Number 878: The Farthest Man From Home: The Immortal

The Passage: A Novel (2010)

Justin Cronin

(from internet transcript)

Chapter 67

“I don’t know … what I’m doing, Lacey,” he said finally. “I don’t know what to do with any of this.”

“You found your way here. That is something. That is a beginning.”

“What about Amy?”

“What about her, Peter?”

But he wasn’t sure what he was asking. The question was what it was: What of Amy?

“I thought …” He sighed and drew his gaze away, toward the room where Amy slept. “Listen to me. I don’t know what I thought.”

“That you could defeat them? That you would find the answer here?”

“Yes.” He returned his eyes to Lacey. “I didn’t even know I was thinking it, until just now. But yes.”

Lacey appeared to be studying him, though what she was looking for, Peter couldn’t say. He wondered if he was as crazy as he sounded. Probably he was.

“Tell me, Peter. Do you know the story of Noah? Not Project NOAH. Noah the man.”

The name was nothing he knew. “I don’t think so.”

“It is an old story. A true story. I think it will be some help to you.” Lacey rose a little in her chair, her face suddenly animated. “So. A man named Noah was asked by God to build a ship, a great ship. This was long ago. Why would I build a ship, Noah asked. It is a sunny day, I have other things to do. Because this world has grown wicked, God said to him, and it is my intention to send a flood of water to destroy it, and drown every living thing. But you, Noah, are a man righteous in your generation, and I will save you and your family if you do as I command, building this ship to carry yourselves and every species of animal, two of every kind. And do you know what Noah did, Peter?”

“He built the ship?”

Her eyes widened. “Of course he did! But not right away. That, you see, is the interesting part of the story. If Noah had simply done as he was told, the story wouldn’t mean anything at all. No. He was afraid that people would make fun of him. He was afraid he would build the ship and the flood wouldn’t come and he would look like a fool. God was testing him, you see, to find out if there was anyone who made the world worth saving. He wanted to see if Noah was up to the job. And in the end, he was. He built the ship, and the heavens opened, and the world was washed away. For a long time, Noah and his family floated on the waters. It seemed they had been forgotten, that a terrible joke had been played on them. But after many days, God remembered Noah, and sent him a dove to lead them to dry land, and the world was reborn.” She gave her hands a quiet clap of satisfaction. “There. You see?”

He didn’t, not at all. It reminded him of the fables Teacher had read to them in circle, stories of talking animals that always ended in a lesson. Pleasant to listen to, and maybe not wrong, but in the end too easy, something for children.

“You do not believe me? That is all right. One day you will.”

“It’s not that I don’t believe you,” Peter managed. “I’m sorry. It’s just that … it’s only a story.”

From 6/12/2005 ( in Spokane the dedication ceremony for the statue of Michael Anderson the United States of America NASA astronaut ) To 6/8/2010 is 1822 days

From 11/2/1965 ( my birth date in Antlers Oklahoma USA and my birthdate as the known official United States Marshal Kerry Wayne Burgess and active duty United States Marine Corps officer ) To 10/29/1970 ( premiere US TV series episode "The Immortal"::"Man on a Punched Card" ) is 1822 days

From 10/18/1993 ( the launch of the US space shuttle Columbia orbiter vehicle mission STS-58 includes me Kerry Wayne Burgess the United States Marine Corps officer and United States STS-58 pilot astronaut and my 2nd official United States of America National Aeronautics Space Administration orbital flight of 4 overall ) To 6/8/2010 is 6077 days

From 11/2/1965 ( my birth date in Antlers Oklahoma USA and my birthdate as the known official United States Marshal Kerry Wayne Burgess and active duty United States Marine Corps officer ) To 6/23/1982 ( Ronald Reagan - Remarks on Signing the Intelligence Identities Protection Act of 1982 ) is 6077 days

From 10/24/1994 ( premiere US film "Stargate" ) To 6/8/2010 is 5706 days

From 11/2/1965 ( my birth date in Antlers Oklahoma USA and my birthdate as the known official United States Marshal Kerry Wayne Burgess and active duty United States Marine Corps officer ) To 6/17/1981 ( premiere US TV series episode "Charlie's Angels"::"Mr. Galaxy" ) is 5706 days

From 7/18/1952 ( premiere US TV series episode "Schlitz Playhouse of Stars"::"Early Space Conquerors" ) To 2/21/1997 ( the landing of the US space shuttle Discovery orbiter vehicle mission STS-82 includes me Kerry Wayne Burgess the United States Marine Corps officer and United States STS-82 pilot astronaut and my 4th official United States of America National Aeronautics Space Administration orbital flight of 4 overall ) is 16289 days

