooping down sometimes within a few feet away from us. Nature is a wonder I hope to inspire you to take in. Take time to see what wonders God has placed in your area. For me, it can be breathtaking.
     Visit www.authorjwmartin.com for more blog posts, books, music, and more. Watch for my next blog.

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Round One, Done

11/13/2020

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Blog Update:   November 13, 2020, by Jerry W Martin

     Triangulum: Earth on Fire is now a complete first draft. Earth on Fire continues where Battle for Earth ends. Emma and Jerry face catastrophic events that affect them personally as old hatreds and the desire for global conquest spring up as World War III ignites. Earth on Fire is much more than a global war. Jerry’s brother gets into a legal issue that could send him to prison for the rest of his life. Politics in WSOC, the World Security Organization Commission, goes against Emma.
     Part of my process, when writing a book, is to make a couple of passes through after the story is written. As a first draft, the story is complete with several stories within the book to give the novel more depth. Overall, the storyline for Earth on Fire takes global tenses from around the world and expounds upon them.
     In the second draft, I make sure that all of the storylines have continuity. You may ask yourself what does that really mean? An example is to be sure a character’s name is spelled the same throughout the novel. A more difficult facet of continuity is the timeline. If events don’t flow in a consistent sequence along the timeline it becomes confusing for a reader. If Joe dies in chapter 5 but is seen again in chapter 8, the timeline is off. There are times a character will flashback in a dream or recall a memory of a person. That is much different than having scenes out of sequence.
     Imagery of the scene is important. Too much can bore the reader where too little isn’t enough for the reader to use their imagination. Conveying feelings characters experiences during a scene is just as important as the setting of the scene. Before my editor is engaged in the process, I try to alleviate as many issues as possible.
     When I worked as a journalist for a college newspaper, our managing editor told us almost weekly that writers write and editors edit. He followed that statement with, “So get your work in early.” He added several descriptive words that I don’t feel the need to share. His message sticks with me echoing through my head every time I rewrite a draft. If you are a writer or want to become one, his message may help you.
     Visit www.authorjwmartin.com for more blog posts, books, music and more. Watch for my next blog “Soaring High.”

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A look to the future

11/4/2020

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     Writing the Triangulum series allows me an opportunity to explore how current technologies might advance in our lifetime and beyond. Might is a principal word when looking toward the future. There are so many theories in various fields of science that could impact our lives. No one knows how technologies will develop as we move forward in time, but it is entertaining when you wrap guesses up in a story.
     Battle for Earth sets the stage for the five books series by introducing the conflict between Triangulum and Earth. By using conflicts around the world as a source of distraction, the characters in the first book are introduced. With a lot of embellishing, I create a scenario leading to World War III. That’s when the aliens attack. Wars throughout history have accelerated the development of technology. This is the foundation for the last three books of the series.
     Emma Henderson is at the forefront of technological advancements that are explored throughout the series when the RAI (robotic artificial intelligent) humanoids are developed. As a spoiler, I will tell you RAIs don’t save the day in Battle for Earth. Emma does have a significant role to play in developing new technologies as she finds and loses love.
     An example of how technology can progress over time is solar energy, a product in our lifetime that has reached the market. In 1839 Edmond Becquerel, a French physicist, at age 19 discovered the effect of photovoltaic. Click the link (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edmond_Becquerel) to learn more. Becquerel probably never envisioned how solar power would develop into the products we see today. It wasn’t until 1954 that the first silicon solar cell was developed at Bell Labs, a gap of 115 years. In the 1980s, solar panels gained market share as the price of solar panels lowered and government incentives made them more affordable. What is amazing is that states don’t require solar panels to be part of every new home build.
     I hope you enjoyed my first ever, but brief blog. Look for my next post. Leave me a comment or ask a question.

Jerry W Martin

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Eddy and Albert Rabbit (a short story of nature)

A Vision to Behold

Soaring High (a short story of nature)

Round One, Done

A look to the future

Jerry W Martin

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