Shaken to the Core, a Matt & Heather Thriller! Book three in the series.

Preface

Bad news as well as world-wide disasters have been flashing on our TV and computer screens as well as in the newspapers—and in an ever increasing stream—leaving many of us with feelings of helplessness. You’ve probably even wondered, ‘Are we just victims of circumstance?’ But what if there could be a way to take control and determine the outcome of your life?

Many self help books have been written explaining how to do just that, but I wanted to write a story that poses a different point of view and one based on scientific findings, while, hopefully, making it an interesting and exciting read, too.

As the basis for my story, Matt, my main character, is studying the relatively new science of Quantum Physics, which explains how particles seem to come into being only when scientists look for them. In other words, there are only waves of potential until a scientist starts observing… that’s when a particle appears. This new branch of science has prompted physicists to look at what ancient mystics had to say about reality: that each of us is in control; this has raised Matt’s interest, too. In other words, we are the scientists in our own lives, observing particles (reality) and bringing them/it into being. Matt learns that how we think about our reality brings about what we experience—the good and the bad. That places each of us at the center of our own world and shows we are each completely in control. Understanding this is empowering! So, rather than feeling victimized, I hope this story leaves you with hope in your own ability to control the events in your life.

"In order to break free, in order to have a new experience and awakening, a new vision, we have to break free of the illusion that we are separate from anything [everything] else—in particular, that we are separate from what we desire!...

"The Universe is to be created…mind is the creator!...

The mere fact that there is a world at all is so miraculous, so impossible to explain, that we should, in recognition and in faith of that, be continually awestruck and continually joyful, in spite of any lacks we may feel in our daily lives. The fact that we exist in material form is no less miraculous, and it may very well be that the common suffering that we see around us and that we feel within us may be concomitant to, or the result of, the fact that we are spirits living in a material form. We are merely reflections of a single mind in a multiple-reflection looking glass.

Physicist, Fred Alan wolf, Ph.D. From his book: Dr. Quantum’s Little Book of

Miracles.

Prologue:

The year 2009 was predicted to go down as one of the worst in history—or certainly a fitting ending to a decade that many were ready to forget. It held tragedies for the Townsand siblings as well, not to mention other weird stuff.

Would 2010 be any better?

Chapter 1:

As young Matt and Heather left the ‘Y’, they scrutinized the scenery around them, hoping to not have a repeat of what they had experienced on the way in—after all, this wasn’t their time—they had ventured to the future…to 2009.

Looking in all directions and finally convinced everything was normal, they began running towards the counterpart of their house on Marina Boulevard. Unfortunately, just as they reached the perimeter of the Presidio and were about to turn left on Baker Street—to head north towards Marina Boulevard and their house—the atmosphere seemed to shimmer as though their surroundings were a mirage.

It was happening again; another reality was superimposing itself on this one. But, even though the blurred images of two realities made them dizzy, they kept running until they finally reached the marina.

I…I don’t know if I can go on, Matt. My side is hurting and I’m out of breath—I’m scared, too! Heather said, panting, trying all the while to satisfy her air-hungry lungs.

Matt was about to have a panic attack: his pulse was racing and his breaths were shallow and quick. He had never felt this way before, even in the worst of circumstances.

Then, as if to make things even more confusing, they saw an old-time, horse-drawn fire wagon making its way towards them from the far end of Marina Boulevard. It certainly didn’t belong in 2009! Heather’s mind was going in a thousand different directions: why were they re-experiencing the same incidents that had happened a year earlier?

The wagon’s driver began clanging the bell in an effort to get motorists, buggies and pedestrians out of the way of his determined steeds. The sound of the bell was so real it brought Heather back to her senses.

And then, as if the sight of the superimposed realities alone wasn’t enough to cause panic in the two children, they had a new concern. For the briefest moment, Heather wondered what the fire wagon was headed towards…and then she knew. Flames from a small grass fire at the edge of the Presidio had caught her attention. She remembered how those flames seemed so real the first time she had seen them. But that was when they had time traveled to the past, just a year earlier. Why was it happening now, in the future? Just as she had the first time, she thought she could actually feel the heat of the flames on the back of her neck again.

"Matt! It is happening again. What’ll we do?"

I know, I know! Matt’s mind was racing. He ran his hand through his light brown hair as he always did whenever he tried to logic his way out of a tight situation. But no solution was there.

Finally, Heather grabbed Matt’s arm and pulled him away from the lurching flames and out onto Baker Street, this time turning right. If they could get to Jefferson they wouldn’t have to worry about the fire wagon, at least for a few moments. Hopefully, once away from the gathering crowds, they could figure out what to do next.

During one of their initial time travel adventures, Heather and Matt had discovered that all the people and objects weren’t as solid as they, but instead, were mere holograms (three-dimensional images projected in space). If the people of the time they were visiting had paid close enough attention, they would have noticed that, to them, Matt and Heather weren’t completely solid either. The two were solid enough, though, that light physical contact could be made. So, in spite of the fact that they couldn’t really be harmed by mere holograms, instinct caused them to run from seemingly threatening incidents anyway.