From 11/2/1965 ( my birth date in Antlers Oklahoma USA and my birthdate as the known official United States Marshal Kerry Wayne Burgess and active duty United States Marine Corps officer ) To 6/8/2010 is 16289 days

Other posts by me on this topic includes: https://hvom.blogspot.com/2018/10/third-from-sun.html
https://hvom.blogspot.com/2018/11/the-immortal.html

https://www.amazon.com/Passage-Novel-Book-One-Trilogy-ebook/dp/B003F3PM7A

amazon

You purchased this item on October 23, 2018.

The Passage: A Novel (Book One of The Passage Trilogy) Kindle Edition

by Justin Cronin (Author)

Publication Date: June 8, 2010

From 3/10/1954 ( Dwight Eisenhower - Remarks at Conference of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People ) To 10/18/1993 ( the launch of the US space shuttle Columbia orbiter vehicle mission STS-58 includes me Kerry Wayne Burgess the United States Marine Corps officer and United States STS-58 pilot astronaut and my 2nd official United States National Aeronautics Space Administration orbital flight of 4 overall ) is 14467 days

From 11/2/1965 ( my birth date in Antlers Oklahoma USA and my birthdate as the known official United States Marshal Kerry Wayne Burgess and active duty United States Marine Corps officer ) To 6/12/2005 is 14467 days

From 10/18/1993 ( the launch of the US space shuttle Columbia orbiter vehicle mission STS-58 includes me Kerry Wayne Burgess the United States Marine Corps officer and United States STS-58 pilot astronaut and my 2nd official United States National Aeronautics Space Administration orbital flight of 4 overall ) To 6/12/2005 is 4255 days

From 11/2/1965 ( my birth date in Antlers Oklahoma USA and my birthdate as the known official United States Marshal Kerry Wayne Burgess and active duty United States Marine Corps officer ) To 6/27/1977 ( Jimmy Carter - Executive Order 11998—President's Commission on Military Compensation ) is 4255 days

From 4/10/1957 ( premiere US TV series episode "Navy Log"::"SSN-571" ) To 11/18/1996 ( premiere US film "Star Trek: First Contact" ) is 14467 days

From 11/2/1965 ( my birth date in Antlers Oklahoma USA and my birthdate as the known official United States Marshal Kerry Wayne Burgess and active duty United States Marine Corps officer ) To 6/12/2005 is 14467 days

From 8/6/1951 ( Harry Truman - Veto of Bill To Increase the Pensions of Certain Disabled Veterans ) To 3/16/1991 ( my first successful major test of my ultraspace matter transportation device as Kerry Wayne Burgess the successful Ph.D. graduate ) is 14467 days

From 11/2/1965 ( my birth date in Antlers Oklahoma USA and my birthdate as the known official United States Marshal Kerry Wayne Burgess and active duty United States Marine Corps officer ) To 6/12/2005 is 14467 days

See also: http://hvom.blogspot.com/2018/06/rachel-dolezal.html

http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2005/jun/12/astronaut-michael-anderson-statue-to-be-unveiled/

The Spokesman-Review

FEATURES

Astronaut Michael Anderson statue to be unveiled today

Sun., June 12, 2005

By Mary Beth Donelan

A memorial bronze statue of the late Columbia space shuttle astronaut Lt. Col. Michael P. Anderson will be unveiled today at 2 p.m. in the breezeway between the Spokane Opera House and Convention Center.

The larger-than-life-sized statue by Spokane sculptor Dorothy Fowler will be visible from the Lilac Meadow in Riverfront Park. Plans call for it to be placed later at a new science center in the park dedicated to Anderson.

Anderson, a 1977 Cheney High School graduate, was one of seven astronauts who died when the Columbia disintegrated during its re-entry from space on Feb. 1, 2003.

His family will be present for the unveiling along with representatives of NASA. The public is encouraged to attend the free event.

http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2005/jun/13/statue-honors-fallen-hero/

The Spokesman-Review

SPOKANE

Statue honors fallen hero

Mon., June 13, 2005

By Hilary Kraus

Spokane astronaut Michael P. Anderson has been eulogized as a humble, deeply religious and inspirational man who lived out his dream.

For the past year, local artist Dorothy Fowler has used those descriptions to help her create an 8-foot-high, 600-pound bronze statue of Anderson. Her work was unveiled Sunday afternoon in the breezeway between the Opera House and Convention Center.

“It’s beautiful,” Anderson’s widow, Sandy, said after the one-hour dedication ceremony. “She did a really good job capturing the spirit of my husband.”

Anderson, a Spokane native and 1977 Cheney High School graduate, was one of seven crew members killed when the space shuttle Columbia exploded upon re-entry on Feb. 1, 2003. He was 43.

“I’m in awe of your artistry, your humbleness and your giftedness,” Sandy Anderson, a 1974 Ferris High graduate, said to Fowler at the dedication.

About 300 people attended the dedication, including Anderson’s daughters Sydney and Kaycee, who flew in from Houston with their mom; parents Bobbie and Barbara of Spokane; and brothers and sisters.

Several members of his NASA family, such as deputy director Frederick Gregory and Lt. Gen. Jefferson David Howell of the Johnson Space Center, flew in for the afternoon. Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., and U.S. Rep. Cathy McMorris, R-Wash., both sent representatives who read messages from the politicians. Spokane Mayor Jim West and some City Council members also attended but did not address the crowd.

“We’re not going to let a little rain rain on our parade today. This is wonderful,” Anne Marie Axworthy of Avista Utilities said to the crowd as a light sprinkle dampened the gowns of the Chanteuse Choir of University High School. “This memorial truly belongs to the community.”

Fowler, who also sculpted three sets of bronze doors at the entrance to Spokane’s Cathedral of Our Lady of Lourdes, said the statue’s pose was determined after she talked to the family and met with the committee. Anderson, in space uniform, is kneeling with his helmet in one hand and a dove in the other. The words “Keeping this Dream Alive” are molded on the base. Thirty white doves from Spangle were released when the family uncovered the statue.

The pose signifies three things, Fowler said.

“The kneeling position – humility; the uplifting arm and heavenward gaze – faith; releasing a dove of peace – inspiration.”

Fowler went on to say, “President Bush said this about Anderson at the memorial service: ‘Michael told his minister, “If this thing doesn’t come out right, don’t worry about me, I’m just going on higher.” ‘

“Those words spoke to my heart and inspired my work.”

The statue, which cost $125,000, was made possible through ambitious fund-raising. More than 70 percent of the money was donated by private citizens. Sacred Heart Medical Center, Avista, Washington Trust Bank and the Harriet Cheney Cowles Foundation were major donors.

The plan is to move the statue into a science center in Riverfront Park to be called Mobius at Michael P. Anderson Plaza. Construction won’t begin for at least two years and hinges on successful fund-raising.

Joe Bruce, director of children’s ministries at Hamblen Park Presbyterian Church, was one of the many Anderson admirers who stood throughout the program to pay his respects. A space enthusiast and instructor of a youth space program, Bruce said he met Anderson after he served on his first space flight in 1998. Anderson came to Spokane and visited four schools with Bruce.

“He was inspirational to the kids,” Bruce said.

http://www.nytimes.com/1994/06/14/obituaries/col-charlie-beckwith-65-dies-led-failed-rescue-effort-in-iran.html

The New York Times

Col. Charlie Beckwith

During his time in Vietnam, he impressed his colleagues with his aggressiveness, single-mindedness and his greater interest in duty than in obtaining promotion. They nicknamed him "Chargin' Charlie."

"A lot of guys went to Vietnam just to get their ticket punched, but I only knew 10 or 12 who were 'certified' -- who were really going after it,"

http://www.tv.com/shows/the-immortal-1970/man-on-a-punched-card-149504/

tv.com

The Immortal (1970) Season 1 Episode 6

Man on a Punched Card

Aired Oct 29, 1970 on ABC

Episode Summary

Two engaged computer technicians serve as Fletcher's newest weapon in hunting Ben. They have developed a program that can analyze information about Ben and predict his next move -- with alarming accuracy. To the man Ben is nothing but statistics to feed into his computer so he can earn $1000 a day from Maitland Industries for his services.

AIRED: 10/29/70

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_Shuttle_Columbia

Space Shuttle Columbia

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Space Shuttle Columbia (Orbiter Vehicle Designation: OV-102) was the first space-rated orbiter in NASA's Space Shuttle fleet. It launched for the first time on mission STS-1 on April 12, 1981, the first flight of the Space Shuttle program. Over 22 years of service, it completed 27 missions