And then there was the fact that the two children had agreed early on to try and avoid conflicts during their adventures so as not to reveal they were visitors from another time. They also agreed that keeping the inhabitants of the time they were visiting away from their escape passageway was a good idea, too.

Chapter 2:

In 1998, 14 year-old Matt was motivated to head to the Presidio to visit the ‘Y’ in the first place because of the curiosity his eighth grade Science teacher, Mr. Barrett, had instilled in him. During one of his lectures about the causes and effects of global warming, Mr. Barrett indicated that the whole process seemed to have sped up as far back as the 1950s.

Matt was one of the few students who enjoyed his Science class at the private school he and Heather attended; probably because of Mr. Barrett’s animated delivery. In contrast, most of the boys—and even some girls—found the material boring, especially after lunch, and would nod off, only to be suddenly awakened by a shout or stomp of the foot or other theatrical method the young teacher used to regain his students’ attention.

Each of the teachers at the private school was well paid and extremely talented in his or her field. It was because of their high salaries that they weren’t lured away by the corporate world. The school demanded academic excellence from the students and so did the parents; after all, they weren’t going to pay those high tuition fees for nothing!

Mr. Barrett began his lecture immediately after the clock struck 1:00:

One of the first things scientists learned about global warming is that there are several greenhouse gases responsible for it. Mr. Barrett always started his lecture the same way: slowly and precisely, and with a calm, rather monotone voice; almost as if he wanted to lull his students into quiet resignation. But as his lecture went on, the pitch of his voice rose and became more emphatic. His carefully chosen words accomplished their intended effect: he wanted the undivided attention of his students; he wanted them to ponder what he had said; he wanted them to think!

He continued: "Humans emit greenhouse gases in a variety of ways; from the combustion of fossil fuels in cars and factories, and through the production of electricity.

"The gas responsible for the most warming is carbon dioxide, also called CO2. But there are other contributors, including methane released from landfills and agriculture, especially from the digestive systems of grazing animals… That comment was interrupted by several loud chuckles from the boys, and quieter giggles from the girls; made worse when one of the boys said, He means cow farts!"

Glaring at the boy who made the disruptive comment, and then casting his stern look at the rest of the class, Mr. Barrett continued, …nitrous oxide from fertilizers, gases used for refrigeration and industrial processes, and the loss of forests that would otherwise store the CO2 have added to the effect. Any questions so far? No one dare say another thing, fearing the wrath of their teacher. His expression was enough to convey his intent—he wanted to continue the lecture with no further disruptions.

Good, he continued. "Different greenhouse gases have very different heat-trapping abilities. Some of them can even trap more heat than CO2. For example, a molecule of methane produces more than 20 times the warming power of a molecule of CO2; and Nitrous oxide, 300 times more. Other gases, such as chlorofluorocarbons, which have been banned in much of the world because they also degrade the ozone layer, have heat-trapping potential thousands of times greater than CO2. But, ladies and gentleman, because their concentrations are much lower than CO2, none of these gases adds as much warmth to the atmosphere as does CO2.

Heads were already beginning to nod, and Mr. Barrett’s lecture had only just begun.

Have you got that in your notes? Anyone need a repeat? Not waiting for an answer and turning to the whiteboard, Mr. Barrett began listing the important points of his lecture:

CO2- culprit of GW

Other gases contribute, but to a lesser degree and include: Methane, Nitrous Oxide, Chlorofluorocarbons

Other contributor: Deforestation

Homework: list several chlorofluorocarbons as well as areas of deforestation around the globe. That last entry caused sighs around the room.

Mr. Barrett turned and glared again. Holding pencil to paper, everyone immediately looked at their notes.

"In order to understand the effects of all these gases together, scientists tend to talk about all greenhouse gases in terms of the equivalent amount of CO2. Consequently, they have surmised that, since the 1950s, yearly emissions have gone up by about six billion metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent—worldwide. That’s more than a 20% increase." The young teacher paused for that last statement to sink in and everyone stared, taking in the impact of that increase.

"Now, acid rain," he began again, pausing this time for his students to resume their note-taking. Their expressions changed as they once again put pencil to paper, ready for the new subject.

"…describes any form of precipitation with high levels of nitric and sulfuric acids. It can occur in the form of snow, fog, or as tiny bits of dry material that settles to Earth.

"Rotting vegetation and erupting volcanoes release some chemicals that can cause acid rain, but most acid rain falls because of human activities—the biggest culprit being the burning of fossil fuels, either by coal-burning power plants, by factories, or by automobiles…so the next time you get in the family car to go for a spin, think of what damage you’re doing to the environment." Mr. Barrett seemed to enjoy making his students feel guilty.

When humans burn fossil fuels, sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOx), he wrote the abbreviations on the whiteboard. "…are released into the atmosphere. These chemical gases react with water, oxygen, and other substances to form mild solutions of sulfuric and nitric acid. Winds can then spread these acidic solutions across the atmosphere and over hundreds of miles. When acid rain reaches Earth, it flows across the surface in water runoff, enters water systems, and sinks into the soil.

"Acid rain’s greatest impact is on lakes, streams, wetlands, and other